It had a great balance of humour and drama and I loved how supportive Temi’s parents were even if misguided at times. I loved how the main characters also were always it for each other despite the road bumps of other people.

Review in full on thefloormag.com in the last week of Jan x

I loved the author’s previous book and it was brilliant to discover that Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s new novel is just as good.
She really has the knack of creating believable characters and situations and I was completely absorbed in the different strands of Temi’s life as a would be author. It was fascinating to read about her work as an author trying to get a book deal as well as her job ghost-writing a celebrity memoir. This was always going to be a tricky job but far more so when the celebrity in question is your ex who dumped you to go on a reality TV show.
The relationship between Temi and Wade is portrayed brilliantly as they gradually grow closer again even though, as a reader, I was constantly waiting for the whole romance to come tumbling down due to the secrets that have to come out. This isn’t just a romcom, there is real tension between Temi and Wade as well as in Temi’s relationship with her parents and there are a lot of issues that need to be resolved before there can be any happy ending.
A big theme of book is being a carer and the pressure that is put on family members who have to look after someone especially if that carer is a young person. It was lovely to see such an underrated profession being brought into the spotlight. The novel also touches on lots of aspects of modern life but especially idea of what men have to be like to be considered properly masculine, what it’s like to be plus sized as well as the perils of social media. The author makes her points well without being too heavy-handed, so the book keeps its light hearted feel. As with her previous novel, I really enjoyed the insights into Nigerian culture.
This was a thoroughly entertaining read with a lot more depth than many other books in this genre. Huge thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story follows Temi, an aspiring author who falls in love with Wale, they have a fun six months together before he breaks up with her and appears on reality tv show 'The Villa.' Temi channels her anger and heartbreak in her writing. A few months later, she is hired as a ghostwriter for none other than Wale, who doesn't come out of the show looking the best. Temi and Wale work together but can they rekindle what was left before the show.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I found it to be quite an enjoyable read, it was fast paced whilst developing authentically. The characters as individuals were entertaining, the friendship dynamics felt real and the representation was threaded through in a way that was essential to the story.

However, I just didn't believe the relationship between our two main characters. Temi and Wale both make mistakes through their relationship and writing the memoir, but their lack of communication and openess with each other is the reason it doesn't feel like a sure thing. I found I was more interested in the relationship developing between their friends Shona and Fonzo.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ughhh I couldn’t put this book down. I loved that the characters felt real and not over developed. The plot was like never I have ever read in terms of flow and story.

My review on Fable: “ This book felt as though I was over hearing a conversation in a coffee shop, it felt so real! The characters are built upon brilliantly over the course of the book. You can feel the past and present connection between the main characters, and hear them through their body language and dialogue.

The plot had a different flow to most book I read and I loved the overall plot! ” - 5 stars

Temi is a struggling author with a dream but despite her talent, publishers keep rejecting her manuscript. To make ends meet, she decides to take on a ghostwriting job for a male celebrity - but as fate would have it, she will be writing a memoir for Wale, her ex boyfriend who left her to go on a dating show!

Despite being a fun, easy to read rom-com about Black love, the Re-Write also touches on really important topics such as racism and racial stereotypes, body-shaming, toxic masculinity, sexual abuse and alcoholism.

The characters are well written and multi-dimensional, making them super relatable! Even though the protagonists are the focus of the story, the side characters added so much value - there was clearly a lot of thought and love poured into them. The novel is packed with beautiful Black-British cultural references, which I loved reading and learning about. And as a Love Island addict myself (guilty 🫣) I really loved the inspiration drawn from it to create The Villa!

I loved the pace of the story, the will they/won’t they and second chance romance tropes and I became genuinely invested in these characters’ lives. The only thing that made this novel fall short to me was the fact that even though some really important topics were discussed, they weren’t really developed. This is such a fast-paced book that it wouldn’t have mattered if we had slower moments to dissect these issues further. As a result, it feels like they were just brushed upon, which is a shame.

That being said, it was still a good read and I look forward to explore more of Lizzie’s work.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘪𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

This was a nice breezy read with Love Island feels which was interesting. It took me some time to warm to Wale, wasn't a fan at the start. It was nice to have the flashbacks of the past and future to see what happened in their relationship for them to take such drastic paths - 1) to write a revenge book and 2) enter The Villa. I was rooting for Temi to stand up for herself and get published. Closer to the end Wale had proved he was worthy and I was waiting for the Tele ship to sail. Overall a cute read with plenty of Londoners slang.

This was an ARC read - thanks to Net Galley.

I absolutely love Lizzie's stories, the well-written characters grab you and take you into their lives like old friends. This wonderful story involving Temi and Wade is brilliant, thank you

The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is an easy, light read with plenty of potential that unfortunately falls short. While it touches on important topics—such as professional identity, body shaming, abuse, and the challenges of overnight fame—these themes are handled rather superficially, leaving the story feeling underdeveloped. The book misses opportunities to dive deeper into the emotional complexities of its characters and themes.

The writing is accessible and engaging, making it a quick, effortless read. However, its heavy focus on modern struggles and social media culture suggests it may be aimed at a young adult audience.

Overall, I would describe it as an enjoyable, low-commitment read, ideal for a commute or a lazy afternoon. However, I didn’t find it to be a story that lingers after the last page.

"I chose you because I need you."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Temi meets Wale sparks fly + before long, they are boo'd up. Unfortunately, following some miscommunication, the couple break up + Wale enters a reality dating show, leaving Temi heartbroken.

As an aspiring writer, Temi throws herself into her craft whilst awaiting news of a potential book deal, but she still needs to commit to her adult responsibilities. Temi accepts a deal to ghostwrite an autobiography for a reality tv star. You've guessed it, the celeb is Temi's ex.

I absolutely loved this Rom-Com! It is truly what a readers dreams are made of. Well written, binge-worthy, great characters, character growth + a well put together plot & sub-plot.

Yes, this is a love story (and I loved it, because the couple were wonderful), but it's so much more than that.

The Re-Write delves into the thoughts & feelings of aspiring authors, as well as the hard-to-crack publishing industry. Would you compromise your integrity to get a book deal? Temi's choices made me pause & think about how many authors may have compromised their integrity & beliefs just to find a seat at the table.

Another element of this story that I found really touching, was the inclusion of carer's. It’s something that I hwven’t really come across in fictional stories, and it definitely wasn’t something that I expected to read in the Re-write.

If you love contemporary fiction, this story will sweet you, especially if you are a Love Island fan. But more importantly, it highlights the impacts on contestants' mental health & the toxicity that thrives on social media.

I was invested in Temi's growth, but I was more invested in Wale's. Wale is a character that I was wary of, but as the story + plot progressed, I was cheering him on from the sidelines like a real fan-girl. Wale battles with a masculinity complex, which was broached really well by Lizzie in this story.

This is a second-chance rom-com, but it also so much more than that, it is an exploration of male MH, the journey of becoming an author, and of course, everything starts and ends with: LOVE.

One to add to your TBR!

I absolutely loved Lizzie's debut book Yinka, Where is your Huzband, and have been looking out for her name every since.

Romance + books + Lizzie's ability to create magic out of words made this a fun and exciting read.

I love that the main character of Temi is an aspiring writer. Even though Lizzie is obviously now a published author, and I hope successful too, I assume at one point or another she was in the same boat as all of us. Trying to fit the writing in around life, sending it to various agents and publishers, trying to make it. And she's pitched that perfectly. It's not "aww bless", nor is it really brutal. It's just very honest.

I'm not really a reality show person - unless it's Strictly Come Dancing. I don't do the romance ones like Love Island or The Bachelor or whatever ones the young people of today watch, and so that side of the story didn't interest me much, but that's just a personal taste thing.

I love how passionate Lizzie is about representing her colour. Even today, the majority of romcom books and films show two conventionally attractive, usually white people. And in this book we have two proud Nigerian characters who are just as enjoyable to read about, and I love it. They're proud of their heritage, and why shouldn't they be? They rock!

I didn't particularly take to Wale at first, for reasons I won't spoil, but he felt a bit....slimy is probably too harsh a word. He just seemed a bit distant but at the same time wanting to be centre stage at first, but he did win me over through ways I won't spoil here. Temi is our protagonist and overall I really liked her. She's passionate about writing but she's a bit lost. She's had her heart broken and she's not sure how to balance romance with a career - not that she's overly successful in either. But she felt really real and relatable and I really cared about her journey.

I enjoyed it all but I would say the beginning and the ending are its strongest parts, it dipped slightly in the middle. I felt there was only so much you can write about someone writing a book without it becoming a bit repetitive, but it didn't last for long, and if I was just giving this to a friend I probably wouldn't mention it, but as a book review to go online, I have to mention everything I thought.

At about 70% in, I could tell something big was about to happen and I started feeling this second-hand embarrassment and awkwardness for Temi, which goes to show how clear Lizzie's writing is.

The problem with novels that mention other story ideas, is I read them and go "ooh that'd be a good novel idea", and then remember that probably comes under plagiarism.

There are some difficult topics: breakups, reality TV, toxic masculinity, men and their emotions, deception, friendships ending, dishonesty, illness, and addiction, but overall it's full of hope and joy and love.

For me, it wasn't as strong as Yinka, but it was still very enjoyable and shows how good Lizzie is at creating familiar and relatable characters and situations.

(3.5 stars)

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of The Re-Write immediately grabbed my attention. Temi is a writer struggling to land a book deal, and when her dream of becoming a published author feels out of reach, she accepts a ghostwriting gig. The catch? The celebrity she’ll be writing for is none other than her ex, Wale - who once dumped her to appear on a reality TV show. Cue plenty of awkward encounters, unresolved feelings, and a will-they-won’t-they dynamic.

I loved the mix of humour and cultural references, which gave the book a fresh and modern feel. The characters were flawed and relatable, though I would have liked to see a bit more depth. There’s some character development throughout the story, but I think the exploration of social issues could have been taken a step further to make the book feel more impactful.

That said, it’s a fun, lighthearted rom-com. It’s a mix between second-chance romance and enemies to lovers tropes. The world needs more Black love stories, and I’m glad this one exists.

I absolutely loved 'Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?', so I couldn’t wait to dive into Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s latest book. A few pages in, though, I had to stop and double-check—was Wale really Temi’s love interest from the start? Because, honestly, I wasn’t feeling him. Who dumps their girlfriend to go on a celebrity TV show? Sure, people do worse, but it didn’t make me want to root for him, at least not right away.

Also, I know I’m in the minority here, but I can’t stand reality TV dating shows. For me, it’s the opposite of romance. No judgement if it’s your thing—it’s just not mine. That said, Temi made it all worth it. She’s such a fantastic character—funny, smart, and someone you can’t help but cheer for.

The writing pulled me in too. Blackburn is so good at blending light-hearted rom-com vibes with more serious themes. This book doesn’t shy away from topics like stereotypes, fatphobia, and what it means to be masculine. I also really enjoyed how it explored British Nigerian culture. Books like this give me new perspectives and let me see different cultures in a way that feels authentic and engaging.

Temi and Wale’s relationship grew on me as the story went on. Their banter was cute, their conversations felt real, and by the end, I was rooting for them. Temi especially had some tough moments, and I really felt for her.

I didn’t love this one as much as Yinka. It wasn’t as funny, but it was sweet and emotional in its own way. It’s also a quick read, which is always a plus.

Overall, I’d give it 3.5 stars (upgraded to 4). It’s not my new favourite, but if you enjoy heartfelt rom-coms with a bit of depth, it’s definitely worth picking up.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin and Lizzie Damilola Blackburn for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

THE RE-WRITE is a fun, lighthearted story about two exes needing to work together to create a memoir, despite wanting nothing less to do with each other. Rightfully so, as Wale dumped Temi, our writer protagonist, to... go on this novel's version of Love Island. Suffice to say, there's no love lost between the two!

Lizzie Damilola Blackburn has a great way of creating realistic characters, particularly when it comes to speech and mannerisms. Even the side characters are fun and entertaining, feeling much more fleshed-out than the average comic relief sidekick. I rooted against Wale, in disbelief at Temi's agreement to the contract and the new working relationship, but ended up rooting for Wale so much I nearly cried at the ending. It touched on racism, social inequality in London, ghostwriting, and many more topics that made this feel like so much more than just a written romcom.

Still, it wasn't perfect. Despite being realistic most of the time, there were moments when I just couldn't suspend my disbelief. Blackburn's writing style is good, though it just didn't sit right with me at times. It's hard to nitpick at the flaws, because there aren't that many - the novel as a whole, for one reason or another, just cannot be given five stars from me.

I'd still recommend people to read it. It's fun, it's delightful, and it's more than just a romcom.

Is there ANYTHING more fun than a second chance romance??

I loved the twists and turns of this cute romance - and man, did I perhaps yell a little at some of the early scenes? Yes, yes I did. Its not my fault Wale is such a tosser and ditched Temi to go be a fame wh*re on one of those insidious hot people in close proximity 'reality' shows.

However, I am a sucker for a second chance romance, so when they collide again and the spark was still there I was onboard the Temale train.

I loved the way the author wove themes of race, social expectations and modern masculinity through this story, adding a deeper layer to the story and hopefully involving some thought in readers around these topics!

Really enjoyed this one :) All the stars for making me hate a character and somehow still love them getting a HEA!!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing this e-arc. I really had fun reading The Re-Write, which is a fast paced, easy-to-read romcom. While it was the perfect read for a brainless moment, I felt like it lacked some depth. If you love dating shows, this will be right up your alley. I just wished that Temi and Wale had a bit more dimension to their character. It was a bit too predictable, but nonetheless fun! To be completely honest, I was also confusing Kojo and Fonzo all the time..

❤️❤️💔🤍🤍 (2.5 stars)

I LOVED “Yinka, Where is your Huzband?”, so had very big hopes for this book. Unfortunately, it just didn’t meet my expectations, and neither did I really connect with the story.

I was a big fan of Love Island, so I loved that Lizzie Damilola Blackburn pulled inspiration from it to tell a Black love story about Temi and Wale. Wale is an emotionally unavailable young Black man who signs up to be a contestant on the latest season of “The Villa”, which causes the breakdown in his relationship to struggling writer, Temi. We follow them as they dart from past to present, rewriting history and mending their future in the process.

I loved the cultural references, both the Nigerian and Black British ones, and felt like it kept their story and context very authentic. I found Temi infuriating; she made childish decisions and it made the plot a little farcical and forced as a result. The blossoming love story of their best friends Fonzo and Shona was a nice icing on the cake.

This book lightly dusts over some heavy topics such as the weight of being a carer & the mental toll it takes on young people; mental health and stigma in the Black community; addiction; and social media bullying & harassment. All of which I wish we delved in a little deeper into.

I absolutely loved this book! Such a nice easy read, I loved the relationship between Temi & Wale, also the friendships throughout this book were amazing & I loved seeing how the book panned out!

I am a stubborn person; I do not like to be proved wrong. I spent 3/4 of this book convinced Wale did not deserve forgiveness and that Temi was letting him off the hook too easily. Particularly when he reacted badly to the social media drama. There were so many red flags in the beginning, and yet, by the end, I was in support of the relationship.

It was a journey of dealing with toxic masculinity, social pressure, and family expectations. I enjoyed the handling of sexual assault perpetrated by a friend as it reflected what should happen in real life but often gets minimised and passed by.

Wale and Temi are imperfect and a little traumatised, but in the end, I feel like they could have a healthy relationship.

Fonzo was my favourite character of all.

This was a great contemporary novel focused on Black character-led romance! I loved the backdrop of reality TV and ghostwriting memoirs, thought the plot was really well mapped out, and the second chances trope very well executed.

I enjoyed this author's previous novel, Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? very much, so I was looking forward to reading her new book! The premise is that Temi, a young British Nigerian living in south London, is trying to make it as a published author. She is also a ghostwriter and when she takes on a celebrity memoir, the subject turns out to be her ex, Wale. He was portrayed as the bad boy on a Love Island-style TV show, The Villa. They had broken up before this but when they finally reunite, as Temi attempts to write his perspective without getting emotionally involved again, there is still a spark. Will there be a happy ending for them and together can they save his reputation?

I thought that the plot, character development and dialogue of this novel were skillfully done. Not only is it a second-chance romance, there are important themes explored such as toxic masculinity, plus-size positivity, diversity in the publishing industry, the effects of celebrity and high expectations from one's family. Temi also had an interesting quirk as she owns many different pairs of spectacles, all with names and personalities.

My only criticism of the novel is the frequent mention of named social media platforms, which could date the story quickly if the platforms change names or cease to exist. I also thought the title should be something more attention-grabbing, like the first novel's.