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Good Composition
Erin’s dreams didn’t pan out the way she’d had in mind. An unsatisfying job, a relationship gone south, she’s heading nowhere fast—until she sends one little text to an old best friend, estranged with time.
But bringing Aubrey back into her life changes everything for Erin, as the last things holding her relationship together fall apart. With nothing left to lose, what’s stopping her from leaving home, crossing the country and staying with Aubrey instead?
In the middle of struggles with her self-image, with health and with work trying to start a new life starting from scratch, she finds herself falling into something unfamiliar—she never thought she might be a lesbian, but before long, her best friend starts to feel like maybe more than a friend.
Good Composition is a 50k-word low-angst friends-to-lovers romance. Content warning for an emotionally abusive relationship, hospitalization, an eating disorder, open-door sex scenes and Britney—just Britney. Pick it up for a lighthearted, fluffy and easy read that feels like a shippy fanfiction or a teenage romantic daydream!
But bringing Aubrey back into her life changes everything for Erin, as the last things holding her relationship together fall apart. With nothing left to lose, what’s stopping her from leaving home, crossing the country and staying with Aubrey instead?
In the middle of struggles with her self-image, with health and with work trying to start a new life starting from scratch, she finds herself falling into something unfamiliar—she never thought she might be a lesbian, but before long, her best friend starts to feel like maybe more than a friend.
Good Composition is a 50k-word low-angst friends-to-lovers romance. Content warning for an emotionally abusive relationship, hospitalization, an eating disorder, open-door sex scenes and Britney—just Britney. Pick it up for a lighthearted, fluffy and easy read that feels like a shippy fanfiction or a teenage romantic daydream!
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2020
47 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Lily Seabrooke
37 books341 followersLily Seabrooke is a lesbian, trans woman, and author of sapphic romance that stars food, because odds are, at any given time, she's hungry.
Her interests include eating food, thinking about food, writing novels about food, and drinking coffee.
Her interests include eating food, thinking about food, writing novels about food, and drinking coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 30, 2020
A supposedly fuzzy sweet romance that didn't go deep enough. But was ok albeit somewhat problematic for ME.
While there was a few storylines in here that could have delved far deeper, unfortunately they were handled fairly lightly and almost too blazay for my tastes. So it posed the question of why add in such dark issues if you're going to skim over them so weirdly? Such as an abusive relationship and an eating disorder. The way they were handled was just weird.
The MC who came from abuse told her girlfriend she needed to go slow because of her issues, understandably, but then whammo they were having insta-sex like it was no biggie.
The same with the girlfriends eating disorder it just came up as 'oh well I have trouble eating, but with you around it's better, so I'll force myself to eat something' ...oh dear!!
I felt my own anxiety twitching because I felt how unhealthy this all seemed. Not what I look for in a romance, myself.
I did like one line that was repeated throughout though,
"birthdays come and go all the time, and if we want our days to be meaningful, we have to do it ourselves."
While there was a few storylines in here that could have delved far deeper, unfortunately they were handled fairly lightly and almost too blazay for my tastes. So it posed the question of why add in such dark issues if you're going to skim over them so weirdly? Such as an abusive relationship and an eating disorder. The way they were handled was just weird.
The MC who came from abuse told her girlfriend she needed to go slow because of her issues, understandably, but then whammo they were having insta-sex like it was no biggie.
The same with the girlfriends eating disorder it just came up as 'oh well I have trouble eating, but with you around it's better, so I'll force myself to eat something' ...oh dear!!
I felt my own anxiety twitching because I felt how unhealthy this all seemed. Not what I look for in a romance, myself.
I did like one line that was repeated throughout though,
"birthdays come and go all the time, and if we want our days to be meaningful, we have to do it ourselves."
April 8, 2020
A romance that is soft, sweet but hot and funny with leads and best friends Erin and Aubrey reuniting after many miles and years apart. Ms. Seabrooke's story of friends rediscovering their friendship which blossoms into love and the underlying topics of abuse and health issues with a well fleshed out supporting cast is an easy flowing read without excessive drama. A book that ultimately satisfies and takes you away from the stresses of daily life. I look forward to reading more of her work and easily recommend with 5 stars.
I rec'd an Arc from Booksprout and this is an un-biased, voluntary review.
I rec'd an Arc from Booksprout and this is an un-biased, voluntary review.
April 7, 2023
~ Reading Lily Seabrooke Novels Until I Remember How To Enjoy Things, #7 ~
Dude this book is fucking CUTE and I like it. Love it, even?
I'll automatically be drawn to anything that features "they were long distance at first" because that's a mood, I love anything that portrays how relationships and love have changed with the internet. Near and dear to my heart, what can I say? It helps that I also just LIKE Lily Seabrooke as an author. I can't really describe it, but she has a 'certain type of way' of writing characters, a sensibility to them that I always like, basically. Every one of her books has at least one class-S dyke who I adore. Here though, it's actually both of them.
Okay, but Good Composition surprised me by opening with probably the darkest setup to any romance by this author? It is the classic (terrible) entitled and abusive manchild who is manipulative and gets his girlfriend to do all of the fucking chores and housework and pretty much everything for him. He also badgers her for sex, so he is garbage. However, ANY objection to ANY OF THIS results in a big bawling rant about how hard it is for poor lil manboy! You know this type, don't act like you don't. This is a different implementation of the same hateful, disgusting slime-fucks you see as Port Andrea villains. This Tanner guy, amazingly, totally shwacks all previous Seabrooke baddies for the crown. So hateful, so manipulative, such an obvious narcissist. Fuck him.
Erin Hesterfield has basically been trapped by this guy; the rent and house and everything else is in his name, he won't let her get a credit card or have any friends, it's pretty horrible. Pitch-black by Seabrooke standards. She spends a lot of time thinking about literally anything but her current life, with her awful office job and worse boyfriend, pining after an online friend she used to have. You love to see it! On a particularly awful night, which happens to fall on that friend's birthday, Erin decides to send a text Aubrey's way.
Aubrey Winslow, pixie-cut-dyke extraordinaire, is pretty surprised by this message after four years of them having drifted away, but is also thrilled that her high-school internet crush hasn't forgotten her, and calls right away. It takes about two seconds of talking for her to realise that Erin is horribly traumatised, hates her life, and can't do anything about it. Aubrey's solution? A flight over to her town, to live with her!
I like Aubrey immediately. In terms of appearance she's pretty much the standard-issue dyke if you were to mail-order one, all flannel and jeans and short hair, and she's tall and "a gangly beanpole of a human being"! Has "noodle legs"! Fuck that's relatable, and so I like her archetype instantly, and her lax, conversational chill-dude demeanour holds much appeal to me. But also, as an opening move, offering your house for an estranged best friend (who you might be crushing on) to live with you and escape her shitty life? Based. Establishes that she'd move mountains for Erin. Aubrey is basically a hero to me. Those would be friendship goals, except friends don't admire each other's asses.
`"Aubrey... am I a lesbian?"
She paused. "I don't know. Are you?"
"I didn't think I was."`
Erin contrasts her in some ways; when she arrives in Aubrey's town she pretty understandably has absolutely no self-worth remaining and is mostly extremely meek and shy about taking up any amount of space or imposing even slightly. I found it really hard not to like her, too, though. Ya girl has literally 0 self esteem resulting from the abusive relationship, but it's a mood, partially because it doesn't get in the way of the plot all day. Doesn't ever harm her growing relationship with Aubrey. I like that, I guess, because despite having a ton of various self esteem issues, I am too staunch a believer in my own right to exist, to let something like that fuck up a relationship. That's partly why I like Erin so much and that's why I get so pissed whenever protagonists turn into useless doormats at the wag of a finger.
So weirdly, this book ends up being basically what I wanted from One Step At A Time. That one was basically watching Remington Bennett and also her girlfriend Dani be tortured by and suffer from the influence of Remington's shitty family, and it was bad vibes and I hated it! Good Composition feels more like it's about healing. It starts dark, fuckin' dark, but by 25% or so we've made a clean break from trauma, Erin is in a healthy and caring place surrounded by solid people, and now she's gonna adjust to really *living* again. Making every day *meaningful*.
Part of that is just slowly learning that it's okay to ask for things, to assert herself, to know that she matters, but the other, equally large part of it is figuring out that kissing girls is awesome. In the four years they've been apart, Aubrey has sorted that part out, but this one girl she knew from way back was kind of occupying her mind. Erin didn't get that chance as much, Tanner and all, so her arrival in a new town is also the beginning of her gay awakening. Gay awakening but Fun!
`Honestly, especially after my last experience with boyfriends, I wished I were a lesbian. I actually envied her.`
While maybe not the most emotionally impactful lesbian-self-discovery ever written, this one is joyful and relaxed. Aubrey and Erin's first meeting (ever, they've never seen each other prior to the flight) is pretty authentic to people meeting IRL for the first time, as they're really awkward and sort of just stare at each other longingly. It's cute, and they are both like, you're so much prettier than me omg, which is funny. I'd venture as far as to say that the dual-crush and Erin's obliviousness are played funny a lot of the time, like when Erin has to spend basically an entire chapter trying to figure out why Aubrey's friends are trying to set her up with WOMEN?! The lights finally come on. Erin is dopey and clueless, but it's charming instead of irritating. It doesn't get in the way of the plot, and is played purely for A) her developing understanding of herself and Aubrey, B) for laughs, so you can chuckle and say "Oh, you silly bitch!" every time she misses some totally obvious gay shit.
You might think (I did) that this would form the basis for a stupid conflict, a "why-didn't-you-tell-me" type of beat, but nah, what happens right after is great. They just talk it through, and Erin is glad for her! She is jealous that some random woman got a dance with Aubrey at the party the other week, but it turns kind of adorable and touching when Erin says that dancing is really important to her because Aubrey likes it so much. Aubrey is just like Well, we can dance a li'l right here at home if you want! It's a great moment because they're both so painfully nervous about it, but they're on the same page and pushing past the nerves rewards them with *each other.* They are gay, and it's during this scene that Erin says she's so glad Aubrey found herself, and Aubrey's reply is "She was just right up in my grill, telling me she was glad I was a lesbian. I mean, I wasn't going to read into that." Spoiler: she reads into it!
My intro makes Good Composition sound all dark, but it manages to grapple with serious and pretty hard-hitting themes while maintaining levity. I've always thought Lily Seabrooke's at her best when her writing is kind of silly and doofy, but incredibly earnest, with the feeling of heart that makes my dumb ass smile. It's a hard balancing act, but this one is her best so far. There's just no cynicism in my soul remaining for her trademark slightly cheesy inspirational life advice, popping up in dialogue as usual. My very own Live Laugh Love print, this, and I like it. Good Composition's is about how life only gives you so many days and sometimes, making the big fast move is the right one. Y'know, the good stuff in life.
There's just nowt but love in my heart for this book. A slightly rare thing is that Erin has some form of chronic fatigue, and the related passages really hit me different;
`The food was amazing, but I couldn't really focus too well on anything. I was getting more and more winded just sitting there, and in the background of all the exhaustion was plenty of frustration. Frustration with myself. *Everyone* was tired. That was just life. And if they all kept going, walking around all the time like it was nothing, then I could manage to sit upright in a goddamn chair.`
This hurt me personally, in a good way; it's always randomly, in the midst of her books, that Lily Seabrooke drops some emotional shit that is 5000% relatable to my ass. It was hard not to love watching Aubrey as she cares for her slightly hopeless girlfriend who is intent on being independent in spite of the pain and exhaustion: "I didn't know. I really couldn't know. I didn't have any sort of chronic disability. I'd never even known anyone with chronic fatigue, but every time I saw Erin struggling and leaning against something, I could tell she was fighting something I'd never even imagined." Most of this book will not break your heart too much, but I was turned mushy by these parts especially. Sigh, I love Aubrey.
It all goes into Erin's arc, which is multifaceted and wonderful. Seeing her grow out of the shell that years of abuse has driven her into, I can't help but love, not sorry. Tanner always made fun of her photography because he is an asshole, so Erin is pretty much silent about it and often even refuses to take any pictures. My heart melted just a bit at the scene on the cliff-top, after Aubrey awakens at 6 am to find her girlfriend missing, only to discover that she's made it back up the long path she struggled with before, and I won't spoil it, because it's awesome. This is a romance I feel compelled not to spoil a lor, because it's great. It's soft and relaxed and joyous and fun, but its leads have extra depth that give everything more emotional weight.
Speaking of emotional weight, though, and spoilers, what *about* that asshole bad man? I don't think it's a spoiler to say that he gets ABSOLUTELY murdered and gutted and hung out to dry, but I'll still go light on details. When I read Every Rose, I was bitching about how sometimes, a romance just doesn't need a lot of conflict, at least not extrinstic stuff. I was thoroughly expecting for like, Tanner to come fucking steal Erin away or something, but I can assuage your anxiety before you even read it: he doesn't!! There's no loaded-gun of a bad-guy plot waiting to swing in and ruin the plot at the 80% mark! Holy shit!!
I kind of feel like this is what I've been waiting for from Lily Seabrooke; a story that is simply about two people growing together, understanding themselves and each other, working slowly towards being together and having a happy life. Putting the bad-guy in the background, and centering the story on these two long-distance internet friends becoming lovers, that's perfect basically. Makes time for Erin to work through her self-worth issues, for Aubrey to support her, as well as observe that Erin looks "like some kind of summer goddess", and for them both to chill and pine for each other, until they finally realise they're both gay, and that they have always adored each other.
Good Composition is adorable and charming, cute and fun; it probably has the best pairing of any Lily Seabrooke novel I've read. Best *lead*? Probably still goes to Parker Ferris, of Night & Day, but I've never had so much goofy, affectionate fun watching two lesbians do lesbian things. This book has long-distance internet friends who are secretly gay for each other, and they move in together within THREE DAYS of talking again! U-haul branded planes, what a time to be alive. I think Good Composition is the best novel Lily Seabrooke has ever put out, I kinda love it. In the post-script, she says it's "fluffier" than her previous novels, so I guess I love fluffy.
Dude this book is fucking CUTE and I like it. Love it, even?
I'll automatically be drawn to anything that features "they were long distance at first" because that's a mood, I love anything that portrays how relationships and love have changed with the internet. Near and dear to my heart, what can I say? It helps that I also just LIKE Lily Seabrooke as an author. I can't really describe it, but she has a 'certain type of way' of writing characters, a sensibility to them that I always like, basically. Every one of her books has at least one class-S dyke who I adore. Here though, it's actually both of them.
Okay, but Good Composition surprised me by opening with probably the darkest setup to any romance by this author? It is the classic (terrible) entitled and abusive manchild who is manipulative and gets his girlfriend to do all of the fucking chores and housework and pretty much everything for him. He also badgers her for sex, so he is garbage. However, ANY objection to ANY OF THIS results in a big bawling rant about how hard it is for poor lil manboy! You know this type, don't act like you don't. This is a different implementation of the same hateful, disgusting slime-fucks you see as Port Andrea villains. This Tanner guy, amazingly, totally shwacks all previous Seabrooke baddies for the crown. So hateful, so manipulative, such an obvious narcissist. Fuck him.
Erin Hesterfield has basically been trapped by this guy; the rent and house and everything else is in his name, he won't let her get a credit card or have any friends, it's pretty horrible. Pitch-black by Seabrooke standards. She spends a lot of time thinking about literally anything but her current life, with her awful office job and worse boyfriend, pining after an online friend she used to have. You love to see it! On a particularly awful night, which happens to fall on that friend's birthday, Erin decides to send a text Aubrey's way.
Aubrey Winslow, pixie-cut-dyke extraordinaire, is pretty surprised by this message after four years of them having drifted away, but is also thrilled that her high-school internet crush hasn't forgotten her, and calls right away. It takes about two seconds of talking for her to realise that Erin is horribly traumatised, hates her life, and can't do anything about it. Aubrey's solution? A flight over to her town, to live with her!
I like Aubrey immediately. In terms of appearance she's pretty much the standard-issue dyke if you were to mail-order one, all flannel and jeans and short hair, and she's tall and "a gangly beanpole of a human being"! Has "noodle legs"! Fuck that's relatable, and so I like her archetype instantly, and her lax, conversational chill-dude demeanour holds much appeal to me. But also, as an opening move, offering your house for an estranged best friend (who you might be crushing on) to live with you and escape her shitty life? Based. Establishes that she'd move mountains for Erin. Aubrey is basically a hero to me. Those would be friendship goals, except friends don't admire each other's asses.
`"Aubrey... am I a lesbian?"
She paused. "I don't know. Are you?"
"I didn't think I was."`
Erin contrasts her in some ways; when she arrives in Aubrey's town she pretty understandably has absolutely no self-worth remaining and is mostly extremely meek and shy about taking up any amount of space or imposing even slightly. I found it really hard not to like her, too, though. Ya girl has literally 0 self esteem resulting from the abusive relationship, but it's a mood, partially because it doesn't get in the way of the plot all day. Doesn't ever harm her growing relationship with Aubrey. I like that, I guess, because despite having a ton of various self esteem issues, I am too staunch a believer in my own right to exist, to let something like that fuck up a relationship. That's partly why I like Erin so much and that's why I get so pissed whenever protagonists turn into useless doormats at the wag of a finger.
So weirdly, this book ends up being basically what I wanted from One Step At A Time. That one was basically watching Remington Bennett and also her girlfriend Dani be tortured by and suffer from the influence of Remington's shitty family, and it was bad vibes and I hated it! Good Composition feels more like it's about healing. It starts dark, fuckin' dark, but by 25% or so we've made a clean break from trauma, Erin is in a healthy and caring place surrounded by solid people, and now she's gonna adjust to really *living* again. Making every day *meaningful*.
Part of that is just slowly learning that it's okay to ask for things, to assert herself, to know that she matters, but the other, equally large part of it is figuring out that kissing girls is awesome. In the four years they've been apart, Aubrey has sorted that part out, but this one girl she knew from way back was kind of occupying her mind. Erin didn't get that chance as much, Tanner and all, so her arrival in a new town is also the beginning of her gay awakening. Gay awakening but Fun!
`Honestly, especially after my last experience with boyfriends, I wished I were a lesbian. I actually envied her.`
While maybe not the most emotionally impactful lesbian-self-discovery ever written, this one is joyful and relaxed. Aubrey and Erin's first meeting (ever, they've never seen each other prior to the flight) is pretty authentic to people meeting IRL for the first time, as they're really awkward and sort of just stare at each other longingly. It's cute, and they are both like, you're so much prettier than me omg, which is funny. I'd venture as far as to say that the dual-crush and Erin's obliviousness are played funny a lot of the time, like when Erin has to spend basically an entire chapter trying to figure out why Aubrey's friends are trying to set her up with WOMEN?! The lights finally come on. Erin is dopey and clueless, but it's charming instead of irritating. It doesn't get in the way of the plot, and is played purely for A) her developing understanding of herself and Aubrey, B) for laughs, so you can chuckle and say "Oh, you silly bitch!" every time she misses some totally obvious gay shit.
You might think (I did) that this would form the basis for a stupid conflict, a "why-didn't-you-tell-me" type of beat, but nah, what happens right after is great. They just talk it through, and Erin is glad for her! She is jealous that some random woman got a dance with Aubrey at the party the other week, but it turns kind of adorable and touching when Erin says that dancing is really important to her because Aubrey likes it so much. Aubrey is just like Well, we can dance a li'l right here at home if you want! It's a great moment because they're both so painfully nervous about it, but they're on the same page and pushing past the nerves rewards them with *each other.* They are gay, and it's during this scene that Erin says she's so glad Aubrey found herself, and Aubrey's reply is "She was just right up in my grill, telling me she was glad I was a lesbian. I mean, I wasn't going to read into that." Spoiler: she reads into it!
My intro makes Good Composition sound all dark, but it manages to grapple with serious and pretty hard-hitting themes while maintaining levity. I've always thought Lily Seabrooke's at her best when her writing is kind of silly and doofy, but incredibly earnest, with the feeling of heart that makes my dumb ass smile. It's a hard balancing act, but this one is her best so far. There's just no cynicism in my soul remaining for her trademark slightly cheesy inspirational life advice, popping up in dialogue as usual. My very own Live Laugh Love print, this, and I like it. Good Composition's is about how life only gives you so many days and sometimes, making the big fast move is the right one. Y'know, the good stuff in life.
There's just nowt but love in my heart for this book. A slightly rare thing is that Erin has some form of chronic fatigue, and the related passages really hit me different;
`The food was amazing, but I couldn't really focus too well on anything. I was getting more and more winded just sitting there, and in the background of all the exhaustion was plenty of frustration. Frustration with myself. *Everyone* was tired. That was just life. And if they all kept going, walking around all the time like it was nothing, then I could manage to sit upright in a goddamn chair.`
This hurt me personally, in a good way; it's always randomly, in the midst of her books, that Lily Seabrooke drops some emotional shit that is 5000% relatable to my ass. It was hard not to love watching Aubrey as she cares for her slightly hopeless girlfriend who is intent on being independent in spite of the pain and exhaustion: "I didn't know. I really couldn't know. I didn't have any sort of chronic disability. I'd never even known anyone with chronic fatigue, but every time I saw Erin struggling and leaning against something, I could tell she was fighting something I'd never even imagined." Most of this book will not break your heart too much, but I was turned mushy by these parts especially. Sigh, I love Aubrey.
It all goes into Erin's arc, which is multifaceted and wonderful. Seeing her grow out of the shell that years of abuse has driven her into, I can't help but love, not sorry. Tanner always made fun of her photography because he is an asshole, so Erin is pretty much silent about it and often even refuses to take any pictures. My heart melted just a bit at the scene on the cliff-top, after Aubrey awakens at 6 am to find her girlfriend missing, only to discover that she's made it back up the long path she struggled with before, and I won't spoil it, because it's awesome. This is a romance I feel compelled not to spoil a lor, because it's great. It's soft and relaxed and joyous and fun, but its leads have extra depth that give everything more emotional weight.
Speaking of emotional weight, though, and spoilers, what *about* that asshole bad man? I don't think it's a spoiler to say that he gets ABSOLUTELY murdered and gutted and hung out to dry, but I'll still go light on details. When I read Every Rose, I was bitching about how sometimes, a romance just doesn't need a lot of conflict, at least not extrinstic stuff. I was thoroughly expecting for like, Tanner to come fucking steal Erin away or something, but I can assuage your anxiety before you even read it: he doesn't!! There's no loaded-gun of a bad-guy plot waiting to swing in and ruin the plot at the 80% mark! Holy shit!!
I kind of feel like this is what I've been waiting for from Lily Seabrooke; a story that is simply about two people growing together, understanding themselves and each other, working slowly towards being together and having a happy life. Putting the bad-guy in the background, and centering the story on these two long-distance internet friends becoming lovers, that's perfect basically. Makes time for Erin to work through her self-worth issues, for Aubrey to support her, as well as observe that Erin looks "like some kind of summer goddess", and for them both to chill and pine for each other, until they finally realise they're both gay, and that they have always adored each other.
Good Composition is adorable and charming, cute and fun; it probably has the best pairing of any Lily Seabrooke novel I've read. Best *lead*? Probably still goes to Parker Ferris, of Night & Day, but I've never had so much goofy, affectionate fun watching two lesbians do lesbian things. This book has long-distance internet friends who are secretly gay for each other, and they move in together within THREE DAYS of talking again! U-haul branded planes, what a time to be alive. I think Good Composition is the best novel Lily Seabrooke has ever put out, I kinda love it. In the post-script, she says it's "fluffier" than her previous novels, so I guess I love fluffy.
June 24, 2020
Apart from the abusive situation at the beginning this is a light read. The main characters are long time internet best friends who reconnect after a relatively short period of time. Meeting in person for the first time they quickly realize they are more than best friends. The supporting cast is a little thin but does provide some helpful context for understanding Aubrey's life if not Erin's. The couple easily achieve the expected HEA.
April 3, 2020
Aubrey and Erin's love story is a toaster oven romance so hot it might burn your house down.
Erin is down on her luck, stuck in a small town without many prospects and in a relationship with a guy that gives her nothing but sure takes a lot. When she reconnects with her old online friend Aubrey by chance on Aubrey's birthday the two grow close again. Before long Erin must escape her bad home situation and Aubrey welcomes her with open arms.
Lily has a real talent for capturing vulnerability and the insecurities that eat away at so many of us. She makes these characters likable and relatable. It is a treat to watch them grow through her novels as they find the support they had been missing. It's hopeful, these characters find what so many of us are searching for--people who get them and love them just as they are.
Erin is down on her luck, stuck in a small town without many prospects and in a relationship with a guy that gives her nothing but sure takes a lot. When she reconnects with her old online friend Aubrey by chance on Aubrey's birthday the two grow close again. Before long Erin must escape her bad home situation and Aubrey welcomes her with open arms.
Lily has a real talent for capturing vulnerability and the insecurities that eat away at so many of us. She makes these characters likable and relatable. It is a treat to watch them grow through her novels as they find the support they had been missing. It's hopeful, these characters find what so many of us are searching for--people who get them and love them just as they are.
April 13, 2022
I really loved this book! We follow Erin and Aubrey along a way of rediscovery. After a long time without talking to each other while they were best friends, each learn who is this new person and I really liked that. They're better when they're with each other.
This book is a sweet lesbian romance, just what I love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is a sweet lesbian romance, just what I love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 30, 2020
Good Composition follows Erin as she reaches out to a long lost friend, Aubrey. They haven't spoken in years, but once they do, it's like nothing changed, no time had passed. After a bad fight with her not so great boyfriend, Erin makes the decision to move across the country and stay with Aubrey in a picturesque seaside town. And it doesn't take long before the two become a little closer than friends.
I thought Good Composition was incredibly sweet, and definitely reminded me of the first time I tumbled into more than friends with a girl. I thought the story was a tad fast paced, but that's to be expected given the length. I was definitely rooting for the characters to fall in love, and I really didn't see any other way for the story to go. They were both so fiercely supportive of one another, especially Aubrey. Seeing her try and work Erin through her self doubt was so refreshing. You don't see that in many relationships, even in fiction. I was so grateful to see so many LGBT+ characters not only mentioned, but a part of the main story.
There wasn't a lot of conflict, no real drama, which is so perfect when you're looking for a soft, fluffy something. As someone who cannot handle too much drama, that's definitely something I love every now and again. It was hilarious at times, which is something I most definitely expect from Lily at this point. I found myself cackling in my living room.
If you're looking for a quick, sweet, funny, drama free f/f romance, Good Composition is for you!
"Good Composition is a 50k-word low-angst friends-to-lovers romance. Content warning for an emotionally abusive relationship, hospitalization, open-door sex scenes and Britney—just Britney."
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thought Good Composition was incredibly sweet, and definitely reminded me of the first time I tumbled into more than friends with a girl. I thought the story was a tad fast paced, but that's to be expected given the length. I was definitely rooting for the characters to fall in love, and I really didn't see any other way for the story to go. They were both so fiercely supportive of one another, especially Aubrey. Seeing her try and work Erin through her self doubt was so refreshing. You don't see that in many relationships, even in fiction. I was so grateful to see so many LGBT+ characters not only mentioned, but a part of the main story.
There wasn't a lot of conflict, no real drama, which is so perfect when you're looking for a soft, fluffy something. As someone who cannot handle too much drama, that's definitely something I love every now and again. It was hilarious at times, which is something I most definitely expect from Lily at this point. I found myself cackling in my living room.
If you're looking for a quick, sweet, funny, drama free f/f romance, Good Composition is for you!
"Good Composition is a 50k-word low-angst friends-to-lovers romance. Content warning for an emotionally abusive relationship, hospitalization, open-door sex scenes and Britney—just Britney."
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 28, 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
One of my very favorite tropes/plotlines is best-friends-to-lovers, so I went into this particular book with both high hopes and high expectations. Much to my delight, I was not disappointed.
The story starts with Erin, living in a relationship that is toxic, and having that condition her outlook on everything. A birthday text to a former internet bestie sees her situation changing dramatically. Reconnecting with Aubrey, a friend she met online and kept in touch with for ten years before growing quiet, turns out to be one of the biggest catalysts of change in her life. Aubrey, who is understanding and kind, shows her how much more she deserves and should expect for herself.
