Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

I really appreciate a romance novel that isn't all light and fluff, but instead takes complicated people in a complicated world and shows how they find their way to happiness. A Shot in the Dark is just that book.

Elisheva and Wyatt both have their demons as they navigate being sober, artists, and queer in NYC. Elisheva's struggle with sobriety and her past life as a Chabadnik felt real, same as Wyatt's struggle with his love of Elisheva and his coming to terms with his family.

I appreciated that the "different worlds" part of this book wasn't the main focus of the character's conflict and loved how the author portrayed flawed people as heroic in their own lives. Ely and Wyatt's love is great and this book was wonderful to read.

It’s late and I’m exhausted but I’ll say this for now until I can come back and write an actual review…..

I would read this authors grocery list. She is amazing and this book is phenomenal.

3.5 stars. Liked it, didn’t love it. Interesting premise with lukewarm execution.

A Shot In The Dark by Victoria Lee is a very unique romance following a queer Jewish woman and a trans man in New York City. Ely has the chance of a lifetime when she is accepted into an art program for her photography. She will get to study under Wyatt Cole, a well known if a little elusive photographer. On her first night in New York, she goes to a club with her new roommates. She bumps into a man at the bar and they instantly have a connection while discussing sparkling water and sobriety. After a night she will never forget, Ely walks into class the next day only to find out the man she hooked up with is her idol, Wyatt.

I have read a few student/teacher romances and I have to say, the way this one proceeds is very unique and not something I have read before. I really appreciated it. This was such a strong book in my opinion. Both characters felt real and the struggles they had in their currently lives as a result of years of addiction was so well done. Ely’s struggles with her faith and trying to find herself were poignant and heartbreaking. Both characters have emotional baggage that makes it hard to open up to other people in their lives but they can confide in each other.

This book is told from both perspectives so you get to really know what these characters are thinking. Staying sober is a huge part of this book so if that’s at all triggering for you, it’s best to avoid this book. There are also discussions about death and abuse that are more hard hitting than a lot of typical romance books.

There is a third act conflict I wasn’t a fan of. It really felt shoehorned in and after two-thirds of the book being about the characters being open with each other, it just took me out of the story. Other than that, this was fantastic. This is something I would recommend to anyone looking for a romance book with a little more depth. Some romance books are just cute and have you kicking your feet and some romance books hit you in the feels. This one is the latter.

Huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an eArc of this through netgalley. This wasn’t something I would have picked up on my own but I’m so glad to have read it.

There were a couple of reasons why this book didn't work for me in the end. The first of which was that this book is marketed as a romance novel, which I found very misleading. The romance between the two main characters is a significant part of the novel, sure, but it felt like Ely's character development and the process of her figuring out her life took center stage for most of the book. This book is much more about Ely reconnecting with her Jewish faith, coming to terms with her past and establishing a support network than it is about anything else. I'll never know for sure, but I feel like I would've liked this book more if I had gone into it with more realistic expectations.

That does leave the other, arguably secondary POV character, Wyatt, whose inner conflict mainly revolves around the fact that he's had a one-night-stand with a woman he later discovers is part of one of the classes he's teaching. He kicks her out of his class immediately after he's recognized her but agrees to keep supporting her as a sort of mentor in one of her school projects. I don't even know what to say here. Firstly, I totally understand his apprehension here. However, he keeps seeing her anyway, even though he rejects her romantic advances. There is little else to his POV for most of the book aside from this inner conflict. I hated this, considering there was a whole lot of shit from his past that deserved more attention on the page.

Towards the end of the book, Ely is mad that Wyatt is being distant after the two have had sex again while they're technically still professor and student at the same institution and once she's finished her final project and decides not to return for the next semester, Wyatt comes to her grovelling after he lashes out to her because he felt shitty about getting involved with a student??? Sigh. What a fucking mess. I don't know what to think anymore. Two stars will have to do for now.

Ely has just returned to Brooklyn after almost a decade, she’s set to study photography with art legend Wyatt Cole. On her first night back in town she ends up at a queer club and leaves with a handsome guy she never hears the name of. After an incredible night, she rushes to her first class, only to learn that her teacher is none other than the guy she slept with and the reclusive Wyatt Cole – her want to be mentor.

With Ely and Wyatt’s relationships started on a physical level, their similar struggles spark a much deeper connection. The chemistry is undeniable, but being in a student teacher relationship is not for Wyatt. Will they be able to work together and get over their pull toward one another?

This is a deep and interesting nontraditional romance story. I was expecting a decent read, but this one blew my expectations out of the water. I was hooked straight from the beginning and I loved how it covered some dark topics. I fell in love with Wyatt and Ely. I enjoyed how addiction was covered in the book, it isn’t a pretty journey and the book didn’t sugar coat that. The writing was really good, at times I wanted to cry with the characters, and at others I wanted to laugh. The romance in this book is MF however, Ely is pansexual, and Wyatt is transgender. I really enjoyed how sexuality was explored and presented in this book. It was done delicately and with care

If you are looking for an underrated romance that is truly beautiful, then you need to check this one out.

Thank you to PRHAudio for an audio copy of this one, and Dell books for sending me an ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free via NetGalley, but I am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell , and the author for the opportunity!

Overall, this is probably a 3.5 rounded down for me! This is my first read from Victoria, and I've got to say that I find the writing style to be really easy to dive into! The chemistry between Wyatt and Ely was believable and pretty palpable right from the get-go, and the professor/student vibes in the beginning were also pretty strong. Wyatt is 32 and I think Ely is somewhere in her mid-late 20s (a guess based on her history that's explored here)! So luckily it's not as stressful as some taboo reads can be, lol!!

This wasn't what I expected. Yes, there are heavy issues like past trauma, addiction, and abuse. But it's also a book about specific individuals - who we may not always associate with enjoyment in pop culture - getting their happy endings.