When Margaux DeLaurentis leaves Miami for a new career in Chicago, she thinks she’s closing the door on heartbreak. But the Windy City has other plans. Between a demanding new job, a luxurious condo she’s learning to call home, and the unexpected presence of her old flame’s best friend, Joe Morello, her fresh start quickly becomes more complicated than she imagined.
Joe is charming, protective, and dangerously hard to resist. His flirtations blur the line between friendship and something far more intense—and soon their chemistry ignites into passion Margaux can’t deny. But just as she begins to fall for the man who’s always been in the background, her past comes crashing back when Mike, the ex who broke her heart, reappears with unfinished business.
Caught between the pull of old wounds and the promise of new love, Margaux must navigate loyalty, desire, and betrayal in Chicago’s charged atmosphere. Will she embrace the unexpected romance waiting for her, or let the ghosts of her past steal her chance at happiness?
A seductive, emotional, and fast-paced romance, Love , Lies, and the L-train is perfect for readers who love steamy chemistry, complicated love triangles, and the thrill of starting over.
1.5 ⭐ Did I read the same book as everyone else? I will preface this by saying I understand Rocca is an indie author. That being said, the amount of spelling and grammatical errors in this book was frustrating. The story felt amateur. The romance was cringy and uncomfortable (and not because of the spice). The plot development did not flow well or engage me until the final chapter, and not enough to continue the series.
1. Mars is unbelievably naive. I think most of us were once 20-something, new and dumb to relationships, but this girl is on a whole other level. Your ex's friend, whom you have known for 4 years, suddenly swoops in after your breakup, and you have no questions? No red flags start waving about the endless cash he seems to have, or his authoritative and domineering behavior? I found myself constantly wanting to shake her and say, "This is not normal behavior in a relationship!"
2. Joe is incredibly cringy. The way he talks and acts, I found myself going "ew" more often than not. Their relationship felt quick, in an uncomfortable way, and that could have been a lack of development in the story. His possessiveness was gross, his assumption that moving in after 1 month would just be acceptable, calling her his wife, the tattoo, etc. None of it was a turn on, and if I had a guy in my life like this, I'd run for the hills. Again, she's young and naive, though. Overall, he made me want to hide from him rather than swoon.
3. Mike is a grade A douche. I think his character may be the most realistic, known guys like this.
4. Gina is an eye-rolling plot point. But also one of the more realistic characters, known girls like her also.
5. Joe's family and Sophia are enjoyable and funny. My friend is Italian, and this is pretty spot on for how her family is.
Spice Level 🌶️3/5 Characters 👥2/5 Romance ❤️1.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I finished Love, Lies & the L-Train and immediately just… sat there. In silence. Staring at the wall. Because what did I just feel?
Joe and Margeaux destroyed me—in the best possible way. The love, the lies, the heartbreak, the redemption... it’s all there, tangled up in a story that feels so real it hurts. Every page made me ache, swoon, or want to throw my Kindle across the room. Sometimes all three at once.
Della Rocca writes with fire and soul—every word burns, every scene lingers. I laughed, I cried, I forgave, I didn’t forgive... and now I need therapy (and Book 2).
This is a fun and engaging read that’s easy to enjoy from start to finish. The story feels relatable and fresh, especially in the way it captures relationships, honesty, and everyday life. The characters are likable, some not so likable and realistic, and the writing style is smooth and approachable, making the book hard to put down. Overall, it’s a light, positive novel that blends emotion and charm in a way that kept me interested and entertained.
I can’t begin to explain just how much I enjoyed this book. I started this series a few weeks ago and have enjoyed every single page. Della Rocca has made a name for herself with physiological thrillers. I left as if I knew each character and truly enjoyed Sunday dinners. As a reader of over 5,000 this series is in my top 20. Ladies parts of this book will have you asking for your husband to come to bed early. Beware !!! lol
Joe. Margeaux. The tension. The chaos. The heat. I was blushing, gasping, and occasionally yelling at the pages like they could hear me.
It’s sexy, messy, and absolutely addictive—the kind of story that keeps you up way past your bedtime and makes you text your friends, “You NEED to read this.”
Love, Lies, and the L-Train is a captivating romance that kept me turning pages from beginning to end. The author does a wonderful job of bringing Margaux's journey to life, making her struggles, hopes, and emotional conflicts feel genuine and relatable.
Came across this author on TikTok. Her reels invited me in to want to read this book. It's being offered on KU for the summer so I said why not. Boy was I happily surprised. This story is addicting and immediately made me go into her second book. Cant wait to see how this story unfolds.
If you are looking for a spicy romance series, with a captivating story that draws you in, read this book! You are going to want to immediately get the next book so you can see what happens next.
Just finished this. I just moved to chicago and thought to myself what a better way to kill time b4 I start work then reading a spicy book based IN chicago. I hate that it took me so long to read this cuz lortttttttt Joe is that fucking man. The man every woman's dreams about. But just like everyone else he has a past. Yall deff need to read this series cant wait to start the second book