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Love Rehab: A novel by Kia Smith
*Note that this is a re-release, originally penned in 2009 and published in 2021.*
Life can be full of bad decisions, and it seems as if Desiraè Thomas has been making them since she was fourteen years old.
While coming of age in a new neighborhood, she bumps into her first love, and together, they start a fast-paced romance. What went from innocent and cute quickly turned toxic and dysfunctional. Over the next few years, Desiraè endures some situations that rival those of women more than twice her age.
No stranger to bad decisions, Desiraè gets released from her first relationship and pushed into the arms of a new lover, where she begins to find safety and solace. Now at eighteen, things started looking up for Desiraè until an untimely death forces her to confront her past and the ones who hurt her the most.
Is she ready to let go?
Can she heal from the past?
Can love actually be rehabbed?
Life can be full of bad decisions, and it seems as if Desiraè Thomas has been making them since she was fourteen years old.
While coming of age in a new neighborhood, she bumps into her first love, and together, they start a fast-paced romance. What went from innocent and cute quickly turned toxic and dysfunctional. Over the next few years, Desiraè endures some situations that rival those of women more than twice her age.
No stranger to bad decisions, Desiraè gets released from her first relationship and pushed into the arms of a new lover, where she begins to find safety and solace. Now at eighteen, things started looking up for Desiraè until an untimely death forces her to confront her past and the ones who hurt her the most.
Is she ready to let go?
Can she heal from the past?
Can love actually be rehabbed?
253 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2025
13 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 20, 2025
Whew 😮💨 the layers of emotions in this one. Desirae was literally a child, navigating through the most important years of her life with little to no guidance. The character was written so well that I felt like I knew her personally and I wanted to hug her so many times. I’m glad Kia touched on therapy in a positive light but the little sneak peek got me wondering if Rae even learned anything 👀 lol
July 20, 2025
FIRST, THIS WAS THE MOST CHICAGO BOOK I EVER READ AND I LOVED THAT LOL. Unfortunately it won’t let me post my highlights and notes and that’s disappointing because our lingo is truly ONE OF ONE.
The rollercoaster that was Desiraè and Shawn was crazy asf. You can’t tell me that he didn’t purposely have his ex jump her so she could lose the baby. Idc he set that up!! That was so wild to me.
That was a plot twist with Nicole and Gramz though, I wasn’t expecting it to turn out like that. Gramz know she wrong.
I’m glad her and Dre both were able to get the help and healing they needed to make their relationship work. What I didn’t necessarily like was during therapy when he kept mentioning all the things he did for Rae Rae but what did she do for you??? Exactly…that savior complex smh. Still liked them for eachother though, it just took some extra work.
Oh I cannot wait until book 2 because that ending was something else!! It’s exactly what Desiraè gets though. Shouldn’t have been in that car with that man. Now Dre REALLY ain’t gone trust her 🤦🏾♀️
The rollercoaster that was Desiraè and Shawn was crazy asf. You can’t tell me that he didn’t purposely have his ex jump her so she could lose the baby. Idc he set that up!! That was so wild to me.
That was a plot twist with Nicole and Gramz though, I wasn’t expecting it to turn out like that. Gramz know she wrong.
I’m glad her and Dre both were able to get the help and healing they needed to make their relationship work. What I didn’t necessarily like was during therapy when he kept mentioning all the things he did for Rae Rae but what did she do for you??? Exactly…that savior complex smh. Still liked them for eachother though, it just took some extra work.
Oh I cannot wait until book 2 because that ending was something else!! It’s exactly what Desiraè gets though. Shouldn’t have been in that car with that man. Now Dre REALLY ain’t gone trust her 🤦🏾♀️
July 20, 2025
love love love it!
This was a read hunny! Many of us damaged adults are products of unhealed trauma we endured in our adolescence. That trauma presents itself the most in our relationships with other people, especially in our intimate partnerships. I wish love rehab was a real thing, but in a sense it is. Realizing that you’re hurting, what’s causing the hurt, the will to want better for yourself, and making the effort to do better is key to healing yourself. Desirae took us through the wire with her trauma, unsafe coping mechanisms, displaced anger, and her 180 turnaround. This is an excellent coming of age story that a lot of teens and adults can relate to. Job well done.
This was a read hunny! Many of us damaged adults are products of unhealed trauma we endured in our adolescence. That trauma presents itself the most in our relationships with other people, especially in our intimate partnerships. I wish love rehab was a real thing, but in a sense it is. Realizing that you’re hurting, what’s causing the hurt, the will to want better for yourself, and making the effort to do better is key to healing yourself. Desirae took us through the wire with her trauma, unsafe coping mechanisms, displaced anger, and her 180 turnaround. This is an excellent coming of age story that a lot of teens and adults can relate to. Job well done.
July 27, 2025
Blast from the past!! Set in the city of Chicago, Rae Rae really embodies what it was like living in the city during the earlier 2000’s. I love the authenticity the author brings to the story. From the scents used to the clothing worn, I could picture the scenery as if I were there with the characters allowing me to be fully immersed. Rae Rae’s growth throughout the story is relatable, and it emphasizes that growth is not always linear. Sometimes, we make mistakes and slip up. However, there are always consequences to our actions and she learns that the hard way. I really enjoyed the setup of the story. The prologue drops us in the middle of a heavy scene that explores some feelings that may be triggering to others. I love the firey spirit our FMC has and how she is not afraid of violence, usually in defense. Her journey to discover self love is one that many young girls experience, finding it in all the wrong places first. Eagerly waiting for book 2!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2021
Great read!
I Loved this book from beginning to end. It was great to see Rai Rai (and her family) get the healing they needed.
I Loved this book from beginning to end. It was great to see Rai Rai (and her family) get the healing they needed.
August 30, 2025
Kia Smith’s Love Rehab duology is raw, heartfelt, and deeply necessary, giving a voice to experiences that are more common than one might guess, yet rarely acknowledged.
In Love Rehab, we meet Desiraè, a young woman forced to grow up too soon while navigating grief, family secrets, generational curses, and survival in a chaotic and turbulent environment. That story ends on a note of hope as Desiraè begins her journey toward wholeness.
What makes this duology unforgettable is how real Desiraè feels. For Black women, and for anyone who has carried too much too young, her journey is affirming, validating, and inspiring. As a Midwest girl myself, Kia Smith’s writing feels like home: raw, familiar, and full of resilience. And ever-so CHICAGO (iykyk)!
Stories like these will always be incredibly important. Not only because so many of the overlooked have an opportunity to feel seen, but because these stories are truly tools for women who may not have hit momentum in their journeys toward wholeness and fulfillment.
As someone with many years of experience in therapy, I could see clearly how Kia intentionally weaves important lessons into these stories. There are so many poignant pieces of advice, things I have heard from my own therapists in the past, now crafted into tools for the girlies who have not yet taken that step toward therapy.
This is why Kia’s work is so important. The Love Rehab duology is not just a story, it is a mirror, a guide, and a reminder that healing is possible and that our stories are worth telling.
In Love Rehab, we meet Desiraè, a young woman forced to grow up too soon while navigating grief, family secrets, generational curses, and survival in a chaotic and turbulent environment. That story ends on a note of hope as Desiraè begins her journey toward wholeness.
What makes this duology unforgettable is how real Desiraè feels. For Black women, and for anyone who has carried too much too young, her journey is affirming, validating, and inspiring. As a Midwest girl myself, Kia Smith’s writing feels like home: raw, familiar, and full of resilience. And ever-so CHICAGO (iykyk)!
Stories like these will always be incredibly important. Not only because so many of the overlooked have an opportunity to feel seen, but because these stories are truly tools for women who may not have hit momentum in their journeys toward wholeness and fulfillment.
As someone with many years of experience in therapy, I could see clearly how Kia intentionally weaves important lessons into these stories. There are so many poignant pieces of advice, things I have heard from my own therapists in the past, now crafted into tools for the girlies who have not yet taken that step toward therapy.
This is why Kia’s work is so important. The Love Rehab duology is not just a story, it is a mirror, a guide, and a reminder that healing is possible and that our stories are worth telling.
