A Latte Like Love

by Michelle C. Harris

Love is brewing as a barista falls for a reclusive artist struggling with the tragic aftermath of an accident in this charming, epic romance.

Audrey Adams knows the exact routine for all her regular customers. That’s what happens when you work at the same Brooklyn coffee shop for years. So it’s completely normal that she notices Theo Sullivan, a shy new patron who comes in at exactly 8:17 a.m., right? And that this incredibly tall (and cute) man never drinks his coffee, always leaves a generous tip, only stays long enough to scribble in a notebook, and wears the same KN95 mask. Call it barista instincts or a reasonable reaction to Theo’s undeniable sweetness, but Audrey is crushing hard.

Eagerly anticipating Theo's visits, Audrey relishes the precious few minutes they chat every time he orders his large, extra-hot Americano. When an incident reveals the horrific facial scar he's hiding beneath his mask, Theo flees the café in shame, dropping his sketchbook and leaving a part of his broken heart behind.

Audrey decides to find Theo, return his book, and confess her feelings. Before long, they’re inseparable, talking nonstop and meeting up for dates at the coffee shop.

But Theo is reluctant to fully let Audrey into his heart. He continues to hide his scar and refuses to talk about his past. Their feelings are bubbling under the surface, but will Theo—and the truth behind his accident—keep him from finding the love they've both been longing for?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Found Family

512 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2026

About the author

Michelle C. Harris grew up deep in the heart of the Central Texas Hill Country, devouring as many books as she did tacos. By day, she wrangles academics at a university, and by night, she pens stories about love, magic, and men who yearn under the intense supervision of her Shiba Inu, Pippa.

In her spare time, you can find her playing volleyball, buying more tea than she could ever possibly drink, and writing fan fiction about star-crossed space wizards on AO3.

Reviews

[Mira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey works at a coffee shop and knows all her regular customers. When a tall, shy guy dressed in black and wearing a mask walks in for the first time, he’s impossible not to notice. He always orders coffee, leaves generous tips, and sketches in his notebook. After a certain incident, Audrey learns that he hides a scar under his mask—one he’s deeply insecure about—but she’s determined to show him that his appearance is no obstacle to her feelings.

Oh my God, this book was absolutely wonderful! Michelle C. Harris portrayed the mental health and disability rep tropes so beautifully. This story completely pulled me in—I spent two days reading it every free minute, not skipping a single word. The character growth and development throughout the story were incredible to witness.

Even though the book doesn’t have a third-act breakup and things go smoothly for the main characters most of the time, I was never bored! So many moments touched my heart, and I often wanted to hug them both.

It’s such a tender and heartwarming love story about two people who heal each other. It truly reached deep into my soul!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓mental health rep
✓disability rep
✓cozy romance
✓artist x barista
✓no third act breakup

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Did I read the same thing as everyone else??? Because… wow. Where do I even start with this absolute dumpster fire of a romance. I went in hoping for a cute, slow-burn coffee shop thing… and instead? I got… whatever this was. 😭😭😭

Audrey. Good grief. Audrey. She was the absolute worst. Not just annoying, but actively making me question my own life choices for reading her thoughts. Bossy? Check. Condescending? Double check. I feel like she literally couldn’t stop patronizing him, and it got so exhausting that I wanted to hide under my bed. 🫩🫩 & where was her personality?? 😭😭 I feel like there were almost zero interesting aspects to her character.

And Theo. Poor, giant, emotionally catastrophic Theo. (sarcasm detected) His insecurity is… honestly exhausting. 🫠 I get trauma, scars, and social anxiety (truly I do) but every tiny thing Audrey did that annoyed him or every word of perceived judgment instantly launched him into full-on cry-begging mode. “Do you hate me?” Bro you are way too old to be acting like that. Ew. Ew. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Also I didn’t need forty-seven different synonyms for “large” shoved into every single paragraph about him. 😭😭😭 like we get it, he’s a big boy. I also just felt like he was nothing but his insecurities. Personality? Character growth? Unless “more crying and screaming about feeling ugly” counts as growth, then nope. 🥲🤚🏼

The romance itself? Nonexistent. The story keeps telling me they’re perfect for each other, but I was never actually shown any chemistry that made me care?? All I saw was Audrey being irritatingly controlling and Theo flailing helplessly in the emotional wind. 😭😭 this felt like watching two people barely connect while the author yelled they love each other!!! over and over from the sidelines. It was not convincing 😭😐

The length?! Literally so long like what??? It could have been condensed into half the pages.
(ESPECIALLY THAT EPILOGUE!!) 😅
& apparently this is a Reylo fanfic? No clue what that even is, so maybe that’s why I didn’t vibe with it at all. The whole thing just read like… honestly, I don’t even know how to describe it as a whole I’m just glad it’s over.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, & Michelle C. Harris for allowing me to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for this gem 🥲💕

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It's no joke, my dream combination of tropes and progression of a storyline. It's mainly character-driven and so full of love and healing- I'm so attached to these characters you don't understand (and have been for a while, but I get into all of that at the end 😭).

