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Matzah Ball Surprise #2
About That Night
Izzy Fineberg can take on any challenge—and she’s had some big ones lately. After one fateful night with the hottest Deaf man she’d ever met, Izzy found she was pregnant with his child. And she never caught his name. She’s been doing the single mom thing for nine months now, and surely, nothing could be more challenging than that. But her first day at her new job, she meets her supervisor...and recognizes him immediately.
Nolan Holtzman never expected to see Izzy again, and now, she’s the new hire at the agency he works in. He’d think things were finally going his way for once, if not for the iron-clad ban on interoffice dating. He’ll have to keep his distance from her if he wants to keep his dream job helping the Deaf community. Much easier said than done when Izzy drops the bomb that she’s a single parent...of his son.
It’s the shock of his life, but that won’t stop him from stepping up to be a dad. So when Izzy is suddenly in need of a place to stay for a week, Nolan invites her and the baby to his home. But even as difficult as it is, keeping their little family a secret from their employer isn’t their biggest challenge ahead...
Nolan Holtzman never expected to see Izzy again, and now, she’s the new hire at the agency he works in. He’d think things were finally going his way for once, if not for the iron-clad ban on interoffice dating. He’ll have to keep his distance from her if he wants to keep his dream job helping the Deaf community. Much easier said than done when Izzy drops the bomb that she’s a single parent...of his son.
It’s the shock of his life, but that won’t stop him from stepping up to be a dad. So when Izzy is suddenly in need of a place to stay for a week, Nolan invites her and the baby to his home. But even as difficult as it is, keeping their little family a secret from their employer isn’t their biggest challenge ahead...
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2021
About the author
Laura Brown
10 books345 followersAfter spending her childhood coming up with new episodes to her favorite sitcoms instead of sleeping, Laura Brown decided to try her hand at writing and never looked back. A hopeless romantic, she’s been drawn to love stories since a young age. She lives in Massachusetts with her family, and yes, that includes feline members! Laura’s been hard of hearing her entire life but didn’t start learning ASL until college, when her disability morphed from an inconvenience to a positive part of her identity. It’s important to her to create strong, competent characters with disabilities, as she didn’t have that growing up. At home the closed captioning is always on, lights flash with the doorbell, and hearing aids are sometimes optional.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
February 8, 2021
About That Night is the most charming story I've read in awhile! One night stand, surprise pregnancy, office romance-this book has it all. As someone with hearing loss, I was excited to read about deaf characters and non-deaf characters who support the deaf community. What I especially loved was the story isn't about being deaf; the hero is deaf but that is not the plot of the story. He is simply a man smitten by a woman!
Izzy and Nolan's hot night turned into much more. But, Izzy didn't know how to reach him because she didn't catch his name. So, she had her son Archie and is moving on in life. She has a new job as an administrative assistant and on her first day, she runs smack into her baby daddy...and new coworker! Both are stunned, but Nolan wants to be a part of Archie's life. He isn't ready to give up on Izzy either-but the office has a very strict policy on dating. No inter office dating allowed.
As I said before, I loved that the story has a deaf character but isn't about him being deaf. This is a major distinction for those with disabilities. Being deaf doesn't define Nolan and his story is one of finding love and making a family! The story weaves in the ASL seamlessly so that everything feels normal. To have the focus on their love story instead of Nolan's deafness was heartwarming and charming. This is the representation that is needed! Also, I am trying to learn ASL, so I totally understand Izzy's struggles at times. It's quite difficult-especially when fluent ASL signers go so fast!
See full review on The Book Disciple
Izzy and Nolan's hot night turned into much more. But, Izzy didn't know how to reach him because she didn't catch his name. So, she had her son Archie and is moving on in life. She has a new job as an administrative assistant and on her first day, she runs smack into her baby daddy...and new coworker! Both are stunned, but Nolan wants to be a part of Archie's life. He isn't ready to give up on Izzy either-but the office has a very strict policy on dating. No inter office dating allowed.
As I said before, I loved that the story has a deaf character but isn't about him being deaf. This is a major distinction for those with disabilities. Being deaf doesn't define Nolan and his story is one of finding love and making a family! The story weaves in the ASL seamlessly so that everything feels normal. To have the focus on their love story instead of Nolan's deafness was heartwarming and charming. This is the representation that is needed! Also, I am trying to learn ASL, so I totally understand Izzy's struggles at times. It's quite difficult-especially when fluent ASL signers go so fast!
April 15, 2024
Audiobook review.
This is book two in the Matzah Ball Surprise series. This is Izzy’s story.
The audiobook narrator is Kelli Tager. I don’t listen to many audiobooks. But I thought that she was really good. It usually really bugs me when a female talks in a deep vigorous the male parts. But I thought that she did great.
I enjoyed reading Izzy’s story. There is a deaf hero and lots of Deaf Representation. The only part that was lacking for me was the Jewish rep. The first book had much more. Both main characters in this book are Jewish. And it’s mentioned very briefly. But I felt a bit let down that there wasn’t more especially since the series is called the Matzah Ball Surprise series.
This is book two in the Matzah Ball Surprise series. This is Izzy’s story.
The audiobook narrator is Kelli Tager. I don’t listen to many audiobooks. But I thought that she was really good. It usually really bugs me when a female talks in a deep vigorous the male parts. But I thought that she did great.
I enjoyed reading Izzy’s story. There is a deaf hero and lots of Deaf Representation. The only part that was lacking for me was the Jewish rep. The first book had much more. Both main characters in this book are Jewish. And it’s mentioned very briefly. But I felt a bit let down that there wasn’t more especially since the series is called the Matzah Ball Surprise series.
February 22, 2021
Following Gaby's sister Izzy from Matzah Ball Surprise, this book jumps ahead a year and a half when Izzy, now a single mom, gets a job at a deaf resources nonprofit and finally finds the father of her child working there, too. Unlike her sister in the first book, Izzy knows how to sign in ASL, so we don't have that particular communication barrier that both hindered and provided amusement in the last one.
What I really loved in About That Night was not only the particular chemistry between Izzy and Nolan, but the discussion of deaf parenthood (the deaf partner sleeping through all the baby's cries is one that happened with my wife and me all the time). I thought the author did a great job on talking about post-baby (postpartum) bodies. Nolan's tenderness with Izzy was great. The baby Archie was absolutely adorable and provide a lot of comic relief. He reminded of my son at that age.
The romance probably moved a little more quickly than I would've liked, but everything else about the story more than made up for it.
What I really loved in About That Night was not only the particular chemistry between Izzy and Nolan, but the discussion of deaf parenthood (the deaf partner sleeping through all the baby's cries is one that happened with my wife and me all the time). I thought the author did a great job on talking about post-baby (postpartum) bodies. Nolan's tenderness with Izzy was great. The baby Archie was absolutely adorable and provide a lot of comic relief. He reminded of my son at that age.
The romance probably moved a little more quickly than I would've liked, but everything else about the story more than made up for it.
