Tropesick

by Lauren Okie

"Lauren Okie is one of my favorite new voices in romance.” – B.K. Borison, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Good Spirits 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 isn’t finished. This time, though, they’ll work through the pain that tore them apart—and 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 readers’ favorite

Grumpy/SunshineBrother’s best friendGirl next doorForced proximityForbidden loveKissing in the rainGroveling heroSecond-chance romanceSlow burnOnly one bed

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published June 16, 2026

About the author

Hi, I’m Lauren Okie, and I write messy, hard-fought love stories. My books, THE BEST WORST THING and TROPESICK, are out now. Follow me on IG (@laurenokieauthor) to keep up with my nonsense.

Reviews

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 2 out of 5]

RIP…. I was so excited for this book… 😠

let me start off by saying I really liked the first 50% I was SOOOO INVESTED in the story and characters. but then it all went downhill.

first of all, she KEPT chasing after him. the entire fucking time. idk what annoyed me most.. the fact that she kept doing it or the fact that he didn’t try to at all???

second, every chapter ends so abruptly. it’s like we’re in the scene and suddenly it’s fully over with zero explanation.

the ending was so so rushed. all of a sudden we just take the biggest turn possible.. and not in a good way like wtf was that.

guys sorry but let me just leave you with this:
“do you realize how humiliating it is to love someone like you?”
she literally says that to him. I can’t.

the only quote I liked:
“I wanna cheer you on when you spend the entirety of your paycheck on taylor swift tickets” 🕺🎧🎶

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book: the setting!!!

We follow our main characters as they team up to ghost write a romance book for one of the most famous romance authors - but they haven't seen each other in years. It's a second chance, grumpy x sunshine, where the tropes in their new book start happening to them in real life.

The reason this rating wasn't higher was because it felt like there were TOO many side plots happening: the tropes, their history, the romance author, etc. I think if we made one the main plot I could've connected a bit more. The ending was also a bit jarring, but I loved the summer setting in NYC & the Hamptons

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

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:

medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter<

[Bailey Chadwick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh boy, where to begin....

I LOVED the first 50% of this book. It read like Emily Henry. Contemporary romance with some pretty intense emotional and character study. I was telling everyone that it was definitely a must read when it comes out. Then the next 60-90% was kinda slow. Not enough to make me mad, but I definitely struggled a bit more. I was still enjoying it.

Then that last 10% happened....

What. The. Actual. Fuck. Was. That. Ending.

Ok, here's the full spoiler part.

In the last 5% of the book, this becomes a paranormal romance. Meredith, the recluse famous author has actually been dead the whole time and her ghost (HER GHOST) has been interacting with them for the entire book. But absolutely ZERO is explained about this.

Her cat? Also a ghost. Her butler? Apparently also a ghost. The car he drives them around in? Ghost car. (Yes, you heard that right, the CAR isn't even real) The house? Dilapidated ghost house. Meredith has these gorgeous couture dresses she lends our FMC. So those just...don't exist? What the fuck was the FMC wearing?

Meredith was set up to be a stalker character. Which, to be honest, I would have hated. But at least it would have made SENSE in this world. But suddenly SHES A GHOST!? Get the fuck out of here....

Our MMC's dad? The whole book people are wondering where he's gone. Zero explanation.

Also, Meredith is still a massive selling author who's been having ghost writers write her books for the past 8 years (because she's been secretly dead so I guess having a "ghost" writer makes sense). Where did all her residuals go? Has Selma, her editor (but also married to Meridth's ex-husband WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS BOOK), been embezzling her money for 8 years?

Again, imagine reading an Emily Henry book and in the last 5% you find out the main character has been dead the whole time. Imagine how jarring that would be. I genuinely don't understand how this has such a high GR rating and am pretty convinced people are reviewing this book when they've only read 70% of it

[Jaime Fok · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5

This was my first Lauren Okie book, and I think I do really enjoy her writing! Fits in that Emily Henry/Cara Bastone category where we tie in themes like grief & addiction into a banter-filled romance quite seamlessly.

While frustrating at points, I enjoyed following Katie & Tyler, and seeing as they settled back into the rhythms of their childhood connection. Their familiarity with one another felt very realistic, and I enjoyed going through the emotional journey with the two of them slowly opening up. I also really enjoyed the parallel timelines combining not only our present day story & the past, but also the fictional story that our characters were actually writing. The highs and lows, and cohesion between the 3 were timed perfectly!

The third act is what unfortunately brought this one down for me. On one hand, Tyler was a character who I was rooting for the entire time. He was frustrating to read, but seemed to have his reasons for acting the way he did - but when the big "why" was revealed, I feel like the payoff just didn't feel worth it - and didn't feel like enough for me to justify his miscommunication.

