Love Apptually

Glam Fam #1

by Alyssa Jarrett

When high tech meets high fashion

Celebrity stylist Casey Holbright is used to being the sidekick in someone else’s story. But when her biggest client suddenly decides to dump her right before Fashion Week, she needs to channel some major main character energy.

Casey’s ecstatic when she lands a gig making over Evan Chen, the eccentric founder and CEO of San Francisco’s next tech unicorn, Habituall. Her dream job quickly unravels into a nightmare, however, when she learns Evan never agreed to hire her and has zero intention of ditching his gym-rat attire—not for his own board of directors and definitely not for a fashionista who cares more about Prada than Python.

The most infuriating part of this whole ordeal? Evan’s got the rock-hard body to make even cargo shorts look good. But just when their rivalry turns into something more, Casey discovers a bigger threat than flip-flops at the office. To prevent Evan from losing the business he built from scratch, they’ll need to team up to save his startup—and his reputation.

Fans of Tessa Bailey, Ali Hazelwood, and Jasmine Guillory will love this satirical Silicon Valley rom-com that delivers big laughs with impeccable style.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Chick Lit

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Alyssa Jarrett is a romance author and tech marketer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. When she’s not telling steamy, satirical love stories, she can be found drinking an iced tea or cuddling with her husband and three cats.

You can subscribe to her newsletter, Grumpy + Sunshine, on Substack and follow her @authoralyssajarrett on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.

Reviews

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanna thank netgalley for this ARC in exhange of an honest review. And I also wanna thank the author for this copy of the book:

I really liked the synopse and I had to read the book. I liked Casey and how she was. She didn't let anything or anyone deter her from doing what she had to do. It wasn't easy but she persisted and gone things done. Evan tried to push her away but that didn't work, he fell for her just the same. I have to admit, all the tecnical terms were way over my head and I didn't understand half of it. I liked the secondary characters and all the relationships. I didn't Alex very much, ditching your best friend of years over a boyfriend of a few months it's just not cool, Casey forgave her way too easily. Overall, I liked the book and all of it and I can't wait to read more from this series

[Ashley Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: 
Casey Holbright is a fashion stylist for her famous best friend, but soon she's in search of a new job. She ends up working for Evan, the CEO of a tech start up. Unfortunately he wants nothing to do with her style tips and would like to keep wearing his gym attire to meetings and around the office. Will Casey be able to convince him to ditch his cargo shorts for suits or is she embarking on an impossible mission? Soon Evan's business is in jeopardy and they have to team up in order to save it. 

I really enjoyed this book! I read it in a day or two because I needed to know what was going to happen between Casey and Evan. I loved their banter and Casey's go get em attitude. There is also some found family aspects with the side characters that I really enjoyed. It's such a cute romance with some mystery involved. If you love enemies to lovers and grumpy/sunshine tropes like I do, you'll love this book! There's also some mystery solving surrounding saving Evan's business. You don't really know what's going to happen next, which was exciting and kept me reading. I also really loved the variety of characters in this book and that discrimination based on race was discussed. This made this book perfect for AAPI heritage month because the MMC is of Asian descent.

Also have to note that my boyfriend's name is Evan, he works in tech, and wears cargo shorts, which just made this book so much better for me 😂

Thank you netgalley and Geek Chic Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Kathryn Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance isn’t my usual genre, but I had a blast reading about this Silicon Valley startup adventure, packed with hilarious satirical sendups of tech culture and lots of heart. It was exciting to see the evolution of Casey and Evan’s relationship, along with lots of great supporting characters and an unexpected plot twist where the Glam Fam helps to save the day. Alyssa is a talented and witty writer and I can’t wait to read more of her work!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Apptually by Alyssa Jarrett tells the story of Casey, a smart and savvy stylist whose whole career has been built on styling her famous best friend. When her bestie dumps her out of nowhere, Casey is forced to quickly find another source of employment. She is hired to be the stylist of a rapidly growing startup company called Habituall, but she realizes she has her work cut out for her when she meets the founder and CEO, Evan Chen, in less than appropriate work attire. Their relationship is snarky and strained but has a touch of sexual tension right from the get-go! As their relationship builds, unforseen malice threatens to tear apart Evan's company and his dreams. Casey, refusing to let the man she is starting to care about lose his life's work, devises a clever but risky plan to restore Evan's reputation and his job as Habituall's CEO.

