Acting Up
by L R Martiny
This sexy enemies to lovers sapphic romance will cure your stage fright! Harlow James is finally fulfilling her brother's dying wish. Since Paul passed at 14 from childhood cancer, he asked his family to live out his dreams for him in a kind of bucket list. Harlow's assignment is to perform in a play. She's finally stopped avoiding it, and now she's in deep, having signed up for an acting class that will end in a real play. But things get complicated when she discovers that her acting partner is none other than Jacki Rowe, the spoiled brat daughter of her boss who is also the star of her unwanted sexy dreams. The longer they work together, the more Harlow learns about the young woman, and the worse the dreams get. Eventually, Harlow will have to come to terms to with everything: the impending play, her family's desire to talk things out, and the sweet, tender kisses of Jacki Rowe.
About This Book
Acting Up is a fiction romance novel by L R Martiny, first published in 2024 by Independently Published. Readers can expect enemies to lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract; steamy heat; a emotional and hopeful tone.
At a glance
- Genre
- Fiction
- Trope
- Enemies to Lovers
- Heat
- Steamy
- Ending
- HEA
- Mood
- Emotional
- Published
- 2024
Where to read or listen
Get Acting Up by L R Martiny
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- To fulfill her late brother's bucket list, Harlow must conquer her stage fright while navigating a charged rivalry with her boss's daughter.
- Fans of theater-themed romance
- Readers who enjoy 'enemies to lovers' with high sexual tension
- Yearning
- Features Enemies to Lovers
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers sensitive to themes of sibling death
- Readers looking for low-conflict romance
- Potential for heavy angst due to the grief backstory
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Sapphic Romance
Pairing: F/F
Power balance: Uneven due to boss's daughter dynamic
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Moderate comfort, high tension, mild humor, and a strong emotional payoff.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
High
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Harlow James has spent years avoiding the spotlight, but a promise to her late brother finally forces her into an acting class. To complete the course, she must perform in a play, but her assigned partner is Jacki Rowe, the one person she can't stand—and can't stop dreaming about. As rehearsals intensify, the professional friction between the boss's daughter and the reluctant actress transforms into a deep personal connection, forcing Harlow to confront both her grief and her growing feelings.
Central Conflict
Harlow must overcome her stage fright and grief-driven reluctance while managing a high-tension romantic attraction to a woman she perceives as a 'spoiled brat' and the daughter of her employer.
Setting
Contemporary urban setting, primarily centered around an acting class and theater.
Themes
Strengths
- Compelling emotional stakes involving the brother's bucket list
- High-tension 'enemies to lovers' setup
- Unique theater setting that facilitates forced proximity
Consider before reading
- Potential for heavy angst due to the grief backstory
- Power dynamic issues regarding the boss's daughter trope
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Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
Which theme — Stage fright — resonated most strongly with you, and why?
- 3
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 4
Did the emotional payoff feel earned by the story's buildup?
- 5
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 6
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 7
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 8
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- August 30, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Independently Published
- Published
- 2024
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9798320818153
Acting Up: quick answers
- Who wrote Acting Up?
- Acting Up was written by L R Martiny.
- When was Acting Up published?
- Acting Up was first published in 2024 by Independently Published.
- What genre is Acting Up?
- Acting Up is a fiction romance novel, with enemies to lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract.
- How spicy is Acting Up?
- EIKNA rates Acting Up as steamy heat.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Acting Up by L R Martiny
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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