Thank you, NetGalley, for the free ARC!

I was a few chapters into this one and thought okay the writing is not great, but maybe it will still be a cute, light read. Unfortunately, as I continued to read, I had more issues with the book.

First were the characters. The description and actions of the FMC and MMC contradicted each other. We're initially told that Rose was shy and quiet around Jason when she was younger, and she's initially mortified to embarrass herself in front of him when they meet again. For the rest of the story, Rose is an outgoing, sex positive woman who has no problem openly talking about sex with Jason. It just seemed to be a complete 180 of how she was initially described. Jason was puzzling to me as well. He flip flops back and forth on what his goals are. He mentions reconnecting with religion, but besides, the volunteer group doesn't really do it. His celibacy is mentioned multiple times, but in the end, it doesn't seem like it was that important to him. The supporting characters came across as characitures rather than realistic people.

My other major issue was the flow of the story itself. Some chapters would drag out a moment and describe it from both of the main characters' POVs, then the next would skip over multiple days and just gloss over what had happened during that time. Random details also felt like they were thrown in just so they could be referenced later or to push the plot. A lot of the story felt like it was telling the audience what was happening instead of showing it, especially when it came to Rose and Jason's relationship. We're told multiple times that Rose and Jason have this deep connection and not just the physical relationship. However, before they hook up, they are constantly referencing their physical attraction and teasing each other. After they get together, we continue to get lots of physical scenes or conversations that quickly turn physical instead of them connecting. Anything deep seems to happen off the page and is instead just mentioned as something that happened

I wanted to DNF around 50% because I was just not connecting with the story or characters but felt I should stick it out to provide the best review. I will say that the last 20% seemed better and redeemed the book a little bit, but overall, this book didn't work for me.

I went into Follow Your Bliss expecting a heartfelt romance with depth and charm, but sadly, it fell flat for me. The protagonist, a wedding dress designer, felt more like a cliché than a fully developed character, and the love interest was one-dimensional and predictable. The story leaned too heavily on tropes without offering anything fresh, and the "spice" felt forced rather than natural or engaging. I found myself rolling my eyes more often than swooning. Overall, it was a frustrating read that left me disappointed.

it was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t fully live up to my expectations. The premise was intriguing and there were definitely moments that pulled me in. I found myself losing interest at times. Some parts felt either rushed or dragged on a bit too long.Overall, it’s a book I’m glad I read.

Jason’s a furniture maker who fell even harder for Rose, the seamstress who already fell for him back when they were kids. This one’s a big sisters are best friends and roommate romance. Man, deck daddy Jason is hot when he’s working on his projects 🥵. Their banter had me dying. The truth or dare scene? I was straight-up wheezing.

I just wish Jason had the guts to be honest about their relationship. When you’ve got a girlfriend who wants to be seen and not treated like a secret, even if you’re not ashamed of her, it still hurts. I felt Rose so deeply. We women keep waiting for the other shoe to drop because that’s all our past ever gave us.

The spice was fluffy—definitely a great palette cleanser for a dark romance reader like me. And the way he asked her what she liked and actually learned how to please her? Loved that for her. The ending was warm, wholesome, and everything I wanted.

This is my honest review for the ARC I received. Thank you Holly and NetGalley for the opportunity!

4 1/2⭐️ 3🌶️
Thank you to Holly Rose and team for allowing me to ARC read this book! This was such a fun happy romance and I really loved the pacing of it as well as the characters and their progression. Honestly, the tension between these two was so fun to read about. I felt giddy for Rose and Jason when they finally gave in and got it on 😅. I think personally I’m not a big church girl and the only reason I have this book a 4 1/2 instead of 5 is because of how Jason’s mom acted through out most of the book, which felt so hateful (totally get it furthered the plot, but she was AWFUL). Overall, I had so much fun while reading the book and would definitely recommend this to others. I also can’t wait for the other dream house girls stories!
(TIKTOK video being posted 5/6 @ashleyrebitzke)

I’ve never read anything by Holly Rose, but the beautiful cover of Follow Your Bliss caught my eye, and I’m so glad I discovered this book. This is the story of Rose and Jason, who grew up together, attending the same schools and the prom together. Their story begins when Jason discovers Rose digging in his yard in the middle of the night, where she finds their sisters’ time capsule.