February 10, 2021
Enjoyable
Great romance with good representation of deaf people not just as one of the MCs but secondary characters too. People were relatable as were situations. I was rooting for the couple.
CN: pregnancy
Great romance with good representation of deaf people not just as one of the MCs but secondary characters too. People were relatable as were situations. I was rooting for the couple.
CN: pregnancy
December 9, 2023
A one night stand with a deaf man results in a baby and no way to contact the father in this single mom, dual POV romance. I've had this one on my TBR for a while now and it did not disappoint. Written from an #ownvoices HofH author, the Deaf rep felt really authentic and I enjoyed watching the two MCs navigate the extra challenges with communication and co-parenting. Good on audio too!
April 19, 2021
Laura Brown writes clever, well rounded characters and gives honest representation to the Deaf community. I love that she shows the reality - needing a different kind of baby monitor - and the evolution of this family.
Izzy, Nolan and Archie will steal your heart. A very sweet, romantic funny read.
Izzy, Nolan and Archie will steal your heart. A very sweet, romantic funny read.
February 10, 2021
AHHHHHHHH! I needed to scream because I LOVED this one so much! I discovered Laura Brown last year with Matzah Ball Surprise and absolutely fell in love with her writing style and the unique perspective she brings to her stories.
About That Night is the story of Izzy, Nolan and Archie. A one-night-stand that resulted in a surprise bundle of joy. Izzy has been raising baby Archie alone—that is until the day she walked into her new job and came face to face with her mystery hottie. The man she wanted to find but didn't know how. What ensues is a fun yet poignant story of how these three learn to be a family.
One of the things that I enjoy the most about this author's books is how authentic they feel while reading. Her characters are imperfect. They are ordinary, everyday people that you can envision meeting right next door to you. She seamlessly weaves ASL into her novels and gives us a glimpse into the world from a Deaf person's perspective. Even the fact that the characters were Jewish was incorporated into the first time Izzy went to Nolan's apartment. Side note: Checking for a mezuzah is definitely something that I would do!!! The key to all of this is that Laura Brown has made these an integral part of the story. Not just a prop to showcase diversity. And has definitely bumped her up to an author I don't want to miss!
About That Night is a heartwarming, sweet second chance romance that you don't want to miss!
About That Night is the story of Izzy, Nolan and Archie. A one-night-stand that resulted in a surprise bundle of joy. Izzy has been raising baby Archie alone—that is until the day she walked into her new job and came face to face with her mystery hottie. The man she wanted to find but didn't know how. What ensues is a fun yet poignant story of how these three learn to be a family.
One of the things that I enjoy the most about this author's books is how authentic they feel while reading. Her characters are imperfect. They are ordinary, everyday people that you can envision meeting right next door to you. She seamlessly weaves ASL into her novels and gives us a glimpse into the world from a Deaf person's perspective. Even the fact that the characters were Jewish was incorporated into the first time Izzy went to Nolan's apartment. Side note: Checking for a mezuzah is definitely something that I would do!!! The key to all of this is that Laura Brown has made these an integral part of the story. Not just a prop to showcase diversity. And has definitely bumped her up to an author I don't want to miss!
About That Night is a heartwarming, sweet second chance romance that you don't want to miss!
January 26, 2021
3.5 stars
Laura Brown’s About That Night is inclusive and heartfelt. It’s a great story if you’re a fan of baby tropes in romance, but is probably best skipped if you don’t.
When Izzy Fineburg meets a handsome man at an ASL conference, the last thing she expects from their one night stand is a baby. Nolan Holtzman never planned on having kids, but when Izzy reenters his life, he’s determined to step up. Throw in the fact that he’s now Izzy’s superior at work and there is an explicit ban against inter-office dating? Things are about to get infinitely more complicated.
I really appreciated this story for what it taught me about the Deaf community and the nuances of ASL as an independent language. And I loved how Nolan’s deafness is normalized and not tokenized. The connection between Izzy and Nolan is palpable, and I wish the author would have spent more time exploring their connection separate from their child.
I’ll say up front that secret baby/babies in romance isn’t my personal favorite, especially when so much time is spent on the difficulties of parenthood and less time is spent on romantic chemistry. However, that’s solely a personal preference on my end, and not a criticism of the story itself. It just might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The bulk of the novel explores the challenges of parenthood in all its forms, and I applaud the author for not shying away from all of the realities. I just wanted it to be a little more balanced.
In all, this is a sweet story that will definitely tick all the boxes for readers who love it when babies are included in romantic storylines.
Thank you to Entangled and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Laura Brown’s About That Night is inclusive and heartfelt. It’s a great story if you’re a fan of baby tropes in romance, but is probably best skipped if you don’t.
When Izzy Fineburg meets a handsome man at an ASL conference, the last thing she expects from their one night stand is a baby. Nolan Holtzman never planned on having kids, but when Izzy reenters his life, he’s determined to step up. Throw in the fact that he’s now Izzy’s superior at work and there is an explicit ban against inter-office dating? Things are about to get infinitely more complicated.
I really appreciated this story for what it taught me about the Deaf community and the nuances of ASL as an independent language. And I loved how Nolan’s deafness is normalized and not tokenized. The connection between Izzy and Nolan is palpable, and I wish the author would have spent more time exploring their connection separate from their child.
I’ll say up front that secret baby/babies in romance isn’t my personal favorite, especially when so much time is spent on the difficulties of parenthood and less time is spent on romantic chemistry. However, that’s solely a personal preference on my end, and not a criticism of the story itself. It just might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The bulk of the novel explores the challenges of parenthood in all its forms, and I applaud the author for not shying away from all of the realities. I just wanted it to be a little more balanced.
In all, this is a sweet story that will definitely tick all the boxes for readers who love it when babies are included in romantic storylines.
Thank you to Entangled and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 21, 2021
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Heartwarming and at times heart-wrenching, “About That Night”, by Laura Brown (Entangled Publishing), features great, believable characters, including a sweet Beta hero low-esteem issues, an incredibly strong heroine and an adorable baby.
I really liked both Nolan and Izzy, they’re not perfect but they’re so warm and relatable.
Nolan embraces the new situation after some hesitation and involves himself actively despite struggling to figure out to handle Archie’s care (lots of fun moments and episodes emerge from his learning).
Izzy is such a wonderful heroine, loving, sweet, strong.
Archie is a great character, too, livening the story with just being there as a precious baby.
I loved the way the author wrote the interaction between Deaf and hearing people, her sensitive and very practical approach. The cultural enrichment of being exposed to different languages is palpable, the communication barriers, too. And how wonderful that Izzy and Gaby sign and speak even when Levi isn’t in the room (the romantic couple from the previous story), yet sometimes forget and there’s no problem with that.
As usual with Laura Brown, there’s an amazing disability representation. Nolan isn’t defined by his deafness and it doesn’t justify his issues and problems.
