My review shared on IG:

4.5 ☆

Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of "Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?", is back with another banger! If you're looking for a fast paced, juicy, second chance romance with depth and relatable characters, this one's for you.

Temi is an aspiring romance author, working hard to get her big break. After many rejections, she's offered the chance to ghostwrite a memoir for a British-Nigerian celebrity. But lo and behold, that celebrity turns out to be Temi's ex, Wale - their relationship ending not too long before he shot to fame by going on a Love Island inspired reality TV dating show. What happens on their journey from here was great to watch ....

I really enjoyed Temi and Wale's love story. Their banter is great and it was so nice to see them finding out new things about each other that they didn't know whilst they were together. And getting to see flashbacks of these times in their relationship showed they really didn't know each other at all.

As individuals, they're both really interesting characters. Temi, particularly because of the lengths she will go to try and fix situations when she's feeling the pressure. And Wale, because of what we get to learn about him when we look past the surface level, "this man looks like he will ruin your life" character he is first painted as.

It's not only about the romance, the book shines a light on some deeper and important topics. You'll just need to pick it up and get into it 👍🏾.

I've read this book twice now, the second time on audiobook (really good narration) and it's definitely a book I'd consider one of my comfort reads. If time allowed I could've easily read it in one sitting.

What a wholesome book! I absolutely loved this read. The reference to the dating reality show was such a fun touch—love it, love it, love it!
This romcom is packed with humor and heart.
Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is definitely on my radar now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK – Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, and Penguin Business for the ARC.

A really solid romance reminiscent of Beth O'Leary! Initially I was sceptical of the set up (boyfriend dumps girlfriend and then goes on the equivalent of Love Island) but Wale and Temi definitely won me over. I felt like the author did a good job of quickly making it clear there was more to Wale than first appeared, otherwise I would have struggled to root for him. Temi's publishing story was very interesting to read about, and though I got frustrated with her for not being honest with literally anyone I couldn't hand on heart say I would have been able to be any different in her shoes. I listened to a good chunk of this on audio through Libro.fm and I loved the narration.

4.5 stars. I love a story that has a strong character arc for the hero, ultimately redeeming him and this absolutely delivers that along with acute observations about toxic masculinity and more than a few insights into the publishing industry too. The fact that it was a Black British romance as well was the icing on the cake and I will be looking out for more from this author.

Temi and Wale are interesting characters and have a lot of backstory, which means you really get into them. They both decide to go onto the reality show, Love Villa (I think we can all guess what that's inspired by, right? And that's quite clever). It gives quite an insight into reality tv and the goings on, even to the point where the characters do split.

There's thought to what's being talked about in the bookish world when Temi wants to write her autobiography, but its passed over so many times, showing it isn't just as easy to have your name out there. It also talks a bit about what else is discussed in the bookish world, ghost-writers. That aside, there is also a love story and life's struggles throughout it.

The Re-Write has heart, humour, romance and challenges to overcome with relatable characters and situations. It's a terrific second book, making this author's writing one to catch onto, if you haven't discovered her already or to continue with, if you have already done so.

thank you so much for the arc of the re-write, i was thrilled to receive the copy!!

this was such a fun, witty romance on second chances, and i am becoming a lover of a second chance romance for sure!! lizzie definitely helped here.

after temi was dumped by her boyfriend wale, as he goes on a reality dating show, she channels heartbreak the only way she can...writing. an opportunity arises to ghost write for a celebrity...and as you guess, yes, that is none other than her ex wale!!! of course they begin to reconnect, and they re-write their own stories together...my heart!!

such a fun read that you could probably devour within a day or two!!

I absolutely loved Blackburn's first novel, "Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?" so was very excited to be offered her new novel by the publisher. This one is about Temi and Wale, who meet and fall for one another, then Wale gets the opportunity to go on a reality show, "Love Villa", breaking Temi's heart. Oh, and her novel has been rejected again and she's probably just lost her dead-end job ... Just when her agent's getting twitchy, she's offered a ghostwriting job and ... well you can guess who the celebrity is. But it's not as predictable as that looks. Wale is genuinely trying to defuse the impression people have gained of him and is putting on a charity gala for the love of the carers' charity he used to work for, not just for show, and as they meet and talk, they begin to see how things went wrong the first time ... But then Temi faces a dilemma: does she release the revenge novel she wrote that skewers him mercilessly and win a publishing deal or keep it to herself? Their best friends, Shona and Fonzo, are great characters, and I loved Fonzo's mum who runs a Black bookshop in South London; I also loved that Temi is a happy plus-size woman with a penchant for wearing a different pair of glasses every day, and there are solid themes around caring and toxic masculinity lifting this out of "just" a romcom. The details about ghostwriting are done well, although Temi apparently uses an app to transcribe her interviews, which I can tell you wouldn't have worked that well! I did personally prefer "Yinka" for the variety of characters, but this was a charming and engaging read, too.

