Review: Jessica Joyce’s debut novel is every bit as emotional as it is steamy. 

 

“You, with a View” follows Noelle Shepherd, an aspiring photographer who is grieving the loss of her grandmother. After stumbling across letters and photographs that reveal a secret relationship in her gram’s past, she jumps at the chance to learn more, even if that means spending two weeks on the road with her high school rival Theo, who just so happens to be the son of her gram’s lost love. 

 

Noelle and Theo’s love story is like no other! Through Noelle’s perspective, Joyce shares the details surrounding their rivalry. I enjoyed learning about their intertwined pasts and. was thoroughly entertained by their bickering while they were on the road. Joyce slowly builds up to the moment their rivalry turns into something romantic, their intense hatred unmasking itself as intense love. I adored their more intimate moments and their less spicy ones, namely when they traded secrets, danced at the closest bar they could find, and wiped away each other’s tears when times became difficult. Most of all, I love how the two ultimately support each other as they work through their own internal conflicts. Instead of fixing each other, they embrace one another, flaws and all. 

 

I also found this book impactful because it broaches the topic of grief. Joyce takes great care in sharing the state of Noelle’s mental health after the loss of her grandmother. She struggles to cope and puts her life on hold until she comes with the idea of going on the roadtrip her grandmother never got to. But grief does not go away within the span of two weeks on the road and I appreciate Joyce for communicating that. The pain only lessens with time, as seen in the novel’s epilogue, which leaves the reader feeling hopeful. 

 

I would be remiss if I did not mention how much I love Paul and his meddling. Without him, this story would feel incomplete. I adore that man for picking up on Theo and Noelle’s intense attraction for each other before they did themselves. I also appreciate him for becoming Theo’s father figure and a constant in Noelle’s life. 

 

It is safe to say that I am a Jessica Joyce fan! I cannot wait to see what she puts out next!