Read Between the Lines

A Novel (Ms. Right, Book 1)

By: Rachel Lacey

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

From award-winning author Rachel Lacey comes a playful romance about a Manhattan bookstore owner and a reclusive author who love to hate - and hate to love - each other.

Books are Rosie Taft’s life. And ever since she took over her mother’s beloved Manhattan bookstore, they’ve become her home too. The only thing missing is her own real-life romance like the ones she loves to read about, and Rosie has an idea of who she might like to sweep her off her feet. She’s struck up a flirty online friendship with lesbian romance author Brie, and what could be more romantic than falling in love with her favorite author?

Jane Breslin works hard to keep her professional and personal lives neatly separated. By day, she works for the family property development business. By night, she puts her steamier side on paper under her pen name: Brie. Jane hasn’t had much luck with her own love life, but her online connection with a loyal reader makes Jane wonder if she could be the one.

When Rosie learns that her bookstore’s lease has been terminated by Jane’s family’s business, romance moves to the back burner. Even though they’re at odds, there’s no denying the sparks that fly every time they’re together. When their online identities are revealed, will Jane be able to write her way to a happy ending, or is Rosie’s heart a closed book?

©2021 Rachel Lacey (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing , Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Lacey rounds out the romance with a lively cast of friends and family, and a wintry backdrop. A quick story perfect for a cozy night in.”—Publishers Weekly

I highly recommend this book.

I really love this story. I like the fact that it's a low angst sweet read that kept me hooked from the beginning.
Rachel Lacey wrote a wonderful story and Abby Craden really brought it to life.

Shy

Loved 😍 this book 📖. A wonderful ending that wasn't expected. Thank you 😊.

Romantic and sweet!

Similar vibes to one of the best romantic movies of all time - You’ve Got Mail. Loved all the characters and the narrators reading style. Perfect for a long road trip!

My first FF romance!

I am glad I decided to give this romance a try. The story was captivating, the characters truly likable and the romance was wonderful. The narrator was amazing, giving each character such a personality. Great find!

Cute but didn't feel the chemistry

Read Between the Lines is the first book in the Ms. Right series. I found the book on KU read/listen. Book 2 sounds more my jam because I am a HUGE fan of the fake relationship trope, but my OCD made me decide to start from book 1. Read Between the Lines is about 29/30 year-old, bookstore owner, Rosie, and 35 year-old, Property Developer/Author Jane/Brie. It has a bit of a hate to lovers trope.

This book was super cute and entertaining. I liked the main characters and the side characters, especially Rosie's dog, Brinkley, and Jane's sister Amy. The roommates were wonderful. I absolutely loved the support they had for each other and their relationship. My favorite thing is that we didn't have any typical mean girl behavior or ridiculous drama.

The reason that I am only giving this book 3 stars is because I never felt anything reading this book. It all felt so surface value with 'this' is the emotion being felt at the time but the actual feelings never conveyed. This was the same with their relationship. We were basically told the connection was there, but I never saw or felt any chemistry between our two main characters. So while, it was a good story, I didn't get what I want from romance books, which is a happy, giddy feeling of watching two people fall in love and experience the butterflies with them and all that.

One thing that bothered me in this book was that we met multiple people throughout this book and none of these people were introduced with their ethnicity or skin color until one person: "...was deep in conversation with another friend Jane had been introduced to tonight, a Black woman named Shanice." That didn't sit well with me. I don't know if that was the author's attempt of diversifying her book or what was up with that but it felt icky and low key unintentionally racist. This was my first time reading this author so I don't know if it was a one off thing or if this is how all people of color are introduced in her books. I guess I will find out when I read book 2.

Overall, this was a cute story. I loved the characters but wished I would have been able to emotionally connect with them and their situations.

Lovely contemporary wlw romance

This is one of the best wlw romance novels that I’ve read. Rosie and Jane are likable characters with complex backgrounds which added a good amount of drama to their relationship. I’m glad however their backgrounds were complex enough to have an interesting plot but it didn’t completely ruin the book with too much drama. I would suggest though getting a native British person to read for Lia. I couldn’t stand the fake posh British accent. Oh! And I’ll definitely be purchasing a physical copy of this book. I think Rachel Lacey is my new favorite author

Really?

I hate to say, I am constantly listening to these books waiting for the stupid, unnecessary breakup moment which generally ruins the entire book for me. Mature, adult women who can't manage to have a simple conversation about their situation, their dealing or any relevant moment seems unbelievable every time in almost every book. The breakups are always so frivolous in light of what the couples have to gain.. Please someone write a book where adults have some emotional stability and the articulation to avoid these "just before the book ends" breakups!

absolutely delightful!

a heartfelt and thoroughly enjoyable enemies to lovers / secret identity romance ❤ Rosie, Jane, and their friends are lovely. as a writer, diving into a story about a bookstore owner crushing on her favorite romance author just felt so cozy and warm!! feel good story with high stakes and emotional depth.

The Peak

The story was good but the peak made we want to turn it off. I was so annoyed. I maybe good or realistic to others but for me it blew the realism of the story. Otherwise it was written well and I enjoyed it. Just threw me for a loop.

Definitely worth a read/listen

This book is a really good read/listen The storyline is fun and engaging, the characters are relatable and I either loved them, sympathised with them or was mad at them. The only reason I haven’t given it 4 or 5 stars overall is because of a few editing issues, and sentence structure that I noticed. Nothing major but it’s what makes a good book a great book. I still totally recommend this book. It’s a great read I really enjoyed it. Abby Craden did a fabulous job at narrating as always and her Jane voice was so good. 😍.