3.5 stars rounded up!

<b>Synopsis</b>
Arlette and Brooklyn met and separated during their college days. Now that they're older and supposedly wiser, they met again. Brooklyn is still a broke artist who catered on the weekend, and Arlette is still and Addair, a prominent family in politics who tries to wiggle her way into a bill that is dear for her. When sparks fly for the second time, Arlette must right the wrong to get the girl of her dream.

What I like about it
It was a no-nonsense plot, straight up, no will they won't they because it was still clear as a day that Arlette and Brooklyn are meant to be. At first, I thought it's gonna be a melancholy reading, more reflective, and sad. That wasn't the case. It had a pretty funny first chapter that made me instantly liking it.

What I don't like about it
Sometimes (most of the times), the way Miller cut the scenes is weird. Like Arlette and Theresa would have a heart to heart moment then Miller switched from showing to telling and suddenly Arlette was walking home. The transitions felt jarring. Also, although it dwelt with Brooklyn at the beginning, the real protagonist would be Arlette because we read about her again and again. Not a bad thing, I just wish it'd be more balanced.

Final thought
It certainly is a great sapphic read for me. Would also recommend this to like-minded readers!

Being the daughter of a wealthy and influential family, Arlette Adair has followed her parents wishes until her last year in high school. Instead of joining the Navy, as was the family tradition, Arlette decided to attend a small private college for environmental science studies. There she roomed with artist Brooke Dawson who became her best friend and a little bit more by the end of her fourth year. Their falling out during the last week of school has haunted them both for the last five years.

The Hues of Me and You is an engaging second chance romance. Miller makes a brave choice to center the novel around Arlette without giving off a whiff of the ‘poor little rich girl’ vibe. She allows us to see the true nature of Arlette and not just her privileges.

The descriptions of Brooke’s artwork is exceptionally vivid. Through her art pieces we learn the depth and breadth of Brooke’s emotional being.

My only criticism is a repetition of background information for both characters which slows down the novel’s pacing in spots. Other than this, Miller has offered us another beautifully crafted novel.

I received a free advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a really good book. The relationship between Brooklyn and Arlette was equal parts easy and complicated. They started out as best friends in college, but parted on not so great terms when one person wanted to take their relationship beyond friendship. Then 5 years later they connect again. This was a really sweet slow burn romance that kept me entertained until the very end. The family dynamics were pretty interesting as well, because Arlettes family was all military and political where as Brooklyn only had her mother who was very supportive of what she wanted to do in life and work which was be a great artist. The support characters were very well written and helped to make this an even better experience. I would definitely recommend this to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Arlette Adair and Brooke Dawson have a complicated history. In college they were best friends that were on their way to being more but fear and a broken heart have caused a falling out lasting 5 years. They come into contact again when Brooke is the bartender for a party at Arlette's family home and they find themselves in each others orbit again.
I enjoyed this second chance romance a lot. I liked the political background of their world in DC coupled with the art world that Brooke is working towards being successful at. Their relationship and chemistry were full of a quiet strength that I felt helped me connect with both characters. I really liked Grandpa Harry too, he added so much wisdom to the story. Abby and Stephen were also great and helped keep the tone a bit lighter and not so serious. I really like these plots that don't have a lot of back and forth that can become a bit too much. The maturity of these two made the plot so much easier to connect with. I would have liked to see a bit more of a discussion between the two about their falling out though. This was the first book I've read by this author but I will be on the lookout for others as I genuinely enjoyed it.

Arlette and Brooke met in college they were roommates who became besties in the final month they became friends with benefits. Five years later Brooke is artist who sales her work but also do gigs as bartender to make ends meet. Arlette works in Washington for a Congresswoman. They meet again when Brooke is working a gig and the tension between them is obvious. As they get to know each other now they ask the question why didn’t we make a go of it then. I enjoy this read I love supportive characters Stephen and Abby who’s always there for Brooke and even Arlette boss Tessa especially Arlette grandpa and loves that’s it’s was low on angst.



