Publication
Jove, c2020
Status
Available
Description
Fiction. Romance. LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML:A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor in this debut romance. Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple. The so-called scandal couldn't come at a worse time�??threatening Emma's promotion and Jo's new movie. As the gossip spreads, it starts to affect all areas of their lives. Paparazzi are following them outside the office, coworkers are treating them differently, and a �??source�?� is feeding information to the media. But their only comment is �??no comment�?�. With the launch of Jo�??s film project fast approaching, the two women begin to spend even more time together, getting along famously. Emma seems to have a sixth sense for knowing what Jo needs. And Jo, known for being aloof and outwardly cold, opens up to Emma in a way neither of them expects. They begin to realize the rumor might not be so off base after all�?�but is acting on the spark between them worth fanni… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bibliovermis
This was very cute, and had a great plot and characters I really enjoyed, but it was VERY slow-burn. Loads of build up and anticipation, very little denouement. After being in these characters' heads through all the trials, tribulations, and angst, I wanted way more time spent on the ending result!
LibraryThing member brangwinn
The setting is Hollywood in the age of social media influencers. Its feels authentic to me. Lots of current topics make for almost too much, but Wilsner is up to the task of keeping readers on track of the main plot, a love story.
LibraryThing member WhiskeyintheJar
2.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jo was a childhood actor who is making the transition to director and about to take on a new tv show. When a moment on the red carpet with her assistant
Emma is an aspiring director herself and getting to work for Jo has been a dream come true, even when she has to keep her childhood crush she had on Jo a secret. Jo's her boss, there's an age difference, but Emma can't help but think she isn't the only one having feelings that go beyond friendship.
Something To Talk About had a set-up that pulled me into the story, Jo wanting to keep her private life private because of the backlash it could cause in her career, Emma not wanting to ruin a friendship and feeling too insecure to believe her feelings could be reciprocated. This brushing up and then retreating worked to pull the reader into their budding romance and created some good tension in the beginning but then the story started to spin its wheels.
Jo wasn’t sure what it was, exactly, about Emma in her office that helped her. She thought perhaps it was Emma’s sturdiness. Emma was steadfast. To have Emma there, silently accomplishing things—it made Jo’s troubles seem irrelevant.
Jo's background of childhood actor and all the issues that come with that, her coming out not being fully supported by her father, and being a woman in a misogynistic industry made her the more flushed out character to me. These layers helped explain why Jo was more closed off and how she would be tentative to share her feelings and made the angst from her believable. Emma was the character that I felt I didn't know as well. We get some scenes with her sister Avery but they never seemed to click together and the angst from Jo and Avery's relationship that develops didn't quite flow.
Maybe this wouldn’t work. Maybe saying anything was a terrible idea. But these feelings mattered now. The chance that they might be mutual mattered. Emma didn’t know what she was going to say the next day, but she had to say something.
It wasn't until around the 70% mark that I felt there was some significant movement on their physical romance and addressing it. The flow of this story made it feel less like a slow burn romance and more like unmotivated movement. We also get a forced angst moment from Emma, who at this point should know Jo better, and then at the very end we get a fairly unsatisfying “I like kissing you, guess we're doing this!”. There is one sex scene at the very, very end but otherwise there is only around three kisses from these two.
Jo with her insecurities about the age difference (14yrs between the two) and worries over impact on career made her the more flushed out and emotionally easier to connect with than Emma with her lack of more solid characterization. Their relationship took too long to develop for me and lacked some driving force, which caused the story flow to drag and stagnate. There are some issues woven in that I think many will appreciate brought up and connect with and enjoy how Jo and Emma do get their happily ever after despite them all.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jo was a childhood actor who is making the transition to director and about to take on a new tv show. When a moment on the red carpet with her assistant
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Emma has gossips wondering if there is more between them, she goes with her standard “no comment”, not wanting anything to jeopardize her career. Emma is an aspiring director herself and getting to work for Jo has been a dream come true, even when she has to keep her childhood crush she had on Jo a secret. Jo's her boss, there's an age difference, but Emma can't help but think she isn't the only one having feelings that go beyond friendship.
Something To Talk About had a set-up that pulled me into the story, Jo wanting to keep her private life private because of the backlash it could cause in her career, Emma not wanting to ruin a friendship and feeling too insecure to believe her feelings could be reciprocated. This brushing up and then retreating worked to pull the reader into their budding romance and created some good tension in the beginning but then the story started to spin its wheels.
Jo wasn’t sure what it was, exactly, about Emma in her office that helped her. She thought perhaps it was Emma’s sturdiness. Emma was steadfast. To have Emma there, silently accomplishing things—it made Jo’s troubles seem irrelevant.
Jo's background of childhood actor and all the issues that come with that, her coming out not being fully supported by her father, and being a woman in a misogynistic industry made her the more flushed out character to me. These layers helped explain why Jo was more closed off and how she would be tentative to share her feelings and made the angst from her believable. Emma was the character that I felt I didn't know as well. We get some scenes with her sister Avery but they never seemed to click together and the angst from Jo and Avery's relationship that develops didn't quite flow.
Maybe this wouldn’t work. Maybe saying anything was a terrible idea. But these feelings mattered now. The chance that they might be mutual mattered. Emma didn’t know what she was going to say the next day, but she had to say something.
It wasn't until around the 70% mark that I felt there was some significant movement on their physical romance and addressing it. The flow of this story made it feel less like a slow burn romance and more like unmotivated movement. We also get a forced angst moment from Emma, who at this point should know Jo better, and then at the very end we get a fairly unsatisfying “I like kissing you, guess we're doing this!”. There is one sex scene at the very, very end but otherwise there is only around three kisses from these two.
Jo with her insecurities about the age difference (14yrs between the two) and worries over impact on career made her the more flushed out and emotionally easier to connect with than Emma with her lack of more solid characterization. Their relationship took too long to develop for me and lacked some driving force, which caused the story flow to drag and stagnate. There are some issues woven in that I think many will appreciate brought up and connect with and enjoy how Jo and Emma do get their happily ever after despite them all.
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LibraryThing member elenaj
Charming and well-crafted slow-burn romance. I'm not sure the MeToo subplot needed to be in there (it was minor, and weirdly ignored the existing MeToo movement), but otherwise an excellent read.
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Sweet love story. How many love stories can a person read
LibraryThing member thereserose5
What can I say? I'm a sucker for a queer romance novel.
LibraryThing member AmyM3317
Jo Jones is a former child star turned script writer. She's about to make her move from television to movies writing a new script for a beloved action character (think James Bond). There are many who doubt Jo's capability to do the script justice. To avoid being inundated with with questions, Jo
Emma has been Jo's assistant for about a year and Jo has never asked Emma to accompany her to an awards show. Of course she's going to go despite being completely out of her comfort zone. She'll always be there for Jo.
The next day, the tabloids are running with the rumor that Emma and Jo are dating. While Emma admits to having a crush on her boss her feelings don't run that deep and she would never dream of crossing that line, and knows Jo would never either. But now that it's out there both Jo and Emma start considering "what if".
I think that, besides providing a sweet romance, Something to Talk About really digs into the workplace romance trope, in the era of MeToo, with expert precision. Meryl Wilsner really spends time ruminating on the power dynamic between Jo and Emma and while it's clear to readers that their feelings aren't coming from a place of one party putting pressure on another party, or pushing feelings that aren't there for threat of job loss, it also acknowledges that these are very real considerations to take when you have feelings for someone who is your boss (or vice versa when you may be a boss and have feelings for a subordinate). I think it's something that has been lacking from other workplace romances I've read in the past and even more recently. Characters looking at the potential repercussions of their actions from all sides.
There's a lot of tension of "will they or won't they" because, really, it's a slippery slope to contemplate even with Jo and Emma both being consenting adults. I think that Meryl Wilsner handles everything really well, and you're really rooting for Jo and Emma to figure out a way to make things work, but you're also preparing for the fact that they just may not.
I will say that it took me a bit to get into the characters. But I think once you get into the story more, Jo and Emma's personalities are, at times, products of the industry in which they find themselves. Jo has learned to be a bit closed off or "cold" with people. Being a child actor has ingrained within her that oftentimes the fame and celebrity will have people presenting a fake visage. Jo closes herself off as a means of protection. Emma is seemingly very open with everyone. Since she is the point of contact for people who want to get on Jo's appointment list, it's understandable that she be friendly and welcoming. Over the course of the book, you see this waiver about her character as she deals with the paparazzi and the press. The best moments are the moments they have just for each other. When their walls come down, maybe just a little, to reveal their true selves. Since the story is so full of lines and trying not to cross them, there are quite a few times where things are left unsaid between Jo and Emma. Things that could have been done to avoid conflicts from escalating, but as I said it's all about navigating the slippery slope of feelings.
I really enjoyed this debut. I loved Meryl Wilsner's writing and I cannot wait to see what comes next. If you're looking for a slow burn romance that deals with the workplace dynamic in a genuine way, look no further than Something to Talk About.
*ARC provided in exchange for honest review
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invites her assistant Emma to accompany her to the SAG Awards. Emma's job is to act as a buffer - at least that's what Jo tells Emma (and everyone else) but could it really be more?Emma has been Jo's assistant for about a year and Jo has never asked Emma to accompany her to an awards show. Of course she's going to go despite being completely out of her comfort zone. She'll always be there for Jo.
The next day, the tabloids are running with the rumor that Emma and Jo are dating. While Emma admits to having a crush on her boss her feelings don't run that deep and she would never dream of crossing that line, and knows Jo would never either. But now that it's out there both Jo and Emma start considering "what if".
I think that, besides providing a sweet romance, Something to Talk About really digs into the workplace romance trope, in the era of MeToo, with expert precision. Meryl Wilsner really spends time ruminating on the power dynamic between Jo and Emma and while it's clear to readers that their feelings aren't coming from a place of one party putting pressure on another party, or pushing feelings that aren't there for threat of job loss, it also acknowledges that these are very real considerations to take when you have feelings for someone who is your boss (or vice versa when you may be a boss and have feelings for a subordinate). I think it's something that has been lacking from other workplace romances I've read in the past and even more recently. Characters looking at the potential repercussions of their actions from all sides.
There's a lot of tension of "will they or won't they" because, really, it's a slippery slope to contemplate even with Jo and Emma both being consenting adults. I think that Meryl Wilsner handles everything really well, and you're really rooting for Jo and Emma to figure out a way to make things work, but you're also preparing for the fact that they just may not.
I will say that it took me a bit to get into the characters. But I think once you get into the story more, Jo and Emma's personalities are, at times, products of the industry in which they find themselves. Jo has learned to be a bit closed off or "cold" with people. Being a child actor has ingrained within her that oftentimes the fame and celebrity will have people presenting a fake visage. Jo closes herself off as a means of protection. Emma is seemingly very open with everyone. Since she is the point of contact for people who want to get on Jo's appointment list, it's understandable that she be friendly and welcoming. Over the course of the book, you see this waiver about her character as she deals with the paparazzi and the press. The best moments are the moments they have just for each other. When their walls come down, maybe just a little, to reveal their true selves. Since the story is so full of lines and trying not to cross them, there are quite a few times where things are left unsaid between Jo and Emma. Things that could have been done to avoid conflicts from escalating, but as I said it's all about navigating the slippery slope of feelings.
I really enjoyed this debut. I loved Meryl Wilsner's writing and I cannot wait to see what comes next. If you're looking for a slow burn romance that deals with the workplace dynamic in a genuine way, look no further than Something to Talk About.
*ARC provided in exchange for honest review
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LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Jo Jones is 41 and Emma Watson's boss. Emma's only 28 so there's a big age difference, but that doesn't stop Emma for having a crush on Jo. Jo feels the same about Emma but feels that an 'old' lady like her has nothing to give a young women. As a result, the crushes go nowhere, or do they?
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cute romance and find out. Awaiting Wilsner's next book, Mistakes Were Made. Show Less
LibraryThing member tuusannuuska
A slowest of the slow burn romances between an actress and her PA.
So far as fluffy romance goes, this was pretty cute. I liked both of the main characters and was happy for them when they got together (at the very end).
The author wanted to discuss some pretty big topics here, but unfortunately the
Also, my pet peeve in romance books are conflicts that are completely unnecessary and/or blown out of proportion, which felt like the case here. But I did like the writing style and the characters, so mostly this was an enjoyable read
So far as fluffy romance goes, this was pretty cute. I liked both of the main characters and was happy for them when they got together (at the very end).
The author wanted to discuss some pretty big topics here, but unfortunately the
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execution was pretty heavy handed. It would have been enough to show what they were trying to get across, but instead they decided to explain the obvious to death.Also, my pet peeve in romance books are conflicts that are completely unnecessary and/or blown out of proportion, which felt like the case here. But I did like the writing style and the characters, so mostly this was an enjoyable read
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LibraryThing member mktoronto
Couldn't tell this was a debut novel. I loved the depth of characterization for the h/h and all the people around them. Also mixes in a scathing indictment of celebrity media, sexual harassment, and racism in the film and television industry without ever taking away from the core story of two women
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falling in love. Can't wait to see what the author comes up with next. Show Less
LibraryThing member MiserableFlower
Would have been better if the passion was there? Definitely sloooooow burn.
LibraryThing member BarnesBookshelf
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. I read a lot of queer books, and I find that the Young Adult genre is doing a great job with diversity and inclusivity, but the Adult Romance genre? Not so much. Diversity is becoming more common, but I still struggle to find queer adult romance novels. (The only other
I love the characterizations of Jo and Emma, and the tropes used throughout. I did get a little upset because I thought there was going to be a bad case of Miscommunication (my personal least favorite trope in any media ever; like come on people, talk to each other!) but I turned out to be wrong, and I couldn't have been happier!! I couldn't put this book down, although I will admit I was expecting a little more fake dating thanks to the back-cover blurb.
Frankly, I loved Wilsner's writing, and I look forward to reading more from them in the future! I was stoked to realize they're a Michigan-based writer, and I'm so glad I got an autographed copy!
Edit: I desperately want to both 1. see and 2. own the dresses described in the book. They sound gorgeous.
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one that really comes to mind is [book:Red, White & Royal Blue|41150487]). So a lesbian novel? about Hollywood? That addresses sexism, racism, and sexual harassment in Hollywood? HELL YEAH!!! I love the characterizations of Jo and Emma, and the tropes used throughout. I did get a little upset because I thought there was going to be a bad case of Miscommunication (my personal least favorite trope in any media ever; like come on people, talk to each other!) but I turned out to be wrong, and I couldn't have been happier!! I couldn't put this book down, although I will admit I was expecting a little more fake dating thanks to the back-cover blurb.
Frankly, I loved Wilsner's writing, and I look forward to reading more from them in the future! I was stoked to realize they're a Michigan-based writer, and I'm so glad I got an autographed copy!
Edit: I desperately want to both 1. see and 2. own the dresses described in the book. They sound gorgeous.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780593102534
Original publication date
2020