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Clover Lake #3
Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
14 days and 16:41:16
25 copies available
U.S. only
Legacies and hearts collide when a woman embarks on a film project about an extraordinary family’s rich history in this bewitching romance by USA Today bestselling author Ashley Herring Blake.
Sasha Sinclair is used to being alone. Her parents, successful documentary filmmakers, died in a car accident three years ago, leaving her with a legacy she’s been unable to live up to. Instead, she spends her time with casual hookups and odd jobs as she travels around the country. But she can’t stop thinking about her parents’ dream project and is determined to make it a the story of Alice Bishop in Blair Mountain, North Carolina.
Margot Bishop is not a witch, despite the town’s century-long suspicion about her family. When her ancestor Alice Bishop showed up to Blair Mountain in 1901 and opened Thornrose Apothecary, the town was flummoxed by this strange enigma of a woman, calling her the Rose Witch. Now, the Bishops also run Ghostlight, an occult-themed amusement park that fully leans into the rumors.
Despite the draw of the Rose Witch and the haunted Thornrose Woods where Alice had lived, however, the Bishops’ businesses aren’t doing well. When Margot’s mother comes up with a solution—a documentary film about their family—Margot can’t get on board, not when her family’s legacy is at stake. Even worse, she’s deemed the point person for Sasha, the charming, peppy wannabe-filmmaker. But as they spend more time together, diving deeper into the true story of Alice Bishop, the ice slowly melts and their relationship turns into a heart-fluttering rollercoaster ride, one they aren’t sure they want to get off.
Sasha Sinclair is used to being alone. Her parents, successful documentary filmmakers, died in a car accident three years ago, leaving her with a legacy she’s been unable to live up to. Instead, she spends her time with casual hookups and odd jobs as she travels around the country. But she can’t stop thinking about her parents’ dream project and is determined to make it a the story of Alice Bishop in Blair Mountain, North Carolina.
Margot Bishop is not a witch, despite the town’s century-long suspicion about her family. When her ancestor Alice Bishop showed up to Blair Mountain in 1901 and opened Thornrose Apothecary, the town was flummoxed by this strange enigma of a woman, calling her the Rose Witch. Now, the Bishops also run Ghostlight, an occult-themed amusement park that fully leans into the rumors.
Despite the draw of the Rose Witch and the haunted Thornrose Woods where Alice had lived, however, the Bishops’ businesses aren’t doing well. When Margot’s mother comes up with a solution—a documentary film about their family—Margot can’t get on board, not when her family’s legacy is at stake. Even worse, she’s deemed the point person for Sasha, the charming, peppy wannabe-filmmaker. But as they spend more time together, diving deeper into the true story of Alice Bishop, the ice slowly melts and their relationship turns into a heart-fluttering rollercoaster ride, one they aren’t sure they want to get off.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Ashley Herring Blake
17 books8,632 followersAshley Herring Blake is a reader, writer, and mom to two boisterous boys. She holds a Master’s degree in teaching and loves coffee, arranging her books by color, and cold weather. She is the author of the young adult novels Suffer Love, How to Make a Wish, and Girl Made of Stars (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), the middle grade novels Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World, The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, and Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea (Little, Brown), and the adult romance novels Delilah Green Doesn't Care and Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail (Berkley). Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World was a Stonewall Honor Book, as well as a Kirkus, School Library Journal, NYPL, and NPR Best Book of 2018. Her YA novel Girl Made of Stars was a Lambda Literary Award finalist. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @ashleyhblake and on the web at www.ashleyherringblake.com. She lives in Georgia.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 2, 2026
I love you Sasha and I loved this book what beautiful fun witchy gay vibes
June 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the Advanced Reader Copy!
I’ve been feeling a little wary of Herring Blake’s “Clover Lake” series, as I had felt that it wasn’t giving me what I really loved about the previous trilogy. However, this one really won me back. I loved the context of this meet-cute. I loved both MCs finding their voice and working through their pasts to find each other more authentically. I found myself swept up in the romance of it all. The rose and poppy in the ending scene? Absolutely gave me those romcom butterflies. I did enjoy the unlikely historical B-plot of Alice and Rose, though I knocked a star off for historical inaccuracies and the letters/journal entries that did not read at ALL like they were written in circa 1901. I mean, that was laughable. Overall, though, this is my favorite book in this series. It’s a very good cozy autumn read, great to read around Halloween. Would recommend picking up a copy this fall!
I’ve been feeling a little wary of Herring Blake’s “Clover Lake” series, as I had felt that it wasn’t giving me what I really loved about the previous trilogy. However, this one really won me back. I loved the context of this meet-cute. I loved both MCs finding their voice and working through their pasts to find each other more authentically. I found myself swept up in the romance of it all. The rose and poppy in the ending scene? Absolutely gave me those romcom butterflies. I did enjoy the unlikely historical B-plot of Alice and Rose, though I knocked a star off for historical inaccuracies and the letters/journal entries that did not read at ALL like they were written in circa 1901. I mean, that was laughable. Overall, though, this is my favorite book in this series. It’s a very good cozy autumn read, great to read around Halloween. Would recommend picking up a copy this fall!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ashley Herring Blake has always excelled at writing characters who are searching for where they belong, and Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair may be one of her strongest explorations of that theme yet. At its heart, this is a story about legacy. Margot Bishop has spent her entire life haunted by her family’s legacy in Clare Mountain, a town that has spent generations mythologizing the Bishop women. Meanwhile, Sasha Sinclair has spent the last three years trying to outrun the grief left behind by the death of her parents, never staying in one place for long and avoiding anything that might require her to put down roots. When she decides to take on the documentary project her parents always dreamed of making about the Bishops, she believes she is honoring their legacy. Instead, she finds herself becoming part of one. What unfolds is also a story about what happens when people stop running and allow themselves to want things. For Margot, that means loosening her grip on a carefully structured life, giving herself permission to explore her sexuality in a way that goes beyond casual hookups, as well as opening up and telling her story. For Sasha, it means opening herself up to being seen and loved after a lifetime shaped by movement and impermanence. The door to her heart may have cracked open when she became friends with April Evans, but it is the Bishops who ultimately show her that the rewards of love and family outweigh the risks that come with caring deeply for someone.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the way Blake weaves generations of queer women into the Bishop family history. Alice Bishop’s story—and her relationship with Rose Halyard—forms the emotional backbone of the documentary, but the novel never treats queer history as something confined to the distant past. The family tree is filled with women who loved women, resisted expectations, and carved out lives for themselves despite the limitations of their times. I especially loved learning about Birdie’s history: how her mother took her to the 1963 March on Washington, protested Jim Crow, and advocated for desegregation, experiences that shaped Birdie into the outspoken advocate she becomes later in life; which includes her speaking out against book bans in front of the school board she ws once a part of.
The novel repeatedly returns to the idea of “queer women trying to make it in a world that was not made for them,” and the power of that theme is evident when Margot and Sasha dance together at the town’s Halloween celebration. Margot reflects on how Alice and Rose never had the opportunity to share a moment like this publicly, while Sasha thinks about all the queer people whose resistance and sacrifices made that dance possible. It is a beautiful scene, but it is also quintessential Ashley Herring Blake: deeply romantic while remaining conscious of the larger history surrounding her characters. Blake has an incredible talent for crafting moments that land with emotional force, and there were several passages that made me stop reading just to sit with them. The one that hit me hardest was Adeline’s heartfelt acknowledgment of what Margot had been carrying all these years. Her reminder that Margot deserves not only strength but softness—deserves to hurt, cry, and fall apart when she needs to—felt like something every queer child wishes they could hear from a parent. Reading that scene during my lunch break was a mistake because I had only a few minutes to pull myself together before returning to work.
I also had a great time with the romance itself. Blake clearly delights in allowing Margot to explore parts of herself she has never fully embraced, and the intimacy between Margot and Sasha reflects that sense of discovery. Their chemistry feels playful, warm, and rooted in trust, and I appreciated that Blake gave them room to experiment and have fun together. The only portion of the novel that pulled me out of the story was the inevitable breakup. Miscommunication is one of my least favorite romance tropes, and Sasha knowingly says the one thing she understands will hurt Margot the most. Even so, the aftermath allows both characters space to grow, and that growth ultimately makes their reconciliation more satisfying. If I have one lingering complaint, it is that I could have done without the final chapter set a year later. What I was most curious about was the long-term impact of the documentary on the Bishops, Thornrose Apothecary, and Ghostlight. I wanted to know how Clare Mountain responded to the truths that were uncovered and whether the film changed the family’s fortunes. Still, that is a relatively small quibble in a novel that gave me so much to think about and feel. By the end, I found myself reflecting on grief, family history, queer resilience, and the courage it takes to stop running long enough to build a life with other people.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the way Blake weaves generations of queer women into the Bishop family history. Alice Bishop’s story—and her relationship with Rose Halyard—forms the emotional backbone of the documentary, but the novel never treats queer history as something confined to the distant past. The family tree is filled with women who loved women, resisted expectations, and carved out lives for themselves despite the limitations of their times. I especially loved learning about Birdie’s history: how her mother took her to the 1963 March on Washington, protested Jim Crow, and advocated for desegregation, experiences that shaped Birdie into the outspoken advocate she becomes later in life; which includes her speaking out against book bans in front of the school board she ws once a part of.
The novel repeatedly returns to the idea of “queer women trying to make it in a world that was not made for them,” and the power of that theme is evident when Margot and Sasha dance together at the town’s Halloween celebration. Margot reflects on how Alice and Rose never had the opportunity to share a moment like this publicly, while Sasha thinks about all the queer people whose resistance and sacrifices made that dance possible. It is a beautiful scene, but it is also quintessential Ashley Herring Blake: deeply romantic while remaining conscious of the larger history surrounding her characters. Blake has an incredible talent for crafting moments that land with emotional force, and there were several passages that made me stop reading just to sit with them. The one that hit me hardest was Adeline’s heartfelt acknowledgment of what Margot had been carrying all these years. Her reminder that Margot deserves not only strength but softness—deserves to hurt, cry, and fall apart when she needs to—felt like something every queer child wishes they could hear from a parent. Reading that scene during my lunch break was a mistake because I had only a few minutes to pull myself together before returning to work.
I also had a great time with the romance itself. Blake clearly delights in allowing Margot to explore parts of herself she has never fully embraced, and the intimacy between Margot and Sasha reflects that sense of discovery. Their chemistry feels playful, warm, and rooted in trust, and I appreciated that Blake gave them room to experiment and have fun together. The only portion of the novel that pulled me out of the story was the inevitable breakup. Miscommunication is one of my least favorite romance tropes, and Sasha knowingly says the one thing she understands will hurt Margot the most. Even so, the aftermath allows both characters space to grow, and that growth ultimately makes their reconciliation more satisfying. If I have one lingering complaint, it is that I could have done without the final chapter set a year later. What I was most curious about was the long-term impact of the documentary on the Bishops, Thornrose Apothecary, and Ghostlight. I wanted to know how Clare Mountain responded to the truths that were uncovered and whether the film changed the family’s fortunes. Still, that is a relatively small quibble in a novel that gave me so much to think about and feel. By the end, I found myself reflecting on grief, family history, queer resilience, and the courage it takes to stop running long enough to build a life with other people.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
[arc review]
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair releases September 29, 2026
2.75
“She felt as though they’d swiped their hands through a watercolor painting that hadn’t quite dried, mixing every color and removing every line, everything that made the picture what it was.”
Sasha’s late parents’ dream project as documentary filmmakers has brought her to one of the most haunted towns in America: Clare Mountain. This small town unabashedly feeds off the lore of the Rose Witch — a descendant of the Salem Witch Trials.
While it’s rumoured that Alice Bishop’s ghost still haunts the area, Sasha hopes to be the first to uncover the Bishop family legacy by compiling their interviews into a documentary. But will Sasha be able to charm the eldest daughter who wants nothing to do with the film?
Cozy, seasonal, and sapphic. The sexual chemistry between Sasha and Margot was hotter than the Sahara Desert, but I fear the plot relied too heavily on the use of forced proximity. Going from one tent, to a road trip, followed by only one bed in such a short time frame was extreme and kind of took away from the emotional resistance and enemies-to-lovers vibe that I was hoping to get more of.
Overall, a fun romp, though I’m left feeling like the kink overshadowed the finer development of the Bishop lore and the day-to-day that comes with filming a documentary in a small town.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair releases September 29, 2026
2.75
“She felt as though they’d swiped their hands through a watercolor painting that hadn’t quite dried, mixing every color and removing every line, everything that made the picture what it was.”
Sasha’s late parents’ dream project as documentary filmmakers has brought her to one of the most haunted towns in America: Clare Mountain. This small town unabashedly feeds off the lore of the Rose Witch — a descendant of the Salem Witch Trials.
While it’s rumoured that Alice Bishop’s ghost still haunts the area, Sasha hopes to be the first to uncover the Bishop family legacy by compiling their interviews into a documentary. But will Sasha be able to charm the eldest daughter who wants nothing to do with the film?
Cozy, seasonal, and sapphic. The sexual chemistry between Sasha and Margot was hotter than the Sahara Desert, but I fear the plot relied too heavily on the use of forced proximity. Going from one tent, to a road trip, followed by only one bed in such a short time frame was extreme and kind of took away from the emotional resistance and enemies-to-lovers vibe that I was hoping to get more of.
Overall, a fun romp, though I’m left feeling like the kink overshadowed the finer development of the Bishop lore and the day-to-day that comes with filming a documentary in a small town.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ashley Herring Blake is basically an auto-read author for me, and Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair reminded me why. This book gave me everything I love about her writing: sapphic romance, complicated family dynamics, small-town charm, and characters trying to figure out where they belong.
Sasha and Margot had great chemistry, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow while digging into the mystery surrounding the Bishop family and the legend of the Rose Witch. The setting was one of my favorite parts of the book. Clare Mountain felt cozy, magical, and like a place I would happily spend more time in.
The story also explores grief, family expectations, and legacy in a way that felt emotional without becoming too heavy. Ashley Herring Blake always does a great job creating characters who feel real, messy, and easy to root for.
If you enjoy cozy sapphic romance, you will enjoy this book!
Ashley Herring Blake is basically an auto-read author for me, and Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair reminded me why. This book gave me everything I love about her writing: sapphic romance, complicated family dynamics, small-town charm, and characters trying to figure out where they belong.
Sasha and Margot had great chemistry, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow while digging into the mystery surrounding the Bishop family and the legend of the Rose Witch. The setting was one of my favorite parts of the book. Clare Mountain felt cozy, magical, and like a place I would happily spend more time in.
The story also explores grief, family expectations, and legacy in a way that felt emotional without becoming too heavy. Ashley Herring Blake always does a great job creating characters who feel real, messy, and easy to root for.
If you enjoy cozy sapphic romance, you will enjoy this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book had everything I love about an Ashley Herring Blake romance: quippy dialogue, nuanced characters, a rich community of queer characters, and plenty of spice. This time, though, we ALSO got a teeny tiny dash of a speculative element (a family of possible witches, unexplained ghosty voices, and flowers that bloom out of nowhere) which, of course, means I LOVED IT!
Sasha's experiences of grief were so relatable (even if very different from my own), and I loved how Ashley wove the main love story alongside the story of Margot's ancestors. It may be my favorite of the series?? It's so so good.
Sasha's experiences of grief were so relatable (even if very different from my own), and I loved how Ashley wove the main love story alongside the story of Margot's ancestors. It may be my favorite of the series?? It's so so good.
May 27, 2026
Reading advance copies of books means you’re always a little out of step with the season. So this crisp fall breeze of a novel feels slightly strange in May, but only because it’s making me crave cozy sweaters, bright leaves, and a mug of cider.
This is a bit of a departure for Blake, as there’s some possibly witchy magic mixed in with her usual blend of small town found family and queer friendship. Like everyone else reading the Clover Lake series, I’ve been waiting for cocky but sweet bartender Sasha to get her own book, and this did not disappoint.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
This is a bit of a departure for Blake, as there’s some possibly witchy magic mixed in with her usual blend of small town found family and queer friendship. Like everyone else reading the Clover Lake series, I’ve been waiting for cocky but sweet bartender Sasha to get her own book, and this did not disappoint.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I've really loved all of Blake's other books, but this one just didn't work for me. I honestly skimmed a lot of this. I can't pinpoint exactly why, but this one just kind of bored me.
Sasha has been a wanderer since her parents died. They were documentarians and there was one story they sought and were never able to tell: the Bishop witches. Now Sasha has been able to convince them to let her tell their story. But she'll have to convince Margot Bishop, the biggest holdout.
Sasha has been a wanderer since her parents died. They were documentarians and there was one story they sought and were never able to tell: the Bishop witches. Now Sasha has been able to convince them to let her tell their story. But she'll have to convince Margot Bishop, the biggest holdout.
June 20, 2026
I have been waiting for this book ever since Sasha showed up in Clover Lake. It did not disappoint! I adored Sasha’s story! Margot was also such a compelling character and the whole Bishop family made this book so strong. The way Rose and Alice’s story was woven into the narrative was so beautiful. I loved this book. I was provided an advanced copy of this book which has not affected my review.
June 7, 2026
I loved the meet cute that led so some very interesting work related conflicts of interests. Sasha and Margot had such immediate chemistry that was very hard to ignore and suppress. It was a very cute witchy, romcom with all the feels and I enjoyed this read.
May 16, 2026
3.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 rating!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
RTC.
July 15, 2026
a very cute, very gay witchy story perfect for cozy fall reading. 3.5 rounded up
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the arc. This was so fun and cute. I love the historical aspect of it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
more romances with butches and masc lesbians, please! there aren't enough! thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc, review to come <3
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got the arc of this. happy pride month to me :') hashtag blessed.
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got the arc of this. happy pride month to me :') hashtag blessed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Charming! If you like Ashley Herring Blake's other works, I have to imagine you'll like this one, too. Fun, witchy vibes, sexy and romantic and unapologetically queer. I'm a sucker for "queer people have always existed" as a theme in fiction. I maybe would have liked to spend more time at the amusement park, but that's just a personal interest.
I was a little worried about Margot's tights-girl, they make durable tights now, you don't have to live like this!!!
Thanks to NetGalley for early access!
I was a little worried about Margot's tights-girl, they make durable tights now, you don't have to live like this!!!
Thanks to NetGalley for early access!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews