What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
3 days and 10:41:06
50 copies available
U.S. only
Tropesick
Not yet published
Expected 18 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
3 days and 10:41:06
50 copies available
U.S. only
Katie Caruso is a completely normal twenty-five-year-old girl. At least, for the past eight years, since the worst happened, she's tried to be. She likes glitter and sequins and flirting with cute boys at bars. She's also a proud ghostwriter for Meredith Bradford, the bestselling romance novelist of all time.
Tyler McNally is a sleeve-tattooed, Ivy League-educated aspiring literary fiction novelist who literally can't think of anything worse than romance novels... but whose agent forces him to agree to ghostwrite one.
When the pair meet to begin work, each is as stunned as the other to see who their writing partner is meant to be. Connected by a shared tragedy, the pair are ex's, who haven't seen or spoken to each other since the overdose death of Katie's older brother. Tyler was her brother's best friend, and Katie - naturally - was the girl next door.
As the summer unfolds they soon discover that dozens of classic romance tropes, including the ones they're crafting on page, are mysteriously playing out in their real lives... and in their relationship to each other.
Tyler McNally is a sleeve-tattooed, Ivy League-educated aspiring literary fiction novelist who literally can't think of anything worse than romance novels... but whose agent forces him to agree to ghostwrite one.
When the pair meet to begin work, each is as stunned as the other to see who their writing partner is meant to be. Connected by a shared tragedy, the pair are ex's, who haven't seen or spoken to each other since the overdose death of Katie's older brother. Tyler was her brother's best friend, and Katie - naturally - was the girl next door.
As the summer unfolds they soon discover that dozens of classic romance tropes, including the ones they're crafting on page, are mysteriously playing out in their real lives... and in their relationship to each other.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 16, 2026
About the author
Lauren Okie
4 books417 followersHi, I’m Lauren Okie, and I write messy, hard-fought love stories. My debut, THE BEST WORST THING, is out now. Look out for TROPESICK, coming summer 2026, and follow me on IG (@laurenokieauthor) to keep up with my nonsense.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 891 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my goodness… where do I even begin?
I can confidently say this book has officially ruined me — in the most glorious, emotionally devastating, heart-expanding way possible. It has already secured its place as one of my absolute favorite romances of 2026. Top three. Locked. I still have a few auto-approved favorite romance authors releasing books this year… but I’m telling you right now, this one is not surrendering its spot without a fight.
And that says a lot.
Because lately? I’ve been struggling a little with romance.
As someone who adores this genre, it pains me to admit that I’ve felt a bit worn down by formulaic stories. Don’t get me wrong — many of them are fun, cute, comforting. But after a while, they start blending together. Same tropes. Same emotional arcs. Slightly different character names. It began to feel like I was reading variations of the same book over and over again.
They entertained me — sure. Like a streaming rom-com you watch on a cozy Friday night. Pleasant. Predictable. Around a 6 on IMDb. Enjoyable, but not unforgettable.
But I was craving something else.
I wanted intensity. I wanted angst that hurts in the best way. I wanted longing that makes your chest ache. I wanted depth. I wanted flawed, layered characters who feel painfully real. I wanted smart writing. I wanted sexy tension that actually simmers. I wanted something addictive — the kind of book that keeps you up at 2 a.m. saying “just one more chapter” and then suddenly it’s sunrise.
Maybe I was being extra picky. But I didn’t want another beautifully packaged formula. I wanted to believe in romance again.
And then Lauren Okie came along and said, “Here. Have everything.”
This book is a masterclass in trope execution. Yes, it uses beloved romance tropes — enemies to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity, best friend’s sister, girl-next-door energy — but instead of feeling recycled, they feel elevated. Intentional. Fresh. She doesn’t just use tropes; she understands them. She plays with them. She respects them.
And the book-within-a-book concept? Brilliant.
Two writers forced to co-write a romance novel while navigating their own unresolved history — it’s layered storytelling at its finest. We’re reading a romance about people writing a romance, and the parallels between their fictional story and their real emotional baggage are handled so cleverly.
Now let’s talk about that slow burn.
Angsty. Heart-wrenching. Emotionally raw. And yes — pant-meltingly sexy.
The tension between Katie and Tyler isn’t loud or over-the-top. It simmers. It lingers in glances. In unfinished sentences. In the space between them when they’re forced to sit side by side. It’s the kind of chemistry that feels earned because of their shared past.
And that twist.
I need a moment.
It was hinted at. The breadcrumbs were there. But when the reveal finally landed? I literally gasped. I sat there staring at the page thinking, “How did I not fully connect this?” It wasn’t obvious — it was smart. It trusted the reader. And I respect that so much.
Now, the characters.
Katie Caruso is sunshine personified on the outside — rainbow outfits, glittery notebooks, bright personality. She radiates color. But beneath that carefully curated brightness, she is carrying grief that has shaped her entire life. Losing her brother to addiction shattered her family. And being abandoned by the boy she loved broke something even deeper.
She is layered, guarded, vulnerable beneath the sparkle.
Then there’s Tyler McNailly.
Her brother’s best friend. Her first love. The boy who left without explanation eight years ago.
Now he’s back. A successful literary fiction author. Tattooed. Intense. Nine years sober. Quietly carrying his own guilt and history. He’s not the same reckless young man she once loved — he’s grown, scarred, self-aware.
And when they’re forced into close quarters in a secluded Southampton mansion to co-write a novel under a strict deadline? The emotional stakes skyrocket.
There’s resentment.
There’s longing.
There’s unfinished business.
There’s chemistry that refuses to die.
Katie wants to stay angry. Tyler wants redemption. They both miss each other more than they’re willing to admit.
And then there’s Meredith Bradford — their eccentric, slightly mysterious employer — who feels suspiciously like a matchmaker orchestrating emotional chaos in her glamorous mansion. I loved her presence. She adds both tension and subtle humor to the story.
What makes this romance special is that it isn’t just about attraction. It’s about healing. It’s about forgiveness. It’s about confronting the past instead of rewriting it. It’s about sobriety, grief, guilt, family fractures, and learning how to love someone as the person they are now — not who they were.
This story has teeth. It doesn’t just flutter around your heart — it bites. It tears you open. It makes you sit in uncomfortable emotions. And then, slowly, carefully, it stitches you back together.
By the end, I felt wrung out in the best possible way. Emotional. Satisfied. Warm. A little teary. Completely fulfilled.
And that ending? Perfect. Earned. The kind that makes you want to close the book, hug it, and whisper, “Yes. This is it. This is why I read romance.”
Overall, I loved this book deeply. If you are looking for something smart, emotional, angsty, sexy, layered, character-driven, and genuinely moving — something that will shake you but also restore your faith in love — please pick this up.
It’s rare to find a romance that feels both trope-savvy and emotionally authentic. This one does both beautifully.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter<
I can confidently say this book has officially ruined me — in the most glorious, emotionally devastating, heart-expanding way possible. It has already secured its place as one of my absolute favorite romances of 2026. Top three. Locked. I still have a few auto-approved favorite romance authors releasing books this year… but I’m telling you right now, this one is not surrendering its spot without a fight.
And that says a lot.
Because lately? I’ve been struggling a little with romance.
As someone who adores this genre, it pains me to admit that I’ve felt a bit worn down by formulaic stories. Don’t get me wrong — many of them are fun, cute, comforting. But after a while, they start blending together. Same tropes. Same emotional arcs. Slightly different character names. It began to feel like I was reading variations of the same book over and over again.
They entertained me — sure. Like a streaming rom-com you watch on a cozy Friday night. Pleasant. Predictable. Around a 6 on IMDb. Enjoyable, but not unforgettable.
But I was craving something else.
I wanted intensity. I wanted angst that hurts in the best way. I wanted longing that makes your chest ache. I wanted depth. I wanted flawed, layered characters who feel painfully real. I wanted smart writing. I wanted sexy tension that actually simmers. I wanted something addictive — the kind of book that keeps you up at 2 a.m. saying “just one more chapter” and then suddenly it’s sunrise.
Maybe I was being extra picky. But I didn’t want another beautifully packaged formula. I wanted to believe in romance again.
And then Lauren Okie came along and said, “Here. Have everything.”
This book is a masterclass in trope execution. Yes, it uses beloved romance tropes — enemies to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity, best friend’s sister, girl-next-door energy — but instead of feeling recycled, they feel elevated. Intentional. Fresh. She doesn’t just use tropes; she understands them. She plays with them. She respects them.
And the book-within-a-book concept? Brilliant.
Two writers forced to co-write a romance novel while navigating their own unresolved history — it’s layered storytelling at its finest. We’re reading a romance about people writing a romance, and the parallels between their fictional story and their real emotional baggage are handled so cleverly.
Now let’s talk about that slow burn.
Angsty. Heart-wrenching. Emotionally raw. And yes — pant-meltingly sexy.
The tension between Katie and Tyler isn’t loud or over-the-top. It simmers. It lingers in glances. In unfinished sentences. In the space between them when they’re forced to sit side by side. It’s the kind of chemistry that feels earned because of their shared past.
And that twist.
I need a moment.
It was hinted at. The breadcrumbs were there. But when the reveal finally landed? I literally gasped. I sat there staring at the page thinking, “How did I not fully connect this?” It wasn’t obvious — it was smart. It trusted the reader. And I respect that so much.
Now, the characters.
Katie Caruso is sunshine personified on the outside — rainbow outfits, glittery notebooks, bright personality. She radiates color. But beneath that carefully curated brightness, she is carrying grief that has shaped her entire life. Losing her brother to addiction shattered her family. And being abandoned by the boy she loved broke something even deeper.
She is layered, guarded, vulnerable beneath the sparkle.
Then there’s Tyler McNailly.
Her brother’s best friend. Her first love. The boy who left without explanation eight years ago.
Now he’s back. A successful literary fiction author. Tattooed. Intense. Nine years sober. Quietly carrying his own guilt and history. He’s not the same reckless young man she once loved — he’s grown, scarred, self-aware.
And when they’re forced into close quarters in a secluded Southampton mansion to co-write a novel under a strict deadline? The emotional stakes skyrocket.
There’s resentment.
There’s longing.
There’s unfinished business.
There’s chemistry that refuses to die.
Katie wants to stay angry. Tyler wants redemption. They both miss each other more than they’re willing to admit.
And then there’s Meredith Bradford — their eccentric, slightly mysterious employer — who feels suspiciously like a matchmaker orchestrating emotional chaos in her glamorous mansion. I loved her presence. She adds both tension and subtle humor to the story.
What makes this romance special is that it isn’t just about attraction. It’s about healing. It’s about forgiveness. It’s about confronting the past instead of rewriting it. It’s about sobriety, grief, guilt, family fractures, and learning how to love someone as the person they are now — not who they were.
This story has teeth. It doesn’t just flutter around your heart — it bites. It tears you open. It makes you sit in uncomfortable emotions. And then, slowly, carefully, it stitches you back together.
By the end, I felt wrung out in the best possible way. Emotional. Satisfied. Warm. A little teary. Completely fulfilled.
And that ending? Perfect. Earned. The kind that makes you want to close the book, hug it, and whisper, “Yes. This is it. This is why I read romance.”
Overall, I loved this book deeply. If you are looking for something smart, emotional, angsty, sexy, layered, character-driven, and genuinely moving — something that will shake you but also restore your faith in love — please pick this up.
It’s rare to find a romance that feels both trope-savvy and emotionally authentic. This one does both beautifully.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
twitter<
March 19, 2026
Three cheers for the slutty little glasses (SLG’s if you will)
Well, well, well a hot new cottage has rolled into town
Sometimes love means ghost writing a book for a bestselling romance writer with your former childhood friend while it feels like the tropes are screaming for you to be together—because actually they are. Lauren Okie’s sophomore novel Tropesick is a story for the trope obsessed, those who are anything but sick of their miraculous power in the romance genre. Nailing the grit, hurt, and wondrous feeling of reconnection and second chances, Tropesick is the self aware romance novel needed to navigate modern times and modern loves. Tracing the story down the line from one trope to the next, characters Katie and Tyler expose the past, so broken by it that their only way to reach for each other is through fiction, the tropes and the characters a stepping stone to reconciliation. Between arguing over the absurdity of tropes (which keep playing out in real life), discussing which bathroom cabinetry characters could construct by hand—and rail their love interests against, and using their respective characters to speak through the hurt, Okie’s humor and raw emotion is embodied in her two leads and every trope laden chapter. Tropesick is tropetastic, a novel you will want to live in and forever embody. Where the tension is in the backstory and the tropes are as large as life itself this is the romance novel for every romance reader. Of that I am sure.
Read my review
thank you to michelle at avon (whom i owe my life for a “bring back men who yearn tshirt along with this arc.
Bookstagram | Blog
Well, well, well a hot new cottage has rolled into town
Sometimes love means ghost writing a book for a bestselling romance writer with your former childhood friend while it feels like the tropes are screaming for you to be together—because actually they are. Lauren Okie’s sophomore novel Tropesick is a story for the trope obsessed, those who are anything but sick of their miraculous power in the romance genre. Nailing the grit, hurt, and wondrous feeling of reconnection and second chances, Tropesick is the self aware romance novel needed to navigate modern times and modern loves. Tracing the story down the line from one trope to the next, characters Katie and Tyler expose the past, so broken by it that their only way to reach for each other is through fiction, the tropes and the characters a stepping stone to reconciliation. Between arguing over the absurdity of tropes (which keep playing out in real life), discussing which bathroom cabinetry characters could construct by hand—and rail their love interests against, and using their respective characters to speak through the hurt, Okie’s humor and raw emotion is embodied in her two leads and every trope laden chapter. Tropesick is tropetastic, a novel you will want to live in and forever embody. Where the tension is in the backstory and the tropes are as large as life itself this is the romance novel for every romance reader. Of that I am sure.
Read my review
thank you to michelle at avon (whom i owe my life for a “bring back men who yearn tshirt along with this arc.
Bookstagram | Blog
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tropesick by Lauren Okie is a romance novel you absolutely do not want to miss! Publication date is June 16, 2026. Thank you so, so much to NetGalley, author Lauren Okie, and Avon Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🩷🩷
Oh man… this book was so incredible on so many levels 🥺
The last 10% is honestly the only reason this went from 5 stars to 4 stars for me. I don’t think this is really a spoiler based on other reviews I’ve seen, but I was NOT expecting magical realism?? I had little suspicions at certain points, but not at all in the way it ended up playing out. It was definitely an interesting twist, but personally I think the story could have been just as impactful without it.
Other than that? This book was MAGIC. ✨Absolute magic✨ I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever been so captivated by an author’s writing style before. The way Lauren Okie strings words together and paints scenes so vividly made it impossible not to completely fall into this story. The writing itself felt emotional and alive 🥺🫶🏻
Trigger warnings for grief and addiction. This book tackles incredibly heavy topics, but it does so in such a raw, honest, and realistic way that truly shows the impact addiction can have on both individuals and the people who love them.
I absolutely loved Katie and Tyler. Their love story was heartbreaking, beautiful, emotional, messy, tender, and ultimately worth every second of the journey. Their relationship felt so real to me. Painful at times, healing at others, but always full of love underneath everything ❤️🩹
Without giving spoilers since this is still an ARC, I also really enjoyed seeing Henry and Willa’s story unfold and thought it was such a unique and meaningful way to weave everything together. I’m also always a sucker for dual POVs and flashbacks, so this book was *chef’s kiss* 😙
This story made me laugh, cry, smile, and feel about 100 emotions all at once. I genuinely cannot wait until the final copy is released so I can go back and highlight and share some of my favorite quotes because WOW.
The last sentence of almost every chapter made me feel something, heartbreak, longing, sadness, hope, happiness… all of it 🫶🏻🥺❤️🩹
I truly can’t put into words how beautiful this story is or how tender the love between Katie and Tyler felt. Their love was raw, real, painful, and somehow still managed to help them slowly glue the broken pieces of themselves back together.
