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Make or Break
Stephanie D’Arripe seems to have it all. Lead actor on an acclaimed cop drama, works with her best friend, great cat, great house, but...that’s about it. After a very public and very messy breakup, Steph thinks she might be ready to dip her toes into the love pool again. And who better to try a relationship with than the cute woman you flirt with at work every morning? Of course, Steph will have to get over her fears of being hurt again if she wants anything more than flirtation.
Makeup Artist Harper Bell loves her job. Who wouldn’t when you get to work with your famous crush? Harper put Steph D’Arripe in the “just a dream” basket years ago, but when dream unexpectedly becomes reality, Harper discovers that mixing personal and working relationships isn’t as easy as she thought it’d be.
Steph and Harper are about to find out that acting on attraction is the easy part. It’s everything that comes after that’s hard.
Makeup Artist Harper Bell loves her job. Who wouldn’t when you get to work with your famous crush? Harper put Steph D’Arripe in the “just a dream” basket years ago, but when dream unexpectedly becomes reality, Harper discovers that mixing personal and working relationships isn’t as easy as she thought it’d be.
Steph and Harper are about to find out that acting on attraction is the easy part. It’s everything that comes after that’s hard.
Audible Audio
Published August 19, 2025
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433 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Noyes
19 books1,995 followersE. J. Noyes is an Australian transplanted to New Zealand, which may be the awesomest thing to happen to her. She lives in the South Island with her wife and the world’s best and neediest cat, and is enjoying the change of temperature from her hot, humid homeland.
An avid but mediocre gamer, E. J. lives for skiing (which she is also mediocre at), enjoys arguing with her hair, pretending to be good at things, and working the fact she’s a best-selling and award-winning author into casual conversation.
If you want (very) sporadic emails about what E. J. is doing, you can sign up for the E. J. Noyesletter at: https://ejnoyesauthor.com/
An avid but mediocre gamer, E. J. lives for skiing (which she is also mediocre at), enjoys arguing with her hair, pretending to be good at things, and working the fact she’s a best-selling and award-winning author into casual conversation.
If you want (very) sporadic emails about what E. J. is doing, you can sign up for the E. J. Noyesletter at: https://ejnoyesauthor.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 26, 2025
4.5⭐️ This is a story about Steph an actor on a TV cop show. Harper is a make up artist working on the TV set. They both have had secret crushes on each other for the 6 years that they’ve worked together. Steph and her cop partner Laura are asked to play in a celebrity tennis match. Harper is going to be the judge of the match since she’s a past tennis player.
The first half of the book has them getting to know each other better with lots of flirting and fun banter. Each want a relationship but are afraid that the other just wants to be friends with benefits. This was my favorite part of the book. Noyes does a fantastic job developing the emotional feelings that they have for each other.
There’s some drama and angst over Steph‘a fame and social media exposure, she wants to protect Harper from it and that blows up and causes a big scene.
Each chapter is written in first person and alternates between characters. This totally lets you get into each character’s personality and thought process. Noyes writes some very hot scenes in this book, much more explicit than any of her other books that I’ve read.
Thanks to Bella Books for the chance to read and review this ARC.
The first half of the book has them getting to know each other better with lots of flirting and fun banter. Each want a relationship but are afraid that the other just wants to be friends with benefits. This was my favorite part of the book. Noyes does a fantastic job developing the emotional feelings that they have for each other.
There’s some drama and angst over Steph‘a fame and social media exposure, she wants to protect Harper from it and that blows up and causes a big scene.
Each chapter is written in first person and alternates between characters. This totally lets you get into each character’s personality and thought process. Noyes writes some very hot scenes in this book, much more explicit than any of her other books that I’ve read.
Thanks to Bella Books for the chance to read and review this ARC.
November 5, 2025
i think i've realized that i have different tiers for romance books. i've read a LOT over the last 6ish years (almost all sapphic) and i think i kinda have two tiers/vibes for ones that i enjoy. some (more rare) are Top Tier in that they hit on an emotional level that is very hard to describe. (in general, i always have a much more difficult time articulating when i like/enjoy something than i do when something either frusturates or doesn't work for me). and then there are ones that i enjoy, have a very good time with, maybe even really liked the characters, but just doesn't have that extra It factor that makes me want to scream like jenny slatter in drunk history about black holes and space.
this one is in that second tier, for me. i enjoyed it! (i love that it had both mcs povs! bc that is not ej noyes usual m.o. but it IS my prefrence 9/10 in romance novels). i liked both steph and harper as characters (slightly more partial to harper) and i found their dynamic fun and sweet. a good chunk of the first half of the novel is a slow flirty vibe that both of them are dancing around if the other has real feelings like them or not and it was a lot of fun. equally fun was when they actually get together. i liked the low angst of it all (sometimes you rlly crave that) and i almost always love stories set in hollywood, and this was no exception. i had a good time! i looooved that the audiobook came out at the same time as the novel, and i didn't have to wait months for it (bc i usually listen to noyes' books bc abby craden almost always makes the experience a little better). in general, i've noticed that i enjoy listening to romance novels more than reading them, it feels like a performance often adds to my enjoyment of it all--not always, but more often than not. abby is not who i would say is someone i would go to for accent work--it's just not her main strong suit, but she holds her own and is often decent enough not to take me out of the story and i enjoyed her southern drawl for harper for the most part, here. (though, anastasia whatley would have nailed it, i still think about her narration for haley cass's in the long run).
overall this was fun! it's not going among my favorites by ej noyes, but i love love love how much she often experiments with plot and genre and this is def higher up among the ones that have worked well for me and i rec it if you're looking for a fairly low angst flirty vibe.
this one is in that second tier, for me. i enjoyed it! (i love that it had both mcs povs! bc that is not ej noyes usual m.o. but it IS my prefrence 9/10 in romance novels). i liked both steph and harper as characters (slightly more partial to harper) and i found their dynamic fun and sweet. a good chunk of the first half of the novel is a slow flirty vibe that both of them are dancing around if the other has real feelings like them or not and it was a lot of fun. equally fun was when they actually get together. i liked the low angst of it all (sometimes you rlly crave that) and i almost always love stories set in hollywood, and this was no exception. i had a good time! i looooved that the audiobook came out at the same time as the novel, and i didn't have to wait months for it (bc i usually listen to noyes' books bc abby craden almost always makes the experience a little better). in general, i've noticed that i enjoy listening to romance novels more than reading them, it feels like a performance often adds to my enjoyment of it all--not always, but more often than not. abby is not who i would say is someone i would go to for accent work--it's just not her main strong suit, but she holds her own and is often decent enough not to take me out of the story and i enjoyed her southern drawl for harper for the most part, here. (though, anastasia whatley would have nailed it, i still think about her narration for haley cass's in the long run).
overall this was fun! it's not going among my favorites by ej noyes, but i love love love how much she often experiments with plot and genre and this is def higher up among the ones that have worked well for me and i rec it if you're looking for a fairly low angst flirty vibe.
September 28, 2025
2.25 stars
EJ Noyes is one of my favorite writers and I’m shocked to say this one felt phoned in to me. I kept waiting for something - anything - to happen and it never did. Even Abby Craden, also a favorite narrator, seemed rather bored.
It must be terribly challenging to keep up a very high level of quality after having written some of the best books in the genre. We can’t expect them all to be Alone, Ask,Tell or Turbulence and I don’t. But celeb romances are my favorite genre and if I couldn’t get excited about it, that says a lot.
I always look forward to new work from Noyes and know more great things are ahead. This one just didn’t work for me, sadly.
EJ Noyes is one of my favorite writers and I’m shocked to say this one felt phoned in to me. I kept waiting for something - anything - to happen and it never did. Even Abby Craden, also a favorite narrator, seemed rather bored.
It must be terribly challenging to keep up a very high level of quality after having written some of the best books in the genre. We can’t expect them all to be Alone, Ask,Tell or Turbulence and I don’t. But celeb romances are my favorite genre and if I couldn’t get excited about it, that says a lot.
I always look forward to new work from Noyes and know more great things are ahead. This one just didn’t work for me, sadly.
October 3, 2025
Make or Break was an easy, enjoyable read, but it didn’t completely win me over. I liked the setup — Steph, an actor on a cop show, and Harper, her make-up artist, finally acting on years of quiet crushes — and I enjoyed the everyday detail of them getting to know each other outside of work. The behind-the-scenes TV stuff and Harper’s friendships were nice touches too.
Where it fell a little short for me was in the chemistry. The supposed flirting often didn’t feel all that flirty, and I never quite got the build-up I wanted before they got together. For a book with such a fun premise, I expected more sparks in those early interactions.
That said, once the romance got going there were some strong moments, and the low-drama, character-focused vibe will definitely work for some readers. I liked it, just didn’t love it the way I’ve loved other Noyes books.
Many thanks to Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Where it fell a little short for me was in the chemistry. The supposed flirting often didn’t feel all that flirty, and I never quite got the build-up I wanted before they got together. For a book with such a fun premise, I expected more sparks in those early interactions.
That said, once the romance got going there were some strong moments, and the low-drama, character-focused vibe will definitely work for some readers. I liked it, just didn’t love it the way I’ve loved other Noyes books.
Many thanks to Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2025
Sadly, this one was a miss for me. The characters are really likeable, and aside from wanting to guess what the other thinks at first, they have healthy conversations once they get together. The sex scenes are definitely steamy, and I really rooted for them. But I did not fall in love with them. There are no major tensions or plot twists. We follow them trying to build something, despite the downside of Steph's celebrity. There were a lot of detailed scenes about what they eat or simply their daily life. It's immersive, but reading entire scenes of Steph playing her part in her show didn’t hold my attention. I admit I really struggled at first to keep going. In between those scenes, I found very cute scenes that made their relationship go forward. This was a sweet, angst-free story, but it wasn't for me.
September 2, 2025
Make or Break is a low-angst, feel-good romance with two very likable leads - Steph, an actress recovering from a messy breakup, and Harper, the makeup artist who’s secretly had a crush on her for years. I loved how naturally their relationship developed.
Abby Craden’s narration was perfect as always. Her soft Southern accent for Harper added so much charm.
Highly recommended 👍
Abby Craden’s narration was perfect as always. Her soft Southern accent for Harper added so much charm.
Highly recommended 👍
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September 1, 2025Unfortunately this book was not for me. I look although forward to future E.J. Noyes stories. Glad it worked for some.
October 2, 2025
I usually love EJ Noyes’s books. Her Ask, Tell series is one of my all-time favorites, but Make or Break just didn’t land the same way for me.
Technically, it’s as well-written as you’d expect (Noyes is such a strong writer), but the plot itself was just 24 chapters of mild. Steph and Harper are both great main characters, they were fun, likable, and easy to root for, but the story itself is basically: I have a crush on my co-worker, I'm going to act on it, it goes well, and now we’re together. That’s… pretty much it.
There’s very little angst or conflict, which I know some readers actually love, but for me, it left things feeling flat. I just kept waiting for something more to grab me, and it never came.
Technically, it’s as well-written as you’d expect (Noyes is such a strong writer), but the plot itself was just 24 chapters of mild. Steph and Harper are both great main characters, they were fun, likable, and easy to root for, but the story itself is basically: I have a crush on my co-worker, I'm going to act on it, it goes well, and now we’re together. That’s… pretty much it.
There’s very little angst or conflict, which I know some readers actually love, but for me, it left things feeling flat. I just kept waiting for something more to grab me, and it never came.
September 22, 2025
I LOVE THIS BOOK! A FAVORITE! Stephanie is the leading actress in a cop show, her makeup artist is Harper. For 6 years they've flirted with each other. Steph has been paired with her costar Laura in a charity tennis match. But Steph isn't very good, so Harper volunteers' to help her. This broke the dam and they finally get together. A beautiful friends to lovers love story! More than 5 stars!
August 3, 2025
This book was so fun and sweet that it caught my heart from the start. I always love to read about a celebrity crush especially if an actress is involved and then to top that with amazing bantering, fun side characters, a really great story and dual POV’s and this was exactly the book I needed to read.
Steph is this TV star that now is on the 6th season of a TV show. She has just had a recent and very public breakup from a very shitty girlfriend she starts to look extra much at the cute make-up artist that she has been flirting with for years. Harper on the other hand has been crushing on Steph from the very beginning, but since she is a celebrity, she considers that just a dream since she is so out of her league.
Then things start to come together. Steph’s co-star Laura has just broken up with her most recent boyfriend and since they are a couple on the show rumours tend to start when they are both single Laura tells Steph that time for her to take the baton to date someone in public to stop speculations. When a charity tennis game come up and Steph cares how she will look when playing, not knowing how to really, Harper cannot avoid offering Steph some lessons despite that she of course panics about the whole thing, being in private with her big celebrity crush.
Everything so awkward and fun in their interactions, they are both so into each other, flirt so much without nothing coming of that so it is almost painful. When they get to know each other outside work they see each other in a completely new way so perhaps they can move this to something real. Some events occur that make it impossible for Harper to not kiss Steph, it feels so good after all the years of waiting and wanting to.
You would think all will move on smoothly and in some sense it does, they are so into each other, the chemistry between the two undeniable, they date and talk relationship status. Outside forces do however come in that potentially can destroy things between them. You never lose hope though that they will eventually work out all their respective issues since they are so perfect together.
I received a free ARC from Bella Books and I leave a review voluntarily.
August 27, 2025
This is a story about two women who have a crush on each other right from the start, or rather, years before. Harper, the makeup artist, doesn't think beyond that crush because she thinks she doesn't stand a chance with someone like Steph, a leading actress in a cop show. For Steph, the crush faded into the background during her relationship with another actor. They soon realize they're keeping tabs on each other, and the tension mounts.
I really liked the characters. The dynamic between them as well. Steph, despite her status as an actor, is still unsure how to approach Harper. And Harper, on the other hand, is unsure about interacting with Steph, who, besides being an attractive person and colleague, is also a celebrity with star status. While that uncertainty sometimes felt a bit awkward, it was also kind of sweet.
What wasn't sweet was their first time having sex. It was so fucking hot. And there was a spicy moment afterward, but it didn't dominate. It was mainly their growing love and respect for each other that took center stage.
I'm leaning towards 4.5⭐️, but since I have to round that to 5, I'm choosing 4+⭐️, which rounds to 4.
I really liked the characters. The dynamic between them as well. Steph, despite her status as an actor, is still unsure how to approach Harper. And Harper, on the other hand, is unsure about interacting with Steph, who, besides being an attractive person and colleague, is also a celebrity with star status. While that uncertainty sometimes felt a bit awkward, it was also kind of sweet.
What wasn't sweet was their first time having sex. It was so fucking hot. And there was a spicy moment afterward, but it didn't dominate. It was mainly their growing love and respect for each other that took center stage.
I'm leaning towards 4.5⭐️, but since I have to round that to 5, I'm choosing 4+⭐️, which rounds to 4.
September 18, 2025
(rounded up from 3.5)
This was cozy and low angst and a very easy read. The MCs are likeable, sweet and respectful and there is a fair amount of spice and a very tiny third act breakup. Not my favorite E J Noyes but certainly a solid one.
This was cozy and low angst and a very easy read. The MCs are likeable, sweet and respectful and there is a fair amount of spice and a very tiny third act breakup. Not my favorite E J Noyes but certainly a solid one.
August 23, 2025
I think I’ve read everything by EJ Noyes. Alone may be my favorite of all sapphic romances, but this may be the sexiest because of
the hot, off-the-charts chemistry between the two main characters, Stephanie D’Arripe and Harper Bell.
The story’s setting revolves around a TV police drama with lesbian costars. Steph and Laura are the TV actors. Harper had been the studio’s makeup artist for six years and always secretly lusted for Steph. The feeling was mutual, but they never wandered past the flirtations….until they did.
This sexy romance was so beautifully created by Noyes, enhanced by a great cast of side-characters. Two of the most important were Per, Steph’s gay roommate, and Laura, Steph’s co-star in the TV show. Uniquely, some dialogue from the TV drama was included in the story.
The couple faced some tough and unusual challenges in their new relationship, including common issues such as trust, but something unique was when AI entered into things and created a complicated mess. It’s always interesting to read how such situations are dealt with, and of course, this author excellently handled them all.
What sets E.J. Noyes’ writing apart for me is how she so masterfully sets the scenes and moods with her ability to weave in both clever humor and steamy love into a story. It is always a joy to read her books.
My special thanks to Bella Books for the arc.
AUDIOBOOK UPDATE: As much as I like Abby Craden, she does have some annoying voices that she uses from time to time. This book was such the case. The audiobook just changed my perspective and feelings about the book. The high-pitched voice, the quirky voice and the over-embellished gay male voice of Per’s boyfriend, Ben.
the hot, off-the-charts chemistry between the two main characters, Stephanie D’Arripe and Harper Bell.
The story’s setting revolves around a TV police drama with lesbian costars. Steph and Laura are the TV actors. Harper had been the studio’s makeup artist for six years and always secretly lusted for Steph. The feeling was mutual, but they never wandered past the flirtations….until they did.
This sexy romance was so beautifully created by Noyes, enhanced by a great cast of side-characters. Two of the most important were Per, Steph’s gay roommate, and Laura, Steph’s co-star in the TV show. Uniquely, some dialogue from the TV drama was included in the story.
The couple faced some tough and unusual challenges in their new relationship, including common issues such as trust, but something unique was when AI entered into things and created a complicated mess. It’s always interesting to read how such situations are dealt with, and of course, this author excellently handled them all.
What sets E.J. Noyes’ writing apart for me is how she so masterfully sets the scenes and moods with her ability to weave in both clever humor and steamy love into a story. It is always a joy to read her books.
My special thanks to Bella Books for the arc.
AUDIOBOOK UPDATE: As much as I like Abby Craden, she does have some annoying voices that she uses from time to time. This book was such the case. The audiobook just changed my perspective and feelings about the book. The high-pitched voice, the quirky voice and the over-embellished gay male voice of Per’s boyfriend, Ben.
August 23, 2025
A sweet, fun romance. Well written but If you’re looking for the next “Ask, Tell” or “Alone”, this isn’t it. It felt a bit lazy and sad to say, boring at times. My advice is to not compare it to any of Noyes’ other books and jut enjoy it for what it is.
October 27, 2025
A strong 3.9 ⭐ really. Think I’ve just read some books lately that have had me reeling (in the best way) and it makes it difficult to hit that 4.
This is a cute coming together for Steph and Harper. Low angst, there’s literally 1 couple fight. Their love for each precedes any actually actions being taken other than constant flirting for literal years.
The writing is consistent and both MCs have their own voices that make them distinct and their chemistry is pretty strong.
The ‘scenes’ are indeed high on the hotness scale, well written, not overly frequent but well placed due to both having to navigate such busy schedules. However, not getting a scene in a PRIVATE trailer on a tv set is kinda blasphemous- though it was implied.
This is a cute coming together for Steph and Harper. Low angst, there’s literally 1 couple fight. Their love for each precedes any actually actions being taken other than constant flirting for literal years.
The writing is consistent and both MCs have their own voices that make them distinct and their chemistry is pretty strong.
The ‘scenes’ are indeed high on the hotness scale, well written, not overly frequent but well placed due to both having to navigate such busy schedules. However, not getting a scene in a PRIVATE trailer on a tv set is kinda blasphemous- though it was implied.
December 23, 2025
I listened to the audiobook. Of course the narration was fantastic.
On the whole , I enjoyed the book. There were no dramas really with the two main characters that fell in love.
I just had one complaint; my only negative. I like for items to be completed. If you bring it up, you should finish it by the end of the story. In this case, there was one item brought up that was not completed. It had to do with some pictures on the Internet, so why make the drama? Did it do anything to advance the story? I don’t think so. This is just my opinion.
A easy breezy beautiful story in my opinion.
On the whole , I enjoyed the book. There were no dramas really with the two main characters that fell in love.
I just had one complaint; my only negative. I like for items to be completed. If you bring it up, you should finish it by the end of the story. In this case, there was one item brought up that was not completed. It had to do with some pictures on the Internet, so why make the drama? Did it do anything to advance the story? I don’t think so. This is just my opinion.
A easy breezy beautiful story in my opinion.
February 12, 2026
4 Stars
The story was very much romance-centred, and it takes a truly skilled author to elevate a narrative from eye-rolling, saccharine dullness to something that makes you pause and think, “this actually works.”
I’ll admit that in the early stages I was sceptical. The narrative felt generic, both in genre and in its Hollywood gloss. Still, it’s EJ Noyes, so it was hardly surprising that the final result surpassed the usual fare of sapphic romance novels.
Was it markedly different from other Hollywood-themed sapphic romances? Not really. Was there a grand, life-altering conflict or a dramatic climax? No. So why did it work? For me, it came down to the characters’ chemistry and the execution of their scenes. That’s the long and short of it.
The story was very much romance-centred, and it takes a truly skilled author to elevate a narrative from eye-rolling, saccharine dullness to something that makes you pause and think, “this actually works.”
I’ll admit that in the early stages I was sceptical. The narrative felt generic, both in genre and in its Hollywood gloss. Still, it’s EJ Noyes, so it was hardly surprising that the final result surpassed the usual fare of sapphic romance novels.
Was it markedly different from other Hollywood-themed sapphic romances? Not really. Was there a grand, life-altering conflict or a dramatic climax? No. So why did it work? For me, it came down to the characters’ chemistry and the execution of their scenes. That’s the long and short of it.
February 2, 2026
Steph is a popular and out actor on a long running police drama. As her character Amy, she is one of the most high-profile characters, who is also in a same sex relationship with another officer.
Harper is the key makeup for the show, both Steph and Harper having been there since the beginning, about six years previously. From the beginning Harper has had a crush on Steph, and the two of them are known for their flirting.
This is a long story, well written, with a lot of detail. Both Steph and Harper are sweet women, and unusually for this genre where there are high profile women in the media, the majority of the plot doesn’t revolve around them trying to avoid paparazzi. Instead there is a lot of discussion of their relationship, things that go mildly wrong, and the cast and crew of the show, along with Harper’s best friend Per and his boyfriend Ben. This is relatively low angst, just one argument that is soon sorted, but I really liked the way Steph and Harper both handled their photos kissing being on the web, outing Harper to her family.
Harper is the key makeup for the show, both Steph and Harper having been there since the beginning, about six years previously. From the beginning Harper has had a crush on Steph, and the two of them are known for their flirting.
This is a long story, well written, with a lot of detail. Both Steph and Harper are sweet women, and unusually for this genre where there are high profile women in the media, the majority of the plot doesn’t revolve around them trying to avoid paparazzi. Instead there is a lot of discussion of their relationship, things that go mildly wrong, and the cast and crew of the show, along with Harper’s best friend Per and his boyfriend Ben. This is relatively low angst, just one argument that is soon sorted, but I really liked the way Steph and Harper both handled their photos kissing being on the web, outing Harper to her family.
September 11, 2025
Another FAVORITE! I LOVE this book!A gorgeous slow burn HOT love story. An actress Steph and her make-up artist Harper have been flirting for 6 years.When a charity tennis match brings them together. You'll love it! 5 stars!
January 12, 2026
Very low angst warm-hearted story. Nice comfort read.
September 16, 2025
EJ Noyes is an amazing author. So many of her books connect with me on many different levels. Her writing style is amazing and each story is very well written... except 2 of her books: Pas de Deux and this book, make or break.
I will tell you exactly why that is: EJ Noyes writes lesbian love stories unlike most others. Her characters nearly never start off with hating or loathing one another. Instead they always have this cute attraction to one another right from the start and there is always so much sexual tension. How does she do that you may wonder? I'll tell you how, by writing from one person's point of view, and guess what this book doesn't do.
