Sushi and Sea Lions

by Rachel Corsini

When a career-ending injury and a messy breakup send prima ballerina Daniela Verdi back to Queens, New York, she fills her days with countless distractions: meaningless sex, pinot grigio, and video games.

It takes a chance meeting with her brother's best friend, Vincent LaBate, for her to remember who she was before the stage lights and distractions of the Upper West Side. She's convinced that Vincent could never love a girl like her: broken, insecure, and stumbling her way through life. What Daniela didn’t count on is that Vincent is as scarred as she is after divorcing his cheating wife and going through an equally messy child custody fight. Soon enough, old vulnerabilities rear their ugly heads, opening a crack in Daniela’s perfectly imperfect romance.

As Daniela and Vincent's relationship develops, will Daniela learn to accept that a dream life isn't all it's cracked up to be?

Genres: Romance, Rom Com, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

310 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2023

About the author

After declaring herself a pretty pink princess during her first ballet class, Rachel dreamt of sugarplums and began pirouetting her way through life. While studying to become a ballerina, she compulsively read books under her covers by flashlight and scribbled in spiral-bound notebooks. The urge to tell stories culminated in her graduation from Columbia College Chicago with a B.F.A. in fiction writing. Never one to keep her feet on the ground, she traveled the world from Prague to Cape Town. Once settled back in Queens, she dabbled in journalism before working as an Editorial Assistant for a medical publisher. Seeking a more fulfilling career, she earned her MAT from Queens College and currently works as an English teacher in an alternative program in NYC. Rachel spends her time sipping coffee, trying to cook, and practicing her pirouettes. She currently resides in Freeport, Long Island.

Reviews

[Kandace_Bookaholic_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Womens fiction rom com


I absolutely loved this story Daniela is such a relatable character who goes through so much in her life. A ballerina who looses everything shes worked for due to an accident. I couldn’t imagine basically having to start your whole life over because of something out of your control. She is a strong person and keeps her head held high.

Everyone looks for that special prince charming in there life and after a few trial and errors, she was lucky enough to find hers.

I loved the slow build up between the characters and i loved Daniela’s personality. I laughed (a lot) and cried some too but it came together so perfect and the ending was everything i hoped it would have been.

Now i just need to find myself a vin out there in the world. The love they shared was so special ❤️

[Enya Miche · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was bewildered by the title, I was drawn to this book based on the summary. A huge fan of the movie Center Stage and still building up the courage to watch Black Swan, I have an admiration for the dedication and sacrifice that goes into being a ballerina – especially the elite status of being a prima ballerina. To read a story of a woman who achieved the impossible only to lose it all, I wanted to see what message Rachel would carve out for her readers. Sushi and Sea Lions takes on the challenging approach of what happens after the fairytale is achieved and the credits roll. Sometimes they don’t get to live happily ever after. What do they do then when their once perfect fairytale becomes their living nightmare?

All Daniela (Dany) ever wanted to do was touch the sky. Her dreams came true when she was accepted into the Academy at age fourteen. As an aspiring ballerina, nothing but perfection was acceptable. Hitting milestones, surpassing expectations, and countless achievements later – life was beyond what she ever imagined. She achieved her dream, she was touching the sky, until she wasn’t. One bad landing and in a flash, her world came to an end. Lost and alone, heaven never seemed so far away. Foot surgery, early retirement, Dany didn’t know which way was up anymore. It was all gone, the admiration, the money, and the man she thought loved her. The only thing left was to move back to Queens and discover what else life had to offer. Despite supportive friends and loving parents, without ballet and Nate, what was the point. It wasn’t until she went out to celebrate her brother’s birthday that she found a reason to breathe again, that reason was Vinny. Convinced that he would only ever see her as her brother’s little sister, Dany suppresses her unrealistic desires and settles for a quickly budding friendship. Along the way, she learns that he is also rediscovering his place in life after separating from a cheating wife and moving on. No longer feeling alone on this journey of rediscovery, Dany finds herself growing closer and closer to Vinny but can two people with unrepaired damaged be right for each other or is it a disaster waiting to happen?

