I received Speechless as an ARC through netgalley***
Speechless was such a cute, light romance novel that follows Henry, a composer who suffers from major social anxiety, and Lucy, a writer who has had a tough year and suffers from chronic pain. Speechless gave me lots of tension between Henry and Lucy, and I was here for it! I enjoyed reading and witnessing the growth of these two individuals and ultimately how they came together through all the BS life dealt them. This is a pretty light romance, where we get some intimate scenes but generally it's pretty PG-13. If you enjoy a strangers to friends to lovers, this is the book for you.

Overall: 7.5/10
Spicy: 2/5

I first want to congratulate author Lindsey Lanza on a fabulous debut! After reading Speechless I cannot wait for her to publish another book! I was immediately drawn to both of the main characters and their stories. I knew right away that they were intriguing and complex, and their stories unfolded slowly and painstakingly. My heart went through a roller coaster of emotions while reading Lucy and Henry’s start, and I felt every turn, every drop, the fear and the exhilaration.

Speechless By Lindsey Lanza is a brilliant and funny romance book that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

The characters, for me, are what makes this book really stand out from the other romance novels on the market. The way Henry’s social anxiety was written about was interesting. Usually, it is the female characters (if any) that are portrayed as having anxiety, so I appreciated the writer raising awareness about men’s mental health issues. As the story goes on, we learn more about his past and the reasons why he struggles with social interactions, and this just made my heart melt. I fell in love with him as a character right at the start, on the plane, when he rushes to Lucy’s aid. He is a gentleman throughout, kind, caring and thoughtful, just in his own way.

Lucy was a bit harder for me to warm up to. I can’t tell you exactly why I didn’t enjoy Lucy’s character as much, but it wasn’t until she became good friends with the other guys in the house that I found myself getting to know her better and enjoying her personality more. The fact that she has endometriosis was an excellent addition from the author as, again, I think this really helps spread awareness about a condition that is otherwise rarely spoken of.

How the characters came together through the love of music and the support they showed for one another throughout was so sweet.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy romance book with relatable characters, a good plot, lovely writing and some adorable romance.

4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Linsey Lanza for allowing me to read the ARC of this novel.

5 stars!
I absolutely loved this book. It made me feel heard, I could relate to the characters and it the story just sucked me in! This might be even my new favourite book from this year.
Thank you so much for the arc Lindsey I REALLY enjoyed this book.

So the book tells a love story between an author named Lucy and a music composer named Henry. Lucy was originally planning to move LA to live with her friend, but once that plan fails for a reason or two this handsome stranger on the same flight as her offers her to live with him and that's only the start of this amazing story.

I loved Lucy and his service dog Rowan like they were literally the cutest duo ever. Lucy was fierce, but at the sametime she had her own fears and through the book she dealt with her fears and learned how to cope with them. Most heartwarming moment of this book is probably the part where Kucy meets Henry's mother and they go to have tea at this fancy place. There Lucy really comes to terms with herself even tho she still has some fears and doubts.

Henry oh Henry Henry you are just amaxzing. I love you and you are my new book boyfriend no questions asked. I'm just in love with you I can't you all. Henry is sweet, akward, fears social gatherings and situations and just aah. He has a kind soul and did I already say he is a music composer and can play literally any instrument. Like hello!! Also as a bonus he's like filthy rich, daamn he really is the dream.

Tropes:
- grumpy x sunshine (at least some parts)
- rich man (hello!!)

Okay there's probably even more, but those are the ones that came to my mind at this moment.
Speechess also had a great rep of people with social anxiety and chronic illness. As a person who has a chronic illness it's always super nice to find books that are partly relatable and it just makes me heard atleast somewhere.

I recommend everyone to read this book who wants to read books with good rep of social anxiety and chronic illness. This book teached me even new stuff and I was glad to get anoyther pov of these things. Also if you just like romance go check this book out once it comes out on January 17th or even better go pre-order it asap. I can't hype this book enough for you all like just wow I'm in love.

thanks for reading my review
love,
Matilda

I absolutely loved this book. The chronic illness rep & the severe anxiety rep was done SO well. I loved Henry’s and Lucy’s characters and the way they grew together. And the found family just made it all the better.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Lindsey Lanza for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own!

Lucy is looking for a fresh start, freshly divorced she’s looking to start again in LA with her best friend. After encountering a handsome stranger (who turns out to be award winning composer of her favourite works), she soon ends up staying in Henry’s house as her initial plans fell through. The experience certainly brings them together!

Firstly, please check trigger warnings before your read but the portrayal of chronic illness, anxiety, trauma, parental loss and adoption was handled incredibly! It was absolutely great, and the way in which Lindsey handles these sensitive topics are so well done.

Henry and Lucy are super cute, the way their relationship developed was great to witness and I really felt like I could understand the troubles Henry faced with his anxiety. Also the new friendships that Lindsey creates was great, she definitely needed it after the toxic relationships she’s had.

The story was well paced and the only downfall is the writing could be better, but all in all it was an excellent debut novel!!

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This post contains minor spoilers.

I would like to start my review by saying it is unfair that Goodreads only has 5 stars. This book deserves all the stars. I am actually obsessed. I binged this in one sitting. I'm not even sure where to begin.

Writing. The writing was amazing. I was drawn in immediately. There are a million lines from this book I wanted to annotate but Netgalley doesn't have that feature so I'll just have to wait until the physical copy is released so I can properly annotate it.

The plot was perfect. The story begins in an airport where Lucy learns the girl she was planning to room with after her cross-country move is flaking on her. Then, she meets Henry, gorgeous perfect Henry, who happens to be her favorite musician. He graciously offers up his spare bedroom in his Malibu mansion and Lucy accepts because that's what you do when the hot man that's actually your favorite composer offers a rent free room.

The pace was perfect, not rushed, not dragging. Their relationship developed perfectly. The side plots were perfectly woven through. The character's backgrounds were revealed in perfect time and it didn't feel too soon or too late.

In terms of characters, they are all perfect. Lucy and Henry are amazing. As I mentioned, they both had backstories that were well planned and revealed in good places in the story. They had flaws that they worked thorough and some that they were stuck with. Their interactions with each other and the side characters were so natural I honestly believe they're real people.

The side characters were also perfect. Their relationships, backstories, interactions, personalities, etc, were all planned. Even though there were multiple characters introduced at once, it wasn't hard to keep them straight because they each had such distinct personalities.

I can't review this book without talking about the romance. Have you ever had that feeling where you can't stop smiling and your heart almost hurts because something is so cute or romantic or perfect? That's how I felt reading Speechless. I previously mentioned how the pacing of everything was perfect and that extends to the relationship. Lucy and Henry each had hesitations with the relationship and it made sense for them to wait or act a certain way.

Henry may be may favorite book boyfriend ever. He's hot, kind, thoughtful, rich, and a musician. One of my favorite scenes is when everyone guesses what instrument Lucy would be. While all of the other guys make funny jokes or innuendos, Henry says a harp, to everyone's confusion. Near the end of the book Lucy asks him about the reason behind his answer and his response was so perfect I wanted to cry.

Lucy had a very serious reason for not wanting to pursue a relationship. Henry was patient while he waited for an answer and did his best to be understanding with the little information he knew. I think my second favorite scene is when he asks his mom for advice. He wanted a relationship with Lucy and he wanted to show her he was serious. What a man!

I love this book with all my heart. I will be buying a copy for myself as soon as I can and I recommend everyone else does the same.

This book started so well with the Rowan the dog and Henry being the dog-loving hero on the plane. I enjoyed the setup and some of the romance elements.

*spoilers*

Unfortunately things got a little weird when Henry falls asleep next to Lucy. It felt more awkward than romantic. Then he said basically he was a feminist but likes his women in the kitchen? Huh?

But ok. It was still cute at times. It is an easy read and will definitely be one for some of you. Good luck to Lanza on her debut!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Speechless by Lindsey Lanza! 5/5 Stars!

I absolutely LOVED Speechless! It was such a touching story of found family and growing despite a difficult past. The story surrounds Lucy, a recently divorced fairy tale writer, who is moving to LA for a fresh start. When her living situation suddenly cancels on her, Lucy takes a chance on staying with the handsome and willing Henry, an extremely anxious composer. While staying in Henry's mansion in the beautiful Malibu, Lucy begins to find joy again and opens up to the ragtag bunch of musicians that make up HAAAM. (Henry's American And Australian Musicians).

I loved how this story conveyed the ups and downs of both mental and physical health. Lindsey did a wonderful job of normalizing the stigma around physical disabilities and chronic illness within everyday life. It really opened my eyes to what people suffering with chronic illness deal with on a daily basis.

Henry and Lucy were the sweetest! I loved how they were able to accept each other for who they are despite the circumstances they've been dealt. The little songs they made up together about food was so freaking adorable. The two of them just had such a special bond that isn't comparable to any book I've read recently.

This novel gave such strong New Girl vibes and I loved every second of it! Rowan the service dog is my new favorite character!!!

I love how authors write stories about people with real-life things that they are working through! These characters are so well developed and live with real health problems and show that you can still have wonderful and fulfilling lives. A super cute modern romance book!

Thank you NetGalley and Lindsey Lanza!

Lucy meets Henry in this debut novel by Indie author Lindsey Lanza. Lucy finds herself divorced at 30 and decides there is no time like the present to take herself and her service dog to Malibu, there's only one problem. The place she is supposed to being staying falls through...minutes before boarding her flight. Que Henry, a musician from Malibu who invites her to come stay in his mansion. Turns out he isnt so much of a stranger, he's her music hero.

This book!! It gave me all the feels right off the bat!

Read if you are looking for:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧Found family

🐶The most adorable service dog (the way Lucy was connected to her dog reminded me so much of my own and warmed my heart)

🧠Anxiety representation

❤️Chronic Illness representation

🌊Swoon worthy setting with drool worthy food

🥰Heartwarming moments with a stranger to friends to lover's trope

🧍‍♀️🧍Dual POV

"I really do. Dinner without dessert is like saying goodnight without a kiss."

Pre-order your copy now

Thank you to @readwithli and @netgalley for my copy

This book would be great for readers getting into the romance genre or anyone looking for an easy read with more representation and interesting au next matter. Unfortunately it wasn’t for me but I liked the inclusion of the musical aspect and the chronic pain discussion and anxiety discussions. It’s a romance with heart I think the writing style/pacing held it back a little.

Speechless - e-ARC Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
PUB DATE: Jan 17, 2023
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QUICK LOOK: Adult Romance, Chronic Illness Rep, Social Anxiety Rep, Found Family, Mutism Rep, Life After Divorce, Romance that gets real and digs deep
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SYNOPSIS:
Lucy writes best-selling fairy-tales that always end in happily-ever-afters, but her own life is not full of a lot of happy right now. After a rough divorce, she decides to start over in a new town. When she arrives, however, her living arrangements fall through. With nowhere to go, she ends up crashing with a new friend and his roommates.
.
Henry is beyond talented. When it comes to writing film scores, he soars. When it comes to interacting with humans, however, his anxiety often takes over. As he slowly befriends his new housemate, she begins to pierce through his anxious walls and develop a deeper connection than he has had before.
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WHY 5/5:
These characters are uniquely crafted. They each have their struggles, but they are deeply personal and specific. Lucy’s chronic illness and Henry’s social anxiety are represented beautifully and reverently. Each character struggles and grows and yet they are also NOT just their struggles - they are people with interests, dreams, hobbies, connections, desires…people who deserve a happy-ever-after, even though they have been hurt or written off before. There isn’t just growth in this book, there is healing. It is vulnerable. It is honest. It is beautiful.

📚 Speechless
✍ Lindsey Lanza
📖 RomCom
⭐5/5
🌶️ 3/5
Out 1/17/23

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Speechless in exchange for an honest review.
◾
Following a year of health issues and a devastating divorce, bestselling author Lucy Gold is looking for a fresh start by moving across the country to live with her best friend in Malibu. When her best friend bails on her moments before her flight takes off, she's left with nowhere to stay in a city where she knows no one. Enter her handsome seatmate and the composer whose music has kept her together through the last year: Henry Turner.

Henry generously offers to let Lucy stay with him (and his four roommates) while she gets her bearings. Within weeks, she's become a beloved member of their found family, and Henry feels a calm he's never experienced having grown up with crippling anxiety. As their feelings for each other grow, they'll each have to overcome insecurities and open their hearts to a love that can heal them from the inside out.
◾
💭 What I loved: All of the characters in Speechless have so much heart. I oscillated between feeling close to tears at what Lucy and Henry had experienced prior to meeting each other and falling over laughing because of their housemates antics. And what a great pairing: She writes modern takes on classic fairytales and brings them to life as a bestselling author. He brings stories to life through music, composing and writing soundtracks, albums and lyrics for every emotion. It's impossible not to fall in love with this heartwarming story full of serendipitous moments, a hilarious cast of housemates and a romance that proves that when life's in pieces, love may just be the glue you need to keep it all together.

What I didn't: The only thing that I didn't really get was the HAAAM name (what Henry calls his housemates). Something about how the name came together didn't really resonate with me so every time this was referenced, I felt a little confused. But other than that, I loved this book!
◾
Read if you love:
*found family
*invisible illness awareness and storylines
*stories feat. a writer/songwriter MC
◾
See also: Lease on Love, The Friend Zone, Always Only You

I loved this book. When life gets hard, go on vacation. I wish that was possible in real life, because this book was refreshing and real and hopeful. I can’t wait for it to be in the world.

Well this was such a lovely read! A wonderful debut, and a solid example of today's current romance reads. This book had such good representations, and I loved that the ending didn't pander to specific expectations or miracles (if you know, you know).

The story is filled with longing and angst, and once the couple finally got together it was perfect. Truly a beautiful read !

This was a sweet story about Henry and Lucy that also tied in mental health issues, chronic illness into the storyline as well. This was a very easy read that was also very heavy at times. I love that it covered such serious issues the way that it did. I believe this was a debut for this author and I'd gladly read more from her in the future!

Strangers to lovers ❤️
Forced proximity 😋
Found Family
Dual povs 👥
He falls first🤤
Music and books🎶📚
An amazing service dog 'Rowan' 🐶
TW: chronic illness and severe anxiety.

Lindsy Lanza's debut novel is a piece of gem 💎 there are no words enough to describe how good it is but I will do my best ☺️.
Let's start with a glimpse into the story: our dear Lucy decided to leave everything behind in Boston after her divorce and starts fresh with her friend Sarah in L. A, however, due to some complications she is unable to stay with her and now left with no choices and no one to go to. On the other side, there is a very handsome man that can't take his eyes off Lucy. Introductions are made and from one point to another he realizes that Lucy is a big fan of him I.e Henry Turner the multi-winning awards and composer of movies and TV shows scores but she has no idea who he is that's until a flip of fate puts them side by side on the airplane and Lucy's world is turned upside down.
Henry offers her his house to stay in as much as she likes and that would be awesome for Lucy coz she knows no one there and she is a writer who has writer's block and maybe a change of scenery would be perfect for her after all this pain she's being through.
Lucy's life is about to change forever with Henry whose music was the raft and help to her all this time and she has no idea yet. Henry's world will be changed too in a way he has never imagined.

A story of letting go and living in the present about the importance of music in people's lives. About love in its simplest forms and friendship. About appreciating the chances and encounters in life and believing in ourselves and others.
It's truly a wonderful love story 💙.

I absolutely loved Lindsey’s first novel- it’s all the things! Warm, sweet, funny, serious, romantic.

I really enjoyed our main characters, Lucy and Henry, and their growth throughout the novel as they each dealt with their own traumas and pasts and learned to find love and comfort within each other. I also think that Lindsey did an amazing job normalizing an individual with a chronic disability as well as normalizing the conversation with it.

I’d be remiss not to mention that I loved that Lucy was Jewish, we love that in this community.

Henry’s roommates were a lot of fun and I really enjoyed their dynamic and how willingly they were to accept Lucy (when her own best friend really sucked). I can’t imagine how much entertainment Lucy has gotten living with all men (boys!).

I am really impressed and in love with this novel and I can’t wait to see what Lindsey writes next!!

Thank you Lindsey Lanza, Victory Editing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for a honest review. Speechless comes out January 17, 2023!!

I absolutely adored this book start to finish, or prelude to encore which ever you prefer. Lucy is an author who after her divorce decides to move to LA when her best friend offers her a place to stay. While in the airport she gets a call the derails all of her plans, in the end she has nowhere to stay and a best friend who might not actually be the best. During her mini mental breakdown (can you blame her) she is comforted by Henry, a composer (he actually composes her favorite music), not only does her make her smile he also offers his beachside mansion for her to live in. With really nothing else to lose she decides to do it, she is going to live with Henry and his four male roommates. During the course of her stay she starts to heal from her past, finds friends who feel a lot like family and she starts to discover that romance might still be included in her future.

Like I said I absolutely adored this book, I honestly could not put it down. Lucy and Henry both made me want to jump in the pages and give them a hug. I honestly felt like it was such a hard earned sweet HEA, both Lucy and Henry had to grow and evaluate what they want from life. I think one of the best parts of this book were the side characters, everyone contributed to this overwhelming sense of found family. Them both finding the sense of belonging with each other and their friends was incredibly heart warming. If you are looking for a sweet, emotional, and romantic novel Speechless is the book for you!