I'd definitely recommend this story to people who love character-driven romances, with lots of communication and lots of growth. It's such a sweet and meaningful read:

※mental health rep
※no third act breakup
※disability rep
※cozy romance
※artist x barista

Audrey and Theo are so perfect, they were quite literally made for each other. Their relationship with one another and all the side characters was so well-rounded and really nicely written. The character development in this story is so good.

I love how there was no miscommunication or third-act breakup, where this is purely focused on the MCs and their love for one another. It's so refreshing to read about characters that stay consistent with their previous characterization, and can be so mature and in tune with one another. This has become such a comfort read.

This story will always mean so much to me. You always hear about certain stories from different fanfic sites that get traditionally published, but this was my first time actually having known a story before then. So it felt so special to read this book, and know about the little changes, and having read it as it was being written, to it now being an official book.

Having read the original version first on AO3, I tried looking at the book from an unbiased perspective, to see if I would have liked it had I not read it before, and to be completely honest, I truly think I would have loved this either way.

I guess my only complaint is that I got greedy 😭? I just wanted to read more of these characters. The original story was a bit longer and had a lot more domestic scenes that I loved, which I felt like gave the characters a lot of depth and warmth, which I feel like this really would have benefited from. I get that changes had to be made, but I do wish that certain scenes/plot points had been kept in.

All in all, I am just completely obsessed with this. Audrey and Theo are my babies, and them getting their HEA is just so perfect.

It was so tastefully written, and I can't wait to see this getting the love that it deserves!

*Lots of love to Michelle C. Harris for the arc
--=--

Y'all aren't ready for how insufferable I'm going to become when this comes out 😭😭.

This is one of my fav Reylo fics ever (I'm a Reylo girl through and through)- and going from reading this as it came out and waiting for the updates to now finding out it's going to be an officially published novel is just insane. It's such a special story, and no joke one of my comfort reads that I always come back to.

I'm so insanely excited to have the physical book on my shelf 🥹.

[avery · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley for a free copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If I had read this back in 2020-2022 I would have loved it. Unfortunately, I'm reading it in 2025 while in my mid-twenties, no longer depressed from quarantine. There's a great quote from Jane Austen's Emma, "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more." And I have a lot to say.

Before I get going any further, I want to emphasize that I love reading fan fiction. I read millions of words worth of fanfic per year and love seeing an author go from writing for fun, to being "discovered" and traditionally published. But there are ways to do it that support the author, and ways that set readers (i.e. me) up for disappointment.

All I knew before starting this book was that it written by a debut author and published by Berkley. When I say I went in completely blind, I mean it. It took less than 10% of the story for me to suspect that it was a reylo fanfic, and less than 15% for me to be able to start attributing Star Wars characters to each of the characters within the story. When a story is a find/replace names, copy/paste version of an old fic it does a disservice to the author, in my opinion. A Latte Like Love is a perfect example. As someone who has only seen The Force Awakens, the fact that I was able to figure out who each character was in the original fanfic makes me feel like there wasn't enough separation from the original source material. If the author is looking to maintain their same audience from ao3 this works great. However, when the goal is to expand their audience, doing this feels like a missed opportunity.

A large reason this story worked so well as a fanfic is because the audience had a pre-established relationship with the characters. So even when the story is set in an alternate universe/modern setting, it's easy to dismiss all of the unrealistic moments within the story. A Latte Like Love throws you in to this cute coffee shop meet cute but without the previous attachments and storyline (aka Ben Solo ditching the Jedi order to join the dark side and Rey being an orphan) it feels so unrealistic. How many things can actually go wrong for these poor people? I could not suspend my disbelief about some (okay, most) of the events within the book.

The story structure was also extremely reminiscent of a fanfic. There were too many plot points that didn't serve the overall plot, aka Theo and Audrey's relationship. When reading a contemporary romance there are only so many detours I can take, and this story took me on too many. Numerous characters felt thrown into the story in a way that would have been exciting in the fic, but in this story they're just a random person doesn't add to the overall story. You don’t have the excitement from seeing a cameo, but those cameos were still included.

Audrey and Theo, our main characters, were incredibly unconvincing as a couple that would stay together for the long run. The story constantly told me that they were perfect together and so in love, but I rarely felt like I was shown that. It didn’t help that the FMC gave me the most visceral ick I have ever experienced in my life. She was so weirdly bossy and treated the MMC like more of a project than an actual human being. She was constantly condescending to him and acting like he was a child, not a 32 year old man who is 8 years her senior. If you didn’t know, the MMC is LARGE. His size was brought up a million and a half times. His head was large, his body was humongous, his hands were massive, he was HUGE. I feel like other authors (cough Ali Hazelwood cough) get a lot of flack for bringing up how big their MMC's are, but this was a whole new level. I read more synonyms for big in this book than are in all of Ali Hazelwood's novels COMBINED (love you Ali) . He also had such intense anger problems that were constantly excused because he has mommy issues, is insecure about his scars, and is "going to therapy" to better himself. PLEASE. Every single time he's rude he starts crying and asking Audrey if she hates him or thinks he's ugly. And when she mentions she wants to pay off her loans herself because she doesn't want to be financially dependent on anyone he calls her stupid and says if he pays them off then she'll be free to do whatever?? wtf???

The prose was trying so hard to be poetic and deep but came across as disingenuous and forced. After the fifth instance of staccato sentences it felt overdone, and that wasn't even a quarter of the way into the novel. But wouldn't you know it, it just kept happening. AND THE EPILOGUE. I hit 84% on my kindle and suddenly I was reading an epilogue from Theo's POV. This book is 512 pages long. 16% is over EIGHTY PAGES. At that point just write and release a novella. The 80 page epilogue is yet another moment that emphasizes that this was written as a fanfic and not edited to reflect a trad deal. A massive section from the MMC's POV in a fic is a blessing. In a trad book? Just add it throughout the story or have an additional bonus chapter at the end. Don't call it an epilogue??

As much as I wanted to like this book, it wasn’t for me. I was annoyed with the characters the entire time. The book could have gone from 500 to 350 pages in no time if just two of Theo's scenes where he's being needlessly insecure for the 1000th time was cut.

This story should have been a complete rewrite, not just a mild edit for the names. 1.5 stars.

[hailee · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.

i’m feeling pretty conflicted about this one. while i did enjoy it overall, there were some things that took me out of the story quite a bit.

first, this was a classic case of insta love and moving too fast - which i absolutely cannot stand (usually). in this case, the insta love and quick obsession felt by the characters didn’t bother me as much as it normally would, at least until a certain point where i felt they were DEF moving too fast. the first few times they see each other were honestly adorable with how flustered theo was, but then i was side eyeing them with how quickly their relationship developed.

speaking of theo & his personality, i completely understand him being an anxious person (like hello same) and that he experienced immense trauma from his accident, but the way he acted sometimes had me rolling my eyes. a lot of his actions (see: overreactions/anger issues) were just brushed off by himself or audrey. it was also pretty frustrating to read about him just crying/whining/absolutely freaking out (asking audrey if she’s mad at him, if he fucked it all up, if he’s weird, etc.) when he was insecure. again, i can understand the amount of healing and growth his character needed, but some scenes were a bit much.

also i got the ick - sorry! some of the dialogue was giving “oh pwincess” (iykyk) and theo just gave extreme edgelord and i was cringing. hard. and we get it: he’s huge and she’s super tiny. next!

another thing: audrey didn’t really have tangible flaws? or if she did, things were resolved way too quickly with little to no conflict and it was just like? nothing burger? ya know?

anyways! you might be asking yourself “hailee, why give this three stars if you hated it so much?” and i would then say that despite all my criticisms, i actually didn’t hate this one!!!!

i was hooked for most of the book (even if it was a bit too long and dragged in some sections, namely they got together too quickly and i like the build up the most in romance novels, but i digress) and found myself flying through these long chapters. i also really did enjoy the overall concept of the story and the sweet parts of their romance. there was one spicy scene in theo’s art studio that was honestly so good it had me blushing. i found the coffee shop meet cute/setting to be really fun, the art world and side characters were interesting, and the conflict with theo’s family was intriguing. i also liked the epilogue (again - a lil long!) and found myself tearing up over some parts with theo’s father.

i think part of why i did enjoy this despite my complaints is that it read like a classic fanfiction i would have read circa 2017-2020, which made it easy & fun to read.

anyways, forgive my ramblings. overall, this was pretty fun, a bit long, but still enjoyable.

[abi]

More published Reylo 🫶

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out very cute but then got long and awkward. I enjoyed their initial meeting and their getting to know each other but then it dragged on, with nothing really happening. This one wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt dual POV debut new adult romance between an NYC virgin barista and a scarred (literally) young man who has anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD from a car crash he was in with his father. The mental health rep in this book was top notch and I liked how it started off from her perspective and then switched to his halfway through, retelling the story from his eyes. A spicy slow burn that was low on angst but had a ton of emotional depth. Recommended for fans of authors like Elle Kennedy or Rebecca Jenshak. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

CW: suicidal ideation

[FER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelle C Harris' debut, A LATTE LIKE LOVE, is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood's fall hard and fast romances, and Hannah Bonam-Young's low stakes intense personal journeys. Audrey and Theo are the template for modern soulmates. Each page, each encounter, each word is delving deeper into the connection they share. So while the relationship feels cosmic, every moment of them solidifies how inevitable they are. Its a joy to read a pure, all-consuming love take shape.

At first glance you might think Theo and Audrey are a grumpy x sunshine pairing, but there is something unique about them that feels more like ... sunshine and sun-starved. Theo carries many traumatic burdens that has kept him away from goodness - believing the harshness of his inner demons. Audrey is optimism in a field of plight - persevering through all her hardest days with the intent to survive. They need each other, but not in a "I can fix them" way. More like, they fill the part of their heart that's been held open and waiting for their other half.

I appreciate also that the emotional threads were played at full volume. Audrey and Theo are raw and vulnerable with each other that apeaks to how safe they are together. It's truely rare to lay out your greateat fears and be sure it won't be used against you. That's the trust and love and care between soulmates.

