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Tropesick
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Expected 16 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
10 days and 01:44:29
10 copies available
U.S. only
In this lush, slow-burning romance, two childhood neighbors, connected by a shared tragedy, unexpectedly reunite to ghostwrite a love story for a reclusive author. Spending the summer at her secluded Hamptons estate, they soon discover that dozens of classic romance tropes, including the ones they’re crafting on page, are mysteriously playing out in real life.
Katie Caruso is a completely normal twenty-five-year-old girl. At least, for the past eight years, she’s tried to be. She likes glitter and sequins and flirting with cute boys at New York City bars. She’s also a ghostwriter for Meredith Bradford, the bestselling romance novelist of all time. But then Tyler McNally walks back into Katie’s life, and that bedazzled facade crumbles at her platform-sneakered feet.
Katie and Tyler haven’t seen or spoken to each other since the overdose death of Katie’s older brother, a standout MLB pitching prospect. Tyler was her brother’s best friend, and Katie—naturally—was the girl next door. But now, Tyler is a sleeve-tattooed, Ivy League-educated aspiring literary fiction novelist, nine years sober . . . and Katie’s writing partner for the summer.
As genre conventions require, Katie and Tyler soon find themselves removed from Manhattan and instead writing their love story in “forced proximity” at Meredith’s isolated Southampton home. As the summer unfolds, the tropes Katie and Tyler have written into their novel begin to play out in their own lives. Call it destiny, fate, or magic It’s clear their love story is unfinished. This time, though, they’ll fight for their happy ending.
Heart-wrenching and tender, Tropesick is a love letter to the romance genre. With a wink and a nod, Okie has packed the novel with listeners’ favorite
Grumpy/Sunshine Brother’s best friend Girl next door Forced proximity Forbidden love Kissing in the rain Groveling hero Second-chance romance Slow burn Only one bed
Katie Caruso is a completely normal twenty-five-year-old girl. At least, for the past eight years, she’s tried to be. She likes glitter and sequins and flirting with cute boys at New York City bars. She’s also a ghostwriter for Meredith Bradford, the bestselling romance novelist of all time. But then Tyler McNally walks back into Katie’s life, and that bedazzled facade crumbles at her platform-sneakered feet.
Katie and Tyler haven’t seen or spoken to each other since the overdose death of Katie’s older brother, a standout MLB pitching prospect. Tyler was her brother’s best friend, and Katie—naturally—was the girl next door. But now, Tyler is a sleeve-tattooed, Ivy League-educated aspiring literary fiction novelist, nine years sober . . . and Katie’s writing partner for the summer.
As genre conventions require, Katie and Tyler soon find themselves removed from Manhattan and instead writing their love story in “forced proximity” at Meredith’s isolated Southampton home. As the summer unfolds, the tropes Katie and Tyler have written into their novel begin to play out in their own lives. Call it destiny, fate, or magic It’s clear their love story is unfinished. This time, though, they’ll fight for their happy ending.
Heart-wrenching and tender, Tropesick is a love letter to the romance genre. With a wink and a nod, Okie has packed the novel with listeners’ favorite
Grumpy/Sunshine Brother’s best friend Girl next door Forced proximity Forbidden love Kissing in the rain Groveling hero Second-chance romance Slow burn Only one bed
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 16, 2026
16254 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Okie
2 books306 followersHi, I’m Lauren Okie, and I write messy, hard-fought love stories. My debut, THE BEST WORST THING, is out now. Look out for TROPESICK, coming summer 2026, and follow me on IG (@laurenokieauthor) to keep up with my nonsense.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my goodness… where do I even begin?
I can confidently say this book has officially ruined me — in the most glorious, emotionally devastating, heart-expanding way possible. It has already secured its place as one of my absolute favorite romances of 2026. Top three. Locked. I still have a few auto-approved favorite romance authors releasing books this year… but I’m telling you right now, this one is not surrendering its spot without a fight.
And that says a lot.
Because lately? I’ve been struggling a little with romance.
As someone who adores this genre, it pains me to admit that I’ve felt a bit worn down by formulaic stories. Don’t get me wrong — many of them are fun, cute, comforting. But after a while, they start blending together. Same tropes. Same emotional arcs. Slightly different character names. It began to feel like I was reading variations of the same book over and over again.
They entertained me — sure. Like a streaming rom-com you watch on a cozy Friday night. Pleasant. Predictable. Around a 6 on IMDb. Enjoyable, but not unforgettable.
But I was craving something else.
I wanted intensity. I wanted angst that hurts in the best way. I wanted longing that makes your chest ache. I wanted depth. I wanted flawed, layered characters who feel painfully real. I wanted smart writing. I wanted sexy tension that actually simmers. I wanted something addictive — the kind of book that keeps you up at 2 a.m. saying “just one more chapter” and then suddenly it’s sunrise.
Maybe I was being extra picky. But I didn’t want another beautifully packaged formula. I wanted to believe in romance again.
And then Lauren Okie came along and said, “Here. Have everything.”
This book is a masterclass in trope execution. Yes, it uses beloved romance tropes — enemies to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity, best friend’s sister, girl-next-door energy — but instead of feeling recycled, they feel elevated. Intentional. Fresh. She doesn’t just use tropes; she understands them. She plays with them. She respects them.
And the book-within-a-book concept? Brilliant.
Two writers forced to co-write a romance novel while navigating their own unresolved history — it’s layered storytelling at its finest. We’re reading a romance about people writing a romance, and the parallels between their fictional story and their real emotional baggage are handled so cleverly.
Now let’s talk about that slow burn.
Angsty. Heart-wrenching. Emotionally raw. And yes — pant-meltingly sexy.
The tension between Katie and Tyler isn’t loud or over-the-top. It simmers. It lingers in glances. In unfinished sentences. In the space between them when they’re forced to sit side by side. It’s the kind of chemistry that feels earned because of their shared past.
And that twist.
I need a moment.
It was hinted at. The breadcrumbs were there. But when the reveal finally landed? I literally gasped. I sat there staring at the page thinking, “How did I not fully connect this?” It wasn’t obvious — it was smart. It trusted the reader. And I respect that so much.
Now, the characters.
Katie Caruso is sunshine personified on the outside — rainbow outfits, glittery notebooks, bright personality. She radiates color. But beneath that carefully curated brightness, she is carrying grief that has shaped her entire life. Losing her brother to addiction shattered her family. And being abandoned by the boy she loved broke something even deeper.
She is layered, guarded, vulnerable beneath the sparkle.
Then there’s Tyler McNailly.
Her brother’s best friend. Her first love. The boy who left without explanation eight years ago.
Now he’s back. A successful literary fiction author. Tattooed. Intense. Nine years sober. Quietly carrying his own guilt and history. He’s not the same reckless young man she once loved — he’s grown, scarred, self-aware.
And when they’re forced into close quarters in a secluded Southampton mansion to co-write a novel under a strict deadline? The emotional stakes skyrocket.
There’s resentment.
There’s longing.
There’s unfinished business.
There’s chemistry that refuses to die.
Katie wants to stay angry. Tyler wants redemption. They both miss each other more than they’re willing to admit.
And then there’s Meredith Bradford — their eccentric, slightly mysterious employer — who feels suspiciously like a matchmaker orchestrating emotional chaos in her glamorous mansion. I loved her presence. She adds both tension and subtle humor to the story.
