• Home
    • Contact Me
  • Reading Challenges
    • 2022 Ripped Bodice Summer Romance Bingo
    • Completed Challenges
      • Pondathon II
      • CannonballRead 13 Bingo
      • SpringIntoLove Bingo
      • SnowInLove Bingo
      • JingleBooks Bingo
      • FallIntoRomBingo 2020
      • 2020 Ripped Bodice Summer Read Along Bingo
      • 2018 Romance Roundabout Challenge
      • Read Harder 2018
      • January – March 2018 Quarterly Challenge
      • Title Hunt Quarterly Challenge: January – March 2018
      • Cover Hunt Quarterly Challenge: October – December 2017
      • October – December 2017 Quarterly Challenge
      • Ripped Bodice Summer Read Along Bingo
  • Reviews
    • Reviews by Author
    • Reviews by Title
    • Reviews by Series
    • Reviews by Year
      • 2017 Reviews
      • 2018 Reviews
    • Reviews by Rating
  • Rating System

Llama Reads Books

This llama reads - mostly romance, fantasy and science fiction

Reviews

Review: Yes & I Love You – Roni Loren

March 13, 2021 Leave a Comment

Review: Yes & I Love You – Roni LorenYes & I Love You
by Roni Loren
Series: Say Everything #1
Also in this series: What If You & Me
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: March 2, 2021
Genres: Romance
Pages: 352
Source: NetGalley

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

My rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

Everyone knows Miz Poppy, the vibrant reviewer whose commentary brightens the New Orleans nightlife. But no one knows Hollyn, the real face behind the media star...or the fear that keeps her isolated. When her boss tells her she needs to add video to her blog or lose her job, she's forced to rely on an unexpected source to help her face her fears.

When aspiring actor Jasper Deares finds out the shy woman who orders coffee every day is actually Miz Poppy, he realizes he has a golden opportunity to get the media attention his acting career needs. All he has to do is help Hollyn come out of her shell…and through their growing connection, finally find her voice.

A beautifully emotional new contemporary romance from New York Times and USA Today bestseller Roni Loren.

Amazon  Apple  Barnes & Noble  Kobo  Indiebound  Bookshop

Goodreads

5 stars icon contemporary icon m/f romance icon


Content warnings: View Spoiler »ableism (specifically for characters’ Tourettes and ADHD), anxiety (extremely detailed on-page), depression, reference to suicidal ideation (in the past), reference to bullying (in the past), neglectful parents « Hide Spoiler

While I absolutely adored Roni Loren’s last series, given the cover of this book, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Considering that series was about the survivors of a school shooting, pretty much anything would be fluffier, but I was hoping it wouldn’t lose the heat level or angst. And while I was pleasantly surprised by how much of a rom-com it is, all the things I love about her books are still here.

Hollyn is desperate to prove that she can survive on her own. She’s got a job as a respected columnist reviewing entertainment in New Orleans, but she still struggles with severe anxiety, exacerbated by her self-consciousness over her Tourette’s, which manifests mostly as facial ticks for her. Her therapist’s latest assignment has her dutifully renting a space at a co-working location, but when she has an embarrassing encounter with the new coffee barista, she’s not sure she can stomach going back. Jasper can’t figure out what the cute woman has against him. Being a barista isn’t his dream job, but it helps pay the bills while he continues working with his improv comedy group. But Jasper and Hollyn strike up an unlikely friendship, and when her boss gives her an ultimatum, she turns to him for help. But as lessons in improv to help her get more comfortable in front of the camera turn into improv for dating, neither’s prepared for the reality of their feelings for each other.

“But I want you to know,” he said, gaze serious, “you can be whoever you really are with me. No judgments, no fake bullshit, no games. Just like in the improv scenes, I want you to know you’re safe. If you’re scared, tell me. If something isn’t working, tell me. If I’m doing something wrong, tell me. I’ve got you.”

I adore Hollyn. Her struggles with adulting are highly relatable, and she’s just so incredibly courageous. At times in the book, it feels like everyone who was supposed to be rooting for her was instead focused on keeping her safe, without realizing it was keeping her from living her life. Her therapist and Jasper are the only people who encourage her to step outside her comfort zone. Jasper makes it safe for her, and I love him for that. Sure, he’s funny and hot and does things like bring her anthropomorphic coffee, but he also sells her on how freeing setting out to make people laugh at you can be. Jasper’s not without his own adulting issues. What he sees as following his dreams looks like chasing a pipe dream to others. Even his improv group is wary of him because they were burned before when he dropped everything to follow his girlfriend to LA, and when he bombed his audition and she didn’t, she dropped him. People tend to think of him as flighty, and he’s blown away that Hollyn trusts him enough to have him help her with something so important to her career.

I know nothing about improv comedy besides watching Whose Line? reruns year ago, but I thought all the tenets of it, from the “yes and…” to using the alphabet was explained very well (and, in the case of the alphabet one-liners, extremely sexily.) Hollyn and Jasper have undeniable chemistry, and it was just as steamy as her previous books. Their relationship – both improv lessons and sexual – gives Hollyn a chance to explore what she wants in a supportive environment, and that ends up extending to Jasper as well.

