Fun, enjoyable, very sexy romance for folks who like family dynamics, small town charm, and are looking for main characters who work in the trades. Vini and Jess have amazing chemistry right from the beginning even if Vini's sister, Ava, doesn't want them to be together (and is honestly super annoying throughout the book).
Perfect fun read for a vacation or any time.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Jessica and Vini! This was a fiery insta-lust to love story where we got to see growth in both main characters. Jessica, a commitment-phobe nomad, is on the run after getting caught in a sticky situation hooking up with not one, but two of her mother’s co-stars. She escapes to her friend’s place in the quiet small town of Peach Blossom to let things cool off.

Enter Vini, the gorgeous local mechanic and introvert who’s lived in Peach Blossom her whole life and runs a successful business. When Jessica’s rental car breaks down, it’s Vini who comes to the rescue, and their undeniable attraction quickly turns into a situation-ship that’s off the charts!

I will say the pacing felt a bit off it seemed like everything moved really fast in their relationship, and I would have liked a little more development. That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. It’s such a cute, quick sapphic romance, and can we talk about that cover? It’s absolutely STUNNING!

I really admired that both Vini and Jessica were portrayed as strong female characters and both had jobs that aren’t typically thought of as popular for women (mechanic, and voice over actress). Vini and her petite, cute, and introverted personality, was the perfect balance to Jessica’s outgoing, always on the move, forward personality. Both also being women of color was an added bonus. Their sexual chemistry was off the charts hot, way spicier than Grace and Ava’s relationship. Their ongoing banter and flirting was super cute, especially when they started going on “not so real” dates. I will say since a lot of their relationship did focus on either eating or eating each other out, we didn’t get a whole lot of depth from them or meaningful conversation, especially on Jessica’s side. I wanted to see more interactions with Jessica and her family and know the background of how her and Grace met and became friends.

As for the actual plot, it unfortunately fell way flat because the only thing happening is Jessica and Vini having to figure out where their relationship stands. There is no subplot, no suspense, no actual conflict, besides the fact that the sister drama felt so forced that the actual argument didn’t make any sense and came off super immature and petty. Ava especially was super annoying throughout the whole story, thank God for Dani is all I have to say. Dani and Aiden were my favorite side characters because of their humor and love and support for Jessica and Vini. I also really liked the conversation between Vini and her dad was such a feel good heart to heart moment. From the very beginning it was clear that Jessica and Vini were eventually going to hit a major roadblock given Jessica and her jet setting, never wanting to settle down personality, and Vini having built a life for herself that she enjoys in Peach blossom. I was happy with the final turn of events and both being able to come to an actual compromise, but I’m still unsure of whether or not they have what it takes to make it all the way. Overall, I enjoyed Vini’s side of the story, the sexual chemistry, and the moments involving Aiden, Dani, and Vini’s dad, but wish there was a bit more substance and plot involved other than the inevitable third act breakup.

Thank you NetGalley, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and Karmen Lee for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! First off, the cover is GORGEOUS and is the main reason I requested this one. Sadly, though, I couldn’t really get into it… I think other readers would like it more, but at the time I didn’t finish it. Still pick it up though, especially if you’re looking for a Sapphic romance!

This book is so sexy and moving! I love Karmen's charming town of Peach Blossom and her sapphic characters. Vini is authentic and driven whereas Jessica is a flirt and still figuring things out. They make a perfect pair and have some steamy chemistry. I could hardly put this down!

Thank you to NETGALLEY for an ARC of this copy. All thoughts and opinions on this title are my own.

Tropes:

- Sapphic Romance
- Small Town
- Friends w/ Benefits
- Hopeless Romance x Can’t Settle Down
- Overprotective Big Sister

This is the second book of Peach Blossom, an interconnected series that follows multiple characters starting with the book “The 7-10 Split.” In all honesty, I did not read that book before reading this one (didn’t know they were connected) and believe you should before reading this one! You don’t have to, everyone’s links to each other are easy to pick up, but it will most definitely enhance the reading process.

I very much enjoyed the small town of Peach Blossom. The setting gave me a warm feel & I like that the side characters (while nosy) were not like other small town romances where they get too involved in other people’s businesses.

