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Not Like Before
Lola never wanted to be on camera alongside an A-list star—but maybe Mackenzie is everything she needs.
History professor Lola Barnes never cared about celebrities, and filming alongside superstar actress Mackenzie Vale isn’t exactly on her bucket list. But there aren’t a lot of experts on Mackenzie’s hometown on the remote Celadon Isles, so when the studio filming a deep dive of Mackenzie’s backstory comes knocking, no isn’t really an option.
This exposé is the last thing Mackenzie wants to do. She’s had a good run as an actress without the ravenous press finding out she’s trans, but keeping it that way when the media is digging around in her childhood and with her gossipy family isn’t going to be easy. But it might be her last shot at her dream casting—and her agent doesn’t take no for an answer, anyway.
And it isn’t any easier when Mackenzie is immediately head-over-heels for the gorgeous professor they tapped to film with her. And it isn’t any easier when going back to the isles means confronting all the things Lola ran away from there over twenty years ago—and that the only thing comforting her is a bond with the last person she’d ever expect to fall for.
As a tight filming schedule, a nosy agent and a relentless director force Lola and Mackenzie to face the ghosts of their pasts, will they crumble in the face of everything they ran from once? Or can they find strength in one another and be more than they were before?
Not Like Before is a 90,000-word grumpy/sunshine celebrity romance with a trans woman lead set on a fictional island where everyone is at least a little gossipy, and is the second collaborative novel between Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden. Features a celebrity actress made of pure sunshine and a historian who’s secretly soft under the surface, a meddling ex, Mackenzie’s meddling family, Lola’s meddling friend who loves Mackenzie more than she loves life, and Mackenzie’s agent, who is, unsurprisingly, meddling. Content warnings for on-page sex, a toxic ex, parental abandonment, gambling addiction, implicit threats of outing, a panic attack, falling off a boat, Hope being a fangirl, Taron being smug, and of course, the granny bra incident.
History professor Lola Barnes never cared about celebrities, and filming alongside superstar actress Mackenzie Vale isn’t exactly on her bucket list. But there aren’t a lot of experts on Mackenzie’s hometown on the remote Celadon Isles, so when the studio filming a deep dive of Mackenzie’s backstory comes knocking, no isn’t really an option.
This exposé is the last thing Mackenzie wants to do. She’s had a good run as an actress without the ravenous press finding out she’s trans, but keeping it that way when the media is digging around in her childhood and with her gossipy family isn’t going to be easy. But it might be her last shot at her dream casting—and her agent doesn’t take no for an answer, anyway.
And it isn’t any easier when Mackenzie is immediately head-over-heels for the gorgeous professor they tapped to film with her. And it isn’t any easier when going back to the isles means confronting all the things Lola ran away from there over twenty years ago—and that the only thing comforting her is a bond with the last person she’d ever expect to fall for.
As a tight filming schedule, a nosy agent and a relentless director force Lola and Mackenzie to face the ghosts of their pasts, will they crumble in the face of everything they ran from once? Or can they find strength in one another and be more than they were before?
Not Like Before is a 90,000-word grumpy/sunshine celebrity romance with a trans woman lead set on a fictional island where everyone is at least a little gossipy, and is the second collaborative novel between Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden. Features a celebrity actress made of pure sunshine and a historian who’s secretly soft under the surface, a meddling ex, Mackenzie’s meddling family, Lola’s meddling friend who loves Mackenzie more than she loves life, and Mackenzie’s agent, who is, unsurprisingly, meddling. Content warnings for on-page sex, a toxic ex, parental abandonment, gambling addiction, implicit threats of outing, a panic attack, falling off a boat, Hope being a fangirl, Taron being smug, and of course, the granny bra incident.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2023
37 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Lily Seabrooke
36 books328 followersLily Seabrooke is a lesbian, trans woman, and author of sapphic romance that stars food, because odds are, at any given time, she's hungry.
Her interests include eating food, thinking about food, writing novels about food, and drinking coffee.
Her interests include eating food, thinking about food, writing novels about food, and drinking coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 10, 2023
The fictional Celadon Isles serve as the backdrop for Seabrooke and Ramsden's latest co-write and I could imagine going there for a holiday.
Take two women (both from the Isles) one a prickly, cool expert on the area, the other a rising actress, add a reality show and you have another hit episode in the tv series. Maybe! Despite her expertise on the Isles, history professor Lola Barnes has deep rooted childhood trauma related to the area that she has filed away in her memories. Mackenzie Vale has successfully guarded her trans identity throughout her acting career but fears filming on the island will prompt a leak. When Lola, a reluctant participant in the show meets Mackenzie, she is both surprised and confounded. There are a few interactions then off we go to the Isles and filming...frankly, our leads are somewhat naive in some thinking. We learn about scene manipulation/fabrication to ultimately drive ratings and pressing for gossip and dirt. There is a smidgeon of angst, lots of humor, communication and caring family support with Lola and Mackenzie slowly recognizing feelings for one another. I grew to understand Lola's mindset and how she warms to Mackenzie's upbeat outlook and crazy family and her personality grows. How Mackenzie wants to expand her horizons, improve her acting chops - her rosy outlook on life and her career. Well rounded supporting characters add nicely to the plot and I liked Hope, Hunter and Gloria....not so much Tanya or Evelyn initially, definitely not Taron (they are Lola's conniving ex).
I really enjoyed the storyline, humor and pace and looked forward to burdens being lifted and a HEA.
Easily recommend.
Take two women (both from the Isles) one a prickly, cool expert on the area, the other a rising actress, add a reality show and you have another hit episode in the tv series. Maybe! Despite her expertise on the Isles, history professor Lola Barnes has deep rooted childhood trauma related to the area that she has filed away in her memories. Mackenzie Vale has successfully guarded her trans identity throughout her acting career but fears filming on the island will prompt a leak. When Lola, a reluctant participant in the show meets Mackenzie, she is both surprised and confounded. There are a few interactions then off we go to the Isles and filming...frankly, our leads are somewhat naive in some thinking. We learn about scene manipulation/fabrication to ultimately drive ratings and pressing for gossip and dirt. There is a smidgeon of angst, lots of humor, communication and caring family support with Lola and Mackenzie slowly recognizing feelings for one another. I grew to understand Lola's mindset and how she warms to Mackenzie's upbeat outlook and crazy family and her personality grows. How Mackenzie wants to expand her horizons, improve her acting chops - her rosy outlook on life and her career. Well rounded supporting characters add nicely to the plot and I liked Hope, Hunter and Gloria....not so much Tanya or Evelyn initially, definitely not Taron (they are Lola's conniving ex).
I really enjoyed the storyline, humor and pace and looked forward to burdens being lifted and a HEA.
Easily recommend.
January 22, 2024
Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden release a lot of books, both together and separately, and as much as I wish I had the time to read them all, I don’t. I was keen to read this one though, because how many sapphic books do we have with a trans MC? And how many of those are written by authors who can be trusted to get it right? And if I know it’s going to be an enjoyable read, even better.
Which this book was. Our trans MC is Mackenzie Vale, a superstar but, more importantly, a sunshine of a person. Mackenzie grew up on the (fictitious) Celadon Islands and her agent has booked her for a reality TV show which, under the guise of exploring celebrities’s hometowns, tries to delve deep into their childhood and past. By her side will be Lola Barnes, a history professor, an expert on the islands, with her own secrets and zero desire to be on TV.
Not Like Before is a classic grumpy/sunshine romance, with endearing characters (of course), some past drama they’ll overcome, a pinch of present drama in the form of an ex you’ll love to hate, a lot of quips and sweet banter, and heartwarming moments. There are strange turns of phrases sometimes but so much enthusiasm in the writing that it carries you away anyway. Also, I dislike Tanya very much and I wish Mackenzie remembered her agent works for her, not the other way around.
All in all, Not Like Before is a cute, uplifting romance novel, definitely not perfect but enjoyable and heartwarming. 3.5⭐️
I received a copy from the authors and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
October 2, 2023
No spoilers.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this in exchange for an honest review. You know, like on Booksprout?
Which frankly, is a huge mistake - I was pretty befuddled when I saw it in my inbox, and I wondered if Literally Lily Seabrooke just doles out ARCs to any old clown. She probably doesn't expect someone as unhinged as I am to exist, (but I do!) and to be honest I was pretty ready & expecting to give this two stars before I started. To kiss any possibility of future ARCs goodbye, because I refuse not to speak my actual thoughts, all the time everywhere. Mainly though, I really have not been vibing with some recent Seabrookes much. I think with Faux Pas and If It's Meant To Be, the too-talkative, neighbour's-nose-in-your-business small-town thing makes me retch, because allistic social norms are basically the fucking devil. She always writes pretty appealing leads, but the last two of her books that I've read, I haven't loved.
You have no idea how pleased I am to be writing this, then!
The main reason that Not Like Before caught my eye, sitting kinda sultry-like in my inbox, is because it says on the tin that Lily Seabrooke is writing a trans lead again. I'm not really into pidgeon-holing authors regardng transness - like I don't even think Fake It is Seabrooke's best, not by far - but I am the world's strongest fictional trans-sapphic enthusiast, and you can drag me nearly anywhere as long as you talk a good game, about trans girls kissing girls. I had to get this ARC. While it wasn't encouraging that Mackenzie's plot mostly revolves around her closeted ('stealth') status, she actually ended up being really enjoyable to follow.
Mackenzie puts me most in mind of Athena from Last Chance, probably because she's equally willing to use her sunshine-y disposition to both be very friendly and absolutely own people, and whether she intends one or the other is kind of up in the air at any given moment, because she is something of a dork. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Mackenzie is autism-core, but she kinda smells like it? She's always barreling forward socially, missing conversational cues and sarcasm, wanting to listen to info-dumps... She's also kind of using the bouncy attitude to hide some grim shit. In that respect and her general dorkiness, she kind of reminds me of Kayla from Life Is Sweet as well; her constant buoyancy is surprisingly appealing. The only thing worse than the press knowing she is trans, she thinks, is a world without icecream or dogs. I respect her adoration of icecream and dogs.
