✨ARC Review✨. Thank you NetGalley. All the opinions expressed are my own.

3.5⭐️Truly not what I was expecting. The book started off slow but picked midway. I really liked the characters of Rory and Ellis, how theirs was an unexpected romance. Didn't like how Maya and London came off, especially Maya. I thought she was quite selfish. I found the chapters a little too long but other than that, I quite enjoyed the book.

Catherine Lane's "Lean in to Love" is a heartfelt romance novel that explores the complexities of relationships and the transformative power of love. Set against the backdrop of a bustling city, the novel follows protagonist Sarah as she navigates the ups and downs of modern dating and discovers unexpected connections that challenge her preconceptions about romance.

Lane's writing is warm and engaging, drawing readers into Sarah's world with relatable characters and authentic emotions. Sarah is portrayed as a strong and independent woman who faces both personal and professional challenges, adding depth to her journey towards finding true love.

The novel excels in capturing the nuances of modern relationships, from the exhilarating rush of new romance to the vulnerabilities and insecurities that accompany intimacy. Lane skillfully explores themes of trust, communication, and self-discovery as Sarah learns to open her heart despite past disappointments.

The chemistry between Sarah and her love interest(s) is palpable, adding a layer of excitement and anticipation to the narrative. Through their interactions and evolving relationships, Lane creates moments of tenderness and passion that resonate with readers.

"Lean in to Love" also touches upon broader themes of personal growth and resilience, as Sarah confronts her fears and learns to embrace the uncertainties of love and life. The supporting cast of characters, from friends who offer unwavering support to mentors who provide sage advice, enriches the story with their own perspectives and experiences.

Overall, "Lean in to Love" is a delightful and uplifting read that celebrates the transformative journey of falling in love. Catherine Lane's skillful storytelling and heartfelt portrayal of relationships make this novel a compelling choice for fans of contemporary romance.

This book was a pleasant surprise. It was well-written and kept my interest throughout. I liked it and would recommend it to others.

I loved the fact that although the romance was all over the book there was another plot that was also consuming.

This was a ok read for me. I liked the main characters of Rory and Ellis. I thought their relationship was very cute. The story seemed good, but tended to drag on a bit to much for me at times. It took a bit too get through it. There were some funny, humorous parts to this story that kept me engaged and I did like the premise of this book that deals with the behind the scenes look at the not so glamorous side of Hollywood. I would recommend this book and I would try another book by this author.

Though the book offers a sweet love story, it's marred by a troubling toxic relationship subplot. Some parts drag, but the overall charm of the story shines through, making it an okay read for fans of romance.

This was my first book by this author and while it wasn’t anything groundbreaking, overall I did enjoy the story and would recommend it to others. The dialogue was a little unclear at times, but overall the author did a good job setting the scene and the pacing was good. While not really a mystery per se, there was an element of suspense to the story surrounding Maya and Landon’s relationship that drove the plot as much as the romance.

My favorite part of this book has to be the character of Rory. A golden retriever in chef’s clothes, I fell in love with her and her drive to help and protect her family almost as much as Ellis did. If you’re in the mood for a sweet romance with a dash of celebrity subterfuge and a sprinkle of behind the scenes cooking show secrets I definitely recommend picking up this book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and all opinions are my own.

Lean in to Love is a quiet solid read that is a perfect book when you have a lot of time on your hands and you want that book to soak it all up.
Relaxing at your favorite coffee shop, bookstore or home - lean into this book.......

I got the chance to read this book as an arc and boy am I glad as it was incredible!!! 🧡🤍🩷👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩

4/5⭐️

In so many books I’ve read lately, as well as this one, I feel a need from the mc to be accepted as they are, understood and appreciated. It’s sad and yet I fully understand, I feel that too, I think so many do these days with all the comparisons and instructions for how a person should be instead of recognising their “flaws” as qualities that make them beautifully unique.

The intimacy between the main couple in this book was incredible, it truly felt lovingly affectionate and personal. I don’t often enjoy smut, especially if there’s too much of it and it feels more like 🌽 than it does something intimate between the characters. Well, the intimacy here was a release of built up feelings and tension and I really actually enjoyed it.

Another topic the book covered, even if briefly, is the dangers of AI, especially for widely known people, whose lives can be completely wrecked by AI generated content of them. We have already seen attempts of it in the case of Taylor Swift… I really hope the world will manage to keep up with the technology it’s developing and won’t only keep getting worse from here on out….

The reason I am not giving this book a full five stars, is that around the halfway point of the book, for a moment, it actually felt as if things were wrapping up. And then when I realised I was only halfway through I got worried that the plot would just feel dragged out and super smutty and it really threw me off... Of course, it genuinely wasn’t. It was intimate and had twists and turns still to come. But my experience was already influenced.

