How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle

by Alissa DeRogatis

From Cosmopolitan's Cosmo Reads imprint and the author of the smash hit Call It What You Want comes a fresh, charming romcom about the chaos of dating in your twenties, the ache of a brutal breakup, and the hilarious lengths one romance writer will go to get her spark back—including staging her own meet-cutes. Perfect for fans of Katherine Center and Emily Henry’s Beach Read.

If you can’t write a good meet-cute, maybe you need to live one first…

Ainsley Green writes happily-ever-afters for a rabid fanbase of hopeless romantics. In real life? Her boyfriend just broke up with her, her editor wanted a new book yesterday and she’s starting to wonder if love actually exists beyond the pages of her favorite novels.

So when Lucas, Ainsley’s best friend and biggest cheerleader, insists the best cure for writer’s block is real-life inspiration, she’s ready to try anything. Enter: the meet-cute plan, a mission to take her head out of her heartbreak and force meet-cutes IRL to spark some new ideas. But as failed missions bumping into strangers at the airport and spilling coffee on men at the cafe result in nothing but embarrassment and stained clothing, Ainsley begins to wonder if maybe the romance she’s been chasing already has a leading man.

Because the truth about falling in love? It never goes according to plan.

Equal parts heartbreak, humor, and hope, How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle is a fresh, flirty send up of dating in the modern age and a reminder that love finds us when we stop performing and start living.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Friends To Lovers, Rom Com

336 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2026

About the author

Alissa DeRogatis is the author of the viral debut Call It What You Want and How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she writes stories about modern love, self- discovery, and the people who help us put ourselves back together. When she’s not reading, she’s rewatching her favorite rom- coms, curating sad-girl playlists, or hang- ing out with her dogs, Asher and Oliver.

Follow along with her on socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alissaderog...

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@alissaderogatis

Reviews

[lauren ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25💫

this was such a cute rom com!! perfect for the end of summer 🫶🏻 this book is OUT NOW!

it follows Ainsley, a romance author, who is currently going through a break up. she is struggling to write another love story while being in the trenches after her love ended. the idea comes up that she should put herself in meet-cute situations to try and get that spark back. her best friend Lucas was also on board to help her. he is just a walking green flag. he’s so supportive and nice, you just can’t help but love him!

i love how quickly i was able to read this book! it was so cute and fun. the characters are so relatable too, which helps you feel so much more connected to the story. it showcases how growing up can also mean growing out of friendships, and how hard it is to make friends in your 20s. it also shows how chaotic and hard dating in your 20s can be in the modern day. Ainsley sets herself up in these meet cute situations and fails to find someone time after time. her man was a lot closer than she thought. 🤭

big thank you to netgalley again for the arc! i had the best time reading this on vacation, as it was a perfect, quick palate cleanser read. highly recommend if you love rom coms and meet cutes! 🧡🥰


Read if you like:
🥣 friends to lovers
🧡slow burn
🥣meet cutes
🧡fmc is an author
🥣he falls first
🧡rom coms



°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ — preread:

omggggg been waiting for this one to be accepted and now im super excited!! can’t wait to start this today!! 🤩


thank you netgalley and cosmo reads for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Release date: August 4, 2026 (OUT NOW!)

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ainsley Green is a romance author, for the last month she has been struggling to function, get out of bed and be excited about her new book tour. Her long-time boyfriend Cole broke up with her, their college friends are ghosting Ainsley and her editor is asking for a basic outline of her next novel.

The only person who cares and tries to get her out of her slump is Lucas Rivera her best friend and biggest supporter. As she tours and answers questions about her book based on how her parents met in the cereal aisle of a supermarket, Ainsley puts on a fake smile and just holds it together.

Ainsley creates a list of where you could possibly find the love of your life and as research and inspiration she tries them out and to see how they go. From failed attempts at a luggage turn style, knocking over a pile of toilet paper, taking her dog Winston to a park, and reluctantly joining a running club she comes up nothing to write about.

Lucas is in some of her Instagram content, and her page lights up, her followers can relate to having their hearts broken, what she tries as a meet-cute and the outcomes are hilarious, and they point out she might already know who she should be dating.

I received a copy of How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle by Alissa DeRogatis from Edelweiss + and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. Ainsley has a serious case of writers block and denial, you discover her relationship with her boyfriend was on the rocks for a while, the clues and why it was easier for her to believe everything was fine.

I found myself laughing out loud at her clumsy sporting attempts, and I have terrible balance myself and who was I to judge her! A story about getting your heart broken and mending it, dating in the modern age (I’m so glad I’m not single) discovering yourself, never settling, enjoying life again and finding love.

My favourite trope is obviously friends to lovers and I highly recommend this funny romcom, I’m keen to read more by Ms DeRogatis and five stars from me.

[ahmeeka · Rating 3 out of 5]

[arc review] 3.5* rounded down. this was such a fun read and I really enjoyed it!

how to find love in the cereal aisle follows ainsley after she breaks up with her long term partner but immediately has to promote her upcoming novel, a romance.

when reading this I could picture it on the big screen, and I loved how it would be the perfect 2000s romcoms—the fake dates, trying to set up a meet cute, and not realising what is stood right in front of you.

my only wish was there wasn’t so many pop culture references. I don’t mind one here and there, but I like when there’s a disconnect from real life to the book world. I found there was just too many for me that—at times—took me out of the story.

otherwise I did really enjoy this, and I can’t wait to pick up my copy when it’s published!

thank you cosmo reads for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 1 out of 5]

honestly i dont even wanna talk about it lol

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprise. I was not expecting this to turn into a five star. Sometimes it felt a little meandering, with Ainsley simply orchestrating meet-cutes to inspire her writing deadline. But it completely won me over in the second half. I was smittenly highlighting its insightful reflections on healing from heartbreak and finding a love that makes the everyday moments feel extraordinary.

It was the perfect balance of silly romcom theatrics and self-discovery. Always a winning combo for me! I loved the past timeline, which dug into both her friendships and her previous relationship leading up to her breakup. I felt I had a true understanding of her fear of repeating the same mistakes and her hesitation to potentially lose a friend so incredibly special to her. It's a conflict that often annoys me with friends-to-lovers, but this one felt totally valid.

And the romance was precious. I loved the sweet, comforting familiarity of it. The easy banter and ribbing, the subtle and quiet but obvious ways he cherished Ainsley through his actions alone. Someone who already knows her inside and out, always showing up in all the little ways that matter. It’s less about the big gestures and more about the happy comfort of choosing someone who reminds you of who you are. I adored it.

(spice level: 2 open-door scenes, mild details)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[cyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This was a super cute romance about finding yourself after heartbreak. The plotline was extremely predictable but entertaining nonetheless. I really liked the concept of acting out romance tropes in real life. I feel like some things with Cole could have been explored more to really set up why Ainsley was so heartbroken. Same with Lucas’ relationship with Margot. I think by expanding their past relationships it would make the ending feel more wanted and earned. I thought this was really fun and really enjoyed reading it.

[whatmarissareads · Rating 2 out of 5]

🥣 “You haven’t had enough distance to see what the story is yet. Maybe you need to write the heartbreak out of you…so you can believe in love again.”

2⭐️ 0.5🌶️

Here’s the premise from the FMC herself:
“I’ve decided to embark on a little experiment. For the next few weeks, or months, or however long it takes, I’m throwing myself into rom-com scenarios in real life and documenting what happens. I’m not doing it to find love. Honestly, I’m not ready for that yet… I’m doing it to find inspiration, because I’m a romance author with a broken heart, and maybe the best way to write a love story is to start living one.”

I really liked that the FMC is an author
I think there was some good life advice embedded between the character dialogue that made me relate to what the FMC was going through (such as heartbreaking breakups) I also love the quote I shared at the top!

I think the writing flows well but I just really struggled engaging in the storyline and the characters

The use of social media vernacular isn’t my favorite and I just kept waiting for that moment where it clicks and I’m in it but unfortunately that didn’t happen for me
I struggled to immerse myself in it

💕You will enjoy this if you are into:
+ slow burn
+ friends to lovers
+ social media vernacular
+ author FMC
+ breakup blues
+ navigating relationships
+ dual timeline
+ “In some strange poetic plot twist, the heartbreak I thought might ruin me ended up being the thing that set me free.” ❤️

[Heaven (HeavenIsReading) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is better than the author's first, but still not there for me. The premise is fine, not original, but had promise. The entire thing, plot and characters, fell so insanely flat for me. I was waiting for the story to get a little "umph" and it never came. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

My compliments:
- The cover is cute
- I didn't mind Lucas
- Winston, god I love dachshunds
- Maddie is a great friend

My complaints:
- Extremely juvenile writing
- Excessive hand holding with the reader. Too much telling and not showing
- I am begging the author to stop repeating the same words and phrases. Say hydrangeas again
- Why do we need a pop culture reference every other paragraph?
- Characters were not fleshed out
- There were zero good qualities about the MC's ex and old friends, so genuinely, why were we supposed to care
- This author does not know how to use a semicolon
- I feel like the author wanted to do a spicy scene but it was so awkward and flat that maybe this should've been closed door

I had similar thoughts with the first book. I will not be reading anything else by this author, I've realized she's not for me. That's not to dissuade anyone else....if you need a really simple, quick read, this may work for you.

[Tia Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the authors debut novel! Call It What You Want really spoke to a younger version of myself and was healing to read. So I was excited to receive an ARC of her second book and let me just say I have a new favorite book couple! Ainsley Green is a romance author struggling to find inspiration after her breakup. To get her out of her writing slump, her best friend Lucas comes up with a plan - embark on real life “meet cute” missions. This is a slow burn, friends to lovers romance that I could NOT put down! Alissa’s writing feels like a long candle lit dinner with your best friend, sharing gossip and a bottle of sauvy b wine. Her characters are relatable while also being incredibly entertaining, there were many scenes that had me laughing out loud and tear jerking moments I was reaching for tissues. Lucas and his family reminded me so much of my own family. While this book is a rom com theres also a strong emphasis on finding yourself, friendships and a reminder that you are not defined by your relationship status. Mark your calanders for August 4th!

[Larareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book sooo much! The slow-burn, friends to lovers romance was so well done!!! I actually don't really like this trope, but I adore how Alissa DeRogatis wrote about it.
This book is so much more than a romantic book, it's a book about finding love in all aspects of life, in loving yourself and recognizing every person in your life that's been there through good and bad.
I really liked Ainsley, even though she was a little annoying jn the beginning, but Lucas was the star here for me. He is the perfect book boyfriend!!!

[Dab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the writing, and it was a pleasant read, but it was definitely NOT a romance novel.

The main theme of the book is healing after a breakup, finding your mojo, inner peace, and other common blog topics. There is a romance with a HEA, but it’s too much in the background for this book to be considered a romance novel.

I liked both main characters, and it didn’t even bother me (much) that they were “best friends” while dating other people, because the setup felt realistic. I liked the transition from friends to lovers, even though they took their sweet time getting there, and I liked the way Lucas was always there for Ainsley. Even when she had a minor freak-out toward the end because of their relationship, he remained mature, and I loved that.

I also enjoyed the author’s take on social media culture; Ainsley’s social media presence was hilarious!

I’m not giving this book five stars because Ainsley’s post-breakup despair remained the main focus for most of the story, and I got tired of it after a while. I understand that being dumped is tough, but I really didn’t need the whining to last for more than half the book. Especially with the perfect man RIGHT THERE!

Thanks to Edelweiss and Cosmo Reads for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

[madisyn (bookish verison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOW TO FIND LOVE IN THE CEREAL AISLE (ARC) | ★★★★☆ | KINDLE

ainsley green is a romance author who now is going through something she least expected. a break up. three years of her life with Cole to turn into the age old “i met someone else.” ainsley is meant to be wrapping up her book tour and getting started on her third romance novel. But how can you find yourself writing a happily ever after when your love life has become a disaster.

when ainsley’s best friend, lucas insists that in order to move past and cure her writers block she needs to put herself out there. that is when the meet-cute plan erupts and ainsley begins to throw herself into real life possible meet-cute situations. but failure after failure ainsley is starting to wonder if there was somewhere she never thought to look.

how to find love in the cereal aisle was adorable. It was slow burn, friends to lovers in the cutest ways. i became a lucas lover. his character was fun and quirky. i loved the dynamics of their friendship and the build up towards something more. though this book was filtered with a lot of pop culture references, it felt relevant to the characters and the timeline of the story. i loved getting to go back and forth from before her and cole broke up. it gave more insight to ainsley’s character and that she was letting herself be loved in a relatable way — as in not good, but she thought it was good enough.

@alissaderogatis wrote such a fun, cute, quirky novel filled with characters who felt like they were your friends and you were watching everything unfold with them.

thank you to @netgalley and @cosmoreads for the e-arc!

how to find love in the cereal aisle comes out 08/04/2026!

keep your eyes out for this adorable meet-cute, slow burn, friend to lovers. it’s truly a lucky charm.

#arcreader #arcreview #arcreviewer #netgalley #booksta

[Kristina Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

buddy read with CourtneyAlissa DeRogatis’s “How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle” is a friends-to-lovers contemporary romance about finding yourself in the aftermath of a devastating breakup and discovering that sometimes the greatest love story is the one that has been right in front of you all along.

Twenty-six-year-old Ainsley Green graduated from college with a degree in education, choosing the safe path instead of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer. At twenty-two, she meets Cole, the childhood friend of one of her best friend and roommate’s boyfriend. After helping her move into her new apartment, the two begin dating. Cole encourages Ainsley to pursue her writing dreams and complete her romance novel, though despite being her biggest cheerleader, he never actually bothers to read her manuscript.

After three years together, Cole ends their relationship after falling for someone else. To make matters worse, their entire friend group sides with him, leaving Ainsley feeling isolated and devastated. While on tour promoting her second novel, Ainsley realizes she no longer believes in soulmates or lasting love. Determined to rediscover both herself and her faith in romance, she embarks on a series of rom-com-inspired meet-cute scenarios, documenting the experience online with the hashtag #FindingLoveInTheCerealAisle. Her videos quickly go viral as viewers relate to her awkward and unsuccessful attempts at finding love: from flirting with a man while waiting in line for a Ferris wheel only to discover he is gay, to knocking over a tower of toilet paper at the grocery store only to be completely ignored by the man walking past.

Lucas has been Ainsley’s best friend for years and is currently dating Margo, a driven lawyer whose demanding career often takes priority over their relationship. When Ainsley needs both a wingman and a cameraman for her social media series, Lucas volunteers. As they spend more time together, each navigating their own healing and self-discovery, Ainsley begins to see him in a new light. But after believing Cole was "the one," only to have that relationship fall apart, she fears risking one of the most important friendships in her life on a "what if." Along the way, she must decide what she truly wants while also finding her creative spark again.

DeRogatis tells the story through alternating timelines, with one following the present day and the other counting down the final months of Ainsley and Cole’s relationship. While the dual timeline effectively builds context for Ainsley’s emotional journey, I found her characterization frustrating. At twenty-six, she often comes across as desperate, selfish, and immature. Many of her attempts to manufacture meet-cute moments felt more embarrassing than endearing, particularly the scene where she insists to a smiling waiter that she is not looking for a meet-cute. Additionally, when two people close to her become engaged, Ainsley focuses almost entirely on how their news inconveniences her own plans rather than celebrating their happiness. Unfortunately, she never fully redeems this self-centered behavior over the course of the novel.

That said, the final ten percent of the book was easily my favorite. The emotional payoff, character growth, and resolution were well executed and delivered the strongest moments of the story. While the ending ultimately landed for me, the majority of the novel felt flat, making it difficult to stay invested in Ainsley’s journey until those final chapters.

I received an ARC through Edelweiss via Cosmo Reads and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 3.5/5 not rounded

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on August 4th called, How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle. This is about Ainsley, she is a romance writer that is feeling stuck because her boyfriend, who she thought was her forever person, just broke up with her. So now she is heartbroken and dealing with writer's block because the last thing she feels like doing is writing romance. So her best friend Lucas suggests her creating real life meet-cute situations to help get her in that romance mindset to spark a new story to write. So she decides to try this plan but every time she tries to create a meet-cute things go horribly wrong. And then slowly, she begins to notice that the person always at her side, the one who knows her best, and that she can always count on, is Lucas. Then she begins to wonder if the right person for her was by her side all along and if she expressed her feelings could their friendship turn into forever or would it go down in flames?
This was such a fun romcom about love, heartbreak, personal growth, finding yourself, loving yourself, and trusting your heart to take a chance on love again. I loved this storyline of a writer creating meet-cutes to try and get inspired to write a new book, it had me laughing out loud with these meet-cutes gone wrong and the banter between Ainsley and Lucas. The dynamic between them felt so easy and was totally adorable, this was a best friends to lovers story that felt so genuine and authentic. This was a really enjoyable romcom! 🧡📚

Thank you to Alissa DeRogatis, Cosmo Reads, and Netgalley for this ARC of How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle, in exchange for an honest review.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for the gifted ARC!

I couldn’t resist a book about a romance author trying to recreate meet-cutes in real life to cure her writer’s block. It was such a fun premise, and it completely lived up to it.

Watching Ainsley intentionally try to create those perfect rom-com moments was both hilarious and secondhand embarrassing. I found myself laughing through so many of her failed attempts, but underneath all the humor was a story about finding yourself again after heartbreak. I really liked that this wasn’t just about finding a new relationship. It was just as much about Ainsley rediscovering her confidence and remembering who she was outside of one. I also appreciated that it explored more than just romantic relationships. It touched on outgrowing friendships, losing people you thought would always be in your life, and how hard it can be to build new friendships in your 20s. I think that’s something a lot of people can relate to.

Lucas completely stole the show for me. He was supportive, patient, and always in Ainsley’s corner, and I loved watching their friendship naturally grow into something more. It never felt rushed, and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.

This was such a fun mix of humor, heart, and romance, with plenty of moments that made me smile. If you love friends-to-lovers, romance books about authors, and stories that remind you love doesn’t always happen the way you expect it to, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.

[jensbooktok28 · Rating 4 out of 5]

How To Find Love in the Cereal Aisle ❤️‍🩹☺️📖💖✨
4/5 🌟

Since hearing about Alissa Derogatis’ new book, I have been so insanely excited about it. Call it What You Want was unbelievably relatable in so many different ways for me. I knew that happy ending or sad ending… I was going to love whatever she put out.

Obviously I don’t want to say too much, as it won’t be released until August, but I definitely want to talk about a few things. First of all, there are so many relatable parts of this book. Quotes, plot lines, her inner-dialogue. So many lines perfectly describing what love may look like, what heartbreak can look like, what friendship can look like. There so many other aspects besides romance that went into this book.

