Losing Sleep: A Sweet Romance

by Hillary Slaughter

The only thing worse than being dragged on a vacation you don’t want to go on is having a near-stranger acting as chauffeur.

Audrey is content with her life—she really is. Her job is going nowhere. Her car is one pothole away from falling apart. Her bank account is closer to zero than she cares to admit. But she’s fine!

At least that’s what she tells everyone. If Audrey was honest with herself, she’d admit she’s not so much fine with the way things are as much as she’s afraid of change. After a childhood filled with uncertainty, the only thing Audrey is keen on is security. She is big on comfort zones. As evidenced by the fact that she won’t quit her job, despite being passed over for promotions repeatedly.

When Audrey’s former college roommate Tory invites her to a birthday cabin vacation, Audrey is sure her car will get her out of the trip. Instead, it lands her a spot riding up with Grey, an acquaintance with a propensity for fast food and spontaneity, a combination guaranteed to make their five-hour car ride even longer.

Between pit stops, detours, and prying questions, Grey manages to push every one of her buttons.

Audrey has just about had it with Grey and is an inch away from giving up on the trip altogether, when a flat tire and limited space at a friend’s home forces them even closer together.

Through their forced proximity and late-night conversation, Audrey realizes that there just might be more to life than a safe steady customer service job and eight hours of sleep every night. If only she can convince her heart to be brave enough to make room for Grey and the possibilities he invites.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Clean Romance, Closed Door Romance, Romantic Comedy

307 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2024

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages)]

“Not all who wander are lost.”

Audrey lets her anxiety rule her life and lives in the safe zone, using yoga to calm herself. Snarky, bearded Grey is more carefree, loves to talk about food, and rolls with the curves life dishes out. I was pleasantly surprised by this Pepsi-filled road trip to Island Park, ID with this duo. This is my first book by this author and I adored it from start to finish.

The journey is full of twists that involve some pretty bantery forced proximity and a one bed situation, but it’s the growth that wins the award. Grey’s perceptions and encouragement help Audrey go through some very uncomfortable and much needed adventures to help her find herself again, as well as to discover new and valuable insights about herself. Watching them fall past the lines of strangers to friendship to attraction was an amazing experience.

This story is so sweet and heartwarming, but also swoony and empowering. I loved it!

Content: talk of cheating; kissing

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[jensbooknookclub]

Jen’s BookNook Review

Book: Losing Sleep
Author: Hillary Slaughter

First thought: This was a cute sweet read. It was about taking risks, living your life and enjoying the adventure. This book is full of friendship, nature and great memories. You’ll wish you could slide right into this epic friend group. I really enjoyed this on and loved that it had a great message.

Audrey had the next week off of work and is headed to the mountains to celebrate her best friend’s Tory’s birthday with her group of friends. This is definitely out of her comfort zone but Tory insisted she had to go as this weekend her ex fiancé was marrying her ex best friend. Because Tory knew Audrey would try to get out of going she enlisted her bestie Grey to drive Audrey up.

Grey showed up to pick Audrey up, they definitely didn’t hit it off. They couldn’t be more opposite of each other. She was a yoga loving, anxiety driven, follow the path type of girl. This was going to make for a long and awkward drive. Grey being who he is wouldn’t let Audrey melt into the seat during this drive. He actively engaged her via banter, by challenging her helped bring her slowly out of her shell.

But not all road trips go as planned and adventures sometimes happen as both planned and unplanned detours. This story takes lots of fun detours and is jammed pack full of nature, friendship and adventure. Not all who wander are lost. Is the motto of this book.

Literally Themes you’ll find:

* Strangers to Lovers
* Forced Proximity
* Opposites Attract
* Friends Group Vacay
* One Bed
* Adventure
* Fun Banter
* Leaving Comfort Zone
* Sweet Romance

QOTD: If you could pick only one place to live the rest of your life which would you pick. The mountains or the beach.

🥾🧭🌄🥾🧭🌄🥾🧭🌄🥾🌄🧭🥾

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6frejrLr...

[The Closed Door Book Nook]

“Not all romances have epic starts. You can’t plan for everything, Audrey. Sometimes, when you let yourself get a little lost on your way, magic happens.”

Soooo extremely thankful to have had the opportunity to read an ARC copy of Losing Sleep by @hillaryslaughter_author

Audrey lives life by the book. Preparation is key to happiness and living life outside of her comfort zone is the surest way to have her heart broken (again) and for life to derail as she knows it. Enter Grey, her road trip companion who has an optimistic view on life and all of the opportunities it can afford. Grey pushes Audrey to step outside of her comfort zone—to “wander” toward what will truly make her happy in life. Will a week together for a friends birthday in the mountains make Audrey chase what she truly wants?

This book absolutely had me in all the feels. Hillary Slaughter did a PHENOMENAL job writing from Audrey’s perspective as someone who struggles with anxiety controlling many of their decisions, the need to feel safe/prepared at all times, and the weight of feeling inferior or less than compared to others. The character growth Audrey had over the course of this book was just so amazing (it gave me Isadora Bentley vibes if you have read that book) and I absolutely adored her and Grey’s relationship (add Grey to my list of favorite book boyfriends, hello handsome mountain man 🥵).

Read this book if you enjoy:
🏔️Clean, wholesome romance
✨Flirty, witty banter
🏔️Forced proximity/only one bed (but clean!)
✨Main female character growth
🏔️Wilderness/road trip theme
✨Slow burn romance/he takes care of her

Losing Sleep will be released on May 20!! Mark your calendars! This is one you don’t want to miss 😍

[Kristy]

3.5 stars
.
What I enjoyed:
✔️set in Island Park, Idaho, with a few scenes in Yellowstone.
✔️excellent portrayal of anxiety
✔️Audrey redeems herself slightly from Book 1
✔️sweet romance
.
Things I didn't enjoy as much:
✔️way too many references to how much Audrey loves yoga
✔️constant reminders of Audrey preferring not to wear shoes
✔️Audrey is hard for me to root for. I'm not quite sure why.
.
I still breezed through this book and even stayed up late to finish it. I'll be reading book 3 when it comes out.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer)]

This book came into my life at the perfect time. I was craving some humor to boost my mood, and Losing Sleep delivered just that.

The tale of Audrey and Grey kicks off awkwardly as they journey together to a mountain cabin for their friend Tory's birthday party. Audrey, with her fears, doubts, and anxiety, is such a relatable character. On the other hand, Grey seizes life optimistically and isn't afraid to take risks. His spontaneous nature initially irritates Audrey, leading to humorous clashes and attempts to understand each other. I really enjoyed seeing the progression of their romance and Audrey's personal growth. Grey proved to be the perfect addition to Audrey's life. I found myself cheering for her every time she stepped out of her comfort zone.

The novel has a cast of wonderful supporting characters, including Tory's grandparents and her childhood best friends. The stargazing, yoga sessions, and whitewater rafting added some fun moments to the story.

Losing Sleep is both entertaining and inspiring, and made me reflect on my own life. My favorite line from the story is one I loved and it truly spoke to me, 'Sometimes, when you let yourself get a little lost on your way, magic happens'. It perfectly summarizes the heart of this romance.

[Jerrye Tellmeagreatstorylove]

I loved the first book in the series but I absolutely adored this second one!! It was not only super fun and entertaining but it had the sweetest love journey too. I was a bit annoyed with Grey at the beginning because his incessant talking was weird but once I understood him better I saw how much he was trying to make Audrey comfortable. His care of her and challenges for her were delightful and just what she needed. He inspired her to be brave and she inspired him to make plans for the future. Audrey and I are similar, though I don’t have her crippling fear of uncertainty. We both love a good plan and workout to manage stress. And I’ve been in the situation where people don’t appreciate what you bring to the table. But learning to be brave and be entirely yourself is such a great way to live and I was so glad to see Audrey embrace that. There’s many other awesome parts to this story but I won’t spoil anything else. Grab this book ASAP and be ready for a new favorite to add to your shelves.

I received an ARC of this book from the author via BookFunnel. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

[Leslie Books and Socks Rock]

Sweet contemporary romance with a road trip, one bed, house party. I like yoga and enjoyed the yoga moves painting a picture.

I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen at the cabin with everyone. Grey and Audrey were sweet.

Audrey had a lot of issues and was hard to relate to a lot. Didn’t care for all the times it’s mentioned how much makeup she’s wearing. She kept saying she slept with Grey twice but as far as I’m aware Grey didn’t sleep the 2nd time because he was watching the movie. I thought it was odd how much the author/character referred to sharing a bed/sleeping with Grey even though it’s a clean read.

