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Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It
Meet one of the most unforgettable new protagonists in Phoebe Berman. She has one month to lose her virginity before she turns thirty—if her own anxiety doesn’t slow her down. A charmingly authentic and heartwarming debut novel from podcaster and comedian Brooke Averick.
Is it possible to find true love when going on a date makes you want to throw up?
Phoebe Berman fears the one thing she wants the love, and everything that comes along with it. Thanks to an extremely unfortunate first kiss attempt, crippling intimacy anxiety has plagued her since she was a teen. With just a month to go before she turns thirty, Phoebe is still a virgin.
Phoebe has so much going for a dream teaching job, a supportive and hilarious group of best friends, and all the romance novels a girl could want at her fingertips—but she can’t help but beat herself up over the one thing she can’t quite seem to figure out. Determined to change this, she drafts up the ultimate "Guide to Losing My Virginity" checklist with the hope of finally getting laid.
Suddenly, she goes from a relatively boring (basically non-existent) dating life to juggling three romantic prospects at once. There's the gorgeous new fourth grade teacher at her school, a former high school classmate that resurfaces through Words with Friends, and there will always be her roommate, who might just be the best friends-to-lovers situation of her dreams.
Phoebe’s love life quickly takes a turn in a way she never anticipated. But between the love “square” she’s gotten herself into and the stomachaches and cold sweats that surface whenever she gears up for a potential date, things are complicated. And Phoebe doesn’t do complicated.
Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It is a brutally honest and painfully relatable story for anyone who’s ever felt stuck between coming of age and coming apart.
Is it possible to find true love when going on a date makes you want to throw up?
Phoebe Berman fears the one thing she wants the love, and everything that comes along with it. Thanks to an extremely unfortunate first kiss attempt, crippling intimacy anxiety has plagued her since she was a teen. With just a month to go before she turns thirty, Phoebe is still a virgin.
Phoebe has so much going for a dream teaching job, a supportive and hilarious group of best friends, and all the romance novels a girl could want at her fingertips—but she can’t help but beat herself up over the one thing she can’t quite seem to figure out. Determined to change this, she drafts up the ultimate "Guide to Losing My Virginity" checklist with the hope of finally getting laid.
Suddenly, she goes from a relatively boring (basically non-existent) dating life to juggling three romantic prospects at once. There's the gorgeous new fourth grade teacher at her school, a former high school classmate that resurfaces through Words with Friends, and there will always be her roommate, who might just be the best friends-to-lovers situation of her dreams.
Phoebe’s love life quickly takes a turn in a way she never anticipated. But between the love “square” she’s gotten herself into and the stomachaches and cold sweats that surface whenever she gears up for a potential date, things are complicated. And Phoebe doesn’t do complicated.
Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It is a brutally honest and painfully relatable story for anyone who’s ever felt stuck between coming of age and coming apart.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2026
About the author
Brooke Averick
1 book46k followersMy debut novel, Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose it, comes out May 26th! Pre-order now :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,788 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
8/22/25 It’s fine to rate your own book five stars if you worked really hard on it. Looking forward to discussing chapter 26.
3/12/26 Popping in here again to say that I just finished what will be my final read before pub day. I really did the damn thing didn't I. I still love chapter 26 the most but chapter 20 is up there.
3/12/26 Popping in here again to say that I just finished what will be my final read before pub day. I really did the damn thing didn't I. I still love chapter 26 the most but chapter 20 is up there.
Review of advance copy received from Author
one time brooke averick mentioned my goodreads on a podcast and that was very cool, if only because it set me on the path to reading this book.
and thank god it did!
(review to come)
(thank you to the author for the arc!)
and thank god it did!
(review to come)
(thank you to the author for the arc!)
April 14, 2026
second read: at the risk of repeating myself—there are no words to describe the pride radiating off of me as i flipped through the pages of this book. and i do mean flip bc i stayed up all night on a school night to finish. as someone who is not a fiction reader this book gripped me from the very beginning. in the words of gwyenth paltrow: i laughed, i cried a number of times, i sweat, i danced, i got a shot, i ate, and i had many epiphanies—the greatest of all was witnessing phoebe berman’s never ending stream of love stories.
first read: i don’t even have the words to describe how wonderful this book is & how proud i am of brooke!!!!!
first read: i don’t even have the words to describe how wonderful this book is & how proud i am of brooke!!!!!