My favorite quote in this book (like literally tears starting forming IMMEDIATELY) was:

“Some friendships bend. Some friendships break. And some, if you’re lucky can even be rebuilt.”

Being a junior in high school, in a small town, with girls who aren’t the kindest can be hard, but this felt so refreshing to me. Nothing has to be permanent. Things can change in a multitude of ways and friendships are one of those things.

Of course. I will always eat up a friends to lovers. Who couldn’t? If there was one thing that could make this a 5 star read for me would be the possibility of having a couple more scenes where it feels like they were in love and were falling before they actually realized it. Just to show a little bit more yearning on Lucas’s part, but other than that, HTFLITCA got all A’s.

Lucas was precious. He was definitely hot in my imagination. I loved how he and Ainsley were always showing up for eachother (common theme throughout the novel). UGH Ainsley (love the name btw) was so funny and so personable. I could feel a personality throughout reading it. I feel like sometimes with books you don’t feel much regarding a characters personality or anything and they can feel flat, but through the dialogue and her interactions, you definitely can in this book.

Alissa. Girlllll. AMAZING. CHEFS KISS. 💋 🥹💖

Exceeded my standards. You made me cry happy tears, you made me cry sad tears, you made me smile, you made me feel bad. You made me feel everything. I feel like I was taught some MAJOR life lessons and just things to remember and keep in the back of my head. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE the things you’ll do in the future. Like I can already see so much improvement from CIWYW. UGH IM JUST SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS BOOK.

A couple songs that I think could be related to this book that may interest you in reading it…

Labyrinth by Taylor Swift
The Only Exception by Paramore
I Can Do It With a Broken Heart
Ballad Of a Homeschool Girl by Olivia Rodrigo
CLEAN by Taylor Swift (capitalized for emphasis)
Fresh Out the Slammer
….. to be continued.

(Realizing I have to make a playlist right now.)

[Kelsey Zaporowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

**thank you to NetGalley for the ARC**

This was so adorable and honestly, I would have taken even more of it.

I loved the behind-the-scenes look at an author trying to figure out her next step.

Her friends and ex were kind of awful… but in a very realistic, 20s-growing-pains kind of way.

Favorite quote:

“Maybe the happy ending isn’t always about ending up with someone. Maybe the happy ending is about finding yourself, raising your standards, and never settling.”

[Dana K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Cosmo Reads for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

Ainsley is a romance writer who is going through a breakup with the man she expected to marry as she goes on book tour for her second novel. Her Q&As are a disaster, her confidence is shot and she can't seem to get anything on the page for her third novel. As she is going through her crisis her best friend, Lucas is at her side. They cook up a plan to force meet cute moments in the hopes of inspiring her writing but they are all hilariously disastrous. Just as she is at the end of her rope, she realizes her future may have been staring her in her face the whole time.

This was definitely more of a women's fiction story than a rom com. And more rom than com for sure. There were some funny moments but it was actually a lot more introspective and emotional hand wringing than the cartoony cover indicates. Also, the title just refers to her novel based on her parents' meet cute, it is not core to the story at all. It is a mega slow burn of a romance, which I liked as someone who takes a while to warm up to people but I can imagine that might be a struggle for people to wait for.

[Rachel ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨
Ainsley is a romance author trying to write her next novel after an awful breakup left her struggling to write about love. She sets out on a real-life (and slightly disastrous) meet cute campaign that she documents on social media (the inclusion of the social media comments was really fun).
The dual timeline worked really well to understand her past relationship whilst also sharing her lessons learnt. This was a real slooooooow burn friends to lovers, but I liked that Lucas was adorable and incredibly supportive of Ainsley.
I wish the romance hadn’t been left right until the end, I would have liked a couple of extra chapters to explore this a little more and really root for them!

[Molloy Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Definitely not what I thought I expected. I only really wanted to read this book as I myself am going through a rough break up with a person I thought I would spend forever with. Reading this has given me a whole new perspective and honestly taken some weight off my shoulders. I do feel the book ended a little abruptly but overall I really enjoyed every page. Anyone going through heartbreak I highly recommend.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. I thought the flashback chapters were entertaining and serve a good purpose because Ainsley starts to reflect on her “picture-perfect” relationship and some signs she missed the first time. I also loved her going viral for the absolutely hilarious failed meet-cutes. Even the Instagram handles were fun to read with all the pop culture references.

What I loved most about this book was Ainsley’s voice. She felt genuine and it was very realistic the time it took to come to terms with her breakup from Cole. While romance plays a large part in this book, it also focuses on self-discovery and dealing with feeling like you’re behind in life or not good enough.

This was the slowest of slow burns and I mean that in the best way possible. Lucas and Ainsley were adorable together but it felt organic and developed well considering the breakup aspect. I think this is about as good as it gets for friends-to-lovers! I am so glad I took my time reading this book because I did not want it to end. I got to reflect on how hard life in your twenties can be but you come out stronger in the end from all the great life lessons.

Thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the ARC of How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle in exchange for my review.

[Liz | lizzuplans · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and enjoyable read!

The cute cover and fun title caught my attention but the book delivered with a very cute layered romance and engaging writing.

The story did take longer than I would have liked to to get up to speed, but once the meet cute disaster stories started appearing (with the ADORABLE faux social media comments, we stan), I was fully locked in and had such a fun time with this book.
The third act slowed down a bit again, but the last few chapters felt like a warm hug and gave me all the feels.

Also: “I pop into a tiny independent bookstore across the street. I don’t really need anything, but I leave with a notebook, a pen, and a new romance release.” IT ME.

All in all, easy to read, cute side characters (loved Maddie!) real emotion and a fab romance.

A solid 4 stars!

I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

[Paola Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like ever since I read Alissa DeRogatis’ debut novel Call It What You Want, I’ve been DYING for another book by her. CIWYW was a novel I related to sooooo much and felt so real. So the wait for this book has been KILLING me! 😩😂 (Big shoutout to NetGalley and Alissa for the ARC✨)
If you know me, you know I love a friends to lovers trope so bad. So so bad. Lol
I think all of us, if not most of us have been through a breakup you didn’t see coming that completely rocked your world. You found yourself creeping on their socials, seeing what their friends posts bc it just feels unreal to know someone can move on like your time together didn’t matter. You even sometimes find yourself comparing your timeline those around you…and this book felt like a hug to those of us who have been there. 🫶🏼 There were so many little reminders sprinkled throughout the entire book that made me think… I’m just a girl Alissa!!! 😩 But thank you bc I needed that!
I deff cried happy tears while reading this book!
.
.
Memorable quote:
"Maybe the happy ending isn't always about ending up with someone. Maybe the happy ending is about finding yourself, raising your standards, and never settling. Maybe it's the realization that you get to decide what happens next and your story doesn't have to read the same as everyone else's."
.
.
📚Book release: August 2026!

[dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the the advanced copy! I had been waiting for another Alissa Derogatis book since I read her debut “Call It What You Want”. Can’t wait to have this one up in the shelf next to it.

I thoroughly enjoyed just reading Ainsley trying to process and figure out her writing journey after a heartbreak. Once it started with her getting a bob I already knew poor girl was going through it.

The risk the friendship, slow burn, friends to lovers just ate it all up. Ainsley doing her meet-cute set ups while Lucas being right here as her videographer, I was screaming!!!

But it was more than just Ainsley and Lucas finding their way to each other as more than just friends, it was her finding herself again out of that relationship and in her writing.

[Elizabeth Ann Hurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alissa!!!!! You did it again! I have so many thoughts; first of all related to this story especially Ainsley a little too much! As someone who shares similar goals of becoming an author I actually laughed at loud when she word vomited at the Q & A bc same bestie! This was such a fun, wholesome, relatable love story and so ruin the friendship coded! Getting to follow Ainsley as she re-finds herself and is forced to face her heartbreak in order to get to work on her new novel was such an adventure. Lucas was such a golden retriever, and continually met Ainsley where she was at, and such a wholesome book boyfriend! The slow burn, friends to lovers of it all was so beautifully written, and chef's kiss! Getting to follow Ainsley's journey to finding her perfect trope through her upcoming novel was so fun, I was laughing a little too hard because I could totally envision myself in the same spot! This book was all of the immaculate vibes I am always searching for in a rom com, I feel like Alissa had the perfect balance of real life, love, friendship, the realness of your twenties and finding and losing friends, and humor. SO GOOD! Thank you so much Net Galley, Cosmo Reads, and Alissa DeRogatis for this advanced readers copy!

[emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I expected... It was even better! The story had a beautiful depth, both in the development of the FMC and in the way it explored past, present, and new relationships. I found the reflections on her past experiences to be moving and authentic; not perfect or imperfect, just a genuine portrayal of what it means to grieve a romantic relationship, friendships, and a former version of one’s life.

I absolutely loved Lucas!! Even if we didn’t get to see him much in the role of a romantic partner, he is undoubtedly the kind of friend anyone would be lucky to have. I truly believe that even with friends he doesn’t have a crush on, he would still be just as generous and caring.

At times, I found the FMC’s uncertainties a bit difficult and somewhat repetitive, but I think that realistically reflects the endless spiral of thoughts we can fall into when everything in our lives feels like it has to be rebuilt, and we’re forced to adapt so intensely.

I also appreciated the ending. It didn’t feel like a typical “happily ever after.” Instead, it remained a bit uncertain, which felt honest. It reminds us that sometimes, all we can do is move forward, listen to both our head and our heart, and trust that we’re living what we need to live.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when the person selling happily-ever-afters stops believing in them? That question sits at the heart of How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle by Alissa DeRogatis, and the answer turns out to be messier, funnier, and more honest than the pastel cover lets on. DeRogatis broke out in 2023 with Call It What You Want, a self-published debut that BookTok carried to a traditional deal with Sourcebooks. This second novel, published under the Cosmo Reads imprint in 2026, is a noticeable step up in both craft and confidence, even if a few old habits tag along for the ride.

The Story, Minus the Spoilers

Ainsley Green writes love stories for a living. Her first novel opened with a meet-cute on a broken Ferris wheel. Her second was inspired by her parents, who met reaching for the same box of Lucky Charms in a grocery store. And just weeks before that second book hits shelves, her boyfriend of three years ends things with a rehearsed speech and a packed duffel bag.

So Ainsley does what any rational author with a deadline and a broken heart would do. She goes on tour and performs belief in love for rooms full of strangers, dodges her agent's emails about book three, and, at the suggestion of her gloriously blunt publicist, starts staging real-life meet-cutes and posting the failures online. Toilet paper pyramids are toppled. A Ferris wheel is ridden alone. The internet, naturally, eats it up.

Filming most of these disasters is Lucas, her best friend since freshman year, newly single himself, and the kind of person who quotes her own novel back to her when she freezes at a signing. You can see where this is going from about page ten. The book knows you can. That knowingness, and what DeRogatis does with it, is where things get interesting.

A Breakup Told Backwards

The smartest choice in How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle by Alissa DeRogatis is structural. Present-day chapters alternate with flashbacks that count down toward disaster: 1,178 days before the breakup, then 634, then 53. You watch a relationship being built while knowing exactly when the wrecking ball arrives. It turns a familiar rom-com setup into something closer to an autopsy, and it gives ordinary scenes an ache they would not otherwise have.

DeRogatis also opens chapters with Ainsley's Instagram captions and their comment sections, which work as a Greek chorus of strangers shipping, judging, and occasionally seeing the truth before Ainsley does. It is a fun device that doubles as a sharp observation about performing your healing for an audience.

What DeRogatis Gets Right

The shame of being dumped

The book's bravest material has little to do with romance. It is about the specific humiliation of a public breakup: being the last to know, watching old friends choose the other side, wondering why going through it alone feels like a personal failure. Ainsley's narration on these points is unguarded in a way that will sting anyone who has lived it.

The quiet love story

The flashback chapters do subtle, damning work. No villain, no cheating scandal, just a partner who never quite shows up, contrasted with a friend who always has. The novel's argument, that love is proven in small repeated gestures rather than grand ones, is hardly new, but DeRogatis earns it scene by scene.

The banter

Ainsley and Lucas have genuine comic rhythm, and the publicist Ross steals every page he is on. One mock nature-documentary narration on a fairground made me laugh out loud.

A quick note on content

This is mostly a closed-door romance with one open-door exception, and there is a mid-book grief subplot handled with real tenderness. Sensitive readers should also expect frank talk about anxiety and friendship fallout.

Where It Stumbles

For all its self-awareness, the novel has weaknesses worth naming, and they are the reason this review stops short of a rave:

The inner monologue repeats itself. Ainsley spirals, pep-talks herself, then spirals again, and several flashbacks close on nearly identical hindsight epiphanies. The thesis about showing up is stated so often it starts to feel like homework.

The pop culture will age quickly. Taylor Swift, Love Island, pickleball, and an armful of brand names appear on nearly every page. It reads as current today and may read as a time capsule in five years.
The side characters run thin. The ex-friends are close to cartoon mean girls, and the new love interests Ainsley meets along the way are archetypes the book itself winks at rather than people.
Predictability is acknowledged, not solved. Pointing at a well-worn arc while walking it is charming, but it is still a well-worn arc.

Who Should Pick This Up

How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle by Alissa DeRogatis will land best with readers who like their romance novels a little bruised. If you come for the meet-cute chaos, you will stay for the surprisingly grown-up material about creative block, comparison, and rebuilding a life after the group chat goes quiet. Readers who need fast plotting or subtle theming may get restless.

It also helps to enjoy very online storytelling. If comment sections and viral hashtags in a novel make you itch, this one will test you.

Final Verdict

How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle by Alissa DeRogatis is a warm, funny, occasionally over-explained novel that uses rom-com machinery to tell a story about recovering from the ending you did not choose. The romance is sweet, but the real payoff is watching Ainsley stop narrating her life and start living it. DeRogatis dedicates the book to her grandparents and their sixty-year marriage, and that sincerity runs under every page, steadying the book whenever the trend-chasing threatens to tip it over.

Flawed, yes. Dated by 2031, probably. But it left me smiling at strangers in the grocery store, and that feels like the point.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was soooo cute!!! I loooved their slow burn and the way this books is so much more than a romance! A lot of these quotes I’ve highlighted I can definitely see them portrayed in my life recently and with friendship!
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🛒🥣 BOOK REVIEW 🥣🛒

How To Find Love In The Cereal Aisle de Alissa DeRogatis es muchísimo más que una simple novela romántica 🧡

Ha sido una lectura ágil, encantadora y muy emotiva que me atrapó desde el principio. Aunque el romance es el eje de la historia, me llevé muchísimo más que eso 😭😭. Está llena de frases y reflexiones que sentí increíblemente aplicables a la vida real, no solo en el amor, sino también en las amistades, las rupturas, las relaciones complicadas, el amor propio y la forma en la que entendemos nuestra propia personalidad y nuestros patrones.

Me pasé el libro subrayando un montón de fragmentos porque de verdad conectaron conmigo, y sé que voy a seguir pensando en ellos mucho tiempo después de haber terminado la lectura. 🩷

Si buscáis una historia bonita, entretenida y con reflexiones que os hagan parar a pensar, además de un romance precioso, os recomiendo muchísimo darle una oportunidad. 🛒🛒

¡Muchísimas gracias a Source books por enviarme la copia anticipada en físico! 🥹
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How To Find Love In The Cereal Aisle by Alissa DeRogatis is so much more than just a romance. 🧡

This was such a fast-paced, charming, and heartfelt read that completely pulled me in. While romance is at the center of the story, I found myself taking away so much more than that😭😭. There were countless quotes and moments that felt incredibly applicable to real life, not just when it comes to love, but also friendships, breakups, messy relationships, self-worth, and understanding your own personality and patterns.

I found myself highlighting so many passages because they genuinely resonated with me, and I know I'll be thinking about them long after finishing the book 🩷

If you're looking for a story that's cute, engaging, and full of meaningful reflections alongside the romance, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up 🛒🛒

Thank you to Source books for the physical galley!!! #galley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Elizabeth Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows Ainsley a romance author, who after being dumped by her long term boyfriend finds herself in a writing slump where she also feels like she's losing herself. This is due to the fact that she's also lost a lot of her friends due to this relationship. It also follows her budding romance with Lucas who she's been best friends with since college as they work together to set her up on meet cutes to get her writing flowing again.

Okay so the first thing I wanted to comment on is that I really enjoyed Ainsley's relationship with the people in her life who she still remains close with. Her friendship with Lucas felt pure and wholesome and I liked that she made a new friend at one point and was close with some of her book industry colleagues. I also found the dynamic interesting with her and her sister Elizabeth that she didn't really get along with.

On the other hand, I struggled to really get into the romantic relationship between her and Lucas. The entire book really focused on her relationship with her ex and how she was trying to get over that. I feel like this book would have worked better as a literary fiction where she was trying to improve herself and didn't need a man. I liked Lucas but I don't think the relationship really added much to the story in my opinion. I wasn't rooting hard for it because the buildup felt limited and restricted.

I did enjoy the meet cute attempts. Those felt cute and fun a lot of the time and I thought they were funny with how hard she was trying. I could have maybe have seen her go on a date or two from that, but I still don't think she should have been in a relationship by the end.

Thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the ARC to honestly review.

[Kelly (eclectikollection) Abrams · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 - Thank you Netgalley & Cosmo Reads for the advanced digital copy!

As someone who's done plenty of online dating, a meet cute is exactly what I wish would happen in real life... but so far they seem to exist only in books and movies!

Ainsley is a romance author struggling with writer's block after a breakup, so her best friend Lucas convinces her to find inspiration through real life meet cutes. What starts as a way to get her creativity flowing turns into realizing the person she's been looking for might have been right in front of her all along.

I love a friends to lovers dynamic! Was it predictable where things were headed? Absolutely, but I couldn't help rooting for Lucas. He was always her biggest cheerleader, showing up for her in the quiet moments and the important ones, especially when it felt like no one else really understood what she was going through. Their connection felt so natural, and I loved the reminder that love isn't always about grand gestures; it’s about consistency, effort, and just showing up!

I also loved that this was more than just a romcom. It felt like a love letter to books and the authors behind them, exploring the pressure writers put on themselves to create another story readers will connect with.

Heartfelt, funny, and relatable, this ended up being about so much more than finding love. It was about navigating the uncertainty of the unknown, being vulnerable enough to take chances, and realizing that the most important thing isn’t necessarily finding your person—it’s finding yourself!