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I Heart SF #1
The Close-Up
A new work assignment goes delightfully off script in this friends-to-lovers rom-com from Sarah Smith, author of Faker and Simmer Down
Simon Rutler is the perfect man.
Handsome, kind and smart—Simon is amazing. Naomi Ellorza-Hays might be fresh out of a bad relationship and determined to stay single, but Simon is testing her newfound relationship ban. Good thing they’re working together. Simon may be perfect, but he’s also off-limits.
There’s just one small—well, big—problem.
Simon works as a relationship therapist, specializing in helping men better support their partners. But Naomi can’t stop thinking about how she was first introduced to Simon…as the camguy she watched in college. Filming him for her new docuseries suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.
Their relationship is…complicated.
Determined to stay professional, Naomi refuses to give in to their sizzling chemistry—until she does, and even then, it’s strictly no strings attached. Until it’s not. And Naomi realizes that maybe things between her and Simon aren’t so complicated after all.
Simon Rutler is the perfect man.
Handsome, kind and smart—Simon is amazing. Naomi Ellorza-Hays might be fresh out of a bad relationship and determined to stay single, but Simon is testing her newfound relationship ban. Good thing they’re working together. Simon may be perfect, but he’s also off-limits.
There’s just one small—well, big—problem.
Simon works as a relationship therapist, specializing in helping men better support their partners. But Naomi can’t stop thinking about how she was first introduced to Simon…as the camguy she watched in college. Filming him for her new docuseries suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.
Their relationship is…complicated.
Determined to stay professional, Naomi refuses to give in to their sizzling chemistry—until she does, and even then, it’s strictly no strings attached. Until it’s not. And Naomi realizes that maybe things between her and Simon aren’t so complicated after all.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2022
38 people are currently reading
3380 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Smith
20 books936 followersSarah Smith is a copywriter-turned-author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie's stash of romance novels. She's been hooked ever since. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her lumpia recipe. She is also one half of the romance writing duo Sarah Skye. Sarah also writes tearjerker fiction under the name Sarah Echavarre
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
April 28, 2022
Happy book birthday to this enjoyable romcom!
How can you keep your professional relationship strictly professional when only thing in your mind is jumping into that stunning therapist’s bones?
Dear Naomi’s life has never been easy! She’s an ambitious, aspiring film journalist. But she gets one of the most challenging tasks: Once upon a time the cam-guy she has watched at the college yearningly becomes her coworker. She has to work with Simon as partners to finish her project! She has to focus on docuseries she’s been working on and she has to obey the rules she’s created for man banning after the damage her cheating ex created.
Simon seems like a charming man, such a flirt, helping the men to fix their relationships. Their attraction is undeniable but how can they even finish their project when they’re so close to rip each other’s clothes!
I love how Sarah Smith builds sexual tension with her characters. I truly enjoyed this book even though ending was a little rushed. I will never say no to spend more time with these characters! It was so much fun!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press&Carina Adores ( Harlequin) for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
How can you keep your professional relationship strictly professional when only thing in your mind is jumping into that stunning therapist’s bones?
Dear Naomi’s life has never been easy! She’s an ambitious, aspiring film journalist. But she gets one of the most challenging tasks: Once upon a time the cam-guy she has watched at the college yearningly becomes her coworker. She has to work with Simon as partners to finish her project! She has to focus on docuseries she’s been working on and she has to obey the rules she’s created for man banning after the damage her cheating ex created.
Simon seems like a charming man, such a flirt, helping the men to fix their relationships. Their attraction is undeniable but how can they even finish their project when they’re so close to rip each other’s clothes!
I love how Sarah Smith builds sexual tension with her characters. I truly enjoyed this book even though ending was a little rushed. I will never say no to spend more time with these characters! It was so much fun!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press&Carina Adores ( Harlequin) for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
June 6, 2022
So, this had a lot of potential and then a whole lot of tiny things that just irked me. Simon Rutler was a perfect specimen, almost too perfect, and not being in his POV was a bit of a struggle for me.
Naomi was fine, if childish at times, and I really appreciated how horny this was, but whew there's a lot of second hand embarrassment that I personally struggled with.
What I did like was discussing Simon's sex work. He was a cam guy, he's known as the Pussy Whisperer. He's now a couples' therapist, a famous one. He's not embarrassed by his sex work, but he's had relationships end because of it when it comes time to meet the parents if you will. Naomi used to masturbate to him A LOT. I feel this was handled well, but I'm not an expert on these things. These two were SO HORNY for each other, and that was fun to read.
What really irked me was the continuous "we are PROFESSIONAL and I'm the MOST professional" and then ope, we are not being professional at all. We are being friends. Who see each other's parents/grandparents, who go to weddings together, who mutually masturbate together. It got a bit tiring and like, please friends, just bang already.
There's also a dangling plot point about Naomi's boss, who would be FURIOUS if she found out they were dating/end Naomi's career over it, and this is why they cannot bone - but then they do and they are dating, and just...nothing? Never mentioned again.
Anyway, the narrator was good, I reviewed for Library Journal s0 thank you for the advance copy.
Naomi was fine, if childish at times, and I really appreciated how horny this was, but whew there's a lot of second hand embarrassment that I personally struggled with.
What I did like was discussing Simon's sex work. He was a cam guy, he's known as the Pussy Whisperer. He's now a couples' therapist, a famous one. He's not embarrassed by his sex work, but he's had relationships end because of it when it comes time to meet the parents if you will. Naomi used to masturbate to him A LOT. I feel this was handled well, but I'm not an expert on these things. These two were SO HORNY for each other, and that was fun to read.
What really irked me was the continuous "we are PROFESSIONAL and I'm the MOST professional" and then ope, we are not being professional at all. We are being friends. Who see each other's parents/grandparents, who go to weddings together, who mutually masturbate together. It got a bit tiring and like, please friends, just bang already.
There's also a dangling plot point about Naomi's boss, who would be FURIOUS if she found out they were dating/end Naomi's career over it, and this is why they cannot bone - but then they do and they are dating, and just...nothing? Never mentioned again.
Anyway, the narrator was good, I reviewed for Library Journal s0 thank you for the advance copy.
December 21, 2025
They didn't seem like best friends to me, no need to add a friends-to-lovers trope just because.
Pros:
The male lead is nice and sweet.
The initial chapters are fun. I thought it would be interesting.
Cons:
The last two hours are so boring.
The lead seemed a bit much. Her personality is definitely... eccentri.
Pros:
The male lead is nice and sweet.
The initial chapters are fun. I thought it would be interesting.
Cons:
The last two hours are so boring.
The lead seemed a bit much. Her personality is definitely... eccentri.
