How does one review a book that leaves you in one of the worst reading slumps you’ve ever experienced?
This is a romance book for fantasy readers. In a way that if I were lucky enough to be a fae, I'd go to a library (in fae world, of course) and pick this up. Then, I'd devour it in less than a day.
Whatever magic Tessonja used while writing this, I really hope she has a lot more left because we need more. It was perfect. Everything from the true rivals to lovers dynamic, to the tension and slow burn. Every scene was thought through, every conversation full of banter and love. I, with all my heart, hope no one saw my face while I was reading this, because I probably looked half mad. I was either crying or giggling like an idiot, and I'm pretty sure that tells you enough about the emotional rollercoaster I was put through.
I cannot recommend this book enough and It definitely isn't the last Tessonja Odette’s book I'll read this year!

I absolutely loved this book! The romance was so cute and the banter was top tier. I loved the combination of fantasy and historical elements. I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much for the ARC! I really enjoyed this book as it had me hooked from the beginning. This was such a beautiful story and I loved the storyline. It was very well written and the description of the main characters was amazing. I cannot wait to read other books written by this author.

I’m in love! This rivals to lovers was quirky and fun with excellent banter and the perfect amount of spice! The Victorian feel mixed with fantasy elements made it something special!

I can’t wait to read more in this series ♥️

Edwina is a writer eager to win a publishing contract. She is competing with a Fae, William. They fall in love along the way against their wishes... Lots of spicy scenes. Love how they fight and flirt and banter. Very funny scenes... a light-hearted fun read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

This book is slow burn and full of fantasy aspects you wouldn’t see in a lot of other fantasy books making it have a more whimsy feel. It’s definitely a romcom and I enjoyed the banter Will and Edwina had! This book is also fantasy regency, so Edwina is determined to be successful so that she doesn’t have to go home and be married off.
I loved that Will fell first, the first chapter of his POV had me kicking my feet and made me even more excited for his POVs going forward. I also loved that Edwina was headstrong and refused to let anyone or anything get in between her and her dream, even love. And the item Edwina was supposed to auction, that was my favorite scene!
While this book is a fantasy romcom it still hits on serious topics such as chronic illness and loss of a parent.
I really enjoyed the cast of characters, I think Daphne is my favorite side character but I also loved Monty and how he came to defend Edwina.
This book has:
-Found family
-Queer representation
-He falls first
-Protective MMC
-Witty FMC
-Dual POV
-Rivals to lovers
Thank you so much Victory Editing & Tessonja Odette for the ARC 🖤

A Rivalry of Hearts, a fantasy rom-com set on The Isle of Faewyvae, delivers a romantically (sexually) tense rivals authors to lovers story-where he falls first.

Author Tessonja Odette has created a world that is simply fun and easy to be fully immersed into, which is always a delight with fantasy novels. A Rivalry of Hearts was a perfect combination of fantasy, romance, comedy, and spice. The banter between characters, not just William and Edwina, but with Monty and Daphne, leave you looking forward to further works within this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for an advanced copy of A Rivalry of Hearts in exchange for my honest review.

Review posted on Goodreads on 5/4/2024.

I absolutely LOVE this book. I love the dual POV, the enemies to lovers, and the rivalry that Edwina and William have. All of the characters are so well written and this was such an easy read. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

So I was actually quite enjoying this until about halfway and then for me it just lost that spark. But I really loved their banter and enemies to lovers vibe at the beginning. The cozy, competing authors fantasy fae element was super fun!

However, I was not a fan of the "the bet" they had going on but I was able to get over some of it until things started to just feeling too all about sex. I feel like it was doing such a great job building up that angst but it started to just get too lusty and not lovey in my opinion.

It was still cute but not quite what I had hoped. Maybe I just went into this with the wrong expectations since I haven't read her other books. I'm sure it'll be someone else's jam and they'll love it. It just wasn't quite the right fit for me unfortunately. If you like a cozy, fun, sexy & spicy fantasy fae story then definitely give this a shot.

god im so in love with her writing style, it’s SO magical. 5/5 ⭐️, im obsessed.
literally read this in a day and so so so sad it’s over

5⭐️
3🌶️

I was definitely in need of a cosy, spicy fantasy and Tessonja Odette understood the assignment!

We follow Edwina and Will as they travel through Faerwyvae on a joint book tour and they become almost instant rivals. After a bad first tour stop, and a few two many Cloud Dives (a popular Faerwyvae drink) bets are made. Who could seduce the most people before the end of the tour to take the prize that they both so desperately need?

I fell in love with Edwina and Will from the start. The tension between them and the bet just made my heart flutter with every interaction 🥰 All of the side characters were so sweet and well fleshed out. I just loved everything about this book!

Read this if you like ⤵️
•Cosy romantasy
•Rivals to lovers
•Forced proximity
•He falls first
•Fantasy with spice
•Dual POV
•Banter

I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I requested Net Galley for an ARC and I am so glad that I received one! Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for accepting my request!
I discovered this author last year and it's been the absolute best experience reading her books!
So far, I haven't faced disappointment even once!

I LOVED this book! Both our leads, Edwina and William have oozing chemistry, fun banter and sizzling bedroom moments! The spice level is definitely higher in this book as compared to the ones that I have read before. But that's okay, as we get a fair warning in the contents section about what we will be facing as readers and I really admire that. I also love how ridiculously talented the author is! She not only writes but also paints? The cover illustrations? The detailed portraits of our leads inside? All to DIE FOR.
The conflict did seem a bit weak in this book but again, we were warned it's a low stakes rom-com. It was refreshing to have a young male lead and an older female one....though it wasn't really stressed on or even mentioned often. The male was a fae so he easily could have been portrayed as centuries old and wiser but he wasn't and that I feel it kind of justified his actions...spurring on the bet, for example? And our heroine is sassy and extremely judgemental but at the same time, she thinks and understands and accepts her mistakes....not being short of anything can do that to you ...no one is forcing her to get married....even if she's out of work...she won't be starving...so yes, such people can be a little full of themselves.

I LOVED the cameos of our beloved characters from previous books such as Queen Gemma! It was perfect!
And our Monty who was as good as a main character was a delight! He was an absolute menace in his introduction in "A Dream so Wicked". And now I am dying to get my hands on his book which is next in the series.

I did think the end twist was fabulous. Maybe a few readers saw it coming but I was completely blind sided!
I also liked how Will's magic was not something grand but was supremely beautiful! I wondered if he would ever use it for any other purposes....

Now to the one part I didn't like or I feel, could have been avoided....
The grand declaration? In front of the guests.... don't get me wrong...I am all for airport confessions and big gestures....but here in this particular book...it did not feel needed...but this is my personal opinion. Maybe other readers may dig it. So, I don't see it as a fault. It was definitely enjoyable to read.

I'd highly recommend this book, this author and her entire work to all!

I received early access to this on 1 May, I finished it just earlier on 3 May.

*dual POV
*rivals to lovers
*he falls first
*oh-no-just-one-bed
*cozy spice

My goodness, it was my first time reading the author and I wasn’t sure what entirely lay in store for me and I just fell in love with this - the characters are so wonderfully flawed and real - the sense of humor in the writing ❤️ and the romance here are fantastic.

I adored this book and will definitely be reading more of Ms Odette!



Thank you to Tessonja Odette, Victory Editing and NetGalley for the DRC

💘 - 4.5 stars

Such an interesting read!!! ‘Pride and Prejudice’ meets ‘The Cruel Prince’ and ‘Book Lovers’ in the best possible way. Such an interesting combination of a period piece, romance and fantasy and they all mesh so well together.

I loved both the characters so much, I think they work really well together and they are both super interesting in their own right as well as in the romantic sense which I think is really important for a good romance book. Love the representation within the side characters, the writing was funny and easy to follow but still was beautiful and incredibly detailed, especially with the world building which is perfect! The plot was fun and interesting with a good amount of suspense, it’s a light hearted prompt but becomes an emotional story about love, lust, family and the sacrifices we make for the ones we love. Will definitely be reading the second book in the series,

This is a fantasy romcom that deserves to be a movie. I don’t generally like to read romantic comedy (only watch it), but this has me loving a genre I never liked before. I devoured this book in two days.

Edwina comes to the island of Faerwyvae to promote her romance novels. Through no fault of her own she ends up being late to her first book signing only to find her tardiness turned her one-author book tour into a two-author book tour. William Haywood, an arrogant, snide fae poet joined her tour after rumors she might not arrive. Edwina and William do not get along. To make matters worse, Edwina accidentally makes a bet with her now rival after a few to many drinks- the person to gain the most lovers during the tour wins the coveted contract with the largest publisher in Faerwyvae. Edwina and William both need the contract, but the bet isn’t as simple as it seems.

This book had me smiling, giggling like a little girl, and gasping over the top notch banter. The characters were so witty. The nicknames had me cackling, especially because they were suggestive and silly.

Odette’s writing is always an easy but compelling read. I loved the way the book started off reading almost like a historical romance novel but became more formal as the characters became more familiar with each other. The dual POV was a great way to further develop Edwina’s and William’s characters, especially when it came to understanding their feelings for each other.

I loved the nods to her other books set in Faerwyvae. She even includes some characters from past books.

Overall, this was a fun, low stakes, happily ever after romcom with just the perfect amount of fantasy and spice. I will be recommending this book to friends in addition to reading any more books in this new series of standalones.

This was an adorable and super fun book! I loved it so much, and read it in one sitting. I adored Edwina as the main character; she was such a perfectly weird lead, and I loved her so much! William was also a really great MMC, and the side characters were super fun as well! I loved the relationship between William and Edwina; the banter was so good, the chemistry was amazing, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow. Overall I absolutely loved everything about this book, and can't wait for the next one in the series!! :)

5/5 ⭐️

A cozy fantasy that I'm obsessed with? Unheard of, but here we are. Here are just a few of the reasons this is no less than 5 stars for me:
- Rivals to lovers
- Dual POV
- He falls first
- Stubborn, witty, and hilarious banter between FMC and MMC
- One bed trope (with a hilarious twist)
- Elevator scene (no more needs to be said)
- Protective and jealous MMC
- Tension and spice that is perfectly paced

I was laughing out loud throughout this and can't say enough great things. This is probably at the top of my favorite romance books for the year.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tessonja Odette and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for my early access to this.

Title: A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette

Release Date: June, 12th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars


"A Rivalry of Hearts" by Tessonja Odette is a delightful romcom filled with witty banter, spicy romance, and enchanting fae elements.

Edwina Danforth, a romance author, finds herself entangled in a bet with her fae rival, William Haywood, to win a prestigious publishing contract. As they embark on a month-long dueling book tour, sparks fly between them, leading to a heated rivalry that soon turns into something more.

Odette crafts a hate-to-love romance with impeccable chemistry between Edwina and William. Their interactions are filled with glares, quips, and undeniable attraction, making their journey from rivals to lovers thoroughly enjoyable. The quirky and lovable characters, including Edwina and William, as well as the charming side characters, add depth and charm to the story.

The book's unique blend of fantasy elements and romantic comedy creates a captivating and entertaining read. Fans of enemies-to-lovers tropes and quirky heroines will thoroughly enjoy this spicy standalone adult fantasy romcom. "A Rivalry of Hearts" sets the stage for an exciting series, promising more enchanting adventures in the Fae Flings and Corset Strings world.

Thank you to The Publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, The Author Tessonja Odette & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged in the fae fiction world, that a Tessonja Odette book in possession of a good story, must be entertaining and hilarious."

When I pick a book by T. Odette, I am guaranteed three things:

1- A good heartfelt cozy-like fantasy romance with a sprinkle of spice
2- Complex characters that are both relatable and flawed
3- Many, Many laugh out loud moments

So a huge thank you for the author for providing your humble fan with an ARC of this book

⚜Genre: Gaslamp High Fantasy
⚜Theme: Fae RomCom
⚜Targeted audience: Adults
⚜Characters: Fae - William, Human - Edwina
⚜Representation: non-binary side character
⚜TW: explicit sexual content
⚜ tropes: Forced proximity, career-rivalry, bet, rivals to lovers, hidden truths, medium-burn, one bed (parody)
⚜ POV: Double, though Edwina has the lion's share
⚜ spice 🌶🌶 🌶
⚜ rating: 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🔅
⚜standalone: yes, but it is part of series
⚜Ending: HEA with an introduction to the 2nd book

Edwina and William
No two characters could be so different yet so suitable to each other
he writes bittersweet poetry
she is a steamy romance author
he is fae ( with a surprise magical ability)
she is human
he is experienced
she is not
he is younger (yes he is not the ancient old fae)
she is older (by three years)

They are forced to be on a book signing tour together at which by the end one of them will secure a publishing contract. They end up esueing a bet and a fae bargain where whoever manages to seduce the most partners wins the contract.
With surprizing reveals and unexpected character arcs, the story will hook you from the first page to the acknowledgment.


One of the things that made me fall in love with T. Odette's books is her flawed characters.
Her fae males are not these perfect "tall, dark and handsome" who can do no wrong and fall in love with their partners at first sight. They are a mix of arrogant and childish, dashing and stupid, loyal and pricks, but you cannot help but root for them.
William is so dedicated to his family that he is willing to do anything for them. He is not this rich Fae lord who could do anything. He is a struggling poet/actor.

Her female leads are as flawed. They are not the quivering bashful ladies (though some quivering occurs :) iykyk) who always sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Nope
these ladies know what they want and are not afraid to go after it come what may.
Edwina wants that publishing contract and she fights for it with everything she has. She acknowledges William's reasons also but hers are "as valid as his"

She knows it's a tough world in the publishing industry and it is even tougher for female authors who are asked to write under male pseudo names. Something that is still done for women authors to be taken seriously.
"But do you know what would make my work even better? If I were a man. If I'd cease writing about throbbing cocks and simply adopt one between my legs. At the very least, if I would only remove one letter from the end of my name and publish highbrow moral works...

I loved this outburst because it is so relevant to today when smut and spice books are still frowned upon and some still argue that romance authors are not real writers.


I absolutely loved the sense of humor in the writing style. Some phrases and lines just catch you unexpectedly and you find yourself laughing.

I also loved the jab at tropes with how Edwina points out some of them whenever she comes upon a similar situation
"What does that mean?" Monty asks, "Do we have at least one room?" "Oh no." Realization dawns at once, and I give the receptionist a solemn look. "I know what this is. I've written about it. There's only one bed, isn't there?"

My only criticism of the book, and it's a minor one, is that I did not feel that the magic/fae part was crucial in the story. As a matter of fact, if you take it out of the book, the story would still progress the same.

This was an absolute joy to read
and I cannot wait for Monte and Daphne's book

A Rivalry of Hearts is the perfect rivals to lovers story! Both Edwina and Will desperately need a lucrative writing contract, but only one can win it at the end of their book tour. While they start the tour as advisories who can’t stand each other, they slowly start to become friends and lovers. But how can their budding romance last when only one of them can win?

You can DEFINITELY read A Rivalry of Hearts without having read any of the books from either of the previous series. While there are a couple of cameos to enjoy if you’ve read the other books, A Rivalry of Hearts does a great job of explaining the world and stands on its own.

Read this book if you like Fae, cozy fantasy romance, laugh out loud moments, banter, rivals, and forced proximity.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how Tessonja expands this world, and I can’t wait for Monty to finally get his own book!