Ex-lovers’ second-chance romance meets marriage-of-convenience and forced-proximity tropes in the picturesque setting of Vincent Van Gogh’s birthplace. Welcome to "Love at Second Sight in Amsterdam," complete with a meet-cute involving a bicycle accident!

The story revolves around thirty-year-old Dani Dorfman, who desperately needs a fresh start after her life in Los Angeles falls apart. Reeling from a breakup with her cheating ex and losing her job after accidentally sending his personal emails to her entire office, Dani feels adrift. For years, she’s struggled to find her passion, hopping from job to job, avoiding deep connections, and dealing with overprotective parents who have coddled her due to her asthma and growing anxiety. When a job opportunity with a startup in Amsterdam arises, she leaps at the chance, defying her parents' concerns.

But life in Amsterdam isn’t as smooth as she hopes. Her new apartment floods, her job seems to lack real potential, and she’s struggling to adjust. A chance reunion with her ex-lover Wouter van Leeuwen—courtesy of a bike accident—changes everything. Wouter offers her his lower-level apartment, which is in far better shape than her dark, damp basement unit. Though wary of living so close to the man who broke her heart a decade ago, Dani accepts.

When Dani suddenly loses her job and faces the possibility of being forced to leave Amsterdam, Wouter proposes a mutually beneficial solution: a green card marriage. Wouter needs to fulfill his grandmother’s condition of marriage to inherit the family apartment, and Dani needs the stability of a visa. The arrangement is simple: they’ll pretend to be happily married for a year while keeping the secret from Dani’s parents and placating Wouter’s family. One year should give Dani enough time to decide her next steps—whether to find a new job or return home.

Their childhood romance was just a fleeting crush, and surely they’re mature enough to let bygones be bygones, right? But as they share an apartment and old sparks reignite, their chemistry becomes impossible to ignore. Pretending to be in love quickly becomes less of an act. When the truth comes out, Dani must decide: can she trust her heart to the same man who reshaped her views on love so many years ago?

Pick up this delightful romance to find out!

Overall: The charming Amsterdam setting, heartfelt second-chance romance, and themes of self-growth make this a standout story. Highly recommended for romance fans!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this heartfelt romance’s digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

As always, Rachel Lynn Solomon's romcoms hit with just the right amount of depth, heart, and heat. I love a second chance romance, and I especially love a second chance romance where both characters have had a chance to grow on their own and continue to grow once they're back in each other's orbit. Dani and Wouter are just so wonderful individually and together. I loved the complexity of their relationships with their families, particularly in that both of them are shaped by what they think the people they love most think about them, and the entire story revolves around the beauty of learning to communicate better not just with the person you love romantically, but with all of the people you care for deeply. It just felt so human and tender! The story was beautifully crafted, and I absolutely adore the little nod to the main characters in Business or Pleasure near the end.

Thank you to Rachel Lynn Solomon, Berkley, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a late discoverer of Rachel Lynn Solomon, and I'm a fan! This book is a fun escape to Amsterdam and finding second-chance love. I'd recommend this book to my many friends who enjoy light and spicy romcoms with a bit of escapism and travel. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of my favorite romance writers and I was so excited to read her fourth adult romance novel! I loved the Amsterdam setting; she brings so much color in her vivid descriptions of the city! I am always interested in how authors can find a way to tackle the "marriage of convenience" trope in a contemporary romance. A green card marriage is one of the most logical ways to do this, but I loved that this book takes it one step further with the male love interest as a former foreign exchange student and the protagonist's long lost first love! As always, Solomon's characters are so well fleshed out; they feel like real people who could walk off the page. She also writes the best dog characters - I loved George!

Dani leaves her heartbreak and overprotective parents behind and takes a job in Amsterdam. The unexpected happens when she runs into an old love, and the two become engaged (and married) for convenience's sake but can't prevent those former feelings from resurfacing.

I liked this book and the setting is original and worth the read for me. I wasn't entirely bowled over by the chemistry between the two, nor did the fact that her former exchange student/love interest just happened to bump into her half a world away one afternoon - it seemed a little contrived. That being said, the storyline between the green card marriage and getting to know the in-laws, dealing with strict but loving parents, I believe it was sweet and relatable in a lot of ways. It was missing a certain bit of charm, though, it could have been more dynamic.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

THIS WAS SO CUTE it made me kick my feet and now I want to move to a different country and live my best life even though I’m married with kids 😂

Rachel Lynn Solomon does it again. Good writing, believable characters, an interesting setting and a simple but moving story make for an easy and enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

Overall very cute story, with dramatic conflict & stellar characters, both main & side.

I wish that the characters were developed a little more because I didn’t feel overly connected to any of them. Despite relating to the FMC a great deal— I felt like her entire personality was based in not ever feeling good enough, & I simply craved more from Danika.