What makes this romance special is that it isn’t just about attraction. It’s about healing. It’s about forgiveness. It’s about confronting the past instead of rewriting it. It’s about sobriety, grief, guilt, family fractures, and learning how to love someone as the person they are now — not who they were.
This story has teeth. It doesn’t just flutter around your heart — it bites. It tears you open. It makes you sit in uncomfortable emotions. And then, slowly, carefully, it stitches you back together.
By the end, I felt wrung out in the best possible way. Emotional. Satisfied. Warm. A little teary. Completely fulfilled.
And that ending? Perfect. Earned. The kind that makes you want to close the book, hug it, and whisper, “Yes. This is it. This is why I read romance.”
Overall, I loved this book deeply. If you are looking for something smart, emotional, angsty, sexy, layered, character-driven, and genuinely moving — something that will shake you but also restore your faith in love — please pick this up.
It’s rare to find a romance that feels both trope-savvy and emotionally authentic. This one does both beautifully.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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I can confidently say this book has officially ruined me — in the most glorious, emotionally devastating, heart-expanding way possible. It has already secured its place as one of my absolute favorite romances of 2026. Top three. Locked. I still have a few auto-approved favorite romance authors releasing books this year… but I’m telling you right now, this one is not surrendering its spot without a fight.
And that says a lot.
Because lately? I’ve been struggling a little with romance.
As someone who adores this genre, it pains me to admit that I’ve felt a bit worn down by formulaic stories. Don’t get me wrong — many of them are fun, cute, comforting. But after a while, they start blending together. Same tropes. Same emotional arcs. Slightly different character names. It began to feel like I was reading variations of the same book over and over again.
They entertained me — sure. Like a streaming rom-com you watch on a cozy Friday night. Pleasant. Predictable. Around a 6 on IMDb. Enjoyable, but not unforgettable.
But I was craving something else.
I wanted intensity. I wanted angst that hurts in the best way. I wanted longing that makes your chest ache. I wanted depth. I wanted flawed, layered characters who feel painfully real. I wanted smart writing. I wanted sexy tension that actually simmers. I wanted something addictive — the kind of book that keeps you up at 2 a.m. saying “just one more chapter” and then suddenly it’s sunrise.
Maybe I was being extra picky. But I didn’t want another beautifully packaged formula. I wanted to believe in romance again.
And then Lauren Okie came along and said, “Here. Have everything.”
This book is a masterclass in trope execution. Yes, it uses beloved romance tropes — enemies to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity, best friend’s sister, girl-next-door energy — but instead of feeling recycled, they feel elevated. Intentional. Fresh. She doesn’t just use tropes; she understands them. She plays with them. She respects them.
And the book-within-a-book concept? Brilliant.
Two writers forced to co-write a romance novel while navigating their own unresolved history — it’s layered storytelling at its finest. We’re reading a romance about people writing a romance, and the parallels between their fictional story and their real emotional baggage are handled so cleverly.
Now let’s talk about that slow burn.
Angsty. Heart-wrenching. Emotionally raw. And yes — pant-meltingly sexy.
The tension between Katie and Tyler isn’t loud or over-the-top. It simmers. It lingers in glances. In unfinished sentences. In the space between them when they’re forced to sit side by side. It’s the kind of chemistry that feels earned because of their shared past.
And that twist.
I need a moment.
It was hinted at. The breadcrumbs were there. But when the reveal finally landed? I literally gasped. I sat there staring at the page thinking, “How did I not fully connect this?” It wasn’t obvious — it was smart. It trusted the reader. And I respect that so much.
Now, the characters.
Katie Caruso is sunshine personified on the outside — rainbow outfits, glittery notebooks, bright personality. She radiates color. But beneath that carefully curated brightness, she is carrying grief that has shaped her entire life. Losing her brother to addiction shattered her family. And being abandoned by the boy she loved broke something even deeper.
She is layered, guarded, vulnerable beneath the sparkle.
Then there’s Tyler McNailly.
Her brother’s best friend. Her first love. The boy who left without explanation eight years ago.
Now he’s back. A successful literary fiction author. Tattooed. Intense. Nine years sober. Quietly carrying his own guilt and history. He’s not the same reckless young man she once loved — he’s grown, scarred, self-aware.
And when they’re forced into close quarters in a secluded Southampton mansion to co-write a novel under a strict deadline? The emotional stakes skyrocket.
There’s resentment.
There’s longing.
There’s unfinished business.
There’s chemistry that refuses to die.
Katie wants to stay angry. Tyler wants redemption. They both miss each other more than they’re willing to admit.
And then there’s Meredith Bradford — their eccentric, slightly mysterious employer — who feels suspiciously like a matchmaker orchestrating emotional chaos in her glamorous mansion. I loved her presence. She adds both tension and subtle humor to the story.
What makes this romance special is that it isn’t just about attraction. It’s about healing. It’s about forgiveness. It’s about confronting the past instead of rewriting it. It’s about sobriety, grief, guilt, family fractures, and learning how to love someone as the person they are now — not who they were.
This story has teeth. It doesn’t just flutter around your heart — it bites. It tears you open. It makes you sit in uncomfortable emotions. And then, slowly, carefully, it stitches you back together.
By the end, I felt wrung out in the best possible way. Emotional. Satisfied. Warm. A little teary. Completely fulfilled.
And that ending? Perfect. Earned. The kind that makes you want to close the book, hug it, and whisper, “Yes. This is it. This is why I read romance.”
Overall, I loved this book deeply. If you are looking for something smart, emotional, angsty, sexy, layered, character-driven, and genuinely moving — something that will shake you but also restore your faith in love — please pick this up.
It’s rare to find a romance that feels both trope-savvy and emotionally authentic. This one does both beautifully.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
twitter<
March 19, 2026
Three cheers for the slutty little glasses (SLG’s if you will)
Well, well, well a hot new cottage has rolled into town
Sometimes love means ghost writing a book for a bestselling romance writer with your former childhood friend while it feels like the tropes are screaming for you to be together—because actually they are. Lauren Okie’s sophomore novel Tropesick is a story for the trope obsessed, those who are anything but sick of their miraculous power in the romance genre. Nailing the grit, hurt, and wondrous feeling of reconnection and second chances, Tropesick is the self aware romance novel needed to navigate modern times and modern loves. Tracing the story down the line from one trope to the next, characters Katie and Tyler expose the past, so broken by it that their only way to reach for each other is through fiction, the tropes and the characters a stepping stone to reconciliation. Between arguing over the absurdity of tropes (which keep playing out in real life), discussing which bathroom cabinetry characters could construct by hand—and rail their love interests against, and using their respective characters to speak through the hurt, Okie’s humor and raw emotion is embodied in her two leads and every trope laden chapter. Tropesick is tropetastic, a novel you will want to live in and forever embody. Where the tension is in the backstory and the tropes are as large as life itself this is the romance novel for every romance reader. Of that I am sure.
Read my review
thank you to michelle at avon (whom i owe my life for a “bring back men who yearn tshirt along with this arc.
Bookstagram | Blog
Well, well, well a hot new cottage has rolled into town
Sometimes love means ghost writing a book for a bestselling romance writer with your former childhood friend while it feels like the tropes are screaming for you to be together—because actually they are. Lauren Okie’s sophomore novel Tropesick is a story for the trope obsessed, those who are anything but sick of their miraculous power in the romance genre. Nailing the grit, hurt, and wondrous feeling of reconnection and second chances, Tropesick is the self aware romance novel needed to navigate modern times and modern loves. Tracing the story down the line from one trope to the next, characters Katie and Tyler expose the past, so broken by it that their only way to reach for each other is through fiction, the tropes and the characters a stepping stone to reconciliation. Between arguing over the absurdity of tropes (which keep playing out in real life), discussing which bathroom cabinetry characters could construct by hand—and rail their love interests against, and using their respective characters to speak through the hurt, Okie’s humor and raw emotion is embodied in her two leads and every trope laden chapter. Tropesick is tropetastic, a novel you will want to live in and forever embody. Where the tension is in the backstory and the tropes are as large as life itself this is the romance novel for every romance reader. Of that I am sure.
Read my review
thank you to michelle at avon (whom i owe my life for a “bring back men who yearn tshirt along with this arc.
Bookstagram | Blog
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Lauren Okie broke my brain.
I have no coherent thoughts.
I need a reread in order to fully process.
Sending Lauren Okie my therapy bill for all the extra sessions Ill need this month.
If you enjoy being wrecked while reading romance, go ahead and add this to you TBR.
Might come back and write something more coherent later. Might just cry myself to sleep.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
I have no coherent thoughts.
I need a reread in order to fully process.
Sending Lauren Okie my therapy bill for all the extra sessions Ill need this month.
If you enjoy being wrecked while reading romance, go ahead and add this to you TBR.
Might come back and write something more coherent later. Might just cry myself to sleep.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
March 12, 2026
tropesick simultaneously broke my heart and put it back together again all at once. this is a book i will be recommending to ANYONE that will listen to me yap about it!
oh my LANTA, did i love katie and tyler’s romance and history. everything about the two of them was so bittersweet and sad and sweet and nostalgic. 11 years after their initial separation, the two of them come back together under the most random circumstances and they have to find a way to work together to ghost write a romance novel. and DO THEY WRITE THAT NOVEL!!
something about a bad boy gone good, tattooed, GLASSES (!!!!) gets me EVERY TIMEEEE!! lauren okie knew what she was doing here. 🙂↕️ she made a fan out of me. i will be reading more of her. yes absolutely. this is 100009% worth the read if you want to kick your feet, giggling or cry. it will accomplish both I promise.
thank you netgalley and avon for the e-arc. <3
oh my LANTA, did i love katie and tyler’s romance and history. everything about the two of them was so bittersweet and sad and sweet and nostalgic. 11 years after their initial separation, the two of them come back together under the most random circumstances and they have to find a way to work together to ghost write a romance novel. and DO THEY WRITE THAT NOVEL!!
something about a bad boy gone good, tattooed, GLASSES (!!!!) gets me EVERY TIMEEEE!! lauren okie knew what she was doing here. 🙂↕️ she made a fan out of me. i will be reading more of her. yes absolutely. this is 100009% worth the read if you want to kick your feet, giggling or cry. it will accomplish both I promise.
thank you netgalley and avon for the e-arc. <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
જ⁀➴ 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)
HUGE THANK YOU to Avon Books, Lauren Okie, and NetGalley for the eARC and the physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Tropesick will be officially published on June 16th, 2026!
༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️
When Tropesick was pitched as a love letter to the romance genre, no one was playing around. This was a story about second chances, finding a way back to the person you never forgot, and working through trauma and coming out the other side alive and as a better person, all with a touch of magical realism. It truly was a nod to everything the romance genre: highlighting the most common tropes in the genre, subtle references to beloved romance authors in the industry, and little cameos of well-loved books in the romance genre that we hold so close to our hearts. If you also like your romance books with a hefty side of tension and angst, this is also the book for you!
While I enjoyed the writing in this story, and I'd still recommend it to readers, I felt like more could've been done to sell the second-chance romance and the sensitive topics that were discussed in the story. I love a good second-chance romance as much as the next person does, but I also believe it's one of the hardest tropes to write about well, in my opinion. I feel like more could've been done in that aspect to sell me a bit more on Katie and Tyler's relationship.
✎𓂃Full review to come soon!
༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ As mARCH madness continues, I've been staring at this book from my Kindle shelf for SO long. Like, I've had the eARC for this since December, before it even went live on NetGalley, since I got a widget for it, and it kept calling out to me. I think this is my sign to read it because Avon sent me a PHYSICAL ARC of this in the mail! I don't think there can be a bigger sign than this one, so guess who's throwing the rest of my ARC TBR away for this?😂
HUGE THANK YOU to Avon Books, Lauren Okie, and NetGalley for the eARC and the physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Tropesick will be officially published on June 16th, 2026!
"You are the best thing in my life. I can't believe I got another chance to love you."
༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️
When Tropesick was pitched as a love letter to the romance genre, no one was playing around. This was a story about second chances, finding a way back to the person you never forgot, and working through trauma and coming out the other side alive and as a better person, all with a touch of magical realism. It truly was a nod to everything the romance genre: highlighting the most common tropes in the genre, subtle references to beloved romance authors in the industry, and little cameos of well-loved books in the romance genre that we hold so close to our hearts. If you also like your romance books with a hefty side of tension and angst, this is also the book for you!
While I enjoyed the writing in this story, and I'd still recommend it to readers, I felt like more could've been done to sell the second-chance romance and the sensitive topics that were discussed in the story. I love a good second-chance romance as much as the next person does, but I also believe it's one of the hardest tropes to write about well, in my opinion. I feel like more could've been done in that aspect to sell me a bit more on Katie and Tyler's relationship.
✎𓂃Full review to come soon!
༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ As mARCH madness continues, I've been staring at this book from my Kindle shelf for SO long. Like, I've had the eARC for this since December, before it even went live on NetGalley, since I got a widget for it, and it kept calling out to me. I think this is my sign to read it because Avon sent me a PHYSICAL ARC of this in the mail! I don't think there can be a bigger sign than this one, so guess who's throwing the rest of my ARC TBR away for this?😂
Want to read
March 13, 2026I got the arc I got the arc!!!!! The squeal I squonked!
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Lauren Okie for the gifted eARC. Any thoughts will be my own.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Lauren Okie for the gifted eARC. Any thoughts will be my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
6 ⭐️
I can't even describe how much I loved this book!!! It made me laugh and giggle, even cry a couple of times at the end. The book is extremely emotional and handled some very heavy topics so beautiful and with care. I love Katie and Tyler with all my heart even though they frustrated me a couple of times
I wasn't expecting the book to have some magical realism in it which confused me a little, but I absolutely loved the ending and how it all came together!
6 ⭐️
I can't even describe how much I loved this book!!! It made me laugh and giggle, even cry a couple of times at the end. The book is extremely emotional and handled some very heavy topics so beautiful and with care. I love Katie and Tyler with all my heart even though they frustrated me a couple of times
I wasn't expecting the book to have some magical realism in it which confused me a little, but I absolutely loved the ending and how it all came together!
March 9, 2026
crying tears of joy that i finally closed this book and never have to open it or think about it again 🥹
(although the rambling half-review in my notes app may beg to differ… so maybe rtc ??)
(although the rambling half-review in my notes app may beg to differ… so maybe rtc ??)
Read
March 9, 2026I'm convinced there is no way some of y'all have eyes to read and brains to process because this novel was a hot ass mess from the very beginning.
I do think that an attempt was made to do something interesting with the nature of this narrative, it's just that at every turn the book made it very clear that Okie as an author possessed none of the skill to make this novel actually compelling.
An attempt is made to get the reader invested in why Katie and Tyler are at odds and what could have possibly driven a wedge into the relationship between their families. No matter how many winks or nods we have to the fact that tropes are playing an outsized role and there is a sort of meta way that the characters we're following are people as well as characters and how all of that is meant to play into the larger story doesn't really excuse the sloppy way that this story unfolds.
When a book like, Didn't You Use to Be Queenie B? exists it's care about the really hard for me to believe that this is a story that really handles the topic of addiction with care. When books like Colton Gentry's Third Act exist and tackle grief with actual care, this novel just uses it as decoration.
Even if I could get over how quickly these two are able to put their shit aside for plot necessities and fall into a relationship I can't get over how shallow they both are as characters. Or how utterly unserious the concluding act of this book is. By that point it doesn't really matter to me that we have secret affairs coming to light or wicked mother like actions, or that Katie is seemingly stuck reacting to everything in the most overthetop fashion for a situation she navigated herself into.... I also really have a hard time with how little care Tyler's personal storyline was handled. It was a lot for Okie to put on him and not only not really resolve, but really do nothing with at all...
At no point was any part of this book good or enjoyable. It never came together as a thing that really felt like a product that anyone should spend their time reading let alone their hard earned money purchasing.
I do think that an attempt was made to do something interesting with the nature of this narrative, it's just that at every turn the book made it very clear that Okie as an author possessed none of the skill to make this novel actually compelling.
An attempt is made to get the reader invested in why Katie and Tyler are at odds and what could have possibly driven a wedge into the relationship between their families. No matter how many winks or nods we have to the fact that tropes are playing an outsized role and there is a sort of meta way that the characters we're following are people as well as characters and how all of that is meant to play into the larger story doesn't really excuse the sloppy way that this story unfolds.
When a book like, Didn't You Use to Be Queenie B? exists it's care about the really hard for me to believe that this is a story that really handles the topic of addiction with care. When books like Colton Gentry's Third Act exist and tackle grief with actual care, this novel just uses it as decoration.
Even if I could get over how quickly these two are able to put their shit aside for plot necessities and fall into a relationship I can't get over how shallow they both are as characters. Or how utterly unserious the concluding act of this book is. By that point it doesn't really matter to me that we have secret affairs coming to light or wicked mother like actions, or that Katie is seemingly stuck reacting to everything in the most overthetop fashion for a situation she navigated herself into.... I also really have a hard time with how little care Tyler's personal storyline was handled. It was a lot for Okie to put on him and not only not really resolve, but really do nothing with at all...
At no point was any part of this book good or enjoyable. It never came together as a thing that really felt like a product that anyone should spend their time reading let alone their hard earned money purchasing.
Currently reading
March 21, 2026Pre-read: I’m not usually a fan of magical realism, but I couldn’t miss Lauren’s new book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager (Avon) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager (Avon) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While my rating and review are by no means horrible, I did have such high hopes for this book that I don’t think were met. When I picked this book up, I knew some of the tropes (thank you front cover) and knew they were both writers (and I have loved that in the past) but went in blind otherwise. There were only two key items that made this not five-stars for me.
One, I was not obsessed with our MMC unfortunately. I definitely enjoyed our MMC more as an adult than as a teenager. Even then with all his growth, I don’t think he was remarkable enough to were I will think about him constantly.
Two (kind of a spoiler)… there is so much magical realism and I wish it was advertised as this. It was intentional not done in order for readers to be completely shocked and taken aback with the plot twist at the end, but I personally would have rated this higher if I knew to at least expect magical realism. Since I was not expecting it, it actually made me feel more confused and disconnected.
Other than these two problems, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I giggled. I kicked my feet. I sobbed, especially toward the end, as Katie came to terms with her relationship with her brother. It is absolutely devastating to grieve someone you feel like you never truly knew, and I cried seeing Katie realize this.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
One, I was not obsessed with our MMC unfortunately. I definitely enjoyed our MMC more as an adult than as a teenager. Even then with all his growth, I don’t think he was remarkable enough to were I will think about him constantly.
Two (kind of a spoiler)… there is so much magical realism and I wish it was advertised as this. It was intentional not done in order for readers to be completely shocked and taken aback with the plot twist at the end, but I personally would have rated this higher if I knew to at least expect magical realism. Since I was not expecting it, it actually made me feel more confused and disconnected.
Other than these two problems, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I giggled. I kicked my feet. I sobbed, especially toward the end, as Katie came to terms with her relationship with her brother. It is absolutely devastating to grieve someone you feel like you never truly knew, and I cried seeing Katie realize this.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
December 16, 2025
A genius, magical exploration of grief, addiction, and love. Not the words you’d use to describe such a scenario but truly those three capture the spirit of Lauren Okie’s sophomore novel. I adored this story, it will live in my heart for a very long time. Not only is it a fresh take on the tropes we love so well, it is a heart-achingly beautiful portrayal of love as it explores dark themes with a guarantee of a happily-ever-after. Katie and Tyler’s story is one that echoes the harsh realities of life and how love perseveres, how love and light find their way. This propulsive and tear inducing story that will have you hooked until well after you’ve finished the last page because it is so unflinching in its depiction of life, it doesn’t shy away from the dark and sad realities we face when tragedy strikes. I love how raw and vulnerable this story is, these characters are, it cuts right to the soul, the core of humanity and how we are all people just wanting to be loved, romantically, platonically, all of it, all the way. One of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Katie Caruso has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Tyler McNally, for as long as she can remember… right up until he broke her heart in the aftermath of her brother’s overdose. Eight years later, Katie is a successful ghostwriter on a tight deadline and in desperate need of a co-writer. Enter Tyler, back in her life whether she wants him there or not.
What starts as tension and resentment slowly softens as the two are forced to work together and, in a fun twist, begin experiencing in real life all the tropes they’re writing into their book.
I’ll admit, the first third felt a bit chaotic to me. The short chapters and quick scene drops made it feel like I was constantly being thrown into the middle of moments already in progress. But once I settled into the rhythm, I actually started to enjoy that style, and it added to the fast-paced, trope-heavy feel of the story.
What really elevated this book for me, though, was the final third. It shifted from a quirky, trope-filled will-they-won’t-they romance into something much more reflective and emotional. Themes of grief, loss, self-blame, and forgiveness came to the forefront in a way I wasn’t expecting, and it completely changed how I viewed the story.
The ending didn’t go where I thought it would, but it left me smiling in a way that felt deeper than your typical romcom ending. Not just happy, but… full. Like the story had something meaningful to say.
This isn’t just a romance. It’s a story about grief, healing, and learning to forgive both others and yourself, and that’s what really made it stand out for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Katie Caruso has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Tyler McNally, for as long as she can remember… right up until he broke her heart in the aftermath of her brother’s overdose. Eight years later, Katie is a successful ghostwriter on a tight deadline and in desperate need of a co-writer. Enter Tyler, back in her life whether she wants him there or not.
What starts as tension and resentment slowly softens as the two are forced to work together and, in a fun twist, begin experiencing in real life all the tropes they’re writing into their book.
