.jpg)
Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score Book Review
- Joao Nsita
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
Introduction
There is a unique, undeniable magic in watching a fiercely independent, beautifully chaotic character hit rock bottom, only to find their ultimate salvation in the exact place they never wanted to be. In the realm of contemporary romance novels, few authors capture this journey with as much heart, humor, and sheer steam as the reigning queen of the small-town rom-com. Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score—the highly anticipated second installment in her Story Lake series—is a masterclass in the opposites-attract trope.
When a disgraced Manhattan literary agent collides with a brooding, meticulously organized blue-collar landlord in a quirky Pennsylvania town, the resulting forced proximity romance is nothing short of explosive. This spicy, slow-burn romantic comedy balances laugh-out-loud banter with profoundly deep emotional healing, making it an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a love story that tugs at the heartstrings while delivering top-tier romantic tension.
If you are hunting for your next great literary escape filled with unforgettable book boyfriends and fiercely relatable heroines, you have come to the right place. Be sure to discover even more breathtaking love stories by visiting our curated hub here: Romance Book Recommendations.
Book Summary
Mistakes Were Made drops readers right into the messy, unravelling life of Zoey Moody. Once a high-powered literary agent navigating the elite Manhattan publishing scene, Zoey finds herself abruptly fired, utterly broke, and forced to liquidate her beloved designer wardrobe just to survive. With her bank account running on fumes, she temporarily exiles herself to the eccentric, tight-knit small town of Story Lake to stay with her best friend and sole remaining client, romance novelist Hazel Hart. Zoey's plan is foolproof: ensure Hazel’s next romance book becomes a massive bestseller so she can claw her way back to New York City.
However, her meticulously crafted exit strategy hits a massive, six-foot-two-inch roadblock in the form of Gage Bishop. Gage is Hazel’s future brother-in-law, Zoey's temporary landlord, and a man who is equal parts smart, serious, and debilitatingly sexy. A lawyer who also works in his family’s construction business, Gage is the human embodiment of stability. He has his next five years completely mapped out and is actively looking for the perfect wife to settle down with.
Zoey, who is terrified of commitment, highly unorganized, and inexplicably afraid of animals, is Gage's absolute opposite. They both mutually agree that acting on their undeniable, sizzling chemistry would be a catastrophic mistake. But when a devastating family secret rocks Gage’s perfectly ordered world, he seeks solace in the beautiful chaos of Zoey. What is supposed to be a simple, distraction-filled one-night stand quickly spirals into a powerful, heart-wrenching emotional connection that threatens to completely upend both of their life plans.
Author's Style and Craft
Lucy Score’s writing style is a brilliantly woven tapestry of razor-sharp wit and profound emotional resonance. In Mistakes Were Made, she utilizes a dual point-of-view narrative structure, allowing the reader intimate access to both Zoey’s swirling anxieties and Gage’s steadfast, protective inner monologue. Score is a maestro of pacing; she expertly strings the reader along with a slow-burn tension that simmers deliciously before finally boiling over into incredibly steamy, passionate romance.
The dialogue in this adult romance novel is a standout triumph. Score crafts verbal sparring that feels like a tennis match between intellectual equals. The banter is snappy, sarcastic, and reminiscent of the lightning-fast exchanges found in Gilmore Girls, yet it smoothly transitions into moments of stunning vulnerability.
Furthermore, Score’s character development is breathtakingly authentic. She does not rely on superficial conflicts to keep her protagonists apart. Instead, she meticulously unpacks their deep-seated traumas, allowing their romantic journey to run parallel to their individual journeys of self-discovery and healing. The setting of Story Lake itself acts as a vibrant supporting character, providing a comedic, Schitt's Creek-esque backdrop that perfectly balances the heavier, more dramatic plot points of the novel.
Themes and Deeper Meaning
Beneath the steamy romance and small-town shenanigans, Mistakes Were Made is a deeply layered exploration of self-worth, neurodiversity, and the agonizing weight of grief. One of the most beautiful literary devices Score employs throughout the novel is the metaphor of the disco ball.
"Why do you wear a disco ball around your neck?" "Because I like broken, sparkly things."
This quote encapsulates the core theme of the book: the profound realization that our mistakes, our fractured pieces, and our perceived flaws do not make us unlovable; they make us multifaceted and capable of reflecting light in spectacular ways. Zoey’s journey with undiagnosed ADHD, perfectionism, and a crippling fear of failure is handled with incredible compassion. Score tackles the societal stigma of being "messy" or "unorganized," showing how neurodivergent traits are often misunderstood.
The novel also fearlessly wades into the heavy waters of disability, infertility, and the complex trauma surrounding a tragic car accident that irrevocably altered Gage's family. Through Gage, the story explores the suffocating pressure of trying to be the perfect, responsible anchor for a grieving family. By confronting these broader human experiences, Score elevates the book from a simple romantic comedy into a poignant narrative about the transformative power of acceptance.
Explore More Small-Town and Emotional Romances from That Love Podcast:
Strengths
Where Mistakes Were Made truly achieves greatness is in its phenomenal balance of comedy and heart. The side characters are exceptionally well-crafted, breathing vivid life into the Story Lake universe. Zoey’s ride-or-die relationship with Hazel is a glorious celebration of female friendship. The meta-humor of Hazel using Zoey and Gage’s simmering sexual tension as inspiration for her own romance writing provides endless laugh-out-loud moments.
Score also excels at injecting humor through the local fauna. The town’s mischievous animals—specifically Gage’s boundary-ignoring golden retriever, Nana, who hilariously honks the car horn when left alone, and a surprisingly prominent eagle named Goose—add a rich, whimsical texture to the reading experience.
However, the ultimate strength is the chemistry between Zoey and Gage. The forced proximity trope is executed flawlessly. Their physical connection is explosive, but it is their emotional intimacy that truly shines. Watching Gage, the ultimate rigid planner, use physical disco balls to woo the chaotic, beautiful woman he is falling for is a swoon-worthy, unforgettable romantic gesture that will leave romance readers grinning from ear to ear.
Areas for Improvement
While the novel is a triumph in the contemporary romance genre, it is not without a few minor stumbling blocks. The narrative heavily features a subplot regarding a court case involving the driver who killed Gage’s brother-in-law and injured his sister. While this provides necessary emotional depth, the pacing of these legal scenes occasionally bogs down the narrative momentum, feeling slightly jarring when placed directly against the lighthearted, rom-com tone of the rest of the book.
Additionally, some readers might find Zoey’s relentless self-deprecation slightly grating in the earlier chapters. She constantly puts herself down, viewing her mistakes as massive character flaws. However, this weakness is largely mitigated by the fact that her behavior is addressed constructively within the plot. Her eventual decision to seek a diagnosis to understand her neurodivergence transforms this frustration into a beautiful, empowering arc of self-love and mental health advocacy, ultimately enriching the story.
Comparative Analysis
For fans of the romance genre, Mistakes Were Made fits perfectly alongside the best small-town romances dominating BookTok and Bookstagram. It shares the same DNA as Score’s own smash hit, Things We Never Got Over, blending grumpy-sunshine dynamics with deep community ties.
When compared to genre contemporaries, Score’s work challenges the standard fluff of a traditional rom-com by anchoring it in intense, real-world trauma. If you loved the witty, character-driven charm and quirky town setting of If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia, you will find a similar vibrant energy here. Furthermore, the rugged, blue-collar hero aesthetic and the healing power of nature will deeply appeal to fans of the cowboy and rural romances found in Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver. Score’s unique contribution to the field is her unparalleled ability to make you cry over a devastating family secret on one page, and laugh hysterically at a rogue farm animal on the next.
Target Audience
This book is a match made in heaven for adult romance readers who adore the opposites-attract, forced proximity, and small-town romance tropes. If you love a fiercely protective book boyfriend and a heroine who learns to embrace her own beautiful mess, this demographic will devour this novel. It appeals highly to fans of contemporary romance who appreciate neurodiversity representation and deeply emotional character arcs.
Content Warnings: Readers should be aware that the book contains mature sexual content, strong language, and heavy themes including the loss of a family member, descriptions of a fatal car accident, grief, disability, emotional abuse from parents, and discussions of infertility.
Personal Impact
Reading Mistakes Were Made was an incredibly cathartic, joyous experience. The disco ball metaphor struck a deeply personal chord; it is a stunning reminder that we do not need to be flawlessly put together to be worthy of a great love story. The book evoked a beautiful, lingering sense of hope. I found myself laughing out loud at the witty banter and reaching for tissues during the raw, vulnerable confessions between Zoey and Gage. It is a brilliant reminder that sometimes the biggest "mistakes" we make are actually the universe rerouting us exactly where we are meant to be.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score is a phenomenal, five-star addition to the contemporary romance landscape. It is a masterfully written, fiercely emotional, and wonderfully spicy romantic comedy that delivers on every single front. The sparkling chemistry, the hilarious small-town cast, and the poignant exploration of healing make it an unforgettable journey. If you are ready to fall head over heels for a blue-collar landlord and a chaotic city girl, this is your next great read. Embrace the beautiful, broken, sparkly things in life, and pick up this book immediately.
More Unforgettable Romance Reviews from That Love Podcast:
Discover your next book boyfriend at our Romance Book Recommendations Hub.
About the Author
Lucy Score is a #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic comedies. Known for her massive hit Things We Never Got Over, she has built a massive, dedicated following of romance readers who adore her signature blend of small-town charm, hilarious banter, and fiercely emotional storytelling. She writes from Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband and their wildly unhelpful cat. When she isn't writing steamy happily-ever-afters, she enjoys reading, napping, and drinking copious amounts of coffee.
Enjoyed what you read? Subscribe to That Love Podcast’s newsletter for the latest blogs, updates, and exclusive giveaways! Share the joy—pass along our blogs and website to family and friends so they can join in on the fun. Let’s spread the love together!
For more inspiration on personal transformation, check out the Transform Your Life series at That Love Podcast (https://www.thatlovepodcast.com/transform-your-life) and explore wellness tips at That Blissful Wellness Podcast (https://www.thatlovepodcast.com/thatblissfulwellnesspodcast).
FAQ Section
1. Is Mistakes Were Made a standalone novel? Yes, Mistakes Were Made can be read as a complete standalone romance. However, it is the second book in the Story Lake series, so reading the first book, Story of My Life, will give you a deeper understanding of the town and the recurring side characters.
2. What are the main romance tropes in this book? The novel heavily features the opposites-attract, forced proximity (landlord/tenant), small-town romance, and one-night-stand-to-lovers tropes.
3. Is Mistakes Were Made a spicy romance book? Yes, Lucy Score is known for writing steamy romance, and this book contains open-door, explicit sexual content intended for mature adult readers.
4. What does the disco ball represent in the story? The disco ball is a beautiful metaphor used by the characters to describe how broken, imperfect things can still be incredibly beautiful and reflect light, symbolizing acceptance of one's flaws.
5. Does the book have a Happy Ever After (HEA)? Absolutely. Despite the heavy emotional themes and the slow-burn tension, Lucy Score always guarantees a deeply satisfying Happily Ever After for her couples.
6. Who is Hazel in relation to the main characters? Hazel is Zoey’s best friend and her only remaining literary client. She is also Gage’s future sister-in-law, serving as the primary bridge that brings the two protagonists together in Story Lake.
7. Does the book deal with mental health representation? Yes, the book provides excellent neurodiversity representation. Zoey struggles with traits of undiagnosed ADHD, perfectionism, and anxiety, and her journey toward understanding her mental health is a key plot point.
8. Are there trigger warnings I should know about before reading? Yes. The book discusses grief, a fatal car accident, permanent physical disability, emotional neglect from parents, and themes of infertility.
9. Is this book similar to Things We Never Got Over? Yes! Fans of Things We Never Got Over will love Mistakes Were Made. Both feature a quirky small town, a grumpy/serious blue-collar hero, a chaotic heroine in need of a fresh start, and a perfect blend of comedy and angst.
10. When was Mistakes Were Made published? The book was officially released on March 10, 2026, and is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Comments