I wanted to read this book based on the reality tv plot (Love Island aka Love “Villa”) but it ended up being so much more. This was a fun second chance romance!

I loved this book. It hooked me from the beginning. Learning about each character on a more personal level helped me feel more connected to them. Temí mentioning that she was on the heavier side and Wale being super attractive just made me picture them as a young Jill Scott and Denzel Washington. This book also touched on men dealing with emotions and how they feel that they need to be tough all the time. The way Wale let his guard down and put everything out there made me admire him even more. I would recommend this book to anyone.

3/5⭐️ this was a fun, second chance romance novel. The Re-Write tells the story of Temi, a writer, who agrees to help write a memoir for a celebrity; the twist is that the celebrity she’s writing for, is her ex boyfriend Wale who gained fame from a reality dating show. The dating show that Wale was on was giving me Love Island vibes; I love that show. I just couldn’t help but feel like there was something missing and there were times that felt a little slow and boring, that’s why I rated it the way I did. This book will be released on August 19, 2025! Huge thank you to the author and Penguin Books publishing for allowing me to read this early!

Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s The Re-Write is an absolute joy to read—a heartfelt, second-chance romance that feels both fresh and deeply relatable.

Following Temi, an aspiring writer, and her ex-boyfriend Wale, who reenters her life after a reality TV stint, the story beautifully explores themes of love, ambition, and redemption.

As Temi takes on the daunting task of ghostwriting Wale’s autobiography, their shared history unravels with a mix of humor, vulnerability, and raw emotion. What I loved most was how Blackburn brings her characters to life—flawed yet endearing, navigating modern relationships against the vibrant backdrop of London.

The book also tackles deeper issues like societal pressures and identity, which added so much depth without ever feeling heavy-handed. This is one of those stories that sticks with you, reminding you that love and dreams are worth fighting for. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end!

Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for proving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an ARC of this book and was so excited, especially since I’ve been on second-chance romance kick. It didn’t disappoint! The story was great, and I loved the characters and their development. It was so nice watching Temi and Wale slowly open up to each other and I was rooting for them the whole time. I loved the layers each character had, and the back stories that explained their actions. Sometimes that’s hard to get right but this book did a good job!
The representation was also wonderful, and I appreciated the commentary on things such as race, body type, and masculinity. It was nice that those things naturally fit into the story and the commentary made sense.
My one gripe is that I felt like they were rushed together a bit at the end. I won’t say more than that because ~spoilers~ but I thought things needed just a little more than what was there to be resolved.
Overall, this was a really fun read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loved romance!

Ahhh, a book after my own heart! Not only was I cast on the bachelor eons ago, I remember all too well giving it up for the life I have now. I was rooting for Temi and Wale from the start and loved the way this story came together. Watching them BOTH grow as people through strife and struggle was quite brilliant, and Blackburn does a remarkable job highlighting the life of an influencer we DONT see, and also the hard work going into a job that relies on brilliance and luck.

I dont know, I might be a romance reader after this one.

4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Favorite Quote - It’s strange how our actions sometimes don’t reflect our truest feelings.

A fun second chance romance - Temí a young writer and Wale a young man carrying hurt from his past relationships and life - meet and start to date: Temí falls fast and hard but then Wale dumps Temí to go on a reality dating show and becomes the notorious bad boy from the show.
Temí is hurt but is trying to focus on getting her books published but rejection after rejection until finally an offer to ghostwrite for a celebrity trying to desperately show the world who he really is seems like an answer to her troubles and this is where their worlds collide again when the celebrity is Wale.
Their relationship slowly rekindles but it again becomes threatened by fear to be honest with each other - can they rekindle their romance?

I loved this novel! I could hardly put it down and finished it in a day, though I stayed up very late because - like I said - I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t read anything by Damiola Blackburn before but I’ll be checking out Yinka, Where is your Huzband soon! This was a refreshing “romance” read, maybe because it felt almost equally a novel about finding oneself and (Black) masculinity in the UK. It was also refreshing in that the main characters were not white, which seems to be the standard for romances. While it embraced the exes-to-lovers trope, I was relieved that the tension was not totally from lack of/miscommunication (and when it was, LDB really interrogated the roots of this), but also within the characters themselves; Wale, dealing with childhood trauma, societal expectations for (Black) men, and past romantic relationships, and Temi, dealing with the expectations of children of immigrants, fulfilling her dreams vs. “realistic” aspirations, struggling with morality and ethics. This felt like a book about much more, while treating these other aspects with the respect and attention that I've not found in many other romances.

It was also fun to have a kind of “meta” experience while reading this book, as Temi was an author trying to get published. It was a bit like peeking behind the curtain, especially with the ghostwriting aspect.

The only issue I had with this book was that I felt making Temi “plus size” was a bit clumsy. At points LGB brought up Temi’s thoughts about it (asking if Shona had picked a store that sold plus-sized clothing, saying that she felt hot despite being labeled plus-sized), but I don’t feel that she really depicted the reality of being plus-sized (as I am myself) and the kind of daily anxieties and struggles that come with it, beyond thinking about how romantic partners might find us. Writing Temi as a plus-sized woman was certainly a nice step towards more diverse characters, but it felt incomplete and not really well-considered, like being plus sized is a device to make work “inclusive” rather than an actual experience that impacts a lot of facets of daily life.

thought this book was well-written and tackled a lot of important themes, such as moving on after a breakup, being a caregiver, and the realities of being a reality TV star. As someone who enjoys "hate-watching" trashy reality shows, I loved getting a glimpse into "life after the show." I think anyone who has gone through a breakup can relate to Temi’s emotions, and I appreciated how the book conveyed her feelings. Temi is definitely stronger than me, I fear —I would’ve been way less calm if my man broke up with me only to appear on a reality dating show a few days after.

Nice romance with a plus-sized black woman that also touches on the definition of masculinity and brings into light caretakers of family members. A quick read. This book is coming out in the spring, and I will probably buy a copy for my students who are looking for black romances.

The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that combines humor, romance, and personal growth. The story follows the journey of a young woman who feels like she's stuck in life and needs a major rewrite. She begins to reevaluate her choices, career, and relationships, while confronting the pressure to fit into society’s expectations. With a mix of witty dialogue, emotional depth, and relatable experiences, Blackburn creates a character you’ll root for every step of the way. The novel explores themes of self-discovery, love, and the courage it takes to reinvent yourself, making it a delightful and inspiring read for anyone looking for a story about second chances and finding your true path.

This second chance romance had the added bonus of an "enemies to lovers" vibe. Blackburn navigates many heavy themes with this book while maintaining that kicking-my-feet-and-giggling energy.

This was a really cute rom-com. Characters felt well fleshed out and several 'laugh out loud' moments with this one. Every bit as fun as I hoped!

The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is a thoughtful and engaging novel that explores themes of second chances, personal reinvention, and the complexity of relationships. Blackburn’s writing is sharp and full of wit, with a keen sense of humor that makes the protagonist’s journey toward self-discovery both enjoyable and relatable. However, the plot occasionally feels a bit predictable, relying on familiar tropes of romantic comedies, which might leave some readers wishing for a more original twist. The pacing can also be uneven at times, with certain moments feeling rushed while others linger on less impactful details. Despite these minor flaws, The Re-Write offers a heartwarming and entertaining escape, perfect for fans of contemporary romance looking for a light but thoughtful read.