Pot Shot

by Laura Piper Lee

To open her cannabis dispensary, a chronically ill woman must defeat the surly doctor next door in this hilarious and steamy romantic comedy.

Nomi Wyeth, former valedictorian and current pothead, has her heart set on opening her own boutique cannabis dispensary in charming downtown Sparrow Nook, New Jersey. Cannabis changed Nomi’s life, giving her relief from Crohn’s disease when nothing else could, and it’s her dream to help others find the same peace and comfort she has. But Nomi’s plans are rudely interrupted when Dr. Julian D’Angelo, former salutatorian and current asshole, returns to Sparrow Nook with a chip on his shoulder, a probation to serve at the medical practice next door, and a lifelong vendetta against weed.

When an unfortunate shaving accident lands Nomi onto Julian’s exam table, Julian is appalled to discover that his high school nemesis is still inconveniently gorgeous, still hates his guts, and worst of all, that she’s planning on opening an amoral weed bordello next to his clinic. War is the only answer and definitely not an excuse to keep running into witty, free-spirited Nomi.

As they battle each other all over Sparrow Nook, from “pot luck” fundraisers to public debates at City Council meetings, their fraught pasts and feelings for each other become harder and harder to ignore. It’s tough to say what will change first—their minds or their hearts—but one thing’s for they’re not going down without a fight.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Rom Com

Audible Audio

Published May 19, 2026

About the author

Laura Piper Lee writes lots of things--desperate pleas to her partner for emergency caffeine, to-do lists that never get done, impassioned texts on her favorite supplements (it's Berberine, look it up)--but she only gets paid to write adult romantic comedies featuring characters as hapless as she is.

Add her newest book, Zoe Brennan, First Crush to your want-to-reads shelf if you love steamy, sapphic romcoms with professorial butch love interests, power play, and lots of wine!

Things you'll find in Zoe Brennan:
*A lot of on-page spice,
*a sexy, bossy butch love interest,
*a LOT of jokes, and
*a perpetually single lesbian in a small queer mountain town who's married to her vineyard because relationships are scary.

Add Laura's debut Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair to your to-reads shelf, or hell, if you want to be a hero, buy it even!

Things you'll find in Hannah Tate:
*on-page spice
*a hot Golden Retriever boyfriend (he even lives in a treehouse y'all)
*a LOT of jokes, and
* a single mom who's trying to build her whole life from the ground up with two leaky breasts and an infant strapped to her front.

Reviews

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

Pot Shot is a book you should not read in public. It is too laugh out loud funny, too snotty tears emotional, and too need a cold shower sexy.

I’d give it a million stars if I could.

The way the author writes about chronic illness… I have never felt so seen, so understood. Reading this book feels like someone cracked open my chest, peered at my chronically ill soul and said, “I see you, all of you, now let me show you how worthy of love you area.”

Not to mention the MMC grovels while wearing slutty little short shorts.

I could wax poetic about this book all day. I might come back and add more to this review after a re-read, and I will be doing a re-read as soon as the audiobook is available.

This book is hilarious, but its also emotional and Laura Piper Lee did a phenomenal job of balancing the humor, the trauma, the rep, it was honestly awe-inspiring how well she weaved them together. The timing of a joke right after she rips your heart out… perfection.

Whats to love…
- EVERYTHING!!!!
- he grovels
- found family
- rivals to lovers
- chronic illness baddie FMC
- slutty little everything MMC
- second chance single timeline

I love this book so much!

reread: just as hilarious, emotional, swoony, and HOT the second time around!

Audio Narration: 5/5
Style: DUET!
Narrators: Elizabeth Lamont & CJ Mission
Length: 12 hrs 7 mins
Thoughts: WOW! Elizabeth Lamont is ridiculously talented. I’d listen to her perform all day if I could. My audiobook read was a reread and she really nailed it. She brought Nomi to life in technicolor! CJ Mission did fabulous as well. The first chapter was the only one I had a slight issue with, it sounded like the mixing was off just slightly and the volume between narrators were off. This is resolved after the first chapter though and really not something to worry about imho.


5⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you UnionSquare Publishing for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Brooke 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

╰┈➤ 𝟺.𝟻 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ

❝ “i thiᥒk it’s ᥲ good thiᥒg, to bᥱ ᥣovᥱd withoυt ᥴoᥒditioᥒs or ᥱxρᥱᥴtᥲtioᥒs. to bᥱ ᥣovᥱd jυst bᥱᥴᥲυsᥱ ყoυ’rᥱ ყoυ, ᥲᥒd ყoυ ᥱxist. thᥲt’s ᥱᥒoυgh.” ❞

📚: 𝐏𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐞
📜: 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 𝟹𝟼𝟹
🏷️: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
📖: 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎
📆: 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟻/𝟹𝟷/𝟸𝟼-𝟼/𝟹/𝟸𝟼
💬: 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 ”Nomi Wyeth has her heart set on opening her own boutique cannabis dispensary in charming downtown Sparrow Nook, New Jersey. Cannabis changed Nomi's life, giving her relief from Crohn's disease when nothing else could, and it's her dream to help others find the same peace and comfort she has. But Nomi's plans are rudely interrupted when Dr. Julian D'Angelo returns to Sparrow Nook with a chip on his shoulder, a probation to serve at the medical practice next door, and a lifelong vendetta against weed. When an unfortunate shaving accident lands Nomi onto Julian's exam table, Julian is appalled to discover that his high school nemesis is still inconveniently gorgeous, still hates his guts, and worst of all, that she's planning on opening an amoral weed bordello next to his clinic. As they battle each other all over Sparrow Nook, from "pot luck" fundraisers to public debates at City Council meetings, their fraught pasts and feelings for each other become harder and harder to ignore. It's tough to say what will change first: their minds or their hearts.”」

─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─

❝ “ყoυ mᥲkᥱ mᥱ rᥱᥲᥣizᥱ how ᥱmρtყ i wᥲs bᥱforᥱ i mᥱt ყoυ. ᥲᥒd bᥱiᥒg with ყoυ, hᥱrᥱ, ᥒow, is thᥱ fυᥣᥣᥱst i’vᥱ ᥱvᥱr fᥱᥣt.” ❞

ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★ ½
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟺𝟼 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️ ½
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴘɪᴢᴢᴀ 🍕
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: 👍🏼
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ʟᴏᴠᴇ — ᴄᴇʟɪɴᴇ ᴅɪᴏɴ (ɪʏᴋʏᴋ 😉)
0:55 ———♡——— 5:41

⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
💚 ʜᴀᴛᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
🍃 ᴍᴇɴ ᴡʜᴏ ɢʀᴏᴠᴇʟ
💚 ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ʀɪᴠᴀʟꜱ
🍃 ᴄʜʀᴏɴɪᴄ ɪʟʟɴᴇꜱꜱ ʀᴇᴘ
💚 ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡɴ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
🍃 ꜱʟᴜᴛᴛʏ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ɢʟᴀꜱꜱᴇꜱ
💚 ᴅɪꜱᴘᴇɴꜱᴀʀʏ ᴏᴡɴᴇʀ x ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ
⚠️TW: death of a parent

❝ “i wᥲᥒt ყoυr first words iᥒ thᥱ morᥒiᥒg ᥲᥒd ყoυr ᥣᥲst ᥣook of thᥱ ᥱvᥱᥒiᥒg. i wᥲᥒt mყ ᥒᥲmᥱ oᥒ ყoυr ᥣiρs, ᥲᥒd ყoυrs iᥒ mყ moυth. i wᥲᥒt ყoυ, ᥒomi. so mυᥴh.” ❞

─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─

💭: 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• This is one of those books that will have you laughing out loud while also giggling & kicking your feet. I had so much with Pot Shot, even if the MMC, Julian, annoyed me in the beginning, but my mans certainly redeemed himself. 😮‍💨

• I loved how this book went into depth discussing the benefits of marijuana for medicinal purposes. As someone who works in healthcare, I’ve seen the healing effects it has & wish it wasn’t such a taboo subject. The author really did her research on not only marijuana, but Crohn’s Disease. Who knew you could gain a lot of medical knowledge from a romance book?!

• Of course there’s that dreaded third act break up which I thought was totally unnecessary. I wish Nomi would’ve just been honest with Julian about what she was going through.

─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ⊰ ⊹ ─

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ★— Anti-weed doctor meets his hot cannabis dispensary-running ex-girlfriend and proceeds to freak out. Repeatedly.

I have been hearing about how funny this story was for weeks now, so my anticipation for this title was pretty high, and I’m happy to say that it actually met all of my expectations!

Pot Shot somehow manages to be super funny and have some very out-of-pocket moments that took me by surprise, while still being very heartfelt in its depiction of chronic illness, which the main character, Nomi, suffers from.

Nomi is a very interior heroine, someone who keeps everything bottled up, living in fear of her illnesses becoming a burden to others, which has stopped her from pursuing anything more serious than a hookup.

This puts her at odds with Julian, her high school ex, who also hasn’t dated seriously since their breakup. He is still reeling from her leaving him before they could go off to college together and so, once he sees her again, he is absolutely whipped for her from page one.

Leaning into the story’s humorous tone, his feelings for her aren't even hindered by his and Nomi's truly unsexy first time meeting again.

He was a love interest who truly took me a while to warm up to, as he genuinely makes life harder for Nomi for a good portion of the story. However, the author does a great job of eventually giving him a redemption arc and explaining his own share of experiences that shaped his skepticism toward weed and its medicinal uses.

And, like I said, he does redeem himself... while yearning. Really pathetically. And getting jealous.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a witty second chance romance that still lets you feel for its main characters as you watch them stumble into some fun shenanigans!

🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Duet
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
This one seriously works perfectly on audiobook! The two narrators were amazing, and I really loved how the male narrator managed to convey Julian trying to be stoic while still perfectly delivering all the humor. And because this is a duet-style audiobook, I was truly locked into the story!

___________________

Thank you to Union Square & Co. for the ARC and to Hachette Audio for the ALC.

[maria (will I fully comeback?) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought a book about cannabis could be this fun, emotional and so good😭 I love Nomi, my sweet girl. She deserves the whole world.

frtc

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up!!

over all i had a damn good time with this book, i was laughing nonstop from the very start — it got me to audibly laugh several times in my very quiet office in the first 2% alone. the audiobook production was TOP TIER, it felt like you could hear how much fun the narrators were having recording the book which in turn only made the dialogue and story itself even better with the already great source material!!

i typically talk about this kind of thing at the end of my reviews but i feel like its necessary to get my little rant out now so i can continue gushing! i want to preface this with i dont smoke, i dont use gummies, i dont take anything with thc and i never really have — only a few times as a teen/early twenties because it makes my anxiety a million times worse. so i have absolutely NO skin in this game for what i am about to bitch about — i wont be bitching because im offended due to needing or recreationally using weed. but i will be bitching on behalf of those who need or want to use it because julian ENRAGED me for his stance on weed. i am like 99.9% sure that was the entire point so firstly props to laura because she successfully ragebaited the hell outta me for a good chunk of the book LOL. but it just absolutely blew my mind how julian could be a medical professional and be SO god damn judgmental. it was funny at first for the first 20% or so but the way he is still such a condescending asshole over 40% in had me gobsmacked truly. i am probably in the minority but i did not feel bad whatsoever for his reasoning and when he found out the reality of the situation i wanted him to feel like the worlds biggest loser for his actions. i am starting to get annoyed at him again and this paragraph is getting too long so im going to move on but tldr julian’s behavior in the first half is why this book was not a 5/6 star read for me.

ALL OF THAT BEING SAID — laura the phenomenal writer you are. i was unsure how in the hell she was going to make me like julian again bc the real enemies to lovers here is between me and him and i was EXTREMELY impressed at how when she took the stick out of his ass i COMPLETELY forgot i couldn’t stand him 💀. unclenched butthole julian d’angelo is the hottest, most fun, kind and DOWN BAD man there is and i was in love with him ?!?!!? his growth post come to jesus meeting with dr appa was phenomenal and it made me really happy to see how serious he took educating himself on the health benefits of weed.

i LOVED nomi — from start to finish i was absolutely obsessed with that woman and her humor. i didnt know if i wanted to be her or be with her?! i do wish she could have been a little more up front about her illness with julian 1) to get him to chill the fuck out earlier BUT given the way he was acting i could see why she wouldnt want to be forthcoming with him but also 2) and most importantly towards the end once he had completely changed his tune and did the work to become trustworthy of info like that, i wish she would have leaned on him a bit more. i get that that the disease can be hard and embarrassing to talk about as i deal with ibs myself but it felt like a bit of a slap in the face to him. they both have their faults and are human like everyone else though so i get it and i still love the shit outta her regardless!!

this book is chaotic to its core all the way through but it was SO much fun and truly hilarious. the chronic health representation was phenomenal, i really loved how inspiring nomi was and how we got to see different case scenarios for why weed is so beneficial medically for people of all ages and multiple diseases. the growth between both MCs was so well done and felt really natural. the underlying plot was really interesting and i got a good kick out of how it all played out in the end! the imagery through out the book is super vivid! the side characters in this book were a hoot, i LOVED dr appa, julian’s mom and aunt edna and nomis besties, etc!!!

laura simply never misses for me. i love how much fun i have while reading her books and i absolutely cannot wait for whats next!!!

[kara lynn ₊˚⊹ ᰔ [semi ia] · Rating 5 out of 5]

`✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ 5⭐️
₊˚⊹ spoiler free review !! ⊹˚₊
╰┈➤ read march 11 - april 6
╰┈➤ review posted : april 20
╰┈➤ publication date : may 19

as someone who reads mostly contemporary romance, i can say that laura piper lee absolutely knows what she’s doing !! unfortunately, i was deep in a reading slump when i read this, so it did take me nearly a month, but the book is definitely not to blame. in a regular scenario, i would have flown through this. the characters are relatable, the romance is hot, and the plot is incredibly addictive.

⇢ ˗ˏˋ "i’ve felt about a thousand different things for you over the years that i’ve known you. but i’ve always, always liked you.” ࿐ྂ

⋆.𐙚 ̊ the premise ꒰🍃꒱

the story follows nomi wyeth, a former valedictorian turned full-time stoner, as she navigates her life, goals, and relationships while handling crohn’s disease. nomi dreams of opening a dispensary in her small town to help break down stereotypes about marijuana and share its benefits. her dream is suddenly crushed when her former academic rival, julian d’angelo, moves back to town and begins working in the clinic next door. julian is everything nomi isn’t: uptight, pretentious, and, most importantly, completely against cannabis. as their hatred begins to resurface, so do feelings they both thought they’d left behind.

⋆˚࿔ the characters ꒰🌅꒱

most of the humor in this book comes primarily from the characters and how they interact. i have screenshot after screenshot of certain lines that were genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. not that i have anything against it, but i’ve never really cared for the found family trope until now. i absolutely adored the way nomi’s friends included julian, even when he was being an asshole…

ᯓ nomi wyeth ˎˊ˗, a young woman struggling with crohn’s disease, has looked to marijuana as a way to feel better after years of failed medical treatments. nomi has made it her goal to show the world that cannabis is a lot more beneficial than people believe. i really loved nomi and feel like I really learned a lot about the uses of marijuana. she was such a beautiful and complex character, remaining strong despite all of her struggles.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ julian d’angelo ˚. is a try-hard doctor sent back to his hometown in an attempt to fix his career after a large dent in his reputation. julian being an anxious, pathetic mess was such a great contrast to free-spirited nomi and made their relationship much more enjoyable. i originally thought that julian was the funniest character, until i realised a lot of the humor comes from the others casually making fun of him..

જ⁀➴°⋆ overall ꒰🏥꒱

to me, this was an easy five-star read. somehow, it was laugh-out-loud funny, while occasionally touching on important issues. i will most definitely be reading more by laura piper lee !!

「 ✦ i received a complimentary copy of this book. opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. thank you to union square & co., laura piper lee, and netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for my honest review !! ✦ 」
╭──╯thank you for reading !! ‹𝟹 ╰──╮


-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
⊹ ࣪౨ৎ˚₊ pre-read ⊹ ࣪౨ৎ˚₊
started :: march 11, 2026
prediction :: 4.5 ⭐️
⊹ ࣪ ˖ okay this cover is amazingg
so excited to start this one!!

[Jenna Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t mind me I just want to be Laura Piper Lee’s brain when I grow up.

[hailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I think it’s a good thing, to be loved without conditions or expectations. To be loved just because you’re you, and you exist. That’s enough.”

this was funny as fuck & i love nomi

[Mora ˖❀۫ ׅ (mostly ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⊹₊˚‧┈┈┈┈┈✧┈┈┈┈₊୨ᰔ୧₊┈┈┈┈┈✧┈┈┈┈‧˚₊⊹
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤʀᴇᴀᴅ: 5 ᴍᴀʏ/6 ᴍᴀʏ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ: ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤᴅɪꜱᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇʀ: ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ꜰᴏʀ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋꜱ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ/ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀ ᴠɪᴀ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ꜰᴜʟʟʏ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤᴛʀᴏᴘᴇꜱ: ʀᴏᴍᴄᴏᴍ, ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤᴅɪꜱᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ/ᴄʜʀᴏɴɪᴄ ɪʟʟɴᴇꜱꜱ ʀᴇᴘ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⊹₊˚‧┈┈┈┈┈✧┈┈┈┈₊୨ᰔ୧₊┈┈┈┈┈✧┈┈┈┈‧˚₊⊹
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⊱ ۫ ׅ✧ My rating: 3.5/5 ᯽

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⊹₊ ˚･:*🌼࿔ 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 ࿔*:･˚ ₊⊹
The key to enjoying this book and for it to work imo is to stop taking anything seriously and just see it as a chaotic over the top romcom. Because there's some parts in this book that are so exaggerated it would usually annoy me, but since I didn't take it serious at all, it was a fun time.
The audiobook narrators carried this for me. You could HEAR them having fun with the absurdity, especially during beginning scenes, I laughed when I could hear the male narrator wheeze.
Some of the humor was very millennial and mostly didn’t hit for me personally, but listening instead of reading definitely improved the experience.
This book has a lot of Crohn's representation and conversations about medical weed and while I think it was well done, I think the balance of that + character development + romance could've been better. There were parts now where I got kind of bored that I think could've been used to develop their "relationship" instead.
A thing I disliked was the pacing of Julian’s growth. He basically goes from judgmental asshole to devoted golden retriever boyfriend energy SO randomly that it almost felt like I missed a part. I think if his shift had been slower, the romance would’ve felt a bit more realistic.
It was a fun listen tho, and something I don't read often. A good palate cleanser.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⊹₊ ˚‧ꨄ٠࣪⭑💐 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 ٠࣪⭑ꨄ‧ ˚ ₊⊹
I kinda liked them more when they were sorta fighting/becoming friends than when it started to get serious. Mostly because like I mentioned above the shift of Julian was too random so it felt a bit cheesy/forced.
"𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘠𝘢𝘭𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘕𝘰𝘮𝘪"
Another thing I mentioned above that needs mention here too, you HAVE to not take this book serious to like this romance... Because the doctor patient thing at the start is weird unless you don't care, and the absolute bullshit he spews at the beginning of the book would be rage-inducing too if you took it serious lol.
I appreciated how despite this book being chaotic all-over, there were also real emotional (mis)understandings being dealt with. I just wish it would've resolved less sudden. But maybe I just expect too much for this genre, it is one I don't usually read afterall.
Nomi is basically kind to Julian the whole time and I liked her character. If you ignore the sudden change of Julian's character, he was quite sweet and caring.
"𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦."


Pre Listen:

Got the ALC for this! Going to start it soon because I can't interrupt The Four Horsemen series
It's been a while since I did/got anything for NetGalley!

[lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

not quite sure how to feel about this one…”zoe brennan, first crush” was one of my favorite reads of 2025 and i was beyond ecstatic for this next release, especially with the plot and cover!

i found it instead to be *incredibly* rompy and quite silly for their ages. everything was so incredibly over the top which i’ve never found lee’s books to be previously. i like a more realistic yet still fun and lighthearted romcom and i thought with our fmc dealing with her disease and the public exploration of weed use it would be, but alas.

the romance also didn’t completely sell me because of what a jerk the mmc was over half the book! it was indeed the point but it got to a point where i didn’t yknow how they’d recover from his actions and everything settled too nicely i was left very ?! honestly our fmc deserved better 🫣

thank you to netgalley and union square & co for the arc!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️

As a chronic illness girlie myself, Pot Shot absolutely wrecked me in the best way. Beneath the hilarious, campy small-town rivalry and sizzling chemistry, this book captured the reality of living with chronic illness in a way that felt painfully honest and deeply validating. You can tell Laura Piper Lee either has firsthand experience or did incredibly immersive research because Nomi’s struggles, fears, coping mechanisms, and quiet moments of exhaustion felt real. It showed the side of chronic illness we often try to hide from everyone else, and seeing so much of myself reflected in Nomi made me feel so seen.

The romance between Nomi and Julian was everything I wanted. Their banter and constant fighting were so fun, but what truly got me was watching Julian slowly learn to see Nomi fully and meet her where she’s at instead of trying to “fix” her. By the time they finally got their happy ending, my heart basically exploded.

And I have to talk about the audiobook. It’s narrated by CJ Mission and Elizabeth Lamont, and they both did an amazing job, but Elizabeth Lamont especially brought so much emotional depth to Nomi that I genuinely teared up at points. She understood the character completely and elevated every vulnerable moment.

Overall, this is easily a contender for one of my favorite books of the year. Funny, emotional, validating, romantic, and unexpectedly healing all at once.

Thanks to Laura, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC. 🍃💚

[nurse.megan.reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 7% because what the actual fuck do you mean this male doctor is having inappropriate thoughts about his female patient immediately after stitching up her vulva from a shaving accident?

This isn’t a rom-com. And it sure as fuck wasn’t cute. As a nurse for 13 years, I’m honestly disgusted. Clearly no sensitivity readers.

For a lot of women, being examined in such a vulnerable situation is already anxiety-inducing. Turning that into instant sexual attraction from the medical professional who’s actively treating her feels like every woman’s worst nightmare.

HARD FUCKING PASS.

[Ashley Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nomi has Crohn’s and wants to open a dispensary, and honestly? I felt that in my bones. She hides her illness not because she’s ashamed but because she doesn’t want it to become her whole identity and as someone with a chronic illness and a kid with diabetes, that shit hit me. You’re allowed to be a full person, not just a diagnosis. My heart hurt for Nomi 😞

And then there’s Julian. A pretentious, anti-weed doctor who thinks his fancy Yale degree means he knows more about bodies than the people living in them. Again, been there, done that. Watching this book quietly drag medical arrogance while standing up for patient lived experience? Beautiful. No notes.

