It's Not Me, It’s You by Elle Wright follows the unconventional love story of Blake and Lennox. Blake, a commitment-phobic relationship therapist, and Lennox, a tenure-track college professor, are brought together under unusual circumstances. The story kicks off when Blake’s niece pleads with her to help a classmate, Dori, who claims her professor dumped her and stole a valuable family painting. Blake, acting on impulse and Dori's seemingly dire plight, breaks into the professor’s home to retrieve the painting, only to discover she’s been duped. Dori isn’t a victim but rather an obsessed liar.
This twist introduces Lennox, the professor in question, who realizes Blake is the intriguing woman he briefly encountered at a wedding. At the time, he refrained from approaching her because he was with a date. Sparks reignite when their paths cross again, and the two begin a relationship. However, Blake’s deep-seated fear of commitment and her knack for self-sabotage threaten to derail their budding romance.
Elle Wright, known for her engaging storytelling, delivers a novel that’s part romance, part family drama. While Blake and Lennox’s love story takes center stage, much of the narrative is devoted to introducing a sprawling cast of characters—primarily their siblings—clearly setting the stage for future books in the series. Unfortunately, the limited six-hour audiobook format leaves many characters and subplots underdeveloped, diluting the focus on Blake and Lennox.
The audiobook experience is another consideration. While the story has its charm, the narrator’s voice detracts from the experience, making it harder to immerse yourself fully. For this reason, readers might prefer the print or e-book version over the Audible format.
Overall, Elle Wright’s talent shines through, but the overcrowded storyline and uneven pacing hold this novel back. Despite its flaws, it’s a promising start to a series that will likely improve as the characters and their stories are explored in more depth. If you’re a fan of Wright’s work, this book might still be worth your time. For now, I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars and keeping an open mind about the series’ future installments.