Book Review: Loving Lauren
Loving Lauren, Carly Bryant, Under the Cover Ink, November 2025, Paperback and ebook, 324 pages
Reviewed by Kaleene Robertson.
Sierra Turner’s life appears enviable but isn’t truly satisfying in the ways that matter to her. She works a fashion photography job that pays the bills, teaches a drawing class, and is supported by a tight circle of friends and siblings who show up for her again and again. Even with all that love around her, Sierra moves through life at a distance, until she meets Lauren.
Camera in hand, Sierra notices Lauren from across a park, drawn by her energy and presence. Something about Lauren jolts Sierra out of her own fog and captivates her heart and thoughts. It’s a feeling that Sierra has attempted to avoid but finds herself thrust into.
Their relationship starts strong and beautiful, but what makes it riveting is how it doesn’t let either of them hide their true selves for long. They fall into a (braver) picture-perfect version of love. Lauren shares truths she is scared to air, but Sierra doesn’t flinch. Instead, she makes space for all of Lauren. In return, Lauren inspires Sierra’s own personal growth. She begins to show up bolder in complicated familial relationships. Even her day-to-day world starts to look different; more alive and worth participating in.
For those of us who love romance, Loving Lauren leans into the ache behind the fantasy: Everything can appear “fine,” yet inside you still long for that magical feeling of meeting the person who awakens you. Sierra finds that with Lauren, and their connection is written as the kind of bond romance readers crave. It’s the one that sees you, accepts you, and provides grounds to become a more authentic you.
Carly Bryant creates a story that feels warm and inviting. I felt like I could melt into the world she built. There are fashionable friends who provide regular club and movie nights, witty banter and one-liners, and Sierra’s scene-stealing cat, Salem, a certified “drama king.” His theatrical personality captures your attention.
Still, the novel doesn’t pretend that a soulmate connection automatically fixes what’s broken. If the protagonist’s dream is finding her perfect person, the antagonists are the self-destructive habits that can rise when something feels “too good” – the ones that tell someone they are just protecting themselves, avoiding pain by causing it.
An unexpected turn of events causes Sierra and Lauren to find a new way back to each other. The novel keeps returning to a simple idea: Real love is not only passion or longing; it’s presence, acceptance, and the courage to do the hard work.
Readers are given a heads-up about distressing elements, including family rejection connected to LGBTQIA+ identity and trauma that some characters carry. Nothing is described in a graphic way, and the tone remains soft and warm throughout.
This is a wonderful romance to pick up when you’re in the middle of embracing the messy, beautiful realities of love. Especially if it is a love that isn’t easily accepted by those in some of your social or family circles. I finished the book feeling sentimental for the characters I got to spend my Christmas break with. It reminded me that even the safest kind of love needs to know you will show up and do the work when it matters.
