I found it hard to get into this book. The characters did not work well together. The romance was not believable at all and the steamy scenes were not sexy (to me). Even the peripheral characters did not work for me here. A lot of bossy friends and family types.

Thomas and Julia are estranged best friends and they haven’t seen each other in over a decade. As Thomas returns to Starling Hills because of his ailing father, he knew that he wasn’t ready to turn his back from his New York City life. But, as he sees Julia again, maybe there’s something worth coming home to.

However, Julia is in a bit of a rut herself. Her cheating ex-fiancé left her broken into pieces and second guessing her life decisions. All she has now is her promotion at work, but it seems like it’s not the path she wants to go to anymore. Especially now that Thomas rekindles her love for writing and unearths a part of her that she thought she buried a long time ago.

But, after an awkward get-together, Thomas and Julia made a bet who can write a 50,000-word manuscript first while studying romantic comedy films for inspiration for their writing and for life.

As they write their manuscripts, will this be the time to finally weave their stories together?

I know I like a romance novel when I’m catching myself smiling like a fool while reading. What Thomas and Julia has is truly special. There were times that I just want to hug both of them and protect them from all the negativity in the world. I really love how the two of them bring out the best in each other. Also, the side characters in this book made the story a lot more colorful and fun. I love how Julia’s sister and office friend are always rooting for her. And if there’s a way for me to be adopted into Thomas’ family I would gladly be his little sister.

Moreover, this novel is about second chances in love and in life. It’ll make you reflect about your own life and all of your what-ifs. The title is very fitting because I can truly relate to this fiction. (A bad pun? Maybe. But, I just got to say it.)

But, there were scenes that didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it was just me, but sometimes I had to reread the passages to make sure I’m on the right path. On the other hand, this novel encapsulates the essence of ‘coming home’.

Overall, I had a good time reading Relative Fiction. The writing style is to my liking and it was easy to read. Since, this is a debut novel from Alaina Rose, I’m looking forward to her future novels.

Thank you, NetGalley and BooksGoSocial, for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Relative Fiction is a fantastic debut. This book is a second-chance romance but also deals with family and friendship dynamics, such as guilt over choosing your own path, familial pressure, and expectations coming in different forms from two very different sets of parents. The depiction of grief and the preparation for it when you know it's coming, but how that doesn't ultimately lessen the hurt, was heart-breaking and beautifully written. The characters are flawed, but they feel authentic. Julia and Thomas are imperfect, make mistakes, and react quickly in selfish ways. I didn't like the third-act conflict. However, I did end up liking the resolution! By the end, there's growth and responsibility taken for their actions. Both characters ultimately long for happiness during significant life changes, unsure how best to find it, and this book takes us through their journey as they figure it out.

Unfortunately, this one was a big miss for me.

I had a really hard time connecting with Julia and Thomas’ story. I felt like the story was really lacking any emotional depth - I didn’t really care if they got together. There wasn’t much tension between them. I didn’t even believe they were in their thirties, they both lacked personality and felt like teenagers.

As well, there are a few flashback chapters throughout the book but most the of the present day chapters include flashbacks - so i’m not sure why there were specific flashback chapters.

I did like the inclusion of both characters families, but the very sudden death of one of the parents really threw me off guard and I don’t think it really added anything to the story.

Overall, this was just wasn’t for me.

An advanced reader copy of this book was provided to me via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I totally devoured Relative Fiction! It was a perfect combination of sweet second chance romance, spicy tension (many years in the making), and thoughtful self-discovery for both the main characters.

Julia and Thomas were best friends in high school, bonding over their mutual love of writing. They had a huge fight the last week of senior year and haven’t talked since. Now, 12 years later, Julia is trying to recover from the disastrous end of her engagement and is living at her parents’. Thomas is back in town from New York, helping his family deal with his father’s cancer diagnosis. Thomas reaches out to Julia and they end up meeting for drinks. It may be a little tense, but Thomas (a writer himself) challenges Julia to rekindle her own love for writing.

I loved the flashbacks to Thomas and Julia’s younger years and the use of dual POV in this book. I thought the slow burn tension was awesome - lots of innocent touches and “will they?” kind of moments.

No spoilers, but I loved the ending! I think my only complaint is how frustrated I got at the main conflict. It felt like a simple conversation could have saved them a lot of trouble, but that seems pretty common in the world of romance books!

Relative Fiction is a such fun romance with a lot of heart. If you like friends-to-lovers, second chance, dual POV, and a slow burn, I think you’d really enjoy it, too!

Thank you to Alaina Rose, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
Relative Fiction tells the story of Thomas and a Julie who both find reason to return to their home town of Starling Hills, rekindling an old friendship. The story is funny, engaging, and you will root for the characters along the way.

3/3,5*

Thomas and Julia were high school best friend, both shy and nerdy and with a common dream about writing.
They fell in love with each other but neither had the guts to make the first move, too afraid to lose the other.
Now 12 years have passed since they parted ways after a fight: Julia is working in a company and has just broke her 12 years engagement with Josh, her cheating boyfriend; Thomas, who's published two books, but it's still struggling to pay the rent, is back in Starlight Hill to be near his family because of his dying father.
Will they be able to move on from the past?

I have to say when I read the book plot I was mostly attracted to the "writing" theme of the story, I read some other books about authors struggling with writers block, or in search of inspiration, but I was kind of disappointed because though writing is often named through the book is not really developed...
We mostly read about how Thomas can't get past his block, but suddenly we discover he has met his 50000 word target; most of the writing action regards Julia reconnecting with her passion about writing fanfiction but it's not deeply explored... So I felt a little let down about this expectation.
Anyway I loved Julia and Thomas, I loved the flashback about how they met and started their friendship, and I also liked their get together after all this year aparts, each with his insecurities and doubts.
I really appreciated the fact that most of the first half of the book didn't felt too fictional, the characters are struggling with deep emotional moments of their life: Julia has to get her life together, understand where she is and where she's going; Thomas has to take care of his family, deal with his grief and expectation about his dream.
As this is a debut novel I think it's not a bad one ,most of the themes are nicely developed, but I think the last 25% of the book could have been handled better, as the author was able to build such strong premises. I will surely look for more title by this author in the future.

Thanks NetGalley and Booksgosocial for providing a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This was an enjoyable romance! I love second chance romances and this one had all the great elements of one: a would be teenaged romance, miscommunication to drive a wedge, returning home after tragedy. I enjoyed the characters and really wanted to see them come together. Also, the spicy scenes were a great addition ! Nice and hot.

-second chance
-coming home
-overcoming trauma
-writing

Release day: 4/12

Thomas Callaghan is home to care for his father, but his life is not going as planned. He is struggling to keep on top of his three jobs, with his astronomical rent, and to add to this, his writer’s block. So, whilst his is unable to write his latest romance novel, he soon finds himself desperate to rekindle a friendship with Julia Ward, his ex-best friend. Even though they haven’t spoken in 12 years, meeting Thomas again, stirs up parts of Julia that she thought long forgotten. She has been ruined by her cheating ex-fiancé and has had to resort to living with her parents again. Yet, she also wants to start writing again, a dream that she shared with Thomas, many years ago. So they struck a bargain to see who can write 50,000 words first before Thomas returns to NYC. As their deadline grows closer, they realise that happiness is fleeting and that they must grasp any chance of happiness that they have together.
I did enjoy the two main characters, but I must admit to finding their behaviour quite at odds with how they felt. On the whole, they were quite realistic but I did wish that they could have been more honest and upfront with how they felt. It did seem to stall part way through, but picked up and held my attention until the end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second time in a really short period that I expected something completely different from what the blurb says, and I have to admit I'm not really excited about this trend.

I expected a rekindled love story between two writers, the difficulties of writing this book, and some smut.

What have I got? Characters that acted like they never got out of high school and... well, I can't even describe what I read as smut. It felt like a textbook about sex, with clinical terms and none of the passion you'd expect.

It was a challenge finishing it, and I can't say it improved.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a 3.5 star read for me. Check the TWs that the author has at the beginning of the book before reading.

I enjoyed watching Thomas and Julia reconnect after years apart. Friends to strangers to friends to lovers in a small town (wow, what a mouthful) always allows for great side characters, and this book had a great supporting group.

