The Art of Loving You

Forever Falling #2

by Natasha Bishop

From the buzzy, viral sensation Only for the Week, comes the next book in Natasha Bishop’s The Forever Falling series, featuring an intimate bucket list road trip, sexy banter, and a sweet and spicy second chance romance.

If you’re reading this, I’m dead.

Dani Jenkins is a boss. A model turned influencer, she doesn’t have time for taking a risk on romance. She prefers to keep things casual, but when her mentor Tanya dies, she is brought face-to-face with the man who broke her heart.

Dani and Micah had their chance at love . . .

Artist Micah Wright is a protector who loves fiercely. He’s known as the man everyone can count on, but he’s never forgiven himself for letting down the woman he loves. With Tanya’s dying wish forcing Dani and Micah back together to complete a scavenger hunt road trip, Micah sees a second chance for them to get things right.

Does time heal all wounds?

Tensions are high as their undeniable connection reignites, but Dani refuses to let her guard down. As they continue their journey, Micah is determined to prove to Dani that love is worth fighting for, but can she release her fears and relearn the art of loving?

Friends to lovers / He falls first / Second-chance romance / Black joy / Forced proximity / Right person, wrong time / Fling to forever

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, African American Romance, Contemporary, African American, Black Author

378 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 14, 2026

Reviews

[Shawnaci Schroeder]

4/5
Love how this book really highlights the depths of grief and how it really is a journey to navigate. This book felt very different from the other books this author has written, but I loved it so much nonetheless!! If you’re someone that enjoys contemporary fiction, this would be a great romance for you to pick up! Wish the romance had been a tiny bit more prevalent in the story, but overall it was an incredible read!

[MJ]

This story jumped right into the deep emotions. Very different from the 1st book in the series. A slow burn and where the characters find themselves and each other. I enjoyed watching the MCs grow together. This story will definitely pull on your heartstrings as it visits heavy topics such as grief, death and illness. At times I did feel like things were missing and often got confused with the number of characters introduced (and several nicknames).

Thank you Netgalley and Zando or this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review.

[Eleanor]

The Art of Loving You is a tender and evocative romance following Dani, a business owner and influencer, and her ex, Micah, a renowned painter, who are pulled together one more time when their mentor passes away and sends them on a journey to piece her life together and say goodbye. This was such a beautifully written romance. Dani and Micah's history was deep, and it was riveting to see how they came back to one another while on their own paths. Their slow burn romance was well worth the wait and I loved how the two held their own and were not afraid to be vulnerable with each other after they set aside their differences. Aside from the romance, the found family and community woven throughout the plot were so heartfelt and charming, the story felt like an ode to chosen family and it was just lovely. Altogether, this warm and emotional read was a beautifully balanced blend of softness, swoon, and gentle heat that wrapped up into the most intimate story one could want.

~Many thanks to Zando for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[mmmkay]

The Art of Loving You
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes: second chance, friends to lovers, forced proximity, grief

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First, let me say this: this book is nothing like Only for the Week, and I think that’s important to know going in. If you’re expecting the same vibe, reset those expectations. This story leans deeply emotional—and it delivers.

This was such a beautiful, angsty slow burn. Slow burns are one of my favorite romance tropes, so I fully soaked up the tension between Danielle and Micah. The longing, the history, the unspoken feelings? Chef’s kiss.

A major theme throughout the story is learning to let go and rediscover yourself. Both characters are forced to confront their grief, their past choices, and the obstacles life places in their way. Watching them grow individually—and then find their way back to each other—was incredibly satisfying.

One of my favorite elements was the scavenger hunt storyline. It was creative, heartfelt, and such a sweet way to pull them closer together.

And the spice? Whew. Let’s just say Micah understands the assignment. I was blushing.

This is my second Natasha Bishop read, and it definitely won’t be my last.

[Janette Braggs]

Thank you to Zando & NetGalley for this eARC.

I LOVED Only for the Week, & was so excited to be granted an arc of the next book in The Forever Falling series. Unfortunately, this book did not offer me the same excitement.

