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Insurance of the Heart #2

Love Bytes and Gossip

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Hannah Upton's life has been flipped upside down following a devastating breakup. Despite her heartache, she's determined to focus on herself - that is until she meets Jeremy, the new I.T. guy.

Suddenly, Hannah is being forced out of her comfort zone and instead of dealing with her feelings, she dives into the latest workplace scandal. She is known as the Gossip Queen of BHI, after all, and she won't rest until she solves this mystery.

But as she digs deeper, she begins to realize that the stakes are higher than she ever imagined - and she must face her feelings if she hopes to succeed.

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2024

14 people are currently reading
146 people want to read

About the author

Tristen Willis

9 books81 followers
Tristen lives in Newcastle, Australia with her husband and two kids and works full time in the insurance industry, helping people get their lives back.

Currently, Tristen is balancing the joys and challenges of motherhood with an energetic toddler and a newborn. Despite her busy schedule, she’s still dedicated to her writing.

Recently, she released The Insurance of the Heart Novella Collection, a series of interconnected romance novellas. After this, she shifted her focus to writing Dystopian Romance.

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5 stars
34 (25%)
4 stars
50 (37%)
3 stars
31 (23%)
2 stars
14 (10%)
1 star
5 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
Profile Image for Kylie ve.
318 reviews62 followers
December 16, 2024
I absolutely adored this novella. It was super cute with a sprinkle of spice! Hannah is adorable and I relate to her soooo much! Jeremy was such a sweetheart and gave so many golden retriever vibes!
This authors writing style is perfect for me and easy to read in one sitting!
Profile Image for Amber.
45 reviews5 followers
August 1, 2024
*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review (THANK YOU!❤️)*

This short little romance novella continues after the timeline of the authors previous book The Happy Hour Hookup! You do not have to read these in order, but I enjoyed reading them that way! This follows the story of Ruby’s best friend Hannah and her love story. I was super happy to see the author wrote a story about Hannah because I loved her character in the first book. Just like the first novella in this set, I would recommend this If you are looking for a short and sweet little romance story with a little spice!
Profile Image for Hayley Anderton.
Author 35 books145 followers
August 20, 2024
This was a speedy sweet romance that I read in one sitting! Jeremy was a real sweetheart and I loved seeing a love interest who was such a golden retriever vibe for once! I love a short read, but I definitely would’ve liked a little more time spent between Hannah and Jeremy! Nevertheless, this was a solid fun read!
Profile Image for Tiffany W.
469 reviews7 followers
September 3, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

The thing about novellas, for me, is that they typically leave you wanting more because they’re so short, sweet, and to the point—this book was no different.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. However, I wish we had less of the bathroom bandit drama and more interaction between Hannah and Jeremy. I also wish the ex-boyfriend aspect had wrapped up a little earlier. Additionally, I would have liked a definite answer regarding the bathroom bandit since so much time was spent on that subject. Despite these points, I really did enjoy this novella. If it’s part of a future series, I would absolutely read it. This was a new-to-me author, and I’m very interested in reading more of her work. I look forward to seeing who gets a story next.

Profile Image for Phoebe.
132 reviews
December 26, 2024
Okay but was Susan actually the bathroom bandit????? I need answers
Profile Image for Bookish Venturess.
892 reviews17 followers
October 24, 2024
Great romance

This was such a great short office romance. He stands up for her against an ex and then they become friends to lovers. I truly enjoyed this romance.
Profile Image for Danika Bellemare.
44 reviews
Read
September 16, 2024
I actually loved the setup and start of this book so much. I usually find it really hard to get into a book within the first few chapters, but this book hooked me and I NEEDED to know everything.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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


Profile Image for Vas.
288 reviews7 followers
December 27, 2025
what a cutie pie lil snack!!!! less spice than the first in the series, but included a fun lil mystery!
Profile Image for Sherley's Reading Corner.
309 reviews4 followers
August 26, 2024
Rating 3.5
Spice: 1 (Closed Door Romance)

27-Year-Old Hannah Upton is a Sales Rep in Health Insurance at BHI. She has been working there for four years and has barely noticed the IT guy Jeremy. It isn't until she and her ex-boyfriend Clae break up that she starts to take notice of the blond haired/blue eyed sexy Jeremy who is known as the office's "nice guy." Once Hannah finds out that Jeremy also has eyes for her, will she let down her guard and give love a try or will she allow her insecurities and lack of self-love get in the way?

Love Bytes and Gossip is a short, sweet romance (only around 100 pages) that is filled with office romance and gossip, a cinnamon roll MMC who falls first and hard, and an insecure FMC who goes on a journey of self-discovery and self love throughout the story. Though there is a spicy scene, most of it occurs off the pages, making it a closed door romance.

This is my first read from this author and overall, I liked the story. The MMC for me was a really nice guy and I liked him. I liked how he went out of his way to be there for Hannah (going out with her on the weekends; teaching her how to surf). The FMC, for me, was not as likable. I felt like she was a little immature...to be 27, some of her thoughts and actions, I felt, were that of a 17 or 18 year old. Also, I did not feel the chemistry between these two. For me, it was more of a friendship than love. Also, I wish there was a bit more character building and development. Hannah was supposed to go through a journey of self discovery and self-love but I didn't really see it. Overall, I wish there was just a little bit more to the story to round out the story and the characters.

If you are looking for a short story that is filled with workplace romance, workplace gossip, with an MMC that falls first and hard, this is for you.
1,262 reviews10 followers
September 21, 2024
Is there a future for them? 

Hannah is a sales representative in health insurance at BHI. Her good friend Ruby also works there and was on the same team, but was promoted to team leader in the marketing department. Hirim is her other work buddy. 

Hannah was recently dumped by her boyfriend, Clae. Now he wants her back. She's torn, knowing that the relationship wasn't good for her yet she really loved him. 

She decides to stop dwelling on her failed relationship and focus on herself. To determine why she feels she's only good enough for cheaters like her ex. In the meantime, she and Hirim became obsessed with trying to discover the perpetrator of the bathroom incidents. 

Jeremy has only been working at BHI for a few months, but everyone at the company seems to love him. He's the I.T. guy and definitely not the stereotypical type. He's a warm, friendly, helpful, and all-around nice guy. He even teaches surfing classes for children. He's had a crush on her since she first asked for his help with her computer. 

She's drawn to him, but what about her determination to work on herself rather than finding another man? 

I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review. 
546 reviews4 followers
September 26, 2024
This was a fun and quirky read.
Hannah is a sales rep for a health insurance company. She had a really bad breakup a few months ago, but after a weak moment, her ex is practically stalking her, wanting to get back together. She doesn't have a lot of self confidence, and prefers to throw herself into work. And office gossip. She is the Queen of office gossip.
Jeremy is an IT tech at the company. He helps people with their technology issues. And Hannah seems to have more than most.
Hannah soon finds out that Jeremy is more than just an IT guy, though, and they start spending some time together outside of work. As she gets to know him, she realizes that Jeremy is a pretty good guy. It's just hard for her to think about getting into another relationship, especially considering how the last one turned out.
But when things come to a head with her ex, she sees Jeremy in a whole new light.
This really was quite a bit of fun, though awkward at times. I appreciated that Hannah wanted to work on herself before she coupled up again. She wanted to avoid the rebound relationship, and her relationship with Jeremy grew organically.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Rachel  Wagner.
166 reviews7 followers
March 24, 2025
If you love fast-paced, sweet, and swoon-worthy workplace romances, Tristen Willis’ novella collection is a must-read! These short and satisfying love stories bring office dynamics, unexpected connections, and heartwarming moments together in the best way.

💼 The Happy Hour Hookup – Ruby never expected to be reassigned to Aiden’s team… or to have a steamy (closed-door) romance with the colleague she once admired but now resents. Will their past misunderstandings stand in the way of their future? A fun and flirty read!

💻 Love Bytes and Gossip – Workplace gossip and romance collide in this addictive novella, where whispers and rumors take on a life of their own. Quick, engaging, and packed with chemistry!

📁 Shared Secrets and Smiles – When a passing comment goes wrong, two coworkers find themselves caught in an unexpected situation. But what starts as a joke soon turns into something much more meaningful. Sweet, lighthearted, and full of charm!

If you're looking for short romance reads that give you all the feels without the commitment of a full-length novel, this series is perfect! Bonus: These novellas are available on Kindle Unlimited! Shared Secrets and Smiles releases today - 25th March!
Profile Image for Jeanette H..
171 reviews13 followers
September 6, 2024
3.5-Star Review
Hannah Upton, reeling from a tough breakup, dives headfirst into solving a workplace mystery, earning her title as the Gossip Queen of BHI.
Alongside her quest, she meets Jeremy, the new IT guy, whose patience and surfing lessons start pulling her out of her comfort zone.

I liked Hannah as the FMC. She realizes that loving herself is key before entering another relationship, avoiding bad choices like her ex, Clae (who deserves a few eye rolls). Jeremy’s quote, “All I ever wish is for you to view yourself through my eyes,” made my heart melt, though their relationship did move quickly.

The story balances romance with workplace gossip, though I felt the "bathroom bandit" subplot could have been left out and had more time with Jeremy and Hannah. While it’s a quick, 100-page read with a satisfying conclusion, the rushed HEA might leave some wanting a bit more development. Also, the cover doesn’t quite capture Hannah’s signature wine-red hair, which felt like a small miss.

Overall, this novella is to the point and enjoyable for anyone seeking a light, feel-good read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Alex.
10 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2024
BETA reader review.

Hue thank you to the author for allowing me to continue BETA reading her books, they never disappoint.
This book is a novella/short story which follows on from the first book THE HAPPY HOUR HOOKUP however you don't need to read the books in order or even read all of the books for this story to flow which I really liked.
I loved Hannah's character from book one so I really enjoyed reading her love story and absolutely loved the workplace gossip which I related to so much having worked in an office in Sydney just like Hannah's character.
It was well written, despite being read prior to editing and I know that it's only going to improve once editing has been completed.
If you are a fan of contemporary romance, you are sure to love this. And if you haven't read this books precursor, THE HAPPY HOUR HOOKUP, I encourage you to go read that too as you will thoroughly enjoy it.
Profile Image for Lucy Appadoo.
Author 36 books58 followers
Read
August 29, 2024
I enjoyed this novella about an office romance, a wounded past love, and the courage to move forward.

Hannah works as a sales representative for a health insurance company and meets Jeremy in her place of work. He has a role in the information technology department.

When Hannah requires his services after having computer issues one morning, they get closer and become friends. She joins surf lessons that he teaches to a young group.

Jeremy wishes to be more than friends, but Hannah is struggling to get over her exboyfriend, Clae, and hates herself after a mistake she’d made one night when hearing about her friend’s future wedding.

Over time, Hannah comes to a realisation and decides to risk her heart with Jeremy, leading to a happily ever after (HEA) ending.

The story is entertaining, an easy read, and provides a nice light escape from daily life.
Profile Image for Helen Rose Thwaite.
39 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2024
Love Bytes and Gossip is a fun novella that I stormed through in a couple of sittings. I really liked both Hannah and Jeremy, and the ridiculous situation at work was funny (there's a chance that I might be a little immature, heh.)

However, the story felt very rushed. It could easily have been a longer novella or even a novel had Ms Willis not condensed so often. There was an awful lot of tell that made reading less immersive.

I'd also have liked to see more from Jeremy's POV. He's clearly in love with Hannah, but we don't really see why. I did like how protective he was, and that he was nice to her without expectation.

I think these things are why I've given Love Bytes And Gossip three stars - I just wanted more!
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
83 reviews16 followers
September 8, 2024
I received an ARC of “Love bytes and Gossip”for an honest review.

⭐️ 1
🌶️ 0

Unfortunately this novella was not for me.
I didn’t feel any chemistry, angst, tension between the MMC and FMC at all. This is not a fast burn, though there wasn’t any real chemistry (burn) anyways.

The storyline just kind of ended once the got together and there was no real drama or backstory (unless you count the “bathroom bandit” storyline which i found completely unnecessary and took away from the characters).

I would have preferred more tension, open door spice and maybe something else happening in the world building. There was potential with the disgruntled ex, but never really got there.

A quick read, just not for me.

Happy reading
😊🚽
Profile Image for Hilma.
610 reviews
September 21, 2024
In Love Bytes and Gossip by Tristen Willis Hannah is known as The Gossip Queen and when she tries to get over a break up while at the same time wanting to uncover a mystery, she gets help from an unexpected source.

It is a short read with a flowing writing style. Hannah is a lovely funny character, although a bit insecure and I loved how the new IT guy Jeremy got her out of her comfort zone. He is a really nice adorable guy and their building relationship is rather sweet. The book is filled with banter and humor and of course romance.

If you want to read a short novel with a sweet cute romance story in it, try this book.
155 reviews
May 26, 2025
1/5

for me this book felt like an outline and plan for a novel. i enjoy novellas that zoom in and we get a very detailed look at a short period of time in the lives of our main characters, but this felt like skimming. i did not feel a connection between the main characters, it was very much he said, she said, and telling the reader how people felt, opposed to showing the reader. the plot was all over the place, and it randomly skipped six weeks and assumed you had the attachment to the characters as well as acting as if we knew how the relationship progressed. the epilogue was also rushed and chaotic

57min
7 reviews
June 4, 2024
Thank you to the author for allowing me to BETA read this book.
FINALLY we get Hannah's love story!
This is a short novella of approx. 100 pages and the author did an impressive job stuffing such a great story in such a small amount of pages.
I absolutely loved reading this one. Hannah is such a funny character and the gossip and banter was so funny. I loved how much character growth there was for her character in such a short amount of pages. I wish this was a full length book because I just did not want it to end!
7 reviews
August 1, 2024
Love Bytes and Gossip was an easy read, finished under five hours. This being said, it would make a fantastic road trip book. I also believe that it would make a good book to getting back into reading because of the length. The humor seen in this book wasn't my favorite, at times I felt it provided a sub plot for the book. Basing the book of it's genre, I 100% believe it truly meets the criteria needed. I wish this book was double it's size at points, hoping I had more times with certain characters.
Profile Image for Ezza Syuhada.
167 reviews4 followers
October 6, 2024
I enjoyed the plot for this book more than The Happy Hour Hookup mainly due to me seeing similarities in personality between myself and Hannah. I liked how Hannah wanted to get some time to herself before she wanted anything to do with Jeremy even though she knew she already had feelings.


I felt that that's a very mature adult thing to do. Really get anything to do with your ex out of your system before you start anything new.


My only qualm with this book is WHO IS THE BATHROOM BANDIT? 


I NEED CONCRETE ANSWERS!
Profile Image for Millsieey.
173 reviews5 followers
December 11, 2024
Not my cup of tea, unfortunately. I think I need to steer clear of novellas—they often don’t have enough time to build a solid connection for me. Then again, maybe it depends on the novella.

This one felt a bit underwhelming overall. I definitely didn’t sign up for poo chat (IYKYK), and to make matters worse, the issue in question wasn’t even resolved. I was annoyed and distracted by the so-called "mystery" being left unsolved. Overall, the inclusion felt strange and unnecessary. Isn't this meant to be a romance book? Sorry but the side storyline didn't work.
1,127 reviews5 followers
February 27, 2025
‘Love Bytes And Gossip’ was interesting. The title was very fitting as the IT guy and a weekend surfing instructor, Jeremy, wanted to have a relationship with Hannah, a sales Rep, who had been “investigating” the person responsible for the restroom antics while she was gossiping. Although the humor revolved around the antics, it was a bit much. Nonetheless, I liked the 3.5-star novella, although the antics were never resolved.
I received a copy for free and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
65 reviews
July 31, 2024
This book was a short story following a fun character. Hannah is fun loving, and ready to love herself. While there were a few parts of the story that I think could be longer, overall this cute short-story was true to itself and to its characters. If you like quick reads with a happy ending this book is for you! If you want a slow-burn with tons of pages, this might not be it, but it is certainly cute!
Profile Image for Chloë Blyth.
Author 7 books55 followers
August 12, 2024
This was a quick-read workplace romance about Hannah and Jeremy (the I.T. guy who also happens to be a s*xy surfer dude 😍).

These two are great together, and Jeremy is definitely a step up from Hannah’s ex, Clae. Alongside the romance, there's also a mystery going on about the "Bathroom Bandit" at work, which is kind of gross but amusing! 💩

If you're looking for a short romance read, you can't go wrong with this one.
Profile Image for Jordan.
66 reviews3 followers
August 15, 2024
This book was a quick easy read, and I’m grateful for the chance to ARC read it.
It was very sweet, and it was wonderful to see the ‘nice guy’ win.
Jeremy and Hannah are very sweet together and it’s a very cute closed-door romance.

This is book 2 in interconnected standalones, and is less than 100 pages. I did not read them in order, and I didn’t feel like I was missing a lot of information by having not read the first one.

Thank you Tristan and Indie Visible for the ARC copy.
Profile Image for M.J. Mallon.
Author 18 books229 followers
August 22, 2024
Love Bytes & Gossip by Tristen Willis

(Insurance of the heart novella book 2)

An office second chance romance (after Hannah's breakup,) develops  between Hannah and the new IT guy Jeremy!  It seems that Jeremy has more to him and Hannah becomes more interested to find out more. An enjoyable sweet short read only 104 pages which also includes some gossipy style office toilet humour.

My rating 3.5 stars
Profile Image for Ineta.
1,404 reviews11 followers
September 17, 2024
Sweet and short work place romance novella of Insurance of the Heart series. I didn’t read the first book of series, but I will definitely do it.
Loved story of Hannah and Jeremy, story-line, characters. Bathroom Bandid episodes helped as Hannah’ disattraction while she tried to heal herself after breakup.
Easy to read and sweet novella to read in one go.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Innately Bookish .
6 reviews
March 13, 2025
This was the perfect book to read in one sitting to give me a little sweet romance fix! It’s been a lifesaver, especially since I’ve been in a reading slump. I loved getting to know Hannah’s character more; I was left wanting more of her after her introduction in The Happy Hour Hookup (novella 1). Tristen’s writing style is effortless and always pulls you straight into the story from the very beginning.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews

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