whitneydaniell

by: Myah Ariel
published: April 16, 2024
genre: Romance, Contemporary
368 Pages, E-Book
GoodReads | Amazon

Synopsis

Kaliya Wilson, once an ambitious NYU film student, has shelved her Oscar dreams for a receptionist job at a production studio. Seven years ago, she fell hard for Danny Prescott—a fellow NYU student and son of a Hollywood legend—only to lose him to grief and emotional distance after his father’s death. Now, fate throws them back together when Danny walks into her office as a rising director. As old sparks reignite, they must navigate unresolved feelings, workplace drama, and the pressure of the spotlight. When I Think of You is a second-chance romance about love, loss, ambition, and the courage it takes to open your heart again.

My Final Thoughts

Kaliya Wilson once had big dreams—becoming the first Black woman to win Best Picture at the Oscars. But seven years after moving to New York from Arkansas, those dreams are collecting dust while she spends her days sorting mail and answering phones in Los Angeles at Wide Angle Pictures (WAP). She’s playing it safe. Settled. Disconnected from the passion that brought her here in the first place.

Flashback to her freshman year at NYU, bright-eyed and fresh out of a yellow cab, when a chance (and clumsy) sidewalk run-in with a charming stranger changes everything. That stranger? Danny Prescott—NYU senior, fellow film lover, and son of legendary, four-time Oscar-winning director Nathan Prescott.

Their connection is instant, and their love for film and each other blooms quickly. But when Danny’s father dies unexpectedly, his grief builds walls even Kaliya’s kindness can’t climb. She supports him in every way—assisting with his senior thesis film, helping scout locations, showing up—but as grief does, it pushes people apart. Slowly, they drift. The distance becomes a chasm neither knows how to cross.

Seven years later, Danny walks into WAP’s offices as the director of a new film, and just like that, he’s standing in front of Kaliya again. All the old feelings come rushing back. But they’re older now. Wiser. More bruised. The chemistry is still there, but so are the complications: an ex causing drama, workplace politics, and the looming pressure of race, power, and perception in the film industry. Oh—and the mess of trying to rekindle a flame without repeating old patterns.

I’ll admit—I was skeptical at first. I thought this was going to be just another second-chance romance with the same predictable beats. But Myah Ariel surprised me. There’s real depth here. Danny and Kaliya are layered, complex, and believable. The writing is solid, the dialogue flows, and I found myself emotionally invested—like, maybe-too-invested—in these characters.

That said, I do wish we saw both Kaliya and Danny take a little more time to unpack their baggage. Danny clearly uses film as therapy to process the loss of his dad, but Kaliya’s abandonment issues—especially with her mom leaving and never coming back—deserved more space on the page.

Still, I’m glad they found their way back to each other. There were moments where I almost threw in the towel and told Neha (Kaliya’s best friend) to give up hope, but Danny’s second return, when he says, “I got you”—that moment hit. He showed up. And stayed. And honestly? I found myself rooting for a fictional man more than I’d like to admit. Real life has clearly jaded me, LOL.

I didn’t expect to read this in one sitting, but I did. It’s cute, easy to read, and worth it. I really liked it. You should definitely read it too.