What I like about it: I always enjoy a good journey to self love and self discovery. For most of Daniela’s teen and adult life, she was fulfilling a role. The problem is the standards of that role were defined by those who demanded perfection. She had to be the perfect ballerina, the perfect girlfriend, the embodiment of fantasy and dreams. The issue with a bar that high is that if, by some miracle, you reach it – you have to question how much you sacrificed to rise that high as well as fear the bar being lifted even higher. I enjoyed the mirroring events that happened in her life that gave perspectives. Chad was to her as she was to Nate. She easily fell into the victimized role (justifiably so) as Nate used her but when she began to vent and was confronted with the reality that she had, essentially, done the exact same thing with Chad – using him to fulfill a need, negating his feelings, leading him own, it was a wonderful observation to see that switch flip and for her to understand truly why her and Nate would have never worked. Yes, she had already moved on but Vinny was the reason she was able to say goodbye to Nate. That moment with Chad, to me, was when she truly let go and accepted that Vinny or not, not being chosen had nothing to do with her. She realized you can’t control who you fall for, no more than Chad falling for her or her falling for Nate and it not being reciprocated. On that same note, while the Gala situation was heartbreaking (loved James by the way and his snide comment earned him a special place in my heart), if Vinny had been there – Dany wouldn’t have gotten the closure she didn’t realize she needed, not just to ballet, her former life, but to all of it – the dream, the fantasy. To have Nate still pursuing her despite the fact that he was engaged to a woman carrying his child, consider bullet dodged!

For Vinny, I agree with Dany’s assessment that he was trying to hold onto a perfection that never existed. His ex-wife was a walking disaster. Matthew made that clear when he shared that she was never happy, despite who her partner was. She fought with Tony, she fought with Vinny, she picked fights with Dany – she was just a miserable human being. Unlike Tony, Vinny kept trying to mold himself into what he believed was perfection in her eyes, changing his major, no longer drawing, working himself to death so she didn’t have to lift a finger but had money to spend. No wonder why he was broken. He did everything to only get heartbreak in return, his forever coming to a crashing halt with cheating and lies. Mellie was right, you don’t come back from that the same. The problem with Vinny was that he wasn’t moving past it or risen above it. He wanted the easiness of wishing he hadn’t rocked the boat, even if it meant being unhappy. He was too blind to the life he could have with Dany because it wasn’t picture perfect – but what is?

Despite, enjoying this book immensely, I had trouble connecting with the characters. While I sympathized with Daniela and her lost, I myself have never had something so defining that once gone, I had no idea who I was anymore. This was such a HUGE part of the story, of Daniela’s identity that not being able to empathize with her made it difficult to walk beside her in her journey of finding herself again. I became a spectator – watching what was happening, trusting what was being told to me, but closed off to feeling it for myself. Yes, in many stories, a deeper connection to the character is not necessary. In this case, to truly absorb Daniela’s tale, it was crucial to know and feel her pain or something so closely relatable that you were able to shed tears if not with her, for her. That along with the ambiguity of the ending is what kept this from being a home run for me.

Speaking of the ending – if I am being honest, I was quite confused and I feel like an epilogue would have helped me understand which way to go in terms of accepting the outcome. Their fallout was because Daniela wanted the fairytale, the happy ever after, the love she read in books. She envisioned marriage and babies, the ideal future with the man she loved. Vinny made it perfectly clear that he had no desire to marry again and didn’t want to start over when it came to kids. Attempting to dip his toe back into his old life, he caused a rift in his relationship, proving to Dany where is loyalty lied. Got that! The problem I have is once it was all resolved, he was forgiven, she learned to love herself without the validation of others, and he proved himself to her, in a way she could see and feel, and they got back together – what was next? We already knew they were in love with each other but what now – was Vinny open to the possibility of marriage and kids (what Dany supposedly wanted now, despite how she felt in the past) OR was Dany willing to be happy in the life of the forever girlfriend, with the knowledge that it would not go beyond that (what those around her said she wanted anyway, eluded to the desire of marriage and kids being false or only temporary due to her ideology of the ideal HEA)? Again, an epilogue who have helped me know how to absorb the ending, instead in leaving me in limbo.

