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Miranda in Retrograde

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After getting passed over for tenure and having her life upended in the process, a physics professor decides to throw caution to the wind and live by her horoscope predictions for a year in this effervescent rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author of Made in Manhattan.

As the youngest physics professor at her university, practical-minded Miranda Reed plans her life with minute precision. But that’s before she’s denied tenure and the promotion she thought was guaranteed. Suddenly, her tidy life is anything but constant.

Overdue for a sabbatical, Miranda takes some time to look towards the stars—only this time, she’s not looking for black holes. With her faith in science shaken, Miranda turns to a practice she’s long dismissed as astrology.

Determined to figure out why her life has suddenly gone sideways, Miranda commits to a year of letting her horoscope guide her. Soon she’s taking on new home improvement projects, adopting a new pet, and studying what the stars have to say about her ideal love match. The intriguingly aloof artist living next door? Never. His Aries energy is all wrong. On the other hand, the charming father of her new tutoring pupil is Sagittarian perfection. Made for her...right?

As Miranda navigates life with new a perspective, she slowly discovers neither science nor the stars have all the answers. And that, when it comes to love, you sometimes just have to trust your heart.

Audible Audio

First published August 13, 2024

168 people are currently reading
17347 people want to read

About the author

Lauren Layne

61 books10.5k followers
Lauren Layne is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including Hot Asset, Hard Sell, and Huge Deal in her 21 Wall Street series, as well as her Central Park Pact series. Her books have sold more than a million copies in nine languages. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, the Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She is based in New York City.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 771 reviews
Profile Image for Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus).
Author 23 books731 followers
August 16, 2024
4 Stars

One Liner: An enjoyable story

Miranda comes from a family of toppers and achievers. She is the face of physics and the youngest physics professor in the university. However, her world turns upside down when she is passed over for tenure. Her life no longer follows a plan.

Dejected, Miranda decides to take her bestie’s advice and use the sabbatical to live life without rules and science. Instead, she decides to make decisions based on the stars and astrology. Things have already gone wrong. They couldn’t get worse, right?

What does this sabbatical teach Miranda? Will it help her find some love too?

The story comes in Miranda’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:

Well, the cover and the premise were cute enough to make me want to grab this book. Unlike Miranda, I love astronomy and astrology equally and believe that both can co-exist. I hoped it would be fun to see how the FMC realizes the same, and it was.

Miranda’s character is well crafted. The transition from someone who follows rigid rules to someone who embraces change by replacing the rules with another set to finally a person who learns to trust her gut and heart, the progress is steady and unhurried. This feels realistic without being drawn out too long.

I knew there would be a love triangle of sorts. Thankfully, it doesn’t get messy or awkward (or annoying). While I think the other track could have been a little shorter, I also see why it was necessary to go as far as it did. It plays a part in the FMC’s journey.

Archer is an adorable grumpy artist. I wish we had more of him in the book and his backstory came out a little more detailed. He is the king of grump you’d want to love!

Some side characters like Lillian, Daphne, and Kylee make a strong impression. While the other guy was good enough, I didn’t feel anything for him.

The chapters were titled according to months and zodiac seasons. Each chapter began with a horoscope prediction for the day and aligned with the events that take place in it. I loved this approach and had a great time reading those little nuggets of ‘wisdom’.

The romance was pretty mild with only a wee bit of steam. However, the relationship between the FMC and MMC was great to read. It started with a not-a-meet-cute and progressed slowly, so that made sense. I wouldn’t have minded a little more spice, though.

While the track of Miranda’s relationship with her family started realistically, it got resolved a bit too easily, IMO. I wish it continued to be realistic and bittersweet.

There’s an epilogue (my favorite) that gives us a proper HEA and all.

The author’s note was delightful and gave a glimpse into the research and work she put into the book. I always love reading such details.

To summarize, Miranda in Retrograde is a light and steady-paced book (not fast) you can finish in a couple of sittings. It works as a summer read or a starry night read on the rooftop. You don’t need to know anything about astrology to understand the contents.

My thanks to NetGalley, and Gallery Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #MirandaInRetrograde
Profile Image for Wobilba.
856 reviews131 followers
August 28, 2024
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It was cutesy and funny and I adore both Miranda and Archer.
I just didn't get the love vibe from either of them. I did not believe in the he fell first, not even for a second. I did however love their their friendship and their banter.
Also I could've done with a little less of the horoscope gibberish.

Overall this was a fun, light and face paced story that I truly enjoyed. If you love hallmark movies, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC
Profile Image for Maren’s Reads.
1,194 reviews2,220 followers
August 8, 2024
4-4.5 ⭐️ Have I mentioned how big of a Lauren Layne fan I am? To put it in perspective, of the forty-two books she’s written, I have read all but three (I need to get on this). Not only is she an auto-buy author for me, her books are also comfort reads. So of course the second a new book is announced, I must devour it as quickly as possible.

When I think of romance, I think of Lauren Layne. Her books, including Miranda in Retrograde, always feature the swooniest of romance and the witty banter that the best romances are made of. Her characters are fun and vivacious, while also being relatable and easy to connect to. In fact, I ALWAYS get choked up at the third act breakup, that’s how emotionally invested in her characters I become. And while some of her books get a bit steamy, most are predominantly closed door.

Miranda in Retrograde is no exception. I loved Miranda right out of the gate for both her quirkiness and brains. A PhD in physics, and the coolest, most beloved professor at her university - and yet her inability to earn tenure made her the family disappointment. Her determination to make something out of the rubble of her career, is what ultimately makes her such an endearing character.

I clearly had a favorite among her love interests (ahem Archer) and yet I enjoyed the push and pull each offered her. Although love triangles are not my favorite of the tropes, I think Lauren pulled it off here, and without creating too much stress and anxiety for the reader.

🎧 I went back and forth with this one, spending time reading with both my eyes and ears. Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya has become a new favorite, in particular her ability to breathe life into the characters she is portraying. Whether she is making me laugh with Miranda in Retrograde, or cry with her previous narration, she always brings the book to life. I highly recommend this one on audio.

Read if you like:
• women in stem
• horoscopes
• forced proximity
• grumpy x sunshine
• love triangles
• next door neighbors

Thank you Gallery Books and Simon Audio for the advanced copies.
Profile Image for Mia.
2,875 reviews1,047 followers
April 23, 2024
Lauren Layne could write a grocery list and I would read it. I absolutely adore her novels and this one is no different. Miranda and Archer’s romance is a sweet slow-burn, with so much witty banter, opposite attraction primeness. I just wish it was longer but if you want to grin, and be astound by Lauren Layne’s astrology references, I highly recommend you read Miranda in Retrograde!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amy.
2,644 reviews2,022 followers
July 24, 2024
LL never misses for me, I swear every time I finish one of her books I’m ridiculously happy and giddy and this was no exception. The romance here is a super slow burn, some angst and the authors signature witty banter. I’m not into astrology but this actually made me wanna dive into it a little more, the way it was woven into the story was delightful and interesting. Miranda and Archer’s romance was both swoony and sweet and this one is closed door but no worries, they still had fantastic chemistry. Next time you want a feel good, charming romance try this!
Profile Image for clara.
441 reviews161 followers
December 10, 2024
if you know me even a little bit, you’re aware of my big obsession with lauren layne’s stories. with that said, i’m very glad to say this one was quickly added into my long list of LL’s gems.

from the very first page to the very end, i couldn’t help but being hooked into miranda and archer’s journey. it was funny, emotional, inspirational, swoon-worthy…

as i was reading, i caught myself thinking that miranda in retrograde gave me the feeling of eating comfort food in my bed on a weekend. and just like when monday comes, as i reached the final chapter i couldn’t help the bittersweet feeling taking over. i could use a 100 more pages of this story!

as a libra myself, i say that i can be really indecisive, but i am 100% sure i’ll be visiting these characters in the future again and again for a reread.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Fairuz ᥫ᭡..
507 reviews1,267 followers
August 26, 2024
Okay, so astrology isn’t really my thing, but let me tell you—you don’t need to be a zodiac guru to dive into Miranda in Retrograde by Lauren Layne! 🌟 This rom-com takes you on a lighthearted, star-studded journey through the life of Miranda, a physics professor who decides to live by her horoscope for a year after getting denied tenure. It’s quirky, it’s fun, and it’s definitely one of a kind, though it has its ups and downs.

✧ Slow-burn romance 🔥
✧ Opposites attract 💘
✧ Grumpy/sunshine 💕
✧ Love triangle ✨
✧ Forced proximity 💖
✧ Self-discovery journey 🌱

First off, Miranda’s character is spot on! Watching her transform from a rigid, science-only gal to someone who starts to embrace the unpredictable side of life—and love—was such a treat. Her journey is amusing and sometimes maddening (girl, snap out of it!), especially as she lets astrology guide her every move. And then there's Archer, the grumpy artist next door—he adds just the right amount of slow-burn romance. I was all in for this sunshine-girl-meets-grumpy-guy dynamic, but come on, give us more of his backstory! I need more of this grump king in my life! 😍

As for the love triangle… meh. It didn’t exactly sweep me off my feet and felt more like a little detour than a major part of the story. It was handled better than most, but it didn’t hit me in the feels as much as I’d hoped. And the family drama? Wrapped up a little too neatly and quickly for my taste. More depth, please!

Now, onto the astrology bits. They’re everywhere! Even if horoscopes aren’t your thing, you’ll still get a kick out of how they’re woven into the story. But honestly? There was a bit too much for my liking. It started to feel repetitive, and I caught myself skimming those parts to get back to the juicy plot. The concept was cool, but it kind of overshadowed the characters and their growth.

On the flip side, the chapter titles based on zodiac seasons and daily horoscope predictions were super cute! They added a fun, whimsical vibe that matched the book's theme perfectly. The romance between Miranda and Archer was a slow burn that had its sweet moments, but I was left craving a bit more spice. The chemistry was definitely there, but it could’ve been turned up a notch or two!

All in all, Miranda in Retrograde is a fun, breezy read that brings a unique astrological twist to the classic rom-com. If you’re a fan of Lauren Layne or just in the mood for something light with a heavy dose of zodiac talk, this one’s for you!
Profile Image for Andrea | andrea.c.lowry.reads.
846 reviews84 followers
September 12, 2024
This is just a fun and easy romcom that was incredibly cute! It’s that soft, sweet, humorous, enjoyable read with its lovely enemies to lovers theme!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:

Opposites attract
Forced proximity
Slow burn romance
Cute Banter
Women in STEM

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲?

The dialogue is snappy, flirty and fun, with just the right amount of tension, angst and emotion, to complement the budding romance and characters.

🔥Steam level: PG/Kissing

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?

This was such a fun audiobook. Jennifer Jill
Araya does a wonderful job narrating and bringing each of the characters to life in their own unique way.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?

Steady

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?

If you are looking for a light story that has depth and feeling, and will leave a big smile on your face, then grab a copy now!

3.5 stars

Thank you Gallery Books for this gift, a copy and exchange for my honest opinions.
Profile Image for hamna.
847 reviews473 followers
April 24, 2024
goodreads crashed and deleted my review and im so not writing it again but. lauren layne you’ll always be so loved <3
Profile Image for Carmen de la Rosa.
623 reviews361 followers
September 20, 2024
Libro que me saca del bloqueo lector, libro que debe tener 5 Estrellas jajaja

No sabía de la existencia de este libro hasta que vi un tweet me llamo la premisa y bueno lo leí técnicamente en 3 días y la verdad fue una lectura que disfruté, que ame, que me hizo reír.

Miranda es una chica astrónoma que acaba de pasar por una decepción laboral que hace que se plante muchas cosas pero primero debe tomar un paso atrás y tener otro proyecto durante su año sabático, es por eso que entra en su era astrológica, con ello vienen cambios y es por eso que se muda a la casa de una de sus tías. Y acá es cuando cambia todo el juego.

Archer es un vecino pintor que es algo… confianzudo y grumpy, sin duda me gusto su dinámica, él bajo la fachada de ser cerrado, con una ruptura a días de casarse algo pública, tiene una coraza, sin duda me encanto y es todo un hombre escrito por una mujer, porque es detallista, todas las cualidades que puede tener un hombre. Como mencione pasan de ser stranger to friends to lovers, lo cual amo.

Se desarrolló muy lindo el romance, él se enamoró primero de ella, tenía detalles, se notaba la química, el final es hermoso, sin duda lo disfruté un montón.

Me encanto que también Miranda tuvo su descubrimiento acerca de la astronomía, sobre si le había gustado desde un principio o se le había impuesto, de la misma manera todo lo que sucedió con su familia, pues de ser una familia un poco fría tuvo su acercamiento.

Sobre la astrología la verdad es que aprendí cosas jaja y fue un detalle divertido, además ame que existiera la temporada Aries jaja.

Espero que este libro se vuelva más conocido, lo merece, merece tener más reconocimiento.
Profile Image for Bea.
255 reviews32 followers
April 25, 2025
—¿Lo sabías? —digo sorprendida—. ¿Sabías que las flores no necesitaban estar en la azotea?

Archer sonríe.

—Desde la primera noche.

—¿Por qué no dijiste nada? —pregunto, exasperada. Podrías habérmelo dicho jy así habrías recuperado tu tejado silencioso!

—Podría haberlo hecho, pero estaba un poco ocupado.

—¿Haciendo qué?

Archer sonríe y roza mis labios con los suyos.

—Enamorándome.


¡Qué libro más bonito 🥹! La verdad, es que, me leí este libro solo por leerme algo y me he llevado una grata sorpresa, puesto que, no solo me ha gustado muchísimo, sino que, se ha convertido en unos de mis libros favoritos de romance.

La historia está protagonizada por Miranda, una profesora de física, que se toma un año sabático porque no le han dado la titularidad. Ella decide que en vez de regirse por la lógica como hace siempre, se dejará llevar por el horóscopo y tomará decisiones sobre su vida (incluido el amor) en base a éste, durante lo que dure el año sabático.

La trama me ha parecido muy refrescante , ya que, es muy interesante, original y muy distinta a los típicos argumentos de las novelas románticas o romcoms. Tenía fichado este libro desde hace tiempo y no me ha decepcionado para nada. Además, gracias a esta historia también he podido aprender algo de astrología y me he divertido mucho al ver las situaciones por las que pasaba la protagonista, aunque también podemos ver cómo Miranda se descubre a sí misma y reflexiona sobre si le gustaba realmente su trabajo o si se lo había impuesto su familia, y si quería seguir en ese puesto por obligación.

Miranda me gustó un montón como protagonista. Era inteligente, muy divertida y, al final, le acabas cogiendo bastante cariño. Aunque hay una especie de triángulo amoroso, lo cierto es que no es muy molesto, puesto que, el tercero en discordia, es majete. Por otro lado, tenemos a Archer, que es su vecino gruñón que es pintor y se cuela en su casa (en realidad, no es suya realmente) para robarle comida. Ah, por cierto, cree que la astrología es una chorrada por un suceso del pasado. Me ha gustado mucho su strangers to friends to... Me gustan demasiado los clichés de él se enamora primero, slowburn y grumpy x sunshine, sorry not sorry, ¡y no hay spicy!

En resumen, recomiendo mucho 'Miranda en retrógrado' si quieres una lectura ligera (el libro no llega a las 300 páginas, pero todo se desarrolla a la perfección), entretenida y con una historia de amor preciosa que tiene el desenlace perfecto, en mi opinión. También creo que os gustaría mucho este libro si os gustan los romances STEM de Ali Hazelwood 🥰.
Profile Image for Ashlee (bookswithnopictures).
1,465 reviews117 followers
July 24, 2024
If you’re like me and you need your grinchy heart to grow three sizes, read this book!
Miranda’s bid for tenure is unrealized and a forced sabbatical later, she’s sitting on her aunt’s roof with a grump next door insisting she “get off his lawn”. Her whole life has revolved around higher learning and now that she’s at loose ends, Miranda agrees to see the stars from an astrologist’s perspective instead. Her horoscope now rules her day.
This is such a happy feel good kind of read. Miranda almost has a coming of age story while she grapples with what she actually wants versus what she’s always been told she wants. I love, love, LOVED Archer and his endless dry commentary and reluctant assistance.
Thank you to Gallery Books for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Lisa Guzman.
772 reviews5 followers
October 1, 2024
I'm giving three stars because the premise was kind of fun (albeit slightly ridiculous--it is hard to believe someone so hard-coded to be a scientist and professor would easily go down the astrology rabbit hole) and it was enjoyable to listen to. I liked the horoscopes that started the chapters. I did not like how dumb Miranda seemed to be about recognizing her own and Archer's feelings. I also kind of hated that he called her "Randi" as a nickname for Miranda. I did like when she stood up for herself to her family, and that they listened to her and made some adjustments to their reactions. That was nice. It is a romance, but there really isn't a lot of heat behind all the banter. Archer was a somewhat one-note character. It is a very clean romance. I was starting to get pretty annoyed at them not saying what they actually wanted, so I was relieved when they finally had an honest conversation. Overall, it's nothing to write home about but was an easy listen.
Profile Image for esh.
77 reviews6 followers
August 24, 2024
WORDS CANT DESCRIBE HOW MUCH IM CHEESING RN AFTER READING THIS MOTHER LAUREN LAYNE YOUVE DONE IT YET AGAIN
Profile Image for Yaya.
137 reviews26 followers
August 26, 2024
Sweet, romantic, and clean are the first things that come to mind when describing this book. This book had me googling my birth chart and creating an interest in reading about astrology. The story is set between New Jersey and New York, although parts of the book also take place in Florida. We get Miranda, a professor whose main love and focus in her life is her career, or so she has convinced herself until the career plan she had elaborated on unfolds unexpectedly. We also meet Archer, a grumpy artist whose main charm comes from his ability to say little and leave you wanting more. This book is comforting, easy to read, and perfect for when you want a story that would allow you to escape reality while also living curiously through someone else's love story. If you love witty banter and love a story that makes you happy for others, this is it! I would have wished that the ending didn't move that fast, but I am not mad about it either.

Thank you to Gallery Books, Lauren Layne, and NetGalley for the arc copy!
Profile Image for ksiazkowy_pirat.
192 reviews47 followers
September 9, 2025
Ta książka w teorii wydawała się zdecydowanie warta uwagi. W praktyce jest trochę inaczej, ale wciąż miło spędziłem czas. Wiele ciekawostek na temat astrologii i znaków zodiaku sprawiło, że byłem zaangażowany od samego początku, szczególnie, że główna bohaterka w tym świecie była równie mało obeznana jak ja.

Zdecydowanym minusem jest totalnie położona korekta - przykładów, gdzie w DIALOGACH płeć bohaterów się zmieniała było zdecydowanie więcej niż mógłbym zaakceptować bez żadnego komentarza. Tutaj niestety zmusza mnie to do odjęcia ⭐️.

A sam wątek romantyczny? Mimo że nie czytam książek w tym gatunku zbyt często to przyznam, że czytałem już chyba i lepsze, i gorsze.
Profile Image for zaczytana.po_uszy.
174 reviews18 followers
May 27, 2025
Opis i motywy bardzo zachęciły mnie do przeczytania przez co miałam do tej powieści spore wymagania. Trochę się zawiodłam ale mimo wszystko dobrze spędziłam z nią czas.
Jest to zdecydowanie must read dla każdej zodiakary i horoskopiary! Uwielbiam w tej historii nawiązania do astrologii, znaków zodiaku itp. To nadało jej cudownego, magicznego klimatu <33

Liczyłam, że wątek romantyczny zostanie trochę inaczej poprowadzony ale muszę przyznać, że i tak mi się podobał. Pojawia się również motyw trójkąta miłosnego, za którym nie przepadam ale w przypadku tej książki nie okazał się zły.
Relacja między bohaterami była urocza i zabawna. Od początku byłam ciekawa, którego - Archera czy Christiana - wybierze Miranda. Bohaterowie zostali ciekawie wykreowani. Na początku obawiałam się, że główna bohaterka będzie mnie irytować ale zdecydowanie tak nie było! Mimo wierzenia w gwiazdy i horoskop bardzo ją polubiłam.
Idealnie wątek romantyczny dopełnił motyw grumpy x sunshine. (UWIELBIAM GO)

Nawiązań do astrologii było dość sporo ale nie przeszkadzało mi to. Większym minusem była momentami nudząca mnie akcja. Nie działo się za wiele przez co czasami miałam mniej motywacji aby kontynuować tę książkę.

Dużym plusem jest fakt, że historia uświadamia nam aby zwolnić, zatrzymać się w życiu pełnym biegu i pomyśleć o sobie.
Było przyjemnie, zabawnie i uroczo. Jeżeli szukacie książki, która umili wam wieczory i nie macie do niej zbyt wysokich oczekiwań to zachęcam do poznania historii Mirandy <33

[ współpraca z wydawnictwem Papierowe Serca ]
Profile Image for currentlyreadingbynat.
871 reviews102 followers
September 29, 2024
Miranda in Retrograde by Lauren Layne offers a delightful mix of slow-burn romance, humour, and self-discovery. As a fan of Layne's work, I was immediately drawn to Miranda, a quirky and intelligent physics professor who’s struggling to rebuild her life after facing setbacks in her career. Her journey is relatable and engaging, and Layne manages to capture the balance between vulnerability and strength in her character, making it easy to connect with Miranda.

One of my favourite aspects of Layne's writing is that she nails the romantic comedy genre. Although the romance between Miranda and Archer is super sweet, there is so much humour in their interactions that you can't help but feel giddy while reading their romance. Although the story is mostly closed-door in terms of intimacy, the connection between the two is evident. I also thought the astrology theme added a fresh twist to the narrative. If you're in the mood for a feel-good, charming romance that blends brains and banter with a touch of cosmic influence, this one is a perfect pick.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Valeria  .
881 reviews314 followers
August 23, 2024
YO CREO EN EL AMOR❤️‍🩹💐⭐️🌃🎨

Miranda in Retrograde, es un libro HERMOSO.
Una historia sobre descubrirnos a nosotros mismos, los sueños, la vida, el amor, las estrellas y el horóscopo.

No esperaba nada de este libro y fue la mayor sorpresa de este mes.
UNA ROMCOM, sencilla, con profundidad y hermosa.

Miranda y Archer, han sido de los más bonito y carismáticos. Iniciando con que tienen el trope de VECINOS, que para mí todo lo hace mejor.
Su dinámica me recordó a la de "What's your number"
Él entraba de la nada a la casa de Miranda y agarraba comida jajajajaj LOS AMO.
Además, ambos eran diferente.
Ella es una física famosa.
Él es un artista famoso.
No obstante, conectaron y conectaron siendo amigos.
LOS AMOOOO.

La obsesión de Miranda con el horóscopo era muy divertido y era más sabiendo que Archer no lo apoyaba, pero no le decía nada.
Y que entenderias la fijación de ella con eso + lo que significaba para su vida, lo hacía más especial.

Amé sus pequeños momentos juntos, su relación, el destino, y las probabilidades.
TODO LO QUE ÉL HIZO POR ELLA y la demostración bonita que ÉL LA VEÍA.
Los amo. Los amo.
El final es ARTE.

LO HE AMADOOOOO🌃🎨⭐️💐🎨⭐️🎨⭐️💐🎨⭐️💐💐⭐️💐⭐️🎨
VIVAN LAS ROMCOM bonitas.
Profile Image for Amy.
352 reviews8 followers
July 17, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery books for the ARC.

This book was an easy read, and those of us familiar with Lauren Layne’s work will find the usual NYC setting and banter we are accustomed to after all these years.
Having Miranda be a scientist and professor was a nice change of pace. I learned more about astrology than I ever knew existed.

But this book was just “meh” for me. I didn’t get annoyed with anything. But I didn’t feel any connection to Miranda, and I definitely do not know why or how Archer fell in love with her. Because this book was single POV, having Miranda be crushing on/dating Christian for 70% of the book did not help build the romance between Archer and Miranda. If anything, this was a story of Miranda finding herself and what she wanted to do with her career.

There were some cute and sweet moments between the MCs. I do not mind that this book has only a kiss. I do mind the circumstances of that kiss (she’s got a boyfriend and it’s not Archer🙄).

The fact that they confess feelings and then -💥- epilogue and HEA. There was no time seeing them as a couple in love. It just didn’t land for me. Sadly, because I really, really wanted to love it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) .
2,831 reviews117 followers
August 13, 2024
This quirky, and cute romance has me smiling like a lunatic! I love Lauren Layne books because they always seem to hit all the right emotions. This story has me feeling refreshed and giddy because Miranda and Archer were perfection!

Miranda and Archer have a hilarious non meet cute that leads into a very tumultuous but hilarious friendship. As Miranda tries to figure out her next step in life, her friendship with her broody artist neighbor starts to take on something more, but neither is ready to lay it all on the line!

The ending of this book reminded me and solidified my love for Lauren Layne books. She really set things in motion that I did not anticipate and omg I love Archer and his love for Miranda. This story is beautifully written and has a stellar cast of characters!
Profile Image for Jen (jenslostinthepages) ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥.
772 reviews392 followers
April 28, 2025
***4.5/5 Stars***

Miranda in Retrograde was unique, loveable, fun, and I can’t recommend it enough!  This adult slow burn romance pulled us into its orbit with characters that were memorable, a storyline that took us on an emotional journey, and the most wonderful happily ever after! 
“I think the point, my dear girl”— Aunt Lillian pats my hand fondly—“ is that life isn’t meant to be hypothesized.”
I frown, not liking that one bit. “What’s life meant for then?”
Aunt Lillian smiles. “To be lived .”

I adored Miranda right away!  Her ex left her, she was denied tenure, and her parents and brother didn’t seem supportive.  Yet an adorable meet cute was in her future, where she met her knight in shining armor, Christian.  So while she took a sabbatical from her job, I loved watching Miranda find herself.  With living in her Aunt’s home, taking care of her plants, letting her horoscope guide her, and having a very interesting neighbor too!
But there is maybe just the tiniest part of me that can’t stop wondering:
Am I following my heart?
Or my horoscope?

This book felt so unique in that while Miranda didn’t believe in her horoscope, she went all in.  She learned everything she could, and allowed it to help her make life decisions.  Her experiment during her time off will have you smiling!  It not only helped push her into Christian and his adorable daughter, Kylee, but it also led her in other directions too.  Yet Miranda still seemed lost to what she truly wanted in life.  It felt like the times she was true to herself, was when she was around Archer.
“I was alone. Figured you were, too. Not the way one should spend a holiday if they don’t have to.”
“That’s surprisingly . . . thoughtful.”
“Just had my software updated,” he says, tapping his temple, then balls up the sandwich wrapper with a large fist and drops it into the empty bag.

Archer was Miranda’s neighbor, and he could be such a smartass.  I loved that he called her Randy!  Their first meeting was awful, but just wait because the second one was even worse haha.  Archer had no problem invading Miranda’s space, and their banter and openness with one another became everything!  But at the same time, he could be so thoughtful.  So while he kept his cards close to his chest, just know that Archer was the ultimate book boyfriend.  He was sexy, brooding and you’ll fall head over heels in love with him!
This. This is what scares me. Because whatever it is feels too big to fit into the temporariness of what this experimental, sabbatical year is supposed to be.

With sweet moments between Miranda and Christian, and moments that simmered between Archer and Miranda, I had to know what happened next.  Plus I was curious what Miranda would do when her sabbatical was up.  So with thoughtful Christmas presents, beautiful talks on the roof at night, a zipper scene, and kitchen dancing, this book had it all!  Plus, I cried all the tears later in the story, that moment was so perfect!  If you’re looking for a romance that will keep you smiling, while you’re cheering on the heroine to find her own happiness, definitely pick this one up!  
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I didn’t. I mean . . .” He exhales, sounding frustrated. “You did crash my solitude. But I don’t . . . mind it. As much as I thought I’d mind it. Or at all, really.”

Archer follows me out to the foyer, though when I open the front door, he places his palm on it to close it again.
I glance up in question, and his blue eyes are guarded as he briefly clenches his jaw. “Hey. Randy. You look . . . nice. Okay? You look good.”
The guarded gaze drops for a split second, revealing what I could have sworn is a flash of heat before it disappears.


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Profile Image for Clara Álbori.
Author 13 books151 followers
March 23, 2025
Este libro me llegó el día que hubo eclipse. Creo qué es algo que Miranda, la protagonista de este libro hubiera interpretado como una señal. Y yo también. Estaba convencida de que disfrutaría de esta lectura y así ha sido.

Es una historia muy cortita y sencilla pero la forma en la que la autora explora la construcción y la evolución del personaje de Miranda me ha resultado bastante...mágico

Desde el principio puede ver la conexión que tenía con Archer, su vecino. Su relación empieza siendo tensa, pero una tensió cómica y juguetona que se transforma en una complicidad entre ellos que me encanta.

He amado cómo se construye su relación. Es un slow slow slow burn que se forma a partir de una solida y preciosa amistad. Y algo qué cae me gusta más en los libros es que se demuestren sus sentimientos y emociones, no con parrafadas llena de palabras cursis, si no con tonterías. Frases que solo entienden ellos, detalles tontos, pero significativos, mostrar esa confianza el uno en el otro... es que son TAN TAN TAAAN BONITOS

Esta lectura ha sido un abrazo al corazón y al alma. Se lee en un suspiro y me ha dado vibes a películas románticas de las buenas, de la de los 2000.

Me da pena que sea un libro que pase muy desapercibido porque os aseguro que merece mucho la pena
Profile Image for Cat✨.
92 reviews2 followers
August 9, 2025
I LOVED THIS!! It was not by any means the best writing ever, and the FMC is slightly jarring and annoying, but the last 100 pages were everything and I loved how it was all about astrology. Read it in one sitting, would recommend if you like Astrology and want an easy, heart warming read.
Profile Image for Em (semi-hiatus).
738 reviews276 followers
October 6, 2024
This book is somewhat better than a couple of the author’s past releases. Not her best work but definitely not the worst. Just fun enough to keep me hooked.
Profile Image for Jaden.
467 reviews8 followers
February 7, 2025
This was a cute idea! A girl decides to live out her “eat, pray, love” moment by living every day by what her horoscope says. I think zodiac sign stuff is so fun so I loved the birth chart talk and stuff 😂predictable but an easy listen.
Profile Image for Gaby.
302 reviews2 followers
October 22, 2024
3,5
Lo empecé por curiosidad ya que la trama me llamó mucho la atención. Y no solo me gustó un montón, sino que también aprendí sobre astrología 😂🫶🏻
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