Rachel Lynn Solomon has consistently delivered charming contemporary romances that blend emotional depth with witty dialogue, from The Ex Talk to Weather Girl. Her latest offering, What Happens in Amsterdam, sees her boldly stepping beyond her familiar Seattle setting to explore the picturesque canals of the Netherlands—and the result is her most adventurous love story yet.
Following thirty-year-old Dani Dorfman as she crashes (literally) into a second chance at love, Solomon weaves a tale that’s part fish-out-of-water comedy, part second-chance romance, and wholly delightful. While the premise of a green-card marriage feels distinctly familiar in the romance landscape, Solomon’s execution elevates the trope through authentic character development and a setting so vividly rendered you’ll be booking flights before finishing the first chapter.
A Canvas of Character Development
Dani: The Art of Imperfection
Dani Dorfman emerges as Solomon’s most complex protagonist to date—a woman wrestling with the weight of expectations both imposed and internalized. Labeled a “miracle baby” after her premature birth, she’s spent three decades haunted by the pressure to do something “great,” only to find herself adrift in a sea of abandoned hobbies and unfulfilling jobs.
Solomon masterfully portrays Dani’s evolution from someone paralyzed by possibility to a woman learning to embrace uncertainty. Her passion for art—described with endearing detail as “basic art bitch” tastes—provides a lovely throughline that mirrors her character growth. Most compelling is how Solomon addresses mental health without making it Dani’s defining characteristic. The frank discussion of her past hospitalization for depression feels authentic rather than exploitative.
Wouter: Depth Beyond the Dutch Charm
Wouter van Leeuwen transcends the typical “foreign love interest” archetype through layers of complexity that unfold gradually. His transition from artist to physiotherapist—driven by family tragedy—creates a poignant tension between duty and desire that resonates throughout the narrative. Solomon deserves credit for avoiding the trap of making him merely an exotic romantic object; instead, he’s a fully realized character grappling with his own grief and guilt.
The revelation of his father’s stroke and subsequent death adds emotional weight to what could have been a frivolous premise. His hands, frequently referenced throughout the novel, become a symbol of both his professional calling and his artistic past—a subtle but effective recurring motif.
Amsterdam: The Third Character
Solomon’s portrayal of Amsterdam deserves particular praise. Rather than relying on clichéd windmill-and-tulip imagery, she captures the city’s authentic rhythms: the organized chaos of bike traffic, the peculiarities of Dutch housing (unfurnished apparently means something else entirely), and the cultural nuances that make expatriate life both challenging and charming.
The author’s attention to detail shines through observations that only someone intimately familiar with Amsterdam would include—from the tiny bathroom sinks to the tradition of Post-it notes for language learning. These specifics ground the romance in reality and elevate the setting from mere backdrop to active participant in the story.
Chemistry and Pacing: When the Stars Align
The central relationship builds with satisfying authenticity. Solomon wisely avoids insta-love, instead developing attraction through shared experiences and vulnerability. Their initial reunion—complete with Dani’s bicycle accident—provides both comic relief and a natural starting point for reconnection.
Particularly effective are the domestic scenes: making tea, sharing meals, navigating the awkwardness of cohabitation. These quiet moments often carry more romantic tension than the overtly passionate scenes, showcasing Solomon’s understanding that intimacy develops in inches rather than miles.
The pacing occasionally falters in the middle third, where the back-and-forth nature of their relationship grows repetitive. The “will they, won’t they” dance extends perhaps a few chapters too long, testing reader patience. However, Solomon redeems this with a satisfying emotional payoff that earned this reader’s forgiveness.
Critiques: Where the Cobblestones Crack
Despite its many strengths, What Happens in Amsterdam isn’t without flaws:
- Family Drama Overload: The wedding party disaster feels unnecessarily melodramatic and stretches credulity. Parents flying across the world to crash a fake wedding celebration reads more like plot convenience than authentic family reaction.
- Supporting Cast Inconsistencies: While Roos and Iulia feel fully realized, some secondary characters (particularly Dani’s LA friends) exist primarily as plot devices rather than people.
- Conveniences in the Canal: The job opportunity with the boat tour company materializes with suspicious ease, diminishing the stakes around Dani’s visa situation.
- Cultural Exploration Limitations: While Amsterdam is beautifully rendered, deeper exploration of Dutch-American cultural differences would have added another layer of richness.
Themes Worth Unpacking
Solomon weaves several thought-provoking themes throughout the narrative:
- The Myth of Ambition: Dani’s struggle with societal expectations versus personal fulfillment feels particularly relevant for millennial readers. Her journey from seeking “meaningful” work to finding joy in being a tour guide speaks to broader questions about success and satisfaction.
- Family Expectations vs. Individual Agency: Both Dani and Wouter navigate parental expectations that threaten to overshadow their own desires. Solomon handles this universal struggle with nuance, avoiding simple villain-victim dynamics.
- Home as Choice: The question of where one belongs—geographically and emotionally—runs throughout the novel. Solomon suggests that home isn’t found but created through intentional choices.
Spice Level and Romantic Scenes
For romance readers concerned about heat levels, What Happens in Amsterdam delivers a satisfying blend of emotional and physical intimacy. The romantic scenes feel organic to character development rather than gratuitous, with Solomon maintaining her signature balance of sweetness and passion.
The shower scene deserves special mention for its blend of vulnerability and desire, while the Post-it note language lesson scene showcases Solomon’s ability to make everyday moments utterly romantic. These moments resonate precisely because they arise from genuine connection rather than manufactured tension.
Standing in the Genre: Solomon’s Evolution
Compared to Solomon’s previous works, What Happens in Amsterdam represents a maturation in her writing. While Weather Girl excelled in its professional setting and The Ex Talk mastered the fake-relationship trope, this latest novel combines those strengths with richer cultural exploration and deeper emotional stakes.
The marriage-of-convenience trope, well-worn in romance fiction, feels fresh through Solomon’s lens. Unlike many examples in the genre (think The Hating Game or The Kiss Quotient), the deception here carries real-world consequences, adding genuine tension to the romantic development.
The Verdict: A Four-Star Journey
What Happens in Amsterdam succeeds as both a love story and a coming-of-age tale for adults still figuring out their place in the world. Solomon’s gift for crafting believable relationships shines throughout, even when plot conveniences occasionally strain believability.
This novel will particularly resonate with readers who:
- Enjoy second-chance romances with emotional depth
- Appreciate international settings done justice through authentic detail
- Connect with characters navigating career uncertainty and family expectations
- Value mental health representation in romance fiction
While not quite reaching the five-star heights of Solomon’s earlier works—primarily due to pacing issues and some plot conveniences—What Happens in Amsterdam represents a solid addition to contemporary romance. It’s a book that respects its readers’ intelligence while delivering the emotional satisfaction we crave from the genre.
Final Thoughts: Pack Your Bags
Rachel Lynn Solomon continues to prove herself a reliable voice in contemporary romance, one who understands that the best love stories are about two imperfect people choosing each other repeatedly, despite and because of their flaws. What Happens in Amsterdam offers an escape that feels earned rather than given, a romance that blooms from genuine connection rather than forced proximity.
For readers seeking a romance that combines wanderlust with emotional authenticity, this book delivers. Just be prepared to add Amsterdam to your travel bucket list—and perhaps to believe, once again, in the possibility of second chances.