For You and No One Else by Roni Loren

 

5*

Loren really knocked it out of the park with the 3rd (and presumably final) book in her Say Everything series.  Eliza is a marriage therapist and YouTube wellness guru at WorkAround, the shared office space where we first met her in Book 1. She’s best friends with Hollyn and Andi from the first two books, but it’s her budding relationship with Beckham, the hot, nerdy computer wizard in the office next door, that is the focus of For You and No One Else.

On the surface, they’re an odd pairing. She created her life plan at age 10 (including a husband and 2.5 kids) and is still mourning the loss of her parents who died in a car accident 2 years prior. Beckham, 7 years her junior, dresses in vintage t-shirts, is covered in tattoos, and is a hacker (usually on the legal side). However, after running into each other in the office on Christmas Day and him recognizing that she needs company more than he needs to work, they begin to see in each other a kindred spirit. Since he’s anti-marriage and kids, they both know their relationship will never go anywhere, but they agree to a friends with benefits arrangement after she has one last disastrous date arranged through an app. Of course, this trope plays out as you’d expect, but the emotional gut punch sets it apart from other similar scenarios. 

In addition to her grief and unwavering commitment to stick to her plan, they’re also (mis)handling his baggage which includes childhood trauma that he thought he’d escaped. Ultimately, the question comes down how well you can know a person when they’re hiding a big part of themselves. 

Loren writes romance laced with some heavy real-life challenges, but her characters are so warm and open that you can’t help but root for a happy ending. Although the themes in this book are heavy, there’s plenty of humor, a couple of really adorable pets, and the female friendship between the heroines of all three books that keep it from sinking into despair. I highly recommend the entire series.

Yes & I Love You (Say Everything #1) by Roni Loren

 

5*


This book is the cutest! Between her Tourette’s and his ADHD that causes impulsivity, Hollyn Tate and Jasper Deares have faced and triumphed over nearly insurmountable odds. Yet, when he brings her a coffee his first day on a new job, fate takes a stand. Due to facial tics that are especially triggered when she’s attracted to someone, she gives him the impression that she views him with disdain. However, ever optimistic and charming Jasper doesn’t let that deter him from getting to know her. And thus begins a relationship that rivals the best of movie rom-coms.

Jasper’s dream is to be a successful actor, and the path begins with his improv group. When he runs into an old friend who floats the idea of buying and renovating an old New Orleans theater to serve as his group’s home base, Jasper’s past as an abandoned foster child and his academic failures make him doubt his abilities. Hollyn, who has stepped out of her comfort zone by moving into the city and working in a shared WeWork-type office space where she writes anonymous, popular entertainment reviews as Miz Poppy, avoids human connection fearing rejection based on trauma from childhood bullying. When Jasper guesses her secret and learns that she’ll need to reveal herself to keep her job, they decide on a mutually beneficial arrangement. In the process, their friendship grows and their blatant honesty allows them to be vulnerable and draw strength from each other.

This story has all of the elements that make for a memorable friends-to-lovers romance. Loren has done a masterful job combining this trope with a love triangle reminiscent of Pretty in Pink featuring her best friend and first love Cal. She also introduces Andi, a true-crime writer and podcaster, who becomes Hollyn’s first female friend (and the heroine in the next book in the series). If you love rom-coms with witty banter, genuine friendship, male unicorns, personal growth, and improv comedy, pick this delightful book up! Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Soucebooks Casablanca through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.