Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

Well not my favorite story, it was still a good read. I couldn’t necessarily fill the connection between these two except for maybe in the bedroom. I loved the idea behind the story of these two. And who can resist a romance author! I did love their meet cute as well. I look forward to more work from this author!

I really liked the premise of this book, however, the execution just wasn't for me. Some of the dialogue felt really heavy handed, and there were far too many descriptions of exactly what characters were wearing, or really detailed moments that felt a bit too much. It really took me out of the narrative, which I think I would have otherwise really enjoyed. I did really enjoy the setting and the character development, however, I was too distracted by the writing style to enjoy it that much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this e-ARC, the book comes out on 19th May!

Long Story Short is an uplifting, charming rom-com that offers more than just romance. It’s a story about self-worth, taking risks, and finding your voice—in love and in life. Perfect for fans of the genre, and a great pick if you’re in the mood for something lighthearted yet meaningful. This book is a lovely page turning weekend escape.

😊 Uplifting | 💕 Lighthearted | Spicy 🌶️​ | 🇬🇧 London / ​🇺🇲​ New York

Freya Harrison is a devoted personal assistant at a London literary agency with dreams of becoming a full-fledged agent. When her boss, Hayley, is unable to attend a prestigious romance conference in NY, Freya is sent in her place to chaperone the agency’s most difficult client— Jake Richards, a bestselling romance author whose recent off-the-record remarks about the genre have sparked a PR disaster. Jake may be adored by millions of fans, but to Freya, he’s arrogant, dismissive, and not at all the romantic hero his books promise. Her mission is simple: keep Jake in line, repair his public image, and make the conference a success. But as Freya peels back the layers of Jake’s persona, she finds herself reevaluating her assumptions—not just about him, but about her own career and the role love plays in her life.

Having read several of Victoria Walters’ books, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this one—her ninth that I’ve read so far. While early reviews were mixed, I went in with an open mind, and I’m so glad I did. Long Story Short surprised me in the best way. It’s engaging, layered, and offers more than just a conventional romantic arc.

The story shines in its detailed exploration of the publishing world. Walters clearly understands the industry, and her insider knowledge adds authenticity and intrigue. Freya’s professional aspirations are just as central to the story as her romantic entanglements, which gave the novel a refreshing depth. Watching her grow, both personally and professionally, was deeply satisfying.

Freya is a thoroughly relatable heroine—bookish, passionate about romance, and determined to prove herself. Jake, though initially frustrating, reveals complexity and vulnerability as the story unfolds. Their chemistry builds naturally, and their banter is sharp and entertaining.

That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. One of the more noticeable issues is character depth. While Freya and Jake are likable, they often felt one-dimensional. Freya’s constant clumsiness, flustered behavior, and inexperienced persona occasionally veered into caricature, especially considering her age and ambitions. Similarly, Jake’s emotional walls and arrogance took a bit too long to break down, making it hard to fully connect with him early on.

At times, both characters behaved immaturely—particularly in moments of conflict or miscommunication that felt forced rather than authentic. Their reactions didn’t always align with the professionalism or maturity one might expect from people in their late twenties or early thirties. This led to a few eye-roll moments that disrupted the otherwise engaging pace.

New York serves as a vivid and enchanting backdrop. Walters’ descriptions of the city are immersive and evocative—I felt transported to its bustling streets and romantic skyline. As someone who dreams of visiting NYC, this book only fueled my wanderlust.

As a long-time reader of Walters I appreciated the subtle nods to familiar characters like Liv and Tessa, adding a lovely sense of continuity across her books. The spicy scenes are well-executed—more refined than in some of her previous novels—and feel natural within the story’s emotional arc.

Yes, the story has its predictable moments, and the ending veers a little into the overly sentimental. But even those flourishes feel earned. It’s a feel-good read that delivers exactly what it promises: a heartwarming, modern romance with real emotional stakes.

I kindly received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Boldwood Books.

An interesting story with entertaining characters.

Assistant literary agent Freya is sent to a romance book conference with one of her company's authors. There she's supposed to help clean up a big mess he made with his fans and she's trying to prove she's enough to be an agent with her own clients. However, things go wrong when Freya and James arrive at the conference and he makes an even worse PR situation.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

An interesting premise but poorly executed. The writing was a huge let down - everything just felt over-explained and there were repetitive dialogues and thoughts - even my primary school students know not to repeat adjectives and verbs in their writing. I don't know how many times Freya "drained" her coffee or fished out a "favourite" dress during a five day business trip to New York. I'm not sure what the straw hat and heart-shaped sunglasses were about because this character totally forgot that she was visiting New York in a professional capacity.

Freya's character really irked me and I found her to be quite immature. Jake's character was one-dimensional; there was absolutely nothing there to suggest that he was a mature thirty-five year old with a successful career. The couple lacked chemistry and their more intimate scenes were cringeworthy and seemed to comprise of very lengthy (unnecessary) dialogues.

I thought that the whole romance conference was a cute idea but it could have been cuter. The conference was bland and devoid of anything romantic.

What I did like were the little crossovers/mentions of characters from the author's previous books.

Victoria Walters' books have now become a hit and miss for me. In stark contrast to the strong female protagonists in her Glendale series books or her earlier standalone ones, the main female characters in all her recent books have been too similar to each other. Having the same characteristics and personalities, they literally could all be the same person.

The writing was light, entertaining and had suspense and tension throughout. I just wanted to keep on reading to see what was going to happen next! I became very invested in the characters lives and wondered how it would all pan out in the end. There was a lot of will they, won't they, but it was done in such a way that kept my attention. I liked that text messages were included as this broke up the text and added some realism to the story. I looked forward to picking it back up at each reading session.

The chapters were fairly long, which meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. The chapters flowed nicely into each other. At some points you were just carrying on the conversation from the previous chapter which was interesting. It certainly helped to keep the story moving forward.

Despite the longer chapters and the will they, won't they, the story had a good pace to it. Lots of little things happened to keep your attention and encouraged you to keep on reading.

The characters created suspense and tension with the way that they mistrusted each other and were too shy to tell each other what they were thinking. I was completely taken in and was willing them to work it out.

I liked how the main character was honest and was gradually brought out of her shell despite everything that she had to overcome. I also liked how she made the people around her better with her honesty (except her boss who certainly added a darker side to the story).

Lastly the settings. Whilst it was mainly a character focused story, there were more detailed descriptions to enhance what was going on around the characters' certain storylines. I enjoyed reading about the Romance Conference and willed the characters to succeed.

Overall an entertaining story with lots of will they, won't they, plus a few spicy scenes.

Giiirrll... where's playing hard to get?! These two dove straight into chemistry, and I was here for it., (I'm usually not but we are in NY)

Long Story Short delivers exactly what it promises, a feel-good, heartwarming romance & happy awkward moments
I loved that it skipped the usual swooning-over-abs trope and gave us something with a little more depth.
What really stood out for me was the character development. Both leads start in a place of self-doubt and slowly, organically, grow into their confidence, from Insecurity to self esteem not just because of each other, but for themselves. That's the kind of growth I love to see in a romance.

Also, The connection between them felt genuine, with conversations that had me smiling and rooting for them all the way.
It’s a classic meet-cute with a side of emotional substance.

If you want a refresh after a long day at work, then this happily ever after is exactly what you need.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately this was not the book for me. It had loads of potential and I was thrilled with an easy read, but it was not my vibe,

I got this book from NetGallery. This is my honest review.

Summary:
The book is about Jake Richards, a global best-selling author, who makes an awkward remark and upsets all his readers. Freya, an assistant literary agent, must go to a romance conference in New York with Jake to try to save his career.

My conclusion:
What a nice book! I'm a big fan of New York so that's what attracted me in the first place.
The book is written in an engaging manner, making it difficult to stop reading. I really liked the first part where they are at the conference, also because you read things about the city and you see the love grow between them. I thought they were super cute together.

I'm not a big fan of spice but there was enough in it to swoon over but it didn’t become annoying.

At some points the story is a bit predictable, like he hears her talk but that is also part of the genre. I didn't find it annoying. I thought the reason why he made that comment was well thought out.
I found it a wonderful story to dream away in. Especially if you are a fan of New York, I would recommend it.

Thank you very much for letting me read this book. I enjoyed every minute of it!

Long Story Short by Victoria Walters is a romance novel based on a book industry setting. The author gives an intriguing story of Freya Harrison, a young lady in her twenties who works as an assistant agent. She's very ambitious, and her dream is to become a successful agent herself. According to her, that possibility will happen if her strict boss trains her. Her opportunity for that promotion comes when their client Jake Richards gets into trouble that threatens to end his career. Freya is appointed as the one to save it, with a promise of a promotion if she succeeds. They have to take a trip and work together for several days, but there's a problem: this particular client has an attitude, and he intimidates her. On the trip, things go from bad to worse, and they find themselves spending more time together, both professionally and nonprofessionally. To find out what the future holds for them both in their personal and professional lives, read this book, Long Story Short, by Victoria Walters.

I was extremely captivated by the story. The plot development is great because both main characters are facing different problems in their personal life therefore not ready for any commitment, which makes the book very suspenseful. The characters are strong, with many differences, including their status, age, and, not to mention, their personalities. This has made the storyline fascinating.

I rate this book, Long Story Short by Victoria Walters, 5 out of 5 stars. I was enticed from the beginning to the end.

I recommend it to readers who are looking for spicy romance books with a book industry setting, as it was an excellent story, and they will be wholly immersed in it.

I was allowed early access to this e book through natgalley, the synopsis grabbed me and I was excited to read this title. However, I was a little put off from the start. I didn’t really get a feel for the characters, couldn’t imagine them due to lack of description, and all I had in my head was the age gap.
The plot has all the components to have been a 5 star read but I got the ick and I think that spoilt it for me.
Having been a romance fan for years I was looking forward to seeing how this author would relate the events to real life and that was done well.
Still this could be your cup of tea, don’t let my review put you off, it’s still a great read!

Thank you again to Netgalley, Boldwood books and the author for providing me with an arc copy.

Rating: ,⭐⭐💫
I had high hopes for Long Story Short, especially with its grumpy-sunshine dynamic set in New York. However, I found the characters to be one-dimensional and lacking depth, which made it difficult to connect with the story. While the premise had potential, the execution fell short for me. The writing style didn't resonate, and I struggled to stay engaged throughout. This book might appeal to fans of light, breezy romances, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Boldwood books and Victoria Walters for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Let me set the scene… A book set in London and New York locations, where the main 2 characters go around New York together visiting at the famous sights. Where the characters are book writers or part of the literacy World, with slow burn, a slight enemies to lovers romance, with some really well written spice…. I was just all in for this book.

The characters were a lot of fun, it was great seeing Freya’s journey and this story not just being about love, but a huge part of it being her career as well which made it an interesting read. Anything that came out of Jake’s mouth I was just obsessed with, and Davis turned into the bad guy who we all loved in the end after causing some delicious jealousy and drama.

If you want a quick romantic read, that will keep you smiling then I would definitely recommend.

I just finished an ARC of Long Story Short by Victoria Walters, and as a sucker for any story set in the publishing world. The plot follows Freya, an aspiring literary agent, who’s sent to New York with bestselling romance author Jake to help clean up his public image. Cue publishing-world romance, complete with a thriller-writing bad guy doing his best to sabotage things. Predictable but fun.

I absolutely churned through Long Story Short by Victoria Walters. This fun rom com is set mostly in New York and follows Freya, an aspiring literary agent, and Jake, a successful romance author. The (not-yet-a) couple are trying to rebuild Jake's reputation and are on damage control, when they fall for each other and mend his image.

I found this book fun and light, the perfect holiday read. What I didn't love was the lack of character development or chemistry between the two characters. I found the characters very surface level, but perfect if you like a grumpy / sunshine book. I also felt the ending was a little overdone, and should have maybe stopped a few pages earlier!

Overall I liked this book and would recommend it to people for a beachy read.

Thanks NetGalley for the eArc of this book.

Thank you to Victoria Walters and Boldwood Books for letting me read this ARC via NetGalley.

Genre: Romantic Comedy
📍 London + NYC
Vibes: 📚🛫🏙️🔥🗽💖🛬📝🥇
Rating: 4.25⭐️
Tropes: workplace romance / grumpy x sunshine / slow burn / forced proximity / age gap / he falls first

I thought I was in a romance novel slump where all the books started blending together but this one definitely stood out among the pile. I found myself not being able to put it down because I was completely infatuated with the connection between Freya and Jake. I also very much enjoyed (and found myself audibly cheering for) the ending where Freya stood up for herself and her career and left Hayley’s firm because she knew she deserved better.

Having a romance book be more than just a romance is where this really stood out to me and I loved that.

This is a cute summer read that flew by for me. Jake is a brooding author in his 30s with Freya being an aspiring writing agent in her 30s. Together they team up to attend a conference in NY to try and salvage Jake's reputation. Read if you enjoy grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity. I found the ending to be satisfying and enjoyed the side characters. At time the chemistry between the two characters felt a little flat but the overall still a fun read. Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood for the ARC.

Another wonderful read from this author!

Our main female character Freya desperately wants to progress her career but also is struggling with her personal relationships. After making a fool of herself in front of her favourite romance author, she learns she must travel with him to New York to save his failing career. If she is successful she may well get that promotion she deserves!
What follows is a story of getting to know one another, making silly blunders when put under pressure, realisation that everyone has a past and has feelings and ultimately discovering what they really want.

I love the progression in this book, how we get to know the characters, understand what makes them tick, what rubs them up the wrong way!

The author describes all the settings so well, the hotels, New York and all the places they visit.

I loved the way the author developed the relationships in this story, not just our main characters, but other characters we meet along the way, how working relationships change throughout. I especially liked how things ended up for Davis, and felt he was an interesting and important character.

It was great to have familiar characters rejoining the story, seeing what’s going on for them.

There’s a bit of spice, nicely written and fits well into the story.

All in all a lovely book that I found quite a quick read, especially the last third or so when I just couldn’t put it down.

I love all the literary references throughout, of course it’s about authors and agents so you expect it, but also from a readers point of view, the excitement when a new ARC lands on your device or the feel of a real life proof (what an excitement I imagine that would be!)

It’s funny, it’s cute, it’s got great characters and is an enjoyable read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for providing me an e-arc in change for a honest review.
A cute, fun, quick and easy read… this book is focused on Freya’s pov trying to excel in her career in publishing whilst meeting her favourite author who she thought hated her until the story unfolds.
I enjoyed the fun easy read.