When I Think of You

by Myah Ariel

In this sweeping second chance romance from debut author Myah Ariel, the unexpected spark of two former flames may force them to choose between their dreams and each other.

Kaliya Wilson has paid her dues. But all the years behind the reception desk at a flashy film studio have only pushed her movie-making dreams further out of reach. That is, until a surprise reunion presents an opportunity that could make her career, or break her heart…a second time.

It’s been seven years since Kaliya’s whirlwind college romance with Danny Prescott went up in flames. While her passions have stalled, his career is taking off. So when the hot shot director reappears to offer her a job on his next production, it’s a shock to the system. Working with Danny may recapture the intensity of their film school days, but trusting him again won’t come as easily.

As the pair allows themselves the openness and vulnerability to entrust their deepest truths to each other, the possibility of a true connection draws ever closer. But when Hollywood politics and scandal threaten to sink the production and her career, Kaliya may have to risk everything to do what’s right—even if it means letting go of the second chance love of a lifetime.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Second Chance Romance

368 pages, Paperback

First published April 16, 2024

Reviews

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️
- Wow wow wow!! I can’t even begin to explain how much I truly loved this book. If you love Kennedy Ryan’s writing, you’ll love this story and how it’s written. The writing is so lyrical and there are so many beautiful quotes. The author has such attention to detail and really made the tension so drawn out which made me love the story even more.
- The fmc was so relatable because it can be so easily to fall into the trap of letting go of your dreams and not realizing your worth in the workplace. I loved seeing her confidence grow within herself and how she begin to have more confidence in her decisions as the story progressed. I also love how this story focused on so many deeper aspects of life.
- The romance in this story felt so realistic and honest. It was so obvious that they cared so deeply for one another and life just kept getting in the way. They truly felt fated from the beginning and I love every minute of their story!!

[Kezia Duah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a total sucker for second-chance romances—there’s just something thrilling about anticipating that fiery reunion! But with this story, I found myself oddly okay with Kaliya and Danny staying apart. The flashbacks lacked that magical chemistry, and their reunion didn’t spark the passion I was hoping for. Without that emotional pull, I couldn’t fully root for their love story.

That said, I loved the non-romantic elements! The exploration of racial discrimination, privilege in Hollywood, and Kaliya’s struggles to break into the industry as a woman of color were incredibly powerful and engaging. The focus on storytelling, filmmaking, and fighting for justice really elevated the plot.

Overall, while the romance fell flat, the ending tied things up nicely, with the characters growing into inspiring, world-changing figures. A solid story with great themes, just not the love story I was hoping for!

[Rachel L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A second chance romance between a Hollywood director and his production assistant.

I think Myah Ariel is a wonderful writer and I am very excited to see what else she writes in the future. For me, second chance romance is a genre/trope close to my heart. This book, the author didn't sell me on the couple's previous romance enough for me to really feel why they were drawn to each other years later. This book was a good example of when authors tell you things instead of showing you.

Lots of really great moments, Kaliya was an outstanding main character. I wasn't the biggest fan of Danny, but side characters Neha and Bella were also amazing and I loved them.

[mackenzie (hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

i enjoyed this but also... didn't? there were a lot of things that didn't work for me, while simultaneously those things added to the story and made it what it was. these two were notttt healthy for each other for a while there, another review mentions emotional cheating and that’s so accurate. it just really threw me off :/

on top of that i didn't care for either of the characters, and certainly didn't love them together (for obvious reasons). i really liked the book outside of the romance, but that is an issue when it’s a romance book.

so i’m conflicted on my rating honestly, maybe it’s more of a 2 or more of a 3 star but for now we’ll settle on a 2.5 and a big sigh of disappointment.

pre read:
i love reading the most random books that pop up on my kindle here we go!!! second chance aka trope i used to despise but now might be my fav!!!

[mina reads™️]

I really enjoyed this one against all odds. Though I love a second chance romance I really started out struggling with Danny’s character, he is a bit of an emotional terrorist and I strongly wished this book featured his POV so we could get into his head a little more. Dual POV romance will always be supreme to me. Regardless of my personal preferences, Kaliya was a fantastic character. A bright young woman with big dreams who has felt the sting of rejection so many times complacency in a job she hates seems safer than chasing what she really wants.

