2,5 ⭐ rounded up

the plot seemed interesting - a bestselling romance author and an assistant doing her best to clear his name - sounds fun, right? i was in the mood to read a lighthearted, fun romcom, but sadly this one just didn't do it for me.
i'm not a huge fan of the age gap trope, but i continued reading, hoping the story itself would be worth it.

first of all, i couldn't really connect with any of the characters. they felt one dimensional and i didn't really care for them.
freya is a sunshine, a little too much of a sunshine even. jack is always grumpy, borderline rude. despite the age gap, dude was acting so immature. the age difference had the potential to add more depth, but it just fell flat.
i didn't really feel any chemistry between them, and the spark felt kind of forced.
also, there was a miscommunication trope which i absolutely hate.

the writing style just wasn't for me. the dialogues between the characters seemed unnatural and kind of repetitive.

these are just some examples:

'I'd love to take this one off.'
I giggled. 'I'd love to take it off.'

'Yes, because you really see me.'
He smiled. 'I see you. And I want you so much.'
'I want you too.'

'And your breathing... it's so hot.'
'That was so hot,' I confessed

Let's get dressed up and go somewhere for a New York moment.'
'A New York moment?' Jake asked with a smile.
'Yeah, you know when we can look at each other and say, "This could only happen in New York"."
'A New York moment.'

(how many times can you mention 'new york' on just one page??😭)

'Do you want me, Freya?'
'So much,' I said.
'I want you so much too,'

like... the dialogues were just so damn dry and cringe at some moments. kind of felt like an average convo between me and literally every person i know, thanks to my lack of social skills.

"It made me want to be a little bit naughty." - i laughed out loud because i thought it was a little bit unserious and just couldn't take the characters seriously lol.

the drama with hayley fell flat for me.

overall, the book had potential, but it just didn't do it for me. it's definitely not a must read, but still, it was enjoyable and you might like it if you're an age gap romance lover.



*thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and the author for this ARC!*

Long Story Short is the literary equivalent of a warm hug. Harriet escapes to the quaint village of Talting for a fresh start, only to find a brooding single dad, a dusty bookshop, and a community that slowly chips away her walls.

Victoria Walters weaves grief, healing, and hope into a slow-burn romance that feels cozy, comforting, and utterly timeless. With heartfelt characters, a charming setting, and just the right touch of emotional depth, this one’s for anyone who loves a story about second chances and soft landings.

I've read a couple of Victoria Walters' romance novels and this is in excellent company within her created world. The characters are good natured and positive. I liked how Freya was honest and that worked in her advantage. Most avid readers do so to escape the negativity and darkness in the world and this book certainly acted as an antidote to current events.
Not all of it worked for me, the conversations between the characters didn't flow naturally. Some of the plot machinations came across as far too contrived and convenient and whilst I liked Jake and Freya, I never felt I knew them.
Four books in, I'm not sure how important any of these criticisms are though, as there is a good natured sweetness to this world that will work for many.

3 ⭐

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Boldwood books and the author for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

Freya works as an assistant to a literary agent but she dreams of becoming an agent herself, she loves romance books and, in particular, she loves Jake Richards' books. Freya's big moment comes when her boss asks her to help Jake (yep, her favourite author) save his career. The two are sent to a romance conference in New York, where they need to make sure Jake's fans forgive him after the pr scandal that's ruining his career. Will they succeed?

Unfortunately this fell flat for me, the characters were pretty much one dimensional and there wasn't really anything I appreciated about them. Freya is really clumsy, always flustered and "inexperienced". Jack is grumpy (almost rude, I'd say), he is supposed to be older but he felt really immature. I enjoyed the romance conference setting, but I feel like it could've been explored better.
I liked the author's writing style, so this was a quick and easy read, but yeah, I'm not in love with this.

Thanks to NetGalley for this free ARC copy!
3 ⭐️
A short light romance about a publishing assistant and a romance author.
I liked the idea of this plot but personally didn’t like the FMC who was a little too “sunshine” and lacked depth

Freya is an assistant literary agent who is given the task of helping romance author Jake Richards make a come back at a romance convention in New York City. Jake Richards is an arrogant author who does not have a good reputation after a comment he made about writing romance books . Freya is not looking forward to working with him. Freya needs to show her boss she can handle Jake so she can become a literary agent. Long Story Short is a rom com that has just enough spice and laugh out loud moments.

This was a bit too formulaic for me and although it had some positive aspects like the championing of the romance genre, and the literary conference setting, unfortunately I just couldn’t get on with Freya or Jake (I just had to look up both their names as he will definitely not be a book “boyfriend” I want to read again - his grumpiness came off as a bit misogynistic - and she is a bit of a wet blanket, slightly redeemed with her work life towards the end, but that was slightly baffling as SPOILER the villain of the piece is actually a good guy all of a sudden?)

I wanted to love this one! I just didn’t get on with the characters. Maybe you will and the next one will be for me! (I have enjoyed previous books by this author)

I really liked this book. Another book perfect to enjoy by the pool. This was better than I anticipated...I hate to say it, but I sometimes judge books by their cover, but I did on this one and I would have missed out on a wonderful story.

If you are looking for a novel that keeps you glued to the pages and makes you finish reading with a smile on your face, this book is for you.

I admit I am not a big fan of the romance genre, but this book was a very enjoyable and light read. Light not in a negative sense, but in the sense that it is a read that I devoured within three days and that managed for a while to relieve me from my daily routine.
The book is written in a very simple and fluent manner. The narration is enriched with brilliant dialogue and moments of introspection that allow you to connect deeply with the characters. The chemistry between Freya and Jake is palpable, and their journey of reconciliation is treated with sensitivity and realism.

The characters entertained me and took me by the hand through the streets of New York, which I now want to visit even more! The urban setting adds an extra layer of charm to the story, making it an even more immersive read.
In addition, I appreciated how the novel deals with themes such as second chances, personal growth and emotional resilience. Freya and Jake's story shows that despite the difficulties and misunderstandings of the past, it is possible to find love again and build a future together.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging love story with well-developed characters and a plot that perfectly balances romance and realism. An ideal read for those who want to escape from everyday life and be carried away by a love story set in vibrant New York!

Absolutely adorable! I was genuinely so hooked that I read it all in one sitting since I refused to put it down.

I love when the main character is relatable (flaws and all) and I can definitely say I could relate to Freya. Her character development as well as the MMC, Jake, was great and had a natural progression unlike some books when the characters will have their “big moment” and suddenly be completely different.

The story moved well and the conflicts of the story were interesting in not only what it was but how it was handled by the main characters with influence from side characters. I will say some of the relationship seemed a bit rushed, they have technically “met” before and start as just general acquaintances.

The only criticism I have isn’t even related to the story… Some of the spacing of the paragraphs was weird where they definitely needed to start a new section but it kept going in a huge block which confused me in some areas. Also using ‘ instead of “ for speech threw me in some places.I’m not sure if these grammatical things were due to it being an eARC or maybe just how it appeared on the screen for me?

Huge thank you to NetGally, Boldwood books, and Victoria for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review. 💕

I was excited to read this because the plot grabbed my interest. However, I'm sad to report that it didn't gave what I thought it would give. I'm not a fan of huge age gaps trope so I was kinda reluctant to continue but I decided to give it a chance. Sadly, I just was not able to enjoy this one. I did not feel any tension or chemistry and I feel like their connection was too quick and forced. It's a read that some age gap trope lovers might love but it's unfortunately not the book for me.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 Stars to 4 stars
This was an entertaining romance with some unconvincing elements. I liked the FMC from the start but it took me quite a while to warm up to the MMC. While Jack turned out to be a good guy underneath his arrogance I had trouble believing the attraction between Freya and him. There were more unlikely elements like the way Davis changed his behaviour but I didn't mind too much. While not a must-read for me I thought the book was entertaining and enjoyable.

I Like My Men Grumpy—Not Rude AF.

Okay, let’s talk about Long Story Short. A glitzy New York literary conference, a grumpy bestselling author, and an ambitious assistant trying to save his reputation? Sounds like my kind of romance. Except… it wasn’t.

Look, I love a good grumpy-sunshine dynamic, but Jake? He wasn’t just grumpy—he was borderline insufferable. The man had zero charm, just a bad attitude and a habit of talking down to Freya like she was some hysterical child. (Newsflash, dude: Telling a woman to "calm down" is a one-way ticket to getting your shoes puked on.) And Freya? Sweet, but frustratingly naive. Their ten-year age gap could’ve added depth, but instead, it just made Jake seem immature and Freya underdeveloped.

The setting had so much potential—bookish people in New York! Drama! Romance!—but it all felt surface-level. The chemistry between Jake and Freya relied on tired miscommunication tropes, and their romance? Forced. The side characters’ happy endings were the only thing that kept me going—those little moments felt real and warm.

And can we talk about the dialogue? Some lines were so cringe, I had to reread them just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.

If you want a quick, easy read with minimal spice, this might work for you. But if you’re looking for depth, emotional tension, or a MMC who isn’t a walking HR violation? Hard pass.

(Also, that cover? Adorable. Too bad the story didn’t live up to it.)

#LongStoryShort #NetGalley

Firstly, thank you so much for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book!

This way my first book by Victoria Walters and I found it a really lovely read. Although in some places I found the plot to be a little predictable, I did find myself drawn into the characters and rooting for them throughout the book! I feel like this book is a perfect read for summer weekends at the beach or girly holidays in the sun!

3.5⭐️

This was such a cute rom com! With a funny meet-cute, forced proximity, and great character growth. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I did find the sex scenes felt a bit out of place. I think I would have liked it better as closed door. It just didn’t fit with the characters in my opinion.

The plot and cover of the book both looked really good so I decided to give it a chance. But everything felt so predictable and the miscommunication between Freya & Jake was just annoying. There was definitely tension between them but I just couldn't connect with either of the main characters. Freya was unprofessional and immature and Jake was unnecessarily rude. The writing also did not appeal to me tbh. So while the thought about this book was good, it's execution was poor and the book in itself was not my cup of tea, ngl.

I received an ARC from Nethalley in exchange of an honest review

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This was an entertaining romance with some unconvincing elements. I liked the FMC from the start but it took me quite a while to warm up to the MMC. While Jack turned out to be a good guy underneath his arrogance I had trouble believing the attraction between Freya and him. There were more unlikely elements like the way Davis changed his behaviour but I didn't mind too much. While not a must-read for me I thought the book was entertaining and enjoyable.

Personally, I didn’t love this.
The writing felt very YA and the plot wasn’t strong.
It was hard to believe the main characters were 20+ and 30+ with their dialogue.
The setting in New York was very appealing though and was fun to be able to explore a part of New York through the book.
Although this wasn’t for me, I could see other romance readers enjoying this.

Long Story Short is a modern romcom where Freya is a literary assistant with aspirations of becoming an agent. She is tasked with attending a conference in New York with a romance author, Jake. Her goal is to impress her boss and save Jake’s career after he was caught speaking poorly of the romance genre and his fans. She needs the conference to go well and Jake’s reputation to be saved so she can become an agent. Why would romance author make disparaging comments about the genre he writes that alienates his fans? Is that how he really feels or is there something he’s hiding? For a glimpse into the world of writing and publicity, read Long Story Short by Victoria Walters to find out how important the decisions are to be surrounded by the right people.

Thanks so much for the early read on this! Although I was not able to finish it. It was a super cute storyline but I had a little trouble connecting to it. Pretty cover. Tha is always Netgalley for the ARC!