On that, the book quickly gives you a very good idea of why both of these women hate this fucking TV show idea that they've and don't wanna do it, and I sympathise immediately. Famous TV & Film Actress Mackenzie Vale is the world's most ebullient disaster bisexual, but her heterosexual dumb bitch manager Tanya has roped her into a celebrity feature show that claims to dive into the ROOTS of the famed and fortunate. Mostly it's a play to liven up her career, and Mackenzie does not want the show, or the guest professional they have on to discuss the history of her hometown, or anyone at all poking at her past on account of being not cis. The guest professional is Lola, a kind of surly history professor who hates celebrity culture in general; she doesn't want to get roped into idiotic gossip & drama culture, isn't looking forward to returning to the Celadon Isles, and hopes the show's star won't be a total airhead.
Gee I sure hope they don't kiss, I would hate it if the happy-go-lucky sapphic film star and the grumpy, reserved sapphic professor were to kiss a li'l! :)
Mackenzie has a thing for hot, intelligent women and Lola greatly appreciates Mackenzie's genuinely bright-eyed, golden-retriever approach to everything and everyone in life. They are grumpy and sunshiney. There's a bit of fascinating duality here, because Mackenzie figures she isn't good enough for Lola until she's fully honest about her identity to her, and Lola figures she isn't good enough for Mackenzie until she gets over her 'damage' regarding her ex and her dad. I kinda like how they're insecure in similar but different ways, and how they're overcoming it.
Their twin arcs, because all the best romances have lead character arcs that mirror eachother, are more generally about tangling with and unpacking their pasts on the Celadon Isles where filming takes place. This is really nice; I was worried that Lola wasn't gonna have much character depth (outside of being a moody bitch, my beloved<3) , and that she'd mostly be spectator to Mackenzie's trans-related past stuff, but her own past troubles involving her stupid wastrel dad and family history on the island unfold really handily, in tandem with Mackenzie's. I was also worried that a plot centered around closeted status like this would seem eye-rolling, and maybe some people will find it annoying? There's never a serious threat of anyone outing Mackenzie though, and mainly I just find myself rooting for Lola, Mackenzie or both to kill director Evelyn finally.
So Lily Seabrooke novels used to commonly feature an easily identifiable villain; usually an ex, or an overbearing boss, or a business rival. Generally their job was to be involved with both leads in some way--although they usually have a longer past with just one--and stand as something for the girls to rally against and defeat while falling in love. It's rare, I find, to see genuine villains in contemporary sapphic romance, so it was cool! Faux Pas and If It's Meant To Be sort of lacked an Evil Bad Fam for the leads, but Not Like Before simply spreads the Evil hate out a bit.
The first stage boss is Evelyn, who is the director for the goofy celebrity show and has a steely demeanour, plus a tendency to follow the showrunners' word to the letter. A lot of fun is had at her expense, and I could read about Lola giving her a verbal dressing-down for way longer than this book lasts. Both she and Mackenzie will lock horns with Evelyn over various bullshit with the show and general ultra-rude behaviour.
Stage 2 Boss is Tanya, Mackenzie's agent. Tanya is an older, fashionable heterosexual (truly the root of all evil!!) with a mind for stirring up gossip, and any other trash that she thinks will be good for Mackenzie's career and her own wallet. I sort of adore how Seabrooke turns heterosexual relationships into a gross joke, b/c they all involve Tanya and Mackenzie's brother. It's borderline mean about it & so am I! Mostly Lola butts heads with this funny agent over how much she pries into Mackenzie's life, because Lola just cannot stand celebrity culture, which is a huge mood. Mackenzie may or may not also have to stand up to her for the sake of her new love as well.
Stage 3 Boss is Taron, who is probably closest to the standard issue Seabrooke baddie. The chaotic evil version of Tay (blonde again) from Fake It, Taron is a mischevious and charismatic they/them user with an affinity for celebrity--they study parasocial relationships, irony--and wedging their way into people's lives as they see fit. As Lola's ex, their job is basically just to stir shit up and impose on everyone.
What's interesting about this lot is that they don't really scheme together; this isn't a me-and-the-boys situation, they're all pretty disconnected as antagonists, unlike bad-guy teams in Port Andrea for instance. Secondly, they're all *antagonists* rather than outright villains. Usually, the structure involves the Big Bad getting destroyed on live video feed, or losing their job, or GOING TO FUCKIN JAIL? Not here though.Taron might raise the hackles of those familiar with manipulative or even abusive tactics, and their conclusion may satisfy, but none of the three stooges can really be considered inherently bad. They all occupy a kind of interesting middleground and have their various motivations for interfering with the best new celebrity couple.
The third-act conflict that involves them all is actually really good, then, and feels like something natural that built over the entire runtime of the book. It's a very novel feeling being so invested in tension between the leads like this, and it had me awake reading at 2AM on a sunday about it. Reality TV is an unethical institution, it cannot last! We must rage against it! Queers of the world, rise up!
Quite thankfully, there's almost no conflict around Mackenzie being trans, making for an easy and breezy read. Even with the angst, which is just the right amount!! I greatly respect that while Mackenzie has a lotta concerns about being outed, she doesn't seem to have any angst about actually being trans. Love it, thank you ma'am. What is fascinating about Mackenzie's being trans is that in this case, being almost entirely internal means that the spotlight is purely on HER, and how she has developed as a trans person, which is really cool. We get small snippets about her telling herself that it's okay to want Lola, even though she hasn't told her every last thing about herself.
Her family is also really cool; books like Love & Other Disasters, and also every other transfem book ever written, have conditioned me towards heebie-jeebies regarding families of trans leads. I really like Mackenzie's mum Gloria though, and her doofy brother Hunter, or ketchup :) I really enjoyed watching Lola reckon with coming back to the island and integrating/mingling with Mackenzie's family as well, very nice.
Do I have criticisms? Well, sure - like most sapphic romances, Not Like Before is INCREDIBLY SLIM on physical description, so I dunno what a Mackenzie is meant to look like other than being slim and having long brown hair, which is seriously first mentioned like 60 pages in, iirc. Similarly, who knows what a Lola looks like beyond having "toned arms"? I want DETAIL, I wanna read real visual depictions of your characters. Pls describe homosexually their physicalities for me, I beg of you. The third act conflict is really good, but it necessarily kinda means the end for most of the flirty romance stuff, which I wanted more of. *please*
I think, though, that if the worst you can say about a book is "please ma'am can I have some more", that's pretty good. Nice place to be. I conclude that Lily Seabrooke should write more gay romances with her (genderqueer)girlfriend, and that I probably have to read One Last Shot now. Their voices in terms of writing are similar but distinct, and a pleasure to read.
Is Not Like Before the best Lily Seabrooke? I dunno if it dethrones Good Composition, but the fact it's in the running at all is a pretty solid endorsement. One of her best, for sure.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this in exchange for an honest review. You know, like on Booksprout?
Which frankly, is a huge mistake - I was pretty befuddled when I saw it in my inbox, and I wondered if Literally Lily Seabrooke just doles out ARCs to any old clown. She probably doesn't expect someone as unhinged as I am to exist, (but I do!) and to be honest I was pretty ready & expecting to give this two stars before I started. To kiss any possibility of future ARCs goodbye, because I refuse not to speak my actual thoughts, all the time everywhere. Mainly though, I really have not been vibing with some recent Seabrookes much. I think with Faux Pas and If It's Meant To Be, the too-talkative, neighbour's-nose-in-your-business small-town thing makes me retch, because allistic social norms are basically the fucking devil. She always writes pretty appealing leads, but the last two of her books that I've read, I haven't loved.
You have no idea how pleased I am to be writing this, then!
The main reason that Not Like Before caught my eye, sitting kinda sultry-like in my inbox, is because it says on the tin that Lily Seabrooke is writing a trans lead again. I'm not really into pidgeon-holing authors regardng transness - like I don't even think Fake It is Seabrooke's best, not by far - but I am the world's strongest fictional trans-sapphic enthusiast, and you can drag me nearly anywhere as long as you talk a good game, about trans girls kissing girls. I had to get this ARC. While it wasn't encouraging that Mackenzie's plot mostly revolves around her closeted ('stealth') status, she actually ended up being really enjoyable to follow.
Mackenzie puts me most in mind of Athena from Last Chance, probably because she's equally willing to use her sunshine-y disposition to both be very friendly and absolutely own people, and whether she intends one or the other is kind of up in the air at any given moment, because she is something of a dork. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Mackenzie is autism-core, but she kinda smells like it? She's always barreling forward socially, missing conversational cues and sarcasm, wanting to listen to info-dumps... She's also kind of using the bouncy attitude to hide some grim shit. In that respect and her general dorkiness, she kind of reminds me of Kayla from Life Is Sweet as well; her constant buoyancy is surprisingly appealing. The only thing worse than the press knowing she is trans, she thinks, is a world without icecream or dogs. I respect her adoration of icecream and dogs.
On that, the book quickly gives you a very good idea of why both of these women hate this fucking TV show idea that they've and don't wanna do it, and I sympathise immediately. Famous TV & Film Actress Mackenzie Vale is the world's most ebullient disaster bisexual, but her heterosexual dumb bitch manager Tanya has roped her into a celebrity feature show that claims to dive into the ROOTS of the famed and fortunate. Mostly it's a play to liven up her career, and Mackenzie does not want the show, or the guest professional they have on to discuss the history of her hometown, or anyone at all poking at her past on account of being not cis. The guest professional is Lola, a kind of surly history professor who hates celebrity culture in general; she doesn't want to get roped into idiotic gossip & drama culture, isn't looking forward to returning to the Celadon Isles, and hopes the show's star won't be a total airhead.