I honestly think this is going to be one of the standout books of the summer, and it absolutely deserves the hype 💞
Oh man… this book was so incredible on so many levels 🥺
The last 10% is honestly the only reason this went from 5 stars to 4 stars for me. I don’t think this is really a spoiler based on other reviews I’ve seen, but I was NOT expecting magical realism?? I had little suspicions at certain points, but not at all in the way it ended up playing out. It was definitely an interesting twist, but personally I think the story could have been just as impactful without it.
Other than that? This book was MAGIC. ✨Absolute magic✨ I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever been so captivated by an author’s writing style before. The way Lauren Okie strings words together and paints scenes so vividly made it impossible not to completely fall into this story. The writing itself felt emotional and alive 🥺🫶🏻
Trigger warnings for grief and addiction. This book tackles incredibly heavy topics, but it does so in such a raw, honest, and realistic way that truly shows the impact addiction can have on both individuals and the people who love them.
I absolutely loved Katie and Tyler. Their love story was heartbreaking, beautiful, emotional, messy, tender, and ultimately worth every second of the journey. Their relationship felt so real to me. Painful at times, healing at others, but always full of love underneath everything ❤️🩹
Without giving spoilers since this is still an ARC, I also really enjoyed seeing Henry and Willa’s story unfold and thought it was such a unique and meaningful way to weave everything together. I’m also always a sucker for dual POVs and flashbacks, so this book was *chef’s kiss* 😙
This story made me laugh, cry, smile, and feel about 100 emotions all at once. I genuinely cannot wait until the final copy is released so I can go back and highlight and share some of my favorite quotes because WOW.
The last sentence of almost every chapter made me feel something, heartbreak, longing, sadness, hope, happiness… all of it 🫶🏻🥺❤️🩹
I truly can’t put into words how beautiful this story is or how tender the love between Katie and Tyler felt. Their love was raw, real, painful, and somehow still managed to help them slowly glue the broken pieces of themselves back together.
I honestly think this is going to be one of the standout books of the summer, and it absolutely deserves the hype 💞
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Lauren Okie broke my brain.
I have no coherent thoughts.
I need a reread in order to fully process.
Sending Lauren Okie my therapy bill for all the extra sessions Ill need this month.
If you enjoy being wrecked while reading romance, go ahead and add this to you TBR.
Might come back and write something more coherent later. Might just cry myself to sleep.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
I have no coherent thoughts.
I need a reread in order to fully process.
Sending Lauren Okie my therapy bill for all the extra sessions Ill need this month.
If you enjoy being wrecked while reading romance, go ahead and add this to you TBR.
Might come back and write something more coherent later. Might just cry myself to sleep.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
April 10, 2026
4💫
what a BEAUTIFUL SECOND CHANCE LOVE STORY. this story covered so many emotional topics, so i suggest checking the trigger warnings, but the author handled everything so delicately and wrote with so much care. lauren okie's writing was absolutely beautiful, poetic, and emotion. i have like 100 highlights from this book full of amazing scenes and syntax.
our two characters went through so much growth in this book and i couldn't be prouder for them. katie was just a ball of sunshine and soooo taylor swift coded. her positivity and outgoing personality was such a joy to read. tyler was so gentle and kind with her, and i respect him so much for how he behaved when he was around katie. he is such a sensitive man and i love it! they both have gone through so much trauma but have healed so beautifully and this story helped them heal and ugh i am just obsessed.
dont get me wrong, i absolutely LOVED this book, but i guess i hold an unpopular opinion of not really enjoying the ending... i was just so confused! after i talked with one of my friends about it, i understand what happened and yes, i think thats so cool, but i was SO CONFUSED and ended the last 10% of the book being like .... huh???
anyways, im so excited for everyone to read this when it comes out!!!
thank you avon books, netgalley & lauren okie for the arc! out june 16!
☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️
preread!!!
thank you avon books & lauren okie for the arc!!!
i've heard such amazing things about this and as a second-chance lover, i am SO excited to read it!!!
what a BEAUTIFUL SECOND CHANCE LOVE STORY. this story covered so many emotional topics, so i suggest checking the trigger warnings, but the author handled everything so delicately and wrote with so much care. lauren okie's writing was absolutely beautiful, poetic, and emotion. i have like 100 highlights from this book full of amazing scenes and syntax.
our two characters went through so much growth in this book and i couldn't be prouder for them. katie was just a ball of sunshine and soooo taylor swift coded. her positivity and outgoing personality was such a joy to read. tyler was so gentle and kind with her, and i respect him so much for how he behaved when he was around katie. he is such a sensitive man and i love it! they both have gone through so much trauma but have healed so beautifully and this story helped them heal and ugh i am just obsessed.
dont get me wrong, i absolutely LOVED this book, but i guess i hold an unpopular opinion of not really enjoying the ending... i was just so confused! after i talked with one of my friends about it, i understand what happened and yes, i think thats so cool, but i was SO CONFUSED and ended the last 10% of the book being like .... huh???
anyways, im so excited for everyone to read this when it comes out!!!
thank you avon books, netgalley & lauren okie for the arc! out june 16!
☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️
preread!!!
thank you avon books & lauren okie for the arc!!!
i've heard such amazing things about this and as a second-chance lover, i am SO excited to read it!!!
May 7, 2026
For the first 20% or so, I wasn’t sure I was going to connect to these characters. My expectations were so high after The Best Worst Thing. But I went from being unsure to being so emotionally connected to & touched by this story. Truly a beautiful love story with such a fun, unique, bookish premise. Oh, & that ending… SHOCKED. Torn on how I feel about it tbh, but definitely a twist! I’d say worth the read!!
Currently Reading
May 7, 2026i have seen sooo many people rave about this magical realism romance novel, so i'm hoping to love it just as much as other readers, and also find a new favorite author in the process🙂↕️🩵
March 12, 2026
tropesick simultaneously broke my heart and put it back together again all at once. this is a book i will be recommending to ANYONE that will listen to me yap about it!
oh my LANTA, did i love katie and tyler’s romance and history. everything about the two of them was so bittersweet and sad and sweet and nostalgic. 11 years after their initial separation, the two of them come back together under the most random circumstances and they have to find a way to work together to ghost write a romance novel. and DO THEY WRITE THAT NOVEL!!
something about a bad boy gone good, tattooed, GLASSES (!!!!) gets me EVERY TIMEEEE!! lauren okie knew what she was doing here. 🙂↕️ she made a fan out of me. i will be reading more of her. yes absolutely. this is 100009% worth the read if you want to kick your feet, giggling or cry. it will accomplish both I promise.
thank you netgalley and avon for the e-arc. <3
oh my LANTA, did i love katie and tyler’s romance and history. everything about the two of them was so bittersweet and sad and sweet and nostalgic. 11 years after their initial separation, the two of them come back together under the most random circumstances and they have to find a way to work together to ghost write a romance novel. and DO THEY WRITE THAT NOVEL!!
something about a bad boy gone good, tattooed, GLASSES (!!!!) gets me EVERY TIMEEEE!! lauren okie knew what she was doing here. 🙂↕️ she made a fan out of me. i will be reading more of her. yes absolutely. this is 100009% worth the read if you want to kick your feet, giggling or cry. it will accomplish both I promise.
thank you netgalley and avon for the e-arc. <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
જ⁀➴ 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)
HUGE THANK YOU to Avon Books, Lauren Okie, and NetGalley for the eARC and the physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Tropesick will be officially published on June 16th, 2026!
༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️
When Tropesick was pitched as a love letter to the romance genre, no one was playing around. This was a story about second chances, finding a way back to the person you never forgot, and working through trauma and coming out the other side alive and as a better person, all with a touch of magical realism. It truly was a nod to everything the romance genre: highlighting the most common tropes in the genre, subtle references to beloved romance authors in the industry, and little cameos of well-loved books in the romance genre that we hold so close to our hearts. If you also like your romance books with a hefty side of tension and angst, this is also the book for you!
While I enjoyed the writing in this story, and I'd still recommend it to readers, I felt like more could've been done to sell the second-chance romance and the sensitive topics that were discussed in the story. I love a good second-chance romance as much as the next person does, but I also believe it's one of the hardest tropes to write about well, in my opinion. I feel like more could've been done in that aspect to sell me a bit more on Katie and Tyler's relationship.
✎𓂃Full review to come soon!
༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ As mARCH madness continues, I've been staring at this book from my Kindle shelf for SO long. Like, I've had the eARC for this since December, before it even went live on NetGalley, since I got a widget for it, and it kept calling out to me. I think this is my sign to read it because Avon sent me a PHYSICAL ARC of this in the mail! I don't think there can be a bigger sign than this one, so guess who's throwing the rest of my ARC TBR away for this?😂
HUGE THANK YOU to Avon Books, Lauren Okie, and NetGalley for the eARC and the physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Tropesick will be officially published on June 16th, 2026!
"You are the best thing in my life. I can't believe I got another chance to love you."
༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️
When Tropesick was pitched as a love letter to the romance genre, no one was playing around. This was a story about second chances, finding a way back to the person you never forgot, and working through trauma and coming out the other side alive and as a better person, all with a touch of magical realism. It truly was a nod to everything the romance genre: highlighting the most common tropes in the genre, subtle references to beloved romance authors in the industry, and little cameos of well-loved books in the romance genre that we hold so close to our hearts. If you also like your romance books with a hefty side of tension and angst, this is also the book for you!
While I enjoyed the writing in this story, and I'd still recommend it to readers, I felt like more could've been done to sell the second-chance romance and the sensitive topics that were discussed in the story. I love a good second-chance romance as much as the next person does, but I also believe it's one of the hardest tropes to write about well, in my opinion. I feel like more could've been done in that aspect to sell me a bit more on Katie and Tyler's relationship.
✎𓂃Full review to come soon!
༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･༄˖°.☕️
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ As mARCH madness continues, I've been staring at this book from my Kindle shelf for SO long. Like, I've had the eARC for this since December, before it even went live on NetGalley, since I got a widget for it, and it kept calling out to me. I think this is my sign to read it because Avon sent me a PHYSICAL ARC of this in the mail! I don't think there can be a bigger sign than this one, so guess who's throwing the rest of my ARC TBR away for this?😂
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5⭐
I read Lauren’s debut novel, and after reading the synopsis of this book, I realized it was very different, and it even includes magical realism, which really intrigued me.
The first half was interesting; I didn’t know what to expect, and I needed more details about the characters’ past. But in the second half, I got tired of the number of chapters—there are 90 of them, and they are very short. The POV switches between Tyler and Katie in both the present and the past, and there’s also a book within a book… just as I was getting into a situation, I was suddenly taken somewhere else again.
I liked Tyler and his past story, how he struggled with his addictions, but I didn’t feel any sympathy for Katie and her family. I won’t go into details, but Katie’s attitude toward her dead brother was an unpleasant surprise for me.
As for the ending, even though I expected magical realism, it came out of nowhere and was so messy that it’s easier for me to pretend it didn’t exist at all.
But I am curious about what Lauren Okie’s next book will be.
_____
Pre-read: I’m not usually a fan of magical realism, but I couldn’t miss Lauren’s new book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager (Avon) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I read Lauren’s debut novel, and after reading the synopsis of this book, I realized it was very different, and it even includes magical realism, which really intrigued me.
The first half was interesting; I didn’t know what to expect, and I needed more details about the characters’ past. But in the second half, I got tired of the number of chapters—there are 90 of them, and they are very short. The POV switches between Tyler and Katie in both the present and the past, and there’s also a book within a book… just as I was getting into a situation, I was suddenly taken somewhere else again.
I liked Tyler and his past story, how he struggled with his addictions, but I didn’t feel any sympathy for Katie and her family. I won’t go into details, but Katie’s attitude toward her dead brother was an unpleasant surprise for me.
As for the ending, even though I expected magical realism, it came out of nowhere and was so messy that it’s easier for me to pretend it didn’t exist at all.
But I am curious about what Lauren Okie’s next book will be.
_____
Pre-read: I’m not usually a fan of magical realism, but I couldn’t miss Lauren’s new book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager (Avon) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
6 ⭐️
I can't even describe how much I loved this book!!! It made me laugh and giggle, even cry a couple of times at the end. The book is extremely emotional and handled some very heavy topics so beautiful and with care. I love Katie and Tyler with all my heart even though they frustrated me a couple of times
I wasn't expecting the book to have some magical realism in it which confused me a little, but I absolutely loved the ending and how it all came together!
6 ⭐️
I can't even describe how much I loved this book!!! It made me laugh and giggle, even cry a couple of times at the end. The book is extremely emotional and handled some very heavy topics so beautiful and with care. I love Katie and Tyler with all my heart even though they frustrated me a couple of times
I wasn't expecting the book to have some magical realism in it which confused me a little, but I absolutely loved the ending and how it all came together!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
oh lauren okie you've done it again!! you've taken what seems like a fun little romance story and you've turned it into an absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful story!! i hate it but i love it!!
no but seriously, this book is at once a love letter to the romance genre and romance readers, and an achingly raw look at addiction and grief. i absolutely love how lauren okie writes a love story that is so much more than that, how her characters are so layered and deep and some of the most resilient (fictional) people you will ever read about. what a masterpiece, once again.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc, all opinions are my own!
pre-read
got the arc hehe i'm so excited for this one!!! i absolutely adored the best worst thing and i feel like i'll love this just as much <3
no but seriously, this book is at once a love letter to the romance genre and romance readers, and an achingly raw look at addiction and grief. i absolutely love how lauren okie writes a love story that is so much more than that, how her characters are so layered and deep and some of the most resilient (fictional) people you will ever read about. what a masterpiece, once again.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc, all opinions are my own!
pre-read
got the arc hehe i'm so excited for this one!!! i absolutely adored the best worst thing and i feel like i'll love this just as much <3
Want to Read
March 13, 2026I got the arc I got the arc!!!!! The squeal I squonked!
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Lauren Okie for the gifted eARC. Any thoughts will be my own.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Lauren Okie for the gifted eARC. Any thoughts will be my own.
April 25, 2026
6⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"When I close my eyes, it has always been you. You and you and only you." 💗✍🏻📚🌸✨
i honestly don't think i have the words to describe how much i absolutely LOVED this book. i knew it was going to be a 6 star read from the minute i started it. every single moment i wasn't reading this book, i wanted to be reading this book
katie and tyler are SO dear to my heart, katie was just the strongest, most sunshine-glitter filled character ever and I loved her. And tyler fought so hard to overcome his past and forgive himself- also tall, dark hair, tatttoos and GLASSES?? my dream man. they were both such 3D characters and i could not love them more
also i am OBSESSED with the way this book was structured, having little snippets of the book they were writing in between their love story with all the tropes was such a fun addition
& that plot twists at 90%???? that got me
thank you so much netgalley for this arc!!!
this is absolutely going down as one of my new favorite romance books of all time
"When I close my eyes, it has always been you. You and you and only you." 💗✍🏻📚🌸✨
i honestly don't think i have the words to describe how much i absolutely LOVED this book. i knew it was going to be a 6 star read from the minute i started it. every single moment i wasn't reading this book, i wanted to be reading this book
katie and tyler are SO dear to my heart, katie was just the strongest, most sunshine-glitter filled character ever and I loved her. And tyler fought so hard to overcome his past and forgive himself- also tall, dark hair, tatttoos and GLASSES?? my dream man. they were both such 3D characters and i could not love them more
also i am OBSESSED with the way this book was structured, having little snippets of the book they were writing in between their love story with all the tropes was such a fun addition
& that plot twists at 90%???? that got me
thank you so much netgalley for this arc!!!
this is absolutely going down as one of my new favorite romance books of all time
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i just read this whole thing in one sitting and i am severely unwell. no book has drawn me in so quick in SO LONG!!!!!! RTC thank you so much avon 🫶🏼🫶🏼
----
Thank you so much to Avon and Netgalley for the arc 🫶🏼
Lauren Okie has a way with words that just sucks you so deep into the story and doesn't let you go until the very last second, and even then, you're still thinking about her characters and the story. After reading "Best Worst Thing" last year and giving that one 5 stars, I knew that this would be a highly anticipated and high-expectations read for me. I knew a little about the synopsis, but once I started reading, I realized I only knew the basic tropes, brother's best friend, and that was it.
Tropesick follows Katie and Tyler; it is dual POV, and we see them in the present, eight years after tragedy struck both of their lives. They have been, seemingly by fate, pushed together for a new ghostwriting project. We slowly unravel their history through dual timeline chapters, as well as getting snippets from their current writing project, and see how their relationship evolves in the present with all of this history between them.
I can't give too much away because this is a story that you truly don't want to know too much about. I loved every single aspect of this book and ate it UP. I read it all in one sitting and it had me giggling, swooning, tearing up, just allll of the feelings. The way Lauren Okie weaves past and present so seamlessly and covers topic such as grief, substance abuse and family turmoil with such grace is truly astounding. The use of the story they're writing together as a token of their past relationship and what the book represents was everything, and it added so much to the tension.
Katie was such a sunshiney character, and the fact that she had a lot of past traumas and current issues with her parents, and was still very eccentric with her outfits and was successful was so heartwarming. I loved seeing Tyler mack on her outfits, which he ended up loving about her by the end. Katie was an easy character to root for, sticking up for herself, especially against Tyler, and not taking any shit. She knew what she wanted and deserved. Tyler, on the other hand, was such a tortured soul, also with a lot of past trauma and substance use issues, and I loved seeing him grow throughout the book. The inclusion of his AA sponser, Arthur, was so heartwarming, and I loved their relationship. Also, very important to note that he has many tattoos and wears slutty little glasses!!! The addition of Meredith also added a lot to the story, getting to know her on a deeper level and understanding her complexities.
This was a perfect slow-burn story with lots of trauma to unpack. The setting, set in the South Hamptons and some in NYC, was magical. One thing I realized when I finished was that we didn't end up seeing much more of Katie's best friend, Lola, who I loved at the start, and I would've loved to see more of her. I think Pinot may be my favourite character, iykyk. Paul ended up being my real MVP by the end!!! I want nothing but good things for that man.
----
Thank you so much to Avon and Netgalley for the arc 🫶🏼
Lauren Okie has a way with words that just sucks you so deep into the story and doesn't let you go until the very last second, and even then, you're still thinking about her characters and the story. After reading "Best Worst Thing" last year and giving that one 5 stars, I knew that this would be a highly anticipated and high-expectations read for me. I knew a little about the synopsis, but once I started reading, I realized I only knew the basic tropes, brother's best friend, and that was it.
Tropesick follows Katie and Tyler; it is dual POV, and we see them in the present, eight years after tragedy struck both of their lives. They have been, seemingly by fate, pushed together for a new ghostwriting project. We slowly unravel their history through dual timeline chapters, as well as getting snippets from their current writing project, and see how their relationship evolves in the present with all of this history between them.
I can't give too much away because this is a story that you truly don't want to know too much about. I loved every single aspect of this book and ate it UP. I read it all in one sitting and it had me giggling, swooning, tearing up, just allll of the feelings. The way Lauren Okie weaves past and present so seamlessly and covers topic such as grief, substance abuse and family turmoil with such grace is truly astounding. The use of the story they're writing together as a token of their past relationship and what the book represents was everything, and it added so much to the tension.
Katie was such a sunshiney character, and the fact that she had a lot of past traumas and current issues with her parents, and was still very eccentric with her outfits and was successful was so heartwarming. I loved seeing Tyler mack on her outfits, which he ended up loving about her by the end. Katie was an easy character to root for, sticking up for herself, especially against Tyler, and not taking any shit. She knew what she wanted and deserved. Tyler, on the other hand, was such a tortured soul, also with a lot of past trauma and substance use issues, and I loved seeing him grow throughout the book. The inclusion of his AA sponser, Arthur, was so heartwarming, and I loved their relationship. Also, very important to note that he has many tattoos and wears slutty little glasses!!! The addition of Meredith also added a lot to the story, getting to know her on a deeper level and understanding her complexities.
This was a perfect slow-burn story with lots of trauma to unpack. The setting, set in the South Hamptons and some in NYC, was magical. One thing I realized when I finished was that we didn't end up seeing much more of Katie's best friend, Lola, who I loved at the start, and I would've loved to see more of her. I think Pinot may be my favourite character, iykyk. Paul ended up being my real MVP by the end!!! I want nothing but good things for that man.
May 4, 2026
I’ll write a better review later but this is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
….
okay it’s been a few days and I’m still so obsessed. wow. woooooooooowwwwww.
this was so meta? but in the best way possible?
Anyway! Thank you to the fine folks at Avon for sending me an early copy!
….
okay it’s been a few days and I’m still so obsessed. wow. woooooooooowwwwww.
this was so meta? but in the best way possible?
Anyway! Thank you to the fine folks at Avon for sending me an early copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lauren Okie is out here normalizing men who yearn...and I love her for it. Tropesick gave me exactly what I want in a male character: flawed, self-aware, and willing to own his mistakes.
This second chance romance is the kind of book you binge in a day or two. It's clever, it's angsty, and it's timely. (A huge part of this novel revolves around opioid addiction and it's effect on not only the addict but their family and friends.)
Fair warning: I do believe this will be a polarizing read. The twist was twisting, that's for sure. I know reviewers often say "Go into this one blind,"...but in this case, you REALLY should.
I'm officially a Lauren Okie fan and will be reading anything she writes in the future.
This second chance romance is the kind of book you binge in a day or two. It's clever, it's angsty, and it's timely. (A huge part of this novel revolves around opioid addiction and it's effect on not only the addict but their family and friends.)
Fair warning: I do believe this will be a polarizing read. The twist was twisting, that's for sure. I know reviewers often say "Go into this one blind,"...but in this case, you REALLY should.
I'm officially a Lauren Okie fan and will be reading anything she writes in the future.
March 9, 2026
crying tears of joy that i finally closed this book and never have to open it or think about it again 🥹
(although the rambling half-review in my notes app may beg to differ… so maybe rtc ??)
(although the rambling half-review in my notes app may beg to differ… so maybe rtc ??)
April 25, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
4.5***
oh this was fantastic!! this book felt like a love letter to long island, to east coast summers, to lazy days in the sun. it was also a love letter to the romance genre as a whole, and to second chances.
my absolute favorite part about this book was the setting. as someone who grew up on long island, maybe i’m biased. lauren okie wrote the setting of this book with so, so much care. i was a bit skeptical, at first, when i heard that this took place on long island and in the hamptons. I was expecting it to be the usual generic backdrop of “the hamptons” or “in” long island (please for the love of god, it’s on the island) or to just be completely inaccurate in terms of locations and details. i’m so glad to be proven wrong. again, this felt, to me, like a love letter to long island and to summers spent there. even for people who have never been, you feel as if you know it like the back of your hand. there were so many places mentioned specifically by name, i kept sitting up and pointing like that one leo dicaprio meme. lauren particularly referenced this one beach & canal where i worked for three summers (and met my boyfriend at), which was a really fun bonus for me personally.
okay enough of me waxing poetic about lauren’s atmospheric skills and long island summers. the writing was superb and the romance had me screaming (both in delight and in frustration). the way these characters are written and the way their feelings for each other are so palpable, it’s no wonder this book has been the talk of the bookish community as of late. absolutely fantastic and yes, the rumors are true: tyler is a D1 yearner (though so is katie). lauren somehow managed to take tropes i usually don’t enjoy, and masterfully put them all together in a way that simultaneously pokes fun at the “tropeification” of romance while also expertly weaving them into the story.
this book also delves into very serious, heartbreaking topics. the way the author wrote about addiction, grief, healing, complicated sibling relationships, mommy & daddy issues, childhood heartbreak, and adult pains and miscommunication…. all VERY well done.
with all that being said, i was not the biggest fan of the last 10%. i guessed part of the twist early on (but i did not guess the big one, if you know you know). while the shock factor certainly had me gasping, i feel like it was very random and was a bit too convenient. i also found the ending to be quite rushed and a little messy, but maybe that’s the point.
all in all, this was an amazing read and is a book i’ll be thinking about for a long time. it’s a wonderful summer read and truly does feel like a hot july day on the east coast.
4.5***
oh this was fantastic!! this book felt like a love letter to long island, to east coast summers, to lazy days in the sun. it was also a love letter to the romance genre as a whole, and to second chances.
my absolute favorite part about this book was the setting. as someone who grew up on long island, maybe i’m biased. lauren okie wrote the setting of this book with so, so much care. i was a bit skeptical, at first, when i heard that this took place on long island and in the hamptons. I was expecting it to be the usual generic backdrop of “the hamptons” or “in” long island (please for the love of god, it’s on the island) or to just be completely inaccurate in terms of locations and details. i’m so glad to be proven wrong. again, this felt, to me, like a love letter to long island and to summers spent there. even for people who have never been, you feel as if you know it like the back of your hand. there were so many places mentioned specifically by name, i kept sitting up and pointing like that one leo dicaprio meme. lauren particularly referenced this one beach & canal where i worked for three summers (and met my boyfriend at), which was a really fun bonus for me personally.
okay enough of me waxing poetic about lauren’s atmospheric skills and long island summers. the writing was superb and the romance had me screaming (both in delight and in frustration). the way these characters are written and the way their feelings for each other are so palpable, it’s no wonder this book has been the talk of the bookish community as of late. absolutely fantastic and yes, the rumors are true: tyler is a D1 yearner (though so is katie). lauren somehow managed to take tropes i usually don’t enjoy, and masterfully put them all together in a way that simultaneously pokes fun at the “tropeification” of romance while also expertly weaving them into the story.
this book also delves into very serious, heartbreaking topics. the way the author wrote about addiction, grief, healing, complicated sibling relationships, mommy & daddy issues, childhood heartbreak, and adult pains and miscommunication…. all VERY well done.
with all that being said, i was not the biggest fan of the last 10%. i guessed part of the twist early on (but i did not guess the big one, if you know you know). while the shock factor certainly had me gasping, i feel like it was very random and was a bit too convenient. i also found the ending to be quite rushed and a little messy, but maybe that’s the point.
all in all, this was an amazing read and is a book i’ll be thinking about for a long time. it’s a wonderful summer read and truly does feel like a hot july day on the east coast.
February 19, 2026
This book started off SO well for me.
I was intrigued pretty immediately. The stakes between Tyler and Katie felt high—especially surrounding the mystery about what happened between them, they were both so distinct and captivating at the start, and I wanted to know how their story played out. I loved Katie’s girly-ness and Tyler’s black-cat personality. Their back and forth was great, and the writing felt strong, and Lauren Okie officially had my attention.
And as I got deeper into the story, I began to love the depiction of grief and addiction. It felt beautiful and like it was deeply thought about and written with care. I really enjoyed seeing both of these depicted in the present tense of Katie’s and Tyler’s lives, but I also appreciated seeing it in their pasts too.
At the start, it was such a beautiful love letter to romance books.
Then, I hit the midway point of the book.
Around 60%, it very slowly (and then very quickly) all went downhill. Katie and Tyler’s development individually and together felt stalled until it felt forced. Katie’s “quirkiness” began to feel like it was her only personality trait. Tyler began to feel like a caricature, one-dimensional. It was like once they finally got together, the book lost its heart.
Scenes felt rushed, and it felt like I didn’t get to fully sit in the moment with the characters. It started feeling like more telling than showing. There was so much tension and yearning, and when we finally reached the peaks we spent the whole book waiting for, they fell flat. There was no payoff.
Then we got to the third act—and that very stereotypical third act plot device—and it just felt wrong, like a shoe that didn’t fit. Their argument was over nothing, and they said some incredibly hurtful things to one another. And frankly, by the end, they forgave each other for those things they said far too quickly. There were these big, loud moments of grief and sadness and anger coming into realization but then, they would kiss and it would be fine—never to be talked about again.
And the last 10% or so…do not get me started. The “magical realism” was genuinely insane and made me angry. Not to mention, Tyler saying “none of this makes sense” then saying “this makes perfect sense” approximately three seconds later really tipped me over the edge. Especially because what did happen didn’t make any sense whatsoever. Tyler might have come to terms with it, but I needed the closure of how this all works. Whereas the characters just seem to shrug, say “okay, sure” and accept it without any questions. You cannot convince me that Katie figured it all out in the span of five seconds and on her own.
And the craziest thing of it all is that I fully predicted the “twist,” and it wasn’t even in a satisfying way. More in a “you’ve got to be kidding me” way.
When I first started reading this book, it felt like it would be a solid 4 stars. I was loving it! Then maybe a 3.75, a 3.5. Then a 3. Then I just got so annoyed, so now we’re here at a 2.
I’m really sad that this turned out the way it did. The premise is such a fun idea and the beginning of the book was fantastic and un-put-down-able.
I do think that this book will find its right audience, it’s just not with me.
Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
I was intrigued pretty immediately. The stakes between Tyler and Katie felt high—especially surrounding the mystery about what happened between them, they were both so distinct and captivating at the start, and I wanted to know how their story played out. I loved Katie’s girly-ness and Tyler’s black-cat personality. Their back and forth was great, and the writing felt strong, and Lauren Okie officially had my attention.
And as I got deeper into the story, I began to love the depiction of grief and addiction. It felt beautiful and like it was deeply thought about and written with care. I really enjoyed seeing both of these depicted in the present tense of Katie’s and Tyler’s lives, but I also appreciated seeing it in their pasts too.
At the start, it was such a beautiful love letter to romance books.
Then, I hit the midway point of the book.
Around 60%, it very slowly (and then very quickly) all went downhill. Katie and Tyler’s development individually and together felt stalled until it felt forced. Katie’s “quirkiness” began to feel like it was her only personality trait. Tyler began to feel like a caricature, one-dimensional. It was like once they finally got together, the book lost its heart.
Scenes felt rushed, and it felt like I didn’t get to fully sit in the moment with the characters. It started feeling like more telling than showing. There was so much tension and yearning, and when we finally reached the peaks we spent the whole book waiting for, they fell flat. There was no payoff.
Then we got to the third act—and that very stereotypical third act plot device—and it just felt wrong, like a shoe that didn’t fit. Their argument was over nothing, and they said some incredibly hurtful things to one another. And frankly, by the end, they forgave each other for those things they said far too quickly. There were these big, loud moments of grief and sadness and anger coming into realization but then, they would kiss and it would be fine—never to be talked about again.
And the last 10% or so…do not get me started. The “magical realism” was genuinely insane and made me angry. Not to mention, Tyler saying “none of this makes sense” then saying “this makes perfect sense” approximately three seconds later really tipped me over the edge. Especially because what did happen didn’t make any sense whatsoever. Tyler might have come to terms with it, but I needed the closure of how this all works. Whereas the characters just seem to shrug, say “okay, sure” and accept it without any questions. You cannot convince me that Katie figured it all out in the span of five seconds and on her own.
And the craziest thing of it all is that I fully predicted the “twist,” and it wasn’t even in a satisfying way. More in a “you’ve got to be kidding me” way.
When I first started reading this book, it felt like it would be a solid 4 stars. I was loving it! Then maybe a 3.75, a 3.5. Then a 3. Then I just got so annoyed, so now we’re here at a 2.
I’m really sad that this turned out the way it did. The premise is such a fun idea and the beginning of the book was fantastic and un-put-down-able.
I do think that this book will find its right audience, it’s just not with me.
Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
Read
March 9, 2026I'm convinced there is no way some of y'all have eyes to read and brains to process because this novel was a hot ass mess from the very beginning.