May 12, 2022
The Close- Up reminds me of the brand name of tooth paste that is sold here in my country. And as far for the book, I like it more than I expected.
This is a certainly sweet story of reminding us to get up after we fell down.
The story itself is simple. Nicole is at the rope end when everything crushing down. Her boyfriend cheats on her and she really needs a big break for her career. Enter Simon. He is yummy. Super nice. Perfect book boyfriend. And he is a master at relationship. What a woman can ask for more??
Miss Smith certainly knows how to tell her story. I can not wait for more of her books.
4 stars
This is a certainly sweet story of reminding us to get up after we fell down.
The story itself is simple. Nicole is at the rope end when everything crushing down. Her boyfriend cheats on her and she really needs a big break for her career. Enter Simon. He is yummy. Super nice. Perfect book boyfriend. And he is a master at relationship. What a woman can ask for more??
Miss Smith certainly knows how to tell her story. I can not wait for more of her books.
4 stars
April 12, 2022
Why is this my first read by this author and how quickly can I attack her backlist?
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘-𝗨𝗣 is a sex-positive, funny, steamy, slow-burn that will melt you heart and destroy your panties.
First off, a meet cute that involves vomit is always gunna be funny. And I am absolutely, unequivocally, 100% behind the back story on why the female lead, Naomi, seems to vaguely recognize Simon. HOLY SHIT-BISCUITS! It's so good. 🔥
Naomi is smart, funny, and so likable! I loved her character. She is perfectly wonderful. And talk about cinnamon-roll hero with a pure heart and a filthy mind! Simon is just—gaaahhhh! Book Boyfriend hall of fame for sure.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘-𝗨𝗣 is a very, very, slow burn. But you will never lose interest with the slower pacing because thus author give us about a boatload of chemistry and sexually charged breadcrumbs to keep this book engaging and make the hot and steamy payoff that much better.
This book has laughs, sweet friendships, wonderful family relationships, a bit of loss and sadness, and lots of freaking healthy communication. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘-𝗨𝗣 also has a very positive representation of clinical therapy, both personal and couples therapy.
I loved this book! Definitely put it at the top of your tbr while I go stalk Sarah Smith's past titles.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
TRIGGERS: cheating ex
FEELS-O-METER: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
👇🏻HANG OUT WITH ME HERE!👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘-𝗨𝗣 is a sex-positive, funny, steamy, slow-burn that will melt you heart and destroy your panties.
First off, a meet cute that involves vomit is always gunna be funny. And I am absolutely, unequivocally, 100% behind the back story on why the female lead, Naomi, seems to vaguely recognize Simon. HOLY SHIT-BISCUITS! It's so good. 🔥
Naomi is smart, funny, and so likable! I loved her character. She is perfectly wonderful. And talk about cinnamon-roll hero with a pure heart and a filthy mind! Simon is just—gaaahhhh! Book Boyfriend hall of fame for sure.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘-𝗨𝗣 is a very, very, slow burn. But you will never lose interest with the slower pacing because thus author give us about a boatload of chemistry and sexually charged breadcrumbs to keep this book engaging and make the hot and steamy payoff that much better.
This book has laughs, sweet friendships, wonderful family relationships, a bit of loss and sadness, and lots of freaking healthy communication. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘-𝗨𝗣 also has a very positive representation of clinical therapy, both personal and couples therapy.
I loved this book! Definitely put it at the top of your tbr while I go stalk Sarah Smith's past titles.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
TRIGGERS: cheating ex
FEELS-O-METER: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
👇🏻HANG OUT WITH ME HERE!👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE
January 3, 2023
it started off really promising and overall I did enjoy the book but some aspects were a miss for me.
without too much away, boy/girl comes in the picture and that particular storyline didn’t need to be dragued on for that long. also call me old fashion ahahahah but a portion of the epilogue i was like
without too much away, boy/girl comes in the picture and that particular storyline didn’t need to be dragued on for that long. also call me old fashion ahahahah but a portion of the epilogue i was like
March 11, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Close-Up is the first standalone novel in, what I expect will be, a shared universe of novels. In this story in particular, we meet Naomi, a mid thirties online digital editor at Dash. When her boss tells her that her marriage was saved because of a relationship therapist her husband saw, she tasks Naomi with creating a series about said therapist. Simon Rutler is that therapist, but he's also someone that Naomi is intimately familiar with (in a somewhat biblical sense).
This having been my first read from Sarah Smith, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This may have been my first read by Smith, but it certainly won't be my last. I found her written voice easy to read. Although the story is told from Naomi's point of view, I didn't feel as though I was missing too much. I typically enjoy reading stories told in first person point of view, with a male as one of the narrators. And although we didn't get to see inside Simon's mind, Smith did an excellent job in giving us the pieces we needed in order to understand how Simon might have been feeling or thinking.
There were both some emotionally charged scenes and laugh out loud moments that had me flipping pages in my Kindle like crazy. I knew with Naomi being on a self-professed "relationship ban" while also knowing Simon as the camming guy she used to watch in college, that there were going to be some hilarious moments and boy, was I right. Between the bath tub scene, Bangerz, to Naomi's comments during the filming of the series, it was only a matter of time before the hilarity turned into hot romance. And although it took much longer than I normally like (we didn't really get a full-fledged sex scene until 70%), I found that because Smith had built her characters and their friendship up so well, I wasn't as impatient as I normally am to get to the romance and the spice.
The Close-Up gets a four star review from me. While Naomi could be irritating in her convictions at times, she had Simon by her side. While most would describe him as perfect, he has his flaws just like any other character. But he's aware of them, which makes him different from most book men I read. This entire book was a breath of fresh air and I was so happy I got the chance to read it.
The Close-Up is the first standalone novel in, what I expect will be, a shared universe of novels. In this story in particular, we meet Naomi, a mid thirties online digital editor at Dash. When her boss tells her that her marriage was saved because of a relationship therapist her husband saw, she tasks Naomi with creating a series about said therapist. Simon Rutler is that therapist, but he's also someone that Naomi is intimately familiar with (in a somewhat biblical sense).
This having been my first read from Sarah Smith, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This may have been my first read by Smith, but it certainly won't be my last. I found her written voice easy to read. Although the story is told from Naomi's point of view, I didn't feel as though I was missing too much. I typically enjoy reading stories told in first person point of view, with a male as one of the narrators. And although we didn't get to see inside Simon's mind, Smith did an excellent job in giving us the pieces we needed in order to understand how Simon might have been feeling or thinking.
There were both some emotionally charged scenes and laugh out loud moments that had me flipping pages in my Kindle like crazy. I knew with Naomi being on a self-professed "relationship ban" while also knowing Simon as the camming guy she used to watch in college, that there were going to be some hilarious moments and boy, was I right. Between the bath tub scene, Bangerz, to Naomi's comments during the filming of the series, it was only a matter of time before the hilarity turned into hot romance. And although it took much longer than I normally like (we didn't really get a full-fledged sex scene until 70%), I found that because Smith had built her characters and their friendship up so well, I wasn't as impatient as I normally am to get to the romance and the spice.
The Close-Up gets a four star review from me. While Naomi could be irritating in her convictions at times, she had Simon by her side. While most would describe him as perfect, he has his flaws just like any other character. But he's aware of them, which makes him different from most book men I read. This entire book was a breath of fresh air and I was so happy I got the chance to read it.
April 19, 2022
This was such a fun, steamy, sex positive, slow burn, friends to lovers romance. Set in San Francisco, Naomi has sworn off men after her she discovers her boyfriend has been cheating on her. When she runs into Simon, a man from her past one night in a bar she doesn't make a great impression. Fast forward and these two end up working closely together as Naomi's boss assigns her to do a series of webisodes featuring Simon, a former cam star turned psychologist who now works with men to help them reform their ways.
I loved these characters and their story. Full of laughs and heart, this was trademark Sarah Smith charm and I was there for all of it!! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!
I loved these characters and their story. Full of laughs and heart, this was trademark Sarah Smith charm and I was there for all of it!! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!
March 11, 2022
When Naomi drunkenly makes a pass at handsome Simon after a bad breakup (and vomits on his shoes), she is mortified to learn the next day that her boss wants her to interview him for the website she works for. Simon was once a webcam sensation, and is now the next big thing in couples counseling. Both admit an attraction, but Naomi needs to keep it professional for the sake of her job.
Sarah Smith has hit it out of the park with this one. Not only has she given us a leading man that makes a living teaching couples how to make their relationships better, but he practices what he preaches, and it makes him an amazing character. Naomi has had some pretty terrible relationships in the past, and isn't in the greatest headspace regarding forming a new one.
There are so many gems of amazing advice regarding relationships, and each character is comfortable enough in their own skin to speak out and assert themselves with respect to communication between couples. Both are incredibly confident in their own sexual lives, which is a breath of fresh air to read about as well.
I loved the main characters, and the fun and eccentric supporting cast of characters in this book. This book has intense and spicy chemistry, which I am always a fan of. I read the entire thing in one setting, and don't at all regret the sleep I missed out on. This book is another example of why I will read every book Sarah Smith writes!
Thanks to Carina Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Sarah Smith has hit it out of the park with this one. Not only has she given us a leading man that makes a living teaching couples how to make their relationships better, but he practices what he preaches, and it makes him an amazing character. Naomi has had some pretty terrible relationships in the past, and isn't in the greatest headspace regarding forming a new one.
There are so many gems of amazing advice regarding relationships, and each character is comfortable enough in their own skin to speak out and assert themselves with respect to communication between couples. Both are incredibly confident in their own sexual lives, which is a breath of fresh air to read about as well.
I loved the main characters, and the fun and eccentric supporting cast of characters in this book. This book has intense and spicy chemistry, which I am always a fan of. I read the entire thing in one setting, and don't at all regret the sleep I missed out on. This book is another example of why I will read every book Sarah Smith writes!
Thanks to Carina Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read
September 18, 2023When it was revealed that Simon was lovingly dubbed as the "pussy whisperer", I knew that I was in for a fun time. And true enough, I couldn't put this book down - for better or for worse.
A few notes, though:
• For the viewers at home, divorce is not legal in the Philippines. It is literally the only country in the world (aside from the Vatican) where divorce is prohibited. Couples can either pursue legal separation or get their marriage annulled.
• Sarah Smith and her team need to improve their marketing skills because The Close-Up is not friends to lovers; it's coworkers to lovers. And that's a totally different thing.
• For a storyline that hinges on "Alas, we cannot be together because we need to stay professional" ad nauseum, there are a number of questionable scenes and decisions made in this book, such as Very early on in the book, I wish that these horny adults just went and banged their brains out because the pretense was very exhausting, especially when they unapologetically crossed lines again and again.
Overall, The Close-Up is so embarrassingly unhinged, ridiculous, and brazenly horny. It's very clearly a self-insert type of story, and I didn't mind it at all.
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter • ko-fi
A few notes, though:
• For the viewers at home, divorce is not legal in the Philippines. It is literally the only country in the world (aside from the Vatican) where divorce is prohibited. Couples can either pursue legal separation or get their marriage annulled.
• Sarah Smith and her team need to improve their marketing skills because The Close-Up is not friends to lovers; it's coworkers to lovers. And that's a totally different thing.
• For a storyline that hinges on "Alas, we cannot be together because we need to stay professional" ad nauseum, there are a number of questionable scenes and decisions made in this book, such as Very early on in the book, I wish that these horny adults just went and banged their brains out because the pretense was very exhausting, especially when they unapologetically crossed lines again and again.
Overall, The Close-Up is so embarrassingly unhinged, ridiculous, and brazenly horny. It's very clearly a self-insert type of story, and I didn't mind it at all.
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter • ko-fi
January 25, 2022
This book will be published on April 5, 2022.
What an exciting first 5 chapters (arc preview)! This review will be updated after I read the whole book.
What I LOVED about the preview is that I was hooked and interested from the very first line. The execution of the budding romance and all the flirting were realistic and I feel like some people may relate. A romcom indeed! The preview showed me the direction of where the story is going and I felt like I grasped enough information for me to want to purchase it and read it ASAP once it's out. Also, I NEED TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES. I loved the ending of chapter 5!! People should try to read this once they see the preview available!! I'm definitely picking this up once it's up on NetGalley/published. For now, I'll give this 5 stars. Really looking forward to the whole chunk!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) for the ARC Preview (5 chapters)!
What an exciting first 5 chapters (arc preview)! This review will be updated after I read the whole book.
What I LOVED about the preview is that I was hooked and interested from the very first line. The execution of the budding romance and all the flirting were realistic and I feel like some people may relate. A romcom indeed! The preview showed me the direction of where the story is going and I felt like I grasped enough information for me to want to purchase it and read it ASAP once it's out. Also, I NEED TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES. I loved the ending of chapter 5!! People should try to read this once they see the preview available!! I'm definitely picking this up once it's up on NetGalley/published. For now, I'll give this 5 stars. Really looking forward to the whole chunk!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) for the ARC Preview (5 chapters)!
May 24, 2022
SARAH SMITH PLEASE NEVER STOP WRITING YOU ARE A GENIUS!!
