Thank you, Victory Editing and NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4+ stars!

This story follows Emma and Charlie, colleagues at a tech company who are put up for the same promotion and forced to work together on a project. To be honest, all the tech talk in the beginning was hard to follow, and I glazed over some of that while reading. But Emma and Charlie's story was totally worth getting through that! They're both driven, hard workers and have an intense attraction that neither of them wants to act on, until Charlie kisses her in a way that had me knowing the spicy scenes were going to be epic (and they were)!

Being a woman in tech, Emma hasn't gotten the recognition she's deserved, and her boss is a real piece of...work. Seeing her interactions with colleagues and superiors through Charlie's eyes was really well-done and the turning point for us to see his true colors. He's a secret softie who had a really tough childhood and is completely devoted to his sister and her partner. The Charlie in the book turns out to be nothing like the guy in the book's description; he's so much better!

It was almost like the last two chapters were both epilogues, one being a few months in the future and one being several years in the future. I liked that the second epilogue (last chapter) was set further in the future. I feel like a lot of times in books like these, we fast forward a few months or years to a proposal or wedding, but this was deeper than that.

Dani McLean, please tell me the next story is going to be about Ivy and the sexy Brit! I'll be all over that one!

The romance was very good and spicy. The work rival energy was strong. Just don’t ask me what it is that they do at said workplace because I have no idea. There was a lot of work talk that I didn’t understand or it was just too much to consume. But the characters were strong and well developed.

I'm giving this book 3.5 stars. I feel like some of the situations in this book were very relatable for a lot of people. The struggling during sex, the striving to be successful despite generational trauma. The sexist business world. I liked that they had good banter and the had good chemistry. There were about 3 spice scenes. maybe a 2.5 rating out of 5 for level of spice. I did feel like some words were way overused. I was tempted to count how many times he said sweetheart..ha! I also felt like the angst or miscommunication at the end felt out of character and then after that the story felt very rushed. I didn't understand why there was more redundancies and why does she want him to put in his notice. The end was supposed to be an epilogue but was also confusing as it ends saying a ring is on her finger. Nothing is explained. It was an ok read for me, but I feel like small tweaks could've elevated this for the reader.

This is a steamy workplace romance set in the competitive tech world. Emma Conway, on the verge of a big promotion, faces her rival Charlie Walker, a charming corporate star who previously derailed her progress. As professional rivalry intensifies, so does their mutual attraction. Despite Emma's resistance, Charlie's charm breaks through, and a staged kiss sparks undeniable chemistry, turning their competition into a passionate romance. Both carry personal baggage, adding emotional depth as they navigate their relationship. I love the humor, tension, and romance, creating a compelling story of love and ambition in a high-stakes environment.

There’s something soft about Author Dani Mclean’s writing, a hand that is reaching into your chest and cradling the pieces of your heart and gently saying ‘I see you’. Which is wild considering they also write some of the most insanely hot smut I have ever had the absolute pleasure of reading. The headphone scene? The entirety of <i>Chapter 49 I’m Yours (Ruin Me)</i> which, I swear to god, awoken something in me? Get yourself a fan and charge up your devices because holy <i>fuck</i>. The give and take of their relationship hits absolutely right (in times of spice and not-spice) and this is a rivals to lovers to friends and lovers that I absolutely recommend.

I absolutely adored Emma and Charlie. How two people who look like they have their shit together on the surface are just holding things together in so many other ways. How they have meaningful and beautiful relationships with other people (Ivy and Reese are just perfection and I am dying for more of them). Like with <u>Mortgage of Convenience</u> (if you haven’t read it, what are you doing? GO!) you have characters that really feel like real people. There’s no insane or over-the-top drama for drama sake that you find in a lot of other books; both characters have their damage but work to actually communicate with each other. There’s an honesty at the heart of Author Mclean’s characters that I really can’t get enough of.

Look. I still have no idea exactly what Emma and Charlie do, except that it’s complicated and they’re both really good at their jobs in different ways. While the technical aspects of their work and projects were a little heavy for me at times, I wouldn’t say it took away from the story for me since watching them work through the pieces of the project and their day to day jobs and environment really showcased pieces of their character. And, let’s be real, gave Charlie a chance to see how absolutely kick-ass Emma is at her job and how fucked it was that she was being treated the way she was by so many people around her.

