The Slow-Burn That Almost Made Me DNF–About Time You Noticed by Lisa Renee

Alright, darlings, let’s just get one thing straight: I hardly ever DNF books. I like to see a story through, even if I’m shaking my head the whole time. But About Time You Noticed by Lisa Renee? It tested me. And yes, I finished it—but only because I needed closure, not because I was loving every page.

The premise is a classic: best friends secretly in love, neither of them realizing it, a little jealousy, a little awkwardness, and a whole lot of miscommunication. Sarah has been pining for Tommy for years. Tommy sees Sarah as a sister. A sister. Cue the emotional whiplash when a well-meaning coworker tries to set Sarah up with someone else, and suddenly Tommy’s jealousy rears its ugly head. Could it be he’s finally noticing the one person who’s been under his nose all along? The answer is yes—but if you thought that revelation would feel satisfying, well… buckle up.

And here’s the thing: this book is not subtle. From page one, you can see the destination: I love you, wait, do you love me too? Fine. Great. But the journey there? It’s like trudging through molasses. The misunderstandings, the constant lack of communication, the will-they-won’t-they loop—it’s relentless. I found myself rolling my eyes more times than I care to admit. At some point, I seriously considered sending them both a strongly worded group text: “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!”

Tommy is your classic fun-loving, protective sports teacher whose jealousy is the spark for all this “oh no, feelings are surfacing” drama. Sarah, meanwhile, has been harboring a crush on him forever while also juggling her dreams of starting an equine therapy business and keeping her dad out of her personal affairs. It should have been charming. And in small doses, it is. The problem? The narrative gets stuck in an endless loop of awkward, avoidant moments that felt like filler. I swear, the tension was less “slow burn” and more “agonizing reheated leftovers of romantic frustration.”

And yet… I couldn’t stop. Somehow, I got invested. Part of me wanted to slap both of them, but another part needed to know if they were ever going to figure it out. And eventually—they do.

They finally have the conversation we’ve all been screaming at the page for, and yes, there’s that fleeting moment of payoff. Sweet, nostalgic, and heartwarming. But by then, the buildup has stretched so long that the resolution didn’t feel nearly as satisfying as it could have been.

The writing itself? Fun. Lisa Renee has a playful, witty voice, and there are moments that genuinely made me chuckle. The banter between Sarah and Tommy does have charm, and their history as best friends gives a certain nostalgic warmth. But charm alone can’t save a story when the core plot feels like a hamster wheel of miscommunication and repetitive jealousy.

So, here’s my take: About Time You Noticed has potential. It’s a rom-com with cute characters, undeniable chemistry, and the kind of premise that should work. But the slow burn? Too slow. The misunderstandings? Too many. The tension? More exhausting than enticing. If you enjoy will-they-won’t-they narratives and can handle facepalm-inducing angst, sure, dive in. Me? I’d have preferred less drama and more “JUST KISS ALREADY.”

In short, I don’t hate it. I finished it. I even had some fun along the way. But if I’m being honest, this one left me wishing it had cut to the chase and delivered the love story I knew was coming without torturing me in the process.