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Love by the Book
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26Friendship is the love story you can count on.
Remy is lucky. Her debut novel, based on her three best friends, became an instant bestseller when it was released, and her agent and publisher are clamoring for a follow-up. But just as Remy’s creative inspiration seems to leave her, so too do her friends: one moves to New York, one gets pregnant, and one gets back together with her (awful) boyfriend. After an ill-advised one-night stand complicates matters further, Remy is left deeply alone—and unable to find her next book idea.
Simone is successful. A Kindergarten teacher with a passion for kids, and a well-paying side hustle that affords her all the material comforts she desires, she doesn't have time for a robust social life. All Simone needs is her close-knit family—but after the true nature of her work is revealed, they cut her off, and she realizes for the first time just how isolated she is.
When Simone and Remy bump into each other (literally) in a bookstore, it isn’t exactly soulmates at first sight. Simone is guarded and prickly, Remy is insecure and heartbroken, and each woman is harboring a secret. And yet they might just be the missing piece the other has been searching for—if only they can let each other in.
Can Simone help Remy make one of the most important decisions of her life—and can Remy help Simone recover all that she’s lost? In Jessica George’s heartwarming, funny, and soulful second novel, she explores the restorative nature of female friendship and the life-changing power of platonic love.
Remy is lucky. Her debut novel, based on her three best friends, became an instant bestseller when it was released, and her agent and publisher are clamoring for a follow-up. But just as Remy’s creative inspiration seems to leave her, so too do her friends: one moves to New York, one gets pregnant, and one gets back together with her (awful) boyfriend. After an ill-advised one-night stand complicates matters further, Remy is left deeply alone—and unable to find her next book idea.
Simone is successful. A Kindergarten teacher with a passion for kids, and a well-paying side hustle that affords her all the material comforts she desires, she doesn't have time for a robust social life. All Simone needs is her close-knit family—but after the true nature of her work is revealed, they cut her off, and she realizes for the first time just how isolated she is.
When Simone and Remy bump into each other (literally) in a bookstore, it isn’t exactly soulmates at first sight. Simone is guarded and prickly, Remy is insecure and heartbroken, and each woman is harboring a secret. And yet they might just be the missing piece the other has been searching for—if only they can let each other in.
Can Simone help Remy make one of the most important decisions of her life—and can Remy help Simone recover all that she’s lost? In Jessica George’s heartwarming, funny, and soulful second novel, she explores the restorative nature of female friendship and the life-changing power of platonic love.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 7, 2026
59743 people want to read
About the author
Jessica George
2 books2,212 followersJessica George was born and raised in London to Ghanaian parents and studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield. After working at a literary agency and a theatre, she landed a job in the editorial department of Bloomsbury UK. MAAME is her first novel.
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August 29, 2025when a title is a bookish pun >>>
September 19, 2025
Dear Readers, we are gathered here today to bear witness to the highs and lows of friendship in Love by the Book by Jessica George. This novel explores the challenge of forming those rare, soul-level friendships in adulthood and of nurturing the ones we already hold dear as our lives change. It also offers an ode to feminism and the right of every woman to shape her own body, career, and future without criticism in a world still riddled with double standards.
Jessica George, whose debut Maame I previously reviewed, once again proves herself a master of characters who feel strikingly real. I would call her the queen of chick lit focused on platonic love between women. The spotlight on female friendship makes this story stand apart from the many romantic comedies that dominate the genre. I adore books like Bridget Jones’s Diary and Confessions of a Shopaholic, but Love by the Book earns a special place for celebrating the friends we love every bit as fiercely as partners.
The novel is funny, heartfelt, and at times infuriating in all the best ways. Narration alternates between Remy and Simone, and I admit that going in blind left me briefly confused. Was Simone a character in a book Remy was writing, or someone real? Their eventual “meet-cute” clears the air and the pacing takes off, making the second half nearly impossible to put down.
I highly recommend Love by the Book to readers of women’s fiction who enjoy stories about friendship, empowerment, and the many forms love can take.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this title for review. All opinions are my own.
Jessica George, whose debut Maame I previously reviewed, once again proves herself a master of characters who feel strikingly real. I would call her the queen of chick lit focused on platonic love between women. The spotlight on female friendship makes this story stand apart from the many romantic comedies that dominate the genre. I adore books like Bridget Jones’s Diary and Confessions of a Shopaholic, but Love by the Book earns a special place for celebrating the friends we love every bit as fiercely as partners.
The novel is funny, heartfelt, and at times infuriating in all the best ways. Narration alternates between Remy and Simone, and I admit that going in blind left me briefly confused. Was Simone a character in a book Remy was writing, or someone real? Their eventual “meet-cute” clears the air and the pacing takes off, making the second half nearly impossible to put down.
I highly recommend Love by the Book to readers of women’s fiction who enjoy stories about friendship, empowerment, and the many forms love can take.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this title for review. All opinions are my own.
November 28, 2025
This is a novel about female friendship. Meet Remy, Nova, Lin and Melissa who believe they’ll be friends forever and will definitely be able to count on each other. However, circumstances change as they get a bit older and it seems that the fab four are splitting up and moving on. To Remy this feels like a break up. Then there’s Simone, who believes the only people she really needs in her life are her family but a shock for them all leads to them cutting her off. Several chance encounters between Remy and Simone suggest that fate is throwing them together. Will they be able to let each other into their lives?
I’m sure we can all agree that deep friendship is a beautiful thing and especially those that we can really count on and Jessica George really captures this in her latest novel. I love the bond that writer Remy has with her three friends so much so that she even writes a successful book about it. It’s therefore relatable how she struggles when they move on for various reasons.
Remy and Simone are very different personalities, one cool, one warm, one who keeps her own counsel and one who is the opposite, one loner, one more gregarious to whom friends are very important. I do enjoy it that these opposites can find a path to a meaningful friendship. Their characters are well developed and they grow on me as the book progresses.
However, I think that the book goes off at tangents and so becomes disjointed in parts. This also causes the pace to become quite slow which means that it doesn’t resonate as much as it could. In my opinion it’s too long and whilst the author has me intrigued for a lot of the book, my interest wanes.
Overall, Jessica George definitely has talent, her novels are character driven and very good on issues. However, for me this one doesn’t work as well as her previous novel, Maame which I really enjoyed.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
I’m sure we can all agree that deep friendship is a beautiful thing and especially those that we can really count on and Jessica George really captures this in her latest novel. I love the bond that writer Remy has with her three friends so much so that she even writes a successful book about it. It’s therefore relatable how she struggles when they move on for various reasons.
Remy and Simone are very different personalities, one cool, one warm, one who keeps her own counsel and one who is the opposite, one loner, one more gregarious to whom friends are very important. I do enjoy it that these opposites can find a path to a meaningful friendship. Their characters are well developed and they grow on me as the book progresses.
However, I think that the book goes off at tangents and so becomes disjointed in parts. This also causes the pace to become quite slow which means that it doesn’t resonate as much as it could. In my opinion it’s too long and whilst the author has me intrigued for a lot of the book, my interest wanes.
Overall, Jessica George definitely has talent, her novels are character driven and very good on issues. However, for me this one doesn’t work as well as her previous novel, Maame which I really enjoyed.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
January 27, 2026
3 stars.
The value, weight and importance of true female friendship.
Four friends celebrate the immense success of the novel one of them wrote that is loosely based on their friendship group. The publishing world is eager for a follow up novel, but the pressure to meet the same level of success is overwhelming.
There was a lot that I really enjoyed about this novel, but also several main aspects that didn’t work for me.
I loved the exploration of the intense female friendships in this story. “Love among friends.” I found the themes explored surrounding adult female friendship to be extremely thought-provoking and inspiring. I was nodding along to many realizations that I hadn’t considered before reading this. Can women be platonically “in love” with their female friends? Yes! Female friendships can carry just as much importance as marriage to some women. The value and weight of female friendships is immeasurable. Do all females need this level of female connection? No. Is it a critical part of true life happiness for certain other women? Yes.
The publishing industry and author life are topics that I enjoyed experiencing alongside these characters. The glimpses into the publishing world were interesting. Author life is something many people romanticize about and I thought it was an interesting peek into some of the struggles and complications writers may face.
I also enjoyed the wisdoms from elders scattered throughout this story. They were a great, insightful addition to the narrative. They made lasting impressions on me and had me feeling the emotion of those scenes. One character has a very interesting side hustle which I thought was an intriguing and fun side story.
I had a few large issues that prevented me from fully connecting to this novel. One of my issues is that I found myself confused between what was “real” and what was part of the author character in the story writing her next book. I generally love the “book within a book” trope, but this one could have used a bit more editing to tighten up the narrative switches. The author character uses real life situations to inspire her writing and I got lost in the shuffle between her real life and her imagined story being written. I was able to follow along and eventually sort out the narrative, but it did have me pausing a few times to go back and reread.
Another issue I had was the amount of coincidences. The number of times characters happen to bump into one another was unrealistic and ended up bringing my connection and investment down as it was far too implausible for my liking. These coincidences felt somewhat cheesy and silly, making the book take on more of a cutesy tone.
Overall, this was just an ok read for me. My intense love of her debut novel, Maame, definitely set my expectations very high. (Go get your hands on a copy of that ASAP if you haven’t read it already!) This should be more of a hit for readers who enjoy cute, sweet and charming stories centered around women’s lives and friendships. This reached too far into “cute” territory for my liking.
Audio rating: 4 stars! I enjoyed the audio narration and thought it brought life to the characters and story. I think the audio narrators enhanced my enjoyment.
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced listening copy! This publishes on April 7th.
The value, weight and importance of true female friendship.
Four friends celebrate the immense success of the novel one of them wrote that is loosely based on their friendship group. The publishing world is eager for a follow up novel, but the pressure to meet the same level of success is overwhelming.
There was a lot that I really enjoyed about this novel, but also several main aspects that didn’t work for me.
I loved the exploration of the intense female friendships in this story. “Love among friends.” I found the themes explored surrounding adult female friendship to be extremely thought-provoking and inspiring. I was nodding along to many realizations that I hadn’t considered before reading this. Can women be platonically “in love” with their female friends? Yes! Female friendships can carry just as much importance as marriage to some women. The value and weight of female friendships is immeasurable. Do all females need this level of female connection? No. Is it a critical part of true life happiness for certain other women? Yes.
The publishing industry and author life are topics that I enjoyed experiencing alongside these characters. The glimpses into the publishing world were interesting. Author life is something many people romanticize about and I thought it was an interesting peek into some of the struggles and complications writers may face.
I also enjoyed the wisdoms from elders scattered throughout this story. They were a great, insightful addition to the narrative. They made lasting impressions on me and had me feeling the emotion of those scenes. One character has a very interesting side hustle which I thought was an intriguing and fun side story.
I had a few large issues that prevented me from fully connecting to this novel. One of my issues is that I found myself confused between what was “real” and what was part of the author character in the story writing her next book. I generally love the “book within a book” trope, but this one could have used a bit more editing to tighten up the narrative switches. The author character uses real life situations to inspire her writing and I got lost in the shuffle between her real life and her imagined story being written. I was able to follow along and eventually sort out the narrative, but it did have me pausing a few times to go back and reread.