SIMONNAOMI I LOVE YOU
*one of my favorite quotes:
“If there’s someone in your life who makes you happier than anyone else when they do the simplest, silliest things with you, that’s the person you should be with. Life is short. Too short to be wasting your time with people who don’t drive you wild in the best way. That person who makes your stomach flip when you get a text from them? That person whose voice sends heat all over your body? That person whose terrible cooking you’d rather eat over your favorite takeout just because they made it for you? They’re the one.”
SIMONNAOMI I LOVE YOU
*one of my favorite quotes:
“If there’s someone in your life who makes you happier than anyone else when they do the simplest, silliest things with you, that’s the person you should be with. Life is short. Too short to be wasting your time with people who don’t drive you wild in the best way. That person who makes your stomach flip when you get a text from them? That person whose voice sends heat all over your body? That person whose terrible cooking you’d rather eat over your favorite takeout just because they made it for you? They’re the one.”
May 9, 2022
Ever read a romance where the hero is almost too perfect to be true (yes yes, I know, he's not 'real' anyway)? For me, it happened with this book. Simon gave me permanent heart eyes (and heart palpitations *wink*).
Naomi seemed more flawed and realistic, and the story was narrated from her POV (would've LOVED Simon's POV too but I'll happily take what I can get). At times, it was rather slow-paced, at times more fast-paced. Either way, there was sizzling chemistry along with hilarious scenes, flirty banter, and cute family gatherings.
If you like the coworkers to friends to lovers trope, this one's for you. I loved Simon's camming past and occupation, and how focused he was on meeting her needs in and out of the bedroom. I also squeed over the epilogue for various spoilery reasons I won't divulge here.
Naomi seemed more flawed and realistic, and the story was narrated from her POV (would've LOVED Simon's POV too but I'll happily take what I can get). At times, it was rather slow-paced, at times more fast-paced. Either way, there was sizzling chemistry along with hilarious scenes, flirty banter, and cute family gatherings.
If you like the coworkers to friends to lovers trope, this one's for you. I loved Simon's camming past and occupation, and how focused he was on meeting her needs in and out of the bedroom. I also squeed over the epilogue for various spoilery reasons I won't divulge here.
August 12, 2022
I could not get enough of this romance gem! Really enjoyed seeing Sarah Smith's growth from her first novel Faker. There was so much content in this for Naomi and Simon that I would definitely read this again to really savor this book! Also, Donnabella Mortel has the three S's I look for in an audiobook: sensuous, sweet and sarcastic. Wow, I could not get enough of her different voices for the various characters.
Naomi has been through so much in less than a year and I am glad to see her grow and adapt to new dating situations. This is one you definitely have to listen to because the delivery and writing was a perfect dance! I will never hear "Don't fret about it" the same way ever again. You won't regret reading this one!
This is my favorite Sarah Smith novel so far, cannot wait for The Boy with the Bookstore to come out!
Naomi has been through so much in less than a year and I am glad to see her grow and adapt to new dating situations. This is one you definitely have to listen to because the delivery and writing was a perfect dance! I will never hear "Don't fret about it" the same way ever again. You won't regret reading this one!
This is my favorite Sarah Smith novel so far, cannot wait for The Boy with the Bookstore to come out!
February 19, 2022
As much as I wanted to like The Close-Up, I just couldn't.
Did I have a giggle at the very first line "Nothing good comes from a dick pic. I know that now" - yes
Could I relate to Naomi's (main character) terrible dating experience of her 20's - also yes.
But that's where the positives end. I couldn't warm to Naomi. Simon, as the main love interest was highly unappealing to me. Could it be my age? Or could it just be that the idea of some dude who basically had a porn career, just an unscripted, unedited, homemade one (ie camming) didn't do it for me.
At times the story felt rushed and like it had a few holes.
I've read too many good romances lately, that this one just fell flat.
Thanks for the opportunity to have an advanced read NetGalley.
Did I have a giggle at the very first line "Nothing good comes from a dick pic. I know that now" - yes
Could I relate to Naomi's (main character) terrible dating experience of her 20's - also yes.
But that's where the positives end. I couldn't warm to Naomi. Simon, as the main love interest was highly unappealing to me. Could it be my age? Or could it just be that the idea of some dude who basically had a porn career, just an unscripted, unedited, homemade one (ie camming) didn't do it for me.
At times the story felt rushed and like it had a few holes.
I've read too many good romances lately, that this one just fell flat.
Thanks for the opportunity to have an advanced read NetGalley.
April 16, 2022
Is it possible to fall in love with a book after reading only 5 chapters?
Not gonna lie I was hooked from the first line. I couldn't stop myself from swiping page after page. It was show stopping! The story line is smooth and well written. It had correct pacing too. Naomi's personality really connected to me and I couldn’t help but like her quirkiness and clumsiness. Then there is Simon, the perfect husband material and you know what his occupation is? He is a relationship counselor like a very hot therapist. I loved the relationship between both of them and I can't wait to see how the end turns out.
Not gonna lie I was hooked from the first line. I couldn't stop myself from swiping page after page. It was show stopping! The story line is smooth and well written. It had correct pacing too. Naomi's personality really connected to me and I couldn’t help but like her quirkiness and clumsiness. Then there is Simon, the perfect husband material and you know what his occupation is? He is a relationship counselor like a very hot therapist. I loved the relationship between both of them and I can't wait to see how the end turns out.
April 7, 2022
SHE DID IT AGAIN!
Sarah never misses! I mean she put all of THE tropes into one book? Forced proximity is the ULT! Friends to Lovers is my cartnip and she does it well!
I don't usually like books with only one POV but the way this was written and told, it wasn't necessary because you can read between the lines, and feel Simon through the pages. Let's just say the HEA more than makes up for it ♥️
Sarah never misses! I mean she put all of THE tropes into one book? Forced proximity is the ULT! Friends to Lovers is my cartnip and she does it well!
I don't usually like books with only one POV but the way this was written and told, it wasn't necessary because you can read between the lines, and feel Simon through the pages. Let's just say the HEA more than makes up for it ♥️
April 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this! Some of the therapy stuff and some of the dialogue was a bit too much/unrealistic, but there was a lot of it that made me pause and reflect, and I just thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I usually don’t reread books like this but I probably will to have some of it soak in a little more. Male lead was perf, female lead had some of the same struggles as me (that I’ve hopefully grown out of) so it was really, really interesting to read a more mature account of it even if the female lead wasn’t as progressed in handling it.
March 21, 2022
The Close-Up was my first Sarah Smith book but definitely not my last!
Naomi is a digital editor for a site called Dash who is on a "relationship ban" after a string of bad relationships. Simon is the "perfect guy" who, as a relationship therapist, is Naomi's current interview assignment. Sparks fly, but they work together so any relationship is off-limits.