The post-it notes were enough to carry the entire plot. I love the language & cultural aspects of this book. It was a fun way of incorporating the history of Amsterdam.

I also went into this read pretty blind & didn’t expect so many open-door scenes, which I am A-okay with despite it feeling a bit rushed. Frenzied is how I would describe the spice, which was fun & so reminiscent of those late teenage years.

I would definitely pick up another book from Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Now I need to go to Amsterdam! Such a sweet story in a beautiful setting. I’m left needing a stroopwafel.

Thanks to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Such a fantastic read! This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and it definitely won’t be the last.

This is another winner by Rachel Lynn Solomon. With this book, I’ve read seven books by her and given all of them five stars. And with the short cameo of the characters from Business or Pleasure at the end of this story, I reread that one again too! I highly recommend this author.

WHAT HAPPENS IN AMSTERDAM is sure to appeal to travelers, late bloomers, and new adults of any demographic. I thoroughly enjoyed the exes-to-lover relationship as well as the marriage of convenience. Wouter is very dreamy and such a fun character to interact with. I really enjoyed Dani's struggles with finding what she wants to do and distinguishing between hobbies and what she loves to do.

Wow did I feel like I was back in Amsterdam when reading this!

Dani leaves her hometown in California for an opportunity to live and work in Amsterdam. When there she runs into her first love. The boy who stayed with her family during an exchange program back in high school and broke her heart. However, when a situation arises, they agree to fake marry so she can stay in the city and he can inherit his grandma's apartment. But with all the time they are spending together, buried feelings begin to resurface.

I always love a second chance romance and make this set in my favorite city, and I just couldn't resist! Full of history and exploring and a great couple who is clearly meant to be together, this one to pick up this summer!

Thank you Berkley for the early copy!

So hear me out, I buy a place ticket to Amsterdam and eat my weight in stroopwafels...honestly not a bad idea to me! I absolutely love the way Rachel writes and found myself so lost in her words that I didn't realize how much I had been reading in one sitting. The characters all have their unique qualities that you don't always see in other romance books and I love it so much.

I don't usually gravitate towards second chance romances, but this had a marriage of convenience as well and I think that really helped the story flow so naturally. The history and chemistry between Dani and Wouter was literally everything to me and I loved seeing them grow not only in their "marriage" but also in rekindling their friendship. They both want the best for each other and each showed their love and care in so many little ways that felt much bigger. Like the sticky notes around the apartment to help her learn the language?? My heart swelled!! The found family trope will always be close and dear to my heart and the friendships created throughout the story made my chest all warm and fuzzy.

"You fucking ruin me. You ruined me when we were seventeen, and then somehow I got lucky enough to get ruined by you again."

If Rachel writes it, I will read it!! Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

I've been a long time fan of Rachel Lynn Solomon's and I have always loved the way she writes approachable Jewish representation, however, I didn't quite connect with Wouter and Dani as much as I had with some of her previous characters. As always, I appreciate Solomon's mental health representation that is also always included, but this read was overall a bit flat for me.

3.5 stars

There is a reason Rachel Lynn Solomon is an auto buy author for me. Her books are just that good. I loved that this one took place away from Seattle and into a whole new country! I know RLS lives in Amsterdam now and you can just see how much she loves it. The romance in this book was so good and I loved the tropes. I liked how it was a little serious with mental health issues.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!

This was maybe my favorite of Rachel Lynn Solomon's adult romances. Fans of Gale Forman's <Just One Day</i> and <i>Just One Year</i> might get into this one. It is a slightly more lighthearted (and adult) exploration of some similar themes and an escape to Europe. Amsterdam shines here (I've never been, but would love to go), and both the MCs are sweet. Full of tropes, mostly handled deftly, but there was one point where I was like is the plot going to cave in here (it didn't). Also, at the beginning, I felt there was a little hand waviness about how long Dani had been in Amsterdam, maybe that'll be fixed before final pub. Quibbles aside, I had a good time! Rachel Lynn Solomon is a great addition to a must read contemporary romance list!

Kicking my feet, screaming, needing breaks because this book was perfection!! Wouter saying my wife! 😍🥰🥹🫶😇 Everything about this book gave me wanderlust. I want to book a flight, ride a bike, and have a picnic.

This book was everything and more! So romantic and spicy!

I loved this book so, so much. It was exactly what I needed in a dreary December. Fake marriage and second chance romance? Yes, please.

This book is a delightful blend of fiery chemistry, emotional growth, and swoony romance. Set against the picturesque canals of Amsterdam, their story brims with unresolved tension, heartfelt moments, and the irresistible pull of rekindled love. With humor, heat, and plenty of swoon-worthy scenes, this is a perfect read for anyone who believes love can bloom again, even in the most unexpected circumstances.