Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren

Contemporary Romance
Publication date: ​03/02/2021
Kindle Unlimited: No
Cliffhanger: No

I enjoyed this one so much, y'all...I can't even tell you. Although, I'm gonna try, so here it goes: 

Plot overview: Hollyn is an incredibly talented and popular entertainment reviewer who goes by the pen name Miz Poppy, but no one knows the real her--the woman who has Tourette's and social anxiety issues. She meets struggling actor Jasper Deares, and when Hollyn's boss insists she start doing video reviews, he agrees to help overcome her stage fright in order to keep her job. Sweet, sexy, awesome romance ensues.   

Trope bingo: This is pretty original, so there aren't a ton of common tropes here, other than opposites attract.   

If you've read any of my past reviews, I love this author. Pretty much everything she does is magic for me. This book was no different. I loved that the characters were so REAL. They had real fears and real issues to overcome in order to be together. No manufactured plots or big, stupid misunderstandings--just two real people that you'd find in every day life falling ass-over-elbow in love with each other. 

The chemistry between Hollyn and Jasper just jumps right off the page and smacks the reader right in the face--it's that good. And their banter is incredible. This is one of those reads that will appeal to lovers of light hearted rom com, and those who prefer more emotional fare. It straddles the line between standard contemporary romance and romantic comedy beautifully. 

I also loved that Jasper wasn't a huge Hollywood star, too. It's not often that you see romantic heroes who are struggling in their chosen profession. In a genre full of under-forty billionaires, it's nice to see a struggling actor who moonlights as a coffee cart guy. 

Now, I will say that I saw a few reviews mention that this book isn't a good portrayal of social anxiety, and that it suggests that getting a boyfriend and learning to improv will solve all anxiety issues. I am not and will never claim to be an expert on Tourette's and social anxiety. But, it all felt pretty believable to me. And I never felt like the boyfriend or improv "solved all her problems." Hollyn wasn't magically "all better" at the end of the book. Jasper did help her overcome a few of her fears, but Hollyn did all the heavy lifting on her own. SHE overcame some of her fears. Jasper just helped facilitate it. He gave her a tool to help, but he didn't "fix" her. (And to be super clear, she didn't need fixing because she was just fine as she was) Mostly, in the end, Hollyn accepts who she is, quirks and anxieties and strengths and all, and makes a few changes in her life--not for the guy, but because SHE wants to. But, that said, I will gladly stand corrected if anyone who actually has issues like Hollyn's disagrees, because, I'm not the right person to be speaking out on issues I don't have.

I really loved Hollyn as a heroine. She as smart and hilarious and quick-witted, and she went after exactly what she wanted, even though the idea of doing it scared the crap out of her. We can never have too many strong, brave, resilient heroines in Romancelandia, you know? 

But, long-story-short, I really enjoyed this book, just like I've enjoyed every other Roni Loren book I've read, and can't recommend it highly enough. 

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
No rehab needed. This one's clean and sober. ​ 

And consider reading these amazing Roni Loren books, too: