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Greta Gets the Girl
From New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr comes a steamy tale of forbidden romance.
NY publishing is Greta Clayborne’s life, and she’s on a high since she edited a hot new series that was just adapted for television. In her career, everything is on track. On the relationship front, there are no relationships, not since she had her heart broken. Now Greta uses a dating app, Sappho’s Kiss Society, for casual connections.
That’s all the tattooed taciturn Lee was supposed to be when Greta invites the enigmatic woman to her hotel room, expecting to never see her again.
Kaelee has more secrets than truths. She changed her name, finished a couple degrees, and just sold her book in a deal that will replace the money she’s spent on her tiny studio during grad school. Her life is writing, teaching, and too much time at the gym. But after she meets “Marie” on her app, she can’t get the curvaceous woman out of her mind.
Long distance chat lead to another meeting, and the two discover that they both want more. Maybe. The possibility of something real seems in reach—until Kaelee walks into her meeting with her editor only to find that woman she’s starting to fall for is her editor. Now Greta’s career and reputation are at risk, but when Kaelee’s wealthy and influential family shows up to put a stop to the “embarrassment” of writing sapphic fiction, Greta has to decide what matters her heart or her career.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
NY publishing is Greta Clayborne’s life, and she’s on a high since she edited a hot new series that was just adapted for television. In her career, everything is on track. On the relationship front, there are no relationships, not since she had her heart broken. Now Greta uses a dating app, Sappho’s Kiss Society, for casual connections.
That’s all the tattooed taciturn Lee was supposed to be when Greta invites the enigmatic woman to her hotel room, expecting to never see her again.
Kaelee has more secrets than truths. She changed her name, finished a couple degrees, and just sold her book in a deal that will replace the money she’s spent on her tiny studio during grad school. Her life is writing, teaching, and too much time at the gym. But after she meets “Marie” on her app, she can’t get the curvaceous woman out of her mind.
Long distance chat lead to another meeting, and the two discover that they both want more. Maybe. The possibility of something real seems in reach—until Kaelee walks into her meeting with her editor only to find that woman she’s starting to fall for is her editor. Now Greta’s career and reputation are at risk, but when Kaelee’s wealthy and influential family shows up to put a stop to the “embarrassment” of writing sapphic fiction, Greta has to decide what matters her heart or her career.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
336 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2026
About the author
Melissa Marr
111 books13.1k followersMelissa Marr writes fiction for adults, teens, and children. Her books have been translated into 28 languages and been bestsellers in the US (NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal) as well as overseas. Wicked Lovely, her debut novel, was an instant New York Times bestseller and evolved into an internationally bestselling multi-book series with a myriad of accolades.
In 2024 she released a queer fantasy (Remedial Magic via Bramble), a picturebook about a wee one and his two moms (Family is Family via Penguin), and a DC Comics graphic novel about teen Harley & Ivy (The Strange Adventures of Harleen & Harley).
An Illumicrate edition of 6 Wicked Lovely books will release in 2025.
If she's not writing, you can find her in a kayak or on a trail with her wife.
In 2024 she released a queer fantasy (Remedial Magic via Bramble), a picturebook about a wee one and his two moms (Family is Family via Penguin), and a DC Comics graphic novel about teen Harley & Ivy (The Strange Adventures of Harleen & Harley).
An Illumicrate edition of 6 Wicked Lovely books will release in 2025.
If she's not writing, you can find her in a kayak or on a trail with her wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
February 13, 2026
Enjoyable read!
Nice book cover and a somewhat nice story.
It's readable!
Nice book cover and a somewhat nice story.
It's readable!
February 4, 2026
For a full spoiler version of this review, please check out my book review blog here: https://spoiledbooks.blogspot.com/
This was a fun, spicy sapphic romance with a premise that had me giggling almost immediately. When a buttoned-up New York editor hooks up with a mysterious woman on a private lesbian dating app… only to later discover she’s editing her debut novel? Yeah. Awkward. Deliciously so.
The chemistry is strong, the banter is sharp, and the first half absolutely flies by. There’s a lot of steam 🔥, but also genuine emotional depth as both women navigate past baggage, power dynamics, and messy feelings. While the second half slows down a bit and some plot points wrap up a little too neatly, I still had a great time overall.
Smart, sexy, and entertaining.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a fun, spicy sapphic romance with a premise that had me giggling almost immediately. When a buttoned-up New York editor hooks up with a mysterious woman on a private lesbian dating app… only to later discover she’s editing her debut novel? Yeah. Awkward. Deliciously so.
The chemistry is strong, the banter is sharp, and the first half absolutely flies by. There’s a lot of steam 🔥, but also genuine emotional depth as both women navigate past baggage, power dynamics, and messy feelings. While the second half slows down a bit and some plot points wrap up a little too neatly, I still had a great time overall.