I’ll admit, the first third felt a bit chaotic to me. The short chapters and quick scene drops made it feel like I was constantly being thrown into the middle of moments already in progress. But once I settled into the rhythm, I actually started to enjoy that style, and it added to the fast-paced, trope-heavy feel of the story.
What really elevated this book for me, though, was the final third. It shifted from a quirky, trope-filled will-they-won’t-they romance into something much more reflective and emotional. Themes of grief, loss, self-blame, and forgiveness came to the forefront in a way I wasn’t expecting, and it completely changed how I viewed the story.
The ending didn’t go where I thought it would, but it left me smiling in a way that felt deeper than your typical romcom ending. Not just happy, but… full. Like the story had something meaningful to say.
This isn’t just a romance. It’s a story about grief, healing, and learning to forgive both others and yourself, and that’s what really made it stand out for me.
March 9, 2026
Thank you to Avon & NetGalley for the ARC!
Lauren Okie's sophomore novel, Tropesick, is a beautifully emotional, angsty, & romantic story that explores love, grief, addiction & recovery, and healing. It is a love letter to the romance genre, a deep dive into the ugliness of life & the beauty of feeling it all. We follow Katie Caruso & Tyler McNally, estranged childhood neighbors/friends who are unexpectedly paired up to ghostwrite a romance book over the summer.
In true Lauren Okie fashion, Katie and Tyler are two complex, realistic, raw, & relatable characters. Katie's grief and familial struggles, the desire to feel loved, wanted & cared for by those she needs most. Tyler's story of addiction and recovery, his grief & guilt, and his struggles regarding his father. Both of their backstories made my heart hurt, but it made their growth & healing so much more beautiful to see. Lauren handles both of them & their stories with so much care, which I admire about her writing. And for all of the vulnerability & complexity in their characters, there is so much humor & wit between these two! I loved them both so much!!!
The romance in this is just as complex & raw as you'd expect for two people with a shared past like theirs. It's filled with angst, heavy emotions, & healing. Katie & Tyler's romance is a slow burn, written in a semi-dual timeline, & is heart wrenchingly beautiful. I loved seeing them reconnect, open themselves up to each other again, & find their happy ending. I loved their banter, their deep connection, their chemistry, & the way they understand each other. They broke my heart & put it back together, but i love them so much!!!
The ending absolutely threw me for a loop but it also made me love the story, Lauren Okie's mind, and the creativity so much more!!! I can't recommend this one enough!!! (Addiction is a big theme in this story, so please go forward with caution if that's something you may be triggered by or sensitive to!)
Lauren Okie's sophomore novel, Tropesick, is a beautifully emotional, angsty, & romantic story that explores love, grief, addiction & recovery, and healing. It is a love letter to the romance genre, a deep dive into the ugliness of life & the beauty of feeling it all. We follow Katie Caruso & Tyler McNally, estranged childhood neighbors/friends who are unexpectedly paired up to ghostwrite a romance book over the summer.
In true Lauren Okie fashion, Katie and Tyler are two complex, realistic, raw, & relatable characters. Katie's grief and familial struggles, the desire to feel loved, wanted & cared for by those she needs most. Tyler's story of addiction and recovery, his grief & guilt, and his struggles regarding his father. Both of their backstories made my heart hurt, but it made their growth & healing so much more beautiful to see. Lauren handles both of them & their stories with so much care, which I admire about her writing. And for all of the vulnerability & complexity in their characters, there is so much humor & wit between these two! I loved them both so much!!!
The romance in this is just as complex & raw as you'd expect for two people with a shared past like theirs. It's filled with angst, heavy emotions, & healing. Katie & Tyler's romance is a slow burn, written in a semi-dual timeline, & is heart wrenchingly beautiful. I loved seeing them reconnect, open themselves up to each other again, & find their happy ending. I loved their banter, their deep connection, their chemistry, & the way they understand each other. They broke my heart & put it back together, but i love them so much!!!
The ending absolutely threw me for a loop but it also made me love the story, Lauren Okie's mind, and the creativity so much more!!! I can't recommend this one enough!!! (Addiction is a big theme in this story, so please go forward with caution if that's something you may be triggered by or sensitive to!)
April 2, 2026
Last year I was extremely lucky to read an early copy of Lauren Okie's debut novel The Best Worst Thing and then was very lucky to do a virtual Q & A event with her. Lauren was very kind to drop some tidbits about Tropesick and to read all her hints that she shared has been the most fulfilling part of my reading experience.
I admit over: 90 chapters is a daunting feat in romance and I was extremely hesitant but Lauren takes you on a full journey it never felt bloated or long. The chapters and moments are earned. For me the star of this books is without a doubt Tyler. It's rare for a romance author to make the leading male character the force in the narrative that leads the way, that makes a reader want to return to his chapters in a dual point of view narrative.
I'm so happy for Lauren and I know Tropesick is going to connect with so many readers, and I for one am so excited for readers to grab a copy.
Thank you so much Avon for the early digital copy!
I admit over: 90 chapters is a daunting feat in romance and I was extremely hesitant but Lauren takes you on a full journey it never felt bloated or long. The chapters and moments are earned. For me the star of this books is without a doubt Tyler. It's rare for a romance author to make the leading male character the force in the narrative that leads the way, that makes a reader want to return to his chapters in a dual point of view narrative.
I'm so happy for Lauren and I know Tropesick is going to connect with so many readers, and I for one am so excited for readers to grab a copy.
Thank you so much Avon for the early digital copy!
February 19, 2026
This book started off SO well for me.
I was intrigued pretty immediately. The stakes between Tyler and Katie felt high—especially surrounding the mystery about what happened between them, they were both so distinct and captivating at the start, and I wanted to know how their story played out. I loved Katie’s girly-ness and Tyler’s black-cat personality. Their back and forth was great, and the writing felt strong, and Lauren Okie officially had my attention.
And as I got deeper into the story, I began to love the depiction of grief and addiction. It felt beautiful and like it was deeply thought about and written with care. I really enjoyed seeing both of these depicted in the present tense of Katie’s and Tyler’s lives, but I also appreciated seeing it in their pasts too.
At the start, it was such a beautiful love letter to romance books.
Then, I hit the midway point of the book.
Around 60%, it very slowly (and then very quickly) all went downhill. Katie and Tyler’s development individually and together felt stalled until it felt forced. Katie’s “quirkiness” began to feel like it was her only personality trait. Tyler began to feel like a caricature, one-dimensional. It was like once they finally got together, the book lost its heart.
Scenes felt rushed, and it felt like I didn’t get to fully sit in the moment with the characters. It started feeling like more telling than showing. There was so much tension and yearning, and when we finally reached the peaks we spent the whole book waiting for, they fell flat. There was no payoff.
Then we got to the third act—and that very stereotypical third act plot device—and it just felt wrong, like a shoe that didn’t fit. Their argument was over nothing, and they said some incredibly hurtful things to one another. And frankly, by the end, they forgave each other for those things they said far too quickly. There were these big, loud moments of grief and sadness and anger coming into realization but then, they would kiss and it would be fine—never to be talked about again.
And the last 10% or so…do not get me started. The “magical realism” was genuinely insane and made me angry. Not to mention, Tyler saying “none of this makes sense” then saying “this makes perfect sense” approximately three seconds later really tipped me over the edge. Especially because what did happen didn’t make any sense whatsoever. Tyler might have come to terms with it, but I needed the closure of how this all works. Whereas the characters just seem to shrug, say “okay, sure” and accept it without any questions. You cannot convince me that Katie figured it all out in the span of five seconds and on her own.
And the craziest thing of it all is that I fully predicted the “twist,” and it wasn’t even in a satisfying way. More in a “you’ve got to be kidding me” way.
When I first started reading this book, it felt like it would be a solid 4 stars. I was loving it! Then maybe a 3.75, a 3.5. Then a 3. Then I just got so annoyed, so now we’re here at a 2.
I’m really sad that this turned out the way it did. The premise is such a fun idea and the beginning of the book was fantastic and un-put-down-able.
I do think that this book will find its right audience, it’s just not with me.
Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
I was intrigued pretty immediately. The stakes between Tyler and Katie felt high—especially surrounding the mystery about what happened between them, they were both so distinct and captivating at the start, and I wanted to know how their story played out. I loved Katie’s girly-ness and Tyler’s black-cat personality. Their back and forth was great, and the writing felt strong, and Lauren Okie officially had my attention.
And as I got deeper into the story, I began to love the depiction of grief and addiction. It felt beautiful and like it was deeply thought about and written with care. I really enjoyed seeing both of these depicted in the present tense of Katie’s and Tyler’s lives, but I also appreciated seeing it in their pasts too.
At the start, it was such a beautiful love letter to romance books.
Then, I hit the midway point of the book.
Around 60%, it very slowly (and then very quickly) all went downhill. Katie and Tyler’s development individually and together felt stalled until it felt forced. Katie’s “quirkiness” began to feel like it was her only personality trait. Tyler began to feel like a caricature, one-dimensional. It was like once they finally got together, the book lost its heart.
Scenes felt rushed, and it felt like I didn’t get to fully sit in the moment with the characters. It started feeling like more telling than showing. There was so much tension and yearning, and when we finally reached the peaks we spent the whole book waiting for, they fell flat. There was no payoff.
Then we got to the third act—and that very stereotypical third act plot device—and it just felt wrong, like a shoe that didn’t fit. Their argument was over nothing, and they said some incredibly hurtful things to one another. And frankly, by the end, they forgave each other for those things they said far too quickly. There were these big, loud moments of grief and sadness and anger coming into realization but then, they would kiss and it would be fine—never to be talked about again.
And the last 10% or so…do not get me started. The “magical realism” was genuinely insane and made me angry. Not to mention, Tyler saying “none of this makes sense” then saying “this makes perfect sense” approximately three seconds later really tipped me over the edge. Especially because what did happen didn’t make any sense whatsoever. Tyler might have come to terms with it, but I needed the closure of how this all works. Whereas the characters just seem to shrug, say “okay, sure” and accept it without any questions. You cannot convince me that Katie figured it all out in the span of five seconds and on her own.
And the craziest thing of it all is that I fully predicted the “twist,” and it wasn’t even in a satisfying way. More in a “you’ve got to be kidding me” way.
When I first started reading this book, it felt like it would be a solid 4 stars. I was loving it! Then maybe a 3.75, a 3.5. Then a 3. Then I just got so annoyed, so now we’re here at a 2.
I’m really sad that this turned out the way it did. The premise is such a fun idea and the beginning of the book was fantastic and un-put-down-able.
I do think that this book will find its right audience, it’s just not with me.
Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
Want to read
March 9, 2026okie i agree i'm sick of tropes too. death to miscommunication (COUGH AHEM COUGH COUGH ALI HAZELWOOD WHEEZE AHEM COUGH COUGH)
sorry i choked on my own hatred of the love triangle.
usually i'm very nonchalant and i never use all caps or really bad puns such as above. but the sunshine character might do it only to be met with no emotion from grumpy.
all better than the stepsiblings trope. go to the psych ward buddy you have shared parents 💀🤮
sorry i choked on my own hatred of the love triangle.
usually i'm very nonchalant and i never use all caps or really bad puns such as above. but the sunshine character might do it only to be met with no emotion from grumpy.
all better than the stepsiblings trope. go to the psych ward buddy you have shared parents 💀🤮
February 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the gifted ARC!
After reading The Best Worst Thing last month, I just knew I had to get my hands on Tropesick ASAP. I am officially a part of the obsessed with Lauren Okie’s writing fan club. She writes about heavy topics with such a gentle and understanding hand. Somehow, the book is also able to stay lighthearted and sweet while dealing with the hard stuff. This was such a beautiful love story, and I absolutely adored every single character. I knew going in that there was some sort of magical realism element but the way Lauren weaved it into the story, I was blown away at the end.
This book is about two authors who agree to work together to ghost write for a very famous author. The only problem? They grew up together and experienced a very traumatic loss together that tore them apart. Now it’s almost a decade later and no matter how much they avoid each other, something keeps pulling them together. Every single trope they write into their book seems to be brought to life right before their eyes. This story is raw, emotional, and so very real. I CANNOT wait to see what Lauren writes next.
After reading The Best Worst Thing last month, I just knew I had to get my hands on Tropesick ASAP. I am officially a part of the obsessed with Lauren Okie’s writing fan club. She writes about heavy topics with such a gentle and understanding hand. Somehow, the book is also able to stay lighthearted and sweet while dealing with the hard stuff. This was such a beautiful love story, and I absolutely adored every single character. I knew going in that there was some sort of magical realism element but the way Lauren weaved it into the story, I was blown away at the end.
This book is about two authors who agree to work together to ghost write for a very famous author. The only problem? They grew up together and experienced a very traumatic loss together that tore them apart. Now it’s almost a decade later and no matter how much they avoid each other, something keeps pulling them together. Every single trope they write into their book seems to be brought to life right before their eyes. This story is raw, emotional, and so very real. I CANNOT wait to see what Lauren writes next.
February 25, 2026
Oh wow this ending made me so emotional 😭 this story really touched on some heavy topics that I felt were handled with lots of care. Lauren has such a gift in her writing that pulls you in and challenges you. This book was no exception in creating a really unique plot and storyline. Our FMC, Katie was so relatable for me in terms of feeling misunderstood and lost in translation by those around her. I loved her resilience in all life threw at her. Tyler… our MMC. He’s so vulnerable and tender. I wanted to tell him everything was going to be ok about 200x throughout the book but also got SO frustrated with him lol. I think we saw so much growth that in the end, I loved his character but definitely took some time to win me over. I don’t want to give anything away with the ending but the plot twist got me! I didn’t expect the book to have touches of magical realism and that did end up confusing me at certain points in the story. I really loved how it all came together though, and it left me in tears!
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and the author for this gifted arc copy!
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and the author for this gifted arc copy!
April 1, 2026
thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
SCREAMING AND CRYING AND THROWING UP!!! Lauren Okie you are a STAR!!! This book is quite literally everything and more. The tension, the banter, the charm — who knew words on page could make me feel some type of way. The best way I could describe this was if your favorite Emily Henry book and favorite Ashley Poston book had a baby. The characters and love were deep, layered, and beautifully frustrating, but it was also insanely witty and magical. I adored the back and forth timelines and the entire side character/plot of Meredith was chef’s kiss. As someone who adores the genre of romance, this book did absolutely everything right. A top read of mine for sure and now I think I will read anything Lauren Okie writes.
SCREAMING AND CRYING AND THROWING UP!!! Lauren Okie you are a STAR!!! This book is quite literally everything and more. The tension, the banter, the charm — who knew words on page could make me feel some type of way. The best way I could describe this was if your favorite Emily Henry book and favorite Ashley Poston book had a baby. The characters and love were deep, layered, and beautifully frustrating, but it was also insanely witty and magical. I adored the back and forth timelines and the entire side character/plot of Meredith was chef’s kiss. As someone who adores the genre of romance, this book did absolutely everything right. A top read of mine for sure and now I think I will read anything Lauren Okie writes.
February 4, 2026
I really enjoyed the premise of this story, and I thought it handled topics of grief and love very well. The MCs felt very real and human, and I could put myself into their shoes to immerse myself in the story. The one thing I had a problem with was the ending. Had I known there would be an element of magical realism, maybe it wouldn't have bothered me so much. But because I was blindsided, it took me completely out of the story and I didn't really care about what happened next. Readers are going to love this book, though.
March 3, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
did that ending throw me for a loop? YES
do I think it’s a still a beautiful love story? YES
MORE THOUGHTS TO COME UPON RELEASE DATE!!!!
did that ending throw me for a loop? YES
do I think it’s a still a beautiful love story? YES
MORE THOUGHTS TO COME UPON RELEASE DATE!!!!
January 15, 2026
lol don’t even talk to me you know I’ll be back
March 9, 2026
ARC review!
Release date: June 16 2026
༄.° Tropes:
Literally every romance trope ever🤭
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓪 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓲𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮, 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓭𝓸, 𝓸𝓻 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓰𝓸.
4.5⭐️
Tropesick is not your normal romance book, although it is literally a romance book and revolves around writing a romance book, it’s so much more.
It is a story of healing, grieving, learning to forgive and move on and never let go of our loved ones. To hold on to them forever. Even though they’ve wronged us, even though they aren’t perfect.
When I finished this book I could feel my heart sink, knowing it’s over.
Tropesick is about two writers- Katie and Tyler- who are forced to ghostwrite a romance novel together. But they also have some complicated history; which made the whole story a lot more interesting.
The setting of the book was described so well I almost felt like I was right there with the characters in Meredith’s Southampton mansion beach house.
Both characters were just so realistic, with their faults and dreams. I loved their dynamic. The banter, the push and pull, the chemistry, the yearning for each other, the ANGST. The way at some point of the story when they were talking about the characters they were writing but actually they were talking about themselves😭 I just love them.
Katie was so relatable. I loved that she is like this colorful, girlie, Taylor swift obsessed, hopeless romantic girl. She is everything i aspire to be.
And Tyler, the slutty glasses have done it yet again👏👏👏 he is my tortured poet, my pathetic sad boy, my yearning king. He was just everything. The way he’d long for Katie, but also want to protect her from himself.
I absolutely loved the character development in this book! It was done so well in my opinion. They both had to grow and change in order to learn how to love each other the right way. Pushing their insecurities away and letting their love for each other take over the steering wheel.
The side characters were enjoyable as well. Right at the beginning I got this kind of fairy godmother vibes from Meredith. And Arthur was just incredibly funny.
This was the perfect combination of what I love in a romance book: emotional, filled with banter and characters who need to grow in order to love each other better. But going into this book I didn’t know it was a kind of magical realism, so that took away a bit of my fun and expectations. Thats why it’s a 4.5 stars instead of 5.
I’d highly recommend for whoever loves an emotional romance filled with a fun summer setting and a dash of magic✨💕
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC!
QUOTES:
“Is she still pretty?” I grunted, then took a sip of my coffee. “Annoying?” he said. “She’s infuriating.” “And pretty?” “Like staring into the sun.”
“You’re twentyfive years old,” she said. “You write literal bodice rippers for a living. Don’t you want to be with somebody who sees you? Don’t you want to feel like your soul’s on fire? Like your heart’s going to explode?”
“What are you thinking?” he said, looping his arms around my waist. “That summer is magic. That this place is magic. That this, here, is perfect to me.”
“Say it for me,” I said. “Say it for me again.” His mouth found mine. “There’s only you,” he said. “There’s only you. There’s only you and you and you.”
“I love you so much I don’t know where to put it. I loved you at the beach, in the hospital, at the pharmacy. I loved you all the years we were apart, and all the years I pushed you away.
Release date: June 16 2026
༄.° Tropes:
Literally every romance trope ever🤭
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓪 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓲𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮, 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓭𝓸, 𝓸𝓻 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓰𝓸.
4.5⭐️
Tropesick is not your normal romance book, although it is literally a romance book and revolves around writing a romance book, it’s so much more.
It is a story of healing, grieving, learning to forgive and move on and never let go of our loved ones. To hold on to them forever. Even though they’ve wronged us, even though they aren’t perfect.
When I finished this book I could feel my heart sink, knowing it’s over.
Tropesick is about two writers- Katie and Tyler- who are forced to ghostwrite a romance novel together. But they also have some complicated history; which made the whole story a lot more interesting.
The setting of the book was described so well I almost felt like I was right there with the characters in Meredith’s Southampton mansion beach house.
Both characters were just so realistic, with their faults and dreams. I loved their dynamic. The banter, the push and pull, the chemistry, the yearning for each other, the ANGST. The way at some point of the story when they were talking about the characters they were writing but actually they were talking about themselves😭 I just love them.
Katie was so relatable. I loved that she is like this colorful, girlie, Taylor swift obsessed, hopeless romantic girl. She is everything i aspire to be.
And Tyler, the slutty glasses have done it yet again👏👏👏 he is my tortured poet, my pathetic sad boy, my yearning king. He was just everything. The way he’d long for Katie, but also want to protect her from himself.
I absolutely loved the character development in this book! It was done so well in my opinion. They both had to grow and change in order to learn how to love each other the right way. Pushing their insecurities away and letting their love for each other take over the steering wheel.
The side characters were enjoyable as well. Right at the beginning I got this kind of fairy godmother vibes from Meredith. And Arthur was just incredibly funny.
This was the perfect combination of what I love in a romance book: emotional, filled with banter and characters who need to grow in order to love each other better. But going into this book I didn’t know it was a kind of magical realism, so that took away a bit of my fun and expectations. Thats why it’s a 4.5 stars instead of 5.
I’d highly recommend for whoever loves an emotional romance filled with a fun summer setting and a dash of magic✨💕
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC!
QUOTES:
“Is she still pretty?” I grunted, then took a sip of my coffee. “Annoying?” he said. “She’s infuriating.” “And pretty?” “Like staring into the sun.”
“You’re twentyfive years old,” she said. “You write literal bodice rippers for a living. Don’t you want to be with somebody who sees you? Don’t you want to feel like your soul’s on fire? Like your heart’s going to explode?”
“What are you thinking?” he said, looping his arms around my waist. “That summer is magic. That this place is magic. That this, here, is perfect to me.”
“Say it for me,” I said. “Say it for me again.” His mouth found mine. “There’s only you,” he said. “There’s only you. There’s only you and you and you.”
“I love you so much I don’t know where to put it. I loved you at the beach, in the hospital, at the pharmacy. I loved you all the years we were apart, and all the years I pushed you away.
March 11, 2026
Easily one of my top reads of 2026!
this book was equally emotionally devastating and heart swooning. i cried, i laughed, i fell in love, my heart was ripped out and put back together. truly no words would be able to accurately describe my love for this book and the emotions it made me feel.
it felt like one of those emotional romcoms where you know it’s going to end happy and it will be cute, but it has to rip your heart out first and make you so damn frustrated with a character or two.
two writers are forced to co write a book together, but turns out, they have history.. a lot of it, good and not si good. i loved how every couple chapters we would get a chapter of the book THEY were writing. like hello, its like reading two books at once, i love.
Angsty and filled with raw emotions
Tensions that will make you sweat
Slutty glasses that will make you realize you DO love a man with glasses😏
Katie Caruso is me. I am her. I related to her in so many ways. she’s guarded yet also a ray of sunshine.
Tyler McNally.. hello 👋🏼
brothers best friend, first love, the one who got away?? left with no explanation EIGHT years ago.. but here he is again. Carrying loads of guilt for many things.. we love a tortured man who finds himself again. (kind of a bad boy turned good boy)
i also would like to mention that this does deal with grief and in my opinion it truly showed a couple different ways that people grieve and i really felt like the representation of that was done so well.
it also deals with addiction and recovery which was also well done.
i just.. i need everyone and their mother to read this book when it releases, PLEASE.
this book was equally emotionally devastating and heart swooning. i cried, i laughed, i fell in love, my heart was ripped out and put back together. truly no words would be able to accurately describe my love for this book and the emotions it made me feel.
it felt like one of those emotional romcoms where you know it’s going to end happy and it will be cute, but it has to rip your heart out first and make you so damn frustrated with a character or two.
two writers are forced to co write a book together, but turns out, they have history.. a lot of it, good and not si good. i loved how every couple chapters we would get a chapter of the book THEY were writing. like hello, its like reading two books at once, i love.
Angsty and filled with raw emotions
Tensions that will make you sweat
Slutty glasses that will make you realize you DO love a man with glasses😏
Katie Caruso is me. I am her. I related to her in so many ways. she’s guarded yet also a ray of sunshine.
Tyler McNally.. hello 👋🏼
brothers best friend, first love, the one who got away?? left with no explanation EIGHT years ago.. but here he is again. Carrying loads of guilt for many things.. we love a tortured man who finds himself again. (kind of a bad boy turned good boy)
i also would like to mention that this does deal with grief and in my opinion it truly showed a couple different ways that people grieve and i really felt like the representation of that was done so well.
it also deals with addiction and recovery which was also well done.
i just.. i need everyone and their mother to read this book when it releases, PLEASE.
March 20, 2026
I need to sue Lauren Okie for emotional damages. this book was BEAUTIFUL. IMMACULATE. INCREDIBLE. I COULD GO ON. it had real depth to it like was not like your average cartoon cover romance, but was balanced with humor and whimsy and the writing was so, so good. it was a book that leaned into tropes as you might guess from the title, but used that self awareness to really make some special. the chemistry between the characters, their history, their present, all of it was just done SO WELL. there were lines that came out of nowhere that genuinely felt like a punch to the gut in the best way. I cried for the last half hour finishing this book. I want to be buried with it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy to review!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy to review!
December 31, 2025
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!
Lauren Okie’s writing is such a breath of fresh air. Tropesick was clever, emotional, and poignant. It took the idea of a romance level, honored it, and ran with it an unexpected direction. I loved this.
This book felt like an ode to romance and its significance in media. All throughout, there’s nods to romance authors, iconic movies, scenes etc and I loved how they were used in the story. Tropesick took familiar romance tropes and integrated them in the most fascinating way.
Katie and Tyler had a complicated, painful past. We really only got a general idea of it at the beginning, but it was really interesting to slowly uncover exactly what happened with each flashback chapter. I loved the way the book was outlined because it kept me at the edge of my seat. I’d say “one more chapter” and 5 chapters later, I was still reading. Their romance was a journey, but a worthwhile one. It was a great take on “it’s always been you”.
At a glance, Katie seems like she is your typical “sunshine” in the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, but there was so much depth to her character. She carried around a lot of pain and resentment from her past and, through her character, we got a complicated look into grief. Despite it all though, she loved with her whole heart and I absolutely loved that about her.
Tyler was the broodiest grump, but I loved him too. His backstory had its own nuanced complications that explained a lot of his motivations. The parallels between him and Meredith were fascinating and I really enjoyed their later interactions in the book. It’s all very meta in different ways, but I think if you just go with the flow and enjoy the ride, you’ll appreciate it so much.
I don’t want to say much else regarding the plot because this book doesn’t release until next summer, but wow. The third act of this book was done really well. The plot twists actually took me by surprise lol.
There’s some triggering, traumatic content in this like grief, addiction, etc but I think they were written with the most honest approach and with so much care. Highly, highly recommend picking this one up on release day.
Lauren Okie’s writing is such a breath of fresh air. Tropesick was clever, emotional, and poignant. It took the idea of a romance level, honored it, and ran with it an unexpected direction. I loved this.
This book felt like an ode to romance and its significance in media. All throughout, there’s nods to romance authors, iconic movies, scenes etc and I loved how they were used in the story. Tropesick took familiar romance tropes and integrated them in the most fascinating way.
Katie and Tyler had a complicated, painful past. We really only got a general idea of it at the beginning, but it was really interesting to slowly uncover exactly what happened with each flashback chapter. I loved the way the book was outlined because it kept me at the edge of my seat. I’d say “one more chapter” and 5 chapters later, I was still reading. Their romance was a journey, but a worthwhile one. It was a great take on “it’s always been you”.
At a glance, Katie seems like she is your typical “sunshine” in the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, but there was so much depth to her character. She carried around a lot of pain and resentment from her past and, through her character, we got a complicated look into grief. Despite it all though, she loved with her whole heart and I absolutely loved that about her.
Tyler was the broodiest grump, but I loved him too. His backstory had its own nuanced complications that explained a lot of his motivations. The parallels between him and Meredith were fascinating and I really enjoyed their later interactions in the book. It’s all very meta in different ways, but I think if you just go with the flow and enjoy the ride, you’ll appreciate it so much.
I don’t want to say much else regarding the plot because this book doesn’t release until next summer, but wow. The third act of this book was done really well. The plot twists actually took me by surprise lol.
There’s some triggering, traumatic content in this like grief, addiction, etc but I think they were written with the most honest approach and with so much care. Highly, highly recommend picking this one up on release day.
Read
March 3, 2026uhhh what the hell 😭
March 14, 2026
This was a good book that had the potential to be great. Unfortunately, it hinged on a second-chance romance but was avoidant of discussing the ‘first chance’. It needed more time spent in the ‘before’ to help create some investment in Katie and Tyler’s relationship and add actual substance to what was implied. Katie says she has “loved him her whole life” but we don’t really get to see it happen. It is always better to show, rather than to tell.
The topic of addiction became a missed area for depth. It functioned as a plot device with occasional references to rehab and meetings, but the feelings involved were under-explored.
The ending was a no for me. It veered way off the path in aim of a twist.
All of that being said, this book was still an enjoyable read, and captivated me the whole way through. The root of my issues with it is that I cannot love the ‘after’ of their relationship, if I haven’t truly been shown the ‘before’.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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