Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this ARC. This was my first Laura Jane Williams’s book, but I’d definitely consider reading more of her work in the future. It was light, fun, and had a happy ending.

I don’t think I would re-read it, but I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick, beach kind of read. It was a good time, and I give it a solid 3.5 stars.

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Cute love story with a twist. I enjoyed the character development, infused with a little girl boss power. The characters were fun to get to know and they helped move the story along well. It was romantic without being mushy and it was a quick, fun read.

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I really struggled to like this book because I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. It was frustrating that Jessie still had feelings for Cal even though she knew he was dating her boss and she didn’t say a word to Ali. Jessie said Ali was like family to her, so if she really was Jessie should have said something from the very beginning.

Cal was such a big red flag. It doesn’t matter if he was about to end his relationship with Ali, he should have said something to Jessie.

The way Jessie described Cal within the first 2 minutes of the book was so cringy and honestly there was no chemistry between them. I skimmed a lot of the book because I could not get invested in this book. The plot had potential, but the execution wasn’t there.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Laura Jane Williams for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This was a new author for me and I will definitely read another from her. The book had me from the beginning with the cute love story. It did not end the way I had expected it would which was a nice change for me.

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This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

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This was really not for me. I loved the beginning! Butttt it went quickly downhill from there. I couldn't connect to our FMC at all. The way she was so stuck on Cal was very frustrating. I can't stand cheating or borderline cheating. If you don't mind love triangles / borderline cheating this might be for you!

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I’ve been avoiding writing this review. Because I truly wanted to love this book. The premise was intriguing and it started off cute. Unfortunately, that’s where my opinion went downhill. To preface, this was my first Laura Jane Williams book and it is entirely possible that Love at First Sight would be adored by those who have enjoyed her other works. For me, the story fell flat for a variety of reasons: I either couldn’t connect or actively disliked the characters, the decisions made by said characters were often frustrating, and it felt as though the ‘romance’ was thrown in secondarily and unbelievably (or at least I don’t believe in romance based on thoughts akin to “they’re there and they’re attractive and most importantly they like me.” Call me a hopeless romantic but I like relationships to have mutual affection rather than convenience and/or the elimination of other options). I will say that the writing was well done and that the plot, although not to my liking, seemed well thought through.

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A little meh in the romance department but I enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

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Thank you NetGalley , Penguin Group Putnam, and Laura Jane Williams for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the relationship between Jessie and the little boy she nanny’s for; their relationship is very sweet.

I felt like this story was a little slow in the romance department. Without giving too much away, I do want to say if you are hoping for a traditional “love at first sight” story you may be disappointed. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. This is my first book by the author and the ending has me interested in picking up another book by her.

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Love at First Sight details the story of Jessie, a nanny, after her serendipitous meeting with Cal.

I can't say I knew what to expect when reading this book. The meet cute at the beginning paints a very romantic encounter between Jessie and Cal. But, later on, we are also introduced to Leo, who flirts with Jessie every time they meet.

I enjoyed how this story strayed away from the stereotypical romance story, especially when related to its portrayal of love. Instead, it tended to focus on Jessie's journey and growth, especially as she learned about love and healthy relationships, both personal and professional.

I usually find it difficult to read stories involving love triangles. Sometimes it seems like one love interest is favored more than another, and this also seemed to be the case for this book. However, I do believe it was partially necessary in order to feel the same sense of disappointment as Jessie when certain events occur later on.

If you like romance novels that stray from the stereotypical, then Love at First Sight should be your next read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC!

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The story itself wasn’t particularly gripping, but it still kept me interested enough to see how things would unfold.

One of the biggest challenges was connecting with the characters. Many of them were intentionally written to be unlikable, which made for a frustrating reading experience at times. I didn’t feel much chemistry between her and the love interests. However, I did enjoy her friendship with India and her dynamic with Leo.

Another thing that stood out was the heavy use of modern references and brand names. While it makes the book feel current now, I worry that it might feel outdated over time.

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

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I have not read enough LGBTQ books and this book made me realize I need to read more!

Though I am probably getting too old for high school fiction, I was delighted to see how mature Lynda was. She has a clear path on what she wants to do and how she's going to do it.

I just wish her family, in particular her dad, was more supportive. Though he sort of redeems himself, it felt like Lynda was put on the sidelines when he got married and her stepsister was put up front.

I love Angela and Lynda's relationship, they compliment each other so well. And I love the way they each use their talents to make such a great game.

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This was a cute story with an interesting premise, but ultimately I didn't really connect with the characters or writing as much as I would have liked. It had a fast-paced plot with some twists, but it didn't stand out in the end.

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Absolutely brilliant. This is what it’s like to be unsure of what you deserve, and to internalize how you’ve been treated.

I can’t say I’ve ever had a Leo, but I have had plenty of Cals. The thing is, you don’t know — it’s rare that you get the real transparency that comes with someone revealing the ways a potential partner has intentionally harmed you. Sometimes the perfect person…isn’t perfect at all.

Reading this book compelled heaps of emotional whiplash for me; I am one to be affected by the stories I read. I haven’t been in the mood to read a heavy story, but this was right in the middle with enough redeeming facets to make it worthwhile.

It’s so empowering to read about a FMC who is surrounded by a strong community, pushing herself and understanding her worth in the gym, taking time to make the decisions that are right for her. It inspires me to take a step back and look at things more clearly.

At the moment, my life is okay. I’ve left the toxic job, stood up for myself in the relationship, done my best to heal fractures with my parents. Life isn’t a love story, and there’s not always a happy story but I’m doing my best and that’s what matters.

I really want to thank the author for this reminder & #NetGalley for the digital ARC.

P.s. I usually conjure my own idea of characters’ looks, but this time I kept picturing Leo Woodall & it was such a perfect fit, I was happy for a great girl to get such a cheeky & fun, genuine guy.

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I love this author and she delivers again on a very cute story about love at first sight! Very cute meet cute that continues to keep you engaged in the story the whole way through!

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This was the first Laura Jane Williams book I have read, and now I need to go back and read her other books! This unconventional love story starts with an amazing meet cute! The perfect first meeting and first date that gets halted by an almost tragedy. The two are separated and Jessie is afraid she will never see Cal again. Oh, she does see Cal again and he is actually in a relationship with Jessie's boss!!!!!! There is a lot of drama that ensues and Jessie tries to do the right thing, and in the process meets some one new and maybe someone better! This book had me guessing the whole time and routing for Jessie the whole time!

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I loved watching Jesse’s growth. This book had me going back and forth on what to think of everyone and really kept me on my toes!

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Cute twist on the “love at first sight” trope. I was waiting for the stereotypical ending and was pleased to find a twist that made things a bit more interesting. I don’t know that I believe that a guy would pick a nanny over a movie star, or that a project like the one Jessie is working on could be h thrown together as quickly as it was, but it still made for a cute, enjoyable story that I found myself staying up to read. A cute beach read for sure!

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This book started out somewhat slow for me, but I'm glad I kept going because I ended up really enjoying it.

Jessie, a professional nanny, finds herself in a meet cute at a Whole Foods with Cal - they are shopping when a fire alarm goes off and they must evacuate. They spend a wonderful glorious day together that comes to an end in an odd way, and they part ways without exchanging info.

After posting photos in the store to see if he will see them and call her, Jessie finds herself face to face with Cal when she answers the door at her job to greet her boss's boyfriend. Stunned, she and Cal pretend they are strangers so as not to let Ali know their secret.

Along with the Ali/Cal story, Jessie is also struggling in her relationship with her father. He's engaged to a young woman close to Jessie's age who is not fond of Jessie. Throughout the book, we see the turmoil Jessie faces in her relationship with her dad.

As Cal and Jessie ignore feelings, Jessie also begins spending time with Leo, the local butcher. She likes Leo but believes he is a playboy so she is skeptical about his sincerity.

Jessie has always dreamed of having a program for children & Cal encourages her to apply for a grant. She gets the grant and begins putting plans into place.

Throughout the story, Jessie faces resistance from Ali on multiple things, fights with her dad, confusion of her relationships with Cal & Leo. But at the end, Jessie ultimately chooses herself. It was a good coming of age story about realigning goals and choosing peace. I really liked Jessie's growth throughout the story and loved how she finally stood up for herself!

Thank you Net Galley and publisher for the chance to read this eARC!

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This is a super cute fast paced romance that will make you smile and get you SO attached to the characters in this book.

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