The author, Alyssa Jarret, clearly works in the tech world, and her working knowledge and comfortable writing style allowed her to bring the Habituall world to life. Characters are well thought out, and the plot flows well. It's an entertaining read for sure. Thank you #NetGalley for ARC access!

[Anna Goudeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute and entertaining rom-com! The writing kept me engaged, and made it difficult to put down. I believe this is AJ’s debut novel, which is absolutely incredible. I’m looking forward to reading more of the Glam Fam series and seeing what she comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Geek Chic Press for the ARC!

[Clodagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this light and fluffy rom com read. The main characters are all likeable, the writing flows well and I was quickly immersed in the story. While definitely having a lot of comedy, this book deals with real life issues of racism and sexism in a well thought out way. The story is captivating and I did not expect all the twists it would have. An excellent debut novel and I am excited to read what the author writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

[Joanna Furlong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, Funny, and Light! This book is a great vacation, poolside read, or beach read. I enjoyed escaping to a new world in this book - one of high-fashion, startup politics, and SF / Bay area scenes.

I really appreciated two big things about this book: the laugh out loud moments and the infusion of startup culture. The author, Alyssa, is a queen at nailing written comedy as she tells the storie of romance between Casey, a stylist and Evan, startup founder and CEO. But she also gave me insight into a side of Silicon Valley that I have only seen in glimpses before, like the behind the scenes, often dramatic and silly, interactions, hallway moments, and corporate culture fiascos. In between chapters, she layers in other references to startup life, like podcasts, media interviews, quotes, ads, and more. It gives you a full 360 of just how crazy that world can be.

For readers who like a feminist twist, there are many moments in the book where the main character takes a stand against mysogyny.

[Heather Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital ARC of this book. This is my first time reading this author but it won’t be my last. Casey has been her BFF’s celebrity stylist forever, but when her bf talks her into a change, Casey is dumped. She gets a call from a tech start up that wants her to style their CEO. Easy-peasy right? Not so much. Evan doesn’t want to wear suits and ties. He likes his athleisure wear instead. But the company has a big conference coming up and a possible investor so they NEED him to look the part. To help Casey they decide to do the whole team instead of just Evan. But he’s still kicking and screaming the whole way. Casey keeps standing her ground and pushing back, which Evan enjoys. Is there a spark between them? Even if there is, he’s her client and that crosses boundaries. But when Evan gets double crossed, Casey and her glam fam have to help him get his company back. You won’t want to stop turning the pages of this one!

[Chelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and easy rom-com! I really liked the story line of this book. The story follows Casey, a stylist looking to blaze her own path and Evan, a tech founder whose got more to hide than just his fashion choices. The banter in this book was soo good. I loved reading the back and forth between EC and Casey. I also loved the tech talk, I love reading about things that are not in my usual realm of work so this was a real treat. I think the author also did a good job at building the supporting characters which either left you with a feeling of kindship or kinda made you want to side eye them. I leaned toward the latter. Overall, a quick and fun read.


Thank you netgalley and Alyssa Jarrett for this ARC in exchange for a review.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This book was so cheeky! A rom-com set in Silicon Valley and offering satirical insights on the tech industry was not on my bingo card, but I loved it. The characters were super fun and it was a quick and captivating read. Like the FMC Casey, I did get a little lost in the tech lingo sometimes and didn’t always get the joke, but I enjoyed the ones I did!

Read this if you like:
🩷 Strong female characters
🩷 Enemies to lovers
🩷 Fashion
🩷 Flirty banter and slow burn romance
🩷 Grumpy / sunshine
🩷 Goats (IYKYK)

Congratulations Alyssa Jarrett on a delightful debut! Hope to see more of the Glam Fam and Habituators in the future.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

[graces_readingnook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fantastic for a debut novel, I absolutely loved it.
MMC usually aren't my favourite character in a book but EC has my heart entirely.
I loved the plot and the storytelling and how it developed through the book.
I'd 100% recommended reading this book once its released.
thank you so much to NetGalley and Alyssa Jarrett for the opportunity to review and Arc read this book. I can't wait to add the physical copy to my shelf!

