Novel Problems: A Sapphic Small-Town Summer Romance (Sapphire Springs)

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 343 ratings

Price: 12.24

Last update: 12-17-2024


About this item

A feel-good sapphic small-town summer romance featuring a bestselling fantasy author and a warm-hearted cafe-bookstore owner!

Hannah Taylor has some novel problems. The bestselling fantasy author, who writes under a pen name, is suffering from writer's block after her long-term relationship collapses. With the deadline for her next novel fast approaching, Hannah flees Manhattan for Sapphire Springs, New York, planning to hide away until she finishes her book. But when she's forced to visit the local cafe-bookstore, she accidentally finds herself with a new job and one very attractive new boss. Distractions she definitely doesn't need with her looming deadline . . . or does she?

George O'Grady worked hard to turn Novel Gossip into the cafe-bookstore of her dreams, but staff shortages are putting the normally unflappable lesbian under pressure. Hannah's appearance is a godsend. Although it would be easier if her new employee was less distractingly lovely, because George has a strict rule against dating employees.

Over the course of the summer, Hannah and George grow closer. But can the two book lovers overcome their novel problems to write their own happy ending?

Contains mature themes.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2024
    Book number two is just as good as book one. I wanted George to have her love story. Hannah and George are very sweet together. It was a process watching Hannah deal with het issues. Very good read, characters are likable and well developed. Thanks looking forward to book three.
  • Ashley LaBarber
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cute and funny with low drama
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2024
    In Novel Problems by Elizabeth Luly we meet wannabe recluse fantasy writer, Hannah who moves to Sapphire Springs to begin a new chapter (pun intended) of her life and George the outgoing and friendly owner of the local bookstore/cafe. A misunderstanding early on results in these two working together. Anyone who has read the author’s book Not Just Gal Pals will remember George but even those who haven’t will enjoy getting to know her and Hannah in this book.

    I found the characters of this book to be very relatable, especially Hannah as she deals with major life changes and the anxieties that can go with those. The dialogue between Hannah and George was funny and honest and you can feel the chemistry between them as they keep finding themselves in comical and awkward situations.

    The parts of the story where Hannah and George struggled to communicate I felt went on a bit long but when they do connect it more than makes up for any misunderstandings.

    Overall, I enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend it to readers who enjoy low drama romances with some spice.
  • J. McPherson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
    I really liked this, though the setup seems a little bit outrageous at first. It made sense later, but the first few pages started out feeling a bit crazed. But I pushed through, and was pleasantly surprised. This book manages to not contain a stressful breakup. They go through a rough patch with their own stories, but it isn't because they're suddenly trying to push away from each other. So I didn't have the urge to put the book down out of distress, like I often do.
  • Kim Sandvold
    5.0 out of 5 stars sweet story
    Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2024
    This story was wonderful just like the other one by her. I suggest that you read it and enjoy it and get all involved in the wonderful characters.
  • Kimberly M. Brown
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2024
    This was such a feel good love story. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Hannah and George progress without the breakup then makeup drama. Hannah is an introverted best selling author and George runs a successful bookstore/cafe. Their relationship starts out with a big misunderstanding that two are able to work through. I enjoy works from this author because the characters are well developed and relatable. The dialogue between the characters is engaging and flows well. I highly recommend this book.
  • Barbara Prato
    5.0 out of 5 stars sweet romance
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2024
    After the first book in this series I couldn’t wait for the second. Excellent series. Can’t wait for number 3
  • Tacie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super Sweet Summer Sapphic Romanc
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024
    This was such a sweet love story! It was a perfect summer read. A small town sapphic romance?! Yes please. Full review to come
  • Amanda
    4.0 out of 5 stars If you love books about book shops, libraries, etc and cute love stories read this!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
    I've been trying to read more books in other genres and have been enjoying throwing in lighter romance reads in my rotation because I've been in the mood for cute stories. And this book delivered! It was a great mix of cute and also touched on some bigger topics, such a communication in relationships (romantic and platonic), setting + following boundaries, accommodating disabilities, and more.

    As a straight person, though, I will be honest that this was my first time reading a sapphic romance novel. I selected it to read new perspectives and the story description had me intrigued. I love books about authors, librarians, book shops, coffee shops, or similar. This book has it all! Hannah is a best selling fantasy author who goes by a pen name because she does not like being the center of attention. George is a former computer nerd who turned around and opened a bookstore/ coffee shop combination (which would be a dream by the way, right?) in a small town called Sapphire Springs because she was tired of her computer career and wanted to interact with people and books more often. Honestly, same here (well the books part, maybe not the people part, although I interact with a fair amount of people as a healthcare provider, but I digress.). It may seem on paper to be an unlikely pairing, but I'm sure you will find yourself rooting for them early on in the story as I did.

    As previously mentioned, this story did a nice job of tackling more challenging topics like communication with friends and romantic partners, setting and following boundaries, how to accommodate disabilities in everyday life (for example, Hannah has hearing loss and wears a hearing aid), dealing with difficult parents, and more. The one thing I wish the author had done a better job in the book, though, was showing in her writing, not telling for certain scenes/situations. This was a relatively short book and I feel like certain scenes could have benefited from a more expansive description of what was going on, rather than a summary of what happened/ how Hannah or George perceived a certain situation. This did not majorly detract from the story overall, though, and why I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars, rather than 5 stars. It was a quick and cute read, but also had important lessons and solid character development!

    This is my first time reading a book by Elizabeth Luly, but I don't plan for it to be my last! Especially because I found out a few of the characters in Novel Problems are in a different book of hers also set in Sapphire Springs (although it is totally find to read them out of order/ as standalones).

    A complimentary copy was provided by West Brunswick Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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