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A Bookish Story: a clean and wholesome, workplace, secret identity, book lovers romance
A female ghostwriter is recruited to be the face of the bestselling novel in the country, secretly written by a man.
Luci Santana believes in love, especially when it comes to books. Since being forced to give up her apartment, she’d love to get out of her over-involved family’s backyard she-shed and resuscitate her life. She’s given a chance to supercharge her career when she’s recruited to be the face of the country’s bestselling novel.
The romance book secretly written by a man.
Years before he wrote the book that changed his life, literary author Ryan Brady was caught shaming the romance genre in a video. When his book is chosen by a celebrity morning show, a face to face interview is required. Suddenly his secret pen name desperately needs a woman’s face.
Enter Luci.
Luci hates the book everyone else raves about but it becomes her job to defend the book, the genre, and try not to get caught falling in love with the enemy.
A grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, workplace romance for book lovers. Focused on the heroine's personal journey, the book is filled with family, books, music and the many different types of love, including romantic. Complete with HEA.
Luci Santana believes in love, especially when it comes to books. Since being forced to give up her apartment, she’d love to get out of her over-involved family’s backyard she-shed and resuscitate her life. She’s given a chance to supercharge her career when she’s recruited to be the face of the country’s bestselling novel.
The romance book secretly written by a man.
Years before he wrote the book that changed his life, literary author Ryan Brady was caught shaming the romance genre in a video. When his book is chosen by a celebrity morning show, a face to face interview is required. Suddenly his secret pen name desperately needs a woman’s face.
Enter Luci.
Luci hates the book everyone else raves about but it becomes her job to defend the book, the genre, and try not to get caught falling in love with the enemy.
A grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, workplace romance for book lovers. Focused on the heroine's personal journey, the book is filled with family, books, music and the many different types of love, including romantic. Complete with HEA.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
March 16, 2026
I thought the premise of this book looked so intriguing, and it really was a fun plot line, but the story was just so.. underwhelming. From the moment we meet Ryan and Luci, he is a grump and she just goes with the flow. We don't see his softer side much, and while we learn more about him and his life, we don't (at least I didn't) feel any connection between Luci and him. Ryan wrote a romance under a pen name and needs Luci to act as the author because he doesn't want anyone to know it was him. Now that the book has gone viral, he needs a face to the author name.
Luci begins working with him and touring for him and while we see the two of them grow closer, we also see him retreat and we don't get a lot of explaination for his side.
Luci was all over the place, she just wasn't a character I connected with and I felt like I was reading this story and waiting for things to happen, and when they did, I wasn't shocked. There was OW and OM drama and in my opinion, it only distracted from the story. I fel like this one just needed more direction and tension between Luci and Ryan. I don't think it was bad, I just didn't feel a pull between the two at all and I wanted more out of this story than it gave me.
Luci begins working with him and touring for him and while we see the two of them grow closer, we also see him retreat and we don't get a lot of explaination for his side.
Luci was all over the place, she just wasn't a character I connected with and I felt like I was reading this story and waiting for things to happen, and when they did, I wasn't shocked. There was OW and OM drama and in my opinion, it only distracted from the story. I fel like this one just needed more direction and tension between Luci and Ryan. I don't think it was bad, I just didn't feel a pull between the two at all and I wanted more out of this story than it gave me.
March 10, 2026
I loved this one! What a cute book about writers and how they write and what they like to tell us in their work. Luci is out of college with a masters in creative writing and she’s working as a ghostwriter, barely able to make ends meet, but she has a finished book of her own and she’s trying to find an agent. The opportunity presents for her to take on another part-time job, and she’s enthusiastic about it, since her new boss is young, handsome, writes World War II thrillers, and can use her help. His name is Ryan. It all gets complicated after that…. Ryan has written exactly one romance novel under a pen name, after he’s gone on the record disparaging the genre. But that book is now at the top of the New York Times Bestseller list! And the author is set to appear on one of the morning shows, and Ryan can’t let it be known that he’s the author. But he can recruit Luci to appear as if she wrote the book under a pen name, and he’s able to sell her on the idea.
Things between them start to move forward after that, and I definitely had an idea about the way I wanted it to end!
What a fun story. Five stars!
I received a digital ARC from the author. My review is voluntary.
Things between them start to move forward after that, and I definitely had an idea about the way I wanted it to end!
What a fun story. Five stars!
I received a digital ARC from the author. My review is voluntary.
March 6, 2026
I thought the premise of this book was on point. However it seemed very chaotically developed. I was hoping to absolutely love this book but it fell flat for me. I did enjoy how Luci loved her family but beyond that it was too all over the place. Thank you to NetGalley, Heather Bell and Victory editing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
March 12, 2026
I can't resist bookish books, so a romance between two authors was a must read. How fun is that. And that is exactly how I would describe this book: Fun! A Bookish Story is a cute romance between two authors who have had pretty different experiences prior to meeting. Both have lessons to learn and past experiences to overcome, especially if the initial attraction is going to lead to more.
Because I read mostly clean fiction, I will add this includes a coulple of swear words and a scene in which clothing is removed prior to "fade to black."
I did recieve a free e-copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Because I read mostly clean fiction, I will add this includes a coulple of swear words and a scene in which clothing is removed prior to "fade to black."
I did recieve a free e-copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
March 23, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. Give me a book with a book setting and the characters are writers and I'm all in.
This is grumpy/sunshine and is just perfect. Definitely a slow burn but so worth it for me.
Luci is a ghost writer with aspirations of being a romance author. Ryan is an author of historical books and has bashed romance book and is absolutely grumpy.
When the two of them work together, there is definitely banter and back and forth between them. The chemistry is there and just in love with the two of them together. Don't want to spoil anything with this but I will say it was a cute read for me.
This is grumpy/sunshine and is just perfect. Definitely a slow burn but so worth it for me.
Luci is a ghost writer with aspirations of being a romance author. Ryan is an author of historical books and has bashed romance book and is absolutely grumpy.
When the two of them work together, there is definitely banter and back and forth between them. The chemistry is there and just in love with the two of them together. Don't want to spoil anything with this but I will say it was a cute read for me.
January 3, 2026
I have a soft spot for books whose main characters are bookish people.
It doesn’t matter if they’re writers, booksellers, librarians, or literature teachers… that’s my cup of tea.
Needless to say, I loved “A Bookish Story” by Heatherly Bell.
I just couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters (even the secondary ones), the plot, the challenges, the writing… it felt all very relatable. Which is something I really appreciate in a romance book.
This was, without a doubt, a great read to start the year with.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC.
It doesn’t matter if they’re writers, booksellers, librarians, or literature teachers… that’s my cup of tea.
Needless to say, I loved “A Bookish Story” by Heatherly Bell.
I just couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters (even the secondary ones), the plot, the challenges, the writing… it felt all very relatable. Which is something I really appreciate in a romance book.
This was, without a doubt, a great read to start the year with.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC.
February 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and Heatherly Bell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5⭐️ This book was cute and very quick (215 pages). The writer/ ghostwriter/face of the book storyline was fun.
The book was interesting enough to keep me reading but not something that will stay fresh in my mind for long.
I enjoyed that the FMC was focused on more than just her love life. Her main priorities were her career, friends and family. Both the FMC and MMC were easy to root for and want to be together.
That being said, the book did more telling than showing and I think if it did more showing the pacing would have felt better.
Also, why was our FMC so ignorant to the MMC feelings - he literally spelled out his feelings and she still waited and was surprised.
I did feel personally attacked by the FMC’s unnecessarily strong feelings against dating apps “All those apps go about love in the wrong way. Trust me, I’m a romance writer, I know these things.” Her claiming she was an expert on love because she was a romance writer made me roll my eyes many times
2.5⭐️ This book was cute and very quick (215 pages). The writer/ ghostwriter/face of the book storyline was fun.
The book was interesting enough to keep me reading but not something that will stay fresh in my mind for long.
I enjoyed that the FMC was focused on more than just her love life. Her main priorities were her career, friends and family. Both the FMC and MMC were easy to root for and want to be together.
That being said, the book did more telling than showing and I think if it did more showing the pacing would have felt better.
Also, why was our FMC so ignorant to the MMC feelings - he literally spelled out his feelings and she still waited and was surprised.
I did feel personally attacked by the FMC’s unnecessarily strong feelings against dating apps “All those apps go about love in the wrong way. Trust me, I’m a romance writer, I know these things.” Her claiming she was an expert on love because she was a romance writer made me roll my eyes many times
March 14, 2026
For fans of: workplace romance, slow burn, he falls first, boss/employee, hidden identity, cinnamon roll hero, complex family dynamics, wholesome emotional romance, clean romance, single POV.
This was such a wholesome, emotional read. I always enjoy books about bookish people and the publishing world because you can sometimes see little pieces of the author in the story.
The character development was solid, and I also ended up loving the secondary characters. They have a bit of a second-chance romance storyline going on and now I’m really hoping the author gives them their own book someday.
The story takes place in California and follows Luci, who just started a new job while also ghostwriting for a famous author and trying to get her own book published. She’s barely making ends meet, so when her very handsome boss, Ryan, asks for her help on a romance novel he wrote, the money attached to the project is hard to say no to.
As they work together, things slowly start to shift between them. Feelings grow, tensions build… and then Ryan suddenly leaves for Pasadena and only leaves Luci a letter.
I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you like soft, emotional romances with bookish vibes, this one is definitely worth picking up. It was a really lovely read.
This was such a wholesome, emotional read. I always enjoy books about bookish people and the publishing world because you can sometimes see little pieces of the author in the story.
The character development was solid, and I also ended up loving the secondary characters. They have a bit of a second-chance romance storyline going on and now I’m really hoping the author gives them their own book someday.
The story takes place in California and follows Luci, who just started a new job while also ghostwriting for a famous author and trying to get her own book published. She’s barely making ends meet, so when her very handsome boss, Ryan, asks for her help on a romance novel he wrote, the money attached to the project is hard to say no to.
As they work together, things slowly start to shift between them. Feelings grow, tensions build… and then Ryan suddenly leaves for Pasadena and only leaves Luci a letter.
I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you like soft, emotional romances with bookish vibes, this one is definitely worth picking up. It was a really lovely read.
January 6, 2026
I loved this book so much! I literally couldn’t put it down. As a huge Jane Austen lover there were some lines that made me laugh out loud. I instantly fell in love with both the characters. I’ll be honest, when I read about the end of the romantic book he wrote I was so worried this book would end the same way. I didn’t want it to end. The chemistry between Ryan and Luci was strong from the beginning. I love a romance between two authors. Just fabulous! Will be checking out some of Heatherly Bells other books!
A big thank you to netgalley and Heatherly Bell for providing me with a copy of this fabulous book!
A big thank you to netgalley and Heatherly Bell for providing me with a copy of this fabulous book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a romance reader whose hubby teases me about it being just corn. I loved this book. So cute
"These books represent the life and relationships we all want but are afraid to demand. Family, love, friendship. It's easier to just say they're about sex and demean the genre as nothing more than mommy porn"
Also a very interesting look into the world of publishing.
"These books represent the life and relationships we all want but are afraid to demand. Family, love, friendship. It's easier to just say they're about sex and demean the genre as nothing more than mommy porn"
Also a very interesting look into the world of publishing.
December 21, 2025
A Bookish Story is a character-driven, slow-burn romance with a well-balanced grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Luci and Ryan navigate grief, secret identities, and workplace boundaries as their connection develops with emotional intention.
The dialogue blends witty banter with heartfelt moments, and the grumpy/sunshine pairing feels grounded and authentic. While the pacing may be slower than some prefer, it ultimately enhances the emotional payoff and left me wanting more.
A strong pick for readers who enjoy emotionally authentic romances focused on growth and vulnerability.
The dialogue blends witty banter with heartfelt moments, and the grumpy/sunshine pairing feels grounded and authentic. While the pacing may be slower than some prefer, it ultimately enhances the emotional payoff and left me wanting more.
A strong pick for readers who enjoy emotionally authentic romances focused on growth and vulnerability.
December 24, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, both of the main characters were well written and also very likable. The story has just the right amount of romance and realistic characters. I also enjoyed that some of the side characters actually helped make an impact on the main storyline.
December 19, 2025
Books with a literary setting are always my favourite ; this one is no exception. The story had juste the right amount of romance, realistic characters and literary stuff.
The plot is imaginative and well researched, I love that it gave me the same feeling as an Emily Henry book, but with its own specialness and originality.
I secretly wished I was also part of Luci’s family, they were perfectly imperfect.
4 ⭐️
Also, a huge thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this ARC.
The plot is imaginative and well researched, I love that it gave me the same feeling as an Emily Henry book, but with its own specialness and originality.
I secretly wished I was also part of Luci’s family, they were perfectly imperfect.
4 ⭐️
Also, a huge thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this ARC.
December 21, 2025
Such a cute fun read. I was able to finish this one really quickly. I was glad there was a epilogue because if not I would of felt like the FMC in the book (IYKYK).
Review of advance copy received from Author
Early praise:
I'm in love with Luci and Ryan! The unique premise of A Bookish Story hooked me from the get-go, and even the need for sleep couldn't pry it out of my hands. This is the most fun I've had reading a romcom in forever. Luci and her family will steal your heart and Ryan is to die for, the cinnamon roll hero we've been craving for a long time. Do NOT miss this one! ~ Darynda Jones, NY Times bestselling author
I'm in love with Luci and Ryan! The unique premise of A Bookish Story hooked me from the get-go, and even the need for sleep couldn't pry it out of my hands. This is the most fun I've had reading a romcom in forever. Luci and her family will steal your heart and Ryan is to die for, the cinnamon roll hero we've been craving for a long time. Do NOT miss this one! ~ Darynda Jones, NY Times bestselling author
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"That's the trouble with real life. Tropes aren't as cute and endearing because you have to live with the ramifications. If only I could live in a romance novel. Life would be perfect."
3.5⭐
When I was browsing NetGalley this book's cover immediately jumped out at me because I really enjoy books written around books themselves and writing or publishing etc. The premise immediately hooked me too, a ghostwriter becomes the face of ghostwritten book working with a grumpy author whose opinions she disagrees with, but I will have to say this book did not quite deliver what I was expecting it to. Emotive language like "try not to get caught falling in love with the enemy" and "Ryan Brady was caught shaming the romance genre in a video" made me think we were going to get more of a rivals to lovers type story with him learning to outgrow his sexist opinions and her teaching him how to be romantic or fall in love, or something along those lines. But instead this was more of a story about love itself, and it's many facets, the different types of love that exist and how we respond to them. For the most part I did enjoy this book, it held my attention relatively well and I wanted to know how the story ended, plus the characters were very sweet and the writing was pretty good. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me as well as I had hoped it would with many of those enticing promises not being met and in the end I felt a bit underwhelmed, like this story needed another few goes over with an editing lens.
I think the main thing that stood out to me was how many subplots we had going on in this story and how much I felt they detracted from the main storyline about Luci becoming the face of Ryan's book and the tension between them brought on by his apparent hate for the romance genre, despite writing a romance book himself. I thought this premise would create some interesting suspense and build up to their relationship but instead it just felt like another one of the subplots. I think, in the end, there wasn't really one main plot and this book was mostly about the vibes surrounding the ups and downs of publishing, writing and love as theme. We had Eddie and Geneva's storyline, as well as Luci's father's storyline and Luci romanticising her parents love story, we had Luci's struggles with finding an agent and writing her own work while being a ghostwriter, needing to earn enough money to move out of her she-shed, we had a few brief sidelines with her friend Holly (who mostly felt like an afterthought), we had her drama with her ex-fiance and his story, Ryan's drama with his ex-wife, , and all of it piled on top of one another just overloaded this story to the max and detracted from what could've been a really great story. I get that this was added to ensure the characters had backstories and emotional depth, but I think because we were mostly told and not shown this, through roundabout indirect characterisation, it fell flat for me sadly.
The characters themselves were mostly lovely and I think there were some good messages wound throughout. I found Geneva's backstory touching with her realising that she had been so male-centered her entire life that she'd overlooked the love she should've been building and sharing with her daughter. Luci's own backstory with her feeling like she was never good enough, making herself smaller both physically through her weight and through how she acted around people she loved, had some well thought out and quotable passages. Plus, I liked Ryan as the love interest, he was adorable and kind, the banter between Luci and Ryan was funny at times. Though I sometimes got lost with the winding dialogue and run on sentences from Luci's inner monologue, their connection was nice. The running joke about "the lean" could have been pushed more to up the romantic tension between the two love interests and despite how sweet their discussions with each other were, I didn't feel a lot of the chemistry between them outside of a standard friendship/coworker relationship. I definitely think the jump to saying "I love you" was overly rushed as well.
Ultimately, this book was ok, it held my interest enough to continue reading it and I never felt like I wanted to DNF it but I wasn't drawn into it and the emotional connection mostly felt surface level. I think it had a good premise and there were glimmers of where this book could've shone, but the execution felt too jumbled and a lot of plot points that were brought up didn't have the weight I think they needed to carry this story closer to the 4 or 5 star mark. I wonder if the author wasn't sure which genre to market this for because it falls somewhere loosely between women's fiction and romcom while not quite hitting the mark for either. I think it would be a nice story to read as a palate cleanser but I'm afraid to say I don't think I would go out of my way to recommend this book. I would not have been surprised to find out that this was a debut but learning that this author has quite a number of other works hit home how disappointed this book left me feeling overall. I want to say a big thank you to Heatherly Bell and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me the opportunity to read this story early and give my thoughts about it.
3.5⭐
When I was browsing NetGalley this book's cover immediately jumped out at me because I really enjoy books written around books themselves and writing or publishing etc. The premise immediately hooked me too, a ghostwriter becomes the face of ghostwritten book working with a grumpy author whose opinions she disagrees with, but I will have to say this book did not quite deliver what I was expecting it to. Emotive language like "try not to get caught falling in love with the enemy" and "Ryan Brady was caught shaming the romance genre in a video" made me think we were going to get more of a rivals to lovers type story with him learning to outgrow his sexist opinions and her teaching him how to be romantic or fall in love, or something along those lines. But instead this was more of a story about love itself, and it's many facets, the different types of love that exist and how we respond to them. For the most part I did enjoy this book, it held my attention relatively well and I wanted to know how the story ended, plus the characters were very sweet and the writing was pretty good. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me as well as I had hoped it would with many of those enticing promises not being met and in the end I felt a bit underwhelmed, like this story needed another few goes over with an editing lens.
