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Wells Family #1
Per My Last Email
Layla Wright fit in her role as admin at West Oak Publishing about as well as she would at a five star restaurant in her ‘I love DILFS T-shirt�. When she applied to the job she thought she would be learning the ins and outs of the industry to eventually write and publish her own novel. But after years of staying in this same position, she’s unsure of how to break out of her routine and chase her dreams.
Luke Wells knows the words “friend zone� all too well. Staying in a dead-end position at a company he doesn’t care for only has one Layla Wright. He may hate his job just as much as she does, but she’s the one thing he’s not willing to lose. When Luke finds out he’s up for a promotion, he has to decide how far he’s willing to go to stay close to Layla. With his own dreams of running a bar on the line, is Layla really worth sticking around for—especially when she’s never indicated there will be anything more between them than friendship?
A seaside work conference is just what they need to shake things up and break them out of this tight bubble they’ve been living in for so long. Will they finally be brave enough to go for what they want or will they return home with everything between them unchanged? Boundaries get crossed, lines get blurred, and donuts get eaten.
Luke Wells knows the words “friend zone� all too well. Staying in a dead-end position at a company he doesn’t care for only has one Layla Wright. He may hate his job just as much as she does, but she’s the one thing he’s not willing to lose. When Luke finds out he’s up for a promotion, he has to decide how far he’s willing to go to stay close to Layla. With his own dreams of running a bar on the line, is Layla really worth sticking around for—especially when she’s never indicated there will be anything more between them than friendship?
A seaside work conference is just what they need to shake things up and break them out of this tight bubble they’ve been living in for so long. Will they finally be brave enough to go for what they want or will they return home with everything between them unchanged? Boundaries get crossed, lines get blurred, and donuts get eaten.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2023
263 people are currently reading
8391 people want to read
About the author
Juliana Smith
11books902followersJuliana Smith is an author in a small town in Alabama. When she is not hanging out with her book characters, she is with her family. Juliana writes heartfelt romance filled with laughter and warm fuzzies. She can usually be found in a Chic-fil-a drive-thru or listening to Star Wars theory podcasts, often at the same time.
To subscribe to her super amazing newsletter and receive VIP behind-the-scenes, special offers, and exclusives go to her Instagram @authorjulianasmith .
To subscribe to her super amazing newsletter and receive VIP behind-the-scenes, special offers, and exclusives go to her Instagram @authorjulianasmith .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 594 reviews
July 27, 2024
2.5 Stars. Meh. Kinda cute, kinda cringe, many corny jokes. FRTC.
I keep seeing this series make it's rounds through ŷ and I'm a sucker for a cute cover... Got me again! Hopefully it doesn't disappoint. 💜 𓍯𓂃𓏧�
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(„� ֊ •�)
━O━O━━━━�
�: You've Got Mail� ✉️ 」・:�
━━━━━━�
╰⪼💜Friends to Lovers
╰⪼💜Slow Burn
╰⪼💜Found Family
╰⪼💜Epic Side Characters
╰⪼💜The Office
╰⪼💜Pranks and Sarcasm ˚ � ೀ⋆｡˚
(\_/) 💕
( �-�)💕
/&;💌
� ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆
(\ (\
(„� ֊ •�)
━O━O━━━━�
�: You've Got Mail� ✉️ 」・:�
━━━━━━�
╰⪼💜Friends to Lovers
╰⪼💜Slow Burn
╰⪼💜Found Family
╰⪼💜Epic Side Characters
╰⪼💜The Office
╰⪼💜Pranks and Sarcasm ˚ � ೀ⋆｡˚
(\_/) 💕
( �-�)💕
/&;💌
April 23, 2023
Juliana Smith is quickly becoming one of my favourite rom com authors 💞 This book is sweet, charming, and features two delightful leads, Luke and Layla. I absolutely adored the misunderstanding that led to Layla putting herself in the friend zone. Any couple whose introduction to each other channels Lizzie and Mr. Darcy is bound to become an instant favourite of mine.
This book has:
� Dual povs so you can see all of the angst from both leads �
� Friends to lovers and mutual pining
� An office romance with plenty of hilarious pranks
� Forced proximity
This was such a cute, fun, and feel good read! I can’t wait to see what the author does next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
This book has:
� Dual povs so you can see all of the angst from both leads �
� Friends to lovers and mutual pining
� An office romance with plenty of hilarious pranks
� Forced proximity
This was such a cute, fun, and feel good read! I can’t wait to see what the author does next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
October 24, 2023
If you’re looking for a cute friends to lovers, work place romance definitely pick this book up. I loved Luke & Laylas story. But calla & nathans book (the second book in the series) is hands down my favorite
May 6, 2023
A sweet, funny and feel-good friends to lovers, dual POV, workplace Indie romance that will in turns make you laugh and swoon.
Luke and Layla have been secretly pining for each other every day at their boring office jobs for YEARS only to be too scared to rock the boat and admit their feelings. An office retreat finally gives them the opportunity to take the leap on life and love and figure out what will truly make them happy.
I loved the chemistry between Luke and Layla and how hard their friends and families push to get them together. I also really enjoyed how both of them are facing career decisions that would see them leaving safe, boring, unsatisfying corporate jobs in exchange for something they're much more passionate about (writing for Layla, running a brewery for Luke).
Highly recommended for fans of authors like Sarah Adams or Emma St. Clair. Many thanks to the author for sharing an early digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. I was a fan before and am ever more so now with this latest book!
Luke and Layla have been secretly pining for each other every day at their boring office jobs for YEARS only to be too scared to rock the boat and admit their feelings. An office retreat finally gives them the opportunity to take the leap on life and love and figure out what will truly make them happy.
I loved the chemistry between Luke and Layla and how hard their friends and families push to get them together. I also really enjoyed how both of them are facing career decisions that would see them leaving safe, boring, unsatisfying corporate jobs in exchange for something they're much more passionate about (writing for Layla, running a brewery for Luke).
Highly recommended for fans of authors like Sarah Adams or Emma St. Clair. Many thanks to the author for sharing an early digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. I was a fan before and am ever more so now with this latest book!
January 2, 2024
"The thing about taking jumps; the lead up is the scariest part."
This was a very sweet end of the year read. I enjoyed it more than I planned to, and the premise was exactly what I pictured in the story. It had the typical romance miscommunication and adults acting like teenagers, but it still worked for me.
It felt a little like The Hating Game, and I just adored Luke. Will definitely look into reading the other books in this series when the moment strikes.
This was a very sweet end of the year read. I enjoyed it more than I planned to, and the premise was exactly what I pictured in the story. It had the typical romance miscommunication and adults acting like teenagers, but it still worked for me.
It felt a little like The Hating Game, and I just adored Luke. Will definitely look into reading the other books in this series when the moment strikes.
April 9, 2023
Let it be known that only cool authors write reviews on their own books.💅
you will love per my last email if you like:
- the office
- friends to lovers
- donuts
- work place romance
- seaside retreats (heyo ocean city)
- fun side characters
- NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP
- slow burn
- obscene sunscreen application
Hope you enjoy!!📎🤍
you will love per my last email if you like:
- the office
- friends to lovers
- donuts
- work place romance
- seaside retreats (heyo ocean city)
- fun side characters
- NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP
- slow burn
- obscene sunscreen application
Hope you enjoy!!📎🤍
March 21, 2024
OH HOW I LOVE A GOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS
i was giggling and kicking my feet through the whole book. they were just too cute and EVERYTHING luke did was so AAAAAA
i was giggling and kicking my feet through the whole book. they were just too cute and EVERYTHING luke did was so AAAAAA
dnf
June 10, 2023dnf @ 5%
Honestly the writing style/voice just didn't work for me - I don't deal well with first person, quirky, nOt LiKe OtHeR gIrLs type mcs.
I did, however, absolutely adore the map of the office space. More maps in contemporary romance, please!
Honestly the writing style/voice just didn't work for me - I don't deal well with first person, quirky, nOt LiKe OtHeR gIrLs type mcs.
I did, however, absolutely adore the map of the office space. More maps in contemporary romance, please!
April 8, 2023
I love love love Layla and Luke! This probably the sweetest slow burn ever. Luke and Layla have the most playful and fun friendship and I enjoyed how their relationship evolved so much. L&L are incredibly likable and relatable. There is something so special about Juliana’s writing that gives you all the warm fuzzy feelings and steam you need for the perfect closed door romance. Not only do you fall in love with the MCS the side characters are full of personality and fun. Full of swoon worthy moments, snarky comebacks, pranks, stolen touches, hilarious family group chats and laugh out loud moments this is definitely a must read! I’m so excited for the rest of this series and I will forever suggest all of Juliana’s books.
Read if you like |
🍩Friends to lovers
🍩Slow burn
🍩Found family & fun side characters
🍩The Office
🍩Pranks and Sarcasm
Thank you Victory Editing, NetGalley and Juliana Smith for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read if you like |
🍩Friends to lovers
🍩Slow burn
🍩Found family & fun side characters
🍩The Office
🍩Pranks and Sarcasm
Thank you Victory Editing, NetGalley and Juliana Smith for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 17, 2023
This book had me in 𝗛𝗬𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗦. It was funny, cute and honestly such a refreshing, quick and easy read.
You will love this book if you love any of the following:
� 𝗗𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗢𝗩
� 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦
� 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬
� 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘
All the characters are so well written and loveable! They kept you wanting more and made the slow burn between the two main characters, Layla and Luke more bearable 🤣.
The story revolves around Layla and her dead end job which eventually she plans to leave but won’t because she’s in love with her best friend who she also works with. Luke who only took the job on as a temporary measure but soon enough found himself staying for the same reasons as Layla.
But guess what? Neither of them has the courage to tell each other how they feel until they both get the shove from friends and family!
It wasn’t just Luke and Layla that I adored throughout the book though. It was majority of all the side characters - 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗝𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗘 - the support and relationships that surrounded everyone! It was just so warm and bubbly to read!!
Juliana is definitely an author I’d want to read more of!
You will love this book if you love any of the following:
� 𝗗𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗢𝗩
� 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦
� 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬
� 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘
All the characters are so well written and loveable! They kept you wanting more and made the slow burn between the two main characters, Layla and Luke more bearable 🤣.
The story revolves around Layla and her dead end job which eventually she plans to leave but won’t because she’s in love with her best friend who she also works with. Luke who only took the job on as a temporary measure but soon enough found himself staying for the same reasons as Layla.
But guess what? Neither of them has the courage to tell each other how they feel until they both get the shove from friends and family!
It wasn’t just Luke and Layla that I adored throughout the book though. It was majority of all the side characters - 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗝𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗘 - the support and relationships that surrounded everyone! It was just so warm and bubbly to read!!
Juliana is definitely an author I’d want to read more of!
January 7, 2024
3,5 🌟
February 26, 2024
im gonna cry I LOVE LUKE & LAYLA
April 16, 2023
I have a lot to say about this book. And not in a good way, unfortunately. I have so many notes because I could.not.stop. highlighting ridiculous things.
First of all, Luke’s nickname for Layla is “little one.� IMMEDIATELY NO. Hard pass. This is so infantilizing and patronizing. Not about it. He was also freakishly tall. Like he’s apparently TWO FEET taller than his mother? Even if his mother is very very petite at only 5�0�, that puts him at SEVEN FEET TALL which is just insanity. This level of height is unheard of except for like, a small percentage of NBA players??? No hate to any super tall people out there - this is just one of many ways the author overshoots. Another is that Luke’s knowledge of BASIC idioms is worse than most people I know who learned English as a second language. As a mid-20 year old man who hasn’t been living under a rock, he would absolutely know phrases like “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it� but he consistently gets them wrong. It’s part of his “dorky/cute� personality but it just makes him annoying because it makes no sense, similar to him being a 7+ foot giant. He also refuses to move forward in his career because Layla works at the same shitty job that he does and “all that matters� is that he gets to spend his days with her. Duuuude, what??? This is not sexy! Having no ambitions besides spending all day at a dead-end job with the object of your affection whom you haven’t made a move on in three years is not cute. It’s borderline stalkery and also very few couples work together/spend all day together. You can still maintain a friendship and remain committed to being close with someone even if you leave this job. But his commitment to spending time with Layla via handicapping his professional future was mentioned multiple times throughout the book as if it was something to be lauded. Ugh. I’m just in disbelief over how hard this author was trying. To me, the author’s job when writing a rom-com is to make the characters drool-worthy and lovable but in a relatable way. This is not it.
Layla also kind of sucks. She dresses like a prairie woman, not because she’s a lover of vintage style (which would be fine and semi-interesting) no, because she’s avoiding the lecherous gaze of her boss. What? Her wearing turtlenecks in summer and floor length skirts is a major part of her personality but if she’s doing it because of her pervy boss then why is she dressing like that in her free time also??? It makes no sense and is stupid (if your boss is so ick that you need to change your entire wardrobe and make that new wardrobe part of your personality, maybe consider quitting????) She is also seemingly narcoleptic? She falls asleep at the end of most interactions with Luke, and we get lots of descriptions of her “adorable snoring�. Ok. This is fine once, but unless she actually is narcoleptic, nobody should be passing out this often when hanging out with friends. Also LOL she self-publishes her book???? Wut?? Didn’t they spend three years working at a publishing firm? Maybe I missed something because at a certain point I was not reading very thoroughly, but I was pretty sure she got this job in the first place because she wanted to learn about the field. And then after years in the field, you’re telling me she developed zero connections and had to self-publish? That feels so far-fetched that it’s laughable.
The book was overwritten. It was trying so so hard to be cutesy and bantery and it just felt fake and ugh. This is a common issue with rom-coms lately. Don’t think I’m allowed to quote things since it’s not gone through final rounds of edits, but there were pages of examples of things that resulted in eyerolling rather than swooning. An example of this is both characters often given run-on sentence long descriptions of minute details. It’s annoying.
The whole “I’m in love with my best friend but we’re just friends and there’s no way he/she feels the same way about me� was so wildly unbelievable. I understand the friends to lovers trope is a thing. I get it and I’ve loved it in the past. It just doesn’t work here because they’re so obviously in love with each other and everyone in their lives is telling them so. It was just like beating a dead horse instead of a slow burn.
A frustrating read instead of an enjoyable one.
2/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and…ohhhh…ok I just went to look up the publisher and it’s the author’s name. Ok so it was self-published. This makes more sense now!!
First of all, Luke’s nickname for Layla is “little one.� IMMEDIATELY NO. Hard pass. This is so infantilizing and patronizing. Not about it. He was also freakishly tall. Like he’s apparently TWO FEET taller than his mother? Even if his mother is very very petite at only 5�0�, that puts him at SEVEN FEET TALL which is just insanity. This level of height is unheard of except for like, a small percentage of NBA players??? No hate to any super tall people out there - this is just one of many ways the author overshoots. Another is that Luke’s knowledge of BASIC idioms is worse than most people I know who learned English as a second language. As a mid-20 year old man who hasn’t been living under a rock, he would absolutely know phrases like “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it� but he consistently gets them wrong. It’s part of his “dorky/cute� personality but it just makes him annoying because it makes no sense, similar to him being a 7+ foot giant. He also refuses to move forward in his career because Layla works at the same shitty job that he does and “all that matters� is that he gets to spend his days with her. Duuuude, what??? This is not sexy! Having no ambitions besides spending all day at a dead-end job with the object of your affection whom you haven’t made a move on in three years is not cute. It’s borderline stalkery and also very few couples work together/spend all day together. You can still maintain a friendship and remain committed to being close with someone even if you leave this job. But his commitment to spending time with Layla via handicapping his professional future was mentioned multiple times throughout the book as if it was something to be lauded. Ugh. I’m just in disbelief over how hard this author was trying. To me, the author’s job when writing a rom-com is to make the characters drool-worthy and lovable but in a relatable way. This is not it.
Layla also kind of sucks. She dresses like a prairie woman, not because she’s a lover of vintage style (which would be fine and semi-interesting) no, because she’s avoiding the lecherous gaze of her boss. What? Her wearing turtlenecks in summer and floor length skirts is a major part of her personality but if she’s doing it because of her pervy boss then why is she dressing like that in her free time also??? It makes no sense and is stupid (if your boss is so ick that you need to change your entire wardrobe and make that new wardrobe part of your personality, maybe consider quitting????) She is also seemingly narcoleptic? She falls asleep at the end of most interactions with Luke, and we get lots of descriptions of her “adorable snoring�. Ok. This is fine once, but unless she actually is narcoleptic, nobody should be passing out this often when hanging out with friends. Also LOL she self-publishes her book???? Wut?? Didn’t they spend three years working at a publishing firm? Maybe I missed something because at a certain point I was not reading very thoroughly, but I was pretty sure she got this job in the first place because she wanted to learn about the field. And then after years in the field, you’re telling me she developed zero connections and had to self-publish? That feels so far-fetched that it’s laughable.
The book was overwritten. It was trying so so hard to be cutesy and bantery and it just felt fake and ugh. This is a common issue with rom-coms lately. Don’t think I’m allowed to quote things since it’s not gone through final rounds of edits, but there were pages of examples of things that resulted in eyerolling rather than swooning. An example of this is both characters often given run-on sentence long descriptions of minute details. It’s annoying.
The whole “I’m in love with my best friend but we’re just friends and there’s no way he/she feels the same way about me� was so wildly unbelievable. I understand the friends to lovers trope is a thing. I get it and I’ve loved it in the past. It just doesn’t work here because they’re so obviously in love with each other and everyone in their lives is telling them so. It was just like beating a dead horse instead of a slow burn.
A frustrating read instead of an enjoyable one.
2/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and…ohhhh…ok I just went to look up the publisher and it’s the author’s name. Ok so it was self-published. This makes more sense now!!
April 6, 2023
4.5 stars ⭐️
my heart 💗this book has my heart, that’s it. you need to read this book
I absolutely loved this book and basically Juliana Smith just proved why friends to lovers is a superior trope. I don’t make the rules
Layla and Luke are everything. I 100% believe that me and Layla are actually the same person.
I loved their friendship, their inside jokes and all the small and cute moments. both of the characters are funny, likeable and rentable. I love them.
this book was so addictive and fun that I couldn’t stop reading (yes, I skipped dinner to read it). Juliana’s writing is just incredible. can’t wait to read the rest of books in the series 🥺
how many times can I tell you to read this book until you get annoyed with me? just one more: read this book 🫶🏻
Layla says that Luke “is so cute I couldn’t stand it� and I have to agree. my goodness. did I mention that there’s a scenes where he wears grey sweatpants? 😮�
read this book if you love:
� friends to lovers
� office romance
✨slow burn
my heart 💗this book has my heart, that’s it. you need to read this book
I absolutely loved this book and basically Juliana Smith just proved why friends to lovers is a superior trope. I don’t make the rules
Layla and Luke are everything. I 100% believe that me and Layla are actually the same person.
I loved their friendship, their inside jokes and all the small and cute moments. both of the characters are funny, likeable and rentable. I love them.
this book was so addictive and fun that I couldn’t stop reading (yes, I skipped dinner to read it). Juliana’s writing is just incredible. can’t wait to read the rest of books in the series 🥺
how many times can I tell you to read this book until you get annoyed with me? just one more: read this book 🫶🏻
Layla says that Luke “is so cute I couldn’t stand it� and I have to agree. my goodness. did I mention that there’s a scenes where he wears grey sweatpants? 😮�
read this book if you love:
� friends to lovers
� office romance
✨slow burn
April 23, 2023
Rating: 5 stars ⭐️
Tropes:
workplace 📁
friends to lovers 💋
slow burn �
closed door 🚪
This was such a cozy feel good romance! I really enjoyed her first book, Bagage Claim and I was really grateful to receive this arc.
Can we talk about what an amazing best friend Luke was?? He was so caring and did EVERYTHING to make Layla happy!! 🥰
Everything about this book gave me butterflies and I just couldn’t stop reading. I’m happy that this is gonna be a series because Luke’s family was so caring and sweet. These are characters I want to read more about. �
This story starts with Layla’s first day at a publishing company. She meets her new collegue Nathan and when there's another job opening, he suggested his roommate Kyle for the position. They quickly became close friends with each other and that makes work more fun. Luke struggle’s with his feelings for Layla but when they go on a office retreat, everything changes..
Thank you to Netgalley and Juliana Smith for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.
Tropes:
workplace 📁
friends to lovers 💋
slow burn �
closed door 🚪
This was such a cozy feel good romance! I really enjoyed her first book, Bagage Claim and I was really grateful to receive this arc.
Can we talk about what an amazing best friend Luke was?? He was so caring and did EVERYTHING to make Layla happy!! 🥰
Everything about this book gave me butterflies and I just couldn’t stop reading. I’m happy that this is gonna be a series because Luke’s family was so caring and sweet. These are characters I want to read more about. �
This story starts with Layla’s first day at a publishing company. She meets her new collegue Nathan and when there's another job opening, he suggested his roommate Kyle for the position. They quickly became close friends with each other and that makes work more fun. Luke struggle’s with his feelings for Layla but when they go on a office retreat, everything changes..
Thank you to Netgalley and Juliana Smith for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.
May 3, 2023
LOVED this one! Had me smiling and laughing the whole time. Friends to lovers is my FAV trope and this was perfect. This also has a workplace trope- which totally reminded me of Jim and Pam from the office! Is it cheesy at times? Yes but I loved it. Closed door but still suggestive at times, there is so much angst!!! I think Juliana might be one of my new favorite authors- I gave Baggage Claim 5🌟 too - which is SO rare for me! Eager to read more by her!!!
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!
April 28, 2023
4.5 stars!
This slow burn, office romance, friends-to-lovers was such a quick and adorable read!
I loved the 3 friends, Layla, Luke & Nathan. The pranks at work were fun.
The ending 🥺🥺 I loved it.
So excited for Nathan's story coming in the fall!!
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This slow burn, office romance, friends-to-lovers was such a quick and adorable read!
I loved the 3 friends, Layla, Luke & Nathan. The pranks at work were fun.