There’s a bit of a love triangle (two actually) in the story, which I didn’t really love. I think it did display Hollyn’s growth – her choice between something that was safe but not exactly what she wanted and something that was outside her comfort zone but that she desperately wanted. I also loved how, when Jasper tried to pull the “he’s the better man for you” shtick, Hollyn completely trounced it.

“You’re a mess.”
Andi patted Hollyn’s knee. “Told ya. Don’t go around thinking everyone else has it together. We’re all just falling apart in different ways.”
“That’s depressing.”
Andi shrugged. “Meh. Or comforting.”

I adored the mental health rep. Though I’m not very familiar with Tourette’s, it felt like things were handled respectfully. Besides her anxiety, Hollyn (and her friend Cal) have Tourette’s, while Jasper has ADHD. At one point, she actually has a therapist appt (via text!) and talks through some of her relationship issues, taking ownership of things she knows she needs to work on. I love seeing characters work on their mental health, especially when it’s made clear that it’s hard work and a continual process.

“Andi’s smile went full grin, and she clasped her hands together at her chest. “Did we just start a lifelong friendship?” She gave an exaggerated nod. “I think we did.”
Hollyn laughed at her boldness. “You name your future children on first dates, don’t you?”

One of my favorite things about Roni Loren books is the friendships. I loved Hollyn’s friendship with Andi, from its hilariously rocky start to meeting up for drinks and girl talk. I also liked Jasper’s old friend Fitz, though I did find his willingness to find funding for Jasper’s idea a bit too pat. I loved Monique, part of Jasper’s improv group, who’s not afraid who hold Jasper accountable and who also gives some incredibly wise advice to Hollyn just when she needs it. I hope she eventually gets her own book!

Overall, I adored this book, and I can’t wait for Andi’s book, which is next!

Related Posts

  • Say Everything Series
  • By Roni Loren
  • Same Genre
What If You & Me
Review: What If You & Me – Roni Loren
What If You & Me
Review: What If You & Me – Roni Loren
The One You Can't Forget
Review: The One You Can’t Forget – Roni Loren
The One You Fight For
Review: The One You Fight For – Roni Loren
The Ones Who Got Away cover
Review: The Ones Who Got Away – Roni Loren
The Court of Mortals
Review: The Court of Mortals – A.J. Lancaster
On the Brink of Passion
Review: On the Brink of Passion – Tamsen Parker
Holiday Home Run
Review: Holiday Home Run – Priscilla Oliveras
Hard Sell
Review: Hard Sell – Hudson Lin

You might also enjoy

Against the GrainReview: Against the Grain – Melanie Harding-Shaw
A Duke, the Lady, and a BabyReview: A Duke, the Lady and a Baby – Vanessa Riley
Review: A Lady for a Duke – Alexis Hall
Previous:
Review: Money Shot vol. 1
Next:
Review: Namesake – Adrienne Young

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me


READING LLAMA

Hi, my name is Lauren, and I’m the Reading Llama! I love reading books. My favorites usually include a female protagonist with at least a little bit of romance.

Twitter    Goodreads    RSS    email

Follow

Currently Reading

June Reviews

Oaths of Legacy  by Emily SkrutskieThe Dawnhounds by Sascha StronachSweet Berries by C.M. NascostaDead Draw by Layla ReynePartners in Crime by Rachel BowdlerThe Merciless Ones by Namina FornaAll Signs Point to Yes by Cam Montgomery, Adrianne White, g. haron davis, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Mark Oshiro, Eric Smith, Emery Lee, Byron Graves, Karuna Riazi, Roselle Lim, Alexandra Villasante, Lily Anderson, Kiana Nguyen

Recently Read

Goodreads Challenge

2022 Reading Challenge

2022 Reading Challenge
Lauren has
read 7 books toward
her goal of
250 books.
hide

7 of 250 (2%)
view books

Reading Challenges

Ripped Bodice Summer Romance Bingo 2022

RB Summer Romance Bingo 2022
June 1 - August 31

hide
3 of 25 (12%)

Badges

25 Book Reviews Reviews Published Professional Reader Frequently Auto-Approved Romanceopoly 2019 Participant

Latest Tweets

Tweets by llamareadsbooks

Currently Reading

  • Ghosts, a secret library and magic collide in a dystopian Edinburgh. Highly recommended!
  • This month’s sticker from the #RomStickerClub is super cute and SHINY!
  • Finished up my ARC of Jackie Lau’s His Grumpy Childhood Friend (out this Tuesday) and I loved this quote! “Practice”
  • Starting off with a quote from one of my favorite books, Charlie Adhara’s The Wolf at Bay, second in Big

Categories

  • Book Tour
  • Challenge
  • Cover Reveal
  • Excerpt
  • lol
  • Most Anticipated
  • PondathonII
  • Reviews
  • Sunday Update
  • TBR
  • Uncategorized
  • Wrap-Up

Copyright © 2022 · Dreams Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in