What do you think?
Rate this book
Sweet Hollywood Romance #3
Make the Cut
He's a player, and she's sworn off dating. They're just friends... until they're not. Poppy Black, a fashion assistant, moonlights as the writer behind popular gossip blog, Muse Unmasked. Too bad her pop star brother hates her for writing about his personal life (oops), her other brother is a white-collar criminal… and she’s just been fired for revealing her boss’s secrets on Muse Unmasked. With her life in tatters, Poppy turns to her old friend Naoya Sugawa for help. Playboy pop star Naoya is about to embark on his next great judging and producing a new talent show, Make The Cut. It’s a music and fashion show, in which contestants compete to see who can style the best outfits for the best singers. It’s going to be great… until his stylist goes on early maternity leave. Poppy and Naoya make a she’ll help him with the show, and he’ll get her a job as his stylist. But as the two grow closer, they realize that what’s at stake isn’t just their careers, but their hearts… Buy now to dive into a romantic tale of drama, high stakes, and fashion, with swoony kisses but no explicit scenes!
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2023
About the author
Nicole Lam
26 books189 followersNicole Lam is a romance author who loves nothing more than, well, love. In her books, you’ll find emotional twists, heart-rending drama, and two broken people who find each other and choose happily ever after in spite of their problems. Her books feature heartwarming, relatable characters, swoony kisses, and no explicit scenes.
When she’s not writing, you can find her staying in her house for three-quarters of the year to avoid the Canadian winter, curling up with a good book, or learning yet another language.
To sign up for Nicole Lam's newsletter and get a free novella, go to https://www.subscribepage.com/novella
To join her street team and get free books, go to https://forms.gle/8xBaJ8zVZQbqXVgE6
When she’s not writing, you can find her staying in her house for three-quarters of the year to avoid the Canadian winter, curling up with a good book, or learning yet another language.
To sign up for Nicole Lam's newsletter and get a free novella, go to https://www.subscribepage.com/novella
To join her street team and get free books, go to https://forms.gle/8xBaJ8zVZQbqXVgE6
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 4, 2023
Fresh, clean take on Hollywood Romance
Make the Cut is another take on the relationships that develop in the world of Hollywood. Both MCs have their own goals that come with a price - giving up love to evade failure. Lam's approach is different in that you feel like you are going through the wringer (emotionally) right along the MCs.
Pros:
Lam builds the characters to not be unattainable people. Both characters fall short mostly in their relationships towards family members which makes them more universally relatable. While the MC does fall into a tropey type of famous guy character at one point, you do see that true character development like you would realistically see (sometimes one step forward, then two steps back). Both characters develop in a pragmatic way.
Cons:
There was so much denial by both MCs as to the nature of their feelings for each other that once they did reveal them it felt so sudden to the reader. Difficult to accept that they went from liking each other in a flirtatious way to full on love in the next chapter.
While both characters are relatable, I felt the Lam developed both similarly that sometimes it was confused as to who's POV I was reading from. For example, some of the words that each MC said felt out of character, especially for people in Hollywood/SoCal/entertainment industry, felt like it was more Lam's personal use of words rather than the character's own choice. This led to some frustration with the characters in that both showed same type of immaturity at times, or back peddling on a lot of possible mental/emotional improvement.
Overall, pretty sweet read if you're in the mood for a HEA!
Make the Cut is another take on the relationships that develop in the world of Hollywood. Both MCs have their own goals that come with a price - giving up love to evade failure. Lam's approach is different in that you feel like you are going through the wringer (emotionally) right along the MCs.
Pros:
Lam builds the characters to not be unattainable people. Both characters fall short mostly in their relationships towards family members which makes them more universally relatable. While the MC does fall into a tropey type of famous guy character at one point, you do see that true character development like you would realistically see (sometimes one step forward, then two steps back). Both characters develop in a pragmatic way.
Cons:
There was so much denial by both MCs as to the nature of their feelings for each other that once they did reveal them it felt so sudden to the reader. Difficult to accept that they went from liking each other in a flirtatious way to full on love in the next chapter.
While both characters are relatable, I felt the Lam developed both similarly that sometimes it was confused as to who's POV I was reading from. For example, some of the words that each MC said felt out of character, especially for people in Hollywood/SoCal/entertainment industry, felt like it was more Lam's personal use of words rather than the character's own choice. This led to some frustration with the characters in that both showed same type of immaturity at times, or back peddling on a lot of possible mental/emotional improvement.
Overall, pretty sweet read if you're in the mood for a HEA!
December 17, 2023
This was a fun, friends-to-lovers book. I loved the characters. These characters grow together. The build-up to the first kiss was absolutely perfect!
This is a closed door romance. The third act, "break up," just didn't do it for me. I was honestly so confused. Maybe I didn't read it as dramatic as it needed to be, but it definitely fell flat for me
This is a closed door romance. The third act, "break up," just didn't do it for me. I was honestly so confused. Maybe I didn't read it as dramatic as it needed to be, but it definitely fell flat for me
April 29, 2023
I was drawn into this story as soon as I started it, but eventually I lost interest. There were multiple factors playing into my loss of interest, but I can’t pin point just one thing.
Poppy and Naoya’s friendship was sweet to watch play out and turn into something more. There were quite a few swoon-worthy lines in this story, which was about the only redeemable quality this book had.
“𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚝!”
“𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙸𝚝’𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝙸’𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐, 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝙸’𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔.”
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read the ARC of this book. All opinions are purely my own.
Poppy and Naoya’s friendship was sweet to watch play out and turn into something more. There were quite a few swoon-worthy lines in this story, which was about the only redeemable quality this book had.
“𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚝!”
“𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙸𝚝’𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝙸’𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐, 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝙸’𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔.”
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read the ARC of this book. All opinions are purely my own.
May 2, 2023
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Poppy & Naoya’s points of view
– Naoya deals with his father’s betrayal to him and his mother (occurred years ago but is still festering/brought back up during the events of this story; his father had an affair while still married to Naoya’s mother)
Review:
I removed a star because I felt like there was something missing and/or the change in feelings between them were not given enough time to develop. I’m not sure which and while I wasn’t 100% happy with how quick the change came about, I did like the relationship they had on both ends of the change (their friendship & their dating relationship).
I really liked that Poppy and Naoya had a relaxed friendship where they picked up from where they last were and that it developed further with spending more time together. I also really liked the dynamic between the two of them and how they’d tease/rag on each other. I really liked that when they got into a dating relationship that they wanted to really be in each other’s lives and know what was bothering the other person so that they could help by letting them get the issue off their chest. I loved Poppy’s friends and how they tried to encourage her when things were looking bleak. I loved Naoya’s mother and how she tried to help Naoya with his feelings with his father. Some of my favorite scenes/moments in this book included: laser tag, tea, the watch party epiphany, Naoya’s flirting attempts, and the sushi night.
Summary:
Poppy Black swore off dating after her ex outed her as the author behind Muse Unmasked, a gossip blog that most celebrities and high up entrepreneurs were not a fan of due to the secrets and other things she posted about. Once her secret was out, everything in her life went downhill. Her celebrity brother has cut himself off from her completely changing the dynamic they’ve had since they were kids. Her boss, who Poppy did not write favorably about, understandably fired her on the spot and blacklisted her. Every job Poppy has applied for since have been declining her requests after realizing just who she is. She’s in limbo in California with little to no money to her name. If she doesn’t find a job soon, she’ll have to move back home with her parents and let go of her dreams in the fashion industry…
Naoya has been friends with Poppy for a few years now and wants to help her. So when his stylist unexpectedly goes on early maternity leave, he goes straight to Poppy with an offer for her to work as his stylist on his show Make the Cut. As they spend more time together, Naoya finds himself fighting off feelings for Poppy that he didn’t expect to have. Though with Poppy, none of Naoya’s feelings make sense to begin with. Known as a pop star playboy, Naoya isn’t known for having a relationship beyond a few dates with a girl before moving on to the next one. But with Poppy, he thinks he might want a forever with her. But she isn’t looking to date after the fiasco with her ex and she isn’t taking any of his flirtations seriously. How is Naoya going to convince Poppy to give him a shot?
