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Lacey Lassiter Is Not a Lesbian
Corey Emmons is a rising star. With an appearance in a hit TV show sealing her status as a new queer icon, suddenly, opportunities are flying her way. One of these, however, seems slightly out of place.
Lacey Lassiter is a pop sensation. Every aspect of her public image is carefully curated, from her body to her boyfriend to her signature white boots. But when she arrives on the set of her steamy new music video, she’s met with an unexpected thanks to a last-minute mix-up, Corey has been cast to appear as Lacey’s love interest, and with no time to find a replacement, they have no choice but to go through with the unexpectedly sapphic shoot.
The video’s release sends shockwaves through Lacey’s fanbase, and soon enough the two find themselves at the center of heated discourse and speculation. Amidst all of this, the two young stars are growing ever closer – but with the world watching and both their careers on the line, how can they hope to figure out what’s really between them?
While the world debates what happened on camera, can Corey and Lacey take their romance behind the scenes?
Lacey Lassiter is a pop sensation. Every aspect of her public image is carefully curated, from her body to her boyfriend to her signature white boots. But when she arrives on the set of her steamy new music video, she’s met with an unexpected thanks to a last-minute mix-up, Corey has been cast to appear as Lacey’s love interest, and with no time to find a replacement, they have no choice but to go through with the unexpectedly sapphic shoot.
The video’s release sends shockwaves through Lacey’s fanbase, and soon enough the two find themselves at the center of heated discourse and speculation. Amidst all of this, the two young stars are growing ever closer – but with the world watching and both their careers on the line, how can they hope to figure out what’s really between them?
While the world debates what happened on camera, can Corey and Lacey take their romance behind the scenes?
241 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 20, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ Unfortunately, this one didn’t really work for me. I know I don’t have to relate to the main character, but I really struggled to understand Lacey’s thought process and decisions, so the end just annoyad me. I also never really felt much chemistry between her and Corey, so their romance didn’t land for me. It was just meh. I didn't feel anything.
I did enjoy the audiobook; having two narrators worked nicely for the dual POV. Although I'm not quite sure if both the narrators really fit together. Overall, it was a quick and easy listen, but the characters and romance just weren’t for me.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC!
I did enjoy the audiobook; having two narrators worked nicely for the dual POV. Although I'm not quite sure if both the narrators really fit together. Overall, it was a quick and easy listen, but the characters and romance just weren’t for me.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC!
July 25, 2025
➥ 4.5 stars ⋆˚࿔
giggling ✅
kicking my feet ✅
twirling my hair ✅
this book had me doing all of it!!!! it was just so cute😭
whoever put short and sweet in the description did *not* lie, that’s exactly what this was and i absolutely loved it! i hadn’t had this much fun while reading a book in a while, it was honestly just what i needed and i’m so glad i gave it a chance🫶🏻 i also pretty much read it in one sitting, which NEVER happens
➥ the characters :
i really loved Corey and Maddie!! Corey’s full name being Corinna was such a great surprise because i’ve always thought that name was gorgeous but i had never seen it used in a book! so bonus points for that🤭
Corey having her own nickname for Lacey/Maddie was so special, it really emphasized the idea that she was one of the few people who saw her for who she (truly) was, beyond her Lacey persona 💝
another small detail that i thought was really cute was how Corey’s contact name for Lacey and the chapter/pov titles also switched to Maddie when that became Corey’s nickname for her!!🫶🏻
➥ the story :
what a fun plot!! i loved how it all started because of a mix up. i’m also a sucker for celebrity romances so of course i loved that aspect of the story. other than that, i thought both women were great characters. they apologized when needed, they respected it when the other asked for space… of course there was some conflict after a while but it made sense and thankfully didn’t get so bad that i disliked one/both MCs afterwards. hate when that happens🫠 instead their reactions felt rational and i loved the moment when it all clicked for Corey and she knew exactly what she needed to do<3
i honestly just wish this would’ve been a little bit longer and didn’t have this many time skips. the time skips when they were apart made sense because nothing was really going on (even though that time could’ve been used to really emphasize how much they missed each other) but why did we only find out about some things they did together AFTER they happened? like the couch thing. i would’ve liked to read about that, especially given the reason why Maddie got Corey a new one lol. i guess Clare was maybe kinda right when she called it love bombing but i mostly just felt bad for Maddie because i knew that wasn’t how she meant it. and i would’ve loved to see more of their “domestic” moments together too🥲🫶🏻 but the book *was* described as a short one so i can’t say i wasn’t warned.
i also think the way Maddie slowly came to terms with her sexuality was pretty well executed. her realizing that losing Corey would be worse than losing her perfect image was so 💝💝💝
overall i had a great time and look forward to reading more books by Mabel Ballard in the future!!
➥ favorite quotes :
“I’m… heterosexual,” she said.
I pursed my lips and tried not to smile.
“Congratulations.”
