Review: Love in Focus by Lyla Lee
Love in Focus by Lyla Lee is a sapphic second-chance romance set in present-day San Francisco, featuring two Korean-American heroines reuniting after nearly a decade apart. What should have been an emotional exploration of healing and reconnection between Gemma, a love advice columnist, and Celeste, a world-renowned photographer (and Gemma’s college ex), unfortunately fell flat for me.
The premise had potential: exes forced to collaborate on a high-profile project about modern love? Sign me up. Add to that the rich cultural details around Korean food and traditions—which I genuinely appreciated—and there were moments of promise. However, the execution left a lot to be desired.
The biggest struggle? The romance lacked emotional depth. Despite a supposed seven-year relationship in their past, Gemma and Celeste’s reconnection felt superficial and underdeveloped. Their dialogue leaned formulaic, and the emotional beats never quite hit. It often felt like they barely knew each other, both in the past and in the present.
Narrative structure added to the disjointed feeling. The story alternates between first-person present (Gemma) and third-person past (Celeste), a jarring choice that may work for some readers but made it harder for me to stay immersed. The pacing was also uneven—after a slow burn, the story pivots to a rushed third-act breakup followed by a two-year time jump. The resolution lacked payoff, especially considering how much buildup the story aimed for.
The audiobook narration by Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho was a highlight. Both narrators delivered strong, engaging performances that brought as much warmth and clarity to the characters as possible, even when the script didn’t give them much to work with.
Overall, Love in Focus reads like it was following a strict romance formula without enough originality or emotional nuance to stand out. If you’re looking for a sapphic romance with more depth, I’d recommend Delilah Green Doesn’t Care or Something to Talk About instead. Still, if you’re drawn to Korean-American representation and enjoy dual narration audiobooks, this may work better for you.
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus and Catherine Ho
⭐️⭐️.5 (rounded up to 3 for narration and cultural elements)
Tropes: Second Chance Romance, Workplace Romance, Exes to Lovers, Bisexual Representation, Unresolved Past / Ghosting, Slow Burn with Third Act Breakup