A LATTE LIKE LOVE is a sweetly sincere read. Don't epxect much pearl clutching drama though. This one is all about personal journeys and emotional connection. Last thing. If you love a man that yearns, Theo Sullivan is your new book boyfriend.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advance copy to read and review.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional and spicy romance told entirely from the FMC’s perspective. I absolutely loved the inclusion of a character with a physical disability and his emotional struggle with the changes in his life. The emotions felt so raw and real. The MMC is incredibly vulnerable and struggles with anxiety, and I loved how supportive the FMC was of him and how much he supported her in return. They were unbearably sweet, and I adored them together.

The story follows them as they get to know each other after an awkward meet-cute at the café where the FMC works. The book is a bit shorter than I expected because the last 15% is an extended epilogue told from the MMC’s perspective. It honestly felt like it could’ve been its own novella, but I loved that readers get it included here.

An amazing debut! I cried so much watching Theo and Audrey grow and fall in love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc.

[Rebekah McCallie Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reclusive artist and a barista working her way through an engineering degree meet in a coffee shop and fall in love.

Or: a reclusive, hot, scarred (literally and figuratively), rich (VERY RICH, VERY VERY RICH), TALL with massive hands, infamous & anonymous artist who cooks, draws portraits of you constantly and litters his house with them, loves to watch black & white movies and can out nerd you on almost any topic, and who owns a multi-story town house on the Hudson in NYC without roommates including electronic shades, a rooftop garden, and an art studio falls first (literally at first sight) for an orphaned barista who is struggling through college and lives in a shoebox with twin bunkbeds with her best friend. The two navigate their respective trauma and learn to lean on one another through all the hard bits of life (and there are a lot of hard bits for my trauma babies).

To say I was obsessed with this story from page one doesn't even do it justice. A romcom is making me cry at the 18% mark? Exception work. The characters, the trauma responses and the growth all felt incredibly realistic. These characters have been through some things, and I thought Michelle C. Harris navigated depression, suicide, trauma and therapy with grace and respect. The progression of this story is different from other contemporary romances I've read where the majority of the plot is the push and pull between will they/won't they. This story is not that. It's about two people who find each other, accept each other quickly, and then learn to navigate life together. It was a beautiful departure from the standard romcom timeline.

I would do absolutely anything for Theo. His little crash outs were just the cutest, and once he's comfortable with you? An absolute freak. I will be reading anything and everything Michelle C. Harris writes from now on. I did not know the lore of this story prior to diving in, and as a person who consumes massive amounts of AO3, I personally had no idea this was a fic (seeing people saying it's obviously, and I respectfully disagree). LOVE LOVE LOVE. Thank you Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

“A Latte Like Love” by Michelle C. Harris

2⭐️/5⭐️
3🌶/5🌶

I love reading Reylo-coded books, and I love reading fic that has been reworked to become new stories that can be published either indie or traditionally. That being said, I did not enjoy this book and feel strongly that it should have stayed a fic. I haven’t even read the original fic, but I don’t think I ever need to because it reads like a 1:1 AU Reylo story. Meaning, it doesn’t stand on its own. Not enough changes were made from the source material, those references were far too transparent and not nuanced enough.

I wanted to connect more with the characters as individuals rather than jumping right into them meeting and dating. This story immediately picks up with them meeting. And while most of the time I don’t have a problem with it, there was little substance outside of their relationship. The supporting characters were not developed, they were just there to help facilitate the MCs’ relationship. I wanted more depth.

Audrey has no flaws, which I found incredibly boring. She always says and does the exact right thing, and any potential bumps with Theo are immediately addressed and smoothed out. I kept waiting for her to get exhausted playing pseudo-therapist to Theo, but it never happened. Actually, I kept waiting for SOMETHING to happen, but nothing really did?

The epilogue was painful to read, particularly the Star Wars references. I know this is Reylo, we all do, but you don’t need to beat me over the head with making references to the “cinematic masterpiece that is The Last Jedi”. Also, having an “I love you”/”I know” reference just made me roll my eyes. Please. Enough. I also found it a little bit of “too much too late” with what was included. We have an entire Theo POV, and he spends it going back and giving us the spark notes edition of how he met Audrey. I think it’s unnecessary and adds nothing to the story.

But the thing that caused me to go from “this is OK” to “...wait, wtf”, is when the author essentially rewords a line straight out of “The Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood. Now…I do not want to throw around the ‘p’ word, so I won’t. But that line was totally unnecessary and took me out of the story enough that I contemplated DNF’ing.

If you liked this story, I’m happy for you. If you like Reylo, maybe give this a shot? I didn’t care for it, but maybe others will.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new favorite sad, tortured book boyfriend, and his name is Theo Sullivan.

This man. My goodness. He’s just this sweet, anxious nerd. Smart AND talented. Donates to charity. Also, RICH. So rich. Old money rich and new money rich. If I hadn’t already been ready to marry him, the townhouse would have done me in.

Oh, and I didn’t think giant men were a thing I am into but my goodness, the way Michelle had me fixating on this man’s hands should be studied.

He cooks for her. He draws her. He takes care of her. He literally carries her everywhere so she doesn’t have to walk herself. Audrey is living the passenger princess life of my DREAMS.