I think the main thing that stood out to me was how many subplots we had going on in this story and how much I felt they detracted from the main storyline about Luci becoming the face of Ryan's book and the tension between them brought on by his apparent hate for the romance genre, despite writing a romance book himself. I thought this premise would create some interesting suspense and build up to their relationship but instead it just felt like another one of the subplots. I think, in the end, there wasn't really one main plot and this book was mostly about the vibes surrounding the ups and downs of publishing, writing and love as theme. We had Eddie and Geneva's storyline, as well as Luci's father's storyline and Luci romanticising her parents love story, we had Luci's struggles with finding an agent and writing her own work while being a ghostwriter, needing to earn enough money to move out of her she-shed, we had a few brief sidelines with her friend Holly (who mostly felt like an afterthought), we had her drama with her ex-fiance and his story, Ryan's drama with his ex-wife, , and all of it piled on top of one another just overloaded this story to the max and detracted from what could've been a really great story. I get that this was added to ensure the characters had backstories and emotional depth, but I think because we were mostly told and not shown this, through roundabout indirect characterisation, it fell flat for me sadly.
The characters themselves were mostly lovely and I think there were some good messages wound throughout. I found Geneva's backstory touching with her realising that she had been so male-centered her entire life that she'd overlooked the love she should've been building and sharing with her daughter. Luci's own backstory with her feeling like she was never good enough, making herself smaller both physically through her weight and through how she acted around people she loved, had some well thought out and quotable passages. Plus, I liked Ryan as the love interest, he was adorable and kind, the banter between Luci and Ryan was funny at times. Though I sometimes got lost with the winding dialogue and run on sentences from Luci's inner monologue, their connection was nice. The running joke about "the lean" could have been pushed more to up the romantic tension between the two love interests and despite how sweet their discussions with each other were, I didn't feel a lot of the chemistry between them outside of a standard friendship/coworker relationship. I definitely think the jump to saying "I love you" was overly rushed as well.
Ultimately, this book was ok, it held my interest enough to continue reading it and I never felt like I wanted to DNF it but I wasn't drawn into it and the emotional connection mostly felt surface level. I think it had a good premise and there were glimmers of where this book could've shone, but the execution felt too jumbled and a lot of plot points that were brought up didn't have the weight I think they needed to carry this story closer to the 4 or 5 star mark. I wonder if the author wasn't sure which genre to market this for because it falls somewhere loosely between women's fiction and romcom while not quite hitting the mark for either. I think it would be a nice story to read as a palate cleanser but I'm afraid to say I don't think I would go out of my way to recommend this book. I would not have been surprised to find out that this was a debut but learning that this author has quite a number of other works hit home how disappointed this book left me feeling overall. I want to say a big thank you to Heatherly Bell and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me the opportunity to read this story early and give my thoughts about it.
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March 4, 2026Disclosure: My podcast co-host and I jointly received a hand-signed ARC copy of A Bookish Story from author Heatherly Bell in exchange for an honest review.
Heatherly Bell is one of my favorite romance authors. Her Stone Ridge cowboys series has been a longtime favorite of mine and Meghan loves the Charming, Texas series. So when my co-host and I received an advance copy of her newest novel, we were thrilled.
A Bookish Story offers something a little different from Bell’s usual romances. Instead of ranches and small town love, we get a peek behind the curtain of the publishing world with ghostwriters, pen names and a romance novel that becomes unexpectedly famous.
And as the title suggests, this one is very much a love letter to books.
Book Details
Title: A Bookish Story
Author: Heatherly Bell
Published: 2025
Genre: Contemporary romance, romantic comedy
Spice Level: 🌶 Green Pepper
Unlike some ARC reviewers, my copy clocks in at 303 pages.
The Main Characters
Luci Santana
A talented ghostwriter who dreams of publishing a romance novel under her own name someday.
Ryan Brady
A bestselling historical fiction author navigating a recent divorce and a career misstep.
Plot Overview
Luci Santana’s life is not going according to plan.
Her fiancé calls off their wedding at the last minute, leaving her responsible for the venue cancellation fees and a condo she can’t afford on her own. To stay afloat financially, she moves into a small she-shed on her abuelita’s property and picks up extra work.
That’s how she ends up assisting author Ryan Brady.
The job quickly becomes awkward when Luci learns Ryan previously trashed the romance genre in an interview. Since romance is the genre she loves and writes for, she decides she can’t work for someone who openly disrespects it.
Ryan realized his mistake and has since issued public apologies but, as we all know, the internet never forgets.
Then a secret comes out.
Ryan has actually written a romance novel under a female pen name. The book has become a bestseller and is gaining momentum fast ... but the author behind it needs a public identity.
Ryan and his agent ask Luci to be the face of the book.
She agrees for two reasons. First, she needs the money. Second, the opportunity could help her build connections with agents and publishers who might eventually help her publish her own novel.
There’s just one complication.
The book ended without a clear resolution and readers are demanding a sequel.
Ryan, his agent and publisher all agree on one thing: Luci should write it.
From there the story unfolds with publishing drama, career ambitions, family complications and a few exes trying to wander back into the picture.
Spice Level
🌶 Green Pepper
This is a closed-door romance with a slow burn.
If you love sweet romances where the emotional connection builds first, you’ll likely enjoy this approach. Readers looking for steamier scenes will find it tame.
Things I Loved
Heatherly Bell’s writing is always engaging and this story offers a really fun look at the behind-the-scenes world of publishing.
As someone who reads a lot of romance, I loved seeing elements like ghostwriting, agents and bestseller lists woven into the plot.
I also appreciated the Latina representation in Luci’s character and the presence of her family throughout the story.
And there are some lovely quotes that really capture why so many of us love romance novels in the first place.
“We’re arguing over imaginary people, but for me it’s not the first time nor will it be the last.” — Luci
Honestly, same.
“I want to go to sleep with this buzzy happy feeling of warmth and coziness floating through my body. It’s like a hug. And we all need more hugs. From both books and people.” — Luci
More hugs from books and people sounds perfect to me.
“There can be many great loves in our lives and they’re not all romantic ones.” — Luci
A beautiful reminder that love comes in many forms.
I also appreciated both Luci and Ryan carry emotional baggage from past relationships and personal struggles. Their trauma and growth are handled thoughtfully rather than brushed aside.
Challenges
The writing style in this novel feels a bit different from Bell’s previous books, so it took me a little time to adjust.
The story is also a slow burn with closed-door romance, which isn’t usually my personal preference. I tend to lean toward spicier reads.
That said, this is very much a matter of personal taste. My podcast co-host Meghan, for example, loves closed-door and slow burn romances, so I already know this one will be right up her alley.
There were also a few moments involving exes and character decisions that had me shaking my head a bit. But that’s also part of the fun of romance novels. I get very invested in fictional people and their questionable life choices. (See the aforementioned book quote.)
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a sweet, bookish romance about writers, publishing and second chances, A Bookish Story is a charming read.
Fans of slow burns, closed-door romance and stories set in the world of books and authors will likely enjoy Luci and Ryan’s journey.
And if you’re anything like me, you may also find yourself feeling a little extra seen when Luci admits how emotionally invested she gets in fictional characters.
Because honestly?
Same.
Heatherly Bell is one of my favorite romance authors. Her Stone Ridge cowboys series has been a longtime favorite of mine and Meghan loves the Charming, Texas series. So when my co-host and I received an advance copy of her newest novel, we were thrilled.
A Bookish Story offers something a little different from Bell’s usual romances. Instead of ranches and small town love, we get a peek behind the curtain of the publishing world with ghostwriters, pen names and a romance novel that becomes unexpectedly famous.
And as the title suggests, this one is very much a love letter to books.
Book Details
Title: A Bookish Story
Author: Heatherly Bell
Published: 2025
Genre: Contemporary romance, romantic comedy
Spice Level: 🌶 Green Pepper
Unlike some ARC reviewers, my copy clocks in at 303 pages.
The Main Characters
Luci Santana
A talented ghostwriter who dreams of publishing a romance novel under her own name someday.
Ryan Brady
A bestselling historical fiction author navigating a recent divorce and a career misstep.
Plot Overview
Luci Santana’s life is not going according to plan.
Her fiancé calls off their wedding at the last minute, leaving her responsible for the venue cancellation fees and a condo she can’t afford on her own. To stay afloat financially, she moves into a small she-shed on her abuelita’s property and picks up extra work.
That’s how she ends up assisting author Ryan Brady.
The job quickly becomes awkward when Luci learns Ryan previously trashed the romance genre in an interview. Since romance is the genre she loves and writes for, she decides she can’t work for someone who openly disrespects it.
Ryan realized his mistake and has since issued public apologies but, as we all know, the internet never forgets.
Then a secret comes out.
Ryan has actually written a romance novel under a female pen name. The book has become a bestseller and is gaining momentum fast ... but the author behind it needs a public identity.
Ryan and his agent ask Luci to be the face of the book.
She agrees for two reasons. First, she needs the money. Second, the opportunity could help her build connections with agents and publishers who might eventually help her publish her own novel.
There’s just one complication.
The book ended without a clear resolution and readers are demanding a sequel.
Ryan, his agent and publisher all agree on one thing: Luci should write it.
From there the story unfolds with publishing drama, career ambitions, family complications and a few exes trying to wander back into the picture.
Spice Level
🌶 Green Pepper
This is a closed-door romance with a slow burn.
If you love sweet romances where the emotional connection builds first, you’ll likely enjoy this approach. Readers looking for steamier scenes will find it tame.
Things I Loved
Heatherly Bell’s writing is always engaging and this story offers a really fun look at the behind-the-scenes world of publishing.
As someone who reads a lot of romance, I loved seeing elements like ghostwriting, agents and bestseller lists woven into the plot.
I also appreciated the Latina representation in Luci’s character and the presence of her family throughout the story.
And there are some lovely quotes that really capture why so many of us love romance novels in the first place.
“We’re arguing over imaginary people, but for me it’s not the first time nor will it be the last.” — Luci
Honestly, same.