Diving back into the story, the spicy scenes in this book were surreal. Rachel did a fantastic job of showing three different sides of intimacy with Dany: her being closed off (Chad and the Billys), her being open and her partner being closed off (Nate), and both people being completely open (Vinny). Rachel showed us that Dany was her most vulnerable in these moments so we were in her head, going through the psychological war of mental and physical entanglement. With Chad (and the Billys), it was chasing a feeling lost, filling a void, avoiding an sense of emptiness and despair but indirectly promoting the opportunity of self -loathing. Everyone had used her, why couldn’t she do the same. With Nate, it was being open and raw but knowing it meant nothing, desperately needing it to mean everything. The act screamed “love me”, “see me”, “choose me” with the knowledge of delusion and perpetuating cycle of disappointment and again, self-loathing. With Vinny, we got to see what it looked like when she was the focus, the center of attention, loved, admired, center stage again with admiration. She danced with the rawness of emotions, leaving it all on the table and with him, she did the same thing – letting go and feeling it all. Knowing herself, trusting herself, trusting her partner. Through these moments, we were able to learn more about Dany than she was ever willing to share.

Those moments and the moment Dany finally chose herself were the best parts of this book. Her enlightenment began in Greece when she realized she would survive and culminated when she looked at herself in the mirror and accepted all of her. This is what made the entire journey you had witnessed worth it. Having always been everything to everyone but never anything to herself, we witnessed her rebirth.

The book in itself is thought provoking and laced with heartfelt and heartbreaking moments. While I had trouble connecting with these characters to truly feel these moments, they were extremely well written and for someone who can empathize with either character, especially to love something or someone and lose it in a devastating manner, they will be drawn in and brought to tears.

[I. Merey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dany is a dancer who had everything--the career, the body, the adulation--the guy. Then she suffered an accident and had to move back to her old stomping grounds, and completely reassess. Here comes grown out of his MySpace thirst-trap era Tom Hardy--I mean, VinVin--he's lost the hair, but he still has a juicy dumptruck. He also has a kid and an ex-wife...

Dany and VinVin have a foot back in the past, no matter how painful a place that was. They say you can't be loved until you loved yourself, so here's a cute story about two people trying to build a relationship with a person who likes them for who they are, terrible cooking, barking at sealions, 'stupid bald head' ;D and all. It should be easy, right? Well.....

A book for romantics <3 and bonus points for the dance details Corsini added! (I always enjoy a story about a dancer/with dance-life details!!)

[Lisa Ard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sushi and Sea Lions by Rachel Corsini is an engaging women’s fiction / romcom taking readers on a ride from the height of the ballet world to the heart of Queens. Dani is a renowned ballerina at the top of her game when she lands wrong on stage. In an instant her career is over, and along with it her identity. She moves home to the old neighborhood, to friends and family, and begins the task of finding her way forward.

Dani thinks:

"But maybe healing from the wound on my foot was just the beginning. Maybe I still needed to heal the wound on my heart, too."

A wounded heart thanks to a dirtbag boyfriend. Nate thought nothing of stringing Dani along while he cheated on her with her ballet rival. Dani compares the ex-beau to:

"a damn roach…[that] scuttled around just like Nate; reappearing, existing forever, never dying. Like Twinkies. So bad, yet deeply desired."

Enter Vinny, her brother’s childhood friend. He is oh-so-fine to look at, but also damaged. Newly divorced and with a 9-year old son, Vinny is not eager to lose his heart again. When he and Dani get together, sparks fly and the spice in this novel is VERY spicy.

Through ups and downs, Dani and Vinny teach each other what it means to fall in love and make it stick. Corsini’s novel touches on the importance of loving yourself, before opening your heart to another.

[Anna Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that made me happy. I couldn’t help falling in love with Daniella, a ballerina who tries to rebuild herself after an injury that ends her career. In a way it ends a part of her story, and she tries to find a new one. We are lucky to be along for the ride through all her triumphs and failures, personal and professional. It starts out on a low note in her journey and ends - not on a high but rather on a very satisfying realization that there is life after an ending.
Daniella is heartbreaking, funny, vibrant, and sweet. She will stay with you long after you finish reading. I loved her cat Regi. I realized it’s not often you read about a geriatric cat who is a someone’s soulmate, and I love that Rachel Corsini gave us this sweet baby to adore.
This book is also super hot. I mean… scorching. But I rarely enjoy a sex scene without a point. Here, sex was also a part of Daniella’s journey as a character. I was glad she ended up with someone who made her happy. I don’t know that anyone really deserved her, I felt like she was heads above all the guys in the book, and needed someone even more awesome, but I am happy if she is happy.
It’s a page turner! I am looking forward to more from the author.

[Rachel Ashera Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a life-affirming read. Dany is a ballerina whose career is cut short after a devastating on-stage injury, and whose relationship is cut short because her not-quite-boyfriend is a Grade A fuckboy. Forced to leave the glamour of Manhattan for her old neighbourhood in Queens, she must reevaluate her life, her career, and the possibility of a new relationship with an old friend, Vinny.

I love a story about second chances and finding whatever joys you can from the wreckage of your old life. Written with warmth and heart and grounded in a neighbourhood of big Italian families and sports bars, this tale of two hot messes picking up the pieces and falling in love is spellbinding and an absolute delight.

Thank you to BookFunnel for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Zilla Novikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sushi and Sea Lions is a romance with heart. Dany thinks she's lost everything when an injury takes away her ability to dance ballet professionally. But ballet is a complicated thing to love. It gave her the ability to fly, but it demanded perfection from her in return. She had a body she didn't love and a boyfriend who didn't really love her. It's only when she's lost both ballet and the toxic boyfriend that she can start to find herself.

In Queens, she meets an old friend, Vincent, who's going through his own journey of self discovery. She teaches him to bark at sea lions and play video games and smile, and he teaches her that she is worthy of love, just as she is, imperfections and all.

This is a romance, but it's not just Dany falling in love with her Vin Vin. It's also Dany falling in love with herself, and learning to fly again on her own terms.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I read sloooowly because I didn't want it to end. I fell so hard for Dani and wanted her happy ending right away, but girl had to work so hard for it...however, I am happy to say that Vincent LaBate is worth the wait.

So many of my favorite tropes here. Sweet on each other as children, their lives went separate ways but now, both starting over, they live a few houses away from each other as they try to rebuild. Daniela Verdi was a prima ballerina who owned the stage but lost her career and her dreams due to a foot injury. Vincent was devastated by his divorce and having to split custody with his nine-year-old son. She can't seem to divest herself of the wrong men who keep clinging to her. He's seeing someone completely wrong for him. They keep getting drawn to one another and that understanding that sparks between them, along with an undeniable attraction. But even if Dani decides she wants a different kind of future, does Vincent want the same thing? How can they put back all the broken pieces of one another in a way that makes sense?

I loved learning about ballet; I loved the friend groups, especially Dani's girlfriends; and I love Corsini's writing as she is so frank, funny, and real about life as a modern woman. Also, there is Regi the cat, who sank her claws into my heart from the beginning and never let go. With, yes, sushi and sea lions making their appearance, this is a wonderful tale of redemption, starting over, and making the best of what you have. I absolutely loved it. And P.S. there are recipes at the end. I believe every book should have recipes now.

[Booktokqutiepie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all need our own sea lion that we can fling sushi at ….Serendipity

This book had some truly hilarious moments like the aforementioned sushi flinging and so,e truly heartfelt ones too a certain piece of art in a certain place you gotta read to find out.

This book centers around Dany our FMC who is a foe,er ballerina whose injury keeps her from dancing pointe again. She’s going through a big of a use em and leave em phase if you know what I mean until her brother convinces her to come to a party where she reconnects with one of his best friends Vin. VIN played baseball in college, was married had a kiddo and got divorced moving back to Queens and so was Dany after everything that happened with her.

The girlfriends and bro code guy friends were great side characters and love the real star of the show Regi (when you know you know)

All in all I would give this 4 ⭐️ go a great balance of things banter, tropes, steam and spice and speaking of the spice I would say 2🌶️ overall good read and I recommend!

[A.P. Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Sushi and Sea Lions
Author: Rachel Corsini

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is gorgeously formatted and feels like a non-holiday Hallmark movie on paper.

The FMC is flawed and broken in the most relatable of ways. Her best friends are who we wish would show up at our door on the gloomy days, and her carousel of boys are raunchy jaunts of entertainment. That is, until our MMC steps in, and somehow, the reader is unable to let him go much like our female lead.

Anyone looking for an older heartfelt rebirth would love this book.
Daniela has her world crash around her; her heart utterly demolished. And yet, still rises from the ashes of her past to find out what it means to truly feel alive again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[yolisha_08 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Vincent and Daniela’s connection was so beautiful. They fit together so perfectly. I like that there was some suspense about what happened with Daniela’s career and relationship at the beginning of the book. The fact that the book started with her being in such a bad place and had to pull herself together to start over made the character so relatable. I always tend to look for life lessons in books. This one depicts how unpredictable life can be. One moment Daniela was a famous ballerina and the next she had to move back home and rediscover herself.

[Lucy Ashe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about ballet, NYC, and a whole lot of romance already had me hooked, and I absolutely loved reading 'Sushi and Sea Lions'. It's an uplifting read with an original premise - the combination of a ballet dancer struggling to cope with the end of her career and the new sense of identity that comes with that, while also trying to find a meaningful relationship, was excellent.

[Vicki-Ann Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only regret with this book is that I can't add stars to my review. Not only did I enjoy this lovely page turner, but it brought back emotions I had forgotten that young love experiences. And by young love, I mean new love. Real love. Forever love. The tragedy of loss and the blossoming of a new adventure that comes with it's own tests of strength beautifully unfolds in this story that pulls you in and hangs on tight. It's been a while since a book kept me up until four in the morning because I wanted to read just one more chapter, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

I recommend this debut masterpiece to anyone who...that's it. No exceptions.

[Rohan O'Duill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Would recommend to a friend.

[Jillian Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

The book was amazing! I did not want to put it down! Definitely recommending to all my friends! Great Job Rachel Corsini ☺

[fahirahn · Rating 1 out of 5]

he missed one of the biggest night of his girl's life when he knows how much it meant to her for him to be there & instead he skipped it to attend his ex wife's wedding. he did not even grovel. she could do so much better and settled for him. and im supposed to swoon?

[Casey Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of those lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Typically I’m a Fantasy girlie, but Sushi and Sea Lions taught me that other genres can hold a magic all their own, and I was easily spellbound.

The feelings that this book roused from me took me completely by pleasant surprise. If you’re an emotional reader, keep some tissues at the ready for this one! You’ll laugh, rage and cry right along with Daniela as she endures. This book will give you all the warm and fuzzies while still confronting some tough topics, and that SPICE is SPICY.

It’s a fast paced, well written page turner that you’ll breeze through, and be left feeling nothing short of satisfied by.

To fellow readers: It should come as no surprise that Vin Vin is the standard I will be holding all men to going forward. The bar is set HIGH, but I will settle for no less— and neither should you.

[Tim The Book Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sushi and Sea Lions

First I have to say this is a very 18+ reading age book. It's a cross between Sex and the City with elements of The Outlander without the time travel. If you enjoy those two series, you will love this one as well.

The story is about Daniela, a former ballerina. I don't recall a background story that told why she wanted to be a ballerina, if it were a childhood dream or if her parents forced her into it, but she becomes not only a dancer, but the star ballerina. It's all she ever knew and it's what she's wanted, regardless of her start. All her energy is focused on this career, until she has a major injury in which she cannot recover from. Her life was planned out, and then the incident. It leaves her very confused as to what to do next. I think a lot of people can relate to this life fact, to Daniela, because not everyone has everything figured out in life and so many people go through the process of what society or the expectation of parents to find what they set their life on undesirable results. Young people think they need a college education, only to take their first job to learn it is full of red tape or bureaucracy, which makes it less than desirable. This is the reality of average person, when their dream fails, they are left stranded wondering who they are and where to go next. So that's where Daniela is at the start of this story. The attention, the glamour, of being the star performer is suddenly swept from under her feet. To fill the void, she becomes a nymphomaniac. The first paragraph shows this very well as she just slept with a guy she refers to as "Billy", and in fact the last few guys she calls them by the same name and compares them to the Billy Goat Gruff. I assume she picks up these random strangers and drops them just as quickly because she is starved for attention, and wants to feel something other than defeat. Lust becomes numbing and it never satisfies her, like a drug addict that eventually needs a higher dose of their poison.

In walks Vincent, he's the friend of Dani's older brother, the one that perpetually got away. She swoons for him again, especially after finding out he is divorced now. Vincent has this opposites attract lure to him. He is rugged and bald, blue collar, probably started out in a struggling low income family. Daniela is pretty, a full mane of hair, and I assume high class family. But he is divorced and done with relationships. He almost reminds me of a future Daniela, not because he is a lot older, but because he failed to the submission of lust too, only he built the whole relationship on this false foundation like so many people in the world today, and then his marriage collapses because of it. So back to The Billy Goats Gruff, he seems like the troll in this story, who doesn't want love to pass over the bridge. Through her persistence, Daniela works on changing his mind to realize that they both need each other to heal their wounds. The author has hit all the beats of a romantic emotional roller coaster with this story that imitates life for many people.