We get both of the characters constantly guessing and hoping that the other one likes them and half way through the book it gets tiring and frustrating very quickly because as the reader we know that both of the women really really like one another.
Definitely my least favourite Noyes book to date.
I will tell you exactly why that is: EJ Noyes writes lesbian love stories unlike most others. Her characters nearly never start off with hating or loathing one another. Instead they always have this cute attraction to one another right from the start and there is always so much sexual tension. How does she do that you may wonder? I'll tell you how, by writing from one person's point of view, and guess what this book doesn't do.
We get both of the characters constantly guessing and hoping that the other one likes them and half way through the book it gets tiring and frustrating very quickly because as the reader we know that both of the women really really like one another.
Definitely my least favourite Noyes book to date.
August 14, 2025
steph and make up artist harper have been dancing around their attraction for several years.... harper knew that steph was trying to get over a nasty break up
their working life was about to steal into their personal time when steph was volunteered to play in a charity tennis match with harper being the umpire
so when steph asked for some tennis lessons off harper why wouldnt see agree....
but as with things with famous people they were photos appearing online about steph and harper and it bought a whole heap of trouble on harper
but with that and the darker side of life spoiling their getting together it was always going to be rough until their truths were told
a very enjoyable read.....and the spice was nice....
their working life was about to steal into their personal time when steph was volunteered to play in a charity tennis match with harper being the umpire
so when steph asked for some tennis lessons off harper why wouldnt see agree....
but as with things with famous people they were photos appearing online about steph and harper and it bought a whole heap of trouble on harper
but with that and the darker side of life spoiling their getting together it was always going to be rough until their truths were told
a very enjoyable read.....and the spice was nice....
December 27, 2025
Nearly a 3.
This story settled into me as a slow burn. The angst however, is where my emotional experience twisted. Told through dual points of view, (which at times, I needed to remind myself whose POV it was), we learn about two women who’ve worked side by side for six years, sharing a solid, affectionate professional vibe that’s already rich with trust (the importance of a makeup artists’ work), familiarity, and unspoken desire. Their flirtatious dancing around each other, laced with charming banter and quiet knowing looks, creates their chemistry. I can always get behind the dance 😉.
The angst. There is a lot of it, and while high angst can be delicious when it sharpens longing, here it landed differently for me. Waiting until 41% of the book for their first kiss, “‘Oh, screw it.’ She gripped a fistful of my shirt and tugged me until I closed the gap between us…” (page 113), felt less like a satisfying slow burn and more like an exercise in endurance. One with more time outs as a result of frustration than emotional regulation. I’ve happily lingered in unresolved tension far longer than that in other romances, but this delay felt torturous in a way that dulled the payoff rather than heightening it. The yearning was present, but the emotional release didn’t quite balance the time spent waiting for it.
That said, those early chapters weren’t empty. In that long stretch before the kiss, character familiarity, emotional layering, and genuine chemistry became the heart of the story. But there is still so much more to know of them, and the rest of the book starts to uncover those stories. The stakes, their history, their fears, the sex – fire, etc.
One of the more painful arcs for me was the emergence of the familiar trio: self-doubt, self-sabotage, and the jump-to-conclusions spiral. When it surfaced, it felt like a well-worn romance reflex. It often pulled me out of the story. “Some deep breathing helped. Until more thoughts crept in. She hadn’t told me because she didn’t trust me. She hadn’t told me because I wasn’t good enough for her. I wasn’t enough for her…I wasn’t good enough for anyone.” (p. 218). Emotional intelligence is so sexy and when an author chooses that over self-sabotage it’s a winner. Not that the feelings weren’t valid, or that this isn’t a VERY realistic thing we find ourselves doing, but because the pattern was so recognizable it became a distraction. Almost a disappointment. Noise.
And yet, just as my patience thinned, the narrative would pivot. It was almost back to back. A few pages later, the character would name the self-sabotage for what it was, take accountability, and consciously redirect their behavior in a more constructive way. “Clarity is kindness” said by the MC’s throughout the book. I like this catch phrase so that self-awareness softened the frustration, it didn’t erase the cliché entirely, but it did restore some “feels." Watching a character recognize their own destructive patterns and choose differently does matter, and those moments brought the story back into balance for me. While the angst may not have landed in the way I personally wanted, and the insecurities played out in each character distracted me from emotional gravitas the connection between these two women feels real, tender, and deserving.
This story settled into me as a slow burn. The angst however, is where my emotional experience twisted. Told through dual points of view, (which at times, I needed to remind myself whose POV it was), we learn about two women who’ve worked side by side for six years, sharing a solid, affectionate professional vibe that’s already rich with trust (the importance of a makeup artists’ work), familiarity, and unspoken desire. Their flirtatious dancing around each other, laced with charming banter and quiet knowing looks, creates their chemistry. I can always get behind the dance 😉.
The angst. There is a lot of it, and while high angst can be delicious when it sharpens longing, here it landed differently for me. Waiting until 41% of the book for their first kiss, “‘Oh, screw it.’ She gripped a fistful of my shirt and tugged me until I closed the gap between us…” (page 113), felt less like a satisfying slow burn and more like an exercise in endurance. One with more time outs as a result of frustration than emotional regulation. I’ve happily lingered in unresolved tension far longer than that in other romances, but this delay felt torturous in a way that dulled the payoff rather than heightening it. The yearning was present, but the emotional release didn’t quite balance the time spent waiting for it.
That said, those early chapters weren’t empty. In that long stretch before the kiss, character familiarity, emotional layering, and genuine chemistry became the heart of the story. But there is still so much more to know of them, and the rest of the book starts to uncover those stories. The stakes, their history, their fears, the sex – fire, etc.
One of the more painful arcs for me was the emergence of the familiar trio: self-doubt, self-sabotage, and the jump-to-conclusions spiral. When it surfaced, it felt like a well-worn romance reflex. It often pulled me out of the story. “Some deep breathing helped. Until more thoughts crept in. She hadn’t told me because she didn’t trust me. She hadn’t told me because I wasn’t good enough for her. I wasn’t enough for her…I wasn’t good enough for anyone.” (p. 218). Emotional intelligence is so sexy and when an author chooses that over self-sabotage it’s a winner. Not that the feelings weren’t valid, or that this isn’t a VERY realistic thing we find ourselves doing, but because the pattern was so recognizable it became a distraction. Almost a disappointment. Noise.
And yet, just as my patience thinned, the narrative would pivot. It was almost back to back. A few pages later, the character would name the self-sabotage for what it was, take accountability, and consciously redirect their behavior in a more constructive way. “Clarity is kindness” said by the MC’s throughout the book. I like this catch phrase so that self-awareness softened the frustration, it didn’t erase the cliché entirely, but it did restore some “feels." Watching a character recognize their own destructive patterns and choose differently does matter, and those moments brought the story back into balance for me. While the angst may not have landed in the way I personally wanted, and the insecurities played out in each character distracted me from emotional gravitas the connection between these two women feels real, tender, and deserving.
October 9, 2025
4.25 stars
January 31, 2026
Hi E.J., We're back again! No ethical or legal conflicts with researchers having sex with their subject (Alone) or commanding officers abusing their power to stalk and get all spicy with a subordinate (Ask/Tell). Nope. This is a TV star and a make-up artist. Sure, problems can arise from any workplace romance, but it's not a bald, heinous, ethical or UCMJ violation. And yet...we spend several pages worrying about just that--far more than was spent on the books that actually had those problems and mostly ignored them. Ah, life is a carnival.
So, let's focus on the important thing. Let's "close the distance" if you will on what matters. I cannot tell you how sick I am of that phrase (or slight variations thereof) "Closed the distance." Oh, I guess I just did. Hmm. Still, it is the only way anyone moves in this Noyes (and pretty much the Sapphic romance) universe. Steph "closes the distance" with Harper. Harper "closes the distance" with Steph. Steph even "closes the distance" with a dog. A dog! Granted dogs are cute and it was a good moment (though he should have peed on her) and they really needed to take the dog to an emergency vet not just any old vet because of the need for antivenin. Let's close the distance back to "closed the distance." It’s mechanical, repetitive, and eventually, it becomes unintentional comedy. The cinematic feel the author might be going for gets lost when you say it a dozen times--once, it was two times in the same paragraph. Was E.J. Noyes getting paid by Big "Closed the Distance" to promote their phrase? Is this like one of those YouTube sponsorships?
Other crucial issues: The Asimov Identity Crisis
Steph has a cat named Asimov. When Harper (logically) asks if she likes sci-fi, Steph asserts—with bizarre intensity—that she hates sci-fi and fantasy. Why are we here?
Why name the cat after Isaac Asimov? Did she lose a bet? Oh, she likes the sound of the name. But, why have this beat? Why position Steph against such a large genre. A genre that has (hills and valley's sure, Orson Scott Card and such) enabled and empowered LGBTQ and other minorities because it was able to tell stories standard fiction could not.
Surely, there must be a reason to insert this into Steph's Lex profile. Nope. In fact, Steph says later that she would looooove to be cast in a Marvel movie. She desperately wanted to be Scarlet Witch or Captain Marvel (but she wasn't on even the long long list). Okay, who wants to tell Steph what superhero comics are? Does she know that Scarlet Witch is the most fantasy based of their major cinematic heroes (okay, villain turn aside)? Captain Marvel? The most sci-fi of sci-fi female heroes Marvel has. But Steph, you hate sci-fi and fantasy. You cannot claim to hate the genre and then beg to play the two characters whose entire identities are built on magic and interstellar sci-fi. It’s not "complex characterization"; it’s just the author forgetting what she wrote fifty pages ago. Or, maybe Steph just wants a slice of the Marvel Money Pie. Fair.
Okay, enough Steph-bashing. Harper get your curvy booty and buxom-buxomness over here.
The 24-Year Closet of Nothing
Steph says Harper’s "maybe what she thinks is a weakness is her strength."
The math doesn't add up: Harper was brave enough to move to LA because she knew her family was homophobic/racist/misogynist--face it, they've got the trifecta. Great for her. Awesome. But she also stayed in the closet to them for twenty-four years despite having almost zero contact with them and—as it turns out—not actually caring if she ever spoke to her mother again. There was no relationship to save, no inheritance to protect, and no "peace" to keep. It makes her silence feel like a plot device rather than a character trait. Not being true to who you are for people you don't seem to care if you ever see again isn't much of a strength.
But wait, to "fix" this, the author tosses in a nephew in the final act—a character never mentioned before and who is never on the page—just to give Harper a reason to care about her family. If you have to conjure a child out of thin air to justify your protagonist's 24-year emotional arc, the arc was less St. Louis and more McDonald's. In fact, it was probably closer to a straight line.
Oh, and in the requisite "break up" sequence, Harper tells Steph to leave her alone and then gets mad because Steph seems to be listening (at the moment).
Now, let's get back to Steph-bashing.
Steph's Career Concerns:
Genre hypocrisy aside, she's doing quite well. Six years on a popular TV show? She should be regular people rich at least, if not Hollywood Rich!--not that she shows it in any way. So, she has a couple of uncomfortable fan interactions that--go nowhere. She politely tells two fans to stuff it and one gets mad. Oh the horror!
Then when Harper kisses her (well, she started it) in a public parking lot, it gets photographed. Oh no! This was totally...foreseen and something that has happened before. Not to Harper, true. So, what happens after Steph gets over her outrage? She has to talk to her manager. Gasp! Okay, Harper gets outed to her family--her sister apparently scours the gossip rags while declaring Hollywood a modern-day Babylon. That's probable enough. But OMG after two decades Harper is finally outed this must be so traumatic so...oh it's over? Moving on? She didn't really like her family. See above.
Then Steph gets the porn treatment in deepfakes. But it's all on the dark web and they are taking it down as fast as they can. Sure, it's a gross violation but they are treating it like someone ran over her genre-inappropriate cat. Then the photos get on the socials. OMG, will she have to bow out of the tournament? Will it cause Harper to break up with her after having seen her love with an AI-generated man? No and not quite. Really nothing happens except Steph doesn't tell Harper about the photos so, she is being emotionally unavailable and lying by omission and...Break-up! For a couple of hours. Calm down. They're okay.
The other cause for the breakup was the "Relationship Baton". A silly joke that Steph or the bestie-costar Ol' Whats Her Name has to be in a relationship so that the shippers and slime don't get too much fuel and assume because they have an onscreen relationship it has gone off-screen.
So, when Harper hears about it and asks if that was why Steph was dating her and if it was all fake, naturally Steph said, "Umm--it's not what you think--you see--I mean--you don't understand it's just that..." Steph, the answer to the question is, "NO!" And then you explain the term. If she's this bad at communicating something this simple, it's no surprise she's never had a relationship work.
As to this relationship, both Steph and Harper need some bash for this. Six years. They've known each other for six years. Steph has been in Harper's chair, inches apart for six years. They sound shy. No, this isn't a complaint that they didn't hook up years earlier (but c'mon, right?), it's that when they do hang out for the FIRST time outside of work (again, not impossible, I've been on sets and I didn't want to see most of the people after a long day) but it's that neither knowns anything substantive about the other beyond IMDb and gossip rags...or even less than that as--
Steph: "Oh, you're from Georgia?" Six years spending hours a week face to face with someone and you don't know the STATE she's from? It's not all on Steph, her Iowa reveal seems surprising to Harper--though that was more on her parents meet-cute. He's British you know. Does it have ANY bearing on Steph. No. An interesting thing like that has nothing. Do we ever meet these parents? No.
As others have noted, this book lacks the gravitas often associated with E.J's books. It also lacks some of the horrid ethical failures. But, much like the Halcyon books, "it's fiction" so who cares if the stakes were low, the two characters had some chemistry. The differences in their body types was quite vivid. Kudos to that. Two gold stars for you.
So, let's focus on the important thing. Let's "close the distance" if you will on what matters. I cannot tell you how sick I am of that phrase (or slight variations thereof) "Closed the distance." Oh, I guess I just did. Hmm. Still, it is the only way anyone moves in this Noyes (and pretty much the Sapphic romance) universe. Steph "closes the distance" with Harper. Harper "closes the distance" with Steph. Steph even "closes the distance" with a dog. A dog! Granted dogs are cute and it was a good moment (though he should have peed on her) and they really needed to take the dog to an emergency vet not just any old vet because of the need for antivenin. Let's close the distance back to "closed the distance." It’s mechanical, repetitive, and eventually, it becomes unintentional comedy. The cinematic feel the author might be going for gets lost when you say it a dozen times--once, it was two times in the same paragraph. Was E.J. Noyes getting paid by Big "Closed the Distance" to promote their phrase? Is this like one of those YouTube sponsorships?
Other crucial issues: The Asimov Identity Crisis
Steph has a cat named Asimov. When Harper (logically) asks if she likes sci-fi, Steph asserts—with bizarre intensity—that she hates sci-fi and fantasy. Why are we here?
Why name the cat after Isaac Asimov? Did she lose a bet? Oh, she likes the sound of the name. But, why have this beat? Why position Steph against such a large genre. A genre that has (hills and valley's sure, Orson Scott Card and such) enabled and empowered LGBTQ and other minorities because it was able to tell stories standard fiction could not.
Surely, there must be a reason to insert this into Steph's Lex profile. Nope. In fact, Steph says later that she would looooove to be cast in a Marvel movie. She desperately wanted to be Scarlet Witch or Captain Marvel (but she wasn't on even the long long list). Okay, who wants to tell Steph what superhero comics are? Does she know that Scarlet Witch is the most fantasy based of their major cinematic heroes (okay, villain turn aside)? Captain Marvel? The most sci-fi of sci-fi female heroes Marvel has. But Steph, you hate sci-fi and fantasy. You cannot claim to hate the genre and then beg to play the two characters whose entire identities are built on magic and interstellar sci-fi. It’s not "complex characterization"; it’s just the author forgetting what she wrote fifty pages ago. Or, maybe Steph just wants a slice of the Marvel Money Pie. Fair.
Okay, enough Steph-bashing. Harper get your curvy booty and buxom-buxomness over here.
The 24-Year Closet of Nothing
Steph says Harper’s "maybe what she thinks is a weakness is her strength."
The math doesn't add up: Harper was brave enough to move to LA because she knew her family was homophobic/racist/misogynist--face it, they've got the trifecta. Great for her. Awesome. But she also stayed in the closet to them for twenty-four years despite having almost zero contact with them and—as it turns out—not actually caring if she ever spoke to her mother again. There was no relationship to save, no inheritance to protect, and no "peace" to keep. It makes her silence feel like a plot device rather than a character trait. Not being true to who you are for people you don't seem to care if you ever see again isn't much of a strength.
But wait, to "fix" this, the author tosses in a nephew in the final act—a character never mentioned before and who is never on the page—just to give Harper a reason to care about her family. If you have to conjure a child out of thin air to justify your protagonist's 24-year emotional arc, the arc was less St. Louis and more McDonald's. In fact, it was probably closer to a straight line.
Oh, and in the requisite "break up" sequence, Harper tells Steph to leave her alone and then gets mad because Steph seems to be listening (at the moment).
Now, let's get back to Steph-bashing.
Steph's Career Concerns:
Genre hypocrisy aside, she's doing quite well. Six years on a popular TV show? She should be regular people rich at least, if not Hollywood Rich!--not that she shows it in any way. So, she has a couple of uncomfortable fan interactions that--go nowhere. She politely tells two fans to stuff it and one gets mad. Oh the horror!
Then when Harper kisses her (well, she started it) in a public parking lot, it gets photographed. Oh no! This was totally...foreseen and something that has happened before. Not to Harper, true. So, what happens after Steph gets over her outrage? She has to talk to her manager. Gasp! Okay, Harper gets outed to her family--her sister apparently scours the gossip rags while declaring Hollywood a modern-day Babylon. That's probable enough. But OMG after two decades Harper is finally outed this must be so traumatic so...oh it's over? Moving on? She didn't really like her family. See above.