“I want to go to sleep with this buzzy happy feeling of warmth and coziness floating through my body. It’s like a hug. And we all need more hugs. From both books and people.” — Luci
More hugs from books and people sounds perfect to me.
“There can be many great loves in our lives and they’re not all romantic ones.” — Luci
A beautiful reminder that love comes in many forms.
I also appreciated both Luci and Ryan carry emotional baggage from past relationships and personal struggles. Their trauma and growth are handled thoughtfully rather than brushed aside.
Challenges
The writing style in this novel feels a bit different from Bell’s previous books, so it took me a little time to adjust.
The story is also a slow burn with closed-door romance, which isn’t usually my personal preference. I tend to lean toward spicier reads.
That said, this is very much a matter of personal taste. My podcast co-host Meghan, for example, loves closed-door and slow burn romances, so I already know this one will be right up her alley.
There were also a few moments involving exes and character decisions that had me shaking my head a bit. But that’s also part of the fun of romance novels. I get very invested in fictional people and their questionable life choices. (See the aforementioned book quote.)
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a sweet, bookish romance about writers, publishing and second chances, A Bookish Story is a charming read.
Fans of slow burns, closed-door romance and stories set in the world of books and authors will likely enjoy Luci and Ryan’s journey.
And if you’re anything like me, you may also find yourself feeling a little extra seen when Luci admits how emotionally invested she gets in fictional characters.
Because honestly?
Same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Apologies in advance, this is gonna be a long one.
Okay, I'm going to be completely honest: this book was much different than I expected. It was much less of a romance, and more focused on romance as a genre, if that makes any sense. Both of the main characters are authors, and it was interesting to learn about their writing processes and the publishing world. I also previously had no idea that ghostwriting was a thing. It was a unique insight and definitely gives me more respect for authors who use pennames. Also makes me question how much the gender of an author matters to me. Food for thought for sure.
As some of the other reviews have said, this book was kind of low stakes for me. It was just interesting enough that it held my attention, but the pace was slow, and it didn't really feel like much was happening. The writing style was also more telling, less showing. All this being true, there really was some sweet little gems hidden inside. I found myself highlighting sentences often.
Some include:
"Love can simply be the effort of standing still and having the sense to recognize it when it rotates around you like the sun."
"'Why? Are you dying?' She laughs. 'A little bit every day, mi amor, but that's life. We are all getting older. Best to enjoy every day and stop making happiness so hard. It's everywhere if you look. Look at those two. Your papi is smiling down from heaven with love.'"
"My mother. Damn, I've missed her. I love her. This love has a way of chasing you, of burrowing inside of you to find shelter, of never letting go. It's the kind of love I feel for my mother. The type of love that is simply...inevitable. I never made the choice to love her. Loving her is uncomfortable. Imperfect. But it is undoubtedly the most real thing in my life."
Oof. See what I mean? Some real gems, especially where I wasn't expecting it.
I appreciate the significance of the main character to the story. This book wasn't just about the love interest and their relationship, but it was about her family, friends, and dreams. Her own career, and her own life. There was a wonderful storyline with her uncle and mother's relationship, and I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting going into the book, but her mother's character arc was so sweet, and it really pulled on my heartstrings.
Another aspect that I found interesting about this book was the parallels of the characters lives to the stories that they were writing. It was a wonderful reflection of an artist in their art, and the reasons why they make it. Even though I'm not an author at all, this book inspired me to write.
One of the reasons why I only gave this book two stars is because the romance didn't connect with me as much as I wanted it to. The love interest was sweet, but he felt a little one-dimensional to me. Or maybe a little too romanticized. He feels real enough, but I feel like I didn't really get to know him as much as I should have.
Like I said before, the main character has a wonderful personal story, but I would have enjoyed a little more push and pull in their relationship. I think it falls a little flat because it was so unrealistic. It was sweet, but there wasn't much build up. The characters say that they love each other, but I had a hard time believing it. Maybe because of the writing style with the telling, not showing.
I also would have enjoyed a little bit more embellishment on the whole acting/ghostwriting/
pretending to be the author thing. It sounded fun and entertaining, but it wasn't really explored very much in the book. It was a good hook, but it was a little lacking in my opinion. Also, the tags describing this book are entirely inaccurate. It most definitely IS NOT enemies to lovers. Also not really a workplace romance. I mean, she is his research assistant but it is very informal and takes place in his house. With no one else around. So. Do with that what you will.
On the whole, this book was a little flat but there were some sweet gems. Not super romantic, but surprisingly heavy on the familial love. Good entertainment if you need a break from books you have to think about.
Big thank you to NetGalley, NetGalley Co-Op, and Heatherly Bell for sharing this ARC. Much love!
Okay, I'm going to be completely honest: this book was much different than I expected. It was much less of a romance, and more focused on romance as a genre, if that makes any sense. Both of the main characters are authors, and it was interesting to learn about their writing processes and the publishing world. I also previously had no idea that ghostwriting was a thing. It was a unique insight and definitely gives me more respect for authors who use pennames. Also makes me question how much the gender of an author matters to me. Food for thought for sure.
As some of the other reviews have said, this book was kind of low stakes for me. It was just interesting enough that it held my attention, but the pace was slow, and it didn't really feel like much was happening. The writing style was also more telling, less showing. All this being true, there really was some sweet little gems hidden inside. I found myself highlighting sentences often.
Some include:
"Love can simply be the effort of standing still and having the sense to recognize it when it rotates around you like the sun."
"'Why? Are you dying?' She laughs. 'A little bit every day, mi amor, but that's life. We are all getting older. Best to enjoy every day and stop making happiness so hard. It's everywhere if you look. Look at those two. Your papi is smiling down from heaven with love.'"
"My mother. Damn, I've missed her. I love her. This love has a way of chasing you, of burrowing inside of you to find shelter, of never letting go. It's the kind of love I feel for my mother. The type of love that is simply...inevitable. I never made the choice to love her. Loving her is uncomfortable. Imperfect. But it is undoubtedly the most real thing in my life."
Oof. See what I mean? Some real gems, especially where I wasn't expecting it.
I appreciate the significance of the main character to the story. This book wasn't just about the love interest and their relationship, but it was about her family, friends, and dreams. Her own career, and her own life. There was a wonderful storyline with her uncle and mother's relationship, and I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting going into the book, but her mother's character arc was so sweet, and it really pulled on my heartstrings.
Another aspect that I found interesting about this book was the parallels of the characters lives to the stories that they were writing. It was a wonderful reflection of an artist in their art, and the reasons why they make it. Even though I'm not an author at all, this book inspired me to write.
One of the reasons why I only gave this book two stars is because the romance didn't connect with me as much as I wanted it to. The love interest was sweet, but he felt a little one-dimensional to me. Or maybe a little too romanticized. He feels real enough, but I feel like I didn't really get to know him as much as I should have.
Like I said before, the main character has a wonderful personal story, but I would have enjoyed a little more push and pull in their relationship. I think it falls a little flat because it was so unrealistic. It was sweet, but there wasn't much build up. The characters say that they love each other, but I had a hard time believing it. Maybe because of the writing style with the telling, not showing.
I also would have enjoyed a little bit more embellishment on the whole acting/ghostwriting/
pretending to be the author thing. It sounded fun and entertaining, but it wasn't really explored very much in the book. It was a good hook, but it was a little lacking in my opinion. Also, the tags describing this book are entirely inaccurate. It most definitely IS NOT enemies to lovers. Also not really a workplace romance. I mean, she is his research assistant but it is very informal and takes place in his house. With no one else around. So. Do with that what you will.
On the whole, this book was a little flat but there were some sweet gems. Not super romantic, but surprisingly heavy on the familial love. Good entertainment if you need a break from books you have to think about.
Big thank you to NetGalley, NetGalley Co-Op, and Heatherly Bell for sharing this ARC. Much love!
March 9, 2026
I always seem to have the most to say about the books that I didn’t enjoy, so here we go. This main character relationship is so stagnant, I don’t know if I can even consider this book a slow burn. I wanted so much to enjoy A Bookish Story because the concept had so much potential. With both main characters being writers, I went in expecting a richly literary, well written story. Unfortunately, the only thing I can say I liked about this book was the use of breaking the fourth wall to illustrate her life as if they were scenes in a book.
As for the things that didn’t work for me in this book? First and foremost, Luci is whiny and immature. I kept placing her in her early 20’s in comparison to Ryan, being more mature and in his 30’s. Luci being 30 and still behaving like she does is childish. Second, Mami is an unforgiveable character in my opinion. No amount of remorse could make up for the fact that she abandoned her daughter to be raised by family members all because a man wasn’t ready to marry her. No, absolutely not. She doesn’t get to come back into Luci’s life and play the doting mother now. The whole storyline of Eddie stepping aside so Antonio could marry Mami is a stretch for me. If Eddie’s love for Mami was so strong, he wouldn’t have even considered this, brother or not. And did Mami get a say in any of this or was her marriage decided upon solely between the brothers? The storyline between Luci and her mom about Luci’s weight was unnecessary. It was peppered in here and there but overall, never felt like Luci evolved from this “trauma”. It felt like a throwaway problem just added for drama.
I was proud of how strong Luci had become in the six months since the engagement ended, only to have her say she’d consider giving Chris another chance - if only to spare his feelings. This made Luci’s character become frustratingly weak and undercut what should have been an empowering moment. I also wish she could have seen that Chris was doing nothing but using her when the relationship he left her for didn’t work out. I thought she had learned her worth by this point, but clearly she still let a man control her actions. Chris mentioning that “It didn’t work out.” when questioned about the women he left Luci for should have been her indicator that he was still a douchebag.
Luci and Ryan’s hot and cold relationship was eye rolling. Ryan’s heroic decision to leave the city and move away from her to let her figure out what she wanted in life was over dramatic. Not a single person in this book loves their respective partner enough to fight for them. And, yet again, we see the men making all the puppet master decisions and the women are just supposed to tag along and catch up.
Lastly, I don’t understand why the storyline of the female writing from the male’s perspective was made out to be so taboo? Women write men’s perspectives all the time in dual perspective novels? What made Soulmates so outlandish that it was that big of a deal?
Overall, these theatrics made the majority of this book unlikeable.
As for the things that didn’t work for me in this book? First and foremost, Luci is whiny and immature. I kept placing her in her early 20’s in comparison to Ryan, being more mature and in his 30’s. Luci being 30 and still behaving like she does is childish. Second, Mami is an unforgiveable character in my opinion. No amount of remorse could make up for the fact that she abandoned her daughter to be raised by family members all because a man wasn’t ready to marry her. No, absolutely not. She doesn’t get to come back into Luci’s life and play the doting mother now. The whole storyline of Eddie stepping aside so Antonio could marry Mami is a stretch for me. If Eddie’s love for Mami was so strong, he wouldn’t have even considered this, brother or not. And did Mami get a say in any of this or was her marriage decided upon solely between the brothers? The storyline between Luci and her mom about Luci’s weight was unnecessary. It was peppered in here and there but overall, never felt like Luci evolved from this “trauma”. It felt like a throwaway problem just added for drama.
I was proud of how strong Luci had become in the six months since the engagement ended, only to have her say she’d consider giving Chris another chance - if only to spare his feelings. This made Luci’s character become frustratingly weak and undercut what should have been an empowering moment. I also wish she could have seen that Chris was doing nothing but using her when the relationship he left her for didn’t work out. I thought she had learned her worth by this point, but clearly she still let a man control her actions. Chris mentioning that “It didn’t work out.” when questioned about the women he left Luci for should have been her indicator that he was still a douchebag.
Luci and Ryan’s hot and cold relationship was eye rolling. Ryan’s heroic decision to leave the city and move away from her to let her figure out what she wanted in life was over dramatic. Not a single person in this book loves their respective partner enough to fight for them. And, yet again, we see the men making all the puppet master decisions and the women are just supposed to tag along and catch up.
Lastly, I don’t understand why the storyline of the female writing from the male’s perspective was made out to be so taboo? Women write men’s perspectives all the time in dual perspective novels? What made Soulmates so outlandish that it was that big of a deal?
Overall, these theatrics made the majority of this book unlikeable.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My Rating: 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was good, it wasn’t blowing my hair back though!!
A female ghostwriter is recruited to be the face of the bestselling novel in the country, secretly written by a man.
Luci Santana believes in love, especially when it comes to books. Since being forced to give up her apartment, she’d love to get out of her over-involved family’s backyard she-shed and resuscitate her life. She’s given a chance to supercharge her career when she’s recruited to be the face of the country’s bestselling novel.
The romance book secretly written by a man.
Years before he wrote the book that changed his life, literary author Ryan Brady was caught shaming the romance genre in a video. When his book is chosen by a celebrity morning show, a face to face interview is required. Suddenly his secret
pen name desperately needs a woman’s face.
Enter Luci.
Luci hates the book everyone else raves about but it becomes her job to defend the book, the genre, and try not to get caught falling in love with the enemy.
A secret identity, enemies to lovers, workplace romance.
Ok, so I requested this when I was going through my clean romance era in 2025, and I wasn’t really in the mood for romcom but it was on my shelf and I wanted to get the review done before the book is released. Now, I thought this was cute, I think for a romcom it was definitely more rom than com but it was a little bit cute.
It is a 3 star for me and normally I am heaps more generous to romcom than thrillers but this one was really repetitive the FMC Luci, was actually annoying me quite a bit, not to the point that I hated her but I found her to be childish and pretty self centred. The constant references to being a writer annoyed me quite a lot too.
When I say annoyed I mean it was irritating but it wasn’t infuriating if you know what I mean. Its light hearted and you know what the purpose of it is, Romance is repetitive anyway for the most part, you know what you are going to get in the end (most of the time) and this was no different. The writing wasn’t bad, but it didn’t have be so hooked in I couldn’t put it down. It was just your average nice story that I will likely not think about again.
If you are in the mood for a romance that is centred around writers, with some complex history then this might be for you. There is a bit going on, and I might argue a bit too much, and I didn’t really need some of it but I understand the author is trying to build a backstory… I think it could have been a novella, it was only 215 pages but for me it felt a little long.
Overall, it was good but not great I wouldn’t rush to recommend it but I wouldn’t steer anyone away from it. If you like the sound of it just read it… its inoffensive and its very clean.
Thank you to NetGalley, Heatherly Bell Books and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
A female ghostwriter is recruited to be the face of the bestselling novel in the country, secretly written by a man.
Luci Santana believes in love, especially when it comes to books. Since being forced to give up her apartment, she’d love to get out of her over-involved family’s backyard she-shed and resuscitate her life. She’s given a chance to supercharge her career when she’s recruited to be the face of the country’s bestselling novel.
The romance book secretly written by a man.
Years before he wrote the book that changed his life, literary author Ryan Brady was caught shaming the romance genre in a video. When his book is chosen by a celebrity morning show, a face to face interview is required. Suddenly his secret
pen name desperately needs a woman’s face.
Enter Luci.
Luci hates the book everyone else raves about but it becomes her job to defend the book, the genre, and try not to get caught falling in love with the enemy.
A secret identity, enemies to lovers, workplace romance.
Ok, so I requested this when I was going through my clean romance era in 2025, and I wasn’t really in the mood for romcom but it was on my shelf and I wanted to get the review done before the book is released. Now, I thought this was cute, I think for a romcom it was definitely more rom than com but it was a little bit cute.
It is a 3 star for me and normally I am heaps more generous to romcom than thrillers but this one was really repetitive the FMC Luci, was actually annoying me quite a bit, not to the point that I hated her but I found her to be childish and pretty self centred. The constant references to being a writer annoyed me quite a lot too.
When I say annoyed I mean it was irritating but it wasn’t infuriating if you know what I mean. Its light hearted and you know what the purpose of it is, Romance is repetitive anyway for the most part, you know what you are going to get in the end (most of the time) and this was no different. The writing wasn’t bad, but it didn’t have be so hooked in I couldn’t put it down. It was just your average nice story that I will likely not think about again.
If you are in the mood for a romance that is centred around writers, with some complex history then this might be for you. There is a bit going on, and I might argue a bit too much, and I didn’t really need some of it but I understand the author is trying to build a backstory… I think it could have been a novella, it was only 215 pages but for me it felt a little long.
Overall, it was good but not great I wouldn’t rush to recommend it but I wouldn’t steer anyone away from it. If you like the sound of it just read it… its inoffensive and its very clean.
Thank you to NetGalley, Heatherly Bell Books and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 20, 2026
This book is not like your average romance. It is a page-turner with a complex plot that will often confuse the reader. The characters are complicated, realistic, and unafraid to express their true feelings, which makes it difficult for readers to predict their actions. In the end, this heartwarming story, with its three-dimensional characters and intense plot will fascinate you with their realism.
Luci has dreamed of being an author all of her life. Unfortunately, dreams don’t always come true. Over the years, she has submitted many manuscripts to agents, but they have all been rejected. With no job and very little money, Luci decides to take a job as a ghostwriter for a famous author’s well-read series.
However, this does not satisfy Luci. She wants to write her own romances using her own name. Also, with very little money, she must live in a she-shed located in the backyard of her over-involved family. Thus, when she hears about a position as an assistant for a published author, she jumps at it.
Luci is ecstatic when the author, Ryan Brady, hires her. Immediately, she learns that Ryan is a complicated, grumpy, odd, person, who holds strange thoughts and ideas about himself and his books. Luci also is shocked to find out that Ryan has secretly written a romance book since he hates romances. He admits that he only wrote it because his agent forced him to, so he refuses to publicly acknowledge this “awful” book. However, the book is a hit because people are excited to read this romance written secretly written by a man who writes it from a women’s point of view.
When a morning show wants to interview the author, Ryan panics because he doesn’t want to have anything to do with this “awful” book. Eventually he and his agent agree to let Luci pretend to be the author by using a female pen name. Even though she hates the ending of the book, she agrees. Luci’s interview turns out to be a big hit as books fly off the shelves. Now, Ryan’s agent wants Luci to continue to attend live appearances.
Ryan gets very upset when his agent wants him to write a sequel to the romance book. He absolutely refuses, so Luci agrees to do it. All of a sudden, Luci becomes a working author who is now making excellent money.
However, they still have another problem. Little by little, as Luci and Ryan spend all of their time together, they begin to bond, and their feelings begin to soften. However, both of them agree that it is not appropriate for Luci and “her boss” to become physically involved, so they vow to remain friends.
The main question is – do they get together? If so, how and when?
.
Luci has dreamed of being an author all of her life. Unfortunately, dreams don’t always come true. Over the years, she has submitted many manuscripts to agents, but they have all been rejected. With no job and very little money, Luci decides to take a job as a ghostwriter for a famous author’s well-read series.
However, this does not satisfy Luci. She wants to write her own romances using her own name. Also, with very little money, she must live in a she-shed located in the backyard of her over-involved family. Thus, when she hears about a position as an assistant for a published author, she jumps at it.
Luci is ecstatic when the author, Ryan Brady, hires her. Immediately, she learns that Ryan is a complicated, grumpy, odd, person, who holds strange thoughts and ideas about himself and his books. Luci also is shocked to find out that Ryan has secretly written a romance book since he hates romances. He admits that he only wrote it because his agent forced him to, so he refuses to publicly acknowledge this “awful” book. However, the book is a hit because people are excited to read this romance written secretly written by a man who writes it from a women’s point of view.
When a morning show wants to interview the author, Ryan panics because he doesn’t want to have anything to do with this “awful” book. Eventually he and his agent agree to let Luci pretend to be the author by using a female pen name. Even though she hates the ending of the book, she agrees. Luci’s interview turns out to be a big hit as books fly off the shelves. Now, Ryan’s agent wants Luci to continue to attend live appearances.
Ryan gets very upset when his agent wants him to write a sequel to the romance book. He absolutely refuses, so Luci agrees to do it. All of a sudden, Luci becomes a working author who is now making excellent money.
However, they still have another problem. Little by little, as Luci and Ryan spend all of their time together, they begin to bond, and their feelings begin to soften. However, both of them agree that it is not appropriate for Luci and “her boss” to become physically involved, so they vow to remain friends.
The main question is – do they get together? If so, how and when?
.
March 11, 2026
There is something deeply satisfying about a romance that understands the magic—and power—of romance novels themselves, and A Bookish Story delivers exactly that. Heatherly Bell has written a love letter not only to readers, but to the genre, exploring what happens when fiction and reality collide in the most inconvenient—and irresistible—ways.
Luci Santana is a heroine who feels incredibly real. She’s passionate, stubborn, and trying to rebuild her life after setbacks that have forced her into her family’s backyard she-shed—a situation both humbling and quietly devastating. Luci’s love of books isn’t just a hobby; it’s her anchor. But when she’s given the opportunity to represent the most beloved romance novel in the country—a book she personally cannot stand—it forces her to confront the uncomfortable gap between what she believes and what she must perform.
Ryan Brady, meanwhile, is layered with contradiction. A literary author who once publicly dismissed romance, he now hides behind a female pen name after writing the very kind of story he once ridiculed. His vulnerability lies not just in his secret, but in his fear of being exposed—not only to the public, but emotionally. Watching Ryan grapple with his own prejudice against romance while slowly falling into a real love story is both ironic and deeply human.
The grumpy-sunshine dynamic between Luci and Ryan unfolds beautifully. Their tension is rooted not only in attraction, but in mistrust, professional obligation, and pride. Luci sees him as the embodiment of everything wrong with literary snobbery, while Ryan sees Luci as someone capable of exposing everything he’s built. Their slow burn is authentic, built on conversations, misunderstandings, and the gradual dismantling of their assumptions about each other.
What makes this story shine is its emotional honesty. Luci’s struggle to reclaim her independence, Ryan’s reckoning with his own hypocrisy, and their shared journey toward vulnerability all feel earned. Bell also explores themes of identity—both public and private—and the courage it takes to live truthfully, even when doing so risks everything.
At its core, A Bookish Story reminds readers why romance matters. It celebrates the readers who believe in love, the writers who dare to create it, and the messy, imperfect people who discover it when they least expect it.
This is a thoughtful, slow-burn romance with heart, humor, and a powerful message about believing in love—both on and off the page.
I read this prior to release and am voluntarily sharing my honest feedback.
Luci Santana is a heroine who feels incredibly real. She’s passionate, stubborn, and trying to rebuild her life after setbacks that have forced her into her family’s backyard she-shed—a situation both humbling and quietly devastating. Luci’s love of books isn’t just a hobby; it’s her anchor. But when she’s given the opportunity to represent the most beloved romance novel in the country—a book she personally cannot stand—it forces her to confront the uncomfortable gap between what she believes and what she must perform.
Ryan Brady, meanwhile, is layered with contradiction. A literary author who once publicly dismissed romance, he now hides behind a female pen name after writing the very kind of story he once ridiculed. His vulnerability lies not just in his secret, but in his fear of being exposed—not only to the public, but emotionally. Watching Ryan grapple with his own prejudice against romance while slowly falling into a real love story is both ironic and deeply human.
The grumpy-sunshine dynamic between Luci and Ryan unfolds beautifully. Their tension is rooted not only in attraction, but in mistrust, professional obligation, and pride. Luci sees him as the embodiment of everything wrong with literary snobbery, while Ryan sees Luci as someone capable of exposing everything he’s built. Their slow burn is authentic, built on conversations, misunderstandings, and the gradual dismantling of their assumptions about each other.
What makes this story shine is its emotional honesty. Luci’s struggle to reclaim her independence, Ryan’s reckoning with his own hypocrisy, and their shared journey toward vulnerability all feel earned. Bell also explores themes of identity—both public and private—and the courage it takes to live truthfully, even when doing so risks everything.
At its core, A Bookish Story reminds readers why romance matters. It celebrates the readers who believe in love, the writers who dare to create it, and the messy, imperfect people who discover it when they least expect it.
This is a thoughtful, slow-burn romance with heart, humor, and a powerful message about believing in love—both on and off the page.
I read this prior to release and am voluntarily sharing my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Actual rating: 3.5
Thanks to Heatherly Bell, Netgalley, and Victory Editing for a complimentary e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I do love a book about books and in this case it's also about writers. We follow Luci, a latinx struggling ghost writer who has been continuing to pen a popular vampire romance series, long after the original author has passed. Yet despite these books making it into the charts, she's having no luck in getting her own original book picked up. She's recently been jilted by her fiancé, and is living in a shed at the bottom of the grandmother's garden, so when an assistant position for a professor writing a historical novel comes up she jumps at the chance for some extra money. Enter Ryan, a writer who is also struggling with his next novel.
The start of this book was a little rocky to me - I'm not always a big fan of seeing a protagonist at their worst at the start of the book and the dialogue in the first few chapters was also pretty rough. Thankfully the book got more into the swing of it as it went on, and I stopped getting distracted by the writing and more invested in the central themes of the book and our characters. Despite the shaky start, I did end up finding Luci to be a likable protagonist, particularly once she started fighting for herself and coming to terms with what was happening around. I especially liked the book's focus on family, through her supportive and noisy extended family to the strained relationship with her absentee mother, recently returned. Luci starts to re-assess her own beliefs and opinions of her mother during the book, and her own idealised views of her parent's relationship. I also quite liked our romantic lead, Ryan, even if the romance was extremely obvious and the third act conflict was a little rushed.
Overall, I found this to be a quick and heart-warming read and I really was rooting for our romantic couple and for Luci in general, to establish herself as a writer. I think the initial issues I had at the start could have been salvaged with a bit more editing, as it was mostly the dialogue that felt quite still at first. I know Heatherly Bell has written many other books, all in the romance category,and I would try more from her if the premise interested me as this one did.
Thanks to Heatherly Bell, Netgalley, and Victory Editing for a complimentary e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I do love a book about books and in this case it's also about writers. We follow Luci, a latinx struggling ghost writer who has been continuing to pen a popular vampire romance series, long after the original author has passed. Yet despite these books making it into the charts, she's having no luck in getting her own original book picked up. She's recently been jilted by her fiancé, and is living in a shed at the bottom of the grandmother's garden, so when an assistant position for a professor writing a historical novel comes up she jumps at the chance for some extra money. Enter Ryan, a writer who is also struggling with his next novel.
The start of this book was a little rocky to me - I'm not always a big fan of seeing a protagonist at their worst at the start of the book and the dialogue in the first few chapters was also pretty rough. Thankfully the book got more into the swing of it as it went on, and I stopped getting distracted by the writing and more invested in the central themes of the book and our characters. Despite the shaky start, I did end up finding Luci to be a likable protagonist, particularly once she started fighting for herself and coming to terms with what was happening around. I especially liked the book's focus on family, through her supportive and noisy extended family to the strained relationship with her absentee mother, recently returned. Luci starts to re-assess her own beliefs and opinions of her mother during the book, and her own idealised views of her parent's relationship. I also quite liked our romantic lead, Ryan, even if the romance was extremely obvious and the third act conflict was a little rushed.
Overall, I found this to be a quick and heart-warming read and I really was rooting for our romantic couple and for Luci in general, to establish herself as a writer. I think the initial issues I had at the start could have been salvaged with a bit more editing, as it was mostly the dialogue that felt quite still at first. I know Heatherly Bell has written many other books, all in the romance category,and I would try more from her if the premise interested me as this one did.
Review of advance copy
This book said “secret identity, enemies to lovers, workplace chaos” and then executed it with the confidence of a main character strutting into a third act declaration.
Luci Santana is living in a backyard she shed, courtesy of her loud, loving, over invested family, and trying to resurrect her writing career from the ashes. She believes in love. She believes in romance. She believes books can save people. Which makes it wildly inconvenient when she is hired to be the public face of the most famous romance novel in the country… a book she does not even like.
And the twist? The book was secretly written by literary darling Ryan Brady. Yes, that Ryan Brady. The same man who once publicly trashed the romance genre in a cringeworthy video. The irony is chef’s kiss perfection.
When his novel explodes thanks to a celebrity morning show pick and he needs a woman to be the face of his female pen name, Luci steps in. Watching her defend a genre she loves while secretly loathing the book she is promoting was deliciously messy. The tension between authenticity and ambition crackled on every page.
Ryan is layered in the most satisfying way. Arrogant but not hollow. Defensive but clearly rattled by Luci’s intelligence and passion. Their banter? Sharp. Smart. Just the right amount of bite. You can feel the enemies to lovers arc tightening like a bowstring. Every argument is foreplay. Every almost confession is a spark in dry grass.
What I loved most is how this story champions romance as a genre. It does not apologize. It does not shrink. It celebrates the emotional labor, the hope, the craft. Luci fighting for it felt personal and powerful.
And when the secret identity tension starts to unravel? I was feral. The stakes are not just career deep. They are heart deep. Watching them navigate betrayal, pride, and very inconvenient feelings had me flipping pages like my life depended on it.
This book is witty and warm and surprisingly tender beneath all the clever chaos. It is about owning your voice. It is about admitting you were wrong. It is about love stories on and off the page.
Luci Santana is living in a backyard she shed, courtesy of her loud, loving, over invested family, and trying to resurrect her writing career from the ashes. She believes in love. She believes in romance. She believes books can save people. Which makes it wildly inconvenient when she is hired to be the public face of the most famous romance novel in the country… a book she does not even like.
And the twist? The book was secretly written by literary darling Ryan Brady. Yes, that Ryan Brady. The same man who once publicly trashed the romance genre in a cringeworthy video. The irony is chef’s kiss perfection.
When his novel explodes thanks to a celebrity morning show pick and he needs a woman to be the face of his female pen name, Luci steps in. Watching her defend a genre she loves while secretly loathing the book she is promoting was deliciously messy. The tension between authenticity and ambition crackled on every page.
Ryan is layered in the most satisfying way. Arrogant but not hollow. Defensive but clearly rattled by Luci’s intelligence and passion. Their banter? Sharp. Smart. Just the right amount of bite. You can feel the enemies to lovers arc tightening like a bowstring. Every argument is foreplay. Every almost confession is a spark in dry grass.
What I loved most is how this story champions romance as a genre. It does not apologize. It does not shrink. It celebrates the emotional labor, the hope, the craft. Luci fighting for it felt personal and powerful.
And when the secret identity tension starts to unravel? I was feral. The stakes are not just career deep. They are heart deep. Watching them navigate betrayal, pride, and very inconvenient feelings had me flipping pages like my life depended on it.
This book is witty and warm and surprisingly tender beneath all the clever chaos. It is about owning your voice. It is about admitting you were wrong. It is about love stories on and off the page.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks so much Heatherly Bell and The Author Agency for the book. I was gifted this book as an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review completely voluntarily.
This was my first book by Heatherly Bell, and it was a sweet contemporary read. The book has a really fun and unique premise, a ghostwriter pretending to be the author of a bestselling novel written by someone else, which immediately caught my attention. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse into the realities of ghostwriting and the publishing industry. As someone who loves books about books, those behind the scenes elements were probably my favorite part of the story.
That said, there were more than a few slower moments and never fully hooked my attention the way I hoped it would. I kept waiting for that moment where I would feel really pulled into the story, but it just never quite happened for me. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It had some great ingredients including an interesting premise, a bookish setting, and a romance storyline, but there was just something a little off in the execution. I could not fully connect with the story or the characters, and because of that I was not very invested in what was happening. Another thing that made it harder for me to stay engaged was that the book had quite a few side storylines. While some of them added background to the characters, at times they distracted from the main romance and made the story feel a bit scattered.I also tend to prefer steamier romances, and this one was definitely on the milder side.
Overall, I appreciated the unique idea and the publishing world elements, but the pacing and lack of connection to the story made this one a bit of a miss for me. If you enjoy softer, low spice contemporary romances, this might work better for you than it did for me.
Happy reading friends,
~ Maebae 💚
I’m a fellow book lover reviewing the good, the bad, and everything bookish in-between. All thoughts, opinions, and reactions are completely my own. I wasn’t paid, sponsored, or influenced in any way.
This was my first book by Heatherly Bell, and it was a sweet contemporary read. The book has a really fun and unique premise, a ghostwriter pretending to be the author of a bestselling novel written by someone else, which immediately caught my attention. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse into the realities of ghostwriting and the publishing industry. As someone who loves books about books, those behind the scenes elements were probably my favorite part of the story.
That said, there were more than a few slower moments and never fully hooked my attention the way I hoped it would. I kept waiting for that moment where I would feel really pulled into the story, but it just never quite happened for me. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It had some great ingredients including an interesting premise, a bookish setting, and a romance storyline, but there was just something a little off in the execution. I could not fully connect with the story or the characters, and because of that I was not very invested in what was happening. Another thing that made it harder for me to stay engaged was that the book had quite a few side storylines. While some of them added background to the characters, at times they distracted from the main romance and made the story feel a bit scattered.I also tend to prefer steamier romances, and this one was definitely on the milder side.
Overall, I appreciated the unique idea and the publishing world elements, but the pacing and lack of connection to the story made this one a bit of a miss for me. If you enjoy softer, low spice contemporary romances, this might work better for you than it did for me.
Happy reading friends,
~ Maebae 💚
I’m a fellow book lover reviewing the good, the bad, and everything bookish in-between. All thoughts, opinions, and reactions are completely my own. I wasn’t paid, sponsored, or influenced in any way.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*Thank you to the author, Heatherly Bell and The Author Agency for providing me with eARC, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*
This was such cute story!
When I came across this book, it was the title and the cover that first caught my attention. I think that the title, A Bookish Story would capture any readers’ attention. Once I read the blurb; I knew that this is the book that I had to read. I’m so glad that I got a chance to read this book! I adored Ryan and Luci from the beginning. It didn’t take me long to feel a connection to both. I enjoyed the banter between the two of them; some made me laugh out loud, and some just had me shaking my head. I was just waiting for them to figure out that the reason was not that they disliked each other. I don’t think that Luci would agree to help Ryan out, if she didn’t have some sort of feelings for him. I rooted for them both from the start.
I was curious to see how their arrangement would work out and how long Luci would be able to keep up the pretense. On the other hand, I wondered what would happen if the truth were discovered. I hoped that it wouldn’t, because I knew that it wouldn’t end well for either of them. I liked the way that Ryan and Luci’s relationship developed; it felt realistic, like it would happen in real life. Almost every page had me wondering what would happen next with Luci and Ryan, and whether Luci would finally write her own book.
I love books that are set in literacy words, so I loved that bother of them were authors. What I loved about A Bookish Story is that it didn’t only focus on Luci’s love life, but also on family, friendship, self-discovery. Although I enjoy spicy novels, I loved that this one wasn’t. I loved seeing Ryan and Luci’s relationships develop through conversations as they worked together; there were quite few bittersweet moments between the two of them that had me smiling. This was my first book by the author, and I cannot wait to check out her others.
This was such cute story!
When I came across this book, it was the title and the cover that first caught my attention. I think that the title, A Bookish Story would capture any readers’ attention. Once I read the blurb; I knew that this is the book that I had to read. I’m so glad that I got a chance to read this book! I adored Ryan and Luci from the beginning. It didn’t take me long to feel a connection to both. I enjoyed the banter between the two of them; some made me laugh out loud, and some just had me shaking my head. I was just waiting for them to figure out that the reason was not that they disliked each other. I don’t think that Luci would agree to help Ryan out, if she didn’t have some sort of feelings for him. I rooted for them both from the start.
I was curious to see how their arrangement would work out and how long Luci would be able to keep up the pretense. On the other hand, I wondered what would happen if the truth were discovered. I hoped that it wouldn’t, because I knew that it wouldn’t end well for either of them. I liked the way that Ryan and Luci’s relationship developed; it felt realistic, like it would happen in real life. Almost every page had me wondering what would happen next with Luci and Ryan, and whether Luci would finally write her own book.
I love books that are set in literacy words, so I loved that bother of them were authors. What I loved about A Bookish Story is that it didn’t only focus on Luci’s love life, but also on family, friendship, self-discovery. Although I enjoy spicy novels, I loved that this one wasn’t. I loved seeing Ryan and Luci’s relationships develop through conversations as they worked together; there were quite few bittersweet moments between the two of them that had me smiling. This was my first book by the author, and I cannot wait to check out her others.
April 14, 2026
Gut rating: ⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: TBD
ARC publication date: March 10th 2026
DNF: 36%
Tropes: Forced proximity, secret identity, workplace romance, instalust, grumpy/sunshine romance, golden retriever/black cat romance, Jane Austen love
Quote: "No matter how good he looks on the outside, his insides are rotting like a soft brown banana."
My synopsis
29yo Lucia "Luci" Milagros Santana feels stuck in life. She's a failed romance author delegated to ghostwriting other people's books, living in a tiny shed after her fiancé called off their wedding.
Enter Ryan Brady: a grumpy history professor (with major Clark Kent vibes) who needs a research assistant for his new historical war book. Luci jumps at the chance for extra income, but quickly second guesses the job when she discovers a video of Ryan publicly denouncing romance books as trash. The plot thickens when Ryan reveals he's secretly a world-famous romance author - and he needs Luci to step in and play his female pseudonym. The only problem? She absolutely hates his book. With feelings surfacing between the two, and Luci questioning her future, can she keep things under control?
My review:
A book about books sounded so interesting, especially playing with the idea of pseudonyms and ghost writing. Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me.
I really struggled with Luci. She was brash and too chaotic, constantly overstepping boundaries and giving manic pixie girl vibes which made it hard to stay invested in her story. I quite liked how Luci's South American heritage was woven throughout the story, though.
Some of the key scenes felt forced and didn't flow naturally, such as the party scene where Luci gave a dance performance? It felt like too much was going on in the background also, with Luci dealing with her breakup and her mum on top of the drama with Ryan and her own flatlining career.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Trigger warnings: Abandonment, misogyny, death of parent
CAWPILE rating: TBD
ARC publication date: March 10th 2026
DNF: 36%
Tropes: Forced proximity, secret identity, workplace romance, instalust, grumpy/sunshine romance, golden retriever/black cat romance, Jane Austen love
Quote: "No matter how good he looks on the outside, his insides are rotting like a soft brown banana."
My synopsis
29yo Lucia "Luci" Milagros Santana feels stuck in life. She's a failed romance author delegated to ghostwriting other people's books, living in a tiny shed after her fiancé called off their wedding.
Enter Ryan Brady: a grumpy history professor (with major Clark Kent vibes) who needs a research assistant for his new historical war book. Luci jumps at the chance for extra income, but quickly second guesses the job when she discovers a video of Ryan publicly denouncing romance books as trash. The plot thickens when Ryan reveals he's secretly a world-famous romance author - and he needs Luci to step in and play his female pseudonym. The only problem? She absolutely hates his book. With feelings surfacing between the two, and Luci questioning her future, can she keep things under control?
My review:
A book about books sounded so interesting, especially playing with the idea of pseudonyms and ghost writing. Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me.
I really struggled with Luci. She was brash and too chaotic, constantly overstepping boundaries and giving manic pixie girl vibes which made it hard to stay invested in her story. I quite liked how Luci's South American heritage was woven throughout the story, though.
Some of the key scenes felt forced and didn't flow naturally, such as the party scene where Luci gave a dance performance? It felt like too much was going on in the background also, with Luci dealing with her breakup and her mum on top of the drama with Ryan and her own flatlining career.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Trigger warnings: Abandonment, misogyny, death of parent
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Bookish Story is a cozy, book within a book romance that leans heavily into its love of storytelling. At its core, this is a novel about writers, publishing, and the blurred lines between who creates a story and who gets credit for it. If you enjoy romances centered around the writing world, this one definitely embraces that niche.
The pacing is brisk and approachable. At just over two hundred pages, it reads quickly and works well as a light, low angst palate cleanser. The tone stays warm and generally upbeat, with a soft, closed door romance that focuses more on emotional development than physical intensity. There is a sweetness to the dynamic between the leads, particularly in their shared understanding of what it means to create something meaningful and vulnerable on the page.
One of the stronger aspects of the book is its exploration of identity and ambition. The main character’s professional frustrations and personal insecurities are relatable, especially for anyone who has ever felt stuck behind the scenes while wanting recognition for their own voice. The family elements add another layer, giving the story some emotional grounding beyond the central romance.
That said, the execution feels uneven at times. Much of the character development is conveyed through explanation rather than immersion, which can make it harder to fully connect. Some dialogue feels overly polished and less like natural conversation, and the romantic chemistry, while present, does not always spark as strongly as it could. There are also several subplots woven throughout, and while they aim to add depth, they occasionally dilute the focus of the main storyline.
Overall, A Bookish Story is a pleasant, easy read with a charming premise and heartfelt intentions. It may not be the most unforgettable romance, but it offers comfort, a touch of humor, and an affectionate look at the world of writers and the stories they tell.
3.25 stars.
The pacing is brisk and approachable. At just over two hundred pages, it reads quickly and works well as a light, low angst palate cleanser. The tone stays warm and generally upbeat, with a soft, closed door romance that focuses more on emotional development than physical intensity. There is a sweetness to the dynamic between the leads, particularly in their shared understanding of what it means to create something meaningful and vulnerable on the page.
One of the stronger aspects of the book is its exploration of identity and ambition. The main character’s professional frustrations and personal insecurities are relatable, especially for anyone who has ever felt stuck behind the scenes while wanting recognition for their own voice. The family elements add another layer, giving the story some emotional grounding beyond the central romance.
That said, the execution feels uneven at times. Much of the character development is conveyed through explanation rather than immersion, which can make it harder to fully connect. Some dialogue feels overly polished and less like natural conversation, and the romantic chemistry, while present, does not always spark as strongly as it could. There are also several subplots woven throughout, and while they aim to add depth, they occasionally dilute the focus of the main storyline.
Overall, A Bookish Story is a pleasant, easy read with a charming premise and heartfelt intentions. It may not be the most unforgettable romance, but it offers comfort, a touch of humor, and an affectionate look at the world of writers and the stories they tell.
3.25 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Bookish Story
My first ARC review.
Thank you to the author, Heatherly Bell, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of A Bookish Story in exchange for an honest review.
I was initially intrigued by the fun cover and the premise of this rom-com, especially the idea of a ghostwriter who unexpectedly becomes the face of a ghost-written work. One of its strongest aspects was the author’s obvious passion for the literary world, which shines through her writing. I even learned quite a bit about ghostwriting through this book, which was a new and fascinating concept to me.
That said, I have a few significant issues that ultimately impacted my enjoyment of this book. The writing itself often felt off, with run-on sentences, awkward word choices, and occasional disjointed dialogue that made the story harder to follow. The book would benefit from additional editing to improve clarity and polish. While emotional stakes were thoughtfully included, they were often told rather than shown, which made them feel out of place rather than plot-building events.
I also struggled with the romance. This book was marketed as a rom-com, but the romantic relationship felt more like a subplot, with limited buildup and tension between Luci and Ryan. I never quite felt the spark you find in other rom-com’s. Additionally, and this may be an unpopular opinion, but I wasn’t a fan of the relationship between Luci’s mother and her uncle. This also detracted from my connection to the characters.
Overall, A Bookish Story is a pleasant, cozy story. If you’re looking for a cute, light read or enjoy books featuring the behind-the-scenes of the writing and publication process, this book will be right up your alley.
Content Notes
- Spice: Kisses only
- Language: Mild swearing
My first ARC review.
Thank you to the author, Heatherly Bell, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of A Bookish Story in exchange for an honest review.
I was initially intrigued by the fun cover and the premise of this rom-com, especially the idea of a ghostwriter who unexpectedly becomes the face of a ghost-written work. One of its strongest aspects was the author’s obvious passion for the literary world, which shines through her writing. I even learned quite a bit about ghostwriting through this book, which was a new and fascinating concept to me.
That said, I have a few significant issues that ultimately impacted my enjoyment of this book. The writing itself often felt off, with run-on sentences, awkward word choices, and occasional disjointed dialogue that made the story harder to follow. The book would benefit from additional editing to improve clarity and polish. While emotional stakes were thoughtfully included, they were often told rather than shown, which made them feel out of place rather than plot-building events.
I also struggled with the romance. This book was marketed as a rom-com, but the romantic relationship felt more like a subplot, with limited buildup and tension between Luci and Ryan. I never quite felt the spark you find in other rom-com’s. Additionally, and this may be an unpopular opinion, but I wasn’t a fan of the relationship between Luci’s mother and her uncle. This also detracted from my connection to the characters.
Overall, A Bookish Story is a pleasant, cozy story. If you’re looking for a cute, light read or enjoy books featuring the behind-the-scenes of the writing and publication process, this book will be right up your alley.
Content Notes
- Spice: Kisses only
- Language: Mild swearing
March 1, 2026
Lucia—Luci—currently lives in a she-shed in the backyard of her grandmother’s home. She applies for a job as a research assistant to a visiting professor while continuing her main work as a ghostwriter. She gets the position, only to discover she’ll actually be working for a different professor: Ryan Brady, the author of multiple World War II historical fiction novels.
Luci helps Ryan organize his notes and gather research on events and historical details he wants to incorporate into his next novel. But the tables quickly turn when she learns she was recruited for a very different reason. Ryan needs her to be the public face of his recently popular romance novel—one he never intended to succeed the way it has. After previously being recorded criticizing romance novels, Ryan can’t risk being exposed as the true author of Soulmates. To protect his reputation, Luci must step into the role of “Elizabeth Brogan,” the supposed author of the hit romance, while Ryan becomes the ghostwriter of his own book.
Now Luci is the author of a novel she didn’t write, and Ryan is hiding behind the scenes. Can they navigate the intense publicity surrounding the book while keeping Ryan’s identity secret? And more importantly, can they maintain a professional working relationship as the lines between truth and fiction begin to blur?
I’ve been on a total bookish trope binge lately, so I was thrilled to ARC read this one! Both Luci and Ryan are dealing with family drama and deeply rooted insecurities that shape how they see themselves and the world around them. Watching them grow individually—and together—was truly beautiful.
This was my first book by Heatherly Bell, and it was such a sweet, contemporary read. There were a few slower moments for me, but by the end I was completely invested in how their story would unfold.
Luci helps Ryan organize his notes and gather research on events and historical details he wants to incorporate into his next novel. But the tables quickly turn when she learns she was recruited for a very different reason. Ryan needs her to be the public face of his recently popular romance novel—one he never intended to succeed the way it has. After previously being recorded criticizing romance novels, Ryan can’t risk being exposed as the true author of Soulmates. To protect his reputation, Luci must step into the role of “Elizabeth Brogan,” the supposed author of the hit romance, while Ryan becomes the ghostwriter of his own book.
Now Luci is the author of a novel she didn’t write, and Ryan is hiding behind the scenes. Can they navigate the intense publicity surrounding the book while keeping Ryan’s identity secret? And more importantly, can they maintain a professional working relationship as the lines between truth and fiction begin to blur?
I’ve been on a total bookish trope binge lately, so I was thrilled to ARC read this one! Both Luci and Ryan are dealing with family drama and deeply rooted insecurities that shape how they see themselves and the world around them. Watching them grow individually—and together—was truly beautiful.
This was my first book by Heatherly Bell, and it was such a sweet, contemporary read. There were a few slower moments for me, but by the end I was completely invested in how their story would unfold.
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