I was confused by the structure of the book. The time jumps between past & present took me out of the story often. The romance felt forced between Dani & Micah. Not once while reading this did I feel like these two were meant to be together. I also really struggled with how much of the exposition we were told instead of shown. I would have loved this book so much more if we had a solid flashback moment, a couple of chapters worth, detailing their first go round at a “relationship.” Try as I might, I just didn’t feel or see a spark & felt like it was being spoon fed to me.

I would definitely still read another book in this series (give Christian & Evie an enemies to lovers book & I am SAT). This one just missed the mark for me.

[Amethia Sellers]

Just took me 4 days to finish this. I think i expected too much by comparing it to the first book. This was a slowwww burn. I wish I could’ve gotten some backstory on the two main characters past and not on the mentee. It was a lot of telling and summarizing and sadly I felt no connection to any of the characters. There were also so many side characters that i felt were insignificant.

[AlexTRBG]

I’ve been praying for a Black romance set in Baltimore for years, so thank you Natasha for making that a reality. The Art of Loving you was such a heartfelt second chance that feels like a perfect beach/summer read 🥲🫶🏽

This book focuses on Dani and Micah, 2 exes from way back when who are forced to work together to properly honor their shared mentor Tanya. In the beginning the 2 learn that Tanya just passed and they’re given letters and videos from her instructing them to visit her favorite places and put on a fabulous ceremony of life for her. And since Dani and Micah have this constant will they won’t they (but mostly likely won’t they) type of relationship, this is the perfect opportunity for them to spend time together if only for sake of Tanya 🙃

I really liked how this book incorporated Dani and Micah’s shared love for Tanya and her love for them in return bc she seemed like a colorful and loving person. Through her letters and destinations you really get to know everything about her and why she lived the way she did. And tbh learning about her was inspiring to me 😌 I also liked the slow burn romance between Dani and Micah. I felt like it was a good change of pace. Shout out to Natasha for the warning tho bc this truly is the slowest of burns 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 but Dani and Micah’s reconnection was still very sweet and a lil freaky tbh 😜💕🙂‍↕️ They really were each other’s missing piece and they just needed some forced proximity to figure their shit out.

[Luciluvsbooksandbags]

I appreciate the author for the way she chose to write this second chance romance. What I got from the first book (which I loved btw) was mess and drama but what I got from this book was LOVE in how Tanya loved Dani and Micah enough to show them that they really loved each other. I also enjoyed the mystery of how Dani and Micah learned things about Tanya’s life before they knew her. This one pulled at my heartstrings in ways that the first book didn’t and that’s ok because I wouldn’t have wanted both books to give the same vibe!

[Taryn Hatcher]

4.5⭐️ The Art of Loving You was such a good sequel to Only for the Week, but sheeshhhh Natasha Bishop came for our feelings this time. This book felt much heavier as Dani and Micah worked through their grief. But I really appreciated seeing them individually seek therapy and actually put in the work to grow. Now Tanya… TANYA?! She was the main character for me from beyond the grave. She seemed so larger than life. Her presence was felt in every page, especially throughout the scavenger hunt learning about her past and family ended up being some of my favorite parts of the story. There were a few slower moments, but watching these characters heal, grow, and find their way back to each other made it worth it. And the end felt like a perfect full circle moment that was satisfying.

[Lilyya ♡]

this was my introduction to the author’s writing, and it certainly won’t be the last book i pick up from their catalog. The Art of Loving You was such a beautiful story. it reminded me of those cozy early 2000s movies, with that same warmth at its core.

the story follows Dani and Micah, who share a past, but that history isn’t the backbone of the narrative. instead, everything begins with the loss of their mentor. through her will, she sends them on a kind of scavenger hunt, meeting people from different chapters of her life, discovering the impact she had along the way to put together an auction for her. i absolutely loved that aspect of the story. it created this forced proximity between them, giving them no real concrete but to be together, and allowing them to start over through that journey.