Gee I sure hope they don't kiss, I would hate it if the happy-go-lucky sapphic film star and the grumpy, reserved sapphic professor were to kiss a li'l! :)
Mackenzie has a thing for hot, intelligent women and Lola greatly appreciates Mackenzie's genuinely bright-eyed, golden-retriever approach to everything and everyone in life. They are grumpy and sunshiney. There's a bit of fascinating duality here, because Mackenzie figures she isn't good enough for Lola until she's fully honest about her identity to her, and Lola figures she isn't good enough for Mackenzie until she gets over her 'damage' regarding her ex and her dad. I kinda like how they're insecure in similar but different ways, and how they're overcoming it.
Their twin arcs, because all the best romances have lead character arcs that mirror eachother, are more generally about tangling with and unpacking their pasts on the Celadon Isles where filming takes place. This is really nice; I was worried that Lola wasn't gonna have much character depth (outside of being a moody bitch, my beloved<3) , and that she'd mostly be spectator to Mackenzie's trans-related past stuff, but her own past troubles involving her stupid wastrel dad and family history on the island unfold really handily, in tandem with Mackenzie's. I was also worried that a plot centered around closeted status like this would seem eye-rolling, and maybe some people will find it annoying? There's never a serious threat of anyone outing Mackenzie though, and mainly I just find myself rooting for Lola, Mackenzie or both to kill director Evelyn finally.
So Lily Seabrooke novels used to commonly feature an easily identifiable villain; usually an ex, or an overbearing boss, or a business rival. Generally their job was to be involved with both leads in some way--although they usually have a longer past with just one--and stand as something for the girls to rally against and defeat while falling in love. It's rare, I find, to see genuine villains in contemporary sapphic romance, so it was cool! Faux Pas and If It's Meant To Be sort of lacked an Evil Bad Fam for the leads, but Not Like Before simply spreads the Evil hate out a bit.
The first stage boss is Evelyn, who is the director for the goofy celebrity show and has a steely demeanour, plus a tendency to follow the showrunners' word to the letter. A lot of fun is had at her expense, and I could read about Lola giving her a verbal dressing-down for way longer than this book lasts. Both she and Mackenzie will lock horns with Evelyn over various bullshit with the show and general ultra-rude behaviour.
Stage 2 Boss is Tanya, Mackenzie's agent. Tanya is an older, fashionable heterosexual (truly the root of all evil!!) with a mind for stirring up gossip, and any other trash that she thinks will be good for Mackenzie's career and her own wallet. I sort of adore how Seabrooke turns heterosexual relationships into a gross joke, b/c they all involve Tanya and Mackenzie's brother. It's borderline mean about it & so am I! Mostly Lola butts heads with this funny agent over how much she pries into Mackenzie's life, because Lola just cannot stand celebrity culture, which is a huge mood. Mackenzie may or may not also have to stand up to her for the sake of her new love as well.
Stage 3 Boss is Taron, who is probably closest to the standard issue Seabrooke baddie. The chaotic evil version of Tay (blonde again) from Fake It, Taron is a mischevious and charismatic they/them user with an affinity for celebrity--they study parasocial relationships, irony--and wedging their way into people's lives as they see fit. As Lola's ex, their job is basically just to stir shit up and impose on everyone.
What's interesting about this lot is that they don't really scheme together; this isn't a me-and-the-boys situation, they're all pretty disconnected as antagonists, unlike bad-guy teams in Port Andrea for instance. Secondly, they're all *antagonists* rather than outright villains. Usually, the structure involves the Big Bad getting destroyed on live video feed, or losing their job, or GOING TO FUCKIN JAIL? Not here though.Taron might raise the hackles of those familiar with manipulative or even abusive tactics, and their conclusion may satisfy, but none of the three stooges can really be considered inherently bad. They all occupy a kind of interesting middleground and have their various motivations for interfering with the best new celebrity couple.
The third-act conflict that involves them all is actually really good, then, and feels like something natural that built over the entire runtime of the book. It's a very novel feeling being so invested in tension between the leads like this, and it had me awake reading at 2AM on a sunday about it. Reality TV is an unethical institution, it cannot last! We must rage against it! Queers of the world, rise up!
Quite thankfully, there's almost no conflict around Mackenzie being trans, making for an easy and breezy read. Even with the angst, which is just the right amount!! I greatly respect that while Mackenzie has a lotta concerns about being outed, she doesn't seem to have any angst about actually being trans. Love it, thank you ma'am. What is fascinating about Mackenzie's being trans is that in this case, being almost entirely internal means that the spotlight is purely on HER, and how she has developed as a trans person, which is really cool. We get small snippets about her telling herself that it's okay to want Lola, even though she hasn't told her every last thing about herself.
Her family is also really cool; books like Love & Other Disasters, and also every other transfem book ever written, have conditioned me towards heebie-jeebies regarding families of trans leads. I really like Mackenzie's mum Gloria though, and her doofy brother Hunter, or ketchup :) I really enjoyed watching Lola reckon with coming back to the island and integrating/mingling with Mackenzie's family as well, very nice.
Do I have criticisms? Well, sure - like most sapphic romances, Not Like Before is INCREDIBLY SLIM on physical description, so I dunno what a Mackenzie is meant to look like other than being slim and having long brown hair, which is seriously first mentioned like 60 pages in, iirc. Similarly, who knows what a Lola looks like beyond having "toned arms"? I want DETAIL, I wanna read real visual depictions of your characters. Pls describe homosexually their physicalities for me, I beg of you. The third act conflict is really good, but it necessarily kinda means the end for most of the flirty romance stuff, which I wanted more of. *please*
I think, though, that if the worst you can say about a book is "please ma'am can I have some more", that's pretty good. Nice place to be. I conclude that Lily Seabrooke should write more gay romances with her (genderqueer)girlfriend, and that I probably have to read One Last Shot now. Their voices in terms of writing are similar but distinct, and a pleasure to read.
Is Not Like Before the best Lily Seabrooke? I dunno if it dethrones Good Composition, but the fact it's in the running at all is a pretty solid endorsement. One of her best, for sure.
October 15, 2023
Sweet and beautiful
Definitely deserves a five star rating in my opinion. Heck, more if I could. It's so sweet and cute and wonderful and I loved the portrayal of Mackenzie as just a ball of sunshine while Lola is definitely less so.
Both characters do quite a bit of growing through the book and it's wonderful to see. And truthfully, seeing a wonderful trans woman like Mackenzie get to have the life she does was amazing for me.
I spent my Sunday reading this book and didn't put it down until I finished. 6 hours very, very well spent.
Definitely deserves a five star rating in my opinion. Heck, more if I could. It's so sweet and cute and wonderful and I loved the portrayal of Mackenzie as just a ball of sunshine while Lola is definitely less so.
Both characters do quite a bit of growing through the book and it's wonderful to see. And truthfully, seeing a wonderful trans woman like Mackenzie get to have the life she does was amazing for me.
I spent my Sunday reading this book and didn't put it down until I finished. 6 hours very, very well spent.
October 9, 2023
This is another great collaboration between Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden. I love a good celebrity romance, and this was a great one, especially because of the dynamic between a sunshine-y celebrity and a very serious professor who isn't impressed at all by fame. This created so many fun situations and interactions, making this an incredibly entertaining read. It was also amazing to see that the celebrity was a trans woman!
November 13, 2023
“Lola.” Mackenzie squeezed her shoulder. “You exist, just, like… perfectly. Seriously. In every way.”
A cute opposites-attract celebrity romance... but it did straight up lose me several times. I really like Seabrooke's writing style; there's always something very cutesy and quirky about it. This is the first book that I've read where she's cowritten with Ramsden, and their styles do seem to mesh well. The idea behind this and the characters are very charming, but it just didn't get pulled off perfectly imo.
The basic premise is that Lola, a history professor, is tapped to co-star alongside Mackenzie, a rising actress, on an episode of a reality TV show that talks about the actor's home region and gives historical titbits and whatnot. Lola is private and grumpy and somewhat closed off; Mackenzie is chipper and sunshiney and loves her fans/the spotlight. They couldn't be more different, but during filming, they start getting closer and eventually falling for one another. The cutesiness of it all is very much a feature and not a bug, but for me, it might have leaned too far in a certain direction? Some of the lines/situations were amusing, but in general a lot of this read way more childishly than I would have expected. I don't remember if we were told their ages, but they've both got to be late 20s/early 30s, and they didn't feel that age. Mackenzie reads like a teenager. Her cluelessness and the fact that she doesn't really get sarcasm was kind of cute, but mostly very exaggerated. I didn't super like the plot. The fact that a portion of it was just like, Mackenzie on tenterhooks because her grandma might out her (not maliciously, but carelessly) at any point in time was just sorta weird? The drama with the producer and the agent and stuff... not my cup of tea. And this book really drove home for me that I don't super like contemporary romances where there's a "villain" character, because authors often take it to a place that feels so overblown and dramatic and generally not realistic to me. In this book we had both an evil ex and a meddling agent (though I suppose the agent character wasn't really a villain). Maybe I'm not considering the realities of show business or whatever, but the ways in which Taron and Tanya were pushy and annoying and sinister were straight up cartoonish. Maybe that's an unfair assessment, but again. I really don't like when the conflict in a romance comes from a third party, especially ones who for whatever reason wants to keep the main characters apart.
Aside from those annoyances, the romance itself was cute. Not spectacular, but cute. The rom-com aspect wasn't bad, and I liked their little dates when they got to know each other. In the moments where her naivete wasn't being exaggerated, Mackenzie was very charming. Great first kiss scene. Lots of fun bits, but again, most of the humour didn't really hit the mark for me. (Lots of stuff with Hope and Hunter that I think I was supposed to laugh at, but it just left me like... okay.) I really liked how Mackenzie's coming out was handled; for a while it looked like it might veer into a place I didn't love. But it didn't, thankfully! And the scene where Lola stands up for herself to the producer and co. was really good. The side-plot with Lola's past didn't do much for me; that was something that deserved some more page time. Overall, just okay; definitely not my favourite from either of these authors.
August 26, 2025
4.5⭐️ Not Like Before is a sapphic romance that includes a closeted trans actress(Mackenzie) and a “grumpy” professor(Lola) who are forced to work together on a project about Mackenzie’s life, taking place in both of the women’s hometown. Their hometown is a fictional island that Lola escaped with her grandma over twenty years ago. Both MCs have secrets they want to keep and returning to the island may expose those secrets whether they’re ready or not. I would classify NLB as a slow burn, grumpy/sunshine romance with plenty of funny moments.
Mackenzie was definitely the sunshine in the duo and at first, it was a little annoying. Surely no one is that upbeat and positive all the time? But her personality grows on you once you realize it’s genuine. It’s not an act. It was cute to see how literal she was at time and how she could struggle with euphemisms, sarcasm, etc. It was even cuter to see how much Lola liked it.
Lola is the grumpy half of the duo. She balances out Mackenzie and vice versa. For the first half of the book, it’s cute to see these two women both have an attraction for each other but being too oblivious to see it. I loved their chemistry together and the build up was worth it.
There wasn’t much spice. There was really only one scene, it was pretty mild and one sided due to Mackenzie not being out as trans to Lola yet. I can do without spice but I would’ve liked another scene where they both received.
It was refreshing how accepting Mackenzie’s family was and their dynamics were very realistic. Of course no family is perfect and I believe that was captured nicely. I do feel like it was out of character for Hunter to hook up with a certain character due to this character seemingly being more bad than good for Mackenzie. Unfortunately, said person is still in Mackenzie’s life and I feel like realistically, Lola would say something to Mackenzie about the things she’s observed. There would at least be a conversation about it. I’m being vague to not spoil anything, but it was disappointing that this character wasn’t exposed for who I think she is.
Overall, I loved this book. I was excited for the trans representation. Please read the trigger warnings before reading. Not Like Before was a good blend of depth and humor. I had to force myself to quit reading at times so I wouldn’t finish it so fast. There was also an epilogue, which is always a plus for me!
Mackenzie was definitely the sunshine in the duo and at first, it was a little annoying. Surely no one is that upbeat and positive all the time? But her personality grows on you once you realize it’s genuine. It’s not an act. It was cute to see how literal she was at time and how she could struggle with euphemisms, sarcasm, etc. It was even cuter to see how much Lola liked it.
Lola is the grumpy half of the duo. She balances out Mackenzie and vice versa. For the first half of the book, it’s cute to see these two women both have an attraction for each other but being too oblivious to see it. I loved their chemistry together and the build up was worth it.
There wasn’t much spice. There was really only one scene, it was pretty mild and one sided due to Mackenzie not being out as trans to Lola yet. I can do without spice but I would’ve liked another scene where they both received.
It was refreshing how accepting Mackenzie’s family was and their dynamics were very realistic. Of course no family is perfect and I believe that was captured nicely. I do feel like it was out of character for Hunter to hook up with a certain character due to this character seemingly being more bad than good for Mackenzie. Unfortunately, said person is still in Mackenzie’s life and I feel like realistically, Lola would say something to Mackenzie about the things she’s observed. There would at least be a conversation about it. I’m being vague to not spoil anything, but it was disappointing that this character wasn’t exposed for who I think she is.
Overall, I loved this book. I was excited for the trans representation. Please read the trigger warnings before reading. Not Like Before was a good blend of depth and humor. I had to force myself to quit reading at times so I wouldn’t finish it so fast. There was also an epilogue, which is always a plus for me!
January 30, 2024
Loved the concept and the dialogue between the 2 main characters for the first bit of the story, but somehow lost its mojo and I became bored. Sorry.
October 8, 2023
The Celebrity and the Professor…
Another wonderful story cowritten by these two amazing authors! They collaborate so flawlessly! Hopefully they continue to do so in the future!
Anyway…this was a sweet, well written story with angst, secrets, healing, forced proximity, finding your own strength, trust, chemistry and connection. Lola and Mackenzie spark from the get go. Lola is the grumpy to Mackenzie’s sunshine. These two keep you interested from start to finish. Both the characters and the authors! Highly recommend! Loved it!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another wonderful story cowritten by these two amazing authors! They collaborate so flawlessly! Hopefully they continue to do so in the future!
Anyway…this was a sweet, well written story with angst, secrets, healing, forced proximity, finding your own strength, trust, chemistry and connection. Lola and Mackenzie spark from the get go. Lola is the grumpy to Mackenzie’s sunshine. These two keep you interested from start to finish. Both the characters and the authors! Highly recommend! Loved it!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 10, 2023
I read Not Like Before when I was having a bad day and it was just the sort of sweet, lovely book I needed, full of people who really care about each other (well, except some of the antagonists I guess). The plot was driven by very believable aspects of the characters' personalities instead of relying on miscommunication or other contrivances - at no point did I find myself wanting to grab the characters and shout, "Just talk to each other!" in their faces, as is sometimes the case with romance novels.
I'm so incredibly grateful that there are authors like Seabrooke and Ramsden writing books with excellent trans representation. Their experience may not be identical to mine, but it's similar enough that I cried with empathy at some of Mackenzie's more emotional moments. Also, it's neat to see a nonbinary antagonist who is a fully-developed secondary character with motives that are clearly based on realistic personal flaws/issues that anyone could have. Taron is a complex enough antagonist that I can imagine reading something from their perspective in which I actually feel sympathetic for them, even though they're absolutely awful in this book.
Speaking of secondary characters, I love Hope's mix of innocent optimism and academic thoughtfulness. I'm absolutely rooting for her to get a book of her own! Her soliloquy on history and choices was beautiful and inspiring.
I have one quibble with this book: I can't figure out where the Celadon Isles are supposed to be, or much about their history and culture - and one of the main characters is a historian of the Isles. I wish we got to learn more from Lola about her specialty.
Everything else about it is great! As a celebrity vacation romance it pretty much has to be a light read, but the characters are substantial enough to get really invested in their emotions.
I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys sapphic romance, trans representation, and/or a good grumpy/sunshine trope.
Disclosures: (1) I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. (2) I'm trans, and I may be predisposed to appreciate books by and/or about trans and nonbinary folks. (-:
I'm so incredibly grateful that there are authors like Seabrooke and Ramsden writing books with excellent trans representation. Their experience may not be identical to mine, but it's similar enough that I cried with empathy at some of Mackenzie's more emotional moments. Also, it's neat to see a nonbinary antagonist who is a fully-developed secondary character with motives that are clearly based on realistic personal flaws/issues that anyone could have. Taron is a complex enough antagonist that I can imagine reading something from their perspective in which I actually feel sympathetic for them, even though they're absolutely awful in this book.
Speaking of secondary characters, I love Hope's mix of innocent optimism and academic thoughtfulness. I'm absolutely rooting for her to get a book of her own! Her soliloquy on history and choices was beautiful and inspiring.
I have one quibble with this book: I can't figure out where the Celadon Isles are supposed to be, or much about their history and culture - and one of the main characters is a historian of the Isles. I wish we got to learn more from Lola about her specialty.
Everything else about it is great! As a celebrity vacation romance it pretty much has to be a light read, but the characters are substantial enough to get really invested in their emotions.
I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys sapphic romance, trans representation, and/or a good grumpy/sunshine trope.
Disclosures: (1) I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. (2) I'm trans, and I may be predisposed to appreciate books by and/or about trans and nonbinary folks. (-:
October 7, 2023
In grumpy-sunshine romances, i often can't handle the grumpy person--but that didn't happen here! Lola's concerns seemed 100% well-founded, and honestly she seemed overly optimistic about things if anything--you thought you could go to the small island where you had a terrible childhood and not be intensely triggered!!! And Mackenzie's sunshine was a joy (as someone who can be sarcastic and is funny but also at my root channel big Buddy-the-Elf energy, the sunshine is an easy sell for me as long as they don't diminish other people's real concerns--which she never did). This was dually written which helped keep the voices very distinct in their chapters.
My only significant ("significant"?) critique is that one of the characters had a big crush on John Ritter and likes working with him. In the present tense. But. He is so dead. Very dead. Has been dead for 20 years. Died at 55 in 2003. Maybe "John Ritter' was supposed to be a fake celebrity? But he was already a a real celebrity in our lifetime. This was set in a mostly true-to-life universe (the island and TV show were made up but otherwise), so it was a bit weird that the only real change is that John Ritter never died (though, as best i can tell, at least in this universe that 8 Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter show doesn't seem to still be on the air, so, PHEW).
My only significant ("significant"?) critique is that one of the characters had a big crush on John Ritter and likes working with him. In the present tense. But. He is so dead. Very dead. Has been dead for 20 years. Died at 55 in 2003. Maybe "John Ritter' was supposed to be a fake celebrity? But he was already a a real celebrity in our lifetime. This was set in a mostly true-to-life universe (the island and TV show were made up but otherwise), so it was a bit weird that the only real change is that John Ritter never died (though, as best i can tell, at least in this universe that 8 Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter show doesn't seem to still be on the air, so, PHEW).