[Rachelle Ziaja · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but not my favorite. I did not feel a connection between the two main characters at all and don’t really know how or why they fell in love. I liked the idea of a corporate romance, but this book had an emphasis on corporate rather than the romance. I feel like if you don’t work in the corporate world, you may not enjoy this because it went so in depth into office culture.

[Kayla Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute, fun book! I loved the differences between the main characters and how that really made them stronger in their relationship. The title is what drew me in initially and I wasn't sure at first, but after the couple of chapters, I really fell in love with the characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Geek Chic Press for my digital ARC!

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Apptually is a wonderful debut novel. The book is well written and I loved the banter between Casey and Evan. The author is obviously well versed in the tech world and Bay Area lifestyle. I look forward to reading more about the Glam Squad in future books.

[Mel Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

you will never make me like a man who starts a data selling website BUT as someone who has to talk to bay area tech boys, the blog posts at the end of each chapter really tickled me

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute & easy read! The story moved at a good pace, character development was good. Opposites attract when Casey meets Evan. Casey is all about fashion and Evan is definitely not. Seeing how they interact throughout the book and seeing their banter makes me love the characters even more. Born and raised in San Francisco, I knew I had to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. I can say though, the twist I was NOT expecting but loved how it fit so well into the story!

Can’t wait to see what awaits the rest of the Glam Fam!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried so hard but at 67% it was a DNF. Casey and Evan are disjointed and have ZERO chemistry. Casey is all about what the person is wearing and only seems to think of Evan as good looking when he is wearing the right clothes which comes through as shallow and vain.
There is a constant element in the book about sexism and racism and doesn’t feel as though it is woven into the story properly.
I couldn’t understand why the random articles were at the end of the chapters they were irrelevant and not interesting, they didn’t seem to add anything to the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, this is my honest review.

[Sara || Bookish Boulevard Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If anyone’s a unicorn, it’s always been you,”

SUMMARY  

In “Love Apptually” by Allysa Jarrett. It tells us about a satirical workplace rom-com between a celebrity stylist and an eccentric founder and CEO of a tech company. 

 It starts when Casey Holbright, a hotshot celebrity stylist of Princess Alex, who was also her childhood best friend, drops her as her stylist right before fashion week due to “some circumstances”. 

To prove that she has another client, she takes up a job to style a CEO, Even Chen, which turns into a nightmare when he has no intention of listening to her. But then something happens and to save the startup and his reputation, they have to team up.

REVIEW

THE BOOK

Let us discuss Casey Holbright first, she is smart and good at what she does, and pretty confident about it. She knows how to take a stand. I like her monologue in the Galentine’s Day scene and everywhere else too. 

Evan Chen loves his startup and also the people. He is pretty involved with them and cares about them too. He is a gym rat who likes to wear tight tees and khaki cargo shorts. 

Now together, they evolved so much. In the book, we can see that they acknowledged their differences from the start and developed so well that they were perfect in the end. But the chemistry was there from the first time they met.

Secondary characters The glam fam I love them, they are cool and they were really good friends too Casey at the start I did not like Alex but in the end, I can see her point of view. Tania and Wendy were such good friends who welcomed Casey into habituall and made her feel comfortable. 

THE WRITING STYLE

First of all, I love it when the author does something, aside from normal. In this book, at the end of every chapter, there is like an interview, article, or something like that.

Second, I loved how she incorporated so many social and workplace issues into the book.

Third, I like the pacing of the book. The first 70% was good, but the last 30% was the best part of the whole book.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, ‘Love apptually‘ is a dazzling feat tackling social issues with satire and humor.

FAVOURITE QUOTES  

“And when Evan locks eyes with a twinkle of pride, I feel like a hit song rising meteorically to the top of the charts.”

~ *Swoon*

It feels like the whole world falls away, and it’s just the two of us.

“You took something of mine, Holbright,”
“It’s only fair that I get even.”

“You want to talk about my high standards? How about the unreachable standards of a racist, classist, patriarchal society that punishes women for existing, no matter what they wear?”