The List™️:
💚 lesbians
💚 Hollywood bts
💚 fame and its flaws
💚 baker-chef x talent agent
💚 intimate realistic relationships
💚 did I say lesbians yet?
💚 rivals to lovers
💚 dual pov
💚 etc

Oh also the main couple is in their thirties and only then finding love, which made me feel much more at ease about my 21yo inexperienced single life lmao.

Xoxo
Triinu

I recently read the book Lean in to Love by Catherine Lane and found it to be an engaging and entertaining read. The story follows Ellis Turner, a successful Hollywood talent agent, who must navigate scandal and drama to protect her star client's reputation. Along the way, she is forced to work with Rory Hatten, an outsider to the industry, in order to save her client's career.

The characters in the book are well-developed, and I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Ellis and Rory. Their initial dislike for each other slowly transforms into a mutual respect and admiration, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the story.

The book also touches on some important themes, such as the challenges faced by women in male-dominated industries and the importance of standing up for what is right, even when it's difficult.

Overall, I would highly recommend Lean in to Love to anyone looking for a fun and engaging read with well-drawn characters and a satisfying romance.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is not my usual type of review but I still think it’s important to give feedback.
I could only read a few chapters of this book before I DNF’d it. I feel like the writing style wasn’t for my liking and the story itself didn’t hold my interest for too long.
I still encourage everyone who wants to read this book to give it a chance because even tho I didn’t like it, it doesn’t mean that you won’t either.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC for me!

A sweet story!

Ellis is doing great as the talent agent of London, a young actress who's carreer is well on its way. But she has to keep London out of trouble, and when the actress falls head over heels for Maya, a very nosy and suspicious woman, things get more complicated. Rory, Maya's roommate, becomes entangled in everything even if she wants nothing to do with Hollywood and all it entails. But when she starts having doubts on Maya's intentions, she intends to help Ellis - and London - keep out of trouble.

I love a good Hollywood romance and when it's queer, it's even better. What I liked about this one was that the main characters weren't actual actresses but people who got caught up in everything. Rory and Ellis were very relatable and intriguing characters from the start. Despite the romance being a bit slow to start, I ended up really rooting for them. It was an "opposites attrack" sort of relationship that drew me in, even if I would have liked the slow-burn to be a bit hotter at times. I really enjoyed the intrigue surrounding London and Maya's relationship too, the investigation Rory and Ellis have to build in order to do what's right. They worked amazingly as a team, and I liked that both always tried to make life easier for the other, it was a true proof of devotion that I found inspiring. The romance was sweet in the end, and the story quite intriguing and original. I had fun reading the book.

I recommend if you like sapphic romances in the Hollywood business, filled with scandals and mystery.

"Sometimes, the best things happen when you look into a different corner of your world. One that you never knew was there."

This book was pretty good, no complaints except that it could be a little boring at times, but overall, it was a fun read and I enjoyed the plot.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Rory Hatten, a behind-the-scenes cook on a tv cooking show, is just trying to stay out of the limelight and find a way to make a living in Hollywood while pursuing her passion of baking. But, when her roommate Maya literally walks out on her job one night upon meeting the gorgeous and talented up-and-coming actress London, Rory’s life is quickly turned upside-down. Now, Rory somehow finds herself entangled in Maya and London’s very quickly and very passionately budding romance while butting heads upon first meeting London’s talent agent, Ellis Turner. But, as London and Maya become more and more public with their romance, not all might be as it seems. With questions about Maya’s true motives for being with London, Rory and Ellis find themselves working together to get to the bottom of what seems like an insta-love story. While their first encounter may have left much to be desired, Rory and Ellis slowly start to realize that they each might have more to offer each other than they first believed.

There were many things I liked about this book. I really enjoyed reading about Rory and Ellis’ relationship and watching it develop throughout the story. I also really loved seeing how each of them grew individually by the end of the book and supported one another in that growth. But, I felt like the London and Maya storyline was a bit over the top. I realize that without the their storyline we wouldn’t really be able to have Rory and Ellis’ journey, but I just felt like it took away from the actual sweet, slow growth of Rory and Ellis’ relationship. I also found it a bit ridiculous that London would walk into a bar and within thirty seconds of meeting Maya basically say she wants to take her home AND that Maya would literally just walk out of her job with that offer, essentially allowing herself to be fired (no spoiler here as this happens in the first chapter). I’ve never really understood the insta-love storyline so I think that might be why Maya and London’s relationship was so hard for me not to raise my eyebrows at. I honestly think that if London and Maya’s initial meeting had been handled just a little differently (like London staying at the bar talking to Maya until closing and then asking Maya home with her) I would have found it more believable. But in the end, their antics gave me Rory and Ellis, so I am overall happy about that.

Thank you to Bold Stroke Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC of Lean in to Love in return for my honest review.

DNF'ed because could not care about a single character, all of whom range from toxic to oblivious to downright boring.

Ellis Turner, talent agent to the stars was growing her business all the while working with Hollywood star, London Green. Being London’s agent took much of her time but she had a great assistant in Yolie who managed some of the other stars in her portfolio. How she handles London’s love life can make or break London’s chance to work with a new studio who hoped this movie would be the first of many. Ellis didn’t count on London’s girlfriend Maya, who seemed to make Ellis’s job all the more complicated.
Mata was also looking for an agent because she dreamed of being a star. But Maya didn’t much care who she had to step on to get to the top. Maya found a place to live by renting a room from Rory Hatten. Rory was a chef who is currently working in the back kitchens of a cooking show. Rory was trying to grow her business but doing so wasn’t all that easy.
When Ellis and Rory first met sparks flew, mainly because neither could stand the other. As they worked together and got to know each other, both discovered the other wasn’t that bad afterall. But how can they have a relationship when Ellis’s number one concern is her client London Green. A very nice story.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

Rory is dragged into the drama of Hollywood when her roommate, Maya, enters a relationship with superstar London Green. As their relationship continues, Rory is introduced to London's talent agent Ellis who does not think their relationship is a good idea for her career. While Rory would rather be focusing of her chef career and not get in-between their relationship, she suspects that Maya has less than innocent motivations for her interest in London. This leads to several interactions with Ellis in order to protect the reputation of London and Ellis' agency. But what was intended to be a working relationship quickly develops into something more substantial.

This book has very good pacing and easy to read since the plots flowed well and without dragging parts. While I wouldn't classify them as enemies nor Ellis as an ice queen I did enjoy the development of their interactions and I think that they are a well suited couple which balance one another out.

A sweet not-celebrity Hollywood romance with a twist of dark manipulation.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rory can’t believe what just happened. Her roommate Maya caught the eye of the biggest star in Hollywood, London Green. How she did it, no one knows, but their tumultuous love affair is the beginning of a wild ride Rory would never have believed could capture her in its grip. Especially as she crosses paths with the most infuriating woman. Ellis is London’s agent and she acts like most Hollywood inhabitants: ice cold and like she will crawl over dead bodies to protect her client. As someone who’s never wanted anything to do with the Hollywood glitz, Rory is happy to be in the background doing what she loves, baking beautiful and mouthwatering deserts. She does not want to get involved in the latest drama with Maya and most of all she wants to avoid dealing with this Ellis woman.

Ellis is building her talent agency from the ground up. However her star client London Green takes up most of her time. London gets into so much trouble with every flavor of the month. Ellis expects this Maya girl is nothing different. When she discovers the true motives behind Maya’s interest in London, it’s all hands on deck. If only she wouldn’t have to rely on Maya’s roommate Rory. The woman is, unfortunately, her only ally in protecting London. Does she have to be so damn attractive and authentic though? Rory is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise plastic world of publicity and scandals.

This story is told from both Rory’s and Ellis’s POV. That gives a great inside into both their thought processes and emotions. While reading I yelled at London’s unbelievable self-centeredness. It’s very interesting to see Ellis slowly understand the relationship with her client is way out of hand. Rory is that anker she needs in the crazy world of egotistical celebrities. Their connection builds and builds into something earth shifting and equal. These women are so different but perfect as a team.

The storyline of London and Maya is deliciously annoying. As a reader not familiar with the glitzy lifestyle, I couldn’t believe people treated each other that way. Still, the way Catherine Lane describes it, is so very realistic, it’s scary.

I loved that we get to see Ellis as her true self and not only the calculating agent that jumps through hoops for her client. Her relationship with her assistent is wonderful and authentic. Rory gets to see Ellis in a different way and can’t help but like what she sees. And vice versa, Ellis learns that Rory is as honest and down to earth as they come.

I normally love celebrity romances but this non-celeb story is equally lovely and endearing. It’s good to read that there are still real, non-conniving people out there!

A unique story with many characters but it does get really good once more things start to happen and get sexy. This book has a really good message to it as well to make sure you choose you're self sometimes too.

Ellis Turner is a talent agent and fixer for her top client London. When London becomes involved with her latest love Maya, Ellis is there to control the optics, needing there to be no scandals before the actress begins her next big movie. It causes Ellis to meet and cross paths with Maya’s roommate Rory Hatten. Rory isn’t sure that Maya isn’t using her new relationship to launch her own career. So Rory finds herself helping Ellis keeping tabs on the couple.

I thought that with so much time being spent on London and Maya that it overshadowed Rory and Ellis' developing relationship. I think that it is a stretch to call this an enemies to lovers' romance as Rory, other than their initial meeting is working with Ellis. I wouldn’t call Ellis an ice-queen either. She is actively at the beck and call of London throughout the story. So while the blurb is correct in the summary of the story, the labels are misleading. The plotting moves along but I wasn’t invested as much in the romance or relationships with side characters like family or co-workers.