I should not love this book as much as I do. I live for a slow burn. I love when they hate each other and stay that way for eons. Here, they are obsessed INSTANTLY. It’s mind-boggling to me how exceptionally well it works.

But the reality of Michelle Harris’s writing is that you don’t need slow hate or obstacles in the way or an 11th hour breakup to make a plot a plot. What A Latte Like Love brews up is a story about who you can grow into under the light of someone who sees you.

It’s slow, it’s patient. It’s so sad, with too real themes of suicide and low self-worth and healing and family trauma handled with such care. It’s full of small moments that will have you cackling (me, literally every time this boy crashes out). There’s real, raw intimacy that delivers beyond just spice.

Like overcoming our demons, or pulling the perfect espresso shot, or melding glass into something beautiful—it’s painstakingly precise and patient.

All the stars. Can’t wait for what Michelle writes next.

Thank you Berkley for the eARC!

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley for the free book!!

READ IF YOU LIKE:
- age gap
- she woos him
- virgin FMC
- cinnamon roll MMC
- secret identity

THE THOUGHTS:
I'm literally obsessed. I can confidently say this is my top romance read of 2026 and any other romance book is REALLY going to have to step it up to even be considered number two.
Theo Sullivan truly is my ultimate cinnamon roll book boyfriend. He was SO sweet and SUCH a gentleman. Audrey was honestly such a smooth talker, I found myself swooning at her words as much as Theo did. Her patience with him and ability to calm him down was everything he needed (and me??).

As their relationship grew, Audrey was able to open up about her struggles and Theo found the perfect ways to give her a soft landing space that she had been searching for for so long. I don't want to spoil too much because their journey was so incredibly deep and emotional that I don't want to deprive any one of it!!!! If you've ever taken a book rec from me, please let it be this one, I'm begging you.

[Rachaelbookhunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

barista falls for a reclusive artist struggling with the tragic aftermath of an accident in A Latte Like Love.

Audrey Adams has been working at the same Brooklyn coffee shop for years. She's very good at her job. A new customer has been coming in in at exactly 8:17 every Tuesday morning. He doesn't say much and never drinks his coffee and never drinks his coffee, only staying long enough to scribble in a notebook. Audrey hasn't even seen his face because he wears a same KN95 mask.

Intrigued, Audrey begins anticipating Theo's visits. She attempts to make conversation. When an incident reveals a horrific facial scar he's hiding, Theo flees the café, dropping his sketchbook in the process. Audrey wants to return it to him and get to know him. Will Theo's reluctance to share his secrets stop the relationship before it begins? Can they find love?

A Latte Like Love starts off really sweetly. The moments with Audrey working in the coffee shop are fun. Who doesn't like a mysterious stranger? Unfortunately that is where my enjoyment ended.

Audrey and Theo meet and begin having feelings for each other too quickly. It feels like the whole premise of the story happens in the first couple of pages. The first three paragraphs of the Goodreads synopsis are the first 3% of the book! Of course more happens between them after that but I expected more buildup. After the initial tracking down and returning of the notebook the story feels like it's already advanced in plot, yet not many pages have passed.

The story isn't what I thought or hoped it would be. The book is too long. I also wasn't expecting all the spice. That's just my personal taste, but it does feel kind of unnecessary.

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read!

[abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and berkley for the free copy of this book!

what an absolutely endearing romance story!!! audrey and theo are such sweet leads and i was kicking my feet and giggling from the very start. i'm not usually interested in insta-love plots, but this one got me. it made sense for their story and i couldn't imagine it going any differently.

also, big shoutout to the supporting characters (josh, violet and diego). we better be getting their love stories too please!!! not often do authors do a good job of fleshing out side characters, but i feel like michelle c. harris did a fantastic job writing each of them. not only did i fall in love with audrey and theo, i also fell in love with the friendships they had with their best friends. platonic love is so special and we got to see so many amazing versions of that in this story.

my only complaint is that theo's epilogue felt a smidge too long. some of it felt repetitive, but i am truly grateful for the new pieces of his and audrey's story from theo's perspective. at the end of the day, i love to see theo and audrey thriving!!! super excited to see what michelle c. harris writes next.

[Alex in the Abstract · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 30%

As a huge Star Wars and Reylo fan, I tried. I really did.

Not only is this a poor representation of Rey and Ben, the story didn’t even give us much insight into who Audrey really was as a character. Very one-dimensional.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies. All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️

This was a good debut! It was such unique concept with interesting twists, and I loved seeing how Audrey helped Theo grow after such a traumatic accident. They were so sweet together and I could really feel how much they cared for each other even in a short period of time.
However, I did feel like the story was a bit slow in parts with some repetition and could’ve been shortened, especially with the long epilogue in Theo’s POV.
Overall though, it was a sweet story and I’m excited to read more from this author.

[Stacee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this one and was excited to get a copy of it.

I liked Audrey and Theo well enough. They're from wildly different backgrounds and both are lonely. I did like how they found something in each other; however it moved a lot faster than I expected, especially since it's revealed that neither of them have dating experience in their pasts.

Plot wise, it's okay. There are a lot of repetitive descriptions (seriously, I get it, he's SO LARGE) and a good amount of shouty caps. If their ages weren't constantly stated, I would have assumed they were much younger. The conflict is mostly Theo's past trauma and how he's dealing with it.

This is another instance where I found out it was Reylo FF after reading it and in hindsight, it makes the story clearer. There were several plot points and characters introduced and dropped...all that likely would have made sense in a fic.

Overall, it was a quick read (for being 500+ pages), but, I think it'll be a story I don't remember.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Tisha "Manic Reads" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reylo vibes? Good.
Autumn vibes? Good.
Representation? Really good.

Audrey and Theo are a couple that make you believe in romance again, without being too over the top. It's love at first sight, but in the best possible way, where you are caught off guard and your breath is taken away. The emotions feel like they are leaping off the page where you don't know where the story ends and you begin.

The supporting characters are rich and bring more personality to the story as well, making our time with them just as satisfying as our time with the main couple.

The handling of anxiety and therapy was done with a gentle touch without being with kid gloves and I appreciated that. It was respectful and well handled and I liked that.

The epilogue from Theo's point of view was a nice touch. I am not one for the back and forth POV's normally but it being one small piece it was nice to get inside of his head. This book will definitely be another read for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

[Celeste Raine]

I won’t be giving this one a starred rating as I wasn’t able to finish it. But if I did, I don’t imagine it would be very high.

Truthfully, I picked this up because Ali Hazelwood featured it on her feed a while back and because I love her books, I trusted her. Sadly this was a let down for me personally.

The beginning felt unbelievable. Not in the sense that a coffee shop couldn’t exist where two people meet, but in the sense that how on earth can these two be enamored by one another so quickly, after a series of unfortunate events and very little interaction (I truly mean, very little.. as in under an hour at best… accumulative).

Unfortunately, the FMC Audrey gave the feeling of a mother obsessed and in love with one of her sons, rather than a man in his thirties. It felt infantalising and deeply uncomfortable to witness her interactions with Theo.

There were also other strange comments that read more like a therapist or again, a mother noticing her son, and trying to decode what’s really going on, and coddling, rather than treating the MMC like an adult.

Perhaps the story might’ve had some more weight to it over time, but it all felt a little too corny, unbelievable and without striking the right balance of intrigue with a romance in a romance book, it sadly just loses all drive to continue reading.

[Stroop · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise is sweet—a barista and a shy customer hit it off. Will their past traumas get in the way of love? Ultimately, while I think Audrey and Theo make a cute couple, I found their relationship development too hasty and the dialogue awkward. I think fans of Ali Hazelwood’s works will enjoy this debut novel.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

A Latte Like Love not only has such a perfect and fun title, it also has one of my most favorite beginnings in a romance. Usually books have to build up for me to thoroughly engage, but this one swept me off my feet first the very first page. While ultimately, I cannot say I am a convert of the insta-love trope, what I can say is its use in this work rattled me in the best way possible. Suddenly I understood the power of love at first sight. Not only does this work have a strong beginning that beautifully lured me in, it also bookended with a tremendous extended epilogue. That epilogue was really gorgeous. It was waterworks on my face! But I wouldn't have it any other way as it cemented such a triumphant journey for the character leading it. The start and the ending were stunningly written, and what I will remember best in this work.

Unfortunately, the middle is where I found myself stumbling.

To quickly sum it up, A Latte Like Love is a slice-of-life healing romance. A scarred, grieving man meets a barista, and suddenly light finds its way through the shadows. Through knowing Audrey, Theo begins to live again. Through knowing Theo, Audrey finds a home.

Again, allow me to praise the way this work begins. I was genuinely so stunned by the way I fell hook, line, and sinker. I thought I was on the verge of being converted into insta-love trope too! Like it hit me like a wrecking ball in the best, best way. I wanted to know everything about Theo! I wanted to see him open up to Audrey, and in turn, swoon over the way she found a home in him. And that epilogue! Dare I say...best epilogue I've ever read?! That was such a poignant and emotionally moving narrative choice.

The work as a whole is lovely, it really is! That said, turns out I'm not converting into insta-love. Because as sweet as it all is...my attention continously wavered the deeper I got into the story. It's not that I ever stopped caring for the story, it's just it felt easy to walk away from it and read other things. I knew my protagonists were in a good spot together, so it felt 'safe' to walk away. My attention simply became divided.

More so when I realized the origins of this work as a reylo fanfic. And let me tell you, what an incredible treat for those fans! Michelle C. Harris is massively talented, and I am so happy to meet her work, but those fans I think will be in for an extra special treat. I envy them! I truly do, because unfortunately I never cared for that ship and the more blatant the leads became their origin source, the more I saw Star Wars and the less I saw A Lattle Like Love. I wish the adaptation of fic to book had been more subtle, as it did cause distraction. But at the same time...that feels like such a me problem! If I were a prior fan, I 100% would have eaten this whole book up! Which is why I envy those fans, because I truly think this work is a gift to you all especially and I think it's one you will love tremendously.

I may have encountered small distraction, but I leave this work a new fan of Harris. I want to read all her future books! The way this work sucked me in before the first chapter even ended was an amazing feeling. I cherish that completely.