I loved the way this talked about starting a career in your 20s and the confusion of all the big dreams you had in college vs the strong reality check of the real world and its challenges. Kaliya was very relatable and likeable, I was rooting for her the whole way. I enjoyed her and Danny for the most part, though I feel like the book barely gave their connection a chance to breathe for the majority of the page time. This romance is a challenging one, full of self-sabotage and difficult circumstances but I really enjoyed the way the two characters came together in the end. Their romance felt grounded and real in so many ways. It was a fun, melodramatic read with alot of heart and it was a great debut. I’m excited for Ariel’s next novel.

3.75 stars

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

When I Think of You by Myah Ariel had an incredible heroine. I absolutely loved Kaliya and learning about her past and seeing her in the present. The hero though…. He was so meh for me. I didn’t love the fact that he had a girlfriend through half of the book and then there was said ex-girlfriend drama that wasn’t my favorite. The character driven part of Kaliya’s story was amazing but the romance fell flat for me.

Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.25 stars
Narrators: DeWanda Wise
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 10h 48m

[Sihle 🪻🌸🌷🌼🌝 · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF@65% because I’m not a fan of grown adults playing games.

[JBucky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had the ability to be sooooo amazing!

There were many great lessons to take away from this book based on the topics discussed.!

I feel like where it fell short was the whole book was told from Kaliya’s (The FMC) POV. I feel that I had a hard time connecting with the other characters because of that. Especially, Danny (The MMC)! I feel for a second chance romance, it’s very important to tell the the story from both perspectives since there isn’t just one person getting a second chance! I would have loved getting Danny’s POV.!

Other then that part, the overall story & message that the author was trying to get out was received! 👏🏾👏🏾

****Read as an E-ARC copy from NetGalley****

[Dani.Reads.Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

I love the writing style of this novel. The author knows how to write, that is for sure. I just didn’t like the story itself.

I unfortunately DNF’d this at 50%. Beyond the emotional cheating that occurs, I just didn't like our heroine or our hero. I just finished A Chance at Love by Beverly Jenkins which features a strong, independent, driven woman and then moved on to this novel featuring Kaliya who I was fully rooting for, but who ended up being a doormat. Kaliya is waiting for a man (Danny) to step in and save the day, save her career, validate her, and just give her a chance. Danny flaked on her years ago, almost ruined her career in the beginning of this novel, emotionally cheats on his girlfriend with her, and then continues to string her along. Now, I know they’ll end up together because it’s a romance novel, but in this day and age I don’t want to read about a woman chasing a man and waiting for him to decide to be with her.

[Wobilba · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This was one wild ride of emotions that had me hooked from start to finish!

So, Kaliyah and Danny meet, fall hard and fast in film school. It’s all sunshine and rainbows until... bam! Heartbreak city hits hard.
Fast forward seven years, they meet again.Danny now a big shot film director and Kaliyah, who’s dreams have gone to die behind a receptionist desk. They end up working together on a film project, and let me tell you, it's like watching a rom-com unfold in real life. There's so tension, drama, and a whole lot of unresolved feelings.

But amidst all the chaos, Kaliyah starts to find herself again. She rediscovers her passions, her worth, and her independence and you can't help but root for her every step of the way.

But, of course, love's never simple and as old flames flicker back to life, Danny and Kaliyah find themselves at crossroads. They are faced with tough choices and even tougher conversations that eventually leads them to give love a second chance and to finally get their happily ever after.

I think overall, this was an excellent debut novel. I loved how real the story felt. The characters were amazing (inserting my favorite Bella here) and relatable (who knew Hollywood folks could be this relatable? Ha!). I loved that Danny and Kaliyah’s journey was so raw and authentic that you can't help but get invested.
So, if you're in the mood for a whirlwind second chance romance with a side of self-discovery, then this book is definitely for you.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Nickelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! 💖 I think this may be my fave romance book of the year. The chemistry was unmatched! 🥵👀

If you love Kennedy Ryan and Emily Henry, I would highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks Little Brown for gifting me a copy of this masterpiece. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok hear me out...I actually didn't mind the evil girlfriend plot point. I KNOW, I KNOW, but I think it was what I needed to keep me entertained, and honestly I do not feel bad for said girlfriend at all. Sorry.

