Review: The Marriage Solution by Stephanie Rose


Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author.

The friends-to-lovers trope is one of my personal favorites when it comes to the romance genre, and Stephanie Rose serves that up with a twist in her newest standalone. The Marriage Solution introduces readers to Julianne Robison and Landon Clark, best friends since they were in college, a friendship that has seen them through the ups and downs of life for nearly two decades. Nearly forty, Julie and Landon are each other’s person, much to the consternation of their previous significant others, and they would do anything and everything for each other. But when Landon finds out that Julie’s been keeping her diagnosis a secret from him, his proposal of marriage in order to get her on his health insurance feels above and beyond. However, this seems like a good solution, one between the best of friends. So why is it that things appear to be shifting, because now, these newlyweds are seeing each other in a whole new not-so-platonic light?

There was a lot to love about this book. I adored the friendship between Julie and Landon, as I did a number of other relationships they had with other people in the story, i.e. Julie with her neighbors, Landon with his father, Julie and Landon with Dean and Maria, etc. These main characters were genuinely good people, each of whom had tight bonds and strong support systems. There wasn’t a whole lot of drama, just the realities of living with an autoimmune disease. I appreciated the author not sugarcoating what life with lupus is like, both for the person diagnosed with it and their life partner. It was clear that the love Julie and Landon was deep, and any romantic feelings seemed to simply be waiting in the wings, hoping to be acknowledged sooner or later. The Marriage Solution was an inspiring and touching read, punctuated with moments of levity and angst while reveling in the power of true love and friendship. I’m giving this 4.5 stars.

Release Date: 02 June 2023

Date Read: 29 May 2023

Learn more about Stephanie Rose.

Purchase The Marriage Solution on Amazon.

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