At it's core, "Good Composition" feels like a redemption story, and it isn't a one-sided one at that. This is a warm, romantic take about how people who aren't worthy of us can make us feel invalid and less-than. It's about understanding the effect that has and the scars it can leave. Most of all, it's about realizing that there's more and better out there beyond what those unworthy people leave behind.
I really enjoyed "Good Composition." Once I started reading it, I didn't want to stop, and devoured it in a few hours. It was a bit lighter than Seabrooke's usual fare, and had a delightful amount of steam to it. It feels very much like that's what we need now. A light, warm, wonderful reminder that despite the negativity and injustice that exists in the world, we are worthy of love.
One of my very favorite tropes/plotlines is best-friends-to-lovers, so I went into this particular book with both high hopes and high expectations. Much to my delight, I was not disappointed.
The story starts with Erin, living in a relationship that is toxic, and having that condition her outlook on everything. A birthday text to a former internet bestie sees her situation changing dramatically. Reconnecting with Aubrey, a friend she met online and kept in touch with for ten years before growing quiet, turns out to be one of the biggest catalysts of change in her life. Aubrey, who is understanding and kind, shows her how much more she deserves and should expect for herself.
At it's core, "Good Composition" feels like a redemption story, and it isn't a one-sided one at that. This is a warm, romantic take about how people who aren't worthy of us can make us feel invalid and less-than. It's about understanding the effect that has and the scars it can leave. Most of all, it's about realizing that there's more and better out there beyond what those unworthy people leave behind.
I really enjoyed "Good Composition." Once I started reading it, I didn't want to stop, and devoured it in a few hours. It was a bit lighter than Seabrooke's usual fare, and had a delightful amount of steam to it. It feels very much like that's what we need now. A light, warm, wonderful reminder that despite the negativity and injustice that exists in the world, we are worthy of love.
May 11, 2024
This was a very quick read. The pacing is also fairly fast as well. Erin and Aubrey go from former friends to friends to bffs to lovers in like four days. The entire book takes place in maybe a little over a week. So, in a week Erin goes from everything sucks and what do I do about it to all her problems are solved. She also has a personality switch along the way. She goes from cautious and mousy to over the top enthusiastically cheerful, and way more confident.
Most of the secondary characters are very flat. You get the most time with Britney and her entire schtick is that she's the token straight girl and can't find a man. The way Erin treated Hailey was also a little over the top and went from confrontational and jealous to buddies in an afternoon.
There is no third act breakup. There wasn't time for it. There is a confrontational (sort of) scene near the end with the ex bf. I honestly thought the ex would show up to harass Erin and force a confrontation that way. It would have played up way more drama and suspense, but it didn't happen.
Most of the secondary characters are very flat. You get the most time with Britney and her entire schtick is that she's the token straight girl and can't find a man. The way Erin treated Hailey was also a little over the top and went from confrontational and jealous to buddies in an afternoon.
There is no third act breakup. There wasn't time for it. There is a confrontational (sort of) scene near the end with the ex bf. I honestly thought the ex would show up to harass Erin and force a confrontation that way. It would have played up way more drama and suspense, but it didn't happen.
April 5, 2020
Lily Seabrooke is officially my go-to author for good lesbian fluff. This book is even softer and fluffier than her previous two (with some spice thrown in, don't get me wrong), and it was really nice to read something so sweet while the world is falling apart. Erin is recovering from an abusive relationship and dealing with a chronic illness, and both topics are handled with care and intense gentleness. Aubrey has her own issues, and they are also gently handled, although the focus is definitely more on Erin and her journey of self-discovery and coming out.
Really, though, it was just super nice to read about girls kissing girls in a lovely home with a bunch of friends, spending time taking nice long walks and going to an amusement park and rediscovering their passions. It was truly such a delight.
Really, though, it was just super nice to read about girls kissing girls in a lovely home with a bunch of friends, spending time taking nice long walks and going to an amusement park and rediscovering their passions. It was truly such a delight.
April 13, 2020
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is my favourite novel Lily has written to date. I really enjoyed it!
This is a lovely friends-to-lovers story that deals with some heavy issues, but isn't dragged down by them. The light hearted tone is maintained well.
Erin and Aubrey were best friends as teenagers, but drifted apart as they grew older. Erin, low from an emotionally abusive relationship, sends Aubrey a happy birthday message, and the two pick up right where they left off.
Things get bad for Erin, and Aubrey invites her to stay at her place across the country.
Fluff and romance ensues!
I enjoyed both characters, and I was good so see them fall in love and realise their dreams :)
This is my favourite novel Lily has written to date. I really enjoyed it!
This is a lovely friends-to-lovers story that deals with some heavy issues, but isn't dragged down by them. The light hearted tone is maintained well.
Erin and Aubrey were best friends as teenagers, but drifted apart as they grew older. Erin, low from an emotionally abusive relationship, sends Aubrey a happy birthday message, and the two pick up right where they left off.
Things get bad for Erin, and Aubrey invites her to stay at her place across the country.
Fluff and romance ensues!
I enjoyed both characters, and I was good so see them fall in love and realise their dreams :)
April 21, 2020
In spite of some warnings this is a real feel good book. While it is absolutely obvious what Erin will eventually do, it comes as surprise when she does it. What happens then would be almost miraculous, were there not the fact, that Aubrey is determined to revive the gifted artist she once knew.
Yes, in a way this is a fluffy novel, but who wouldn't love a bit of fluff, if it is delivered with so much love and humour and so well written!
I'll certainly look at more stuff from Lily in future.
Yes, in a way this is a fluffy novel, but who wouldn't love a bit of fluff, if it is delivered with so much love and humour and so well written!
I'll certainly look at more stuff from Lily in future.
April 10, 2020
Erin and Aubrey renew their friendship after 4 years due to Erin escaping from an unhappy relationship with a controlling boyfriend. Erin who is straight comes to stay with Aubrey who is a lesbian. Erin struggles with her feeling about Aubrey and soon discovers that she is in love with Aubrey. Their romance deepens and in the end there is an HEA,
This book was a surprise for the reader, and I found that it really made me happy. I look forward to reading more of Lily Seabrooks’ work.
This book was a surprise for the reader, and I found that it really made me happy. I look forward to reading more of Lily Seabrooks’ work.
March 24, 2020
Do you want a cute book involving long distant best friends? This book is for YOU. It’s perfect in all the right spots, but Lily is great with adding even the littlest bit of depth to really harness in the characters. It made me happy, sad, and.. you know ;). Overall, it’s a great read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this. Friends to lovers stories are great, this one did not disappoint. First time reading a book by this author and it won’t be the last. Loved the characters, loved the flaws in Erin and how the author portrayed the abuse she received from her ex. Was very real the way she explained Erin’s feeling. Great book
May 6, 2020
Good story concept of those long time friends Erin and Aubrey ! I liked your choice for reconnecting them . As well the way you gradually opened Erin's closeted part of herself . This was a rare look for me into how some one can be one way and yet not be aware of that part of themselves !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2020
This author is always a win for me. Sweet, beautiful books with well rounded characters that draw me in from the start. Highly recommend!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 8, 2020
Good Composition is a cute book with two main characters who have serious issues. I like how the author brings the issues up but centers the romance.
August 7, 2021
So good!
Uggg I loved it all! It was written so well. Has someone who’s had to deal with chronic fatigue, it was really nice to see that represented so well. I can’t wait for more!
Uggg I loved it all! It was written so well. Has someone who’s had to deal with chronic fatigue, it was really nice to see that represented so well. I can’t wait for more!
May 13, 2024
Short and sweet
June 10, 2020
Excellent book looking forward to reading other books by this author
January 1, 2021
Immeasurably adorable love story featuring a friends to lovers plot so perfectly done and had me completely smitten from start to finish.
Erin and Aubrey are in love before the story even starts, they just don’t know it yet. I loved their story’s progression. It wasn’t overly drawn out for the sake of drama. It felt like a really natural evolution from friends to lovers and was such a joy to experience.
Erin and Aubrey have the best chemistry, their bond is so strong that even the most innocent gesture felt sensual. They are undeniably perfect for each other. I could not get enough of them together, they have this equal parts sweet and sexy attraction.
This story is so cute and fluffy and had me smiling and swooning. That’s not to say that there wasn’t drama to keep things exciting. While the main focus was the heart warming relationship growing between these two women there were also conflicts in the forms of deep seeded fears/insecurities, health issues, and an emotionally abusive ex. Seabrooke managed to perfectly balance the fluffy with the drama creating an experience that is sure to leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling.
I was over the moon for these characters, I don’t think I have shipped a couple so hard before. I loved this story so much and was pleasantly surprised by the direction the story went a couple times. This endearing story is exactly what I wanted in every way.
Erin and Aubrey are in love before the story even starts, they just don’t know it yet. I loved their story’s progression. It wasn’t overly drawn out for the sake of drama. It felt like a really natural evolution from friends to lovers and was such a joy to experience.
Erin and Aubrey have the best chemistry, their bond is so strong that even the most innocent gesture felt sensual. They are undeniably perfect for each other. I could not get enough of them together, they have this equal parts sweet and sexy attraction.
This story is so cute and fluffy and had me smiling and swooning. That’s not to say that there wasn’t drama to keep things exciting. While the main focus was the heart warming relationship growing between these two women there were also conflicts in the forms of deep seeded fears/insecurities, health issues, and an emotionally abusive ex. Seabrooke managed to perfectly balance the fluffy with the drama creating an experience that is sure to leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling.
I was over the moon for these characters, I don’t think I have shipped a couple so hard before. I loved this story so much and was pleasantly surprised by the direction the story went a couple times. This endearing story is exactly what I wanted in every way.
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