Book Review: Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee

About the Book:

Title: Booked on a Feeling

Author: Jayci Lee

Page Length: 320

Publication Date: July 26, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Synopsis: Lizzy “Overachiever” Chung, Esq. has her life mapped out neatly:
* Become a lawyer. Check.
* Join a prestigious law firm. Check.
* Make partner. In progress.

If all goes to plan, she will check off that last box in a couple years, make her parents proud, and live a successful, fulfilled life in L.A. What was not in her plans was passing out from a panic attack during a pivotal moment in her career. A few deep breaths and a four hour drive later, Lizzy is in Weldon for three weeks to shed the burnout and figure out what went wrong. And what better place to recharge than the small California town where she spent her childhood summers with her best friend, Jack Park.

Jack Park didn’t expect to see Lizzy back in Weldon, but now he’s got three weeks to spend with the girl of his dreams. Except she doesn’t know of his decades-long crush on her–and he intends to keep it that way. She’s a high-powered attorney who lives in L.A. and he’s a bookkeeper at his family’s brewery who never left his hometown. He can’t risk their friendship on a long shot. Can he? When Lizzy decides that the local bookstore needs a little revamp, of course, Jack is going to help her bring it back to life. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore there might be more than just friendship among the dusty shelves and books…

Sometimes the path to the rest of your life has been in front of you all along.

LINKS:   Goodreads   |    Amazon   |  Book Depository

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My Review:

Booked on a Feeling is such a wonderful contemporary romance! I loved the characters, the messages, and, of course, the swoon-worthy love story. Lizzie and Jack have a decades-long friendship. They know each other better than anyone else, though Jack has a secret. He’s loved Lizzie since they were kids, but he is afraid to tell her and lose their precious friendship.

When Lizzie takes a leave from work, she stays in Jack’s hometown to spend time with him and reevaluate her life. After all, he’s been her best friend since they were kids, and he has always been a great support to her. But when Lizzie realizes that her feelings for Jack have grown into more than friendship, they both have to decide what and who they want in their future.

I loved Lizzie and Jack’s friends-to-lovers romance! They have amazing chemistry, and the yearning, the angst, and the spice are all fantastic. It’s pretty obvious from the start that their feelings are more than friendly, but both are afraid to admit their feelings have changed because they don’t want to ruin what they already have.

In addition to their relationship woes, Lizzie and Jack are both going through personal and professional struggles, including changing careers, living up to family expectations, and more. I found their relationship and struggles really relatable. Lizzie, for example, doesn’t love her job and feels like she’s going through the motions because of the immense pressure her mother puts on her, and she’s at a breaking point. Helping at a local bookstore might just be the push she needs to live her truth.

Jack works in the family business and is content but not happy. However, he struggles to take the step and work elsewhere for fear of upsetting his family. Both characters have hard, life-changing decisions to make, and those are never easy. I find it interesting that Jack and Lizzie both fear upsetting their family but for different reasons. I think there are some great messages here about following your dreams and being true to yourself.

There are also some strong messages about family and acceptance, especially in Jack’s dynamic family. They are so supportive and welcoming, and they are very close. I love this tight-knit group but can see why Jack struggles so much to find his own path. His family stands in stark contrast to Lizzie’s family, who are distant and unsupportive. The food love is also on point, and there are so many scenes that made me hungry! From mouth-watering bakery cupcakes to delicious home-cooked meals, everything sounded delectable, and I would especially love to try some of Jack’s chili.

A heartwarming story about friendship, love, and following one’s dreams, Booked on a Feeling is a charming contemporary romance. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance!

• The characters.

Recommendations:

I would recommend Booked on a Feeling to readers who enjoy contemporary romance or friends-to-lovers romance!