I do think that an attempt was made to do something interesting with the nature of this narrative, it's just that at every turn the book made it very clear that Okie as an author possessed none of the skill to make this novel actually compelling.
An attempt is made to get the reader invested in why Katie and Tyler are at odds and what could have possibly driven a wedge into the relationship between their families. No matter how many winks or nods we have to the fact that tropes are playing an outsized role and there is a sort of meta way that the characters we're following are people as well as characters and how all of that is meant to play into the larger story doesn't really excuse the sloppy way that this story unfolds.
When a book like, Didn't You Use to Be Queenie B? exists it's care about the really hard for me to believe that this is a story that really handles the topic of addiction with care. When books like Colton Gentry's Third Act exist and tackle grief with actual care, this novel just uses it as decoration.
Even if I could get over how quickly these two are able to put their shit aside for plot necessities and fall into a relationship I can't get over how shallow they both are as characters. Or how utterly unserious the concluding act of this book is. By that point it doesn't really matter to me that we have secret affairs coming to light or wicked mother like actions, or that Katie is seemingly stuck reacting to everything in the most overthetop fashion for a situation she navigated herself into.... I also really have a hard time with how little care Tyler's personal storyline was handled. It was a lot for Okie to put on him and not only not really resolve, but really do nothing with at all...
At no point was any part of this book good or enjoyable. It never came together as a thing that really felt like a product that anyone should spend their time reading let alone their hard earned money purchasing.
I do think that an attempt was made to do something interesting with the nature of this narrative, it's just that at every turn the book made it very clear that Okie as an author possessed none of the skill to make this novel actually compelling.
An attempt is made to get the reader invested in why Katie and Tyler are at odds and what could have possibly driven a wedge into the relationship between their families. No matter how many winks or nods we have to the fact that tropes are playing an outsized role and there is a sort of meta way that the characters we're following are people as well as characters and how all of that is meant to play into the larger story doesn't really excuse the sloppy way that this story unfolds.
When a book like, Didn't You Use to Be Queenie B? exists it's care about the really hard for me to believe that this is a story that really handles the topic of addiction with care. When books like Colton Gentry's Third Act exist and tackle grief with actual care, this novel just uses it as decoration.
Even if I could get over how quickly these two are able to put their shit aside for plot necessities and fall into a relationship I can't get over how shallow they both are as characters. Or how utterly unserious the concluding act of this book is. By that point it doesn't really matter to me that we have secret affairs coming to light or wicked mother like actions, or that Katie is seemingly stuck reacting to everything in the most overthetop fashion for a situation she navigated herself into.... I also really have a hard time with how little care Tyler's personal storyline was handled. It was a lot for Okie to put on him and not only not really resolve, but really do nothing with at all...
At no point was any part of this book good or enjoyable. It never came together as a thing that really felt like a product that anyone should spend their time reading let alone their hard earned money purchasing.
Want to Read
April 8, 2026 pre-read:
ahh i'm literally screaming! you guys will not believe the gasp i gusped when i received the acceptance email for the arc. so thankful because EVERYONE has been talking about it and loving it and i felt like i was missing out! the urge to just move this to the very top of my tbr right now...
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Lauren Okie for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
ahh i'm literally screaming! you guys will not believe the gasp i gusped when i received the acceptance email for the arc. so thankful because EVERYONE has been talking about it and loving it and i felt like i was missing out! the urge to just move this to the very top of my tbr right now...
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Lauren Okie for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While my rating and review are by no means horrible, I did have such high hopes for this book that I don’t think were met. When I picked this book up, I knew some of the tropes (thank you front cover) and knew they were both writers (and I have loved that in the past) but went in blind otherwise. There were only two key items that made this not five-stars for me.
One, I was not obsessed with our MMC unfortunately. I definitely enjoyed our MMC more as an adult than as a teenager. Even then with all his growth, I don’t think he was remarkable enough to were I will think about him constantly.
Two (kind of a spoiler)… there is so much magical realism and I wish it was advertised as this. It was intentional not done in order for readers to be completely shocked and taken aback with the plot twist at the end, but I personally would have rated this higher if I knew to at least expect magical realism. Since I was not expecting it, it actually made me feel more confused and disconnected.
Other than these two problems, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I giggled. I kicked my feet. I sobbed, especially toward the end, as Katie came to terms with her relationship with her brother. It is absolutely devastating to grieve someone you feel like you never truly knew, and I cried seeing Katie realize this.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
One, I was not obsessed with our MMC unfortunately. I definitely enjoyed our MMC more as an adult than as a teenager. Even then with all his growth, I don’t think he was remarkable enough to were I will think about him constantly.
Two (kind of a spoiler)… there is so much magical realism and I wish it was advertised as this. It was intentional not done in order for readers to be completely shocked and taken aback with the plot twist at the end, but I personally would have rated this higher if I knew to at least expect magical realism. Since I was not expecting it, it actually made me feel more confused and disconnected.
Other than these two problems, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I giggled. I kicked my feet. I sobbed, especially toward the end, as Katie came to terms with her relationship with her brother. It is absolutely devastating to grieve someone you feel like you never truly knew, and I cried seeing Katie realize this.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
May 12, 2026
4.5⭐️ THIS HURT BUT I LOVED IT!!!!
December 16, 2025
A genius, magical exploration of grief, addiction, and love. Not the words you’d use to describe such a scenario but truly those three capture the spirit of Lauren Okie’s sophomore novel. I adored this story, it will live in my heart for a very long time. Not only is it a fresh take on the tropes we love so well, it is a heart-achingly beautiful portrayal of love as it explores dark themes with a guarantee of a happily-ever-after. Katie and Tyler’s story is one that echoes the harsh realities of life and how love perseveres, how love and light find their way. This propulsive and tear inducing story that will have you hooked until well after you’ve finished the last page because it is so unflinching in its depiction of life, it doesn’t shy away from the dark and sad realities we face when tragedy strikes. I love how raw and vulnerable this story is, these characters are, it cuts right to the soul, the core of humanity and how we are all people just wanting to be loved, romantically, platonically, all of it, all the way. One of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Katie Caruso has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Tyler McNally, for as long as she can remember… right up until he broke her heart in the aftermath of her brother’s overdose. Eight years later, Katie is a successful ghostwriter on a tight deadline and in desperate need of a co-writer. Enter Tyler, back in her life whether she wants him there or not.
What starts as tension and resentment slowly softens as the two are forced to work together and, in a fun twist, begin experiencing in real life all the tropes they’re writing into their book.
I’ll admit, the first third felt a bit chaotic to me. The short chapters and quick scene drops made it feel like I was constantly being thrown into the middle of moments already in progress. But once I settled into the rhythm, I actually started to enjoy that style, and it added to the fast-paced, trope-heavy feel of the story.
What really elevated this book for me, though, was the final third. It shifted from a quirky, trope-filled will-they-won’t-they romance into something much more reflective and emotional. Themes of grief, loss, self-blame, and forgiveness came to the forefront in a way I wasn’t expecting, and it completely changed how I viewed the story.
The ending didn’t go where I thought it would, but it left me smiling in a way that felt deeper than your typical romcom ending. Not just happy, but… full. Like the story had something meaningful to say.
This isn’t just a romance. It’s a story about grief, healing, and learning to forgive both others and yourself, and that’s what really made it stand out for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Katie Caruso has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Tyler McNally, for as long as she can remember… right up until he broke her heart in the aftermath of her brother’s overdose. Eight years later, Katie is a successful ghostwriter on a tight deadline and in desperate need of a co-writer. Enter Tyler, back in her life whether she wants him there or not.
What starts as tension and resentment slowly softens as the two are forced to work together and, in a fun twist, begin experiencing in real life all the tropes they’re writing into their book.
I’ll admit, the first third felt a bit chaotic to me. The short chapters and quick scene drops made it feel like I was constantly being thrown into the middle of moments already in progress. But once I settled into the rhythm, I actually started to enjoy that style, and it added to the fast-paced, trope-heavy feel of the story.