May 26, 2026
4.5 🌟 I loved this book!!! Such a unique, funny, and relatable romance novel…And it didn’t turn out like I thought it would! I think you’ll love this one too if you’re looking for a little something different this summer :)
April 20, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ for PHOEBE! 🩷🍒 i went into this one thinking it would be fun & funny (which it is), but i did not expect to feel so SEEN by it!
phoebe felt like a real person to me. her anxiety, especially around intimacy, was written in such an warm and relatable way. this is a book with therapy DONE RIGHT! i absolutely loved that aspect. phoebe’s sessions with sandy felt so honest and actually helpful to read. and they made it really easy to connect with phoebe from the start!
she really deals with the kind of anxiety where you know something isn’t actually dangerous, but your body reacts like it is anyway! it’s literally the worst! and it’s such an exhausting mental battle! as someone who deals with avoidance anxiety in a totally different area of life, this book made me feel much less alone in it. like maybe it’s not that something is wrong with you, we just all have own hangups we have to work through.
the romance aspect is quite fun, but what i appreciated most is that it’s really about phoebe learning how to show up for herself! do hard things! and challenge the stories she’s been telling herself for years! but i did really like how all three love interests played different roles in phoebe’s life too (instead of just being there for drama). they all felt distinct and well developed!
on top of all the emotional stuff, phoebe is genuinely funny. she made me laugh out loud so many times, which was very needed throughout the story 😌 i think a lot of people will see themselves in her! and all the musical theater references? just the cherry on top!!! 🍒
overall i just loved the mental health rep in this and how it also didn’t define phoebe at all! such a witty, warm, relatable book and it’s definitely a new favorite of mine. super bingeable & i think it’s gonna be an absolute HIT this year! (p.s. thank you so much to crown publishing for the ARC!)
💌 p.s. this has late summer / early fall energy (think labor day, september vibes), so honestly this would be such a good end-of-summer read if you need one!
phoebe felt like a real person to me. her anxiety, especially around intimacy, was written in such an warm and relatable way. this is a book with therapy DONE RIGHT! i absolutely loved that aspect. phoebe’s sessions with sandy felt so honest and actually helpful to read. and they made it really easy to connect with phoebe from the start!
she really deals with the kind of anxiety where you know something isn’t actually dangerous, but your body reacts like it is anyway! it’s literally the worst! and it’s such an exhausting mental battle! as someone who deals with avoidance anxiety in a totally different area of life, this book made me feel much less alone in it. like maybe it’s not that something is wrong with you, we just all have own hangups we have to work through.
the romance aspect is quite fun, but what i appreciated most is that it’s really about phoebe learning how to show up for herself! do hard things! and challenge the stories she’s been telling herself for years! but i did really like how all three love interests played different roles in phoebe’s life too (instead of just being there for drama). they all felt distinct and well developed!
on top of all the emotional stuff, phoebe is genuinely funny. she made me laugh out loud so many times, which was very needed throughout the story 😌 i think a lot of people will see themselves in her! and all the musical theater references? just the cherry on top!!! 🍒
overall i just loved the mental health rep in this and how it also didn’t define phoebe at all! such a witty, warm, relatable book and it’s definitely a new favorite of mine. super bingeable & i think it’s gonna be an absolute HIT this year! (p.s. thank you so much to crown publishing for the ARC!)
💌 p.s. this has late summer / early fall energy (think labor day, september vibes), so honestly this would be such a good end-of-summer read if you need one!
September 12, 2025
suck it nakit (positive connotation)
September 2, 2025
WOW Phoebe is one of my new favorite fictional characters like she deserved the world and more…. I love this book because it’s so unique to any other romance book I’ve read but I’m also devastated because I am craving so much more content exactly like this and where am I supposed to find it???? also I’m inspired by phoebe’s list making and I’m gonna start making more lists to reach goals in my personal life starting now
October 7, 2025
This is my new favorite book ever. Perfect story involving family, chosen family, and love. I’ll never forget where I was when I read the big key piece feature plot twist.
For ONCE I can relate to the main character of a romance novel. I am Phoebe, you are Phoebe, we are all a little bit of Phoebe. Through phoebes story I have learned to love myself again. I found myself smiling ear to ear giggling on one page and then wiping tears from my cheeks on the next. I recommend for everyone between the ages of 16 to 96.
Because I have read PBGLI, I have been changed for good.
For ONCE I can relate to the main character of a romance novel. I am Phoebe, you are Phoebe, we are all a little bit of Phoebe. Through phoebes story I have learned to love myself again. I found myself smiling ear to ear giggling on one page and then wiping tears from my cheeks on the next. I recommend for everyone between the ages of 16 to 96.
Because I have read PBGLI, I have been changed for good.
May 13, 2026
5/5 - “Maybe it’s not such a terrible thing to go through life at your own pace.”
I am in awe. Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It is a witty, charming and heartfelt debut from comedian and podcaster Brooke Averick. I was so utterly impressed with this book and how Averick was able to use genuine humor, vulnerability and relatability to articulate anxiety (in all its forms), intimacy intimidation and societal pressures on love. I was glued to the page, was kicking my feet, laughed out loud and sat in anticipation wondering what was to come next.
On its surface, this is a romance novel, but it is SO MUCH deeper than that. I do not typically gravitate toward or seek out romance novels, so I went in with an open mind with this. As I traversed through the story, this became more of a coming-of-age tale following Phoebe and her journey of self-discovery utilizing romance as a backdrop through it all.
I absolutely fell in love with Averick’s voice, the prose was addicting. I never wanted to put this book down and absolutely devoured it in such a short amount of time. She curated this story and the character of Phoebe to be someone you care for and want to know how she handles what’s in front of her. This story consumed my every waking thought while reading.
This story takes a turn that I absolutely adored. My jaw was on the FLOOR at certain reveals, truly showcasing Averick’s ability to meticulously weave the narrative into a final crescendo that consumes you.
There were moments in this where I felt validated in my own anxieties, mere experiences and thoughts I’ve had before being conveyed directly on the page. You can clearly see Averick understands the human experience, especially how mental health plays a role in day to day living. Her vulnerability is what makes this book so special and will be the core reason why this book will be such a success.
Overall, this story surprised the hell out of me and is one I highly recommend you pick up. This felt like a warm hug and will bring such comfort to so many. I feel so lucky and honored to be able to experience Phoebe so early, and it’s only right to convey how much I loved this book to all of you.
Please, please, PLEASE pick this book up at your earliest convenience, you will be wrapped up in its charm and will want to reread it all over again after its final pages.
I am in awe. Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It is a witty, charming and heartfelt debut from comedian and podcaster Brooke Averick. I was so utterly impressed with this book and how Averick was able to use genuine humor, vulnerability and relatability to articulate anxiety (in all its forms), intimacy intimidation and societal pressures on love. I was glued to the page, was kicking my feet, laughed out loud and sat in anticipation wondering what was to come next.
On its surface, this is a romance novel, but it is SO MUCH deeper than that. I do not typically gravitate toward or seek out romance novels, so I went in with an open mind with this. As I traversed through the story, this became more of a coming-of-age tale following Phoebe and her journey of self-discovery utilizing romance as a backdrop through it all.
I absolutely fell in love with Averick’s voice, the prose was addicting. I never wanted to put this book down and absolutely devoured it in such a short amount of time. She curated this story and the character of Phoebe to be someone you care for and want to know how she handles what’s in front of her. This story consumed my every waking thought while reading.
This story takes a turn that I absolutely adored. My jaw was on the FLOOR at certain reveals, truly showcasing Averick’s ability to meticulously weave the narrative into a final crescendo that consumes you.
There were moments in this where I felt validated in my own anxieties, mere experiences and thoughts I’ve had before being conveyed directly on the page. You can clearly see Averick understands the human experience, especially how mental health plays a role in day to day living. Her vulnerability is what makes this book so special and will be the core reason why this book will be such a success.
Overall, this story surprised the hell out of me and is one I highly recommend you pick up. This felt like a warm hug and will bring such comfort to so many. I feel so lucky and honored to be able to experience Phoebe so early, and it’s only right to convey how much I loved this book to all of you.
Please, please, PLEASE pick this book up at your earliest convenience, you will be wrapped up in its charm and will want to reread it all over again after its final pages.
Currently Reading
June 1, 2026pre-read: Omg the premise and author's note was great!! I'm so excited to get into this, because romance is fr so anxiety inducing!!!! Looking forward to finally seeing this type of representation :')
May 29, 2026
”i used to hate the way my brain worked. sometimes i still do. but i’ve learned to stop beating myself up over it. if the past few months have taught me anything, it’s that everyone has their own hang-ups — their own virginities to lose, so to speak. there’s nothing wrong with that. and there’s nothing wrong with me. there never was.”
this book is very important to a girl like me!!!!
a romance novel unlike any i’ve ever read but one that should have been written 1000 times before because girls like us DO exist. and why shouldn’t we see ourselves in a love story every once in a while?
i truly have so much gratitude for this book - it’s as if i have so much to say that im at a loss for where to start. so gratitude is where i’ll leave it.
for the nervous pukers… we’re gonna be alright!
this book is very important to a girl like me!!!!
a romance novel unlike any i’ve ever read but one that should have been written 1000 times before because girls like us DO exist. and why shouldn’t we see ourselves in a love story every once in a while?
i truly have so much gratitude for this book - it’s as if i have so much to say that im at a loss for where to start. so gratitude is where i’ll leave it.
for the nervous pukers… we’re gonna be alright!
May 26, 2026
Never have I ever read a romcom book like this!!! A unique perspective for those of us who feel any sort of anxiety around love and even friendships. I feel like i was seeing myself in so many of the characters. What a refreshing read and they way i was crying happy tears by the end!! Highly recommend this book, you will love phoebe for exactly who she is, nobody in this book is perfect yet you fall in love with each character - flaws and all! 10/10
September 9, 2025
already addicted to this young woman
May 22, 2026
so like…I think I need this book imprinted on my soul. This book is so important for the romance industry and genuinely a book that I have been looking for YEARS!!
Oh the absolute STAR that Brooke is!! One of my MOST anticipated books of the year and I am thrilled to say that PBGLI met every high expectation I had. Thank you so much to Crown Publishing for the free early copy. Phoebe is MY GIRL and this book means soooo much to me 🥺🫶🏻
This is the debut from Brooke Averick aka Lady Efron. It is unlike any romance book I’ve read, because it is for us girls with anxiety and specifically, intimacy anxiety and anxiety over dating! Phoebe is about to turn 30 and still a virgin because of her constant anxiety over being intimate with a guy and opening herself up to someone. She is determined to lose her virginity before she turns 30, and so she makes herself a list of all the things she needs to do to open herself up to the dating world. Soon, she finds herself in the middle of a love square (?) and facing the attention of more men than she ever dreamed.
I have very rarely read a book where I felt SO SEEN by the female main character. Phoebe’s character and the way Brooke wrote this romance book is so important for those of us who struggle with dating, intimacy, and relationships, mainly because of our anxiety and trusting others. This is THE romance book we needed!!
On top of that, I just loved Phoebe’s character so much. She is quirky, creative, passionate, and so so funny. She loves her friends and her people so hard but also makes mistakes and hurts others like the rest of us! But she is always willing to try to do better and push herself to do new things.
Another thing - if you are an audiobook person, Brooke narrates the audiobook and did a FANTASTIC job with Phoebe’s narration and the rest of the characters. I absolutely fell in love with Phoebe’s character and this group of friends. The audiobook was SO FUN!!
This book releases May 26th and you don’t want to miss it!! Book of the year and book of the summer!!
Oh the absolute STAR that Brooke is!! One of my MOST anticipated books of the year and I am thrilled to say that PBGLI met every high expectation I had. Thank you so much to Crown Publishing for the free early copy. Phoebe is MY GIRL and this book means soooo much to me 🥺🫶🏻
This is the debut from Brooke Averick aka Lady Efron. It is unlike any romance book I’ve read, because it is for us girls with anxiety and specifically, intimacy anxiety and anxiety over dating! Phoebe is about to turn 30 and still a virgin because of her constant anxiety over being intimate with a guy and opening herself up to someone. She is determined to lose her virginity before she turns 30, and so she makes herself a list of all the things she needs to do to open herself up to the dating world. Soon, she finds herself in the middle of a love square (?) and facing the attention of more men than she ever dreamed.
I have very rarely read a book where I felt SO SEEN by the female main character. Phoebe’s character and the way Brooke wrote this romance book is so important for those of us who struggle with dating, intimacy, and relationships, mainly because of our anxiety and trusting others. This is THE romance book we needed!!
On top of that, I just loved Phoebe’s character so much. She is quirky, creative, passionate, and so so funny. She loves her friends and her people so hard but also makes mistakes and hurts others like the rest of us! But she is always willing to try to do better and push herself to do new things.
Another thing - if you are an audiobook person, Brooke narrates the audiobook and did a FANTASTIC job with Phoebe’s narration and the rest of the characters. I absolutely fell in love with Phoebe’s character and this group of friends. The audiobook was SO FUN!!
This book releases May 26th and you don’t want to miss it!! Book of the year and book of the summer!!
May 12, 2026
YEAHHHH simply unputdownable!!! One of my fav reads this year!!
May 6, 2026
2.5
Thank you, PRH Audio Publishing Group for my ALC.
I want to start by saying, don't know anything about Brooke. It feels like she may have a bit of a following, but I don't know who she is or what she is (part of/in/etc). So don't hate me!
I did not enjoy this story. The writing isn't terrible -- she does a good contrast between show and tell, but the writing also felt quite juvenile at times.
I did not like Phoebe. At. All. I do empathize with the anxiety aspect, but overall this character was two-dimensional, annoying, childish, and not a fun POV I liked being in. Her whole friend group felt very immature overall. The most annoying group of (nearly) 30 year olds! Who on Earth adds "rear-end a random guy" as a goal for meeting someone. Accidents are not romantic. That's borderline crazy. And they all spoke the same. No one really had any of their own personality.
(Potential Spoiler Ahead)
Out of the "men" she could have chosen for her love interest, I feel like Brooke had friends to lovers RIGHT there and then created a random-ass twist for that storyline. Didn't like this. Did not feel natural in this storyline. While there was constant lacking in tension between almost everyone, this relationship with her friend was the only potential in the pages. And the guy she did end up with, they had absolutely zero chemistry the entire novel! How? How? Seriously, how?
The idea of the story is okay. I just don't think Phoebe should have been the main character for it.
This was just not for me. I hate giving debut novels low ratings -- and again, I think the writing wasn't as distracting as other debut novels, so I do think Brooke could end up writing something really good (for some, this is that book). I hope to read another novel from her at some point.
Thank you, PRH Audio Publishing Group for my ALC.
I want to start by saying, don't know anything about Brooke. It feels like she may have a bit of a following, but I don't know who she is or what she is (part of/in/etc). So don't hate me!
I did not enjoy this story. The writing isn't terrible -- she does a good contrast between show and tell, but the writing also felt quite juvenile at times.
I did not like Phoebe. At. All. I do empathize with the anxiety aspect, but overall this character was two-dimensional, annoying, childish, and not a fun POV I liked being in. Her whole friend group felt very immature overall. The most annoying group of (nearly) 30 year olds! Who on Earth adds "rear-end a random guy" as a goal for meeting someone. Accidents are not romantic. That's borderline crazy. And they all spoke the same. No one really had any of their own personality.
(Potential Spoiler Ahead)
Out of the "men" she could have chosen for her love interest, I feel like Brooke had friends to lovers RIGHT there and then created a random-ass twist for that storyline. Didn't like this. Did not feel natural in this storyline. While there was constant lacking in tension between almost everyone, this relationship with her friend was the only potential in the pages. And the guy she did end up with, they had absolutely zero chemistry the entire novel! How? How? Seriously, how?
The idea of the story is okay. I just don't think Phoebe should have been the main character for it.
This was just not for me. I hate giving debut novels low ratings -- and again, I think the writing wasn't as distracting as other debut novels, so I do think Brooke could end up writing something really good (for some, this is that book). I hope to read another novel from her at some point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2025
Phoebe is already my best friend and no one can change my mind. I fear the world won’t be the same and time should probably be labelled as BPB and APB (before phoebe berman & after phoebe berman) from here on out, thanks guys
May 31, 2026
🍒 2nd read (audio): ♾️♾️♾️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨ MY FAVORITE BOOK!!!!! God I love Phoebe so much that’s literally my best friend. Brooke’s writing is SO GOOD this book makes me feel everything
🍒 1st read (arc): 5 stars isn’t enough!! I don’t even know where to begin writing a review for this book!! A top read of the year so far for me, easily. Right from the first chapter I was hooked on Brooke’s witty and engaging writing. She made Phoebe feel like a real person and it felt like I knew her. Like that’s my best friend actually??
I quite literally loved everything about this book. The characters, the writing, the pacing, the plot, everything. I love how this read as a women’s fiction with a bit of romance. The plot was super unique and made for such a fun story. I think the side characters added so much to this story; it made me so happy to see the love and support Phoebe had in her life. Mental health struggles are no joke and I think her support system was written beautifully. Her family, best friends, and coworkers were such a joy to read about and to get to know better. They all brought something so special to this story and Phoebe’s life.
This book was emotional and heartfelt with the themes of doing things at your own pace, understanding that if you do things differently than others that doesn’t mean there’s ANYTHING wrong with you, accepting yourself and your timeline, and that your mental health doesn’t define you. The OCD and anxiety representation was literally perfect and I felt so understood and validated by Phoebe’s character. A lot of her thoughts and actions are things I could relate completely to and it was so comforting to read as someone with these diagnosed disorders. And the intimacy anxiety rep!! I could cry just thinking about it. This is something that isn’t very common in the romance/women’s fiction novels that I read, so I was so grateful to read about an FMC that struggles with this. I think it was done so well.
While this book had me so emotional, it also made me laugh out loud so many times. Phoebe is genuinely such a funny and likable main character that I know so many will fall in love with and find so much comfort in.
I truly didn’t know where the plot was going to go with the romance and I’m so happy with how it ended up for everyone!! I was literally grinning at my book like a goof reading how things wrapped up. I won’t say anymore about the romance(s) because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I had no clue how things would turn out and I hope all readers have that experience!! It made the ending so emotional 🥹
I fear I could go on and on about this book!! I truly believe this book brings something so special and unique to the romance genre that so many readers will appreciate and connect with. This will be in my top 3 of 2026, easily. I’m calling it now! Forever so grateful for these types of books that make you feel so seen and understood 💗
🍒 1st read (arc): 5 stars isn’t enough!! I don’t even know where to begin writing a review for this book!! A top read of the year so far for me, easily. Right from the first chapter I was hooked on Brooke’s witty and engaging writing. She made Phoebe feel like a real person and it felt like I knew her. Like that’s my best friend actually??
I quite literally loved everything about this book. The characters, the writing, the pacing, the plot, everything. I love how this read as a women’s fiction with a bit of romance. The plot was super unique and made for such a fun story. I think the side characters added so much to this story; it made me so happy to see the love and support Phoebe had in her life. Mental health struggles are no joke and I think her support system was written beautifully. Her family, best friends, and coworkers were such a joy to read about and to get to know better. They all brought something so special to this story and Phoebe’s life.
This book was emotional and heartfelt with the themes of doing things at your own pace, understanding that if you do things differently than others that doesn’t mean there’s ANYTHING wrong with you, accepting yourself and your timeline, and that your mental health doesn’t define you. The OCD and anxiety representation was literally perfect and I felt so understood and validated by Phoebe’s character. A lot of her thoughts and actions are things I could relate completely to and it was so comforting to read as someone with these diagnosed disorders. And the intimacy anxiety rep!! I could cry just thinking about it. This is something that isn’t very common in the romance/women’s fiction novels that I read, so I was so grateful to read about an FMC that struggles with this. I think it was done so well.
While this book had me so emotional, it also made me laugh out loud so many times. Phoebe is genuinely such a funny and likable main character that I know so many will fall in love with and find so much comfort in.
I truly didn’t know where the plot was going to go with the romance and I’m so happy with how it ended up for everyone!! I was literally grinning at my book like a goof reading how things wrapped up. I won’t say anymore about the romance(s) because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I had no clue how things would turn out and I hope all readers have that experience!! It made the ending so emotional 🥹
I fear I could go on and on about this book!! I truly believe this book brings something so special and unique to the romance genre that so many readers will appreciate and connect with. This will be in my top 3 of 2026, easily. I’m calling it now! Forever so grateful for these types of books that make you feel so seen and understood 💗
June 1, 2026
“I used to hate the way my brain worked. Sometimes I still do. But I’ve learned to stop beating myself up over it. If the past few months have taught me anything, it’s that everyone has their own hang-ups....”
There’s nothing wrong with that. And there’s nothing wrong with me.
There never was.”
right. so. i devoured this in approximately 3-4 hours 😭😭😭 and this is what i can only describe as such an incredibly heartwarming book, oh my god 🥹
it's for the socially anxious people who lie awake at night dissecting conversations from ages past, because well, that is painfully relatable. the texting back late because anxiety got the better of you, overthinking every conceivable social interaction ever, yes, all of it. i knew i was going to relate the moment she couldn't bring herself to use her nice pens until there was a sufficiently worthy reason. tell me about it.
it was genuinely funny at times and, yes, occasionally a touch formulaic, but i overlooked that for the most part. the whole thing felt like one of those beloved 2000s rom-coms, all charm and earnestness, and i would loved to watch it if it were to be adapted for the screen.
and also, the friends-to-lovers was right there. right there. but i forgive you, ma'am, because the route you took did make sense. still. it's fine. i forgive you.
anyway.
my one gripe: the middle sags. there's a stretch where Phoebe juggles her romantic options and it starts to feel repetitive.
“Maybe it’s not such a terrible thing to go through life at your own pace.”
now. matthew. [and here is where i must lodge a formal complaint.]
i do wish we'd gotten a little more of matthew's past (a photographer, and they met in high school? hello, 13 Going on 30). honestly, i would've loved more of both matthew and phoebe altogether tbh, their history, their dynamic, a few more glimpses into the years that shaped them, just a little more room for their relationship to unfurl and develop a bit more. the found family (and the family family), for that matter was wonderfully endearing: kind, understanding, steadfast, oh it was all very lovely to read about. i'd love to read a bit more about the side-characters honestly.
This list has no end date and no timeline. It’s a work in progress.
“So, am I just going to come down with a different mental illness for
every stage of my life?” I had asked Sandy.
“It’s all pretty much the same one.” Sandy smiled. “It just changes as
you do.”
“Oh,” I said, flatly. “Great.”
Sandy smiled at that. And then I did, too.
this is so real which is - you know - a bit funny, a little bleak, oddly comforting too, much like the book itself.
tl;dr we need more books like these 🥹
pre-read
very hopeful about this 🤭
May 28, 2026
this is the most imperfectly, perfect romance book I’ve ever read 🥹 this is for the socially anxious girlies who lay awake at night thinking about the one thing they said "wrong" in a conversation 5 years ago.
I see myself in this main character so much. the OCD representation, the texting back slow after getting anxiety about a situation, the not wanting to meet up with someone from a dating app asap, overthinking every encounter EVER. I have never felt so seen and also attacked at the same time? 😂
the found family in this was INCREDIBLE. I love every single character in their own way. I was crying and squealing over the friendships in this more than the romance at some points. I don’t know how the author wrote such a relatable, realistic and heartwarming romance when it’s her FIRST book but this is how you debut!!
the early 2000’s vibes, indie music, etc. >>>> ugh I need to re-read it already
also bonus points for the mmc giving the fmc the best gift I’ve ever encountered in a romance book 🥲
I see myself in this main character so much. the OCD representation, the texting back slow after getting anxiety about a situation, the not wanting to meet up with someone from a dating app asap, overthinking every encounter EVER. I have never felt so seen and also attacked at the same time? 😂
the found family in this was INCREDIBLE. I love every single character in their own way. I was crying and squealing over the friendships in this more than the romance at some points. I don’t know how the author wrote such a relatable, realistic and heartwarming romance when it’s her FIRST book but this is how you debut!!
the early 2000’s vibes, indie music, etc. >>>> ugh I need to re-read it already
also bonus points for the mmc giving the fmc the best gift I’ve ever encountered in a romance book 🥲
February 16, 2026
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IVE EVER READ. 😭🩷👏🏼 I NEED A MOMENT TO PROCESS!!!!
May 27, 2026
I knew I would relate the second she couldn’t use her nice pens until she had a good enough reason to (and also because I was single for 5 years because dating caused me crippling anxiety🤪)
September 16, 2025
I love Phoebe. The whole story was heart-warming, fun, witty, funny, and I found it difficult to put down once I picked it up. As always, I was surprised by the turns the plot makes, which made me so excited to figure out what happens to Phoebe (and her friends!) in the end. The ending shows such growth in Phoebe's character, and I think the moral/lesson could be relatable to many people in their late 20s (me :o). Really refreshing that this was a book about love/relationships that featured real, genuine friendships and characters, and wasn't just completely about sex/intimacy (though obviously it was in part!).
Averick's star debut novel makes me so excited to read her next. I'm just sad I'll have to wait!
Averick's star debut novel makes me so excited to read her next. I'm just sad I'll have to wait!
April 6, 2026
I was originally going to come on here and discuss how majority of this book was cringey but I’m gonna withhold those thoughts. The end of this truly made me tear up and saved it. Everyone is Phoebe in some way even if she’s a little tooooo much at times. But aren’t we all? Also the friends to lovers was literally RIGHT there. But Brooke, it’s fine. I trust you and I’m thankful I did.
April 8, 2026
I LOVE YOU PHOEBE BERMAN!!! this is such a unique way to write a romance book, I was glued to the pages, aching to see how everything would come together! the mental health rep in this was incredible and I just know so many people will relate to Phoebe! the side characters added so much depth to the story, I am obsessed with this friend group!!!
this feels like a HUGE book for the romance community! I’ve read nothing like this before and dare I say, it’s an instant rom-com classic?? I would see this in theaters in a heartbeat!
I cannot wait to see more from Brooke 🥹
this feels like a HUGE book for the romance community! I’ve read nothing like this before and dare I say, it’s an instant rom-com classic?? I would see this in theaters in a heartbeat!
I cannot wait to see more from Brooke 🥹
May 27, 2026
I was looking forward to this fun premise (even proposed it for book club), but ended up DNFing at 25%, where Phoebe still hadn’t actually connected with anyone.
Her increasingly desperate hookup strategies — including rear-ending someone and advertising herself on Craigslist — felt more juvenile than funny to me. I’d imagined her anxiety would make her more introverted, but instead she came across as extremely chatty and immature — and honestly, more in need of therapy than a hookup plan.
Overall, it felt a bit like an “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” sequel for adults. The debut author may be better suited for YA.
Her increasingly desperate hookup strategies — including rear-ending someone and advertising herself on Craigslist — felt more juvenile than funny to me. I’d imagined her anxiety would make her more introverted, but instead she came across as extremely chatty and immature — and honestly, more in need of therapy than a hookup plan.
Overall, it felt a bit like an “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” sequel for adults. The debut author may be better suited for YA.
June 1, 2026
3.5 🌟
Loved the theme and the message, hated the FMC personally
Loved the theme and the message, hated the FMC personally
February 5, 2026
Yes, this is a book about a woman overcoming debilitating anxiety and finally becoming intimate with a man, but it's also about a gorgeous woman who is burdened with choosing between three perfect and equally attractive men to be her partner. Aside from having weak stomachs, the majority of these people are a little too flawless for my liking.