October 10, 2023
I really enjoyed it. It was a classic of Seabrooke's and Ramsden's writing both, I could pick up on each of the authors signatures and they blend so well together. I have one criticism. It might sound gross or fetishistic but... Bear in mind I'm a trans woman. I've read, I think, every Seabrooke novel and story and many Ramsden novels too. Most of the authors books have multiple steamy sex scenes. I can't help but notice that Seabrooke's only full length sapphic romance novel with the absolute bare minimum of sex (I think this is the only one I've read where there is a single sex scene and where only one of the leads recieves) is the book in which one of the protagonists is a trans woman. This is baring the exception of the single novel Seabrooke produced with a transgender woman protagonist who is written to be wealthy enough to afford 'the surgery'. I assume that it's because our bodies aren't marketable to a wider cisgender audience. I understand that Seabrooke and Ramsden write for a living and need to eat and live. It's just sad I suppose. That authors, even transgender authors, are so unwilling to take a risk with who we really are. That who we are is bound for popular representation exclusively in fetishistic mediums or sanitised with 'the surgery'.
October 11, 2023
Not Like Before, the latest collaboration between Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden, brings together serious academic Lola Barnes and effervescent actress Mackenzie Vale,
The two main characters are cast together on a reality show where each episode spotlights a celebrity in their hometown.
Celadon Isles is the featured locale, Mackenzie’s birthplace where her family still lives.
Dr. Lola Barnes, Ph.D., a college professor who wrote her dissertation on Celadon Isles, is tapped to be the expert accompanying Mackenzie to add color commentary to the script.
Both women are reluctant participants — Mackenzie has a childhood secret she’s not ready to reveal, and unknown to everyone, Lola grew up in Celadon Isles but for dark reasons left and never returned.
Despite their many differences, Lola and Mackenzie become attracted to each other.
Their story is equally engaging and irritating. It’s pleasant to see Lola open up to Mackenzie and Mackenzie take more control over her life.
But I was frustrated by how much Lola’s toxic ex, Mackenzie’s conniving manager, and the show’s rigid director manipulate circumstances to drive viewer numbers and online clicks regardless how their interference affects Mackenzie and Lola.
Luckily, Seabrooke and Ramsden surround the two women with Mackenzie’s attentive family and pair each with a supportive BFF.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The two main characters are cast together on a reality show where each episode spotlights a celebrity in their hometown.
Celadon Isles is the featured locale, Mackenzie’s birthplace where her family still lives.
Dr. Lola Barnes, Ph.D., a college professor who wrote her dissertation on Celadon Isles, is tapped to be the expert accompanying Mackenzie to add color commentary to the script.
Both women are reluctant participants — Mackenzie has a childhood secret she’s not ready to reveal, and unknown to everyone, Lola grew up in Celadon Isles but for dark reasons left and never returned.
Despite their many differences, Lola and Mackenzie become attracted to each other.
Their story is equally engaging and irritating. It’s pleasant to see Lola open up to Mackenzie and Mackenzie take more control over her life.
But I was frustrated by how much Lola’s toxic ex, Mackenzie’s conniving manager, and the show’s rigid director manipulate circumstances to drive viewer numbers and online clicks regardless how their interference affects Mackenzie and Lola.
Luckily, Seabrooke and Ramsden surround the two women with Mackenzie’s attentive family and pair each with a supportive BFF.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 9, 2023
Disclaimers first:
- Much like other reviewers who posted before release day (October 9th, 2023), I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
- This review is probably going to contain at least some spoilers, and is purely from the perspective of a sapphic trans woman who feels that the genre has been lacking good trans representation so a lot of my opinion on this book is going to be based on the portrayal of a trans lead.
Now onto the plot synopsis and review:
Admittedly, I have not read anything from Jacqueline Ramsden (yet) but I have read just about everything Lily Seabrooke has put out in the last few years or so which means I think I am at least somewhat familiar with the writing style of this book even if it is a ever so slightly different from what I've read in terms of POV.
I usually wait until release day to pick up books because I haven't had a ton of interest in doing reviews, but this book caught my eye because of the trans lead and I knew it was something I needed to check out immediately as a sapphic trans woman myself. Throughout my time reading sapphic novels, the main theme that I've noticed in pretty much all of the ones that try to have trans leads (which isn't a high enough number, in my opinion), the representation is pretty poor in that usually the character just has the trans label slapped onto her and the author just tries to force a unique storyline, or even worse just does enough to remind the reader is trans and leaves it at that without addressing a lot of the issues that come with being a trans woman. Seabrooke attempted to write about a trans lead in Fake It - a book that while I found pretty good, I felt that the trans representation was a bit lacking given that there weren't a ton of trans-related issues discussed in the book.
Which brings me to this book, Not Like Before's main plot is centred around a trans lead in Mackenzie Vale, an up and coming trans actress that is very much notably not great with reading context/social cues who throughout about 95% of the book is closeted and spends her time trying to further her career - while keeping her identity a secret. This leads her to her next gig which involves going back to her childhood home in the Celadon Isles for a TV show where she will co-star with an expert, a young university professor named Lola Barnes who lives near where Vale currently lives on the mainland, touring the island and discuss where she grew up, who she grew up with, and who she grew up as.
The last part leads to a lot of reluctance from Vale to accept the role because she was out to her family, who are very talkative especially about their star actress, and was scared that she was going to be outed for being trans by somebody in just about any way possible. In her way, there are I'd say rather devious characters that will try and exploit every bit of information that the production team can get from just about anybody on the island - including Vale's family - in order to make a program that gets as many views/streams as possible. All of this while blatantly and completely disregarding the privacy of both Vale, and her co-star Professor Barnes - who has her own demons in the form of a notorious father that destroyed her family with a gambling addiction that forced her to move off the island with her grandmother when she was little.
As far as antagonists go, you have Tanya, Mackenzie's agent who seems to do whatever she can to keep her client in the spotlight even if Mackenzie isn't comfortable with it. You also have Evelyn, the director of the TV show who was thrown onto the project last minute after a convenient car accident took the original director out of the project and is very stern and also pretty willing to do what it takes to get the show massive ratings at the expense of the co-stars' comfort.
And then, finally, you have Taron, a non-binary character who is Lola's extremely invasive ex- romantic partner and research partner who inexplicably shows up and manages to try and get into Lola's (and even later in the book Mackenzie's) business through means that are eerily similar to Lola's father as mentioned at times throughout the book which causes great discomfort to both Lola, and eventually Mackenzie. There were times during Taron’s appearances in the book where they gave off strong vibes of Mike Wallace from Fake it. They still are a tad different given the plots of each book but there were definitely similarities in that Taron still tried to be uncomfortably affectionate with Lola throughout the book after Lola clearly did not want to be anywhere near them, and that neither liked to take no for an answer from anybody. I found Taron as a character to be perfectly ok in how they fit the antagonist ex role, but I can see why they would be hated as a character because there were definitely times during the book where I found them extremely uncomfortable especially at the end of the book where they find out that Mackenzie is trans and tries uncomfortably hard to somewhat relate to her as well as make Mackenzie feel like she’s going to be outed or that she had to come out.
You also have notable recurring characters such as Mackenzie’s brother Hunter who Mackenzie affectionately calls Ketchup in reference to Hunt’s ketchup as well as Lola’s colleague Hope who is insanely obsessed with Mackenzie and is uncomfortably hoping Mackenzie gets with Professor Barnes so she can see Mackenzie regularly. I found the whole Tanya-Hunter romance part of the book bizarre and I wasn’t really sure what the whole point of that was other than to give Mackenzie more of a reason to find another agent which she did not do.
As the story progresses, Lola and Mackenzie slowly start to fall for each other and pretty much everyone on earth notices in some shape or form and tries to ship the girls together. This gets to a point where the entire show the pair co-star in just becomes a reality show for their blossoming relationship. It even oddly gets into the point where Evelyn and Tanya try to throw Taron into the mix to add drama into the relationship and the show. I honestly kinda felt this change of direction was a bit weird and completely against what it seemed like how the show was described earlier in the book. I know reality TV typically likes to play this stuff up for views but I am not sure a TV show would dramatically change in direction like this because the co-stars are into each other. It’s a bit of a niche complaint maybe but it just felt like a somewhat weird subplot change to me.
Another major thing I notice in comparison to past books I’ve read is that there is really only one intimate scene in this entire book so I’d say if you’re looking for something a bit more spicy than I probably wouldn’t want to read through this book. It should also be noteworthy from a representation standpoint that the trans lead Mackenzie’s involvement in this scene is just her getting Lola off and nothing else due to her still being scared of Lola’s reaction to her being trans. While I do appreciate the realistic presentation of the fear of being outed at many points throughout this book, I found it bizarre that nothing else happened in the book from an intimacy standpoint after Lola finds out Mackenzie is trans, considering in the book it seemed like the only obstacle between the two fully engaging in intimacy was the secret of Mackenzie being trans.. I think out of everything that this book tried to address in terms of having a trans character and telling a story about the life that they live, this is probably where the book misses the mark in terms of trying to have a good, comprehensive portrayal of a trans character’s life as it felt like the topic of sex was briefly addressed and just forgotten about in the end because of all the focus on Taron trying to take Lola’s spot on the show.
In the epilogue obviously Lola and Mackenzie are happily together and the latter asks the former to move in with her to which Lola says yes. It was cool to see the story somewhat wrap up with Lola deciding to take a sabbatical back to the islands and is now fully comfortable with returning to the Celadon Isles after spending much of the book being scared of returning to the area due to her past.
Overall, I believe Ramsden and Seabrooke’s second collaboration was a pretty solid book that did a decent job of telling a story about each of the leads’ backstories and how the two gradually manage to fall in love with each other. The plot felt a bit shaky at times especially with the sudden “plot twists” in the show as well as with Taron just squeezing their way into everything but it was definitely a book I couldn’t put down for long while I was reading it because the romantic side of Lola and Mackenzie’s relationship was really fun to witness. Aside from the lack of intimacy scenes, I also think the book did a good job of portraying a trans lead and discussing all the issues Mackenzie faces over the course of filming a show that was supposed to be pretty invasive of her life and privacy. As someone that prefers her sapphic books to be a bit spicy, I wouldn’t say this is my favorite of the bunch that I’ve read (and admittedly I was hoping to see how a trans lead was portrayed in intimate scenes more than anything else because I feel like this is something most sapphic authors/readers want to avoid for a few reasons) but it was worth getting an advanced reader copy and writing a review for it. I definitely appreciated Seabrooke’s second attempt at a trans lead and hope that she continues to write about more in the future. I also enjoyed Ramsden’s chapters centred around Lola and will definitely go back to read the couple’s first collaboration and probably some of Ramsden’s books in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
- Much like other reviewers who posted before release day (October 9th, 2023), I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
- This review is probably going to contain at least some spoilers, and is purely from the perspective of a sapphic trans woman who feels that the genre has been lacking good trans representation so a lot of my opinion on this book is going to be based on the portrayal of a trans lead.
Now onto the plot synopsis and review:
Admittedly, I have not read anything from Jacqueline Ramsden (yet) but I have read just about everything Lily Seabrooke has put out in the last few years or so which means I think I am at least somewhat familiar with the writing style of this book even if it is a ever so slightly different from what I've read in terms of POV.
I usually wait until release day to pick up books because I haven't had a ton of interest in doing reviews, but this book caught my eye because of the trans lead and I knew it was something I needed to check out immediately as a sapphic trans woman myself. Throughout my time reading sapphic novels, the main theme that I've noticed in pretty much all of the ones that try to have trans leads (which isn't a high enough number, in my opinion), the representation is pretty poor in that usually the character just has the trans label slapped onto her and the author just tries to force a unique storyline, or even worse just does enough to remind the reader is trans and leaves it at that without addressing a lot of the issues that come with being a trans woman. Seabrooke attempted to write about a trans lead in Fake It - a book that while I found pretty good, I felt that the trans representation was a bit lacking given that there weren't a ton of trans-related issues discussed in the book.
Which brings me to this book, Not Like Before's main plot is centred around a trans lead in Mackenzie Vale, an up and coming trans actress that is very much notably not great with reading context/social cues who throughout about 95% of the book is closeted and spends her time trying to further her career - while keeping her identity a secret. This leads her to her next gig which involves going back to her childhood home in the Celadon Isles for a TV show where she will co-star with an expert, a young university professor named Lola Barnes who lives near where Vale currently lives on the mainland, touring the island and discuss where she grew up, who she grew up with, and who she grew up as.
The last part leads to a lot of reluctance from Vale to accept the role because she was out to her family, who are very talkative especially about their star actress, and was scared that she was going to be outed for being trans by somebody in just about any way possible. In her way, there are I'd say rather devious characters that will try and exploit every bit of information that the production team can get from just about anybody on the island - including Vale's family - in order to make a program that gets as many views/streams as possible. All of this while blatantly and completely disregarding the privacy of both Vale, and her co-star Professor Barnes - who has her own demons in the form of a notorious father that destroyed her family with a gambling addiction that forced her to move off the island with her grandmother when she was little.
As far as antagonists go, you have Tanya, Mackenzie's agent who seems to do whatever she can to keep her client in the spotlight even if Mackenzie isn't comfortable with it. You also have Evelyn, the director of the TV show who was thrown onto the project last minute after a convenient car accident took the original director out of the project and is very stern and also pretty willing to do what it takes to get the show massive ratings at the expense of the co-stars' comfort.
And then, finally, you have Taron, a non-binary character who is Lola's extremely invasive ex- romantic partner and research partner who inexplicably shows up and manages to try and get into Lola's (and even later in the book Mackenzie's) business through means that are eerily similar to Lola's father as mentioned at times throughout the book which causes great discomfort to both Lola, and eventually Mackenzie. There were times during Taron’s appearances in the book where they gave off strong vibes of Mike Wallace from Fake it. They still are a tad different given the plots of each book but there were definitely similarities in that Taron still tried to be uncomfortably affectionate with Lola throughout the book after Lola clearly did not want to be anywhere near them, and that neither liked to take no for an answer from anybody. I found Taron as a character to be perfectly ok in how they fit the antagonist ex role, but I can see why they would be hated as a character because there were definitely times during the book where I found them extremely uncomfortable especially at the end of the book where they find out that Mackenzie is trans and tries uncomfortably hard to somewhat relate to her as well as make Mackenzie feel like she’s going to be outed or that she had to come out.
You also have notable recurring characters such as Mackenzie’s brother Hunter who Mackenzie affectionately calls Ketchup in reference to Hunt’s ketchup as well as Lola’s colleague Hope who is insanely obsessed with Mackenzie and is uncomfortably hoping Mackenzie gets with Professor Barnes so she can see Mackenzie regularly. I found the whole Tanya-Hunter romance part of the book bizarre and I wasn’t really sure what the whole point of that was other than to give Mackenzie more of a reason to find another agent which she did not do.
As the story progresses, Lola and Mackenzie slowly start to fall for each other and pretty much everyone on earth notices in some shape or form and tries to ship the girls together. This gets to a point where the entire show the pair co-star in just becomes a reality show for their blossoming relationship. It even oddly gets into the point where Evelyn and Tanya try to throw Taron into the mix to add drama into the relationship and the show. I honestly kinda felt this change of direction was a bit weird and completely against what it seemed like how the show was described earlier in the book. I know reality TV typically likes to play this stuff up for views but I am not sure a TV show would dramatically change in direction like this because the co-stars are into each other. It’s a bit of a niche complaint maybe but it just felt like a somewhat weird subplot change to me.
Another major thing I notice in comparison to past books I’ve read is that there is really only one intimate scene in this entire book so I’d say if you’re looking for something a bit more spicy than I probably wouldn’t want to read through this book. It should also be noteworthy from a representation standpoint that the trans lead Mackenzie’s involvement in this scene is just her getting Lola off and nothing else due to her still being scared of Lola’s reaction to her being trans. While I do appreciate the realistic presentation of the fear of being outed at many points throughout this book, I found it bizarre that nothing else happened in the book from an intimacy standpoint after Lola finds out Mackenzie is trans, considering in the book it seemed like the only obstacle between the two fully engaging in intimacy was the secret of Mackenzie being trans.. I think out of everything that this book tried to address in terms of having a trans character and telling a story about the life that they live, this is probably where the book misses the mark in terms of trying to have a good, comprehensive portrayal of a trans character’s life as it felt like the topic of sex was briefly addressed and just forgotten about in the end because of all the focus on Taron trying to take Lola’s spot on the show.
In the epilogue obviously Lola and Mackenzie are happily together and the latter asks the former to move in with her to which Lola says yes. It was cool to see the story somewhat wrap up with Lola deciding to take a sabbatical back to the islands and is now fully comfortable with returning to the Celadon Isles after spending much of the book being scared of returning to the area due to her past.
Overall, I believe Ramsden and Seabrooke’s second collaboration was a pretty solid book that did a decent job of telling a story about each of the leads’ backstories and how the two gradually manage to fall in love with each other. The plot felt a bit shaky at times especially with the sudden “plot twists” in the show as well as with Taron just squeezing their way into everything but it was definitely a book I couldn’t put down for long while I was reading it because the romantic side of Lola and Mackenzie’s relationship was really fun to witness. Aside from the lack of intimacy scenes, I also think the book did a good job of portraying a trans lead and discussing all the issues Mackenzie faces over the course of filming a show that was supposed to be pretty invasive of her life and privacy. As someone that prefers her sapphic books to be a bit spicy, I wouldn’t say this is my favorite of the bunch that I’ve read (and admittedly I was hoping to see how a trans lead was portrayed in intimate scenes more than anything else because I feel like this is something most sapphic authors/readers want to avoid for a few reasons) but it was worth getting an advanced reader copy and writing a review for it. I definitely appreciated Seabrooke’s second attempt at a trans lead and hope that she continues to write about more in the future. I also enjoyed Ramsden’s chapters centred around Lola and will definitely go back to read the couple’s first collaboration and probably some of Ramsden’s books in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. It sounded so sweet and charming, and I loved having another trans MC to fall in love with. Unfortunately, the best I can say about this book is that it is ok.
I'm not really into the himbo vibe, so Mackenzie really put me off from the get go. Lola was kind of grumpy, but not really, so you don't get the full grumpy/sunshine trope. The romance moved way too fast for me. Most of the relationship from friendship to romance takes place over two weeks...by the end of which they have professed their love.
There was a third act breakup. It really shouldn't have been. Lola was completely justified in leaving the island the way she did, but there was no need to breakup the romance. And instead of talking out her concerns with Mackenzie, she talks to her manager instead. The breakup didn't last that long chronologically, but did last a decent amount of the book.
Ok, this stuff is probably just nitpicky...but it bothered me and didn't let me enjoy the book as much. The oldest stone bridge in the US is like 275 or so years old. They made the fictional island everyone is from, that seems to consider NY as "the mainland," over 700 years old. Like, maybe pick something more realistic? Nobody liked Taron, that's a given. But, I didn't like Tanya or Hunter really either. In fact, Tanya should have been fired multiple times just in this book. I also didn't like that they managed to have spice scenes without ever pleasuring the trans MC. That felt like a cop-out, especially from a trans author.
I'm not really into the himbo vibe, so Mackenzie really put me off from the get go. Lola was kind of grumpy, but not really, so you don't get the full grumpy/sunshine trope. The romance moved way too fast for me. Most of the relationship from friendship to romance takes place over two weeks...by the end of which they have professed their love.
There was a third act breakup. It really shouldn't have been. Lola was completely justified in leaving the island the way she did, but there was no need to breakup the romance. And instead of talking out her concerns with Mackenzie, she talks to her manager instead. The breakup didn't last that long chronologically, but did last a decent amount of the book.
Ok, this stuff is probably just nitpicky...but it bothered me and didn't let me enjoy the book as much. The oldest stone bridge in the US is like 275 or so years old. They made the fictional island everyone is from, that seems to consider NY as "the mainland," over 700 years old. Like, maybe pick something more realistic? Nobody liked Taron, that's a given. But, I didn't like Tanya or Hunter really either. In fact, Tanya should have been fired multiple times just in this book. I also didn't like that they managed to have spice scenes without ever pleasuring the trans MC. That felt like a cop-out, especially from a trans author.
December 29, 2023
Great characters, good story lines. I thought this book was well written, funny, touching, and touched on important themes of family, identity, and relationships without being preachy or heavy-handed. I love the character of MacKenzie Vale, so genuine, loving, strong, and gentle. A lovely love story.
July 11, 2025
I’ve been trying to read more books with trans authors and trans main characters. Given this perilous moment for trans people, I worry about the erasure of their stories. And I think it’s important to take them in.
Also, the trans experience, like every other marginalized experience, is not one just of suffering and pain. Trans people feel joy, feel ecstasy, feel euphoria. Trans people live their lives like any other and mostly want the same things the rest of us do. So I didn’t necessarily want a story where a trans person was just going around miserable.
Fortunately, this was a fun, endearing romance tale between two women: a closeted transfemale bisexual actress Mackenzie and a lesbian college professor named Lola. I’m not a big romance guy but apparently this is a classic grumpy/sunshine setup: Lola is a crank who easily dismisses most things in life, Mackenzie radiates happiness and joy to all of those around her. Lola is hired to take Mackenzie on a tour of her homeland islands for a tv show, islands that she (Lola) is also a native of. Along the way, the proverbial sparks fly.
What makes the novel so great as the two eventually form their bond is how seriously their respective feelings are taken with each other. Lola has legit reasons for acting like a grouch and McKenzie respects that and respects her boundaries. McKenzie has reasons for keeping her transness a secret; Lola doesn’t pry. These felt like two people who just needed to catch a break and found it in each other.
It is a formulaic romance so take that for what it’s worth. While I did enjoy Mackenzie as a character, I think the writers paint her a bit too dimwitted at times. And the villain in the story, Taron (Lola’s ex), is non-binary and while it’s cool to have non-cis characters, having an enby character be so predatory in their villain behavior is…eh it didn’t completely sit right with me.
But those are details. I liked reading about these two lovebirds trying to figure it out (you’ll have to read to see if they do or not). If I could live in a world of a book I’ve read, it’d be this one. Ours is going to hell in a hand basket and we all deserve happiness, especially our trans siblings.
Also, the trans experience, like every other marginalized experience, is not one just of suffering and pain. Trans people feel joy, feel ecstasy, feel euphoria. Trans people live their lives like any other and mostly want the same things the rest of us do. So I didn’t necessarily want a story where a trans person was just going around miserable.
Fortunately, this was a fun, endearing romance tale between two women: a closeted transfemale bisexual actress Mackenzie and a lesbian college professor named Lola. I’m not a big romance guy but apparently this is a classic grumpy/sunshine setup: Lola is a crank who easily dismisses most things in life, Mackenzie radiates happiness and joy to all of those around her. Lola is hired to take Mackenzie on a tour of her homeland islands for a tv show, islands that she (Lola) is also a native of. Along the way, the proverbial sparks fly.
What makes the novel so great as the two eventually form their bond is how seriously their respective feelings are taken with each other. Lola has legit reasons for acting like a grouch and McKenzie respects that and respects her boundaries. McKenzie has reasons for keeping her transness a secret; Lola doesn’t pry. These felt like two people who just needed to catch a break and found it in each other.
It is a formulaic romance so take that for what it’s worth. While I did enjoy Mackenzie as a character, I think the writers paint her a bit too dimwitted at times. And the villain in the story, Taron (Lola’s ex), is non-binary and while it’s cool to have non-cis characters, having an enby character be so predatory in their villain behavior is…eh it didn’t completely sit right with me.
But those are details. I liked reading about these two lovebirds trying to figure it out (you’ll have to read to see if they do or not). If I could live in a world of a book I’ve read, it’d be this one. Ours is going to hell in a hand basket and we all deserve happiness, especially our trans siblings.
October 5, 2023
I received an ARC from the authors through BookSprout and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Not Like Before is the second collaboration for Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden, and as I’ve come to expect from both authors (individually and collectively), it’s an absolute delight.
Mackenzie and Lola are both such wonderful characters. Mackenzie has an intriguing arc, highlighting the complicated nature of being famous and the target of public scrutiny, while also worrying about her trans identity becoming public fodder. I rooted for her as she navigated her sense of agency through all of it, especially with people like her awful agent, breathing down her neck. But even with this concern on a professional front, I liked how she actually had affirmation in other environments, like her family, and over time, with Lola. And despite the stressors of her career, she’s generally easygoing, and a ball of sunshine.
Lola is equally delightful, grumpy and moody to complement Mackenzie’s sunny disposition. She’s navigating baggage thanks to her complicated past with her dad and a past toxic relationship.
Mackenzie and Lola have great chemistry, and I rooted for them as they worked through their respective issues. While I did feel that some of the obstacles they faced were one-note villains, I generally enjoyed this overall, and it kept things more on the lighthearted end of the spectrum, while still being emotionally satisfying.
This is another delightful romance from Seabrooke and Ramsden, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a sapphic contemporary romance.
Not Like Before is the second collaboration for Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden, and as I’ve come to expect from both authors (individually and collectively), it’s an absolute delight.
Mackenzie and Lola are both such wonderful characters. Mackenzie has an intriguing arc, highlighting the complicated nature of being famous and the target of public scrutiny, while also worrying about her trans identity becoming public fodder. I rooted for her as she navigated her sense of agency through all of it, especially with people like her awful agent, breathing down her neck. But even with this concern on a professional front, I liked how she actually had affirmation in other environments, like her family, and over time, with Lola. And despite the stressors of her career, she’s generally easygoing, and a ball of sunshine.
Lola is equally delightful, grumpy and moody to complement Mackenzie’s sunny disposition. She’s navigating baggage thanks to her complicated past with her dad and a past toxic relationship.
Mackenzie and Lola have great chemistry, and I rooted for them as they worked through their respective issues. While I did feel that some of the obstacles they faced were one-note villains, I generally enjoyed this overall, and it kept things more on the lighthearted end of the spectrum, while still being emotionally satisfying.
This is another delightful romance from Seabrooke and Ramsden, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a sapphic contemporary romance.
October 8, 2023
I love it when two amazing authors collaborate and Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden have done an amazing job with, Not Like Before. Their style of writing is seamless and honestly, you'd never know that two people had written it. The dialogue is smooth and the descriptive details are vibrant. The fictional Celadon Isles are beautifully described and if it was a real place, I'd absolutely love to visit.
Mackenzie is an absolute ray of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy world. She is the type of person that everyone tends to gravitate to because she's compassionate, positive, and effortlessly adorable. She's upfront about her inability to understand sarcasm and figurative language which makes her even more endearing. Her relationship with her family is an integral part of who she is, even though she doesn't visit them often. Her brother, Hunter, is a fantastic addition to the overall narrative.
Lola's prickly demeanor is well-founded as we begin to learn more about her past. I enjoyed her character arc so much. Being a part of her transformation is really special. Honestly, Mackenzie's sunny disposition plays a major role in her arc and I loved watching her go from grumpy to vulnerable and honest about her feelings.
The added drama with Mackenzie's agent, Tanya, and Lola's ex, Taron adds another layer to the overall plot. Fortunately, their drama doesn't overshadow the relationship development between Mackenzie and Lola.
Not Like Before is a wonderful contemporary romance which I highly recommend.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mackenzie is an absolute ray of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy world. She is the type of person that everyone tends to gravitate to because she's compassionate, positive, and effortlessly adorable. She's upfront about her inability to understand sarcasm and figurative language which makes her even more endearing. Her relationship with her family is an integral part of who she is, even though she doesn't visit them often. Her brother, Hunter, is a fantastic addition to the overall narrative.
Lola's prickly demeanor is well-founded as we begin to learn more about her past. I enjoyed her character arc so much. Being a part of her transformation is really special. Honestly, Mackenzie's sunny disposition plays a major role in her arc and I loved watching her go from grumpy to vulnerable and honest about her feelings.
The added drama with Mackenzie's agent, Tanya, and Lola's ex, Taron adds another layer to the overall plot. Fortunately, their drama doesn't overshadow the relationship development between Mackenzie and Lola.
Not Like Before is a wonderful contemporary romance which I highly recommend.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2023
This is the second book I have read written jointly by LS & JR and it works just as seamlessly. I didn’t pick up on any disconnect between characters or story while reading and it was only after the end that the notes explained who wrote which part.
It’s a sunshine celebrity / grumpy professor romance with a touch of neurodivergent thrown in.
There is a trans lead which I enjoyed because I knew it was an authentic and informed voice and not just a tick box exercise to add representation. There could have been more exploration of their experiences and feelings for me though and I wonder if the transness was downplayed deliberately.
The plot of the book centres around the filming of a TV show and I’m not sure how accurate any of that was - a thoroughly unpleasant agent and showmaker being antagonists with the show morphing from “serious enough to employ professor” into “reality love show with added drama from nasty ex brought in to boost streaming ratings.”
Believability aside it’s all just very readable and you want to find out what happens next. Obviously there’s a HEA and both leads have a good character development to get there which gives a nice balance to the story.
Thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this one to anyone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It’s a sunshine celebrity / grumpy professor romance with a touch of neurodivergent thrown in.
There is a trans lead which I enjoyed because I knew it was an authentic and informed voice and not just a tick box exercise to add representation. There could have been more exploration of their experiences and feelings for me though and I wonder if the transness was downplayed deliberately.
The plot of the book centres around the filming of a TV show and I’m not sure how accurate any of that was - a thoroughly unpleasant agent and showmaker being antagonists with the show morphing from “serious enough to employ professor” into “reality love show with added drama from nasty ex brought in to boost streaming ratings.”
Believability aside it’s all just very readable and you want to find out what happens next. Obviously there’s a HEA and both leads have a good character development to get there which gives a nice balance to the story.
Thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this one to anyone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 29, 2023
Not Like Before is simply adorable. Seabrooke & Ramsden bring tension, joy and a lot of tenderness in this collaboration.
There’s a heartbreaking honesty to the writing that takes the representation to another level. This book feels deeply personal and the sentiment behind it is so important, especially given the difficult times our queer community is facing.
Being seen, being heard and having agency are the central themes of this book and the authors’ deal with them brilliantly. MacKenzie is one of the loveliest main characters I’ve ever read. Her guileless vulnerability and positive outlook on life are uplifting. The way her relationship with Lola develops is just beautiful as is Lola’s personal development over the course of the novel. The ending is perfect for both of them.
There’s a host of loveable, meddling secondary characters who keep the story and the fun bouncing along. Whilst Taron, Tanya and the world of celebrity add enough toxicity, tension and duplicity to keep the book from being overly sentimental. I loved Not Like Before and genuinely felt sad to leave MacKenzie, Lola and the Isle of Celadon.
There’s a heartbreaking honesty to the writing that takes the representation to another level. This book feels deeply personal and the sentiment behind it is so important, especially given the difficult times our queer community is facing.
Being seen, being heard and having agency are the central themes of this book and the authors’ deal with them brilliantly. MacKenzie is one of the loveliest main characters I’ve ever read. Her guileless vulnerability and positive outlook on life are uplifting. The way her relationship with Lola develops is just beautiful as is Lola’s personal development over the course of the novel. The ending is perfect for both of them.
There’s a host of loveable, meddling secondary characters who keep the story and the fun bouncing along. Whilst Taron, Tanya and the world of celebrity add enough toxicity, tension and duplicity to keep the book from being overly sentimental. I loved Not Like Before and genuinely felt sad to leave MacKenzie, Lola and the Isle of Celadon.
October 11, 2023
If MacKenzie is a sap, so I am.
It's a beautiful story about finding home, lost family, new family and of course love.
I read a lot of books about film industry and it's always break my heart the reality of it. The horror to have so little private life and too many people think they entitled to know and criticize public figures.
But mostly Makenzie and Lola were absolutely adorable together, theirs dynamics and how they transform in teenagers girls in love when together, it's just too cute.
This book is very funny (Hope, I love you) but also very emotional where I wanted to cry because really Makenzie is too good for this world! And I really hate Taron, I kill them multiples times in my heads, thank you very much. Gloria, Makenzie mum's is of cours the MVP of this book, I love her.
The end of the book is really good because I was very afraid where it's was going sometimes. So I totally recommend Not Like Before or any book by Lily Seabrooke, they are all great!
It's a beautiful story about finding home, lost family, new family and of course love.
I read a lot of books about film industry and it's always break my heart the reality of it. The horror to have so little private life and too many people think they entitled to know and criticize public figures.
But mostly Makenzie and Lola were absolutely adorable together, theirs dynamics and how they transform in teenagers girls in love when together, it's just too cute.
This book is very funny (Hope, I love you) but also very emotional where I wanted to cry because really Makenzie is too good for this world! And I really hate Taron, I kill them multiples times in my heads, thank you very much. Gloria, Makenzie mum's is of cours the MVP of this book, I love her.
The end of the book is really good because I was very afraid where it's was going sometimes. So I totally recommend Not Like Before or any book by Lily Seabrooke, they are all great!
October 28, 2023
This was a cute easy read with little drama. It features Lola, a professor specializing in the history of the Celadon Islands, and Mackenzie, a popular movie star. They are pushed together by a TV show shedding light on the island Mackenzie grew up on and they each have their own reasons for not really wanting to be involved. I liked this slow build up and their sweet romance. MacKenzie's family are great additions and I liked their interactions with both MCs. The romance itself is very sweet and I enjoyed the build up here though it did feel a bit too predictable. The celeb trope was a part of the story but also does not take over the entire plot. I liked the backstory for both Lola and Mackenzie and felt they were both well plotted and I liked the intersection of their past. Overall this was a cute book without too much drama that made it a very easy if not very exciting read.
October 8, 2023
I really enjoyed reading the love story of Lola and Mackenzie. The plot had some great twists and turns, and the ending was just pure perfection. If you enjoy the dynamic of a grumpy professor and a sweet, caring actress who exudes the meaning of a sunny personality then give this book a read. Of course, with both women there is much more to them than these surface level characterizations. Watching them learn about one another and come to understand their backgrounds/childhoods was wonderful. I also enjoyed that this sapphic romance featured a trans woman as one of the MCs. I love seeing representation of all of the LGBTQ+ community.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 11, 2023
Lola a PhD professor at a college, goes on a tv show from Bright Light Production with celebrity Mackenzie Vale. The show is so the experts can teach the celebrities about where they grew up, such as the history & geography. Lola gets tapped by the producers for the show since Mackenzie is from Celedon Isle. Lola doesn’t want to do the show, but unfortunately she has to if she wants to keep her job. Mackenzie & Lola happen to form a friendship before leaving to Celedon Isle. Do sparks start to fly, are there secrets that someone doesn’t want discovered; yes to both questions, but will we find out the answers? I enjoyed the characters, the world building & the way the scenery was described, transporting the reader there at Celedon Isle.
October 12, 2023
This was a really beautiful story, and I loved every moment of it. Mackenzie, a trans actress, pretty, successful, but not always completely clued in, and Lola, professor and researcher, very much a strong woman. They both have their secrets and hurtful pasts, but this is their story. Of how they were thrust together for a tv series on an island that is of importance to both of them, and everything that developed between them.
It's a story of love, acceptance, of finding and reaching for what you want, and dealing with nasty exes. It's heartwarming and heart wrenching, their relationship adorable, and Mackenzie is so cute. They really are beautiful together.
It's a wonderful tale that pulls you in, makes you laugh and care, and will leave you with beautiful memories afterwards.
It's a story of love, acceptance, of finding and reaching for what you want, and dealing with nasty exes. It's heartwarming and heart wrenching, their relationship adorable, and Mackenzie is so cute. They really are beautiful together.
It's a wonderful tale that pulls you in, makes you laugh and care, and will leave you with beautiful memories afterwards.
October 18, 2023
Loved it!
I’ve enjoyed their books individually and now as a writing team! I am a Trans lesbian, so I VERY much appreciated a Trans MC who is Sapphic/WLW.
It was scarily accurate how well Taron’s narcissim was written (I say “scarily” because I’ve had those types of narcissists in my life), and I very much resonated with Lola’s journey of dealing with and facing her narcissist. I’ve lived that journey, and know it all too well.
Hope and Lola’s discussion about choices was insightful. I very much enjoyed it and found myself hilighting a lot.
Anyway, I loved this book and look forward to both authors’ individual books, as well as any additional ones that they co-write together.
I’ve enjoyed their books individually and now as a writing team! I am a Trans lesbian, so I VERY much appreciated a Trans MC who is Sapphic/WLW.
It was scarily accurate how well Taron’s narcissim was written (I say “scarily” because I’ve had those types of narcissists in my life), and I very much resonated with Lola’s journey of dealing with and facing her narcissist. I’ve lived that journey, and know it all too well.
Hope and Lola’s discussion about choices was insightful. I very much enjoyed it and found myself hilighting a lot.
Anyway, I loved this book and look forward to both authors’ individual books, as well as any additional ones that they co-write together.
October 7, 2023
To be honest, I don't read a lot of books by Lily Seabrooke. I've read Faux Pas and The Rules of Love, and I loved reading them but they are not books I've gone back to read again. That being said, Not Like Before is an enjoyable book. I love Mackenzie and Lola together. They bring out the best in each other. Taron is a different story. I would have to change my name, appearance and move to another state or country to get away from them. I'm glad I read the book. John Ritter reference was puzzling since he's been dead for a long time and in the Epilogue there is a typo (Lola's gaze drifts back to Lola).
October 11, 2023
I Appreciated This Love Story
A reality TV show that brings a withdrawn lesbian professor together with an A-list bisexual TV star to explore the childhood of that TV star becomes an unexpected struggle to preserve secrets that neither woman wants revealed. At the same time, Dr Lola Barnes finds herself falling for Mackenzie Vale, yet fearing the spotlight that such a relationship might throw upon herself. And Mackenzie? She’s got secrets she doesn’t want shared with the world, at least not yet.
For me, the most delightful part was Lola finding the strength she has always needed to be her own woman. I recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
A reality TV show that brings a withdrawn lesbian professor together with an A-list bisexual TV star to explore the childhood of that TV star becomes an unexpected struggle to preserve secrets that neither woman wants revealed. At the same time, Dr Lola Barnes finds herself falling for Mackenzie Vale, yet fearing the spotlight that such a relationship might throw upon herself. And Mackenzie? She’s got secrets she doesn’t want shared with the world, at least not yet.
For me, the most delightful part was Lola finding the strength she has always needed to be her own woman. I recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
October 12, 2023
Lily Seabrooke write in such a way they is completely captivating. I have never read any books as fast as I read hers. Not like before is just another one to add to that list, it was so captivating I finished it in less than 48hrs. You fall in love with the characters and feel like you are some part of the story as you immerse yourself. I cannot express how much I adore her writing and all her books! Just anticipating the next release:).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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