Courtroom Drama: Legally Blonde Meets Jury Duty in this Spicy Rom-Com

by Neely Tubati Alexander

Legally Blonde and Jury Duty meet The Real Housewives in this high-stakes courtroom love story—a sexy and sweet but heartfelt novel about friendship, romance, and reality television from the acclaimed author of Love Buzz and In a Not So Perfect World.

Sydney Parks thinks she might be the first person in the world to look forward to serving jury duty. When Margot Kitsch, an OG cast member of the hit reality show Authentic Moms of Malibu is arrested after the untimely death of her cast member husband, Joe, Sydney knows being selected for the jury is the most interesting thing that ever happened to her. 

However, it doesn’t take long for Sydney to realize that being part of a sequestered jury in a high-profile case is not at all what legal dramas had led her to expect—especially when she learns that her childhood best friend, Damon, whom she hasn't seen in ten years, is also a jury member.

As the trial wears on, Sydney realizes there's a lot more to the case than she first thought. And there's also a lot more to Damon—she soon finds herself falling under his spell despite the court’s instructions not to fraternize. His tendency to break the rules and find adventure is hard to resist in their otherwise dull juror's world. But getting close to Damon also means having to face the complicated reasons their friendship abruptly ended just when they were on the precipice of something more.

With all the drama in and out of the courtroom, how is Sydney supposed to ignore the fraught history between them? How is she supposed to avoid him when he’s sitting next to her in the jury box every day with his broad shoulders and intoxicating smell? And how is she supposed to ensure Margot gets a fair trial if her unfinished business with Damon causes the mistrial of the century?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery, Chick Lit

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2025

About the author

Neely Tubati Alexander is originally from the Pacific Northwest and resides in Arizona with her husband and two children. Her debut novel, LOVE BUZZ, won the Zibby Award for Best Beach Read and was hailed by Good Morning America as "the perfect escapist read...absolutely delightful." Her books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Nerd Daily, with starred reviews of her work from Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Kirkus. Booklist declared her "an exciting new romance writer."

Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neelyalexan...

Reviews

[chan ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this did soooooo much & i'm not sure it did any one thing particularly well. didn't hate it, didn't love it. did hate the narration though... have to agree with something i read recently that said "why do we have 50+ year old ppl narrating for a 20-something character?" it was surprisingly distracting for me, even though i typically don't pay much attention to narrators lol.

[Kara Cheslock · Rating 3 out of 5]

She has the emotional intelligence of a fucking walnut

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The case is way more central than romance and I don’t really feel like they resolved much after 10 years.

They didn’t talk much or anything during the actual proceedings like he was writing notes and bumping his knee against her. Outside of the courtroom like it was not very emotional or had much depth.

Forbidden aspect was juicy but they didn’t really let it stop them.

Didn’t love the outcome of the case or the actual ending of it!!

Honestly think this is a HFN couple not a HEA couple hehe they barely overcame things together as a couple.

[Syndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I picked up Courtroon Drama thingking this is fun rom com. Sadly, the writing from Miss Alexander does not suit my taste.

2 stars

[Monte Price]

I really felt hoodwinked reading this...

I also didn't expect to be as annoyed as I wound up reading this.

Most of this book deals with the prosecution presenting their case against the Real Mom of Malibu star that our main character, Sydney, is a super fan of. This trial is of course complicated by the fact that she knew fellow Juror, Damon, as a child. This book is more romance than I anticipated, and not a particularly good one. With most of the runtime being dedicated to Sydney ignoring the case so she can remain a fan the other half of the book is setting up what could only be the easiest grounds for a mistrial in the form of a romance.

At times I wish the charges weren't murder, because it just felt so tonally out of place for Sydney to be jeopardizing someone's life for a romance that was feeling this lackluster.