Rose is a wedding gown designer and seamstress, and she has returned to their hometown of New Orleans after an internship in New York City. Jason is renovating their former church, where he lives, and they soon find themselves living together. Rose had a crush on Jason when she was younger, but they both find themselves deeply attracted and interested in each other when they meet again later in life. On the surface, they have little in common, but as they get to know each other, both are smitten.

Jason is a content creator on Instagram, and he encourages Rose to build her brand and her business on social media. Their physical chemistry is undeniable, but they also love being together and naturally support each other in many different ways. Both are hesitant to enter a relationship, but when they end up in Florida to escape a hurricane and for a job interview for Jason, things quickly heat up. They can’t deny their attraction and feelings for each other, and soon both are hoping for the friendship to be something more.

I really liked both of the main characters. Rose swears a lot, says inappropriate things, and she is hilarious. Jason appreciates her sense of humor and his sweet, golden retriever personality is the perfect complement to Rose’s more pessimistic outlook. The author wrote their banter with tons of humor and I found myself laughing out loud as I read the book.

Both are hesitant to let their relationship get serious because they have been hurt in the past. Family dynamics further complicate their situation, especially with Jason’s mother, who is excessively controlling and doesn’t like Rose because she’s not Christian. I appreciated all of the characters in the story, but Jason’s Mom was extremely overbearing and judgmental.

Throughout the book, Rose is struggling with her family, and her personal and professional life. She has so many talents and a great character and personality. Rose’s self-doubt and negative inner voice were the only negative parts of the book for me. Her career is taking off, her boyfriend is crazy about her, but she is often miserable.

I love a slow-burn, second-chance romance with a dramatic third act break up, so this book checked all of those boxes for me. This couple has intense chemistry, and showed so much respect and kindness to each other. Their relationship was truly an ideal that we all hope for.

This is my first Holly Rose read, and I can’t wait to read more of her work in the future, especially the rest of the Dream House Girls series. Follow Your Bliss is a sweet, steamy and modern romance that you will love. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Holly Rose, Star Siren Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Follow Your Bliss
By Holly Rose
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars)
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Holly Rose (@writerhollyrose), and Star Siren Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
✨ Friends to Lovers
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ He Falls First
✨ Mom Doesn’t Approve
✨ Anxiety Rep
✨ New Orleans Setting
✨ Golden Retriever MMC (who builds things with his hands)

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

After a rough professional setback in NYC, bridal dress designer Rose moves back home to New Orleans to start her own business—only to be dumped by her cheating boyfriend just weeks later. Reeling, she finds stability in a new living arrangement: an apartment in the rectory of a renovated church owned by Jason, a kind-hearted contractor and social media handyman with a past of his own.

Their friendship quickly deepens, but when a hurricane forces them to evacuate to Florida, things get hot fast—despite Jason’s vow of celibacy and Rose’s fear of commitment. Add in family pressure, a disapproving mother, and a sizzling physical connection, and you’ve got a high-heat romance with plenty of heart.

This is a quick and spicy read with a great New Orleans backdrop and two charming leads. While the plot leans old-fashioned in places and the dialogue sometimes lacks subtlety, the chemistry, setting, and creative character professions made it a fun and very spicy escape.

This was a DnF for me. The main problem was the actual plot seemed to take second place to thoughts, descriptions, talk, references to sex. It was on every single page and it just was too much. So if that’s what you’re reading for you’ll definitely find it here, but it’s not my style. The spice hit almost the second the two characters met. Although there was a moderately slow build it was very forced and the conversations and dual narratives undermined this somewhat. Ghe sexual tension was sexual without the tension. The characters seemed confused, going from insecure about wearing a bikini to very body confident in seconds and hooray for an empowered woman but it wasn’t believable, and the male lead was pretty much the opposite.

