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Millie In Progress
She developed an AI to fix her coworkers. It just might fix her life instead.
Millie Foster just wants to build apps that make people’s lives better. What she doesn’t want is to argue endlessly with coworkers who seem allergic to logic. So when she loses yet another boardroom battle, Millie figures if she can’t understand people, she’ll program something that can—an AI “conversation coach” to whisper real-time advice in her ear.
It’s a perfectly reasonable solution. (And no, her recent, entirely overlooked thirtieth birthday has nothing to do with it. She’s not lonely, not at all, and she resents the suggestion.)
But as Millie tests her creation in everyday life, the results are… unexpected. Instead of simply smoothing office debates, the AI nudges her into the messy business of actual friendship—whether it’s cheering on her quirky neighbor in a lasagna contest or teaming up with the maddeningly charming Graham Elliot to pitch her startup to investors.
But when her startup is betrayed and Millie gets blamed, she’ll need more than algorithms and logic to clear her name. Maybe even… friends.
Smart, heartfelt, and delightfully offbeat, Millie In-Progress is perfect for readers of Courtney Walsh, Melissa Ferguson, Gail Honeyman—or any reader who loves their women’s fiction grounded in faith with a smart heroine and a hearty dash of romcom.
Millie Foster just wants to build apps that make people’s lives better. What she doesn’t want is to argue endlessly with coworkers who seem allergic to logic. So when she loses yet another boardroom battle, Millie figures if she can’t understand people, she’ll program something that can—an AI “conversation coach” to whisper real-time advice in her ear.
It’s a perfectly reasonable solution. (And no, her recent, entirely overlooked thirtieth birthday has nothing to do with it. She’s not lonely, not at all, and she resents the suggestion.)
But as Millie tests her creation in everyday life, the results are… unexpected. Instead of simply smoothing office debates, the AI nudges her into the messy business of actual friendship—whether it’s cheering on her quirky neighbor in a lasagna contest or teaming up with the maddeningly charming Graham Elliot to pitch her startup to investors.
But when her startup is betrayed and Millie gets blamed, she’ll need more than algorithms and logic to clear her name. Maybe even… friends.
Smart, heartfelt, and delightfully offbeat, Millie In-Progress is perfect for readers of Courtney Walsh, Melissa Ferguson, Gail Honeyman—or any reader who loves their women’s fiction grounded in faith with a smart heroine and a hearty dash of romcom.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2026
4 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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February 7, 2026A warm-hearted, hopeful, gentle Christian fiction about neurodivergence, tech startups, and communication. I'm not super familiar with any of the genres blended here, so I didn't feel like I was necessarily the target audience. I really liked that the faith content here is about growth rather than conversion.
January 15, 2026
I was an ARC reader for this book and I enjoyed it! The social awkwardness I felt on a personal level at times. I was skeptical about the AI aspect, but it was very intriguing and I could see how AI would actually be of benefit to people like Millie.
I do wish that Graham would have been more understanding and not quite so… shallow?? Towards the third quarter of the book I became very frustrated with him.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and was privileged to read it!
I do wish that Graham would have been more understanding and not quite so… shallow?? Towards the third quarter of the book I became very frustrated with him.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and was privileged to read it!
January 17, 2026
I received an ARC of this book. Millie in Progress is not of a genre that I read much of but I truly enjoyed this book. Millie was so fun to get to know and I was rooting for her very early on.
The character development in this book is excellent. I truly felt committed and wanted to know what was going to happen with every character and the author doesn’t disappoint. She wraps up every character’s story satisfyingly by the end of the book.
One of the climatic scenes was a little hokey (haha!) and rushed but that is probably my only real complaint.
Millie herself is a neurodivergent software guru. Her neurodivergence makes it difficult for her to communicate with and read other people or really understand what they are thinking so her default is to assume they are thinking poorly of her. And she regularly sabotages interactions in awkward fashion. Funnily enough, she can read her cat’s expressions perfectly. Ha! But Millie recognizes her weaknesses and wants to improve and does so in an excellent and humble way. Seeing her growth through the story was beautiful.
An overarching theme of the book is showing grace toward others and recognizing that our assumptions about people and why they say, do, or look a certain way are often wrong. It’s important to always give others the benefit of the doubt. A good reminder for anyone.
The character development in this book is excellent. I truly felt committed and wanted to know what was going to happen with every character and the author doesn’t disappoint. She wraps up every character’s story satisfyingly by the end of the book.
One of the climatic scenes was a little hokey (haha!) and rushed but that is probably my only real complaint.
Millie herself is a neurodivergent software guru. Her neurodivergence makes it difficult for her to communicate with and read other people or really understand what they are thinking so her default is to assume they are thinking poorly of her. And she regularly sabotages interactions in awkward fashion. Funnily enough, she can read her cat’s expressions perfectly. Ha! But Millie recognizes her weaknesses and wants to improve and does so in an excellent and humble way. Seeing her growth through the story was beautiful.
An overarching theme of the book is showing grace toward others and recognizing that our assumptions about people and why they say, do, or look a certain way are often wrong. It’s important to always give others the benefit of the doubt. A good reminder for anyone.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the wonderful privilege of being a beta-reader for this fantastic book! This story was such a fun and emotional ride. A clean contemporary rom-com with faith elements and relatable social commentary. I cannot wait for it to be published and share with all of you where you can read it too!
January 15, 2026
I’m editing my review because I did something I’ve never done before; I re-read a book just a week after reading it for the first time! I simply could not stop thinking about the story of Millie in Progress and decided I needed to read it again. It was absolutely a delight on the second time too despite having just read it. I really pondered the discussion surrounding social aptitude even more the second time around. The question posed in the book, “Do you sometimes feel that others might equate social aptitude with holiness?” Is one I’ve been pondering a lot since reading it. I definitely recommend this book!
Original review
Probably a 4.5 but I’m rounding up because this book just delighted me. I was skeptical about the AI aspects of it but I thought it was handled really well. The love story was sweet and swoon without being inappropriate. Millie’s development throughout the story was wonderful to watch. I loved the dialogues she had, with Fiona especially, about social interactions and communication. I loved the grace the story had for all sorts of different people. The world needs more of that.
Original review
Probably a 4.5 but I’m rounding up because this book just delighted me. I was skeptical about the AI aspects of it but I thought it was handled really well. The love story was sweet and swoon without being inappropriate. Millie’s development throughout the story was wonderful to watch. I loved the dialogues she had, with Fiona especially, about social interactions and communication. I loved the grace the story had for all sorts of different people. The world needs more of that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Millie In Progress was a heartfelt reminder that we don't all think the same way, and how important communication is in any relationship. I think we have probably all experienced difficulty in communicating with people we care about, in one way or another. It's comforting to see that we are not alone, and intriguing to think about how technology could help in that arena.
This book is perfect for those who like reading wholesome rom-coms with relatable characters you can root for. Author Sarah M. Blackburn constructs a cast of unique characters who all have you rooting for them. Or almost all of them anyway...
Millie is what most would consider a "nerd," including the socially awkward part. One day she gets fed up with people not communicating well and creates an AI program to help her communicate on their level. It's a successful endeavor, maybe more successful than she had anticipated. Throughout the story we get to see what she learns and how she changes because of her decision to use AI, and how she improves her relationships--including one with a certain man she meets one of the first time she puts her AI to use. Meanwhile there is something sinister loitering beneath the surface that threatens everything she's been working toward, personally and professionally.
Millie is quirky but loveable, and her frustration with and hurt resulting from inadequate communication among her peers is certainly relatable. I felt it along with her when she dealt with awkwardness, irritation, disappointment, hurt, and then the good things that started coming her way, also, as well as the growth she experienced. The author's voice, Millie's voice, in this novel is quite distinct and fun, too.
Although the book is written in third person, it is from Millie's POV--mostly. There were times when a glimpse into someone else's inner thoughts were suddenly mixed in, and that could be a little jarring. Millie's voice is dry and matter-of-fact, and while I thought it was fun it is a little bit different than what some rom-com readers might be used to and so they might find it hard to get into at first. I would encourage you to give it a try anyway because Millie really is a great person to get to know.
I gave this book four stars because it was a fun, satisfying read and I sincerely enjoyed it. I was completely drawn in to Millie's world, cheering her on in the good times, sympathizing with her in the hard moments, and nervous for her in the instances when I wasn't quite sure how it would turn out. It both was thought-provoking and appealed to my emotions. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys rom-coms with a little meat to them.
A favorite quote: "Do you sometimes feel that others might equate social aptitude with holiness?"
This book is perfect for those who like reading wholesome rom-coms with relatable characters you can root for. Author Sarah M. Blackburn constructs a cast of unique characters who all have you rooting for them. Or almost all of them anyway...
Millie is what most would consider a "nerd," including the socially awkward part. One day she gets fed up with people not communicating well and creates an AI program to help her communicate on their level. It's a successful endeavor, maybe more successful than she had anticipated. Throughout the story we get to see what she learns and how she changes because of her decision to use AI, and how she improves her relationships--including one with a certain man she meets one of the first time she puts her AI to use. Meanwhile there is something sinister loitering beneath the surface that threatens everything she's been working toward, personally and professionally.
Millie is quirky but loveable, and her frustration with and hurt resulting from inadequate communication among her peers is certainly relatable. I felt it along with her when she dealt with awkwardness, irritation, disappointment, hurt, and then the good things that started coming her way, also, as well as the growth she experienced. The author's voice, Millie's voice, in this novel is quite distinct and fun, too.
Although the book is written in third person, it is from Millie's POV--mostly. There were times when a glimpse into someone else's inner thoughts were suddenly mixed in, and that could be a little jarring. Millie's voice is dry and matter-of-fact, and while I thought it was fun it is a little bit different than what some rom-com readers might be used to and so they might find it hard to get into at first. I would encourage you to give it a try anyway because Millie really is a great person to get to know.
I gave this book four stars because it was a fun, satisfying read and I sincerely enjoyed it. I was completely drawn in to Millie's world, cheering her on in the good times, sympathizing with her in the hard moments, and nervous for her in the instances when I wasn't quite sure how it would turn out. It both was thought-provoking and appealed to my emotions. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys rom-coms with a little meat to them.
A favorite quote: "Do you sometimes feel that others might equate social aptitude with holiness?"
February 9, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this book.
This is the story of a brilliant but socially struggling coder who uses AI to help her understand people and ends up discovering more than she ever expected.
As someone who is very technology challenged, I wasn’t sure how much I’d connect with a story that I thought would center quite a bit on coding and AI. But as it turned out, it was so much more. It completely captured the basic human longing to be heard, understood, and valued.
Millie truly stole my heart. Her vulnerability, honesty, and deep desire to both understand others and be understood made me root for her the entire time. Watching her slowly find connection, friendship, and confidence was one of the most meaningful parts of this book.
I loved Graham and Fiona too. They brought warmth, humor, and balance to Millie’s world. Fiona’s compassion and the way she truly listened to Millie stood out, while Graham’s sense of humor and his shared love of Lord of the Rings added a fun touch I really enjoyed.
This book will stay with me for a long time, strengthening my intention to move through this world with more kindness, gentleness, and grace toward others.
This was definitely a five-star read for me.
I received an ARC of this book and would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read and review it.
This is the story of a brilliant but socially struggling coder who uses AI to help her understand people and ends up discovering more than she ever expected.
As someone who is very technology challenged, I wasn’t sure how much I’d connect with a story that I thought would center quite a bit on coding and AI. But as it turned out, it was so much more. It completely captured the basic human longing to be heard, understood, and valued.
Millie truly stole my heart. Her vulnerability, honesty, and deep desire to both understand others and be understood made me root for her the entire time. Watching her slowly find connection, friendship, and confidence was one of the most meaningful parts of this book.
I loved Graham and Fiona too. They brought warmth, humor, and balance to Millie’s world. Fiona’s compassion and the way she truly listened to Millie stood out, while Graham’s sense of humor and his shared love of Lord of the Rings added a fun touch I really enjoyed.
This book will stay with me for a long time, strengthening my intention to move through this world with more kindness, gentleness, and grace toward others.
This was definitely a five-star read for me.
I received an ARC of this book and would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read and review it.
February 12, 2026
"People are more than the sum of their gestures, facial expressions, and words, not the least because that arithmetic is less straightforward than most humans would like to believe."
I was so excited to be a part of the ARC team for this wonderful book! There are so many amazing parts...it was so sweet! I loved the relationships throughout. It was fun to see Millie grow, and hard to see when she made some mistakes. The underlying suspense was also really interesting. Graham was such a great character. All the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter references made my heart happy. In addition, I really appreciated the nuanced discussion on AI, which showed how it can be used to benefit others, as well as it's harmful impacts. The faith content was also really special and heartwarming. So excited to see more from this author.
Content
Romance: Clean/Light
Violence: Almost None
Langauge: None
Faith: Yes
Notes: AI,
I was so excited to be a part of the ARC team for this wonderful book! There are so many amazing parts...it was so sweet! I loved the relationships throughout. It was fun to see Millie grow, and hard to see when she made some mistakes. The underlying suspense was also really interesting. Graham was such a great character. All the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter references made my heart happy. In addition, I really appreciated the nuanced discussion on AI, which showed how it can be used to benefit others, as well as it's harmful impacts. The faith content was also really special and heartwarming. So excited to see more from this author.
Content
Romance: Clean/Light
Violence: Almost None
Langauge: None
Faith: Yes
Notes: AI,
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thought provoking and introspective!!!
This book took me on a journey as I followed Millie along in her life in progress. How amazing is it that this young woman wanted to improve herself in social situations! It's something that we all should be doing--trying to show charity and grace to those around us.
Millie had a great support system around her. Fiona was simply the best and was such a wonderful cheerleader and friend. Samwise was the best emotional support animal and was fun to read about. While Elle was unconventional, wouldn't it be great to have someone supporting us in those awkward situations. Last but not least, there is Graham, you gotta love a guy with a sly grin and a wingman in the airport.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
This book took me on a journey as I followed Millie along in her life in progress. How amazing is it that this young woman wanted to improve herself in social situations! It's something that we all should be doing--trying to show charity and grace to those around us.
Millie had a great support system around her. Fiona was simply the best and was such a wonderful cheerleader and friend. Samwise was the best emotional support animal and was fun to read about. While Elle was unconventional, wouldn't it be great to have someone supporting us in those awkward situations. Last but not least, there is Graham, you gotta love a guy with a sly grin and a wingman in the airport.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
January 22, 2026
I received an ARC of this book. I absolutely loved it! I am very wary of AI. I’d go so far as to say I’m not a fan of it, but this book really made me think about the potential benefits/uses for good that AI can do. The character development was brilliant. I felt such sympathy for Millie and her struggles, and felt myself rooting for her and cheering her on as she had growth and success. This was a really enjoyable story, and convicting as well, pushing me to consider how I treat others who have less “social graces”.
February 9, 2026
Such a charming, corky, thought-provoking book! I loved the depth of Millie‘s character and also the many things she learned along the way about meta conversations, social holiness, etc. There were so many fun references to Adventures in Odyssey, Lord of the Rings, and others. I appreciated this was a clean, chased romance, but definitely had swoon worthy vibes. The conversation around AI was also well done and certainly left me with much to think about. I would absolutely read more from this author!
February 10, 2026
It can be so hard nowadays to find romantic fiction that is sweet, funny, clean, and well-written-- and this was a winner! Millie was a lovable and quirky main character who struggled to understand others and to be understood herself. The topic of AI played a central part in this story, and I can imagine it making for some really interesting book club discussion.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book. I'm so glad I did, and I'm sure I will read it again! I will happily and eagerly read whatever Sarah comes up with next!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book. I'm so glad I did, and I'm sure I will read it again! I will happily and eagerly read whatever Sarah comes up with next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a fun story! I haven’t enjoyed a romcom like I did this one in a while. It’s a breath of fresh air in all the best ways. It was well-written, funny, and relatable (even if you don’t struggle socially in the exact same way as Millie). I stayed up way too late to finish the book and have zero regrets!
Millie was such a great character. I was rooting for her and loved her even when I could just as often put myself in the shoes of the person she was dealing with as I could in Millie’s shoes. And Graham is a sweetie even when I was frustrated with how he reacted to certain things at times. Great character growth throughout the story (with many wonderful side characters!)
I also really enjoyed the fact that the author explored AI with a more even hand, highlighting areas where it is a benefit and also some potential pitfalls. You don’t always see that in the Bookstagram community so I appreciated it.
One small thing was I wish
Love the book and I will definitely be reading more by Sarah!
Note: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author as a gift and these are my honest thoughts.
Millie was such a great character. I was rooting for her and loved her even when I could just as often put myself in the shoes of the person she was dealing with as I could in Millie’s shoes. And Graham is a sweetie even when I was frustrated with how he reacted to certain things at times. Great character growth throughout the story (with many wonderful side characters!)
I also really enjoyed the fact that the author explored AI with a more even hand, highlighting areas where it is a benefit and also some potential pitfalls. You don’t always see that in the Bookstagram community so I appreciated it.
One small thing was I wish
Love the book and I will definitely be reading more by Sarah!
Note: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author as a gift and these are my honest thoughts.
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