A great novel by Lizzie. Fresh, funny and sympathetic. Good to see a positive portrayal of a plus size female protagonist. I eagerly await the next book by this author.

I absolutely loved this book! Heartwarming, funny, and very well written. An easy read but not a fluffy read. It managed to be relevant to the times but not cringy as so many books I’ve found are when they try to appeal to the current youth culture of the day. The author just gets it and it shows in her writing excellently. I can see this remaining timeless even once Love Island is long gone from our screens.

I really appreciated the way the author kept the romance element in the forefront whilst also being able to explore deeper issues - race, misogyny, masculinity, and in particular the image of Black masculinity in society, size, and unpaid carers. Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s writing just pulled it all together so well whilst still making me care for Temi and Wale’s love story above all else. An easy 5 stars from me. I loved it and look forward to reading what’s next from this author.

This is a story of Temi who is an aspiring writer and has also recently broken up with Wale. What we quickly find out is that they broke up due to Wale going into ‘The Villa’ - A popular reality dating show.

Instead of giving in to the heartbreak she feels, Temi throws herself into her dream: writing. She's within touching distance of a book deal that would solve all her problems. But publishers keep passing on her novel and bills still have to be paid. So, when the opportunity to ghost-write a celebrity memoir arises, Temi accepts.

And, of course, the celebrity turns out to be Wale...

This book was a ride… it was a really enjoyable read and had me giggling at some points. On the other had I found myself eye rolling at Temi at certain points throughout as it felt like some decisions were very dumb. I loved how Lizzie wrote Wale to have depth to him rather than to be the typical ‘on page’ black boy.

The book all in all was a great read. There were still a few errors that I’m sure will be corrected during the final editing process.

Thank you NetGalley & @LizzieDamilolaBlackburn for the how advance copy.

Omg this was such an amazing book - I’m obsessed!! The premise was fantastic so I immediately requested this book and it did not disappoint!

I loved the plot, I loved the writing and I loved the characters, how real and raw they felt and how they developed throughout the book. I was hooked from the start and immediately devoured this book.

I really enjoyed the discussions around taxi masculinity and think they’re so important to have. Wale’s entire backstory was incredibly emotional and seeing him put in the work to come to terms with his past and the trauma he endured was inspiring and heartwarming.

Similarly, Temi was aware of some of her shortcakes and seeing her struggle between staying true to herself pursuing her dream I think will be relatable to many but deep down, she was such a good person and she even when she wavered, she didn’t stray too far from her values and was not afraid to admit she was wrong.

Temi and Wale were great together and I couldn’t have been happier when they got their happy ending. It took them some time and there were lots of ups and downs but their love for each other was impossible to deny.

Overall, an incredible read, perfect for anyone who loves second chance romances, great characters and books that touch on some important topics.

So much love for this romantic fiction superstar! Firstly, the characters, as well as start crossed lovers Temi and Wale, there's some excellent friends and family which being humour, drama and words of wisdom. The pressures of being an author, the processes involved in ghostwriting and trying to get published are covered so well here as Temi tries to fulfil her dream to see her own book published. The themes of black masculinity, the pitfalls of reality TV, the hidden role of carers, and the barriers we put up when we've been hurt are explored really sensitively and written well in this story. I think this is a book deserving of so much praise and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is a witty and heartfelt rom-com that explores love, ambition, and second chances. After being dumped by her boyfriend Wale, who goes on a reality show, Temi channels her heartbreak into her writing career. Just as she’s about to give up on her dreams, she’s given a chance to ghostwrite a celebrity autobiography—only to discover the celebrity is Wale. As they reconnect, old feelings resurface, forcing both to confront their past and decide if they can rewrite their own story together. Blackburn delivers a charming, smart, and engaging narrative full of humor, heart, and relatable dilemmas. Perfect for fans of modern romance with a twist of self-discovery.

The Re-Write was absolutely brilliant! It follows the story of Temi, an up-and-coming writer, and her ex-boyfriend Wale, who dumps her to go on Love Villa. Unfortunately, after his return, Temi finds herself in the uncomfortable position of having to write his memoir.

I love love loved this romance. It wasn’t over-the-top or formulaic—it told a real, heartfelt story. Lizzie Damilola Blackburn does a brilliant job of presenting both perspectives and explaining why both Temi and Wale acted the way they did in their relationship. When I started the book, I have to admit I was ready to bash Wale for his actions, but by the end, I felt really proud of the man he had become.

This book isn’t just a romance—it also tackles difficult themes such as abuse, relationships, social media, and so much more that I won’t spoil.

A true feel-good read that I would highly recommend! I read it so quickly, I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC of this book!

Loved the story of Temi and Wale who had been dating but then she is devastated when they part ways. When Temi wgo wants to be a writer is asked to write the memoirs for Wale as a ghost writer she agrees.
The story is good as you get to know the background of what happened years ago and how they work through their past to go forward.
A really enjoyable book would recommend.

This was such a fun and entertaining story, I had a great time with it and didn't want to put it down.

I loved both Temi and Wale, the second chance romance aspect, and how their feelings reignited. Temi's lying made me so incredibly anxious though. I suppose it needed to be done for the conflict, and in the end it created well thought through character development for her.

Then there were the more emotional and profound parts, like the importance of therapy and what it means to be a good man, being a carer to someone, charity work. Some things could have been explored in more detail, like the assault, but this is a relatively short book, and it honestly did a good job as a contemporary romance.

What a feel-good story this is. It's full of trials and tribulations but shows that honesty is always the best policy and that second chances are sometimes the best decision you'll ever make.
I really found Wale's story inspiring and loved how they were trying to break the black male stereotype in the memoir.
Temi, an author, is a really great character with so much going on.
I particularly liked Shona and Fonzo, even if I kept expecting him to go 'ay' (nope, just me that kept picturing the Fonz despite it being a Nigerian cast?). You could just tell from the little mentions of them in the flashbacks that they were meant to be together and would make a super cute couple.
I'd have liked to have seen Temi go back to re-write The Ultimate Payback with the characters having the same ending she and Wale did, but that's the only thing I'd have liked different.
This was a super quick read for me, finishing it in two sittings over 24 hours.
This is the second book I've read by this author now, and they seem to be getting better and better so I can't wait to see what comes next.

It had a great balance of humour and drama and I loved how supportive Temi’s parents were even if misguided at times. I loved how the main characters also were always it for each other despite the road bumps of other people.

Review in full on thefloormag.com in the last week of Jan x

I loved the author’s previous book and it was brilliant to discover that Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s new novel is just as good.
She really has the knack of creating believable characters and situations and I was completely absorbed in the different strands of Temi’s life as a would be author. It was fascinating to read about her work as an author trying to get a book deal as well as her job ghost-writing a celebrity memoir. This was always going to be a tricky job but far more so when the celebrity in question is your ex who dumped you to go on a reality TV show.
The relationship between Temi and Wade is portrayed brilliantly as they gradually grow closer again even though, as a reader, I was constantly waiting for the whole romance to come tumbling down due to the secrets that have to come out. This isn’t just a romcom, there is real tension between Temi and Wade as well as in Temi’s relationship with her parents and there are a lot of issues that need to be resolved before there can be any happy ending.
A big theme of book is being a carer and the pressure that is put on family members who have to look after someone especially if that carer is a young person. It was lovely to see such an underrated profession being brought into the spotlight. The novel also touches on lots of aspects of modern life but especially idea of what men have to be like to be considered properly masculine, what it’s like to be plus sized as well as the perils of social media. The author makes her points well without being too heavy-handed, so the book keeps its light hearted feel. As with her previous novel, I really enjoyed the insights into Nigerian culture.
This was a thoroughly entertaining read with a lot more depth than many other books in this genre. Huge thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story follows Temi, an aspiring author who falls in love with Wale, they have a fun six months together before he breaks up with her and appears on reality tv show 'The Villa.' Temi channels her anger and heartbreak in her writing. A few months later, she is hired as a ghostwriter for none other than Wale, who doesn't come out of the show looking the best. Temi and Wale work together but can they rekindle what was left before the show.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I found it to be quite an enjoyable read, it was fast paced whilst developing authentically. The characters as individuals were entertaining, the friendship dynamics felt real and the representation was threaded through in a way that was essential to the story.

However, I just didn't believe the relationship between our two main characters. Temi and Wale both make mistakes through their relationship and writing the memoir, but their lack of communication and openess with each other is the reason it doesn't feel like a sure thing. I found I was more interested in the relationship developing between their friends Shona and Fonzo.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ughhh I couldn’t put this book down. I loved that the characters felt real and not over developed. The plot was like never I have ever read in terms of flow and story.

My review on Fable: “ This book felt as though I was over hearing a conversation in a coffee shop, it felt so real! The characters are built upon brilliantly over the course of the book. You can feel the past and present connection between the main characters, and hear them through their body language and dialogue.

The plot had a different flow to most book I read and I loved the overall plot! ” - 5 stars

Temi is a struggling author with a dream but despite her talent, publishers keep rejecting her manuscript. To make ends meet, she decides to take on a ghostwriting job for a male celebrity - but as fate would have it, she will be writing a memoir for Wale, her ex boyfriend who left her to go on a dating show!

Despite being a fun, easy to read rom-com about Black love, the Re-Write also touches on really important topics such as racism and racial stereotypes, body-shaming, toxic masculinity, sexual abuse and alcoholism.

The characters are well written and multi-dimensional, making them super relatable! Even though the protagonists are the focus of the story, the side characters added so much value - there was clearly a lot of thought and love poured into them. The novel is packed with beautiful Black-British cultural references, which I loved reading and learning about. And as a Love Island addict myself (guilty 🫣) I really loved the inspiration drawn from it to create The Villa!

I loved the pace of the story, the will they/won’t they and second chance romance tropes and I became genuinely invested in these characters’ lives. The only thing that made this novel fall short to me was the fact that even though some really important topics were discussed, they weren’t really developed. This is such a fast-paced book that it wouldn’t have mattered if we had slower moments to dissect these issues further. As a result, it feels like they were just brushed upon, which is a shame.

That being said, it was still a good read and I look forward to explore more of Lizzie’s work.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘪𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

This was a nice breezy read with Love Island feels which was interesting. It took me some time to warm to Wale, wasn't a fan at the start. It was nice to have the flashbacks of the past and future to see what happened in their relationship for them to take such drastic paths - 1) to write a revenge book and 2) enter The Villa. I was rooting for Temi to stand up for herself and get published. Closer to the end Wale had proved he was worthy and I was waiting for the Tele ship to sail. Overall a cute read with plenty of Londoners slang.

This was an ARC read - thanks to Net Galley.

I absolutely love Lizzie's stories, the well-written characters grab you and take you into their lives like old friends. This wonderful story involving Temi and Wade is brilliant, thank you

The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is an easy, light read with plenty of potential that unfortunately falls short. While it touches on important topics—such as professional identity, body shaming, abuse, and the challenges of overnight fame—these themes are handled rather superficially, leaving the story feeling underdeveloped. The book misses opportunities to dive deeper into the emotional complexities of its characters and themes.

The writing is accessible and engaging, making it a quick, effortless read. However, its heavy focus on modern struggles and social media culture suggests it may be aimed at a young adult audience.

Overall, I would describe it as an enjoyable, low-commitment read, ideal for a commute or a lazy afternoon. However, I didn’t find it to be a story that lingers after the last page.

"I chose you because I need you."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Temi meets Wale sparks fly + before long, they are boo'd up. Unfortunately, following some miscommunication, the couple break up + Wale enters a reality dating show, leaving Temi heartbroken.

As an aspiring writer, Temi throws herself into her craft whilst awaiting news of a potential book deal, but she still needs to commit to her adult responsibilities. Temi accepts a deal to ghostwrite an autobiography for a reality tv star. You've guessed it, the celeb is Temi's ex.

I absolutely loved this Rom-Com! It is truly what a readers dreams are made of. Well written, binge-worthy, great characters, character growth + a well put together plot & sub-plot.

Yes, this is a love story (and I loved it, because the couple were wonderful), but it's so much more than that.

The Re-Write delves into the thoughts & feelings of aspiring authors, as well as the hard-to-crack publishing industry. Would you compromise your integrity to get a book deal? Temi's choices made me pause & think about how many authors may have compromised their integrity & beliefs just to find a seat at the table.

Another element of this story that I found really touching, was the inclusion of carer's. It’s something that I hwven’t really come across in fictional stories, and it definitely wasn’t something that I expected to read in the Re-write.

If you love contemporary fiction, this story will sweet you, especially if you are a Love Island fan. But more importantly, it highlights the impacts on contestants' mental health & the toxicity that thrives on social media.

I was invested in Temi's growth, but I was more invested in Wale's. Wale is a character that I was wary of, but as the story + plot progressed, I was cheering him on from the sidelines like a real fan-girl. Wale battles with a masculinity complex, which was broached really well by Lizzie in this story.

This is a second-chance rom-com, but it also so much more than that, it is an exploration of male MH, the journey of becoming an author, and of course, everything starts and ends with: LOVE.

One to add to your TBR!

I absolutely loved Lizzie's debut book Yinka, Where is your Huzband, and have been looking out for her name every since.

Romance + books + Lizzie's ability to create magic out of words made this a fun and exciting read.

I love that the main character of Temi is an aspiring writer. Even though Lizzie is obviously now a published author, and I hope successful too, I assume at one point or another she was in the same boat as all of us. Trying to fit the writing in around life, sending it to various agents and publishers, trying to make it. And she's pitched that perfectly. It's not "aww bless", nor is it really brutal. It's just very honest.

I'm not really a reality show person - unless it's Strictly Come Dancing. I don't do the romance ones like Love Island or The Bachelor or whatever ones the young people of today watch, and so that side of the story didn't interest me much, but that's just a personal taste thing.

I love how passionate Lizzie is about representing her colour. Even today, the majority of romcom books and films show two conventionally attractive, usually white people. And in this book we have two proud Nigerian characters who are just as enjoyable to read about, and I love it. They're proud of their heritage, and why shouldn't they be? They rock!

I didn't particularly take to Wale at first, for reasons I won't spoil, but he felt a bit....slimy is probably too harsh a word. He just seemed a bit distant but at the same time wanting to be centre stage at first, but he did win me over through ways I won't spoil here. Temi is our protagonist and overall I really liked her. She's passionate about writing but she's a bit lost. She's had her heart broken and she's not sure how to balance romance with a career - not that she's overly successful in either. But she felt really real and relatable and I really cared about her journey.

I enjoyed it all but I would say the beginning and the ending are its strongest parts, it dipped slightly in the middle. I felt there was only so much you can write about someone writing a book without it becoming a bit repetitive, but it didn't last for long, and if I was just giving this to a friend I probably wouldn't mention it, but as a book review to go online, I have to mention everything I thought.

At about 70% in, I could tell something big was about to happen and I started feeling this second-hand embarrassment and awkwardness for Temi, which goes to show how clear Lizzie's writing is.

The problem with novels that mention other story ideas, is I read them and go "ooh that'd be a good novel idea", and then remember that probably comes under plagiarism.

There are some difficult topics: breakups, reality TV, toxic masculinity, men and their emotions, deception, friendships ending, dishonesty, illness, and addiction, but overall it's full of hope and joy and love.

For me, it wasn't as strong as Yinka, but it was still very enjoyable and shows how good Lizzie is at creating familiar and relatable characters and situations.