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Poppy & Naoya’s points of view
– Naoya deals with his father’s betrayal to him and his mother (occurred years ago but is still festering/brought back up during the events of this story; his father had an affair while still married to Naoya’s mother)
Review:
I removed a star because I felt like there was something missing and/or the change in feelings between them were not given enough time to develop. I’m not sure which and while I wasn’t 100% happy with how quick the change came about, I did like the relationship they had on both ends of the change (their friendship & their dating relationship).
I really liked that Poppy and Naoya had a relaxed friendship where they picked up from where they last were and that it developed further with spending more time together. I also really liked the dynamic between the two of them and how they’d tease/rag on each other. I really liked that when they got into a dating relationship that they wanted to really be in each other’s lives and know what was bothering the other person so that they could help by letting them get the issue off their chest. I loved Poppy’s friends and how they tried to encourage her when things were looking bleak. I loved Naoya’s mother and how she tried to help Naoya with his feelings with his father. Some of my favorite scenes/moments in this book included: laser tag, tea, the watch party epiphany, Naoya’s flirting attempts, and the sushi night.
Summary:
Poppy Black swore off dating after her ex outed her as the author behind Muse Unmasked, a gossip blog that most celebrities and high up entrepreneurs were not a fan of due to the secrets and other things she posted about. Once her secret was out, everything in her life went downhill. Her celebrity brother has cut himself off from her completely changing the dynamic they’ve had since they were kids. Her boss, who Poppy did not write favorably about, understandably fired her on the spot and blacklisted her. Every job Poppy has applied for since have been declining her requests after realizing just who she is. She’s in limbo in California with little to no money to her name. If she doesn’t find a job soon, she’ll have to move back home with her parents and let go of her dreams in the fashion industry…
Naoya has been friends with Poppy for a few years now and wants to help her. So when his stylist unexpectedly goes on early maternity leave, he goes straight to Poppy with an offer for her to work as his stylist on his show Make the Cut. As they spend more time together, Naoya finds himself fighting off feelings for Poppy that he didn’t expect to have. Though with Poppy, none of Naoya’s feelings make sense to begin with. Known as a pop star playboy, Naoya isn’t known for having a relationship beyond a few dates with a girl before moving on to the next one. But with Poppy, he thinks he might want a forever with her. But she isn’t looking to date after the fiasco with her ex and she isn’t taking any of his flirtations seriously. How is Naoya going to convince Poppy to give him a shot?
May 5, 2023
i received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🎶👗🎸👩💻🥀
🎶 I loved how they first met for some reason but I think the story would've taken a better shift if it had tiny snippets of their friendship all those years ( just a memory or two would be great for me)
👗 I loved the idea of rhe show a lot if it was real I'd love to watch it! 🤩
🎸the little plot twist was a great addition to the book tbh and there were a lot of moments between poppy and noaya that I loved🥺
👩💻 now to things that I didn't like much is why would poppy write about her boss. i didn't understand the part of the blog and I didn't like it much if I gotta be honest. I didn’t feel there was a strong motive for her to start the blog from the start
also I felt that the part of Noaya's dad was discussed a little too much throughout the book
🥀btw I love how Noaya's asian but it didn't take a big part of the book if I gotta be honest which made me the slightest bit of sad
on another note, I didn't feel like I know poppy's personality which is always a bummer in books when you don't know the personality of the main characters, especially the FMCs
overall, I loved this book! it was a great read that would totally recommend as a closed-door read!
🎶 I loved how they first met for some reason but I think the story would've taken a better shift if it had tiny snippets of their friendship all those years ( just a memory or two would be great for me)
👗 I loved the idea of rhe show a lot if it was real I'd love to watch it! 🤩
🎸the little plot twist was a great addition to the book tbh and there were a lot of moments between poppy and noaya that I loved🥺
👩💻 now to things that I didn't like much is why would poppy write about her boss. i didn't understand the part of the blog and I didn't like it much if I gotta be honest. I didn’t feel there was a strong motive for her to start the blog from the start
also I felt that the part of Noaya's dad was discussed a little too much throughout the book
🥀btw I love how Noaya's asian but it didn't take a big part of the book if I gotta be honest which made me the slightest bit of sad
on another note, I didn't feel like I know poppy's personality which is always a bummer in books when you don't know the personality of the main characters, especially the FMCs
overall, I loved this book! it was a great read that would totally recommend as a closed-door read!
June 11, 2024
A solid friends to lovers rad. It's part of a series and can be read alone (I did), but there were certainly some context I felt like I was missing. Them getting together felt natural and well paced. Naoya's resentment towards his father fell a little flat for me. Why answer the phone if you know you're going to hang up on him? Either cut him out or don't. The stalker reveal could have been great, if predictable, but felt anti-climactic. But, as always, we love a couple who communicates and doesn't have a 3rd act breakup.
May 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this story. It’s a friends to love, complicated by celebrity, clean romance. It packed in a lot of emotional history and baggage for both main characters. Naoya and Poppy both made decisions, influenced by that baggage, that left them with even more issues. Through the course of the story they each had to work through a lot. They were full and complex main characters and I found them very engaging. After seeing both in the previous books, we learned so much more about them in this story and I came to like them so much more. (Especially Naoya.) There is enough explanation for this to be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the whole series in order. It was really sweet seeing these two come to really recognize their feelings for each other, and then finally reveal them to each other, followed by trying to figure out if they can actually make being together work. The only things I didn’t really care for were that it didn’t seem to me that the timeline exactly worked (but I didn’t figure it all out, so maybe I’m wrong), and I thought the “grand gesture” near the end was a foolish act. I don’t know how any sane person (as in the character who did it) could have thought it was a good idea or it would turn out any better than it did. The stakes were too high with too little control. To be honest, I really didn’t like it. Fortunately, it’s a pretty small part of the book and the story moved on pretty quickly. And they acknowledged afterwards what a poor choice it was. It wasn’t enough to change how much I liked the book. I’m sure some readers won’t be bothered by it at all. It’s a great book. There’s some fun banter, some sweet romance, plenty of emotional drama, appearances from the rest of the series, and great characters.
June 15, 2023
2.5. it was cute, but felt like everything was all over the place.
April 21, 2023
Make the Cut is the third book in the Sweet Hollywood romance series. I had not personally read the prior books in this series, and I found that I had no problems reading it as a standalone.
Right from the start, this one drew me in with a fun meet-cute that made me laugh out loud. I enjoyed the friendship between Poppy and Naoya... and the slow burn of their romance? So, so good! Throw in a stalker, a feud, family drama, and a reality show... well, there was just a lot to love. While there was a lot going on in this story, I thought it all worked together very well. It kept me entertained from start to finish. I didn't always love Poppy's character, but she grew on me as the story went on... mostly anyway!
The romance in this story was clean. There was a small bit of language, but it was very mild (and very little). Overall, this was a fun read and one that fans of friends to more are sure to want to read for themselves.
**I received an ARC for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
Right from the start, this one drew me in with a fun meet-cute that made me laugh out loud. I enjoyed the friendship between Poppy and Naoya... and the slow burn of their romance? So, so good! Throw in a stalker, a feud, family drama, and a reality show... well, there was just a lot to love. While there was a lot going on in this story, I thought it all worked together very well. It kept me entertained from start to finish. I didn't always love Poppy's character, but she grew on me as the story went on... mostly anyway!
The romance in this story was clean. There was a small bit of language, but it was very mild (and very little). Overall, this was a fun read and one that fans of friends to more are sure to want to read for themselves.
**I received an ARC for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
April 29, 2023
If you are in a search for an friends to lovers romance that has a great character development - this book is for you! 🤩
While reading I was really surprised, as it is not usual closed door romance as I would expect it. There are way more to it that just a romance story line. We can see the family dynamic, friendship development, work ethics and principles being questioned. The celebrity world and its challenges are very well addressed here!
Overall I have really enjoyed the story- it was a bit controversial but that make it even more interesting!
I loved the writing style and the pace of the storyline.
I was reading this book as a part of ARC team and this is my honest review.
While reading I was really surprised, as it is not usual closed door romance as I would expect it. There are way more to it that just a romance story line. We can see the family dynamic, friendship development, work ethics and principles being questioned. The celebrity world and its challenges are very well addressed here!
Overall I have really enjoyed the story- it was a bit controversial but that make it even more interesting!
I loved the writing style and the pace of the storyline.
I was reading this book as a part of ARC team and this is my honest review.
April 9, 2024
Amazing story!
I am so glad Poppy got her book and found love. Everything in the book was the best from the chemistry to the secret(read the book to find out what I'm talking about) it was honestly the best. Naoya was not what I was expecting after hearing about him in the last two books. Also the character development in this book is so great
Thank you for the ARC, very much appreciated
I am so glad Poppy got her book and found love. Everything in the book was the best from the chemistry to the secret(read the book to find out what I'm talking about) it was honestly the best. Naoya was not what I was expecting after hearing about him in the last two books. Also the character development in this book is so great
Thank you for the ARC, very much appreciated
May 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this story of Poppy and Naoya. This book had a lot of great wit and humor and fun. The romance of these two was fun to read.
June 11, 2023
4,25⭐️
November 10, 2024
3.8 ⭐️
A cute romance. Loved it
A cute romance. Loved it
November 1, 2023
2 stars ⭐⭐
May 23, 2023
As with all of Nicole's books, I'm so excited for this story. I'm hoping to start liking Naoya, but between you and me, after all the years I've spent reading his name in places he shouldn't be, he's already starting to grow on me.
Edit 04/09/2023:
Well, hello there. I finally read Make the Cut and I can happily say, Naoya and Poppy's friendship was one of the best relationships in all of Nicole's books. I can't believe I actually liked Naoya the more I read this book, and Poppy too! The pacing of this novel was just great, capturing so many plot lines and bringing them all together to a beautifully written end. If you haven't read this book, I definitely recommend. It's funny, cozy and sprinkled with a bit of mystery that'll keep you reading until the end.
P.S. Nicole, I'm still waiting on your autograph.
Edit 05/22/2023:
If you stumbled upon this review, it may because you're wondering if this book is worth reading. Good for you, I'm here to give you three reasons for why you should read this book.
1. Naoya.
Now let me be clear, when we were first introduced to him in "For The Record," I absolutely despised him. However, I'm telling you, Nicole does an amazing job of exploring Naoya's character in this story, and I really did fall in love with him. He's kind, charming, and reserves his flirtatious side only for Poppy, so there's no reason not to love him!
Let me add a quote to convince you:
“If you knew the number of times I’ve had to stop myself from telling you…” He shakes his head. “I’ve held myself back from confessing so many times. But if you asked me when I fell in love with you, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. It’d be like asking me when I started breathing because I’ve loved you so long, it’s a habit I’ll never break.”
2. Friends to Lovers.
I think I fell in love with this trope because of the chemistry between Naoya and Poppy. They basically met when they were kids (starting off in their careers) and gradually fell in love without realizing. Their relationship is so sincere and full of understanding. And there's nothing toxic about it!
I don't know about you, but Naoya agrees with me: "Our friendship is comfortable, easy, like sinking into a familiar pair of bunny slippers that are worn in just the right way."
3. I may be biased but Nicole is one of the best romance authors.
Nicole's books never fail to surprise me. Every time I think I have a favourite book, she comes out with a new one to top the previous one. Her writing style is immaculate and sticks with me for so long, until her words begin to feel like my personal ventilation, and her characters become my friends (or annoying younger siblings--talking about you, Oliver). The pacing for this book is spot-on, both main characters are fun to read, and I can't pinpoint my favourite line because all the description in this story is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
As always, I'll be waiting for your next book, Nicole.
Edit 04/09/2023:
Well, hello there. I finally read Make the Cut and I can happily say, Naoya and Poppy's friendship was one of the best relationships in all of Nicole's books. I can't believe I actually liked Naoya the more I read this book, and Poppy too! The pacing of this novel was just great, capturing so many plot lines and bringing them all together to a beautifully written end. If you haven't read this book, I definitely recommend. It's funny, cozy and sprinkled with a bit of mystery that'll keep you reading until the end.
P.S. Nicole, I'm still waiting on your autograph.
Edit 05/22/2023:
If you stumbled upon this review, it may because you're wondering if this book is worth reading. Good for you, I'm here to give you three reasons for why you should read this book.
1. Naoya.
Now let me be clear, when we were first introduced to him in "For The Record," I absolutely despised him. However, I'm telling you, Nicole does an amazing job of exploring Naoya's character in this story, and I really did fall in love with him. He's kind, charming, and reserves his flirtatious side only for Poppy, so there's no reason not to love him!
Let me add a quote to convince you:
“If you knew the number of times I’ve had to stop myself from telling you…” He shakes his head. “I’ve held myself back from confessing so many times. But if you asked me when I fell in love with you, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. It’d be like asking me when I started breathing because I’ve loved you so long, it’s a habit I’ll never break.”
2. Friends to Lovers.
I think I fell in love with this trope because of the chemistry between Naoya and Poppy. They basically met when they were kids (starting off in their careers) and gradually fell in love without realizing. Their relationship is so sincere and full of understanding. And there's nothing toxic about it!
I don't know about you, but Naoya agrees with me: "Our friendship is comfortable, easy, like sinking into a familiar pair of bunny slippers that are worn in just the right way."
3. I may be biased but Nicole is one of the best romance authors.
Nicole's books never fail to surprise me. Every time I think I have a favourite book, she comes out with a new one to top the previous one. Her writing style is immaculate and sticks with me for so long, until her words begin to feel like my personal ventilation, and her characters become my friends (or annoying younger siblings--talking about you, Oliver). The pacing for this book is spot-on, both main characters are fun to read, and I can't pinpoint my favourite line because all the description in this story is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
As always, I'll be waiting for your next book, Nicole.
April 29, 2023
Rate: 4.5/5
Genre: Clean Romance/ Sweet Romance
Read it if you like
🌸 Friends to Lovers
🌸 Friendship
🌸 Happily Ever After
🌸 Celebrity Friend
🌸 Dual POV
Favourite Moments
🌸 The first time they meet
🌸 Ice-cream shop scene
🌸 Their dates that were being filmed.
🌸 Them calling each other nicknames.
🌸 The part where they hide in his closet
🌸 And before her brother and him doing the duet scene.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🌸 He cares for her and worried for her.
🌸 He encourages her.
Synopsis:
Poppy
Has a celebrity brother and she was an intern at La Mode when she met Naoya who was just starting out as a singer.
Naoya
A celebrity who has a past which he doesn’t want people to know about. And met Poppy when he was just starting out as a singer.
From then on, they became fast friends. 7 years later, Poppy was exposed by her ex which cause her to lose her job and Naoya so happened to need a stylist because his stylist was taking maternity leave. Things get interesting when they start working together? What happens next? Read Make the Cut to find out!
Review:
This is my 1st book of Nicole Lam however this is not the 1st book of the Sweet Hollywood romance series it is the 3rd book of the series. Love that Naoya and Poppy called each other nicknames and they became friends after the incident in the 1st chapter. And can relate to the scene aunties that was in Naoya’s mother house. Them, playing mahjong reminds me of my babysitter and her family playing together sometimes. And of course, with them trying to introduce their son/ daughters that are not married and you happen to be single. It is very normal. And then his non-permanent tattoos are cool too and also very sweet. And Poppy managed to make him open up to her about his story which is great. Their friendship is just so sweet and also their epic dates for the Make the Cut videos are so scary and funny at the same time. And it is fun to predict about who is his stalker. A little bit of a mystery hehe… and also minor appearance of Isla and Ryder comparing which couple is the sweetest is so adorable haha… (okay can’t spoil too much you all have to read it yourself) This book makes me smile, sad, and swoon.
P.S. I really don’t like Rose and TJ. And to be honest Gustav is kind of a scene stealer wish that he has his story. Very curious about how he met his wife.
Thank you, Nicole Lam for the ARC!
Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series. Would love to read Skye and also Ryder’s story.
You can pre-order this book on Amazon. This book will be out on May 1st, 2023. Don’t miss it.
Genre: Clean Romance/ Sweet Romance
Read it if you like
🌸 Friends to Lovers
🌸 Friendship
🌸 Happily Ever After
🌸 Celebrity Friend
🌸 Dual POV
Favourite Moments
🌸 The first time they meet
🌸 Ice-cream shop scene
🌸 Their dates that were being filmed.
🌸 Them calling each other nicknames.
🌸 The part where they hide in his closet
🌸 And before her brother and him doing the duet scene.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🌸 He cares for her and worried for her.
🌸 He encourages her.
Synopsis:
Poppy
Has a celebrity brother and she was an intern at La Mode when she met Naoya who was just starting out as a singer.
Naoya
A celebrity who has a past which he doesn’t want people to know about. And met Poppy when he was just starting out as a singer.
From then on, they became fast friends. 7 years later, Poppy was exposed by her ex which cause her to lose her job and Naoya so happened to need a stylist because his stylist was taking maternity leave. Things get interesting when they start working together? What happens next? Read Make the Cut to find out!
Review:
This is my 1st book of Nicole Lam however this is not the 1st book of the Sweet Hollywood romance series it is the 3rd book of the series. Love that Naoya and Poppy called each other nicknames and they became friends after the incident in the 1st chapter. And can relate to the scene aunties that was in Naoya’s mother house. Them, playing mahjong reminds me of my babysitter and her family playing together sometimes. And of course, with them trying to introduce their son/ daughters that are not married and you happen to be single. It is very normal. And then his non-permanent tattoos are cool too and also very sweet. And Poppy managed to make him open up to her about his story which is great. Their friendship is just so sweet and also their epic dates for the Make the Cut videos are so scary and funny at the same time. And it is fun to predict about who is his stalker. A little bit of a mystery hehe… and also minor appearance of Isla and Ryder comparing which couple is the sweetest is so adorable haha… (okay can’t spoil too much you all have to read it yourself) This book makes me smile, sad, and swoon.
P.S. I really don’t like Rose and TJ. And to be honest Gustav is kind of a scene stealer wish that he has his story. Very curious about how he met his wife.
Thank you, Nicole Lam for the ARC!
Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series. Would love to read Skye and also Ryder’s story.
You can pre-order this book on Amazon. This book will be out on May 1st, 2023. Don’t miss it.
May 4, 2023
Romance level: kissing.
I started a little apprehensive with Poppy. For how everything unfolded in the last book and in the beginning of this one.
Poppy was a really complex character. I liked how you get to understand her motives as the story unfolds. There were several issues she had to deal with.
I loved that Nagoya was super protective of her. Even when he lied to himself saying he didn't want a relationship, he was all in. The idea behind their plot was really interesting. I liked the show.
I love all the activities those too were carrying out outside of the set. Their chemistry was so good! I enjoyed how he was a mess but so confident at the same time (without being arrogant).
Their nicknames were so sweet😍 I love his tattoos. The waiting for that first kiss felt so long! But at the same time so fitting. I loved the tension though... I didn't see it coming when it finally happened. I was so glad it did.
I thought they were going to be fighting longer than they did😅. And I was so gladly surprised when it got solved by communicating correctly. Even when he needed space & felt fear, he communicated it to her. It was good to see him deal with his problems too.
The final chapters were a little fast paced, but it went with the plot. Their relationship was chaotic, but I loved that they chose each other every time. Their friendship was so lovely & it built up so good for the relationship.
I liked how this story turned out! I was glad to see some of the issues mentioned with Ryder from her pov. Also, to see those two again😍. I can't wait to see what's coming next!
⚠️TW: curse words; cheating (not MC); strained relationship w/parent.
🎸
* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author through StoryOrigin. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion of the book*
I started a little apprehensive with Poppy. For how everything unfolded in the last book and in the beginning of this one.
Poppy was a really complex character. I liked how you get to understand her motives as the story unfolds. There were several issues she had to deal with.
I loved that Nagoya was super protective of her. Even when he lied to himself saying he didn't want a relationship, he was all in. The idea behind their plot was really interesting. I liked the show.
I love all the activities those too were carrying out outside of the set. Their chemistry was so good! I enjoyed how he was a mess but so confident at the same time (without being arrogant).
Their nicknames were so sweet😍 I love his tattoos. The waiting for that first kiss felt so long! But at the same time so fitting. I loved the tension though... I didn't see it coming when it finally happened. I was so glad it did.
I thought they were going to be fighting longer than they did😅. And I was so gladly surprised when it got solved by communicating correctly. Even when he needed space & felt fear, he communicated it to her. It was good to see him deal with his problems too.
The final chapters were a little fast paced, but it went with the plot. Their relationship was chaotic, but I loved that they chose each other every time. Their friendship was so lovely & it built up so good for the relationship.
I liked how this story turned out! I was glad to see some of the issues mentioned with Ryder from her pov. Also, to see those two again😍. I can't wait to see what's coming next!
⚠️TW: curse words; cheating (not MC); strained relationship w/parent.
🎸
* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author through StoryOrigin. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion of the book*
May 1, 2023
If you're looking for a sweet friends to lovers romance, you're in the right place! Make The Cut falls third in the Sweet Hollywood Romance series, but I guess it can it read as a standalone, too. Though I'd more recommend reading it after at least the second on, On The Beat, that tells the story of the protagonist Poppy's brother and my favourite (sadly fictional) pop star, Ryder Black.
Ever since reading Ryder's story, especially the way it ended, I've been waiting for this book! I really enjoyed reading Poppy and Naoya's story! It was sweet, swoon-worthy, witty and touching too. There are a lot of dialogues that almost made me laugh out loud. Poppy and Naoya's nicknames for each other were sweet! Their character development throughout the story, dealing with their past and growing stronger through it... that was well written and touching! Honestly I loved every bit of it and couldn't get my nose out until I was finished!
It was so good to see Ryder again, even when he was merely mentioned or discussed. I almost forgot how much a favourite character he was of mine until then, lol! And the ending was a satisfying one too! Now I can't wait for the next book in this series!
I recieved an ARC for my honest review, and all opinion are mine alone.
Ever since reading Ryder's story, especially the way it ended, I've been waiting for this book! I really enjoyed reading Poppy and Naoya's story! It was sweet, swoon-worthy, witty and touching too. There are a lot of dialogues that almost made me laugh out loud. Poppy and Naoya's nicknames for each other were sweet! Their character development throughout the story, dealing with their past and growing stronger through it... that was well written and touching! Honestly I loved every bit of it and couldn't get my nose out until I was finished!
It was so good to see Ryder again, even when he was merely mentioned or discussed. I almost forgot how much a favourite character he was of mine until then, lol! And the ending was a satisfying one too! Now I can't wait for the next book in this series!
I recieved an ARC for my honest review, and all opinion are mine alone.
May 1, 2023
This book is hard to put down. An Asian-American pop star and a stylist’s long friendship slowly becomes a romance. This book can be read as a stand-alone, although characters are mentioned in the prior book of the series (“On the Beat”). Poppy gets fired from her job after her boss discovers her secret side-gig as a gossip blogger. Poppy’s long-time friend Naoya then hires Poppy as a stylist. Naoya has begun to produce and co-judge a new tv talent show. These characters have to face emotional baggage and other obstacles as their friendship grows into a relationship. The story is a clean romance that required both characters to resolve issues. I deducted one star because Poppy was annoyingly selfish and insensitive at times, from her blog to the consequences of her behavior at the Grammy’s. However, I still recommend this book since overall it’s entertaining, interesting, and the characters do get to a HEA together. I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 17, 2023
“Well, there are many great things about this book. I loved the bodyguard! The Chemistry Between the leads was great from the start. they were never satisfied in relationships until they were with each other. the build-up to the relationship was a good slow burn. Poppy had a purpose! and she wasn't just a friend of Naoya who needed a job. not so great to me, I felt like River didn't deserve a role in the story. actually, the Family itself wasn't helping to move the story along. The Long monologues didn't feel natural to me either. also, I wish Colette and Poppy's relationship was expanded upon. what happened to the show, how did it go? Who were the other contestants? if Ryder had a bad reputation why would he punch Noya in public? “ -TGR
overall I LOVED the originality that the story contained. The writing itself was great and the slow burn was good. I just wish some of the characters were removed and the show, the whole point of the book, was more of a focal point.
overall I LOVED the originality that the story contained. The writing itself was great and the slow burn was good. I just wish some of the characters were removed and the show, the whole point of the book, was more of a focal point.
May 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this story. I love the character development and the plot was fast paced and so much fun. Naowa and Poppy were so much fun together and their chemistry was amazing. Their friends to more had me swooning the whole time!
May 2, 2023
She get fired from her job. Her friend hires her as a stylist for his show. They become romantically involved. Their relationship and careers are on the line.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews