Love in Focus by Lyla Lee is a heartfelt and layered second-chance sapphic romance that blends love, career ambitions, and emotional vulnerability against the backdrop of a beautifully depicted San Francisco. While it shines in its character development and thematic depth, there were a few areas where I wished for more.

Gemma is a strong, well developed protagonist. Her background, career as a relationship advice columnist, and friendships with Val and Kiara make her feel like a fully realized character rather than just a vehicle for the romance. Her work with Celeste on their project about modern love was one of my favorite aspects of the book. The diversity of couples they interviewed—queer, straight, BIPOC, older, younger—felt thoughtful and added richness to the story. Plus, we actually got to read about the interviews rather than just being told they happened, which made their project feel integral rather than just a plot device.

I also really appreciated the exploration of Korean culture and Celeste as a Korean FMC. As someone married to a Korean, I found these elements to be accurate and well researched, which made the story even more meaningful. Celeste’s background—growing up in South Korea, learning English, and choosing to study in a more diverse environment—added depth to her character and made her journey even more compelling. I only wish we had gotten more of this! Her relationship with Min-joon, for example, could have been explored further, as it felt like such an important part of her past.

Another standout was the setting. While I’ve never been to San Francisco, the way it was described felt more nuanced and diverse than how it’s often portrayed. The city became part of the story rather than just a backdrop. And, of course, Celeste? Hot. No notes.

The book had a clear sense of direction, which I really appreciated. Knowing that the timeline was structured around their project made the pacing feel natural, and it avoided the aimlessness that sometimes plagues second-chance romances.

Celeste’s chapters were disappointingly short, which meant I never felt like I got to know her as deeply as I wanted. She had all the ingredients of a compelling love interest, but I just wanted more.

Similarly, James didn’t feel as significant as I expected. Given how much of a catalyst he was for Gemma’s skepticism about love, I thought he’d either play a bigger role or have a more intense confrontation with her. Instead, he felt like a minor obstacle rather than a true emotional hurdle for Gemma.

Love in Focus is a well written, sapphic second chance romance with a great balance of emotional depth, career ambitions, and an engaging premise. The thoughtful inclusion of Korean culture and a well developed Korean FMC was a huge highlight for me. While Celeste’s character could have been more fleshed out and James felt underwhelming, the strong development of Gemma, the diversity of the love stories featured in their project, and the undeniable chemistry between the leads made it a compelling read. If you love second chance romances with tension, slow burn longing, and a vividly drawn setting, this one is worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lyla Lee, and Forever for the eARC of this book.