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Casey Holbright is a stylist for her socialite best friend, until her friend decides to try another direction. Scrambling for a new line of income, Casey lands herself a job updating the style of a start up’s entire executive team, particularly the founder and CEO, Evan, who is content to live in his frat boy gym bro lounge style at all times. Among contentious battles over style and spicy tension breakers, a plot to run Evan out of the company is uncovered that forces a different kind of teamwork.

I liked Casey as a professional. She really seemed to know her stuff when it came to the importance of a stylist. I’ve always been fascinated by fashion and styling and how it can be used to express multiple layers of an idea and direction for a person and setting. It can obviously be very surface level, but when elements are cultivated with purpose fashion and stylistic choices can speak volumes. I was impressed with how well Casey shifted gears from the socialite lifestyle to the Silicon Valley tech world. It was more proof that she knew the depths of styling. She was a bit extreme on the prickly side at times when it came to Evan, but it did show that she believed passionately in her work.

I enjoyed the corporate takedown/espionage/hostile takeover part of the plot a lot. It was fun, it was witty, and it helped establish a bond between Casey and multiple characters, including Evan. As for the romance part of the plot, I didn’t fully buy into their relationship development. It felt disjointed at times with lots of back and forth from 0-100. I eventually felt more of a connection between them as they tried to save Evan’s spot in the company, but not as strong as I would have liked.

Overall, for a debut this was very promising. I feel like Alyssa Jarrett has a unique voice and style to her writing. It’s clear she is familiar with or did significant research into the topics she worked into her plot, and that is something I’ll always appreciate from an author. Thank you to NetGalley and Geek Chic Press LLC for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I do know Alyssa personally, and we met through mutual connections because of us both being in the tech industry and also wanting to be writers. I was just lucky enough to snag an ARC. That being said...

I really enjoyed this book and getting to know Casey, Evan, and their journey! Sometimes I find myself shying away from books that at least partially center around my day job, because I read to escape that, but I'm so glad I decided to break that rule for this story. I'm not a fashionista by any means—and admittedly dress more like Evan on most days—so I was worried I wouldn't relate to Casey, but I loved the way she blended in naturally and seamlessly to the Habituall team. I saw myself in her tenacity, loyalty, and preference for the finer (and sometimes wilder) things in life.

I adored the feminist elements and how Casey stood up for her friends and coworkers—I've had a coworker like Tania before, and she was every bit as fierce, loving, and deserving of her role. (Spoilered my next thought bc plot) I've also had a manager and coworker like Max. Fuck the Maxes of the world. May they eat nothing but LSD-laced gummy bears that cause perpetual sickness for the rest of their lives. That's all.

There were elements of the characters I really wanted more of—the epilogue with Evan's POV was refreshing and made me want more of it, and I wanted more of Casey and Alex's relationship to justify their interactions and behaviors throughout the story—but overall, this was a solid read with some A+ characterization and a really engaging plot line. This is 100% a plot I could see playing out at a real start up. You could tell me this was based on a true story and I would absolutely believe you. Silicon Valley is wild, y'all.

Of course, it's a true honor to read a friend's book and see them succeed. Alyssa, I can't wait to read the next one! <3

[Smut Report]

Heat Factor: The plot tension is a little hotter than the main character chemistry, but it’s definitely not tepid

Character Chemistry: They’re obviously opposites attract—stylish meets clueless—but even their differences are kind of thin

Plot: Casey is dumped by her now-famous childhood best friend as a stylist and ends up taking a job working for a Tech company, run by Evan, who practices frumpery as a policy and who (it turns out) will lose his company without Casey.

Overall: It’s a cute book and there are parts of the book I really, really enjoyed–but I struggled with Evan’s development

Have you ever gone out to a social event where you don’t know anyone and start to vibe with someone, and then they say something like, “I just flat out don’t believe in washing your hands after using the bathroom” and all you can do is just blink a lot and fake laugh and awkwardly drift away? That’s the “meet cute” here. And it happens right after our girl is dumped professionally by her best friend, so…not cool.

