Review: When I Picture You by Sasha Laurens

There’s nothing offensively bad about this one, but I’m always a little conflicted by stories—especially romances—that so clearly draw inspiration from real people. It’s hard not to feel like this is trying to have the cake of Gaylor conspiracy theorizing while also condemning it.

That said, I actually enjoyed this book more than I expected to. It’s flawed, sure, but I found myself rooting for both main characters as they worked through their messes—both in love and in life. Renee’s burnout and career struggles are particularly well-written, and her emotional arc is satisfying (she starts rough, y’all). I also loved the strong parental relationships—Renee’s mom and stepdad were standouts.

On the flip side, Lola as a character never quite escapes her real-world inspirations. The parallels to Taylor Swift (and maybe Sabrina Carpenter?) are so on-the-nose that it kept pulling me out of the storyhttps://a.co/d/0lWHf3O. I also wish the book had a stronger sense of place—its version of Los Angeles feels… googled. The pacing drags in spots, and some of the representation reads more like box-checking than character development.

Still, there’s a lot to like here: a thoughtful look at identity, creativity, and burnout, plus a romance that’s messy in a very human way.

Liked:

• Renee’s personal growth and depiction of creative burnout
• Healthy family dynamics (rare and refreshing!)
• A slow-burn romance that feels emotionally earned

Wished for:

• A more distinct, less “celebrity mash-up” FMC
• Stronger LA authenticity
• Smoother pacing and momentum

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

Verdict: A solid, imperfect queer romance that bites off a lot—and lands enough of it to keep me reading. I think they’ll last a while (maybe even open things up down the road), but I’m not totally convinced they’re endgame.