This novel was a Jack of all trades and master of none- lots of tropes packed into a suspenseful romance- an interesting main female character but the execution created a bit of confusion. Vague side characters didn't really enrich the story. Not a terrible read as it was entertaining but not my favorite

A really enjoyable read crammed full of mystery, suspense, betrayal and lies. I really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down

A young writer searching for inspiration instead finds danger, betrayal, and romance in a spellbinding novel by USA Today bestselling author Ivy Smoak.

Bad Things Feel Best wasn't quite what I expected. I enjoyed the MFC Hazel, however, I felt sometimes she set herself up for failure by being a little to snoopy. The rest of the characters were so vague. I understand that played a part in the story but I love fully developed characters. There was a nice twist at the end to wrap up the book. It was a nice grumpy×sunshine wrapped in suspense.

Thank you @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

Bad Things Feel Best by Ivy Smoak is a thrilling and captivating novel that takes readers on a journey filled with danger, betrayal, and unexpected romance. Hazel Fox, a young writer in search of inspiration, finds herself embroiled in a web of secrets and mystery when she arrives at her new job on a private island.

Expecting to work with a renowned novelist, Hazel is surprised to discover that she will instead be assisting Mr. Remington, a man who immediately unsettles her. Cold, strict, and seemingly determined to make her quit, Mr. Remington exudes an intense aura that both intrigues and frightens Hazel. As she delves deeper into the enigma that is Mr. Remington, she realizes that he is harboring secrets, ones that could prove dangerous.

Smoak's storytelling is gripping and atmospheric, immersing readers in the secluded and beautiful estate where the story takes place. The author expertly crafts an air of suspense and intrigue, keeping readers guessing and on the edge of their seats. The chemistry between Hazel and Mr. Remington is palpable, adding a layer of romance and tension to the narrative that elevates the reading experience.

Hazel's determination to uncover the truth and her willingness to get close to Mr. Remington despite the risks showcases her strength and resilience as a character. While the plot unfolds, the author skillfully unveils the layers of mystery surrounding Mr. Remington, keeping readers captivated and eager to uncover the truth alongside Hazel.

The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, with twists and turns that keep the momentum going. Smoak's writing style is engaging and evocative, allowing readers to vividly picture the island setting and the characters' emotions. The exploration of the concept that "bad things feel best" adds depth to the story, delving into the complexities of human desires and the allure of the forbidden.

Overall, Bad Things Feel Best is a suspenseful and enthralling novel that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. Ivy Smoak's ability to create compelling characters, craft an atmospheric setting, and weave an intricate plot makes this book a must-read for fans of romantic suspense.

At first, I was a bit skeptical about the book because the start was a bit slow and weird to my liking. But once the story got started, my enjoyment also grew. I was sure I guessed the secret but turns out I was only half right.
The characters are great even though Mr. Remington is weird, he also grows on you. He’s silently caring while also a bit of a jerk.
While the ending is good, the romance is very slow and old-fashioned. There’s not much super hot romantic scenes but somehow it still works for the book.
All in all, this turned out to be a great book and I especially loved the ending. It managed to surprise me.

*ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley

So I’ve read a few books by Ms. Smoak that I enjoyed.
But this one didn’t work for me. The mix of different tropes taking place made the story confusing.
Was it a comedy, a thriller, a suspense story taking place along with the budding romance taking place? There was too much going on so the romance part of it lacked for me.
It’s a really slow burn. I think because the characters didn’t really get a chance to know one another.
Hazel is budding romance author. So when she gets a chance to be an assistant to a well known romance author she jumps on the chance.
But instead of meeting the actual author she meets the assistant, Mr. Remington.
Mr. Remington is strange with even stranger rules. He may be handsome. But his weirdness overshadows everything else.
I didn’t feel any chemistry at all between the two. There was no heat or passion coming from them.
So when they fall in love I didn’t see it or feel it. The lust was pretty nonexistent as well.
Again in my humble opinion I think because there was so many different directions the story was going, the romance part didn’t develop on the level it should have.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

A young writer searching for inspiration instead finds danger, betrayal, and romance in a spellbinding novel by USA Today bestselling author Ivy Smoak.

It’s almost like he wants her to think he is a monster.

Mr. Remington was so swoony, my goodness. I was excited for the potential of the bigger secret coming to fruition, and everything sort of added up to make the reader think it was a no brainer of how it would end, but Ivy Smoak really kept us in suspense.

I love the classic southern old school vibes that the Remington guys brought to this story. I also loved how Ivy was able to tell this story and keep it steamy and sexy without all the smut.

I’m really hoping there’s a continuation of this story because we need answers 👏🏼

This is my first book I’ve read from Ivy Smoak and I was not disappointed! Definitely worth a read ✨💕

This was a new to me author so I went into it not knowing what to expect.
Let's start with Hazel, she was a little too naive for me. It became pretty tiresome at several points in the story.
The creepy factor was on point, it was pretty predictable once you got past the first half of the story. I was never expecting to read a story with the twist it had because it is not my normal.
It helped my attention but I was not super into the slow burn.

This was an enjoyable quick read. It gave verity vibes with the writer trying to get her inspiration. It was creepy and atmospheric with the ocean front mansion. Though you could see the twist coming, it didn’t take away from the story line.

This is the first book by this author I have read and I would for sure pick up more by her!

BAD THINGS FEEL BEST by Ivy Smoak

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️/5

‘She’s going to push away her fears for one intoxicating touch. It is always the things that are bad for us that feel the best. And only time can teach you such lessons.’

A new gripping, suspenseful, edge of your seat book by Ivy Smoak. From the moment I began reading ‘Bad Things Feel Best’ I knew I was in for some very interesting reading material. Each turn of the page drew me deeper into the story. Certain aspects of this book brought be back to Tanner Rhodes another character of hers, because he also is ‘old fashioned’ and very secretive. Smoak always has you descending down this never ending slope, constantly guessing what’s going to come out at the end of her stories. I could not put this book down, I was utterly addicted.

Thanks Ivy once again for holding my brain captive by your words, your characters, and your artistry. You will always remain one of my favorite authors. Your writing is uniquely underrated, it can make you laugh out loud, cry a thousand tears, or in this instance send chills up your spine. Mr. Remington has found a spot in my soul next to Matthew Caldwell, Professor Hunter, and Tanner Rhodes.

I received this as an ARC and here is my honest review:
I loved the beginning of this book and the setup/potential it had. The large estate with a mysterious and strict boss, a curious female main character, and an author who we constantly get excuses for why we can’t meet her. I got really into it at first, then got bored around 20% in until about halfway. I will say that I guessed the plot twist at the halfway point, but it was still good to read about and see exactly how Ivy Smoak decided to write it. There were some things mentioned that never circled back, so I wish those plot holes would’ve been filled. And the direction of the book was a mystery/thriller but then also a romance. The mention of a ____ and all the foreshadowing that happened, for it to not even happen kinda disappointed me.

Overall I’m giving this book a 4 star. It was predictable, but also a quick, easy read and I love Ivy’s writing.

Hazel Fox is a quirky new character working for the elusive author, Athena Quinn, in a reclusive beach town in this new standalone book by Ivy Smoak.

I will admit, I found this book both a bit cheesy, but also highly intriguing. I would categorize several of Ivy's books in this exact extreme, which is probably why I kept turning pages and wanted to know all of the secrets that would eventually be revealed. It's very slow burning and is light on steam, but that didn't keep me from turning the pages. Like I said, I wanted to know all the secrets and it took the entire story for them to be revealed.

Hazel arrives at a new job where Mr. Remington is her new employer, and everything she thought the job was going to be, isn't exactly what it turns out to be. On top of the lacking job duties Mr. Remington is wrapped up in mystery and it continually appears that he doesn't like her very much. These two are quite abrasive for multiple chapters, but then along comes his nephew, Hudson. A man closer to her age, cheerful, he actually smiles and honestly things begin looking up. But while Hudson is a bright shiny ray of sunshine to her dull days, Atlas Remington remains a gray, stormy rain cloud, and yet, Hazel is constantly drawn to the rain cloud. Why, there are lots of reasons, let's circle back to all of those secrets, shall we...oh wait, they are secrets for a reason. 😏

There is a ton of mystery surrounding the house she's staying in, along with the housekeeper who won't speak a word to her. Hazel's best friend, Kehlani-who is a total hoot, who both pushes Hazel to purse the hot guys in her life and also pushes her to leave the creepy mansion. Like I said, Kehlani is crazy in the best way only a best friend can be.

If you enjoy Ivy's books, especially the zany ones, this one will be right in your wheelhouse.

I was excited for this book when I first came across it. I've read other books written by Ivy Smoak and quickly devoured each spicy one. The combination of the book cover and blurb caught my attention, and I felt like I was in for something mysterious and forbidden.

