Renee Feldman is desperate for a fresh start. She’d hoped to rediscover her creative spark by taking time off from her MFA in documentary film. Instead, she’s stalled. Barista-ing doesn’t chip away at her debt, her thesis project is nonexistent, and if she doesn’t re-enroll next semester, she’ll be out of the program.
Pop star Lola Gray is supposed to be the songwriter of her generation—but she hardly feels like it anymore. It’s been a year since her secret relationship imploded, simultaneously breaking Lola’s heart, annihilating her plan to come out, and plummeting her into writer’s block.
But when Lola sees Renee at her sister’s wedding, all that stress comes to a grinding halt. Lola’s teenage crush on the fearless lesbian next door was so overwhelming, it secretly inspired her debut album. Lola and Renee haven’t crossed paths in a decade, but that night sparks fly.
Renee is still processing the hottest—and most unexpected—one-night stand of her life when Lola surprises her again. Her team is producing a documentary alongside her next album, but the director they hired is a creep. Lola needs Renee to replace him…and filming starts in a week. With her thesis deadline approaching, Renee knows this is her only ticket to graduation.
As Lola and Renee reconnect, there’s no denying the feelings they have for each other or the renewed creativity it inspires. But neither realizes how hard it will be to tell their love story in an industry that sets a narrative of its own.
When I Picture You is a contemporary queer romance with lots of banter and a highly original story. The story is equal parts a red-carpet glamor romcom and a journey of self‑discovery for the protagonists—perfect for anyone who enjoys exciting romance with emotional depth!
The story follows Renee Feldman, who should be finishing her MFA in documentary film—instead she’s back home, working at a café & avoiding her thesis. Meanwhile, Lola Gray is a chart‑topping singer who’s falling apart after a secret breakup & writer’s block. When the two reconnect at the wedding of Lola’s sister, sparks fly. Lola’s team needs a documentary director for her album after the hired director turns out to be a failure, & Renee steps in.
The story mostly centers around Renee—she’s a compelling character who’s so talented, but her insecurity & fear of failure are holding her back. She has a lot of charm and sarcasm in her dialogue, making her feel real and very likable—and readers will root for her, especially with the “I’ve got nothing to lose” attitude she develops. Meanwhile, Lola, who’s outwardly glamorous and confident, has a lot of anxiety about keeping her personal life a secret and her writer’s block. Their relationship evolves beautifully—from childhood friends reconnecting to an unexpected hookup to a professional partnership to a deep emotional connection! And along the way there are a lot of relatable, messy moments—jealousy, fear of exposure, power imbalance, and heated debates. By the end, both character arcs are pronounced, and they’re forever changed as individuals and together!
The story is fast-paced throughout, despite being a character-driven story with lots of banter. The setup is quick—Renee’s crisis, Lola’s return to film/music, and their reconnecting. The midsection, where the documentary project kicks off, gets more interesting with messy professional and intimate scenes and lots of tension, with a fascinating backdrop of the music industry making everything more glamorous! The ending is more authentic than a typical rom-com, with satisfying resolution on themes of identity, love, and fame and important choices being made. Instead of a typical HEA, the conclusion offers realistic optimism for the characters, which many readers will appreciate!
This book will hit the mark for anyone who enjoys queer romance, celebrity glamor, stories of self-discovery, and characters that are entirely relatable! If all this sounds intriguing, don’t hesitate to grab a copy!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of When I Picture You is an immersive, highly entertaining listen narrated by seasoned award-winning narrators Hillary Huber and Lauren Fortgang!
Hillary Huber uses a thoughtful, expressive voice to portray Renée, perfectly matching the character’s uncertainty & reflective nature! As Renée grows more confident in her filmmaking and in her connection with Lola, Huber gradually shifts her performance to add more steadiness & emotional clarity to the portrayal. By the end, Renée sounds noticeably more self-assured, and Renée’s evolution feels organic and relatable—a true sign of a convincing, top-notch performance! Huber also gives distinct voices to all the secondary characters she voices, making the story come alive and feel cinematic, especially during the documentary filmmaking scenes!
Lauren Fortgang delivers a charismatic and emotionally nuanced performance as Lola. She initially uses a confident, glamorous-sounding voice, which is perfect for a pop star who’s just spent years putting on a fake persona for the world. After the documentary begins and Lola’s connection with Renée grows, Fortgang adds more warmth and authenticity to Lola’s voice, making her more likeable. A highlight of Fortgang’s performance is her performance in scenes where Lola’s celebrity persona clashes with her inner fears—you can hear cracks and fragility in her voice underneath the polished exterior, creating a layered character that feels both larger-than-life and relatable! Both narrators do a great job narrating the dialogue between Renée and Lola, and their chemistry is believable, and their banter is very entertaining!
Overall, the dual narration by Hillary Huber and Lauren Fortgang elevates the story with their expressive, emotionally nuanced performances that bring Renée and Lola vividly to life. This audiobook is perfect for listeners who love character-driven queer romance, slow-burn connection, creative settings, and narrators’ performances that genuinely enhance the heart of the story!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of When I Picture You is an immersive, highly entertaining listen narrated by seasoned award-winning narrators Hillary Huber and Lauren Fortgang!
Hillary Huber uses a thoughtful, expressive voice to portray Renée, perfectly matching the character’s uncertainty & reflective nature! As Renée grows more confident in her filmmaking and in her connection with Lola, Huber gradually shifts her performance to add more steadiness & emotional clarity to the portrayal. By the end, Renée sounds noticeably more self-assured, and Renée’s evolution feels organic and relatable—a true sign of a convincing, top-notch performance! Huber also gives distinct voices to all the secondary characters she voices, making the story come alive and feel cinematic, especially during the documentary filmmaking scenes!
Lauren Fortgang delivers a charismatic and emotionally nuanced performance as Lola. She initially uses a confident, glamorous-sounding voice, which is perfect for a pop star who’s just spent years putting on a fake persona for the world. After the documentary begins and Lola’s connection with Renée grows, Fortgang adds more warmth and authenticity to Lola’s voice, making her more likeable. A highlight of Fortgang’s performance is her performance in scenes where Lola’s celebrity persona clashes with her inner fears—you can hear cracks and fragility in her voice underneath the polished exterior, creating a layered character that feels both larger-than-life and relatable! Both narrators do a great job narrating the dialogue between Renée and Lola, and their chemistry is believable, and their banter is very entertaining!
Overall, the dual narration by Hillary Huber and Lauren Fortgang elevates the story with their expressive, emotionally nuanced performances that bring Renée and Lola vividly to life. This audiobook is perfect for listeners who love character-driven queer romance, slow-burn connection, creative settings, and narrators’ performances that genuinely enhance the heart of the story!
The audiobook of When I Picture You is an immersive, highly entertaining listen narrated by seasoned award-winning narrators Hillary Huber and Lauren Fortgang!
Hillary Huber uses a thoughtful, expressive voice to portray Renée, perfectly matching the character’s uncertainty & reflective nature! As Renée grows more confident in her filmmaking and in her connection with Lola, Huber gradually shifts her performance to add more steadiness & emotional clarity to the portrayal. By the end, Renée sounds noticeably more self-assured, and Renée’s evolution feels organic and relatable—a true sign of a convincing, top-notch performance! Huber also gives distinct voices to all the secondary characters she voices, making the story come alive and feel cinematic, especially during the documentary filmmaking scenes!
Lauren Fortgang delivers a charismatic and emotionally nuanced performance as Lola. She initially uses a confident, glamorous-sounding voice, which is perfect for a pop star who’s just spent years putting on a fake persona for the world. After the documentary begins and Lola’s connection with Renée grows, Fortgang adds more warmth and authenticity to Lola’s voice, making her more likeable. A highlight of Fortgang’s performance is her performance in scenes where Lola’s celebrity persona clashes with her inner fears—you can hear cracks and fragility in her voice underneath the polished exterior, creating a layered character that feels both larger-than-life and relatable! Both narrators do a great job narrating the dialogue between Renée and Lola, and their chemistry is believable, and their banter is very entertaining!
Overall, the dual narration by Hillary Huber and Lauren Fortgang elevates the story with their expressive, emotionally nuanced performances that bring Renée and Lola vividly to life. This audiobook is perfect for listeners who love character-driven queer romance, slow-burn connection, creative settings, and narrators’ performances that genuinely enhance the heart of the story!
