After how much I enjoyed JJ Hale’s Truly series I’m sad to say that this book was a disappointment. I enjoyed the relationship between Cal and her younger sister and thought the neurodivergence rep was great, but the romance is where it lost me. The dynamic between Haley and Cal was just odd from the beginning. It’s difficult to get into why without giving up spoilers so I’ll just say I think it’s probably due to the drama of their first meeting.

Still a fan of JJ, but this book was not my cuppa tea.

After a flash encounter at the bar where Cal works, Haley gets confirmation she is indeed bisexual. Two years later, the memory of that night is still on her mind, despite Cal never texting her. She doesn’t know Cal wanted to text but had to deal with a huge family crisis. Now, however, they’re about to get a second chance as Cal and her little sister Maeve join the summer camp for neurodivergent kids where Haley is volunteering as a dance teacher.

I know it’s a strange thing to say but there are a lot of sex scenes and I kind of lost interest after a while, not because they’re bad but because I was more interested in the scenes in which Haley and Cal got to know each other, be vulnerable and open. I enjoyed these very much. Haley is sweet and fun, Cal is earnest and romantic, and they click immediately.

My favourite thing about this book is the neurodivergent representation, whether it’s Haley’s ADHD—complete with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria—autism with Maeve, and also Cal’s PTSD (even if it’s never named). The characters are layered and complex beyond their neurodiversity, and I was really rooting for them in every area.

This was a fairly quick read and while the plot was not super intricate, it matched it's summer camp setting. The ending felt pretty abrupt and left me wanting an epilogue or some sort of resolution or follow up.

I love that the story focuses on a camp for neurodivergent individuals. We don't see that much in lesbian fiction. The characters were written with enough depth for the reader to get to know and like each one.

I thought this was very well-written and it had a satisfying ending.

I love J J Hale’s writing style and this was no different than their other books. I very much enjoyed reading this and look forward to more.

Just finished "Synchronicity" by JJ Hale, and WOW, what a beautifully woven tale of second chances and the power of connection! Set against the vibrant backdrop of a summer camp for neurodivergent kids, the chemistry between Haley and Cal is electric, reigniting old flames and unearthing buried emotions. Hale's lyrical prose captures the essence of dance—its joys, struggles, and the healing it brings—while exploring themes of love and vulnerability.

The tension between the past and present adds a rich layer to their story, making each moment feel so poignant and real. While I wished for a bit more resolution in certain areas, the journey was undeniably captivating. This book is a heartfelt reminder that sometimes the most beautiful steps in life are the ones you take together. 💃✨ Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

This story handled mental health issues in a really sensitive way. I'm no expert, so I can't say if it's realistic or not, but the situations and the characters' behaviors felt believable and natural.

The two main characters are Haley, a dance teacher who's going to teach neurodivergent people, like herself, at a summer camp. The other one is Cal, who has an autistic sister and a mom with alcoholism and the effects that come with it. She's going to accompany her sister Maeve to summer camp.

Cal and Haley had hooked up at a bar before, but things didn't go as planned, especially for Haley. It kind of messed with her head and made her feel a bit insecure about relationships.

And the surprise of running into each other now is going to make them have to explain their attitude after that bar encounter. But Haley is more positive than lime, who is frustrated by all the times she's had to deal with complicated situations with her mom and sister in the past.

The story can sometimes feel a bit too positive, the solution to the problems the protagonists face a bit too perfect. But like I said, I think it's beautiful to see these problems, which are sometimes overly dramatized, normalized here, as they should be.

Two years ago Haley Tyne wanted to see if she really was a lesbian or not. She’d go to the local hang out for lesbians and see how she feels after seeing others enjoy being themselves. She knew she was onto something when she met and danced with a very sexy woman. Oh yeah she was a woman who loves women. Unfortunately after making out with this Cal woman, Cal decides it’s time for her to head home.
Now Haley is spending the summer giving dance classes to children. Most suffer with Neurodivergent making it almost impossible to live a full life. Cal was there to help her younger sister Maeve break out of her shell. Since Maeve wants to dance it follows that Cal will meet the woman who made such an impression when they first met.
Now they have the summer to find out if there really is something between them or if it’s all in both of their heads. Very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

I enjoyed the writing style of JJ and thought she did an amazing job crafting this story. I loved getting to know each character as they reconnect and also heal.

Thank you Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

This was a really sweet story which featured two main characters that are battling through their respective emotional and traumatic baggage while working at a summer camp for children who are Neuro divergent. This romance was a slow burn romance for me each character had to get out of her own way in order for the romance too develop naturally. The secondary characters were well written and helped to make this an even better story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick,easy to read emotionally driven romance. And, I look forward to what's next from this author.

*Synchronicity* by JJ Hale is a tender and deeply emotional story about second chances, fate, and the unbreakable bonds we form with others. Set at a summer camp for neurodivergent kids, the novel brings together Haley Tyne, a dance instructor with a passion for helping others, and Cal O’Shea, a woman haunted by the past. When their paths cross unexpectedly after a life-changing date two years prior, the connection between them is immediate and undeniable, but their reunion is fraught with unresolved emotions.

Hale skillfully weaves the themes of healing and reconnection throughout the story, as both Haley and Cal must confront the memories and pain they’ve tried to leave behind. The dance they share becomes a powerful metaphor for their relationship—intense, intimate, and unpredictable. As they work together to save the camp’s end-of-summer show, the emotional stakes rise, and readers are drawn into their journey of rediscovery and forgiveness.

When a chance second meeting at a summer camp leads to forever. Swoon!
A sweet romance with excellent neurodivergence representation.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Life for Haley is kind of predictable. She loves teaching dance at her mother’s dance school, especially to neurodivergent kids. Haley loves seeing them grow into their selves and using music and dance to come into their bodies. Other than that, Haley’s life is boring. Her love life certainly is. Apparently the guys she dated thought she wasn’t forever material, even though Haley was all in. Maybe it is just guys though. Haley has known she is bisexual for a while but never acted on it. One night she decides to face her fears and visit the gay bar in town. While at the bar contemplating fleeing the scene, a very alluring woman starts talking to her. But after a hot and heavy make out session in the alley behind the bar, the woman, Cal, vanishes never to be heard from again. Haley’s mind keeps the memory very much alive though.

Cal’s priority in life is caring for her autistic little sister Maeve. Her mother has been struggling with her mental health as long as Cal can remember and she has taken it upon herself to protect Maeve from being the victim of that. This summer she’s going with Maeve to summer camp. A camp especially for neurodivergent kids where they can learn all different things like science, sports and dance. Cal can’t believe her eyes when she meets Maeve’s dance teacher. It is the gorgeous woman she made out with right before her life turned to shit again. The attraction is still there but there is no way Cal deserves Haley’s attention and care. It’s just that Haley doesn’t let her believe that…

I loved this book. Of course there is a sweet romance included, but what I enjoyed most was the accurate way that J.J. Hale described the neurodiversity of the characters. Haley has ADHD and has had to learn to accept the limitations that come with that. For example the inability to manage time, the way she is affected by rejection and how she has no filter while talking. For me personally, it was like being seen in a profound way.

Cal’s sister Maeve is autistic and has learned to self regulate most of the time. Her condition is described with the utmost love and care. Maeve isn’t her autism, she is a whole person. It’s hard for Cal to let go of her need to always care for Maeve, which is understandable knowing what happened in their past. As the story moves along, Maeve proves she can live a mostly independent life while always having Cal’s unwavering support in the background. When Maeve turns the tables on Cal and gives her big sister life advice, it is so heartwarming to see how far she’s come.

As for the romance part of the story, it’s so sweet! Cal and Haley are both not used to being cared for and seen. While Cal opens up more and more to Haley about her past and her own feelings of guilt that stem from that, Haley just keeps space for her to be herself. She doesn’t judge. Haley accepts Cal with all that she is. Cal feels a deep connection to Haley and knows they share something special. Her anxiety and the burden of self inflicted responsibilities keep her from really believing she and Haley could build something together. All praise to little Maeve for pushing her towards love.

Synchronicity is a beautiful and tender story. I very kindly but strongly urge you to put it on your TBR right now!

I first want to thank Bold Strokes Books, Inc for allowing me the chance to read and review Synchronicity by JJ Hale through Netgalley. All my opinions are solely my own.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I really liked the neurodivergent representation in this book. As someone who suffers from severe ADHD I felt understood and felt for the characters in this book. The book follows Haley, a dance instructor and Cal a bartender. They meet one night at the bar that Cal works. They both go their separate ways, Cal's night turns into one of the worst of her life. Cal and Haley run into each other 2 years later at a camp for neurodivergent children who may not be able to attend other camps, where they both are working. Their feelings for each other grow for each other over the Summer.

I felt like the story and the characters were relatable. I truly enjoyed reading this book. I give this book a strong 4. I can't wait to read something else from JJ Hale.

Cal has an autistic younger sister Maeve, and Hayley is a dance teacher with ADHD. They’ve met once before in a bar, but two years later they meet again at a camp for neurodivergent kids. Hayley is teaching dance while Cal is working in the kitchen. The story takes place in Ireland and I was grateful for the phonetic explanation of Cal’s full name. Cal feels a lot of responsibility for Maeve who is now 13. Maeve gets her own moments in the story as she is figuring out her own sexuality. The romance itself is sweet with Cal being the biggest stumbling block.

I think I wanted a reason to connect more with the pair. It bothered me that I didn’t know their ages. Both have been to college and Cal works in a bar. But I didn’t understand if that is what she wanted to do or if it was just work she could get. I felt I knew very little about Cal’s goals or ambitions. Hayley’s was a little clearer because she teaches at the dance studio her mother owns.

I like the camp setting and learning about being aware of not touching the campers or over stimulating senses. But for me, the romance was average, ending in a nice, happy moment. An epilogue may have helped me see them as a more long term couple.

A nice story written by JJ. Hale. The addition of neurodivergent characters add another layer to the story which i enjoyed. The love story between Haley and Cal really relatable and nice. The back story of Haley Tyne, who is the choreographer of a show at a neurodivergent camp for teens was a great addition and helped to connect you to the character as well as backstory for Cal, but with a lot more family drama. It is interesting to see how Haley and Cal's relationship unfolds during the four weeks of the summer camp. Although I did think it moved very quickly for a month even if they had technically met before.

An epilogue would have helped to see them out in the real world to see how they work outside the camp. I would recommend this book. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While running the dance program at a summer camp for neurodivergent kids, Haley Tyne bumps into the mysterious woman who ghosted her after a life-altering date two years ago, and their connection is undeniable. Cal O’Shea took a job at the camp to watch over her sister. She never anticipated seeing the woman who left a beautiful mark on a terrible night in her past.

When Haley’s dance partner is injured and their end-of-summer show is in jeopardy, Cal steps in, reviving memories from the past better left behind. With passion igniting in stolen moments, their dance becomes more emotional than anticipated. As past and present intertwine, their dance of destiny may bind their hearts or become just another fleeting step in their separate journeys.

I really enjoyed Hale's writing and was pulled into the story from the very beginning. This is angsty, but the character development and the way the author brought everything together at the end was beautiful. Another excellent read from one of my favorite authors!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Cal and Haley met at a bar and there are sparks they share a dance and a kiss but life got in the way but they left a lasting impression on each other. Cal life is about her mother and sister that she doesn’t have time to be happy because she worries too much. Haley is a dance teacher at a camp where she and Cal meet again there attraction for each other is still there after two years as they explore their feelings they both have to learn to let go. I enjoy this read I like how the author handle each character difference and to show it’s ok to be yourself and learning more about yourself in process.


I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Synchronicity by JJ Hale is a thrilling exploration of fate, free will, and the strange forces that shape our lives. The book is packed with twists and turns, keeping the reader constantly guessing as the characters navigate a world filled with eerie coincidences and unexpected connections.

Hale does a fantastic job of balancing complex themes with fast-paced storytelling, making the book both thought-provoking and entertaining. The characters are compelling, and the mystery at the heart of the story unfolds in a way that keeps you hooked. However, at times, the plot’s rapid pace can feel a bit disorienting, and some of the philosophical ideas may leave readers wanting more depth.

Overall, Synchronicity is an engaging read for fans of speculative fiction and thrillers, offering a unique mix of suspense and existential reflection.

Rating: 4/5

Haley and Cal met on a night out however life got in the way two years later they meet at a camp for neurodiversity kids Hayley a dance teacher and Cal doing various jobs while she keeps an eye on her sister who is at the camp.
A nice story with emotional rollecoasters and misunderstandings. Thank you for advanced copy

J.J Hales writing is so easy to read. With short books they are quickly devoured. And the chemistry from minute one was undeniable. The second chance side of the story was pleasant. I just had a bit trouble believe Haley hasn't tried to find Cal again despite having her on her mind for two years, even if it was justified. You can count on Hale to gove good neurodivergent representation with Haley and Maeve. I really liked Maeve's character : bluntly honest, logical and endearing.Characters have layers and scars, making it impossible to not root for them
Add to this book some touch of dirty dancing, romantic camp vibe and you have synchronicity.
All was missing to me was an épilogue.
Overall, another really good book from Hale.