Some words and phrases were starting to get repetitive which was starting to annoy me.

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading)]

Genre: contemporary romance
Content: makeouts, on page panic attack

This adorable story was my first by the author and after finishing it, I immediately added her debut book to my TBR.

A childhood of instability has made Audrey someone who plays it extremely safe. Her anxiety keeps her firmly in her comfort zone. The one time she opened up and got out of her comfort zone, she suffered the ultimate betrayal. Now, she’s even more guarded. To celebrate her friend Tory’s birthday, she ends up on a 5 hour road trip with Grey, who just so happens to be her complete opposite. He is spontaneous and fun-loving, and very good at pushing Audrey’s buttons in the best way.

I really enjoyed the way that Grey encouraged Audrey without being too overbearing. He really helped her to see life in a new way. I loved watching Audrey’s growth throughout the book. By the end, I was “YOU GO GIRL!!!”-ing in my head as I read.

This one releases on May 20th!

Quotes That Stuck Out:
😂 "Are you lactose intolerant?" Grey leaned into the car, watching me from the open driver's side door. "No..." I trailed off, not sure where he was going. "Do you hate cheese and other sources of joy?" He quirked an eye-brow, his lips tipping up into a smile that promised mischief. "No."
"Are you afraid of outlet stores that promise deep discounts and other forms of delight?" I gave a frustrated laugh. "No! But I also would like to reach the cabin before dark."

‼️ "I've decided we're all just humans, doing our best to survive, trying to help as many people as we can along the way."

✨ Sometimes, when you let yourself get a little lost on your way, magic happens."

🧲Grey had a special ability to make me feel seen. Like he recognized just how difficult each step outside my comfort zone was and wanted to celebrate every single one with me. A girl could get addicted to the energy and magnetism that was Grey.

😍 "It might not look like much now, but the view at the top is stunning. Probably one of my favorite views in Yellowstone. Trust me, the effort is worth it." "I've found the best things in life often require a bit of effort." I was startled to find Grey looking at me as he spoke, not the gravel trail we were walking.

❤️ “I don't like risks, and liking you, possibly dating you, feels like the biggest risk of all. Bigger even than driving up a mountain road at night. Yet, I can't imagine living my life hiding from the world and only doing what makes me comfortable. I want to lose sleep, stargazing and watching stupid movies. I want to wander, jumping into rivers and climbing mountains."

*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own. No positive review was required.

[Whitney Hurst]

What a fun book to lose sleep over!!

This is such a cute story. Audrey is anxiously trying to keep her life safe and in order. She doesn't take risks. It's safer that way. At least, she feels so until her college roommate convinces her going on a road trip with a complete stranger in order to attend her friend's birthday getaway is a good idea.

WRONG!

Enter ruggedly handsome Grey. Who pulls off the beard and flannel look to perfection. But that is where his perfection ends as he seems bound and determined to break Audrey from her comfort zone.

Granted when trapped in a vehicle with someone for multiple hours on end sometimes your defenses drop. Find out if they drop enough to allow Audrey a chance at her happy ending? Or will she be too scared to risk it.

I really enjoyed how real these characters felt. I loved the setting and fully want to escape to a mountain cabin and Yellowstone after reading this delightful book. And listen to a little Bon Jovi too.

Get lost and be ready to risk some sleep in this sweet rom-com!! I would give this a clean rating-no language and only kissing.

Happy Reading Friends!!! 😁

[Eliana]

A heartwarming and relatable story with real life hurts and a deserved happiness after troubled things.

[funkelbunt.liest]

4,5 stars, rounded to 5

Losing sleep was a very sweet book about overcoming fears and taking new risks despite negative experiences.

I was immediately hooked and could relate to the main character Audrey in her introvert, serious way and her overthinking. Grey was a great character. He was funny and thoughtful and I loved his sometimes silly and sarcastic answers.
I totally got why Audrey might be annoyed by him, but as a reader he just made me laugh and he pushed her buttons in a good way.

Sometimes I wasn’t too comfortable in the way he pushed and almost pressured her. But I have to say it worked for Audrey and he always stepped back to ask if she was okay with him pushing her buttons. His way would definitely not work for me, because it felt like he overstepped his boundaries and personally I don’t like to be pushed. But since he seemed to be a good people reader and Audrey kind of needed it to come out of her shell, take tiny risks and enjoy herself, I think they complemented each other perfectly.

I loved their witty banter and how they developed an emotional connection that wasn’t based on over the top hotness. I generally love slow burn romances and this definitely hit the spot. They were the perfect opposites attract couple and there was a lot of chemistry in tiny gestures and touches like hand holding. If it’s well written, I don’t need anything more from a romance. Who needs spice if you can already feel the tension when only fingers are brushing?

I have one complaint and this is the whole Trent situation. We know way too little about the guy to judge him and to be honest, he had every right to be jealous even though his lack of communication skills obviously presented a problem. I don’t see him as the bad guy and didn’t like how he was treated and gossiped about.

I also thought Audrey clearly overreacted near the end, but I can accept that her experiences were a bit much for someone who needs planning, routine, safety and that the whole road trip kind of pushed her over the edge.

Losing sleep was a great read, a clean romance where the emotional connection and physical attraction was palpable. We have great character growth and hidden depth and I just loved how both opened up to each other through their joined adventure.

Absolutely recommend this sweet novel!

Side note: For other Christians it might be important to know that yoga is a big part of the main character’s life. There is no mention of the spiritual background, it is merely presented as a form of exercise and a way of calming yourself. I didn’t enjoy this aspect of the book, but I know this is how most people view yoga and since the book isn’t advertised as Christian this doesn’t influence my rating.

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.

[Savannah M]

Oh my nature and romcom loving heart completely fell in love with this book! It's absolute joy to read and heads up, you might lose some sleep staying up to read it
This was the first romcom l've read in a while that single POV, and typically I prefer dual POVs, Audrey was the perfect person to tell this story from her side. I loved her character, and the arc was so well written and natural!
Grey is all golden retriever energy and at first Audrey is overwhelmed. I loved how talkative he is, and perceptive. He notices the little things about Audrey and works hard to help her find her bravery.
And oh man! The settings and micro tropes!!! Give me all of them because they are so well done!! (Also, please tell me Tory has her own story coming! I need to know about her and he who shall not be named because of spoilers!)
Here's some of the tropes I loved:
-road trip
-vacation love story
-Yellowstone!! (It should be a trope vs)
-he's an extrovert and she's an introvert
-opposites attract
-forced proximity
-one bed
Another thing I loved was the genuine, mature and healthy friendship between Audrey and Tory. They were real with each other but always supportive. They expressed their opinions but always made sure to reassure each other of their commitment to their friendship. I loved that so much!
Thank you to the author for an arc copy. All thoughts are my own.

[clean.reads.corner]

"Sometimes, when you let yourself get a little lost on your way, magic happens."

"Grey had a special ability to make me feel seen. Like he recognized just how difficult each step outside my comfort zone was and wanted to celebrate every single one with me. A girl could get addicted to the energy and magnetism that was Grey."

"I don't like risks, and liking you, possibly dating you, feels like the biggest risk of all."

Read if you like:
* Opposites Attract
* Forced Proximity
* Road Trip
* One Bed
* Flirty/Witty Banter
* Single POV
* Slow Burn Romance

The title is accurate, you will lose sleep staying up to finish this book...but it will be worth it!

This book is chock full of adventure and heart. I adored Audrey and Grey! I love how relatable Audrey is and her character arc is full and so well written. Flannel wearing, food obsessed Grey was so much fun. The way he truly saw Audrey and helped her to open up and step out of her comfort zone was brilliant. I loved the push and pull between them as they went from strangers to friends to more.

Favorites:
* Jovi
* Brave pinky
* Burger poetry
* Rootbeer Milk
* Firehole
* Pepsi
* Stargazing
* Life-changing cheese curds
* Hank & Dot
* The necklace

This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most certainly won't be the last!

[Randi Sampson]

Losing Sleep is the second book in the Lost Roommates series but can definitely be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.

As someone who has severe anxiety and tends to let their fear win out... boy, did I relate to Audrey. Truly, so many of her thoughts could have been pulled right out of my own brain. I loved that while this was very much a romance, it was also a story about stepping outside of your comfort zone and not letting fear rule you. Grey was such a perfect balance to Audrey... he was much more laid back and go with the flow. I loved that while he encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone and try new things, he also knew when to not push. It was such a sweet relationship that I loved watching develop as the story goes on. This was definitely a slow burn... and probably a little slower than what I typically prefer in most romance, but it felt right for these characters, and I couldn't help but love it. I also found myself really enjoying the side characters and I really hope we'll get to see some of them get their happily ever afters in the future as well.

Losing Sleep is a closed-door romance with kisses only.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Leann Arave]

This is a fun and charming read. Audrey has had some trials in her life. She had an unsettled childhood, after her father left when she was 3. Then, when she finally thought her life was in order and she would get her happily ever after her fiancé cheated on her with her best friend. So she decided to give up on relationships and just focus on her job.
Gray is doing his best to hold his life together while caring for his mother who had fallen apart when her husband suddenly passed away from a heart attack.
The cute meat that brought these two together on a road trip for a mutual best friend was so fun. I love the banter between them and the quirky adventures they had. Their quick road trip to Island Park and Yellowstone was just as entertaining. I have been many times and love reading about places I’ve been. The competitions, banter and tender talks, made this an enjoyable read. Finding ways to cope with what we’ve been given and to learn to move on when it becomes stagnant are 2 important lessons learned. I appreciate when an author can write a compelling and informative book while keeping it entertaining and lighthearted. I also appreciate a clean wholesome romance. this is book 2 of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

[Krystal]

Hillary Slaughter has won her way to my automatic read list! Finished this ARC last night, and I keep replaying this story in my mind today... can't get enough!

Summary:
Audrey is a little bit of a strategic planner, introvert, prefers her safe and secure life, and seems to have some self-doubt and insecurities. Grey is optimistic, sarcastic, and always up for an adventure.

Audrey and Grey have a mutual friend, Tory, who is having a little vacation getaway to celebrate her birthday. Audrey's car isn't the most reliable so Tory arranges for her to ride with Grey. Just the road trip to the cabin will have you hooked, laughing, and wondering if they will even make it there. No worries, they do!

Will the forced proximity, late-nights, and outdoor adventures be too much for Audrey to handle? Will she take the risks and push outside her comfort zone?

My thoughts:
I LOVED this story! I loved how each scene leaves you wanting to see what happens next. I loved how I felt like I was living the week with the characters, swept away to Yellowstone National Park. I loved the way Audrey transforms (you'll see). I loved how gentle, protective, and sweet Grey was to Audrey. Loved it all!

[M]

4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this copy and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is book 2 in the Lost Roommates Series and can be read as a standalone. Losing Sleep is told through Audrey's pov and is a sweet opposites attract romance.

CW: anxiety and panic attacks
Spice: only kissing that isn't steamy

Because of her upbringing and past relationships, Audrey finds comfort in stability. She likes having things planned out and staying in her safe box. When she agrees to attend her friend's birthday trip and catches a ride with Grey, he challenges the way she had been living. His laidback and friendly manner slowly form cracks in Audrey's thoughts and heart. Though he isn't pushy, his honesty forces Audrey to confront truths about her life. Audrey's hesitancy was understandable but I enjoyed seeing her put those fears aside and take chances to try new things. It was fun to see her gain her voice and freedom to pursue things that would bring her joy. I liked seeing her go from being strangers with Grey to becoming friends and developing stronger feelings. Their back and forth was sweet and will provide some laughs. Overall, this is a great follow up to the author's debut and I look forward to reading the next installment in the series.

[Dev G]

Enjoyable introduction to Hillary Slaughter. This book has adventure, humor, and heart.

Strangers Audrey and Grey set out on a road trip for a mutual friend’s birthday celebration. I loved their banter and their push and pull. Even though they’re opposites, Grey understands Audrey and knows how to push her just enough to step out of her comfort zone, but never making her feel silly for her fears or emotions.

Growing up in an unstable environment has led Audrey to be cautious, never taking unnecessary risks out of fear. While I didn’t have a similar childhood, I relate to Audrey and her anxieties and insecurities.

Grey was an all-around great guy. He’s loving, understanding, compassionate, and funny. He sees Audrey. He cheers for Audrey.

Some favorite things:
🌲Jovi
🌲Road trip
🌲One bed
🌲Rootbeer milk
🌲Pepsi
🌲Star gazing
🌲Chemistry
🌲Firehole
🌲Necklace

I really wanted to join the group myself while I was reading. It sounded like the perfect get away. I’m excited to read more from Hillary Slaughter.

I received a complimentary copy, but a positive review was not required.

[Jessica]

This book is absolutely adorable! I love Grey. I love Audrey. I love Hilary (the author; don’t get confused thinking this is another character). And I love the road-trip, forced proximity we get with this one.

There are so many things to love about this book!
I loved how Grey pushed Audrey’s buttons in the best ways. He wasn’t pushy, but he got to know her really well, and he tried to encourage her to stop being afraid and to push herself. I also loved that he was fun loving, while also being able to be serious. He’s kind and thoughtful and his whole “wander” personal motto was perfect for Audrey.

Audrey’s character arc was fantastic! I loved the themes of fear and family and acceptance, and how she grew by confronting her fears and her past hurts. I really loved how her friends who actually knew her sometimes weren’t afraid to say the hard things. I also loved where the story ended up. The ending had me grinning like a total fool and I don’t care. It deserves alllll the smiles.

Other things I love:
Coke vs Mountain Dew
No shoes in the car
Anxiety rep
The places! I’ve been to all these places and I love them!
Dot and Hank. I adore them and I adopt them as my own.
One bed
All the frilly pillows! Ha!
The hobbies talk
The entire road trip!
The mountains
The entire swimming scene!
Movie night
Pinky holding
Lord of the Rings quotes
Learning to trust
Letting go of the past
Yoga poses
The beard! The flannel!
Audrey’s friends
The kisses!
The last chapter
The epilogue!

It’s an adorable book and I loved reading it! Hillary is a talented author and I cannot wait to see where she goes from here.


**Many thanks to the author for the copy. A positive review was not requested or required. All thoughts are my own.

[Jen]

Losing Sleep was a wonderful sweet story of self discovery and overcoming fears. I was drawn to the story from the beginning. From the witty banter to the journey of taking chances. There were so many hilarious and heartwarming moments in this book! Audrey was a very relatable FMC. She is riddled with anxiety in the beginning. I loved her journey of opening her self up to taking chances and not letting fear rule her life. Flannel wearing and food obsessed Grey was one of my favorite characters! He was hilarious! Grey had the best banter and comebacks. Who doesn’t love a cheese obsessed guy! He encouraged Audrey to step outside of her comfort zone. He was patient and gentle with her. The romance was clean with nothing more than kissing. I loved this book and looking forward to the next one in this series. If you love opposites attracts, one bed, forced proximity book tropes, give this book a read!

I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.

[Stephanie Young]

Losing Sleep is the second book by Hillary Slaughter, and my oh my does it hit deep! It is a riveting journey we get to go on with Audrey, desperate for routine and stability, as one circumstance after another cause anxiety to flare up. Throw in easy, go with the flow Grey as her travel buddy, and Audrey feels like she has hit her max. Yet as they continue on their trip and get to know one another, Audrey learns that Grey just might see her in ways very few do and know how to draw her back into living, instead of settling for less than she deserves because it’s familiar. Dive in to see all the fun adventures (and misadventures!) that Audrey and Grey fall into-

Opposites Attract ✔️
Forced Proximity ✔️
Road Trip ✔️
One Bed✔️

Plus…cheese curds! You can’t go wrong with cheese curds.

Coming out May 20th, so be sure to keep an eye out!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Korbie Harrison]

Losing Sleep was such a fun romcom read!

One of the biggest strengths in Hillary Slaughter’s writing is her ability to create incredibly relatable characters. The whole cast here feels real, but none more so than the FMC, Audrey. Her anxieties and planning and challenges just resonate. As a fellow anxious person, there were a few moments where I felt personally challenged 😂 (root beer milk I’m 100% down for. Rapids though? *shudders*)

My favorite side characters are Dot and Hank - a cute little grandparent-y old couple who come to the rescue in an early travel mishap. I’m convinced every romcom needs a pleasantly meddlesome grandma and grandpa! (Also, I want to grow up to be like Dot! She’s both adorable and hilarious!)

Other highlights include super swoony kisses, the best use of the one-bed trope I’ve ever seen, and hints of romances to come.

Definitely a book I recommend! Thanks to Hillary Slaughter for the ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

[Cassie]

3.5 Stars. I received a free ebook from the author, but all opinions are my own and were thought about long and hard.

I loved this story. I loved that both characters were flawed and not completely likable (just like real people). The pacing was right and so was the character development. Also, the title was perfect and not cheesy. The book really picked up once they got to Yellowstone and I devoured it at that point!

The thing I kept getting hung up on was the writing itself. It felt a little unpolished and at times very forced. Some of the verbs used were so unnatural that it felt clunky and didn’t flow. I also found it very hard to believe that a grandmother-figure would be pushing a young “couple” to sleep together. I guess everyone I have ever met in that generation is very morally conservative, so perhaps this was only weird to me.

I will continue to read what this author produces. Her story was great and I am excited to see how her future books will link together!

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread)]

I loved Audrey and Grey. Audrey has a history of unstable things happening in her life and seeks for security wherever possible. Grey showed her that wandering can be good and necessary sometimes. I loved all the risks he helped her take and how safe she ultimately felt with him!

Favorite Quotes:
Nothing’s wrong with Pepsi if you don’t have any taste buds.

Maybe I’d find the courage to do a bit more wandering on this trip, particularly if Grey led the way.

And the thing that made it even more amazing was the man standing next to me, cheering me on for my bravery. Bravery that, if I was being honest, had been minimal. Yet, Grey had a special ability to make me feel seen. Like he recognized just how difficult each step outside my comfort zone was and wanted to celebrate every single one with me. A girl could get addicted to the energy and magnetism that was Grey.

[Stephanie]

This one took me a little while to warm up to. I loved Grey and his vivacious personality. I also enjoyed the travel element of this story from the long car trip, to taking a detour to hanging out at mountain cabin and visiting Yellowstone National Park. This was a sweet romance about a very introverted, anxious FMC and an outgoing, spontaneous MMC.

I wanted to love this story but the romance fell a bit flat for me when Audrey kept getting in her own way over and over again. I know that isn’t unrealistic for us as human beings, but it felt repetitive for me as a reader.

Read if you enjoy:
-friends
-moving on after heartbreak
-yoga
-anxiety
-taking a chance on love

Romance: wholesome, just kisses

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

[Brit]

First of all...the slowburn in this book is the best! For the people who say clean romance is boring...tell my why a certain handholding scene gave me all the butterflies! I thought both characters were so well written. As an older daughter, I used to be more like Audrey and understand her comfort in routine. After my dad died, I now relate more to Grey, who enjoys all that life has to offer. This was such a perfect pairing of opposites attract and a read that you will definitely lose sleep over because you won't want to put it down!

[Arceli]

"Losing Sleep: A Sweet Romance" by Hillary Slaughter is a heartwarming tale of unexpected love and personal growth. Audrey, stuck in a rut, reluctantly joins a cabin vacation and ends up on a road trip with Grey, an acquaintance who challenges her comfort zones. Their five-hour drive is filled with detours and deep conversations, leading Audrey to reevaluate her life choices. Slaughter’s engaging narrative and well-developed characters create a compelling story about embracing change and finding love in unlikely places. This sweet romance is a delightful read for fans of heartfelt, character-driven stories.

[Carissa]

This book is so sweet! I loved how opposite Grey and Audrey were and how well they suited. Audrey has a lot of insecurities but being with Grey helped her to overcome so many things! I loved how he would encourage her and tease her and helped to bring out the real version of herself that she had hidden away. The whole book is super enjoyable and the epilogue is beyond sweet! I loved Grey and Audrey’s story!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Camille Dayton Fostering.literacy]

Okay, okay, what a cute rom com. Hillary Slaughter is a new to me author and I will definetly be reading more of her books! The forced proximity in this book made every scene all the better. The book is mostly set in Island Park, which is one of my favorite places in the world. It made for the best place for Audrey to set aside her life stresses and have fun with friends while also expanding her horizons, especially in the the dating world.

Here are a few of my favorite elements in the book:
- Cheese curds
- Flat tire disaster
- The Cabin
- Yoga
- Video Game Tournament
- Yellowstone visit

Overall, it was such a fun and lighthearted read. Definetly 5 stars for me! Thank you to the author for the advance copy of this book. A positive review was not required.

[Taylor]

A sweet romance: we follow along as Audrey learns how to be brave and step outside her comfort zone to build a life she loves instead of sticking to routine. While nothing is wrong with safety and security, when it comes at the price of never risking anything for the possibility of what makes you happy, that price is too high.

This was a fun, light, quick read I enjoyed while roadtripping to Wyoming and the national parks there - made all the sweeter with Audrey and Grey's adventures in Yellowstone.