Novel Problems

A Sapphic Small-Town Summer Romance (Sapphire Springs)

De: Elizabeth Luly

Narrado por: Abby Craden

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.

©2024 Elizabeth Luly (P)2024 Tantor Media

Fun

Stars: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Abby Craden
Series: Sapphire Springs Book 2
Steam Level: Steamy

I read this for the 2025 Sapphic Book Bingo Micro-Tropes reading challenge for the prompt Watching Fireworks.

This was such a fun installment to this series that I’m looking forward to the next book even more than I was before. I wouldn’t object if there were another ten books set in this universe, the setting and characters are just so cozy and warm.

Quick Thoughts:
- I was so happy to see that George was one of the protagonists in this book. I adored her in Not Just Gal Pals
- Yay for Blake and Jenny making appearances! I do love it when characters who are important to each other show up in each other’s books
- Hannah is such a delightful character and very relatable with her anxiety and aversion to hard conversations
- The kayaking scene had me cackling so much
- Why isn’t there a Novel Gossip bookstore in my city?
- I totally understood where George’s mom was coming from before she met Hannah
- No third act break up!
- These two are just so perfect for each other
- I was a little put off by all the name dropping that felt more like fan gushing rather than giving the story a better sense of time and place
- It felt like there was going to be a bit more drama with the Ex and Hannah’s parents and her identity as a writer but it seemed like the author ran out of steam and just decided to not to write that drama
- Abby Craden is amazing as always. I pick up books solely because she narrates it. The audio volume was a little low in this book to where I had to turn up the volume whenever I listened to this book then down when I listened to a different one

Overall I really enjoyed this book. There were only a few things that kept it from being a five star book for me, it mostly feels like growing pains of a new author that just needs a little more experience. I look forward to reading more from them in the future.

Great Story

Author and Narrator never disappoints! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it didn’t take long for the love interests realized they liked each other! The support they gave each other was amazing!

Super Sweet

This is a low angst, super sweet, romance with a bit of spice. Worth a 2nd listen. They have a great relationship and they are so good for each other which the author really portrays.

Love the characters

I love d the 2 main characters. They were so personable and relatable.

Thanks for a great story.

Heartfelt cozy sapphic romance with all the summer vibes!

I went into Novel Problems by Elizabeth Luly looking for a soft, summer romance, and this one absolutely hit the spot! This is such a feel-good, low-angst story that was so easy to sink into. It has cozy small-town, bookish vibes and the focus is really on the characters and their connection, which I loved. They were genuine, warm, and never overly dramatic. George and Hannah were so sweet together and their relationship felt very natural and sincere.

And the audiobook?? Abby Craden did such an incredible job. Her narration added so much life to the story. I loved her pacing, her character voices, and the way she brought out all the little emotional moments. She really elevated the whole experience and overall, this was just a really lovely listen.