witchbuns

Lauren Okie, 2025

Absolute perfection and one of the top five books I’ve read this year. Lauren Okie pulls through on two major storylines: A wife experiencing infertility and treatments with her dirtbag finance bruh husband, and the crackling dialogue with her old work crush whom she conjures back into her life amid the crises. The infertility pieces felt extremely personal and Lauren Okie shares in the afterward about her choices bringing this storyline to a book. I’m in awe of her bravery and how thoroughly examined Nicole’s feelings were across both dual timelines. This goes very deep into loss and feelings of disconnection with her body and yes, it’s almost gorgeously painful because Nicole does not hold back. 

What brought this all the way to five stars were all the scenes and conversations with Logan. First off – perfectly well-done character of a Seattle/Issaquah Mariners fan who works in Ads and plays D&D on the regular. Holy hell, that was sublimely accurate. Next, this was the best book I’ve read in romance where we see the two love interests as friends who can’t stop talking to each other. I believed they spent hours at a restaurant or on the porch talking, because we see non-stop back and forth where they can play at words together, mock and spar and punch back together. I could not put this book down because I was so giddy on dopamine from their scenes. When they finally kiss, it’s completely heated and full of woozy spice, but it’s so resonant because they are absolute pals who are clearly each others’ favourite person. 

The pacing on this is excellent and I love that we start off with a scene of her podcast and Gabe appearing supportive, and we move into her meeting Valerie. Gabe’s mortal sins are exposed very early on and we run straight to Nicole appearing on Logan’s doorstep. Thank you for fast high stakes and thank you for making Logan so loveable at the onset. 

I cannot wait to read anything by Lauren Okie. Once you start this book you go – huh, this is a real strong writer with master storytelling and we’re in a real fully fledged novel. The cover seems more flimsy and the title – I just didn’t remember why I’d put this book on hold but once I read the first chapter I was dug all the way in. I should also note that these characters are in their early and late 30’s, showing more maturity than the cover and blurb would suggest. We have real adults with real maturity approaching their messes with as much truth as they can muster (which is never enough, right), but they keep pushing each other and the story just rockets forward. 

Incredible work from Lauren Okie.