And that PLOT TWIST?! In theory, it is something I could definitely get behind - but this just wasn't executed well. It just overcomplicated the third act, and felt rushed. There was also this section written at the end where it felt like the author was trying to justify her own plot twist by specifically bringing the "breadcrumbs" back up to remind us. The problem with this is- I feel like a good breadcrumb should be able to stand for itself. If it's been placed clearly enough throughout the book, we shouldn't have to specifically bring attention back to it at the end of the book - because as the reader, we should already be aware of it.

So while the ending didn't quite work for me, I did enjoy Lauren Okie's writing enough to like a lot of this book! Would be interested in diving into her debut novel as well.

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 ⭐️ Once upon a time there was a broken boy who fell in love with a broken girl. Their relationship was never meant to last: too many obstacles, too much pain, a tragic event that severed their last ties. But their love never died. Their love persevered and metamorphosed into something else over two decades. It led them back to each other and despite all their differences and years of heartache and anguish, they found their way back to each other. The heart always wants what it wants. There is no logic to these things. You meet someone, you fall in love and thats that.

This is no light-hearted, fluffy, feel-good romance. No, not one bit. This story is toxic, it's painful, it's meaningful. Don't let the cute cover fool you, like it did me. I thought I'll be reading something playful..I was not expecting so much headache, grief and heaviness. My heart was racing, my thoughts were spiraling and my emotions were all over the place. Lauren Okie, you sent me to the moon and back with this story.

So let me sum it up for you:
Katie Caruso is a 25 year old ghostwriter trying to move on from he older brothers overdose, which shattered many aspects of her life. Tyler McNally was her brother's best friend and Katies former long time crush. They grew up next door to each other and have become close over the years. They haven't spoken to each other for many years due to unresolved resentment/disastrous events that unfolded post funeral. Unknowingly, they are assigned to co-write a novel for a reclusive romance novelist, Meredith. Katie is unable to look at Tyler (and be in his presence) because of something that he has done. Tyler, a recovering alcoholic and an addict who has been clean for nine years, continues to carry a lot of shame, guilt and unresolved feelings from the past. As they are tasked to write a book with a bunch of common romance tropes, they begin to draw closer to each other and as the summer progresses, their powerful love story unfolds in a deeply affective way that is both sad and hurtful as it is playful and healing.

This story is heavy in themes of grief, addiction and recovery. These are some of my favorite topics to read about so diving into these themes is never an easy task. I was surprised with how heavy this book was. The emotional core of this book focused on deeper conflicts (their shared grief, survivors guilt, complicated feelings about family and mother-daughter relations, acceptance and forgiveness). Katies brother and Tyler used to get high together all the time, until one day her brother overdosed on a bad batch and died. For years, Tyler blamed himself for not preventing this tragedy (hence survivors guilt). The flashbacks to his earlier teenage years gave glimpses to his childhood, years of addiction and were so real and honest. Okie handled every single heartbreaking topic with so much care, yet delivered a very gut-wrenching portrayal of how addiction affects loved ones. Addiction is a prison. It's an only prison where locks are on the inside. Addiction doesn't kill the addict, at least not initially. It kills family first. It kills the loved ones, the children, people who tried to help. Recovery is an acceptance that your life is in shambles and acceptance is the first step that is always the hardest.

As Katie and Tyler write a book filled with classic romance tropes, they begin their own second-chance slow burn journey towards acceptance, forgiveness and recovery. Some of the very same tropes unfold in their own lives. As cliche as that may sound, this plot device was so witty and crafty! I felt that these tropes helped to formulate the story and navigate their own feelings for each other in the way that showed different ways one can heal from trauma. The forced proximity brought them together, the trauma connected them, 'one bed trope' made them vulnerable and lead us to something passionate and steamy, 'the second-chance' romance made sparks fly, brought on the YEARNING! TENSION! REAL CONVERSATION, OPENNESS! The more I think about these tropes and how cleverly Lauren Okie utilized them in this novel, the more I like this book!

There is a twist that comes at the end which I feel like is like another trope--'trope magic' that leaves a part of the ending up for an interpretation. I, however, found it a bit misplaced. I thought it didn't fit the novels vibes and felt out of place. As much as I love magical realism, it came out of nowhere just for the sake of using another trope. I think this will lead a lot of readers confused more so than satisfied. Nevertheless, the ending was a happy one, don't you worry!


Now featured on BOTM!
Use my link to get it or another first book for just 5$, cancel anytime at no cost to you. I love BOTM!
https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o



Many thanks to NetGalley, HarperAudio and the author, Lauren Okie for an early ALC!

Narrators: Jesse Vilinsky, Roger Wayne
Duration: 10 hours and 47 minutes
Speed: 1.5x

Publication: June 16, 2026

[ellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

crying tears of joy that i finally closed this book and never have to open it or think about it again 🥹

i wanted to write a coherent review as to why this is one of the worst books i have ever read in my entire life, but every time i go back to my notes app, a feral rage consumes me and i turn into Gollum rocking back and forth in the corner of a cave. i hate this book with my whole heart <3

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[DianaRose · Rating 3 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

i have seen sooo many people rave about this romance novel (and i’m not sure why i originally thought it was a magical realism novel?), so i'm disappointed that i didn’t love it as much as other readers.

while this book is technically a quick read due to its short chapters, we really go nowhere plot-wise until about halfway through the book, and the build up to the reveal as to why katie and tyler are “enemies” is pretty obvious if you’re an observant reader.

i just feel that romance books should really not be more than 300 pages (and that is just my opinion as an avid romance reader and publishing professional) because unless this is a contemporary novel with a romance subplot, things should move rather quickly. you can still have excellent character development, emotional depth, a strong plot, and good spicy scenes all in 300 pages or less, i know because i've READ romance like that before!

i also ultimately lost interest in our characters and their relationship.

overall, this wasn’t a bad book, i’m just disappointed i didn’t enjoy it as much as i initially thought i would; but i’m positive this book will find its audience, and it definitely has from all the great reviews i've seen ❤️!

[Madison Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25!! <3 this is something so special & i think everyone would love this, but especially people who wanted more from GBBL in the romance department!

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

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!

[Allix Caron · Rating 1 out of 5]

Respectfully, WTF???

[Lottie Smalley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️!!! this was my first lauren okie book but it definitely won’t be my last 🫶 the writing completely pulled me in. it was so addictive to read & it was PACKED with banter, tension and yearning!

tropesick is a love letter to the romance genre and as someone who loves romance, i had the best time! there are lots of conversations about writing, publishing, manuscripts, and i especially loved making Tyler do his “homework” on the romance classics 🤭 it was so bookish in the best way!

the way the romance tropes were woven into the story was so clever too. they felt self-aware and charming, and i loved how the book could tackle heavy topics like grief and addiction in one chapter before making me laugh the next. it strikes a really nice balance, but i’d definitely go into this expecting an emotional romance more than a fluffy one.

the only thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me was the final twist. (i don’t wanna say too much here but) the direction it ultimately took completely caught me off guard? i understand the intention but i found myself wishing there had been better breadcrumbs throughout because that reveal just felt so disconnected from the vibe of the rest of the story to me?

that said… this was still such a well-rounded new summer romance!! if you love second chances, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, and books about books, absolutely put this on your summer TBR!! 🌞💖

[Adi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 second chance/childhood friends to lovers romances

Yeah so I inhaled this. Stayed up late. Couldn’t put it down. SUCH an addicting read. I knew it from page 10 btw. Lauren’s writing just scratches an itch for me!!!!! Her banter writing skills are 1000/10.

Filled with alllll my favorite tropes but above all the structure was SO fun. Two writers writing a romance novel while also having a romance novel play out in front of you was just magical. I’m actually obsessed with this entire plot/concept.

There is an element that requires suspending belief but it’s worth it.

[Ann · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

It is marketed as a “love letter to the romance genre,” but it feels more like a social experiment to see whether romance readers are stupid enough to enjoy a book with no plot, no character development, no backstories, no good sex scenes, and an ending that reads like Mikey’s overdosed dream

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropesick by Lauren Okie is a romance novel you absolutely do not want to miss! Publication date is June 16, 2026. Thank you so, so much to NetGalley, author Lauren Okie, and Avon Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🩷🩷

Oh man… this book was so incredible on so many levels 🥺

The last 10% is honestly the only reason this went from 5 stars to 4 stars for me. I don’t think this is really a spoiler based on other reviews I’ve seen, but I was NOT expecting magical realism?? I had little suspicions at certain points, but not at all in the way it ended up playing out. It was definitely an interesting twist, but personally I think the story could have been just as impactful without it.

Other than that? This book was MAGIC. ✨Absolute magic✨ I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever been so captivated by an author’s writing style before. The way Lauren Okie strings words together and paints scenes so vividly made it impossible not to completely fall into this story. The writing itself felt emotional and alive 🥺🫶🏻

Trigger warnings for grief and addiction. This book tackles incredibly heavy topics, but it does so in such a raw, honest, and realistic way that truly shows the impact addiction can have on both individuals and the people who love them.

I absolutely loved Katie and Tyler. Their love story was heartbreaking, beautiful, emotional, messy, tender, and ultimately worth every second of the journey. Their relationship felt so real to me. Painful at times, healing at others, but always full of love underneath everything ❤️‍🩹

Without giving spoilers since this is still an ARC, I also really enjoyed seeing Henry and Willa’s story unfold and thought it was such a unique and meaningful way to weave everything together. I’m also always a sucker for dual POVs and flashbacks, so this book was *chef’s kiss* 😙

This story made me laugh, cry, smile, and feel about 100 emotions all at once. I genuinely cannot wait until the final copy is released so I can go back and highlight and share some of my favorite quotes because WOW.

The last sentence of almost every chapter made me feel something, heartbreak, longing, sadness, hope, happiness… all of it 🫶🏻🥺❤️‍🩹

I truly can’t put into words how beautiful this story is or how tender the love between Katie and Tyler felt. Their love was raw, real, painful, and somehow still managed to help them slowly glue the broken pieces of themselves back together.

I honestly think this is going to be one of the standout books of the summer, and it absolutely deserves the hype 💞

[Capt. · Rating 1 out of 5]

siri, play I can fix him (no I really can)

[ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

— 3.5 ☆ .ᐟ ⌗ 🌺 spoiler free + mini review
⤷ that twist at the end was interesting..!

୨ arc @netgalley
⋆˚࿔ 63rd review of the year

𐔌♯┆without love, it is worthless. this house, the art, the money, unspeakable fame. it is all completely and utterly worthless. it cannot hold you. it cannot whisper your name .ᐟ ⊹

⌗ ꒰ my thoughts ꒱💐
⤷ this was so fun! i loved the way the chapters and tropes were separated (that was clever) unfortunately, i just couldn't connect to the characters much! i get that there was a sense of emotion but i didn't always feel it. i also found myself not being interested in the story! (by the halfway mark it went by super fast which i appreciated)

all in all, i love the depth, charm, and that they are both writers! books about books are IT. i wish all the best for them and that epilogue was so precious 🌺☹️

⋆˚ summary: 2 childhood neighbors, how will they find their way back to each other after a devastating loss on both ends? with a new job to be taken, they both spend the summer in hampton's ghostwriting for a romance author. the tropes they end up writing playing into their real life.

⌗ ꒰ tropes ꒱
⋆ brother's best friend
⋆ grumpy sunshine
⋆ forced proximity
⋆ slowburn
⋆ second chance

⌗ ꒰ info ꒱
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads
⤷ this is recommended for adult and new adult readers
⤷ adult contemporary emotional romance
publish date: june 16, 2026

₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you to amazon and netgalley + Avon for the arc in exchange for an honest review !

----------

🌷 — pre-read .ᐟ⌗

𐔌 ♯┆6.10.26
⤷ YAY!! thank you sm to netgalley for this arc <3 i originally had no intention of reading this, but when i found out that this was the same author as 'the best worst thing' i HAD to try it!! also the cover is just so pretty <3

without love, it is worthless. this house, the art, the money, unspeakable fame. it is all completely and utterly worthless. it cannot hold you. it cannot whisper your name.

[maddi ⋆˚ᨳଓ.⋆ (semi-ia) · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ❛ 𝑖 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘, 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑜. ❜ ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

✧˖°. ┆★★★ ¾ — 𝟯.𝟳𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀

ılı.lıllılıı.ıllı..
𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 ‧₊ ♪˚⊹
supercut ❘ lorde
0:00 •─────── -4:37
⇆ㅤ ◁◁ ❚❚ ▷▷ㅤ ↻

⋆˚꩜｡❛ 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑, 𝑖 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑠 ❜˖ ݁♬⋆.˚𝄞

₊ 🍑 ⊹ 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠 ⋆˚࿔
⌗ mini rev!!

this was SUCH a cool concept omg!! let me just start by saying that i have NEVER read anything like this before, i rlly can get behind magical realism (ugh just the name of the trope sounds so whimsical it's dreamy) and i think that aspect of this was done rlly well!! there were sooo many little things, many of which i probably missed, but at first it felt like they were literally writing their own love story, and i thought it was rlly super cool how their book was 380 ish pgs - the same length as the actual book!! i also re-read the 'author's note' after finishing, and that was a pretty perf, full-circle way to end it. it def gets points for originality!!

butttt, it didn't devastate me like i thought it would, ESPECIALLY for a second-chance. i honestly just don't think i was able to reeeaally connect to the characters for whatever reason, and even tho we were in their pov's, it kind of felt like i was watching them?? it felt like third person in first person if that makes any sense at all 😭 and for anyone thinking, ‘wait, didn’t you literally cry over this book?’ yes, i did (it was only a little i swear), but i also found myself crying over a yt short of a bear hugging a person this week (it was SO sweet 😭) so whether it was the book or hormones is undecided 🫠

this book was also veeeery long like thank god for the short chapters but also i think there were like 90 of them?! 💀 it def dragged at times and around the half-way mark i was getting a bit bored and over it. i did enjoy it, but sadly i don't think it will be a v memorable read for me. i'm kinda okay w that tho, like, oddly enough despite this being a 3.75 (which i usually get V mad abt) i feel pretty content finishing this. on that, i think the ending for katie and tyler was a bit rushed, but that love declaration was kind of the sweetest, and the overall ending for the book was pretty perfect :)

⋆˚꩜｡❛ 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑐 𝑤𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑓𝑓 ❜˖ ݁♬⋆.˚𝄞

honestly, i don't have a lot to say abt the characters i don't think. like i said, i didn't rlly connect to them and they both rlly annoyed me at times and GOSH THE MISCOMMUNICATION WAS BADDD NOT a trope i wanted in this 😭 especially not the third-act breakup like cmon guys ur almost 30 grow up 😩 every time tyler tried to talk to katie she quite literally told him to stop and i understood it the first time but it got annoying v quickly LIKE GIRL ACTUALLY U STOP AND JUST HEAR HIM OUT FOR A SEC OKAY U HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO 😭 and when she had the audacity to say she didn't wish to love him and it was embarrassing to love a guy like him and that whole rant...yeahhh idk how we got over that but no nuh uh katie sweetie this is the part where u say srry too

i rlly loved the relationship between meredith and katie bcuz katie was reeling over her mother who didn’t love her and meredith was wrecked bcuz she was never able to love her daughter and they kind of became that for each other i think and it was rlly sweet 🥹 i also LOVED katie and tyler writing together!! it made up a lot of the book and all of their chats and plotting and writing together was sooo fun and probably one of my fav parts!! and also when they talked thru their feelings as their characters i was so gone like it was so obvious they were talking abt themselves but that's what made it so sweet 😭

⋆˚꩜｡❛ 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑤𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 ❜˖ ݁♬⋆.˚𝄞

🎧 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 ‧₊ ♪˚⊹
⤿ i love you, i'm sorry - gracie abrams
⤿ i wish i knew how to quit you - sombr
⤿ greenlight - tate mcrae
⤿ dying for you - charli xcx
⤿ the cure - olivia rodrigo
⤿ doing better - fletcher
⤿ for real this time - gracie abrams
⤿ wildest dreams (taylor's version) - taylor swift

⋆˚꩜｡❛ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑝 𝑚𝑒 𝑢𝑝 ❜˖ ݁♬⋆.˚𝄞

💌 𝑞𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑠 ⛧⋆˚࿔⋆

✧ ❛ 𝑠ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔. ❜
❛ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑦? ❜
❛ 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑛. ❜

✧ ❛ 𝑖 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛'𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑒, 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒. ❜ - INSANE line actually

✧ ❛ 𝑖 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑤 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠, 𝑟𝑎𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑛, 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑒'𝑑 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑚𝑒, 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑦 𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠. ❜ - an example of some of the V beautiful prose in this

✧ ❛ (...) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛, 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒, 𝑖 𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟. ❜ - and this!! another one of my fav parallels w their book <3

✧ ❛ 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡. 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔. ❜
❛ 𝑦𝑒𝑠, 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒. 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑤𝑒 𝑑𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑡. ❜

✧ ❛ 𝑖 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒. 𝑖 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒'𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡. 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑏𝑖𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑤𝑎𝑦. ❜

✧ ❛ 𝑖 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑘𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒. ❜ - such a good parallel omg

✧ ❛ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦—𝑛𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒—𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠, 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑. ❜

⋆˚꩜｡❛ 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑖 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒'𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑡 ❜˖ ݁♬⋆.˚𝄞

⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹

𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚┆ 𝑝𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 .ᐟ ₊ 📑 ⊹

look at me actually (accidentally) tackling my spring tbr!! i'm in a v giggly spring romance mood, hence the recent shift in what i'm reading, and i was actually meant to read this like as soon as it came out...but i was always busy or not in the mood so here we are lols, i'm just glad i'm finally getting around to it :) there r a LOT of v mixed revs for this so i'm rlly hoping i enjoy it!! 🤞

[lauren‎♡₊˚ &#x1f9a2;・₊✧ (ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4💫

what a BEAUTIFUL SECOND CHANCE LOVE STORY. this story covered so many emotional topics, so i suggest checking the trigger warnings, but the author handled everything so delicately and wrote with so much care. lauren okie's writing was absolutely beautiful, poetic, and emotion. i have like 100 highlights from this book full of amazing scenes and syntax.

