The details…
- Title: The Hues of Me and You
- Author: Morgan Lee Miller
- Publication date: January 10, 2023
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
- ISBN: 9781636792293
- Available formats in: ebook, paperback
- Digital file size: 1473 KB
- Print length:
- Genre: romance
- Themes: friendship, politics, art, family expectations, women loving woman relationships, quarter-life crisis, forks-in-the-road
- Tropes: second chance romance
The blurb from the publisher…
Arlette Adair has always done what’s right. From the day she was born, she’s lived the life her parents forced upon her. Now, she’s stuck in a sparkless relationship and a job she never wanted. Her father’s presidential campaign will forever root her in the world of politics that she’s trying to escape from.
Brooke Dawson has always made her own rules. She’s a struggling freelance artist by day and a catering bartender at night, but her heart is full…almost. When she picks up a bartending shift at a high society party, she hopes to bring home enough money to pay her rent. She never expects to run into Arlette Adair: her former best friend, the girl she spent all of college secretly crushing on, and the one who got away.
Now face-to-face with their unresolved past, Arlette and Brooke quickly fall back into their old ways while dancing around the biggest question: Why hadn’t they fallen in love all those years ago?
My thoughts…
The Hues of Me and You is an enjoyable second chance romance. Miller is known for them and those that like this type of trope will find that she easily nails their nuances. She understands the basics of a good second chance: She gets the main characters right. Arlette and Brooke are both compelling and likable. More than that though, they’re interesting. They have a complicated and layered backstory that neither woman can seem to forget. Once college best friends too unsure and afraid to ask for more, they now find themselves looking at an opportunity to reconnect. The prospect of something more has readers falling hook, line and sinker; the tried but true storyline is too enticing to resist.
This story reminded me of KL Hughes’s The Art of Us. In both stories, art, young love and heartbreak are central to its themes. However, Miller takes it a step further and adds politics to the narrative. This compelling dynamic not only makes the storytelling stand out, but it makes it intriguing as well. Miller paints modern Washington with irresistible power and persuasion, bringing real relevance to the page.
Arlette is an interesting character. She’s nicely developed, stirring emotions and garnering sympathy as any good lead should. Miller does a nice job with her. Be that as it may, what I find most endearing about her is her relationship with her grandfather. It’s a special bond and nicely captured on the page. Moreover, Miller uses it to flesh Arlette out and to drive her arc forward in steady measures. Unerringly, it plays perfectly on the page, making for some entertaining reading.
As far as Brooke, she’s an easy sell. There’s nothing to not like about her. She brings a softness to the story that’s heartwarming. Readers like her as much as they do Arlette. Furthermore, they can feel the affection she has for Arlette, underscoring the romance and chemistry between the women. Ultimately Arlette and Brooke work well together, bringing a sense of believability to the storytelling that’s needed for a true HEA.
Final remarks….
The Hues of Me and You is a solid story and a good second chance romance. Miller has stated that she’s a sucker for this trope because they are not only entertaining, but relatable. Well, this one certainly is, and I hope she makes good on her promise to write more of them.
Strengths…
- Tenderly written
- Likable, engaging leading ladies
- Interesting secondary characters
- Interesting sub-plot
- Engaging story world
- Entertaining romance
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A bit about the author…
Morgan Lee Miller started writing at the age of 5 in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. Since there is absolutely nothing to do there, she entertained herself by writing her first few novels by hand.
During the day, Morgan works for an animal welfare non-profit, and at night, she’s procrastinating working on her next novel.
She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her two feline children, Milo and Elsa. She has a serious problem with oversharing pictures of her cats on Instagram and promises never to apologize for it.
Connect with the author…
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