“Everyone had their own problems. Naomi’s parents wanted her to pay for her own WiFi. Carl’s roommate had been missing for four days. Sahil had been caught stealing breadsticks from the Olive Garden where he worked.”
“Fuck Jaxon,” I’d said to her. She’d agreed. But maybe she’d taken it literally.”
.✦ review first posted on may 11, 2025
— july 25, 2025 : first reread! i’d somehow forgotten most of the story since may, so it was really fun to reread!
giggling ✅
kicking my feet ✅
twirling my hair ✅
this book had me doing all of it!!!! it was just so cute😭
whoever put short and sweet in the description did *not* lie, that’s exactly what this was and i absolutely loved it! i hadn’t had this much fun while reading a book in a while, it was honestly just what i needed and i’m so glad i gave it a chance🫶🏻 i also pretty much read it in one sitting, which NEVER happens
➥ the characters :
i really loved Corey and Maddie!! Corey’s full name being Corinna was such a great surprise because i’ve always thought that name was gorgeous but i had never seen it used in a book! so bonus points for that🤭
Corey having her own nickname for Lacey/Maddie was so special, it really emphasized the idea that she was one of the few people who saw her for who she (truly) was, beyond her Lacey persona 💝
another small detail that i thought was really cute was how Corey’s contact name for Lacey and the chapter/pov titles also switched to Maddie when that became Corey’s nickname for her!!🫶🏻
➥ the story :
what a fun plot!! i loved how it all started because of a mix up. i’m also a sucker for celebrity romances so of course i loved that aspect of the story. other than that, i thought both women were great characters. they apologized when needed, they respected it when the other asked for space… of course there was some conflict after a while but it made sense and thankfully didn’t get so bad that i disliked one/both MCs afterwards. hate when that happens🫠 instead their reactions felt rational and i loved the moment when it all clicked for Corey and she knew exactly what she needed to do<3
i honestly just wish this would’ve been a little bit longer and didn’t have this many time skips. the time skips when they were apart made sense because nothing was really going on (even though that time could’ve been used to really emphasize how much they missed each other) but why did we only find out about some things they did together AFTER they happened? like the couch thing. i would’ve liked to read about that, especially given the reason why Maddie got Corey a new one lol. i guess Clare was maybe kinda right when she called it love bombing but i mostly just felt bad for Maddie because i knew that wasn’t how she meant it. and i would’ve loved to see more of their “domestic” moments together too🥲🫶🏻 but the book *was* described as a short one so i can’t say i wasn’t warned.
i also think the way Maddie slowly came to terms with her sexuality was pretty well executed. her realizing that losing Corey would be worse than losing her perfect image was so 💝💝💝
overall i had a great time and look forward to reading more books by Mabel Ballard in the future!!
➥ favorite quotes :
“I’m… heterosexual,” she said.
I pursed my lips and tried not to smile.
“Congratulations.”
“Everyone had their own problems. Naomi’s parents wanted her to pay for her own WiFi. Carl’s roommate had been missing for four days. Sahil had been caught stealing breadsticks from the Olive Garden where he worked.”
“Fuck Jaxon,” I’d said to her. She’d agreed. But maybe she’d taken it literally.”
.✦ review first posted on may 11, 2025
— july 25, 2025 : first reread! i’d somehow forgotten most of the story since may, so it was really fun to reread!
August 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️- a quick, celebrity trope, enjoyable read. It was first person dual point of view and the way the dialogue was written made it hard to follow who was saying what more than half the time. It got better in the second half of the book. I liked both characters, but felt that overall it was lacking in the emotion I like to see in a romance. the story moved along quickly and kept me interested to the end. I enjoyed the ending and had a big smile on my face. Kindle unlimited.
May 10, 2025
I've been watching and waiting for this one!
At first I wasn't sure I liked the character Lacey, it didn't sit well why she wants Corey around. Seemed a little mean, especially about Corey's friends.
As the story progresses you start to see why and the real her.
She's been Lacey for so long she doesn't know how to be anyone other than Lassiter, pop sensation, perfectly packaged.
.. But the more time she spends with Corey the nicer she becomes..
Corey is already out but although Lacey knows what she wants she's not going to find it so easy to be her real self after all these years.
There's a lot of dialogue rather than descriptive writing in this book, took me a while to get used to but actually I enjoyed & preferred it by the end of the book!.
I read this in one afternoon because
A: Its short & B: I enjoyed it so much!.
All in All this is a really enjoyable short book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
At first I wasn't sure I liked the character Lacey, it didn't sit well why she wants Corey around. Seemed a little mean, especially about Corey's friends.
As the story progresses you start to see why and the real her.
She's been Lacey for so long she doesn't know how to be anyone other than Lassiter, pop sensation, perfectly packaged.
.. But the more time she spends with Corey the nicer she becomes..
Corey is already out but although Lacey knows what she wants she's not going to find it so easy to be her real self after all these years.
There's a lot of dialogue rather than descriptive writing in this book, took me a while to get used to but actually I enjoyed & preferred it by the end of the book!.
I read this in one afternoon because
A: Its short & B: I enjoyed it so much!.
All in All this is a really enjoyable short book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 8, 2025
This is exactly as described, short and sweet but with some angst thrown in for good measure. Apparently, Gaylor is a thing. I guess I need to get out more. I liked Corey and Lacie/Maddie kinda grew on me. She had the most growth as a character, but both characters seemed a bit like they could have been new adult or young adult at times.
I knew the third act drama was coming due to the lack of communication. I was hoping that could have been avoided, but alas, I was wrong. It was just the kind of quick read that I needed as a little palette cleanser. Good summertime fun.
I knew the third act drama was coming due to the lack of communication. I was hoping that could have been avoided, but alas, I was wrong. It was just the kind of quick read that I needed as a little palette cleanser. Good summertime fun.
Did Not Finish
August 15, 2025I’m certain that this is just as fluffy and cute as it’s advertised to be, but the writing is bad. When I say I want fluffy garbage I feel like the basic requirement for the fluffy garbage is to make the characters feel human.
The sentences are short, there’s entirely too many full stops, zero use of conjunctions and the tone (so far) is just flat. I kind of understand why some might say it’s AI generated but I don’t even think a robot would write like this. Technical writing doesn’t even read like this. It’s all too final and robotic but even robots are more advanced atp.
Theres lots of dialogue, there’s probably lots of cutesy shit that I’ll never see and I can’t really think of anymore positives so maybe read a different review if you want to read this book. The writing is really bothering me and unfortunately I’m too particular so this is a no.
and apparently it’s gaylor fanfic? Which I didn’t even know was a thing. There’s whole worlds out there that we don’t know exist😭
The sentences are short, there’s entirely too many full stops, zero use of conjunctions and the tone (so far) is just flat. I kind of understand why some might say it’s AI generated but I don’t even think a robot would write like this. Technical writing doesn’t even read like this. It’s all too final and robotic but even robots are more advanced atp.
Theres lots of dialogue, there’s probably lots of cutesy shit that I’ll never see and I can’t really think of anymore positives so maybe read a different review if you want to read this book. The writing is really bothering me and unfortunately I’m too particular so this is a no.
and apparently it’s gaylor fanfic? Which I didn’t even know was a thing. There’s whole worlds out there that we don’t know exist😭
May 16, 2025
As advertised, this was indeed a short and sweet romance. It feels very YA rather than people who are nearly thirty and established in the music business, but if you like a quick romance that has light but fun explorations of life in the limelight, this is the one for you.
May 22, 2025
MAKE THE ROMCOM MOVIE ADAPTATION IMMEDIATELY!
Here I am hating on contemporary romance because I keep coming across duds, but for some reason, I saw this cover and title and decided, "Yeah — I'll try that." 🤷♀️ Good going me because this was a gem of a little book. It might not be as polished as similar books I've read (by similar I mean other celebrity sapphic romance books) but it made up for it with two incredibly likeable characters and some wonderfully deadpan humor*. (Humor, btw, that is so deadpan a reviewer took it at face value and thinks it's freaking AI writing... girl.... 🙈)
The angst in this one is minimal. It's there, but it's compacted in a way you'd expect a romcom to compact its angst. We don't want to see these characters apart, and the story doesn't want that either. You're here to watch these characters fall in love and have fun, and this book delivers on that.
*I did not expect the author to be British considering these are Very American Characters, but after seeing it mentioned at the end of the book... yeah that checks out. That's where the wildly dry humor comes from.
Here I am hating on contemporary romance because I keep coming across duds, but for some reason, I saw this cover and title and decided, "Yeah — I'll try that." 🤷♀️ Good going me because this was a gem of a little book. It might not be as polished as similar books I've read (by similar I mean other celebrity sapphic romance books) but it made up for it with two incredibly likeable characters and some wonderfully deadpan humor*. (Humor, btw, that is so deadpan a reviewer took it at face value and thinks it's freaking AI writing... girl.... 🙈)
The angst in this one is minimal. It's there, but it's compacted in a way you'd expect a romcom to compact its angst. We don't want to see these characters apart, and the story doesn't want that either. You're here to watch these characters fall in love and have fun, and this book delivers on that.
*I did not expect the author to be British considering these are Very American Characters, but after seeing it mentioned at the end of the book... yeah that checks out. That's where the wildly dry humor comes from.
August 17, 2026
Interesting " coming out" story. A super star considers whether she is a lesbian and all the angst that goes along with that.
Interesting characters. Interesting dialog.
Predictable ending.
I had trouble with the narration. Because there was 2 narrators the individuals voices kept changing. Sometimes Corey had a deep voice, sometimes a light voice. It depended on which narrator was speaking. I found that confusing and I didn't like it.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Interesting characters. Interesting dialog.
Predictable ending.
