The Perfect Find by Tia Williams

Book Review

The perfect end of summer beach read! If you’re a fan of romance and/or fashion, this one’s for you!

Thank you Grand Central Pub for sending me a gifted copy. Now available in paperback!

This book originally came out in 2016, but it seems the publisher decided to give it a reboot after the wild success of Tia Williams’ "Seven Days in June", a summer Reese's Book Club selection. I have yet to read Seven Days in June, but I’ve seen plenty of dazzling reviews!

The Perfect Find follows the story of forty-year-old fashion veteran, Jenna Jones. The book begins with Jenna returning to New York City after spending the past couple years hiding out at her parents’ home in Virginia. Once an important name in fashion and part of an unstoppable NYC power couple, Jenna is desperate to regain her It-girl status after losing both her flashy magazine job and her fabulously wealthy fiancé. In an effort to rebuild the life she lost, Jenna accepts a job at a fashion website from the only person willing to take a chance on her… her nemesis, Darcy Vale. In her new role, Jenna finds herself surrounded by technologically-savvy co-workers half her age… including one incredibly sexy videographer who is most definitely off-limits.

I’m not much of a romance reader, but I’m surprised to say I quite enjoyed this one. The book included quite a bit of substance beyond the steamy love story, as it addressed race, ageism, and classism both in relationships and at work. Not to mention, the love story between the two central characters felt nuanced and complex rather than cliche and predictable (and I tend to find most romance novel relationships cliche :/).

While some of the dialogue and actions between the romantic leads felt a bit melodramatic to me, I suppose that’s not entirely unexpected in a passionate romance story (I’m a grinch, I know). Nevertheless, I loved the character development of Jenna as a strong, badass Black woman who manages to regain her confidence after a series of relatable setbacks. I also enjoyed seeing Jenna succeed professionally and I really appreciated the fact that the author took the time to fully develop her story outside of her romantic relationships.

If you love romance, fashion or just need a nice pallet cleanser between heavier reads, I definitely recommend this one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5