Even if I was on board with the romance.... the way this book ends? The twists and turns that are the final moments of this story? Alexander should never be published again. It is foolishness on a scale I cannot comprehend and my mouth hung agape in horror as I listened to the ending of this book. Any enjoyment I initially had at the beginning of the narrative was completely ripped away with how this book chose to conclude.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

30 Books in 30 Days, Vol. 5
Book 2/30

This story just didn't work. Neither aspect of this book, the romance or the courtroom plot, was done justice to. I'll probably have more thoughts in my weekly wrap up but I'm too tired to elaborate right now. Pretty disappointed in this one.

[2.5 stars]

[Hi'D's Book Hub Blogger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m absolutely obsessed with everything Neely Tubati Alexander writes! There is something about her unique style and character development that I love! She consistently writes relatable and funny characters. So, when I learned her new book was centered around jury duty and courtroom drama, I knew I had to be among the first to get my hands on an early copy!

In her book description, it promises an exciting blend of "Legally Blonde and Jury Duty meet The Real Housewives in this high-stakes courtroom love story!"

Courtroom Drama follows Sydney Parks, a devoted fan of the reality TV show "Authentic Moms." She and her best friend have a weekly standing date to watch the show together, especially drawn in by the news that one of the cast members, Margot Kitsch, has been arrested following the death of her husband, Joe.

Imagine Sydney’s surprise when she discovers a jury summons and prays it could possibly be for the highly publicized trial of Margot Kitsch! The thought of participating in such a high-profile case, possibly as a sequestered juror, excites her. Luckily, she is selected as a juror, and on the first day in court, to her surprise, she sees her childhood best friend, Damon, whom she hasn't seen in like 10 years!

So, without giving away too much of the story, all I'm going to say is this book truly delivers all the emotions and energy I was wanting! It's fast-paced and keeps you wanting more!

If you love second-chance romances, childhood friends to lovers, drama, mystery, humor, and heartwarming moments, then this is the perfect read for you. A big thank you to Neely and NetGalley for sharing this gem! It’s bound to be a hit!

[Lochi's Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I think it’s fair that I was more invested in the case at the centre of this book than the romance (but how it ended lets just say I wasn’t really happy with that). I doubted Sydney and Damon, a lot.

Let’s just say I’m a stickler for rules and I can't shut my brain off while reading. I really respect institutions, the basis of justice, the rule of law. The judicial system is at the heart of this book. So to have two individuals on a jury constantly breaking the rules, knowing they actively tarnish the legal process, didn’t sit well with me. I guess I thought I was on board with this when I read the synopsis, but when I started reading this book I felt unsettled. It’s my sincere hope that in real life juries go into a cases blind and take the responsibility of being a juror seriously.

Neely really finds her voice when writing the trial scenes. I was enthralled and it played so well. I kind of wish our love interests weren't jurors but maybe journalists covering the trial instead. That way there's room for them to interact while also showcasing the trial outside the courtroom. Maybe leaning more into the revealing mystery. I guess I wanted Courtroom Drama to be a revamped 12 Angry Men or have the quick wit and ability to pivot like Amazon's Jury Duty. Maybe I held too many expectations.

While this romance may work with readers, I’m giving this 3 stars. I really and sincerely wanted to enjoy this book but it was a quick read. Thank you so much Harper Perennial for the digital arc!

[Jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of:
Forced proximity
Second chance romance

This is written about a young fan of Authentic Moms of Malibu (aka real housewives). The fmc is clear that the show is the most exciting part of her life at 26 years old.

She comes across as a complete airhead and a bit of a delusional lover girl. However, the story highlights a lot of her past as she processes the emotion of it all with the readers.Our fmc makes some scandalous choices, however has the self-awareness of such, as processes that with readers as well.

Neely Tubati Alexander does a phenomenal job of exiting each chapter with a bit of a cliff hanger. It makes it difficult to put the book down. As the reader, I found myself constantly waiting for suspense to subside, however it lingers both in the courtroom and out. As the story builds, so does the drama, and not just with the court case.

[maddie's reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

3.80 stars

This was an enjoyable courtroom romance-mystery-drama novel! I thought the blend of genres was really interesting, and the plot was very attention-grabbing. When I started reading, this book was very difficult to put down! I found the mystery/drama aspects to be much better than the romance aspects, however, as I didn't feel like there was much chemistry between the love interests. Despite this, I enjoyed the book and overall had a good time with it! :)

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating ⭐️ : 4.75 /5
Spice 🌶️: 1.5/5
Release Date: May 20, 2025

One of my favorite books I’ve read this year so far!!!

Sydney is selected to be a juror for a high profile case. It just so happens to be for someone she is a huge fan of ( but that’s a secret since she will do anything to remain part of the case). When she arrives to jury duty, the last person she expected to see walks in… her childhood best friend. It's been a decade since they last crossed paths. Now, they're not only forced to reconnect but also to make a decision that could determine the fate of a potentially innocent ( or guilty) woman.

Second Chance Romance ✅
Childhood Friends to Lovers ✅
Great Characters (all of them!) ✅
Heartwarming ✅
Funny ✅
Mystery ✅
Perfect ending ✅
Fast pace ✅

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Lauren Self (lauren.shelby.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review • pub date 05.20.25

This was a super fun read! A little bit legal / mystery suspense / and romance all wrapped up into one.

Sydney is called to jury duty for a high profile case which is of a reality tv star convicted of killing her husband. Sydney is obsessed with the show so she’s happy to be part of the trial.
On the first day, she realizes her childhood best friend Damon is also on the jury- and they haven’t seen each other in 10 years. They did not end on great terms.

This was a super fast paced read and a good palate cleanser, as you basically get the entire courtroom transcript in between chapters of Sydney and Damon reconnecting. I thought it was laid out really well and would definitely recommend giving it a read!

4⭐️

Thanks so much to NetGalley + Harper Perennial for my ARC!

[Anne Chatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book combined a romance story with jury duty-two of my favorite things. How could it be anything but 5 stars??

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

Overall, I enjoyed this one. While it only took me a week to finish it, it felt a lot longer than that. I think it was a mix of the pacing of the book, and my mindset/situation while reading it.

I've never watched any of the Real Housewives series, but I can definitely see how this book would appeal to those fans. The book follows Sydney, an Authentic Moms of Malibu super fan, who is chosen to be on the jury of a murder trial –one of the AMOMs is accused of murdering her husband.

I liked how the story was a mix of the trial as well as the love story between Sydney and her childhood best friend Damon. It added some interesting intrigue to the story, and I think helped propel it forward.

While this one didn't make a big lasting impression on me, it was an enjoyable read and I'd be interested to read more from this author.

[Kylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for the arc!
while this made me finish it because of morbid curiosity about the case, the relationship was eh and the dialogue and writing was slightly cringe. i really hated the song lyric thing i felt like it ruined the vibe every time?

[Kat Robbins · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted salacious drama and what I got was lukewarm tea with a splash of spoiled milk

✰ DNF 25%

platform: netgalley ebook arc

[Stacy40pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtroom Drama by Neely Tubati Alexander. Thanks to @harperperennial#harperperrnnialpartner for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sydney has scored jury duty on a high profile case. An Authentic Moms of Malibu star, Margot, is accused of murdering her husband. This is perfect for Sydney, as she is a super fan and looks forward to helping clear Margot’s name. Once the case starts she realizes there’s more to it than she thought, including a blast from her past on the jury.

This was a cute romance story that had some serious and tragic backstories. Overall it still made for a light read. I loved that the entire story took place during a high profile court sequester. I loved the courtroom action and especially the deliberations. While many liberties were taken, as the author admits to in the author’s note, it was still fun and interesting. I never watch the Real Housewives franchise but if you do, you’ll especially love this one.

Courtroom Drama comes out 5/20.

