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Amber Blue: A Sapphic Forced Proximity Romance
It all starts in a forgotten villa on the Lazio coast of Italy. A crumbling estate in need of repair. Two women with nothing in common except the same roof—and a summer that will give them something they will never want to let go of.
Syria is twenty-seven and has spent her life leaving places behind. She takes the gardener job because she needs the money, not because she plans to stay. Alessandra is twenty-five, determined to restore her family’s villa, survive the wedding preparations, and buy herself time by pretending to be the person everyone expects her to be. Everything is going according to plan—until it isn’t.
Soon, they must contend with stifling heat and long evenings with nowhere to go, arguments that start to feel like something else entirely, and an attraction that begins as a distraction but quickly spirals out of their control.
Amber Blue is a sapphic forced-proximity, slow-burn romance featuring enemies-to-lovers tension and class divide, set against a backdrop of family secrets.
Trigger warnings: spicy scenes, past trauma.
Syria is twenty-seven and has spent her life leaving places behind. She takes the gardener job because she needs the money, not because she plans to stay. Alessandra is twenty-five, determined to restore her family’s villa, survive the wedding preparations, and buy herself time by pretending to be the person everyone expects her to be. Everything is going according to plan—until it isn’t.
Soon, they must contend with stifling heat and long evenings with nowhere to go, arguments that start to feel like something else entirely, and an attraction that begins as a distraction but quickly spirals out of their control.
Amber Blue is a sapphic forced-proximity, slow-burn romance featuring enemies-to-lovers tension and class divide, set against a backdrop of family secrets.
Trigger warnings: spicy scenes, past trauma.
- GenresLesbian
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 14, 2026
This book was translated to English and I am not sure if some things got lost in translation. I am going to assume they were, which will make for a fairer review of the story.
While this is a love story, it also deals with homophobia, and some intense family drama and dynamics. There is a subplot about one of our main characters I absolutely don’t care for. I find it to be far-fetched and unnecessary.
The lovestory in this book is sweet, but it starts strangely.
I know I shouldn’t be spoiling so I will try to keep it vague. There is a scene early on on the book where one of the mains gets really up in the other’s face and threatens bodily harm in more ways than one. While the scene ends on a positive note I can’t get forget or forgive it.
This is such a no-go for me, especially written in this way, it almost made me put this book down and not want to continue reading it.
In the end it turns out to be an ok book, the mains both different from what you’d expect At the start. It just doesn’t hit the right romance spot for me though.
While this is a love story, it also deals with homophobia, and some intense family drama and dynamics. There is a subplot about one of our main characters I absolutely don’t care for. I find it to be far-fetched and unnecessary.
The lovestory in this book is sweet, but it starts strangely.
I know I shouldn’t be spoiling so I will try to keep it vague. There is a scene early on on the book where one of the mains gets really up in the other’s face and threatens bodily harm in more ways than one. While the scene ends on a positive note I can’t get forget or forgive it.
This is such a no-go for me, especially written in this way, it almost made me put this book down and not want to continue reading it.
In the end it turns out to be an ok book, the mains both different from what you’d expect At the start. It just doesn’t hit the right romance spot for me though.
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July 8, 2026I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Amber Blue is a remarkably layered novel that successfully blends romance, mystery, and family drama into a cohesive and emotionally rich narrative. One of its strongest qualities is the authenticity of its setting; the coastal territory between Lazio and Tuscany is not merely a backdrop but a living, breathing character, with the villa's neglected garden and dusty attic creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and timeless. The author demonstrates considerable skill in balancing multiple storylines—the present-day romance, the family conspiracy, and the historical subplot from the 1979 diary—without losing the reader along the way.
The characters are undoubtedly one of the novel's greatest strengths. Syria/Airys stands as a compelling protagonist: stoic, physically capable, emotionally guarded, yet deeply loving once her walls come down. Her backstory—forced to fake her own death and live under a false identity to protect her family—gives her a tragic dimension that elevates the story far beyond a simple love story. Alessandra is equally well-constructed, beginning as a provocative socialite but gradually revealing herself as a passionate, courageous woman trapped by her family's greed. The supporting cast, including Egidio's warmth, Ludovica's humor, Antony's unexpected depth, and Domizia's evolution from cold to warm, all contribute meaningfully to the narrative.
The plot is structured with intelligence and patience, allowing the relationship between Syria and Alessandra to develop organically through conflict, misunderstanding, and genuine emotional connection. The discovery of Great-Aunt Luisa's diary serves as a masterful plot device that simultaneously resolves the family conspiracy, frees Alessandra from her forced engagement, and restores Antony's true identity. The parallel storyline of Cassandra and Paolo, unfolding through diary entries from 1979, adds a poignant historical layer that mirrors the main themes of love obstructed by power and greed. The novel's thriller elements are surprisingly effective, as the mystery surrounding Syria's true identity is revealed gradually, and the Divulcano family conspiracy—involving a faked illness, a false criminal accusation, a staged car accident, and the kidnapping of a baby—is genuinely shocking when fully revealed. Giorgio Divulcano is a well-crafted villain, charming on the surface yet ruthless underneath, and the tension between what characters know and what they hide is maintained skillfully throughout.
The romance between Syria and Alessandra is the emotional heart of the novel and is handled with both heat and tenderness. The slow-burn dynamic is expertly executed through initial antagonism, provocations, a masked ball dance, an interrupted first kiss, and growing intimacy, all building toward a relationship that feels genuinely earned. What makes this romance particularly moving is the asymmetry of vulnerability: Alessandra is bold and expressive, while Syria is guarded and terrified of attachment. Watching Syria slowly allow herself to love—and to be loved—becomes the novel's most quietly powerful arc, and the ending, with both women exchanging rings in the garden of their shared home, is deeply satisfying without being saccharine.
However, despite these considerable strengths, there are aspects that leave room for improvement. Syria's forced disappearance, while one of the most original and emotionally powerful elements of the novel, is left almost entirely open in its resolution. We never learn who the two men were, what organization they worked for, whether the threat still exists, or whether Syria will ever be able to safely reconnect with her family. For a plot thread given such weight and detail, this lack of closure feels like a significant gap that a brief epilogue could have filled, making Syria's happy ending feel more complete and less fragile. Additionally, Giorgio Divulcano's downfall happens relatively quickly and off-page—he simply signs the documents, moves to northern Italy, and essentially disappears. Given the gravity of his crimes, including complicity in a double murder and the kidnapping of an infant, the reader might reasonably expect some form of legal consequence or at least a more dramatic reckoning, and the diary alone is not sufficient evidence for a criminal conviction. A more developed resolution for this character would have given the story a stronger sense of moral closure. These shortcomings, however, do not ultimately diminish the novel's overall achievement as a rich, emotionally resonant work that successfully transcends genre conventions to deliver a powerful story about love, identity, and the courage to reclaim one's life.
Amber Blue is a remarkably layered novel that successfully blends romance, mystery, and family drama into a cohesive and emotionally rich narrative. One of its strongest qualities is the authenticity of its setting; the coastal territory between Lazio and Tuscany is not merely a backdrop but a living, breathing character, with the villa's neglected garden and dusty attic creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and timeless. The author demonstrates considerable skill in balancing multiple storylines—the present-day romance, the family conspiracy, and the historical subplot from the 1979 diary—without losing the reader along the way.
The characters are undoubtedly one of the novel's greatest strengths. Syria/Airys stands as a compelling protagonist: stoic, physically capable, emotionally guarded, yet deeply loving once her walls come down. Her backstory—forced to fake her own death and live under a false identity to protect her family—gives her a tragic dimension that elevates the story far beyond a simple love story. Alessandra is equally well-constructed, beginning as a provocative socialite but gradually revealing herself as a passionate, courageous woman trapped by her family's greed. The supporting cast, including Egidio's warmth, Ludovica's humor, Antony's unexpected depth, and Domizia's evolution from cold to warm, all contribute meaningfully to the narrative.
The plot is structured with intelligence and patience, allowing the relationship between Syria and Alessandra to develop organically through conflict, misunderstanding, and genuine emotional connection. The discovery of Great-Aunt Luisa's diary serves as a masterful plot device that simultaneously resolves the family conspiracy, frees Alessandra from her forced engagement, and restores Antony's true identity. The parallel storyline of Cassandra and Paolo, unfolding through diary entries from 1979, adds a poignant historical layer that mirrors the main themes of love obstructed by power and greed. The novel's thriller elements are surprisingly effective, as the mystery surrounding Syria's true identity is revealed gradually, and the Divulcano family conspiracy—involving a faked illness, a false criminal accusation, a staged car accident, and the kidnapping of a baby—is genuinely shocking when fully revealed. Giorgio Divulcano is a well-crafted villain, charming on the surface yet ruthless underneath, and the tension between what characters know and what they hide is maintained skillfully throughout.
The romance between Syria and Alessandra is the emotional heart of the novel and is handled with both heat and tenderness. The slow-burn dynamic is expertly executed through initial antagonism, provocations, a masked ball dance, an interrupted first kiss, and growing intimacy, all building toward a relationship that feels genuinely earned. What makes this romance particularly moving is the asymmetry of vulnerability: Alessandra is bold and expressive, while Syria is guarded and terrified of attachment. Watching Syria slowly allow herself to love—and to be loved—becomes the novel's most quietly powerful arc, and the ending, with both women exchanging rings in the garden of their shared home, is deeply satisfying without being saccharine.
However, despite these considerable strengths, there are aspects that leave room for improvement. Syria's forced disappearance, while one of the most original and emotionally powerful elements of the novel, is left almost entirely open in its resolution. We never learn who the two men were, what organization they worked for, whether the threat still exists, or whether Syria will ever be able to safely reconnect with her family. For a plot thread given such weight and detail, this lack of closure feels like a significant gap that a brief epilogue could have filled, making Syria's happy ending feel more complete and less fragile. Additionally, Giorgio Divulcano's downfall happens relatively quickly and off-page—he simply signs the documents, moves to northern Italy, and essentially disappears. Given the gravity of his crimes, including complicity in a double murder and the kidnapping of an infant, the reader might reasonably expect some form of legal consequence or at least a more dramatic reckoning, and the diary alone is not sufficient evidence for a criminal conviction. A more developed resolution for this character would have given the story a stronger sense of moral closure. These shortcomings, however, do not ultimately diminish the novel's overall achievement as a rich, emotionally resonant work that successfully transcends genre conventions to deliver a powerful story about love, identity, and the courage to reclaim one's life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Heartfelt, Emotional, and Impossible to Put Down
Amber Blue by G. Di Leonis is a beautifully written sapphic romance that perfectly captures the intensity of forced proximity and the slow-burning connection that grows from it. From the very beginning, I was invested in the characters and eager to see how their relationship would evolve.
What stood out most was the emotional depth. The chemistry between the protagonists felt authentic, and their journey was filled with tension, vulnerability, and meaningful character growth. Di Leonis does a wonderful job balancing romance with personal struggles, making the story feel grounded and relatable.
The writing is engaging and immersive, pulling me into every interaction and emotional moment. I especially loved how the forced-proximity trope was handled—not as a gimmick, but as a catalyst for genuine connection and self-discovery.
If you're a fan of sapphic romance, compelling characters, and a love story that develops with both heart and authenticity, Amber Blue is definitely worth picking up. A touching and memorable read that stayed with me long after I finished the final page.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Amber Blue by G. Di Leonis is a beautifully written sapphic romance that perfectly captures the intensity of forced proximity and the slow-burning connection that grows from it. From the very beginning, I was invested in the characters and eager to see how their relationship would evolve.
What stood out most was the emotional depth. The chemistry between the protagonists felt authentic, and their journey was filled with tension, vulnerability, and meaningful character growth. Di Leonis does a wonderful job balancing romance with personal struggles, making the story feel grounded and relatable.
The writing is engaging and immersive, pulling me into every interaction and emotional moment. I especially loved how the forced-proximity trope was handled—not as a gimmick, but as a catalyst for genuine connection and self-discovery.
If you're a fan of sapphic romance, compelling characters, and a love story that develops with both heart and authenticity, Amber Blue is definitely worth picking up. A touching and memorable read that stayed with me long after I finished the final page.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 15, 2026
Sapphic slow-burn romance with forced proximity.
It took a while for me to get into the story itself, as well as the writing style, but the story progressed quite well. Although I had some problems with focusing on the first part of the book due to a bit annoying one of the MC’s and prolonged beginning, it definitely gets more interesting toward the end. Once things started to unfold and more secrets came to light I couldn’t put it down.
At some point, the story became more of a mystery than a romance, with the romance taking a bit of a backseat, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. The characters’ development was beautiful to look at, and made the story much more enjoyable.
The pacing is good, the slow burn feels natural. The book has a lot of funny as well as tense moments. The POV sometimes kept going back and worth, which made me having to go back quite a few times, but it wasn’t a big issue. It probably had more with the lack of focus I mentioned earlier, than the writing itself really.
Overall, the book is really enjoyable once you get into it, and definitely worth giving it a try.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It took a while for me to get into the story itself, as well as the writing style, but the story progressed quite well. Although I had some problems with focusing on the first part of the book due to a bit annoying one of the MC’s and prolonged beginning, it definitely gets more interesting toward the end. Once things started to unfold and more secrets came to light I couldn’t put it down.
At some point, the story became more of a mystery than a romance, with the romance taking a bit of a backseat, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. The characters’ development was beautiful to look at, and made the story much more enjoyable.
The pacing is good, the slow burn feels natural. The book has a lot of funny as well as tense moments. The POV sometimes kept going back and worth, which made me having to go back quite a few times, but it wasn’t a big issue. It probably had more with the lack of focus I mentioned earlier, than the writing itself really.
Overall, the book is really enjoyable once you get into it, and definitely worth giving it a try.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Set in a crumbling villa on the Lazio coast of Italy, this novel follows Syria, twenty-seven and used to leaving places behind, who takes a gardening job there purely for the money. Alessandra, twenty-five, is trying to restore her family's estate while surviving her own wedding preparations and the pressure of being who everyone expects her to be. Thrown together under one roof for a stifling summer, the two women find that their arguments start to feel like something else entirely, and an attraction meant to be a distraction quickly spirals beyond their control.
The opening chapters play out fairly predictably, following a shape readers of the genre will recognize. What sets this book apart is how it develops from there: a diary woven into the narrative gives the story real depth, without giving anything away here, it adds new layers to the relationships in the broadest sense and gives the characters genuine strength. Even though the destination isn't a surprise, the way the author gets there is genuinely impressive, and that's what made this book a welcome surprise for me.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.
The opening chapters play out fairly predictably, following a shape readers of the genre will recognize. What sets this book apart is how it develops from there: a diary woven into the narrative gives the story real depth, without giving anything away here, it adds new layers to the relationships in the broadest sense and gives the characters genuine strength. Even though the destination isn't a surprise, the way the author gets there is genuinely impressive, and that's what made this book a welcome surprise for me.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy
I was given this book complimentary from Book Sirens in e-book form in return for my honest review. Everything stated in this review is of my own opinion and I was not compensated monetarily for providing this review.
I have now read a fantasy, a closed door mystery and now a love story by this author which surprised me as I will not normally read translated books. The author is good and the books flow nicely. In this novel we are given a taste of rural Italy and you can almost feel that you are riding along those narrow Italian country roads.
The characters are likeable and as the conclusion nears it becomes harder to put down the book as you want a HEA for the main characters.
The story is fairly predictable but it is a romance/love story and this is what readers of romantic fiction want. The main characters are well written and you want it to work right from the start. The pacing is nice and the conclusion leaves you feeling good
Four stars and a worthy addition to the library of fans of lesbian fiction. A feel good read for the summer
I have now read a fantasy, a closed door mystery and now a love story by this author which surprised me as I will not normally read translated books. The author is good and the books flow nicely. In this novel we are given a taste of rural Italy and you can almost feel that you are riding along those narrow Italian country roads.
The characters are likeable and as the conclusion nears it becomes harder to put down the book as you want a HEA for the main characters.
The story is fairly predictable but it is a romance/love story and this is what readers of romantic fiction want. The main characters are well written and you want it to work right from the start. The pacing is nice and the conclusion leaves you feeling good
Four stars and a worthy addition to the library of fans of lesbian fiction. A feel good read for the summer
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had to read a few chapters to get used to the author's language, because the characters' reactions have an expressiveness more typical of local people in Italy, which I don't mention as a flaw, but that some readers may find strange. The story develops slowly and the characters grow up as events unfold. Alessandra gives the appearance of a spoiled rich daughter who has never encountered serious difficulties in life or rejection that would make her doubt herself. Syria is her opposite, firmly on the ground, a nomad by force, her bike is her most faithful companion, carrying her life in a backpack on her back and earning a living with whatever work she can find. Each woman of the two has her own dramas hidden behind a mask. Their relationship unfolds realistically and life challenges them to come closer, which changes each of them. The book is an easy read, with a variety of characters, funny moments, and tense situations, which nevertheless do not prevent you from feeling the Italian philosophy of life La Dolce Vita.
July 16, 2026
Interesting novel, translated by Barbara De Angelis, with depth, romance, mystery and connection. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Syria is hired basically as a Jill of all trades to help get the villa livable again. Alessandra is renovating her family villa in hopes of living there free of her familial contract. Syria and Alessandra’s relationship develops slowly through forced proximity, chemistry and emotional connection.
Syria finds a diary in the attic and reading it adds an additional layer to the story. The diary brings insight not only to the past but also reveals Syria’s true identity and Alessandra’s family villainy of power and greed.
Discover how it all comes together! Recommend!
Syria is hired basically as a Jill of all trades to help get the villa livable again. Alessandra is renovating her family villa in hopes of living there free of her familial contract. Syria and Alessandra’s relationship develops slowly through forced proximity, chemistry and emotional connection.
Syria finds a diary in the attic and reading it adds an additional layer to the story. The diary brings insight not only to the past but also reveals Syria’s true identity and Alessandra’s family villainy of power and greed.
Discover how it all comes together! Recommend!
Read
July 4, 2026A slow story to start with, it took me a few chapters.
It took the characters a while to unfold, set in Italy. Each of the characters have their own dramas which are hidden.
Once l got into the book it was hard to put down
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
It took the characters a while to unfold, set in Italy. Each of the characters have their own dramas which are hidden.
Once l got into the book it was hard to put down
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed this slow burn romance that progressed in a way that I could not have anticipated. The story is well written and enjoyable!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews