a lovely love story. one that felt natural. one that felt real. one that felt lovely.
i was rooting for these character just on their own. so when on each of their bad days, they meet eachother i was automatically of course rooting gor them both...together. but actually, even if it only ended in friendship i think this would have been enough. because these two though widly different were so lovely to eachother. and it was still a meeting of souls.
it dealt extremely well with the subjects we meet. especially mental illness. and i was really taken aback by how even though this was included in the book, it still felt like a warm and cozy read. this is the talent of a good author and great plot.
it also was great to see no miracle cures, no tough love. just kindness. just work. just letting it come and often having love and support is what gets you through. people with mental illness deserve so much more of our support. and respect for its blooming disabling to suffer. and the key, the very root of it is making these people feel worth enough,cared for enough that they too can fight for themselves. this book had all of that.
for both our characters they both bought such warmth to the writing.
i really enjoyed this book.

ARC Review

4 ⭐️

For a book that deals with some difficult subjects this still felt like a cute & cozy read.

Both Nell & Ben were great MCs and I absolutely love a strangers to friends to lovers trope.

Ben is a psychiatrist who deals with his own anxieties and Nell is a down on her luck single mom, they meet on a particularly bad day for both of them. What should be one time meeting turns into a sort of friendship under the guise of helping each out during their current difficult times.

These two just really wanted the best for each other and had to overcome their own insecurities to get there. Two people who loved each other flaws and all.

Thank you for the ARC NetGalley and S.M Levine.

A story featuring a couple meeting in the most unusual and romantic way, “Trial Run”, by S.M. Levine, features two people who seem to have such different lives but end up combining very well.
I loved how Ben and Nell first meet and the events following that uncommon encounter. They’re both going through hard times and it’s lovely that they try to be kind with each other without really knowing the extent of the problems.
The mental health representation is very convincing. It’s almost ironic and certainly humble when we compare the hero’s issues and his job. And there is no miraculous cure, just dealing with it regularly.
In general I liked the characters, the plot and the writing style. I found the transition to a relationship or talking about it a bit too fast.

Thank you SM Levine and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is about a single mother, Nell who accidently delivers flowers to psychologist Ben who is struggling with his own mental health in terms of anxiety. Throughout their time together, Nell wants to help Ben face his struggles by bringing him along on her flower runs. Overall, this book was an easy read and perfect for readers who like a contemporary romance.

As a psychologist myself, I have my qualms about the story being that while dealing with agoraphobia, it is important to have a support system but it seemed like Ben was too reliant on Nell which is frankly a tad unrealistic. As a reader, I did enjoy the book and have to remind myself that the story is just that - a story. I did like the mental health awareness and was intrigued with the MMC being a psychologist like myself.

Some of the dialogue between Nell and Ben seemed to not flow and I definitely cringed a time or two but in a good way! This book also had some spice which definitely kept me roped in. I will definitely book 2 when it comes out!

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this ARC.
If you read this book with a light-minded mood, it was a sweet and heartwarming story. You could maybe find yourself in the characters, as when you felt never be good enough after every hardship that life threw at you, or as you preferred to resolve all the problems by yourself because you needed to be a strong person.
I particularly love how Ben approached Nell’s son, Marco, with the geodes.
Now, if you really wanted to analyze the book more closely, the book description got me expecting a heavy plot about mental health. I’ve always liked books that involved therapist because the way they lead conversations psychologically and their inner thoughts truly got me hooked. However, this book didn’t give me this complex feeling. It did mentioned the reason of Ben’s panic attacks, but not clearly enough for me I guessed.
My rating : 3,75 stars.

I enjoyed the different aspects of Ben and Nell's story. Specifically, the topics of mental health and comfort zones. The growth of both Ben and Nell was wonderful to see although it was quite fast-paced. Also, I loved Marco and Ben's connection over geodes. <3

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Trial Run - S.M. Levine

I did really enjoy this book. Nell and Ben’s love story is so cute, but I do have to say I feel like the story was rushed, I didn’t really have time to resonate are get that invested in the characters. Over all the story is a breath of fresh air 🫶🏻

Thank You Net Galley for the ARC.

After finishing Trial Run by S.M. Levine, I was left with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Ben and Nell's love story felt so authentic and compelling that I couldn't help but be touched by their journey. The characters were well-developed and lovable, making them feel incredibly realistic and easy to connect with.

One aspect that really resonated with me was the sincere and respectful approach to mental health issues, including panic attacks and recovery. It added a layer of depth to the story that made it even more meaningful.

While the plot might be somewhat predictable and similar to other popular romance novels, the strong character development and genuine emotions more than made up for it. The pacing was a bit uneven at times, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment.

If you're a fan of contemporary romance and looking for a book that combines strong character development, a respectful approach to mental health, and an engaging love story, Trial Run is definitely worth picking up. It's a charming and heartfelt read that left a lasting impression on me.

*This is an ARC review, and my review is completely voluntary and of my own opinion.

it was cute. It went by so fast I hardly had the time to get invested in our characters but it was indeed a cute love story. Loved the mental health representation and the single mom rep.