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Love Where You Work #2
Pivot: A Novel
A laugh-out-loud queer rom-com like no other!
After a disastrous and publicly humiliating rejection at a cosplay convention, naive yet hopeful romantic Paula Suarez is left with another crushing failure in her quest for love – and her dream of becoming a costume designer. But when she stumbles upon feisty mixed-race journalist Nita Funmaker, a friendship blossoms which may soon grow into something much more.
Embroiled in a bitter divorce and immersed in pursuing her latest scoop, Nita isn’t sure if she’s ready for another try at love. But with her father’s paper on the ropes and her ex still hounding her, maybe a bit of fun and relaxation is exactly what she needs.
Drawn together by a series of increasingly amusing and absurd events – from Paula joining an underground drag wrestling show to Nita’s secret passion for ice skating – Paula and Nita must navigate their increasingly tumultuous emotions, help each other face their deepest fears, and maybe even find true love along the way.
After a disastrous and publicly humiliating rejection at a cosplay convention, naive yet hopeful romantic Paula Suarez is left with another crushing failure in her quest for love – and her dream of becoming a costume designer. But when she stumbles upon feisty mixed-race journalist Nita Funmaker, a friendship blossoms which may soon grow into something much more.
Embroiled in a bitter divorce and immersed in pursuing her latest scoop, Nita isn’t sure if she’s ready for another try at love. But with her father’s paper on the ropes and her ex still hounding her, maybe a bit of fun and relaxation is exactly what she needs.
Drawn together by a series of increasingly amusing and absurd events – from Paula joining an underground drag wrestling show to Nita’s secret passion for ice skating – Paula and Nita must navigate their increasingly tumultuous emotions, help each other face their deepest fears, and maybe even find true love along the way.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2022
68 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Anna Pulley
7 books87 followersANNA PULLEY is a queer, mixed-race, hard-of-hearing writer living in the Bay Area. She writes rom-coms and is the author of The Lesbian Sex Haiku Book (with Cats!), which Tegan and Sara said was "an adorable and hilarious way to start the day," Cheryl Strayed called a "must-read," and actress Jennifer Tilly said was "thoroughly charming." She writes a weekly sex and dating advice column for The Chicago Tribune and been published in New York magazine, Mother Jones, The Washington Post, San Francisco magazine (the issue she contributed to won a National Magazine Award), Vice, Salon, BuzzFeed, and many others. She was also named a Top LGBTQ Writer on Medium. Her writing was excerpted/quoted in Esther Perel's book, The State of Affairs. She's been a repeat guest on Dan Savage's podcast, Savage Love, on Daniel M. Lavery's "Dear Prudence" podcast, and most recently on the popular 99% Invisible podcast.
When not writing or reading, you'll find her trapped under a cat, probably.
When not writing or reading, you'll find her trapped under a cat, probably.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 1, 2022
**'Expressing yourself in your storyline is like creating something that might be pleasing to readers or not..'
Enjoyable read!
Sometimes good and at times not but the relationship was kinda amusing.
Enjoyable read!
Sometimes good and at times not but the relationship was kinda amusing.
September 16, 2022
Cosplay is Paula Suarez’s superpower. It allows her to become someone else and to indulge in her passion for making and designing costumes. Making a fool of herself at a cosplay convention could have ruined it for her if not for Nita Funmaker, a quirky journalist who proved that random acts of kindness really can make someone’s day.
Among the many things I enjoyed in this rom-com are the fact that both main characters and most secondary characters are BIPOC, and everything about Paula being, in her own words, “pretty deaf”. Both Nita and Paula are compelling characters who face loss in one way or another and have to make decisions that will impact their lives going forward. Nita struggles with her huge sense of duty over what she really wants to do with her life after her dream was taken away from her, as well as finding her place as a white-passing and serious woman in a family that seems to be anything but. Paula’s challenge is her hearing loss, what it means for her, how she deals (or doesn’t deal at times) with it, Nita’s reaction. The author, who knows all these topics from personal experience, mixes moments of pure comedy with real feelings and it worked very well for me.
If you’ve read Love Where You Work, you may remember Paula being Julia’s best friend. This second book can be read as a standalone but Julia and Clare are important secondary characters in this story so, as usual, I recommend starting at the beginning. It’s not essential, however, and if you’d rather jump in with Nita and Paula, I’m sure they would both approve of the spontaneity. 4.5⭐️
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
August 31, 2022
This is a wonderful book about overcoming hurdles snd finding hidden inner strength. There was such a lot to like, but I’m going to focus on Paula’s hearing loss.
It was like reading an autobiography. I was amazed at how similar our journeys were. How hard it is to accept hearing aids into our lives, how lip reading really does help to hear (damn you covid for making masks a thing), and the overall embarrassment of having hearing loss from a young age when it’s an ‘old people thing”. The writing on this subject was well written and so on the nail that I felt humanised which shows how powerful the book is.
Fab book with lots of humour too.
It was like reading an autobiography. I was amazed at how similar our journeys were. How hard it is to accept hearing aids into our lives, how lip reading really does help to hear (damn you covid for making masks a thing), and the overall embarrassment of having hearing loss from a young age when it’s an ‘old people thing”. The writing on this subject was well written and so on the nail that I felt humanised which shows how powerful the book is.
Fab book with lots of humour too.
August 25, 2022
Trigger Warnings: Alcohol, divorce, past cheating, masturbation, sex toys, sex, weed, couples therapy, toxic relationship, gaslighting, cursing
Representation: Lesbian, Hard of hearing, amputee, mixed race, Drag
Pivot: a novel is the second installment of the Love Where You Work series starting with a failed romantic gesture by Paula. Dreaming of being a costume designer, Paula is rescued from the embarrassing failure by journalist Nita, who is at the convention in attempt to write a story to help save her father’s paper. Paula and Nita go from strangers to lovers but life isn’t as simple as that.
This eARC was provided by the author via StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.
I just love this author! I hope she has so many more stories to come because she writes adult Lesbian rom-com so well! I hope she can have them turned into audiobooks to reach an even bigger audience!
I loved all of the characters in this story, especially the main leads. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of Paula’s hard of hearing representation. I thought that was such a nice way to normalize hearing loss and an integral part of the story. It’s so important to include diversity without the focus being on the how/why but instead just aspects of the identity that effects everyday life.
Overall, this is another great book! I love the romance and the comedy that occurred and I am a sucker for a happy ending! This is a very entertaining, laugh-out-loud funny, and sexy romance. This book contains the good romance and love, as well as the important growth in its characters.
Representation: Lesbian, Hard of hearing, amputee, mixed race, Drag
Pivot: a novel is the second installment of the Love Where You Work series starting with a failed romantic gesture by Paula. Dreaming of being a costume designer, Paula is rescued from the embarrassing failure by journalist Nita, who is at the convention in attempt to write a story to help save her father’s paper. Paula and Nita go from strangers to lovers but life isn’t as simple as that.
This eARC was provided by the author via StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.
I just love this author! I hope she has so many more stories to come because she writes adult Lesbian rom-com so well! I hope she can have them turned into audiobooks to reach an even bigger audience!
I loved all of the characters in this story, especially the main leads. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of Paula’s hard of hearing representation. I thought that was such a nice way to normalize hearing loss and an integral part of the story. It’s so important to include diversity without the focus being on the how/why but instead just aspects of the identity that effects everyday life.
Overall, this is another great book! I love the romance and the comedy that occurred and I am a sucker for a happy ending! This is a very entertaining, laugh-out-loud funny, and sexy romance. This book contains the good romance and love, as well as the important growth in its characters.
February 25, 2023
A charming lesbian, nerd, San Francisco romance. Not the best book you'll read but not trash either, much better than many similar novels.
There's even a cameo by Patrick Stewart, which rings so true to him that it must be based on a real incident.
There's even a cameo by Patrick Stewart, which rings so true to him that it must be based on a real incident.
December 13, 2025
3,5/5
I loved this one in a weird way.
I'm happy I've read it ,I'm happy it didn't felt like a waste of time.
I'm so happy most of all at the self respect in this book from one of the main characters, had me so shocked I literally stared at my wall as if the answers were there.
I understand both of them equally and I love them the same way.
I loved this one in a weird way.
I'm happy I've read it ,I'm happy it didn't felt like a waste of time.
I'm so happy most of all at the self respect in this book from one of the main characters, had me so shocked I literally stared at my wall as if the answers were there.
I understand both of them equally and I love them the same way.
August 29, 2022
Phenomenal ;)
October 5, 2022
I absolutely adored the first book in this series, LOVE WHERE YOU WORK, which was sexy, funny, and full of great metaphors. I was immediately drawn into THAT story, loved every minute of reading it, and consequently had the bar set pretty high when I started PIVOT.
I did not have the same instalove for PIVOT. I started reading, wasn't feeling it, and put it aside for a couple of weeks. It went better when I picked it up again, but I never loved Nita and Paula as much as I'd loved Clare and Julia. This story is quirkier, which is neither good nor bad, but just how it is. Paula has hearing loss, which features in the plot, and is handled with kindness and affection. Nita is a former Olympic hopeful figure skater, and I actually don't know how accurate descriptions of jumps were here, but I believed in the versions put before me.
The last 10% of the book was full of metaphors that fell flat or made no sense, which was a disappointment based on Ms. Pulley's prior book.
As in LOVE WHERE YOU WORK, the sex scenes are far superior to the average lesbian romance intimacy, with actual body parts being named and enthusiastically engaged. Am I just reading all the wrong lesbian romance where everything is vague and there is more attention given to sports bras and abs than sex organs? Anyway, this is definitely not that.
If I hadn't loved LOVE WHERE YOU WORK as much as I did, I might have been more generous with my stars for PIVOT, but Ms. Pulley fell short of perfection this time.
I did not have the same instalove for PIVOT. I started reading, wasn't feeling it, and put it aside for a couple of weeks. It went better when I picked it up again, but I never loved Nita and Paula as much as I'd loved Clare and Julia. This story is quirkier, which is neither good nor bad, but just how it is. Paula has hearing loss, which features in the plot, and is handled with kindness and affection. Nita is a former Olympic hopeful figure skater, and I actually don't know how accurate descriptions of jumps were here, but I believed in the versions put before me.
The last 10% of the book was full of metaphors that fell flat or made no sense, which was a disappointment based on Ms. Pulley's prior book.
As in LOVE WHERE YOU WORK, the sex scenes are far superior to the average lesbian romance intimacy, with actual body parts being named and enthusiastically engaged. Am I just reading all the wrong lesbian romance where everything is vague and there is more attention given to sports bras and abs than sex organs? Anyway, this is definitely not that.
If I hadn't loved LOVE WHERE YOU WORK as much as I did, I might have been more generous with my stars for PIVOT, but Ms. Pulley fell short of perfection this time.
September 10, 2024
I loved the opening to this book. Paula at a cos play convention dressed as a character sang to the most famous cos player of them all. Her costume sounds excellent, as did her song - designed to seduce - but she was patted on the head and left standing. Not left standing alone but with an audience that had gathered to see and hear the song. Ouch.
She was saved by a journalist - Nita.
We then have the couple that the story is based around.
There is a lot to like on this nook. Paula has hearing loss and is struggling to come to terms with needing hearing aids which has destroyed not only her self confidence but her opera singing career.
Nita is a journalist working on a paper owned by her father, after she gave up her ice skating career due to a fear of being watched while skating.
There is a lot of detail and information about ice skating and hearing loss - perhaps a mixture of lived experience and research. But I should point out that the plural of Lego is Lego not Legos.
As their story moves on they both come to accept themselves and their differences.
There is an epilogue set 2 years after the main body of the book.
This does involve a proposal.
There is also an extra chapter detailing the author's own proposal to her now wife. This was a fun surprise at the end of the book.
She was saved by a journalist - Nita.
We then have the couple that the story is based around.
There is a lot to like on this nook. Paula has hearing loss and is struggling to come to terms with needing hearing aids which has destroyed not only her self confidence but her opera singing career.
Nita is a journalist working on a paper owned by her father, after she gave up her ice skating career due to a fear of being watched while skating.
There is a lot of detail and information about ice skating and hearing loss - perhaps a mixture of lived experience and research. But I should point out that the plural of Lego is Lego not Legos.
As their story moves on they both come to accept themselves and their differences.
There is an epilogue set 2 years after the main body of the book.
This does involve a proposal.
There is also an extra chapter detailing the author's own proposal to her now wife. This was a fun surprise at the end of the book.
September 21, 2022
I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one. I did enjoy the hearing impairment representation and it was quite honestly both interesting and endearing hearing about the unique challenges of trying to navigate the world while hiring the hearing problems Paula experiences and how she's worked hard to compensate professionally.
What I didn't enjoy was the slightly odd mention of Clare from the previous book eating exclusively sweets and junk food to "relive her childhood". Mentioning this once or twice in a joking way that made it clear that Clear and Julia were enjoying more impulsive food but not exclusively would have been enjoyable but the fact that it's brought up several times started to get a little strange for me and mildly shame-y.
Additionally, the idea of a friend drugging you for you date so that you'll feel less inhibitions seemed like a weird bit to include, even if it ended up not being fact. The idea of a friend doing that and then the person thanking them later, only to discover they didn't actually slip anything in their drink was very iffy to me.
That aside, the idea of conventions and having found family in your workplace and hobbies was really enjoyable and well done.
What I didn't enjoy was the slightly odd mention of Clare from the previous book eating exclusively sweets and junk food to "relive her childhood". Mentioning this once or twice in a joking way that made it clear that Clear and Julia were enjoying more impulsive food but not exclusively would have been enjoyable but the fact that it's brought up several times started to get a little strange for me and mildly shame-y.
Additionally, the idea of a friend drugging you for you date so that you'll feel less inhibitions seemed like a weird bit to include, even if it ended up not being fact. The idea of a friend doing that and then the person thanking them later, only to discover they didn't actually slip anything in their drink was very iffy to me.
That aside, the idea of conventions and having found family in your workplace and hobbies was really enjoyable and well done.
May 7, 2023
I think an analogy is appropriate here. Sometimes, a cover of a famous song is better in some ways than the original.
If you like Casey McQuiston this book is a bit like that...however in some ways better. The story is a bit more intense, the emotional chemistry is a bit more real, and the pacing is a bit quicker. Also, the odd quirky character development is a bit more fun.
That being said...McQuiston in her writing is a bit better at plot development, and in some ways, I find her characters better developed.
This was a truly magical book. I laid on my black leather couch with the stereo on...goose bumps on my arms and my arm hair standing up... I actually found the story physically moving (seriously!) as I read it.
That and I found myself frequently laughing out loud.
4 stars because the plotting is a little too conveniently done, and I think she needs a little more time to fully season as a writer.
But a damn fine read!
If you like Casey McQuiston this book is a bit like that...however in some ways better. The story is a bit more intense, the emotional chemistry is a bit more real, and the pacing is a bit quicker. Also, the odd quirky character development is a bit more fun.
That being said...McQuiston in her writing is a bit better at plot development, and in some ways, I find her characters better developed.
This was a truly magical book. I laid on my black leather couch with the stereo on...goose bumps on my arms and my arm hair standing up... I actually found the story physically moving (seriously!) as I read it.
That and I found myself frequently laughing out loud.
4 stars because the plotting is a little too conveniently done, and I think she needs a little more time to fully season as a writer.
But a damn fine read!
June 22, 2023
I love that this was set in the San Francisco Bay Area, primarily in Oakland. Although the author has taken liberties with the locations, I can verify that Jerrold the turkey did indeed roam the rose garden, since I live nearby and encountered him many times, either in the garden or on the streets and sidewalks. He and his family got around, before Jerrold was finally shipped off to a bird refuge.
This was an enjoyable book. Both main characters are well developed and have their own life issues, whether it’s a failing newspaper, a disability, or fear. They have their ups and downs, but their very diverse friends are rooting for them. The friends and colleagues play pivotal roles in this romance, for better or worse for the mains. The novel has both comic moments and angsty ones. It was an easy, fun read, and left me wanting more from this author.
This was an enjoyable book. Both main characters are well developed and have their own life issues, whether it’s a failing newspaper, a disability, or fear. They have their ups and downs, but their very diverse friends are rooting for them. The friends and colleagues play pivotal roles in this romance, for better or worse for the mains. The novel has both comic moments and angsty ones. It was an easy, fun read, and left me wanting more from this author.
September 16, 2022
This tales begins with Nita providing Paula a semi-graceful exit from a mortifying situation. Each of the main characters is dealing with a couple of issues, but ultimately, they make a cute pair. There is a fair amount of angst as Nita and Paula each work through things that are holding them back. Fortunately, this is consistent with events and does not rise to the level of melodrama. There is a good supporting cast fleshing out the story and providing context for the main characters' reactions to events. Enjoyable read with the anticipated HEA.
February 14, 2023
A real pivot
Pivot is book 2 in the love where you work series. I think it was beautifully written and plotted to perfection. I loved the pace of the story as well as the intensity of the characters.
There is so much to love in this book. I think it was so much more of an improvement from the first one. The plot touches just about everything and brings us to a world of wonderful characters. I especially think i would love a book to cover Kobra,Sam and Cher it would be epic.
Paula and Nita are indeed adorable, they were perfectly written.
Pivot is book 2 in the love where you work series. I think it was beautifully written and plotted to perfection. I loved the pace of the story as well as the intensity of the characters.
There is so much to love in this book. I think it was so much more of an improvement from the first one. The plot touches just about everything and brings us to a world of wonderful characters. I especially think i would love a book to cover Kobra,Sam and Cher it would be epic.
Paula and Nita are indeed adorable, they were perfectly written.
January 1, 2023
Profound!
This book so masterfully (maybe mistressfully?) captures so very many human facets and foibles. Importantly, Anna Pulley brightly and beautifully illuminates the challenges of living other-abled, from her own perspective. The sensitivity with which she introduces us to the book’s other broken, struggling, and quirky characters, and the depth to which they are developed, guarantee a reader will commit to knowing and feeling connected to all of them. What a great book!
This book so masterfully (maybe mistressfully?) captures so very many human facets and foibles. Importantly, Anna Pulley brightly and beautifully illuminates the challenges of living other-abled, from her own perspective. The sensitivity with which she introduces us to the book’s other broken, struggling, and quirky characters, and the depth to which they are developed, guarantee a reader will commit to knowing and feeling connected to all of them. What a great book!
January 27, 2023
Paula is such an amazing character with so much love to give and having the worst time finding the right woman to give it to. Nita comes along and rescues Paula from embarrassment and end up having an amazing day together. Things only get so much better and crazier from there. Love their story and also seeing Clare and Julia as well from the first book.
September 10, 2022
This was a fun romcom with great pop culture references. I really enjoyed the dialogue between the MC's and side characters. Laughed out loud more than once. The representation was so honest and vulnerable. I hope it helps people be more aware of how they communicate.
March 27, 2023
While enjoyable & a bit steamy, I couldn’t figure out how they fell for each other. Too much of that story was missing. Because I don’t believe in love at first sight or love without really talking and getting to know each other.
April 26, 2023
Wonderful read
I really loved this fun book. Nita and Paula are very fleshed out, very realistic and just plain lovable. I especially liked the disability representation throughout. It's not something I've seen before and would love to read more of in future books.
I really loved this fun book. Nita and Paula are very fleshed out, very realistic and just plain lovable. I especially liked the disability representation throughout. It's not something I've seen before and would love to read more of in future books.
December 26, 2023
A solid queer rom-com! It's fun, touches on the struggles of hearing loss, and also? Be still my heart — it contains competent event planners. If you're looking for something lighter to close out the year with, you'll have a good time.
June 22, 2025
It was so fun to read. A totally amazing rom-com which made me smile so many times. Paula’s approach to life was inspiring. I loved it! Nita and Paula’s chemistry felt real and their pull towards each other was very nicely described. Very pleasant read!
September 4, 2022
Warm, sweet, funny and courageous characters. Loved it.
A real feel-good read that brightened my weekend.
A real feel-good read that brightened my weekend.
September 8, 2022
What a sweet, funny, inspiring novel! I read this very quickly and was cheering for Paula and Nita at the very sweet and romantic climax.
September 20, 2022
An absolute delight. I'll try to come back later and update when I'm more coherent but the take-home is that you should read this book. And the author needs to write another one.
June 6, 2023
Cute cosplay, underground wrestling, lesbian story. Fun and quick read. Not too predictable and a sweet ending.
January 4, 2024
This story continues Anna Pulley’s witty series, with Paula, a strong woman, who carries on despite things going wrong around her, and Nita, always trying to please others but not being true to herself.
Although this is the second book in the series, I have read it last. I enjoyed the other two books far more, Love where you Work, and Courtship. This book I found more difficult to read, because of higher levels of angst and cringeworthyness. That said, this is an excellent story, well written, and as usual Anna Pulley gives us relatable characters and thoughtful real world descriptions. I really liked the wacky trio of Kobra, Sam and Cher, and even though we have Clare and Julia from book one, and Reaux from book three, they are mostly side characters.
I really liked the descriptions of hearing loss, of the insular world of deafness, of the disconnection from those around you and the loneliness, and especially the mental toll of trying to decode what people say, reading lips, always having to predict what words come next.
What made this book exceptional is the ending - both the show and also Anna and Vika’s special ‘epilove’ ending, where they break the fourth wall.
Although this is the second book in the series, I have read it last. I enjoyed the other two books far more, Love where you Work, and Courtship. This book I found more difficult to read, because of higher levels of angst and cringeworthyness. That said, this is an excellent story, well written, and as usual Anna Pulley gives us relatable characters and thoughtful real world descriptions. I really liked the wacky trio of Kobra, Sam and Cher, and even though we have Clare and Julia from book one, and Reaux from book three, they are mostly side characters.
I really liked the descriptions of hearing loss, of the insular world of deafness, of the disconnection from those around you and the loneliness, and especially the mental toll of trying to decode what people say, reading lips, always having to predict what words come next.
What made this book exceptional is the ending - both the show and also Anna and Vika’s special ‘epilove’ ending, where they break the fourth wall.
January 14, 2023
I read this one a while back. To me this book was frustrating. There were so many great moments that were just wasted. I think it is probably the trope i don't like. I mean this book really needed someone to never give up and be given up on over and over while the other person worked things out. So the HEA didn't really work for me. Hence, my rating is just for that. Felt bad for the character I liked the most.
April 3, 2024
This is not only just too funny, but also deals with nerds and geeks and cosplay! Pure happiness. And full of wonderful one-liners! A great read to LOL.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews