Didn't connect with the characters and didn't love how out of touch/oblivious the main character seemed along with the blatant unprofessionalism (I get wanting to stand out, but this was beyond that and seemed unrealistic). This was a DNF for me.

Long Story Short is a contemporary romance set against the backdrop of the New York publishing scene. The story follows Freya Harrison, an assistant literary agent, who is tasked with managing Jake Richards, a bestselling author whose recent controversial remarks have damaged his reputation. As they navigate a high-profile romance conference, the forced proximity leads to a slow-burn romance characterized by the grumpy-sunshine dynamic and an age-gap relationship.

The novel offers a light and entertaining read, with a setting that will appeal to fans of the publishing world. The chemistry between Freya and Jake develops gradually, and their interactions provide moments of humor and tension. The inclusion of text messages adds a modern touch to the storytelling.

However, some readers have found the character development lacking, with certain aspects of the protagonists' personalities feeling one-dimensional. Additionally, the plot can be predictable at times, and the pacing may not maintain consistent engagement for all readers.

Overall, Long Story Short is a pleasant romance that delivers on its promise of a steamy, slow-burn love story. It may not offer groundbreaking depth, but it provides an enjoyable escape for fans of the genre.

I enjoyed this easy-going romance read. It was just the sort of book I needed as the plot casually progressed. However, I do think that Walters took a long time concluding the story and I did find some of the romance scenes a bit awkward.

The story follows Freya, an assistant agent, who heads to New York to try and turn around the reputation of romance writer, Jake, who has been caught out insulting readers of the romance genre. Freya is determined to be her own agent to writers in the future and feels like this trip to New York could be the start of her career. Except she is fan-girling over Jake and can’t seem to stop embarrassing herself in front of him all of the time.

I liked how there is a bit of a mystery behind Jake’s character: what made him slate his readers and describe writing romance as so easy? I was predicting there to be a love conflict behind all of this, a bit like in Pride and Prejudice, especially when Jake’s writer rival, Davis, is also at the writers conference in New York. However, when Walters does reveal Jake’s story, I thought it was a bit of a downer and not particularly interesting. In my opinion, it made him to be a rather weak character and I wasn’t convinced by his excuses.

Walters presentation of New York was great and I felt transported to this city. I loved seeing it through Freya’s eyes and her excitement was palpable. Jake and Freya spend some time sightseeing and this marks the start of their relationship. It was sweet to see their feelings being recognised, but I felt a bit awkward with the ten-year age gap, particularly when Jake speaks “sexy” to Freya.

Alas, the spicy scenes this time weren’t to my liking and I thought they didn’t bring too much to the story. Through most of the story, Jake is presented as grumpy, Freya as naïve and clumsy: Walters plays on over-used stereotypes that didn’t allow depth to the novel. Instead, I became more interested in the sub-plot featuring the publishing world, Davis and Jake’s careers, as well as how Freya would try and escape Hayley’s domineering influence. It’s a shame, as I think I was hoping for a more interesting romance.

Overall, this was a cute read but I didn’t share the sparks that the main characters did. I enjoyed seeing the working relationship between Jake and Freya, but the romance never quite hit the mark.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a smart and sassy laugh-out-loud rom-com packed with sizzling chemistry and whip-smart banter. Set against the glitzy chaos of a New York romance conference, Romance Rehab follows assistant literary agent Freya as she’s thrown into the deep end managing Jake Richards – a bestselling author with a bad attitude and an even worse scandal on his hands.

Freya is relatable, determined, and wonderfully snarky, while Jake is the classic love-to-hate-him heartthrob with hidden depth. Their forced proximity and enemies-to-lovers tension make for a deliciously slow burn that’s both steamy and sweet.

This book blends workplace drama, sharp wit, and just the right amount of spice. It’s a rom-com with heart – and a reminder that sometimes, love is anything but easy.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

A best selling male romance author?

My skepticism was high but colour me surprised because this actually worked.

Freya & Jack got off to a relatively poor start when she was tasked with babysitting him for an appearance at a literary conference to clean up his image following a very public gaff. I loved their dynamic from the get-go, very grumpy sunshine coded but they are British so it’s a little bit more subdued. Of course Jack had noticed Freya from the beginning and as soon as he knew she liked him back he opened right up and revealed his softer side. They peeled each other’s layers back.

I love it when the romance starts on a work trip too, makes it all the more exciting. These two getting to know each other properly and exploring New York together had me giddy. They made each other believe in romance again. And the work aspect for both of them also had me engrossed. Freya finally finding a new workplace that valued her and allowed her to gain experience as a literary agent! It’s always such a satisfying moment when the fmc is appreciated for her career prowess. Jack getting his new romance published with a publishing house and agent that valued him & his work after his public apology and explanation - boy was hurting and deserved support!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this thoroughly enjoyable ARC. Keen to read more from Victoria Walters!

really enjoyed this book and the journey of the main character and all that they went through. It kept me on my toes and what would happen in the story.

The Odds of You is a heartfelt and memorable story about love, fate, and the choices that shape our lives. The characters feel real and relatable, and the writing captures both the beauty and uncertainty of relationships. While a little slow in parts, it leaves readers reflecting on how chance encounters can change everything. A touching reminder that love often arrives when we least expect it.

I had high expectations for this book, but it didn’t quite capture me as I’d hoped. I’ve no doubt it will resonate with the right readers, but sadly, I wasn’t one of them.

I love books set in the publishing world. I find them fascinating. As an avid reader it's always interesting to take a look behind the curtain, so to speak. I have to be honest, though. That was one of the only real draws of this book. I found the plot and characters to be lackluster and the writing stilted. I wasn't sucked into the story and found myself skimming throughout. There was definitely some good spice but most of this book didn't work for me. I think that a reader looking for a quick beach read may enjoy this as it doesn't require intense amounts of concentration. I think many will enjoy the NYC parts especially if they have never been.

Long Story Short is an enjoyable enough read with a charming setting and a light tone that makes it easy to get through. Victoria Walters writes with warmth, and there are lovely moments throughout that will appeal to fans of uplifting contemporary fiction.

However, I did find it a little difficult to connect with the characters at times, and the story often felt like it only skimmed the surface. I would have liked more depth in the emotional arcs to feel fully drawn into their journeys.

That said, it still has a pleasant atmosphere and is sure to please readers looking for a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

2 stars for "Long Story Short!" I felt as though the plot was too predictable. I was able to piece all of the next steps in the story the entire time I was reading. In addition to this, I did not connect to the characters. Jake and Freya did not have a fiery connection that I look for in romance novels. There was a lack of depth to both of the main characters, and I found myself wanting more once it finished. I did love the literary conference in New York as the setting. It definitely added atmosphere to the book for me! This was an easy read, but I do not think it will leave a lasting impression on me. I would be willing to try another from this author because I see the potential!

Thank you Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Victoria Walters for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is a sweet and entertaining romance story set in beautiful New York. Not only is it a romance, but it's also a story about the characters finding themselves in life. I loved Freya and Jake, and their chemistry is wonderful. This book was just a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Boldwood Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was an absolute miss for me - I LOVE grumpy men, but there's a line that I won't cross for a book - and thats a misogynistic man. The moment that man told her to "calm down" I put this book down.

That's a line I just don't feel like bothering with for a book.

Long Story Short is a light, fun read with a beautiful setting (hello, New York!), romantic moments (I see you, meet cutes) and a dash of spice.

The premise held a lot of potential - an aspiring literary agent accompanies her favourite romance author to a book convention in the hopes of saving his reputation he put in jeopardy… but despite the descriptive writing, odes to rom-coms and some flirty banter, I felt myself pulled out of the story more often than I’d like, not getting the chance to really connect with or root for the characters. This said, I enjoyed the writing style and the tropes within the book and will absolutely read more Victoria Walters in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC!

The premise of this book was promising. An assistant to a big agent for authors goes on a trip to a romance conference with a romance author who tries to save his career. The thing is I became more interested in the non-romance plot (Jake’s career) and the settings (the publishing world) than the romance in itself. The characters didn’t have chemistry and there was a lot of unnecessary and irrealistic miscommunication. It all felt a bit cliche, a bit too much, and I felt as if I was reading a fan fiction, I guess the style was not for me. There was also a looooooot of inner thoughts and description and I think some of it could have used a bit of editing. It was however a fast read, the chapters were not long so that was good. Basically, I feel like the set up had a lot of potential, but fell flat for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In this fun new romance novel, readers follow assistant literary agent Freya Harrison as she gets her chance for her career big break at a big-time romance conference with best-selling author Jake Richards. Jake is hardly the easiest client, but fixing his reputation will finally let Freya prove her worth and move up in the publishing world. With potential PR disasters around every corner, Freya is not sure if she can handle the walking disaster that is Jake Richards, even for her career, but she has to stick around if she wants her chance at success. Full of tropes and great character dynamics, readers will love the complicated emotional storyline in this novel and sympathize with Freya’s difficult position. The characters are the stars of the novel, and the changing relationships between the characters really pull readers into the story. The tropes add a lot of tension and drama to the book and the characters’ relationships, and Walters has done a fantastic job bringing this story to life. With exciting elements, plot twists, and a great relationship, romance readers and fans of Walters’ other books will love the fascinating characters, unexpected complications, and entertaining premise of this literary-focused new romance novel.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Long Story Short. I want to be transparent upfront that I did not finish this at 25% after realizing the book was not meant for me in its intended audience.

I was very excited to read this based on the tropes but it fell flat for me. I liked the premise and tropes promoted. However, I'm a firm believer in not reading more than 25% of a book if it's not working for me.

Overall this book was not for me but those who are more into the slow burn, reputation redemption from rudeness, and quick romance.

It is no secret I am a big fan of Victoria Walters, and this book certainly didn't disappoint!.
I adore the grumpy x Sunshine trope, and this book portrays it perfectly... add to that some forced proximity and you have the ingredients for a perfect summer read!.

Full of intriguing characters, and a storyline that flows beautifully from beginning to end, this is a book I will certainly be recommending to others!.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book. It was super easy and cute - but something was missing. The characters were ok and the spice was welcome. Maybe the characters weren’t developed enough? I think it’s a good summer holiday read where you don’t have to think too much?

a decent romcom. I enjoyed the story and l.iked the fact it was short and sweet however I felt the writing was a bit stilted in places and so found it hard to fully engage with