Out of the two main characters, I enjoyed Vini the most. A petite mechanic, she was a bit grumpy but was fun to be in the POV of, especially since her family was in the mix and they brought forth a good amount of comedy to her love life. Jessica, on the other hand, while okay felt like she could’ve been a bit more fleshed out. I feel like with Vini we got to see and know practically everything about her, whereas by the end of the book a lot of Jessica’s personality & interests remain a mystery.

The main conflict revolves around Vini’s older sister not wanting her to mess around with Jessica, and if I’m being honest, I’m not a fan of that trope. But I did enjoy the talk they had at the end and how her older sister realized why she was behaving the way she was and made an effort to squish it in the bud.

Lots of sex scenes. I feel a lot of Vini & Jessica’s relationship was built off of sex, but they still had cute date moments that helped sell the relationship. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next book they’re broken up! I kid, I kid.

Very cute. Super short and easy to read. Kind of hallmarky, which is a compliment! Definitely the sort of book you’d pick up when you want something simple to cleanse your palette / to get back on track with your reading goal!

3⭐️
I liked but didn’t loved it
I don’t know why but it felt like it lacked depth in both characters there was so many opportunities for the book to get better but it just didn’t.
It wasn’t bad overall but not great either.
If you’re looking for a short sapphic read it’s a good choice.

This book is cute but I was expecting more. The characters are not fully developed and the romance felt flat, a little bit too instant love and based more on their sexual attraction than something more. Yes, they’re kinda cute together, but they are way too old for this kind of drama. I’d mid this book was a young adult, it should worked more.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I was pulled in by the cover. Like lady mechanic give me it. The story follows a rich free spirit fleeing a scandal Jessica and a hopeless romantic Vini. I didn’t realize going into this book that it was part 2 in a series all based in the town of peach blossom. Overall I thought that the story was cute. This story felt like instant love atleast on vinis part. The spice was ok. The family dynamics was a nice touch but it took away from the romance. There wasn’t really any growth or character development. I think seeing both characters grow even in just 6 weeks would have made the story better

This book unfortunately fell a bit flat for me this time around. The characters weren’t fully developed so I didn’t feel a connection to them, and we don’t really get growth from them. Their relationship was mostly based off sex and occasionally they would get food together, but I don’t see the makings of a real relationship. The main conflict seems a bit immature to me especially because they’re all well within their twenties and that’s something I’d expect for younger characters. I think this book is best for someone who wants a short sapphic story with more smut.

With diverse representation, this sapphic romance is such a heartwarming and spicy novel! Love love love!

The Relationship Mechanic, the second book in the Peach Blossom trilogy by Karmen Lee, is youngest sister Vini’s love story. We first met her in The 7-10 Split, but we get even more of the family dynamics here, with Ava’s overprotectiveness, Dani’s quiet support, and their dad’s unquestioning love. We also meet Vini’s employee, Aiden, who was a great character and I really loved how he supported Vini. We also get a lot more spice.

Jessica (Grace’s best friend who we also met in the previous book), has rolled into town—or rather, been towed into town by Vini—on a break from her life to let some drama die down. She isn’t the relationship type, but she and Vini find themselves drawn to each other and embark on a situationship that they keep to themselves. Their banter is great, and they definitely have a sizzling chemistry, but of course it’s hard to keep feelings from getting in the way.

I did find myself wanting a few more scenes of everyday interactions between Vini and Jessica so we could have seen how their relationship developed on a more personal and not just physical level, but it’s a fun, quick read and I’d definitely recommend it. I can’t wait for book 3 and Dani’s turn at love!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.

The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee is a refreshing, insightful guide to understanding and nurturing healthy relationships. With practical advice and relatable examples, Lee offers a thoughtful approach to communication, trust, and conflict resolution. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to strengthen their connections, whether romantic or platonic. A valuable resource for personal growth and relationship development.

thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for a review! how could i not request a book with such a gorgeous cover THAT ALSO contributes to my goal of actually finishing series i have already started???

unfortunately i just never got attached to jessica :(( but i really loved vini which basically averaged out to me liking this about the same amount as the 7/10 split. these are cute and short reads though and they are helping increase the amount of black sapphic romances so i will continue to support and read :)

This was a big miss for me unfortunately. I have no issue with spice in a book, but that was all this book seemed to have. There was no personality developed for either of the main characters, and they instantly fell in lust so there was no build up of their chemistry. I got about 75% into the book hoping once we got past all the beginning scenes of them hooking up that there may be more content, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen so I'm going to stop here. I wish we got to see more development of Vini and Jessica's relationship outside of the bedroom because there was definitely potential in their characters!

If you're someone who wants a very spicy, light book then this might be for you more than it was for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Romance for this eARC!

I have mixed feelings about this book, honestly. On one hand I enjoyed the characters, loved the setting, and loved the banter between Jessica and Vini. On the other hand, I felt like it's too much spice and not enough romance. Regardless, I did enjoy the way their very different personalities found a way to click into place and complement each other.

Their meet cute is absolutely adorable and their little classes as an excuse to see each other had me giggling like a love-struck teenager. I especially enjoyed Vini as a character, the balance of being soft yet not taking shit from others while being a woman in a male dominated field was a very nice touch.

I felt like the development of their romance could use more work, but the resolution was very wholesome and I was so glad Jessica got her head out of her ass and accepted love.

If you're looking for a sapphic romance with lots of spice but also genuinely fun characters, The Relationship Mechanic is your best bet. A sweet and spicy quick read to just sit back and enjoy.

This was really cute from the start, the main characters had nice chemistry and in general were lovable characters. The small town setting of Peach Blossom was really wholesome even with the amount of spice in this book.

Jessica arriving to town after a scandal where she was caught with not one but two of her mom’s co-workers she is made out to be someone she isn’t. Jessica had great character depth and I really appreciated how she worked through the baggage she had.

Vini being the mechanic that came to Jessica’s rescue when her car broke down. While Vini wasn’t known for casual hookups she finds herself drawn to Jessica; going into the benefits of their situationship knowing it was only a temporary thing… or is it?

Generous 3 Stars

I liked some things but overall this was underbaked , put it back in the oven and let it cook dammit!

I came across The Relationship Mechanic while scrolling through NetGalley and clicked on it because the cover is stunning and it was pitched as a book "sure to charm fans of Hannah Bonam-Young’s Next to You" (one of my all-time favourite books) so naturally, I had to request it. Unfortunately , I must report that charmed by this book , I was not .

The similarities lie in Vini (one of the main girls) , like Matt (The love interest and loml from Next to You, being a mechanic and owning a shop as well as the friends with benefits arrangement but that's where they end.It didn’t have nearly as much emotional depth as Next to You. The characters (particularly Jessica) were interesting, but Lee didn’t do much with them. I felt like I barely got to know them.

The external conflict was clear: Jessica is a wealthy, free-spirited woman who can’t be tied down, making her stay in Peach Blossom presumably temporary. However, there was no real internal conflict, no subplot tying in the small town in , or any significant individual journey for the characters.

Jessica and Vini's relationship was based on sexual attraction, which is fine, but Lee completely glossed over their emotional connection, instead choosing to mention it in passing when the characters recounted the passage of time. This felt like a major misstep why weren’t we present for those non-sexual scenes? That's the most crucial part -showing the shift from hooking up to something more, and getting the reader to root for the couple to become official.

The conflict was silly and had Lee explained Vini's relationship with her sister, it may have made a little more sense? but the resolution was full circle and cute ! I would be down to read the next book in the series.

If you're in the mood for a quick and easy , surface level spicy sapphic romance where the word "engorged" is a tad overused then look no further!

Thanks to Harlequin for ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Just when I didn't think I'd read an opposites attract romance right after my last read, here comes one right on my lap! To be fair, it's my own fault, but the books couldn't be more different!

This sapphic romance about a female mechanic and the daughter of a Korean Hollywood actress. Their meet cute is to die for, perfect way to drop in a new town! Have your car get towed!

I typically like small town romances but I'll be honest and admit I dont always seek them out. So it limits how many sapphic romances with it I read, which I need to change after reading this!

Their banter was so cute! Where I gotta break down my car in GA to find a lil hottie to hook up with(lol jk)? I think since I'm not familiar with the author, I went in with expectations you might give someone new to you, but this author really has something going. It makes me want to read the first book in this series.