This is the second book in an interconnected series. The first book is not required to be read before this one, but will add some context to the characters.
Synopsis:
He’s looking for the perfect wife. She’s looking for the perfect one-night stand.
Literary agent Zoey Moody doesn’t like small town life, but here she is: exiled from Manhattan’s publishing scene and trapped in a tiny Pennsylvania town with her BFF and only remaining client, Hazel. The problem? She’s totally broke.
All she needs is for Hazel’s next romance novel to become a gigantic hit, and Zoey will be back in New York. Nothing will stand in her way. Nothing except her six-foot-two-inch landlord, Gage Bishop. He’s smart, serious, and sexy. Worst of all, he’s ready to settle down.
Zoey might be the most beautiful woman Gage has ever met, but it’s clear they’re all wrong for each other. She’s allergic to commitment and can’t work a calendar app; he’s looking for a wife and has the next five years all planned out. She’s afraid of animals. He lives in a literal barn. But when Gage’s world is rocked by a devastating family secret, he turns to Zoey for one night to forget everything. That one night just might change everything…or ruin it.
Review:
I didn’t read the first book in the series, so it took me a few pages to fully understand the characters and how they all fit together. By chapter three, though, everything clicked, and I found myself genuinely looking forward to what was coming next.
Honestly, can I move to this town? I constantly caught myself wishing I could be part of this wonderful group of friends and found family. They truly had each other’s backs, were open and honest, and didn’t shy away from calling one another out when mistakes were made.
Zoey is in need of a fresh start and decides to move back to a small town as a temporary solution while she gets back on her feet. She prefers doing things her own way and has spent her life struggling to live up to other people’s expectations- especially her parents’.
This has deeply shaped how she sees herself and the value she believes she brings to others. Watching her blame herself and carry that emotional weight was painful, but seeing the people around her view her in a completely different light was incredibly heartwarming. Change doesn’t happen overnight, and while she makes mistakes along the way, her personal growth felt realistic and rewarding to follow.
The supportive group around her – especially the love interest, Gage – was a pleasure to read. The chemistry between them could have set a forest on fire 🙂 The dialogue was sharp and genuinely funny at times, to the point where I laughed out loud more than once (and felt a little jealous of their banter).
Was the story occasionally a bit over the top, and did some plotlines lean into familiar clichés? Absolutely. But I adored this couple, had so much fun reading the book, and loved immersing myself in this world.
🌙 Recension: Mistakes Were Made (Story Lake #2) by Lucy Score
📚 Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Romance
📅 Release Date: March 10, 2026
📖 Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 available in various formats
💸 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 610
⭐️ 4/5
Interested in more?
- Review: Jeweler to the Blessed by Jillian Witt
- Review: Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score
- Review: Seeds of Love by Lola Lockhart
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