Finding Jessica Lambert by Clare Ashton
- Publisher: Self-Published, 2020
- Genre: Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Ebook (eARC)
- Page Count: 328 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Jessica Lambert is on the verge of breaking down when Anna Mayhew rescues her from the Tube. The two strangers seek refuge in Anna’s flat, where Anna has been living a secluded life for the last five years. Over the weekend, the pair falls into an easy pattern of mundane ordinary life, feeling safe and liberated in each other’s presence. As their time together ticks by, neither Jess nor Anna want it to end. But too much are at stake when Anna does not know Jess is a superstar and Jess has no idea of Anna’s past. Will they meet again, defy reality, and fight to be with each other?
I will start by saying that I absolutely adore Jess and Anna.
This age-gap, celebrity romance set in the UK featured Jess, a young, straight-forward, bi-racial movie star, and Anna, a rather mysterious thirty-nine-year-old suffering from her past. I love how their fifteen-year age gap has played an important part in their romance with Jess bringing more youthful energy and bluntness while Anna supplying more calmness and life experience. And the celebrity aspect of the romance is also remarkable.
Jess and Anna are so similar yet still very different. They are both highly anxious strong women, and that plays a huge part in the story. But their backgrounds cannot be more far apart: Jess’s family is pure joy, highly supportive of her, and radiates love; Anna’s mother is decorous and demoralising. Their respective families heavily impact their lives and getting to know them adds a lot to the story. Also, I love how every interaction between Jess and Anna, whether having good outcomes or repercussions, is both out of indulgence for themselves and consideration for each other. Their needs align, and despite the many obstacles they might face because of that, it is love, clear as day.
Finding Jessica Lambert is relatively long for a romance. Because of this, it is more than just the relationship development between Jess and Anna that matters. It also covers the defining moments of their lives where they evolve as individuals. As readers, we easily fall in love with both Jess and Anna while they are living through this frightening time of change. The growth of their relationship mirrors their character developments. They are not each others’ saviours, but companions who are sure safe spaces. I especially appreciate that the first few chapters take everything slow. The first quarter of the book is dedicated to their first weekend, and I love that. We get to be fully present when our mains go from being complete strangers to a little beyond friendship.
The words thrum with wistfulness and read smoothly. I feel the heavy emotions undulating in each sentence while my insides go weak from their brimming love and openness. Jess and Anna really are quite a pair. The book is aptly named. Finding Jessica Lambert is not just about Jess running away from events at the beginning of the book, but also about Anna finding Jess first on the Tube and then a place in her life and Jess finding herself.
Finding Jessica Lambert is a beautiful romance between two strong relatable women. With their love radiating from dialogues, thoughts, and the smallest gestures, it is impossible not to fall for Jess and Anna as well as the book. [16 Jun 2020]
I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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