This was a cute fake dating romance 📖 First read by this author. Very enjoyable book with a little bit of grumpy sunshine in there which added to the story. At times I felt the characters connection fell a little flat for me however the overall storyline was unique. Overall 3 🌟 I would like to ready more from this author to get another sense for her writing.

This book is beautiful ! I love the writing I love the story line I like how the book they are recording is a twilight ish series ! 10/10 recommend

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

This was such a fun and sweet romance, with a unique premise centered around two characters who bond over their job narrating a Twilight-inspired book and their shared experience of losing their mothers. Juniper and James first meet in college, right after Juniper's mother passes away. Their connection is instant, but a conversation Juniper overhears between James and his father leads her to misinterpret his feelings, setting the stage for an emotional journey between them.

While the book has a lighthearted and fun premise, it also thoughtfully explores the impact of grief and loss, adding emotional depth to Juniper and James’s story. However, I think I would have enjoyed it more without the added fake dating trope. It felt like the story would have been stronger if the characters had admitted their feelings sooner, allowing us to see more of them together. That said, the chemistry between them was undeniable, and the writing kept me engaged throughout. Overall, this was an enjoyable and heartfelt read!

Rating: 4.5

I’m a fan. From the very first conversation between Juniper and James, I was hooked. Their shared history unfolds in pieces, making us wonder—what really happened during Romeo and Juliet? And let’s not forget the Twilight dedication, which probably hit right at the heart of the target audience, who no doubt devoured it as teenagers.

By chapter four, we finally learn what James did. It’s the perfect balance—just enough mystery to keep us intrigued, but not so long that we get frustrated waiting for answers. That same chapter also introduces us, rather suddenly, to a best friend we hadn’t heard of before. A small snippet about her earlier on would have been nice, but it’s not a dealbreaker. It subtly signals that the author is LGBTQ-friendly.m

What surprised me most was that, despite Juniper being in her thirties, the story almost felt like a coming-of-age novel. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but after some thought, I realized it was an honest portrayal of something many people experience—figuring things out later in life, and that’s perfectly okay.

The tropes? Slow burn, second-chance romance, forced proximity, and a touch of enemies-to-lovers. If that’s your thing, you’ll enjoy this one.

Juniper Green never expected life to lead her back to the boy who broke her heart, but when she’s cast in the audio drama adaptation of her favorite vampire series, she finds herself face-to-face with James Neely—the co-star who vanished after one unforgettable college performance. As they step into their roles, past wounds resurface, but so does undeniable chemistry, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

This novel is an absolute treat for fans of slow-burn romance, rich character development, and second chances. Juniper’s struggles—grappling with lost dreams, grief, and self-doubt—make her an incredibly relatable protagonist. James, on the other hand, is a beautifully layered character whose quiet strength and emotional depth steal the show. Their dynamic crackles with tension, witty banter, and heartfelt moments, making their journey just as compelling as the paranormal love story they’re narrating.

Beyond the romance, the book also shines in its exploration of self-discovery and healing. The audiobook production setting adds a fresh, immersive element, while the subtle nods to classic vampire lore will delight readers who once devoured Twilight-esque stories.

With charming side characters, a perfect balance of humor and emotion, and an ending that leaves you with a warm, satisfied feeling, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves love stories that feel both real and magical.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for sharing this heartfelt romance’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Say it out loud, by Ashley Schumacher

5/5✨
Romance

Struggling with lost dreams and a stolen podcast, Juniper Green gets a second chance at magic when she auditions for the audio drama of her favorite vampire romance. The catch? Her co-star is James Neely, the boy who played the Romeo to her Juliet in a one-night-only college show before disappearing and breaking her heart. As their chemistry reignites on and off the mic, Juniper wonders if love, like magic, can be found again.

💖Slow Burn
💖Grief and healing
💖Twilight inspired
💖Audiobook narrators

I absolutely devoured this book, so much so that I wish I could read it again right now!It starts off strong with a beautiful prologue that sets the mood for the entire story, offering insight into the characters and leaving you wondering how things might have turned out if that one night had ended differently. I think what really sold this book for me was James. It's been a while since I read such a well written and loveable male character. I also adore well-spoken characters, so of course I adored James Freakin' Neely, the guy you'd probably call during "Who wants to be a millionaire?". The Twilight lore was just an added bonus that made me love the book even more because, even though now I will argue that it was a cringey story, I'll always love it. The slow burn wasn't the slowest ever, because the characters were fairly vocal about their feelings, which I love love love! I mean, the book is called Say it out loud, so I hoped there weren't going to be any miscommunication (which I hate, even though is probably the most realistic trope). I felt really connected to Juniper struggles to find her way in life. I’m not sure if feeling lost is just a 20-something thing, but I loved how the author portrayed it realistically: Juniper has no job, dreams of more, but still has to settle at times because life is tough. Bottom line is: I loved this book, everything was perfect and the writing was impeccable!

5 stars 🌟 I loved the banter, the fake dating, the twilight nostalgia it brought back!! I loved it all.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Schumacher's writing is both lyrical and poignant, drawing readers into a world where every word carries weight and significance.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each facing their own struggles and insecurities. Schumacher excels at capturing the nuances of teenage life, making the characters' experiences feel authentic and deeply resonant. The relationships portrayed in the book, particularly the friendships and familial bonds, are heartwarming and add depth to the narrative.

One of the standout aspects of the book is its exploration of communication—how we express ourselves, the things we leave unsaid, and the impact of those choices. This theme is woven seamlessly into the plot, making it a thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

While the pacing is generally strong, there are moments where the narrative slows down, which may test some readers’ patience. However, these instances are overshadowed by the emotional payoff and the ultimate message of embracing vulnerability and finding one’s voice.

Overall, "Say It Out Loud" is a touching and insightful read that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to express their feelings. With its engaging characters and meaningful themes, Ashley Schumacher has crafted a memorable story that deserves four and a half stars.

Absolutely adored this book! It is a whimsical, magical story of two lost souls who beautifully find themselves and each other. Juniper lost her way after her mom's death. She also lost her podcast that she was passionate about to a bad judgment call with selling it. On the other hand, James was an actor who needed to figure out what he wanted in his life. Together, they were audiobook narrators of a book series that was reminiscent of Twilight and brought such joy to my heart. Which made my heart smile. Along the way, they needed to get along as they fulfilled their obligations in their contract. Their professional obligations and contract lead them to a fake dating situation. As they spent more time together, they slowly fell for each other. I loved Juniper and her resilience to life not going as planned. James was more of a mystery in the beginning, but she slowly uncovered his kindness and support. He was the perfect puzzle piece that completed her. The ending was sweet and poignant!! Overall, this was chefs kiss perfect book; so delightful. I definitely recommend it!! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

ARC REVIEW!!!
2.75⭐️

I’m sad to say I wasn’t a big fan of this book. I think the plot wasn’t really for me I just bored me a little bit. I also felt as if the two main characters didn’t really have much of a connection it seemed more forced. Someone else might enjoy this one more but I just couldn’t seem to get into it☹️

The fmc, Juniper, isn’t having the best luck after her mother’s death. She loses her job and, at thirty-two, moves back in with her dad. But then, out of the blue, she gets invited to audition for the audio drama adaptation of a popular vampire romance series. Turns out, her co-narrator is James Neely—the guy she knew in college, the one who hurt her.

This is my first book by Ashley Schumacher, and I’m so glad I discovered her writing! The characters spend a lot of time at work, and I have no idea if all these audiobook recording details were accurate, but they were so interesting to read about! I have many favorite moments, but I don’t want to spoil anything—I’ll just say that James is absolutely incredible! At the start of the book, he’s closed-off and quiet, but with every chapter, he opens up more, and I fell for him even harder.

I also liked Juniper. I’m going through something similar in my own life, so her struggles felt very personal to me. And her dad? He’s amazing—I smiled every time he appeared on the page.

This book left me with such warm and happy feelings. There’s no actual magic here, but there are magical coincidences. And if you’re a Twilight fan, you’ll love this book because the series they’re narrating feels so much like it!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓slow burn
✓cinnamon roll mmc
✓forced proximity
✓grief and healing
✓audiobook narrators
✓Twilight inspired

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group (Del Rey) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

In spite of my score, I’m hopeful Ashley Schumacher keeps writing adult fiction because I would love to read more books by her.

I really like her writing style. I think she did a good job incorporating parallels to Twilight - both directly (e.g., them going on twilight themed dates) and discretely (e.g., the progression of their relationship). And I liked that the characters felt unique and not just fitting key tropes.

However, I couldn’t get over my issues with Juniper. Now this is just my opinion…but I felt she was very immature for her age (e.g., being that upset about something that happened 10 years ago, blaming James for ending things when she begged him to fake date, etc). There were also a lot of times she didn’t take responsibilities for her actions, instead blamed ‘bad magic’. And since a lot of this story was about Juniper floundering and trying to find herself, it was hard to get into it since I spent most of the story put off by Juniper.

Thank you to Ashley Schumacher, Random House/Del Rey, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

i wish that i could say out loud my thoughts about this book but i can’t and so u’ll have to read it here :)

this book my very first book written by ashley schumacher and what a delightful and whimsical time i had while reading the story of juniper and james <3!!
so… yes i’ll be tuned for her next book!

say it out loud’s that kind of story that captures you since the first pages because of how intimate and relatable can be and i can say this because guess what? i could relate to juniper and while reading certain quotes i felt understood in a very deeply way and i think won’t be the only one for sure because among some things talked we have a main female character that talks about her love for books in such a lovely way that if u’re a book lover i know that you’ll connect with juniper instantly because this is the end one of the many power of reading the connection you make with stories,characters and other people with the same feelings and different stories about what they have felt while reading a book…

i loved reading about juniper development with herself, her feelings for james and it was truly amazing to read about her friend and her father they were truly funny and adorable!

in the end what can i say more? well besides the obviously twilight inspiration that u can see already from that very stunning cover … if u are a fan of fake relationships and second chance romance well u should definitely pick this one!

a lot of thanks to netgalley and random house publishing - del rey, random house worlds, inklore for sending me the e-arc of this whimsical book in exchange for my honest opinion!

This book is for all the fangirls out there....and it's AMAZING! As a teen, I too was obsessed with a certain love story between a vampire and a human (and then the love triangle that included a werewolf) and it honestly held such an important place in my heart, it's the reason why I still love the paranormal romance genre to this day. This author did an incredible job of demonstrating what it means to be a fangirl and how important it is for young girls to have these things in their lives (and not to be mocked over it). Without getting emotional, because this book moved me quite a few times, but the storyline about how Juniper and her mother bonded over the books/films and how it made their connection even stronger, honestly the same thing happened with my mother (not over books, but over music instead), but it was such a beautiful plot point that I know will resonate with so many readers. Schumacher did a stellar job of including so many easter eggs and cheeky nods to pop culture, I loved it! I thought both main characters were likeable and I really was rooting for them to get there in the end. My only critique is that please stop calling him 'James Freakin' Neely' it was amusing the first few times, but then it just got cringe. The main takeaway from this book for me is that it's totally a love letter for older fangirls (like myself as I turn 30 this year) who loved to love books/films/music groups but got made fun of for it. This book validates the fangirl feelings and actually makes me proud to say I loved a book like that with such passion and it's okay to recognise how much things like books/series can change your life (hopefully for the better)! I read in the blurb that this title is Schumacher's debut into adult fiction, well brava! It's a fantastic debut full of laughter, relatability and heartfelt moments that is sure to strike a chord in every reader (especially us older fangirls) - I cannot wait to see what this author does next.

Three stars.

It was a interesting description—love, magic and twilight... Despite my initial enthusiasm, I found myself feeling rather disengaged as I progressed through the pages. The prose displayed a remarkable quality, yet the extended inner monologues tended to drag on, becoming somewhat repetitive as the narrative progressed.

Juniper was a very relatable character! The protagonist's inner turmoil resonates deeply, making her struggles not only relatable but also profoundly inspiring. These challenges, though common, often remain unspoken, adding a layer of authenticity to the narrative.

The element of "magic" in the narrative fell short of expectations, presenting itself more as a series of coincidences rather than a truly enchanting experience. Despite being prominently advertised, it only surfaced a few times, leaving a sense of disappointment regarding its overall presence in the story. The Twilight references I LOVE as a die hard fan but the tropes in the books was overdone.

Overall, this book presented a challenge to complete, yet it was beautifully crafted, and the opening narrative was truly engaging.

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is for anyone who ever fell in love with a fictional vampire, mourned their Twilight-era Tumblr, or just wants a romance that angsty, passionate yet tender.

One thing Ashley Schumacher does well is to give the main characters either a sort of instant affinity or a specific emotional connection from the past, and I feel like that was successfully implemented in this book. However, I got increasingly annoyed with the characters as the book progressed and they kept treading the same "we shouldn't do this" when they both clearly want to and know the other does also. The plot contrivances were also SO contrived that I had a hard time accepting them as reasons for the characters' actions - Juniper pushing to do social media when they didn't have to and she could have obtained her salary otherwise, the reasons the two of them couldn't be together, the need for fake dating, etc. I did like their dynamic when the plot didn't frustrate me, and I will say I appreciated the lack of miscommunication-caused drama.

This was objectively cute but really not for me.

I struggled to connect to either of the characters. The twilight references felt a little heavy handed and the fake dating trope felt force.

That being said, I know many people that would love this!! Twilight die hards especially will have a great time with this one.

This was my first arc so I was super excited to read this! I really enjoyed this, the story line was really fun. I wish there had been a little more of the “magic” that was described in the description instead of mainly just coincidences. I really liked Juniper I found her character very likable and relatable. It took me about 50% of the book to start to like James. He seemed to me, a little too grumpy. I wasn’t really feeling his side of the attractive personally. Overall I did enjoy the story and the characters (some more than others). Thank you for the opportunity to read this advanced readers copy!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I loved every second.

The chemistry between the characters is so off the charts great that I wouldn’t even mind if they stayed friends and I got to just read about their interactions forever.

The writing is incredibly funny, light - but not without some well-handled heavy topics - and sweet. I had a full smile most of the time, openly laughed at many remarks, got teary-eyed at others, and felt so excited it was difficult to fall asleep.

This book is why I love reading so much. Nothing felt out of place, everything had a purpose. It was beautiful.

As soon as 23rd September comes, I'd recommend running to get a copy.