Heartwarming and at times heart-wrenching, “About That Night”, by Laura Brown (Entangled Publishing), features great, believable characters, including a sweet Beta hero low-esteem issues, an incredibly strong heroine and an adorable baby.
I really liked both Nolan and Izzy, they’re not perfect but they’re so warm and relatable.
Nolan embraces the new situation after some hesitation and involves himself actively despite struggling to figure out to handle Archie’s care (lots of fun moments and episodes emerge from his learning).
Izzy is such a wonderful heroine, loving, sweet, strong.
Archie is a great character, too, livening the story with just being there as a precious baby.
I loved the way the author wrote the interaction between Deaf and hearing people, her sensitive and very practical approach. The cultural enrichment of being exposed to different languages is palpable, the communication barriers, too. And how wonderful that Izzy and Gaby sign and speak even when Levi isn’t in the room (the romantic couple from the previous story), yet sometimes forget and there’s no problem with that.
As usual with Laura Brown, there’s an amazing disability representation. Nolan isn’t defined by his deafness and it doesn’t justify his issues and problems.
February 6, 2021
About That Night was one of those books that called to me after reading the blurb. A one night stand turns into an unexpected pregnancy, made complicated by the fact that the man in question was deaf and the woman, barely proficient at signing. Fast forward two years and she see’s the father of her son again, at her new place of employment. That, that right there, is what reeled me in.
I really, truly enjoyed how the author handled this delicate story. She made both main characters real and relatable. I enjoyed how she depicted Nolan and his reaction to discovering he had a son and the fact that he wasn’t father material, but that he was going to try his hardest at being one. Izzy was a strong woman, she had to be. In her early twenties, in school and pregnant, did not make for easy, but she was lucky to have an incredible support system in her sister and her fiancé.
Watching Nolan, Izzy and baby Archie get to know one another and lay the framework for a beautiful family, made this a throughly enjoyable romance read. About That Night was my first book by Laura Brown and will most certainly not be my last. TBR and Enjoy.
I really, truly enjoyed how the author handled this delicate story. She made both main characters real and relatable. I enjoyed how she depicted Nolan and his reaction to discovering he had a son and the fact that he wasn’t father material, but that he was going to try his hardest at being one. Izzy was a strong woman, she had to be. In her early twenties, in school and pregnant, did not make for easy, but she was lucky to have an incredible support system in her sister and her fiancé.
Watching Nolan, Izzy and baby Archie get to know one another and lay the framework for a beautiful family, made this a throughly enjoyable romance read. About That Night was my first book by Laura Brown and will most certainly not be my last. TBR and Enjoy.
February 8, 2021
4.50 Stars
This was such a cute sweet story. I loved Izzy from the beginning 😊
Izzy got pregnant from a one night stand, and after that she tried for a long time to find her baby daddy, but nothing. Now she is focusing on her supporting herself and her baby and getting a place of her own. Until the day she walks into her new job and low and behold guess who her new boss is??
Nolan has always believed that nothing good happens to him and he always screws up everything in his life. And that proves to be true the day he sees the one girl who he couldn’t stop thinking about since their night together. But then Izzy drops a bomb on him that he is has a son… How can he be a dad when he never had a dad of his own, and now his whole bachelor life is changing, from video games to being a dad… And not to mention the attraction he still has for Izzy. And on top of everything else they need to keep this under wraps as their work has a no dating employees policy??
Will the prospect of losing his job or the co-parenting be the next screw up in his life?? Or will being a dad be exactly what he needs to sort out his life once and for all?
I loved this story. Baby Archie was just too freaking cute for words 😊 The chemistry between Izzy and Nolan was so palpable that I swear will make you get hooked on this book. Watching Nolan develop a relationship with Archie was another plus for me. Nolan and Izzy’s story will definitely have your heart melting and not to mention baby Archie ♥ 😊
Read on behalf of
Fay’s Corner
This was such a cute sweet story. I loved Izzy from the beginning 😊
Izzy got pregnant from a one night stand, and after that she tried for a long time to find her baby daddy, but nothing. Now she is focusing on her supporting herself and her baby and getting a place of her own. Until the day she walks into her new job and low and behold guess who her new boss is??
Nolan has always believed that nothing good happens to him and he always screws up everything in his life. And that proves to be true the day he sees the one girl who he couldn’t stop thinking about since their night together. But then Izzy drops a bomb on him that he is has a son… How can he be a dad when he never had a dad of his own, and now his whole bachelor life is changing, from video games to being a dad… And not to mention the attraction he still has for Izzy. And on top of everything else they need to keep this under wraps as their work has a no dating employees policy??
Will the prospect of losing his job or the co-parenting be the next screw up in his life?? Or will being a dad be exactly what he needs to sort out his life once and for all?
I loved this story. Baby Archie was just too freaking cute for words 😊 The chemistry between Izzy and Nolan was so palpable that I swear will make you get hooked on this book. Watching Nolan develop a relationship with Archie was another plus for me. Nolan and Izzy’s story will definitely have your heart melting and not to mention baby Archie ♥ 😊
Read on behalf of
Fay’s Corner
February 8, 2021
Izzy spent one night with a sexy stranger and it changed the course of her life. She has now found that she was going to be a single mother and had no way of contacting the father as their sign language communication wasn’t as clear as it should have been. With the help of her family, she has finished school and is ready to start her new job only to find out that her baby’s father is also her co-worker.
Nolan has worked hard to overcome the mistakes of his past so finding out Izzy is not only his co-worker but that they have a child together is a surprise he wasn’t expecting. He is struggling to not only deal with the uncertainty that due to no role model he doesn’t have the skill set to be a father but also the fact that their relationship could mean the end of one or both of their jobs if it is discovered.
This is a touching story about the challenges that not only the people who are deaf face but those that are closest to them as well. I enjoyed seeing them maneuver not only their relationship with their son Archie but with each other as well.
August 20, 2022
I like the trope alot and the diversity!
The book had a ton of potential.
What bothered me was that the same issue kept rolling chapter after chapter. I would've loved to see a few issues conquered instead of the same issue carrying throughout the book.
They like each other and have a kid together but the job has a no dating policy. It was in the synopsis and it's also in chapters 1 through 22.
It was really tough to love Nolan (the main character) that kept denying he was the dad to their son whenever someone in the office asked.
At THE Very end he got it together but it was so far at the end that it felt too little too late
The writing was good though. I'd search for another book from this author ...
The book had a ton of potential.
What bothered me was that the same issue kept rolling chapter after chapter. I would've loved to see a few issues conquered instead of the same issue carrying throughout the book.
They like each other and have a kid together but the job has a no dating policy. It was in the synopsis and it's also in chapters 1 through 22.
It was really tough to love Nolan (the main character) that kept denying he was the dad to their son whenever someone in the office asked.
At THE Very end he got it together but it was so far at the end that it felt too little too late
The writing was good though. I'd search for another book from this author ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2021
About That Night is the second book in the Matzah Ball Surprise series, but it was fine as a stand-alone. It was well written with a storyline that was developed. The characters were genuine and interesting. It was a short book but a sweet romance.
Izzy Fineberg found herself pregnant after spending one night with a hot Deaf man. She did not catch the man’s entire name since she was still learning ASL. Now she is starting a new job at a Deaf agency and finds out her new boss is the father of Archie, her son, and the agency has a strict “no dating coworkers” policy.
Nolan Holtzman had never expected Izzy to show up at the agency he just started working at. Learning he was a father was a huge shock, but he was determined to be there for his son. He volunteered for Archie and Izzy to stay with him when she needed a place to stay. Both needed their jobs, so they had to keep their relationship a secret.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Izzy Fineberg found herself pregnant after spending one night with a hot Deaf man. She did not catch the man’s entire name since she was still learning ASL. Now she is starting a new job at a Deaf agency and finds out her new boss is the father of Archie, her son, and the agency has a strict “no dating coworkers” policy.
Nolan Holtzman had never expected Izzy to show up at the agency he just started working at. Learning he was a father was a huge shock, but he was determined to be there for his son. He volunteered for Archie and Izzy to stay with him when she needed a place to stay. Both needed their jobs, so they had to keep their relationship a secret.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 5, 2022
I read an ARC of ABOUT THAT NIGHT by Laura Brown, & I absolutely LOVE this book. 😍
❤️Cinnamon roll Deaf hero
❤️Strong single mom
❤️Postpartum dating & nursing mishaps (I screamed, laughed & clapped my hands in glee)
❤️Sexy consent
❤️Great character growth
❤️All the FEELS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ABOUT THAT NIGHT by Laura Brown checked all the boxes for me. The #OwnVoices #Deaf representation is excellent & much needed. I’m hard of hearing, about 70% deaf, and can expect to go completely deaf. It means so much to me to read about well-crafted characters with my disability, especially when the disability is not the problem in the book, but is an essential part of a character.
Besides loving the story and the characters (also the secondary characters), I like the author’s writing style. She manages to make the story relatable and entertaining. I loved that Izzy was still nursing Archie when she and Nolan started dating. I nursed all my babies, and I provided lactation support to other working moms, so to see nursing and pumping in the workplace portrayed in romance brings me joy. The family friendly environment at Izzy and Nolan’s workplace is also a plus.
And Nolan, sweet, loving, vulnerable Nolan. Sometimes I wanted to give him a serious talking to because he was so hard on himself, but mostly I wanted to hug him.
I was a young mom (like Izzy, but married), and Izzy’s experience of motherhood and postpartum changes rang true for me and brought me so many memories. There’s only one thing that bothered me about this book, but it’s really just me being finicky.
Izzy, who is otherwise a warm, responsive mother, mentions sleep training her baby: leaving him alone to cry it out at night so he learns to fall asleep on his own. I’m a children’s therapist and practice attachment parenting. The idea of letting a baby cry it out hurts my heart. I’m all about holding the babies! I was able to accept this as part of Izzy’s inexperience as a young mom, so it didn’t detract from the story for me. If anything, it brought more realism into the story.
Anyway, this book was full of sweet moments, funny moments, and downright moving moments, and did I mention consent? Laura Brown does consent so well in her romance novels, and this one was next level. 🥰 I’m glad I had the chance to read it, and I definitely recommend it.
P.S. Laura Brown’s other books are equally swoony & have great Deaf rep. You bet I will read every book she publishes.
❤️Cinnamon roll Deaf hero
❤️Strong single mom
❤️Postpartum dating & nursing mishaps (I screamed, laughed & clapped my hands in glee)
❤️Sexy consent
❤️Great character growth
❤️All the FEELS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ABOUT THAT NIGHT by Laura Brown checked all the boxes for me. The #OwnVoices #Deaf representation is excellent & much needed. I’m hard of hearing, about 70% deaf, and can expect to go completely deaf. It means so much to me to read about well-crafted characters with my disability, especially when the disability is not the problem in the book, but is an essential part of a character.
Besides loving the story and the characters (also the secondary characters), I like the author’s writing style. She manages to make the story relatable and entertaining. I loved that Izzy was still nursing Archie when she and Nolan started dating. I nursed all my babies, and I provided lactation support to other working moms, so to see nursing and pumping in the workplace portrayed in romance brings me joy. The family friendly environment at Izzy and Nolan’s workplace is also a plus.
And Nolan, sweet, loving, vulnerable Nolan. Sometimes I wanted to give him a serious talking to because he was so hard on himself, but mostly I wanted to hug him.
I was a young mom (like Izzy, but married), and Izzy’s experience of motherhood and postpartum changes rang true for me and brought me so many memories. There’s only one thing that bothered me about this book, but it’s really just me being finicky.
Izzy, who is otherwise a warm, responsive mother, mentions sleep training her baby: leaving him alone to cry it out at night so he learns to fall asleep on his own. I’m a children’s therapist and practice attachment parenting. The idea of letting a baby cry it out hurts my heart. I’m all about holding the babies! I was able to accept this as part of Izzy’s inexperience as a young mom, so it didn’t detract from the story for me. If anything, it brought more realism into the story.
Anyway, this book was full of sweet moments, funny moments, and downright moving moments, and did I mention consent? Laura Brown does consent so well in her romance novels, and this one was next level. 🥰 I’m glad I had the chance to read it, and I definitely recommend it.
P.S. Laura Brown’s other books are equally swoony & have great Deaf rep. You bet I will read every book she publishes.
February 10, 2021
First of all I adored this story and as soon as I finished reading it, I went online and purchased the first book of this series by Laura Brown. I loved both of these characters and the laughs that little Archie provided. I actually wish that I could read another book about this little family. I did find some of the inner dialogue of these characters to be a bit repetitive but I still think it is a book worth reading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 13, 2021
A lovely read. There were a few moments of anxiety that I had to work through despite knowing everything would turn out fine. And the plot did progress very fast, but I was ok with that. I liked this so much I'm probably going to give the first book a try, even though I don't really like fake dating stories at family holidays.
February 6, 2021
Content warnings:
Surprise baby books are not my thing. To be honest, I don’t find much about babies romantic at all and I’m not one of those people who think HEAs have to come with a wedding and 2.5 kids. But I loved Matzah Ball Surprise so I decided to take a chance on this book, and I’m glad I did! Besides the surprise baby, it’s also got the workplace romance and forced proximity tropes.
Nine-month-old Archie might be the result of a drunk hook-up with a guy whose name she didn’t know, but he’s the center of Izzy’s life. So while starting a new job with a Deaf advocacy org is important to her – she wants to be able to financially support her little family by moving out of her sister’s place – it’s also bittersweet. And things only get worse when she realizes her new supervisor is the hot Deaf hook-up – and the father of her kid. Nolan’s been a screw-up for most of his life, but the situation with Izzy takes the cake. How can he possibly go from bachelor pads and video games to being a dad, especially when he never had a father figure in his own life? To further complicate things, the spark of attraction that got them into this mess in the first place is still there. Can they navigate coparenting and working together, or are Izzy and Nolan set for another massive disaster?
Izzy is fiercely independent. Though she’s had to rely on her sister, Gaby (the heroine of the previous book) and her fiancé, Levi, to manage graduating college while pregnant and then with a baby, Archie’s nine months old now and she’s ready to stop relying on them so much. But navigating breastfeeding, working and childcare is hard, and adding in navigating some kind of relationship – coparent or romantic – with Nolan is overwhelming and exhausting to someone who feels like she’s barely holding it together as a twenty-three-year-old single mother. While he doesn’t have the same life complications as Izzy, Nolan’s convinced he’s a screw-up. No matter what good thing he has, he always manages to screw it up, and that’s been true since he was born. He was the result of an unplanned pregnancy and his dad wasn’t present in his life, so he’s worried about how to be a father figure and partly convinced that he’s going to mess up Izzy and Archie’s lives just by being in them. Besides Archie, their relationship is also complicated by the fact that their employer has a strict no dating policy. That, along with Nolan’s self-doubt, provides most of the angst in the story. The way their relationship unfolds slowly was just so sweet, and I loved how consent-focused it was as well.
This book was overall less humorous than the previous one, though Archie provided a lot of comedy. Nine-month-olds are, well, chaos monsters (or at least mine were) and there’s a lot of new parent humor that brought me right back to those days, diaper changes and all. I liked that, along with the romantic relationship between Izzy and Nolan, it also focused on the relationship that Nolan has with Archie. There’s a particularly sweet moment where Nolan’s trying to soothe a fussy Archie and suddenly realizes that his son is signing “milk.” It’s a lightbulb moment for Nolan, and it absolutely made me melt.
I loved the seamless integration of Deaf culture from both characters, from the flashing lights to the special baby monitors to the call out to my alma mater (go RIT Tigers!). While Izzy is far from fluent in ASL, she’s able to communicate well, and most of the dialog is in sign. I loved that his Deafness – and their Jewishness – isn’t a problem or a pain point, it’s just another part of who he is.
Overall, I enjoyed this book even more than the first, and I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Laura Brown writes in the future!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Surprise baby books are not my thing. To be honest, I don’t find much about babies romantic at all and I’m not one of those people who think HEAs have to come with a wedding and 2.5 kids. But I loved Matzah Ball Surprise so I decided to take a chance on this book, and I’m glad I did! Besides the surprise baby, it’s also got the workplace romance and forced proximity tropes.
Nine-month-old Archie might be the result of a drunk hook-up with a guy whose name she didn’t know, but he’s the center of Izzy’s life. So while starting a new job with a Deaf advocacy org is important to her – she wants to be able to financially support her little family by moving out of her sister’s place – it’s also bittersweet. And things only get worse when she realizes her new supervisor is the hot Deaf hook-up – and the father of her kid. Nolan’s been a screw-up for most of his life, but the situation with Izzy takes the cake. How can he possibly go from bachelor pads and video games to being a dad, especially when he never had a father figure in his own life? To further complicate things, the spark of attraction that got them into this mess in the first place is still there. Can they navigate coparenting and working together, or are Izzy and Nolan set for another massive disaster?
“Father” was a meaningless word to him that could mean sperm donor, and considering Archie’s creation, the same could be said about the next generation.”
Izzy is fiercely independent. Though she’s had to rely on her sister, Gaby (the heroine of the previous book) and her fiancé, Levi, to manage graduating college while pregnant and then with a baby, Archie’s nine months old now and she’s ready to stop relying on them so much. But navigating breastfeeding, working and childcare is hard, and adding in navigating some kind of relationship – coparent or romantic – with Nolan is overwhelming and exhausting to someone who feels like she’s barely holding it together as a twenty-three-year-old single mother. While he doesn’t have the same life complications as Izzy, Nolan’s convinced he’s a screw-up. No matter what good thing he has, he always manages to screw it up, and that’s been true since he was born. He was the result of an unplanned pregnancy and his dad wasn’t present in his life, so he’s worried about how to be a father figure and partly convinced that he’s going to mess up Izzy and Archie’s lives just by being in them. Besides Archie, their relationship is also complicated by the fact that their employer has a strict no dating policy. That, along with Nolan’s self-doubt, provides most of the angst in the story. The way their relationship unfolds slowly was just so sweet, and I loved how consent-focused it was as well.
“The kid resembled the powerful computer character that could unlock worlds and opportunities, but he didn’t have a clue how to unlock him.”
This book was overall less humorous than the previous one, though Archie provided a lot of comedy. Nine-month-olds are, well, chaos monsters (or at least mine were) and there’s a lot of new parent humor that brought me right back to those days, diaper changes and all. I liked that, along with the romantic relationship between Izzy and Nolan, it also focused on the relationship that Nolan has with Archie. There’s a particularly sweet moment where Nolan’s trying to soothe a fussy Archie and suddenly realizes that his son is signing “milk.” It’s a lightbulb moment for Nolan, and it absolutely made me melt.
I loved the seamless integration of Deaf culture from both characters, from the flashing lights to the special baby monitors to the call out to my alma mater (go RIT Tigers!). While Izzy is far from fluent in ASL, she’s able to communicate well, and most of the dialog is in sign. I loved that his Deafness – and their Jewishness – isn’t a problem or a pain point, it’s just another part of who he is.
Overall, I enjoyed this book even more than the first, and I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Laura Brown writes in the future!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
February 8, 2021
What happens when you meet a great guy, have the time of your life, but you don't get his name or number...Then you realize that great time led to a baby...and you're on your own because you can't find the guy. In the new contemporary romance About That Night by Laura Brown, this is what Izzy has been dealing with.
She's been on her own for 18 months and has a 9 month old baby boy. As luck would have it, she starts a new job and finds - you guessed it, her baby daddy. Only problem is, he's kind of in charge of her - and there's a strict no dating policy at their job. So despite the fact that she's still attracted to Nolan (her Baby Daddy), and despite the fact that she wishes they could all be one big happy family, that can't happen. As for Nolan, he's completely thrown for a loop when Izzy tells him that he's a father. And I hate to say, it takes him a bit of time to step up. He's scared that he's going to screw up and he wonders if Izzy and his kid would be better off without him. With all these complications, can this couple find their way back to each other, or are they destined to just be co-parents and nothing more?
This was a cute contemporary romance and I liked how it introduced me to the Deaf community. Nolan is deaf and he and Izzy work at state agency that is geared towards assisting the Deaf community. It was refreshing to read a character like Nolan. I also liked that the two characters were Jewish - again, something that is kind of rare in the romance world. I liked how the very real struggles a new mom faces when she tries to have a career as well were showcased in this book. It's not easy - and when you're a single mom it's even more challenging. Izzy was lucky enough to have her sister to help, as well as having a really understanding boss. I mean, at one point, she is able to bring the baby to work - so unusual!
The romance was sweet, but I will say I did wish that Nolan could be a bit stronger sometimes - don't get me wrong, he was a very realistic character. He has doubts and concerns about being a father, and he fears repeating his past mistakes and he has a lot of self esteem issues. He's nerdy and a bit of a dork - which is cute. He's a very realistic guy. I just found myself wishing that he could have been a bit more...manly. Okay, I said it. Sorry - not sorry. Maybe I've been reading too many Alpha Male romances. Anyway, that being said, it was nice seeing him gradually accept his new life and seeing him step up to the plate to be there for Izzy.
All in all I liked this sweet surprise baby second chance romance and I think you will too. Since you're probably not as shallow as me (see above alpha male comment), you'll embrace these imperfect characters as they discover how to be a family.
She's been on her own for 18 months and has a 9 month old baby boy. As luck would have it, she starts a new job and finds - you guessed it, her baby daddy. Only problem is, he's kind of in charge of her - and there's a strict no dating policy at their job. So despite the fact that she's still attracted to Nolan (her Baby Daddy), and despite the fact that she wishes they could all be one big happy family, that can't happen. As for Nolan, he's completely thrown for a loop when Izzy tells him that he's a father. And I hate to say, it takes him a bit of time to step up. He's scared that he's going to screw up and he wonders if Izzy and his kid would be better off without him. With all these complications, can this couple find their way back to each other, or are they destined to just be co-parents and nothing more?
This was a cute contemporary romance and I liked how it introduced me to the Deaf community. Nolan is deaf and he and Izzy work at state agency that is geared towards assisting the Deaf community. It was refreshing to read a character like Nolan. I also liked that the two characters were Jewish - again, something that is kind of rare in the romance world. I liked how the very real struggles a new mom faces when she tries to have a career as well were showcased in this book. It's not easy - and when you're a single mom it's even more challenging. Izzy was lucky enough to have her sister to help, as well as having a really understanding boss. I mean, at one point, she is able to bring the baby to work - so unusual!
The romance was sweet, but I will say I did wish that Nolan could be a bit stronger sometimes - don't get me wrong, he was a very realistic character. He has doubts and concerns about being a father, and he fears repeating his past mistakes and he has a lot of self esteem issues. He's nerdy and a bit of a dork - which is cute. He's a very realistic guy. I just found myself wishing that he could have been a bit more...manly. Okay, I said it. Sorry - not sorry. Maybe I've been reading too many Alpha Male romances. Anyway, that being said, it was nice seeing him gradually accept his new life and seeing him step up to the plate to be there for Izzy.
All in all I liked this sweet surprise baby second chance romance and I think you will too. Since you're probably not as shallow as me (see above alpha male comment), you'll embrace these imperfect characters as they discover how to be a family.
February 5, 2021
About That Night features the secret baby trope, which is one of my favorites as long as there is a believable and relatable reason why the father didn't know about the child. In this book, I'm happy to report that the reason was plausible. Izzy and Nolan met at a deaf event when she was an ASL student in college (Izzy is hearing, Nolan is deaf). They had wild chemistry and spent one night together, but because Izzy was not yet fluent in ASL, and was distracted by her attraction to Nolan, she didn't catch his name when he signed it, so when she learned she was pregnant, she had no way to track him down. Eighteen mos. later, she has an adorable 9 month old baby, has graduated college and secured an entry level position with a Deaf not-for-profit, and is gobsmacked when she meets Nolan (now their social media manager) on her first day on the job.
Nolan and Izzy still have mad chemistry, but now, not only does Izzy have to figure out how to integrate Nolan into her and her son's life, but they also must contend with the HR rules at their workplace that expressly forbid intimate relationships between co-workers. A large part of the book focused on Nolan learning how to be a father, in spite of his fears that he would not be able to live up to the role due to his own lack of a father and role model.
I loved that although Nolan had doubts, his deafness was a non-issue, both in his ability to parent but also in his relationships with others. Izzy was strong when she needed to be, but at the same time, she was only 23 and sometimes her age really showed. Initially, after she told Nolan about their son, she got quite unjustifiably angry that he didn't just immediately jump into the role of father, not understanding that he'd been given quite a shock and needed at least a few days to absorb the news. Aside from this, I thought the romance was heartwarming and sweet. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Nolan and Izzy still have mad chemistry, but now, not only does Izzy have to figure out how to integrate Nolan into her and her son's life, but they also must contend with the HR rules at their workplace that expressly forbid intimate relationships between co-workers. A large part of the book focused on Nolan learning how to be a father, in spite of his fears that he would not be able to live up to the role due to his own lack of a father and role model.
I loved that although Nolan had doubts, his deafness was a non-issue, both in his ability to parent but also in his relationships with others. Izzy was strong when she needed to be, but at the same time, she was only 23 and sometimes her age really showed. Initially, after she told Nolan about their son, she got quite unjustifiably angry that he didn't just immediately jump into the role of father, not understanding that he'd been given quite a shock and needed at least a few days to absorb the news. Aside from this, I thought the romance was heartwarming and sweet. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 5, 2021
4.5 Stars for About That Night
This is the first book I have read by Laura Brown but it won’t be the last. It was also the first book I have read where some of the characters were deaf and I have to say this book really gave me an inside into deaf culture and ASL and I have to say it was a breath of fresh air to read a book that gave me some knowledge as well as enjoyment.
Izzy and Noah spent one together and that night left Izzy with more than a night of passion, problem was they never exchanged numbers and now fast forward a few months and Izzy has just started a new job at a Deaf Agency and she comes face to face with her son’s father. The story gets more complicated because not only does Izzy need to tell Noah about his son Archie, she also has to deal with a no inter office dating.....
Izzy has been raising Archie in her own but it’s now time for Noah to step up and maybe become part of a family or at least became father to Archie.
This book touched me on so many levels, this author weaves the perspective of a deaf person seamlessly into this story and she also mentions and includes the fact that the characters are Jewish by a simple mention of checking for a mezuzah which is something I know would be looked for by my Jewish friends. Ms Brown certainly built this romance around a subject other authors would steer away from and I’m excited to read more from this very talented author because I was captivated by Izzy, Noah and Archie’s story. Izzy is such a strong, independent woman who will do whatever is needed to protect her son but In amongst the emotions of this story this author still found room for humour. About That Night is a heartfelt, emotional romance with just the right amount of humour and I highly recommend this gem.
This is the first book I have read by Laura Brown but it won’t be the last. It was also the first book I have read where some of the characters were deaf and I have to say this book really gave me an inside into deaf culture and ASL and I have to say it was a breath of fresh air to read a book that gave me some knowledge as well as enjoyment.
Izzy and Noah spent one together and that night left Izzy with more than a night of passion, problem was they never exchanged numbers and now fast forward a few months and Izzy has just started a new job at a Deaf Agency and she comes face to face with her son’s father. The story gets more complicated because not only does Izzy need to tell Noah about his son Archie, she also has to deal with a no inter office dating.....
Izzy has been raising Archie in her own but it’s now time for Noah to step up and maybe become part of a family or at least became father to Archie.
This book touched me on so many levels, this author weaves the perspective of a deaf person seamlessly into this story and she also mentions and includes the fact that the characters are Jewish by a simple mention of checking for a mezuzah which is something I know would be looked for by my Jewish friends. Ms Brown certainly built this romance around a subject other authors would steer away from and I’m excited to read more from this very talented author because I was captivated by Izzy, Noah and Archie’s story. Izzy is such a strong, independent woman who will do whatever is needed to protect her son but In amongst the emotions of this story this author still found room for humour. About That Night is a heartfelt, emotional romance with just the right amount of humour and I highly recommend this gem.
January 27, 2021
I have read several books by Laura Brown, including the book that comes before this one, Matzah Ball Surprise, in which Izzy's older sister, Gaby, brings home a Deaf guy she met at the gym to her family's Passover. We are first introduced to Izzy in that book, and we learn that she is a student who is learning ASL. You do NOT need to read Matzah Ball Surprise in order to understand anything in this book. In About That Night, Izzy takes center stage as a single mom to a little boy. She slept with a man who is Deaf, but didn't get his name or number. One days, several months later, she gets a new job, and her new boss is Nolan, who just so happens to be the same man that Izzy slept with and the father of her child. My favorite thing about Laura's books are the ways she portrays her Deaf characters and the hearing characters that interact with them. It always feels so genuine, and she creates them in ways that show there is nothing wrong with being Deaf. Her Deaf characters are successful and strong and authentic. I liked that we got to see what Gaby and Levi were up to (the two main characters in the first book), and see how much ASL Gaby and Izzy have learned since the first book. I also liked the Izzy was teaching her little boy ASL. Even though she was a single mom, she was strong, doing what she needed to do in order to take care of him. I also appreciated that Nolan completely stepped up to the plate the second he found out that he had a son. I love a good second chance romance story, and one that proves if it is important enough and meant to be, fate will always make sure you get a second chance. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2023
A hot one-night stand, a surprise baby, ASL, jewish characters and the shenanigans that ensue give you all the feels. Single mom Izzy has been trying to find her son's father but didn't catch his name. Now, when she heads to work she'll discover that the man she's been looking for is now her new boss. Is there something there after all this time? If only there wasn't a strick no dating policy at work they might be able to figure it out.
Will they find a way around the policy and try to re-connect? Through detailed and seamless writing readers take a journey with two people as they communicate with ASL in a way that you can easily understand, each scene moves with ease as we watch the challenges they face and progress in finding love.
It's not often you can find a great romance story where the main characters are jewish and it's not "over-the-top" and shmaltzy. This organic story is a journey of faith, family, and growth. Both Nolan and Izzy have obstacles to overcome as they navigate challenges and expectations with each other, the first being no office romances. If they can figure out how to re-connect without getting fired they might find out that there is something so amazing and worth fighthing for.
This second chance romance is sweet, fun, delightful and has a bit of spice to it. Great read with a bit of spicy. Can't wait for more!
Will they find a way around the policy and try to re-connect? Through detailed and seamless writing readers take a journey with two people as they communicate with ASL in a way that you can easily understand, each scene moves with ease as we watch the challenges they face and progress in finding love.
It's not often you can find a great romance story where the main characters are jewish and it's not "over-the-top" and shmaltzy. This organic story is a journey of faith, family, and growth. Both Nolan and Izzy have obstacles to overcome as they navigate challenges and expectations with each other, the first being no office romances. If they can figure out how to re-connect without getting fired they might find out that there is something so amazing and worth fighthing for.
This second chance romance is sweet, fun, delightful and has a bit of spice to it. Great read with a bit of spicy. Can't wait for more!
February 8, 2021
About that night is a heartwarming romantic comedy with a second chance and surprise baby thrown in for good measure. It's really well written and handles the subject matter brilliantly.
Izzy has a one night stand with Nolan that results in an accidental pregnancy. its made complicated by the fact that Nolan is deaf and Izzy wasn't exactly proficient at signing at the time. She has no way of finding him because she didn't catch his name when he signed it. On her first day at her new job she is shocked to find out that her new boss is Nolan. She tells him about baby Archie and they try to figure things out.
Both characters are relatable and it's funny watching them navigate being parents together and falling in love with each other and with trying to keep their relationship undercover due to a no dating clause at their workplace. Baby Archie is just adorable and steals every scene he's in.
The book is full of sweet, funny and moving moments and I loved the way that the author wrote the interaction between Deaf and hearing people. The book definitely celebrates diversity. This is the first book that i have read by Laura and it won't be the last.
Izzy has a one night stand with Nolan that results in an accidental pregnancy. its made complicated by the fact that Nolan is deaf and Izzy wasn't exactly proficient at signing at the time. She has no way of finding him because she didn't catch his name when he signed it. On her first day at her new job she is shocked to find out that her new boss is Nolan. She tells him about baby Archie and they try to figure things out.
Both characters are relatable and it's funny watching them navigate being parents together and falling in love with each other and with trying to keep their relationship undercover due to a no dating clause at their workplace. Baby Archie is just adorable and steals every scene he's in.
The book is full of sweet, funny and moving moments and I loved the way that the author wrote the interaction between Deaf and hearing people. The book definitely celebrates diversity. This is the first book that i have read by Laura and it won't be the last.
February 13, 2021
3.5 stars
Cute story. One night stand, accidental pregnancy , single parent, second chance at love. Lizzie had a drunken night at a ASL function. She didn’t a name so when she realized she was pregnant she didn’t know where to look. 2 years later she walks into the office of het new job and there he is. Nolan left town and started a new job in NY. Now he is back. The girl from his one night stand wasn’t far from his mind. Imagine his surprise when he sees her at his new job. A even bigger surprise, she had his son.Nolan is not you typical hero. He is good looking but a little nerdy and insecure. He is always messing something up. I love the ASL storyline. The fact that Nolan was deaf was written smoothly into the storyline. The author paid attention to details that the average hearing person would not think about. Even those details did not detract from the story. Lizzie was raising Archie on her own but her sister was her support system. Again the reality of being a young, single parent was shown in scenes. I like how realistic the author made things.
Cute story. One night stand, accidental pregnancy , single parent, second chance at love. Lizzie had a drunken night at a ASL function. She didn’t a name so when she realized she was pregnant she didn’t know where to look. 2 years later she walks into the office of het new job and there he is. Nolan left town and started a new job in NY. Now he is back. The girl from his one night stand wasn’t far from his mind. Imagine his surprise when he sees her at his new job. A even bigger surprise, she had his son.Nolan is not you typical hero. He is good looking but a little nerdy and insecure. He is always messing something up. I love the ASL storyline. The fact that Nolan was deaf was written smoothly into the storyline. The author paid attention to details that the average hearing person would not think about. Even those details did not detract from the story. Lizzie was raising Archie on her own but her sister was her support system. Again the reality of being a young, single parent was shown in scenes. I like how realistic the author made things.
February 6, 2021
I loved this surprise baby/office romance!
Izzy never caught the name or number of the one-night-stand that gave her Archie, her 9-month-old son, until her first day on the job when she's introduced to him as his new assistant. To say that Nolan is shocked is an understatement; the poor guy had absolutely no fatherly role model himself so he's completely adrift in the sea of what-ifs and how-tos.
This is a sweet, gentle romance that never forgets their amazing chemistry yet doesn't rely on it to drive the romance forward. There are enough outside conflicts to keep things interesting, but I liked that it was their internal conflicts that were the hardest to overcome.
I love the decisive HEA and I really appreciated the follow=up on Gaby and Levi's romance (from the earlier book). This was a truly delightful story and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves contemporary romances, but especially if you're interested in reading about realistic people in the deaf community. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Izzy never caught the name or number of the one-night-stand that gave her Archie, her 9-month-old son, until her first day on the job when she's introduced to him as his new assistant. To say that Nolan is shocked is an understatement; the poor guy had absolutely no fatherly role model himself so he's completely adrift in the sea of what-ifs and how-tos.
This is a sweet, gentle romance that never forgets their amazing chemistry yet doesn't rely on it to drive the romance forward. There are enough outside conflicts to keep things interesting, but I liked that it was their internal conflicts that were the hardest to overcome.
I love the decisive HEA and I really appreciated the follow=up on Gaby and Levi's romance (from the earlier book). This was a truly delightful story and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves contemporary romances, but especially if you're interested in reading about realistic people in the deaf community. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
February 28, 2021
When I first heard about this story and how it has Deaf representation, I knew I immediately needed to get my hands on it. There aren't nearly enough stories like this and definitely need to be more. This one was absolutely amazing. Well-written, authentic, and everything a romance should be.
Nolan and Izzy's relationship is interesting to watch unfold. Knowing the lengths Izzy went through to find Nolan for the sake of their son Archie. I appreciated how it wasn't a secret baby scenario like it usually is, but that she didn't know how to find him and made the effort to locate him after their one night stand. Nolan doubts himself and his ability to be a good father, but he needed to give himself more credit.
About That Night was perfection. The romance was swoonworthy, the characters were fleshed out, and Deaf culture (from what I could tell) felt like it was done right. Can't wait to read another book by Laura Brown!
Nolan and Izzy's relationship is interesting to watch unfold. Knowing the lengths Izzy went through to find Nolan for the sake of their son Archie. I appreciated how it wasn't a secret baby scenario like it usually is, but that she didn't know how to find him and made the effort to locate him after their one night stand. Nolan doubts himself and his ability to be a good father, but he needed to give himself more credit.
About That Night was perfection. The romance was swoonworthy, the characters were fleshed out, and Deaf culture (from what I could tell) felt like it was done right. Can't wait to read another book by Laura Brown!
February 4, 2021
I fell in love with this book simply from the description on NetGalley and the my love for it only grew as I continued to read.
While a romance at heart, this novel captures the challenges of unplanned pregnancies, one-night “flings”, how to overcome your deepest fears, and how to have faith in yourself. Additionally, one of the main characters is Deaf, and I just have so much love and respect for the Deaf community –– this book is impossible to not love!
My rating of 4.5⭐️ instead of 5 is simply because I could predict a lot of what was going to happen. And that’s okay! I just feel that for me, personally, that extra “zing” for a 5⭐️ read is one that knocks me off of my feet while reading. But even still, this book is sweet, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. I love Izzy and Nolan – and baby Archie!! – so much, and I just know that you will too.
While a romance at heart, this novel captures the challenges of unplanned pregnancies, one-night “flings”, how to overcome your deepest fears, and how to have faith in yourself. Additionally, one of the main characters is Deaf, and I just have so much love and respect for the Deaf community –– this book is impossible to not love!
My rating of 4.5⭐️ instead of 5 is simply because I could predict a lot of what was going to happen. And that’s okay! I just feel that for me, personally, that extra “zing” for a 5⭐️ read is one that knocks me off of my feet while reading. But even still, this book is sweet, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. I love Izzy and Nolan – and baby Archie!! – so much, and I just know that you will too.
February 8, 2021
Oh man this was a great book.
First off, I love a character that shows real issues.
Izzy and Nolan create the kind of HR nightmare that only a one night stand with a stranger can produce. The chemistry between these two is fantastic, and Archie is a sweet and comical addition.
Even though I suffer from hearing loss, my hearing is good enough so that when I am intimate with someone, I can usually hear what they are saying. I never thought about having to stop what one is doing with their hands simply to get a point across, or ask a question during private times! I love watching the relationship bloom between Archie and Nolan. So incredibly sweet. This one the first book of Laura Brown’s that I have read, and it is the second in the series. I immediately went back and read the first. Fantastic all the way!
First off, I love a character that shows real issues.
Izzy and Nolan create the kind of HR nightmare that only a one night stand with a stranger can produce. The chemistry between these two is fantastic, and Archie is a sweet and comical addition.
Even though I suffer from hearing loss, my hearing is good enough so that when I am intimate with someone, I can usually hear what they are saying. I never thought about having to stop what one is doing with their hands simply to get a point across, or ask a question during private times! I love watching the relationship bloom between Archie and Nolan. So incredibly sweet. This one the first book of Laura Brown’s that I have read, and it is the second in the series. I immediately went back and read the first. Fantastic all the way!
March 27, 2022
Izzy gets her HEA here and we have appearances by Gaby and Levi who've provided support to Izzy as a single mother by allowing her to move in with them.
I liked how this started but I was annoyed with the conflict here - specifically, the no dating policy at the NFP that Izzy and Nolan worked at and how they thought it was rational that they would be able to keep secret that Nolan was Archie's father. The villainess in Lisa who had interviewed for Izzy's job but didn't get it so she was intent on undermining Izzy irritated me, too.
What I did like was that even though she couldn't find Nolan after their one night stand, Izzy was teaching Archie to sign because his father was deaf. And I loved the discussion of Nolan's job and how he was trying to make all the websites and social media accessible to the deaf community that they served.
I liked how this started but I was annoyed with the conflict here - specifically, the no dating policy at the NFP that Izzy and Nolan worked at and how they thought it was rational that they would be able to keep secret that Nolan was Archie's father. The villainess in Lisa who had interviewed for Izzy's job but didn't get it so she was intent on undermining Izzy irritated me, too.
What I did like was that even though she couldn't find Nolan after their one night stand, Izzy was teaching Archie to sign because his father was deaf. And I loved the discussion of Nolan's job and how he was trying to make all the websites and social media accessible to the deaf community that they served.
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