Rating: 3 out of 5.

I requested this book from NetGalley because the premise of the book sounded so good. Bryony, an aspiring writer attends a writers conference hoping to find an agent to help her publish a book to help her grandfather’s financially-struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. She’s turned down by everyone. After having a terrible interview with Jack, an arrogant agent, he asks her to review another author’s work. She gives a spot-on assessment of the work and he offers her the opportunity to ghost-write a popular rom-com author’s next book. In exchange, he’ll help her find a publisher for her book. The book then takes a time leap and we find that Bryony has ghost-written several successful books but wants out.

The book is more about Bryony ghost-writing the book and her struggles with the author she is writing for. The first half of the book is really slow and didn’t have anything to do with romance. Bryony had a long-distance relationship with a boyfriend, but we hear almost nothing about it and he never makes an appearance. At the end of the book Bryony and Jack realize they are in love. There is almost nothing to indicate the two have feelings for each other and there is no chemistry between the two. There is a touch of romance, but again, this is only in like the last 5% of the book.

Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. It just wasn’t what I was I was expecting. Perhaps if I went in with different expectations, I would have liked it more. I did like the ESL students Bryony teaches and the way they look out for her and support her. The book is well-written and a quick read. Check the book out for yourself, you may like it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. All opinions are my own.