our two characters went through so much growth in this book and i couldn't be prouder for them. katie was just a ball of sunshine and soooo taylor swift coded. her positivity and outgoing personality was such a joy to read. tyler was so gentle and kind with her, and i respect him so much for how he behaved when he was around katie. he is such a sensitive man and i love it! they both have gone through so much trauma but have healed so beautifully and this story helped them heal and ugh i am just obsessed.

dont get me wrong, i absolutely LOVED this book, but i guess i hold an unpopular opinion of not really enjoying the ending... i was just so confused! after i talked with one of my friends about it, i understand what happened and yes, i think thats so cool, but i was SO CONFUSED and ended the last 10% of the book being like .... huh???

anyways, im so excited for everyone to read this when it comes out!!!

thank you avon books, netgalley & lauren okie for the arc! out june 16!
☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️

preread!!!
thank you avon books & lauren okie for the arc!!!

i've heard such amazing things about this and as a second-chance lover, i am SO excited to read it!!!

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lauren W -behind! (work)- trying to stay semi-caught up♥︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropesick was a bit heavier than I expected, skillfully tackling intense themes like grief, substance abuse, addiction, and complex family dynamics. I found myself most engaged by the beginning and the ending; there were a few sections in the middle where the narrative pacing slowed down and I didn't feel the same magnetic pull or flow as the rest of the book. That being said, everything came together beautifully in the end, and I quite enjoyed this story overall.

[Katie Witruk · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Thank you Avon books and Net Galley for this advanced reader copy.

Tropesick is following our two main characters, Katie and Tyler. He’s her brother‘s best friend, they grew up together and fell in love as teens. And now, a decade later, are reuniting to write a book together. Through this process, they will not only have to face their past, but also experience all the romance tropes they’re writing in their book - in real life.

While I think that this was an incredibly unique premise, I was expecting more.

This is my first book by Lauren Okie and I did enjoy her writing. There were so many moments that I felt transported to summer through her beautiful prose. But the pacing of her storytelling didn’t work for me.

The first 20% had me very invested, but as I kept reading things started to drag. It felt like the idea of having a ton of different tropes as plot devices (in more ways than one) got in the way of the trajectory of the story. I did however really like that we got shown quite a bit of their backstory as the reader, instead of being told about it in present day.

I liked both of the main characters, and I felt like I could relate to them on certain things. But toward the end of the book, I didn’t feel connected to them, even though there was so much potential. There were quite a few moments I FELT their connection. Which made the moments when I didn’t feel it stand out more.

I was definitely not expecting the twist, and I liked the way things ended with the couple (it felt very 2000’s romcom to me). But the ending as a whole felt a little rushed. And I feel like there were a few plot holes.

After finishing this I realized I was hoping for more, so for me this one isn’t a favorite, but I did like it.

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please don’t come for me, but I didn’t love this one. I thought it was super unique, but the execution wasn’t there for me.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
I read an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager. This review is my honest opinions. You can grab a published copy on June 16, 2026.
Special shoutout to @eclectikollection on IG for buddy reading this with me!
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– FMC: Katie Caruso. 25-year old ghostwriter for a romance author. Likes pink and glitter and doesn’t gaf if you don’t like that about her
– MMC: Tyler McNally. 27-year old writer hired to help ghostwrite a romance book in exchange for notes about his own novel. Carries burden and shame like he bought them and has to now walk home 10 miles before he can set them down.
– Location: NYC and Long Island
– POV: Dual first-person with “book within a book” excerpts
– Spice: 1-2 somewhat spicy scenes leaning more “romantic” than explicit
– Tropes: nearly every trope you can think of to some extent (but also not ALL tropes), but namely: brother’s best friend, second chance, childhood friends to lovers, miscommunication (avoidant), “it’s always been you”... (anything more might spoil something)
– Content warning: without detailing potential spoilers, grief and addiction/recovery are the two main themes here, so if you are struggling with either, please consider reading the author’s note before proceeding.
– Representation: LGBTQIA+ minor side character

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

I’m going to start with what worked for me and what I appreciated before getting into why this ultimately landed at 3 stars.

