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.