When You Smile

by Melissa Brayden

Have you ever had a crush on your babysitter? Taryn Ross sure did. Sixteen-year-old Charlotte was sophisticated, thoughtful, gorgeous, and fun. Taryn counted the minutes until they’d hang out. But Charlotte and her family moved away.

Now a transfer student at Hillspoint University, Taryn is ready to officially come out when she runs into a familiar face at a party. Charlie, now a grad student, insists on walking a drunk Taryn home. To the detriment of Taryn’s heart (and libido), Charlie has only grown kinder (and hotter) with time.

Charlie Adler has a five-year finish her MFA without any hiccups, figure out a timeline for her engagement, and become an acclaimed fiction writer. Easy, right? That is until Taryn shows up at Hillspoint and shakes up her world like a snow globe. This Taryn is soulful, brooding, and all grown up. Charlie’s never been attracted to a woman before, and isn’t dating your one-time charge against the rules? If only their toe-curling, mind-dulling, body-aching chemistry would calm the hell down.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Queer, Contemporary, Audiobook, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2024

About the author

Melissa Brayden is the multi-award winning author of more than twenty-five sapphic romance novels and is hard at work on more. She is a wine enthusiast, a fan of all donuts, and is probably staring off into space as you're reading this. You can find her at www.melissabrayden.com and on most social media sites.

Reviews

[Rosi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this story very much, maybe it's because I found it quite childish, although its protagonists are not so young. It must have been because of the babysitter thing. Or because of how good or bad its protagonists have been, they have all been with little depth of character, very simple.

Taryn has always had a crush on her babysitter, from when she was 11 and her nanny was 16. And, when Taryn starts college, she meets the babysitter, Charlie. A coincidence that will cause Charlie to begin to doubt her heterosexuality and Taryn can have hope that her infatuation will come true.

The atmosphere of the story is youthful although it has some dramatic aspects, as always, it has that situation that seems to bring down everything that has been built up until then, but It all comes to nothing.

It hasn't aroused the interest that this author's latest novels had had for me, I'm sorry to say.


Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for an honest review

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about Taryn Ross who grows up in a small town and has a crush on her babysitter Charlotte who was 5 years older than her. Charlotte moves away and Taryn is crushed. Years later they meet up at Unversity and they rekindle their friendship. Charlie is a straight woman with a serious boyfriend working on her masters degree. Taryn still has her crush going on.

I liked this book ok but Taryn’s character seemed very well adjusted and not traumatized as she was described. She seemed to know what she wanted and went for it.

Charlie’s break up scene with her boyfriend was way too easy for him to accept and she also seemed to not be upset over it. I didn’t think that was realistic. And the fade to black moment at the 80% mark was also way too easy for both MCs. Neither was described as very emotional over it.

I’ve enjoyed Brayden’s books in the past more than this one. I’ll keep reading her books.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.

[Tierney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Brayden has served up the most delicious of slowburns that pays off beautifully. This is romance with a capital “R.” A charming prologue highlights the 5-6 years age gap that begins as important but shrinks to meaningless as Taryn comes to understand how her childhood crush in fact was an early sign of her sexuality, while Charlotte is ready, she thinks to carve her straight road to life, success, and 2.4 children with long-term boyfriend, Danny.

There are several reasons I adored this, not least of which is how beautifully it’s written with sparkling dialogue. Two main things stood out for me: the university setting provides a backdrop of newness, excitement, and finding yourself. It’s the perfect place for a straight girl to reassess everything she’s thought about herself, and Ms. Brayden uses it to the full to draw you into that time of your life when everything and anything might be possible. Add that to how organic Charlie’s straight to queer journey feels. It’s less about sexuality than it is about the person we’re drawn to.

Taryn and Charlie are just so adorable together. It feels like snuggling under a rug in winter; like sunbathing under the golden sun in summer.

The whole read just feels so warm, pleasant, and tingly. Five golden stars for this!

Thank you to the author, to Bold Strokes Books, and to NetGalley for the chance to read this and give my honest opinion.

[Lau ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is technically a nanny romance, but not the kind you are thinking of ;)

Taryn fell in love with her babysitter when she was eleven. There was something about Charlotte, with her blue eyes and her smile and kindness that made her heart skip a beat. But Charlotte’s family moved away, and Taryn never saw her crush again. Until ten years later, at a college party, she crosses paths with a beautiful blonde whose face seems familiar.


Charlotte has everything planned. She’s been dating her boyfriend, Danny, for three years and they are talking about rings and kids. She’s about to finish her MFA and work as a writer as she always dreamed. She misses her mom, but her mother-in-law is a best-selling author determined to fill her with love and advice. Everything is perfect, until the girl she used to babysit appears, not a little kid anymore but a beautiful woman. Suddenly, everything Charlie wants is to meet Taryn again.


I loved the idea of this book. I was so looking forward to seeing them finally meet again after so long; to see Charlie realize she was having feelings for a woman; to suffer along with Taryn thinking she was pining for a love that was meant to be unrequited forever. If only my interest kept going until the end.


To be fair, I can’t remember the last time I loved a contemporary sapphic romance. I’m starting to feel I’ve read too many contemporary romances in general, but I admit I’m ever pickier when it comes to sapphic romances. I want to fangirl about the women I’m reading, I want to have a crush and scream when they finally kiss. I want to daydream about finding the kind of love that seems to only exist in books and believe that I can have it too. When I read the blurb in When You Smile, it seemed pure but sexy and I was hoping I had finally found it, but the characters were too bland to stick with me.


While the author provided a backstory for both, I felt I only knew them surface-level. That was made more obvious the more I read, because most characters seemed to have a role attached to them. You have a quirky best friend, and an evil grandmother, and a boyfriend that was so clearly not made for Charlie it was kind of obvious she may marry him, but only to get a divorce after spending two months under the same roof. As much as I understood that sometimes couples keep going just because it gets comfortable, everything was too easy. Even if they weren’t in love, they had been together for three years and they cared about each other. It felt everything had been simplified when it came to Charlie’s emotions towards Danny.


Since I want to keep this spoiler free, I’m just going to say I wasn’t a fan of the last 25-30% of the book. I didn’t see what I should be looking forward to in that period and I hated how cliché everything was. I won’t even talk about how stupid a certain character’s behavior was but, by the end of the book, the only character I found interesting was Em.


What I liked was how the author described what they were feeling. Especially in Charlie’s case, from the way she describes Taryn you know there is something more than platonic going on, but it’s also obvious she was feeling a lot more than attraction. I’ve always loved the idea of two best friends falling in love, two people who can spend hours in each other’s company without getting bored and how they are each other’s safe space. I think the author also has that idea of love, so it was frustrating that I found the characters too simplistic to believe all I was reading was real.


Overall, When You Smile managed to find the right balance between feelings and attraction, but for me failed to deliver when it came to the characterization and lost momentum on the second half. That being said, contemporary light-hearted romances are not really working for me lately so I’m not against trying other books by the author once I’m more in the mood for them.


I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lesbereading · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a refreshing story. The communication, the vulnerability, and the openness between the MCs was great. While there was the element that kept you wanting to see what happened, the angst was quite low which I really enjoyed. I also loved that slight “forbidden” and coming out aspects to the story.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Melissa Brayden’s novels have been such a struggle for me in the last 5-6 years and When You Smile is no exception.

Lazy.

If I’m limited to one word about this book, it’s lazy. This novel is uninspired, sloppy, and really boring.

Like most Brayden novels, the premise of When You Smile is interesting: Taryn Ross runs into her childhood babysitter, Charlie Adler—the cool teenager she idolized as a kid—several years after seeing her for the last time, only now she’s no longer a kid and Charlie is as captivating as ever.

Great set-up, right? There are so many ways Brayden could have executed on this topic. But it just falls flat in its shallowness and Brayden’s refusal to build her protagonists’ backstories so that the proper amount of tension can exist to take this story where it needs to go. But it’s just not there.

For example, Charlie thinks she’s straight when we meet her. She’s in a longtime relationship with her dead mom’s best friend’s son who is she planning on marrying and having babies with. Granted, their relationship isn’t passionate and she’s happy when her boyfriend isn’t around and he can be a massive turd at times, but he’s the one. Charlie’s also dealing with childhood trauma and the death of her mom.

Brayden delves into none of these topics except to state them as facts. She could have created so much tension around the boyfriend alone. Have him and Taryn interact or even get angry at Charlie when they eventually break up. Or cause drama for her at school or with his mom. He had the potential for more and he was barely utilized. And don’t even get me started at the way Brayden brings him back into the narrative. It’s too stupid (and spoilery) to go there.

This is a Brayden novel, so you know there’s going to be a breakup. This is tired, Melissa. Find a new narrative tactic. Challenge yourself as a writer for once! Anyway, the best part about this breakup is how stupid it is. Unless you like miscommunication and/or a character making a decision for the love of their life without letting them have any input on their own life. And the way the character wins her back made me uncomfortable. Talk about not listening or learning. It wasn’t cute or endearing, as I think it was supposed to be. It deserved a restraining order.

The sloppiness is also in the text. In the same chapter, Charlie is given the last name Ross (Taryn’s last name) and Adler (her actual last name). How did Brayden or anyone at BSB not catch this? People pay for these books! That kind of error is appalling. And if it was the time this happened with a Brayden novel, I could maybe forgive it, but this is a pattern of terrible editing.

Then there’s the dialogue. What worked with Brooklyn and the SoHo crew just doesn’t work for every character. It was too “cute” too much of time and came out of the mouths of every character. It was too much. They call sounded alike. And it didn’t fit some of their characterizations. Neither Charlie nor Taryn seemed to me—based on their limited characterizations—to be jokey types. So it was jarring when they spoke.

On the plus side, I’ve been waiting for Brayden to give me a character who wasn’t 100% femme and was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon this quote about Taryn: "Never been a dress wearing kind of girl." Don’t get me wrong, the characters are still 100% femme and Brayden never allowed Taryn to get dressed up (give me a suit, Melissa!), but this seemed like Brayden tried to at least dip her toes into water. Okay. It was probably only one toe and the water was probably super tepid, but it’s something.

I wanted to give this at least two stars, but I honestly can’t. The last 15% of this novel were painful for me and knocked this book down a star. But, honestly, everything after the prologue made it seem like Brayden put only the minimum amount of effort to write this.

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 4 out of 5]

When You Smile by Melissa Brayden is a delightful romance that stands out with its depth and wit. Having struggled with her recent books, I found this one to be a refreshing change, delivering a well-rounded narrative that kept me engaged from start to finish. Taryn and Charlie's story, rooted in a childhood crush and rekindled in adulthood, unfolds beautifully with great character development and genuine chemistry. The low angst and heartfelt communication between the main characters made their journey enjoyable and relatable.

The romance is well-balanced with an engaging plot, focusing on the evolving dynamics between Taryn and Charlie. I appreciated how the story addressed significant themes like grief, personal growth, and the challenges of navigating one's sexuality, without veering into overly dramatic territory. The side characters added warmth and humor, enriching the overall narrative and providing a lovely backdrop to the central romance.

While the story does lean on some romance stereotypes, such as inevitable conflicts, these elements didn't detract much from my enjoyment. The supportive family dynamics and the individual growth of both Taryn and Charlie were highlights, making When You Smile a compelling read. Despite a few predictable moments, this book is a charming addition to Brayden's repertoire. I look forward to reading what's next from Melissa Brayden.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Oh my goshhhhh I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time🥹🥹🥹 Taryn and Charlie were adorableeeeeeeeee. Them meeting again years later😭 and Charlie figuring out herself and exploring things with Taryn and all their cute moments together!!😭 I could cry. I need more Stories LIKE this one🫶🏻 will definitely be reading more from Melissa Brayden!!

[Isha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh 🫤

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good. Melissa Brayden always delivers on quality, so this was not a surprise. I found that this didn’t quite live up to her usual standard (in my personal opinion) which disappointed me, but it was still a good novel. Most of the Brayden novels I have read left me wishing I could give 6-out-of-5 stars, whereas this one i was very torn between 4 or 5 stars.

There was a lot to love in this novel. The main thing that I noticed and will remember, is that I found myself visibly smiling and happy throughout most of the novel. I think that’s as solid an endorsement as you can get. Other highlights (minor SPOILERS below):
-The writing was really good. At a few points the plot or character interactions were a little repetitive, but through everything the writing itself was always top tier. The dialogue flowed and felt very real, the descriptions were vivid, and everything just felt well put together.
-The progression of the relationship was incredibly cute and satisfying. The two mains were adorable together and worked very well. There was never any doubt that they would end up together and there was this sense of inevitability right from the start. This wasn’t a complicated relationship dynamic (despite the large number of potential hurdles) but sometimes you want something relatively smooth.
-The side characters! Brayden always writes great side characters, friends, and friendship relationships. The supporting characters were both delightful and worked well to add to the novel.
-I appreciated a lot about the boyfriend (Danny) character. Brayden avoided a lot of pitfalls that authors often fall into with situations like this. Danny wasn’t a 1D caricature or a cartoon villain designed to make the love interest look incredible by comparison (not too much anyways). I always find that heavy handed, so this was appreciated. It was also nice that he didn’t immediately disappear entirely after the breakup as often happens but would have been unrealistic given the characters history together.

Some complaints and nitpicks:
-The back section of the novel felt rushed and there were a lot of points that felt unresolved. For example, what happened with Danny’s mom? There was so much focused on this relationship and then it mostly dropped off unresolved. It seemed like all the awesome side characters disappeared, the focus of the novel got very narrow, and the pace changed considerably.
-Danny’s mom turning into a cartoon villain came out of nowhere and it wasn’t appreciated. That plotline also didn’t feel complete, and the emotional fallout I expected wasn’t delivered. Given what we saw from this character up until this point, this felt like it was forced for plot reasons.
-Danny’s character. Some elements I loved, some I did not, and I honestly never figured out this character. Sometimes he was nice and sweet and other times a terrible person, and he seemed all over the place. Similarly, their relationship was a bit of a head scratcher for me and I couldn’t tell if it was a good one or a bad one. I suppose in the real-world people are complicated and we don’t always know what’s going on inside someone else’s head; in this way it works I suppose, but it was just strange for a major character in a novel. This wasn’t enough to drag down the overall novel, but it was a point that stuck out as strange to me.
-3rd act breakup……REALLY? This simply wasn’t needed and felt misaligned with the tone of the rest of the novel. The cause of the breakup, and the out-of-the-blue nature of it, were particularly unsatisfying and annoying.
-The behavior following the breakup was borderline problematic and somewhat stalker-ish. I didn't love this part and it didn't look good on the MC, who I am supposed to be supporting. I understand its supposed to be sweet and it was fairly standard for rom-com's, but that doesn't mean it acceptable behavior. This toed the line without crossing it, so it didn't ruin the novel, but it wasn't a good look and a strange choice by the author.
-Dumb nitpick: Everything felt shallower or more surface-level compared to Brayden’s other novels (that I have read). That’s not to say it’s bad (I AM giving 4-or-5-stars remember) but it was disappointing for this specific author who usually blows me away. This was a good novel, but now I’m ready to move on and might not remember a lot of it a year from now. Comparatively, many of Brayden’s other novels have settled into some corner of by brain/heart and live rent-free, potentially indefinitely.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Brayden is on a roll lately! I love love LOVED this couple and their chemistry. Some aspects of the third act conflict made me scratch my head, but overall, a great example of a compelling romance.

[discotigers · Rating 2 out of 5]

hurts my soul to give a melissa brayden book a mere 2 stars, but here we are

this book wasn’t ‘bad’ by any stretch of the imagination. it might even be good. i, personally, felt that nearly every single character in this book, besides charlie, were woefully underdeveloped. i just couldn’t connect to them.

in a sense, it isn’t brayden’s fault that the sweetest lesbian book in existence also happened to be her debut novel, ‘kiss the girl.’ she just set the bar very very high for herself and The Bar happens to be the same yardstick with which i measure nearly all of her newer releases

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taryn is 11 and has a crush on her babysitter 16 yr old Charlotte (Charlie). Then Charlie's family unexpectedly moves. Now 10 years later, Taryn has transferred from a community College to Hillspoint University. When at a fraternity party she meets up with Charlie.Charlie is going for her MFA, and is in her final year. Even though Charlie has a boyfriend she and Taryn grow closer. This is a beautiful toaster oven/slow burn love story! 5 stars!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Brayden, then "When You Smile" is an absolute must-read!

I had such a delightful experience diving into this book; it radiates all the good vibes and gives me the feel-good factor. While there’s a touch of angst, it’s nothing that will leave you feeling shattered.

What I loved most was reading Taryn and Charlie rekindle their friendship when they crossed paths again at college. Taryn’s parents are so endearing—who wouldn’t want a pair of parents like them? On the flip side, Charlie’s family is a different story, with her dad, with whom she cut ties, being a hideous monster and a supportive mom who unfortunately has passed on. And the woman she views as a second mother? Well, let's just say she's not the warm and fuzzy type either! Thankfully, Danny steps up and does the right thing at the end.

4 ⭐️

[Women Using Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Brayden’s new book, When You Smile, is the kind of feel good romance that readers crave when they want something light and heartwarming. Readers easily connect to the main characters, Taryn and Charlie; they are relatable, likable young women, women with interesting friends, families and lives. More than that though, they’re well-developed and readers care about them. This shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with Brayden’s work though. She has a particular talent for creating characters that feel authentic, ones that have depth and layers to them. Readers quickly become emotionally invested in their journey to romance, too. They can’t get enough of it, and that’s why her stories are a ton of fun to read.

Even though When You Smile is light and fun, it still explores the heart tugging complexities of relationships, touching on themes of personal growth, self-discovery, sexuality and coming out. The storyline is filled with emotional moments, heartfelt conflicts and satisfying scenes, keeping readers captivated from start to finish. The main reason for this is that Brayden capitalizes on the use of childhood memories and first time crushes within the storytelling. Readers can’t help but be engaged by it. The nostalgia of these experiences strikes a chord, making the unexpected reunion and courtship between Taryn and Charlie sweet and captivating.

Brayden often likes to use tried and true tropes in her storytelling, but she’s never lazy with them. She makes them work, pushing the storytelling in interesting or contemplative ways. This is especially true for When You Smile. Getting the chance to date one’s childhood babysitter as an adult is a hot idea, (and one I’m sure many have fantasized about 😉) but Brayden does not use this gratuitously. She creates a delicious romantic tension with this trope, building on the anticipation and longing creatively and productively. Ultimately, it makes for some page turning stuff that readers can’t put down.

Brayden’s writing style is engaging and immersive throughout this novel. With her vivid descriptions, authentic dialogue and keen pacing, she is able to balance tender moments and tension. Her smooth prose enables readers to connect with the story without pause. She deep dives into Taryn and Charlie’s emotions and inner thinkings with well-scripted scenes and rich dialogue, portraying their fears and desires quite nicely. Brayden’s approach promotes a deeper level of empathy within readers, giving them something that truly resonates. And because she gives readers a raw look inside Taryn and Charlie’s inner and outer worlds, they are eager to turn pages and watch the journey unfold.

Final remarks…

Readers always appreciate the overall feel-good nature of Melissa Brayden’s books, and this one is no different. When You Smile offers readers a heartwarming vibe, one that’s hard to turn away from. Her engaging, well-developed characters and realistic, heartfelt dialogue work to give readers something they can sink their teeth into and enjoy. Furthermore, her ability to build tension, develop subplots and create a sense of anticipation always ensures a great story. When You Smile is a charmer and I highly recommend it.

Strengths…

Engaging storyline
Compelling characters
Strong romantic tension and chemistry
Well-crafted, well-paced storytelling
Well-played trope

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those really cheesy stories that you need sometimes to cheer you up. This is not the best written romance ever (there's a lot of stilted writing and an emphasis on telling versus showing), but it's still a really cute story that you cannot help but get caught up in. Taryn finally heads off to do her last two years of college away from home--living in a dorm for the first time--and giving herself a chance to fully identify as lesbian to someone other than her parents. Imagine her surprise when she comes across her former babysitter Charlie on campus. She adored Charlie back in the day, but she moved away, and Taryn never saw her again; now Charlie's in graduate school, juggling teaching, MFA classes, and writing--and her longtime boyfriend.

The slow burn chemistry between Charlie and Taryn may be the best part here. They get to know each other instead of just falling into bed. Much of this story is a sort of coming out/coming of age for both characters, as Taryn finally gets a chance to explore her sexuality and Charlie must question hers. It certainly took me back to my days of being a new, baby lesbian in college.

Overall, it's a pretty straightforward lesbian romance, and the villains are set up quite clearly. There's nothing earth shattering here, or any major character development, but maybe it was the college setting, or just Taryn and Charlie's innate sweetness; I couldn't help but fall for them and their story. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this fabulous book

taryn is now a student at Hillspoint University, and living the dream....

charlotte or charlie to her friends is just about to graduate... one final year left of her 3 year course.... her life is mapped out for her... with the love of her life daniel by her side and his family if only her mom were still alive to witness it all....

but life has a way of crashing your dreams and when charlie and taryn meet up who would think that charlie use to babysit taryn all those years ago... but life and its curve balls.....

taryn has always had a thing for charlie, but charlie is not on the same side for a start she has a boyfriend daniel..... thats not gonna change....right....right...

oh my word this story had me hooked right from the beginning and i have to say i was routing for taryn.... but this author certainly knows how to keep you dangling on a string whilst the story is laid bare...

cant wait for the next book by this author..

[Cora · Rating 2 out of 5]

Melissa Brayden was my gateway to sapphic romance and for that I will always be grateful but her devotion to the third-act breakup is really hurting her recent work imo. Felt particularly frustrating this time around.

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I smiled a lot reading this. Standard Brayden fayre. Clever, quick conversation. If I didn’t know the author, I would know the author. However there is a difference. It is somehow more contained. I commented on a previous Brayden book that I found the dialogue quite exhausting because it is so “on” all the time. This isn’t. I wasn’t complaining before but I prefer this balance.
The barrier, ie the boyfriend, doesn’t seem as 3d as most Brayden characters, or it is possible that I just don’t like him and don’t really see what one main would like about him…… even as her friend that developed in to more. A wee bit more insight from the writer and I get the why. Also this highlights the consequences of choosing her love and those potential consequences rather than what she loves about the consequences of being with him. The main is not selfish, although my last sentence maybe made her seem like that. To get to know her read the book, I recommend it!
I read a book recently and when the mains got together, I looked to see how much reading was left and wondered how the writer would pad out the hour and half. I’ve got about the same in this but I am very much looking forward to see the consequences be revealed and resolved.
This book was 4-4.5 for most but I found the resolution moved me and it to a 5.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually like Melissa Brayden books and I like this one too. But maybe my expectations are very high so compared to the previous books I've read, this is just okay. The romance and interactions between the characters are nice and cute. I just find the trajectory quite predictable. Sure, there's bumps along the road, but they're pretty minor. It's still an enjoyable read though.

[ً · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think this would've been more enjoyable for me if someone else wrote it

[Tempe Luvs Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious!! That’s the word that was in my head the whole time I read this beautifully written romance. I couldn’t get enough of Taryn and Charlie and how strong their bond was. I pulled for them the whole time through whatever stumbling blocks they encountered.

It’s already been established in book previews that they met back when 11 year old Taryn was babysat by the 5 years older Charlotte (Charlie.) They encountered each other yeas later when Charlie was in grad school earning her MCA and Taryn was an undergraduate junior at Hillspoint studying photography. Charlie was in a long-term, serious relationship with Danny, a fellow grad student and his proposal was eminently awaited. Taryn was a newly outed lesbian, but had never been with another woman.

Hence, there were a lot of new territories for both ladies. I won’t go into spoilers as to how they found themselves in a relationship or what obstacles they faced other than to marvel at the author and how smoothly Melissa Brayden created the tale, the dialogues and found the words that melded it all together into such a heart warming romance that will stay with me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

[KarenC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what the doctor ordered ... a sweet toaster oven low-angst romance. Two young adults in college, who each bring her own baggage, re-meet after knowing each other 10 years ago in a different capacity. I loved the two MCs and the college setting, and of course hated the ones I was supposed to hate.

I always enjoy Melissa Brayden's series, but there's something about a quick-reading standalone that shouldn't be taken for granted.

[Aleana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Taryn had falling in love with her babysitter Charlie when she was eleven and was heartbroken when they moved away. Taryn is now a junior in college where she goes to a party and is surprise to see her former babysitter there. Charlie has everything planned out for what she wants in life when she runs into her former charge Taryn and it’s shakes up her world because she never been attracted to women before and Taryn is making her feel things that not in her plan. This was cute romance with some side characters that made the story have heart and humor.

[Sara Rideout · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first found Melissa Brayden books I reveled in the tone. Finally lesbian romances that weren’t written for and by 50 year old women where the main plot point is can-I-leave-my-husband-for-a-woman-that’s-so-taboo-society-will-hate-me. I always picture those women in embroidered t-shirts tucked into overly long jean shorts and *that* haircut. Brayden wrote stories where being out or coming out wasn’t the biggest obstacle and I like that about her still. I can also picture her characters as stylish and sexy. My issue now that she’s cranking out so many books is that every character has the same voice (or if they don’t, they come off extremely flat, like Charlie in this book). The twee tone and dialogue worked so well 10 years ago when it was fresh and seemed to be the voice of those few characters I was beginning to know, like the SoHo loft girls—as a close group of friends it makes sense they all talk alike, right? That overly cutesy, sugared dialogue makes Taryn, a 21 year old in presumably in 2024ish, sound like an out of touch soccer mom.

