The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, the content fell a bit flat for me. I did like both Jessica and Vini and it is a cute sapphic romance. The pacing was confusing though. We race through their "relationship" with big time jumps but nothing really happens. All they seemed to do was eat or have sex. We're supposed to believe they're feeling more for each other than just a fling but we never see them just interacting or having deep conversations. They don't know anything about each other. I didn't feel a connection to the characters.

The sister drama was so ridiculous. They are grown adults and the argument blowing up was a mess. It made the third act breakup feel really immature. The end was cute though I did love some of the side characters as well. Vini's dad was sweet and Aiden seemed like a great guy.
This is the second book in an interconnected series and I don't think I'll go back for the first

I really loved the cover and premise of this book, but I found it hard to connect with the characters.

This was a sweet and very spicy read, I really enjoyed it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

Firstly, thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this fell a bit flat for me. I didn't feel particularly connected to our main characters and felt like I only got to know them on a very superficial level.
The pacing felt really rushed to start off with, and then really slower down in the middle. However, I think this was more due to the plot of the book and our main characters slowing down and enjoying each others company, rather than the rush of initial lust.

The 3rd act breakup felt quite predictable and I couldn't help but feel so frustrated about everyone bickering and involvement in the situation. It also didn't really feel like a breakup? I didn't get the normal gut wrench reaction I do in similar situations, and that was likely due to not feeling connected to the story line.

I think the writing was good. It was clear and well structured. It made me giggle at times and there was some good playful banter that I enjoyed.

However, ultimately it wasn't a book for me.

DNF at 13% - I really did not get on with this authors writing style and the characters felt very two dimensional.

**📖 Book Review: *The Relationship Mechanic* by Karmen Lee 🛠️❤️**

First of all, huge thank you to Mills & Boon for providing me with this ARC read!

For a sapphic romance that feels fresh, real, and a little spicy, *The Relationship Mechanic* is a perfect pick! The story follows Vini, an Afro-American mechanic, and Jess, an Afro-Korean voice actor who struggles with her commitment issues. Their journey is as heartwarming as it is tumult, celebrating love, identity, and the beauty of finding “home” in another person.

Lee’s storytelling highlights diverse characters naturally, giving us a love story that feels authentic and beautifully layered. The straightforward writing style wasn’t my favorite, but it’s still an easy, enjoyable read that draws you in. And yes, there’s a good bit of *spice* to keep things interesting! 🌶️💕

I’d give it a **3.5-star rating** for its heartfelt characters and relatable themes. Definitely recommend this for romance lovers looking for a story with warmth, depth, and diverse characters. 🏡💖

#BookReview #TheRelationshipMechanic #KarmenLee #RomanceReaders #LGBTQLit #SpicyRomance

The spicy scenes in this book was the only part if this book that was good. Which was a good thinking because the sex was the only thing the main couple had going for them. I don't think they had a proper conversation on paper to talk about themselves for at least the first half which was bad because they've already had sex at least 3 times on page In that half.
The characters were one dimensional, the plot was none existent, the angst was downright stupid. I mean trying to hide a situationship from your sister because the sister, who doesn't even know the person, had heard 'bad' things about her was the dumbest thing I've read in ages.
I've read small town romances before taht actually had something going for them but this felt like the author just wanted to write and release something and didn't actually care about the work itself.
P.S. if you're going to have a only one bed scene make sure its before the characters have already had sex multiple times. The point of the trope is the tension, I'd they've had sex already and we know they're going to have sex there will be no tension.

To start, I’d like to thank Netgalley and Mills & Boon (Afterglow) for sending me this ARC.

This was a decent sapphic romance, but it wasn’t the greatest book I’ve read.

This book is about Vini (the mechanic) and Jessica (visiting the town) and their situationship that is both messy and cute, perfect for a quick read if you’re in the mood for one.

I had a couple issues, the pacing felt like it was going too fast and we were skipping through a lot of their relationship progress due to the short time Jessica is visiting the town of Peach Blossom, but it still felt at least a bit believable.

My other issue was the third act breakup did up.

(Spoiler warning!)

Throughout the book we are shown Ava doesn’t like Jessica because of a scandal she got into, being extremely judgemental and telling her sister (who is 23) to stay away from her. It felt a bit possessive as she is in her own relationship, and it was worse when she blew up at Jessica as she and Vivi were seen kissing in the auto shop. This felt really childish and a bit of a shit reason to break up, as it should have been focused on the fact that Jessica isn’t staying long. Because of that it doesn’t make me want to pick up the first book in the series.

Overall, a decent book and I think I would read the third one in the future!

I really enjoyed this book, the small town romance, the forced proximity the tension between Vini and Jessica. The way they kept spending time with each other even though they knew it was be coming more then casual.. Jessica deciding to help treat Vini for her Birthday even in front of her sister. I loved Dani just letting them be, I did find Ava slightly annoying but I got where she was coming from and it makes sense why Grace and Ava match so well. The way the parents knew they were together before they did and just the joy they brought each other. Couldn't recommend more.

This book is actually the sequel to "The 7-10 Split," and you can really see the author’s growth in the writing style. You don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one, but if you have, you'll recognize some familiar faces and get a glimpse of Ava, who played a big part in the first story. Her dramatic actions do add some tension, but overall, they bring an interesting twist.

Peach Blossom makes for a charming setting, with its small-town warmth giving the perfect backdrop for a steamy romance. There are some frustrating parts, especially with how often the main characters struggle to communicate. The story can feel a bit simplistic sometimes, particularly around Jessica's reputation, which isn’t always well explained. Still, the journey the characters share is full of heartfelt and spicy moments, making it a fun, enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mills & Boon for approving my request to read an arc of this book

This book tells the story of Vini, a mechanic in a small town who is sent to repair a rental car after it breaks down just out of town. The driver is Jessica, a woman running from scandal and hoping to keep a low profile while staying with a friend in the town called Peach Blossom. The two meet and sparks fly. The only issue is that Jessica has no plans to stay in Peach Blossom.
Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me and I had to dnf half way through. While I liked the premise of it, I found the writing awkward at times and it kept taking me out of the story. For that reason I decided to stop reading.