It's rare that I don't enjoy a book and i expected to like this one being an attorney myself. however, the writing was like reading an essay about a book. Everything was summarized and over concluded without showing the story or creating any feeling in the reader. Also, i never really bought the romance then the response really felt overblown and excessive. also, dropping the one night stand felt like a hole, although i was glad that story line wasn't pursued. But maybe it shouldn't have been there at all.

: ̗̀➛ 2 stars

Unfortunately, this book left me frustrated on several levels. The characters were unlikable for me, and the plot was riddled with storylines that led nowhere. The romance developed too quickly to feel believable.

The writing dragged when it came to exploring doubts and uncertainties, but then it would rush through important scenes with barely any dialogue.
I struggled to finish this book because I just couldn’t connect with the characters. At one point, I considered not finishing it, but I pushed through and ended up disappointed. Early on, I admired Emily for taking charge of her life and uncovering financial fraud in Bermuda, but when she compromised her own career for Jack’s, I found it hard to believe such a strong connection could lead her to sacrifice so much. The premise initially intrigued me, but the execution fell flat. In the end, this book just wasn’t for me.



The tropes in this book:
* Office slow burn
* Dual POV
* No spice
* Mental health
* Past trauma


Thank you NetGalley and Burning Chair Limited for providing this ARC.

I normally like most books I read and, even without any steamy chapters, I can get behind a good story. However, this book was so frustrating.

I found both characters unlikeable, the plot had storylines that didn't go anywhere, the love plot was over too short a period of time to be plausible even on the Bachelor, and it wasn't even a closed door romance - they didn't even describe a first kiss!

I found that the writing was long winded when discussing doubts and uncertainties and then would be quick to glance over important scenes with too little dialogue.

I also understand that it wasn't a romantic comedy, but some humour is welcome, especially in a budding romance - both characters seemed like boring people.

It took me forever to get through this book, because I wasn't invested in the characters at all. I thought about DNFing, but pushed through and was left disappointed overall.

At the beginning, I applauded Emily for restarting her life as a successful attorney and reclaiming how valuable she is especially in her discovery of the bank accounts and siphoning of funds while in Bermuda. However, when she believed Jack to be far more important and not asking him to do anything to impact his career that led to her resignation, I had a hard time realizing that such a strong connection would lead her to compromise so much. The language became very flowery at the end.

Get the tissues ready! This book isn't your typical office romance. Both main characters, Emily and Jack go through character healing and growth- touching on past trauma events before being able to decide whether they will take the plunge into a relationship. Would highly recommend.

Tropes: Office slow burn romance, Dual POV, NO spice book, mental health and past trauma

Favourite quote: sometimes the most challenging moments in life pave the way for something beautiful

"This is NOT an Office Romance" is a romance novel by Eloise Fox. Let me start with the positives - the adorable cover, the adorable name, and the fact that it was a quick read. I also found the publisher's summary to be interesting. However, while this, for me, was an "okay" book, I cannot say that I found it really engaging. There were a number of issues I had with this story - the supporting friends seemed put there to be a way to let off steam, opposed to them being real supporting characters; the insta-lust; the main character kvetching about babysitting a millennial while she, herself, was a millennial; calling a deaf person "deaf and dumb"; working out the math of how a young lawyer had time to be a lawyer in both the UK and US and also "working in different European countries"; and the number of times I really needed to turn my brain off and just go with the flow. I pushed through with the book but found some of it difficult to read because the story just became a bit unbelievable at times. This wasn't a bad book, but I have to admit that I'll probably forget a lot about this book as time goes on (other than the numerous times "whilst" was used). Overall, this book was "okay" for me, thus the two star rating.

Honestly, I couldn't finish this book. I read almost 62% and still felt like the plot was lacking and the writing style left me feeling very little. Descriptions felt very clinical and while the characters feelings were described  there was nothing in their actions that demonstrated those feelings. This book was the opposite of "show, don't tell". The author didn't show me anything and therefore the story fell flat.

wow what an adventure this book was!
I was immediately intrigued by Emily. I can't pass up a good office romance with lawyers and oh with a feminist protagonist!
Jack and Emily definitely don't get off to a good start in their partnership, but they may or may not find common ground on behalf of their client, whose case they're working on together. Emily sure knows how to stand her ground. Oh, Jack, why did you even decide to question her... 
This was definitely the most dynamic office romance I've ever read. The plot got tangled up with each new incident You're on your toes most of the time and you want to laugh at the same time.
There is something poetic about finding the love of your life amid the chaos of life. The perfect situation for love to display one of its greatest qualities - its patience and its ability to heal. 💜

I really had a hard time getting into the flow of this book.... The plot jerks you around to a lot of difference places and the love is a little too "insta-crush" for me. The blurb and the premise is something that really caught my eye, but the execution is off. It almost felt like inventing drama for the sake of it and yet none of it hooked me. I think this one just wasn't for me overall.