My blog review published 24 February: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/02/24/two-reviews-lizzie-damilola-blackburns-the-re-write-and-nnedi-okorafors-death-of-the-author/

Romcoms can be hit or miss for me. Some are far too formulaic (I'm not hating on the formula! I just like to be surprised when I read.) The Re-Write puts a great twist on the usual story, moving us around in time and setting it against the backdrop of a fictional reality show. I thought the show might take up more of the story but it's all in the background.

The cultural background isn't one I was familiar with before and it was really interesting to read about. The slang words used, the foods they eat, it all adds up to a really rich background, one I'd love to know more about.

The characters were great - it's hard taking a character from hated and reviled to love interest in 300 pages, but Lizzie manages it beautifully! The pace is just right and the background characters are wonderful. Temi's journey and the place she ends up is amazing - a real boon to struggling writers everywhere!

This was a wonderful read and I really enjoyed it.



Book Recommendation:
"Queenie" by Candice Carty-Williams
Queenie is a young British Jamaican woman navigating life, love, and identity in London. Like The Re-Write, it explores themes of personal growth, relationships, and cultural identity with humor and heart.
Movie/TV Recommendation:
"Rye Lane" (2023)
Set in South London, this romcom is full of vibrant characters, hilarious situations, and heartwarming moments. It also showcases British culture and community in a way that resonates with The Re-Write's backdrop.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'm not a fan of second chance romance books but the thing that made me interested in this was the Love Island esque element. I watch it yearly and so I was intrigued with how this story would go. I started off despising Wale, that man could get in the bin as far as I was concerned. But as Temi embarked on her ghost-writing journey I started to see him differently.

There were many times where I wanted to yell at both MCs because they just did not communicate. Another trope I'm not a fan of. Neither of them trusted the other enough to tell the truth so decided to hide it or lie, which is perhaps the dumbest thing to do. All in all I did enjoy their interactions with each other for the most part.

As light, funny and sometimes frustrating as this book is, it also touches on really serious topics like alcoholism, sexual assault and racism.

Being born and raised in London, I also enjoyed knowing the locations of where everything was being set. It added a nice touch for me.

I enjoyed The Re-Write and thought it was a fun and sweet romcom. Having to ghostwrite your celebrity ex's memoir is a really clever and fun set up to bring the exes back into each other's orbit and force them to reevaluate each other. The supporting characters and the novel's world were believable and well realised. My only quibble is that I would have liked there to have been longer between when the characters first broke up and reconnected for the memoir. It takes place over less than a year and I think more time would have made more character growth and yearning more believable.

When I started this book, I realised I was probably far from target audience for it – being old enough to be Temi or Wale’s mother and not a Love Island aficionado – but I need not have worried, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

You are rooting for Temi from the start. She’s desperate to be a published author – but is being rejected all over the place. She’s done some ghost writing historically – but is then offered the chance to ghost write for a new celebrity – who is, of course, her ex – who has just had a stint on The Villa (basically Love Island!)

There is then lots of will they / won’t they / misunderstandings / crossed wires – and at the same time their histories (from long ago, and more recently but undeclared) are exposed.

Whilst you want Temi and Wale to be reunited from the start, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing!

I also loved that Temi was plus size and a glasses wearer – both of which I could totally get on board with (even at my advanced years!)

The supporting cast of friends and family were also great (or awful, but necessarily so!) and as well as the romance storyline – there are other big topics covered, being a carer, alcoholism, family pressure.

It was published last week – so you can buy a copy now if you like the sound of it.

A big thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for my advance review copy.

Temi’s first novel has been passed on and she’s lost her job as a junior ghostwriter at a publishing company. And now she’s told her literary agent a tiny white lie about how much of her second book she’s actually written.
So when she’s offered the chance to ghost write a memoir for a celebrity of Nigerian descent, she takes it. Then she finds out the client is reality TV star Wale, who has been leaving broken hearts in his wake, not least Temi who he dumped to go on the Love Island-like show, The Villa.
Set in the book world, tick. With a reality TV link, tick tick. This well-written multilayered story was a really enjoyable read about a second chance at love - no need for a re-write here. Temi was a likeable character and she shared great chemistry and banter with her ex.

Temi & Wale were a couple for six months until they broke up because he had applied and has been accepted to join the hot reality The Vila . Now after the reality has ended and with Wale reputation been as the playboy he needs to fix his image so he will write his memoirs and the best person is Temi who is a writer . Temi has a dream to publise her book Wildest Dreams but she always get rejected so she does ghostwriting instead . When her agent tell her about a new job she does not reveal her that it is her ex because she really needs the money and she also is unemployed .
While working together to write about his life she realises that she didn't really knew him and the she falling in love with him all over again . Will they be able to forgive the secret they kept from each other so they can finally have their happy end ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

This was such an enjoyable read, Temi frustrated me at times, but so thought the overall storyline and character development was great!

This book was so great! I loved the representation od poc and plus suze fmc <3 I loved how the characters were written and there were often times when the author really surprised me!
The romance part is so cute and relatable, I enjoyed reading it very much.

This book follows Temi and Wale.

They met, got together, and then he dumped her to go on The Villa, the reality TV show akin to the Love Island.

Temi is a writer, struggling to get published. Her novel, Wildest Dreams, has been rejected numerous times. Her agent, Mayee, puts Temi’s name forward to ghostwrite a short memoir for a celebrity.

As the pay is good and Temi really needs the money, she agrees to do it.

Who is the celebrity? Wale. Temi’s ex.

As Temi starts to write Wale’s memoir, she discovers a new side to him: gentler and honest. Can the two of them put aside their differences for the sake of the story?

You’ll have to read this one for yourselves to find out.

I enjoyed this one! I immediately liked Temi and her passion for her ‘baby’, Wildest Dreams. She was very driven to have it published, however, the plot was quite niche, so no wonder there weren’t many takers!

I wasn’t that keen on Wale to start with, as he was trying to be a typical macho, shallow man going on a reality TV show. However, as the story progressed, I realised that there was depth to his character.

This is a lovely feel good book. I definitely recommend it. Many thanks to Penguin for my NetGalley widget.

I really enjoyed Lizzie’s last book and would definitely recommend The Re-write to anyone who’s in the mood for a charming will they/won’t they romance. Temi and Wale are lovely characters and really enjoyed the positivity of Temi’s attitude to her body and looks - it was really refreshing. It’s one of those books that will happily entertain while sneaking in some serious issues which stay with you. I raced through it and I’m sure many others will too.

The Re-Write started off slowly and I struggled through the first half. It thankfully picked up pace and I found the second part to be much more engaging.

Temi and Wale are together for six months until Wale walks away from the relationship to be on the singles reality show, 'The Villa'. Struggling author Temi is heartbroken and throws herself into her writing. After a book rejection, Temi takes up an offer as a ghost-writer - writing a memoir for a celebrity; only this celebrity turns out to be Wale.

I liked Wale's character development. He is initially portrayed as a slick playboy, but that persona slowly sheds away to reveal a very caring and selfless person.

A little quibble - after so many references to all the different glasses that Temi wore; her glasses aren't anywhere to be seen on the cover of this book.

I just finished The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it! I didn’t read Blackburn’s first novel, but this one definitely hooked me. Her writing style is so easy to get into—it’s fast-paced, light, and just makes you want to keep turning the pages.

The story follows Temi and Wale, who meet and start dating in London. Everything seems to be going well until Wale suddenly dumps Temi to go on a reality TV show called Love Villa. Ouch, right? Instead of wallowing, Temi dives into her dream of becoming a writer. She’s close to a book deal, but things don’t quite work out, and she ends up taking a gig ghostwriting a celebrity autobiography. And, of course, that celebrity turns out to be none other than Wale. Cue all the tension and complicated feelings!

One thing I loved about the book was how it switches between the past and the present. It gives you such a good understanding of how Temi and Wale’s relationship got to where it is. You see their playful beginning, the heartbreak, and then their awkward reunion as they work together on Wale’s memoir.

At first, Wale is painted as the classic “bad guy”—the reality TV star who broke Temi’s heart. But as Temi writes his story, you start to see the real Wale. He’s actually this kind-hearted, soft guy who cares deeply about his work as a caregiver and his charity. As the timelines come together, all the pieces start fitting perfectly, and you realize there’s so much more to him than the reality star.

I loved the chemistry between Temi and Wale. As they work together, you can feel the tension and that spark reigniting. It really felt like they brought out the best in each other, and I was rooting for them the whole way through.

I also appreciated how realistic the book felt. Blackburn weaves in things that are so relevant today, like reality TV culture, social media pressure, and how influencers can struggle under the weight of public attention. It felt very true to life.

I later found out that Blackburn worked for Carers UK, which made the parts about Wale being a caregiver and his work with a foundation even more meaningful. It’s brilliant how she blended these serious topics into what is, on the surface, a rom-com. She also touches on important issues like discrimination, harassment, and alcoholism, which adds depth to the story.

If you’re looking for a rom-com with heart and substance, The Re-Write is definitely worth picking up!

A fun, charming, breezy read that I absolutely sped through. Temi is a struggling writer who accidentally takes a job to ghost-write her ex boyfriend's memoir. It was great fun unpicking the misunderstandings between the two love interests and to watch Temi grow.