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The Spirit of Love
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Kate comes a magical time-slip love triangle about a man split into two—one version young and carefree, the other suave but jaded—and one woman’s quest to reunite his broken pieces.
Two loves. One soul. One choice.
Fenny’s got that boss glow. Not only did she just have the best sex of her life, but she’s finally about to direct the TV show she’s been a screenwriter on for ten years. Only one thing could floor her—finding out she’s been replaced by a hotshot director named Jude. Wait, no. Two things. Jude looks exactly like the guy who just turned her bones to jelly. Same dimples, same eyes, but he looks older and has a sadness Fenny wants to fix.
Last weekend, Fenny met Sam when he movie-style rescued her from a storm on Catalina Island. Here he is again, just … different. Can Sam and Jude be the same man? And if they are, will Fenny’s love be enough to put him back together?
Two loves. One soul. One choice.
Fenny’s got that boss glow. Not only did she just have the best sex of her life, but she’s finally about to direct the TV show she’s been a screenwriter on for ten years. Only one thing could floor her—finding out she’s been replaced by a hotshot director named Jude. Wait, no. Two things. Jude looks exactly like the guy who just turned her bones to jelly. Same dimples, same eyes, but he looks older and has a sadness Fenny wants to fix.
Last weekend, Fenny met Sam when he movie-style rescued her from a storm on Catalina Island. Here he is again, just … different. Can Sam and Jude be the same man? And if they are, will Fenny’s love be enough to put him back together?
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First published July 1, 2025
27 people are currently reading
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About the author
Lauren Kate
31 books26.6k followersLauren Kate is the author of novels 15 novels including the FALLEN series, now a television series on AMC+. Her forthcoming angel-focused romantasy trilogy, WHITE LIGHTS, will publish in June 2026. She lives in Laurel Canyon with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
February 20, 2025
My biggest recommendation is to go into this book blind. Do NOT read the synopsis. There’s a spoiler in it that literally takes until the 90ish percent mark to snap into place and it was so distracting for me the whole book wondering when it would happen. What you need to know is that Lauren’s writing is insanely good, this is magical realism, and you’ll get some good cameo time with characters from What’s in a Kiss? I absolutely think this could have been a five star read for me had I not read the summary.
Fenny has the best romantic swept-off-her-feet weekend with Sam on Catalina before heading home to the job of her dreams. She can’t stop thinking about him even though their goodbye was less than ideal. Showing up to work for her first day as director of Zombie Hospital goes completely sideways when they demote and replace her with some guy named Jude who just happens to looks like an older and less buff version of Sam. Confused by her irrational feelings for Jude and irritation with the turmoil on set, Fenny tries her best to prove herself.
Besides the whole spoilery summary shenanigan, I couldn’t help but love Fenny and her merry chase for her job and happily ever after. It’s a fun novel that I will absolutely recommend to readers who adore the genre tied in with a celebrity romance in a Southern California setting. I’m definitely looking forward to another Lauren book at some point!
Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Fenny has the best romantic swept-off-her-feet weekend with Sam on Catalina before heading home to the job of her dreams. She can’t stop thinking about him even though their goodbye was less than ideal. Showing up to work for her first day as director of Zombie Hospital goes completely sideways when they demote and replace her with some guy named Jude who just happens to looks like an older and less buff version of Sam. Confused by her irrational feelings for Jude and irritation with the turmoil on set, Fenny tries her best to prove herself.
Besides the whole spoilery summary shenanigan, I couldn’t help but love Fenny and her merry chase for her job and happily ever after. It’s a fun novel that I will absolutely recommend to readers who adore the genre tied in with a celebrity romance in a Southern California setting. I’m definitely looking forward to another Lauren book at some point!
Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
July 13, 2025
i am honestly unsure of what to feel about this book
tbr
December 6, 2024
pre read:
ahhhh i’m so happy lauren kate writes rom-coms now
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
ahhhh i’m so happy lauren kate writes rom-coms now
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 28, 2025
⚠️GO INTO THIS BOOK BLIND!⚠️
I have to say that I think the blurb for this book is doing it a huge disservice. This book was such an incredibly unique story; but a major spoiler is revealed in the blurb which you don't find out until 92% into the book. In all honesty, I feel like they're giving away what should have been an incredible twist. It's mind-blowing, and I've never read anything quite like it! I truly hope some second-thoughts are made on the marketing so everyone can experience this book in all it's glory.
What do I think you should know going into this book it you're not a "go in blind" reader? This is an incredible story by Lauren Kate which delivers all of the magic of the Fallen series in a RomCom package! This story follows Fenny, who after an unforgettable summer fling, returns for the first day of her dream job directing- only to be met with a rival director who somehow looks like... her summer fling?! While these two men may appear the same physically- the differences in their personalities, their hobbies, their interests, their hearts- couldn't be more clear. What you'll get from this scenario is what I'll describe as a mystical love-triangle that will leave you gasping for air!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (Cracked Door, Not Very Spicy, Overall Wholesome|Fluffy)
If You Liked That, Read This:
• The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea
• You, with a View by Jessica Joyce
TW's:
• Sprinkle of Misandry & Misogyny 🤏🏻
Tropes/Vibes:
• RomCom
• Boss Bitch Energy 💥
• One Night Stand/Casual Fling
• Film Set Setting 🎬
• Enemies-to-Lovers
• Love Triangle ♻️
• All the Witty Banter
• Perfect Summer Read 🏖️
Thank you, Netgalley, for providing this ARC in exchange for review 💕
I have to say that I think the blurb for this book is doing it a huge disservice. This book was such an incredibly unique story; but a major spoiler is revealed in the blurb which you don't find out until 92% into the book. In all honesty, I feel like they're giving away what should have been an incredible twist. It's mind-blowing, and I've never read anything quite like it! I truly hope some second-thoughts are made on the marketing so everyone can experience this book in all it's glory.
What do I think you should know going into this book it you're not a "go in blind" reader? This is an incredible story by Lauren Kate which delivers all of the magic of the Fallen series in a RomCom package! This story follows Fenny, who after an unforgettable summer fling, returns for the first day of her dream job directing- only to be met with a rival director who somehow looks like... her summer fling?! While these two men may appear the same physically- the differences in their personalities, their hobbies, their interests, their hearts- couldn't be more clear. What you'll get from this scenario is what I'll describe as a mystical love-triangle that will leave you gasping for air!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (Cracked Door, Not Very Spicy, Overall Wholesome|Fluffy)
If You Liked That, Read This:
• The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea
• You, with a View by Jessica Joyce
TW's:
• Sprinkle of Misandry & Misogyny 🤏🏻
Tropes/Vibes:
• RomCom
• Boss Bitch Energy 💥
• One Night Stand/Casual Fling
• Film Set Setting 🎬
• Enemies-to-Lovers
• Love Triangle ♻️
• All the Witty Banter
• Perfect Summer Read 🏖️
Thank you, Netgalley, for providing this ARC in exchange for review 💕
December 21, 2024
Okay wow. This was not what I was expecting, by any means. But I loved it.
This was very different from any romance I’ve read. The mysterious aspect to it was fascinating and intriguing and I had absolutely no idea where Lauren was going with this, but such a deep ending full of… a lot of deep stuff that I don’t have the words to eloquently describe to the extent that it deserves.
This was a single POV romance where a television writer - soon to be director - goes to Catalina Island seeking adventure over a weekend away from work. She meets a young man and they have a weekend of bliss before she returns to the mainland to get back to her job.
She ends up getting screwed over at work upon her return, but meets another man in the process - her new colleague - and we watch them get to know each other and start to fall, all while Fenny still feels like she has loose ends with the man she met on Catalina, who bears a mysteriously striking resemblance to her new colleague, Jude. I feel like I can’t say much more without spoilers so I’ll leave it at that.
Jude’s character is THE SWEETEST. Honestly wtf. I fell in love with the man and I don’t even really know what he looks like. Plus, Fenny is hilarious, her banter is top notch.
The story was so unique and different from what we normally see in this genre, it’s definitely worth the read.
What to expect:
🎬 single POV
🛶 workplace romance
🎬 closed door
🛶 magical time slip
🎬 entertaining banter
Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Kate, and Penguin Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was very different from any romance I’ve read. The mysterious aspect to it was fascinating and intriguing and I had absolutely no idea where Lauren was going with this, but such a deep ending full of… a lot of deep stuff that I don’t have the words to eloquently describe to the extent that it deserves.
This was a single POV romance where a television writer - soon to be director - goes to Catalina Island seeking adventure over a weekend away from work. She meets a young man and they have a weekend of bliss before she returns to the mainland to get back to her job.
She ends up getting screwed over at work upon her return, but meets another man in the process - her new colleague - and we watch them get to know each other and start to fall, all while Fenny still feels like she has loose ends with the man she met on Catalina, who bears a mysteriously striking resemblance to her new colleague, Jude. I feel like I can’t say much more without spoilers so I’ll leave it at that.
Jude’s character is THE SWEETEST. Honestly wtf. I fell in love with the man and I don’t even really know what he looks like. Plus, Fenny is hilarious, her banter is top notch.
The story was so unique and different from what we normally see in this genre, it’s definitely worth the read.
What to expect:
🎬 single POV
🛶 workplace romance
🎬 closed door
🛶 magical time slip
🎬 entertaining banter
Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Kate, and Penguin Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 20, 2024
A very romantic, descriptive romance for fans of Nicholas Sparks. Fenny is a screenwriter on a fun CWesque show, she has been a screenwriter for 10 years and well respected at work. The book starts out when she meets a new director named Jude, who looks exactly like Sam, a guy she slept with as a vacation fling last weekend- but he seems to be 10 years older.
The narrative then skips to the previous weekend when Fenny met Sam. It has a coworkers enemies to lovers vibe, love triangle, although she is trying to determine who Sam is and how he is connected to Jude. I like Lauren Kate's writing style better here as a time slip romance rather than her previous work in the romantasy realm. We don't realize the answers here until the last few pages. It takes awhile to get there, but I enjoyed the characters and their motivations. I also liked the backdrop of this being in the entertainment industry.
Thanks to @netgalley and Penguin Putnam for the ARC. Book to be published July 1, 2025.
The narrative then skips to the previous weekend when Fenny met Sam. It has a coworkers enemies to lovers vibe, love triangle, although she is trying to determine who Sam is and how he is connected to Jude. I like Lauren Kate's writing style better here as a time slip romance rather than her previous work in the romantasy realm. We don't realize the answers here until the last few pages. It takes awhile to get there, but I enjoyed the characters and their motivations. I also liked the backdrop of this being in the entertainment industry.
Thanks to @netgalley and Penguin Putnam for the ARC. Book to be published July 1, 2025.
June 29, 2025
Fenny is a staff TV writer (and aspiring director) for a campy zombie TV show. (I would absolutely watch the heck out of a show called "Zombie Hospital," btw.) After an out-of-character weekend fling with the younger Sam, she finds that the directing job she thought was in the bag was unceremoniously given to Jude (an acclaimed movie director who bears a striking, if older, resemblance to Sam). Amidst her career disappointment, Fenny must find a way to work with Jude while also trying to reconcile just what happened with Sam and figure out why Jude seems so familiar.
I liked it! This was a quick read and I genuinely wish it were longer, I enjoyed it that much. Fenny had a delightfully dry sense of humor, Sam was hunky and adorable with surprising depth, and Jude was a bit stiff but also vulnerable at the same time. I liked the premise, and although it took a little bit to wrap my mind around it I liked that the story jumped right into things and just kept rocketing along until the end. There was enough tension in the main plot to keep things interesting, although for me it was a teensy bit confusing at times. (Try to ignore any plot holes or thin parts of the story and just go along with things, don't over-think it. Also, there is sexual content and there wasn't any sexual health/protection discussion prior to the sexual activity, which is always a pet peeve of mine in a contemporary romance.) I would have enjoyed an epilogue since the ending felt a bit abrupt for my tastes. This book is part of a series (or I guess maybe an interconnected set of books), and while characters from the other books show up in this one I wasn't lost and it works just fine as a standalone. I'm definitely going to go back and read the others, though, because I really liked this one plus I've read this author before and I enjoy her voice and writing style. This is the perfect weekend read if you're looking for a magical realism romance with a nice thread of low-key humor and an HEA. Publishes July 1, 2025 (just in time for holiday weekend beach/pool reading). This review is based on a complimentary eARC of the story, all opinions are my own.
I liked it! This was a quick read and I genuinely wish it were longer, I enjoyed it that much. Fenny had a delightfully dry sense of humor, Sam was hunky and adorable with surprising depth, and Jude was a bit stiff but also vulnerable at the same time. I liked the premise, and although it took a little bit to wrap my mind around it I liked that the story jumped right into things and just kept rocketing along until the end. There was enough tension in the main plot to keep things interesting, although for me it was a teensy bit confusing at times. (Try to ignore any plot holes or thin parts of the story and just go along with things, don't over-think it. Also, there is sexual content and there wasn't any sexual health/protection discussion prior to the sexual activity, which is always a pet peeve of mine in a contemporary romance.) I would have enjoyed an epilogue since the ending felt a bit abrupt for my tastes. This book is part of a series (or I guess maybe an interconnected set of books), and while characters from the other books show up in this one I wasn't lost and it works just fine as a standalone. I'm definitely going to go back and read the others, though, because I really liked this one plus I've read this author before and I enjoy her voice and writing style. This is the perfect weekend read if you're looking for a magical realism romance with a nice thread of low-key humor and an HEA. Publishes July 1, 2025 (just in time for holiday weekend beach/pool reading). This review is based on a complimentary eARC of the story, all opinions are my own.
August 1, 2025
4.5 Stars
Fenny travels to Catalina Island to prepare for her directorial debut on Zombie Hospital, the show she’s been writing for the last ten years, where she meets Sam as he rescues her in a storm. Instead of brainstorming alone, Fenny spends a passionate weekend with Sam while embarking on adventure after adventure.
Coming back to Hollywood Fenny’s blindsided when she finds out that instead of directing like she was promised, they’ve brought in a famous director Jude DeSilva, a man who resembles Sam in an uncanny way. She’s livid, at her network boss and Jude, and I was enraged for her, but Jude wasn’t the bad guy here and they began to form a connection as they work together.
I’ve seen a few reviews that recommend not reading the book description before reading, but I’m glad I did because it would’ve soured the romance for me if I didn’t have an idea of what was going on. I absolutely loved this romance! It was witty and fun but also explored deeper topics.
The setting was fun and featured places I love in Southern California, like the Huntington Library, Museum and Gardens. Despite having lived in SoCal for years, I didn’t know that there are really canals in Venice, California!
I would’ve loved an epilogue but was thrilled with how it all worked out!
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Fenny travels to Catalina Island to prepare for her directorial debut on Zombie Hospital, the show she’s been writing for the last ten years, where she meets Sam as he rescues her in a storm. Instead of brainstorming alone, Fenny spends a passionate weekend with Sam while embarking on adventure after adventure.
Coming back to Hollywood Fenny’s blindsided when she finds out that instead of directing like she was promised, they’ve brought in a famous director Jude DeSilva, a man who resembles Sam in an uncanny way. She’s livid, at her network boss and Jude, and I was enraged for her, but Jude wasn’t the bad guy here and they began to form a connection as they work together.
I’ve seen a few reviews that recommend not reading the book description before reading, but I’m glad I did because it would’ve soured the romance for me if I didn’t have an idea of what was going on. I absolutely loved this romance! It was witty and fun but also explored deeper topics.
The setting was fun and featured places I love in Southern California, like the Huntington Library, Museum and Gardens. Despite having lived in SoCal for years, I didn’t know that there are really canals in Venice, California!
I would’ve loved an epilogue but was thrilled with how it all worked out!
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
April 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy of this unique and creative romance. The book is a fun form of magical realism.
It's hard to fully describe the book without giving away spoilers. I would recommend going into the book without knowing too much.
The main character, Fenny, is funny, smart, and determined. There is great romantic chemistry between Fenny, Sam, and Jude. The island of Catalina, where some of the book tales place has vivid and lovely descriptions. Those parts make you want to go camping or explore a new scenic area. The book has adventurous moments. It's a book that will make you feel inspired to go after your dreams, live in the moment, and stop playing it safe.
I think the plot was clever, and I enjoyed the romance. I only wish there was a little more to the ending. It felt a bit rushed for me. Otherwise, it was a relaxing and enjoyable book, and I can't wait to read more by the author.
It's hard to fully describe the book without giving away spoilers. I would recommend going into the book without knowing too much.
The main character, Fenny, is funny, smart, and determined. There is great romantic chemistry between Fenny, Sam, and Jude. The island of Catalina, where some of the book tales place has vivid and lovely descriptions. Those parts make you want to go camping or explore a new scenic area. The book has adventurous moments. It's a book that will make you feel inspired to go after your dreams, live in the moment, and stop playing it safe.
I think the plot was clever, and I enjoyed the romance. I only wish there was a little more to the ending. It felt a bit rushed for me. Otherwise, it was a relaxing and enjoyable book, and I can't wait to read more by the author.
June 22, 2025
What an interesting premise, a "time-slip love triangle" for the ages where one man was literally in two places (and two ages) at once!
On the bright side, the initial concept was pure catnip for anyone who loves a bit of magical realism mixed with their romance. The mystery of how Sam and Jude could be the same person definitely kept the pages turning, offering a unique twist on the "will they/won't they" trope. Fenny herself was easy to root for: a woman trying to snag her dream job while also navigating a love life that felt straight out of a sci-fi movie.
However, sometimes the magic trick felt a little too complicated. The whole "man split into two" thing, while intriguing occasionally made it hard to fully invest in either version or the journey to make him whole. The emotional stakes despite the high-concept premise, didn't always hit with the punch you'd expect from a love story spanning different timelines. It was a lot to untangle and while clever, it didn't always translate into a deeply felt romance.
Ultimately, it was a fun, ambitious ride with a truly unique hook.
(Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
On the bright side, the initial concept was pure catnip for anyone who loves a bit of magical realism mixed with their romance. The mystery of how Sam and Jude could be the same person definitely kept the pages turning, offering a unique twist on the "will they/won't they" trope. Fenny herself was easy to root for: a woman trying to snag her dream job while also navigating a love life that felt straight out of a sci-fi movie.
However, sometimes the magic trick felt a little too complicated. The whole "man split into two" thing, while intriguing occasionally made it hard to fully invest in either version or the journey to make him whole. The emotional stakes despite the high-concept premise, didn't always hit with the punch you'd expect from a love story spanning different timelines. It was a lot to untangle and while clever, it didn't always translate into a deeply felt romance.
Ultimately, it was a fun, ambitious ride with a truly unique hook.
(Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
June 28, 2025
I wish I went into this book blind. but I made the mistake of reading the synopsis and wondering the whole book about what was going to happen. But the ending tied it up into a neat mind-blowing bow. The cover is gorgeous and the premise of this book had me trying to figure things out. I enjoyed this book greatly.
October 4, 2025
Huge thanks to PRH Audio and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the free audiobook!
I could've sworn that I reviewed this a few months ago, but maybe I was just ready to be done with the book when I set it down. The plot is very unique, I will give it that, lol. The ending in particular lost me, but I didn't have a great time with the story overall. It's sort of an interesting blend of women's fiction and romance, with a sprinkle of the magical. I didn't get emotionally invested in the romance at all - it's technically a love triangle until the final pages - but I was kinda curious how things would play out. Ultimately, it wasn't for me.
Audio note: The audio is solid, no major complaints. It's narrated by Kristen DiMercurio, and I enjoy her voice. The runtime is around 9 hours, which makes it the perfect length for listening to at the office. There are a few heated moments, but otherwise it's a good choice for an office listen. I do recommend the audio overall.
I could've sworn that I reviewed this a few months ago, but maybe I was just ready to be done with the book when I set it down. The plot is very unique, I will give it that, lol. The ending in particular lost me, but I didn't have a great time with the story overall. It's sort of an interesting blend of women's fiction and romance, with a sprinkle of the magical. I didn't get emotionally invested in the romance at all - it's technically a love triangle until the final pages - but I was kinda curious how things would play out. Ultimately, it wasn't for me.
Audio note: The audio is solid, no major complaints. It's narrated by Kristen DiMercurio, and I enjoy her voice. The runtime is around 9 hours, which makes it the perfect length for listening to at the office. There are a few heated moments, but otherwise it's a good choice for an office listen. I do recommend the audio overall.
January 26, 2025
4.25 stars
This was a fun and unique premise! Fenny meets Sam on a weekend trip and has an instant connection with him. When she returns to work the next week she meets Jude… who seems eerily similar to Sam, just 10 years older.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought Fenny was a really likeable and entertaining fmc. I really felt for her and all the things she was dealing with, from losing her directing spot to Jude, to figuring out her connection with both men, to her own feelings of not being good enough at her job. I liked how supportive her friends were and how they helped her figure things out.
I also really liked Jude. I thought I wouldn’t like him because of the circumstances he was introduced in, but I thought he was a really great character and I loved the connection between him and Fenny. They had really great chemistry and even though they both clearly had things they were trying to deal with privately they were still as open with each other as they could be.
I have kind of a love hate relationship with the magical realism aspect of this book. It was pretty ambiguous and not really explained which one the one hand was interesting because I feel like not everything needs an answer, but at the same time I really wanted to know what the heck was going on. Overall though I did really enjoy this book and thought it was a really interesting concept.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC!!
This was a fun and unique premise! Fenny meets Sam on a weekend trip and has an instant connection with him. When she returns to work the next week she meets Jude… who seems eerily similar to Sam, just 10 years older.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought Fenny was a really likeable and entertaining fmc. I really felt for her and all the things she was dealing with, from losing her directing spot to Jude, to figuring out her connection with both men, to her own feelings of not being good enough at her job. I liked how supportive her friends were and how they helped her figure things out.
I also really liked Jude. I thought I wouldn’t like him because of the circumstances he was introduced in, but I thought he was a really great character and I loved the connection between him and Fenny. They had really great chemistry and even though they both clearly had things they were trying to deal with privately they were still as open with each other as they could be.
I have kind of a love hate relationship with the magical realism aspect of this book. It was pretty ambiguous and not really explained which one the one hand was interesting because I feel like not everything needs an answer, but at the same time I really wanted to know what the heck was going on. Overall though I did really enjoy this book and thought it was a really interesting concept.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC!!
July 1, 2025
Thank you Putnam Books for the gifted copy and Penguin Random House Audio for complimentary audiobook!
I just finished The Spirit of Love by Lauren Kate, and it truly swept me into a world where the magical and the emotional blended beautifully.
Even though I figured out the plot twist early on, it didn’t take away from the story's charm. If anything, it let me focus more on the emotional beats and the characters’ journeys, especially Fenny’s. She was driven and unapologetically after what she knew she deserved. Watching her fight for both her career and her heart was inspiring.
What really stuck with me were the feelings of heartache and hope—how they were woven through the story like a pulse. It tugged on all the right emotional strings in just the right ways.
And I’ve got to say, Kristen DiMercurio’s narration was spot on. Her voice brought the characters to life in a way that felt effortless and deeply authentic.
Overall, The Spirit of Love delivered an enchanting mix of real emotions and mystical touches that made it a heartfelt, memorable read.
All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
I just finished The Spirit of Love by Lauren Kate, and it truly swept me into a world where the magical and the emotional blended beautifully.
Even though I figured out the plot twist early on, it didn’t take away from the story's charm. If anything, it let me focus more on the emotional beats and the characters’ journeys, especially Fenny’s. She was driven and unapologetically after what she knew she deserved. Watching her fight for both her career and her heart was inspiring.
What really stuck with me were the feelings of heartache and hope—how they were woven through the story like a pulse. It tugged on all the right emotional strings in just the right ways.
And I’ve got to say, Kristen DiMercurio’s narration was spot on. Her voice brought the characters to life in a way that felt effortless and deeply authentic.
Overall, The Spirit of Love delivered an enchanting mix of real emotions and mystical touches that made it a heartfelt, memorable read.
All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
July 30, 2025
Swoon—this one deserves ALL the stars!
I will always be ALL IN for a story that explores a love so powerful it transcends time and space—and this one completely stole my heart.
I absolutely loved Sam. I completely loved Jude. And I adored who Fenny was with both of them. Watching the way her character shifted and grew across each relationship made me feel every beat of this story even deeper.
This marks my third romcom from Lauren Kate—after devouring By Any Other Name and What’s in a Kiss?—and she’s officially 3 for 3 with FIVE STAR reads from me. I’ll read anything she writes in the adult romcom world from here on out!
Released July 1st, 2025, this romantic jewel is available now—so go grab a copy and fall in love like I did!
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Lauren Kate, and Penguin Group Putnam for the chance to read this absolute romcom masterpiece in exchange for a review. 💕
I will always be ALL IN for a story that explores a love so powerful it transcends time and space—and this one completely stole my heart.
I absolutely loved Sam. I completely loved Jude. And I adored who Fenny was with both of them. Watching the way her character shifted and grew across each relationship made me feel every beat of this story even deeper.
This marks my third romcom from Lauren Kate—after devouring By Any Other Name and What’s in a Kiss?—and she’s officially 3 for 3 with FIVE STAR reads from me. I’ll read anything she writes in the adult romcom world from here on out!
Released July 1st, 2025, this romantic jewel is available now—so go grab a copy and fall in love like I did!
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Lauren Kate, and Penguin Group Putnam for the chance to read this absolute romcom masterpiece in exchange for a review. 💕
June 19, 2025
3.5 stars!!
this was SO CUTE and such a refreshing summer romance with a little bit of magical realism! i think this would be perfect for fans of ashley poston- the magical elements felt reminiscent of her style, and the romance was sweet with very little angst. personally, i was a huge fan of lauren kate and her fallen series when i was in middle school, so when i saw she was writing rom coms i knew i had to get my hands on this. i do think it’s so important to go into this blind because the synopsis gives away the light mystery element that helps drive the plot forward. and while it’s not really that hard to figure out, i had a lot of fun guessing how the ending was going to shake out!
thank you to netgalley and putnam books for this ARC!
this was SO CUTE and such a refreshing summer romance with a little bit of magical realism! i think this would be perfect for fans of ashley poston- the magical elements felt reminiscent of her style, and the romance was sweet with very little angst. personally, i was a huge fan of lauren kate and her fallen series when i was in middle school, so when i saw she was writing rom coms i knew i had to get my hands on this. i do think it’s so important to go into this blind because the synopsis gives away the light mystery element that helps drive the plot forward. and while it’s not really that hard to figure out, i had a lot of fun guessing how the ending was going to shake out!
thank you to netgalley and putnam books for this ARC!
July 2, 2025
3.5
Thank you to Putnam for sending me an early copy of this book!
This was a cute love story to read by the water as a brand new summer release. The plot concept was unique and reminded me of vibes from "The Dead Romantics" for any Ashley Poston fans out there.
Real life romance with a slight twist of magical realism. I do agree with another reviewer who wrote not to read the back summary, as it does spoil the plot twist slightly.
Overall, I connected with the characters and enjoyed my read. I disagreed with some of their world views, but the point of reading is learning and seeing other people's perspectives- so I wasn't bothered, it just brought me out of the story slightly. However, it made sense for these characters to believe what they do and feel passionate about it due to their lived experiences. All that to say, the parts where they fight over believing the same things but also misperceiving each other because they were not being fully honest was what pulled me out of the story. You could tell the plot twist by that point and had to painfully wait for the characters to realize themselves.
The ending was perfect for these two!
Thank you to Putnam for sending me an early copy of this book!
This was a cute love story to read by the water as a brand new summer release. The plot concept was unique and reminded me of vibes from "The Dead Romantics" for any Ashley Poston fans out there.
Real life romance with a slight twist of magical realism. I do agree with another reviewer who wrote not to read the back summary, as it does spoil the plot twist slightly.
Overall, I connected with the characters and enjoyed my read. I disagreed with some of their world views, but the point of reading is learning and seeing other people's perspectives- so I wasn't bothered, it just brought me out of the story slightly. However, it made sense for these characters to believe what they do and feel passionate about it due to their lived experiences. All that to say, the parts where they fight over believing the same things but also misperceiving each other because they were not being fully honest was what pulled me out of the story. You could tell the plot twist by that point and had to painfully wait for the characters to realize themselves.
The ending was perfect for these two!
May 3, 2025
There’s a lot going on here that’s fresh and really different. All that to say, I wish the “twist” hit a little sooner because it felt very confusing for awhile which direction this book wanted to go. I generally liked the characters but overall this felt a bit half baked/not like a final draft. I like the direction it took, but I still wanted more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2025
The Spirit of Love
This was such a fun and cute story! About believing in the power of love, trusting yourself and living life to the fullest.
I don’t want to say too much and give anything away, but this was adorable, funny and delightful.
Check this one out if you’re looking for:
🩵 a sweet, fade to black romance
🩵 Incredible chemistry
🩵 Hilarious cast of supporting characters
🩵 Set on a Hollywood TV set
Thank you to Putnam for this ARC! My opinions are my own.
This was such a fun and cute story! About believing in the power of love, trusting yourself and living life to the fullest.
I don’t want to say too much and give anything away, but this was adorable, funny and delightful.
Check this one out if you’re looking for:
🩵 a sweet, fade to black romance
🩵 Incredible chemistry
🩵 Hilarious cast of supporting characters
🩵 Set on a Hollywood TV set
Thank you to Putnam for this ARC! My opinions are my own.
August 26, 2025
I liked the original premise, romantasy is tricky. But Fenny was a little too whiny at times and while her dream to direct was inspirational, she seemed more like a spoiled brat who didn’t get her way on a hammy zombie series. I think having a toxic male boss has been overplayed, especially one who’s so full of himself and sexist.
Otherwise, the romance was sweet and it gave me a few thoughts on the afterlife.
Otherwise, the romance was sweet and it gave me a few thoughts on the afterlife.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2025
4 ⭐️
This was so different than I was expecting, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! A whimsical mystery fun romantic quick read, the audio was done well! The Hollywood aspect wasn’t cringey, I loved both the FMC & MMC! Jude 🥺 ugh he was such a good MMC!
This is a new to me author, definitely wanting to check out her backlist now.
This was so different than I was expecting, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! A whimsical mystery fun romantic quick read, the audio was done well! The Hollywood aspect wasn’t cringey, I loved both the FMC & MMC! Jude 🥺 ugh he was such a good MMC!
This is a new to me author, definitely wanting to check out her backlist now.
July 16, 2025
Cute story, not hard to process and light hearted vibes. I enjoyed the relationships Fenny has with her friends and that there are modern pop culture references.
July 19, 2025
So cute ✨
July 28, 2025
my only qualm with lauren’s books is i want them to be longer!!! also avoid the synopsis like the plague prior to reading bc it does a GREAT disservice to the story and its plot / unfolding
July 30, 2025
You really need to start reading this book without checking the plot beforehand. But for me, it was slow-paced and the writing wasn’t very engaging.
September 13, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded up. Ending was a bit rushed and abrupt.
November 7, 2025
Loved the magical element in this book, 4.5 stars
July 29, 2025
I'm not going to lie, I didn't think I would enjoy this book while in the first few chapters. While it wasn't my favorite and had some tropes I strongly dislike, this was cute. There was a lot of (necessary) growing our characters experienced. This is evident in the end when people finally use their voices and communicate! (I do not like miscommunication tropes, I am so sorry).
I agree with other readers that this is a good book to go into blind, but I also found it to be predictable. I had the big reveal (which happens about 10 pages from the end) about 20% in. That said, if you let the book just take you on the journey, you'll find it was a pleasant ride. The idea of this was unique.
I had an arc of this, so I really hope some things were changed. Namely-- THE NAMES. Something about the name Finny made it hard for me to take the emotional scenes seriously. Not to mention the baby named Jarvis and the toddler named Frank? And the child named BUSTER. I did have an early copy, however, so I don't know what, if anything, was changed!
I agree with other readers that this is a good book to go into blind, but I also found it to be predictable. I had the big reveal (which happens about 10 pages from the end) about 20% in. That said, if you let the book just take you on the journey, you'll find it was a pleasant ride. The idea of this was unique.
I had an arc of this, so I really hope some things were changed. Namely-- THE NAMES. Something about the name Finny made it hard for me to take the emotional scenes seriously. Not to mention the baby named Jarvis and the toddler named Frank? And the child named BUSTER. I did have an early copy, however, so I don't know what, if anything, was changed!
July 2, 2025
GO IN BLIND ALERT!! I'm going to give you a two-sentence summary below, but beyond that TRUST ME it's better if you don't read the book's provided synopsis!
About to begin her dream job as director of the TV show she's dedicated her entire career to, Fenny takes a celebratory solo camping trip and falls (rockslides?) into a weekend fling Sam, Catalina Island's Search and Rescue resident hunk. Upon returning to real life, Fenny is furious to learn that hotshot indie film director Jude de Silva will be joining the show and stealing her thunder.
The first thing to note here is that I LOVE me some magical realism. So if that's not your jam, probably skip this one. Also, please take the love triangle trope VERY unseriously. I'm not here for that. You'll get it, don't worry.
The workplace backdrop here is a TV show, so it's all very LA, but in an accessible way that makes me think some people there might be normal. Although the magical realism here does lean a liiiiitle farther into the woo-woo than I'd usually be into...I chalk it up to all that sun going to their heads.
My favorite thing about this book is the biting humor, which I would call hopeful cynicism. I also really love Fenny's relationship with her sister's family.
This could have used more spice IMO, but I think that's this author's style? There is an interconnected standalone that occurs before this one called What's In A Kiss? but I did not feel like I'd missed anything by skipping ahead.
About to begin her dream job as director of the TV show she's dedicated her entire career to, Fenny takes a celebratory solo camping trip and falls (rockslides?) into a weekend fling Sam, Catalina Island's Search and Rescue resident hunk. Upon returning to real life, Fenny is furious to learn that hotshot indie film director Jude de Silva will be joining the show and stealing her thunder.
The first thing to note here is that I LOVE me some magical realism. So if that's not your jam, probably skip this one. Also, please take the love triangle trope VERY unseriously. I'm not here for that. You'll get it, don't worry.
The workplace backdrop here is a TV show, so it's all very LA, but in an accessible way that makes me think some people there might be normal. Although the magical realism here does lean a liiiiitle farther into the woo-woo than I'd usually be into...I chalk it up to all that sun going to their heads.
My favorite thing about this book is the biting humor, which I would call hopeful cynicism. I also really love Fenny's relationship with her sister's family.
This could have used more spice IMO, but I think that's this author's style? There is an interconnected standalone that occurs before this one called What's In A Kiss? but I did not feel like I'd missed anything by skipping ahead.
February 1, 2025
I liked this book way more than I thought I would. I really wasn’t sure about a magical time-slip love triangle but it was so sweet and well done and that I coming from a person who usually does not like fantasy elements in a book. I love a good enemies to friends to lovers. The more we go to know Jude the more I loved him but how could we forget about Sam. I found myself torn just like the FMC. I was so glad she found her HEA!
Thanks NetGalley for the copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Thanks NetGalley for the copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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