AUTHOR: Meryl Wilsner GENRE: LGBT+ Romance PAGES: 336 RELEASED: 26 May 2020 SYNOPSIS: Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple. The so-called scandal couldn't come at a worse time--threatening Emma's promotion and Jo's new movie. As the gossip spreads, it starts to affect all areas of their lives. Paparazzi are following them outside the office, coworkers are treating them differently, and a "source" is feeding information to the media. But their only comment is "no comment". With the launch of Jo's film project fast approaching, the two women begin to spend even more time together, getting along famously. Emma seems to have a sixth sense for knowing what Jo needs. And Jo, known for being aloof and outwardly cold, opens up to Emma in a way neither of them expects. They begin to realize the rumor might not be so off base after all...but is acting on the spark between them worth fanning the gossip flames? A small interaction caught on camera on the red carpet leads to a whirlwind of rumours that could just have some truth behind them...
When Hollywood producer and writer Jo invites her assistant Emma to join her at the SAGG awards, the duo could never have been prepared for the amount of media attention that would follow them after their red carpet walk. There to help be a buffer so Jo didn’t have to discuss her upcoming film project, a photograph of the moment Jo made Emma laugh to calm her down on the red carpet goes viral and the rumours start to spread that the pair are in a relationship. As a closeted lesbian, Jo has never once spoken publicly about her love life and she isn’t about to start now. But with someone from within the production team of Jo’s TV series leaking information to the press, Jo and Emma are soon second-guessing the interactions they have with one another, especially when they start working more closely together as Jo works on her film project and prepares to step away from her TV series. Emma has always admired and looked up to Jo, and she would be lying to herself if she didn’t have a tiny crush on her, but the dynamics of their working relationship, the 14-year age gap between the pair, and the media frenzy surrounding them reminds her of why nothing will ever happen between the two of them, even if there is a spark bubbling under the surface... Hollywood, co-workers, rumours, and a Sapphic romance? What more could you ask for! What I didn’t expect was this to be a debut, because it definitely didn’t give off debut vibes and then I was left disappointed when I couldn’t instantly jump into Meryl’s next book (although, the wait isn’t too long now anyway). I really enjoyed their writing style getting drawn into Jo and Emma’s lives – I definitely felt like a fly on the wall as they navigated their working relationship while also developing feelings for one another. What was super refreshing about this book was Jo being in her forties. As someone who predominately reads romances centring around characters in their 20s and early 30s at the latest, it was nice to have that age gap and follow a character who is a little bit older without the book itself feeling like other adult romances that focus on older characters. Meryl gives an interesting insight into the world of Hollywood, with an important part of the story focusing on sexual harassment in the workplace and the film & television industry. It’s a tricky and confronting topic to cover and Meryl did a fantastic job weaving it into their story and showing the different impacts and ramifications for a variety of characters. I adored following Jo and Emma’s relationship, literally to the point where I started reading at 1am and didn’t stop until I finished the book at 6am – I was running on like an hour sleep that day but it was SO worth it. And while I wasn’t expecting this to be a slow burn, I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the romance. If you’re looking to add some LGBTQ+ reads to your TBR, this is definitely a book that needs to be near the top, especially if you have a soft spot for Hollywood and co-worker romances, or just love a good romance read regardless. |
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