Dani is a business owner and influencer, very much that “Boss” energy, but i loved how grounded she still felt. she knew how to protect herself, especially when it came to matters of the heart. on the other hand, mika was such a beautifully written character. the way he showed up for the people in his life (especially his sister) said everything about who he is. he felt steady, selfless, the kind of person who would drop everything for the people he loves.

their dynamic was tumultuous to say the least, mainly at the beginning, but i appreciated how their relationship was built through shared experiences rather than rushed moments. and by the end, it really hit because this was one of those stories that quietly builds and then leaves you emotional before you even realize it. i definitely ugly cried.

overall, it was a beautiful, heartfelt read, and i’d easily recommend it to anyone looking for something warm, emotional, and quietly impactful.

many thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

[amarachireads]

This book deals with both main characters as they grief the loss of someone important to them. They both have a history which makes this more than a second chance romance.

The romance in this book is on the slower side which was real due to all the development and grief both characters were coming to terms with. I think Natasha’s writing was beautiful and real in the way she portrayed this healing and patient love that grows and matures with time. There are also steamy moments in this book though not as much as the first book. Overall this is a good second chance romance about grief, healing and love!

Read for:
🎨Slow Burn
🎨Black Romance
🎨Forced proximity
🎨Multiple chance romance
🎨Grief
🎨Artist mcs

[amanda]

I needed way more from the romance. I was just not pulled in by their relationships. I think the grief and the way that was navigated and shown was done well, but for a romance book, it was not really romancing for me up until the last maybe 20%? :/ Maybe it's me idk. And that makes me super sad as someone who loves every other book from this author.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book.

[Joyce]

Maybe I’ll pick it back up later this year, but right, it’s not giving what I want it to give.

[Keisha]

3.5⭐️

The Art of Loving You is a second chance, slow burn. And I mean... slow. Dani and Micah find their way back to each other through the worst possible circumstance. The death of someone they both loved. This book packs more of an emotionally punch. It touches upon death, grief, anxiety, and sexual harassment.

At times it felt like this book was dragging on but I ended up liking it. If you liked Only For The Week, we do get a glimpse of how the other characters are doing.

Thank you NetGalley and Zando | Slowburn for this ARC.

[Asia Levine]

This is a hard review for me to write because after loving Only For The Week I couldn’t wait to see what Natasha delivered next but this reading experience was a disappointment.

The book is marked as a second chance romance but it didn’t feel like it at all. Dani and Micah are brought back together after years of not seeing each other when their mentor Tanya dies.

While I’ve seen this would be a slow burn I couldn’t be prepared for how with 432 pages, over 200 pgs in I didn’t feel the spark or yearning between Dani & Micah. Their second chance at love felt like a background story to Tanya’s life.

I think the story could’ve benefited from flashbacks of Dani & Micah’s past, maybe they would have helped me with their connection.

Overall unfortunately this just wasn’t enjoyable. Don’t let this review stop you from reading it because it actually had a lot of great reviews and the writing wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I expected.

[Erin]

4.5 Stars!

Alot of people have left reviews saying that they were disappointed by this book and that it wasn't as good as Only For the Week. I mean duh! Nothing will be that book is perfection.

I enjoyed this book for what it was. I loved getting to know Dani and Micah. And I fell absolutely in love with Tanya.

This is just a nice, funny, sexy read.

[Eliane Anita]

I was very hopeful about this book. Coming off the high of “Only for the week,” I was excited to see how Natasha would write this one. Although it wasn’t a bad read, it was very slow. Sometimes I found myself bored. I understand that not every book will have drama and tension, but this one was very anticlimactic. I liked the journey Dani and Micah took to learn about their friend’s life, but that was about it. I was hoping to feel the tension and desire each character had for the other, but I felt none of that. The story seemed to just fall into place. Honestly, I expected so much more from this story. Natasha’s writing was fantastic. She told a very detailed story, and the flow and pace were good. But overall, it felt flat.

Thank you, NetGalley and Zando for the ARC.

[Denisha]

Boring

I’m so disappointed because I LOVED Only for the Week. This book was just boring. I struggled to get thru it. Towards the end I skimmed because I just wanted it to end. There was no drama or any kind of excitement. I would have liked if the book focused more on the back story of the main characters. There was also absolutely no chemistry between the two main characters.

[The Dope Book Dealer]

Natasha Bishop's "Art of Loving You" is an exquisite exploration of love, grief, and resilience that captivates the heart and soul. This five-star read stands apart from her previous work, "Only for the Week," yet it equally enchants with its unique charm and depth.

