A Brilliantly Balanced Blend of Genres
5 out of 5 stars
If you’re ever like me and constantly torn between choosing a romance and a courtroom drama/ murder mystery thriller (often flip-flopping between the two to get the right mixture in your life), the good news is that with my most recent read/listen, you don’t have to choose. Courtroom Drama by Neely Tubati Alexander is the juicy, twist-filled legal second-chance love story that I didn’t know I was desperately craving.
Sydney Parks is a professional mediator who finds herself suddenly on the other side of the table—called for jury duty on the trial of the year. Reality star Margo Kitsch (from the hit show Authentic Moms of Malibu) is on trial for the murder of her husband, and Sydney, who’s a devoted fan of the show, is now a juror in the case. The excitement fizzles quickly when she and the rest of the jury are sequestered—no phones, no media, no reality TV. But things take a dramatic turn when she discovers one of her fellow jurors is Damon—her childhood best friend she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Cue: the slow-burn, rule-breaking romance.
Like any good legal drama, let me hit you with the evidence for why this book is unmissable:
A Brilliantly Balanced Blend of Genres: Courtroom Drama lives up to its title and then some. The legal thriller is expertly plotted, with testimonies, surprise evidence, and twists you won’t see coming. But it’s the forbidden romance between Sydney and Damon that makes it electric. It’s a long-lost friends-to-lovers arc wrapped in the tension of sneaking around behind the court’s strict rules, and yes, it delivers all the sweet, steamy, “we should not be doing this” moments you crave.
A Murder Mystery You’ll Obsess Over: The case against Margo is layered with enough suspense to make you second-guess every character. Is she the manipulative housewife (as the public has already labeled her the Malibu Menace) the tabloids paint her to be? Or a misunderstood victim of circumstance? Like Sydney, you’ll find yourself wrestling with your own assumptions—and parasocial attachments—as each piece of evidence unfolds. Sidney desperately wants to believe that murdering her husband is not something her favorite reality star is capable of (she’s practically watched this woman’s entire life on television), but with more and more added evidence, even her convictions may be tested.
Characters That Feel Real: Sydney is a standout protagonist. She’s relatable, grounded, and easy to root for, with just enough baggage and personal backstory to add emotional heft without overwhelming the narrative. Her chemistry with Damon is immediate and undeniable—their reunion is tender, sexy, and filled with authentic emotion.
Narration That Elevates the Story: Cindy Kay nails it. She brings warmth, wit, and vulnerability to Sydney’s voice, making every emotional beat land with impact. Whether she’s voicing courtroom tension, internal monologues, or sultry late-night rendezvous, Kay’s performance is smooth, dynamic, and deeply immersive. She juggles the wide cast—judges, lawyers, jurors, and celebrities—with subtle shifts that keep the narration fresh and believable throughout.
A Rollercoaster from Start to Finish: Just when you think the case is winding down or the romance has found its rhythm, Alexander throws in another surprise. The pacing is impeccable, and the final act will have you stealing moments to squeeze in another chapter, desperate to see how it all plays out.
Final Verdict: 5/5 stars
Courtroom Drama is a sizzling, emotionally charged ride that expertly merges legal suspense with forbidden romance. With dynamic characters, high-stakes secrets, and a narrator who breathes life into every page, this is an audiobook you won’t want to pause.
Perfect for fans of twisty mysteries, lovers-on-opposite-sides-of-
Book Description:
Legally Blonde and Jury Duty meet The Real Housewives in this high-stakes courtroom love story—a sexy and sweet but heartfelt novel about friendship, romance, and reality television from the acclaimed author of Love Buzz and In a Not So Perfect World.
Sydney Parks thinks she might be the first person in the world to look forward to serving jury duty. When Margot Kitsch, an OG cast member of the hit reality show Authentic Moms of Malibu is arrested after the untimely death of her cast member husband, Joe, Sydney knows being selected for the jury is the most interesting thing that ever happened to her.
However, it doesn’t take long for Sydney to realize that being part of a sequestered jury in a high-profile case is not at all what legal dramas had led her to expect—especially when she learns that her childhood best friend, Damon, whom she hasn’t seen in ten years, is also a jury member.
As the trial wears on, Sydney realizes there’s a lot more to the case than she first thought. And there’s also a lot more to Damon—she soon finds herself falling under his spell despite the court’s instructions not to fraternize. His tendency to break the rules and find adventure is hard to resist in their otherwise dull juror’s world. But getting close to Damon also means having to face the complicated reasons their friendship abruptly ended just when they were on the precipice of something more.
With all the drama in and out of the courtroom, how is Sydney supposed to ignore the fraught history between them? How is she supposed to avoid him when he’s sitting next to her in the jury box every day with his broad shoulders and intoxicating smell? And how is she supposed to ensure Margot gets a fair trial if her unfinished business with Damon causes the mistrial of the century?
Courtroom Drama by Neely Tubati AlexanderNarrator: Cindy Kay
Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
Series: Courtroom Drama #1
Published by HarperAudio Genres: Mystery, Romance
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