e-Audio, 10:46:40
Narrated by: Jaime Lincoln Smith & Charlie L. Wood
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Published by: Row House by Spotify Audiobooks
Read from: February 7-9, 2025
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received a copy of this e-ALC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a just and honest review.)
Content Warning: Grief, sexism, Sexual Content, Death, Sexual Harassment, Car Accident, Cancer, Death of a Parent, Miscarriage
For Readers Interested In: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Dual POV, Multiple Narrators, Sparkly Covers, Most Anticipated, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Magical Realism, Realistic Fiction, RomanceWhat if a mysterious pair of glasses helped you to see life—and love—clearly?
Sports reporter Tanika “Nikki” Ryan is at the top of her game until she isn’t. Squinting at the teleprompter and flubbing lines, she loses her coveted Thursday Night football spot to a younger, less qualified woman—and that’s only the start of her troubles. After her impaired sight leads to an accident nearly costing her life, Tanika finds herself in the office of handsome widowed optometrist Gideon Miles. There, mysterious circumstances lead Tanika to an enchanted pair of glasses, changing her world—and Gideon’s—forever. With help from her “boss chick village” and a bit of magic, Tanika finally learns to see the love that’s right in front of her eyes.
In this high-heat and hilarious rom-com that harkens to the golden age of Black romance, celebrated novelist Tati Richardson proves life is sweeter after age forty, and gives readers of all ages a reason to believe in second chances.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Y’all know after reading Tati’s last release I HAD to get my hands on this one too. And it was just as good! I LOVED this because it was different than what I usually read, but also still one of those comforting reads that feel like something you’ve read before. It has the rom com feel I love with older characters. And as someone who is getting older and actually has a husband with a semi gray beard, this was everything I needed.
Ok so the entire time I was reading this I kept thinking…. “Is this effing play about us?!” Because Lordt her name was Nikki and she’s also a sneakerhead. I even have the Mocha 1’s that look like the Travis Scotts she was talking about. So yeah, safe to say I related to her 1000%. As for Gideon, I liked him too. He was funny but very timid. But I definitely understand why. He was still facing some things and wasn’t exactly comfortable in the dating world yet, and I understood that completely. I also liked that he was so intune with what both he and Nikki needed. Now did I always like it? No. Like that ending was terrible and I thought it was a cop out lol But the very end made up for it.
The writing style was also so good. Y’all know I love a good sports story, but this was told through the journalist. And fun fact, that’s what I went to school for before I decided to get my Master’s in Library Science. I love sports reporting and I loved seeing it in this novel. And as a glasses wearer, the magical realism was definitely cool too. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have asked for the ability to see things “clearer” with my glasses. And the way she was seeing things clearer was so sweet. I loved it so much. I knew what it was right away. I was glad that it took her a minute. She wasn’t ready to know who it was either.
Their romance was cute tho. I loved their dates! The cooking one was accidentally hilarious. But the one where they went to the shoe thing? Chef’s kiss. TBH that was my kind of date lol I wouldn’t go because I couldn’t buy anything and I didn’t want to get upset, but I would definitely watch videos or look at photos of someone else who went lol And let me just tell you, if you think because they seem to be older that means the spice is gone, you will be mistaken lol I know people’s spice meter is different, but this one was a solid 3 on mine. That desk scene alone sent me to the stratosphere lmao
Y’all know I love me some Tati. And this solidified it. Tati can write her ass off and I really hope to see my soror in person one day! Congrats on another solid book Tati! So excited for you and the rest of the world who get to read Nikki and Gideon.
Overall, I give this