The ending 🥺🥺 I loved it.
So excited for Nathan's story coming in the fall!!
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2023
literally traumatized.
the only time “little one� should be used is when your adoptive father is about to throw you off a cliff for a rock, not as a term of endearment in a romance book. and i cannot tolerate any book that has this many star wars references; please dont refer to someone’s penis as a lightsaber.
the only time “little one� should be used is when your adoptive father is about to throw you off a cliff for a rock, not as a term of endearment in a romance book. and i cannot tolerate any book that has this many star wars references; please dont refer to someone’s penis as a lightsaber.
May 9, 2023
3.5 stars for this adorable workplace friends-to-lovers book!
This book had me so giddy as I read it as it felt like I was revisiting my old friends Jim and Pam from The Office! Two young and quirky kids, Layla and Luke, begin their workplace friendship by indulging in small harmless pranks to combat their dull day to day job at a publish company. While neither have plans to stay longterm, they unknowingly stick it out because the thought of going without seeing one another is worst than actually pursing their dream jobs.
From day one, Layla is automatically attracted to Luke. He accidentally spiked Laylas drink with Hot Sauce thinking it was his roommate and fellow coworker Nathan’s. Surprisingly, this delighted Layla and their prank wars started. She unfortunately overheard Luke say to Nathan that Layla “isn’t what he needs� and Layla decides that if he isn’t interested in her that way then they will just be best friends forever.
Flash forward, it’s been three years and Luke and Layla are inseparable. They have become a constant in each others lives and they both harbor deep and unconditional love for one another. Luke realized that he does in fact have more than friend feelings for Layla long ago but her constantly referring to him as her best friend makes him think he’s been permanently friend-zoned. Layla, still thinking Luke isn’t attracted to her goes on meaningless dates with men and calls it quits by the third date every time because none of them are Luke.
There’s an upcoming corporate weeklong training event in Ocean City along with the promise of Luke being promoted at their workplace. Both Luke and Layla separately decide that it’s time to take a leap and see whether or not there is anything romantic between them during the work trip.
There’s endless interference from HR head Janise, who keeps interrupting potential romantic moments that had me shaking my fists at her! The book is peppered with Star Wars jokes, pop culture references, and comedic family text messages. The entire time I was obsessed with how sweet Luke was and how he gave Layla the strength to finally go after her dream of being a published author.
While the book is definitely fluffy and cute with a longgg slow burn and no spicy scenes, I was more intrigued with the banter and self discovery within both main characters. Where the book fell flat for me was in the drawn out week at the work conference. I felt like it was losing its spark and I just wanted the two of them to get together finally! I also wished that there was more information on Luke’s dream of opening his own bar. While they’re only 23/24 in the book, opening a bar of that magnitude and that age with little true experience felt unrealistic. Overall, it was adorable and I did enjoy reading it.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book had me so giddy as I read it as it felt like I was revisiting my old friends Jim and Pam from The Office! Two young and quirky kids, Layla and Luke, begin their workplace friendship by indulging in small harmless pranks to combat their dull day to day job at a publish company. While neither have plans to stay longterm, they unknowingly stick it out because the thought of going without seeing one another is worst than actually pursing their dream jobs.
From day one, Layla is automatically attracted to Luke. He accidentally spiked Laylas drink with Hot Sauce thinking it was his roommate and fellow coworker Nathan’s. Surprisingly, this delighted Layla and their prank wars started. She unfortunately overheard Luke say to Nathan that Layla “isn’t what he needs� and Layla decides that if he isn’t interested in her that way then they will just be best friends forever.
Flash forward, it’s been three years and Luke and Layla are inseparable. They have become a constant in each others lives and they both harbor deep and unconditional love for one another. Luke realized that he does in fact have more than friend feelings for Layla long ago but her constantly referring to him as her best friend makes him think he’s been permanently friend-zoned. Layla, still thinking Luke isn’t attracted to her goes on meaningless dates with men and calls it quits by the third date every time because none of them are Luke.
There’s an upcoming corporate weeklong training event in Ocean City along with the promise of Luke being promoted at their workplace. Both Luke and Layla separately decide that it’s time to take a leap and see whether or not there is anything romantic between them during the work trip.
There’s endless interference from HR head Janise, who keeps interrupting potential romantic moments that had me shaking my fists at her! The book is peppered with Star Wars jokes, pop culture references, and comedic family text messages. The entire time I was obsessed with how sweet Luke was and how he gave Layla the strength to finally go after her dream of being a published author.
While the book is definitely fluffy and cute with a longgg slow burn and no spicy scenes, I was more intrigued with the banter and self discovery within both main characters. Where the book fell flat for me was in the drawn out week at the work conference. I felt like it was losing its spark and I just wanted the two of them to get together finally! I also wished that there was more information on Luke’s dream of opening his own bar. While they’re only 23/24 in the book, opening a bar of that magnitude and that age with little true experience felt unrealistic. Overall, it was adorable and I did enjoy reading it.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
May 5, 2023
"It's pretty fun, watching the two of you dance around each other with your eyes closed."
I loved this book sooo much! I had the best time reading about Layla and Luke. Their friendship was just EVERYTHING one could ask for. They had the best meet cute - which actually happened by accident when Luke joined as an intern to West Oak Publications but what followed was a whole reign of pranks, jokes and sarcasm ❤️
This book was filled with "laugh out loud" moments, witty banter, heartwarming actions of love and kindness, and by the end of the book, my heart is swollen with the warm mushy feels and I have the biggest smile pasted on my face 💖
"You're my person, Lay."
It also is the slowest of slow burn ❤️� but I didn't mind it much because we could still see the friendship blooming even more through the pages and I really enjoyed it. The way these two supported each other in their own interests, yet not being pushy about it... being there for each other...
Just. Adorable.
The book elevated for me even more when we get to the laser tag scene and then the beach scene!!! Oh My God!! It was sooo much fun! I'm going to read that chapter over and over 🥰
Plus, this book had the cutest illustrations at the beginning of every chapter and I had no idea that I could love such a small detail so much!
You will really enjoy this book if you like:
🍩Friends to lovers
🍩Work place romance
🍩Found family
🍩Slow burn
🍩Dual POV
🍩Fun side characters
I also LOVED Nathan (he is so precious!!) and his story is going to be the next one in the series!! I can't wait for Fall 2023 to come along 🥰
Thanks to NetGalley, Juliana Smith, and Victory Editing for the e-ARC of this book in exchange of my honest review.
I loved this book sooo much! I had the best time reading about Layla and Luke. Their friendship was just EVERYTHING one could ask for. They had the best meet cute - which actually happened by accident when Luke joined as an intern to West Oak Publications but what followed was a whole reign of pranks, jokes and sarcasm ❤️
This book was filled with "laugh out loud" moments, witty banter, heartwarming actions of love and kindness, and by the end of the book, my heart is swollen with the warm mushy feels and I have the biggest smile pasted on my face 💖
"You're my person, Lay."
It also is the slowest of slow burn ❤️� but I didn't mind it much because we could still see the friendship blooming even more through the pages and I really enjoyed it. The way these two supported each other in their own interests, yet not being pushy about it... being there for each other...
Just. Adorable.
The book elevated for me even more when we get to the laser tag scene and then the beach scene!!! Oh My God!! It was sooo much fun! I'm going to read that chapter over and over 🥰
Plus, this book had the cutest illustrations at the beginning of every chapter and I had no idea that I could love such a small detail so much!
You will really enjoy this book if you like:
🍩Friends to lovers
🍩Work place romance
🍩Found family
🍩Slow burn
🍩Dual POV
🍩Fun side characters
I also LOVED Nathan (he is so precious!!) and his story is going to be the next one in the series!! I can't wait for Fall 2023 to come along 🥰
Thanks to NetGalley, Juliana Smith, and Victory Editing for the e-ARC of this book in exchange of my honest review.
April 7, 2023
In 'Per My Last Email', the author, Juliana Smith, perfectly captures the joy of the friends to lovers trope! I don't think I've ever rooted harder for two friends to get out of the friend zone as I did for Layla and Luke. They've worked together and secretly pined for each other for three years. At work, they prank each other and their desk mate/friend, Nathan, and they finally enjoy their boring jobs.
When they go to a work retreat (In Ocean City, Maryland, which is one of my favorite vacation spots!!!), Luke sees it as his opportunity to get out of the friend zone. Layla's roommate, Rachel, tells her that she needs to 'take jumps', and she wants Layla to put her feelings out there to Luke. On the trip, the two of them get closer and closer, and their interactions are so sweet.
I was so happy that the story took place in Philadelphia. I'm from Philly, and it was such a nice surprise to see that it was the setting for this book. I also love Ocean City, Maryland, and I was so excited that it was the site for their work retreat.
Overall, I loved Luke and Layla! I loved how the story wraps up, and I'm so happy that it is the beginning of a series about Luke's siblings. I enjoyed his siblings, and I can't wait to read more about them in future books. I am looking forward to updates on Luke and Layla in future books too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing. I recommend this book so much if you love:
-Friends to Lovers
-Office Romances
-Office Pranks
-Hilarious family group texts
-Books set in Philadelphia
-Vacations in Ocean City, Maryland
- No third act breakup
When they go to a work retreat (In Ocean City, Maryland, which is one of my favorite vacation spots!!!), Luke sees it as his opportunity to get out of the friend zone. Layla's roommate, Rachel, tells her that she needs to 'take jumps', and she wants Layla to put her feelings out there to Luke. On the trip, the two of them get closer and closer, and their interactions are so sweet.
I was so happy that the story took place in Philadelphia. I'm from Philly, and it was such a nice surprise to see that it was the setting for this book. I also love Ocean City, Maryland, and I was so excited that it was the site for their work retreat.
Overall, I loved Luke and Layla! I loved how the story wraps up, and I'm so happy that it is the beginning of a series about Luke's siblings. I enjoyed his siblings, and I can't wait to read more about them in future books. I am looking forward to updates on Luke and Layla in future books too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing. I recommend this book so much if you love:
-Friends to Lovers
-Office Romances
-Office Pranks
-Hilarious family group texts
-Books set in Philadelphia
-Vacations in Ocean City, Maryland
- No third act breakup
April 11, 2023
If you’re looking for a book with office romance, best friends to lovers and filled with miscommunication, this is it. And let me explain� two people who work together and are obviously in love with each other but because she overheard him saying he wasn’t looking to have anything with her, they only stay friends. Best friends. For years.
It’s not like it’s a bad story, it’s actually quite enjoyable and they’re so dorky and cute but the entire miscommunication ruined a bit the reading experience for me. We’re not talking about teenagers� They’re adults who are doing all the talk except the important one.
While all this is happening, they have this sort of claim for each other, which is a bit odd. “My Layla� “my Luke� and somewhat being in the middle of people interested in the other� The friends trying to set them up are the smartest people in the book.
However, their relationship is quite funny. They have their own world and are very cute together so despite all the things that I didn’t like, there were also a lot of moments that I enjoyed. I mean, how could I not like a book with so many Star Wars references?
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an arc in exchange of my honest review.
It’s not like it’s a bad story, it’s actually quite enjoyable and they’re so dorky and cute but the entire miscommunication ruined a bit the reading experience for me. We’re not talking about teenagers� They’re adults who are doing all the talk except the important one.
While all this is happening, they have this sort of claim for each other, which is a bit odd. “My Layla� “my Luke� and somewhat being in the middle of people interested in the other� The friends trying to set them up are the smartest people in the book.
However, their relationship is quite funny. They have their own world and are very cute together so despite all the things that I didn’t like, there were also a lot of moments that I enjoyed. I mean, how could I not like a book with so many Star Wars references?
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an arc in exchange of my honest review.
July 12, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4/5
🌶� 1/5
This was just the sweetest friends-to-lovers workplace romance that I’ve had the pleasure of reading!
Over the course of working together for three years, the friendship that blossomed between Luke and Layla was incomparable. They are each other’s person. Through playing pranks on their coworker Nathan to debating whether Han or Greedo shot first. Though both have harbored feelings for the other, nothing could allow them to potentially ruin their friendship by making a move if their feelings were not reciprocated. Isn’t that always the case! 😭 But with a company retreat to Ocean City, both Luke and Layla are committed to taking leaps both professionally and emotionally. If only the ever-looming HR Manager, Janise would keep her nose out of their business� 😒
Watching these two slowly realize the other’s feelings was something to behold. Naturally, I was screaming at them the entire time and wishing they would just kiss already! But where’s the fun in that? This story shows that when you love someone, nothing will stand in your way.
I’m so happy to have received an ARC of Luke and Layla’s love story! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the other Wells siblings in Juliana’s forthcoming novels!
🌶� 1/5
This was just the sweetest friends-to-lovers workplace romance that I’ve had the pleasure of reading!
Over the course of working together for three years, the friendship that blossomed between Luke and Layla was incomparable. They are each other’s person. Through playing pranks on their coworker Nathan to debating whether Han or Greedo shot first. Though both have harbored feelings for the other, nothing could allow them to potentially ruin their friendship by making a move if their feelings were not reciprocated. Isn’t that always the case! 😭 But with a company retreat to Ocean City, both Luke and Layla are committed to taking leaps both professionally and emotionally. If only the ever-looming HR Manager, Janise would keep her nose out of their business� 😒
Watching these two slowly realize the other’s feelings was something to behold. Naturally, I was screaming at them the entire time and wishing they would just kiss already! But where’s the fun in that? This story shows that when you love someone, nothing will stand in your way.
I’m so happy to have received an ARC of Luke and Layla’s love story! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the other Wells siblings in Juliana’s forthcoming novels!
May 15, 2023
2.9⭐️
i really really REALLY wanted to like this especially because it was an ARC, but this needed to be marketed as a slow burn and don’t get me wrong i love me a good slow burn but the signs really were glaringly obvious if they just UGH. they just took TOO long to get on the same page even though so many things happened that would’ve made you think “hmmm this isn’t friendly.�
anyways their first kiss was actually pretty nice and the characters were likable. i hate that there were so many people to keep track of sometimes esp in Luke’s family. He has about 4 siblings? plus in laws and such it was kinda too much.
after the first kiss (which came at like 87%) i found myself skimming barely paying attention. in fact it took a while for me to even finish this😔.
not my cup of tea but it was still cute� i guess ¿
i really really REALLY wanted to like this especially because it was an ARC, but this needed to be marketed as a slow burn and don’t get me wrong i love me a good slow burn but the signs really were glaringly obvious if they just UGH. they just took TOO long to get on the same page even though so many things happened that would’ve made you think “hmmm this isn’t friendly.�
anyways their first kiss was actually pretty nice and the characters were likable. i hate that there were so many people to keep track of sometimes esp in Luke’s family. He has about 4 siblings? plus in laws and such it was kinda too much.
after the first kiss (which came at like 87%) i found myself skimming barely paying attention. in fact it took a while for me to even finish this😔.
not my cup of tea but it was still cute� i guess ¿
November 27, 2023
A certain point, I kept reading out of spite. I am fairly certain this author looked into my brain and saw all my pet peeves and shoved them in a novel. I will say I did read the entire thing (perhaps in an attempt o find something redeemable or maybe I hate myself). The only thing that I liked was the fact that the book was over.
The main character is such a Not Like the Other Girls that I wanted to simultaneously knock her over the head and pay for the therapy she so desperately needs. Seriously, I laughed when she said she was not judgmental. She went on a whole rant basically slit shamming women and the close they wear (sorry not everyone dresses like they are the spinster aunt in the 1800s). She treats a lot of the women in the book like crap. She only has one freind that is a woman (always a really read flag about deep seated internalized misogyny). I could go on a whole rant about this issue. She also stays in a job she clearly hates for w no real reason (she says it’s to get contacts in the publishing industry, but she makes no effort to actually make contacts.) she is so immature and childish I have seen 13 year old boys with more maturity. When she said that no one at the office likes her (except two guys (one of which wants to date her), I thought it might be a toxic environment, but the more I read the more I realized that she is the toxic person.
The love interest has so many red flags you could see them from space. He keeps calling her “little one,� which is not cute that is infantilizing and only something a grandparent should call you. I physically cringed every time he said that, which was a lot. As a side note, authors need to stop making every person who is a woman small. In this novel she is somehow 2 feet smaller than him. That would make him 7 feet tall or she has to be less than 5 feet tall. I feel like the author just does not understand how high works. Anyways, the main love interest is also a stalker (to the point where he literally admits it). That is not cute and I think the girl needs to take her toxic butt to therapy and maybe get a restraining order against him.
Save yourself the torture and do not pick up this book.
The main character is such a Not Like the Other Girls that I wanted to simultaneously knock her over the head and pay for the therapy she so desperately needs. Seriously, I laughed when she said she was not judgmental. She went on a whole rant basically slit shamming women and the close they wear (sorry not everyone dresses like they are the spinster aunt in the 1800s). She treats a lot of the women in the book like crap. She only has one freind that is a woman (always a really read flag about deep seated internalized misogyny). I could go on a whole rant about this issue. She also stays in a job she clearly hates for w no real reason (she says it’s to get contacts in the publishing industry, but she makes no effort to actually make contacts.) she is so immature and childish I have seen 13 year old boys with more maturity. When she said that no one at the office likes her (except two guys (one of which wants to date her), I thought it might be a toxic environment, but the more I read the more I realized that she is the toxic person.
The love interest has so many red flags you could see them from space. He keeps calling her “little one,� which is not cute that is infantilizing and only something a grandparent should call you. I physically cringed every time he said that, which was a lot. As a side note, authors need to stop making every person who is a woman small. In this novel she is somehow 2 feet smaller than him. That would make him 7 feet tall or she has to be less than 5 feet tall. I feel like the author just does not understand how high works. Anyways, the main love interest is also a stalker (to the point where he literally admits it). That is not cute and I think the girl needs to take her toxic butt to therapy and maybe get a restraining order against him.
Save yourself the torture and do not pick up this book.
May 14, 2024
“You may have not technically been mine, but every moment I’ve spent with you was one I’ll always remember. Three years, thirteen years, thirty, I don’t care; I would’ve waited for them all if it meant I could have you.�
Normally I don’t read books with a work relationship trope in it. However, this one was too cute! So simple with no over dramatic storyline. A sweet book to read when you want to jump back into the fictional world.
Luke is this gorgeous Clark Kent nerd and Layla is the office version of Jess from New Girl!! They both are newbies at a publishing company and connected through an accidental prank war between each other.
Nathan’s chuckle turned into a full-on guffaw. “You pranked a girl on your first day?� Luke whipped around to face him. “Shut up. I thought it was yours. It was payback for putting hot sauce in my drink last week.� I looked between the two, bewildered and mortified. “You put hot sauce in my lemonade?� Luke choked on his reply. “I-I didn’t think it was your lemonade.�
That was the day they became insufferable best friends but in reality that was the day they both secretly fell for each other. Three years later they’ve still been circling around each other. Pretending that their closeness is because of how great their friendship is and not from the crave of being something more.
So to spice things up, their company takes their department on a work trip to a cute beach town. Where Luke and Layla have to decide whether they’ll take jumps out of their friendship to see if the other likes them just as much as they do.
A cute summer romance where the girl fell but the guy fell harder!!!
April 26, 2023
4⭐️
This was such a cute book! This book is a workplace, she falls first he falls harder book that followed Layla and Luke who both work at a publishing company. Luke has just got out of a long term relationship but after setting his eyes on Layla he becomes obsessed. Both Layla and Luke pine over each other until it all comes together in a work trip. This book was so adorable and both characters were so sweet and caring. Luke knew everything about Layla and would go out of his way just to see her smile! I am obsessed with the nickname little one and wish someone would call me that. The playlist he made, made my heart melt. Both of their roommates were so funny and amazing additions to the book! I really enjoyed this book! It was fun and lighthearted! Definitely recommend!
Favorite Quote:
“Whatever she wanted from me, she could have.�
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a cute book! This book is a workplace, she falls first he falls harder book that followed Layla and Luke who both work at a publishing company. Luke has just got out of a long term relationship but after setting his eyes on Layla he becomes obsessed. Both Layla and Luke pine over each other until it all comes together in a work trip. This book was so adorable and both characters were so sweet and caring. Luke knew everything about Layla and would go out of his way just to see her smile! I am obsessed with the nickname little one and wish someone would call me that. The playlist he made, made my heart melt. Both of their roommates were so funny and amazing additions to the book! I really enjoyed this book! It was fun and lighthearted! Definitely recommend!
Favorite Quote:
“Whatever she wanted from me, she could have.�
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2024
3 �
ܳ�
okay, okay, this was cute, like extremely so. gotta love a best friends to lovers, workplace, Jim and Pam inspired romance.
but it was also excruciatingly boring,
like nothing entertaining happened� and it felt like something was missing
i genuinely was reading to read, nothing else. there was not really anything truly keeping me here but i prevailed cause i mean, why not? it was cute enough!
soooooo excited for the next book though!!! hopefully it’s better🤞🏻
ܳ�
okay, okay, this was cute, like extremely so. gotta love a best friends to lovers, workplace, Jim and Pam inspired romance.
but it was also excruciatingly boring,
like nothing entertaining happened� and it felt like something was missing
i genuinely was reading to read, nothing else. there was not really anything truly keeping me here but i prevailed cause i mean, why not? it was cute enough!
soooooo excited for the next book though!!! hopefully it’s better🤞🏻
April 9, 2023
Any book Juliana writes, I will read.
I have a hard time putting her books down and Per My Last Email was no different
*Office Romance
*Best friends to lovers
*Slow burn
It was another fantastic read. Layla and Luke’s story is the cutest!!
Thank you to Net Galley and Juliana Smith for an advanced reader copy.
I have a hard time putting her books down and Per My Last Email was no different
*Office Romance
*Best friends to lovers
*Slow burn
It was another fantastic read. Layla and Luke’s story is the cutest!!
Thank you to Net Galley and Juliana Smith for an advanced reader copy.
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