Author Mclean has become an auto-buy author for me and I cannot wait to see what they come out with next.

This is a sizzling rivals to lovers romance that I couldn't get enough of.

Emma & Charlie are work rivals. Think Lucy & Josh from The Hating Game. I thought the reason these two disliked each other at first made sense. Each one thinks the other doesn't deserve their position. However, they start to view each other differently once they are thrown together for work projects. I thought the author did a great job showing each character's development and how they slowly started to see behind each other's emotional walls. They really spend a lot of time together and get to know the other person well. The attraction between Emma & Charlie is palpable. Their banter is filled with heat and humor. I really liked their dynamic a lot.

I think the author also did a good job capturing what it's like as a woman to work in a male dominated field. I liked that this was touched upon and not just swept under the rug. I feel that a lot of readers will relate to what Emma's experiencing.

I was not expecting the type of spice the author wrote but hot damn! This was hot! *fans self*

A great rivals to lovers workplace romance! Would recommend!

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t wait to get to the end! It’s a good enemies to lovers story. I think the little bit of a down fall is there is quite a lot of tech talk but once you get past that the story line is lovely! Also lovely the little bit of smut that was in there ☺️

The chemistry was scorching hot between the two main. Loved the banter between them. The progression of how their relationship blossomed was nicely done. Once they got closer, they were honest and open with their feelings.

Mostly.

Loved Ivy and Reese. They weren’t in the story much, especially Ivy, but enough to make a lasting impression.

Loved the title of every chapters. So clever and funny.

There was too many work-related jargon that my (dumb) brain didn’t understand, I pretty much just glazed over it, especially in the earlier chapters. It’s great that it was added for more authenticity, but my tiny little brain just couldn’t handle it.

Two chapters, in my opinion, felt more like fillers. One felt like it was written independently, then randomly added in between chapters. The other was unnecessary. It felt like it was added for the sake of angst.

The last chapter seems to be more of an epilogue, but it lacked closure.

But despite my whining, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a good read with minimal angst. I’m sure others will enjoy this, as long as you’re not annoyingly picky like me.

Emma and Charlie take the top for my favorite workplace/rivals to lovers romance. It was hilarious, romantic and everything you could ask for in a romcom

I loved this spicy enemies to lovers book so much. There was so much chemistry and banter and love present and I loved both characters so much

4.5/5 stars 2/5 spice
I want to cry this book was so good. I mean I knew it would be having read Dani’s writing before but my god this book brought me to happy tears and I just didn’t want it to end. The tension and work enemies vibes was so delicious I wanted to scream and when the spice hit it about knocked me off my feet! I’m a die hard enemies to lovers fan and this was utter perfection! The way Charlie and Emma are at each other’s throats for their shot at the promotion was almost too good. I was fully invested by the first chapter and it only got better from there. There is a character saying I love you and then there is Charlie Walker. This fictional man brought me to tears from his fierce determination, witty banter and the way he said sweetheart. Dani has written another truly amazing novel.
Emma Conway was been working herself to the bone to prove she is everything the company could need. Despite the set backs many women in the workplace face she is determined to preserve but that seems to come a drastic halt as she faces her toughest challenge yet. Being paired with her swore nemesis clothed in Armani, Charlie Walker. Both of them scramble for a promotion and the only way to succeed is to work together. Lines get crossed as these two find themselves forced together.

Enemies to Lovers Trope has been my favourite always and this one executed it so well 🤌 the characters were well drafted and penned down by the author plus the plotline ❤️ it was well paced and written in such a way that it kept me hooked till the end. This is the first installment in the series yet it can be read as a standalone and i love that fact about this book.

I really connected with Emma in this one as a woman in a male dominated field. She was an awesome character! Watching Charlie and Emma go from enemies to lovers was such a fun journey. I really enjoyed this book!

I enjoyed this story! This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'm sure it won't be the last.
Strong FMC in STEM. I'm glad she wrote about the struggles women face in a predominantly male workplace! Her boss was absolutely infuriating, a well written misogynistic asshole. The MMC was very thoughtful and sweet and loyal to those close to him. Also, he loves dogs, so he's a ten!
Great spicy scenes!
There was a lot of work jargon that I didn't fully understand. I could have done with a bit less of that, as I am clearly not as smart as these characters!
The epilogue was sweet but a bit vague! Where are they? Is it their wedding night, or did they get married years ago? Where does he work now? I have questions.
Whatever, this was a good read!

Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Set the Mood Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book before release.

☆ Workplace rivals
☆ Enemies to lovers
☆ He falls first

This is the second book I’ve read of Dani’s and I loved it!
It starts a little slow but once I got into it, it was very hard to stop reading.
Emma is such a strong FMC who I loved instantly. Took me a little bit to like Charlie but it took Emma some time too so I think that’s fair.

Both MCs have great backstories and reasons for acting the way they do.
I just really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read more from Dani in the future.

I loved this book and flew through the pages. Emma and Charlie are colleagues who can't stand each other. As a woman STEM, Emma has been dismissed, overlooked for promotion and sick of men like Charlie taking credit for her work. Charlie can't stand Emma because he thinks as an heiress she's slumming it while he's had to work from nothing.

Emma and Charlie had such a palpable chemistry (they nearly burned my ereader!) with good banter, which is what I look for in a rivals to lovers scenario. I appreciated that Dani McLean didn’t resort to childish pranks and a hostility that continue past professionalism, instead she throws them together and they work through their hostility as adults, slowly learning to put down their barbs for getting to know each other. 'Take it Offline' was a perfect blend of steam and character development, which often is sacrificed for the former in my opinion. We see Emma and Charlie grow together with healthy communication. The major conflict was more about Charlie's fears than miscommunication with Emma calling it out straight away to Charlie. I loved the supporting characters too, including Charlie's sister and best friend Reese, and the work lingo to give it authenticity - I felt like I was at their workplace. Also yay for childfree characters so no suprise pregnancy or epilogue babies.

The only concerns I have would be that there's a two months and ten year time jump in latter chapters, which I think needed to be spelled out under the chapter numbers. For instance the final chapter was part set in the three month's jump then the rest ten years later, I had to go back and re-read it. Also, if it was set ten years later and they met at work, we know nothing of where they are in their careers, so I'd have loved that to be fleshed out more given it was a big part of their character arcs.

Dani McLean is a total auto-buy author for me and I can't wait for her next book.

Thanks to Set the Mood Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

Book had too much work speak and I had no idea what they did for a living or what the project was they were working on. Charlie’s and Emma’s backgrounds were pretty ridiculous and unbelievable. Random coworkers and useless conversations, throw in a little fake dating and sexual dysfunction. I was lost a lot of the book and I feel like the plot fell off part way through.

Such a cool story, I loved pretty much all aspects of this book, the only reason I didn't gave it 5 stars is because some scenes seemed to move so fast I felt like I was missing phrases to make sense of it all.

The romance added so much to a story quite focused on real issues, pertinent to the difficulties women have to deal with, especially in corporate jobs lead by men.

I really liked both main characters and the side characters, especially on Charlie's side. I wish there was more interaction with these characters along the book but I understand the need to keep the book at a certain length.

There was the famous 3rd act break up but I do think it was nicely done and for valid reasons considering the characters background, actually surprised there wasn't more issues arising from this.

Overall a very good read, perfect for a holiday, easy on the brain but still makes you fume from the issues discussed. It does have smut but doesn't fill the whole story and I thought it was perfectly placed. I recommend (if you do like some smut!).

This was so so wonderful! Workplace rivals to lovers, so much anger that transforms into tenderness and protectiveness, amazing chemistry! Emma and Charlie need to be protected at all costs! Couldn’t put it down. Definitely recommend this one!

Emma is a woman in tech and hates not being taken seriously. Charlie is her rival at work... except that they fall in love...

Funny and romantic. Lots of sparks and sass. Truly enjoy this battle of the sexes. A fun book.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.