Brayden’s formula seems to be working for sales and I wish her all the success… I just hope she can find a new tone that evolves for a new generation (and to keep her Millennial fans like me excited for a new, fresh story.)

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story follows the predictable Brayden format of turmoil at the 80% point. I started watching for it at about 75% and then there it was at precisely 80%. I started laughing and nearly didn't finish the book. I think I am done with Melissa Brayden books. I generally read mysteries and my favorites are the ones that I have no idea what is going to happen. There are no surprises in this book. If you have read one of her books, you have read them all.

[Sunaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw this upcomming Brayden book and was super excited, sounded like a fun book and very grateful to have gotten it to review!

I litteraly just finished it and have all these feelings , it has a very sweet story but im also left feeling abit empty in the end.
It has a great start, insecure Taryn trying to find her way, sweet Charlie dealing with these expectations shes been trying to live up to and starting to realize its making her unhappy and then the support characters - really good ones and funny just like all friends in Brayden books

But then it also falls abit flat for me.
Im thinking what happened? Trying to pin point the issue thats making me feel it ,
The support characters ”dissapear” from the story , and i have to say im missing them cause like i said Brayden writes amazing friends scenes, there is just not enough of it.
Charlie and Taryn are super sweet but Also gets to repeatative , its alot of same - seeing Taryn calms Charlie down, love her smile , blazing blue eyes , hooded eyes mentions and sexy scenes are quite Boring and all same same.
Like im enjoying their sweetness but at the same time not 100% connected to them?

We find out Charlies dad was abusive in one scene, and i wouldve liked to hear abit more, its her whole childhood right, i wanted few more stories of being vulnerable with eachother.
I can use my Imagination ofc but like i said their scenes together were getting plain and just too sweet so now im just overthinking What was missing maybe?

Charlies ex Danny, i dont know What that was, he is toxic , big ass , then kinda kind? .. no we just dont like him haha and his mom - wow.
Ok his mom, Monika, huge writer and was Charlies moms best friend.
Charlies mom died few years ago and she is just seeking approval from Monika , seeing her as something closest to a mom she has left.
But this binch is uber toxic, hoooly.
Wants Danny and her to get married, wants Charlie in new york for a position she has helped her get.
But when Charlie falls in love for reals , with a girl , this Monika binch turns all kinds of evil , manipulative and it broke my heart really for Charlie and grownups in her life.
Also bleh causes the drama You know is gonna come for ya around 90% of book , siiigh , that we all just hate hate hate.
And i hated it so much im fuming inside writing this , but ok whatever i Will chill the f down soonish.

Im feeling 3 and half stars right now, as much as the story was sweet rly it was missing some Brayden Magic with overall things?

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute!

When Taryn’s babysitter, Charlie, and her family suddenly moved away, Taryn was devastated. Upon transferring university, Taryn and Charlie are reunited. After a party one night, Charlie walks a drunk Taryn home and they start spending more time together, which leads to Charlie questioning everything when she finds herself reciprocating the feeling Taryn has for her.

While some people probably find this controversial, I found it fantastic! Given the smallish age gap between Taryn and Charlie, it was great that they’d found one another again and just fallen back into the easy connection they’d shared in the past. What was lovely was for Taryn, she’d had years to accept her feelings for Charlie, process them, and find herself, but for Charlie this was all new and another adventure on top of the already stressful one of graduating and taking steps to start her career and fulfill her dreams. Of course their attraction came with all the drama that surrounds disruptive feelings that change life situations, and that in turn came with some heartache.

I loved the easy connection Taryn and Charlie had. They truly cared about one another, which meant when Taryn was forced to make a decision she thought was for the best, it broke my heart. I just had to hope Charlie would eventually realise Taryn had been put in an awful position and only tried to do what was best for them all. Luckily Taryn had a good group of friends, who quickly made her realise it was a mistake and she got to work being the most selfless person in trying to prove that to Charlie.

Like its title, this story made me smile and was really beautiful. I enjoyed it so much, and hope Charlie and Taryn have an amazing future ahead.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Melissa Brayden's stories, and When You Smile is a true feel good, first love romance. These characters are so charming!

Brayden builds a strong friendship between Taryn and Charlie before the sparks start to fly. (I always admire the way she does a first time gay romance, it's believable and really works for me.)

These two encounter a few stumbling blocks along the way to their happily ever after, and Charlie and Taryn work their way through admirably. There's also some nice family drama in the story.

an arc of When You Smile was provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc., via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own