Thanks to Montlake romance for the early readers copy. I was very excited to for the new LJ Shen book but it was not as good as I hoped it would be. I think this is what you can call LJ's version of a "romantic comedy" but with an less than favorable hero and a complete doormat heroine. It started out good but gradually I got bored with complicated family drama and the relationship dynamics (my head was spinning) and I almost dnf it at 88% (I was fed up) but since I loved reading LJ Shen's books, I got around to the end. eventually. Though it was quite predictable and very cheesy. Also the way bullying was handled in the story was very very unrealistic and laughable. I know it's all fictional BUT *insert eye roll* .At times the plot became dramatic (keeping flowers alive as a relationship test) and unoriginal (became a emotionally detached individual instead after girlfriend cheated. Heard of it before).

Chase's reasoning for breaking up with Maddie made him sound like an emotionally immature 5-year old than a full grown man which I found to be a major let down. Also, most of his spur of the moment decisions were equally immature and unimaginative. He is the kind of a hero who lies to his friends (he has only one friend btw) and family and likes to blame the heroine for HIS feelings towards her which doesn't even make sense. It's like a deliberate sabotage of a character. Making him an asshole for the sake of being an asshole who eventually regains his common sense and *redeems* himself. That's just lazy writing. In my opinion he was more of a "senseless" and under-cooked character who likes to throw tantrums like a child even though he had so much potential.

Don't get me started with Maddie. She is the most annoying protagonist LJ Shen has ever written (in my opinion). She is even more annoying than Julian and Amber combined (Shen made me hate these two but they are antagonists so they are supposed to be bad). She is goodie-two-shoes max pro. Like Chase is meant to be an unlikable person whereas Maddie is supposed to be an angel with a halo but she is a doormat at best. She has no backbone and her nature to please everyone just simply gets on my nerve. She also takes blame for others treating her unfairly (the scene where Ethan shows up at family vacay and I think that he was a major douche there). Makes you think what will she do next, lie down and urge people to walk all over her? 🤔 Gah I feel my pressure rising as I write about her. I think LJ tried something new but if I am being completely honest, the formula didn't work out this time. Finishing this book became a chore to me more than anything else. The idea of this story was good. But the end result is underwhelming.

The drama just made my head spin and Justin and Amber (+Maddie) made my pressure boil. It's probably not a good sign when the main character makes your pressure boil. Anyways, I can't say anything major about the plot without giving it all away but the family drama and the relationship dynamics made me feel like I was lost in a maze at night with no idea of direction. Drama is supposed to make things entertaining but I can't say I enjoyed it all. And to be honest, after a while it got boring and repetitive. Hence, why I almost dnf this book.

Though there are things that I liked about the story. Like the letters that Maddie's mom wrote to her which I found sweet. She acted as an physical entity in the book without being present and that was touching gesture. Also, Chase's dad taking the same idea was bittersweet. It reminds us the people we lose may still be with us somehow. Daisy made me laugh more than once and I loved Layla's friendship with Maddie. Also Clementine was sweet but she wasn't given enough story-time (like screentime but it's a book so....). I think there might be possible second book about Layla and Chase's friend (Id remember his name atm) but no confirmed news about that till now. Anyways, I genuinly liked how Chase and Maddie had a more defined relationship after they broke up. That idea was actually good. They are a fun non-couple when they aren't doing stupid things.

This story is a slow burn. Literally nothing happens between Chase and Maddie until 75-ish percent of the book. But I think the sexual tension between them was far better than the actual act. But that's just me. I liked the banter tho and the writing was good. The story could have been better and the characters (specially Maddie and Chase) should have been more developed rather than what they turned out to be. On the other hand, most of the supporting characters were pretty likeable. It was okay-ish book but definitely not my favorite one. This book is seriously overhyped.

I loved everything about this book. The cover is perfect for this book. I haven’t read a book by L. J. Shen I haven’t liked. She’s a talented author who always has me falling for her characters.

Chase and Madison’s story brought out so many emotions in me. I laughed a good bit and my heart broke for the characters.

The Devil Wears Black was a one sitting read for me. I highly recommend this book.

This was unfortunately not my favorite. I couldn't connect with the characters and didn't like Chase at all. I don't think this writer is for me.

Straight up when I first started reading The Devil Wears Black I loathed Chase. Couldn't stand the guy. So for a few chapters I worried I wasn't going to enjoy this story as much as some of the others by LJ Shen.

I'm happy to admit I worried for nothing. This story is definitely lighter on the angst scale compared to what the author normally writes, but it was equally entertaining. This is a sexy, second chance, enemies-to-lovers, fake fiance story that gives me all the feels. And when I say all, I mean all. Like I laughed. I swooned. I got hot and bothered. I wanted to punch Chase in the nuts. I even cried.

Chase was definitely not as bad as he portrayed himself. He did what he did for a reason. It may have been stupid on his part, because Maddie clearly loved him. And I know deep down he did too and he got scared.

And dear sweet Maddie. She's shocked to all of a sudden have Chase back in her life. Pushing his way through. He broke her heart. It hardened her. But she can't deny him his request and soon finds herself in a fake engagement.

As with any great book, the sparks between the pair, although fake at first they don't take long to reignite. The pair soon find themselves back into each others arms.

And can I mention how great the ending was? Like PERFECTION!!!! It only made me love Chase even more.

The Devil Wears Black by new to me author L.J. Shen, is a winner. My favorite tropes are executed perfectly: second chance, enemies to lovers and fake engagement. In addition, the story takes place in New York City, the perfect backdrop for a romance. This book has all the feels and kept me enthralled from start to finish.

Maddie Goldbloom is a talented wedding dress designer with a unique sense of fashion. Her designs incorporate the latest trends, yet her own personal style is replete with bold patterns, petticoats and bohemian fabrics. She tends to avoid confrontation and is looking for her own happily ever after. Maddie is a really good person and goes out of her way to befriend others.

Once his father retires, Chase Black will be the next CEO of his family's department store conglomerate. He is smart, good-looking and quite wealthy. He has worked very hard to achieve his goals, which includes being a bear in the boardroom. Chase does not believe in commitment, so his six-month relationship with Maddie does not end well. After a short time apart, he needs Maddie to play the role of his fiance. Their time together evolves into much more than either of them could ever have imagined.

I truly enjoyed this book and the meaningful plot is both heartfelt and captivating. The author writes with a lot of passion, and as a result, I felt the emotional connection between Maddie and Chase to be quite powerful. The secondary characters are amazing in their own right. I admired Maddie's ability to finally speak up for herself and others. I loved Chase's amazing kindness and his dominance in the bedroom. Overall, this is a fantastic romance that twists and turns in all the right places.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

DNF 40%

Maddie and Chase were both boring and had 0 chemistry. All the pop culture references were annoying, and I’m not going to waste my time finishing this book.

𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑰 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒖𝒑! 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒆!

When Chase asked Maddie for help ... he knew she could not turn him down ... The Maddie he knew was kind and a YES person. However, he finds himself Stunned when he realises that this Maddie is no more!

Maddie is a strong, kind woman full of sass and it’s impossible to not root for her!

Chase is the Alpha male that you love to hate! But he’s a family man, he would do anything for them even pretend to have a fake fiancée.
His charisma and charm are shadowed by his attitude and overall behaviour to Maddie. He is ruthless to begin with but the more he gets to know her again the more attracted to her he is!
The banter between them and the dialogue shows that LJ Shen can write fantastic RomCom that will make you swoon and LOL!

The Devil Wears Black had The perfect blend of passion, sass and heart- it is for sure steamy battle of wills that will get your blood pumping!


Great characters in a well written story and a whole heap of emotions portrayed by some fabulous characters.

The Devil Wears Black is a contemporary romance.

This book has two narrators (male and female - 1st person POVs). The female POV is Madison/Maddie. The male POV is Chase.

A lot of Maddie's chapters start with letters given to her by her now dead mother. I thought that this was an interesting part of the book.

Chase and Maddie used to date. But now she hates him.

I really enjoyed Maddie. She designs wedding dresses. And I loved that part of her story. Also she lives in the same apartment building as her best friend Layla (who I also really liked).

Chase was harder to like. He was an alpha male (which I don't love). And he was against being in a committed relationship.

The second half of this book was really enjoyable. I liked Maddie's interactions with Chase's family. And the story became funny and sad at the same time. Overall it was a quick read.

When LJ Shen says she wants to write something a bit different than her usual, she doesn't fool around. Sure, in The Devil Wears Black, Chase Black is a bit of an arse but not as cruel as many of Shen's former heroes and it was a refreshing departure.

Using the fake fiancee trope as the basis of this story, Chase is relentless in his newest pursuit of the sweet Madison Goldbloom. This dress designer is absolutely adorable. With letters from her dear departed mother as the intro to many of the chapters in her POV, it's no wonder Maddie is the good-natured and extremely kind woman she is today. Caught in Chase's web once more after a disastrous and very painful break-up, I loved that this time around no matter the stakes or loved ones involved that Maddie stood up for herself against his gruff and demanding ways. And, of course, that only made her more appealing to Chase with the tables turning in Maddie's favor as both fight hard as hell to resist the love between them that is apparent to everyone but themselves.

This cat and mouse, and mouse and cat game they play was at times very exhausting but there was a charm to all of their witty banter, most of the time through texts, that had me smiling and laughing out loud quite a bit. These two were made for each other and although it took a tragedy that was slowly unfolding within the Black family, to bring them back to where they belonged, it truly was worth all the agony endured.

Maddie is quirky, feisty, and has a heart of gold. A woman who can look beyond a person's hard shell and find the good buried underneath. I love heroines like her, who find the strength they need when necessary to become the very best version of themselves. They love fiercely whether it's a neglected plant, a wayward dog, or the man who insists on driving them crazy most days. Not to mention a wild next-door neighbor/bestie or the flamboyant boss who sees all the potential to become a world-class designer. Maddie's world may have a sense of sadness at the loss of her mother but there are many more who continue to fill it with loyalty, pride, and affection making her one lucky lady.

Chase also adds THE most frustrating component of Maddie's life but I'm here to say that all the mayhem and all the past lies make the ending worth every moment of their very bumpy journey. Getting to see him be at Maddie's mercy and not just because he needed her to keep his family steady but because his realization at how much he loved her was incredibly swoon-worthy and touching. To think underneath all the sarcasm and bravado was a man who could truly love with his whole heart, was priceless.

There are few minor things that didn't make sense to me but overall this was a very enjoyable book. And I do hope Shen decides to show this lighter side of her writing again in the future since it's a nice respite from her usual.

Definitely one to pick up when you need something that is both heartwarming and amusing, I happily give The Devil Wears Black a solid 4 stars!

3.5-4 stars

This is a relationship of convenience, slightly enemies to lovers, second chance-ish where the hero seemingly wronged the heroine causing their relationship demise.

I'll be honest, this was an up and down read for me, lol. The beginning seemed full of pop culture references and insults that I'm honestly not sure will hold up in 5 years so that bugged me right off the bat. There was also a lot of describing Chase's looks, talking about how much black he wore, and how attractive Maddie found him...I get it, he's gorgeous and there's obviously attraction here, tell me about it once, maybe twice, but not more than that. It becomes boring and page filling.

I liked Maddie, the heroine, a lot, actually. She was a positive character who knew her flaws and was trying to change, while also trying to fulfill her life goals.

Chase was harder to like, but mostly because of how he was portrayed. I liked his POV chapters because seeing how he was thinking helped rationalize his behavior. He actually has a big heart but has been portrayed as the devil due to how he treated Maddie. I didn't fully understand why what happened in his previous relationship caused him to become the way he was...mostly because he didn't seem to like the person in question that much. I think it came down to betrayal, overall, but I don't feel like even Chase understood that at it's core so I would have liked more exploration of that. I liked this book overall, but there were definitely some things I didn't care for, so not my fav by this author but not my least fav either.

Oh my. A totally addictive, fun and sweet read. Chase is a complete douche, and during the first few chapters I was praying that he would not be the MC, then bam! We get Chase’s POV, and right then and there, I fell in love. To say he had commitment issues is an understatement, but he was a true family guy, and would do anything to protect them and their feelings. Ergo, a fake engagement to his ex ensues, he wasn’t above blackmail to get her to agree, but fortunately he didn’t have to go that far because Maddie is such a lovely person. Not a bad bone in her body. This time though, she’s decided to get a backbone, and Chase sees the real Maddie, and guess what? He likes her. I got thoroughly lost in their story, their bantering was hilarious. A highly enjoyable read. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Note: I read this book last year in September.

— Chase Black (H)
I had really big issues with him at the beginning of the story and didn’t warm up to him until 25% or something. Like all the other heroes of Shen, Chase is a huge asshole. Everything he says is incredibly condescending. The way the main couple "bantered" left me kinda icky and uncomfortable and I just couldn’t get a read on this guy.

— Maddie Goldbloom (h)
Maddie is not exactly a pushover (or is she? because really, I don’t know what she is). I wanna give her the benefit of the doubt cause agreeing to be Chase's fake-fiance because she didn't want to hurt a dying man's and his family's feelings is a very kind gesture but the fact that death of a loved one is involved here means that she never had a choice because she's a nice person, and she therefore kinda let him walk all over her. He always had the upper hand and won all their battles regarding this arrangement which left me pretty frustrated with this whole situation. Not a good combo if you add the fact that I didn’t like the guy in the first place anyway.
At least she didn't immediately give into starting a fling with the H again.

— The villainization was just too stupid, seriously...
Conflict in the family, noice. Because who DOESN'T love a backstabbing son of a bitch in their family?
Let me do the honors and curse this guy to hell because this guy was welcomed into the H’s family, received love, and got a "(cousin-)brother" (H) or whatever in the process and what does he do? His greed made him a disgusting and vile human being who didn’t appreciate what he had and only cared about who would become the next CEO while the guy who took him in, the guy he called "father", was about to DIE.

— The two "redemption" arcs
My problem is that the bad guys did not get punished in any way; oh no they all even got rewarded or got a second chance without making up for their bad behavior first or proving that they've changed and deserve a second chance. I’m a bloodthirsty person, I needed some vengeance, some suffering... either way works for me and neither of it happened. 😪

***

↳ I’m sorry I always try to add some good points to my reviews but I honestly can barely remember anything from the book besides what I already mentioned above.
Overall this book was kinda boring and I was just… unimpressed with it. But then this book also had to have been enjoyable to some extent or else I wouldn't have given it 3 stars back then.

A sweet, endearing, sad and laugh out loud fake fiancé romance with all the push and pull you could want, heat for days and a varied cast of characters that add depth and create a story I could not get enough of! I want more Maddie and Chase! Like right now!

I tried with this story. I tried so hard. I got through this book, but it was a struggle. I wasn't clicking with either main character. I especially didn't like Chase. He is an ass and I didn't like reading about him or to be in his POV. To be honest, I have read enough of this author's books and this just did not seem like her. It was weird. Too light of a read with a title called "The Devil Wears Black" even though Chase was a jerk. (A jerk who loved his father immensely--I'll give him that.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Devil Wears Black is a contemporary romance that centers around the fake-fiancée trope. I'll be honest that while I enjoyed this book, there were times I felt like it moved extremely slowly. Not sure why, but every now and then I run into books that give that feeling.

Maddie Goldbloom is a fashion designer who recently ended her relationship with one of the bosses at her company and has started dating a pediatrician. Chase Black, the boss whom she previously dated, is focused on work and wants nothing to do with a committed relationship. However when he finds out his father is sick, he wants to make his dying wish come true - to see Chase finally settled.

Chase goes to Maddie and tells her that she has to pose as his fiancée. He's already told his family, so there really isn't much she can say to get out of it, but she's not happy at all. The reason she broke up with him in the first place was because he did something that hurt her and the last thing she wants to have to do is to pretend to love him and promise him forever. Will these two make it out of the fake engagement in one piece or will real feelings emerge?

There was a lot of family drama involved in this story as well, which stands to reason given a huge inheritance is at stake when the patriarch passes. I appreciated the growth that we saw from Chase and Maddie throughout the book, but if it had been me in Maddie's position, I don't think I would have been able to give Chase another chance after what he did to cause the first breakup.

I was really hoping that I would connect more with this book than I did. It was good and I enjoyed it, but there was still a little something missing for me.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

5 - "Fake it till you make it…" Stars!

I love a good opposites attract story, but this one had the added bonus of being set around an alpha-a-hole and quirky wedding dress designer, who had split up six months previously due to her thinking he was cheating on her.

"I’m so over you I forgot how it even felt to be under you…"

So we are six months on and Maddie is trying to move on by dating the exact opposite of aforementioned alpha-a-hole; Chase Black when he turns up unexpectedly on her door step. They go from them being a couple that split up, back to being a couple again only its all a pretence for Chase’s family, and now they are engaged! I won’t go into the reasons as they are a putting on a show-mance but needless to say the longer it goes on the more the lines between fake and reality get blurred for both of them.

On paper he was too good to be true. In reality, he was so bad it hurt to breathe next to him…

There’s a lot going on in this book, what with Maddie’s issues, Chase’s commitment-phobias and his crazy family, and the dual POV played a huge part in keeping everything moving along whilst being easy to follow. I loved Chase and Maddie, even though she did come across as a bit of a doormat at points, her heart was in the right place for the most part.

This was my first book by the author, and what an introduction, I can’t wait to read more from her that’s for sure!

Thank you NetGalley, L.J. Shen and Montlake for the ARC of The Devil Wears Black. This is my personal review.
Maddie and Chase were dancing circles around each other and as I was reading, I could feel the chemistry that was between them. They were no longer a couple and yet Chase came to her and asked if she would do a favor for him. He came to her and asked if she would be his “fake fiancé” for a family get together for a weekend.
Grab a copy and find out for yourself how this romance goes.

Thank you Montlake for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly couldn’t get into this story from the start. Madison and Chase were dating, their relationship ended, however, he never made that fact known to his family and when his father is diagnosed with terminal cancer he needs Madison’s help. Madison hates Chase, especially with how their relationship ended, but she still helps him out and the pretend to be engaged. I didn’t feel any sort of connection to either Chase or Madison or feel any sort of chemistry between them, even as the story progressed further and their feelings towards one another changed.
I don’t mind fake fiancé and second chance romances, but this one just wasn’t one that I could connect with or really get into the story itself. From the start I wasn’t a fan of Chase and there is the whole aspect on if he cheated on Madison or not, which is what lead to their relationship ending.
The one thing I did enjoy out of the book is the letters from Madison’s mom. They were sweet and full of advice from a mother to a daughter.

I couldn’t get the taste of bully out of my mouth while reading this. Oh, and the book wasn’t great either.

I was legitimately excited to read this when I received an early copy via NetGalley back in September. I haven’t loved most of the author’s newer books, but she is undeniably talented and has the potential to write something great. Since this is her first with a traditional publisher, I was hoping that this might feel more polished and perhaps reined in a bit.

That was all well before the allegations came to light.

I’m voluntarily leaving a review only because it was already on my Kindle. I have no plans to buy the book, nor to support the author further.

In terms of the story, there are definitely things that I enjoyed, but they're greatly outweighed by the things I didn't. The author excels at writing complex relationships that draw you in, and this one is an interesting mix of second chance and fake relationship romance. Unfortunately, the main issue between the two is the antihero’s past (assumed) cheating. It’s not made immediately clear to the reader - and certainly not the heroine - whether or not he actually DID cheat. That means that I cringed a little every time I saw the heroine start to fall for him again, and I had trouble respecting either one. He’s also kind of a jerk, which... is no surprise. If you’re in the mood for something twisty and already love the author’s work, this may work better for you. Oh, and if you’re also willing to overlook the multiple accusations against her. I’m not. For me, this wasn’t a satisfying read, and I've already purged it from my memory.

This author! This book! PERFECTION!

This book is what I’ve come to expect from the author — emotionally riveting, witty and intriguing, with a healthy dose of sensual and sexy.

<b>Here’s what I loved:</b>
The trope is one of my favorites. Fake relationships are definitely my jam!
These two characters have a complicated history that made the interactions between them that much more entertaining. I literally laughed out loud several times!
Great execution - the storyline and character development are expertly handled. I particularly enjoyed Chase’s journey.
The subplot will hit you right in the feels. The family dynamic and secondary characters will definitely keep you on your toes.
Witty and concise writing that, as previously stated, will entertain, engage, and leave you in your feels is a hallmark of this author and she delivers.

Overall, I simply loved it! Chase Black is Alphahole perfection and The Devil Wears Black is sure to TOP my favorites of 2021. Highly recommended!