I liked that she existed, so that Kaliya and Danny's romance couldn't move too fast, because it was clear that they were still attracted to each other and if she wasn't there to create some sort of divide, they would've immediately gotten back together and I wouldn't have found this nearly as fun.

I also liked seeing the two of them working together before seeing them actually get together, it convinced me that they could work out this time around.

ALTHOUGH, Kaliya absolutely forgave Danny too easily for every single thing every single time. I get that she loves him and all, but he really didn't have to do much for her to take him back. I was expecting more effort on that front.

The movie they were working on was super sweet, and probably my favourite part of the book. I teared up at Danny's mother's interview. I wouldn't mind a whole book (or novella) about his parents' story.

The writing was another thing I really adored, it's so strong for a debut author, and the story itself is as well. I'd gladly read another book by Myah Ariel, especially if the cover is as gorgeous as this one.

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I Think Of You is a good one for fans of Kennedy Ryan’s Before I Let Go (which reminds me I still need to read the sequel to that!).
The chemistry between the two main characters, Kaylia and Danny, is addictive and off the charts. You get a sense that they are destined to come back to one another. With it being a second-chance romance, I really wish the narrative had been from their dual perspectives, not just Kaylia’s. I think I would have ended up rating it higher and connecting with the characters even more if this had been the case. It took me much longer to get through than I expected!

Will these college exes find their way back to one-another as they both now work in the film industry? Danny is now a successful director, with a Victoria’s Secret model-looking girlfriend, and is about to make, what he hopes to be, an Oscar-winning motion picture. Kayla is hired to work on this film by Danny himself. Soon the pair are reminded how well they click with one another? But can they work through their past heartbreak?

3 Stars 🎥✨

[Adwoa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried really hard to finish this book. I had read the blurb months prior and was really excited to read this. I didn’t like it at all. The characters were childish, miscommunication, not communicating, unnecessary drama, ‘evil’ girlfriend to somewhat make any sort of cheating defendable and palatable,... I just couldn’t do it. What the blurb promised and what the book delivered do not match.
Disappointed.

[Zoë · Rating 3 out of 5]

when I tell you she could have punched him in the face a few times and I would have been in full support of it

[Kalyani · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this but it didn’t work on a few different levels for me. The love interest was really hot and cold, the characters didn’t communicate well with one another, and it fell into some really expected plot beats and tropes (namely the evil ex girlfriend trope).

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5⭐️ There is nothing like reading a debut novel and coming away thinking yes! This writer’s got it! While this is of course a romance, and second chance at that, this story tackles heavier hitting subjects including loss, the complexities of an interracial marriage in the Jim Crow South, grief and the persuasiveness of racism and misogyny in Hollywood, even to this day.

With the slow burn of Mariana Zapata and the sizzle of Kennedy Ryan, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for up-and-comer Myah Ariel. I sure hope it includes a film adaption of When I Think of You.

🎧 A quick note - I listened to this on audio, in addition to reading the physical copy. DeWanda Wise brilliantly brings this story to life with all of the wit, emotion, and sizzle of the original story. With the added depth and nuance of her narration, I often felt like I was watching the next big romcom.

Read if you like:
•second chance romance
•film school sweethearts
•slow burn love stories
•Hollywood behind the scenes
•workplace romance
•emotional depth

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.

[sadeea♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘒𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘺𝘢. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.”

Wow, this book put me through so many emotions, I loved every second of it. It was beautiful and so many aspects made this perfect for me. The romance, the healthy communication!! I loved seeing these two find their spark again💜

Kaliyah was truly an admirable person. Seeing her stand up for herself and fight for her dreams of being in the filming industry, was very inspiring. She proved that every woman has the power to get to the top. The way she went against everyone’s opinion and made something for herself, I am so proud of her. I respect how she put a pause on everything, including Danny, to reach her dreams and goals. That’s my girl!🫶🏼

“𝘐 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵.”

Danny Prescott. He’s genuine, funny, sweet, and cares deeply for the people around him. From the moment we meet him, it’s clear he just wants the best for Kal. Despite what happened years ago, he wants to explain himself and make it right with her.

“𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶—𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱, 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘵.”

Seeing Kal & Danny’s relationship unfold truly felt like a romcom. There were so many unresolved feelings that they needed to discuss and I LOVED how openly they communicated with each other. It was very refreshing to see them overcome obstacles like adults. The flashback scenes of their relationship starting and falling apart gave depth to their story. You got to see how much they loved each other and how quickly they bonded over everything. Their relationship during both times felt natural, especially because they understood each other like it was breathing for them.

Their vulnerability and hesitance to give this relationship a second chance was understandable but some moments really pulled at my heartstrings😭 The pain and longing between them felt so real. My heart broke for the time they lost but I also think they needed this space to figure out their life and do something for themselves without depending on the other. In the end, no matter how many obstacles they faced, something was always pulling them back together. The love they found was beautiful and precious, I love them.

I will be thinking about Kal & Danny’s story for quite some time. And can we take a moment to appreciate that this is Myah’s debut?! This story was powerful in so many ways and beautifully written, I’m looking forward to her future work🫶🏼

If you loved Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, you’ll love this one! These two books are very similar in the way they beautifully portray black love and the importance of healthy communication in a relationship, which is always refreshing to read.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC copy for an honest review🫶🏽

.ೃ࿔*:･𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔.ೃ࿔*:･

♡ “𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘺. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵, 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘚𝘰, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮.”

♡ “𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘐’𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘱. 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦.”

♡ “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦, 𝘒𝘢𝘭. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭. 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯.”

♡ “𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘒𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘺𝘢,”
“𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘺. 𝘔𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰.”

♡ “𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘯, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥?”
“𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥,”

♡ “𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭.”

[Sana · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Was he a complete tool after last week's casting? Sure. Am I attracted to tools? Historically, no. Not unless they vibrate.'

Holy fucking shit, how is this a debut? It legit put me through the fucking wringer and had me tearing up more than a couple times. Ughhhh, my heart has been broken and healed and broken and healed in the span of 12 or so hours it took me to read a majority of this book. I also gotta hand it to the author for the placements of all the revelations because each one had me reeling for a different reason, talk about a constant emotional whiplash. I loved it.

So the author note at the start of the book straight up states that grief, or more specifically, parental and partner loss play a big role in the story and yeah, they totally do but also not in the way I was expecting it to? It's all-encompassing in that it became such a huge turning point in Kaliya and Danny's story in the best worst way. Suffice it to say I will read anything that Myah Ariel writes and a big shoutout for including a Behind the Book section at the end which was so interesting to read.

Another thing that I wholly appreciated was getting to know the inner workings of Hollywood. I read fantasy and sci-fi because I fucking love the genre but I read contemporary for all the lives people live that I will never do and that's where it's at for me. In that regards, When I Think of You does such a great job of showing the barebones reality of Hollywood and trying to make movies in a cutthroat industry where everyone's either out for blood (and by blood I mean money), or trying to fuck someone over for a myriad of reasons—personal gain, jealousy, nepotism, racism, take your pick. In a way, much of it has already come out in recent years but there are always more layers to peel off.

A big part of what makes the book what it is and is also woven into the story seamlessly are the microaggressions and racism Black people have to face on a daily basis that had me feeling angry on behalf of Kaliya and Danny on more than one occasion. Myah Ariel is so right to call out Hollywood on the progress that's still left to be made.

Moving on to the characters, Kaliya is the ultimate heroine. I love a good light bulb moment and even though it came for Kaliya after a world of sadness, I was all the more glad for it because sometimes it takes a minute to get a solid grip when it comes to what one wants out of life. She clearly has hang-ups and issues she's dealing with and there's a kind of catharsis in reading about a character you've come to admire go through the motions and emerge all the better for it.

Danny, on the other hand, I had my doubts about. I got that he's a charming motherfucker straightaway but had a hard time judging whether it was in a smarmy, or genuine way. I mean, he fucked up so much that I wanted to shake him because not only was he hurting Kaliya but himself, too and yet I was also rooting for him to finally get a handle on things. That double Dutch could have been a turning point but the hot and cold behavior, godd. But also, him making a movie about his parents' love definitely helped.

What didn't help was not knowing exactly what happened with them the first time around that I was basically a bundle of nerves until their backstory was finally revealed and I got some insight. I have to admit here that I'm not the biggest fan of second chance romances but this one called to me for some reason (I now know the reason was pain, ofc) and yeah, when done right, it is a romance for me because holy shit, it just about wrecked me. Doesn't hurt that their chemistry was chemistry-ing so good and the slow burn, gahh.

Moment of silence for the way I was unable to stop reading and also wanted to throw my phone away at the same time.

Neha is the true best friend, hype woman and ultimate support all rolled into one sweet package for Kaliya and I loved her for it. Their dynamic is nothing short of amazing and hilarious and ugh, friendshipppp. Neha cutting her hair in the middle of having a meltdown and Kaliya calling them 'Tetris bangs' are the kind of scenes I live for in books.

I also have to give shoutouts to Bella, Eric and Minnie. It warmed my heart to see Bella being so chill and forming an unlikely friendship with Kaliya. Eric is obvs the most decent which was also cool to see and there were a couple of fun scenes with him, heh. Minnie, though I absolutely love. She basically made the case for Danny in a single scene and I applaud. Honestly, every character even the antagonists are so realistically written that nothing ever feels fake and that's always a feat.

Oh and I have to laugh at all the obvious Hollywood references in the book like the author was not being subtle about them. The mention of Don't Worry Darling drama had me screaming ahflfljf and ofc, Max Crawford is so Harry Styles-coded LOL. There are tons of other references that had me chuckling (please, the clarification about Secretary because most people are probably gonna be thinking 50 Shades LOL) and probably an equal amount that I missed not being all that much of a cinephile.

Anyway, When I Think of You is the ultimate mix of well-written characters, funny moments (still laughing at Kaliya's 'It's possible Celine requires a higher level of maintenance than a public toilet.' line aldfgal), and an amazing love story at the core of it. Gonna stop here because I've gone on and on about it for like ten paragraphs now, heh.

Favorite quotes:
'No one cares about my passion or my potential—they just want to know if I’ve already done the job that I can’t find anyone to give me a shot at.'

'I let it ring until it stops. When it does, I sit staring at the rectangular piece of glass and tin lying motionless on my desk—like a freshly defeated corpse, liable at any time to resurrect. Seconds later, it does.'

'Our lovemaking is chiaroscuro, a perfect juxtaposition of opposites—more powerful together than ever apart.'

'When I don't feel so lost in your world,' I say. 'And when you’re not the center of mine.'

'You know my feelings for him are like glitter. You think you've swept it all up, but when you look in the mirror it's in your hair and all over your face.'

[Jen (mrs-machino) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I clicked ‘request’ on this one solely due to the gorgeous, romantic cover and it did not disappoint.

Kaliya Wilson came to Hollywood to make movies, starting as a receptionist at a production company determined to work her way up. Unfortunately her job has turned out to be a dead-end, until years later she’s shocked out of complacency when her old film school flame Danny shows up to direct the company’s next big production.

I love the second chance trope when it’s done well - meaning that you understand why the characters didn’t work out the first time, and they’ve genuinely grown enough to do better. Both were true for Danny and Kaliya, I enjoyed the deep dive into each of their characters and the book’s balance between exploring their renewed relationship and moving the plot along.

The primary plot revolved around the movie, which was a meaningful passion project for Danny telling his own parents’ love story. It made a lovely story as well, and mirrored him finding his own soulmate.

The ending had a bit too much drama for my taste, but everything worked out and I was thrilled by where Kaliya and Danny ended. I’m so excited that this is a debut book, I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Myah Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Message from the author: My debut novel is the book of my heart! This is a single POV (FMC) slow burn, open door, second chance romance set in Hollywood chronicling the love story of two Black film nerds. With moments of humor and steam, the story also touches on themes of privilege and discrimination both past and present. For a CW, the death of a parent and the subsequent grief is discussed openly on the page... so please proceed with caution!

