ME: So how do you feel about Thanksgiving? JACK: What, like in general? As a holiday? JACK: It's probably a pretty shitty thing to celebrate, you know, given the mass genocide and total destruction of an entire people's way of life. ME: Wow. Okay. So yes, recognize all that. ME: Also, how do you feel about having everyone over for Thanksgiving? Yay!
After the promotion Sadie has been working towards for six years is given to her boss's soon to be son-in-law, her outburst during a company meeting lands Sadie unemployed and lost. A night of drinking leads Sadie to accidentally set up a meeting on a roommate app, instead of the dating app she thought it was in her drunken haze. Nerdy Jack Thomas was nothing Sadie was expecting, but just might be everything she needs in her life. He offers her a room in his Brooklyn brownstone and the confidence she needs to go for her dreams of opening up a sustainable floral shop. As the pair spend more time together, these roommates turned friends soon realize that there might be more to each other that meets the eye.
Lease on Love is an amazing book and I can already tell it's going to be one of my top reads of 2022. The author's voice is fresh, unique, and incredibly fun. I am absolutely obsessed with Sadie's friend group of Gemma, Nick, and Harley. They are my people. Between their snarky group texts and how they will do anything for each other, I found myself wanting to be a part of their found family. The banter is spot on and any person whose favorite word is f*** is a friend of mine.
Sadie is such a layered heroine. Being in finance, she spent the last 6 years of her life obsessed with maintaining a perfect appearance, yet I loved seeing her break free of that mold as she figures out how to run a successful business. Ever a ball of energy, oozing enthusiasm, she still struggles with self confidence and self doubt, which was incredibly relatable. I loved her sassy, smart mouth and found myself constantly laughing out loud at her sharp sense of humor. Yet, I also appreciated her ability to read people, especially Jack and her friends, knowing just how to handle them in their times of need. Everyone needs a Sadie in their life.
Jack was the exact hero that Sadie needed. Even though he's completely opposite of her type, he wiggled his way into her heart slowly. At first, he was so painfully awkward and nerdy, so I adored watching him come out of his shell to prove to Sadie how much she has impacted his life. He surrounds himself with an air of mystery to his life, which kept me reading to find out what makes Jack tick and why he does what he does. Jack's little (and sometimes big) acts of love for Sadie completely warmed my heart. He whole-heartedly believes in Sadie. And who doesn't love a man that smells of coffee and paper?!?!?!
While the book was fun and light-hearted at times, it also delved into difficult topics like grief and parental verbal abuse. I appreciated how therapy was talked about openly. Jack's grief story hit me hard and the way he felt so hollow for so long completely encapsulates how difficult losing a parent or loved one can feel. Reading about his journey helped me with my own grief and was a comfort to read.
I loved the entire friend group, but Gemma was my girl. I NEED a book for Gemma. It was so refreshing to see a middle school teacher so accurately portrayed, struggling with the pressures of the profession and constantly wondering whether or not the job is worth it. Gemma's struggles perfectly articulated so many of the feelings I face daily as a teacher as well. Her character made me feel seen and validated.
Lease on Love is beyond perfection. I inhaled the book in a day and honestly wish I could read it for the first time again. This forced proximity, friends to lovers, slow burn open door romance will have you laughing and swooning from the first page. While I have been loving dual POV books lately, the single POV suits the plot perfectly, especially with Jack’s personality. This is the type of book that inspires me to write. Lease on Love makes you feel, takes you on an emotional journey and is incredibly real.
Thank you Falon for this masterpiece!
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