September 16, 2025
Justice for Rae-Rae! Whew, Love Rehab by Kia Smith is a coming-of-age tale that will pull at your heartstrings, grieve for the girl you once were, and re-examine the woman you are today.
What I love most about this book is how authentic the FMC’s voice is. The novel is set in the past; from the gate we are immersed into late 2000s Chicago. Desirae, our FMC, is twelve and already has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Now, I wanna stress, though the characters are young, this is NOT a YA novel. This is a love letter to your younger self. Rae’s trials and tribulations are much too grown for how old she actually is, and the way she (and every other character) handles the things thrown at her will make you want to tear your edges out.
She’s flawed. She has no guidance. She wants to be loved, and can’t figure out why those who are supposed to love her don’t. I wish I could have told her that I, as a reader, love her, and I’m rooting for her (and will ride out for her at dawn!).
If you’re ready to be stressed, upset, and still somehow biting your nails at the end even though there’s technically no cliffhanger, then look no further.
What I love most about this book is how authentic the FMC’s voice is. The novel is set in the past; from the gate we are immersed into late 2000s Chicago. Desirae, our FMC, is twelve and already has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Now, I wanna stress, though the characters are young, this is NOT a YA novel. This is a love letter to your younger self. Rae’s trials and tribulations are much too grown for how old she actually is, and the way she (and every other character) handles the things thrown at her will make you want to tear your edges out.
She’s flawed. She has no guidance. She wants to be loved, and can’t figure out why those who are supposed to love her don’t. I wish I could have told her that I, as a reader, love her, and I’m rooting for her (and will ride out for her at dawn!).
If you’re ready to be stressed, upset, and still somehow biting your nails at the end even though there’s technically no cliffhanger, then look no further.
August 28, 2025
Whew, chile. This book? It bout took me OUT. From beginning to end, Love Rehab was a whole journey that broke my heart, made me mad, and had me feeling everything in between.
So boom — we meet Desiraè when she’s young. First hit? She loses her father. Second hit? Her mama dips because she can’t mentally handle it. With nowhere else to go, Desiraè is sent to live with her grandmother and suddenly becomes responsible for not just herself, but her two younger brothers and her elderly grandmother. And from there? The punches just kept rolling. My girl could not catch a damn break.
Enter LaShawn. Fine? Absolutely. Toxic? Baybee, BEYOND. He’s 18 when she’s only 14, and the relationship is a mess from the jump. Constant cheating, passing on sicknesses that had me ready to throw hands, endless fights, and the babies — whew, the way she lost them one by one had me sick to my stomach. And then her mom pops back in out the blue, trying to move the whole family to a new city. The drama was DRAMA-ing.
When things reach a boiling point, Desiraè runs back to LaShawn only to catch him red-handed, and sis finally SNAPS. I wasn’t ready for that scene, AT ALL. With nowhere else to go, she runs to a classmate — enter Dre. Now Dre? Quiet, solid, knight-in-shining-armor vibes. He takes her in, no strings, and shows her what a non-toxic kind of love is supposed to look like. It takes her a while, but eventually she lets herself soften, and when they get together it feels like finally.
But Miss Kia said “not so fast.” Because BOOM — Grandma dies. And listen. That whole sequence? It had me hurting. Desiraè’s grief, Dre’s reaction, LaShawn being messy… I was ready to fight everybody on her behalf. Desiraè hits rock bottom — like rock rock rock bottom — and makes a decision that’s tough to come back from.
But here’s where the magic of the story shines. Her mom steps in, puts her in therapy with the Love Doctor, and for the first time, you see real healing begin. Desiraè gets her own place, a new job, and starts chasing her dream of being a chef. Sis starts putting the pieces back together. Dre comes back around, they work on things (with bumps, of course), and the Love Doctor helps them both step up. And by the end? You’re just proud. Proud of Desiraè for surviving. Proud of her growth. Proud that she chose herself and her healing over the cycle she was stuck in.
But Miss Kia… I’ma need a word with you about that “not a cliffhanger” cliffhanger, because ma’am. The way my jaw dropped?? You know damn well what you did. 😭
✨ The growth?? Phenomenal.
✨ The lessons?? Real-life and raw.
✨ The emotions?? Gut punches with a side of hope.
✨ The spice?? Not a ton, but what’s there makes sense and pushes the story forward beautifully.
This book gave:
💔 A heroine who’s been through hell but still chooses to rise
😤 A toxic man who needed to be thrown away years ago
🫶🏾 A love interest who shows what real care looks like until he doesn’t
🍳 A woman finding her dreams in the kitchen and beyond
🖤 A family dynamic that’ll have you crying, cussing, and clutching your chest
5/5 stars. Love Rehab is not for the faint of heart, but if you love messy, real, emotional Black romance with grit and growth? Read this. And hurry up — because book 2 is on the way and I already know it’s gonna wreck me all over again.
So boom — we meet Desiraè when she’s young. First hit? She loses her father. Second hit? Her mama dips because she can’t mentally handle it. With nowhere else to go, Desiraè is sent to live with her grandmother and suddenly becomes responsible for not just herself, but her two younger brothers and her elderly grandmother. And from there? The punches just kept rolling. My girl could not catch a damn break.
Enter LaShawn. Fine? Absolutely. Toxic? Baybee, BEYOND. He’s 18 when she’s only 14, and the relationship is a mess from the jump. Constant cheating, passing on sicknesses that had me ready to throw hands, endless fights, and the babies — whew, the way she lost them one by one had me sick to my stomach. And then her mom pops back in out the blue, trying to move the whole family to a new city. The drama was DRAMA-ing.
When things reach a boiling point, Desiraè runs back to LaShawn only to catch him red-handed, and sis finally SNAPS. I wasn’t ready for that scene, AT ALL. With nowhere else to go, she runs to a classmate — enter Dre. Now Dre? Quiet, solid, knight-in-shining-armor vibes. He takes her in, no strings, and shows her what a non-toxic kind of love is supposed to look like. It takes her a while, but eventually she lets herself soften, and when they get together it feels like finally.
But Miss Kia said “not so fast.” Because BOOM — Grandma dies. And listen. That whole sequence? It had me hurting. Desiraè’s grief, Dre’s reaction, LaShawn being messy… I was ready to fight everybody on her behalf. Desiraè hits rock bottom — like rock rock rock bottom — and makes a decision that’s tough to come back from.
But here’s where the magic of the story shines. Her mom steps in, puts her in therapy with the Love Doctor, and for the first time, you see real healing begin. Desiraè gets her own place, a new job, and starts chasing her dream of being a chef. Sis starts putting the pieces back together. Dre comes back around, they work on things (with bumps, of course), and the Love Doctor helps them both step up. And by the end? You’re just proud. Proud of Desiraè for surviving. Proud of her growth. Proud that she chose herself and her healing over the cycle she was stuck in.
But Miss Kia… I’ma need a word with you about that “not a cliffhanger” cliffhanger, because ma’am. The way my jaw dropped?? You know damn well what you did. 😭
✨ The growth?? Phenomenal.
✨ The lessons?? Real-life and raw.
✨ The emotions?? Gut punches with a side of hope.
✨ The spice?? Not a ton, but what’s there makes sense and pushes the story forward beautifully.
This book gave:
💔 A heroine who’s been through hell but still chooses to rise
😤 A toxic man who needed to be thrown away years ago
🫶🏾 A love interest who shows what real care looks like until he doesn’t
🍳 A woman finding her dreams in the kitchen and beyond
🖤 A family dynamic that’ll have you crying, cussing, and clutching your chest
5/5 stars. Love Rehab is not for the faint of heart, but if you love messy, real, emotional Black romance with grit and growth? Read this. And hurry up — because book 2 is on the way and I already know it’s gonna wreck me all over again.
January 9, 2026
This book reminds me so much of someone I knew growing up who put her self worth on the back burner for a guy. Such a relatable story for many teenagers that grew up without the proper guidance or was very sneaky and learned the hard way. This is a very good story that provides the perfect background for its sequel.
September 24, 2025
a ride
I was happy that these characters did the work to grow. Bre was my absolute favorite. Hurt people hurt people
I was happy that these characters did the work to grow. Bre was my absolute favorite. Hurt people hurt people
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews