by Letizia Lorini

A Romance, 2026 by Gallery Books, 464 Page 

What I Didn’t Like:

• Starting the chapters with the tropes is supposed to be a cute trick but it was a bit annoying. It’s like flagging what is about to come. 
• Rafael is a bit cliche. Just a bit. It’s not overwhelming or eye rolling but it’s there sometimes.
• Incredibly slow burn. If that bothers you, you’ve been warned. 

What I Did Like:

• The mystery of the murders is compelling. This is obviously a romance but the mystery doesn’t take a backseat. It’s equally as important, which is a hard balance to strike.
• Rafael and Scarlett have obvious chemistry right from the start. Their antics will make you laugh and their passion will make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Plus that business with annotating a book is just the most romantic thing ever.
• Ethan and his storyline are perfect. He brings a great side out of both our main characters and just overall gives you that “I need to protect this kid” vibe. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Romance fans. Specifically cutesy, second chance, she didn’t want a romance, slow burn fans.
• Mystery fans. This book features a small town plagued by a serial killer, a murder mystery podcast, and satisfying clue drops as you try and find the murderer. 
• If you’re a mystery fan who has always avoided romance, this is actually a good one for you! The main character of this one finds herself in the same boat and this book does a good job of walking you through the best parts of romance as she finds it for herself and learns about the genre.

My Rating: 5 Stars

• The balance of mystery and romance is really well done and should please anyone who can handle the way those two genres crash together.