TL;DR: You, With A View is a fun road trip romance that’s written so much heart. It’s more than just a romance between two people who have a long history of rivalry, it’s a story about coping with grief and loss, as well as accepting love. Noelle and Theo are realistic characters who are going through it, but over the trip, they come to accept change, believe in themselves, and learn that sometimes, it takes a while to find the right path for you, and that’s OK. I loved them so much, not to mention Paul and Noelle’s family too! Also, Joyce knows how to write sexual tension and chemistry so well because the slow-burn build up to the steamy scenes was chefs kiss! I adored Noelle and Theo’s banter and how satisfying it felt to see them together. 😍

I was reeled in pretty much right from the start. I was surprised that this was single POV, and while I still wished that we got Theo’s perspective, I didn’t mind being in Noelle’s head. When we meet her, she’s a bit of a hot mess. She’s jobless, disillusioned by her adult life, reeling from the loss of her nan, and struggling to cope with her grief. I loved reading about her relationship with her nan—you can clearly tell how close they were and even though her nan was gone, she felt very much alive in these pages! I loved the idea of the road trip and seeing how Noelle slowly comes back to herself and her passion throughout the journey. It was so heartwarming to see her push herself to engage with what she’s so passionate about (photographer) despite her fear and lack of confidence. Joyce did a great job describing what it meant to her and of capturing what taking photographs and finding the perfect shot feels like to Noelle. I think anyone who feels passionate or loves something as intensely as she does photography will be able to relate!

On the other hand, Theo looks like he’s got his whole life together, especially since he landed on the cover of Forbes magazine. Under the surface though, things aren’t as rosy as they seem and he’s struggling to accept and cope with major changes that are happening in his life. My heart hurt for Theo because of how alone he seemed through his troubles, but it especially sucked reading about how his father treated him. I’m so glad that he had his grandfather, Paul in his life. He was such a wonderful, kind, loving and supportive person and the bond he had with Theo is on par with the one Noelle had with her nan. I loved Paul and seeing him interact with Theo was so sweet! I’m so glad that he was able to set his boundaries by the end because this man really deserved good and happy things. 🥹

Despite not getting Theo’s POV, Joyce does a good job in relaying what he’s like to readers. Noelle and Theo have had an interesting relationship since their school days—they were rivals for most of their school years, but they also motivated and challenged each other to be the best. Noelle reflected a lot about their school days, which made their present day connection feel more realistic. Let’s just say that they have electrifying chemistry. I read a review that said “these two have zero chemistry” and it made me wonder if we even read the same book cos from the moment they enter each other’s lives again, I got that tingly zing that made me feel giddy! Not only was their banter great, I loved how they opened up and slowly allowed themselves to be vulnerable with each other—so much so that they became each other’s safe space. 💜 And even though there’s a sort of “third-act”, there’s no dramatic break up or explosive fight. I adored how Noelle let her support be known and that she actively showed Theo she was choosing him while giving him space. It was a mature conflict and resolution; plus, the words they exchanged acknowledging each other was just… UGH, FEELINGS MUCH?! 😭 My heart melted! Did I mention how I love them?

Beyond these two, I also loved Paul and his role in the story. I do wish that the road trip and “honeymoon” storyline continued playing a big part to the story cos the romance did take over by the end. That said, I’m really not mad about it! I loved Noelle’s family and her brother Thomas and his gf/her bestie, Sadie too. They were so supportive and they brought such happy and joyful vibes to the story that made me laugh out loud quite often! Overall, this was a delightful, heartfelt, emotional romance and I really enjoyed following Noelle and Theo’s story. I can’t wait to read more by Joyce in the future 🙂

Have you read You, With A View or is it on your TBR?

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