THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story

by Naomi Rivers

Baltimore’s iconic Inner Harbor is known for its historic port, picturesque beauty, and tourist attractions. Can it also be the perfect setting to make a love connection?

Jasmine, a pragmatic social worker, struggles to keep her long term relationship intact. T, an art teacher by day and an elusive artist by night, gave up on relationships a long time ago. When the two meet at the Harbor by chance, their unexpected chemistry challenges their ideas about life and expectations for love. But does love have to be complicated? Or is it possible to simply live in the moment and see where the unexpected leads?

257 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 2023

About the author

Naomi Rivers writes lesbian romance and women’s fiction. Naomi Rivers is a wife writing team who believes in romance, fairy tales, and happily ever after. Their first novel, "THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story," was written over twenty years to maintain their connection during multiple deployments. They are retired U.S. military veterans and reside with their two rescue dogs on the east coast. Naomi’s work has appeared in I Heart SapphFic’s anthology Favorite Scenes from Favorite Authors and Rainbow Room Publishing’s collection From a Black Perspective: The Homeland. Their second book, "Why Not Us?" will be released 11/11/2025.

Reviews

[Diane (IF U'RE PRIVATE, PLEASE SKIP ME!!!) Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

**'An idea you have might not be good but a specific thought might end up being that awesome story you tell. Translation -- specific thoughts produce great stories so always stick with those specific thoughts..'

4.5stars!
Not trying to come off biased BUT i will in this case because this is/was a really nice black gay/queer love story -- well written also.
A highly recommended book!!

[Women Using Words · Rating 3 out of 5]

Naomi Rivers chooses an interesting concept to explore in this story. Set in Baltimore, Maryland, THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story is a tangled web of women kind of romance, one involving multiple relationships and a chance meeting between two strangers. The idea of a chance meeting is an intriguing story idea. It presents readers with food for thought: Can fate be behind a random crossing of paths? Either way, the premise provides light entertainment for someone looking to escape with a quick read on a lazy afternoon.

This is Rivers’ first book. She is a retired U.S. military veteran and she manages to work a bit of the lgbtq military experience into the storytelling. I like that; it makes the storytelling feel more personal. Written while traveling around the world, somewhere along its journey THIS grew to become tale about the difference between settling and wanting something more in a relationship. As a debut, it isn’t perfect, but it is still quite enjoyable and well-worth reading. As Rivers writes in her dedication, this is for “all who believe in fairy tales,” so if that’s you, then you’ll want to pick this one up.

[Aunt Georgia Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story,” author Naomi Rivers delivers a poignant and thought-provoking narrative that explores the intricacies of love, identity, and courage to embrace one’s true self. The story revolves around two remarkable women, Jasmine and T, whose lives take an unforeseen turn when they find each other by chance at the Baltimore Harbor, despite Jasmine being in a marriage that she is trying to keep together.

Rivers artfully portrays the emotional complexities of each character, Jasmine, a social worker, and T, an art teacher, both navigating the challenge of finding real love, even though T has given up on relationships a long time ago. But their attraction to each other is unexpected by both. The author skillfully weaves a tale of self-discovery and the transformative power of unexpected connections.

The strength of the narrative lies in Rivers’ ability to create authentic and relatable characters. Sometimes, they may not appear likable given their current relationships with others, but I was drawn into the inner struggles of Jasmine and T as they grappled with societal expectations, self-discovery, and the courage to follow their hearts.

THIS, is all that!

[Pat Black-Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you meet someone while you’re in a relationship with someone else? What happens when the other person is also in a relationship with someone else? Tricky, or “complex” as author Naomi Rivers calls it.

Yet, there is still something that draws Jasmine and T together. But it’s a push-pull relationship throughout, and we witness this through cleverly crafted dialogue. The short scenes are quickly paced as they alternate between the characters. Yet, readers still get the emotional undertones and the layers that make these women tick.

The novel is set in Baltimore. I don’t know this city, but the authors bring this vibrant city to life, and I can visualize the scenes and the characters’ interactions. For a small part of the story, Rivers includes an LGBTQ military veteran. As a psychologist who worked with this population, I would have liked to hear more about those who served in silence.

In all, I enjoyed the novel’s fast pace, the setting, the characters, and the complexities of this “simple, complex love story.”

[Angie Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want the story to end!

I loved T and Jasmine’s story! I’m kind of sad I finished it, because I wanted to spend more time with them!

While there are some editorial polishes I’d love to see the author make, the story drew me in so much that I was willing to disregard these and still wholeheartedly give the book 5 stars. It kept me continually engaged and wanting to know what would happen next, while equally wishing to savor each chapter slowly, so it wouldn’t be over too soon.

The storyline felt authentic and relatable. I appreciate how the author showed the complexities and challenges of navigating a new relationship, no matter how strong the draw between two people may be, and the influence prior relationship wounds can have on forming a new one. At the end of the day, with patience and persistence and a willingness to be vulnerable, healing IS possible, and witnessing that healing take place in T and Jasmine’s relationship is a beautiful thing.

I’m looking forward to more from this author. A highly recommended read!

[LezLibros · Rating 5 out of 5]

T and Jasmine’s unlikely and complicated relationship draws you in and doesn’t let go. the backdrop of early 2000s baltimore is the perfect setting for their chance meeting that sets off a flawed, fraught, yet wonderfully realistic and oftentimes frustrating love affair. we get to join t and jasmine as they discover truths about themselves and what they want out of life and love. The dialogue is great and the secondary characters really bring a depth to the story. I love how the author touched on the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy and how that affected service members. not only is this a story about love between two women, it’s a declaration of affection for the city of baltimore and her people and a celebration of queer love in all it’s forms.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the setting and time period, but did not care one bit for either main character. From the initial meeting where T was internal monologuing about not liking Jasmine's dog, to Jasmine's overall high maintenance attitude, and the fact that both characters are essentially cheating on their significant others (who then have to also be painted as awful people so we have sympathy for the cheaters). It's a no thanks for me.