What worked (for me):
+ I greatly appreciated how unique this story felt while still echoing elements of books I’ve loved before. It truly felt like a love letter to romance readers and authors, and I enjoyed all of the nods to other beloved writers throughout the story.
+ There was a nice balance between lighter moments and heavier emotional beats. That contrast gave the story dimension and kept me curious about where things were headed.
+ I’m always a fan of a book-within-a-book. While I’m not sure it was fully effective for me in this particular story, I still appreciated the meta quality it brought to the reading experience.
+ The exchange: “I think she gets tired of everyone commenting on how pretty she is.” “Wow. That must be so hard for her. Is she okay? Is she seeking help? Should we set up a GoFundMe, or--” absolutely took me out. I laughed for a solid minute.
+ There is one pivotal moment where the FMC begins to recognize and unpack the way she was/is being treated, and I thought most of that section was beautifully written. It was one of the strongest emotional moments in the book for me, and I found myself wanting more of that same depth elsewhere in the story.

Now, I won’t say I don’t understand the hype surrounding this book. In fact, I wish I had connected with it the way so many other readers seem to have. I was genuinely hoping to be in the “best book ever” camp. But here are my reasons for my rating:
- The pacing was the biggest hurdle for me. There was a significant amount of buildup before the inciting incident, and while things certainly picked up afterward, the shift felt somewhat chaotic and occasionally confusing. By that point, I had started to lose some of my connection to both the story and the characters.
- That pivotal emotional moment I mentioned earlier didn’t have quite the follow-through I was hoping for. I was deeply invested in that realization, but the story moved on from it more quickly than I expected, which left me wanting a bit more exploration of its impact.
- The dynamic between the FMC and MMC also lost some momentum for me as the story progressed. Part of that may have been tied to the pacing, but I occasionally found myself frustrated with some of Katie’s choices, particularly during moments of miscommunication that felt avoidable.
- Without getting into spoilers, I also found myself wishing the magical realism element had been woven more consistently throughout the story. It felt a little too understated for my personal taste, and I wanted it to have a stronger presence within the narrative.

Would I Recommend?: Maybe—and I mean that in the most sincere way possible. I was incredibly excited (and honored) to receive this ARC. I also read Lauren’s debut as an ARC last year, and while I had some similar critiques, I continue to admire the way she crafts characters and approaches storytelling. At this point, I think it may simply be a matter of personal reading taste. Her style of playing with and stretching traditional romance conventions clearly resonates with many readers, and I have no doubt this book will find a passionate audience. It just wasn’t quite the right fit for me.


─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine

╰┈➤ ❝Lovely to just lay here with you; You're kinda cute and I would say all of this; But I don't wanna ruin the moment; Lovely to sit between comfort and chaos...❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ This felt like if Lauren Okie was cosplaying as Ashley Poston to write a fanfic of Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (don’t read too much into that please. the context here is just for vibes)
➼ Books about authors and romance book lovers

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———————✧————Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional



•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first 20% or so, I wasn’t sure I was going to connect to these characters. My expectations were so high after The Best Worst Thing. But I went from being unsure to being so emotionally connected to & touched by this story. Truly a beautiful love story with such a fun, unique, bookish premise. Oh, & that ending… SHOCKED. Torn on how I feel about it tbh, but definitely a twist! I’d say worth the read!!

[Sherry Moyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Katie and Tyler have been part of one another’s lives since they were in high school. In fact, he was her brother’s best friend. She harbored a crush, he almost reciprocated, but the boys were always drinking and getting high, and this complicated everything

Fast forward ten years.

Unfortunately, Katie’s brother is dead, Katie’s parents are still actively grieving (and ignoring their living child).

When Katie, a ghost writer for a famous novelist, is given a writing partner, wouldja look at that. It’s Tyler. And the two haven’t seen each other since one fateful day.

Together they spend a few weeks in the Hamptons with the reclusive writer for whom they are writing a romance novel. It’s there they will face their demons and write a love story.

What a hot mess.

Usually I start a review with the things that worked for me, but unfortunately, there’s nothing in particular I liked.

Katie is childish and “quirky” (she dresses like a four year old given unfettered access to a dress up bin). Tyler is grumpy because he reads “smart” literature and has a sleeve tattoo. I didn’t like either, nor did I buy into their romance.

The addiction issues felt manufactured for the plot.

Katie and Tyler’s first interactions were when she was fourteen - FOURTEEN - and when I found this out, I was flabbergasted. She reacts and deals with very adult issues like someone with a lot more life experience. It doesn’t fit.

Plus, don’t get me started on how a cat picks 8 tropes from a bowl that they must use on the book.

The reveal about Tyler is drawn out for far too long for a very mediocre payoff. Completely expected.

And, for maybe the second ever time, I will say the audio production actually took away from my experience with the book. It was overly dramatic.

And then.

AND THEN. At 90%, everything goes off the rails. Like, throw my phone across the room, immediately rage in my friend’s DMs. This was not a good reveal. NO. It came out of nowhere and made no sense.