Bishop masterfully delves into complex themes, weaving a narrative that not only touches on love and loss but also highlights the challenges of living with medical conditions. The relationship between Micah and Dani is beautifully portrayed—an inspiring testament to pure, patient, and passionate love. Their unwavering support for each other is both heartwarming and invigorating, adding a delightful spice to the story.

I am grateful to Net Galley and Natasha Bishop for the advance copy of this remarkable novel. It is sure to be a standout feature at Pages & Volumes Bookstore and a stimulating choice for any book club discussion. This book is a journey of emotions that will stay with you long after the final page. 💜💜

[Sammy 💗]

This book was so different from the first book in the series. It carries a completely different emotional tone, diving deep into grief and healing. Micha is so sweet and patient when it comes to Dani. He does so many small gestures that make you love his character more and more.

I loved the scavenger hunt elements woven throughout the story because of their friend Tanya. The scavenger hunt slowly helps Dani and Micha find their way back to each other and rediscover their love.

The romance, friendship, and grief in this book were handled beautifully. Both characters show so much growth individually and as they come back together. I truly loved this story!

Thank you NetGalley and Zando for the gifted E-arc for my honest review.

[veerali]

3.85 stars ⭐️

[Joanna]

The Art of Loving You was one of my most highly anticipated reads after absolutely obsessing over Only For the Week. This book follows two side characters we meet in the first book, Dani and Micha, who obviously have some sort of history simmering between them.

Now I'll start with what I really enjoyed:
- I love Natasha Bishop's writing and will continue to pick up books by her. The way she writes banter had me laughing out loud, the way she writes downbad MMCs had me swooning, and I especially love the way she writes imperfect female characters and brings us along for some amazing character growth. Oh and also, Miss Bishop knows how to write a sex scene 😮‍💨
- the 'scavenger hunt' plot point was super fun at times, getting little pieces of the puzzle and seeing Dani and Micha grow closer throughout the process. There was definitely some suspension of disbelief on my end but I still had a good time.
- as compared to the first book, the author really didn't shy away from touching on some heavy topics in this book. Check your content warnings because even though some things were just a brief mention, they can definitely be triggering for some. That being said, these topics were all handled with such care and deliberate intention.

What didn't quite land for me:
- the way this starts off with Tanya's death made me feel like I should already know her...but I didn't. It created a disconnect for me that kind of lingered the entire way through given how Tanya's life was a character itself in this book.
- Part of what I typically love and enjoy about second chance romances is having a deep understanding of their relationship in the past and what tore them apart. That was missing here for me. Dani and Micha's history is alluded to throughout the book but by the end I still did not grasp their past relationship. For example, Dani calls Micha 'Moonchaser' and I have literally no idea why. I really wish we could have gotten just ONE full flashback chapter to see and feel their connection more.
- There were way too many side characters and everyone had a nickname. It was distracting at times trying to know who we were talking about or why I should care about them. And since every side character had some kind of traumatic back story, being introduced to them felt rushed and I found myself wondering "is being introduced to this person important for this story?" and for me, the answer was usually no.

I do wish this was just a standalone and not a "book 2" because this was giving way more literary fiction, self-growth journey with a side of romance whereas book 1 gave me everything I love in a Romance and so my expectations for this were off.

I received an eARC via Netgalley from Zando Books. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Ermon]

I lowkey kind of hated this book. Too much grief with a random scavenger hunt all over the country thrown in. It just didn't give even remotely realistic. Very farfetched storyline if ya ask me

[Jasmine VanDross]

I had to sit and think about this book before I gave an honest review. The book wasn’t what I expected, being that it was the second in the series. But the story was still important. It showed the ups and downs and downs of a second chance romance. They didn’t just run back into each other and fell back in line. They had to really be forced back together and what more can force people together or apart but death? I like the book but Lordy it took is all the way around the place for them to actually end up together. All in all I’ll say it was a 4.1

[Azriele]

i came into the book with high expectations and baby they were all met! i loved everything about Dani and Micah's relationship. from the way both characters learned to love every version of the other to their communication along their journey to possibly coming back together.