The story started great and sucked me in immediately, but it all seemed to fall apart once I hit the midway mark.

I liked the friendship between the MC Hazel Fox and her best friend Kehlani - it was pure and sometimes downright funny. But otherwise, the characters' constant indecision and blind love for other characters they didn't know came off as annoying.

I did appreciate that I was left guessing up to the very end. Unfortunately, the ending wasn't as rewarding as I'd hoped, but I'm okay with that.

This book won't deter me from checking out future books by Ivy Smoak because her stories are very well-written and so easy to get wrapped up in. Looking forward to the next!

Thank you Ivy Smoak, Montlake Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Hazel, an aspiring writer, has landed her dream job. Assistant for a popular romance writer. But things don't appear as they seem. She's never met the writer, only Mr. Remington who seems to want to keep her from ever doing so. This was as fast paced read, a little twisty but very satisfying.

Hazel Fox can’t believe she got the job. An assistant to Athena Quinn! Hopefully she can learn from the best on how to be the best writer there is and she can’t wait to meet her.

But now she finds out she’s an assistant to her assistant, has an armful of files to read and sign and the house is creepy as hell, she’s having doubts that she should’ve taken the job in Marketing after all, like her friend Kehlani said.

Mr Remington as the first assistant is called, won’t give his first name and according to him, are not required. Miss Serrano the cook doesnt speak and runs off whenever she tries to talk to her. The whole house is a bit off and strange but she just can’t make herself leave like her friend keeps telling her to.

The only one she’s met who is friendly is the pool boy, Hudson. Although he isn’t all what she expects either.

But not all is what it seems. Why doesn’t Athena meet with Hazel? I She can see her curtains twitch in her wing which she’s not allowed to go into, so knows she’s watching.

Hazel finds out that Athena Quinn’s fan base isn’t what it used to be. It’s more hate mail than anything now, Mr Remington gives her bags upon bags of it to sort.

Did I mention Mr Remington is kind of hot? No? Ah ok. Well, yes he is. And Hazel is having unspeakable thoughts about him and I don’t think it’s all one sided either.

As always, Ivy’s book has twists, making me question who and what people are and this is no different. Loved reading this and I couldn’t put it down. All the crazy things going on add to my wanting to turn the page and read to the end of the chapter.

If you’re a fan of Ivy Smoak’s books, you’ll enjoy this one very much

Hazel is excited to work alongside a best selling author as their assistant, in the hopes that she can get some tips on her own writing career. But when she arrives, she is greeted by Mr Remington who informs her that he is the assistant and she will be his assistant. With the whole place shrouded in secrecy, the novelist nowhere in sight and Mr Remington being so elusive, Hazel doesn't know what to think and so she decides to investigate...

Thrillers and romances are my favourite kind of books so imagine my surprise when this one was a mixture of both! I managed to guess the thriller twist at the end however I think when multiple genres are tackled, maybe both can't be as strong. Despite all the mixed reviews I've heard about this one, I didn't actually mind it. It held my interest and I loved how Mr Remington (Atlas is his first name!) was described to be so smoking hot.

Thank you to Ivy Smoak, Montlake, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was my first Ivy Smoak book and it was okay. I wasn't the biggest fan. Hazel was too whiny for me. The beginning of this book dragged. Thankfully it picked up during the second half, but it wasn't enough for me to fall in love with this book. The ending was predictable.

I did like Ivy's writing and that was one of the reasons I stuck with this book.

This was a first read from a new author for me and Bad Things Feel Best did not disappoint. Once I got started with it, it went really fast. The characters are mysterious and engaging. There is just enough intensity and thrill to it to keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting to know what happens next. It was at times spooky, funny, and intense. The banter between the heroine, Hazel, and the mysterious Mr. Remington is both tense and sometimes awkward, as are the characters which makes them relatable. As Hazel explores her new home and tries to unravel the mystery of Mr. Remington, she’ll have you exploring a haunted house with her and riveted to find out what happens next. I enjoyed it very much and will definitely read more by this author.

I enjoyed this book. I found Hazel so funny. Calling her best friend getting so worked up about Atlas. It kept me guessing. It was a quick read for me. I wanted to know what the secret was. Hazel was a girl that you wanted as a friend. Loved this!

I love Ivy Smoak. The Hunted Series is one of my favs. This one however did not hit the mark for me. The romance and thriller aspect just didn't mesh well together imo and made parts super cheesy.
If you love a cozy mystery with some romance and humor you may love this!