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

Main persons in this book is Eleanor, who is only focused on work and Dani, who is back to the roots mechanic. Eleanor try to find a way for her new project, but as the time goes by, she finds somethings very different and more important.

It is a good written book with very good story

i unfortunately had to dnf this one, but not due to any reason of the book! it was keeping my interest until life got in the way and i don’t see myself picking it up any time soon. the characters were adorable halfway through and i enjoyed the progression of their romance! i would still 100% recommend this for those looking for a cute sapphic romance! seeing as i didn’t complete it, i will
not be providing a public review 🩷

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

There was not one thing I did not like about this book! While I usually steer away from spicy books, the author had a good balance of spice, romance and plot for a short 240 page story. The characters were well written with good chemistry and aside from being incredibly predictable, this was a great read!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Eleanor (Nora) Cromwell takes a working vacation to a small town in rural Canada. She is CEO of CromTech, a company built up by her late father. They have a bad reputation in the area for shutting down work in the area. Nora wants to take the property the company owns and develop it making profit that she can use to fund her personal interest in environmentally friendly projects. She meets Dani Cooper who works as a mechanic at the local garage. Dani befriends Nora showing her the laid back way of small town life. It includes local festivals, drive in movies or nights playing pool at the local bar. I like that they take time to become friends before seeking more. They both know things are temporary as Nora will be returning to Toronto.

This is a nice debut novel. The pacing is good and of course the big question is when the reveal will happen of why Nora is really in town. There was a lot of build up to a big showdown that actually was more of a fizzle. But I was happy it wasn’t angsty and with where things ended up. Congratulations to the author for getting her book published and I will look for future works form her. (3.5 Stars)

ARC received from Ylva Publishing through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. PERFECT SMALL TOWN QUEER VIBES, I REALLY ENJOYED THIS ONE! such a great debut i cant wait to see what the author puts out next!!

3,5⭐️

Shifting Gears by Jazz Forrester is a fast-paced lesbian romance book.

I really enjoyed the characters and the relationship between Eleanor and Dani.
I also particularly loved the small-town vibes and the queer found family aspect.
In addition, I appreciated how the author handled all the discussions about intimacy between the main couple.

Overall, it was a pretty solid debut and I’ll definitely check out future books by this author.

4⭐️
Shifting Gears is a solid debut novel by Jazz Forrester.

Eleanor, CEO of CromTech, is almost coerced by her friends and deputies to take a vacation/work trip to a small town in Canada before she works herself to death. She should relax and recharge her batteries. She was also supposed to carry out a field study for a larger project that would provide her with the necessary capital for other projects. But thanks to her father, CromTech has a very bad reputation here. So she tries to remain anonymous at first.

Charming Dani, who grew up here and runs an auto repair shop with her cousin, is attracted to Nora from the start but doesn't think Nora could feel the same. After a few chance and not-so-chance encounters, an easy friendship is formed and slowly develops. They both swear by casual since Nora will be returning to Toronto. But as is the way with casual, most of the time it doesn't work out as desired. A sweet slow-burn romance takes its course.

One of the best parts of the story is Eleanor's transformation. From an early age, she has been prepared for the big, oh-so-important business world. With Dani, she experiences for the first time how much joy small and silly things and gestures can bring that she had never experienced before. Her sense of duty and her loyalty to her family had forced her into a corset that was becoming increasingly uncomfortable and she began to question whether she was doing the right thing or whether she shouldn't be pursuing her own interests. And, last but not least, follow her heart. The transformation from a tough businesswoman to a caring and helpful friend is heartwarming.

Nora and Eleanor are interesting and lovable women, very different at first glance, but who ultimately complement each other very well. The banter and fun with Dani's friends is entertaining. The humor and the serious themes are well-balanced. The second characters, Nora's two best friends and Dani's friends, also contribute a lot to the story. The writing style is fluid, the plot is well thought out and balanced, with enough drama and emotion, but without overdoing it.

Entertaining debut romance (3.5 stars)
Shifting Gears is a good choice for readers wanting a romance set in small town Canada with main characters who are easy to root for (one a bit easier than the other). There's a country mouse/city mouse element to Dani and Eleanor's interactions and the town's inhabitants help to create a genuine feeling of community in the story. There are some scenes that feel cinematic as if they'd be standard in a good TV movie and overall it's an easy read with humor and drama. The secrets/lies by omission create a large amount of anticipation in their buildup to impending reveals, at times a distraction as I wondered when and how the reveals would occur rather than having my full attention on the present happenings in the story; when it finally happens, the reveals felt like a bit of a letdown compared to the buildup. Aside from that the story delivers plenty of feels for the reader and unique activities for the mains and secondary characters to indulge in. Heads up for some aggressive behavior (words and actions) by at least one character that some readers may be bothered by (the scene is brief); a romantic relationship that begins with important information withheld may also be an issue for some readers.
I'd like to read more by this author when she publishes more stories.

Shifting Gears by Jazz Forrester is a charming sapphic romance that effortlessly combines themes of love, identity, and personal growth. While the romantic arc is sweet and satisfying, the heart of the story lies in Eleanor’s journey of self-discovery as she learns to navigate the unexpected legacy left to her by her late father.

Eleanor is thrust into a life she never asked for, managing her father’s company when she had entirely different dreams for herself. Forrester skillfully portrays the tension between familial obligation and personal ambition, making Eleanor’s internal struggles relatable and poignant. As the story unfolds, Eleanor realizes that stepping away from the company may be the key to rediscovering her true self and embracing the life she truly desires.

What sets this novel apart is its authentic exploration of growth. The narrative allows the reader to feel Eleanor’s emotional evolution—her doubts, her triumphs, and her slow but steady journey toward independence and fulfillment. The romance complements this personal transformation beautifully, offering a tender and hopeful love story that never overshadows Eleanor’s individual path.

Forrester’s writing is heartfelt and engaging, making it easy to connect with Eleanor and the supporting characters. The balance between lighthearted romance and deeper emotional moments ensures that the story resonates on multiple levels.

Overall, Shifting Gears is a delightful and inspiring read that captures the complexities of finding love and purpose in the midst of life’s unexpected challenges. It’s a must-read for fans of contemporary romance with strong, character-driven narratives.

Lighthearted, slow moving summer romance book with the trope of women from two worlds. It’s told in present tense, which was awkward for me. This kind of reminded me of a Hallmark channel movie. Sweet but not a lot of depth.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

eleanor is fed up.... she is ceo of her company left by her father, the one she was trying to impress all her life

she has a plan for her company but faces the boards decision is hard... they never want to go with any of her ideas and she needs a break she is working so hard she hardly goes home to sleep anymore....

so when a plan comes together eleanor goes undercover to find out if her plan will work in the backwards town that she has designs on making better

what she hadnt expected was meeting dani.... and her summer just got longer....

its a well thought out book with some interesting characters that you can get behind....

cant wait to read more from this author

This book is precious, light-hearted, made me giggle, but also has sad moments. I loved the fun tension in the beginning and the evolvement of their relationship. The spice level is also a solid 3 chilli peppers I would say.. This has some good spice in it.

I do wish so many events throughout the book didn't focus on them drinking, but I think that was meant to add to the small town vibe? I think adding content warnings for the final edition will be very important.

I just don't think I am a big romance reader. This book is out of my comfort zone as far as setting and plot, and I am glad I picked it up. It made me giggle several times and I kept rooting for them to get together. I just realized there wasn't so much alcohol involved. I heavily recommend this to romance readers and lovers and enjoyed this read!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this work of art! This was such a treat. I am leaving this review voluntarily.