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Hey, Lover
Struggle isn't love.
At least, that's what a broken Malik Hines told himself when he walked away from the love of his life, just as her career was on the rise. With any luck, he would have time and space to dig himself out of a dark hole. Healing, rebuilding, launching his Game Studio and writing his premier game took time. Suddenly, it had been nearly a decade since they last spoke.
Seeing her in the media stirs up a long harbored desire to reconnect, and Malik takes the biggest chance of his life. Could that door open again?
After taking over her father's company, India Parker is on the hunt for the next big thing to push her company forward. In the background of her success, there is loneliness. Longing. And the feeling that there's a large part of her life that has been on pause.
When a surprise gift arrives at her office, it reminds her of the man she used to love and would like to love again. The choice to open that door and press play...is hers.
Hey, lover is a contemporary love story about getting a second chance with your soulmate.
***
Content Advisories for this title: mentions of cancer, treatment for cancer, depression, faux relationships, infidelity.
At least, that's what a broken Malik Hines told himself when he walked away from the love of his life, just as her career was on the rise. With any luck, he would have time and space to dig himself out of a dark hole. Healing, rebuilding, launching his Game Studio and writing his premier game took time. Suddenly, it had been nearly a decade since they last spoke.
Seeing her in the media stirs up a long harbored desire to reconnect, and Malik takes the biggest chance of his life. Could that door open again?
After taking over her father's company, India Parker is on the hunt for the next big thing to push her company forward. In the background of her success, there is loneliness. Longing. And the feeling that there's a large part of her life that has been on pause.
When a surprise gift arrives at her office, it reminds her of the man she used to love and would like to love again. The choice to open that door and press play...is hers.
Hey, lover is a contemporary love story about getting a second chance with your soulmate.
***
Content Advisories for this title: mentions of cancer, treatment for cancer, depression, faux relationships, infidelity.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2022
72 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
D.L. White
23 books394 followersDL White writes romance novels that celebrate Black love across multiple series, including the Ruby's Novels, Black Diamond Bay collection, and Potter Lake Small Town Romance. Her fifteen-plus titles offer rich, nuanced relationships that center Black characters. Through The Books by DL White Bookcast, she shares her current reads and writing updates. An Atlanta-based author and Executive Administrative Assistant, White finds inspiration from lakeshores to white sand beaches. When she's not writing, you'll find her chasing the perfect Sunday brunch or enjoying a great cup of coffee.
Browse, read, and buy her work at BooksByDLWhite.com.
Browse, read, and buy her work at BooksByDLWhite.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 9, 2023
1/7/2023 - Super sexy second chance romance. While Malik & India had a relationship seven years ago, they haven’t talked since Malik walked away. I normally don’t like the “I’m breaking up with you because I’m not worthy of you” trope. However I liked the way White handles it here. Malik did some work on himself and has found a measure of success. He decides he wants India back.
This was fairly low angst with most of the drama coming from secondary characters. I enjoyed a successful and sure female main character paired with the sexy gamer/programmer. Having gamed for years with my kids, it was fun to read a book with what it's like to bring a new game to the market. It was a sweet and (fans self) steamy reunion for these two.
I liked the epilogue to solidify their HEA.
12/31/2022 - There’s like 4 different entries for this book - IDK if any of them are correct bc they don’t seem to be attached to the correct DL White.
But I just bought this and I’m gonna read it - so using this GR entry for now. 😉
This was fairly low angst with most of the drama coming from secondary characters. I enjoyed a successful and sure female main character paired with the sexy gamer/programmer. Having gamed for years with my kids, it was fun to read a book with what it's like to bring a new game to the market. It was a sweet and (fans self) steamy reunion for these two.
I liked the epilogue to solidify their HEA.
12/31/2022 - There’s like 4 different entries for this book - IDK if any of them are correct bc they don’t seem to be attached to the correct DL White.
But I just bought this and I’m gonna read it - so using this GR entry for now. 😉
June 20, 2024
Absolutely loved this captivating journey that Malik and India found themselves on.
Malik has no problem taking risky chances, as long as they don't involve destroying India's future. So he walks away and stays away for 7 long years. He spends the time creating black cultural video games for African-American players to enjoy.
India is now the CEO of her family's company. And if her best friend and her cheating ex-boyfriend can get out and stay out of the way, maybe Malik and India can find their way back to each other.
I love that India is no push-over and when folks need to be checked, Baby Girl handles her business!
Malik has no problem taking risky chances, as long as they don't involve destroying India's future. So he walks away and stays away for 7 long years. He spends the time creating black cultural video games for African-American players to enjoy.
India is now the CEO of her family's company. And if her best friend and her cheating ex-boyfriend can get out and stay out of the way, maybe Malik and India can find their way back to each other.
I love that India is no push-over and when folks need to be checked, Baby Girl handles her business!
January 24, 2023
4/4.5⭐️ and Hey Lover is now stuck in my head lol
Let me say that 2nd chance isn’t one of my fav tropes BUT I enjoyed this one! I enjoyed Malik owning up to his mistakes and going after what he wanted which was India. India was all in from jump lol. I was even questioning her like girl we jumping head first back in love?? I fully understand why her friend Steena was so on the defense. We all need a friend to give us some good reasoning when we may go into something blind. The way the answered each other was so cute! Hey LOVER is forever their phrase. I enjoyed the growth from both characters to acknowledge their parts in their breakup and making adjustments so they can have their happily ever after. I really enjoyed this one! Also I feel like this had some RomCom elements and I always appreciate that from DL White! And listen this book sweet but they was having relations! Lol Probably the most I’ve read in a DL book and I’m not mad! And to be fair they had a lot of time to make up for! Overall I would recommend this book!
Let me say that 2nd chance isn’t one of my fav tropes BUT I enjoyed this one! I enjoyed Malik owning up to his mistakes and going after what he wanted which was India. India was all in from jump lol. I was even questioning her like girl we jumping head first back in love?? I fully understand why her friend Steena was so on the defense. We all need a friend to give us some good reasoning when we may go into something blind. The way the answered each other was so cute! Hey LOVER is forever their phrase. I enjoyed the growth from both characters to acknowledge their parts in their breakup and making adjustments so they can have their happily ever after. I really enjoyed this one! Also I feel like this had some RomCom elements and I always appreciate that from DL White! And listen this book sweet but they was having relations! Lol Probably the most I’ve read in a DL book and I’m not mad! And to be fair they had a lot of time to make up for! Overall I would recommend this book!
January 7, 2023
Hey, Lover was pure love.
It's been a while since this author gave us a story and this come back was just what we needed. It was a second-chance love story about a stubborn and prideful man finding a compromise within their love story. A tech geek and a businesswoman discover a new level of love, despite others trying to stop their inevitable.
It's been a while since this author gave us a story and this come back was just what we needed. It was a second-chance love story about a stubborn and prideful man finding a compromise within their love story. A tech geek and a businesswoman discover a new level of love, despite others trying to stop their inevitable.
January 5, 2023
Welcome back, D.L. White! YES!
One of my favorite romance writers is back with an awesome tale of two lovers who are battling separate issues - India taking over her father's firm and Malik fighting with the fact he blew it with India the first time around. Now that they've matured, they're circling the block and it is a hot and heartwarming story well worth the read!
One of my favorite romance writers is back with an awesome tale of two lovers who are battling separate issues - India taking over her father's firm and Malik fighting with the fact he blew it with India the first time around. Now that they've matured, they're circling the block and it is a hot and heartwarming story well worth the read!
October 21, 2023
It was insta love with no actual issues or tensions. It felt like we were reading about a couple that was already together - like an epilogue
February 20, 2023
When 2nd chance hits just right
There's just something about grown people trying to deal with their insecurities in a mature way that always gets me. Malik was touching, despite his stubbornness. India was cool! The drama feels organic and so does the resolution.
Hey, loverrrr 🥰
There's just something about grown people trying to deal with their insecurities in a mature way that always gets me. Malik was touching, despite his stubbornness. India was cool! The drama feels organic and so does the resolution.
Hey, loverrrr 🥰
February 10, 2023
This book was a good little novella. Only 206 pages so it’s a quick read!
Black author. Black characters who sound like black characters. A love story that sounds like a black love story. Black people who are brainy and in powerful positions. To top it off LL Cool J and Boyz II Men crooning in my head the whole time. This black girl loved all of those elements!
Aside from the black girl magic and black boy joy in this book, it was nice to see myself in the experience of having a title and salary that had been a relationship detriment. It’s a real issue in relationships period but especially between black couples.
The story was easy flowing, second chance romance. I actually loved not sitting through a drawn out and dramatic third act breakup. The only reason I give it 4 instead of 5 stars is because it actually could’ve been longer to develop a little bit more attachment to the characters but it’s a novella, i get it. Overall it was a really good quick read!
Black author. Black characters who sound like black characters. A love story that sounds like a black love story. Black people who are brainy and in powerful positions. To top it off LL Cool J and Boyz II Men crooning in my head the whole time. This black girl loved all of those elements!
Aside from the black girl magic and black boy joy in this book, it was nice to see myself in the experience of having a title and salary that had been a relationship detriment. It’s a real issue in relationships period but especially between black couples.
The story was easy flowing, second chance romance. I actually loved not sitting through a drawn out and dramatic third act breakup. The only reason I give it 4 instead of 5 stars is because it actually could’ve been longer to develop a little bit more attachment to the characters but it’s a novella, i get it. Overall it was a really good quick read!
April 15, 2023
YEP
I totally read this in one night. India is definitely the heroine I've liked the most in the last several books I've read. I loved how she didn't hide how she felt about Malik and didn't play games or waste time trying to punish him. And how she stood up to Steena when she ran her mouth too much (which she did; I appreciated her having India's back but she irked me a few times).
Her rapport with Malik was refreshing to read. I could actually relate to what went down with their initial breakup because something similar happened to me, and I enjoyed reading how they came back together. Two grown people being real and open about how they wanted each other back, despite what happened in the past. Loved that.
I totally read this in one night. India is definitely the heroine I've liked the most in the last several books I've read. I loved how she didn't hide how she felt about Malik and didn't play games or waste time trying to punish him. And how she stood up to Steena when she ran her mouth too much (which she did; I appreciated her having India's back but she irked me a few times).
Her rapport with Malik was refreshing to read. I could actually relate to what went down with their initial breakup because something similar happened to me, and I enjoyed reading how they came back together. Two grown people being real and open about how they wanted each other back, despite what happened in the past. Loved that.
January 19, 2023
Reunited and it feels so good!
Second chance romances is one of my favorite tropes and this book solidifies that. I haven’t seen Ms. White in these book streets for a while, and she definitely showed us that she was back with this book.
I really liked Malik and India. And I liked the way that they came back together - no drawn out drama and angst, just remembering that this is your person and can’t nobody do it like they do, lol. Malik knew he needed to apologize for the hurt he caused India and he did so, sincerely and right off the bat. I just really enjoyed this story.
Welcome back, DL White!
Second chance romances is one of my favorite tropes and this book solidifies that. I haven’t seen Ms. White in these book streets for a while, and she definitely showed us that she was back with this book.
I really liked Malik and India. And I liked the way that they came back together - no drawn out drama and angst, just remembering that this is your person and can’t nobody do it like they do, lol. Malik knew he needed to apologize for the hurt he caused India and he did so, sincerely and right off the bat. I just really enjoyed this story.
Welcome back, DL White!
October 7, 2025
Hey, Lover is a tender, grown-up love story about timing, healing, and the courage to begin again.
D.L. White delivers a deeply felt narrative about Malik and India two people bound by ambition, broken by circumstance, and offered one impossible thing: a second chance that could finally get it right.
With her signature emotional honesty and understated grace, White writes romance for readers who know that love isn’t always loud sometimes it’s the quiet persistence of hope after heartbreak.
Perfect for fans of Kennedy Ryan and Tia Williams, Hey, Lover is a soulful, mature second-chance romance that lingers like a favorite song.
D.L. White delivers a deeply felt narrative about Malik and India two people bound by ambition, broken by circumstance, and offered one impossible thing: a second chance that could finally get it right.
With her signature emotional honesty and understated grace, White writes romance for readers who know that love isn’t always loud sometimes it’s the quiet persistence of hope after heartbreak.
Perfect for fans of Kennedy Ryan and Tia Williams, Hey, Lover is a soulful, mature second-chance romance that lingers like a favorite song.
February 14, 2023
Great to have DL White back on the scene!
It was a good book. I liked India and Malik, but felt like India was way too nice to homeboy. Even though I am definitely NOT a fan of "struggle love" nor extra drama, Malik would have had to prove himself a little bit more to me after 7 years. He walks away a little too easily for my liking.
If there is ever an update on them, Malik better really show he is willing not to get in his own way and listen to India. And, he owes her a very thorough apology.
It was a good book. I liked India and Malik, but felt like India was way too nice to homeboy. Even though I am definitely NOT a fan of "struggle love" nor extra drama, Malik would have had to prove himself a little bit more to me after 7 years. He walks away a little too easily for my liking.
If there is ever an update on them, Malik better really show he is willing not to get in his own way and listen to India. And, he owes her a very thorough apology.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2023
You ever read a book that's been sitting in your Kindle and then get mad at yourself for not reading it sooner? Maybe it's just me, but that's exactly how I felt after finishing Hey, Lover. I loved EVERYTHING about this story.....EVERYTHING.
This is a second chance romance between India Parker and Malik Hines. They were friends in college and that turned into MUCH more until Malik broke up with India (male ego shit). When we meet them again years later and India is a corporate baddie who has just become CEO of her family's company and Malik is in tech and working on a video game and revolutionary platform for the gaming industry.
Normally in second chance romance one or both of the exes are bitter or still holding on to problems of the past. That was not the case here and it's probably what I enjoyed the most. This was very much a MATURE love story. Two people who never stopped loving each other reuniting and determined to not waste this second chance.
This really gave me everything I love in a story. It was flirty and sexy. I laughed out loud several times and really enjoyed the side characters. If you are looking for a clever, low drama second chance BLACK romance definitely check this one out!
This is a second chance romance between India Parker and Malik Hines. They were friends in college and that turned into MUCH more until Malik broke up with India (male ego shit). When we meet them again years later and India is a corporate baddie who has just become CEO of her family's company and Malik is in tech and working on a video game and revolutionary platform for the gaming industry.
Normally in second chance romance one or both of the exes are bitter or still holding on to problems of the past. That was not the case here and it's probably what I enjoyed the most. This was very much a MATURE love story. Two people who never stopped loving each other reuniting and determined to not waste this second chance.
This really gave me everything I love in a story. It was flirty and sexy. I laughed out loud several times and really enjoyed the side characters. If you are looking for a clever, low drama second chance BLACK romance definitely check this one out!
October 10, 2025
Things that D.L. White is go8 g to give you...a deep dive into an MCs career. As a former gamer, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of Malik's story. As for the reunion, I loved the simplicity and realness of how Malik and India started saying Hey Lover, as a greeting in passing, then it came full circle upon their reunion. Cmon second chance lol. This was a quick and easy read that leaves you rooting for the pair.
Sidebar: it's rare, but D.L. somehow found a way for me to have a moment of not liking an MMC. The moment was fleeting though.
Sidebar: it's rare, but D.L. somehow found a way for me to have a moment of not liking an MMC. The moment was fleeting though.
February 1, 2024
Love the story line. Two successful black people rekindling their love for each other that never really went away. I'm glad Malik finally decided to act on his heart and not having to be successful to have someone love him for not what he don't have but what his heart has to offer instead. I'm glad that India was willing to forgive, move on and become a a successful team together in love and success
February 19, 2024
I really liked the warm and fuzzy second chance romance between Malik and India. The way the plot moved was done well and I could see the emotional connection between these two immediately. It was very clear that despite the years, they hadn't lost the love.
I do think the conflict in the story was wrapped up a little too fast, but overall I found it fitting to the plot and I do like the HFN we got at the end of the book for both the relationship and the game developed.
I do think the conflict in the story was wrapped up a little too fast, but overall I found it fitting to the plot and I do like the HFN we got at the end of the book for both the relationship and the game developed.
November 22, 2024
3.5 stars. I enjoyed both characters but this is a second chance romance and I thought Malik didn't grovel enough. He made decisions for India and never adequately explained (to her) why he broke up with her. She takes him back no questions asked and I thought he needed to work harder for her. On the other hand, I liked how these characters act like mature adults. They're generally level-headed, talk about things, and don't jump to conclusions (until they do, ha!).
February 4, 2023
cute second chance romance
India and Malik were very cute. His insecurities and her desire to “love him through it” resonated and I enjoyed watching them find their way back to HEA with just enough drama thrown in for spice without belaboring the point. And the ode to Hey Lover was a sweet reminder of a time when I was driving around Queens, NY with a smile on my face.☺️🥰
India and Malik were very cute. His insecurities and her desire to “love him through it” resonated and I enjoyed watching them find their way back to HEA with just enough drama thrown in for spice without belaboring the point. And the ode to Hey Lover was a sweet reminder of a time when I was driving around Queens, NY with a smile on my face.☺️🥰
September 20, 2024
Hey Lover
India & Malik were destined to be together. Coming from different backgrounds, Malik wanted to make sure he did things on his own without a hand out. What he didn't reawlize was if you loved a person, it wouldn't be considered a hand out. I love the characters development and the back story so we were able to truly understand what I was going on.
India & Malik were destined to be together. Coming from different backgrounds, Malik wanted to make sure he did things on his own without a hand out. What he didn't reawlize was if you loved a person, it wouldn't be considered a hand out. I love the characters development and the back story so we were able to truly understand what I was going on.
January 27, 2023
Great contemporary romance
Loved this story about a couple coming back together. Some sexy adult scenes gave it the right spice. I love this authors writing style and appreciate the vulnerability shown in the introduction.
Loved this story about a couple coming back together. Some sexy adult scenes gave it the right spice. I love this authors writing style and appreciate the vulnerability shown in the introduction.
March 16, 2023
I love everything this author writes and this was no exception! The dialogue is always realistic and there is always complexity to the story in a way that fits is not distracting from the overall story. Very very enjoyable!
January 20, 2024
Hey Lover
I enjoyed this book. It’s my first read by this author and I’m excited to read more. Malik was just as insecure in his abilities/wealth after reuniting as he was when they broke up. India seems like she only wanted to help her man then and now!
I enjoyed this book. It’s my first read by this author and I’m excited to read more. Malik was just as insecure in his abilities/wealth after reuniting as he was when they broke up. India seems like she only wanted to help her man then and now!
April 1, 2024
Malik and India…
I enjoyed the second chance at love for Malik and India. I was glad that Malik wised up and got out of his own way. He and India made a great team both personally and professionally.
I enjoyed the second chance at love for Malik and India. I was glad that Malik wised up and got out of his own way. He and India made a great team both personally and professionally.
January 23, 2023
Second chance romance I love their story.
February 18, 2023
Hey Lover
A really good second chance love story.The characters were great with a great plot.LOVE always win out in the end.
A really good second chance love story.The characters were great with a great plot.LOVE always win out in the end.
December 29, 2023
3.5⭐ This was a nice second chance love story. Quick, sweet, and light with some spiciness.
January 6, 2024
Cute, light, second chance romance. Read it in one sitting. It was sexy, and nerdy. Hey Lover is my favorite LL Cool J song, so this was a perfect nod to it.
January 13, 2024
Story line was easy to follow. Family connections were strong. This book was for the young reader. Language and explicit sex were too much for my liking.
January 20, 2024
I just don’t like second chance romances.
September 27, 2024
3.75 stars- quick and sweet 2nd chance romance read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews