So This Is Love

by Miyeko May

One time is chance.

Two times is coincidence.

Three times is …



Laila Eden is focused. Focused on her career, on her friends and on herself. Everything except the man she somehow keeps crossing paths with. She isn’t interested in anything with him, or so she tells herself, but even with her best efforts she can’t deny the magnetic pull that keeps bringing them back together.



Bryce “Sonny” Taylor is at the height of his music career. By the numbers he has everything he’s ever dreamed of but dreams don’t always align with reality. When faced with the reality that the dream he’s been chasing doesn’t look like he thought it would, Sonny decides to take a step back, to set himself on a new course. That decision ultimately leads him in a new direction, one that shows he isn’t done yet. Not with music and certainly not with her.

Genres: Romance, African American Romance, Contemporary Romance

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2025

Reviews

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5
- Absolutely fell IN LOVE with how much of a simp the mmc is in this book! If you love to read a book where the guy is obsessed with the girl and will do anything to catch her heart, you’ll absolutely LOVE this one.
- There are so many scenes in this book that absolutely made me SWOON. I literally was giggling so much while reading this one.
- Still can’t believe this book is the first full 300+ page book this author has written. I loved her novella debut and loved this one so much too. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

[KaylasBookishVibes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute friends to lovers, slow burn for sure. I enjoyed my time. I will say there were moments when it was obvious the author took breaks from her writing and maybe returned to her work a few days later. Going from chapter to chapter didn’t always feel cohesive or fluid.

[Lyss ꨄ (taking a break)]

Soft dnf @ 14%

not in the mood for this rn… 😭

[Jenae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I REALLLLLLLY wanted to like this. I was just thinking the other day if Miyeko wrote another book because while short I really enjoyed Take a Chance and I think I've read it 3 times and bam this was in my suggest on KU. Alas, this was not it for me. First I love a good slow burn but sloths in a pool of nutella are faster. There no pining no angst...just we're just friends while we get nonsensical updates about this damn cosmetic company and this mans maybe career. Alot of book makes the main characters seem like idiots. Like you're telling me not once in his label search did this man go hmmmm why dont I be independent?! And Leila being hung up on a 3 year break up when she wasnt at fault and then to let a man raw dog her was ick. I just overall didnt enjoy myself. I also I find it weird the MMC introduces himself as Bryce and for a while her internal monologue calls him Sonny and every text thread and chapter does the same like I would have thought introducing him as Bryce was in an effort to separate him from his maybe profession.

[Trinity]

DNF @15%

After reading Take a Chance some time ago, I’ve been excited to read something else by Miyeko and finally got to this one but, it didn’t hit the mark for me.

The writing feels quite choppy and there is soooooooo much telling over showing for a 1st person book that it might as well be written in 3rd person. I understand setting the scene but there are so many descriptions of just minute things that it felt like it was droning on; it also kind of made things feel very 2 dimensional.

I know I haven’t ready much but the interactions between the MCs don’t leave me wanting, especially for a slow burn.

[January · Rating 4 out of 5]

So This Is Love by Miyeko May (2025)
239-page Kindle Ebook story pages 8-238

Genre: Contemporary Romance, African-American Romance, Urban Romance

Rating as a movie: XX for strong sexual content

Featuring: Author's Note - Sensitive Topics: Parental Loss, Miscarriage, Grief, Toxic Parents; PLAYLIST, Text Graphics, Chicago, Illinois; Celebrity, Recording Artist, Marketing, Social Media, Roommates, Dual POVs, Characters From Take A Chance, Vicenarians, Family Dynamics, Setup For Next Book, Sex - Detailed, Slow Burn, Spotlight

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🧴👨🏿‍🎤

My thoughts: 🔖Page 211 of 239 [Chapter] 28 Laila - This seems like a ridiculous place to stop but I seriously need to get ready. I can't wait to finish this story though. I already added the previous book to my Kindle library.

So this story is technically a slow burn, but I didn't get that vibe. I kept forgetting it was a friend zone story; they felt like they were dating to me, just without a title. I liked it. I wasn't waiting for something to happen; I kept having to remind myself they weren't technically together. And then when it got steamy, I was just like, "Oh, they're doing that now." I wasn't waiting for the hookup to occur for half the story, which is typically what I do during a slow burn. It could have gotten 5 stars with more story and the elimination of n-words.

Recommend to others: Yes. This was recommended to me and it was good.

Songs for the soundtrack: "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers, "Confessions Part II" by Usher, "This Is" by Ella Mai

Memorable Quotes: The break room is a small room with an old fridge that makes a bunch of noises and a small table with mismatched chairs. I set the bags on the table and pull out the cartons of food. My stomach growls as I pull each thing out, jerk chicken, rice and peas, cabbage and yams. All of it smells delicious and I can’t help but dive in. Five minutes later Zara comes and joins me.

My shoulders, that I hadn’t realized were raised, relax. I allow myself to let go of the lingering tension in my body. Bryce takes my hand in his, interlacing our fingers as he leads me to our destination.

[DeAnna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/2.5⭐️
“For me, Laila is a light that can never be dimmed or hidden. She may not want the attention of everyone else in the room, but she’ll always have mine.” ❤️

Tropes
Celebrity MMC (R&B singer songwriter)
He falls first
Slow burn (R E A L slow)

I really wanted this to be a much higher rated book, but some things fell short for me
- The pacing. I get a slow burn, but typically in a slow burn you have build up, angst, pinning, something going on .. this didn’t have that. They didn’t end up getting together until around 80% in. And although I was thankful something was finally happening, it didn’t flow well. For almost the whole book, Laila was hung up on her ex and that relationship ending, not ready to move on, didn’t want anything serious, and didn’t want to be with him because she didn’t want to be in the spotlight. She continuously made it a point to let Bryce and anyone else know that they weren’t together and just friends. All while Bryce had been trying to get through to her .. then randomly one night she no longer feels any of those concerns and decides to jump right into to having raw sex with him ..?
- Laila. In general I hate a “we’re just friends, this is nothing serious, I’m not emotionally available for you .. but I will definitely spend quality time with you, let you spend money on me, buy me gifts, plan dates, and do all the boyfriend stuff for me” type of FMCs. I also didn’t like her whole “I need space” moment. None of that was his fault and he didn’t deserve to be punished for it by being pushed away.
- The accidental pregnancy. Throwing it in at the 90% mark, but then having her lose the baby early on in the pregnancy was so unnecessary. The pregnancy could’ve / should’ve just been left out all together
- The awards show. Throwing that in on the last page, having him receive his first nomination, but then ending the story with him not winning was also unnecessary and could’ve/should’ve been left out. I would’ve much rather the story ended with him proposing to her since we were told that he bought a ring.

But .. I did really like Bryce. You could tell he really cared for Laila. He was attentive, affectionate, romantic, protective, and was all in from the beginning. He said and did the cutest things

[Raena Ashanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lived this sweet story.

I love this story. Bryce and Laila are so cute. The first moment they met until. Laila got out of her own way for love. I loved that he held on to that moment of their first meeting and fought until she let her guard down.

[EricaLenise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay… I have mixed feelings with this one.

First, Bryce? That man is down bad in the best way. I love a MMC who is all in, no hesitation, ready to do whatever it takes to get his girl. And Bryce was that. The devotion, the softness, the consistency? I ate that up.

And Laila… I understood her in some ways, especially when it came to carrying past hurt into new situations. That part felt real. We really do let old experiences block new blessings sometimes.

Now… here’s where I struggled. The pacing. I love a slow burn, but this one felt like it was moving without giving me the emotional tension I needed. I wanted more longing, more pining, more moments that made me feel them falling. Instead, it felt like we were told they were getting there without fully seeing it happen.

Some of the choices and plot points had me side-eyeing a bit too, which pulled me out of the story at times.

Overall, I enjoyed parts of it, especially Bryce, but I wanted more depth and more on-page development of the love story to really push it over the edge for me. (3.5/5)

[LuvKayKay · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ I was lowkey disappointed with this book. It had potential but to me I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. This is a slow burn but it’s was very slow. I like Sonny as a character and I like how patient he was with her but that’s about it. I feel like a couple of more chapters could have helped. I don’t like that she got mad at him for someone taking photos of them together. It wasn’t his fault yet she got mad at him for what people posted. It made no sense. What happened close to the end was unnecessary and the ending was way too rushed.

[KiKi · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

This wasn’t bad at all, but it didn’t fully pull me in the way I hoped it would.

The writing itself is solid — I appreciated the character development and actually knowing Sonny and Laila beyond just dialogue. That part was done well, and I never felt disconnected from who they were as people. That said, the pacing was very slow for me. Even accounting for a busy week and a half, I didn’t feel that urge to pick it up and read faster, which is always my personal tell.

Things didn’t really start heating up between Sonny and Laila until about 75% in, and by then I was wishing the progression had happened a bit sooner. Laila also tested my patience at times — especially her expectations around dating a celebrity while being upset about being seen in public. Like… okay girl, let’s be realistic for a second.

The ex felt largely irrelevant to me and got way more page time than necessary, which added to the pacing issue. I kept waiting for that thread to matter more than it did.

I think part of this is also on expectations — based on the cover art, I was anticipating something more upbeat or cutesy, and this leaned much more introspective and slow burn than I expected.

Overall, I did enjoy the writing style and I’d still read this author again in the future. This just came down to pacing and expectations rather than quality.

[Treasure · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prefect slow burn

Initial thoughts: not a fan of slow burns but this one keep my attention span.
I loved the intentionality of Bryce aka Sonny towards Lalia. Nothing felt rushed or forced

Book overview:
Bryce Aka Sonny had the realist encounter backstage at his concert.
An unknown lady aka Lalia ,tells him to be himself and less entitled. This shocked him to the core as most celebrities are praised by their fans or by passer. Lalia didn’t hold back and this encounter stayed with him for years.
5 years later, he bumps into this same lady again in his hometown during a dinner meeting and he vows to get to know her and keep her in his life.

Lalia has a strained relationship with her mom , her mom see her as an atm rather than a daughter to nature.
She recently broke up with her cheating boyfriend, who is now expecting a baby.
In her mind nothing good is meant for her , she is focused on doing well career wise and taking life as it comes.

Whilst on an arranged date, she unexpectedly bumps into the singer and songwriter Sonny. Their encounter 5 years prior hasn’t been forgotten, so when he asks for her number and social handles, she obliges with intent of just becoming friend.
What’s she didn’t know was that Bryce aka Sonny was smitten and will take his sweet time showing her , how much , she means to him.

The prefect Valentine read!

[Brianna🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pacing was CHEFS KISS 💋

I love the development of both characters, definitely Laila. My girl went through it this whole story but Bryce never left her side. His character was everything and more—even learning about his past and the reasoning for his break from performing was heartbreaking. My heart was heavy for him, he lost someone important and he was lost until Laila came into his life.

Now I didn’t give this five stars just because of how the last few chapters went. I feel like it was a few strings I wanted to tie up and know more about. How they overcame it and was able to keep their relationship afloat. Definitely since Laila tends to push people away but I’m glad she didn’t in this situation, she needed Bryce more than she realized. His love catered her soul, her aches and pains.

Also there were times the chapters kind of jumped around which confused me on what was happening. I wanted more time with the characters rather than their careers. I know it plays a part of who they are but often times it felt like filler chapters to drag out the slow burn.

Overall this story was very wholesome and I enjoyed it 1000%

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly loved the slow build-up to this story, you get to know the characters in depth.
But the end feels so so soooo rushed. I feel like this story was meant to be much longer and it should have been.

From the moment she opens up, we're thrown into spice RIGHT AWAY (and outdoor -semi public- at most, with NO CONDOMS), meanwhile they got one kiss in 3 years and she took months and months to open up. It was a bit fear reached and surreal but so be it.

And then in the next chapter, we're suddenly a while after, when they're official. And right after that, pregnancy but then, next chapter, pregnancy loss. And next chapter we're done.

I loved the writing, the character build up and the chemistry but the last 15% felt so different. I honeslty did not get it. I dont really know how to rate this...

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another new to me author discovered via socials. The bookstagram content creators are some of the best promoters- because those visuals got me.

I was a bit let down with this story. Overall, I found the concept cute and interesting. But there were some loop holes that were just left gaping.

Starting at the beginning there’s quite a leap from the prologue and chapter 1. Which was odd but also I kinda of liked. Overall the story was low on drama, which made the Essence and Devin storyline dull.

Also, why was Shannon being a jerk? It was never addressed. And what was the outcome of the surgery? Mentioning something so heavy at the end seemed unnecessary. Especially because we’re left with the unknown and can only assume if things went well or not.

I did enjoy how consistent and persistent Bryce was with her.

[Daejzonna Muschamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way the love story was unfolding between Laila and Sonny but I feel like the end fell just a little bit short for me. I would have liked a little more depth in Laila's character to show her being vulnerable enough to talk about her past relationship trauma with Sonny and why it was so hard for her to believe that a man like him could love a girl like her. I felt like the ending was rushed and could have had a few more chapters. Especially because it didn't feel like we really got more depth behind why and how long Laila ignored Sonny after a photo of them leaked to the media. I would hope there was a continuation but I honestly don't think it would be necessary because of the way the story ended. Overall, it was a concise and cute romance which I love. Also, loved that this was an extension of the short novel Take a Chance because I was fully enamored with that love story.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!!! This book right here!! It gave me ALL the feels. I was legit kicking my feet, making little noises, and all the things a good romance does to you. It was giving slow-burn but the friendship that they were building while they were slow burning just….ughhh!!!! I’m obsessed with Bryce aka Sonny and Laila!!! I just really need an update or something.

If you love to read about a couple building up to a romance while romanticizing each other at the same time, you will love this book. I think it was close to 70% before they officially got together BUT they were always together so it didn’t even really matter. Their relationship was so organic and realistic and not rushed.

I probably could talk for an hour about how this book made me feel so I am just going to cut it off here.

[Amija La’Shai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this love story and really appreciated how the book showcased what healthy love looks like. The characters went through some difficult life experiences, but everything ultimately brought them closer together. When I first heard about this book, everyone said that if you enjoy a man who yearns and begs, this was the one to pick up. While there were moments where he was persistent about taking her out, the yearning was more of a 2 out of 5 for me—I would’ve loved a little more begging, honestly. Still, this was a beautiful love story. I loved the characters and everything about this book. This was my first read by this author, and she definitely did not disappoint. I truly love a healthy-love romance.

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Bryce!!!!!!!!! Like, do you exist??? The love feels in this book was so relatable. So often we allow past experiences to interfere with our future blessings and this book was all about taking a chance. I truly enjoyed this read. Very cute love story with a little drama.

I love how the author gave us some continuation with the main characters from the previous book. I was wondering what they were up to! 😜

My only issue was some of the writing style. Although a very GOOD read, some areas in the book appeared “rambling-ish”!

I am very interested in Miyeko’s next adventures. Really enjoyed these two books!

[keeyia · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
A good read overall, a slow burn for sure! I do wish that there was a little more to the ending of book that gave me more closure, which is the reason for the half star. I did enjoy the story of Sonny and Laila and being able to read and see things from both of their POVs. I loved the development of their story and the way they were brought into each other’s lives and kept popping back up. I know others have gotten frustrated at some of the thought processes of Sonny and Laila but I actually resonated with them as someone who tends to overthink many things.

— I would recommend!

[naz;༘⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25! In one word this book was TENDER. Like the love between the characters was slow, intentional and tender. They handled each other with so much care. I think this author has so much potential, her writing style is perfect for contemporary romance. Her characters are also unapologetically black in all ways! Which i love. I think her style of writing would lend itself to longer stories and more detail in going from scene to scene. That will also benefit the continuity when reading! Still loved! oh and the conflict was a bit annoying in the end not a full third act break up but still BOOOO!

[Ebony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute friends to lovers, slow fast burn for sure. I enjoyed my time. There were some moments where going from chapter to chapter didn't always feel cohesive or fluid. But I enjoyed this a lot. I have a hard time describing this as romance because it felt like romance but also not? The mmc? Was down bad for the fmc. And I throughly enjoyed that. Were there moments in the book that made me giggle? Yep, absolutely. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author as I’ve been entertained by both of her works so far.

[ShybutRude92 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Definitely left me wanting to know how their relationship blossomed. I wanted more interaction with Zara. I almost felt like she was Judy from Family Matters for a second. Every so often there was a missing period at the end of a sentence. Also I wish there was a warning of a time jump. Like a “a month later” or something at the beginning of the chapters. Especially between chapter 1 and 2.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends to lovers is my favorite trope, and Miyeko absolutely did her thing! I loved watching Laliah and Bryce’s relationship blossom—their chemistry was chef’s kiss. I’m a sucker for the guy falling first, and baby, Bryce was smitten from the start! He was all in for her, even when she got in her own way. It’s a slow burn, but trust me, it’s worth the wait! I have added another book boyfriend to my collection lol

[darrian sade · Rating 4 out of 5]

while this was super cute and enjoyable and held my attention the whole time, i did need more. like so much happens in the last 5 chapters and it happens FAST. also kinda felt weird that the really significant thing that happens in the last 2 chapters before the epilogue happened and there was no follow up? like maybe 50 more pages and it would’ve been fine just needed some things fleshed out a little more. but all of that to say i really enjoyed it and i am in need of another book!

[Michelle Peters · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a cute story but it wasn’t my favorite. I know this author writes shorter books but I think it just didn’t hit the mark — the very slow burn, the stubborn FMC, then the progression of their relationship leading to some rushed events towards the end, and then the abrupt ending. It just felt like things weren’t fleshed out completely. It’s such a different vibe and pace from her first book. Wish I could’ve loved it but it wasn’t for me!

[Asia Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel that this book started off really strong, but felt rushed at the end. I would have liked the story to continue just a bit more after the pregnancy scare. Also, tying up the loose ends with Laila and her mother, but also seeing how Shannon and Laila’s relationship turned out. More scenes with Laila interacting with Bryce’s family. It would have been nice to have read Bryce proposing to Laila, too. Overall, this a pretty good book.

[Raenard Dillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the characters and their friendship. This is an extremely slow burn. There was what felt to be an unneeded element at the end. Hoping maybe we get more of a continuation of this couple because it feels unfinished. I’d say it was more of a 3.5, but rounding up bc if there’s more from these characters I’ll read.

[Keianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this quick & cute love story. The characters are so loveable. Sonny is just the sweetest guy far from the guy Laila thought him to be. The tattoo part had me speechless. Love the pace that they got to know each other. Loved how Laila gave her boundaries & Sonny always respected them and never rushed her. Great short but beautiful story I really wanted more!

[JaDavia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well for starters, absolutely LOVEDDDD how the main male character was such a simp. Men don’t put that kind of effort into without getting discouraged, but he was willing to do whatever it takes to win her heart.
Some scenes in this book had me cheesing like a school girl. Romance does the heart good. Looking forward to reading more for this author.