After my own debut novel died on submission recently, I wasn't sure that this was the right read for me at the time.

I am happy to say I was wrong, as this was entertaining, interesting and I was hooked pretty quickly.

A wonderful next book after I so loved the last from this author.

I liked how celebrity culture and reality TV played its part in this and was topical.

Dazzling.

book review: The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I absolutely raced through this book after falling in love with the concept and the characters.

Thank you so much @vikingbooksuk for an eARC of this novel - out February next year. 🧡💜

Temi’s dream is to be a published author, and she’s SO close. She’s got her dream agent and a manuscript she worked so hard on out on submission at all the major publishers. But those publishers keep passing, so when the opportunity to ghost-write a celebrity memoir arises, Temi finds herself accepting. Of course, that celebrity turns out to be her ex-boyfriend Wale, who dumped her earlier this year to go on reality dating show The Villa.

Doesn’t that just sound SO good? And it completely lived up to what I wanted it to be. I loved these characters so much. Lizzie’s exploration of toxic masculinity was reminiscent of Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson (i.e. one of my favourite books), and I’ve never seen it done like this before in a contemorary romance novel (please send me your recs if you have). I loved the way the author explored how Wale’s brain was at odds with itself, the way he wanted to act, the way he was forced to act and the way the public superimposed their beliefs about his actions that goes against what he wanted or what he did. Reality TV fascinates me, so this was right up my street.

I will now be bumping up Yinka, Where Is Your Husband? on my TBR because I absolutely need to read more from Lizzie immediately.

[Review will be on Instagram on the morning of Wednesday 23rd October 2024]

I really enjoyed this book about an aspiring author struggling with her break up, as her ex becomes a hit on a reality TV dating show.

It was a good quick, fun read with all the right endings!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for sending me a copy for an honest review.

The Re-Write is a laugh-out-loud closed door second chance romance that follows Temi and Wale - two exes who are forced back into each other’s lives.

Wale is fresh off a dating TV show and is hated by most of the UK after being labelled a heartbreaker.

Temi is trying to get her book published but is struggling. In an attempt to find work, she lands a job being the ghost-writer for her ex’s memoir in a bid to rehabilitate his image.

The concept of her writing this book is fun and it was executed well. It opens the door to discovering more about the characters and why they really broke up. It didn’t feel unrealistic how they ended up working together either.

The reality TV show is a unique plot point especially as Love Island is so popular at the moment. Immediately we are made to think a certain way about Wale because of the tweets and headlines about his behaviour on the show which really highlights a bigger issue with how we consume reality shows in general.

I loved all the characters but the main two the most. Temi is a strong, independent woman who doesn’t take any nonsense. I liked how she stood up for herself and had self-respect. As her goal is to be a published author, we get an insight into the life of a writer, showing the highs and mostly lows of the job, especially when she’s struggling to find someone to publish her fiction.

Wale is an interesting character as he probably has the most growth. His story, particularly his childhood and family history felt important. A lot of topics in this book showed many parts of society that are underrepresented, as the author displays the harsh reality of the world for many people including young children.

There is great mental health representation throughout, especially as a big message of this story shows it is okay for men to be vulnerable even when society, and sometimes even friends and family, tell them it’s not.

I enjoyed reading about Temi’s culture and the food she enjoyed with her friends and family. The setting in their homes with home cooked jollof rice felt very inviting. It was refreshing that the author didn’t make a big deal out of the main character being plus-sized and wearing glasses, which is quite rare in a lot of books of this nature.

There are some trigger warnings including mention of alcoholism and sexual assault.

This book is so addictive, I read it in one sitting. The banter between the characters was brilliant. It’s definitely one of those books you wish you could savour because you don’t want it to end. I loved Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s first book and I think this one topped it.

This was my first experience of Lizzie’s writing and I’m annoyed that I haven’t read any of her previous work before.

This was an easy breezy fun read. I loved the character development of both Temi and Wale (and Fonzo and Shona) and the themes explored throughout. In my opinion, I felt the exploration of these themes were just right. Not too much & not too little.

Our MC Temi learning the importance of taking accountability, being truthful, finding her voice and regaining her confidence was beautiful to read. At times I wanted to shake Temi and tell her to just tell the truth and stop over apologising😬 as an over apologising black woman I get it but one sorry is enough sis😅😅.

I really enjoyed learning about Wale’s upbringing and how this played out in his adult relationships, both platonic and romantic. It was a joy seeing Wale learning that being a vulnerable (black) man is okay and there are spaces whereby people allow black men to be vulnerable. I liked that he learnt the importance of communication and how important it was to reclaim his power and rewrite the narrative (see what I did there😉).

There were a few themes in this book that Lizzie touched on such as:
- Alcoholism and the impact it has on spouses and dependants.
- Toxic masculinity & the need to always be the ‘strong black man’
- Fat-phobia & always be conscious of your weight because of “societal expectations” & how you’re treated because of it.
- Parent and people pleasing due to rejection or scolding.
- The importance of therapy, especially for our black men and for the black community.

Another theme that was spoken about and explored throughout the book was around caring responsibilities. Something so common in society that is often overlooked, not spoken about enough and severely under-resourced.

Overall, this was a wonderfully written multilayered story. I was engaged throughout and I love an epilogue so shout out you Lizzie! I’m off to borrow ‘Yinka Where Is Your Huzband?’ from the library now.

#netgalley #therewrite

It’s giving Love Island, except, it’s Love Villa. And when Temi opens up to her boyfriend Wale to tell him that she’s falling for him, he drops the bomb that he’s applied for the show.

This book is 5 stars but deserves more. The Black representation, the plus-size narrative and the journey of overcoming a childhood of trauma and toxic masculinity is approached in a way that added another layer to the typical “will they, won’t they?” trope.

Temi is an aspiring author, with multiple rejections and an important deadline to meet. After speed-writing a novel, intended for her eyes only as a therapeutic attempt to get her feelings out about Wale’s betrayal, she’s ready to go full steam ahead on getting her first novel published.

In the meantime, she’s offered an opportunity to ghostwrite a memoir for an up-and-coming celebrity which can help her to earn some well needed cash. That is until, she figures out that this mysterious celebrity, isn’t too mysterious at all.

The plot was so imaginative. Exes working together in a way that forces them to see each other in a new light allowed me to understand Wale and Temi on a deeper level as the main characters.

The story is full of miscommunication, misunderstandings and that ever present pressure to make the people around them proud. The heartwarming plotline of young carers and what they go through made it even more wholesome. It’s written in a way that doesn’t allow you to put it down. Short chapters, quick drama and quick resolutions. I read it in one sitting.

I really loved the Temi and Wale’s story, and Lizzie’s vision and writing style was borderline perfect. I highly recommend for an easy read!

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

A short and charming rom com featuring Temi, an aspiring author, and Wale, recent reality TV bad boy, and her ex.

I really enjoyed Temi as an author, struggling to meet her deadlines and to meet her writing targets. And her work as a ghost writer showed care and compassion, although clearly motivated by the subject of the memoir - Wale.

It's a sort of lovers to enemies to lovers story, except that what both Temi and Wale needed was time and communication in order to actually grow. There are lots of lovely moments, including a good and sensitive portrayal of Black men, and of a plus-size woman without making it the focus of the story - Temi is quite at peace with who she is.

I breezed through this.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In The Re-Write, we meet Temi, a determined young woman who channels her heartbreak into her passion for writing. As she stands on the brink of a book deal that promises to change her life, rejections from publishers continue to stack up, forcing her to confront the harsh realities of unpaid bills and dwindling options. When an unexpected opportunity arises to ghost-write a celebrity autobiography, she reluctantly takes the plunge, only to discover that her new subject is none other than the charismatic Wale.

The chemistry between Temi and Wale crackles with tension and humour, creating a dynamic that pulls readers in from the first page. The narrative is filled with witty dialogue and engaging characters, making it a delightful read. As Temi navigates the complexities of working with a celebrity, she finds herself questioning whether their shared past will hinder their potential for a new relationship—or if it might just ignite something unexpected.

With its mix of charm, warmth, and romantic sizzle, The Re-Write is a celebration of second chances, the power of dreams, and the complexities of love. Temi's journey is both relatable and inspiring, and readers will find themselves rooting for her every step of the way. This book is a delightful exploration of how past connections can evolve into something new and exciting, all while highlighting the importance of pursuing one’s passions.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

4/5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and publisher’s for the ARC of this book.
It’s a nice and easy read with some lovely, relatable characters, great friendships and family dynamics. The discussions of masculinity are so important and I do hope this story will make its way to men as well.

I would advise adding a content warning for SA/SH and alcoholism. They’re handled well but I did get slightly blindsided by the topics.

This is a well-written romance novel. I feel I am too old for this - reality TV shows and social media do not feature in my life.! There are interesting insights into black culture - hair, food, music etc., and the plot flows well. I don't know if it's very believable, though. I would suggest the reader age group to be women under thirty.

Another winner from Lizzie. I enjoy her writing style and her characters. I’m a carer myself so liked that part of the story.
I did drop one star because of the bad language. I just hate bad language.

I was so completely THRILLED to receive an early copy of this book that I waited no longer than 24 hours to utterly DEVOUR it with ALL OF THE JOY. As fully expected, it is witty, warm and bursting with sizzle. I am certain that this will be another well-deserved smash for Lizzie and a huge win for British black romance and plus size representation. Praise be for more voices like this!