[Rachel Vierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cutesy lil romance and dare I say low key my dream to have a meet cute at jury duty

Lawyer me was stressed about the juror bias/misconduct but that’s just cause I’m annoying

[Meredith Schorr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this was so cool and we got two stories for the price of one. I loved the second-chance romance between Damon and Sydney but was equally captivated by Margot's trial. An absolutely satisfying and original addition to the romance genre!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book is basically two stories. One, the trial of a reality star of which Sydney is a juror. Two, the reuniting of Sydney with Damon, someone she hasn't seen in ten years and who is also on the jury. While these two stories are woven together into Courtroom Drama it made for a lot to keep track of.

Personally my favorite story was the trial of Margot. The chapters about the trial and all the drama in the courtroom were easy and fun to read. I really didn't care much about the romance brewing between Sydney and Damon. I did like reading some of their backstory though. Not all of it. Just some of it.

Sydney and Damon were ok as far as characters go. I never felt a really strong connection to either of them. I thought some of their hijinks were a little far-fetched for a sequestered jury. Once again, I found myself enjoying the courtroom characters more.

The pacing of this book was a mix of slow and fast. I was a bit bored with the Sydney and Damon scenes but couldn't get enough of the courtroom. (See a pattern here?)

I think I would have enjoyed this book more had it just been about the trial. It was interesting to see how Sydney dealt with seeing one of her favorite reality stars on trial and how her perception of Margot changed throughout.

This wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't the rom-com I was expecting. There was also not enough of the trial I found myself enjoying.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

[brittany harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up 💫 thank you harper perennial for the ARC of this book!

the premise of this book was right up my alley. a high profile court case where the suspect accused of murder is on a reality show? (think real housewives). sign me up! i loved the whole “behind the scenes” look at things and the story was written in a way that made me question what would do/think if i was on that jury too. cam and tamra were my favorite side characters by far!

i liked the main characters but they did annoy me a tiny bit with their thought processes and the toxicity between them. don’t get me wrong, i love a good toxic relationship from time to time lol but this one wasn’t doing it for me and overall felt a little dragged out in the middle.

this book didn’t blow me away (i think i like ‘in a not so perfect world’ a little more) but would be a fun beach or vacay read. it has a light feel but then some deeper thoughts sneak in too.

[Kate]

(4.5 Stars) Thank you, @harperperennial (digital) and @libro.fm (audio) for the #gifted advanced copies of this incredibly entertaining and inventive novel that is a lot of romance and a little bit of mystery wrapped in Jury Duty and Real Housewives. I couldn’t put it down!

Sydney Parks lives for two things: punny freeway signs and the reality show Authentic Moms. So when she’s selected for jury duty on a murder trial involving one of the show’s stars, she’s thrilled - until she shows up and realizes that one of the other jurors is her childhood best friend and first love Damon Braeburn. They haven’t spoken since they were sixteen when events tore them apart. Now, they are going to be sequestered together for the duration of the trial. As testimony unfolds and jurors bond, Sydney and Damon rekindle their old rapport, complete with inside jokes and shared memories. But they’re not kids anymore - and the stakes are higher than ever. Can they deliver justice and get a second chance at love?

This book was WILDLY ENTERTAINING on several levels! First, we hear all of the testimony unfold in the case and puzzle through if this reality star is guilty of killing her husband, which feels like a kind of whodunnit. Second, this is a really touching, deeply emotional, charming, and funny second-chance romance that includes all of the inside jokes and shorthand communication that comes from years of friendship. Finally, I had the “opportunity” to serve on a sequestered jury for a murder trial once. I can attest to the surreal experience, the friendships formed, and the nerves tested by the experience. Alexander did an excellent job depicting it!

🎧 Audiobook Thoughts 🎧 The audio is a wonderful solo narration by Cindy Kay (she voiced the Twisted series). She brings both the depth and humor of this story to life. (12h 19m)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a good time reading this book! It was so easy to fly through, and the premise totally hooked me—Legally Blonde meets Real Housewives meets Jury Duty? I’m in.

Sydney Parks is a die-hard fan of the reality show Authentic Moms and ends up selected as a juror on a very high-profile case: Margot, one of the stars of the show, has been accused of murdering her husband. Even wilder? Sydney is sequestered for the trial with Damon, her childhood best friend who she hasn’t seen in ten years.

The book balances the court case and second-chance romance really well. I’d say it spends equal time on both. I did wish we got a little more romance development. After being estranged for so long, Sydney and Damon fall back into things pretty quickly, and I wanted a few more moments of emotional buildup. But I was still rooting for them the whole time.

As a reality TV fan, I loved all the commentary and little nods to that world. If you’re someone who lives for Bravo-style drama, this book will be so fun for you. The romance is sweet, the trial is juicy, and the whole thing is just a really entertaining ride.

[note_worthy_novels · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS WHAT I CALL GOOD WRITING. I was HOOKED immediately and could not put this down the entire time I read it. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC, it was insane.

Courtroom Drama is one of the most creative contemporary romance books I think I’ve ever read and it’s about jury duty. Sydney, a massive fan of a reality show, gets chosen for jury duty for the high profile trial determining Syd’s favorite cast member Margot’s fate after she’s been accused of murdering her husband. Determined to ensure Margot receives a fair trial and gets the justice Sydney believes Margot deserves, Syd can’t get distracted. This proves to be a challenge when Damon, her childhood best friend and almost something more walks in and is also a jury member. Old feelings and grudges between the two are dug up as more evidence against Margot is presented, making Sydney question everything she knows. The closer she gets with Damon, the more severe the consequences could become for everyone involved, potentially ruining everything.

I cannot express how well written this was. You can just tell that this is an experienced author because everything about the book was just perfection. First, it’s creative. The case itself is fascinating, and I was constantly oscillating between Sydney’s side and Damon’s, who believes Margot is guilty. The case unfolds in a very entertaining, gripping way, and I honestly would’ve liked the book even if there was no romance plot involved. I’ve never read a book like this where the romance is almost less interesting than what’s going on around it. The courtroom and hotel settings are very unique and fleshed out, with every character from the attorneys and other jury members feeling very alive and electric.

Sydney and Damon are also captivating. Their dynamic of being old friends but fitting right back together immediately had that slight awkwardness and self awareness that made each character more endearing, and helped solidify their chemistry when they got back into their groove. I appreciated their differences in experiences and the way their personal history affected their views of the case. Also, even though they disagreed often, you could always understand where both were coming from and it often made me conflicted which was just very well done. Their relationship was just so good, as was the spice. The spice itself was not necessary per se, but there was a decent amount of it and it was very enjoyable. Another thing I really appreciated was the stakes. Due to the nature of the case, the characters were all stuck together for a long time, nailing the forced proximity trope. However, there were also a lot of rules regarding fraternization between jury members, with the threat of a mistrial being called and jail time for rule breakers always hanging over Syd and Damon’s heads. Sometimes the forbidden romance trope can feel a little silly in contemporary romance. In this one though, the threat of jail and forcing the entire trial to restart entirely was a very real one, and actually felt very worrying and added more tension to an already stressful situation. Sydney was very attached to Margot and this case for very interesting reasons so not only would jail suck but she would feel as if she had failed a woman she cared about. It all tied together so cleanly and made for such an engaging and fresh story.

Also, I NEED Reese Witherspoon to produce a mini series adaptation of this book. I just know it would hit so hard and it is the perfect type of book for her production style. Don’t ask me about a cast though, I wouldn’t know where to start. Anyway, what a fantastic book and I will be rereading on release day.

[Kat Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a really fun read: it has romance, reality tv drama, and just a little bit of mystery.

The chemistry between Damon and Sydney was really good. The story is a friends-to-enemies (ish)-to-lovers and it was fun to see their history slowly unfurling. They had quite a dramatic backstory that was teased a bit until revealed.

I also really loved reading about the actual court case. I wish there’d been a little more resolution there because I was seriously reading for that plot line as much as the romantic one.

There are some heavy topics discussed including

⚠️⚠️spoilers

cheating parents, death of a sibling, death of a spouse⚠️⚠️

so proceed with caution.

Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read that I highly recommend. It releases on 20 May 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lindsey (endless_tbr_list) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued and excited by the premise and the Legally Blonde comparison, but unfortunately the execution just did not quite hit the mark for me.

Sydney Parks is an 'Authentic Moms of Malibu' super-fan, having been following the series and its stars for years. So when one of the 'Moms' is arrested for the alleged murder of her husband, Sydney cannot quite believe it when she's chosen as a member of the jury for the high-profile case. Determined to make the most of what is surely to be the highlight of her year - if not life - Sydney is prepared to focus on nothing but the case while they're sequestered. That is, until one of her fellow jurors is revealed to be the boy who broke her heart ten years ago, her childhood best friend, Damon.

This novel was not at all what I expected for a romance, and while I usually love that, something about this story fell flat. Sydney and Damon had chemistry for sure, but I spent so much of the novel wanting to yell at them for their terrible choices as jurors that I couldn't really get into the romance. Similarly, I would have loved to have seen more details concerning the actual trial and deliberation. If this had been framed more as a mystery I think it would have held my interest a bit better. Neely Tubati Alexander's writing is lovely - descriptive and a bit choppy, which I think worked very well with the story's drama - but I just couldn't fall into the book the way I needed to to really care about the characters.

Although this wasn't my favorite read, it was definitely enough to make me want to read more by Tubati Alexander. I really do love unconventional romances for one, and the writing style just called to me in the way that novels like Nora Dahlia's Pick-Up or Humor Me by Cat Shook have done in the past. Well written and almost overflowing with messy characters, I could definitely see this appealing to those who love court and/or reality TV and all the drama that goes along with those genres.

Thank you to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Holland Memmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 THE ENDING!! I knew something was off with this case!! Alexa play “no body no crime”

I absolutely am in love with this man - who says little with words but a lot with his mouth! Moreover. the writing was so funny and very relatable and also believable!

I loved the additions of the legal definitions of what was happening for each chapter!

[Jillian Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚖️ Book Review ⚖️

Thank you to @harperperennial for my gift e-arc of Courtroom Drama, by Neely Tubati Alexander.

What you can expect:
⚖️ Second Chance Romance
🩷 Forbidden
⚖️ Trial Side Plot
🩷 Childhood Friends Reconnected
⚖️ Courtroom Note Passing
🩷 Reality TV Star Accused of Murder

Quick Blurb:

Sydney and Damon were childhood friends who ended up estranged. The two land themselves on the same jury for the high profile murder trial of a reality TV star, Margot Kitsch. They haven’t had any connection with each other for 10 years, but can Sydney and Damon ignore their attraction to one another and their desire to reconnect for the sake of the trial?

My thoughts:

This was such a cute romance!
I felt the premise of this story was clever and imaginative, but likely some reality suspension of belief is needed in terms of courtroom logistics.

The slow burn that unfolded between Sydney and Damon as they healed pieces of their past selves was steamy and fun. The note passing in the courtroom was playful, as was the sneaking around after hours while they were sequestered for the case.

I will say the trial side plot was less engaging to me, and it takes up a good portion of the story. I was much more interested in getting back to the romantic storyline when the details of the case were unfolding. Though I do think everything from the case ended up coming to a satisfying conclusion.

Sydney and Damon reconnecting was realistic and wholesome. The spice level is lower for this one, but I still felt that the chemistry was well portrayed, and their connection had nice steam. It was great getting flashbacks of their past, and I think the slow burn of the present was well paced.

Overall a fun story with a clever premise!
Though I wonder if it would irk anyone who works in law😆

4 ⭐️
2 🌶️

[tiff rasberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

hi! i am the audience for this book :) it’s a vibe. give me allll the authentic moms reality tv drama pls & thank u!

[Lexie Talpers · Rating 3 out of 5]

lowkey was more interested in the reality star trial part than the actual love story