[ARC Review] Talk Bookish To Me by Kate Bromley

"You actually want to talk about books right now? Do you have four or five hours to spare?”

After having her heart broken by her college boyfriend, Kara Sullivan found success as a romance author, publishing hit historical romance after hit historical romance. Then her inspiration dried up, and her agent wants the next book on her desk. Just when she thinks she might be in a hole too deep to dig herself out of, in walks Ryan Thompson, the very same college ex who destroyed her emotionally ten years ago. But then something strange starts happening: Kara gets over her writer’s block around Ryan, and chapters start flowing after they’ve been together. Kara thinks her problems might be solved. Her old college flame is now blazing back in her life. Her next book might actually get finished on time. But when the past comes roaring into the present, and Kara discovers Ryan’s been keeping secrets, she will have to decide just what kind of ending she’s going to write for herself.

Like any good romance heroine, I fell instantly for Kara and Ryan as soon as they walked onto the page. They had the sort of chemistry that you can feel sizzling and smoldering, and they perfectly embodied the exes-back-to-lovers trope. Kara and Ryan were both wonderfully flawed characters, and there was so much tension throughout the story that I found myself questioning whether we would actually get a happily-ever-after from these two even though it was obvious they were meant for each other. I loved that Kara was both a) a historical romance author, and b) a self-professed bookstagrammer; she was clearly a character after my own heart. I’m absolutely a sucker for when authors write characters who are readers and book nerds, and Kara was not about to let anyone, especially Ryan, shame her for all the romance tropes on her book shelves. Ryan was far from perfect, but after reading far too many romances where the woman is an emotional wreck after a break up and begs the man to take her back, I liked that Bromley made it the man’s turn to beg for a second chance. I also liked that Kara wasn’t necessarily the strong, alpha female, either. We see Kara go through a lot of emotional growth in this story, which is definitely an added bonus to the romance plot. I loved these characters, I loved the whole bookishness about it all, and I would love to read more from Kate Bromley set in this universe.

A huge thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced review copy of Talk Bookish To Me.