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Juniper Green has missed the “magic” that’s left her life since her mom died. Her mom could make things special, and they talked about all the great things in Juniper’s future. But in the decade since she’s been gone, life just hasn’t gone the way they had planned. A publishing career… hasn’t gone anywhere. The podcast she started about books was popular enough to attract a buyer. But then she lost involvement in it entirely. Now Juniper is 32 and living with her dad in small-town Colorado.
Then she gets a surprise opportunity: to audition to play the female lead in an audio production of her favorite book series, The Meadow. (It’s Twilight, folks: Schumacher loves Twilight and so does Juniper.) It’s an opportunity that could finally get her life back on track.
But she’s stunned to learn that the man lending his voice to the male lead is none other than James Neely. He’s now a semi-famous actor who has gotten attention for a breakout indie movie. But she knew him, briefly, in college. They had a crazy experience together one night when he was playing Romeo in a classroom production and she stepped in last-minute to fill in for a scene as Juliet. They connected that evening, and she felt they could be best friends given the opportunity. But then he disappeared and they never saw each other again.
Now Juniper can’t believe she has to work with this guy — creating chemistry for an audio portrayal of star-crossed lovers but also for social media, to boost interest in the project. But she’ll make it work because she needs that magic back.
When they pretend to be dating to get more followers (so they can hit a goal the producers promised will earn them more money), the lines between co-workers/ potential friends and real lovers blur. Juniper knows they really could be close friends, and even have a romantic relationship, but there are a lot of roadblocks to that becoming reality. And she doesn’t want to get her heart broken just as she may finally have a chance to start her career.
I’ve loved Ashley Schumacher’s young adult books, especially her debut, Amelia Unabridged, and the adorably nerdy The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway. I saw this new book from her and snatched it up, not necessarily paying attention that it was an adult book, rather than another YA. The only difference that made to me was that she, like many other authors (especially romance) took the leap from just kisses and sweet relationships for teens to pretty spicy material. That’s my only complaint about the book (while many other readers won’t complain about it at all; rather, they’ll welcome it).
Say It Out Loud is, however, a sweet story about love and grief, second chances, and finding your way as an adult. The whole Twilight fandom element running through it is pretty entertaining as well. If you were a fan of that insanely popular series, you should enjoy this book, and even if you weren’t, you should still enjoy this book.
Rated: High. Profanity includes 21 uses of strong language, around 20 instances of moderate profanity, 15 uses of mild language, and around 45 instances of the name of Deity in vain. Sexual content includes some kissing and one pretty detailed “spicy” scene that runs at least a couple of pages.
Click here to purchase your copy of Say It Out Loud on Amazon.
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