April 26, 2026
6 stars. Perfection.
I feel there’s so much I could say about this book, but I’ll say this: Phoebe Berman might be one of the most real characters. She felt so alive to me while I was reading that I genuinely wanted to shake her at some points for her choices but I have also never wanted to tell someone more that they deserve the best in life.
Phoebe has always felt something is wrong with her, that something in her was broken, and don’t we all relate to that in some ways? She beats herself up so much over minor interactions or mistakes but gives everyone else in her life so much grace. Her character development truly just brought me so much joy even though it really was a battle for her to get to where she ends up, but it made the end that much more lovely.
I’m still crying from just how sweet this book was and don’t think I’ll stop for a while. Might have to read it again once it’s out next month!! I can’t recommend this book more! If you’re looking to cry and laugh a lot and maybe cringe a little from second hand embarrassment? Pick up this book when it comes out on 5/26!!
I feel there’s so much I could say about this book, but I’ll say this: Phoebe Berman might be one of the most real characters. She felt so alive to me while I was reading that I genuinely wanted to shake her at some points for her choices but I have also never wanted to tell someone more that they deserve the best in life.
Phoebe has always felt something is wrong with her, that something in her was broken, and don’t we all relate to that in some ways? She beats herself up so much over minor interactions or mistakes but gives everyone else in her life so much grace. Her character development truly just brought me so much joy even though it really was a battle for her to get to where she ends up, but it made the end that much more lovely.
I’m still crying from just how sweet this book was and don’t think I’ll stop for a while. Might have to read it again once it’s out next month!! I can’t recommend this book more! If you’re looking to cry and laugh a lot and maybe cringe a little from second hand embarrassment? Pick up this book when it comes out on 5/26!!
May 15, 2026
Thank you PRH audio publishing group for an ALC!
I don’t usually write reviews that are more than a sentence or two so bear with me.
First off, I don’t know anything about this author! After some quick googling I discovered she’s got a pretty big following but beyond that I don’t know who she is/what she does so don’t come for me. I saw some creators I like really loving and excited about this book and there are soooo many 5 star reviews so I was excited to give it a read.
Unfortunately, I did not like this book.
Specifically for the audiobook listening experience, I did not enjoy the author reading her own book, it did not work for me at all. All of the characters had the same tone and there was no emotion behind any of the words. I enjoy when authors read their own stories when it is a biography, but this was a big miss for me and really hurt the reading experience. There are so many excellent audiobook narrators that could’ve done a great job! So that was disappointing.
The story and characters were extremely immature and childish. If this was a story about high schoolers it would make sense but the main character is turning 30!! Very cringey and juvenile. I also did not like the “plot twist” of the love interest it felt way out of place in the story! I feel like friends to lovers was right there and I actually think I would’ve enjoyed this more if that’s the route we went but… we didn’t… the “connection” Phoebe ended up going with felt like a last resort and went from 0 to 100 so quick!
I did like that the premise was centred around Phoebes anxiety around sex and intimacy, but to me I don’t think it was executed well. It felt very immature and like the only personality trait Phoebe had was having anxiety and vomiting. The characters lacked depth, there was no growth or development and I’m so disappointed because I had such high hopes!
I’m happy for the people who loved this book, but sadly I am not one of them.
I don’t usually write reviews that are more than a sentence or two so bear with me.
First off, I don’t know anything about this author! After some quick googling I discovered she’s got a pretty big following but beyond that I don’t know who she is/what she does so don’t come for me. I saw some creators I like really loving and excited about this book and there are soooo many 5 star reviews so I was excited to give it a read.
Unfortunately, I did not like this book.
Specifically for the audiobook listening experience, I did not enjoy the author reading her own book, it did not work for me at all. All of the characters had the same tone and there was no emotion behind any of the words. I enjoy when authors read their own stories when it is a biography, but this was a big miss for me and really hurt the reading experience. There are so many excellent audiobook narrators that could’ve done a great job! So that was disappointing.
The story and characters were extremely immature and childish. If this was a story about high schoolers it would make sense but the main character is turning 30!! Very cringey and juvenile. I also did not like the “plot twist” of the love interest it felt way out of place in the story! I feel like friends to lovers was right there and I actually think I would’ve enjoyed this more if that’s the route we went but… we didn’t… the “connection” Phoebe ended up going with felt like a last resort and went from 0 to 100 so quick!
I did like that the premise was centred around Phoebes anxiety around sex and intimacy, but to me I don’t think it was executed well. It felt very immature and like the only personality trait Phoebe had was having anxiety and vomiting. The characters lacked depth, there was no growth or development and I’m so disappointed because I had such high hopes!
I’m happy for the people who loved this book, but sadly I am not one of them.
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