Hot Chocolate & Heartache by Noor S.J. is a slow-burn, emotionally rich, laugh-out-loud love story that follows Grace Rutherford, a rule-bound, almond milk-obsessed student, as she moves into a charming Notting Hill flat—only to discover ...

Hot Chocolate & Heartache by Noor S.J. is a slow-burn, emotionally rich, laugh-out-loud love story that follows Grace Rutherford, a rule-bound, almond milk-obsessed student, as she moves into a charming Notting Hill flat—only to discover her new roommate is a tall, brooding, maddeningly attractive stranger named Lucien Beaumont. What begins as an infuriating clash of boundaries and banter slowly unravels into a reluctant friendship laced with sexual tension, unresolved pasts, and heart-melting vulnerability.Grace, haunted by a traumatic co-living past, is fiercely determined to avoid emotional entanglement. Lucien, hiding emotional scars behind calm sarcasm and veiny forearms, begins to feel something shift in Grace’s orbit. As proximity breeds familiarity, teasing turns tender, and their “ground rules” become increasingly blurry. But beneath the witty exchanges and accidental run-ins lies a slow, aching build-up to a love neither of them saw coming.This novel serves up spice, swoon, and sobs in equal measure—with lashings of London weather, steamy tension, and chocolate croissants. Hot Chocolate & Heartache is a story about healing, hope, and finding love where you least expect it.