Love in Tandem

by Becca Kinzer

She’s perfectly content leading a quiet life in her small hometown. He’s an adventurer with unquenchable wanderlust. The two couldn’t be any more opposite if they tried. But a tandem bicycle and a 500-mile road trip just might change all that.After a failed engagement and her mother’s battle with cancer, Charlotte Carter’s life is finally turning around now that she’s landed a dream job teaching music. What she didn’t see coming was the imminent closure of the school’s music program. She’s determined to save it, even if it means getting creative. There’s no way she’s chalking this up as just another failure in her book of recent embarrassments.Zach Bryant is back in town just long enough to see his brother Ben get married and then he’s off traveling the world again. He never imagined he’d run into Charlotte Carter, his brother’s ex-fiancé, or that everyone would believe he and Charlotte are an item. He certainly didn’t dream he’d end up riding a tandem bicycle hundreds of miles with her in an attempt to raise funds for a defunct music program, but how can he say no when the prize money would help him out of his financial predicament too?Charlotte is sure she can set aside her differences with Zach long enough to cross the finish line and win the giant cash prize . . . can’t she? A few hundred miles in, she’s questioning her deeply held assumptions about Zach and wondering if maybe tandem biking is only the start of their biggest adventure yet.Fake dating romantic comedy by Becca KinzerTimeless opposites attract themeClean romanceDiscussion questions for book clubs

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Audiobook, Christian Romance

308 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2024

About the author

Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois where she works as a critical care nurse. When she’s not busy taking care of sick patients or using up all the storage on her phone with pictures of her dog, she enjoys making up lighthearted stories with serious laughs. She is the author of multiple titles including Dear Henry, Love Edith, which won the 2024 Carol Award for debut novel, and Love in Tandem.

Reviews

[Whitney Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

So heartwarming & sweet! Love in Tandem was adorable and left you with a smile on your face! Charlotte and Zach get themselves stuck into a fake dating situation that transpires to a 500-mile tandem bike ride. The growing relationship and banter between Charlotte and Zach are just so fun and enjoyable. Love in Tandem is wholesome and clean. This book is labeled as Christian and there is some talk of God & their faith in the book which takes the enjoyability factor up for me.

Thank you, Tyndale House Publishers, and Net Galley, for an ARC in return for my honest review.

[sarah.readsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte Carter is a simple small town woman. Her job as a music teacher is everything she could ever need and more. Yes it is true she was close to walking down the aisle two years ago but that’s all water under the bridge now, right? On the last day of school Charlotte learns that her precious music program is at risk of being shut down. With unemployment and uncertainty now hanging over her head a chance encounter could change everything.
Zach Bryant, an outdoor adventurer has returned to his small town just long enough to watch his brother get married. Fresh off of being hired and quickly fired Zach is unsure of his next moves but it sure won’t be staying in that town. When Zach runs into Charlotte- who just happens to be his brother’s ex fiancée a highly emotional night from years ago comes flooding back . Charlotte and Zach uncomfortable with the awkwardness of their families prying questions accidentally pretend to be a couple. Since they’re now pretending to be a couple and everyone around town is aware Charlotte’s sister has the brilliant idea to enter them into a contest with a huge cash prize. This prize has the ability to drastically change both of their circumstances. They just need people to believe they’re together long enough to win the money. The catch- they’ll need to ride a tandem bike 500 miles to collect that money. Will they be able to complete the challenge then go their separate ways? After all we readers know they’re just pretending to be dating, don’t we?
Becca Kinzer’s book was a delight to listen to. I love the tropes of fake dating and forced proximity best of all. This work successfully handled both exquisitely and left me wanting for nothing. Charlotte and Zach were witty and complex and challenged each other in every way possible. Their journey led them to meet such interesting, rich characters and be put in situations that tested the strength of their resolve. A special thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy.

[Oceana Reads Co. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanna laugh?

Becca Kinzer has incredibly witty writing.
We follow Charlotte, a music teacher whose funding is getting cut. She is also recovering from her broken engagement, but she keeps a positive attitude, which I really liked.