Smart, sexy, and entertaining.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I liked the first half way more than I like the latter half, especially since they got together romantically so fast even with their set inhibitions and then had very little emotional development before the third act conflict that I honestly feel would have been better if it was internal rather than external. Loved reading about a butchfemme couple though!
Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
January 14, 2026
Note: I received advance review copy of Greta Gets the Girl
After the prologue and the first chapter I sighed as it seemed one of the main characters was bound to be a crappy lesbian stereotype, then by chapter two I was proven wrong and was in store for an absolutely stunning love story.
The character writing here is done exceptionally well and even the minor characters had a bit of depth to them with their own motivations in life fleshed out to a surprising degree. The two main characters Greta and Kaylee are both amazing and quite different characters that are very relatable. Greta was especially likeable for me in a way that not only made me root for her but also for those that she was rooting and working for.
The conflict in the story is two-fold; first is the love story between Greta and Kaylee which is extremely good, then the second conflict is with Kaylee's family and past. Both aspects of the story are really well written and extremely compelling. This is what I really loved about this book because the whole story really strengthens the romance between Greta and Kaylee which is what I believe makes Greta Gets the Girl such a wonderful book.
I was worried about how this book was going to wrap up because the were several moments where it felt like a climax was coming only to have it pushed off til later. The when the climax of the book does occur it happens in such an satisfying way and compels several connected parts of the story into conclusion as well.
Really my whole review can be summed up by saying that Greta Gets the Girls is just a wonderfully crafted story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance story.
After the prologue and the first chapter I sighed as it seemed one of the main characters was bound to be a crappy lesbian stereotype, then by chapter two I was proven wrong and was in store for an absolutely stunning love story.
The character writing here is done exceptionally well and even the minor characters had a bit of depth to them with their own motivations in life fleshed out to a surprising degree. The two main characters Greta and Kaylee are both amazing and quite different characters that are very relatable. Greta was especially likeable for me in a way that not only made me root for her but also for those that she was rooting and working for.
The conflict in the story is two-fold; first is the love story between Greta and Kaylee which is extremely good, then the second conflict is with Kaylee's family and past. Both aspects of the story are really well written and extremely compelling. This is what I really loved about this book because the whole story really strengthens the romance between Greta and Kaylee which is what I believe makes Greta Gets the Girl such a wonderful book.
I was worried about how this book was going to wrap up because the were several moments where it felt like a climax was coming only to have it pushed off til later. The when the climax of the book does occur it happens in such an satisfying way and compels several connected parts of the story into conclusion as well.
Really my whole review can be summed up by saying that Greta Gets the Girls is just a wonderfully crafted story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance story.
January 3, 2026
I loved this sapphic romance! I loved how this relationship grew from casual, uncertain, just friends, friends with benefits, to ultimately working out without childish miscommunication so often represented in many adult romance novels. I thoroughly appreciated the communication between Greta and Kaelee in every aspect of their at times complicated relationship, especially intimately. Having the characters reveal their past trauma and experiences over time with each other made the relationship feel authentic and that it could actually work in real life.
Other things I enjoyed were that the ensemble cast of characters were interesting and not overwhelming with their different personalities. Another was having a glimpse into what having a career in book publishing entails. And as a person who grew up and lives outside of DC it was cool reading all the NOVA references!
Ultimately this was a fun queer read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Brilliance Audio for the early access!
Other things I enjoyed were that the ensemble cast of characters were interesting and not overwhelming with their different personalities. Another was having a glimpse into what having a career in book publishing entails. And as a person who grew up and lives outside of DC it was cool reading all the NOVA references!
Ultimately this was a fun queer read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Brilliance Audio for the early access!
January 31, 2026
Kaelee ran away from home ten years ago in her late teens, after her rich father forced her into an arranged engagement (and subsequent assault) with a man she didn’t want at all. She had to become strong, to rebuild her life and change her name. She studied hard for her two degrees, was a teaching assistant to her professor and subsequent friend Toni, and also wrote two books, the first of which is just about to be bought and marketed by an influential publishing house.
Greta is an editor, with a team of queer staff around her. After an amazing success with Toni’s first two books, including movie rights, now Toni’s reclusive protege Kaelee is Greta’s latest author with the expectation of a similar success with her first book. Greta is a very driven woman, and when she needs to unwind, under the pseudonym Marie she uses a high-end sapphic hook-up app, where she meets the interesting and enigmatic Lee.
This is a story about a hook-up which slowly morphs into a complicated and messy relationship, not always easy to follow, but that’s part of the appeal. It is also beautiful; for Kaelee it’s about safety, about eventually giving control to the one you love, trusting that she will always have your back.
Ultimately it’s about Greta and Kaelee falling in love, about how Greta tries to protect Kaelee from whatever her intense life throws at her, and how Kaelee tries to protect Greta from the demeaning homophobia spewing from her disgusting father.
I really liked this story. It’s fast, intense, and emotionally disconnected sex, but slow burn gentle trust and love. I liked the sometimes staccato and erratic way that the story is told, giving just enough information for us to follow, but not too much dithery explanation.
Greta is an editor, with a team of queer staff around her. After an amazing success with Toni’s first two books, including movie rights, now Toni’s reclusive protege Kaelee is Greta’s latest author with the expectation of a similar success with her first book. Greta is a very driven woman, and when she needs to unwind, under the pseudonym Marie she uses a high-end sapphic hook-up app, where she meets the interesting and enigmatic Lee.
This is a story about a hook-up which slowly morphs into a complicated and messy relationship, not always easy to follow, but that’s part of the appeal. It is also beautiful; for Kaelee it’s about safety, about eventually giving control to the one you love, trusting that she will always have your back.
Ultimately it’s about Greta and Kaelee falling in love, about how Greta tries to protect Kaelee from whatever her intense life throws at her, and how Kaelee tries to protect Greta from the demeaning homophobia spewing from her disgusting father.
I really liked this story. It’s fast, intense, and emotionally disconnected sex, but slow burn gentle trust and love. I liked the sometimes staccato and erratic way that the story is told, giving just enough information for us to follow, but not too much dithery explanation.
January 11, 2026
Greta Clayborne’s life is all about her career in publishing and she is thriving, after getting burned in the past she doesn’t have time for relationships & turns to dating app Sapphos Kiss Society for casual connections to keep her from yet more heartbreak. Within the first 10% of this book Greta (posing as Marie) has organised a hook up with Lee to meet at a hotel and this sapphic romance adds a little ✨spice✨
Of course Lee isn’t her real name, Kaelee is harbouring her own secret identity and reasons for using the app for casual hook ups, and the skeletons in her closet may as well be a graveyard at this point. I especially loved the tender way we unpack her character later on in the book and Melissa Marr has written this perfectly to carefully unpack family, identity and forced relationship trauma. Eventually feeling a sense of reclaiming the narrative really felt like healing.
I absolutely adored both main characters in this book, getting to know both Kaelee and Greta as the story grew and their characters developed was an absolute joy. I would read a whole series based around these two and it was just the treat I needed for a cosy weekend read. The narrators really brought this to life and were super enjoyable to list to.
A big thank you to @brilliancepublishing and Brilliance Audio for this ARC via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Of course Lee isn’t her real name, Kaelee is harbouring her own secret identity and reasons for using the app for casual hook ups, and the skeletons in her closet may as well be a graveyard at this point. I especially loved the tender way we unpack her character later on in the book and Melissa Marr has written this perfectly to carefully unpack family, identity and forced relationship trauma. Eventually feeling a sense of reclaiming the narrative really felt like healing.
I absolutely adored both main characters in this book, getting to know both Kaelee and Greta as the story grew and their characters developed was an absolute joy. I would read a whole series based around these two and it was just the treat I needed for a cosy weekend read. The narrators really brought this to life and were super enjoyable to list to.
A big thank you to @brilliancepublishing and Brilliance Audio for this ARC via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review
January 15, 2026
I enjoyed this sapphic romance that wasn't just your cookie cutter novel.
Greta is an editor and Kaelee is one of her authors. Yet they havent met. After a steamy app hookup where fake names were shared, the 2 can't stop thinking about the other. Until they finally meet as author and editor.
Can the women keep business and personal life separate?
Content warnings for religious trauma and mentions of SA.
Audio arc provided by Netgalley
Greta is an editor and Kaelee is one of her authors. Yet they havent met. After a steamy app hookup where fake names were shared, the 2 can't stop thinking about the other. Until they finally meet as author and editor.
Can the women keep business and personal life separate?
Content warnings for religious trauma and mentions of SA.
Audio arc provided by Netgalley
January 5, 2026
3 stars ⭐️
I’m going to be honest in saying that the first half of this book was definitely a lot stronger plot wise and structure wise. The pacing just slowly got super inconsistent. I also didn’t like overly sexual everything in this book had to be, like yes I understand that they hook up but I mean must some form of sexual comment or action be made or done at the opportunity? honestly no, I would have cared more about their relationship if they had more build up and yearning.
(the inclusion of kaelee’s family at the end as a means to create drama just seemed a bit lazy a the book’s conflict, it would’ve been better if the couple were having difficulty being together because of how people would view them or if someone was trying to keep them apart. at least that’s my own opinion.)
Toni was also a bit less likeable in this book like I genuinely couldn’t wait for her to get off my page.
I’m honestly a bit let down at this read, I really wanted to love this book especially with the first one kind of being the tester for this authors writing I was hoping fir a bit more improvement in the story telling and character development.
I’m going to be honest in saying that the first half of this book was definitely a lot stronger plot wise and structure wise. The pacing just slowly got super inconsistent. I also didn’t like overly sexual everything in this book had to be, like yes I understand that they hook up but I mean must some form of sexual comment or action be made or done at the opportunity? honestly no, I would have cared more about their relationship if they had more build up and yearning.
(the inclusion of kaelee’s family at the end as a means to create drama just seemed a bit lazy a the book’s conflict, it would’ve been better if the couple were having difficulty being together because of how people would view them or if someone was trying to keep them apart. at least that’s my own opinion.)
Toni was also a bit less likeable in this book like I genuinely couldn’t wait for her to get off my page.
I’m honestly a bit let down at this read, I really wanted to love this book especially with the first one kind of being the tester for this authors writing I was hoping fir a bit more improvement in the story telling and character development.
Did Not Finish
January 26, 2026dnf at 75%
i’m sorry i wanted to finish it but this book is so so boring i couldn’t stand it anymore.
can everyone please get a grip??? almost every single conversation in this book (including ones had with side characters) is about this stupid relationship and yet 3/4 of the way through they’re stillllll saying it’s only casual and there’s nothing long term. yup i can totally tell that a lot of progress is happening!! also let’s be honest this relationship is mostly sex. sex that feels way too clinical btw. can i please see some natural conversations? some fun??
also if my girlfriend had a friend like cherie i would not be able to stop my eye from twitching. no one on this earth calls their sister, blood-related or not, cupcake. is kae an insufficient nickname? and what type of person wiggles their cleavage at their “sister”? “i want someone strong like you, chivalrous like you”. be so fr. also are we not going to address her leaving kaelee scared and alone (and maybe already drunk) in a hotel room? i thought she was supposed to stay with her? did i miss something?
i wish i could have a naturally less critical eye for lesbian romances but i also think that wouldn’t be fair. i deserve better stories than this. i have read better stories than this.
i’m sorry i wanted to finish it but this book is so so boring i couldn’t stand it anymore.
can everyone please get a grip??? almost every single conversation in this book (including ones had with side characters) is about this stupid relationship and yet 3/4 of the way through they’re stillllll saying it’s only casual and there’s nothing long term. yup i can totally tell that a lot of progress is happening!! also let’s be honest this relationship is mostly sex. sex that feels way too clinical btw. can i please see some natural conversations? some fun??
also if my girlfriend had a friend like cherie i would not be able to stop my eye from twitching. no one on this earth calls their sister, blood-related or not, cupcake. is kae an insufficient nickname? and what type of person wiggles their cleavage at their “sister”? “i want someone strong like you, chivalrous like you”. be so fr. also are we not going to address her leaving kaelee scared and alone (and maybe already drunk) in a hotel room? i thought she was supposed to stay with her? did i miss something?
i wish i could have a naturally less critical eye for lesbian romances but i also think that wouldn’t be fair. i deserve better stories than this. i have read better stories than this.
January 12, 2026
Exactly what I needed in terms of a sweet HEA. While this is a standalone, I do wish I had read Toni and Addie go viral first so I had some more context but you can read this book first.
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy!
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Spice Level: 4/5 Explicit Open-Door
Greta is an editor in the book publishing world. She recently had a series fall into her lap that has become quite popular. She really wants to meet with the author, Kaelee, to talk book business but she is ever elusive. While in the author’s hometown in hopes of a meetup, she uses her sapphic dating app for a hookup using the fake name “Marie.”
Kaelee loves writing and it is one of the things that has literally saved her life. She had a rough past that she was able to literally run away from. One night, she has a hookup with “Marie” from the sapphic dating app using the somewhat fake name “Lee.” What was supposed to be a one night hookup turned into a couple nights, turned into both wanting more. Will each learn the other's real name? Will their hookup affect their potential business future?
I received this audiobook from NetGalley and the author in return for my honest review. I love how the cover of the book / audiobook is deceiving in how spicy this book is. This book will definitely keep you warm on a cold night. So, forewarning to those who aren’t much into spice, you might want to skip this one. Those who love a healthy dose of spice, dive on in. There are plenty of books out there with spice and no substance, this book is not one of them.
This book also deals with some heavy topics so please be sure to check out all trigger warnings before reading. Kaelee has a bit of a traumatic past that results in her being more reserved and elusive in her professional life. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention from beginning to end.
The narrators for this audiobook are Gail Shalan and Shephanie Nemeth-Parker. I don’t know who voiced whom, but I only had one slight issue and that is more my neurodivergency. One of the narrators sounded like they were narrating with a dry mouth because you could hear that saliva smacking sound the whole time they were narrating. That’s all I could focus on when they were narrating. Other than that, I enjoyed the narration.
📖 Sapphic Romance
📖 Sexual Assault (referenced)
📖 Homophobia
📖 Forbidden Romance
📖 Lust to Love
📖 Secret Identity
📖 Trauma Recovery
Greta is an editor in the book publishing world. She recently had a series fall into her lap that has become quite popular. She really wants to meet with the author, Kaelee, to talk book business but she is ever elusive. While in the author’s hometown in hopes of a meetup, she uses her sapphic dating app for a hookup using the fake name “Marie.”
Kaelee loves writing and it is one of the things that has literally saved her life. She had a rough past that she was able to literally run away from. One night, she has a hookup with “Marie” from the sapphic dating app using the somewhat fake name “Lee.” What was supposed to be a one night hookup turned into a couple nights, turned into both wanting more. Will each learn the other's real name? Will their hookup affect their potential business future?
I received this audiobook from NetGalley and the author in return for my honest review. I love how the cover of the book / audiobook is deceiving in how spicy this book is. This book will definitely keep you warm on a cold night. So, forewarning to those who aren’t much into spice, you might want to skip this one. Those who love a healthy dose of spice, dive on in. There are plenty of books out there with spice and no substance, this book is not one of them.
This book also deals with some heavy topics so please be sure to check out all trigger warnings before reading. Kaelee has a bit of a traumatic past that results in her being more reserved and elusive in her professional life. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention from beginning to end.
The narrators for this audiobook are Gail Shalan and Shephanie Nemeth-Parker. I don’t know who voiced whom, but I only had one slight issue and that is more my neurodivergency. One of the narrators sounded like they were narrating with a dry mouth because you could hear that saliva smacking sound the whole time they were narrating. That’s all I could focus on when they were narrating. Other than that, I enjoyed the narration.
📖 Sapphic Romance
📖 Sexual Assault (referenced)
📖 Homophobia
📖 Forbidden Romance
📖 Lust to Love
📖 Secret Identity
📖 Trauma Recovery
February 22, 2026
Did I pick up this book because it has my name on the title and features a petite curvaceous woman with curly brown hair? Yes, I did. I haven’t read a Melissa Marr book since high school when I read Wicked Lovely, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that she’s writing queer romance these days.
After Heated Rivalry (the show) made me believe in love again, my goal this year is to find romance in my life. And if I happen to find it with a fit butch with a difficult past and issues losing control, then so-be-it. Because this book is called Greta Gets the Girl and my name is also Greta, that must mean I get the girl this year, too, right? RIGHT???
Anyway, boy, girl, whatever, this is my year to get them and this book is only adding to my recommitment to romance.
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
After Heated Rivalry (the show) made me believe in love again, my goal this year is to find romance in my life. And if I happen to find it with a fit butch with a difficult past and issues losing control, then so-be-it. Because this book is called Greta Gets the Girl and my name is also Greta, that must mean I get the girl this year, too, right? RIGHT???
Anyway, boy, girl, whatever, this is my year to get them and this book is only adding to my recommitment to romance.
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
January 13, 2026
"And your job? My family?" "Fuck it all, Kaelee. We can figure it out. I want this. I want you. Dancing. Weekends. Texts. Dinners. All that you are willing to give me."
I LOVED this book. I read the first book in this standalone series when it came out and was already so excited to see Kaelees story, and here it finally is!
What was so special about this book to me was how unconventional the couples story was. Because, lets be real, even queer books usually end with them married and expecting children. I really appreciated that this was not the case here. Yes, they love each other and it is definitely a happy end but it doesn't feel like a copy-and-paste ending you would find in any romance book.
I also liked how Kaelees background was handled. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. Because of her past, Kaelee struggles with sex and letting go of control. That is why I liked how spicy this book was. There were a lot of spicy scenes and I feel like they all served a purpose and contributed to the emotional relationship between the main characters.
Even though this book deals with these heavy issues, it was still so fun and swoony. I was giggling so much and I would describe the overall mood as happy. If you are looking for a sweet and emotional romance, this is a great option.
I received an advanced copy of this book and leaving a review voluntarily. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
I LOVED this book. I read the first book in this standalone series when it came out and was already so excited to see Kaelees story, and here it finally is!
What was so special about this book to me was how unconventional the couples story was. Because, lets be real, even queer books usually end with them married and expecting children. I really appreciated that this was not the case here. Yes, they love each other and it is definitely a happy end but it doesn't feel like a copy-and-paste ending you would find in any romance book.
I also liked how Kaelees background was handled. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. Because of her past, Kaelee struggles with sex and letting go of control. That is why I liked how spicy this book was. There were a lot of spicy scenes and I feel like they all served a purpose and contributed to the emotional relationship between the main characters.
Even though this book deals with these heavy issues, it was still so fun and swoony. I was giggling so much and I would describe the overall mood as happy. If you are looking for a sweet and emotional romance, this is a great option.
I received an advanced copy of this book and leaving a review voluntarily. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
January 30, 2026
Incredible - Please Read
It has been said that life will bring your soulmate to you.Greta and Kaelee are looking for a night of spicy fun. Both have bags to unpack and wants the fun without strings. Through a one night stand, fake names, found family and train rides, can complex main characters find closure and happy ever after?
It has been said that life will bring your soulmate to you.Greta and Kaelee are looking for a night of spicy fun. Both have bags to unpack and wants the fun without strings. Through a one night stand, fake names, found family and train rides, can complex main characters find closure and happy ever after?
January 19, 2026
It was such a cute romance book
Read
March 1, 2026dnf at 25%
didn't vibe with the characters and I'm not in the mood for super smutty romance at the moment. might pick it up again later.
didn't vibe with the characters and I'm not in the mood for super smutty romance at the moment. might pick it up again later.
March 14, 2026
I would like to give Kaelee the biggest of hugs and befriend Greta. Personally, a double date with my wife as well as a wedding invitation would also suffice. Thank you.
May 14, 2026
3.5 stars
July 20, 2026
the not looking for love to meets love of their life pipeline goes crazy
August 12, 2026
Fun plot of dating app to same professional circle pipeline!! Glad they get their happy ending and bigotry will always lose!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2026
I don’t like this author so idk why I read this one. Not my type of novel (I hate the writing and could be half as long) but definitely could have been worse
January 14, 2026
"You are a phoenix that rose from the ashes of their mistakes."
Even though Goodreads doesn't do half-star ratings, my official rating is 3.5. This was an easy read, and was lighthearted despite the tough subject matter (content warnings in the book to watch out for: mentions of previous SA, homophobia).
Melissa Marr's writing is very easy to digest, but I didn't like some of the present-day language that was used like "cringe" or "hella." Some words don't translate well on paper. It also felt like the pacing was inconsistent, the first half clearer than the second.
For this to come off like a romance that I could believe, I would have wanted more yearning between the two, especially since this is a forbidden romance (editor + author). It almost seemed too rushed, even for lesbians.
I did, however, really like a particular contrast of Kaelee liking security and being hidden (while it's due to reasons that I will not provide to avoid spoilers) while Greta is very open - a lot of scenes have her looking out of uncovered windows in her office and elsewhere.
Even though Goodreads doesn't do half-star ratings, my official rating is 3.5. This was an easy read, and was lighthearted despite the tough subject matter (content warnings in the book to watch out for: mentions of previous SA, homophobia).
Melissa Marr's writing is very easy to digest, but I didn't like some of the present-day language that was used like "cringe" or "hella." Some words don't translate well on paper. It also felt like the pacing was inconsistent, the first half clearer than the second.
For this to come off like a romance that I could believe, I would have wanted more yearning between the two, especially since this is a forbidden romance (editor + author). It almost seemed too rushed, even for lesbians.
I did, however, really like a particular contrast of Kaelee liking security and being hidden (while it's due to reasons that I will not provide to avoid spoilers) while Greta is very open - a lot of scenes have her looking out of uncovered windows in her office and elsewhere.
April 14, 2026
It had no right to be this good. I'm currently reading "Addie and Toni Go Viral," which was supposed to come before this one, as it turns out, but honestly, I think Greta and Kae are my favorites by far.
I read this book on the bus, between lectures, and honestly, anywhere I could. I was kicking my feet and giggling to myself. We watch Kaelee, who is insecure and has deep-rooted trauma. Mix that with insecurities, which is quite an apple pie we have here, as she tries to put her demons in the far back of her mind to keep them from haunting her. Then there is this sweet, patient soul called Greta, who is just wonderfully kind. All's well in understanding women who crush on these mean puppies, which follows the second book in the series with the same vibe.
The way this book keeps you in is thrilling. It goes in waves; once you find out one trope problem, there comes the other one that had been simmering underneath. I also love that the author isn't short on description, and we meet every additional character as we go, just enough to get the full picture. It had a thriller vibe with every mention of her family, which I wasn't ready for but definitely wasn't unwelcome.
I do hope there will be a third book addition. I want a happy ending for sweetheart Emily, which i would read in a heartbeat. I like how these books are presented and the universe they are located in.
I read this book on the bus, between lectures, and honestly, anywhere I could. I was kicking my feet and giggling to myself. We watch Kaelee, who is insecure and has deep-rooted trauma. Mix that with insecurities, which is quite an apple pie we have here, as she tries to put her demons in the far back of her mind to keep them from haunting her. Then there is this sweet, patient soul called Greta, who is just wonderfully kind. All's well in understanding women who crush on these mean puppies, which follows the second book in the series with the same vibe.
The way this book keeps you in is thrilling. It goes in waves; once you find out one trope problem, there comes the other one that had been simmering underneath. I also love that the author isn't short on description, and we meet every additional character as we go, just enough to get the full picture. It had a thriller vibe with every mention of her family, which I wasn't ready for but definitely wasn't unwelcome.
I do hope there will be a third book addition. I want a happy ending for sweetheart Emily, which i would read in a heartbeat. I like how these books are presented and the universe they are located in.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF at 40%
This book just wasn’t clicking for me. I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry between Greta and Kaelee. It didn’t feel like they were naturally compatible and both were trying to hard to be something that the other person wanted. I also wasn’t buying that Kaelee wouldn’t have recognized Greta before they met in the office. I understand that she doesn’t have any pictures on the internet because of her family, but I find it hard to believe that an editor wouldn’t have a headshot, and that she wouldn’t have looked up her editors name.