I had trouble with the narration. Because there was 2 narrators the individuals voices kept changing. Sometimes Corey had a deep voice, sometimes a light voice. It depended on which narrator was speaking. I found that confusing and I didn't like it.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2025
Blah idk man, toxic characters acting out when they’re drinking. Not super likable
May 9, 2025
Against the wishes of her family and her sister, Lacey Lassiter (born Madison Finch) went against her parents and signed a record contract in her teens that allowed her record label to totally control and mold her image. She's been a gigantic pop star, even though her parents were also successful in music as well as her sister, but not to the extent that she is. And she's very very straight. After all, Lacey Lassiter is not a lesbian!
Then a casting mixup for a music video has her love interest in the video turn out to be one of the hot young rising lesbian actresses in Hollywood. Frustrated with either being forced to cancel the entire shoot and eat the expenses or doing the shoot with Corey Emmons. She chooses to do the shoot with Corey Emmons and the song explodes on the internet despite her concerns that maybe she is queerbaiting.
But then Lacey is faced with questions about her sexuality. Is she just using the queer community for financial gain? She jokingly suggests on a text to Corey that maybe they should be dating, for appearances, of course. Things begin to spiral out of control from there until Lacey both falls hard for Corey but realizes that if she comes out that the idea of Lacey Lassiter that she's spent more than a decade curating, will be forever changed and she's not sure she can do that.
This is a fun romcom toaster oven journey of self-discovery. There's some angst but nothing huge. There's plenty of spice. And then there's Lacey Lassiter, who's not a lesbian. Or is she?
I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
Then a casting mixup for a music video has her love interest in the video turn out to be one of the hot young rising lesbian actresses in Hollywood. Frustrated with either being forced to cancel the entire shoot and eat the expenses or doing the shoot with Corey Emmons. She chooses to do the shoot with Corey Emmons and the song explodes on the internet despite her concerns that maybe she is queerbaiting.
But then Lacey is faced with questions about her sexuality. Is she just using the queer community for financial gain? She jokingly suggests on a text to Corey that maybe they should be dating, for appearances, of course. Things begin to spiral out of control from there until Lacey both falls hard for Corey but realizes that if she comes out that the idea of Lacey Lassiter that she's spent more than a decade curating, will be forever changed and she's not sure she can do that.
This is a fun romcom toaster oven journey of self-discovery. There's some angst but nothing huge. There's plenty of spice. And then there's Lacey Lassiter, who's not a lesbian. Or is she?
I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
November 24, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first half was mostly easygoing and fun, but after that, the atmosphere changed. It became a bit grimier and grittier, and definitely less fun. I was also a bit confused at times because I didn't quite understand what was actually happening and why. It felt a bit weird at times.
Even the sex scenes confused me somewhat. Their first time was a kind of fade-to-black moment. So much so that I wondered if they'd actually had sex or just talked naked in bed. But the second time was a bit more detailed. I wondered why that difference existed, and why not go into more detail on the first time.
I'm debating whether to give it 3 or 3.5 stars. I actually think it deserves more than 3 stars, but 3.5 means I'm rounding it down to 4, which I find too high. So...
I'm giving it 3.5 stars, but rounding it down to 3. A bit against my own rules, but oh well.
Even the sex scenes confused me somewhat. Their first time was a kind of fade-to-black moment. So much so that I wondered if they'd actually had sex or just talked naked in bed. But the second time was a bit more detailed. I wondered why that difference existed, and why not go into more detail on the first time.
I'm debating whether to give it 3 or 3.5 stars. I actually think it deserves more than 3 stars, but 3.5 means I'm rounding it down to 4, which I find too high. So...
I'm giving it 3.5 stars, but rounding it down to 3. A bit against my own rules, but oh well.
August 11, 2026
I really wanted to like this book and it seemed right up my alley as a sapphic celebrity romance. But really nothing about it clicked for me.
Both Lacey and Corey seemed very flat, one dimensional characters and I couldn’t connect with either of them. I also didn’t get any chemistry between the two of them and honestly made a good couple. The characters also felt like YA characters with how they acted, not the adults they were supposed to be.
The were a few things I thought would develop more too but just became nothing, like Lacey’s family. They were introduced in a way that you thought they’d be a big deal but was kind of just hand waved away at the end.
The writing was very fast paced, fitting with a shorter book. The writing was also very flat and didn’t seem to flow well. It was dialogue heavy, which isn’t a bad thing, but again the dialogue just felt flat and choppy.
The narration was ok and I did actually enjoy Lacey’s narrator a lot. There was however some sound level differences between the two narrators.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Both Lacey and Corey seemed very flat, one dimensional characters and I couldn’t connect with either of them. I also didn’t get any chemistry between the two of them and honestly made a good couple. The characters also felt like YA characters with how they acted, not the adults they were supposed to be.
The were a few things I thought would develop more too but just became nothing, like Lacey’s family. They were introduced in a way that you thought they’d be a big deal but was kind of just hand waved away at the end.
The writing was very fast paced, fitting with a shorter book. The writing was also very flat and didn’t seem to flow well. It was dialogue heavy, which isn’t a bad thing, but again the dialogue just felt flat and choppy.