The dual POVs give up the opportunity to enjoy the individual conflicts and growth that each of our MCs go through while also allowing us to watch them grow together and it all comes together so beautifully. I loved the awkwardness and discomfort that the author showcased when they reconnected - it made a reunion after this long so much more relatable and allowed both of the characters' flaws and personalities to shine through.

I’m a bit of a cynic, and although I enjoy romance novels they generally elicit a few eye rolls from me as I read. However, I have to give Relative Fiction zero eye rolls and 4.5 stars. I could feel the chemistry between the main characters, and I felt like I knew them. The plot was realistic, the characters were likeable and complex, and I was rooting for both mains the entire time. I loved this book!

Kaz Brekker?? No way. Took me out of the story so bad. I couldn't get over it. I understand that Six of Crows is very popular, but for this to be like the only reference we get right after a show is made for Shadow and Bone, or right after season 2 came out. It's weird.

For a book centered about two authors with a bet to see who writes more, they don't ever write. We keep hearing that they have a couple thousand words or that they are making good progress, but we never get to see it.

And if I have to hear one more time that Thomas is going back to New York, or one more flashback to them in highschool; I'm gonna lose my mind. I get that they were close, and I get that there was this huge fight that drove them apart. But there's so much telling about their past and their history and not a lot of showing.

The first interaction we get with Thomas and his sister, Ari, and his love interest, Julia, have him literally blowing up at them and making snappy comments. I understand that he, as a character, is also going through his own issues, but those interactions being the very first ones we get with him and a prominent woman in his life really set the tone for the rest of his interactions.

The conflict in the third act made no sense?? Thomas was literally about to tell her he was staying, only to just immediately throw Julia's trauma in her face? She wasn't blameless in it either, not even close, but what was that flip? His demeanor changed so quickly. I don't understand it.

I also don't really get the third act conflict. I don't see how either side got so defensive. I don't really think that him hiding his love for her in high-school was so bad that it deserved the reaction she gave it. Literally could've been solved with a conversation.

I'm not entirely displeased with this book, though, hence the three stars. I liked a good bit of it. It was entertaining, that's for sure.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 , 🌶️🌶️

Dual POV
Second chance romance
friends to strangers to friends to lovers
Small town romance
Bisexual representation

ate up the first 40% of this book, it was funny, lighthearted and loved watching Julia & Thomas go from strangers to friends (if you have read from love and other words their friendship reminded me a bit of Elliot and Macy). They had such a strong connection with a complicated past which left them out of touch for 10+ years. & I loved that they were both aspiring authors and rooting each other on! I did find myself a little bored with the story line from 40-70% in the book and then it really picked up again and the ending was a whirlwind of emotions! & towards the end of the book I was a little upset in the shift of Julias character, blaming Thomas for things they had an equal part in. I do love that it ended on a happy note and they were about to talk it through!
I think Thomas character growth was done so well! & I really enjoyed Julia’s friend, Susan (the very supportive, I’m here if you need me friend).

I look forward to reading more books from this author!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Two best friends reconcile again after years of separation. Julia back to her hometown after bad break up and Thomas just come back to take care of his ill father. Back in school Julia and Thomas always together, best frindes, have same dream to be a writers then lofe happends. Thomas always has feeling to Julia, he think that change after years not met her but it is still there. They spend time together, watch movie and Julia try to write again, going to party, open up about each other fear and weakness. The drama was good.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#RelativeFiction #AlainaRose #BooksGoSocial #NetGalley #ARC

I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary romance. A second chance romance between old high school sweethearts, writing, and a little bit of spice! I very much appreciated a chance to read this ARC!

I adored this Second Chance Romance. I could see this being a hallmark movie. Which I would watch on repeat!! I loved this!!
I just reviewed Relative Fiction by Alaina Rose. #RelativeFiction #NetGalley
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2.5 too spicy for me stars

Featuring two people who were best friends in high school and are now back home in the same city. Thomas made the escape from small-town Michigan to New York after high school for college. He was chasing his dream to become a published writer. He thought his best friend Julia was going to head to New York as well, but she stayed in Michigan. They haven’t talked for a dozen years.

Now Thomas is back in Michigan because of his father’s failing health. He pretty quickly meets up with Julia and they patch up their differences. Julia has given up her writing but Thomas tries to encourage her to take it back up. They soon embark on a romance.

From the description, I thought this would be more about writing and the life of writers, and I’m always up for books with that theme. And romance is usually appealing. Overall, though, this one just didn’t click for me. There wasn’t enough about the process of writing and the romance fell flat and was too spicy!

It was a sweet light-hearted read perfect for someone who’s just starting out to read romance novels. I believe if I’d read this book when I was a teen I would’ve loved it more. But even as an experienced romance reader I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The best thing about this book for me was the author’s language. This is a debut novel, and while I thought the plot could do with certain improvements and development, the language was brilliant. Descriptions of feelings, surroundings, relationships, intimate moments, and romance didn’t fail to warm my heart and make me all fuzzy inside. Characters’ back stories were great and I sympathised with Julia and Thomas a lot throughout the book.
What put me off a little was how quickly the plot developed. As a reader I almost felt like I didn’t have time to have a breather and process what was happening. Another unnatural thing for me was the characters’ families, who were made into these villains just to “make life harder” for the characters. I understood the dynamic the author wanted to show, but it was just a bit too aggressive sometimes.
However, besides a few things that didn’t sit well with me, I enjoyed the overall story, and I thought it was very good for a debut novel. Pick this book up if you want a fast light-hearted small-town romance with a cheeky “teenage crush finally growing into something more” plot line. It has a pinch of heavier topics of self-discovery and grief processing aspects which add great dimension to the story. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in the author’s next work. It’s exciting to see how the writing develops, which I’m most definitely sure it will. Thank your for this journey, Alaina. Especially for Thomas and Julia’s first kiss and staircase scenes. They were top notch amazing!

For once, can they just move back to the big city?

There was a lot in this book that I liked, but more that I disliked.

The good: Thomas is an endearing character, the chemistry between Thomas and Julia was amazing, the pining was god tier (and I’m so weak for pining), explicitly bisexual leading man!!! who has relationships with other men!!

But overall it felt like it was trying too hard to be woke and wholesome without like… sensitivity readers?
There was a point where the book lumped nonbinary people in with “she/hers” which is reductive, to say the least.
The constant use of “folk” instead of “people” where it didn’t fit – like “hassidic Jewish folk”. People is also gender-neutral.
There were parts where the tense was off – it should have been past perfect when Julia and Thomas would reminisce about the past in present-set chapters, but instead it was simple past? Honestly, a lot of weird grammar stuff that even a good second set of eyes (if not an actual editor) should have caught. Lots of awkward “insert character description several sentences long here”, too, rather than letting it flow organically. And some jarring use of Briticisms – really weird coming from an American author writing American characters in America.
Also it’s weird that the author took the time to explain what a Meijer’s is but not Coney Island?

The sex scenes were generally good, but what irked me was the constant “is this okay?” with every little action. Romance novels are not meant to be guides to perfect communication; the constant checking in tears the reader out of the fantasy (besides, verbal consent is not the only kind of consent).
Also there was a mention of “ample boob” which is just a jarring phrase.

And the leaving New York for the boring small town they both explicitly feel smothered in! Why?

What irked me the absolute most, though, was the music. It’s five years out of date, which doesn’t matter much for the 2023 scenes, but it sure does for the 2009 scenes. Like Thomas, I was sixteen in 2009, and no one was listening to Blink-182 on the radio except maybe a throwback to “All the Small Things”… and Transatlanticism by Death Cab???? Absolutely not. There’s some early pop-punk/emo that was still being played (trust me, I was both a theatre and an emo kid their exact age at that exact time), so I wouldn’t have batted an eye at Say Anything or Saves the Day or Green Day, but these specific choices were absolutely out of date and completely jarring.
Also, where were the musical numbers??? Where was Next to Normal???? Any self-respecting theatre kid blasts show tunes and N2N was absolutely huge that year. There could have been a neat line drawn between Natalie’s desperation to leave (with music as a lifeline) and Julia and Thomas’s. But instead we got outdated pop-punk and a handful of references to Les Mis without anyone breaking out into One More Day.

A lot about this book didn’t make sense.