Thank you NetGalley and Burning Chair Limited for providing and ARC.

I struggled with reading this one, so many inconsistencies, so much happening, but also not happening. This book did not catch my attention, which sucks because I really liked the cover and the idea of the plot in the synopsis.

Thank you NetGalley and Burning Chair Limited for my ARC.

It did not keep my interest. There was no chemistry between the main characters, which is the most important part of romance.
The MMC fell for the MFC so fast that I checked to ensure I had not missed any chapters.
It's not the book for me, unfortunately.

I went into this book with an open mind. Even halfway through I kept telling my self it would get better. It did not, I had to turn off my brain at some points that honestly made no sense. Maybe this book was just not for me, but the ending felt rushed and at points I didn’t know how much time had passed. There were also times where I think I missed information but I’m not sure. Also there I a section where stuff happens but then a paragraph later it contradicts its self. So like did this happen or this, I was confused.

I’m not gonna lie as soon as I seen the cover. I really thought I was gonna like it, but once I started reading it, it was actually kind of hard to read. I really like this, but it couldn’t catch my attention that much..

I liked how this book started. But halfway through, I didn’t like how it was going. I don’t want to spoil the ending, just thought it was unrealistic.

3,5⭐
Although I found it a bit slow at the beginning, as the story progressed I found myself really invested with the story and the characters. I really enjoyed the double POV, and the writing of the story. As it says in the cover that it's part of a series, I really hope it's about Sarah, I would love to see her story unfold!

This is NOT an Office Romance* by Eloise Fox is a novel and captivating addition to the modern romance genre, skilfully combining heart, humour, and a hint of mystery from the workplace. Fox creates a story that is unique by fusing witty observations about workplace dynamics with endearing romantic tension. The protagonist of the narrative is Jane Collins, a sharp and independent public relations professional who is hesitantly partnered with Ethan Carter, a capable but emotionally distant corporate consultant. As they collaborate on a high-stakes project, their originally antagonistic relationship takes unforeseen turns that reveal deeper aspects of both characters' personal lives.

This novel is especially enjoyable since it offers an original take on the office romance cliché. In contrast to many other books in the genre, Fox avoids clichés and offers a sophisticated examination of the unforeseen ways in which personal and professional boundaries might overlap. Witty dialogue and well-rounded character development are two areas where Fox's writing excels. Jane's transformation from a reserved professional to a person who embraces her flaws is sensitively and nuancedly presented. Beyond simply being a romantic partner, Ethan is a complex person with his own set of challenges and achievements. Understanding the individuality of the characters allows us to better understand the tension between them.

With everything taken into account, "This is NOT an Office Romance" is a fun read that puts a creative spin on conventional romance topics. It's a great option for those who want a novel that strikes a balance between romance and practical issues, and it will probably speak to anyone who has ever negotiated the difficult dance between personal and professional connections. This novel is well worth your time if you're looking for a light-hearted yet thought-provoking romance.

I really wanted to like this book so much. It started out really great, but ended up very mediocre. There was some problematic language for 2024 and that really took me out of the story for a minute. While I was entertained it is not a story I would return to.

This book could have been a five star read. It had almost everything: a good storyline, interesting main and supporting characters, a fun setting. It just fell a little flat to me. I felt like I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, even though there were paragraphs on their feelings.. I just never felt it. I was also frustrated with how they were always hurting each others feelings and lashed out in almost every conversation. I did like how they resolved issues and actually acted like adults for the most part. It was not a bad book, it was funny, clever, and thoroughly researched. The emotions just missed the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book!

1 star
Plot:

After a devastating accident, successful New York attorney Emily Taylor is ready to relaunch her career after a year of recovery in rural England. Now returning to the corporate world at a boutique law firm in London, she's focused solely on work and has no intention of pursuing a relationship. However, her plans are disrupted when she's paired with Jack, a striking yet emotionally detached lawyer. Jack, a top lawyer with a seemingly perfect fiancée, feels unfulfilled despite his success. When he's assigned to collaborate with Emily on a high-profile case, including a business trip to Bermuda, his world is upended. As they work together, their professional partnership starts to spark romance—if they don’t jeopardise their careers in the process.

My thoughts on this book:

This book had the makings of a cute romcom, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters—they felt flat and weren't relatable.

The story leans too heavily on telling rather than showing. Even though the characters' backstories are interesting, the constant internal monologues overshadow the subtle emotional moments that could have made both the romance and the case they’re working on more compelling. Plus, the chapters were a bit too long, which made it tough to stay engaged.

I really tried to get into it, but I struggled to stay interested. The long chapters and lack of connection to the characters had me considering putting it down.

I struggled with the writing in this book, and I would have liked shorter chapters. I really wanted to like it, but felt like there were many inconsistencies.