Mia Brady never imagined her romance novels would become bestsellers, much less inspire a hit TV show. However, after signing a deal to write the final book of the series, she’s struck by a serious case of writer’s block. Her fans are clamoring for a passionate payoff, but Mia’s own experience with heartbreak—and current lack of real-life romance—is getting in the way. Do friends who become lovers ever trulyhave a happy ending?
Gavin Lane would like to think so. As Mia’s ride-or-die BFF, he’s been by her side through it all and convinced himself his crush on her is a thing of the past. He’s not about to let his feelings ruin their friendship, and never will. But things get complicated when Mia pitches a bold idea to help save her career: testing out tried-and-true love story tropes…together.
From workplace romance to fish-out-of-water, Mia and Gavin embark on a series of “experiments” to spark a little creativity—but they are not prepared for the flame that ignites between them. Does their friendship even stand a chance when pure fantasy suddenly becomes a little too real?
Love Is an Open Book is a witty, heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance. The story follows novelist Mia Brady, who faces writer’s block just as she’s contracted to write the final installment in her bestselling series, based on a friends-to-lovers storyline. In an attempt to spark her creativity, she asks long-time friend Gavin Lane, who has quietly pined for her for over a decade, to act out classic romance tropes with her—from workplace romance to fish-out-of-water scenarios. But things don’t remain hypothetical for long!
The book is highly original with its “book within a book” format and the protagonists acting out several popular romance tropes—while in their real lives the “friends to lovers” and “forced proximity” tropes are on full display. With sharp, flirty dialogue and a behind‑the‑scenes look at the publishing world, this book honors and gently pokes fun at the rom-com genre. Its upbeat, light vibe makes this book a perfect summer beach read and also a cozy autumn read, depending on a reader’s preference.
Mia and Gavin first meet by chance outside a dorm room in college. Their chemistry is immediate, but Mia, having dated Gavin’s roommate (who was in fact really interested in her sister), doesn’t want to “go there” with Gavin, as she believes it will only complicate her life further. Fast forward to the present-day timeline, and Gavin has now been pining for Mia for a decade. Mia’s ex from college is now married to her sister, but she still remains emotionally cautious—repeatedly resisting a romance with Gavin. Readers may find her inability to get over her past heartbreak after so many years far-fetched and her persistent denial of feelings for Gavin exhausting at times.
On the contrary, Gavin is a caring, patient man who knows what he wants. The “he falls first” trope is quite pronounced in his inner dialogue and is rooted in his personal history—growing up amid parental divorce, he’s desperate for a lasting relationship built on friendship and trust. As the story unfolds, Mia is forced to view their relationship through his POV, which helps alleviate some of her hesitancy.
Overall, Love Is an Open Book is a light, heartfelt romance perfect for lovers of classic tropes and slow-burn romance. Its behind-the-scenes look at authors, the book-within-a-book structure, and the acting out of romance tropes make this book extremely unique and memorable. Readers who enjoy authentic characters, witty banter, and uplifting romance reads will love this book!
Narrator Performance
Narrators Keylor Leigh and Will Damron do a fantastic job with the dual narration. Damron uses a velvety smooth, engaging voice to portray Gavin as a warm, thoughtful, and emotionally grounded character and accentuates his good-hearted nature at many points in the story. His performance gets more expressive towards the end, accurately reflecting the character’s emotional arc. Keylor Leigh brings Mia’s perspective to life with an articulate, animated voice and an undertone of uncertainty that perfectly captures Mia—a self-aware character with doubts (about romance) and anxiety over her writer’s block.
Overall, Leigh and Damron’s performances complement each other well, making the audiobook a great option for romance listeners who enjoy thoughtful, trope-filled stories with authentic (and not overly dramatic) performances!
Narrator Performance
Narrators Keylor Leigh and Will Damron do a fantastic job with the dual narration. Damron uses a velvety smooth, engaging voice to portray Gavin as a warm, thoughtful, and emotionally grounded character and accentuates his good-hearted nature at many points in the story. His performance gets more expressive towards the end, accurately reflecting the character’s emotional arc. Keylor Leigh brings Mia’s perspective to life with an articulate, animated voice and an undertone of uncertainty that perfectly captures Mia—a self-aware character with doubts (about romance) and anxiety over her writer’s block.
Overall, Leigh and Damron’s performances complement each other well, making the audiobook a great option for romance listeners who enjoy thoughtful, trope-filled stories with authentic (and not overly dramatic) performances!
Narrators Keylor Leigh and Will Damron do a fantastic job with the dual narration. Damron uses a velvety smooth, engaging voice to portray Gavin as a warm, thoughtful, and emotionally grounded character and accentuates his good-hearted nature at many points in the story. His performance gets more expressive towards the end, accurately reflecting the character’s emotional arc. Keylor Leigh brings Mia’s perspective to life with an articulate, animated voice and an undertone of uncertainty that perfectly captures Mia—a self-aware character with doubts (about romance) and anxiety over her writer’s block.
Overall, Leigh and Damron’s performances complement each other well, making the audiobook a great option for romance listeners who enjoy thoughtful, trope-filled stories with authentic (and not overly dramatic) performances!
