Business of the Heart by Claire Forsythe is romance surrounding the Ice Queen trope with Lexi Finn, a ruthless owner of a marketing firm and Abby, the owner of an independent coffeeshop around the corner. Both women have been burned in the past and this makes them very cautious of love, even though there is an immediate attraction upon meeting.
There were some issues with this book with mainly, for me, the dual first person pov. The writer uses extremely long internal monologues for both Abby and Lexi, especially in the first half of the book, to explain their thought process. As an effect you got told a lot about how they were feeling or reacting to each other instead of being shown which made it more difficult to get into the story and really feel the connection develop.
The backstory had a solid base with good additional characters, but the plot surrounding the big miscommunication made me go: "really!?" Maybe that was done a bit too simplistic.

Nevertheless I did enjoy myself with this book and will most definitely pick up a book from Ms Forsythe in the future. I liked the characters, the romance and the setting and I can't wait to see what kind of a books she'll deliver with a little more writing experience.

This book was very enjoyable. I mean, who doesn't love an Ice Queen that finds her soulmate that melts her heart. I thought it was sweet and recommend. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

Business of the Heart by Claire Forsythe was a delightful read. A story of love at first sight between 2 women who have been hurt in the past. Witnessing their journey and growth was a pleasure but also anxiety inducing at times! There was insta lust/love and the feelings were wonderfully described and had me hooked. The banter and flirting, kept me very entertained and the love scenes were great.

A thawing of the ice queen of sort, where Lexi is this strong business women that takes no crap from anyone, who lets her cold persona fall in a beautiful and vulnerable manner for Abby. She does go through a hot and cold phase, but it doesn’t last too long like most books with an ice queen.

Watching the MCs open their heart was beautiful but I have to admit the fear of waiting for the “shoe” to drop had me glued anxiously to the page. The sequence in the book where this inevitably happens had my stomach in knots and I even had a hard time getting through the angst because of how invested I was! I knew who was going to bring trouble right off the bat, I was however surprised at how it unfolded, it was in my opinion unexpected. I had to rush through this part because it made me so mad! The reunion was worth it and made total sense for the context of a story with love at first sight.

I also really enjoyed the back story provided about the characters which gave so much more meaning to their actions. The secondary character supported the story nicely and provided a lightness and humour that I enjoyed. Funny and sassy Jen, loving and caring Lily and quirky Luke were very nicely written.

I would definitely recommend this book, I was hooked and finished it in one sitting!

** ARC generously provided through NetGalley**

Thank you NetGalley for proving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely amazing !! I loved every single second of it and i’m so grateful to have read and for having received this ARC as it is now one of my favourite reads of all time.

The whole plot and setting of this book was just sooo good I love romances set around a cafe/coffee shop and this was definitely no different. The characters themselves were just so relatable and written extremely well especially our main two protagonists whose backstory such as their failed relationships ending in cheating and betrayal as well as family and unsupportive and absent family were explored as to why they are the people they were today. I was rooting for them and almost every person in this book the whole time !! (except that one girl, you know who you are).

Okay, so the bit y’all are probably interested in, the romance !! Where do I even start first off this is a duel POV romance book which are my absolute fave romance books to read as I love seeing what both characters are thinking about it just makes the whole thing much more realistic imo. As for the relationship itself I loved every minute of it, it follows two lesbian women who both work not to far from each other, and have a chance encounter one day, almost ‘love at first sight’ kind of thing (but much better trust me).

I really loved how this relationship was written as I think that it was paced really well in the book, nothing was rushed and I really appreciated that despite their being that instant attraction. I loved seeing the relationship build along with the character development that comes/came along with it, it really made this book and I especially loved the serious, heart felt conversations between them. The first half I would way was so chaotic in the best way possible as both main characters obviously liked each other but ✨commitment and trust issues✨honestly this section was my favourite part and had me laughing almost the whole time as it was just so funny and realistic. Saying this though the rest of the book was just as good and even when they got together in which sometimes the plot tends to fizzle out in some books, the author did an amazing job of writing them and their scenes to keep that romance going and keeping the reader engaged in the process the whole time which I really appreciated.

I absolutely loved the side characters in this book as well. We’ve got the elderly neighbour who turns close friend and the hilarious characters that work along side one of our main characters at the coffee shop, and also a side romance which I always love in books so was glad their was one.

I feel like I could talk about this book forever because it was just that good, everything you want in a lesbian romance, good characters, good writing, chemistry, engaging plot … Definitely one of top reads of the year so far and am so glad to have read it !!

I have to admit I bounced off this book a bit, but it’s nothing to do with the book itself and everything to do with me not being fond of slow placed romances. The characters are great, I really like the story, which follows small business owner Abby and marketing executive Lexi as they navigate the us and downs of forging a relationship between two people who are hesitant to trust again. Both women were hurt previously by their partners and Abby coped by not putting herself out there to date while Lexi coped by building walls between herself and everyone around her. There’s an added complication when one of Lexi’s clients wants to break into the coffee market and Abby’s independent coffee shop may be a casualty of that growth.

Overall, I really liked both Abby and Lexi, the setting and writing were good, and it was a cute love story. So if you like slow burn romances this may be for you.

I was given an ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review by net valley.

i enjoyed this book so much. i found the characters to be very likeable and the fluff was almost too cute. the middle was a little frustrating i was like-just talk!!! but all was well once again at the end.

Oh I do like a dastardly villain. No spoilers so no names, but really, who do you trust? The author has created a great atmospheric cafe. I hate coffee and she had me wondering about trying a cup! The friends and the dialogue are a treat. The romance ebbs and flows, with a lovely initial attraction and a satisfying conclusion.

Business of the Heart is exactly what it sounds: a lighthearted WLW rom-com with plenty of sweet romance and tooth-rotting yearning.

I wanted to love this book based on the premise but the overall execution fell flat for me. The first ten chapters were very difficult to get throughout, so much so that I fought the urge to put it down and away for good. The writing was very choppy, and it didn't set up the story to be very detailed. The info-dumping was excessive. I really wanted to feel what Abby or Lexi were feeling rather than being told what their emotions were. Starting around chapter 11, there was a very distinct change in the writing that carried on throughout the rest of the book: paragraphs were more thought-out, there was more attention to detail, and less monologuing occurred for the most part. Writing-wise, while the book wasn't for me, I think it was easy to follow and a quick read.

When it came to the characters, namely Abby and Lexi, I had a hard time both distinguishing them from one another, and believing that their emotions were three-dimensional. Their development was almost inexistent which hindered my ability to feel the rush of witnessing two characters go through the steps of falling in love. One of the things I would attribute to that was the first-person POVs. I think the author's reliance on telling rather than showing rushed a lot of the scenes and encounters that I think were important to the believability that the two characters were in love and meant for one another. In turn, they felt very one dimensional to me and their dialogue felt unrealistic. The relationship as a whole was equally one-dimensional.

Plot-wise I think the author has the right equation for a perfectly cozy rom-com. I would say that the combination of the rushed writing and the first-person POVs made the plot (and the villain) very predictable. Because all characters expressed feeling uneasy about the villain without any explanation, I wasn't surprised when the miscommunication trope appeared, nor was I all that invested in the conflict resolution.

Overall I think my issues were with the technical aspects of the book, and all things that can be improved upon. The author was clearly passionate about the characters, the love story, and I think the personal touch surrounding Haze was a cute concept! While this book wasn't for me, I would love to see what else she writes in the future.

Thank you Bold Strokes Books, Inc., NetGalley, and Claire Forsythe's team for sharing this ARC with me.

Let me start by saying that I read this book in under twelve hours. Yup, you read that right. Less than twelve hours. It was just that damn good.

So, first. The book itself. We have our two main characters, Abby and Lexi, and they are both the type of strong and badass women that I love to see. But they are very different. Abby is very soft, she is not afraid to lean on her friends, and she knows that she wants a love story like in the movies. Lexi, however, is a workaholic who tries to shut people out of her life because vulnerability allows for pain and she does not want that. Lexi isn’t looking for love, but she finds it when she decides to get her own coffee one day instead of sending her assistant and comes face to face with Abby, who owns the coffee shop that makes Lexi’s daily coffee.

(And in case you’re wondering - Lexi orders a quad shot cappuccino, extra foam, extra hot. Abby likes flat whites, but prioritizes quality over specifically what her drink is.)

Their romance was adorable. From the beginning, when the sparks (and coffee) flew, their connection was fast paced, which was so enjoyable to read. The two of them fit together well, and they really did bring out the best in each other, which is what I look for in a novel like this one. Their lives fit together perfectly and they made an effort to get to know each other instead of rushing into anything. It was very sweet and made me smile.

And the friendships in this book. Oh, the friendships. Abby’s friends, Jen and Luke, really held their own in conjunction with the strong characters of Abby and Lexi, and complemented Abby in a balanced and fun way. And then we have Lily. I could write a whole review of this book centered around Lily, because I love that woman so damn much. She was a motherly figure while still being a friend to Lexi and the way she gently pushed both Lexi and Abby to be the best versions of themselves for each other made me somehow also feel comforted. She was exactly the friend that Lexi didn’t know she needed and her place in the book did not feel forced.

This is Claire Forsythe’s first book and her pandemic project, and I will be first in line for whatever comes next. Her writing style hooked me and kept me invested in the story and the emotions from the beginning to the end and I can see this being a book that I reread when I want something comforting yet fun.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and to Bold Strokes Books for sending me a copy of this book for review!

business of the heart by claire forsythe

this story features two very different women; abby, who is a coffee shop owner and a hopeless romantic, and lexi, the ice-queen and cynical business woman with emotional barriers as thick as a castle wall.

business of the heart had all the elements of a classic romcom and i surprisingly loved it! 😭

the meet-cute: well, in this case, it was more like of a not-so-meet-cute because it was a disaster! but despite the catastrophic first meeting, the instant connection was undeniable.

the eccentric bestfriend and fun side characters: jen, abby's best friend, served as a great support system and i loved how selflessly she stepped up when abby needed help with her business. luke and maggie were abby's friends/employees and it was heartwarming how protective they were of abby's heart. lily, she was a gem. lily was the first one to really warm the ice queen's heart and helped lexi see things from a different perspective. she was precious.

the super fun montage: from the moment the mcs met, i instantly rooted for them. i don't usually feel connected with characters as fast as i did with abby and lexi but i guess the build up was just that good and i'm a sucker for the ice-queen/sunshine trope. i want to avoid giving away too much spoilers but i just want to say that the coffee notes and text messages exchange were exceptionally done.

the break-up: see, this is why i couldn't give this book a 5 star rating even though i loved it. the inevitable fall-out was so unconvincing. everything was just a big miscommunication and i felt like one of them would have tried a little harder to get the truth from the other.

the grand gesture: they were corny and borderline cringe and i would normally roll my eyes on them but i didn't. i may or may not have teared up a little on lexi's little speech in the end. i don't know who i am anymore lmao.

the happy ending: well, duh. ❤

overall, i really enjoyed reading this. i lost hours of sleep because i couldn't put it down but it was worth it!

4/5 ⭐

thank you @netgalley and @boldstrokebooks for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Alexis Finn is stopped in her tracks when she sees Abby Archer for the first time while getting her late night caffeine fix. Abby owns Haze, a local cafe and is equally stunned by Alexis.
This was a cute read, with love at first sight followed by lots of road blocks on the way to happily ever after. Alexis was not the most likable character at first but she grows on you. Her one step forward, two steps back dance with Abby was almost too much and their lack of communication causes some major problems. Their relationships with their respective exes don’t leave them very trusting of others either. There is a HEA though and it is fun getting there. Side characters are entertaining, especially Lily, but I can’t resist a nosy old lady who likes to butt in. Overall a fun read, I’d definitely pick up any new work by Claire Forsythe in the future!

• Business Of The Heart
• Author Claire Forsythe
• MC Abby Archer & Lexi Finn aka Alexis
• London


Abby is 28 years old owns Haze coffee shop.
She struggles with issues from her last relationships, including nightmares.
She’s unsure about jumping back into dating.


Enter, Lexi Finn, ice queen. Beautiful, closed off and career driven.Due to her past relationships issues and the pain that comes with them, Lexi is the one night stand queen. No attachments, no feelings. Her job is her main focus and her self built safe place.

One late night trip to the coffee shop, spilled coffee, ruined suit bring Lexi and Abby together for a instant connection. As ice queens do, Lexi fights this connection. I do not want to give away any spoilers, but this is a book you need to read. Lexi and Abby go through it. Will they find their way though?

The support characters were great! Vanessa, Lexi‘s assistant, and Abby‘s two employees, Luke and Maggie all help make the story come full circle. Abby’s best friend Jen also played a
big part in the story line.


Mrs. Lily Patterson was a gem. She helps Lexi see life from a different perspective. And really helps to melt down this ice queen.I really
enjoyed her, she was sweet and endearing.


I really enjoyed this book. The author did an awesome job. It’s her debut Book. I could not put the book down, and was up all night reading.



I received this book through the publisher bold strokes through NetGalley. Thank you to Bold Strokes Books!!!



5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There's no better pair than a cynical business woman with no time for love and a sweet hopeless romantic. Lexi and Abby are the absolute cutest together.

Despite neither of these women believing in love at first sight, that is exactly how they get together. Lexi deciding to get her own coffee that day was definitely the best decision of her life, because she meets Abby. The second they met I was on the edge of my seat. The slow burn was almost unbearably good, and I really thought the miscommunication would kill me, but it is so well written that I could not even be upset about it.

The villain character was perfectly infuriating. I got bad vibes from her from the beginning and I felt so vindicated when I was proved right. You know an author is good when she can make you fall in love with a character and hold a burning hatred for another one within the span of five pages.

I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from Claire Forsythe, I need more of her storytelling in my life.

Thank to netgalley for providing me with an arc

4/5 stars
When a hopeless romantic meets a tough as nails cynic, they'll need to overcome the wounds of the past to discover that their hearts are the most important business of all.

Omg, this book was amazing. The fluff with a little bit of spice and I don't think I've ever felt these many emotions while reading a book.
Lexi and Abby own my heart. Both of them had traumas from their past relationships but they both overcame it together. A friend like Lily and Jen is what I need. Throughout the book, I was either smiling or crying. This is such a good read for when you're feeling down or need something to put a smile on your face.
The only reason why I gave it 4 stars was the miscommunication trope. It's my least favourite trope and that's the only reason why I felt annoyed but overall I recommend this book.

3.5* To start off with the things that I liked about the book, I think the writing style and pacing, build up of the relationship and chemistry were good. What I would've liked done different is probably the dialogue between some of the characters, and Lexi's development. Also I think it was a tad too angsty for me (but that's because of my preferences, others may like that). It was still cute and a pretty easy read so I would still recommend.

Got an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Business of the Heart by Claire Forsythe has the potential to be a movie. It's funny, witty, and fast-paced.

This book is about women who are both wounded by their past relationships. A businesswoman and a cafe owner. One is still open to finding someone but treading slowly. And one kept her walls up. Yet, their connection was undeniable the moment their eyes locked at each other. And so, their story begins there.

I accept that there will be books that will start slow and seem not interesting but I'm sure this book will make me fall harder for the second read and be upgraded to 5 stars. I love a miscommunication trope done right. For me, this book did it since there's a 'villain' involved. With everything that's going on in this book, especially since I studied business, it was quite thrilling. I love the texts between Abby and Lexi, very witty which made it funny. I love both main characters. And through my first read, I don't seem to care about the side characters much but once I do a reread, I'll probably be able to focus on them too. I was just consumed by Abby and Lexi's angst XD This took me one sitting to finish it.

Me while reading:
The word beautiful, sexy, pretty, and other synonyms of those got me uncomfortable. It's used too much by BOTH main characters at the first time they saw each other. Don't get me wrong. There are times the book made me smile and laugh so it survived to 3.25 stars. Chapter eight made me not to actually drop this and give it 1 star because it got good. Update: it upgraded to 4 stars because of chapter fifteen. Another update: it freaking upgraded to 4.75 stars. I want a certain character to be unalived. Is that possible, Claire Forsythe? This took me one sitting to finish it.

This is a super cute romance. Opposites attract kinda romance. Both Abby and Lexi have been burned with past relationships and although there's an attraction they are having issues getting things off the ground. There were some super cute moments and a clear villain... I would for sure recommend this to anyone looking for something fun and light.

I believe this is the authors first book, and it was a really well done one if so. I would definitely read the next one she writes, if this is the starting point of her talent.

You can't go wrong with the ice queen finding her soulmate who warms her heart. I loved Abby with her openness and strength, and I loved Lexi for yes, her Sexy Lexi-ness. And the two side characters, Jen and Luke, were engaging so I loved all the dialogue between everyone.

It also felt like a complete book, which is always a big sticking point for me. I don't want to feel like I was cut short of a proper ending after spending time reading the book. It also has a small epilogue that's not super revealing, but I appreciated having one.

The one area that could have been stronger was the miscommunication between the two MCs. I thought it was a little far fetched, and I would have liked it a bit more fleshed out. I just think one of them would have tried a little harder to make contact with the other.

Overall, really entertaining book that I enjoyed reading.

Who doesn't love an ice queen turned valiant knight on horseback to save a woman and her coffee shoppe? I enjoyed getting to know the mess of humans that are the main characters. Past heartbreak shaped these two ladies into the flawed lovers that seem to just stumble by their day to day, but thanks to a snake in the grass and some fierce friends we are left with an HEA that will make you Cheshire Cat smile. The dialogue cracked me up and left me laughing at their antics, the setting makes me miss life before COVID, and the love? Well- you gotta read it to feel it, so enjoy the heart flutters and big romantic gestures.

This is an earnest but rather overwrought and clumsily plotted lesbian romance. The skeleton of a solid story is there, but it's not very well connected together right now. For instance a big part of the plot requires that both main characters are taken in by an Evil Scheme that's straight out of grade school.
This probably works best if angsty, Big Emotions type narratives are your thing, and you're more into the Drama than the details of the plot.