Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Say It Out Loud is a charming rom-com brimming with vampire novels, grief, and fresh starts. Juniper, 32 and down on her luck, lands a dream gig narrating The Meadow—the vampire series that defined her teenage years. But her excitement dims when she finds out her co-narrator is none other than James, an old college acquaintance she never expected to see again. As they’re forced to work side by side, sparks fly, tensions rise, and the question becomes: will magic bring them closer, or tear them apart?

I absolutely adored following Juniper’s journey as she figured out her life—it was such a heartwarming reminder that it’s never too late to discover your passion or change careers. The romance was equally delightful; James is the perfect grumpy cinnamon roll, stepping out of his comfort zone in the sweetest ways for Juniper. My only gripe was that early on, Juniper’s animosity toward James felt a bit immature. I understood her grief and where the hurt was coming from, but it was hard to justify her holding onto something from college, especially when James didn’t really owe her anything back then.

Overall, Ashley Schumacher perfectly captures the magic of a teenage obsession and how, even in our hardest moments, the things we once loved can help us find ourselves—and connect us to others in the most unexpected ways.

❤️ fake dating

❤️ actor mmc x ex-podcaster fmc 

❤️ twilight 🧛🐺 (not a paranormal romance)

❤️ HEA

A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest and independent review.