This book wasn’t for me, but there is definitely an audience out there for it.
Thank you to Bramble for the early review copy!
This book just wasn’t clicking for me. I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry between Greta and Kaelee. It didn’t feel like they were naturally compatible and both were trying to hard to be something that the other person wanted. I also wasn’t buying that Kaelee wouldn’t have recognized Greta before they met in the office. I understand that she doesn’t have any pictures on the internet because of her family, but I find it hard to believe that an editor wouldn’t have a headshot, and that she wouldn’t have looked up her editors name.
This book wasn’t for me, but there is definitely an audience out there for it.
Thank you to Bramble for the early review copy!
December 11, 2025
This novel is a cozy yet spicy story about two women who work in the book industry. Greta, an experienced editor living in New York City and Kaelee, a new author living in DC. They meet through a lesbian dating app and hit it off instantly. What they don't know, however, is they're a part of the same book deal with Greta being Kaelee's editor. As the two work through their difficult pasts and a mutual aversion to commitment, they grow closer and experience feelings deeper than lust.
My overall problem with this book is that it's a little too sex-heavy for me. Even when the characters aren't actively having sex, almost every page talks about them getting intimate. It makes sense that in the early chapters, the book would be more smutty since they meet over a casual hook-up, but as the story progresses, the endless talk about intimacy gets a little old. The characters themselves are also a little stale and the overall romance feels stiff, again because of the sex-forward conversations the two MC's have.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a spicy book now and again, but I just wish the plot in this novel held more weight than it did. It seems that both the characters' goals and their issues came second to the intimate scenes. Though the ending was satisfying, with a happy conclusion. I recommend reading the trigger warnings on this book before you read it, though, since there was a surprising amount of heavy content, including homophobia and DV.
My overall problem with this book is that it's a little too sex-heavy for me. Even when the characters aren't actively having sex, almost every page talks about them getting intimate. It makes sense that in the early chapters, the book would be more smutty since they meet over a casual hook-up, but as the story progresses, the endless talk about intimacy gets a little old. The characters themselves are also a little stale and the overall romance feels stiff, again because of the sex-forward conversations the two MC's have.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a spicy book now and again, but I just wish the plot in this novel held more weight than it did. It seems that both the characters' goals and their issues came second to the intimate scenes. Though the ending was satisfying, with a happy conclusion. I recommend reading the trigger warnings on this book before you read it, though, since there was a surprising amount of heavy content, including homophobia and DV.
December 31, 2025
This review is based on the audiobook, and was my last book of 2025!
Greta Gets the Girl was my first read from this author, although at some point in reading, it became clear that this book is the second involving this particular cast of characters. I wish I had known that beforehand, as I would have preferred to read Toni and Addie's story first. This book works fine as a standalone, but for folks who like reading things in order, don't start here!
As for the story itself, I found it delivered on its premise -- a hookup goes wrong when a pair that match on an app turn out to have a professional connection that gets in the way of the romance. There was a whole lot of spice in this book (a little too much for my taste, to be honest), and an emotional rollercoaster as well. The threat of the family seemed a bit overblown, and Greta just went along with it, which took away from some of the respect I had for her character as a no-nonsense professional, but I guess the emotions got in the way of her judgment.
Regarding the narration, I liked Kaelee's narrator better than Greta's, which is too bad because Greta is the title character, though both did a decent job.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
Greta Gets the Girl was my first read from this author, although at some point in reading, it became clear that this book is the second involving this particular cast of characters. I wish I had known that beforehand, as I would have preferred to read Toni and Addie's story first. This book works fine as a standalone, but for folks who like reading things in order, don't start here!
As for the story itself, I found it delivered on its premise -- a hookup goes wrong when a pair that match on an app turn out to have a professional connection that gets in the way of the romance. There was a whole lot of spice in this book (a little too much for my taste, to be honest), and an emotional rollercoaster as well. The threat of the family seemed a bit overblown, and Greta just went along with it, which took away from some of the respect I had for her character as a no-nonsense professional, but I guess the emotions got in the way of her judgment.
Regarding the narration, I liked Kaelee's narrator better than Greta's, which is too bad because Greta is the title character, though both did a decent job.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
July 2, 2026
I absolutely hate to rate things poorly, but it's hard to rate a romance novel well when I kept wanting to skim through the main couple's scenes together.
Overall the writing felt both repetitive and yet vague, as if the feelings were important but not fully fleshed out. The plot had a similar feeling for me. And as much as I'm for women getting it on, there was a disproportionate amount of sex in this book to how much of the plotlines I felt deserved development.
Overall the writing felt both repetitive and yet vague, as if the feelings were important but not fully fleshed out. The plot had a similar feeling for me. And as much as I'm for women getting it on, there was a disproportionate amount of sex in this book to how much of the plotlines I felt deserved development.
July 28, 2026
Couldn’t get down with the forced country accent writing “darlin” constantly in the romance scenes
June 25, 2026
After being underwhelmed by the previous two Melissa Marr novels I read, I approached Greta Gets the Girl with more than a little apprehension. Thankfully, this one won me over.
At its heart, this is a workplace romance wrapped around a classic "right person, wrong time" premise. Greta Clayborne, a successful New York editor, and Kaelee, a debut author, first meet through a dating app while both are using pseudonyms. Greta goes by her middle name, Marie, while Kaelee shortens her name to Lee. What begins as a casual hookup quickly becomes something neither woman expected. After a second encounter—one marked by far more intimacy than the first—both leave believing this connection might actually become something meaningful. Then, the very next day, they walk into a business meeting and discover they are editor and author. The realization hits like a bucket of cold water, instantly transforming a budding romance into a professional minefield.
Greta was easily my favorite character. She is decisive, competent, and refreshingly direct, whether she is pursuing a promising new author or navigating the vulnerability of falling in love again. Although she carries emotional scars from a previous relationship, she never loses sight of Lee's professional needs, and I appreciated how hard she worked to respect the boundaries their complicated situation required. One of my favorite aspects of the novel had nothing to do with the romance itself. I enjoyed watching Greta gradually realize how much love already existed in her life. As she falls for Lee, she also begins investing more intentionally in the friendships and professional relationships she had previously taken for granted. Those moments of connection added warmth to the story and gave Greta's emotional journey more depth.
Lee, on the other hand, carries the weight of growing up with an ultra-religious, deeply conservative father whose influence continues to shape her long after she has left home. That family trauma hangs over the novel like a storm cloud, creating genuine tension throughout much of the romance. Unfortunately, when her father finally appears, he feels more like a caricature than the intimidating presence the novel has built him up to be. Likewise, Lee's mother makes a choice late in the story that felt completely out of character based on everything we had previously learned about her.
And then there's the spice. Marr writes intimate scenes that are sensual, emotionally charged, and that grow along with the trust between them.. As Lee becomes more comfortable expressing her desires, and Greta continues creating a safe space for her to do so, their physical relationship evolves alongside their emotional one. Those scenes became some of the strongest in the novel. My only complaint is that Toni's frequent interruptions and commentary continued to be more grating than amusing.
While not every subplot was successful, Greta Gets the Girl ultimately delivered an engaging romance with two likable leads, satisfying chemistry, and enough emotional growth to make me glad I took another chance on Melissa Marr.
At its heart, this is a workplace romance wrapped around a classic "right person, wrong time" premise. Greta Clayborne, a successful New York editor, and Kaelee, a debut author, first meet through a dating app while both are using pseudonyms. Greta goes by her middle name, Marie, while Kaelee shortens her name to Lee. What begins as a casual hookup quickly becomes something neither woman expected. After a second encounter—one marked by far more intimacy than the first—both leave believing this connection might actually become something meaningful. Then, the very next day, they walk into a business meeting and discover they are editor and author. The realization hits like a bucket of cold water, instantly transforming a budding romance into a professional minefield.
Greta was easily my favorite character. She is decisive, competent, and refreshingly direct, whether she is pursuing a promising new author or navigating the vulnerability of falling in love again. Although she carries emotional scars from a previous relationship, she never loses sight of Lee's professional needs, and I appreciated how hard she worked to respect the boundaries their complicated situation required. One of my favorite aspects of the novel had nothing to do with the romance itself. I enjoyed watching Greta gradually realize how much love already existed in her life. As she falls for Lee, she also begins investing more intentionally in the friendships and professional relationships she had previously taken for granted. Those moments of connection added warmth to the story and gave Greta's emotional journey more depth.
Lee, on the other hand, carries the weight of growing up with an ultra-religious, deeply conservative father whose influence continues to shape her long after she has left home. That family trauma hangs over the novel like a storm cloud, creating genuine tension throughout much of the romance. Unfortunately, when her father finally appears, he feels more like a caricature than the intimidating presence the novel has built him up to be. Likewise, Lee's mother makes a choice late in the story that felt completely out of character based on everything we had previously learned about her.
And then there's the spice. Marr writes intimate scenes that are sensual, emotionally charged, and that grow along with the trust between them.. As Lee becomes more comfortable expressing her desires, and Greta continues creating a safe space for her to do so, their physical relationship evolves alongside their emotional one. Those scenes became some of the strongest in the novel. My only complaint is that Toni's frequent interruptions and commentary continued to be more grating than amusing.
While not every subplot was successful, Greta Gets the Girl ultimately delivered an engaging romance with two likable leads, satisfying chemistry, and enough emotional growth to make me glad I took another chance on Melissa Marr.
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