But as we all know, that’s a mess. And we like mess. Messes make plots thicker and groveling more rewarding. So the question isn’t “did we chuck it in the trash?”, it’s “was the clean up satisfying?”

Read our full review at The Smut Report

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

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[Alexandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you so much Netgalley and of course
Alyssa Jarrett for the ARC 💐

I will be honest, when I read the premise of the book I expected a different kind of story.
I still read it but for the last few chapters I have skimmed through. The problem here is that everything seemed so shallow and so superficial, honestly it bothered me a lot.
The importance of fashion in this book is so over the top that the character of a person or the way they are it doesn’t matter anymore, only the clothes do 🫠
The relationship between Evan and Casey is so weird, I don’t know how to explain, I felt like they did not work together. Casey not once but many times she humiliates him for the way he dresses and he is ashamed of this like she is 100% right and she refuses to apologise expecting him to come to her even if he is the one who was hurt 😑
She came across as such a judgmental and shallow person with no substance whatsoever.

Yes, as a CEO you need to keep a certain image but in your personal life the person with whom you are with should love exactly as you are, it doesn’t matter if you wear sports clothes everyday, you fall in love not with the clothes but the way the person is, the character, the heart, the mind, the actions and so many other things but definitely not clothes.

Racism and feminism were also some recurrent subjects here but I don’t know, I felt like it did not work.

The conflict at the end was so random and so over the top. The one star is only for Evan and even then in some situations he could have acted differently.

I will still read other future books of the author 🌷

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Geek Chic Publishing, and Alyssa Jarrett for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable debut novel from Alyssa that featured two magnetic main characters and a quirky cast of supporting characters working together with fashion and technology to create a dynamo upper management team working together to save the company of the MMC, called EC.

The FMC, Casey, and the MMC, EC have instant dislike towards each other, but they have a very captivating pull towards each other that cannot be denied. The dislike to lovers was a fun journey to read about. I was not expecting some of the twists about the main characters, but I enjoyed each of their arcs individually and together as a team. The only downside is that they ran very hot and very cold towards each other in equal measure, which at times was a lot to process and remember throughout the book. The detail was well described, however, and I could truly visualize both the luxury goods and the city of San Fran, where the story was set, which brought the book to life.

This book had nice representation of a variety of characters of different backgrounds, genders, sexualities, and more, although most everyone is from very comfortable socio-economic backgrounds or at least dabble in the world of luxury goods. There is spice in this book, with several open door scenes with the two main characters.

This book was a quick, fun read that brought a lot of laughter.

[Cathlene Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story, it was perfect for binge reading and finding joy in reading 🫶

Casey and Evan had so much banter and chemistry, their dynamic from client and stylist to more was really fun to read. Their hardworking personalities and humor made it easy to fall in love with them. Where one is less confident, the other is there to support them and build them up. They really were sweet together, even when they’re arguing and butting opinions.

The added touch of satire articles/media bites between chapters cracked me up. They helped soften some of the tougher subjects mentioned, like sexism and racism in the workforce.

Even though they had lots of chemistry, I would have liked more romance between Casey and Evan. Their romance felt very fast with little interaction and I couldn’t get fully into their relationship.

I really liked the Glam Fam group and I know their stories will be great additions to this series. I’m hoping Casey and Evan make appearances in those books so we can get check ins with them 🤞

Thank you Alyssa for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Read if you enjoy:
👜 Enemies to lovers
📱 Grumpy x sunshine
👜 Workplace romance
📱 Celebrity stylist x Tech CEO
👜 Romcom

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kicks off the Glam Fam series. It is the first book I have read by this author and I had a lovely time reading it. Casey is a celebrity fashion stylist and loves her job. When she gets a big hit from one of her clients, she's desperate to find a new one. She manages to land a new one, and a big one at that, tech giant Evan Chen. Only problem is he never agreed to hire her, and that makes her job next to impossible to do. But Casey doesn't give up and kept trying to do her job. As she does so, she becomes aware of other dangers to his company, and Evan and Casey team up to try and save his start up. As they do so, sparks inevitably fly between them and even though Evan kept trying to push Casey away, he can no longer deny his feelings for her.
The banter between Casey and Evan was witty and had me laughing so many times. The chemistry between them was strong, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom into something more. An adorable, entertaining story with a lot of heart. Really enjoyed it!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Celia Aguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was such a breath of fresh air and an original take on a romcom.

The author obviously knows what she's talking about when it comes to the tech startup industry and she paints a very clear, and mildly entertaining picture of it for her readers that is not over complicated. I loved all the authentic bay area insight and even the acknowledgment of the small town of Sanger.

The characters in this novel have a real, authentic feel to them which makes them both memorable and reliable. I often found myself agreeing and sympathizing with the main female lead because as a woman who has lived life, "we've all been there".

Although this is a romance novel, I love the underlying theme of finding friend families in the work place and the strong bond we make with those coworkers.

I loved every minute of this book and I would recommend it to anyone who loves Legally Blonde and Barbie. I get the same vibes from both movies in this book, yet, in the best way possible, this novel is completely original and different from anything I've ever seen or read.

[Ulli Zaiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

When reading the blurb I thought this was a romance book but it turned out to be more a book about working for a start-up and all the things that are less than great if you do. The FMC is a personal stylist and is supposed to style the CEO of a tech start-up. She gets involved in the company and ends up being there every day (which serms unlikely to me but what do I know). The MMC is said CEO and as they are attracted to one another they give in and have sex once. After that there are a lot of complications (most of which are company related) and it's a long way until the happy ending.

From reading the blurb I thought the book would be right up my alley but sadly it wasn't. Both main characters were not really likeable and their love-story is rather unconvincing. Most of the book is about working in a start-up (and how hard that can be especially for women) and I guess if you happen to work in that industry (which I am not) the book might appeal to you more than it did to me.

I received an ARC via booksirens.com and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Benison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Rom-Com, Complete Opposites in Silicon Valley Tech Company HAVE to Work Together

This book had a lot going for it and was a lot of fun to read. I did have a bit of trouble getting onto it at first, and I really hated BFF Alex, but loved how Casey landed on her feet with the new challenges at Habituall and styling Evan. I liked their chemistry, banter, and that neither of them backed down. The background characters of the "Glam Fam" and Casey's coworkers were also amazing, as were the descriptions of the issues faced by women and minorities in the workplace. I felt that the "articles" and blogs at the end of many of the chapters were unnecessary to a "non-tech" person and I often skimmed or skipped them to get back to the story. The bit of mystery and intrigue also made the book hard to put down and I finished it in one day. I will definitely look forward to reading more from this author - Enjoy!

I was sent an ARC by the author and I am honestly leaving my honest review.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story. Lighthearted fun clean romance stop with all the feels . Good writing ! Characters are endearing and the flow is good , well written fun story. Celebrity stylist Casey Holbright has been dumped by her biggest client ( thanks bestie!) right before fashion week . She’s ecstatic at landing a gig to make over Evan Chen founder and eccentric CEO at Habitual tech startup . The man himself though, he’s not actually agreed to hire her or have the makeover , happy in his gym attire , not giving it up for his board of directors and definitely not for this fashionista… Well Casey is a tough cookie and wasn’t going to be turned away from her quest so he’d best just suck it up. There’s lots more going on and when the company is threatened Casey has his back and devises a plan to save Evan’s reputation and his status in his company. Brilliant writing, great insight into the tech world and immersive storytelling. Descriptors on point and the characters are endearing . I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amberreads.alot · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Love Apptually" is Alyssa Jarrett's debut novel. I see a lot of promise in her writing but I don't think that this book was its best showcase. FMC Casey is a stylist who has built her career styling her childhood bestie until her bestie decides to go in a new, boyfriend-influenced direction. MMC Evan is a tech wunderkind and CEO of a company on the brink of making it big. Casey is hired to style Evan and ends up helping him save his company and fall in love.

The focus on the clothes worn by Evan and others in this book is really over the top. It is hard to find chemistry between Casey and Evan when she constantly complains about his wardrobe choices. The glam squad is a little vacuous and the method of corporate sabotage unrealistic. The tech bro vignettes don't really add to the story, even if they are somewhat amusing. I did enjoy the discussion of women in the tech field and the AAPI representation.

2 stars. I am curious to see what Jarrett does next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.