What really elevated this book for me, though, was the final third. It shifted from a quirky, trope-filled will-they-won’t-they romance into something much more reflective and emotional. Themes of grief, loss, self-blame, and forgiveness came to the forefront in a way I wasn’t expecting, and it completely changed how I viewed the story.
The ending didn’t go where I thought it would, but it left me smiling in a way that felt deeper than your typical romcom ending. Not just happy, but… full. Like the story had something meaningful to say.
This isn’t just a romance. It’s a story about grief, healing, and learning to forgive both others and yourself, and that’s what really made it stand out for me.
March 9, 2026
Thank you to Avon & NetGalley for the ARC!
Lauren Okie's sophomore novel, Tropesick, is a beautifully emotional, angsty, & romantic story that explores love, grief, addiction & recovery, and healing. It is a love letter to the romance genre, a deep dive into the ugliness of life & the beauty of feeling it all. We follow Katie Caruso & Tyler McNally, estranged childhood neighbors/friends who are unexpectedly paired up to ghostwrite a romance book over the summer.
In true Lauren Okie fashion, Katie and Tyler are two complex, realistic, raw, & relatable characters. Katie's grief and familial struggles, the desire to feel loved, wanted & cared for by those she needs most. Tyler's story of addiction and recovery, his grief & guilt, and his struggles regarding his father. Both of their backstories made my heart hurt, but it made their growth & healing so much more beautiful to see. Lauren handles both of them & their stories with so much care, which I admire about her writing. And for all of the vulnerability & complexity in their characters, there is so much humor & wit between these two! I loved them both so much!!!
The romance in this is just as complex & raw as you'd expect for two people with a shared past like theirs. It's filled with angst, heavy emotions, & healing. Katie & Tyler's romance is a slow burn, written in a semi-dual timeline, & is heart wrenchingly beautiful. I loved seeing them reconnect, open themselves up to each other again, & find their happy ending. I loved their banter, their deep connection, their chemistry, & the way they understand each other. They broke my heart & put it back together, but i love them so much!!!
The ending absolutely threw me for a loop but it also made me love the story, Lauren Okie's mind, and the creativity so much more!!! I can't recommend this one enough!!! (Addiction is a big theme in this story, so please go forward with caution if that's something you may be triggered by or sensitive to!)
Lauren Okie's sophomore novel, Tropesick, is a beautifully emotional, angsty, & romantic story that explores love, grief, addiction & recovery, and healing. It is a love letter to the romance genre, a deep dive into the ugliness of life & the beauty of feeling it all. We follow Katie Caruso & Tyler McNally, estranged childhood neighbors/friends who are unexpectedly paired up to ghostwrite a romance book over the summer.
In true Lauren Okie fashion, Katie and Tyler are two complex, realistic, raw, & relatable characters. Katie's grief and familial struggles, the desire to feel loved, wanted & cared for by those she needs most. Tyler's story of addiction and recovery, his grief & guilt, and his struggles regarding his father. Both of their backstories made my heart hurt, but it made their growth & healing so much more beautiful to see. Lauren handles both of them & their stories with so much care, which I admire about her writing. And for all of the vulnerability & complexity in their characters, there is so much humor & wit between these two! I loved them both so much!!!
The romance in this is just as complex & raw as you'd expect for two people with a shared past like theirs. It's filled with angst, heavy emotions, & healing. Katie & Tyler's romance is a slow burn, written in a semi-dual timeline, & is heart wrenchingly beautiful. I loved seeing them reconnect, open themselves up to each other again, & find their happy ending. I loved their banter, their deep connection, their chemistry, & the way they understand each other. They broke my heart & put it back together, but i love them so much!!!
The ending absolutely threw me for a loop but it also made me love the story, Lauren Okie's mind, and the creativity so much more!!! I can't recommend this one enough!!! (Addiction is a big theme in this story, so please go forward with caution if that's something you may be triggered by or sensitive to!)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this might be one of the best books i have ever read oh my god
Want to Read
March 9, 2026okie i agree i'm sick of tropes too. death to miscommunication (COUGH AHEM COUGH COUGH ALI HAZELWOOD WHEEZE AHEM COUGH COUGH)
sorry i choked on my own hatred of the love triangle.
usually i'm very nonchalant and i never use all caps or really bad puns such as above. but the sunshine character might do it only to be met with no emotion from grumpy.
all better than the stepsiblings trope. go to the psych ward buddy you have shared parents 💀🤮
sorry i choked on my own hatred of the love triangle.
usually i'm very nonchalant and i never use all caps or really bad puns such as above. but the sunshine character might do it only to be met with no emotion from grumpy.
all better than the stepsiblings trope. go to the psych ward buddy you have shared parents 💀🤮
May 7, 2026
Oh boy, where to begin....
I LOVED the first 50% of this book. It read like Emily Henry. Contemporary romance with some pretty intense emotional and character study. I was telling everyone that it was definitely a must read when it comes out. Then the next 60-90% was kinda slow. Not enough to make me mad, but I definitely struggled a bit more. I was still enjoying it.
Then that last 10% happened....
What. The. Actual. Fuck. Was. That. Ending.
Ok, here's the full spoiler part.
In the last 5% of the book, this becomes a paranormal romance. Meredith, the recluse famous author has actually been dead the whole time and her ghost (HER GHOST) has been interacting with them for the entire book. But absolutely ZERO is explained about this.
Her cat? Also a ghost. Her butler? Apparently also a ghost. The car he drives them around in? Ghost car. (Yes, you heard that right, the CAR isn't even real) The house? Dilapidated ghost house. Meredith has these gorgeous couture dresses she lends our FMC. So those just...don't exist? What the fuck was the FMC wearing?
Meredith was set up to be a stalker character. Which, to be honest, I would have hated. But at least it would have made SENSE in this world. But suddenly SHES A GHOST!? Get the fuck out of here....
Our MMC's dad? The whole book people are wondering where he's gone. Zero explanation.
Also, Meredith is still a massive selling author who's been having ghost writers write her books for the past 8 years (because she's been secretly dead so I guess having a "ghost" writer makes sense). Where did all her residuals go? Has Selma, her editor (but also married to Meridth's ex-husband WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS BOOK), been embezzling her money for 8 years?
Again, imagine reading an Emily Henry book and in the last 5% you find out the main character has been dead the whole time. Imagine how jarring that would be. I genuinely don't understand how this has such a high GR rating and am pretty convinced people are reviewing this book when they've only read 70% of it
I LOVED the first 50% of this book. It read like Emily Henry. Contemporary romance with some pretty intense emotional and character study. I was telling everyone that it was definitely a must read when it comes out. Then the next 60-90% was kinda slow. Not enough to make me mad, but I definitely struggled a bit more. I was still enjoying it.
Then that last 10% happened....
What. The. Actual. Fuck. Was. That. Ending.
Ok, here's the full spoiler part.
In the last 5% of the book, this becomes a paranormal romance. Meredith, the recluse famous author has actually been dead the whole time and her ghost (HER GHOST) has been interacting with them for the entire book. But absolutely ZERO is explained about this.
Her cat? Also a ghost. Her butler? Apparently also a ghost. The car he drives them around in? Ghost car. (Yes, you heard that right, the CAR isn't even real) The house? Dilapidated ghost house. Meredith has these gorgeous couture dresses she lends our FMC. So those just...don't exist? What the fuck was the FMC wearing?
Meredith was set up to be a stalker character. Which, to be honest, I would have hated. But at least it would have made SENSE in this world. But suddenly SHES A GHOST!? Get the fuck out of here....
Our MMC's dad? The whole book people are wondering where he's gone. Zero explanation.
Also, Meredith is still a massive selling author who's been having ghost writers write her books for the past 8 years (because she's been secretly dead so I guess having a "ghost" writer makes sense). Where did all her residuals go? Has Selma, her editor (but also married to Meridth's ex-husband WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS BOOK), been embezzling her money for 8 years?
Again, imagine reading an Emily Henry book and in the last 5% you find out the main character has been dead the whole time. Imagine how jarring that would be. I genuinely don't understand how this has such a high GR rating and am pretty convinced people are reviewing this book when they've only read 70% of it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 891 reviews