Also?? This book is funny as hell. The stoner scenes were actually accurate. I actually ended up getting fomo at the Potluck Party scene that I had to take the kindle out to the garage and do some gardenmom activities 🤫😂😂 I laughed out loud more than once. I highlighted several funny moments I wanted to go back to for a giggle.

This story broke down so many stereotypes about cannabis, both medicinal and recreational and chronic illness, while still being a messy, sexy, heartfelt romance. I loved it. Just genuinely so good.
Also, any chance of book 2 with…idk Graham or the little evil lesbian? Ijs 😉

[gracie · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf at 11%. This isn't for me. I just don't see the romance, or set up for a relationship, in having a doctor have such inappropriate thoughts towards a patient lol. This might work for other people but I tried to look past it and keep going with the story but it was not possible.

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the alc in exchange for an honest review

[Katie Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was actually hilarious yall. Like bust out laughing and my husband turning to me like what are you laughing at. I listened to this book and then read it in between and enjoyed both! I gave this book 4 stars. I really liked the originality of the plot and thought Laura did such a good job layering that in with some other tropes like miscommunication, opposites attract, and loathe to lovers. I liked the dynamic between Nomi and Julian. Not going to lie, I had a hard time with how petty they both were towards each other at the beginning, and found myself wondering how everything would shift. I have to say that I was impressed with how Laura handled that. These two were at each other’s throats until Julian was forced to make a decision regarding his career. I really enjoyed them both SLOWLY opening up to each other. I liked how much Nomi was able to help not only shift Julian’s perception on medical care but also how she helped him let loose a little. Once he got there, they were inevitable. I loved the chemistry between them. You could feel it from page 1 and again when they were being petty, I kind of wanted to shake them and say acknowledge was it between you. All of it was worth it for the build up to the spicy scenes. I actually wanted more of them! I loved the found family aspect here not only with Nomi but after Julian cracked open, he was able to reunite and connect better with his family. Ultimately, these two helped each other be the best version of themselves while making me laugh uncontrollably.

Nomi can’t believe she is THIS close to finally being able to achieve her dreams- opening a medical marijuana story to continue to help people. One thing she wasn’t counting on was her now nemesis, Julian D’Angelo, to not only move back home but now make it his mission to make her shop not happen. She can’t understand how things shifted so badly between them from high school until now. All she knows is that she wants nothing to do with him. So color her shocked when Julian approaches her about shadowing her work for a bit. He will cancel his crusade on her shop. He just needs to get a better understanding of what she does. So she decides to pull back the curtain and let him in a little bit. She shows him how medical marijuana has helped her clients when modern medicine failed. She shows him the depth of the relationships she has built and how she truly listens to her patients and their concerns so she can best help address everything. She doesn’t expect him to actually absorb this information, but week after week she sees the old Julian, the sweet guy she knew from high school, come back out. And man is she attracted to THAT version of him. The one who is also working in her coffee shop and seems to make it his mission to come up with a new drink everyday. The one who seems to do everything he can now to make her smile. The one who is lingering at her like maybe he wants to explore this connection they have always had. But he is leaving- back to the city in a few months. Should she really let him all the way in? She can’t deny herself any longer. She wants him. She wants THIS. And when they finally give in, it’s beyond her expectations. Despite that, she still hasn’t told him about her own medical condition in fear of his response. And when he finds out, he reacts the way his old self would have. Nomi can’t cope with that, but she also isn’t ready to let their connection end. And it seems neither is Julian.

Julian can’t believe he has found himself back home again. The one place he thought he would never be. And not only that but on his first nightly rotation working at the doctor’s office he runs into his high school crush, Nomi, in the literal most awkward scenario possible. He quickly remembers why they are no longer friends. In fact why they are now borderline enemies with her attitude and sass. So when he finds out she is trying to open a dispensary by the office he is at, all bets are off. That all comes back to haunt him when his now boss says he either has to work with Nomi to learn more about what she does or he won’t endorse him anymore. Sure Julian can be a little rough around the edges. Sure he doesn’t have the best bedside manner, but do you really have to be nice to someone to save their life? Julian has no choice but to follow Nomi around and act interested in what she does which is help people with medical marijuana. He slowly learns that Nomi is so much more than he thought. She genuinely cares. She lights up around her patients. She is beyond knowledgeable about her craft. He can’t believe he didn’t see this before. And now his crush is back in the worst way. He wants to explore everything about Nomi. He wants and wants and wants, but he is going back to the city in a few months right? But the more he is here with Nomi the more he realizes how much he is changing for the better. The more he realizes how much he misinterpreted about his childhood and his relationship with his now deceased dad. Nomi makes him want to be better. But when he finds out what truly pushed her away all those years ago, old habits die hard. And now he has to prove to Nomi that she is more than her sickness. That she in fact is the love of his life, and he isn’t going anywhere.

I cannot emphasis enough how much I laughed and truly enjoyed this story. Once I got over the pettiness and had a better understanding of why Julian and Nomi were the way they were, I couldn’t wait for THEM to figure it out so we could move on with their love story. I loved watching our resident grump, Julian, come into his own and realize life was too short to hold onto the wrong things. I also loved how he showed up for Nomi ESPECIALLY after he found about her sickness. I would recommend reading OR listening to this OR both. The narrators did a great job. I also have to say that the D’Angelo clan was absolutely hilarious and I kind of hope that we might stay in this small town and get more stories from them!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[ari ⁠♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning was SO good that I genuinely thought this was gonna be a new favorite… and then it slowly became 300 pages of “here’s why everyone hates this man”

Didn’t really care for the FMC, but the MMC was somehow even worse. The author worked overtime making him unlikeable and unfortunately it worked because I became his hater too

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this was funny as fuck 🤣 The banter and shenanigans between Nomi and Julian had me in literal tears and I cannot even tell you how many times I cackled out loud.

That being said, their story has some emotional moments too—the truth behind Julian’s hatred of weed and his asshole ways, and everything Nomi goes through with her Crohn’s 😭

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- rivals/enemies to lovers
- chronic illness rep
- second chance romance
- grumpy x sunshine
- forced proximity
- small town shenanigans
- groveling
- slutty little shorts

[Chloe Liese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, sexy, deeply compassionate, POT SHOT embodies everything I long for in an inclusive, heartfelt romantic comedy. Nomi’s and Julian’s enemies-to-lovers tension and connection is perfect—built on a growth arc from longstanding resentment and judgment, to gradually unfurling tenderness and open-hearted curiosity that had me rooting for them the whole way. This story is unputdownable, witty, oh-so-swoony, and a profoundly empathetic, empowering representation of life and love for those with chronic illness.

[Shelby Logan-Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best contemporary romance I’ve read in a minute. I devoured this in 24 hours and I laughed so hard along the way. It is hilarious. It’s endearing. It’s everything you want in a romance novel. I was laughing literally out loud during many moments. Julian is so Schmidt from New Girl coded and I love it so much.

This book is especially meaningful to me because my husband has Crohn’s Disease and after 11 years I’ve come to know the ins and outs of the pain it causes. This book is excellent representation and hits home for really anyone with invisible pain. I will now be referring to him as a “consumptive Victorian invalid with the shits.” To which he has already responded with, “that’s okay, that’s basically what I’m channeling at the renaissance faire this year.”

LPL you killed it and I can’t wait for everyone else to have this beautifully funny wonderful book.

Thank you to my publishing fairy godmother at Hachette for the ARC.

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This book was such a fun surprise. I went into the audiobook after a recommendation from a friend, and I ended up enjoying every second of it.

From the very beginning, I was laughing out loud because the FMC seriously had the worst luck imaginable. The situations she found herself in were absolutely ridiculous in the best way possible, and the humor throughout the story kept me completely entertained.

But underneath all of the comedy, this book also had a lot of heart. I really loved watching the two MCs reconnect and slowly fall for each other. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic was adorable, and their chemistry made it so easy to root for them.

One of the things that surprised me most was how informative the story was. I learned so much about Crohn’s disease and the different ways cannabis can help people medically, which was something I honestly didn’t know much about before reading this book. I loved that the author was able to balance humor, romance, and meaningful topics so well.

Overall, this was hilarious, sweet, informative, and such a good time to listen to.

[ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ i never thought i’d rate a second chance romance this high considering it’s usually one of my least favorite tropes, but this book completely won me over. it was so fucking funny while still feeling real, messy, and raw. nomi and julian had years of history, resentment and unresolved feelings between them, which made every interaction entertaining and emotional at the same time.

the banter was top tier, the small town setting was charming, and i loved how both characters felt flawed and human instead of perfect romance leads. i laughed out loud more times than i expected, but there were also moments that hit surprisingly hard. if you usually avoid second chance romances like i do, this one might change your mind.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

had a blast!!!!

[Janae]

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

This book was definitely not on my radar to read this week but this is probably one of the best rom coms I’ve read in a long time! I laughed so hard and yet, I didn’t expect the plot to also be so heartwarming. I honestly didn’t want the book to end!

If you read this, definitely read via the audio! The narrators were hilarious and the Jersey accents were perfect. I just loved this book so so much and will recommend this to everyone who needs a good laugh.

[Mo Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love you, book!
This was the best time I’ve had in a long time!🖤👏🏻🙌🏻

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

Wow, this is a story that is going to stick with me! Laura Piper Lee’s writing is so enjoyable and witty, and had me hooked immediately. The balance between humor and depth throughout the story was so perfect.

I think these are characters that so many of us can relate to. Nomi and Julian each face so many internal and external battles (both personal and professional) and I loved watching them work through them separately and together.

Nomi’s experience with chronic illness was extremely insightful; not all ailments are visible and you don’t always know what others are going through.

This story is a reminder that you will never be too much for the right person. Sometimes you just have to dare to let love in and let people surprise you. The people who love you will do so no matter what all while helping you become the best version of yourself. It doesn’t make you weak to let the people in your life care for you!!!!

I can’t wait to read more Laura Piper Lee!

Thank you to UnionSquare & Co for the eARC!!

[Bai ♡︎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

i have some mixed feelings about this one. the premise drew me in, it sounded so fun and lighthearted! not to be dramatic buttt, the first chapter of this book was quite a start and i got immediate “ick” from the mmc, Julian. the way he acts performing duties as a DOCTOR had me appalled, i just didn’t find it funny or entertaining at all. this is such a fear for women in real life. it was certainly a choice. we could have gone without creepy unprofessionalism- even if it was only an inner thought he didn’t act upon. not a good introduction to his character for me, and it didn’t get much better. this guy is such a freak about weed, it’s cartoonish and quite annoying. he’s a stereotypically arrogant doctor for the first 40% of this book. and incredibly hypocritical. he should have been kept in that shock collar longer! the good part is that he does face the reality of his ridiculous beliefs and seems to take it in. he ends up being a better person towards the end of the book thankfully, still didn’t like him though.

for the most part this book is just silly, made me laugh a few times. but unfortunately (for me) it’s sooo millennial coded. if it weren’t for having the audio version, this would have made me dnf for sure.

i did appreciate the fact that there was some representation for Crohn’s disease. this isn’t something i have, but a loved one does, and i know how much it can affect a persons life. i haven’t heard of another book featuring a character diagnosed with this and i thought it was so interesting. i was glad to see that the fmc, nomi, was a huge supporter for others in this story when it comes to conditions, illnesses, and other issues that cause them pain + stress.

some of the commentary on the medical benefits of marijuana was awesome! i’m so glad some stereotypes and negative connotations were broken down and argued- especially when we got to see this through first hand experiences of patients. i was glad to see some positive representation there. i wish we could have seen more of nomi helping people who have been incarcerated for marijuana use, i think it was a good opportunity to talk about the racial disparity; and the fact that black people in the US are 3x more likely to be arrested and charged for marijuana possession VS white people!! it didn’t need to be a big plot point but i feel like that would have been an amazing touch.

the narrators did a great job though! thank you netgalley for this digital ALC! ♡︎

[Kinsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

If you had told me one of my favorite books of the year so far would be a book about a pothead, opening up a pot shop, and spending pretty much the whole book high I’d have laughed you off and said yeah right….and YET? This was such a hilarious read and a much needed break from my typical romantasy preference.

While the book had me giggling out loud for most of it, it also dealt with heavy topics such as chronic illness & the effects it has on us and everyone around us. We don't see a lot of chronic illness rep in books and I really appreciate when an author takes time to represent and teach us about it.

Biggest downside would be that at times it felt like a little heavy with the "pot good" message. I agree that it's important and should be legalized, but at times it felt like I was watching an ad or taking a class instead of just enjoying the story. All that to say, it didn't take away that much from my enjoyment and I'd 100% recommend this to others and will be buying a physical copy for my shelves.

[Maddi Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ YESSSSS. I live for discovering a genuinely funny author. Not just "I exhaled slightly through my nose" funny…I’m talking laugh-out-loud-spit-my-drink-out kinda funny. (A true story. My beverage paid the price.)

Consider this your warning: I will be recommending this book to absolutely everyone.

This is a true romantic comedy that not only tackles chronic illness with care and authenticity, but also challenges preconceived notions about cannabis use in the medical field.
I’m even more excited now to dive into the ARC I just received from this author.

[Kaitlyn Renee (kosmickait) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious. Hot. Amazing chronic illness rep.
Hated MMC at first but of course came around when he was less of an ass.
The inner monologue of each of the characters were SO FUNNY. The first chapter was enough to pull me in and have me laughing hysterically.

My husband is from a small town where he has a million cousins, aunts, and uncles that are known around town and own different businesses, so it was super cute to see Julian and his family who are similar.

My first book from Laura Piper Lee and I’m excited to read more from her!!
'Folds town' is also added to my personal dictionary.

[Jackie | thelifeofabookishmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐💫 rounding up. This was the funniest book I've read in a long while. I loved the chronic illness representation and the character growth. There were times when Julian felt a little juvenile, which is the only reason for my deduction.