Review: Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee

*I received a digital advance reading copy of this book from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Give Me a Reason

by Jayci Lee

July 29, 2025

Goodreads Summary:

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...

Review

If I had to use one word to describe Give Me a Reason, it would be pining. There was so much pining that although the characters’ feelings always felt sincere, the story was somewhat overshadowed by the repetitive pining.

Give Me a Reason is a story of how two unlikely people (Ann, an independent soul and Frederick, a team player) fell in love again. Ann and Frederick’s first love story ended in heartbreak. Years later, as they met again, the pain and trauma resurfaced. Every reunion of theirs was emotional. I wish it didn’t take so much time for Ann and Frederick to clear the air. But I also appreciate that they were able to maturely resolve misunderstandings. Both took some much-needed time to sort out their feelings.

Give Me a Reason had wonderful support systems. Ann had her cousins while Frederick had his coworkers. Although clueless, they were awesome people. Though I didn’t like Ann and Frederick keeping their shared past a secret from their tight knit group, I understood why. Ann and Frederick needed to be the ones to settle their messy history. Especially when their past was marred by hurt.

If you enjoy second chance love stories that’s full of longing with a side of adorable friendships, then Give Me a Reason is the book for you.

*I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.