I really enjoyed the start of this book. The characters jump off the page and the chemistry between them captivated me from the beginning. There are also some super legit plot twists (such as Simon's work as a former cam guy and the distressing way Naomi finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her) that make this book feel very unique. It's definitely not a cookie-cutter read.
There's a little bit of everything here: fluff, jealousy, pining, and steam. It's definitely on the happier side and is perfect for anyone who likes the workplace romance with the whole can't be together because they work together vibe, which I'm a huge fan of. The premise is totally believable - it makes sense why they're always around each other but can't actually hook up.
Plus, the main characters' jobs are really interesting. I loved watching them work together and hearing Simon talk about relationships before they're actually in a relationship.
Towards the middle/end, this book slowed down for me a bit. Simon seems just...too perfect? He has literally no flaws so there wasn't much growth on his end. Even during the sexy scenes, it felt more like Simon was just doing what he normally does - being good in bed. I had no sense that this was different for him, even though he falls for Naomi very quickly. His character was a bit too static for me.
Meanwhile, I felt like Naomi came off as a bit immature at times. She jumps from feeling to feeling too quickly and does things that just don't make sense. For example, she's in the middle of kissing Simon and gets a call from her best friend/cousin. Instead of texting her best friend to say she'll call her later (or quickly answering to say the same thing), she jumps on the phone and talks to her friend the entire Uber ride back, so she never gets a chance to decide where things stand with Simon. I wish some of her actions had made a bit more sense. However, she does have a lovely arc and really grows towards the end.
My last *wish* is that the author had included less obvious dialogue. Often, it feels as though the characters are stating exactly what they think point blank, which from my experience people in real life don't do. I'd rather have a little mystery instead of being told what the characters are feeling.
The happy ending was really sweet. Plus, I loved all the little *jealousy* moments along the way. The author does a great job of keeping the tension up. There are a few time jumps that I wish hadn't happened (I want to see more of their relationship along the way), but the romance is very clearly developed and it's obvious by the end that the characters belong together.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Naomi is a digital editor for a site called Dash who is on a "relationship ban" after a string of bad relationships. Simon is the "perfect guy" who, as a relationship therapist, is Naomi's current interview assignment. Sparks fly, but they work together so any relationship is off-limits.
I really enjoyed the start of this book. The characters jump off the page and the chemistry between them captivated me from the beginning. There are also some super legit plot twists (such as Simon's work as a former cam guy and the distressing way Naomi finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her) that make this book feel very unique. It's definitely not a cookie-cutter read.
There's a little bit of everything here: fluff, jealousy, pining, and steam. It's definitely on the happier side and is perfect for anyone who likes the workplace romance with the whole can't be together because they work together vibe, which I'm a huge fan of. The premise is totally believable - it makes sense why they're always around each other but can't actually hook up.
Plus, the main characters' jobs are really interesting. I loved watching them work together and hearing Simon talk about relationships before they're actually in a relationship.
Towards the middle/end, this book slowed down for me a bit. Simon seems just...too perfect? He has literally no flaws so there wasn't much growth on his end. Even during the sexy scenes, it felt more like Simon was just doing what he normally does - being good in bed. I had no sense that this was different for him, even though he falls for Naomi very quickly. His character was a bit too static for me.
Meanwhile, I felt like Naomi came off as a bit immature at times. She jumps from feeling to feeling too quickly and does things that just don't make sense. For example, she's in the middle of kissing Simon and gets a call from her best friend/cousin. Instead of texting her best friend to say she'll call her later (or quickly answering to say the same thing), she jumps on the phone and talks to her friend the entire Uber ride back, so she never gets a chance to decide where things stand with Simon. I wish some of her actions had made a bit more sense. However, she does have a lovely arc and really grows towards the end.
My last *wish* is that the author had included less obvious dialogue. Often, it feels as though the characters are stating exactly what they think point blank, which from my experience people in real life don't do. I'd rather have a little mystery instead of being told what the characters are feeling.
The happy ending was really sweet. Plus, I loved all the little *jealousy* moments along the way. The author does a great job of keeping the tension up. There are a few time jumps that I wish hadn't happened (I want to see more of their relationship along the way), but the romance is very clearly developed and it's obvious by the end that the characters belong together.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2022
I’ve read and enjoyed a few books by Sarah Smith (really enjoyed Simmer Down), so when I saw she had a new book coming out soon I was excited to give it a try. The premise – Naomi, a digital editor, fresh off a string of bad relationships and officially on a relationship ‘ban’ is thrown together with Simon, seemingly perfect guy, relationship therapist and her newest interview assignment.
This one was a mixed bag, and definitely not a read for everyone. For one, Simon’s character is a former ‘camguy’ – I was unfamiliar with the concept, but it’s definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
The highlights – the writing as always is good. Sarah delivers solid stories with fleshed out characters. The premise itself works – I like many, enjoy a ‘workplace’ romance and the whole idea of ‘giving up on love’ only to stumble upon that person who makes you want to give it a second chance. I thought the jobs were a nice change up too, I haven’t read a romance that featured a relationship therapist before or someone who also specialized in seminars.
I found Simon’s job intriguing and the idea that she would be following his work and doing a series based around it. The characters were ones I was intrigued by, and it was interested to learn more about them too.
Wishes / Misses – story is marked friends to lovers, this might just be a me thing, but I would not classify it as such. I think of friends to lovers as one where they truly are friends and have an established relationship first, that evolves to one or more parties having feelings. In this case, they meet – she knows him from his cam days – are attracted to one another / hit on one another and then start working together. I think my second biggest wish/miss was related to part of the storyline with Landon and Desiree – no spoilers, but especially in light of the seminar and what was said by both her and Simon, this bit felt very hypocritical on both their parts and had me yelling at them a bit. I wish that bit of the story had been cut.
The book felt a smidge long for me, I think because the Landon/Desiree bit felt a bit unnecessary and dragged a bit. However, it did do a nice job of exploring how prior relationships can have an impact on how we move forward (consciously and unconsciously).
Thank you to Carina Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This one was a mixed bag, and definitely not a read for everyone. For one, Simon’s character is a former ‘camguy’ – I was unfamiliar with the concept, but it’s definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
The highlights – the writing as always is good. Sarah delivers solid stories with fleshed out characters. The premise itself works – I like many, enjoy a ‘workplace’ romance and the whole idea of ‘giving up on love’ only to stumble upon that person who makes you want to give it a second chance. I thought the jobs were a nice change up too, I haven’t read a romance that featured a relationship therapist before or someone who also specialized in seminars.
I found Simon’s job intriguing and the idea that she would be following his work and doing a series based around it. The characters were ones I was intrigued by, and it was interested to learn more about them too.
Wishes / Misses – story is marked friends to lovers, this might just be a me thing, but I would not classify it as such. I think of friends to lovers as one where they truly are friends and have an established relationship first, that evolves to one or more parties having feelings. In this case, they meet – she knows him from his cam days – are attracted to one another / hit on one another and then start working together. I think my second biggest wish/miss was related to part of the storyline with Landon and Desiree – no spoilers, but especially in light of the seminar and what was said by both her and Simon, this bit felt very hypocritical on both their parts and had me yelling at them a bit. I wish that bit of the story had been cut.
The book felt a smidge long for me, I think because the Landon/Desiree bit felt a bit unnecessary and dragged a bit. However, it did do a nice job of exploring how prior relationships can have an impact on how we move forward (consciously and unconsciously).
Thank you to Carina Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
February 19, 2022
The Close-Up is an unputdownable friends-to-lovers romance. Sarah Smith writes a unique and unexpected take on this popular trope!
Naomi is a digital editor for a popular magazine. She is going through a breakup after her boyfriend cheated on her. This leads her to stick to a love ban. She is over relationships and wants to focus on work and having fun. When she goes out with her best friend, they are having a good time. She has one too many and decides to tackle something on her f*ck it list. It's the list where she does something that she normally wouldn't do. This time she is going to flirt with a hot guy at the bar. That hot guy happens to be Simon. Simon is really charming and attractive. Naomi probably won't remember everything but she won't forget vomiting all over his shoes.
A few days later, she is back at work and tasked with a new assignment; to create a docuseries on a popular relationship therapist. It so happens that it is Simon, the man she was flirting with. Can you say awkward? But he makes everything so comfortable between them. A bit too comfortable because they have fantastic chemistry. Naomi doesn't want to do relationships but it's becoming harder to keep things strictly professional. Did I mention that Simon also used to be a cam guy who Naomi was a fan of when she was younger? That's just another added fact that is making it harder for her to keep her hands to herself.
I absolutely loved the chemistry and sexual tension between Naomi and Simon. And I love that the author lets the main characters build a solid friendship before ever crossing that line from friends to lovers. Like I previously mentioned this is unlike anything I have read in this trope. The author presents a character in Simon that is comfortable in his skin and doesn't shame him for being a cam guy. She gives readers a good reminder of how people can change and grow through life and how they should never be judged or shamed for their life choices. I think Naomi is such a relatable character. She has been burned too many times in the past and is afraid of love. To see her growth by the end of the book is so worth the read.
I give The Close-Up 5 stars. It's such a fresh take on one of my favorite tropes. I couldn't help but be captivated from the very beginning. I think readers will enjoy the chemistry and spark between Simon and Naomi. The romance and spice of the book make it impossible to put down!
Naomi is a digital editor for a popular magazine. She is going through a breakup after her boyfriend cheated on her. This leads her to stick to a love ban. She is over relationships and wants to focus on work and having fun. When she goes out with her best friend, they are having a good time. She has one too many and decides to tackle something on her f*ck it list. It's the list where she does something that she normally wouldn't do. This time she is going to flirt with a hot guy at the bar. That hot guy happens to be Simon. Simon is really charming and attractive. Naomi probably won't remember everything but she won't forget vomiting all over his shoes.
A few days later, she is back at work and tasked with a new assignment; to create a docuseries on a popular relationship therapist. It so happens that it is Simon, the man she was flirting with. Can you say awkward? But he makes everything so comfortable between them. A bit too comfortable because they have fantastic chemistry. Naomi doesn't want to do relationships but it's becoming harder to keep things strictly professional. Did I mention that Simon also used to be a cam guy who Naomi was a fan of when she was younger? That's just another added fact that is making it harder for her to keep her hands to herself.
I absolutely loved the chemistry and sexual tension between Naomi and Simon. And I love that the author lets the main characters build a solid friendship before ever crossing that line from friends to lovers. Like I previously mentioned this is unlike anything I have read in this trope. The author presents a character in Simon that is comfortable in his skin and doesn't shame him for being a cam guy. She gives readers a good reminder of how people can change and grow through life and how they should never be judged or shamed for their life choices. I think Naomi is such a relatable character. She has been burned too many times in the past and is afraid of love. To see her growth by the end of the book is so worth the read.
I give The Close-Up 5 stars. It's such a fresh take on one of my favorite tropes. I couldn't help but be captivated from the very beginning. I think readers will enjoy the chemistry and spark between Simon and Naomi. The romance and spice of the book make it impossible to put down!
July 31, 2022
Some aspects of this book are really good!
I wanted to like it more than I did. But some parts just didn’t work for me.
The story starts with Naomi drinking too much after a bad breakup, hitting on a hot guy, throwing up on that guy, and realizing she recognizes the guy from his amazing ‘camming’ days. Then she’s given the work assignment of interviewing that guy, named Simon, because he’s now a relationship therapist who helped save Naomi’s boss’s marriage. Naomi and Simon have some awkward moments, but build a great friendship as they work together on a successful series. They might want more with each other. But they try to draw the line and stay professional. Lots of back and forth that gets a bit frustrating. But it’s obvious that this co-workers to lovers trope will go where expected.
There are some fun and heartwarming moments with friends and family throughout the story. And there is a very positive approach to therapy with some deeper exploration into relationships that’s actually really good. Some of the moments and conversations between the main love interests are honest and almost beautiful. Naomi is too convinced that any relationship she has is doomed, which gets a bit annoying. Simon is almost too good to be true. Dreamy for sure. But a bit too much.
I added this book on Libby because I saw a couple of raving five star reviews for it. I maybe should have been more cautious because it was honestly a bit too much for me with how sex focused it is. I should’ve stopped reading after the very first sentence. There is a lot of talk about camming, which is way outside of my realm of knowledge. Lots of details given about sexy times. Some romance readers love this. But the way it’s handled in this book was not up my alley and not something I’d tell my friends to read. My 3⭐️ rating is not only because of the cringy steamy parts. I’ve read a lot of romcoms, and overall this one was just ok. It’s a fast and easy read, but I didn’t have much emotional connection with it.
Again, there are some really good aspects of this book. But some not so good parts, too. I loved the sweet parts and was so pleased with a HEA. But I’d definitely recommend some other romcoms over this one.
I wanted to like it more than I did. But some parts just didn’t work for me.
The story starts with Naomi drinking too much after a bad breakup, hitting on a hot guy, throwing up on that guy, and realizing she recognizes the guy from his amazing ‘camming’ days. Then she’s given the work assignment of interviewing that guy, named Simon, because he’s now a relationship therapist who helped save Naomi’s boss’s marriage. Naomi and Simon have some awkward moments, but build a great friendship as they work together on a successful series. They might want more with each other. But they try to draw the line and stay professional. Lots of back and forth that gets a bit frustrating. But it’s obvious that this co-workers to lovers trope will go where expected.
There are some fun and heartwarming moments with friends and family throughout the story. And there is a very positive approach to therapy with some deeper exploration into relationships that’s actually really good. Some of the moments and conversations between the main love interests are honest and almost beautiful. Naomi is too convinced that any relationship she has is doomed, which gets a bit annoying. Simon is almost too good to be true. Dreamy for sure. But a bit too much.
I added this book on Libby because I saw a couple of raving five star reviews for it. I maybe should have been more cautious because it was honestly a bit too much for me with how sex focused it is. I should’ve stopped reading after the very first sentence. There is a lot of talk about camming, which is way outside of my realm of knowledge. Lots of details given about sexy times. Some romance readers love this. But the way it’s handled in this book was not up my alley and not something I’d tell my friends to read. My 3⭐️ rating is not only because of the cringy steamy parts. I’ve read a lot of romcoms, and overall this one was just ok. It’s a fast and easy read, but I didn’t have much emotional connection with it.
Again, there are some really good aspects of this book. But some not so good parts, too. I loved the sweet parts and was so pleased with a HEA. But I’d definitely recommend some other romcoms over this one.
March 10, 2022
Simon Rutler knows relationships. Despite not having a successful relationship of his own, he is a very successful relationship therapist. In fact, that is exactly what prompts Naomi's boss to insist that she interview him for a docu-series to be posted onto their company website. What Naomi's boss doesn't know is that Naomi has met Simon previously. In fact, she vomited on his shoes at a bar just a few days ago. Oh and also, she knows of him from his college camming days! *wiggles eyebrows* Vowing to keep things strictly friendly, yet professional between each other during filming, things begin to get very comfortable. Maybe a little too comfortable, if you know what I mean!
Simon was a sweetheart and literally the perfect boyfriend. Since he is a relationship therapist and ex-cam boy, he knew exactly what to say and do (If you know what I mean *wink wink* - If only other men could be this flawless!) Naomi on the other hand.. I don't know. I just didn't jive with her character. She felt a bit childish - Instantly jumping down Simon's throat at times, or assuming the worst case scenarios. I don't know, maybe it was just played up for the drama aspect of it all, but I didn't like it.
Have you guys ever read a book that was slow and dragged on, yet at the same time felt really rushed? I don't even know how to explain it. It felt like the author was jumping from this scene, to this scene, to this scene, yet at the same time, I would only move approximately 5% in the book. But when the sexy scenes happened, it was pages upon pages of description! In fact at one point, I think a sex scene was over two chapters! But then it jumped right back to being rushed. It was so strange.
I think I'm going to have an unpopular opinion here, but I just didn't overally enjoy this one. Too much of a rushed storyline, too many plot holes, too much drama for no reason. No, thank you. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3/5.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for a free copy of this book for my honest review.
Simon was a sweetheart and literally the perfect boyfriend. Since he is a relationship therapist and ex-cam boy, he knew exactly what to say and do (If you know what I mean *wink wink* - If only other men could be this flawless!) Naomi on the other hand.. I don't know. I just didn't jive with her character. She felt a bit childish - Instantly jumping down Simon's throat at times, or assuming the worst case scenarios. I don't know, maybe it was just played up for the drama aspect of it all, but I didn't like it.
Have you guys ever read a book that was slow and dragged on, yet at the same time felt really rushed? I don't even know how to explain it. It felt like the author was jumping from this scene, to this scene, to this scene, yet at the same time, I would only move approximately 5% in the book. But when the sexy scenes happened, it was pages upon pages of description! In fact at one point, I think a sex scene was over two chapters! But then it jumped right back to being rushed. It was so strange.
I think I'm going to have an unpopular opinion here, but I just didn't overally enjoy this one. Too much of a rushed storyline, too many plot holes, too much drama for no reason. No, thank you. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3/5.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for a free copy of this book for my honest review.
April 9, 2022
This book!! That's it. That's the review.
Just kidding. I have too much gushing to do.
I loved this book. I loved the cover & title, I loved the premise, I loved the sex positivity, and I LOVED Simon! Simon went from being a cam guy in college to being a sought after relationship therapist. He was such a fun and educational charcater to read. I think it's such a shame we don't get his POV because he's the kind of character who's serves his voice to be heard!
I really liked the seminars and that Naomi eventually participated here and there. I think that's a seminar I would sit through just because it's interesting and there always ways to improve yourself as a partner!
I will say I didn't *love* Naomi, only because she was so wishy washy. She has a man who understands women, relationships, commitment, communication... And she somehow found a way to miscommunicate and question him? I just wanted to shake her and tell her to get it together.
I already know this will be a hit and it's out now so go grab it!! 🥰
.
BLURB:
Simon Rutler is the perfect man.
Handsome, kind and smart—Simon is amazing. Naomi Ellorza-Hays might be fresh out of a bad relationship and determined to stay single, but Simon is testing her newfound relationship ban. Good thing they’re working together. Simon may be perfect, but he’s also off-limits.
There’s just one small—well, big—problem.
Simon works as a relationship therapist, specializing in helping men better support their partners. But Naomi can’t stop thinking about how she was first introduced to Simon…as the camguy she watched in college. Filming him for her new docuseries suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.
Their relationship is…complicated.
Determined to stay professional, Naomi refuses to give in to their sizzling chemistry—until she does, and even then, it’s strictly no strings attached. Until it’s not. And Naomi realizes that maybe things between her and Simon aren’t so complicated after all.
Just kidding. I have too much gushing to do.
I loved this book. I loved the cover & title, I loved the premise, I loved the sex positivity, and I LOVED Simon! Simon went from being a cam guy in college to being a sought after relationship therapist. He was such a fun and educational charcater to read. I think it's such a shame we don't get his POV because he's the kind of character who's serves his voice to be heard!
I really liked the seminars and that Naomi eventually participated here and there. I think that's a seminar I would sit through just because it's interesting and there always ways to improve yourself as a partner!
I will say I didn't *love* Naomi, only because she was so wishy washy. She has a man who understands women, relationships, commitment, communication... And she somehow found a way to miscommunicate and question him? I just wanted to shake her and tell her to get it together.
I already know this will be a hit and it's out now so go grab it!! 🥰
.
BLURB:
Simon Rutler is the perfect man.
Handsome, kind and smart—Simon is amazing. Naomi Ellorza-Hays might be fresh out of a bad relationship and determined to stay single, but Simon is testing her newfound relationship ban. Good thing they’re working together. Simon may be perfect, but he’s also off-limits.
There’s just one small—well, big—problem.
Simon works as a relationship therapist, specializing in helping men better support their partners. But Naomi can’t stop thinking about how she was first introduced to Simon…as the camguy she watched in college. Filming him for her new docuseries suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.
Their relationship is…complicated.
Determined to stay professional, Naomi refuses to give in to their sizzling chemistry—until she does, and even then, it’s strictly no strings attached. Until it’s not. And Naomi realizes that maybe things between her and Simon aren’t so complicated after all.
May 28, 2022
So, incredibly crinegy. Why do authors think that embarrassing things happening to the main character is enjoyable or funny for the reader? The bathtub scene was so awful, I had to look away from the book multiple times just to get away from how awful it was. Then the singing in the street? So cringey. Her speaking up in the relationship seminar? So cringey. I’ll admit, it WAS funny to read that people were calling her cool and badass for doing that because it’s so unbelievable. If I knew this character in real life, I would absolutely hate her. I get so much second hand embarrassment from her, which MAYBE could be overlooked if the romance was good, but it wasn’t. Friends to lovers is hard to do because you need to get tension and angst and longing in the story in a relationship that doesn’t necessarily have a lot of room for that, and this author failed this tremendously. There was no chemistry between the main couple and I only kept reading so I could hate-write this review and wonder how something this heinous got published. It was also so gross how much they gaslit Desiree and Landon when they asked them if there was anything between them. There clearly was and they were just leading them on and they were made out to be the villainous secondary love interests when in actuality, they were in the right. Also, the whole idea of the secondary love interest was so lame, it didn’t work here at all and instead just made the chemistry between the main two even less present. Also, the third act breakup conflict was again, so lame. So much happened in this story but none of it was good. The premise for this book was so good, so unique, I was so excited for something new but I was so disappointed.
April 1, 2022
Simon Rutler is a relationship expert. he is a very successful relationship therapist despite not having had a successful relationship of his own. in fact, Naomi's boss insists on interviewing him for a miniseries to be uploaded on the company website. Naomi's boss is unaware that Naomi had met Simon before. just a few days earlier, she puked on his shoes in a bar. she also recognises him from his camming days in college 😳🫣. things start to seem a liiitle out of hand once both agrees to keep things strictly platonic and professional during filming.
i really want to love this book, given the castings set by the author, i was intrigued! what i didn’t know is that this book was a little bit inappropriate for me to read well im an adult that’s for sure but i think it’s creepy.. friends to lovers or creeps to lovers..(?) and i felt the plot was a bit draggy with unnecessary details and interactions with extra characters. on the bright side i love the banter and i love their friendship and certainly the happy ending 🥹 based on the ratings and reviews, everybody pretty much love this book, maybe i’m the problem 🤷🏻♀️ anyway, this book will be out on 5th April! thank you netgalley and Carina Press(Harlequin) for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review <3
i really want to love this book, given the castings set by the author, i was intrigued! what i didn’t know is that this book was a little bit inappropriate for me to read well im an adult that’s for sure but i think it’s creepy.. friends to lovers or creeps to lovers..(?) and i felt the plot was a bit draggy with unnecessary details and interactions with extra characters. on the bright side i love the banter and i love their friendship and certainly the happy ending 🥹 based on the ratings and reviews, everybody pretty much love this book, maybe i’m the problem 🤷🏻♀️ anyway, this book will be out on 5th April! thank you netgalley and Carina Press(Harlequin) for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review <3
April 23, 2022
Okay here is the gist. Simon is a cam guy turned relationship guru who is responsible for mending so many broken marriages. Niomi just found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her, she gets a big break when she gets to do an online series on Simon they start a friendship which they decided to keep platonic as she wants to be professional before her boss.
there has lots and lots of spark between them even after they both have their own individual relationships finally they give in to their impulses.it was a slow burn romance. she was hurt in her past relationships and she didn't completely trust herself with him, so she took the cowardly way out she left him without telling him( which she know hurt him).
she soon realises that he was nothing like her past relationships and stopped comparing them to him she came to terms with her true feelings and decides to confess her love to him but he beats her to it.
It has a lot of steam, this book has the cutest epilogue ever She proposed to him with muffins ahhhh cuteness overload
and finally, don't fret about it. those who read the book knows what it means😉😉😉.
there has lots and lots of spark between them even after they both have their own individual relationships finally they give in to their impulses.it was a slow burn romance. she was hurt in her past relationships and she didn't completely trust herself with him, so she took the cowardly way out she left him without telling him( which she know hurt him).
she soon realises that he was nothing like her past relationships and stopped comparing them to him she came to terms with her true feelings and decides to confess her love to him but he beats her to it.
It has a lot of steam, this book has the cutest epilogue ever She proposed to him with muffins ahhhh cuteness overload
and finally, don't fret about it. those who read the book knows what it means😉😉😉.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2022
The Close-Up is a story about a TV producer and a camguy turned relationship expert. But it’s a far cry from that gross manipulative “seduction” stuff that arced up about a decade ago. No no, Simon Rutler — this book’s leading lad — is all about empathy, consideration, and non-toxic masculinity. Think like that bit in 22 Jump Street where Channing Tatum’s character gets woke, but this guy is self-possessed and confident instead of goofy. This steamy contemporary novel had me smiling from start to finish. The FMC is strong and witty, the MMC is thoughtful and considerate, and their encounters are awkward and hilarious and just so heart-warming. I wish someone would make movie out of this novel, seriously. It's such a great read 💕
April 7, 2022
When Naomi is given the task of working on a series based on Simon, a relationship therapist, the two notice the sparks flying between them. Can they keep things strictly professional?
Oh man, this book was Sweet. And I mean Sweet, with a capital S. But don't get me wrong, it was also Steamy. And that too, with a capital S! There were a lot of funny moments peppered throughout the book and with Sarah Smith's signature writing style, I was turning the pages at rapid speed.. If you're a romcom lover, this one needs to be added to your list!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Oh man, this book was Sweet. And I mean Sweet, with a capital S. But don't get me wrong, it was also Steamy. And that too, with a capital S! There were a lot of funny moments peppered throughout the book and with Sarah Smith's signature writing style, I was turning the pages at rapid speed.. If you're a romcom lover, this one needs to be added to your list!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 3, 2022
I had the honor of reading an early version of this book, and I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE. First of all: a sexy as all hell hero who’s a relationship therapist and former cam guy? And a tough, Fil-Am career-driven heroine who fearlessly pursues her goals? Yes please!
The writer’s voice is refreshing, the story is satisfying, and the chemistry between the main characters is super hot. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to read this book. Pretty much everything Sarah writes is gold. Everything.
The writer’s voice is refreshing, the story is satisfying, and the chemistry between the main characters is super hot. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to read this book. Pretty much everything Sarah writes is gold. Everything.
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