This was such an interesting read, full of nuances and perspectives. I enjoyed so much getting an insight of what goes through the mind of someone who is trying to connect with their beliefs and values while also enjoying the company of someone who constantly challenges that and eventually falling in love and finding balance. The characters felt realistic to me and their development happened at a good pace while also keeping me, the reader, entertained and curious. Overall is a good, cute and interesting story of two different and kinda lost people finding each other and learning to put themselves first and go for their own happiness.

This was a cute premise and I liked the set up! If you enjoy banter, tension, and forced proximity- you’ll like this book.

Ross and Jadon were sweet and spice in the best way possible! This book was super cute and had it all !!! I laughed so much throughout this book and this is now one of my fave book couples! Daddy deck yea please!!! Easy 5 stars ⭐️

Follow Your Bliss was fantastic! This book had all the elements I was looking for in a modern romance: it was heartwarming, spicy, humorous, and full of flirtatious banter that made me smile foolishly. I loved Rose's combination of fierce independence and vulnerability; she is a strong and relatable heroine. What about Jason? Complete swoon. Their chemistry is electric, and it was really fulfilling to see their relationship grow from tense friendship to passionate romance.The author gave both characters a lot of depth, which I thought was really great, especially as they dealt with their emotional baggage and family dynamics. The return home, the hurricane trip, the hidden drama—all of it seemed so authentic and captivating. The writing is also a lot of fun. I laughed aloud several times because of the clever dialogue and double meanings!! This is a must-read for fans of dual points of view, hot slow burns, and heartfelt romances. A perfect five out of five!!

This was such a sweet love story! I loved all of the hilarious Deck Daddy puns, and I had a great time watching Rose and Jason progress, in addition to the drama around them.

Rose is an outspoken, sex-positive wedding dress designer with zero filter—and honestly, I admired the boldness, even if it was a bit much at times. Jason, our hero, is a thoughtful social media craftsman (and the bride-to-be’s brother), navigating some serious religious baggage and a disapproving mom who could kill a vibe in 0.2 seconds.

Their chemistry? Undeniable. But we went from celibacy to full-on steamy real fast, and the emotional whiplash was real. The FMC’s unfiltered personality toeed the line between empowering and overwhelming—and for me, it leaned a little too hard in one direction.

Still, there were sweet moments, fun banter, and a fresh take on navigating identity and belief. Not a top-tier read for me, but I had a good time with the chaos.

This is a cute little book. I enjoyed the premise, and the spice was good. Overall, I did like most of it, but the third act breakup was not super enjoyable for me. I kept getting a bit annoyed with both main characters over how reactive they were being. While at the same time, they were relatable, and I don't think they were unrealistic.

There were a few characters I DESPISED, but they were the antagonists, so good job to the author on accomplishing that. Usually I don't hate characters that much in contemporaries, so I was surprised how much I did in this one.

Overall a good read.

I really liked this book! It was sweet, funny, and spicy, which is right up my alley!

Rose is a commitment-phobe who moves in with Jason to have space for her wedding dress making business. Jason is a shirtless carpenter influencer who is looking for commitment but only if the woman is approved by his mother. The chemistry between Rose and Jason was off the charts. I appreciated how supportive they were of each other's careers and personal lives. They're both trying to figure out how to move forward after having trust issues from past experiences. I appreciated that they were both honest with each other about wanting more than just sex. I also liked how there wasn't the typical commitment-phobe flakiness where they refuse to admit they're in a relationship. I hate that trope and this circumvented that nicely.

This was almost a five-star read except I felt like a few things were unresolved and Jason should've done a little bit more to earn Rose's trust back. I felt like there could've been more resolution with Jason's mom and Rose's sister, as well.

Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to Netgalley, Star Siren Press, & Holly Rose for this ARC

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this book! The writing is fresh, vibrant, and full of personality, making it a breeze to fall into the story. The plot was engaging and easy to follow, and the chemistry between Rose and Jason was off the charts—tangible, electric, and oh-so-sweet.

Jason is the ultimate book boyfriend: kind, patient, and deeply respectful of Rose’s past and her boundaries, all while staying true to his own needs. And Rose? She’s a total firecracker—fierce, colorful, and the perfect match to shake up Jason’s world. Their romance struck the perfect balance of heart-melting sweetness and sizzling spice.

I’m already counting down the days until the next interconnected standalone in the series. Holly Rose is an auto-buy author for me now!

This book really confused me. I think there were just too many tropes. He was her middle school crush. Now they're roommates. Also there's forced proximity because of an evacuation. She's a sex positive, pagan, wedding dress designer who never wants to get married with a single mom who swore off men, but now Mom's engaged! He's a Christian on a celibacy journey (until he meets his future wife), doing a self-imposed Seinfeld "The Contest" as a way to get over his past abusive relationship that took him away from his religious family, being tempted by a "godless Guidry girl" (his mom's opinion of Rose), while taking his shirt off for his woodworking social media account and renovating a decommissioned church into his perfect home. Also he shares a name (and some personality things) with an ex of mine, which did NOT help on several occasions throughout, but that's not the book's fault.

And yet, I kinda couldn't put it down. Once I got past all the Christian/church stuff in the beginning, which I was NOT expecting and nearly turned me off entirely TBH, I was intrigued by what was going on. I really had no idea where things would go from chapter to chapter. They'd have a big "misunderstanding" and yet, everyone would act appropriately and apologize or see things the other person's way. She's a fashion designer who moved home to New Orleans from New York, but doesn't know how Instagram works or why she might want one for her wedding dress business, in 2025. He's on a celibacy journey, but their first romantic encounter is far from vanilla, and then he's over it and they're going at it like bunnies for pages on end, even though Rose is clear about not wanting to get married. (I should have taken the Tessa Bailey comparisons as a warning, because some of the sex scenes are kinda cringe, but I don't want to yuck anyone's yum. It was mostly not for me.)

I appreciated the Rose doesn't apologize for her sexuality, and while some of her sex discussions with Jason veered a little too far into the "TikTok video explaining what you didn't learn in health class" territory, it was nice to read about a male character who thinks he has something to learn. I liked that the book was set in New Orleans, which is not your typical romance novel setting. I liked how the Instagram comment sections seemed real and appropriately thirsty given his content (I think the author probably watches that wood-chopping guy like I do LOL!). There were some good texts toward the end, but I wish there had been more sprinkled throughout.

But the ending, especially the two skip forwards, didn't work for me as well as I wanted. Rose seemed like a more fully formed character than Jason, which is odd since it's dual-POV. I couldn't remember how old everyone was supposed to be, so whether their behavior was age appropriate or not. And since this was the first of a series about the "Dream House Girls," it would have been helpful to spend more time with them as well as really explain how they came up with that name, etc.

It was a quick read, but I think I'll pass on the others in the trilogy for now.

I had a good time reading this story.
Yes, it's a funny, cute, and swoony romance—but it also delves into the characters’ psyches in a meaningful way without taking itself too seriously. People say romances have no depth? This one proves otherwise.

Rose had a crush on a boy back in middle school—Jason, the brother of her sister’s best friend, who even took her to prom. Fast forward years later, and life throws them back together.

Jason is skittish around love after surviving an emotionally abusive relationship that isolated him from his family. Now, he wants to find a woman his mother would approve of—but he's disillusioned by hypocritical churchgoers who don't live by what they preach.

Rose, on the other hand, is shaped by her parents’ divorce and her upbringing with a sex therapist mom. She's strong, self-sufficient, and hesitant to commit—afraid that needing someone might mean losing herself.

This story is for you if you like:
- Forced proximity
- Roommates to lovers (technically landlord/tenant)
- Open-minded FMC / celibate MMC
- Slightly forbidden romance
- Characters with emotional depth wrapped in a fun, romantic package
Thank you to the author for this ARC