[Estefania · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to warm up to this one but I ended up enjoying it a lot!!!! Wasn't expecting the emotional aspect but I appreciate it 🥹🫶🏻

[LindseyBluth · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Here is a list of the things Danny (MMC) has done to Kaliya (FMC) throughout the book and what Kaliya did in return shall we:

1) he went out with another girl A WEEK after their breakup because get this kaliya told him she loved him and he couldn’t handle it

WKD (what Kaliya did): said she understood where he came from and took him back without even being mad at him for a second (granted it happened 7 years ago but still)

2) he promised her a director’s assistant job then the studio gave it to someone else (why would you promise a job when it wasn’t yours to give in the first place???)

WKD: understood where he came from and forgave him

3) he has the audacity to be MAD AT HER when she breaks up with him over an article basically tarnishing her reputation

WKD: APOLOGIZED and took him back

So lesson here is this book needed some HEAVYYYYY groveling on Danny’s part and Kaliya needed to be less of a doormat I get you’re in love but come on

Everything else was great but the book would’ve benefited from more on their past as well as being dual pov

[Bria Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect love story for any girlie who loves films, like myself. It played very much so like your favorite movie & I was basking in all the characters from start to finish. Kaliya and Danny, UGH, at times they pissed me off so bad but mostly I loved them and I saw so many parts of myself it was kind of scary. I loved Kaliya’s friendship with Neha and I hope we get a story for her too. I loved all the song references, too, I put them all in a playlist to listen to when I just want to be back in this world. What didn’t I love about this book truly?

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good debut release. I liked the second-chance romance and the way the characters rekindled their love. I appreciated the way the author intertwined references on the film industry, the politics and culture that men and women of color face. I think it was clear early on that Danny wanted more for Kaliyah, including having her as his own. I look forward to reading more of this authors work.

**arc from netgalley

[That1 Creative Lady · Rating 1 out of 5]

Complete doormat for literally 80% of the book. I did not like the MMC. I can't list ONE nice gesture the man did for her the entire book other than sending her flowers because she saw pics of him on a trip with his ex. (If you can remember anything, please comment below, because I am drawing a blank) He did the barest of minimums.
I love to see new POC authors get their shot at uplifting Black love stories, but let's not glorify struggle love, okay? Black women deserve sooo much more.

[Gina Loves 2 Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
This was so cute! I LOVE a good second-chance romance! If you don't enjoy slow burns, I wouldn't recommend this one!
While I typically prefer a dual POV, the author did a great job allowing the reader to truly understand Danny's feelings through the characters' dialogue.
I especially enjoyed the film production elements of this story!
It was refreshing to experience Kaliya and Danny get the HEA they both deserved! 💕

[Keesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook performance by DeWanda Wise is 5⭐️! She sucked me in and kept me connected even during the times when the story seemed to lose focus. This is definitely a slow burn. There were times I had to remind myself that it was a romance. The additional elements of Danny’s parents, behind the scenes movie industry shenanigans, interesting supporting characters, a vindictive racist ex girlfriend and dreams deferred were entertaining but may have taken away from the love story of our FMC and MMC. Danny and Kaliya’s second, third and fourth chance at love was the whole point of the book and I wish the author had really driven that home.

[Brigitte Weil · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Life is too short to read books that are poorly written or aren’t working for me. This book checks both of those boxes, unfortunately. I was really excited to read this one because the premise sounded great, but it is honestly unbearable right off the bat. Nothing in the beginning grabbed my attention—it is very bland and boring. There are so many weird/lame metaphors crammed into almost every page and the plot and characters are not interesting at all. I wish it would have lived up to the premise and the beautiful cover but it didn’t do it for me.

[Rae | My Cousin’s Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

I really disliked the third act and found the FMC kind of annoying at the end. Otherwise, I enjoyed this romance and surprisingly liked her younger friend Bella.