Gretchen Carpenter didn’t come from money. She didn’t have a lot growing up in her small town. As the black sheep of her family, instead of staying home and taking over the family business, she moved to Boston, got into Harvard Law School, and is about to graduate when she gets an internship at a personal injury law firm. It’s not what Gretchen wanted to do, but it’s the reason she meets Amanda Dixon.
Amanda Dixon comes from old money, and that’s helpful, but it doesn’t stop her from working hard for what she wants. On her way to a master’s in her instrument from one of the most prestigious music schools in the country, she does not have time for a pesky lawsuit.
When the two women meet, they clash instantly due to their differences and perceptions. Once they’re forced to work together, they find they have more in common than they initially thought, and they might just have met the person that finally gets them to let go.
Nicole Pyland is a bestselling author of lesbian romance novels, including No After You, All the Love Songs, and the series like Chicago, San Francisco, Tahoe, Sports, Boston, and more. Since 2017, she’s published over 30 novels (not including her What Happened After shorts), and more books are on their way!
Nicole grew up in Indiana, studying English & Film and then getting a MS in Behavior Analysis and moving to California, working by day as a Head of Training at a start-up. She lives with her wife and their opinionated cat, who spends his evenings helping her write stories by occupying half the chair.
'ARC generously provided by The Author in exchange for a honest review'
**'Storytelling has an obligation to distress..The way that some characters both see and experience the world, should not be limited by their circumstances in any storyline..'
4.5stars! There are lots of confident writers who has this egoism about their writings that whenever there's the release of a new book, it's seen as just well written by a majority of their fan base while on the other hand there are those insecure writers with barely there writing skills and average to meh books that do not heed the many negative comments from readers. Well, Ms.Pyland is one of those confident writer -- who has good penmanship and is also a wordsmith. 'LET GO' the first book in this Boston series starts off with a bang because of it's succulent storytelling from the beginning to the last sentence. Her many many books and series are sometimes slight but always poignant chronicles of female friendship groups -- their griefs, family problems/backstories, ongoing events and their defining evolution. So when it came to "LET GO' it followed the same storyline trend of a group of women (Gretchen, Amanda, Cassie, Erin & Jamie) meeting then growing towards becoming close friends with a precise story to tell --- of this unimaginable fragility of truth to life. Where being well off or poor does not always leads to happiness but once there's trust, sincerity and Love etc.. only then will life and the person that you're in Love with -- and with the support from families and friends, matters. The pace gets a little lost with the many descriptive daily routines of both Gretchen and Amanda, then with Gretchen's tedious thoughts and anger towards anyone with lots of money but this part was outshine by their witty banter, future plans, career choices and sexually charged intimate moments plus that deep desire between each other through minor resilience from others wanting to take advantage. Overall, 'LET GO' should be enjoyed and appreciated by all interested readers because of it's profound premise. A recommended 1st compelling series!
I think the speed at which Pyland produces books is astounding. They are good quality writing too and each one has a different style. Her Celebrity series was more insta-love. I liked it because I like the celebrities trope but the insta-love worked for me only half the time, so I’m happy to see her take a different approach for this Boston series.
Tension generates good chemistry and that's what our characters have. Amanda is a musician involved in a car accident and Gretchen is the law intern working on her case and they have quite the heated tension going on. It started because Amanda came off a bit high handed when they first met but I'd call it a misunderstanding because Amanda is a really likable person despite coming from a family with money. Gretchen on the other hand, has a chip on her shoulder the size of a boulder when it comes to people with money and she's also a little sensitive. But after they get to know each other, feelings change pretty quickly though the relationship starts just a little tentatively because they are busy people but mostly because Gretchen is such a life planner.
But I like how dynamic a character Gretchen is and how she works on her shortcomings when people call her out. It doesn't hurt that Amanda is a wonderful person and so accommodating too.
This story worked out well. I'm pretty sure the rest of the side characters will eventually get their own stories and I'm super excited because we have a couple of interesting characters. Oh, but can I say that Pyland really needs to do something about her covers?
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I think it's safe to say that Nicole Pyland has my number. She finds my sweet-spot like she has a map with a Sherpa on stand-by. I'm almost certain these aren't as good as I think they are, but I can't be bothered to figure out why; I'm too busy enjoying the crap out of them. Okay, that's obvious hyperbole, but I just sank into my enjoyment of this story and never looked back. That said, can someone introduce her to a good cover designer? I mean, it's like she's testing ways to have the weirdest, least-romancy covers possible just to see if she can overcome a built-in market handicap.
The romance arc itself is relatively thin, with a steady progression with few deviations. It starts with Gretchen being a big bundle of class envy and that manifests in being mean to the rich girl new client at the law firm she's interning at. She's not so envious that she doesn't go the extra mile on her lawsuit, however, and that prompts Amanda to look deeper at the annoying intern giving her a hard time. To be honest, Gretchen got on my nerves a bit in the beginning. Amanda is clearly not the stereotype she assumes her to be and persisting in that vein was annoying. Fortunately, that doesn't last long, though it crops up from time to time even after Gretchen has adjusted a bit. Which was merely human and kind of drew me in with how even-keeled Amanda was about it (calling her on it when it comes up but not holding a grudge).
I really liked Pyland's hand with the relationship, actually. While thin as a romance arc, it felt right for these two coming together. There's a steadiness to their learning to know one another and once communication lines were open, Pyland showed the work they put into keeping them that way. Which is to say that there's no dark moment or similar setback in the story—just normal events that would happen in a relationship with two very high-powered, busy women.
So I'm going to call this a full five stars, though again, noting that at least some of it (maybe a lot?) is because Pyland does it for me. I dove in and simple didn't resurface until the story was over.
A note about Steamy: There are some explicit sex scenes, about the middle of my steam tolerance. I forgot to count, though, because I was just enjoying the story, so I can't say with certainty that this is correct.
Good story, good plot and well-written. It’s not an enemy-to-friends-to-lover story but more of I-don’t-like-you or I-hate-your-guts encounters between Gretchen and Amanda initially, which evolved over time.
I’ve nothing negative to say about the book and MCs, or even the supporting characters. But somehow, I’m just not feeling it though. Perhaps, it’s because of the setting; we have MCs who are in their mid-twenties, trying to sort out their lives with school, work/internship, what they want to do next and the likes. I just don’t have a head space for this right now.
Let Go is the first book in the Boston series, and I already cannot wait to learn more about this new group of friends in Boston! (Yes, I’m waiting for that Cassie and Jamie book.)
Gretchen Carpenter, a Harvard Law student, lands a case at the law firm she is interning at, but she unfortunately doesn’t have a great first meetup with the involved party, Amanda Dixon (20s). Amanda is working towards her MM from Berklee and her family, who doesn’t support her musical career, just wants her to pay the big money and get over with the lawsuit. Even though they don’t have a great first impression of each other, they still need to work together throughout the case, and soon, they find themselves wanting the company of each other more.
Pyland never disappoints. I am always a bit worried going into rich girl/poor girl romance because it can really go either way, but it was dealt with well in Let Go, where Amanda comes from money and Gretchen doesn’t. As all Pyland books are, the chemistry between the leads is wonderful, and I love how they are intrigued by each other and spend time hanging out despite their very busy schedules. And when a woman you barely know works extra time for you, whether it’s investigating in your lawsuit or musical performances, maybe it means something.
What I love the most about romance series is that I get to see all the main characters of different books throughout the series. The next book The Right Fit is about Gretchen’s friend Erin Stanley (26) who lost her girlfriend when she was 24. There are also a few other queer women whose stories we can look forward to, including Gretchen’s cop friend Cassie Fuller and Amanda’s sort-of-player friend Jamie Todd. I cannot wait for all their stories and also see how Gretchen and Amanda’s relationship evolves.
The only issue I had with Let Go is the musical aspect. I love books with music themes, having been classically trained for ten years, and the musical scenes with Amanda are really wonderful. It is nice to see Amanda’s dedication to her craft but I wonder the possibility of a grad student at Berklee having obvious performance flaws noticeable to Gretchen, whose mother is a music teacher but she herself is by no means a professional. A lot of the performance suggestions from violinist Macon Greene (from San Francisco series) and Gretchen sound rather vague as well, such as not being confident enough or not devoted enough. Nevertheless, the concerts and private performances are lovely, and I enjoyed all of them.
After reading Let Go, I just had to start the San Francisco series because I need Macon’s story. I am very grateful that Pyland writes fast and that her stories are always full of chemistry and lovable characters.
I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Sparks really fly between Gretchen and Amanda and it’s very exciting. Gretch has a huge chip on her shoulder about people with money and she judges Amanda because of it. I love the way they argue and how it makes them all the more interested in each other. Their lives are so busy but when you’re in love you find the time. This is the beginning of a new series and I hope we get to see more of their friends Jamie, Cassie & Erin.
I received an arc copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
This was a a very tasty carrot dangling out front to pull you in for the rest of the series and I can’t wait to read more! I was pretty put off by Gretchen in the beginning with her aggressive uncalled-for and immediate attitude with Amanda. However she seemed to get control over this after she got it handed right back a few times. Two highly driven, very hard working and motivated women, shooting for their dreams and doing it in a way that would have most people quitting within a couple days. I have a huge amount of respect for that, but there also needs to be some balance in life that these two just didn’t seem have. Maybe because they hadn’t found that reason to yet? This story is an excellent start to the series with honestly one of my favorite story tellers. Pyland has a way of writing that brings out the passion in her characters and you can’t help but feel it and you’re rooting for them (even if you didn’t care for them in the beginning). I can’t wait to read more and I’m interested in what comes about with Cassie, Jamie & Erin!
I thought this was a great book for a new series. I'm not normally one for enemies to lovers, but this book was believable and fun. I liked Amanda and Gretchen and each character had their own growth throughout the book. They complimented each other well, and I look forward to seeing what's in store for the series. I hope Cassie is next!
Nicole Pyland is one of my favorite authors. She does a marvellous job pairing her characters together that they each fit. The chemistry is outstanding. I love the friendship based series she creates, the story lines and at times the reappearance of certain characters. This is a fantastic read and can't wait for the next in the series.
This is the first Pyland book I have read and I was so impressed with the dialog. It was so clever and natural. I could totally picture these 2 MC's bantering back and forth and growing more and more interested in each other. But at about the 75% mark the story turned into just ordinary and cute. And the epilogue was over the top sweet. The characters are interesting. Their background, education and career aspirations were inspiring. The parents of both added depth to the story. But as soon as they fell in love the story just got nice. And all their angst and worries somehow just faded away. I'm not sure how else I would have ended the story but it just seemed too light. 3.5 stars.....3 stars for the first part and .5 for the ending.
Nicole Pyland’s Let Go, the first installment in her Boston series, introduces readers to Gretchen Carpenter and Amanda Dixon, two women from starkly different backgrounds whose initial animosity evolves into a compelling romance.
Gretchen, a Harvard Law student from a modest upbringing, is interning at a personal injury law firm when she crosses paths with Amanda, a wealthy violinist pursuing her master's degree at Berklee. Their first meeting is fraught with tension, stemming from Gretchen's preconceived notions about Amanda's privileged background. However, as they are forced to collaborate on a legal case, their interactions shift from confrontational to cooperative, revealing underlying chemistry and mutual respect.
Pyland adeptly navigates the "rich girl/poor girl" trope, allowing both characters to confront and overcome their biases. Gretchen's journey involves recognizing her own prejudices, while Amanda demonstrates depth beyond her affluent exterior. Their relationship unfolds organically, marked by witty banter, shared vulnerabilities, and a gradual build-up of trust.
The novel's strength lies in its character development and the realistic portrayal of a slow-burn romance. Readers have praised the authentic dialogue and the absence of contrived drama, appreciating a love story that progresses through communication and personal growth. The supporting cast, including friends who are poised to feature in subsequent series entries, adds richness to the narrative.
While some readers noted a desire for a more climactic resolution, the consensus is that Let Go offers a satisfying and heartfelt introduction to the Boston series. It's a recommended read for those who enjoy character-driven romances that explore themes of class differences, ambition, and the transformative power of love.
Interesting story and a good start to the series - noticed tie in with Nicole's previous series - but has 4* instead of 5 as last 10% of Kindle read adverts and not the story! I was looking forward to that extra read! Petty I know, but phew....
Ms Pyland has ventured to the east coast of the US for her next series with this setting in Boston. One of the strengths of the author is the development of strong, independent yet flawed characters who grow and learn. I wouldn’t call this an enemies-to-friends kind of romance (no spoilers) but the initial animosity between the MCs is the basis for their friction. A nice slow-burn romance with fun dialogue between the MCs to begin the new series. Give it a read over the weekend.
Well, it is a well-written book and a light read, a great start to the Boston Series. Things that made me take two stars off are: � Typos (once Ms. Pyland indicated Gretchen instead of Amanda and I was really confused for a couple of minutes); � Constant reminder of "rich girl/poor girl"; � Rushed ending.
Things that I enjoyed about the book: � Chemistry between the leads; � No forced break-up; � Explicit and very hot sex-scences.
A cute short easy read. There isn't much drama between the MCs. The trajectory of their relationship is pretty linear - which is a pro and a con depending on what you're looking for. I thought they did have good chemistry.
A few minor subplots are thrown in to break things up. They are all wrapped up pretty quickly and neatly in the end though.
Four or so spicy scenes that are definitely adult, but relatively short.
Several other characters are introduced that I believe are the MCs of other books in the series and my interest in their stories has been piqued so I will give them a try eventually.
Overall, good cute fluff to read if you are coming off anything too serious or emotional and just want an easy read.
•ff enemies to friends to lovers � rich girl x poor? girl � both strong independent women
This story was such a mind cleanse. This was so adorable and full of laughs and swoons.
Gretchen is an intern at a personal injury law firm when she has to work with Amanda who was in a car accident and facing a law suit from the other party. They don’t get on at first and that just made me love their relationship even more.
Highly recommend this light hearted read with tons of romance and spice.
I read Let Go after I read Bk 2 The Right Fit. Now I want to read the rest of the series. I found both of these in my TBR shelves. I LOVE you this book! It's a glorious enemies to lovers, rich girl/poor girl steamy HOT love story! Gretchen has a chip on her shoulder when she first meets Amanda. But she fights for her, and eventually they become friends. These are two people that I'd love to know in real life. 5 stars!!
My favorite part of this book was probably the last sentence on the last page. It was witty, adorable, and made me extremely happy.
That being said... The book followed that path through out its course. Obviously well written, because Nicole Pyland doesn’t write failures. There was wit and humor which all romance novels should have. It wasn’t as naughty as her release prior - “Love Forged�, which was kinky and awesome 😂 and totally recommend! It didn’t have a real rough point (the “fight�, the short “break up�, the “OMG I just walked in on you kissing my best friend�), or at least it wasn’t as long or intense as usual.
In my honest opinion... It wasn’t my favorite of her written works, but I think that might be because lawyers and controlling parents don’t do it for me - they really don’t. However violinists do and I loved the fact that even though her part was very small, Macon Greene (from Macon’s Heart (one of my actual favorites)) made appearances in the beginning and end. And though Amanda similarly played the Violin as Macon does, I didn’t feel like it was repetitive.
So my review is that even though it wasn’t my favorite title I still loved it in the end. After all... Endings are the best and worst things to ever happen to romance readers. I do look forward to the next books in the Boston series, actually I look forward to anything Pyland writes so yeah, you should do. :)
Plot: The book starts with Amanda getting into a car accident. She is later sued and reaches out to a family friend who is a lawyer for help. Gretchen is an intern at the law office and Amanda is irritated that she was forced to take the time out of her busy schedule to to go into the office because of Gretchen. Gretchen is outwardly rude because she has a chip in her shoulder about coming from a poor family while Amanda’s parents are rich.
When the lawyer says he doesn’t have time to spend on the case Gretchen offers to help. Amanda and Gretchen spend a bit of time together but Amanda wants to give up because they keep arguing. Gretchen knows that something is wrong and spends the time to solve the case. They end up seeing each other with friends and become friends themselves. That friendship develops into attraction and they hesitantly start dating.
Both are afraid of the time constraints that make dating hard with their busy schedules but decide they love each other enough to try anyway and start their HEA.
Characterization: Amanda is determined. Once she decides to go for something she doesn’t stop trying.
Gretchen has to get over her money problems throughout this book.
Writing: This was written in third person perspective. This book was well written. It lacked a satisfying climax. The characters just agree to be happy and keep dating. Except they were already dating so really nothing happens. It was still a decent read.
I’m a fan of Nicole Pyland. She’s constantly cranking out well-written, feel good books and this one was no different. I’m excited for this new Boston series.
I would give “Let Go� 3.5 stars. I wouldn’t say there was anything wrong with it but it just seemed a little basic. What was supposed to be a sort of “enemies to lovers� thing fell a little flat to me. I thought the chemistry between the main characters could have been turned up a notch or two and I would have liked to see more “enemy� scenes. But it is a short book, so maybe that’s why everything felt a little rushed. I feel like I’m more excited for the side character’s stories.
This was a nice, quick read and it was on kindle unlimited like all of Pyland’s books and that is a definite plus. Overall, I would recommend it but I wouldn’t reread it and I don’t think it’s a book that’ll stick with me.
Despite coming from a wealthy family who pays for everything, Amanda is a hard working violin student committed to her goal. Gretchen is about to graduate from Harvard Law and is interning at a personal injury firm. When Amanda rear ends someone, Gretchen is asked to check her case. With very different perceptions, these two clash, but their arguments and banter were hysterical throughout the story.
Nicole Pyland has a wonderful way of turning their friction into friendship, and finally into more with heart, humor and sizzling chemistry. The characters are well developed and the writing is terrific. You bet I'll be buying the next book soon!
Given their very different backgrounds the main characters in this romance appear nothing alike. However, they are each passionate and focused in pursuing their respective academic goals. This, plus mutual attraction, makes them a good match once past all of the superficial fireworks at the beginning. There is a good supporting cast, the dialog is decent, and the plot moves at a reasonable pace. There is some angst but it is contextual and the plot does not fall into melodrama. The tale ends with the expected HEA.
I liked this one a lot. MCs had character arcs and communicated [mostly] well especially after the enemies to lovers fun. It was compelling reading for me, i didn't even skip around or switch to another book for a while. Some of the turns were unexpected, but didn't feel like drama for the sake of drama. I know people don't always get along, and sometimes life throws curve balls. But in my experience, if communication is good and the spark is there, things can work out. So, it is nice to see that reflected.
I’ve abandoned this story after reading, on and off, almost three quarters of it. I’d get bored and quit, then try again later. The story is sweet, about Amanda wanting to play her own composed music, but really wanting to go to Hollywood. She met Gretchen, an intern at a law firm owned by her father’s friend. Gretchen was determined to prove that the man who sued Amanda because of an injury in a car crash was a scam artist who had done this previously.
My issue is that I just felt that it was all too corny. I’ve loved many books by this author, but this one just wasn’t for me.
While the Chicago series continues to be my favorite from this author, I had high hopes for the Boston series. It started great, likeable characters, but I found it a bit rushed. In fact, we went from telling each other how they feel to a rushed ending with many things hanging. It is like the author had an emergency and had to finish the book. The epilogue is confusing, we don’t know how they went from a year of separation to their present state. I do not recommend this book.
Enemies to Lovers Cute Story about a Law Student in her last year that ending up with internship at a Personal Injury Firm. Not her idea place to intern, but in Boston Family Names matter and she came from a poor family. Gretchen gets assigned a case to get the information on. Her boss had told some friends he would into it for them. She meets with client and sparks fly and not in a good way.