Then Steph gets the porn treatment in deepfakes. But it's all on the dark web and they are taking it down as fast as they can. Sure, it's a gross violation but they are treating it like someone ran over her genre-inappropriate cat. Then the photos get on the socials. OMG, will she have to bow out of the tournament? Will it cause Harper to break up with her after having seen her love with an AI-generated man? No and not quite. Really nothing happens except Steph doesn't tell Harper about the photos so, she is being emotionally unavailable and lying by omission and...Break-up! For a couple of hours. Calm down. They're okay.
The other cause for the breakup was the "Relationship Baton". A silly joke that Steph or the bestie-costar Ol' Whats Her Name has to be in a relationship so that the shippers and slime don't get too much fuel and assume because they have an onscreen relationship it has gone off-screen.
So, when Harper hears about it and asks if that was why Steph was dating her and if it was all fake, naturally Steph said, "Umm--it's not what you think--you see--I mean--you don't understand it's just that..." Steph, the answer to the question is, "NO!" And then you explain the term. If she's this bad at communicating something this simple, it's no surprise she's never had a relationship work.
As to this relationship, both Steph and Harper need some bash for this. Six years. They've known each other for six years. Steph has been in Harper's chair, inches apart for six years. They sound shy. No, this isn't a complaint that they didn't hook up years earlier (but c'mon, right?), it's that when they do hang out for the FIRST time outside of work (again, not impossible, I've been on sets and I didn't want to see most of the people after a long day) but it's that neither knowns anything substantive about the other beyond IMDb and gossip rags...or even less than that as--
Steph: "Oh, you're from Georgia?" Six years spending hours a week face to face with someone and you don't know the STATE she's from? It's not all on Steph, her Iowa reveal seems surprising to Harper--though that was more on her parents meet-cute. He's British you know. Does it have ANY bearing on Steph. No. An interesting thing like that has nothing. Do we ever meet these parents? No.
As others have noted, this book lacks the gravitas often associated with E.J's books. It also lacks some of the horrid ethical failures. But, much like the Halcyon books, "it's fiction" so who cares if the stakes were low, the two characters had some chemistry. The differences in their body types was quite vivid. Kudos to that. Two gold stars for you.
October 5, 2025
This was a lovely romance about two coworkers giving into years of attraction and developing a relationship. I really enjoys Noyes work especially how she uses dialogue between her characters. There was no major conflict in this which was refreshing and the conflict that did arise was worked out perfectly. I am loving this authors work!
September 10, 2025
It pains me to write this review because I am a huge E.J Noyes fan but I could not finish the book. It wasn’t bad or anything, it’s a good book, it’s just that nothing happened. I struggled to feel the chemistry between the main characters, mostly because when the book starts they are already into each other and flirting a lot. It just felt like reading about two people going to work and then going about their day and basically that’s it. I stopped around the 65% mark of the book, I might finish it later this year but I felt like if I had to be pulled in it would have happened a lot sooner.
I probably had huge expectations for the book being such a fan of the author.
But if you’re looking for a book with no angst or drama, just something to make you feel good then you found it!
I probably had huge expectations for the book being such a fan of the author.
But if you’re looking for a book with no angst or drama, just something to make you feel good then you found it!
August 7, 2025
Make or Break is a twenty-three-chapter book by E.J. Noyes that pretty much alternates chapters between the point of view of the two main characters, Stephanie (Steph) D’Arripe and Harper Bell. Steph is one of two female lead actors on a TV police show called North Precinct. She is romantically paired on the show with fellow actor, Laura. For six years Steph has been flirting with the TV show's makeup artist, Harper Bell. Several months ago Steph left a short-term relationship with her girlfriend at the time. So now Laura is encouraging Steph to take the leap and to ask Harper out since each enjoys flirting and witty banter with the other person. In fact, the first portion of the book is devoted to them flirting at work and in private as Harper, a former semi-professional tennis player agrees to help Steph prepare for a charity tennis match between North Precinct and the hospital drama that follows her show in Tuesday's lineup.
The book focuses a lot on Steph and Harper's daily lives at work and in private as they get to know each other better. Added into the mix is some social media photo drama that impacts Steph and inadvertently impacts Harper and her tenuous relationship with her family back in Georgia. In regard to their personal lives, Harper is saving for a home of her own and a trip to Europe. Therefore, she currently lives in a shared space apartment with her best friend, Per. Per is a part-time model and actor who is in a long-term relationship with his significant other, Ben. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Harper and sweetheart, Per. He stood by her side through thick and thin and was available for Harper whenever she needed an ear and open arms. Per and more importantly Ben were also starstruck over Steph which added to the laughs whenever the two couples got together for North Precinct watch parties or other engagements.
Other enjoyable parts of the book included the behind-the-scenes views of creating a weekly police drama. Finally, the intimate scenes between Steph and Harper were laced with good communication, sizzling energy, and variety.
Overall, although this was not my favorite book from E.J. Noes, it was a solid book with memorable characters. 4.25 stars
I received an ARC from Bella Books in exchange for an honest review.
The book focuses a lot on Steph and Harper's daily lives at work and in private as they get to know each other better. Added into the mix is some social media photo drama that impacts Steph and inadvertently impacts Harper and her tenuous relationship with her family back in Georgia. In regard to their personal lives, Harper is saving for a home of her own and a trip to Europe. Therefore, she currently lives in a shared space apartment with her best friend, Per. Per is a part-time model and actor who is in a long-term relationship with his significant other, Ben. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Harper and sweetheart, Per. He stood by her side through thick and thin and was available for Harper whenever she needed an ear and open arms. Per and more importantly Ben were also starstruck over Steph which added to the laughs whenever the two couples got together for North Precinct watch parties or other engagements.
Other enjoyable parts of the book included the behind-the-scenes views of creating a weekly police drama. Finally, the intimate scenes between Steph and Harper were laced with good communication, sizzling energy, and variety.
Overall, although this was not my favorite book from E.J. Noes, it was a solid book with memorable characters. 4.25 stars
I received an ARC from Bella Books in exchange for an honest review.
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