The narration was ok and I did actually enjoy Lacey’s narrator a lot. There was however some sound level differences between the two narrators.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2026
This was a quirky sapphic romance. I loved the setup and how the book started. The whirlwind nature of the start continued throughout.
I enjoyed how "Lacey Lassiter" was kind of like a "Hannah Montana" vibe where she saw her singer persona almost like something she put on for the public. And I loved how Corey saw through that so quickly. It added a unique edge to their story.
This was a story of coming into self for Lacey, who started the story certain she was straight. I know sometimes this kind of thing is taboo in real life, but I thought it was handled well.
If there was a little more depth in description/setting and some of the dialogue was cleaned up, it would've been five stars for me.
I'll definitely keep an eye out for Mabel's work in the future.
This audiobook is slated to release on August 18th.
I enjoyed how "Lacey Lassiter" was kind of like a "Hannah Montana" vibe where she saw her singer persona almost like something she put on for the public. And I loved how Corey saw through that so quickly. It added a unique edge to their story.
This was a story of coming into self for Lacey, who started the story certain she was straight. I know sometimes this kind of thing is taboo in real life, but I thought it was handled well.
If there was a little more depth in description/setting and some of the dialogue was cleaned up, it would've been five stars for me.
I'll definitely keep an eye out for Mabel's work in the future.
This audiobook is slated to release on August 18th.
May 11, 2025
4.5⭐️ (potential spoilers)
Hehe, t h i s b o o k!!
I loved it. I could not stop reading. It was such a sweet romance. And, it was quite fast-paced (but not too much), which I appreciated. This book was the perfect length (243 pages), but I feel it ended quite abruptly, and I don't understand why it ended just like that, but the rest of the book was amazing. Even though it broke me, the tension and the break up was needed to add some more *drama* (as if we couldn't get any more) into the book. I loved it; I am so glad I gave it a chance. After reading the blurb/synopsis, I had a feeling I would enjoy this one.
I do recommend! And, I would read it again. I read it like it was a movie, which I loved to visualise!🩷
Hehe, t h i s b o o k!!
I loved it. I could not stop reading. It was such a sweet romance. And, it was quite fast-paced (but not too much), which I appreciated. This book was the perfect length (243 pages), but I feel it ended quite abruptly, and I don't understand why it ended just like that, but the rest of the book was amazing. Even though it broke me, the tension and the break up was needed to add some more *drama* (as if we couldn't get any more) into the book. I loved it; I am so glad I gave it a chance. After reading the blurb/synopsis, I had a feeling I would enjoy this one.
I do recommend! And, I would read it again. I read it like it was a movie, which I loved to visualise!🩷
August 9, 2026
This was just such a cute, feel-good romance. I loved Lacey and the characters around her, and I really enjoyed watching the relationship develop even when I pretty much knew where we were headed—because, listen, it’s a romance. We know what we signed up for. 😂
What made this one stand out for me was the lesbian and bi representation and the way the story also explores identity and figuring out where you fit. It was sweet, funny, sapphic, and genuinely adorable. Sometimes I don’t need a romance to reinvent the genre—I just need it to give me characters I like, a love story I’m rooting for, and a good time. This did exactly that.
What made this one stand out for me was the lesbian and bi representation and the way the story also explores identity and figuring out where you fit. It was sweet, funny, sapphic, and genuinely adorable. Sometimes I don’t need a romance to reinvent the genre—I just need it to give me characters I like, a love story I’m rooting for, and a good time. This did exactly that.
May 7, 2025
honestly I'm quite happy with the overall story. I laughed out loud at times. The characters were really fun to read. overall a really charming story. probably one of my favourite ending lines to a book I've read. made me laugh...made me happy (the whole book but especially the last bit) . I started this book at 3am in this morning and proceeded to then read it until now (05:57) could not put it down regardless of the fact that I now have work in 2 hours aha so yeah...worth a read! probably really good as a holiday read. Also loved the remarks about the English, low key offended but also not because...true. laughed even more after when I found out the author is from the UK 😂
December 30, 2025
wanting things hurts sometimes / pretending not to want it hurts more. / it’s fine to want things you can’t have, so long as you learn to let them go.
4.5, lost the half point because the dialogue was hard to discern at times.
4.5, lost the half point because the dialogue was hard to discern at times.
July 1, 2026
Super sweet and super cute with just enough angst to keep me going. Thoroughly enjoyed.
May 3, 2025
The perfect book to recommend to a gaylor
May 1, 2025
fabulous!
Really great! Loved the change of POV. Sometimes things felt rushed through or less developed but I would recommend this to people!
Really great! Loved the change of POV. Sometimes things felt rushed through or less developed but I would recommend this to people!
December 23, 2025
this one was a yikes. it felt almost emotionless, but the characters were also very childish. maybe if it was ya i'd give it a pass for that, but they were almost thirty. i didn't believe the romance at all even though they kept telling me they loved each other. and the celebrity tropes just felt like set dressing -- there was a whole subplot about lacey not being able to write an album that was just never resolved, and corey's whole career was a background non-issue through the whole thing. she could have been anything, but being an up and coming actress should have some input on the story? but no. there was a whole to-do about this one background character being an ex, but nothing came of that either. overall it was just flat. i didn't feel for any of the characters or the situations they kept putting themselves in, and i did not care when it was resolved. is two stars too nice? maybe.
September 7, 2025
I really tried but couldn’t get into it, I think the premise was spot on just couldn’t connect with the characters. Made it about 150ish pages in
August 14, 2026
Generally, this was a light and fluffy listen, and the narrators did a great job voicing both POVs. The distinction between Lacey and Corey was clear, as well as the side characters, and I enjoyed reading the book in audio format.
In terms of the actual story, I really liked the secret popstar/actor relationship premise, as well as how Corey and Lacey initially met. I’ve seen a few people liken this to Gaylor fanfic, and I can definitely see where that comparison comes from! The story moves very quickly after the two meet, and it isn’t long before they’re in a relationship and having to decide how, or whether, they’re going to come out publicly.
Unfortunately, that was also the books biggest downfall. Things moved so quickly that I was often left wondering how we’d actually got from one point to the next. At what point did Lacey and Corey become more than friends? How did Lacey go from insisting that she was straight to suddenly being comfortable entering a relationship with a woman? More importantly, what did that realisation actually feel like for her? I wanted to see more of that internal journey, but the book moves through it so quickly that it never really has the opportunity to explore it.
Because of this, the romance ended up feeling quite flat and rushed to me. The second half was a little stronger, with more focus on the difficulties and implications of keeping their relationship a secret, but even then I felt like something was missing. There was a lot of potential in the premise, particularly with the pressure that comes from being a public figure, but I don’t think the story dug deeply enough into the emotional side of it.
Overall, this is a decent book if you’re looking for something short and sweet, and the audiobook itself is good. But it is quite surface-level, and would have benefited from slowing down enough to let the characters and their relationship develop more naturally.
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Media for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook.
In terms of the actual story, I really liked the secret popstar/actor relationship premise, as well as how Corey and Lacey initially met. I’ve seen a few people liken this to Gaylor fanfic, and I can definitely see where that comparison comes from! The story moves very quickly after the two meet, and it isn’t long before they’re in a relationship and having to decide how, or whether, they’re going to come out publicly.
Unfortunately, that was also the books biggest downfall. Things moved so quickly that I was often left wondering how we’d actually got from one point to the next. At what point did Lacey and Corey become more than friends? How did Lacey go from insisting that she was straight to suddenly being comfortable entering a relationship with a woman? More importantly, what did that realisation actually feel like for her? I wanted to see more of that internal journey, but the book moves through it so quickly that it never really has the opportunity to explore it.
Because of this, the romance ended up feeling quite flat and rushed to me. The second half was a little stronger, with more focus on the difficulties and implications of keeping their relationship a secret, but even then I felt like something was missing. There was a lot of potential in the premise, particularly with the pressure that comes from being a public figure, but I don’t think the story dug deeply enough into the emotional side of it.
Overall, this is a decent book if you’re looking for something short and sweet, and the audiobook itself is good. But it is quite surface-level, and would have benefited from slowing down enough to let the characters and their relationship develop more naturally.
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Media for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook.
August 21, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for this amazing audiobook! 👩❤️💋👩💁♀️🎤 x 🎬🎭👩❤️💋👩
THIS WAS AWESOME! For an audiobook that is almost 5 hours long, this was the BEST thing ever. For one, YES, Lacey Lassiter is not a lesbian, but she is a Bisexual QUEEN - who had an identity crisis throughout the whole book and a whole relationship.
Corey & Maddy meeting in a lingerie video while laughing their ass off and Maddy having a crisis first thing was DOPE! They went through a whole year of ups and downs, and I could have sworn that when there was just another 20 minutes left, I thought they wouldn't make it! I mean, they had a silent breakup, and then a VERY vocal one, before going to clear things up together!!! Dude, this book had it all. TAKE MY FIVE STARS.
My thoughts while reading so I can look back and think about this 10/10 book!
30% done with Lacey Lassiter Is Not a Lesbian: This is SEVERALLY cute! I love how it's giving pop star × actress 🥰
35% done with Lacey Lassiter Is Not a Lesbian: The "Fuck Jackson" back-to-back with her going "Maybe she meant it literally..." KILLED ME! Dude, get a hint she LIKES YOU!!
75% done with Lacey Lassiter Is Not a Lesbian: Okay, so... Cute shit, but 1. The jealousy ain't good when Lacey/Maddy doesn't even voice it...
And 2. FUCKING 10 GRAND FOR A COUCH (€11,680)! Also, her friend/ex clocking them...
92% done with Lacey Lassiter Is Not a Lesbian: This is going so horribly south that their relationship is not even IN THE HORRISON, and we have another 25 minutes of audio... Also, her sister VOWING to send her to therapy is tea. But by this point I am not sure they can even fix it...
THIS WAS AWESOME! For an audiobook that is almost 5 hours long, this was the BEST thing ever. For one, YES, Lacey Lassiter is not a lesbian, but she is a Bisexual QUEEN - who had an identity crisis throughout the whole book and a whole relationship.
Corey & Maddy meeting in a lingerie video while laughing their ass off and Maddy having a crisis first thing was DOPE! They went through a whole year of ups and downs, and I could have sworn that when there was just another 20 minutes left, I thought they wouldn't make it! I mean, they had a silent breakup, and then a VERY vocal one, before going to clear things up together!!! Dude, this book had it all. TAKE MY FIVE STARS.
My thoughts while reading so I can look back and think about this 10/10 book!
30% done with Lacey Lassiter Is Not a Lesbian: This is SEVERALLY cute! I love how it's giving pop star × actress 🥰
35% done with Lacey Lassiter Is Not a Lesbian: The "Fuck Jackson" back-to-back with her going "Maybe she meant it literally..." KILLED ME! Dude, get a hint she LIKES YOU!!
75% done with Lacey Lassiter Is Not a Lesbian: Okay, so... Cute shit, but 1. The jealousy ain't good when Lacey/Maddy doesn't even voice it...
And 2. FUCKING 10 GRAND FOR A COUCH (€11,680)! Also, her friend/ex clocking them...
92% done with Lacey Lassiter Is Not a Lesbian: This is going so horribly south that their relationship is not even IN THE HORRISON, and we have another 25 minutes of audio... Also, her sister VOWING to send her to therapy is tea. But by this point I am not sure they can even fix it...
August 10, 2026
3.75⭐️
A short sweet, easy to binge, queer love story.
Someone has really messed up. Lacey Lassiter, the biggest pop star in the world was supposed to shoot her steamy new music video with her boyfriend. Now she’s catching feelings for an up and coming, out actress who has her constantly reminding herself: Lacey Lassiter is NOT a lesbian.
I smashed through this in a single sitting. This was adorable and easy, and while it didn’t get too deep in the weeds of the social reaction or the struggle for people to come out to their friends, family and fans, it didn’t completely shy away from the topic either.
The duel narration was well done, with each character having a fully formed personality straight away. The audio however has some notable issues with the sound levels for the different characters, and there were problems with the levels for parts that had obviously been re recorded. Overall though, it was a very easy listening experience.
I will say though, the idea that someone is actively stressing that their acting career isn’t taking off and being scared of attention in the same breathe was a little ridiculous.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
A short sweet, easy to binge, queer love story.
Someone has really messed up. Lacey Lassiter, the biggest pop star in the world was supposed to shoot her steamy new music video with her boyfriend. Now she’s catching feelings for an up and coming, out actress who has her constantly reminding herself: Lacey Lassiter is NOT a lesbian.
I smashed through this in a single sitting. This was adorable and easy, and while it didn’t get too deep in the weeds of the social reaction or the struggle for people to come out to their friends, family and fans, it didn’t completely shy away from the topic either.
The duel narration was well done, with each character having a fully formed personality straight away. The audio however has some notable issues with the sound levels for the different characters, and there were problems with the levels for parts that had obviously been re recorded. Overall though, it was a very easy listening experience.
I will say though, the idea that someone is actively stressing that their acting career isn’t taking off and being scared of attention in the same breathe was a little ridiculous.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2025
This was a cool story. I thought the setup was unique and a great way to kick the story off, Lacey and Corey were fun characters, the name thing was sweet, it was a quick read, the text exchanges were well done, and the various films and festivals were great. The story held my interest and moved well and I blew through it in a single afternoon. So all that was great.
I guess there are two reasons I’m not giving it five stars and they are 1) we only got the most cursory description of Lacey Lassiter in concert. Which wasn’t really a problem per se as much as a missed opportunity, because this was a rock star book and I eat that shit up. And 2) there’s a point of significant drama in the book and I felt like the character hadn’t really been built up in a way that it felt natural. It’s explained well after the fact, but it felt a little out of left field at the time.
Still, that wasn’t enough to really detract from the overall experience, and it was definitely an enjoyable read. I see some people saying the ending was abrupt, but I actually thought that was great (and the last line hilarious). So: a great debut.
I guess there are two reasons I’m not giving it five stars and they are 1) we only got the most cursory description of Lacey Lassiter in concert. Which wasn’t really a problem per se as much as a missed opportunity, because this was a rock star book and I eat that shit up. And 2) there’s a point of significant drama in the book and I felt like the character hadn’t really been built up in a way that it felt natural. It’s explained well after the fact, but it felt a little out of left field at the time.
Still, that wasn’t enough to really detract from the overall experience, and it was definitely an enjoyable read. I see some people saying the ending was abrupt, but I actually thought that was great (and the last line hilarious). So: a great debut.
August 12, 2026
If you looking for a sweet romantic, light quick-read, to enjoy on your summer hols, then this might be the book for you.
When actress Corey meets international pop star, Lacey, on the set of the latter's music video; sparks fly between then, despite the fact "Lacey Lassiter is not a Lesbian" (No prizes for guessing what happens next)
The build up between the romance of the two characters starts off strong but once the feelings between the two are confirmed, then it falls a bit flat for me until towards the end, when they are forced to work through their problems together and you get to see the vulnerability of each of the FMCs.
Overall, I did enjoy the story and the amazing voice talents of the dual narrators of the audio book, but I think I would have preferred each narrator to stick with voicing only one FMC each instead of each characters POV (It takes me out of the story a little, when the same character has a completely different tone/style of voice when voiced by different narrators)
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Media for providing me with an advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
When actress Corey meets international pop star, Lacey, on the set of the latter's music video; sparks fly between then, despite the fact "Lacey Lassiter is not a Lesbian" (No prizes for guessing what happens next)
The build up between the romance of the two characters starts off strong but once the feelings between the two are confirmed, then it falls a bit flat for me until towards the end, when they are forced to work through their problems together and you get to see the vulnerability of each of the FMCs.
Overall, I did enjoy the story and the amazing voice talents of the dual narrators of the audio book, but I think I would have preferred each narrator to stick with voicing only one FMC each instead of each characters POV (It takes me out of the story a little, when the same character has a completely different tone/style of voice when voiced by different narrators)
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Media for providing me with an advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
August 18, 2026
This was my first experience with this author. I'm not 100%, but I think this was her debut. I would certainly check out more of her work.
Tropes: bi-awakening, coming out, toaster oven, Hollywood/famous
This book is about an established pop star, Lacey, meeting Corey, a rising-in-fame actress on the set of Lacey's music video. During the shoot, Lacey learns Corey is her love interest in the video and they have to kiss - which had not been the plan. Lacey is straight and Corey is a lesbian. After the shoot, Lacey has to come to terms with the unexpected feelings she's having about the kiss and Corey, as they get to know each other. Their fame and fanbases make it difficult to explore their feelings with any kind of privacy.
This was a cute, low-angst, easy listen. It was a pretty quick one too, which I can really appreciate sometimes. There was some spice, not too explicit. Overall, it's just a fun, light read.
The book was narrated by April Doty and Ellie Gossage. I've listened to them both before (but not as co-narrators) and I enjoy their work. Their perfomance for this title was excellent.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes: bi-awakening, coming out, toaster oven, Hollywood/famous
This book is about an established pop star, Lacey, meeting Corey, a rising-in-fame actress on the set of Lacey's music video. During the shoot, Lacey learns Corey is her love interest in the video and they have to kiss - which had not been the plan. Lacey is straight and Corey is a lesbian. After the shoot, Lacey has to come to terms with the unexpected feelings she's having about the kiss and Corey, as they get to know each other. Their fame and fanbases make it difficult to explore their feelings with any kind of privacy.
This was a cute, low-angst, easy listen. It was a pretty quick one too, which I can really appreciate sometimes. There was some spice, not too explicit. Overall, it's just a fun, light read.
The book was narrated by April Doty and Ellie Gossage. I've listened to them both before (but not as co-narrators) and I enjoy their work. Their perfomance for this title was excellent.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2025
Singer Lacey Lassiter is filming a new music video ,but there's a complication: the casting company has sent a woman over to play her love interest after the first actor backed out.
Corey Emmons is surprised when Lacey suggests they use her anyway. They film the video (which is much less hot than you'd think) and end it with a kiss. Corey gets Lacey's number, as she's surprisingly nice, and figures that will be that.
Then the video takes off.
Lacey reaches out to Corey and they attend a few events together. Corey figures it's PR and Lacey wanting to avoid being canceled for queer baiting. Corey is attracted to her, but figures it won't go anywhere.
Lacey, on the other hand, is realizing Corey is VERY hot and seriously thinking about it.
The pacing is... very weird. As is the time passing, with just random sentences like 'and then three months passed.' Very clunky.
And the texting, in the book, is in a huge font and colored boxes, so a few lines take a whole page.
2.5 out of 5 stars. Very mid...
Corey Emmons is surprised when Lacey suggests they use her anyway. They film the video (which is much less hot than you'd think) and end it with a kiss. Corey gets Lacey's number, as she's surprisingly nice, and figures that will be that.
Then the video takes off.
Lacey reaches out to Corey and they attend a few events together. Corey figures it's PR and Lacey wanting to avoid being canceled for queer baiting. Corey is attracted to her, but figures it won't go anywhere.
Lacey, on the other hand, is realizing Corey is VERY hot and seriously thinking about it.
The pacing is... very weird. As is the time passing, with just random sentences like 'and then three months passed.' Very clunky.
And the texting, in the book, is in a huge font and colored boxes, so a few lines take a whole page.
2.5 out of 5 stars. Very mid...
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