I’ve read all of Neely Tubati Alexander’s books and each one brings something unique to the table whether it’s slow-burn romance, self-discovery or forced proximity that reignites old feelings. If you’re wondering where to start or curious about my thoughts, here’s my ranking based on personal vibes, favorite tropes, and the emotional ride each story took me on:

Love Buzz (#3 in my ranking)

Pub Date: 5/2/23

Quick Summary: Serena meets a mysterious, charming stranger during a chaotic New Orleans bachelorette trip and becomes determined to find him once she’s back in Seattle. As she searches with only a few clues, she starts to question whether the carefully planned life she built is truly what she wants or if love might be worth the risk.

Thoughts: I had mixed feelings about it. The plot was intriguing and I didn’t mind that the romance took a backseat. I actually appreciated that the story focused more on Serena’s journey which was letting go of a job that no longer fulfilled her and ending a relationship she had clearly outgrown. It was empowering to watch her find a career she felt passionate about and even when she stumbled, she learned and moved forward. The part that didn’t work for me was the romance. I was fine with the insta-love setup between Serena and Julian, but her obsession with finding him after a brief encounter felt a bit unrealistic and hard to buy into. While the story centers on self-discovery and we do eventually learn how great Julian is, I wish they had reconnected earlier so we could actually see their relationship develop. The ending felt too rushed to fully enjoy the spark between them.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Courtroom Drama (#2 in my ranking)

Thank you to the author for the free ARC and to LibroFM & Harper Audio for the free ALC.

Pub Date: 5/20/25

Quick Summary: Sydney Parks thinks jury duty might finally bring some excitement to her life, especially when it involves a reality TV star on trial for murder. But things get messy fast when she realizes her long-lost childhood best friend is also on the jury, and old feelings start bubbling up at the worst possible time.

Thoughts: The plot felt original and intriguing. I loved how Neely balanced two subplots: Margot’s trial and the slow-building connection between Sydney and Damon. The character development was exceptionally well done. I don’t usually love single POV stories, but it worked perfectly here where each character felt deeply flawed yet relatable. The banter between Sydney and Damon was top-notch. The trial scenes were surprisingly engaging and kept me hooked all the way through. I also appreciated that the book included content warnings at the beginning of both the print and audio versions and the sensitive topics were handled with care. My only gripe was the pacing. I adored the slow burn and the pining between Sydney and Damon, but I wish we got to see more of their relationship after the trial wrapped up. Overall, I highly recommend picking this one up!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In a Not So Perfect World (#1 in my ranking)

Pub Date: 3/19/24

Quick Summary: Sloane Cooper, a video game designer focused on landing her dream job, agrees to pose as her neighbor Charlie’s fake girlfriend on a trip to Turks and Caicos. As sparks fly between them, Sloane struggles to stick to her career-first plan and avoid falling for someone who’s supposed to be winning back his ex.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed it! Some readers might not like how discriminatory the company Sloane interviews for is portrayed and while it may feel extreme, there is definitely some truth to it in the gaming world. I had a lot of empathy for Sloane and I could tell she was trying to prove something to herself. Charlie was a fun character although I thought he could have used more time to recover from his breakup before getting involved with Sloane. The banter between Charlie and Sloane was off the charts and the slow burn was perfect for their story. I loved all the activities they did during their vacation and how their connection gradually deepened. I appreciated that Sloane stayed focused on landing her dream job and that we got to see justice served at the end regarding the company. What did not work for me was the ending where everything felt tied up a little too neatly especially in terms of their work situations and how the third-act breakup was resolved.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️