Having enjoyed Happy Endings, I was so excited for Full Exposure. Set in New Orleans, this sizzling romance which embodies the question, “can it be a real thing, can it?” (yes a Taylor Swift lyric). Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
Boudoir photographer Josie Parks never ever takes a vacation. But when a client cancels a New Orleans shoot at the last minute, she decides to fly out from her Washington, D.C., studio anyway. Maybe the trip will reawaken her recently stagnant muse. After all, it’s Mardi Gras season…
Spencer Pham has come home after twelve soul-sucking years in corporate hell to pursue his passion: making a docu-film on his family’s history as the first Vietnamese Mardi Gras krewe. The last thing he expects is getting whacked in the head by a beautiful woman trying to snag some parade beads.
During a long night at urgent care, Spencer and Josie connect over their artistic pursuits. He offers to show her the real New Orleans, if she’ll help him with the camerawork for his film. Despite Josie’s type-A personality clashing with Spencer’s laissez-faire attitude, they seem to make a great team, and soon, the good times are rolling both on and off camera. But Josie has a life in D.C., and they both have big dreams they’re chasing. When this Big Easy fling starts feeling awfully serious, can they find a way to choose between personal and professional passion?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Beginning with a disastrous meet cute, Spencer and Josie seem to be on a crash course. But what begins with injury, ends up with sparks flying. From the very beginning, each of them thinks that this will be a fun fling. However, it turns out they develop feelings for each other fast. I love the trope of a couple who thinks they’re in it for the ‘fun’ and then instead – despite protests – develop feelings. Full Exposure has plenty of chemistry and spice, but the core of this book lies in Spencer and Josie’s personal journeys.
Spencer and Josie’s pact to help each other out with this film and photography project, forces each of them to re-evaluate their dreams. The ways in which we can often put off something we desperately want, but are afraid of rejection. Or even these ideas that keep distracting us from where our heart is telling us to go. In this way, they are perfect for each other. Josie’s fascination with lists and Spencer’s spontaneity complement each other. We can have these family dreams, versus our own ambitions, and Full Exposure explores this intersection.
This is one of those romance books where you end up enjoying the main character’s arcs no matter what happens. With Easter Eggs to the previous book, Full Exposure examines responsibility and ambition. About what might happen if we ask for help and how scary it would be to let someone in and help share the load. How we can spend so much of our life trying to fit into a mold that we shouldn’t have to. It also delves into toxic masculinity as well! Full Exposure is a solid romance story that is a delight for readers of Lam’s previous book and new readers alike. Find Full Exposure on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org, & The Book Depository.