by
Zara Lee
Zara Lee’s This Is How She Held Me is an emotionally charged, erotically forward, and psychologically turbulent portrait of two women whose connection refuses to die, even when time, pride, and destructive choices threaten to pull them apart. At its core, the novel explores the gravitational pull between Ana, a sharp and disciplined prosecutor, and Lea, an equally driven attorney who carries unresolved wounds from their past. Their reunion—set against the unexpectedly dramatic backdrop of a courtroom encounter—rapidly reignites a chemistry that neither has truly extinguished over the years.
The story unfolds in brief, fast-paced chapters that blur the line between romance and raw confession. The book immediately signals that this is not a gentle love story but one built on obsession, longing, anger, and desire. Their interactions shift rapidly from heated arguments to intensely erotic encounters, capturing how passion can blur judgment and how intimacy often resurfaces in the midst of emotional chaos. Moments of tenderness—such as Ana’s attempts to make amends or Lea’s efforts to regain trust—are repeatedly overshadowed by jealousy, insecurity, and external temptations. This unstable dynamic fuels much of the narrative’s tension.
Lee succeeds at portraying the complexity of queer relationships—particularly those marked by secrecy, identity struggles, and emotional history. The early chapters handle these themes well, blending vulnerability with sharp dialogue. The novel is at its strongest when it delves into the psychology of desire: the inability to let go, the conflict between self-restraint and craving, and the powerful imprint that a first love can leave. These emotional threads give the book an undercurrent of authenticity beneath its provocative storyline.
This Is How She Held Me is a gripping, unapologetically intense tale that will resonate with readers drawn to messy, complicated love stories. Its willingness to portray desire in its rawest form—alongside heartbreak, confusion, and longing—gives it a bold, distinctive voice. With further refinement, particularly in narrative balance and character depth, the novel has the potential to stand out even more strongly in the sapphic-romance and erotic-drama genres.
– The Moving Words Review
Official Entry: The Most Moving Book Award, Jan. 6, 2026