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey, a mechanical engineer and part-time barista, immediately notices the tall, dark, and handsome stranger who comes into her coffee shop. He’s sweet and shy, never drinks his coffee, always leaves a generous tip, and wears the same KN95 mask every time. When this customer, Theo, keeps coming back, Audrey can’t help but want to get to know him. It turns out Theo has been in a horrific accident that left him with both physical and mental scars, and Audrey slowly coaxes him out of his shell.

This was a sweet, slow-burn, angsty romance set in New York City. While it starts with instant attraction, the relationship itself takes time to build. I loved the chemistry between the two that grows naturally and deepens as they get to know each other. Both characters have been through harrowing experiences and carry their own baggage and trauma. There are some heavier emotional moments and themes, but plenty of sweet, swoony scenes as well. Audrey was instantly charming, and I could see why the reclusive, shy Theo would be drawn to her. Theo was especially intriguing: his past, the origin of his scars, and what led up to the accident kept me invested. I also loved the secret art persona element.

I did struggle with a few scenes involving Theo’s behavior and reactions, but I appreciated that his flaws and need to grow weren’t brushed aside. At its core, this is a very emotional romance, with heavier moments that ground the story and keep it from becoming overly sweet. Both of their backstories were heartbreaking, and it was beautiful to see Theo support Audrey in her dreams while also finding his way back into the world and recognizing his own worth through her.
The story is told from Audrey’s POV, but the extended epilogue is from Theo’s POV and spans much of their relationship, from when they first met to beyond the main storyline. Some may feel it’s too long for an epilogue, but I really enjoyed getting Theo’s perspective and insight into his inner thoughts and struggles. I think this could have also worked in a dual POV format, but I appreciated this extended epilogue nonetheless.

Overall, this is a sweet, charming, swoony, and cozy romance with plenty of angst, balanced by an emotional and satisfying heartfelt payoff. If you enjoy coffee shop meet-cutes, a mysterious, scarred hero with a heartbreaking past, and an emotionally rich, angsty love story, this is the book for you!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Molly Blackwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey doesn't know why she is so transfixed by the shy new customer who starts making her coffee shop a part of his morning routine. Little by little she gains his trust until one rude customer ruins everything. He's always worn a mask when he comes in but when it gets ripped from his face, she sees the trauma hiding beneath and suddenly his demeaner makes more sense. When he stops coming, she decides to try to track him down to return the notebook he is always scribbling in, but when she does, she realizes she doesn't want to let him go. With little dating experience but lots of patience and kindness she slowly gets him to open up but can Theo move past his accident and enjoy a happy life with Audrey when everything in him tells him he doesn't deserve it.

I actually went into this book blind expecting a cute and maybe fluffy story but this book took me completely by surprise. Audrey is absolutely the kind of person I would want to be BBFs with. She is loyal, kind, truthful and patient but she is far from a doormat. She may be inexperienced with dating but once she sees what they can be she is willing to put her heart and her pride on the line.

Theo was such a broken boy in desperate need of that one person who would see past his scars and his past and who he could open up to about all his secrets. He is such a green flag book boyfriend. He cooks for her, he shifts his entire schedule for her and he puts her comfort paramount above everything else.

I was cheering on this couple from page one until the very end. This was a long read but honestly, I was so entranced by these two that the pages flew by before I knew it. I'm so happy I picked this one up because it feels like the kind of deep endearing love story that will stick with me for some time.

If you love a green flag who is obsessed with a hidden identity and I've been waiting for you vibes with a fmc who you can't help but fall in love with a little yourself and you don't mind an emotional beefy read then you need to add this one immediately to the top of your TBR.

Thanks so much to Berkley for providing with an eARC via netgalley for review.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so sweet but at the same time a little too sweet with emotional outbursts that gave me whiplash that I’m not sure what to rate this. It was also very long and could have been 200 pages shorter, especially since things got repetitive. I’m stuck between 2 or 3 stars. Since I enjoyed it more so than not, 3 stars it will be.

This read like a fanfic story and I come to find out it use to be a Reylo story before it was picked up for trad publishing! Once I found that out, it all made sense. I think without that knowledge, some references get really lost in translation. Plus knowing it was a fanfic before makes sense for the way this was written, which was the biggest confusion for me. It felt a little all over the place, with no clear direct plot line besides them ending up together. I do wish we had a dual POV as this would have helped make sense of Theo’s journey of healing after the accident as well as losing his father and processing his emotions, which gave me whiplash because anything would set him off. It’s not until the super long epilogue (an hour for me and I read pretty fast) that we get his side of things. At that point, I was kind of over it because we’d already gone through it. The timeline was all over the place too and I was confused for a bit.

The relationship between Audrey and Theo was very much insta love and it was sweet. A little too much at some points but I’m sure it will appeal to someone more than it did me. Was their relationship memorable? Not really but it kept me entertained. It was mildly spicy and I give it 2 🌶️ out of 5. Let’s not also forget the amount of times the author says Theo has a big body, big ears and just big everything. 💀

Overall, a decent read. Thank you NetGalley, Berkley, and Michelle C. Harris for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Girlzgottaread · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Latte Like Love very, very quickly became a book I just knew I was going to love. Less than 20% in, and I knew it was a book I would return to over and over again… for comfort, for coziness, for love.
Michelle knocked it out of the park. I don’t know how else to say it. Everything about this story was perfection to me, and even saying that feels so hollow compared to how it actually made me feel.
I giggled. I kicked my feet. I cried. I fell in love. I related. I yearned. I grieved. All the emotions and experiences were had in this story, and I tried my absolute hardest to stretch it out for as long as I could because I didn’t want to be separated from Theo and Audrey and their perfectly imperfect love. These are soulmates… clear as day… and I devoured their story and wish there was more 😭
Theo… you giant, oversized, anxiety-filled, talented, intelligent, loving, protective man. You are perfect to me and have joined the halls of book boyfriends I will never stop talking about. Doesn’t hurt that you’re loaded.
Audrey… you adorable, empathetic, strong, independent, and absolutely loving, mature-beyond-your-years woman. You have also joined the halls of cozy FMCs that I’ll never forget.
Together, they have become one of my favorite couples of all time in contemporary romance. I will recommend this book to anyone who will listen.
It’s live today! I urge you to go get a copy… it’s absolutely breathtaking. It’s deep. It delves into serious mental health issues, as well as physical disfigurement and grief. But most of all, it shines such a beautiful spotlight on how the right person can change the entire trajectory of your life in an instant.
And the tears are welling up just thinking about it as I share this with you. I will read anything this woman writes. ANYTHING!

[Julissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is for you if you’ve ever read Reylo fanfics or trad-pub stories based on them. Apparently, this was an AO3 fic, and although I’ve never dabbled in that community, I definitely picked up on the Reylo vibes before I confirmed this.

I went into this story *completely* blind but have to admit it sat on my ARC shelf for months because I was intimidated by its 500+ page length. However, once I started reading, I was immediately intrigued and invested in the endearing meet-cute and the mystery surrounding Theo. Halfway through we learn what happened and the remainder of the story dragged on a bit. It could have been 150-200ish pages shorter. I appreciated the mental health and disability representation and Theo’s growth by the end, but I wanted to see more growth for Audrey.

Their age-gap is glossed over, and despite being in their 20s and 30s, the intensity of their romance felt very YA. It was sweet in that first love, all-in, kind of way. I kept thinking that my 23-year-old self would have eaten this up, but I had a hard time getting swept into the fast pace and obsessive quality of their relationship. That said, I appreciated that there wasn’t unnecessary drama within the relationship and that it was centered on them supporting each other through their circumstances and goals.

This is a debut for the author, and I would definitely read more from her. I recommend this for those who enjoy more emotion-driven stories, and it reminded me of some of Mia Sheridan’s “rom-traum” books.

Thanks to Berkley Pub Group & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy! All opinions are my own.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted ARC!

I loved how romantic and sweet this book was. It had me smiling so much from the first few chapters, it was so nice. Even with the sweetness and romantic aspect it was still a very deep and emotional read. There was quite a bit of trauma and healing throughout the book, it gets pretty heavy especially when you see things from the MMC's perspective.

Audrey was such a fantastic character. She was tough and independent, and with her background it made complete sense for her to be. But I loved that she learned throughout the book that it's also okay to be taken care of occasionally. The way that she respected and helped Theo with his boundaries was so nice to read. She was caring, empathetic and supportive with what he was going through and healing from.

Theo is such a deep character. With the levels to his trauma and everything that he endured and experienced during the ongoing healing process of it all, you just really felt for him. He is so resilient, and I really empathized with him and his grief over the loss of a loved one. I've experienced the same loss, not in the same manner, but I definitely understand how his character was feeling. The author did a great job of illustrating those feelings.

Their relationship was just so incredibly sweet, they were so perfect for each other and they helped each other so very much. I would absolutely recommend this when it releases, and I can't wait to get a physical copy!

*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

[the_tbr_cart Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me tell you about A Latte Like Love because this one had me completely hooked. It is the story of Audrey, a Brooklyn barista who falls for Theo, a reclusive artist who visits her café every morning at exactly 8:17. He never drinks his coffee, always leaves a generous tip, and hides behind a KN95 mask that conceals the scars from a tragic accident. When Audrey accidentally discovers what he has been hiding, everything changes—and that is when the real story begins.

The book moves fast in the way Fifty Shades of Grey or Twilight does; the moment the main characters meet, everything starts to click into place. But instead of a mysterious billionaire or immortal vampire, we get a quiet, damaged artist and a barista who is equal parts kind and determined. It feels like Beauty and the Beast meets modern-day Brooklyn, with a splash of espresso and a whole lot of chemistry.

I honestly could not put it down. Every chapter ended with something new happening, so when my husband tried to talk to me, I kept saying, “Hang on, just one more page,” and then another, and another.

• The Romance: The love scenes were steamy but also emotional in a way that fit the story.
• The Depth: Both characters have their own traumas and vulnerabilities, which made their connection feel real even when things moved quickly.

If you are a romance reader who loves a little heat, emotional depth, and fast-moving tension, A Latte Like Love is absolutely worth your time.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, the author Michelle C. Harris, and Berkley Publishing Group for the advance readers copy.