I did not enjoy the author’s first book and I decided to try the second effort. You can see why we have an expression, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

Those who love these books, go on with your bad selves. It’s not for me.

[nat · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

“i think you’re very brave,” she said. “i know your life’s been quite difficult. it’s remarkable, how big you love anyway.”

4.75⭐️ !!!! lauren okie what have you done to me. i loved this.

the setting was amazing, the writing was beautiful, and i genuinely felt like i could relate to the characters in so many ways. i especially loved the whole concept of them literally projecting their own lives onto the book they were writing. it was such a new concept for me, and it was so fun to experience that through a character because as a reader, you KNOW that feeling of getting way too emotionally invested in a story and seeing pieces of yourself in it.

also, it was so funny because i somehow completely missed one of the tags for this book and at one point i was like… wait a minute WHAT? but honestly, it just made the whole experience even more fun.

the only reason this isn't quite a five star, (even though this book made me cry multiple times), is because the miscommunication and stubbornness between them got a little frustrating at times. like PLEASE just TALK to each other.

but other than that, i loved every second of this. the vibes, the setting, the writing, the characters, the whole concept. i had such a good time reading this !!!


and the quotes !!! there were so many beautiful moments

₊˚✧ ﾟ.:

“she’s infuriating.”
“and pretty?”
“like staring into the sun.”

“when i close my eyes,” i said, “it has always been you. you and you and only you.”

₊˚✧ ﾟ.:

i’m so excited to see more of her work !! such a great writer indeed !!

₊˚✧ ﾟ.: ♡˚✧.・₊˚✧ ﾟ.: ♡˚✧.・₊˚✧ ﾟ.: ♡˚✧.・₊˚✧ ﾟ.: ♡˚✧.・

[Anila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5⭐️

I’m not sure how to rate this book. While I somewhat enjoyed the plot and I was interested to see how everything would play out, I didn’t really like the leads Katie and Tyler. I had a hard time relating to them and I couldn’t bring myself to care about them either. Maybe it was Katie’s quirkiness but I found some of their interactions and dialogue to be so awkward. I really didn’t ship them as a couple. There was just something off about their romance.

Like I said, the plot was decent but it dragged a lot in the second half and it got weird in the last couple of chapters. The ending felt very rushed and didn’t feel satisfying. It just left me confused.

So many people loved this book but I sadly don’t feel the same way. Besides wanting to know what happened in their past, the book didn’t have much else going for it for me personally.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am very tropesick. My biggest enemy in publishing right now is the trend to market books based on tropes. I was excited just by the title of this book. 

This felt like an Emily Henry book. 
A ghostwriter and her dead brother's best friend reunite after eight years apart to co-write a romance novel at an isolated Hamptons estate, only to watch classic romance clichés mysteriously come true in their own lives.

I was excited for a meta-analysis on the genre, on satire galore. Instead, this was mostly just a run-of-the-mill romance following all of the plot beats with no further commentary. 

The chapters were too short for any meaningful connection and the jumps between past and present felt chaotic instead of thoughtfully interwoven. 

Not to mention, I never bought their romance. The male love interest was pretty rude throughout and never redeemed himself for me. The female protagonist kept chasing him despite everything he does. 

I appreciated the addiction storyline, but it lacked depth, probably due to the short chapters. 

The reason why I think the overall Goodreads rating from others is so low?
That out-of-nowhere crazy ‘twist’ that made absolutely no sense. 

Don’t get me started on the female audiobook narrator. Her sexy voice made me squirm. 

I probably would have rated this 3 stars, had it not been for that rushed, crazy ending.
2.75 stars.🌟

Bookstagram
Tiktok

[mags · Rating 5 out of 5]

6⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"When I close my eyes, it has always been you. You and you and only you." 💗✍🏻📚🌸✨

i honestly don't think i have the words to describe how much i absolutely LOVED this book. i knew it was going to be a 6 star read from the minute i started it. every single moment i wasn't reading this book, i wanted to be reading this book

katie and tyler are SO dear to my heart, katie was just the strongest, most sunshine-glitter filled character ever and I loved her. And tyler fought so hard to overcome his past and forgive himself- also tall, dark hair, tatttoos and GLASSES?? my dream man. they were both such well written characters and i could not love them more

also i am OBSESSED with the way this book was structured, having little snippets of the book they were writing in between their love story with all the tropes was such a fun addition

& that plot twists at 90%???? that got me, it was definitely different, but I think I liked it?

thank you so much netgalley for this arc!!!

this is absolutely going down as one of my new favorite romance books of all time, top 5 FOR SURE