Behind the Scenes

Rating: 3.5⭐️ rounded down

This is a very sweet and heartwarming romance, with the focus of their romance on internal personal struggles and growth rather than conflicts between them. Plus it is a sapphic romance with pugs and women in their late 30s.

3.5 stars

This story is about allowing yourself to let go and allowing yourself to be vulnerable, and also about allowing yourself the space to heal. Both MCs have prior trauma in their lives (very different trauma, but still things that have effected their lives and how they live today).

I don't really feel the real connection with the main characters until the second half of the story. There just wasn't any real chemistry. The story is in the point of view of both MCs, but I felt there being a lack of real individual voice. The writing felt choppy at times, but that really didn't take away from the story. The story itself was amusing (the pugs were everything). There are topics that are definitely not discussed in any other lezfic that I have read, and I have read a lot. I appreciate fresh ideas and topics in these sort of stories.

If you are looking for a light read, with actual adult communication (I do appreciate that there weren't any overblown misunderstandings that could have been resolved with a simple conversation). While I had issues with the writing style, it's still a warm story and am glad to have read it.

Thanks to Netgalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC.