Enjoyed this book, but there are definitely harsh language spots for a rom-com. This is about Zee and Marcus and their second chance romance. When the story starts both of them are in relationships with other people. There are two unplanned pregnancies. Not only is this a romance, but also a story of survival and second chances. Family is also a huge part of the story. Of course, there is a happy ending.

"Love Delayed" is a second-chance romance that takes a lot of twists and turns, and while the characters are well-drawn out, I found many parts of this story uncomfortable. While it's positioned as a romance, it's not a feel-good romance. It's a been-through-the-trenches-and-back-again romance that includes a lot of very serious topics that aren't even hinted at in the book description. Things like infidelity, infertility, miscarriage, divorce, manipulation, human trafficking, jealously, rape and more. And these take place in the story itself. They're not off-page events. So, it's far from what I expected when I picked up the book to read.

I also have to admit, I didn't really love any of the characters. So it was hard to feel invested in their story. I wanted to like Zamora and Marcus, but I had issues with each of them and couldn't really see what they saw in each other.

Thank you to Anna Black, RBMedia and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I wouldn’t recommend this book. It was just kind of funny to listen to and that’s how I was able to get through it all cause yeah it’s pretty funny and it’s got some good suprises throughout. I hate that the main storyline is cheating, everyone cheating on everyone, no thanks. I also think that the writing is simple and could do with some more edits. It’s written like how I think of a story, jumping all over the place. I also think that the actions and reactions of the characters just arent realistic and that could just be me but I was like no way would that be how you react to that.

2.5 stars. At times I enjoyed the story line and other times it felt frustrating and how the characters inter mixed with each other.

First, thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook. This was my first experience with Anna Black’s writing and my first time listening to an audiobook with three narrators, which added an interesting layer to the storytelling.

One thing to note is that this audiobook did not provide trigger warnings, though it definitely should have. The story includes infidelity, miscarriage, divorce, rape, religion, and infertility, all of which are on-page events, not just mentioned in passing. What seemed like a light, fluffy romance based on the cover actually went much deeper than expected.

The book starts strong with a “keep you in” storyline. Zamora and Marcus are together, but she wants more out of life and doesn’t want to be held back. However, we don’t get much depth about their actual love story early on, which makes it hard to understand why they’re still stuck on each other ten years later. Marcus is engaged to another woman but constantly compares her to Zamora. Meanwhile, Zamora is married but still fixated on Marcus but why though? We don’t truly get to see the foundation of their relationship until much later, making it hard to feel invested in their second-chance romance from the start.

There are also some moments where the storytelling feels disjointed. The Ellie scheme, Marcus mom not sharing all details of what’s going on, Marcus going behind Ellies back with Z. His mother’s actions come into play, forcing explanations that feel like they should have come much earlier. Some details about this couple just aren’t presented upfront, which makes certain twists feel forced rather than organic.

The title and cover suggest a second-chance romance centered around a missed flight, but while the airport plays a role, it’s not significant enough to justify the book’s branding around that scene. The couple does get their HEA, but the journey there is both interesting and choppy. Some parts of the story feel rushed, while others drag.

Overall, Love Delayed was a good listen, but I found myself wanting more depth in Marcus and Zamora’s initial connection to truly understand why their love was worth fighting for after all those years. Their beginning felt rushed, and before we could settle into their relationship, we were already seeing them apart thrown into their new life drama. While the multiple narrators helped add depth, particularly to Ellie’s storyline, I wish the story had been more balanced.

I gave this book a 3/5. I am a fan of second chance love, and overall enjoyed the characters and was rooting for them. The pacing and timing of things fell flat unfortunately, and took it down a notch for me despite having a few of my favorite romance themes. I would be willing to read another book by this author tho!

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love Delayed
Author: Anna Black

Thank you so much Netgalley and RB Media for the ALC! This was an interesting read. I’m a little shocked it has such negative reviews. My only issues with the book are personal preference issues and not with the writing style and storyline at all. There were multiple POVs thrown in, that I was not expecting. It was a little all over the place, but the book was captivating enough that I couldn’t put it down. My only issue really was the cheating because that is a trope I cannot get with no matter what! Also, I still am not really sure if this was supposed to be romance, suspense, or contemporary? A mixture of all? The narrator’s did a good job on the audiobook though. I would read more by this author. The short summary is that two lovers get a second chance, however when their paths cross again the FMC is going through a divorce, and the MC is about to get married; and we get the two main characters POVs, but also the Fiancee of the MCs POV which is where we get a little disorganized. Overall it was a good read though?

For me, this could have been better, but this may be a perfect fit for readers who adore second-chance romance stories, are drawn to tales of love rekindled, and enjoy emotional, humorous, and adventurous journeys that explore the complexities of relationships, personal growth, and the power of true love.

Anna Black’s Love Delayed is a captivating romance that explores the challenges of timing, resilience, and second chances. The story follows two lovers whose connection is undeniable but repeatedly tested by life’s obstacles. With relatable characters and heartfelt moments, Black’s storytelling shines as she delves into themes of patience, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love. A beautifully emotional read that reminds us love is worth the wait.

The characters in this second chance romance couldn’t catch a break-their stories were kind of a train wreck but I wanted to finish listening just to know that they DID get their HEA. The audiobook did not offer trigger warnings, but there were several in the plot not mentioned in the blurb-had I known about them I probably would have passed on reading and listening. The beginning was fine, the middle was okay and the ending was a bit rushed, but again-I wanted to know if Z and Marcus and Ellie got their HEAs. I thought the dual narration was a good choice and the narrators were great with their emotions. Thanks to the author, NetGalley and RB Media for the opportunity to listen.

The audiobook for Love Delayed is a duet, which is something I always enjoy in audiobooks. Eden Lafon and Geneva Mitchell did a good job. I enjoyed the dual POV every other chapter or so.

The story itself, I had a hard time connecting too. As a book that is marketed as a second chance romance, which is one of my favorite kinds of romance novels, I truly believe this should be marketed as contemporary fiction instead. I got as far as 40% of the way through before I made the hard decision to DNF this title. The beginning and middle of this is full of trauma and heartbreak (which there should be a content warning for those readers who could be triggered). This far into a romance, I would expect that the two MC would drawn to each other, and possibly sharing their first kiss, and it was missing.

Content or Trigger warnings I would suggest would be for Divorce, Cheating, Infertility, and Miscarriage.

Thank you Netgalley and RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

This book caught me off guard. I was expecting a stereotypical meet cute, little “Hallmark” romance story. But this was not it. There was betrayal, deceit, and some triggers that I wasn’t warned about—rape, abuse, miscarriage.

The story flowed well and the characters intertwined well. There were some significant plot holes—what happened to the sister’s open relationship?! How did the main characters businesses transition?

I rarely give one-star reviews, but *Love Delayed* by Anna Black just didn’t work for me. Cheating, a central theme in this novel, is a dealbreaker for my enjoyment of any romance story. If you’re interested in a romance novel where cheating plays a significant role, this book might suit your tastes. However, for me, it was hard to connect with the story.

The synopsis and cover promised so much but delivered very little. The title and aesthetic gave the impression of a narrative thread that turned out to be minor and lacked meaningful impact on the overall story. While it had the potential to be an engaging second-chance romance, it ultimately missed the mark for me.

The storyline felt confusing, the characters lacked depth, and the unnecessary subplots bogged the pacing down rather than enriching the plot. As a result, I couldn’t fully invest in the story or its characters. While *Love Delayed* didn’t align with my preferences, I can see how some readers might enjoy its drama-filled narrative. It simply wasn’t for me.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC!

Love Delayed follows Zamora and Marcus as they navigate the emotional highs and lows of their relationship, spanning from their teenage years to adulthood. A decade after their painful breakup, Anna Black paints a picture of two souls who seem fated to be together, despite life pulling them apart and leading them into the arms of others.

While I appreciated the premise and the emotional weight of Zamoras and Marcus’s story, I found myself torn about the execution. The book struggled to hook me at the start; the early chapters felt rushed, leaving me without a strong connection to the characters. For me, the opening should be a foundation—showing us why Zamora and Marcus matter, why we should root for their love—and this buildup didn’t fully come until later in the story.

That said, once the narrative found its rhythm in the middle, it drew me in. There were moments that shone with raw emotion and authenticity, but these highlights only emphasized the gaps in the less-developed sections. I wanted more depth, more exploration, and more time spent fleshing out the elements that felt glossed over.

In the end, the book had plenty of potential and some truly engaging moments, but it left me feeling like parts of the story were left unfinished. With more attention to pacing and character development, it could have been a standout read.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Format: Audiobook

Anna Black’s Love Delayed is an emotional rollercoaster of a romance that had me hooked from start to finish! Following the journeys of Zamora and Marcus, this story offers an incredible blend of well-developed characters, compelling plot twists, and pacing that keeps you turning the pages (or listening on repeat).

The audiobook narration was phenomenal, with voice actors who brought every scene and emotion to life. I loved how deeply layered the characters were, and the plot never felt rushed or drawn out. That said, I would’ve enjoyed less spice from the supporting characters and a bit more romantic focus on Zamora and Marcus—they deserved it! Additionally, the drama in their individual lives sometimes took precedence over their development as a couple, but it all worked to keep me emotionally invested throughout.

This book kept my emotions in overdrive: laughing, crying, and rooting for the leads. If you love a romance with depth, drama, and relatable characters, Love Delayed is a must-read (and must-listen)!

The Story: What happens when you were together just not the right time? Well it just happens to be Love Delayed (see what I did there lol). Zamora and Marcus were together through college, but with each of their career paths after college leading to opposite ends of the country they decide its better to let each other experience life/career without the long distance. Shoot to 10 years later and they happen to run into each other at the airport back to their hometown, but the flight gets delayed and allows them the time to catch up but that catch up led to them realizing they still have their old feelings for each other.

Review: I have no idea exactly what to say about this, if I'm being honest. I didn't totally hate the story, I think there were some extra stuff that wasn't needed specifically the third person pov. There are timeline jumps and sometimes it was very hard keep track of when we were in the past and then back to the present.
I am not one to hate on religion or religious beliefs, but I feel like there were times where the FMCs beliefs comes in and seems contradictory at times or not even needed. I am also very curious as to what her beliefs are as she states "the most high," which could be related to a slew of different religions.
I was able to read this as an audiobook. I love having multiple narrators to the respective povs. I hope to hear them again in other audiobooks.

This was just not great. What I thought I was getting, based on the book cover and the synopsis, did not line up to the actual story. There was just too much going on, like every bit of drama was thrown in but it didn't flow well. I didn't connect with the characters and it was hard to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley, Anna Black and RB Media for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was just. So. Wild. I don't even know where to start.

First of all, the summary/back cover blurb is SO misleading. The delayed flight was a tiny part of the story. A blip. The rest of the story was messy as all get out.

There was not a single likeable character. They all had maaaaaaaajor red flags and were completely blind to how problematic everyone else was. I hated everyone. So much.

The plot was WILD. With everything that happened, I would think to myself, surely it can't get anymore ridiculous, to which the author seemed to say, "hold my beer." I am genuinely in shock that this was advertised as a sweet romantic comedy when it played like a trashy soap opera.

As part of the chaos of the plot, there were a lot of elements that could be really triggering to a lot of people, including infertility, miscarriage, infidelity, and rape, which happened on page. In the ARC there were absolutely no trigger warnings, and I sincerely hope they changed that for the published version so that no one has to come across that unawares. Since, you know, they thought this was a cute airport romance.

Perhaps most wild of all was the Christian side element, in which the two FMCs were deeply religious. I don't have anything against including religious beliefs in a novel, but it just felt suuuuuuuper weird shoved in there along with everything else. Like... what???

The saddest truth is that Anna Black is a talented writer. She just seems to have (IMO) no taste for plot. Like, at all. Maybe if this book was advertised differently I could've handled it at least a bit, but it was so completely crazy and unexpected.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

This story is about two lovers whose relationship started in their teenage years and after a bad breakup rekindled in their adult years. This was a page turner for me and I enjoyed seeing Z and Marcus overcome and work through everything. Their chemistry was undeniable and captivating.

I listened to the Audiobook and I felt that the narrators they used took from the storyline because I didn’t care for some of the male voices. That being said I continued listening and the story line was pretty good.

Trigger warnings: baby loss and cheating