This was such a wonderful novella. Cole is such a talented writer - she can do contemporary, historical, mystery! ( )

Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is about Fab and Likotsi, who fall in love at first sight not once but twice. From the beginning, Fab and Likotsi knew their time together would be limited to a handful of days; however, they each continued to hope for “one more time.” Unfortunately, as the blurb points out, Fab ended their affair rather abruptly, and Likotsi (and me as the reader) wants to know why so she can “point her shoes forward” and move on.

I like Fab and Likotsi's chemistry in this short story. Where Fab is more spirited and artistic, Likotsi is composed and old-fashioned in a sexy hot advisor to a prince kinda way. My favorite part was when Fab read Likotsi's to-do list. This list became the catalyst for them to ask/answer the questions they needed to move forward. It was also at this point in the story where I became a little bit more emotionally drawn into Fab and Likotsi's journey.

The story is told as flashbacks and from Fab and Likotsi’s POV. Along with love, this story touches on other themes such as immigration, family, and freedom, of which the author uses lots of similes/metaphors to enhance these themes and the story's overall tone.

Overall, Once Ghosted, Twice Shy was a solid, enjoyable story if somewhat predictable. This was my first story by the author, and I've already put a few of her other books on my TBR list. ( )

The first time I tried to read this, I grew quickly annoyed with what I viewed as the emotional dissonance that defined the novella. Insta-love plus yearning via second chance romance!? Pick one! Oh, and the author did not! So, rrgh! I returned the ebook to my library crankily. The author wrote both emotions and situations way, way too well to pair them effectively. Please believe me when I explain that's a huge compliment. Fast forward to now. I had just found out news that had me distraught, and told myself to read this short little book so I could try to clear my head and move on. At the very least, the book distracted me from my own emotions for the time it took to read it. I'm glad for that. The author still wrote the dynamics of insta-love and the impact of yearning side by side. The hints of second-chance romance are threaded through and I'm going to find out if she ever wrote a longer book with that trope. She still wrote each of them way, way too well here for them to work together. I was intrigued by both characters, and due to my unfamiliarity with them, at first didn't realize when they were using nicknames for one another. I was fascinated to watch them get together, and the insta-love helped my emotional state. The yearning did not. The regret that poured out from both characters far more befitted a romantic drama that would have easily had me bawling. Here, it was just weird. You had a fling that lasted a few days and were pushed apart due to unforeseen circumstances. This tiny novella is not the place for you to have such big emotions. Is it a weird commentary on insta-love? I just--the author is too talented to fit both together well. Or it would have to be much, much campier. It was not. The gravity of their emotions would fit far better with a couple that had separated and was still sad and tense. So basically, this book was too well-written for what it was trying to do, but hey, I stopped crying for a little bit about my own news, by reading this. ( )

Probably 3.5 stars. The story was good, but it was like reading a deck of scenes that had been shuffled together. One scene from the first part of their relationship, the next from the present. It was disjointed and I had a hard time feeling their relationship progression because of it.(I loved both women though!) ( )

Lovely, sweet, f/f romance. As a plus, this is a regular love letter to NYC. This novella is a high 3, but honestly the writing is not good enough for me to move to a 4. Really fun though and I thought pretty sexy. ( )