Review: Love You, Mean It by Laura Pavlov (Blushing #2)

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

"I love Daddy and I love you. But most of all, I love that we feel like a family. A real family."

We're back in the town of Blushing, Alaska with the second novel in the Blushing series penned by bestselling author Laura Pavlov and published by Montlake. Love You, Mean It is an enemies-to-lovers romance, and it is, hands down, one of my favorite reads this year. If you've read the first book, You, Me, and Forever, there's simply no way you would've missed Violet Beaumont and Charles Huxley, aka Vi and Charlie. She's twenty-eight wedding planner who co-owns Blushing Bride with her best friend and invested in Blushing Inn; he's a thirtysomething (total guesswork on my part) general contractor who owns Huxley Construction and a devoted dad to his six-year-old daughter, Harper. Charlie also happens to be Violet's kinda-sorta-maybe landlord, although she isn't exactly paying rent of any kind while living in his guesthouse after the pipes in the house she purchased burst, leading to it getting flooded. Free housing aside, Charlie has a bad habit of being grumpy and saying no to her requested changes to the renovation while still looking hot. The fact that he's such a great father to Harper makes it even more difficult for Violet to hate him. Then they hook up, but what happens when Charlie makes it clear that he wants them to try for something more? Can Violet risk her heart for a shot at true love and a chance at a real family?

This seriously was a really fantastic read! It had me in my feels, and that's always a good thing as far as I'm concerned. (Just a quick side note: The two books in the series can be standalones, however, I do recommend that they be read in order because the main characters from the first book are supporting characters here, and there are potential spoilers, plus the epilogue from You, Me, and Forever sets the stage for the back and forth between Vi and Charlie that's already on full display in the first chapter of this new release.) It was easy to understand why Vi had a habit of self-sabotage, what with how her parents, including her stepmother, treated her. Charlie's steadfast presence and assurance that he was in it for the long haul proved to be the anchor that she needed. Yes, she had Montana, but we're talking about a romantic partner, and she never really thought she'd get the sort of happily-ever-after that Monny did with Myles. And goodness, but Harper was such an adorable scene-stealer AND heart-stealer! I loved the family that Vi, Charlie, and Harper created for themselves, and I wholeheartedly agree that Vi was "a real mama". I honestly don't know if we're getting a return visit to Blushing--I wouldn't mind Blakely getting her own book!--but if this is it for the series, all I have to say is: #LoveYouMeanIt. Five-plus stars!

Release Date: 04 November 2025

Date Read: 02 November 2025

Learn more about Laura Pavlov.

Pre-order Love You, Mean It via Amazon.