Category: Red Hot Read

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️/5

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This is the second book in the Story Lake series, and we’re back in the absolute chaos that is Story Lake, along with its ongoing rivalry with the nearby town of Dominion. If you loved the setting in the first book, it only gets better here. The town feels even more alive, more involved, and honestly more unhinged in the best possible way.

If you haven’t read the first book, you’ll get through this one, but you really should check out Story of My Life before proceeding. You’ll thank me, I promise. You can also check out my review.

This book centers around Zoey, Hazel’s best friend and agent. Both Zoey and Hazel are riding high on the success of Hazel’s last book, and Story Lake is fully leaning into the spotlight. As always with Lucy Score, the town itself feels like a character. Everyone knows everyone, everyone has an opinion, and no one minds their own business. Having grown up in a small town, I can confirm… this is painfully accurate.

We also get another Bishop brother thrown into the mix with Gage, the lovable and affable brother who somehow manages to be both a contractor and an attorney. He has that classic “good guy” energy, but there’s more depth to him than you initially expect, especially as the story unfolds.

Lucy Score once again delivers everything I love about her books: small town charm, quirky and lovable older residents, slightly unhinged townspeople, and some truly questionable pets. The raccoon situation alone is enough to make you question everything, and I completely understand why Zoey wants absolutely no part of that chaos. The animals always have just as much personality as the humans, and they somehow end up adding to the madness in the best way.

This story goes deeper emotionally than I expected. Gage’s character is really put to the test when his sister asks him to do the unthinkable. She has formed a relationship with the woman responsible for the accident that caused her spinal injury and killed her husband, and now she wants Gage to defend her in court. It’s messy, complicated, and honestly such an interesting moral conflict. Gage doesn’t know if he can separate his emotions from the situation, but his loyalty to his sister pushes him forward. Watching him wrestle with that decision added a lot of depth to his character, and Zoey plays a huge role in grounding him and giving him the strength to face it.

Now let’s talk about Zoey, because she really shines in this book. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, I absolutely loved seeing that representation here. It felt real in a way that you don’t always see in fiction. Her diagnosis comes from an elderly retired psychiatrist who basically yells at her, which was both hilarious and oddly perfect. I really connected with how her brain processed everything, especially once she started medication. That feeling of realizing there isn’t anything “wrong” with you, your brain just works differently, was handled in such a validating and honest way.

The romance is definitely a slow burn, but it works. The tension builds gradually, and when things finally start to shift, it feels earned. Lucy Score always does a great job balancing humor with emotional depth, and this one is no exception. You get the banter, the chemistry, and the steam, but also real character growth underneath it all.

I listened to this on audio again, and it absolutely elevated the experience. Sebastian York could read my grocery list and I would still be hooked. His voice is just unfair. Lila Winters is equally incredible, and together they brought Zoey and Gage to life in such a natural, engaging way.

This is another red hot read here. It takes a little time to get there, but the payoff is worth it. Between the humor, the heart, the town dynamics, and the character growth, this was such a satisfying continuation of the series.

Another plus, this book is available on KU!! On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️/5

This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

The two things that made me pick up this book.
1.) Lucy Score wrote it so, automatically add to cart.
2.) It’s described as Gilmore Girls meets Schitts Creek. I LOVED Gilmore Girls when I was younger (I have a different take as an adult, but that’s another story…) so I knew this would be good. And everyone says Schitts Creek is hysterical so…If you loved the Knockemout or Blue Moon series, this is very much on brand for her. Small town romance, chaotic townies, sharp humor, and just the right amount of steam.

Hazel is basically running straight into a midlife crisis and somehow ends up in Story Lake after getting tricked into buying a house that has been… “upgraded” by AI (and by upgraded, I mean absolutely not what she thought she was getting). She’s hoping the move will spark inspiration for her next book, but unfortunately her absolute shit weasel of an ex-husband seems to have stolen all of her creative juju.

Story Lake itself completely steals the show. This is one of those small towns that feels like a character in its own right. It’s full of opinions, drama, gossip, and people who absolutely have nothing better to do than involve themselves in everyone else’s business. The locals are colorful, over-the-top, and hysterical in the best way. As someone who grew up in a small town, I can confidently say… yes, all of this nonsense absolutely happens.

And then there’s the animals. Lucy Score always delivers here, and Goose the eagle might be my favorite “pet” yet. The animals have just as much personality as the humans, and somehow they always end up being part of the chaos.

I listened to this on audio, and I was so excited to see Sebastian York and Lila Winters back for this series. They are two of my absolute favorite narrators, and they completely brought the story to life. Their delivery made the banter sharper, the tension stronger, and the emotional moments hit even harder.
The banter is fun, witty, and full of tension, and while I’d call this kind of enemies-to-lovers-ish, it’s really more of that delicious, slow-burn tension Lucy does so well. Don’t be fooled by the pretty cover, this is another red hot read.

Her best friend Zoey was another standout for me. She’s loveable, fierce, and exactly the kind of friend you want in your corner! She’s equal parts supportive and chaotic. You can already tell she’s being set up for her own story, and I will absolutely be here for it.
This was such a fun read. I was literally laughing out loud at points (which is always awkward when other people are around). If you’re looking for a small town romance with humor, heart, and heat, this is a must-read.

Another plus, this book is available on KU!! On sale now, you can grab your copy here.