Another issue I had was the amount of coincidences. The number of times characters happen to bump into one another was unrealistic and ended up bringing my connection and investment down as it was far too implausible for my liking. These coincidences felt somewhat cheesy and silly, making the book take on more of a cutesy tone.
Overall, this was just an ok read for me. My intense love of her debut novel, Maame, definitely set my expectations very high. (Go get your hands on a copy of that ASAP if you haven’t read it already!) This should be more of a hit for readers who enjoy cute, sweet and charming stories centered around women’s lives and friendships. This reached too far into “cute” territory for my liking.
Audio rating: 4 stars! I enjoyed the audio narration and thought it brought life to the characters and story. I think the audio narrators enhanced my enjoyment.
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced listening copy! This publishes on April 7th.
December 18, 2025
I shrug. “I might be falling in love. That’s all.”
Simone dabs the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “Remy, I am flattered . . .”
“Prepare to be humbled.” I scoff. “I meant falling in love platonically.”
This is a beautiful and captivating love story that’s an ode to platonic female friendship. The characters are quirky and flawed and good… and grow. Loved it.
“How can you be romantic with someone you aren’t attracted to?”
“Well, think about it—what does it mean to be romantic? To buy flowers; to take someone out to dinner; to commit thoughtful actions and to give thoughtful gifts; to have long, meaningful conversations; to be loyal and devoted? I’ve done all of the above with my friends. In essence, platonic love can be incredibly romantic.”
It’s unconventional in that it’s a love story about friends, and it also explores how society treats, makes assumptions about and misunderstands women who choose to live their personal and sexual lives outside of the narrowly proscribed norm.
”Whether it’s how visible we make our nipples, who we invite into our vagina, or whether we fill or don’t fill our uterus, the female anatomy will always be up for discussion.”
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 ⭐️
November 14, 2025
Ugh! So there are things that I really love about Jessica George’s Love by the Book, and other things that don’t work as well for me.
Remi is an author that has unknowingly relied on her deep friendship with Lin, Melissa and Nova to serve as the grounding point of her life, and as her friends find themselves other things that take precedence, she begins to feel adrift, setting up her pursuit of a friendship with Simone.
Simone is in many regards the exact opposite of Remi. She is very closed off and perfectly content not to have close friendships because she had such a great relationship with her sister Jenni. But when her family finds out that she’s been working as an escort their connection is severed, leaving Simone to experience loneliness, not just being alone.
The pair don’t really meet until almost a quarter of the way through the book. This does allow you to see what leads into them taking steps towards building a friendship, but it feels too late into the book for me; up until that point it feels very disjointed.
I like the fact that the two women are very different in personality, because it shows that a relationship can work even if the number of things people have in common is limited.
But it also feels like their storylines are running parallel to each other in many ways, where you see most of the other things going on in their lives, until their relationship gradually becomes more and more what the chapters are about.
And, while it does tie in to events that happen towards the end of the book, I don’t love the chapters that Remi writes as a fictional story somewhat based on her burgeoning friendship with Simone. It’s close enough to the actual story but not the same that it got confusing to me at times whether Remi was writing something real life adjacent or if George had not addressed something in the real life storylines.
What I really loved about this book was its exploration of a woman’s right to make choices about her body, whether or not women want to become mothers, and that platonic relationships that are rooted in friendship have just as valuable a place in a person’s life as romantic or familial ones do. Friendsgiving is now a thing, and deservedly so, amiright?
In addressing motherhood, George not only delves into whether or not women want to take on that role, but also raises the important questions of how that choice can impact the friendships they have, and that for women who don’t want to be mothers, things they consider major achievements or accomplishments in their personal or professional lives tend to get overlooked as not being as important as raising a child. As demonstrated in the book, this is a hairy issue, but George does a great job of showing perspectives from both sides.
This story can feel disjointed at times, but it has some really powerful messages that are presented from a very open-minded perspective that make it worth reading. Plus it will remind you of just how powerful your friendships are, and how to treat them with care as they evolve over time.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Remi is an author that has unknowingly relied on her deep friendship with Lin, Melissa and Nova to serve as the grounding point of her life, and as her friends find themselves other things that take precedence, she begins to feel adrift, setting up her pursuit of a friendship with Simone.
Simone is in many regards the exact opposite of Remi. She is very closed off and perfectly content not to have close friendships because she had such a great relationship with her sister Jenni. But when her family finds out that she’s been working as an escort their connection is severed, leaving Simone to experience loneliness, not just being alone.
The pair don’t really meet until almost a quarter of the way through the book. This does allow you to see what leads into them taking steps towards building a friendship, but it feels too late into the book for me; up until that point it feels very disjointed.
I like the fact that the two women are very different in personality, because it shows that a relationship can work even if the number of things people have in common is limited.
But it also feels like their storylines are running parallel to each other in many ways, where you see most of the other things going on in their lives, until their relationship gradually becomes more and more what the chapters are about.
And, while it does tie in to events that happen towards the end of the book, I don’t love the chapters that Remi writes as a fictional story somewhat based on her burgeoning friendship with Simone. It’s close enough to the actual story but not the same that it got confusing to me at times whether Remi was writing something real life adjacent or if George had not addressed something in the real life storylines.
What I really loved about this book was its exploration of a woman’s right to make choices about her body, whether or not women want to become mothers, and that platonic relationships that are rooted in friendship have just as valuable a place in a person’s life as romantic or familial ones do. Friendsgiving is now a thing, and deservedly so, amiright?
In addressing motherhood, George not only delves into whether or not women want to take on that role, but also raises the important questions of how that choice can impact the friendships they have, and that for women who don’t want to be mothers, things they consider major achievements or accomplishments in their personal or professional lives tend to get overlooked as not being as important as raising a child. As demonstrated in the book, this is a hairy issue, but George does a great job of showing perspectives from both sides.
This story can feel disjointed at times, but it has some really powerful messages that are presented from a very open-minded perspective that make it worth reading. Plus it will remind you of just how powerful your friendships are, and how to treat them with care as they evolve over time.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 13, 2025
Jessica George has such a subtle way with words. Nothing forceful or obvious about what’s to come next. Love By the Book at its core is about female friendships, loyalty, gracefully aging, and discovering what is important in life.
“We’d laughed so much that day, but I couldn’t tell you what at. Who knew you could take forgettable laughter for granted?”
We meet Remy and her three best friends, as they all embark on separate paths in their lives. Parenthood, careers, making bad relationship decisions- things all women evolve into, or out of.
We meet Simone, elementary school teacher, also an undercover escort who has no qualms about her choices in life.
All at crossroads, we learn how important it is friendships are. I loved the premise, just like I loved George’s first book Maame so much.
I love that this isn’t a romance book. Quite frankly, I’m getting tired of influx of romances, far too predictable with forgettable characters. Love by the Book is quite the opposite.
“Our circumstances have changed drastically but one thing hasn’t: Let’s promise to stay in love with each other.”
While I wished there was more backstory: how did Simone really fall into this line of business, more backstory on Remy’s friends, and while I was never on edge, I couldn’t wait to read what happens next.
Keep them coming Jessica!!
“We’d laughed so much that day, but I couldn’t tell you what at. Who knew you could take forgettable laughter for granted?”
We meet Remy and her three best friends, as they all embark on separate paths in their lives. Parenthood, careers, making bad relationship decisions- things all women evolve into, or out of.
We meet Simone, elementary school teacher, also an undercover escort who has no qualms about her choices in life.
All at crossroads, we learn how important it is friendships are. I loved the premise, just like I loved George’s first book Maame so much.
I love that this isn’t a romance book. Quite frankly, I’m getting tired of influx of romances, far too predictable with forgettable characters. Love by the Book is quite the opposite.
“Our circumstances have changed drastically but one thing hasn’t: Let’s promise to stay in love with each other.”
While I wished there was more backstory: how did Simone really fall into this line of business, more backstory on Remy’s friends, and while I was never on edge, I couldn’t wait to read what happens next.
Keep them coming Jessica!!
February 7, 2026
3.5⭐️
“That’s friendship… accepting no one is perfect and valuing what they can provide over what they can’t.”
**thank you to the publishers at Hodder & Stoughton for this proof copy 📚🤍
One of my most anticipated 2026 releases!!!
Maame (Jessica’s first novel) was a 6⭐️ read for me, so my expectations were extremely high… and while I liked and enjoyed this, I didn’t love it.
We follow Remy, who’s feeling lost in life. Her tight-knit friendship group have all gone down different paths, leaving her lonely and unsure of her purpose, while also struggling to write her second novel.
She meets Simone, a local primary school teacher (with a secret side job 🤭) who’s had a major fallout with her family - especially her sister, her former best friend. - so she’s also feeling lost and closed off.
As a teacher myself, I loved the school scenes with Simone!
I loved the exploration of friendship and its complexities, especially being in your late 20s when everyone is in different life seasons. Could completely relate as I’m going through this atm.
Alongside, the general feelings of not knowing what you want/what’s going on when everyone around you is doing such different things. The conversations around changing priorities, motherhood, and children were handled brilliantly.
It did take me a while to get my head around the characters and relationships, there were a lot of names floating around. Simone can initially come across as abrupt and standoffish and her very different personality to Remy’s took some warming up to.
At times the pacing dipped in the middle and went off on tangents before picking up again in the final pages. For me, it was also way too long, there’s a lot going on, which sometimes made it feel dragged and slightly disjointed.
I just wanted more from it overall😔
If you like character driven books and topics of female friendships then you will absolutely loveeeee this!!!
Themes: female friendships, relationships, purpose, family, sex work, children, motherhood.
**available to pre order nowww (out in Feb!)
“That’s friendship… accepting no one is perfect and valuing what they can provide over what they can’t.”
**thank you to the publishers at Hodder & Stoughton for this proof copy 📚🤍
One of my most anticipated 2026 releases!!!
Maame (Jessica’s first novel) was a 6⭐️ read for me, so my expectations were extremely high… and while I liked and enjoyed this, I didn’t love it.
We follow Remy, who’s feeling lost in life. Her tight-knit friendship group have all gone down different paths, leaving her lonely and unsure of her purpose, while also struggling to write her second novel.
She meets Simone, a local primary school teacher (with a secret side job 🤭) who’s had a major fallout with her family - especially her sister, her former best friend. - so she’s also feeling lost and closed off.
As a teacher myself, I loved the school scenes with Simone!
I loved the exploration of friendship and its complexities, especially being in your late 20s when everyone is in different life seasons. Could completely relate as I’m going through this atm.
Alongside, the general feelings of not knowing what you want/what’s going on when everyone around you is doing such different things. The conversations around changing priorities, motherhood, and children were handled brilliantly.
It did take me a while to get my head around the characters and relationships, there were a lot of names floating around. Simone can initially come across as abrupt and standoffish and her very different personality to Remy’s took some warming up to.
At times the pacing dipped in the middle and went off on tangents before picking up again in the final pages. For me, it was also way too long, there’s a lot going on, which sometimes made it feel dragged and slightly disjointed.
I just wanted more from it overall😔
If you like character driven books and topics of female friendships then you will absolutely loveeeee this!!!
Themes: female friendships, relationships, purpose, family, sex work, children, motherhood.
**available to pre order nowww (out in Feb!)
October 6, 2025
I have a feeling book is going to be very well received next year. Not only did this book shove me out of a two month reading slump, it came at an intriguing time in my life. The story went beyond the basic tenants of female friendship and explored how love and feelings (despite how we frame it) shape how we communicate with each other. Remy & Simone were two engaging characters that met at an awkward stage at both their lives and I loved that Remy's initial friend group was still an impactful part of the overall story. When I think about it, every character in this book was well fleshed out. The dialogue was chef's kiss and packed an emotional punch to the concept of friendship, love and womanhood.
March 20, 2026
May this kind of love find me and stay with me. May I also be willing to give and accept this love when it does.
If anyone asks you, this is my new favourite book. A 6 star if you will.
My deepest thoughts about this book are in my journal app because they are so personal to me and I need to stop oversharing on the internet.
This book found me at the right time.
I loved Maame so much when I read it and when I saw Jessica George was releasing a new book, I preordered on Audible. In SA, we get UK release dates and for the first time in forever, we get the books first. Also the cover is so pretty. I was sold.
I knew I would love this book.
I started and stopped a few times because I was so scared of how much I would see some of myself and situations I’ve been in reflected in the book. I can’t explain it but I feel as though Jessica writes for the girls. I am the girls.
I plan on getting the actual paperback once the one independent bookstore has it in stock. Will also be getting Maame because I read on Libby but I want to look at it and annotate.
There were so many parts in this book where I teared up a little because wow… what a concept friendship is
I feel like there will be times where I’ll come back to this review to add stuff.
If anyone asks you, this is my new favourite book. A 6 star if you will.
My deepest thoughts about this book are in my journal app because they are so personal to me and I need to stop oversharing on the internet.
This book found me at the right time.
I loved Maame so much when I read it and when I saw Jessica George was releasing a new book, I preordered on Audible. In SA, we get UK release dates and for the first time in forever, we get the books first. Also the cover is so pretty. I was sold.
I knew I would love this book.
I started and stopped a few times because I was so scared of how much I would see some of myself and situations I’ve been in reflected in the book. I can’t explain it but I feel as though Jessica writes for the girls. I am the girls.
I plan on getting the actual paperback once the one independent bookstore has it in stock. Will also be getting Maame because I read on Libby but I want to look at it and annotate.
There were so many parts in this book where I teared up a little because wow… what a concept friendship is
I feel like there will be times where I’ll come back to this review to add stuff.
March 8, 2026
Loved loved loved!
I’ve been delaying this arc a little bit because romance really isn’t my top pick, so I was delighted to discover the unconventional element of the novel and the fact that it centres around friendship, for me personally my friendships truly have been my big love stories, friendship breakups far more painful than any other kind, so it was an absolute pleasure to see/hear it celebrated in all it’s complexity’s.
Jessica George is a new to me author and before I’d even finished this title I’d headed straight to audible ti wish list her debut. I loved her style I adored the characters and I really didn’t want to leave them behind.
The book covers a lot of fairly deep topics, but oddly it arrived as a friend, ready to rationally discuss them and damn well support you through them.
A special book.
Isabel Adomakoh-Young’s narration was perfect!
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
I’ve been delaying this arc a little bit because romance really isn’t my top pick, so I was delighted to discover the unconventional element of the novel and the fact that it centres around friendship, for me personally my friendships truly have been my big love stories, friendship breakups far more painful than any other kind, so it was an absolute pleasure to see/hear it celebrated in all it’s complexity’s.
Jessica George is a new to me author and before I’d even finished this title I’d headed straight to audible ti wish list her debut. I loved her style I adored the characters and I really didn’t want to leave them behind.
The book covers a lot of fairly deep topics, but oddly it arrived as a friend, ready to rationally discuss them and damn well support you through them.
A special book.
Isabel Adomakoh-Young’s narration was perfect!
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Want to read
August 21, 2025Looking forward to reading this book. Thank you for the arc!
October 13, 2025
This book about love might not be the kind you expect. It explores how love and connection can exist in platonic friendships just as deeply as in romance.
It’s a story many twenty-somethings will relate to: navigating hard decisions, loneliness, and ever-changing friendships. At times I wondered if it was trying to take on too much, but it manages to stay thoughtful and grounded while keeping a manageable length.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
It’s a story many twenty-somethings will relate to: navigating hard decisions, loneliness, and ever-changing friendships. At times I wondered if it was trying to take on too much, but it manages to stay thoughtful and grounded while keeping a manageable length.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
February 10, 2026
“i find that without my friends, i forget who i am sometimes. […] you all were a constant reminder of my identity.”
this book. this fucking book. yet again, a jessica george novel finds me at exactly the right time
my gosh i love this book so much i’ll think about the characters forever
i’ll be gushing about how much i love her on thursday, i’m EXCITED EEKKKKK
this book. this fucking book. yet again, a jessica george novel finds me at exactly the right time
my gosh i love this book so much i’ll think about the characters forever
i’ll be gushing about how much i love her on thursday, i’m EXCITED EEKKKKK
January 26, 2026
I absolutely loved Love by the Book by Jessica George! It’s a joyful, heartfelt celebration of the beauty and power of female friendship that completely swept me away. As a follow-up to her wonderful debut Maame (which I also adored), this novel feels both comforting and excitingly fresh, brimming with wisdom, warmth, and deeply well-developed characters. I found myself instantly attached to Remy and Simone and honestly just wanted to be best friends with them, rooting for them through every page. George has such a gift for capturing emotional nuance and connection, making this story feel unique, refreshing, and utterly captivating. Overall, it’s a beautiful, feel-good read that stayed with me long after I finished. I can’t recommend highly enough!
March 15, 2026
If you are in your mid-twenties or older (like I am), this book will surely resonate with you.
Love By The Book centers Remy, a struggling writer whose close circle of female friendships is one of the most meaningful facets of her life. Things change when a series of massive life changes rock the friend group dynamic. Job promotions, pregnancy, and new relationships separate the 4 women geographically and strain their friendship for the first time. Remy begins floundering as she simultaneously struggles to find artistic inspiration and navigate life without seeing her friends regularly.
Then, she meets Simone, a borderline reclusive woman who lives a double life. The two begin a friendship that is awkward at first, but then becomes more natural.
We switch between Remy’s and Simone’s POVs as the story explores how adult friendships evolve, and what it means to exist in community.
Jessica George writes characters that feel realistically flawed, and yet are ones you ultimately want to root for. I’ve had Maame on my TBR for a while now, and this has made me want to prioritize it.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
Love By The Book centers Remy, a struggling writer whose close circle of female friendships is one of the most meaningful facets of her life. Things change when a series of massive life changes rock the friend group dynamic. Job promotions, pregnancy, and new relationships separate the 4 women geographically and strain their friendship for the first time. Remy begins floundering as she simultaneously struggles to find artistic inspiration and navigate life without seeing her friends regularly.
Then, she meets Simone, a borderline reclusive woman who lives a double life. The two begin a friendship that is awkward at first, but then becomes more natural.
We switch between Remy’s and Simone’s POVs as the story explores how adult friendships evolve, and what it means to exist in community.
Jessica George writes characters that feel realistically flawed, and yet are ones you ultimately want to root for. I’ve had Maame on my TBR for a while now, and this has made me want to prioritize it.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
March 22, 2026
Truly captures the importance of and value in women friendships.
I was nervous because I DNF-ed George's first novel. But these characters and their struggles were relatable as they try to hold on to connection and move on with their lives at the same time.
And of course, I loved the writing layer of Remy's second novel as part of the storyline. I will always be a sucker for a good writing process.
I was nervous because I DNF-ed George's first novel. But these characters and their struggles were relatable as they try to hold on to connection and move on with their lives at the same time.
And of course, I loved the writing layer of Remy's second novel as part of the storyline. I will always be a sucker for a good writing process.
August 17, 2025
Jessica George is two for two! She explores love and dynamics within friendships, and there is much to think about concerning what we want and how to justify it with ourselves and others. While Remi was clearly meant to be the primary main character, Simone's story stole the show.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. This was a great follow up to Maame.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. This was a great follow up to Maame.
Read
December 15, 2025* thanks to St Martin’s Press for the NetGalley review copy (pub date: April 7, 2026)
I don’t know if this is a true DNF (@48%) or an “I’ll come back to it at some point” DNF, but the glacial pace wasn’t holding my attention, so I was only reading a few pages at a time and couldn’t get into the flow of the story. Maybe it’s a vacation book?
Anyway - Maame was one of my favorite books the year it came out and I would definitely read another book by George, but this was not my favorite.
I don’t know if this is a true DNF (@48%) or an “I’ll come back to it at some point” DNF, but the glacial pace wasn’t holding my attention, so I was only reading a few pages at a time and couldn’t get into the flow of the story. Maybe it’s a vacation book?
Anyway - Maame was one of my favorite books the year it came out and I would definitely read another book by George, but this was not my favorite.
March 20, 2026
4.25
This book is a love letter to the modern woman and to female friendships, highlighting the beauty, complexity, and quiet strength found in those bonds.
The beginning is a bit of a slow burn as we establish and flesh out Simone and Remy’s separate lives before they converge. We are given a clear sense of where they are emotionally and professionally. Simone, a teacher by day and an escort by night, is still recovering from a painful familial break, while Remy, a best selling author struggling with writer’s block, feels increasingly left behind as her closest friends move forward with marriage, babies, work abroad, and rekindled relationships. It is at this point in their lives that they find each other, and from there the story really takes off.
In the interest of transparency, I initially thought this was a sapphic romance. The chemistry between Simone and Remy is incredibly strong, and the way the book subverts romantic tropes into a deeply meaningful platonic relationship, including a meet cute, feels both intentional and refreshing. In a world where women are so often pitted against one another, it was genuinely uplifting to see a story centered on women supporting and choosing each other.
I also really appreciated the positive representation of sex workers through Simone’s character. While I do wish this aspect had been explored more deeply, I found it compelling and thoughtfully handled. I would absolutely read a Diary of a Call Girl style novella from her perspective, as that part of her life was particularly fascinating.
It is difficult to dive into some of the novel’s deeper themes without veering into spoiler territory, but what I can say is that the story handles all of its subject matter with remarkable nuance and balance. It resists the urge to reduce its characters or their choices into neat moral categories. Instead, it embraces the messiness of real life, allowing its characters to exist in the gray areas. This is a book that truly lives in the full spectrum of womanhood, in all its contradictions, vulnerabilities, and strengths, rather than in the rigid black and white frameworks we are often taught to accept.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC. Isabel Adomakoh Young was fantastic, bringing both Simone and Remy to life with distinct voices and impressive control of tone and cadence. As always with MacMillan Audio, the production is crisp and clear.
This book is a love letter to the modern woman and to female friendships, highlighting the beauty, complexity, and quiet strength found in those bonds.
The beginning is a bit of a slow burn as we establish and flesh out Simone and Remy’s separate lives before they converge. We are given a clear sense of where they are emotionally and professionally. Simone, a teacher by day and an escort by night, is still recovering from a painful familial break, while Remy, a best selling author struggling with writer’s block, feels increasingly left behind as her closest friends move forward with marriage, babies, work abroad, and rekindled relationships. It is at this point in their lives that they find each other, and from there the story really takes off.
In the interest of transparency, I initially thought this was a sapphic romance. The chemistry between Simone and Remy is incredibly strong, and the way the book subverts romantic tropes into a deeply meaningful platonic relationship, including a meet cute, feels both intentional and refreshing. In a world where women are so often pitted against one another, it was genuinely uplifting to see a story centered on women supporting and choosing each other.
I also really appreciated the positive representation of sex workers through Simone’s character. While I do wish this aspect had been explored more deeply, I found it compelling and thoughtfully handled. I would absolutely read a Diary of a Call Girl style novella from her perspective, as that part of her life was particularly fascinating.
It is difficult to dive into some of the novel’s deeper themes without veering into spoiler territory, but what I can say is that the story handles all of its subject matter with remarkable nuance and balance. It resists the urge to reduce its characters or their choices into neat moral categories. Instead, it embraces the messiness of real life, allowing its characters to exist in the gray areas. This is a book that truly lives in the full spectrum of womanhood, in all its contradictions, vulnerabilities, and strengths, rather than in the rigid black and white frameworks we are often taught to accept.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC. Isabel Adomakoh Young was fantastic, bringing both Simone and Remy to life with distinct voices and impressive control of tone and cadence. As always with MacMillan Audio, the production is crisp and clear.
March 19, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️ !
(Rounded up to a 4 for Goodreads)
A relatable, hilarious, and endearing way to showcase the importance of platonic love and friendship.
This character driven story will take you through the ins and outs and the ups and downs of navigating self-discovery, loss and building something new.
Love by the book was a breath of fresh air where I sometimes begin to drown in books stuffed to the brim with romance. I love romance and much as the next person, but what about non-romantic love? What about the power, the heartbreak, the struggle, the brilliance that comes along with friendship? Well, it seems Jessica George has the same thought and wrote a great book about it.
I laughed, I teared up, I nodded my head along with everything that hit home. I felt seen, I felt like I learned new things, most importantly I felt refreshed.
I struggled a bit for the first quarter not fully understanding that Simone was in fact, not a character in Remy’s book. But once that was figured out, I was intrigued by how these two very different women would connect. I also found the book to be long winded and a bit tangent-like at times and it caused me to have to take breaks to want to dive back into it.
With all of that being said, there was a lot I related to and appreciated seeing play out on the pages. I loved this lens on female friendship and think there’s something in this book for everyone.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
(Rounded up to a 4 for Goodreads)
A relatable, hilarious, and endearing way to showcase the importance of platonic love and friendship.
This character driven story will take you through the ins and outs and the ups and downs of navigating self-discovery, loss and building something new.
Love by the book was a breath of fresh air where I sometimes begin to drown in books stuffed to the brim with romance. I love romance and much as the next person, but what about non-romantic love? What about the power, the heartbreak, the struggle, the brilliance that comes along with friendship? Well, it seems Jessica George has the same thought and wrote a great book about it.
I laughed, I teared up, I nodded my head along with everything that hit home. I felt seen, I felt like I learned new things, most importantly I felt refreshed.
I struggled a bit for the first quarter not fully understanding that Simone was in fact, not a character in Remy’s book. But once that was figured out, I was intrigued by how these two very different women would connect. I also found the book to be long winded and a bit tangent-like at times and it caused me to have to take breaks to want to dive back into it.
With all of that being said, there was a lot I related to and appreciated seeing play out on the pages. I loved this lens on female friendship and think there’s something in this book for everyone.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2026
I’m a girls girl. My friendships survived childhood, undergrad, across continents, marriages, divorced and parenting little people.
I just knew this book was going to get to the core and reiterate how important sisterhood truly is. Sadly it didn’t really hit its mark and a lot of the chaos failed to drive the girls into the same direction. If something happens in my best friend’s life, it happens in my life. One band, one sound. I did enjoy the cultural differences and dynamics, highlighting the African British experience in a way I haven’t seen.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the trip across the pond!
I just knew this book was going to get to the core and reiterate how important sisterhood truly is. Sadly it didn’t really hit its mark and a lot of the chaos failed to drive the girls into the same direction. If something happens in my best friend’s life, it happens in my life. One band, one sound. I did enjoy the cultural differences and dynamics, highlighting the African British experience in a way I haven’t seen.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the trip across the pond!
Want to read
September 7, 2025Excited to Get an ARC of this Book. I really loved
Maame by Jessica George. I think she is a talented Author.
So, Interested in her new book and see if it is as Engrossing as Maame.
🩷🩵🧡
Maame by Jessica George. I think she is a talented Author. So, Interested in her new book and see if it is as Engrossing as Maame.
🩷🩵🧡
January 21, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review. Jessica George does it again: she writes so beautifully and her characters are so well written. This exploration of female friendship is a story I haven’t read before, and I can’t wait to recommend this to others when it comes out in April. The audiobook was perfectly narrated, and I would recommend this format to anyone. This second book just confirmed I will read absolutely anything Jessica George writes.
February 25, 2026
Phenomenally written. I loved all of the characters - they were fun, funny, raw, honest and wholly themselves. I truly felt like I knew them. I loved this idea of a platonic lifelines between two women. Simone and Remy blended so well together - I loved their friendship. I adored the author’s writing style!
September 18, 2025
Love this book! “There are few things in this big wide world more beautiful, powerful, or restorative than friendship.
May 27, 2025
some of the characters weren't as well written I felt but I enjoyed the themes of the book and the treatment of friendship.
November 7, 2025
Jessica George did her big one with this book. This book felt like therapy to me, I don’t think I know of any book that centers so much around friendship. I recommend this especially to women in their mid 20s to 30s. As someone in this age group that has (and still is) struggled with friendship, I learned so much about friendships and platonic romance from this book. Jessica wove in a lot of elements very creatively. Different types of women/ friends in that age range were represented. I could see myself in at least 3/4 women mentioned.
This book isn’t perfect, I am sure literary experts would find something to pick at. I love literary/ contemporary fiction, so this is up my alley. To me, this is worth 5 stars. I can’t think of any book that compares to it. I cannot wait to pick up my own copy once this book comes out April 2026. I see myself rereading this book in the future. And after reading Maame just before reading this book, Jessica George is definitely an auto buy author for me.
Please check out my YouTube channel @Favour’s flavor. Video review of Maame and Love by the book: https://youtu.be/Mh1YBGPvsSk?si=dJ8wH...
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
This book isn’t perfect, I am sure literary experts would find something to pick at. I love literary/ contemporary fiction, so this is up my alley. To me, this is worth 5 stars. I can’t think of any book that compares to it. I cannot wait to pick up my own copy once this book comes out April 2026. I see myself rereading this book in the future. And after reading Maame just before reading this book, Jessica George is definitely an auto buy author for me.
Please check out my YouTube channel @Favour’s flavor. Video review of Maame and Love by the book: https://youtu.be/Mh1YBGPvsSk?si=dJ8wH...
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
September 25, 2025
Love by the Book by Jessica George is an exuberant and somewhat messy celebration of adult female friendship.
I decided to read Love by the Book because I adored Jessica George’s debut novel, Maame. Her two novels are wildly different in several ways. Where Maame is focused, self-contained, and quietly affirming, Love by the Book is scattershot, expansive, and loud. It follows two women in London who find themselves suddenly lonely after unexpected life events alter their social landscape. Remy is a successful debut author; her first novel fictionalized and centered the dynamics of her real-life friend group. She has no interest in romantic or sexual relationships, so friendship means a lot to her. But when her group disbands due to various life events—babies, promotions, changing relationship dynamics—she’s left asunder and struggling with writer’s block. Meanwhile, Simone prides herself on her independent lifestyle. She supplements her meagre primary school teacher’s salary with sex work as an escort. However, her two worlds collide when her family finds out about her escort job and cut her off. Both women, although different as night and day, find comfort in a budding friendship with each other.
There’s a lot going on in Love by the Book. At its core, it’s a rom com about platonic friendship. But it’s also about family dynamics, the decision women make about whether to have children, sex work, child protection, mental health, authorial responsibility, and the woes of writing a sophomore novel. The story swings freely between side plots, tangents, and side characters, which is made all the more complex from interspersed snippets of a draft novel written by one of the main characters, Remy, based on the events occurring in her life. Jessica George has a gift in that she makes every bit of it entertaining and engrossing. Her characters are charming and their lives fascinating to read about. The warmth I cherished in Maame is present in Love by the Book; but it’s lot more exuberant here—like a bonfire party rather than a cozy fireplace.
I think the fact that Remy’s character is an author struggling to write her second novel draws attention to this book’s flaws. George spends a lot of time discussing Remy’s creative process and the pressure she’s under to churn out another money-making (but heartfelt!) book before her authorial name fades into irrelevancy. As Remy grasps for writing material, it’s hard not to wonder if Love by the Book was similarly thrown together. The narrative is not only less streamlined, but the characters are a bit flat at times. They spend a lot of time discussing their character traits rather than displaying them through the narrative. Occasionally they feel more like mouthpieces for whatever topic (childbearing, mental health, sex work) that George wants to discuss than multidimensional human beings.
Overall, I think Love by the Book would benefit from a couple more rounds of editing to add focus and character depth. But I still loved the story of female friendship at its core, and I found myself entertained throughout. I think this book will unite rom-com readers and literary fiction readers alike.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2026
⭐️: 4/5
This book was a slow burn for me, and in that way, it mirrors the best friendships. At first, it felt disjointed, like we were only getting fragments of the story. But as Remy and Simone‘s inner relationships and relationship with each other develop, their narratorial perspectives also evolve.
Remy delivers some of her most severe life experiences casually, almost in passing, before moving on. However, it becomes clear that this is a coping mechanism for her fragmented mind. Her inner world is also fragmented as she navigates the changing landscape of her closest friendships and whether her identity is too closely bound to them. Simone is guarded with the reader but she is also guarded with herself. As she learns to open up, her voice grows stronger and she opens up to the reader too.
This book shouldn’t be compared to Maame as I originally wanted to do. While both share a deep love of family and explore young women coming into themselves through love, friendship, and maturity, Love by the Book stands firmly on its own. As a second novel, it is confident in its own voice.
I finished the book challenged by how romance, or specifically the romanticizing of small moments within friendship, can make all the difference.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a slow burn for me, and in that way, it mirrors the best friendships. At first, it felt disjointed, like we were only getting fragments of the story. But as Remy and Simone‘s inner relationships and relationship with each other develop, their narratorial perspectives also evolve.
Remy delivers some of her most severe life experiences casually, almost in passing, before moving on. However, it becomes clear that this is a coping mechanism for her fragmented mind. Her inner world is also fragmented as she navigates the changing landscape of her closest friendships and whether her identity is too closely bound to them. Simone is guarded with the reader but she is also guarded with herself. As she learns to open up, her voice grows stronger and she opens up to the reader too.
This book shouldn’t be compared to Maame as I originally wanted to do. While both share a deep love of family and explore young women coming into themselves through love, friendship, and maturity, Love by the Book stands firmly on its own. As a second novel, it is confident in its own voice.
I finished the book challenged by how romance, or specifically the romanticizing of small moments within friendship, can make all the difference.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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