Dani's path of learning to trust herself and understand that her past trauma isn't defining of her future career aspirations. of learning to unpack your trauma and understand growth isn't linear and doesn't mean just not being affected by something. i also loved the mention or the indebtedness you feel sometimes to people who've helped you in hard times and how that can become a stressor when changes occur in people and that person isn't who they were before.

Micah and learning how to accept good things resonated with me realllll bad. sometimes it's hard to allow yourself to be on the receiving end of good things because it's always so easy to be like other people are more deserving or other have it worse. so learning to accept every accomplishment and offer as a gift!

then of course the grief and hurt of losing a loved one and how each person responds to it differently. the importance that's placed on living life and loving the people you care about with everything in you. also the fact you never truly know what someone has experienced in their life, so understand even those you love have stories so treat those you care about gently and tenderly!

and mr. micah i wasn't expecting you to get down like thattttttttt

(i still don't know if i want a Ri redemption though lol)

[Genevieve McCane]

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so my expectations were pretty high, and I really enjoyed it!

This is a slow burn, second chance romance that follows Dani and Micah. After the death of their mentor, Tanya, they’re brought back together to complete a scavenger hunt that she planned before she passed away. Dani is forced to spend time with the man who broke her heart, while Micah has to face the woman he never stopped loving.

I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow throughout the story. The romance was sweet, and I found myself rooting for them to find their way back to each other.

My only complaint is that I wanted more backstory. I wish we had gotten to see more of what happened between Dani and Micah before the breakup because I never fully got that second chance romance feeling. I also would have liked a little more explanation about why Tanya wanted them to complete the scavenger hunt together in the first place.

I still had a good time with this one. It was sweet, it was cute, with characters I enjoyed following, and I’m glad I finally got to read it.

[(Adri)ana | TenPieceLemonPepper]

4.5 ⭐️

let me start by saying that i am an Only for the Week STAN, okay? so naturally, ive been waiting for this sequel for almost two years.

now, with that being said, if you are looking for something similar to Only For The Week…this ain’t it. Micah and Dani’s journey is a lot heavier and a lot more emotional for the reader to experience than just romance and smut. which is frankly why it took me much longer than normal to get through this read. (as i quite literally experienced both a loss of a good friend AND a medical emergency in the time span of me reading this. which is really the main reason why i had to put this down for a while. but i digress. 😅)

but as always, Natasha’s writing just feels like poetry. she has such a way with words. i can’t wait for her next one.

[ashley ♡]

Ever since finishing Janelle and Rome’s story in Only for the Week, I’ve been itching to dive back into this world and The Art of Loving absolutely delivered. Dani does everything she can to keep her conversations with Micah short and guarded, but grief has a way of breaking down walls especially when you’re mourning the same person. This book took my emotions on a full blown rollercoaster, Bishop captures the messy, nonlinear reality of grief so beautifully, reminding us that healing doesn’t happen in silence and it definitely doesn’t have to happen alone. I am such a sucker for second chance romance and a story within a story, and this book was everything my heart didn’t know it needed. ❤️‍🔥💗

[Wind]

This book was good and it’s a slow burn in a good way. In Only for the Week, I thought Dani and Micah didn’t know each other but here we are and they have a whole backstory. The woman that they both cherished has passed and she puts together a scavenger hunt for them to rekindle what they once had. Although they were never really a couple per se, it was nice to see that Tanya saw something in them and decided to play matchmaker while they grieve her.
This is an emotional read filled with grief, forgiveness, healing and love.
Because they had to be in forced proximity with each other they learned how to let go and move on from the past.
Natasha Bishop did her thing with this one. I’m looking forward to reading more of her catalogue.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Faith]

4.5 -This was an unusually slow read for me, but it’s because I absolutely loved and savored every word. I was captivated by the scavenger hunt and Tanya’s life story. Consumed in witnessing Dani and Micah’s relationship grow from strained to a trusting friendship to a loving relationship. It was wonderful watching their character development. Both had trauma to address which was handled with care along with the sensitivity given to Bailey’s auto-immune disorder. The friendships and found family was icing on the cake!

In my opinion this is Natasha’s best work to date! I have all her books and will continue to purchase whatever her pen produces.💕