REVIEW: Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee

Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee: Anne has almost perfected the art of keeping her real feelings hidden behind her practiced smile, after all as a K-drama star it is kind of her job, but coming back home to Los Angeles for her cousins wedding is going to be the biggest test to see if she can really hide her true feelings, especially since she is going to be sharing wedding party duties with Fredrick, the one man that still has her heart even after all of this time. The only thing is Fredrick is definitely not the same sweet, soft guy that she left over a decade ago, in his place is a cold and guarded man that is determined to keep her at arms length. But if there is one thing that Anne is sure about after quietly nursing her broken heart it is her feelings for Fredrick and she is going to make sure that he knows just how much she still loves him…

Im not to sure how I feel about this book, while there was definitely something soft and sweet that I connected to in Give Me A Reason, there was also something that didn’t quite flow for me. There were parts that had that gut punch that made connecting and feeling Anne and Fredericks heart break so real and painful but there was also a lot of repetition that made the story drag a bit that I did not like. Though over all I did enjoy the slow build up of this second chance love story.

There was no denying that both Anne and Fredrick were beautiful characters that still carried the pain and heartbreak from their relationship, which really made getting to see them work their way back to each other all the more beautiful. Gosh did Anne break my heart, to have to face making a choice like she did was just so heart breaking, but this only highlighted her strength and duty. I liked getting to see her finally putting herself above her sense of family duty and kind of letting go of the weight that has been weighing her down. The thing that I liked the most about her was her journey in embracing herself again, not so much changing but allowing herself to really be simply Anne. Now for our hero, gosh did Fredrick break my heart with his letters. I just loved the fact that he wrote these letter to Anne, so that he could express how her leaving made him feel, even though he didn’t send them, they provided an outlet that he needed, it also gave us such a beautiful glimpse into how much he truly loves her. We really get to feel the quiet burning ache that Fredrick feels through his unsent letters and in away getting to see him never stop loving Anne, which only highlights his fear of being hurt by her again.

The slow build up between these two was just the thing that they both needed to regain their confidence in each other, rebuild that trust and allow their hearts to be venerable again. Their connection is far from loud or showy instead it had this deep low pull that was present through out each one of their interactions. I liked the fact that their journey wasn’t simply about this physical reconnection but rather an emotional healing of their hearts.

I loved the cultural references and getting an insight to the sense of duty that immigrant children feel to their parents and how this shaped both Anne and Fredrick. This added a really nice layer to the book. All in all Give Me A Reason was a good read, did I feel it was lacking some refining yes but still a good read nonetheless.
 

Book Info:

Publication: July 29, 2025 | St. Martin’s Griffin |

A Korean drama actress gets her second chance at love with the man she left in order to save her family–if she can work up the courage to risk her heart on forever…one last time.

For ten years, Anne Lee told herself that Frederick Nam was her past. In order to save her father from bankruptcy, she left Frederick for an acting career in Korea. This was the only way she could stop him from following her and ruining his future. It was the best way she could love him.

After Anne left, Frederick spent years loving her, missing her, and hating her until he decided to live his life for himself. He followed his dream and became a firefighter in Culver City. He didn’t need romance. He had his work and his friends.

When Anne returns to Los Angeles, she and Frederick are thrown together in the same wedding—she as her cousin’s bridesmaid and he as his friend’s groomsman. Even though he is angry and distant with her, Anne can no longer deny that she never got over him. Not even close.

With so much hurt and uncertainty between them, Anne and Frederick suffer their love in silence. But all it would take is a single leap of faith to bring them together…