My review: 4.25⭐

This is book 1 in the Nerds of Happy Valley series

What a cute little book showing that what’s on the inside, not the outside, is really what counts.

Blaine and Lysander (interesting names!) work in the same tech building. They have been instant messaging for quite a while and slowly getting to know each other. Blaine has had a crush on Lysander, but has been too shy to say something and missed her opportunity when he is transferred to another location.

Flash forward 6 months and Lysander comes back more confident, unrecognizable and looking like a hottie~boom~bottie. His father’s health scare made him take a look at this own habits and make some changes. Now he’s having a tough time figuring out if the person showing interest in him is shallow or really likes him for him.

I always love when there are dual pov’s because we get to really see what they are thinking. Then we get to shout, UGH!, why are you saying that ~ can’t you see that they like you!! Eventually they get their happily ever after, but not without a few misunderstandings along the way.

This was a quick listen at 6 hours and 2 minutes, easy to follow along at 2x. I’ve listened to a few books narrated by Tim Paige and Kelsey Navarro and they did a lovely job.

I really enjoyed this clean, slow burn, office romance and I’m excited to read the next book in the series.

*Thanks to Tantor Audio, C.N. Holmberg and NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

⬇ Purchase links ⬇

Book blurb: Release date ~ May 31, 2022

Dice meets derby in a new contemporary romance novel by bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Fourth try’s the charm… or is it?

The first guy Blaine ever confessed her feelings to dismissed her. The second made her friendless. The third, a viral internet sensation.

And Blaine is praying the fourth will be different.

After two years of pining for the aloof and secretly hilarious IT guy at work, roller-derby-warrior Blaine creates a master plan: after Lysander returns from his transfer in California, she’s going to spill everything. And why not? She’s got a killer undercut, thighs of steel, and shares his love for superheroes. In her book, they’re a match made in heaven.

Lysander has enough self-esteem to fill a thimble and has always struggled with his place in the world. When his father has a health scare, Lysander takes charge of his own, and consequentially loses fifty pounds. Suddenly the people around him think he’s worth his space—especially the women. And when Lysander fishes the literally shallow waters of dating and returns with a girl on his arm, Blaine fears she may have lost her chance with him entirely.