Charlotte’s ex-fiance is getting remarried and his brother, Zach, is back in town for the wedding. I won’t spoil how Charlotte and Zach meet and end up in a fake dating relationship, but it’s funny and adorable.

I liked the characters a lot. The fake dating and the awkward moments were so fun to read. It was light hearted and easy to read. There were so many laugh out loud moments!

There was great faith content! Both characters had faith growth that added depth.

One character I didn’t feel any connection to was Sophia, Charlotte’s sister. Her storyline didn’t interest me and I skimmed her chapters 😦
I also wish there was more depth to romance. I liked it, but it didn’t hit the same way Dear Henry did.

I really like Becca Kinzer’s writing and I will definitely keep reading her books. Recommend!

*there is kissing and one character sees another in a towel. No language.

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love in Tandem - Becca Kinzer - 4 Stars

Love in Tandem was SO funny! I loved Dear Henry, Love Edith last year by Becca and was so excited to dive into her next read and I was not disappointed! I laughed and laughed in this book! If you are looking for a book that is light hearted with LOTS of laughs, this is for you!

I really needed this book to during the time too after reading a fairly heavy historical fiction read. So glad I picked this up! I love Becca's writing style too!

In this story, we follow Charlotte who is a music teacher. She realizes that the grant funding for the school's music program is getting cut and she is concerned about how to continue the program. We see Charlotte in a HILARIOUS meet cute situation meet up with Zach Bryant. Charlotte is Zach's brother's ex-fiancé and somehow their family thinks they are dating! So, in this fake dating situation and thrown together in a 500 mile tandem bicycle contest for some BIG prize money- and you have a great story that is sure to bring lots of laughs.

There are also a couple of nice faith moments. I did want more with the romance personally, so I feel like this was more "com than rom", but still really enjoyed the story. I also loved reading the author's note and learning about Becca's real life experience on a 500 mile tandem bicycle trip with her husband - how fun!

I look forward to seeing what Becca writes in the future! One of my favorite authors for sure. Highly recommend!

Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute tale with smiles throughout...some of the characters were a bit exasperating yet quite likeable overall. The adventures and escapades were amusing, the faith elements and bringing in the trusting God no matter what happens even when hurting etc. It was a lighthearted story and a pleasant read so I would gladly read another by this author and certainly recommend as a wholesome rom com for the young adult crew really (even though I enjoyed it as more "middle aged")

[Natalie Nyquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book receives my highest praise, because on the night I lost a close family member and needed to NOT THINK, I picked this up hoping it could distract me and maybe even make me laugh. Becca Kinzer more than came through for me with a book I might love even more than her first, Dear Henry, Love Edith (which I LOVE).

I was snickering from the very first sentence, and honestly was attached to the adorable and hilarious Charlotte from the first page. Becca has such a great and IMO rare style of being able to write a clean rom com that has just enough of the ridiculous to make it completely hysterical. She nails the mix of humor to romance to well=paced story.

Charlotte is desperate to find the money to bring a real music program to the school where she works, and somehow her only legitimate hope is to ride a bike for hundreds of miles with the brother of her ex-fiancé. She dislikes anything outdoors, dislikes her partner on this adventure, and her antics on their attempt to complete the challenge and win the $25,000 are definitely worth the price of admission.

Please keep writing, Becca. I'm here for anything you write. And thank you for helping me get through a tough night of grief with a clean, funny, delightful distraction.

[Dana Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read!! Do you need to laugh? Then, you need to read this book! Like pronto!! This story is so entertaining, and the characters are now my best friends!! Every single one of them. I loved the storyline, zaniness of the scenes, and most of all, the precious romance between Zach and Charlotte. The book even has a secondary romance, too. These characters will forever be my book besties!! Did I say this is a fun book? Why, yes, I did. Because it is!! Thank you Ms. Kinzer for writing this story!!
#loveintandem #romcom #closeproximity
#tyndalehousepublisher #christianfiction #cleanreads
#bookstagram #tandembike
#netgalley

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun time from Becca Kinzer! The embarrassing moments, the heart pounding kisses, and the non-stop adventure will have you begging Becca Kinzer to please give us another book!

A 500 mile Tandem ride goes awry when Charlotte and Zack are tasked to go the mile, in order to save Charlotte's music career. What they weren't expecting was chaos and maybe a little love mixed in.

I love the characters, the faith and the fun good times that almost had me laughing out loud at a "Silent" Book Club.


*thank you to NetGalley for an audiobook copy of this book to read and review, all thoughts are my own.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't love this, but I've def read worse. The idea of this was good enough for me to request it on NetGalley, but I didn't end up enjoying it as much as I hoped. Some of it felt cringey and other parts of it made me roll my eyes. This one was a miss for me. It didn't feel real enough and I honestly got bored listening to it. Some of the parts did make me chuckle, but not enough to redeem it.

[Milena Bookish❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you like to have a good laugh?

Love in Tanden is a fake-dating romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud and swoon. It has all the swoony feels, angst, funny and romantic internal monologues, and of course, sweet kisses!

Charlotte has landed her dream job teaching music. However, she was taken aback when she found out that the school's music program was about to shut down. Despite the challenges, she is determined to save it.

Meanwhile, Zach Bryant has returned to town for his brother Ben's wedding. Unexpectedly, he bumps into Charlotte, his brother's ex-fiancé, and to make matters worse, everyone thinks they are dating. Zach never thought he would join Charlotte on a 500-mile tandem bicycle ride to raise funds for the defunct music program. The characters are likable, especially Charlotte with all the situations she gets into, with all the misunderstanding scenes, which is just so entertaining that you don't want them to stop.

The growing relationship and banter between Charlotte and Zach was fun to read. The author's humorous writing style made every scene highly entertaining. If you want to laugh and relax while reading, this book is definitely for you.

Clean Romance, kissing only.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

[ChildOfGod💜🙌🏽 (for God I live and for God I die) ~ in my Christian pop era]

DNF @ 10%

No content or anything I just tried another book by this author and dnfd. I thought maybe this one would be better but I just don’t vibe with the writing style and the way the characters talk I guess 🤷‍♀️. That’s ok. I’m sure it’s someone else’s cup of tea though!!

[Stacey E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my Ella Fitzgerald voice 🗣 "It's not the pale moon that excites me, that thrills and delights me. Oh no, it's just the nearness of yooou...." 👫

Becca has done it again! Swooning over this sweet and hilarious rom com. The wit, John Wayne references, music mentioned (we need a playlist), and the faith elements just created such a masterpiece.

Poor Melba, but I laughed out loud when Charolette was telling that old man. 😂 It reminded me of the episode of Roseanne where Jackie was telling people their dad died over the phone. "Dad passed away! He's no longer with us! He's dead! Dad's fine, and he sends his love. " And that twist at the end?!?! I have never been so surprised. I literally screamed 😂 I did NOT see that coming!

The setting of the Natchez trace was so fun! It actually runs through where I live and I have ridden the trace through a few states, so it felt very fimilar. I cried, reading the authors note, learning that Becca and her husband made this trip early in their relationship. It was so heart-warming and made this so much more swoony. ♥️
Thank you, Edelweiss, Becca Kinzer, and Tyndall House Publishers, for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

[Tricia Anson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a unique and fun love story with some deep themes, great relationships, and growth woven in between the banter and swoon. Read if you like fake fiancés, forced proximity, and themes of faith.

Things I Loved:
-“It’s a terrible thing when a teacher survives an entire school year only to die the first minute of summer vacation.”
-Psych reference! 🍍
-Melba
-“That’s what it was. He’d gotten rid of the man bun. No wonder she found him attractive now. She hated man buns.” (Same! 😂)
-“And hey, aren’t you supposed to be on a canoe trip right now?” “I am. Can’t you hear the utter despair and agony in my voice?”
-John Wayne and cheesecake
-“Because the whee-way killed your car and you need to call Trusty Rusty.” “Exactly.”
-Mr. Uber
-“She didn’t even have to say it. An answer to prayer. And not just Charlotte’s. Somewhere these past five hundred miles, Zach had started uttering quite a few himself.”
-Faye
-“Ah, crud. So you’re saying I went after the wrong lost sheep? I tell you, this shepherding gig never gets easier.”
-The whole entire ending ♥️

This was my first read by Becca Kinzer and will definitely not be my last! I loved all the side characters and the little story arcs playing out along with the big picture. It was a delightful and uplifting read all around.

[Toni Shiloh]

rtc

[Angela Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! I loved the adventure, humor, and romance.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute contemporary romance novel!

While some of the events that happened seemed a bit of a stretch, it was a fun read and I enjoyed the time spent listening the audio version. Narrator C.J. Bloom was a good fit and did a nice job.

Charlotte, not a fan of the outdoors, finds herself in a crisis that seems to have a solution in a tandem bicycle challenge. On the journey, she learns a lot about herself. I particularly enjoyed the interactions Charlotte and Zach while on their adventure. Charlotte and Zach show that sometimes opposites do attract. Charlotte never wants to leave her Illinois hometown and Zach thrives on visiting new places.

My gratitude to RB Media for a complimentary NetGalley Audio copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not gonna lie. I really thought for a moment there (or maybe two) that I'd end up disappointed in this book. Not that it wasn't funny... totally hilarious. Not that there weren't solid faith prods going, "So... what are you going to do about THAT?" in all the best ways. No...
I thought she might take things too far in the sensual direction. I mean, come on. They are two single people, definitely attracted to each other, traveling on a bicycle alone for a week or so. Oh, plus one small tent.
But just like she did in Dear Henry, Love Edith, Kinzer takes a close-proximity romcom, shows it for the reality it is (two attracted people will likely be crazy tempted to make stupid choices), and yet show that despite it all, temptation itself isn't a sin.
I guess my favorite part (maybe even over the gut-splitting funny moments) is showing that living out our faith doesn't always look like we think it should, and choosing what WE want isn't necessarily the best thing.

[Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase]

While I certainly enjoyed reading this book, it's not one I feel comfortable recommending, given my personal criteria for recommendation. That's also why I'm not doing "stars" with this review.

What I Liked
I found this book to be highly engaging. I've been in the mood for contemporary romance reads, lately, and "Love in Tandem" was a lot of fun to read. The book's overall premise-- tandem biking to save the music program-- had that delightful Hallmark-movie quality. The excellent pacing made this a quick read for me, the sort of book where the pages just slip by.

I enjoyed that Charlotte had to team up with her ex-fiance's brother, Zach, and I also liked how protective Zach proved to be. There was one line of his in a scene where he was watching out for her in a dangerous situation. I appreciated how matter-of-fact he was about protecting her. This is exactly how a man should be in a relationship (says the single book reviewer haha. But there's definitely biblical basis for that-- husbands caring for their wives as their own bodies).

The book also felt realistic to me, especially when it came to Charlotte's questioning the relationship and building a case to a logical conclusion, regardless of agreements. I can imagine myself doing the same thing, in her position.

"Faith" Element
Befitting the Hallmark-feel, much of the book feels like it could fit into the secular genre of "Clean Reads." I think this may have possibly been a better fit for the book. Here's why:

The "Christian" element of the book was occasional references to prayer, but a LOT of references to "faith." Faith is treated very generally, though, with very little actually said about God. Over and over, Charlotte repeats that it's important to "have faith," or "keep the faith," but it's unclear what the faith is being placed in. A bit of the time, I felt like faith could be interpreted as having faith in the character's dream, and there was one reference where faith seemed to mean trusting a specific character.

We do see some discussion about Zach feeling like he has lost his faith because he feels that God "pulled the rug out from under him" when a tragic event occurred. I feel that this is a good basis for discussion, but wasn't given the exploration it deserved as a theme.

One major issue I had with the "faith" content was a conversation where Zach implies that his lack of faith may be causing a rift between him and Charlotte. Charlotte explicitly responds that she doesn't think that's the problem.

Content Notes

Content-wise, the book feels a teensy bit beyond Hallmark. I think a movie version could still pass with a PG, but there is one scene where Charlotte accidentally leaves her clothes behind after a shower and Zach sees her in a towel -- no nudity. Zach and Charlotte share a tent during the trip because Charlotte feels unsafe being alone. In her sleep, she snuggles up to him, which he is very aware of.
There's a good deal of kissing in the book, including kissing-to-prove-we-in-a-relationship. No sex at all, so the level of physicality easily fits under the secular clean genre.

I did have an issue with the foundation of one relationship, which started with some stalking when the female character showed up at a stranger's house at 9:30 at night. While it's explained that she did this because she was trying to track down some very important information, this is still creepy. It's also one of those things that I think she gets away with because she's a girl.

Overall, as much as I enjoyed the book, I felt thrown off by the vague "faith" content and the apparent disparity in the characters' faiths. Reader's discretion also advised for the romantic content.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary ARC of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.

[DevotedToHope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny! Cute!

Love in Tandem takes readers on a whimsical journey filled with laughter, mishaps, and romance. Charlotte, our endearingly quirky protagonist, grapples with pushing past her comfort zone and facing a crisis of faith, all while navigating the winding roads of love. Paired with Zach, a wonderfully flawed hero, their banter and near disasters create moments that will leave readers smiling.

While the story is undeniably sweet and entertaining, it leans heavily on humor rather than deep Christian themes. For those seeking a light-hearted read and a focus on wholesome content, this book delivers. Readers expecting a stronger emphasis on Christian faith may find themselves longing for more substance.

The chemistry between Charlotte and Zach is palpable and their journey, filled with laugh-out-loud moments and banter (think Gilmore Girls), keeps the pages turning.

Overall, Love in Tandem offers a delightful blend of humor, romance, and quirky characters, making it a charming choice for readers in search of a feel-good rom-com. Its threads of family, healing, and humor ensure an enjoyable ride from start to finish.

While its lighter approach to Christian themes may not resonate with everyone, its threads of family, healing, and humor ensure a thoroughly enjoyable read for those looking to escape into a charming world of love and laughter.

I received a digital copy of Love in Tandem via Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book version and really enjoyed the narration! Love in Tandem was such a fun story to listen to. There were some serious and sad moments, but this novel was primarily focused on a situation that forced these two opposites into close proximity with each other. I appreciated that even early on, Charlotte and Zach battled a bit of an attraction to each other, however, they were mostly frustrated with what they had been pushed into together. I did like that although this ride and camping were very out of Charlotte’s comfort zone, she actually did commit to trying to make it work.

This story had plenty of laugh out loud and zany moments, but also moments of connection for Charlotte and Zach as they grew to know each other. Their time together also showed some things that they needed to work on both emotionally and in their faith. The faith thread was light, but it was there, making this a story that anyone could probably enjoy. I liked the cute secondary romance that developed, too. This was the first book that I have read by this author and it was lots of fun.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute forced proximity, dual POV, kissing only Christian romance (light on the God talk), full of family drama, hijinks and great chemistry between the two MCs (two exs of their mutual siblings). Teamed up to compete in a 500 mile tandem bike ride competition for $250,000 that Charlotte hopes will save her school's music program, she and almost brother in law, Zach, have to overcome a number of obstacles in order to make it to the end of the course, finding love along the way. I enjoyed this book a lot, especially on audio. Recommended for fans of authors like Pepper Basham. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: kissing obly

[Joy Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book that makes me laugh out loud!

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Oh y’all, this was such a fun read! Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer is one of those books that just makes you ridiculously happy while reading it. I adored these characters, especially the banter & chemistry between polar opposites Zach and Charlotte who sort-of stumble into a fake relationship … and then a canoodle-ship (in which canoodling is supposed to be off limits) through very little fault of their own. The icing on the cake? How they know each other in the first place… which I’ll let you discover for yourself but which just made the whole situation equal parts more horrifying and more delightful!

From the very first line – “It’s a terrible thing when a teacher survives an entire school year only to die the first minute of summer vacation.” – I started out this story on a giggle (hey, I’ve been that teacher) and kept chuckling until the very end. I also hooted with laughter a time or two – as everything that COULD go wrong DOES go wrong with perfect comedic timing – and fanned myself a lot (because perpetually ‘affectionately-annoyed’ Zach makes a toe-curlingly swoony non-canoodling-canoodler when he forgets to be noble). It’s not all comedy and kisses though, and I thought the author did a great job exploring some deeper layers – like disappointment with God – without weighing down the story.

Ahem… I do have a tiny little bone to pick with the author however. At one point, Charlotte mentions that some traumatic events in recent years had caught up with her mom, making her look closer to 57 than 47. At which point I nearly threw my Kindle across the room because someone please tell me that turning 47 this year does NOT mean I am old enough to be a romcom heroine’s MOTHER?!? Anyone? Please? Clearly, Becca Kinzer meant to say closer to 67 than 57, right? Right?? LOL don’t worry, I won’t take out my ‘how did i get to be this old’ angst on the book or author (or my Kindle) but ouch that did hurt a little haha.

Bottom Line: What could possibly go wrong when an avid outdoorsman finds himself paired up with a decidedly outdoors-averse music teacher for a 500 mile tandem bike ride along the Natchez Trace with one tent? If you said ‘everything’ you would be most delightfully correct! Becca Kinzer is an expert at comedic timing and penning swoonilicious kisses – and even combining the two. I loved getting to know Zach and Charlotte and watching them fall in love (and kiss… did I mention the kissing?), and I also enjoyed the subplots involving their respective families and the explorations of wounded faith. If you need a story that will lighten your heart and put a smile on your face, then you need to read Love In Tandem! A perfect choice for fans of Becky Wade, Courtney Walsh, and Pepper Basham!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Brianna Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opposites truly do attract in this witty and funny rom-com. I love the premise of the book and I really loved that both her and her sister found someone to love. All the characters really had to find themselves while finding each other and it made for such a cute story. All of them really found what they were looking for even though it wasn’t what they thought it would be.

[Kayla Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐💫 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This was really so cute and a quick, fun, lighthearted read! I didn't realize when I requested this book that it was the same author that wrote Dear Henry, Love Edith, which I enjoyed, but did fall slightly flat for me, similar to this one.

Overall, I'm not quite sure how to articulate how it fell flat, but it just started to lag when Charlotte and Zach were on their bike trip when just EVERYTHING started going wrong and they couldn't catch a break. It just felt so unrealistic and dragged out a long time imho.

One thing I did really enjoy was the dual romance plots between Charlotte and Zach and Sophia and Clark Kent lookalike. I didn't *love* Sophia's subplot, but thought it was fun.

Overall, this is a great lighthearted, Christian fiction romance where you can just turn your brain off and enjoy the ride (pun intended).

No language, no explicit romantic content (there is a steamier make out scene, and one character sees another in a tiny towel but that was more humorous than steamy lol)

All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Tyndale House publishers and NetGalley for an audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Violet Daniels · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book got more and more ridiculous as time went on. The romance didn't feel authentic, it felt rushed (especially with the big reveal in the end!) and then the cancer ridden mother announces she's pregnant too? I just laughed because it was all so comical and out of place.

I liked the idea and setting of this book (hence why I requested it via NetGalley) but it was a big fat disappointment I'm afraid. I wish I could give it a higher rating, but then I wouldn't be honest!

[Christine Indorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading some heavy hitters and this book was a nice palate cleanser. It made me laugh and I enjoyed the romance and the faith that was sprinkled in it. It was just a fun read!! Definitely worth the 4 stars. I enjoyed this book better than her first book she wrote. Just plain fun!!

[Abi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read Dear Henry, Love Edith and found so much effortless laughter in it, but was hesitant when I read the back cover of Love in Tandem only to find several repeated themes. DHLE was like the best of Sandra Bullock’s While You Were Sleeping in a novel. This one? Like trying to read While You Were Sleeping after it was put through a blender.

The core problem with Love in Tandem is that it tries to do WAY too many things. The brother trope. Ex-fiancé and ex-girlfriend. Cheating. Mom with cancer. Brother went to prison (for what? Did she say? I don’t even remember). Male lead has a dead dad. Crises of faith. Music school needs funding. Bike race. Family conflict. “Insurmountable” long-distance relationship. AND a random little sister subplot?

None of these themes were developed well enough—even in the sphere of a romantic comedy, the suspension of disbelief was too high that in a town so small it can’t afford a middle school band program, no one seemed uncomfortable by the ex-fiancée acting as maid of honor for her ex’s wedding. Or the brother dating her, too.

The plot point about Charlotte’s brother in prison was so glossed over it nearly gave me whiplash. Why not condense that character with the sister, Sophia? Instead of giving her an awkward, unnecessary, rushed romance? (I skipped over it and it made no difference.)

That time would have been so much better spent actually making Charlotte and Zach have any sort of meaningful conversation. About why she loved music, about why he was so wanderlust-ful, about his relationship with his brother, about growing up knowing Charlotte, about how her mom’s cancer and her brother’s prison time had affected her, etc. etc. LITERALLY ANYTHING. Rather, they have several ridiculous encounters in rapid succession and then they’re suddenly in love.

Zach has no personality other than liking the outdoors. And at no point in the book does it show that he grows to care about Charlotte’s life at all—he never asks her about music, her job, or her family. They don’t have any depth of connection at all. They don’t talk about…anything.

In the end, this book wasted so much time and space just with crafting chaos on their bike trip and Charlotte’s younger sister doing…literally nothing that matters. Charlotte was an unsympathetic heroine whose greatest identifying characteristic was her needling, anxious internal dialogue about everything; so in the end, her trite mantra of “keep the faith” rang entirely hollow. I lost faith in these characters and their incomprehensibly complicated and unexplored circumstances early on in the book. Maybe it was only boredom that kept me skimming to the end.

Just pass on this one! Despite its flaws, Dear Henry, Love Edith is much, much more enjoyable; pick that one up instead!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m still gushing to anyone who will listen over Becca’s newest book, Love in Tandem. (except my husband who now thinks we need to take a tandem bicycle trip, lol) This book has all the rom com fun without any of the spice. I was laughing out loud, quite literally, with the characters as the story unfolded. Charlotte and Zach’s story was so much fun.

I’m not going to lie, I was first apprehensive that each of the main characters’ exes were marrying each other, and that one was Zach’s brother. It’s not really a trope I’m usually interested in reading, but since I loved Dear Henry, Love Edith so much, I had to give this book a chance. Thankfully, the story didn’t center around the exes for long, and the humor all along the way smoothed things over quickly.

Charlotte never wanted to leave her small town, Zach has a knack for finding adventure in all of his travels. Through crazy circumstances, they end up together on a 500 mile tandem bike challenge on the Natchez Trace Trail to raise money to save her school’s music program. The adventure and hilarity only go up from there! Our family loves to go camping, so their travels had me dreaming up adventures for our boys when they get a little bit older.

Some favorite quotes from the book :

“Then a text came back from her mom. ‘Headed out for another walk. Such a beautiful day! God is good! No matter what, God is good!’”
**I feel like this is exactly what my momma would have sent me in this situation.

“I came here to ask you about money for the Canoodling Couples Challenge, but the whee-way killed my car, and I don’t have my phone to call Trusty Rusty”

“Wow. Was this motherhood?”
**Yes, over and over yes. Lol

And of course…

“I don’t want to ride tandem in this life with anybody but you.”

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars*

This book was interesting. I definitely liked it way more than Dear Henry Love Edith, but it still has something left to be desired.

I buddy read this with a friend and we had very similar feelings. If this had been more about the tandem bike trip and not a conglomeration of this plus a side romance (that really didn't do anything for the story), we would have liked it more. But, this story lacked a depth that we wish it would have gotten to. And maybe that was our fault because we knew this was a romcom going into it. But, I have definitely read romcoms with depth so it can be done!

Overall, better than a "just okay" story and I think I will give this author one more chance.