I enjoyed the ride, seeing myself in both characters at times. I am a bit old fashion, so if I am to give an honest review, some of the graphic sex scenes were a bit too much for me. I would have liked to have seen more romance to it. And I'm still not quite sure if I agree to the ending, but maybe because I'm the troll under the bridge.

I'm partially bias too. I met the author over a year ago online through her cat Regi, who is in the book and has since gone over the rainbow bridge. Forming a friendship with the author and learning more about her through self posted videos, the book here seems really semi-autobiographical. The career path is the same as Daniela and even her cat is featured with the setting of New York too. So what Rachel has done is used her experiences to write this book and I think that's what makes it even better as people will be able to relate to these same experiences. You get immersed into the story setting and feel like you are in NY because she knows it so well.

Whether or not you read this book, whether or not you enjoy this book, make every effort to follow her on IG, where she posts her videos. Rachel has a lot of enthusiasm and joy, one of those people when you do interact with her she is welcoming and it feels as though you knew her for years. Most of her videos are self-promos or promoting other like books, but my favorite are the ones where she takes you on tours of the city, some of which lead to bookstores. If you are an avid reader, you will definitely love these personable videos. And if you like the frazzled love life of millennials, check this book out today!

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sushi and Sea Lions by Rachel Corsini takes readers on an emotional journey of self-discovery, peppered with a spicy romance. Set in the vibrant borough of Queens, New York, this novel delves into the lives of two individuals, Daniela Verdi and Vincent LaBate, as they navigate the challenges of brokenness, insecurity, and the pursuit of happiness.

The story revolves around Daniela Verdi, a talented ballerina whose promising career is cut short by a devastating injury. Forced to return to her hometown of Queens, Daniela tries to fill the void in her life with distractions, including casual encounters, wine, and video games. However, a chance encounter with Vincent, her brother’s best friend, sets in motion a series of events that make Daniela question her perception of herself and her potential for love.

Corsini masterfully portrays Daniela’s journey toward self-acceptance and growth. Daniela’s character is relatable and endearing as she grapples with her insecurities and confronts the scars of her past. Vincent is also a complex character, dealing with his emotional baggage following a painful divorce and a custody battle. The author skillfully intertwines their individual struggles, allowing their shared experiences to bring them closer together.

The narrative shines a light on the theme of self-discovery, emphasizing the importance of facing one’s fears and embracing vulnerability. As Daniela and Vincent’s relationship develops, the story explores how they support and heal each other, ultimately leading to personal growth and a deeper understanding of themselves.....

The full review may be read on my website: https://ginaraemitchell.com.

I received a digital copy of the book from the publisher. This review is my honest opinion.

[Merrit Townsend (always1morebook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stand alone set in Queens, New York and follows Daniela, a Prima Ballerina who loses everything in her world after a devastating and career ending injury.

Dani moves back home to heal and discover who she is without her dancing. Losing her boyfriend Nate, Dani feels like she is unlovable and not worthy of anything, until sees her brother's best friend, Vinny. Vin and Dani rekindle their friendship and are there for each other during the hard times. They soon realize that they feel something other than friendship and start on a beautiful romance filled with finding out who they are together.

The title of this book means so much more than just a funny euphemism. There is a huge meaning behind the title and I hope you take a chance on it. Some of my favorite scenes in this book are part of what makes the adventure so amazing. Trivia at the local dive bar, sushi vs. teriyaki chicken, Arf arf (you will get it when you read the book) at the Bronx zoo, video games and a teaching degree. All these moments are beautifully told.

OMG this book was so good. I loved the healing journey both Vinny and Dani had and the way they felt their self worth through this story. The author put in a lot of similarities to her own life which made this story that much more special. The laughter I had and the tears I shed while reading this story were immense. This book was such a surprise and I wish more people would discover this amazingly well written story that tells the tales of a passage to happiness. This was Rachels debut and it will definitely not be the last book I read of hers. She is currently working on book 2 set in the same world andI cannot wait to read it. Go pick up this book. I promise you will fall in love with Dani and Vin Vin!

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review on NovelsAlive.com by clicking the link below. It is also posted in full.

https://novelsalive.com/2023/08/16/4-...


Sushi and Sea Lions by debut author Rachel Corsini started out very slowly for me. It was hard to get into the story because Dany, who is no longer a professional prima ballerina due to a career-ending injury she received while performing, is in self-destruct mode. It was hard to watch how she was self-sabotaging after losing her position, plus telling her boyfriend to take a hike. But was Nate really her boyfriend or just a casual hookup when he needed a fix? Once I got past that, the story had a good flow that kept my interest.

Dany is surrounded by family and good friends, and her ex-ballet partner continues to reach out to her. She has to find new passions and interests, which takes time. Vincent, her brother’s best friend, is dealing with his own issues, but they definitely have an attraction, and she admits to herself that she’s always had a crush on him since they were younger. They are good for each other and seem to be attuned to each other as well. Of course, when you have a couple of needy characters pairing off, things don’t always happen how they want them to.

I liked Dany’s relationship with her parents, older brother, sons, and Vin’s son. Her sister-in-law was hard to read since, under the guise of caring, she sometimes went too far in giving her opinion or take on things. Did she really have Dany’s well-being and best interests in mind?

There are several references to the ballet and Queens where she now lives, which I enjoyed since I’m originally from Queens, even though it was many moons ago. I could envision the neighborhood, the food, being Italian, and some of the places Dany and others visited. There was closure and a happily-ever-after in the offing after much angst, anger, soul searching, tears, hard work, camaraderie, romance, and steamy moments.

The title and the cover are cute and very applicable to the story. I enjoyed reading the recipes in the back of the book, and the grandmother’s sauce is just how my family makes it! Yum!

In Sushi and Sea Lions, you can bark with the sea lions, eat and drink in the neighborhood, see the sites of New York, and learn more about ballet as you read this delightful romance.

[Stacey T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that explores professional and personal heartbreak. Daniela is forced to find a new career after a devastating injury ends her life as a professional ballerina. Now her glamorous lifestyle is gone she’s moving back to Queens to figure out what’s next in life. Not to mention her boyfriend has moved on to her replacement in the company but still keeps coming back around and stringing her along. Vincent is divorced after his wife cheated on him and is now causing more damage by using their son against him. Vincent is best friends with Daniela’s brother, and they have known each other from a young age but then life happened and now they are reconnecting at a time when both are struggling in life. Through a journey of self-discovery, acceptance and personal growth, they will help each other heal from the past and learn that life doesn’t always turn out how we planned but sometimes it turns out for the better. The story and characters felt real and the struggles they faced were ones that I believe many people can relate to – lost career, lost love, betrayal, divorce. In the end, the strength, perseverance, family and friends are what helps us overcome life’s obstacles and this book demonstrates it very well. I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Jennifer Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book free to be judged for an Indie Ink Award.*

Dany's life crashes down around her when her ballerina days are ripped away by a foot shattering injury. When she needs the emotional support to get her through it all, the man she'd been sleeping with deemed himself just that. He wasn't her boyfriend after all. She's left trying to find emotion in the men that waltz through her bed, but in the end it's all just meaningless, until she finds her way back home.

Vin Vin is Dany's older brother's best friend. She'd known him since she was little, but the way she felt around him had her wondering if it was mutual. Although she's ready to give it all, he's coming off a bad divorce and sometimes you can't give everything once you felt like you've already lost it. Though serendipity keeps showing her gifts as Dany and Vin Vin continually find themselves in each other's presence.

I was to judge this book in the category of light read, and that it is most definitely not. Sushi and Sea Lions is a complicated and entwined story about heartbreak, learning to start over, discovering truths about yourself, and creating your own fairytale. Both main characters are going through the same things. One losing her career and the man she thought she loved. The other getting divorced and learning how to survive only seeing his son every other weekend.

Is it a good story? Yes, it is. Did it captivate me? Not at all. As a matter of fact, it took me almost a week to get through. Honestly, it would make a good movie, but as a book it couldn't hold my attention.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romantic debut was heart warming. steamy, and passionate.

Danny loses a lot in the beginning of the story. Her career as a ballerina, the man she thought loved her. But her life takes a turn when she runs into an old friend Vinny. He's a single dad who is dealing with his own loss, as he tries to cope with divorce and his nasty ex-wife.

Eventually the two find comfort in the familiar presence of each other and slowly start to take the next step and love each other. Danny grows so much through the story and I feel like she also learns to love dance again through teaching. It may not be what she envisioned for herself but with the man she loves by her side its all worth it.

My favorite quote:
I was cement, permanent, sturdily constructed, a carefully laid foundation. I moved my hand to my chest. Me. Just me. For the first time, I loved me. I didn't just like me. I loved me. Loved Myself.

[Diane Billas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy!

Daniela is having a rough time by losing her dream job as a prima ballerina from a career ending injury and being hurt by the guys she likes. So she starts sleeping around with lots of random guys until she sees longtime family friend Vinny again who recently got divorced. She falls hard for him but are both of them ready to move on with each other?

This books is great! It’s mainly set in Queen New York and I can tell from the descriptive writing that’s exactly where it takes place. I also love how messy Dany is and her geriatric cat Regi! This gives you all the feels. I also love reading more about ballet and how that is so important to Dany. If you like a spicy romance this book will be right up your alley. Highly recommend! Can’t wait to read the author’s next book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best beach-read-after-dark I can think of! Corsini roped me in with raw and real characters (WOW, Daniela seemed like someone I could never identify with but I quickly became her best friend, deeply invested in her life and well-being) and took them on a healing and very real journey.
What impresses me me most about this book: Dany's internal narrative when she's mad at herself while also getting what she wants (god, I feel this); there's no fantastical element to this love story--it's all REAL and still a perfect love story; HOW ARE THESE CHARACTERS SO REAL???

I know there was some struggle for publishers to place this book between romance and women's fiction and that also pleases me. It's a REALLY real story that's also sexy. Romances often annoy me with their shininess. This gives me the love story I want--healing and whole--without me thinking "this isn't real."

[Zan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sushi and Sealions was greatly nostalgic for me with the background of Queens, NY and the journey Danny goes on to find who she is and who she wants to be after being forced to move away from the professional dance world due to circumstances outside of her control. She is ultimately able to find creative fulfillment and self love with the help of her Vin Vin. This is an enjoyable romance that allows the characters to have real life baggage and vulnerabilities to shift through along the way. It's a quick paced book that contains plenty of raw spice.

This book is perfect for lovers of:
-NYC
-ballet
-friends to lovers trope
-bald guys with beards
-sushi
-sea lions
-cats
-cooking (even includes official and family recipes at the end)

[Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

“While I was dancing my ass off in arguably the best ballet company in the nation and earning my B.A. in English online," Daniela reminisces, "my friends were marrying Billys.” But she does go to bars with guys who have “a whiff of orange underneath a musky cinnamon, faint hints of lemon and cedar. Like the end of summer drifting into fall.” And they have abs. Sushi and Sea Lions is her dazzling erotic story. She falls for a guy whom she feels is her fairy tale prince. Vinny expresses himself differently, but he’s also into her, this very sexy woman, for reasons of sushi and sea lions. These are indeed reasons, but if the chemistry’s right, no one will need reasons. We are going to inspect the chemistry up close!!

[wren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why I hated this book:

1. A side character with 3 lines slaps the MMC ass out of no where bc “he had a tight ass” and does not apologize for it. Gross.

2. Vin chooses to go to his EX WIFES WEDDING over Dany’s ballet banquet dedicated to her and put on in her honor as a farewell to her career. What the actual fuck.

3. Dany asks her friend how to know when to take Vin back and she says “he’ll show up.” Well guess what he did not show up but hung one of his drawings up and Dany sees it and runs after him like huh??

The reason is has 2 stars is because Regi her cat was my favorite and deserves the best. It’s a crime Regi isn’t on the cover but a sea lion is that was seen in the book twice. Umm okay.

[H.D. Bergen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this women’s fiction with Sex and the City allure, Daniela has to come to terms with the fact she will never dance ballet again. Her career is over and she has to move back to Queens.

She bumps into Vincent, her brother’s best friend and childhood crush. In the years Dany has been gone to pursue her dream, Vinny has suffered through divorce, becoming a single father, and is just like her, reassessing his life.

Two broken souls, trying to love themselves again after thinking they hit the lowest point in their lives, to find something they didn’t expect in each other’s arms.

It was hard to see how Dany self sabotages herself and Vinny struggles with letting his past life go. Rachel Corsini put down real and flawed characters, showing growth and raw emotion through the pages.