Love In The City
Author: Jen Morris
Trope: Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Single Parent, Grumpy/Sunshine
Point of view: Single, First person
Relationship: MF
Type of series: Standalone part of a series
In a nutshell: Turning thirty has a way of making you take a good, hard look at your life. And I think we all know what any sensible adult does in that situation: tequila shots. Lots of them. It’s okay, though, because I’ve finally escaped my tiny New Zealand home town and my negative parents. And New York is better than my wildest fantasies. So is Michael, the sexy single dad who lives in the apartment upstairs. And he’s featuring in my fantasies more and more—even if he’s a grump and I only ever seem to make a dork of myself in front of him. Ah well, a girl can dream. Anyway, I’ve got a writing career to build, and writing about being single is fun. If that means swearing off men for a bit, that’s fine. I can totally do that. It’s just a tiny crush.
Besides… happily ever afters aren’t real. Are they?
What I thought: You know what stood out for me about this story? The message that it's never too late to change your life and do something you've dreamed about. The bravery it takes to leave your comfort zone and the payoff it can bring left me with all the good feelings after reading this gorgeous debut novel from NZ author Jen Morris. Our main character Alex has all the insecurities I'm sure a lot of us can identify with but watching her push through the fear especially with the lack of support from her family and ultimately have it all pay off was so satisfying. Michael, the leading man might just be up the top of my book boyfriends list - he is a grump but as we see this hides a highly compassionate, caring person whose walls slowly come down thanks to the unhurried friendship and relationship that develops between him and Alex.
I loved this book, it's the ultimate comfort read with all the elements I like in a contemporary romance - comedy, a slow burn and a great setting - New York City (which honestly is probably a supporting character with how well it is described and featured). A lovely debut novel from an author I will be excited to see more from.