I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

After four years of being best friends in college with the final month as friends with benefits and thoughts of a future together, Arlette disappears from Brooklyn/Brooke's life leaving her devastated.
Five years go by with Brooke pouring her emotions and energy into being a freelance artist financed by sales of her work and gigs as a bartender. The past with all of it's trauma comes roaring back when Arlette steps in front of the bar Brooke is tending. The location - the Adair Estate where Arlette's dad Marc is hosting his presidential candidacy party.
Off we go into a second chance romance with visits to museums, art galleries, hints of political drama, reminiscing, dates and some angst. Steadfast sidekicks Stephen and Abby who always have Brooke's back and Arlette's boss Teresa feature in the secondary characters. There's also a paternal grandpa and sarcastic uncle thrown into the mix. Everything moves steadily to a HEA.
Unfortunately, this book disappointed. I'm no prude but the expletives used throughout were irritating, there was a YA feel in the writing especially at the start and threads in the tale that had no real impact (at least for me).
This is my first read of the author's work and while this book did not appeal, I will give her future work another chance.

2.5* rounded up.
A classic second chance romance that was very predictable and a bit repetitive at times. There was a lot of fluff and fawning over without anything significant happening for quite a while. The two MC's sounded like lovestruck teenagers who took their time to try and talk like actual adults.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Morgan Lee Miller and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint
Now I must read her previous books.

The Hues of Me and You by Morgan Lee Miller was a really good second chance romance story.
The author did a wonderful job with the setting, the characters and the story.
Miller kept me engaged and reading to the very end.
Her writing just flowed off the pages.
The characters were great they are so well developed and their story is also very realistic.
A wonderfully story I truly enjoyed!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love anything Morgan Lee Miller does and couldn’t wait to read The Hues of Me and You. The book follows Arlette and Brooke; roommates and best friends in college who entered into a friends with benefits relationship during the last month of college, before it unfortunately ended. Five years later, Arlette and Brooke are reunited and the tension is palpable. I love second chance romances, especially when they’re friends-to-lovers romances, so I loved this book. Arlette and Brooke are two of the most likable characters I’ve read in a romance book in a while. Their reunion, as well as their personal growth, is genuine and extremely satisfying. Bonus points for family drama and family growth (really proud of Arlette’s dad). Like all Morgan Lee Miller books, there are fantastic secondary characters. Personal shout-out to Arlette’s grandpa, Abby, and Stephen. One thing I really loved about this book was how low in angst it was. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s drama between Arlette and Brooke and between family members, but it wasn’t too bad. Since The Hues of Me and You was my first read of 2023, I appreciated that. If you’re looking for a book with the most perfect reunion kiss, some of the best spicy scenes, and a HEA you’re rooting for from the first chapter, then pick this up today!

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Arlette and Brooke were roommates and best friends in college. They became friends-with-benefits near the end of their time together but went their separate ways after school ended. Five years later Arlette is working for a Congresswoman in Washington and Brooke is a struggling artist working gigs as a bartender to help pay her rent. It is at one of those bartending gigs that Brooke meets Arlette once more and the longing both thought was in the past is rekindled.

This is the first book I have read by Morgan Lee Miller and it is a classic second chance romance. Miller spends a lot of time letting us get to know Brooke and Arlette before either woman acknowledges that they might possibly become more than best friends. I usually love a thorough buildup and explanation of what makes each of the main characters behave the way they do but I found too much of the book dwelt on Arlette's political family and their desire for her to conform to family expectations. Brooke never knew her father and has a couple of quirky roommates. She desperately wanted to be an independent artist but her character felt one dimensional in comparison to Arlette.

There are some lovely scenes, wise advice given by elders and yes, some good sex scenes which pulled me back into the story but it all felt predictable to this reader.

3.25 stars

A copy of this book was received from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for review.

This has been a very cute romance about second chances. It stars a promising budding artist, Brooklyn, and Arlette, who belongs to a family of political lineage from which she has distanced herself, much to the regret of most of her relatives, with a few exceptions.

Brook and Arlette had a past, not too distant, in which they were roommates for most of their stay at college. They weren't a couple as such, they were best friends and they finally had something, but not quite.

Their differences in family status were not an impediment then, Brooke grew up only with her mother who did her best so that she could train and develop her talent in art, while Arlette always had everything at her disposal, although with some obligation implied that she did not want to accept. Now they meet again, Brooklyn as a waitress at an event organized by Arlette's family, and what was broken and not finished then will be able to be revisited and perhaps could be resumed now.

Although on some occasions the story becomes dense, mostly in the reflections of its protagonists, as a whole it has been interesting. The two protagonists are focused and sensible, honest and sincere. Both have been very likable, as was the story itself.

𝗧𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.

I like this second chance romance quite a bit. Arlette and Brooke were college roommates and best friends who became friends-with-benefits in the last month of college before calling it quits. While both of them had feelings for each other, they maintained no contact until a chance meeting a couple of years later allowed them to catch up and rekindle their relationship.

While Brooke is a rather straightforward character who had been honest with her feelings right from the start, Arlette is much harder to read. Arlette is one who has to balance her own happiness with living up to the expectations of her political family and she's somewhat confused and afraid particularly of what she feels for Brooke. And what I enjoyed about this story was that I thought both characters were pretty likable and that this story was unhurried in the sense that both of them needed time to fully commit to each other and that they gave each other that.

This is the third book from this author that I've tried so far and I thought all three of them were not bad. I've enjoyed them and will continue to check out this author's books.

Perfect second chance romance. The chemistry between the MCs was intense. I would say it’s angst but it’s more like longing which made that first kiss everything. Also, there were many inspirational quotes in this book that really stuck with me like, “You shouldn’t ever live your life for someone else.” It had all the feels and an incredible storyline. The additional layers (and resulting tears) with the family was the cherry on top.

Lovely, insightful exploration of love and life
Quarterlife-crisis - when you are in your mid-twenties and you are stuck and searching for „your place“ in life. It is lovely and insightful how the author explores the life and dreams of Brooklyn and Arlette who both come from very different stations in life and in their own ways are searching for this illusive place. This pivotal topic makes this romance special: there is insight and meaning in exploring those two lifes, those two characters. Brooklyn who was raised by her single mom focuses on her art and as a keen observer focuses the story at times. We follow Arlette who is coming from a family rich in legacy and high on expectations and is trying to find her life which meets her expectations. And there are the two of them coming together a second time and the exploration of what that might mean.
The main topic is unfolded beautifully and it was a pleasure to read this novel. The pace is almost leisurely, no drama. The wording and the descriptions of life, art (love those evocative descriptions of visual art!), interactions and settings are lavish, at times bordering on poetic. The sounds and fragrance of summer, the descriptions of paintings are delicious additions to the setting. Consider this: „The humid air smelled like a mixture of water and summer. The only sounds were the waves, the night bugs and doves harmonizing. Brooke‘s first visit to the Adair Estate was exactly what she‘d expected: flashy, showy, and opulent as the sun. Her first visit, she‘d felt small, standing on the periphery where she‘d belonged. However, when the people, suites, cocktail dresses, and champagne bottles that went for two hundred a pop fizzled away, she saw it: Arlette‘s home.“ Oh, yes - there are more insights and gems like this. Go find and enjoy them!

I love second chance romances especially when decades haven’t been wasted not being together. This is also a best friends to more romance as their friendship is what they miss from each other. I love the idea of a quarter life crisis. My daughter is 28 and I think mid to late 20s is a realistic time to think about whether you are on the path that you really want.

Brooklyn is artist living in Washington DC with two friends. She is making money with her art and supports herself bar-tending events. At an event for a Presidential contender she sees her former best friend and college roommate Arlette. They haven’t seen each other for five year. They had briefly gone to more than friends in college before Arlette’s life got in the way and Brooke feeling hurt blocks her and doesn't look back. Arlette is now working for a congresswoman on capitol hill.

Both Brooke and Arlette are wonderful characters. They are kind, have their own insecurities, and issues with families. Miller wrote one of my favorite YA books, That Infinite Summer (Dec 2021), which I’ve read more than once. And as in that book it is the extra things the author adds that elevates the book. I love the story takes place over several months and isn’t instant reconnection. Arlette gets positive attention when she lives up to family expectations and that guides her especially in the few years. Her relationship with her beloved grandfather is charming. Brooke doesn’t gets as much of a back story. Supportive mom, abandoned by her father when young. And you don’t know if she’s had other relationships since college.

I love the friendship memories are simple; Cheetos, watching jeopardy, ghost stories. I could relate to those. I’m glad that money is a difference but not an issue between them. My heart melts hearing Brooke list Arlette’s quirks and tells. Her artist eye catches everything. Together they are playful, lightly steamy and caring. This is beautifully written and I can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In The Hues of Me and You, the author gave readers a second chance romance that will cause one to remember it for all the right reasons.

Everyone remembers the one who got away, but what if the one didn’t know it better? Struggling artist Brooke paints by day and picks up bartending gigs at night to supplement her income and keep her dreams alive. When she meets Arlette again after a five year absence, she can’t help but be enticed by all the colours that once painted her world until she remembered how it all dimmed. Arlette is rocked by the chance meeting and is determined to reconnect with the one who truly knows her. With the unspoken and unthought between them, they restarted a journey to build what they thought they lost.

“You don’t see yourself in every moment. I do, though. I see all of you.”

I thought it’s intimate and beautiful with how someone could love and memorise another with such details. What blew me away was the painting scene. The tension was rippling though the pages; it flowed from one scene to another, trepidation to sensual, hot to explosive. The super charged and loaded scene alone made this a must read for me.

I just reviewed The Hues of Me and You by Morgan Lee Miller. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

I knew as soon as an 86 year old grandparent, that wasn’t as spry as he used to be, was mentioned that he wouldn’t make it to the end of the book! As an older reader I find this somewhat demoralising. I mean if you want some sad bits in then something serious but non fatal could surely suffice. All right it’s a fact of life but don’t throw us oldies under the bus so often, please. By the way I don’t mean this happens in all of this author’s books! This is a generalisation.
However back to the main story. A second chance at love, career ambitions not fulfilled on Arlette’s part and should she shouldn’t she carry on with her freelancing or get a more reliable job on Brooke’s part. In some ways the book is just a story of two people getting to know each other again but you become interested in their lives. The author keeps you involved in their story.

Best friends to lovers AND a second-chance romance?! Two of my favorite tropes are in this book and wow was it executed flawlessly. Both Brooke and Arlette were likable and the chemistry between the two was off the charts. They were so sweet to each other. The writing itself was beautiful and I'm shocked this is my first time reading something from this author. I'm off to read more!

Highly recommended if you want a sweet, second-chance romance.

Who doesn’t love an excellent second chance romance? Because this book is both. The book starts with Brooke and her support system, her best friends. We then get introduced to Arlette and her closest- her family. Especially Grandpa Henry who is such a sweet yet fierce supporting act. The relashionship between Brooke and Arlette is based on their intial connection that ended 5 years prior. Arlette’s life has taken a different turn that what she really wanted and she needs Brooke’s determination to guide her back to where she really wants to be. But does Arlette just want her frienship with Brooke back or does she want everything? This is a really good book, reading reccomended.
Free ARC via NetGalley

This was definitely a good read. I enjoyed the second chance romance between the two main characters and I thought the growth of their relationship was done really well. This could almost be considered a rich girl, poor girl kind of read but it wasn’t, the focus was really on the previous connection they had and how it transcended time. The secondary characters were great too. There was a whole additional layer to the book that sometimes I find missing in my reading. I’d definitely recommend it, the author did a great job.