Member Reviews

This is a fun and heartfelt rom-com, where our heroine, Ivy, see her life turned upside down when her boyfriend leaves her, taking everything but her bed. Desperate to rebuild, Ivy lands a job as the assistant to a brusque and enigmatic boss at a burgeoning makeup company. The story dives into Ivy’s struggles with self-confidence, her professional challenges, and the undeniable chemistry that develops between her and her boss.
The author masterfully combines humor and emotion, making Ivy a relatable protagonist whose mistakes and triumphs resonate deeply. The vibrant setting of the beauty industry adds a unique backdrop, with its chaotic energy complementing Ivy’s personal growth. Her witty banter with her boss creates moments of both tension and charm, delivering a slow-burn romance that feels authentic and engaging.

Was this review helpful?

I don’t really think that this book was for me. To be honest, right from the start I was annoyed by our Main characters. They stayed with Partners who were just awful people and then acted surprised when their relationships blew up in their faces. It was hard to get behind them and root for them when I frankly was frustrated by them.

The book is a quick read as its more of a novella length, but I just couldn’t connect with it. I wish that the author took the time to flesh out her characters and give them a bit of depth that was sadly lacking. I think the book just needed more and a faster pace and it would be such a great novella.

I did love the way that the book showed the importance of work life balance and despite my hesitance over our main couple, I was happy when they finally got together. I loved the way our FMC found a job and strength after dedicating her life to a man who walked away from her. I thought it was a great sign of feminine Empowerment.

Was this review helpful?

I fell in love with Ivy. I was really pitying her that she had such a narcissistic boyfriend. I wish the author wrote more about their relationship. Hopefully this is an eyeopener for all the women that are being abused. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Ivy managed to build a successful life for herself. Also I loved the relationship build up with Ethan - I actually felt butterflies in my stomach.

Was this review helpful?

I’m so thankful NetGalley gave me access to this book! I absolutely loved it. It was a quick read and I loved the storyline and the characters. Witty, fun, emotional, quirky, and lovely! I recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute romance book! The story was interesting but a little bit slow paced. The characters were likable and entertaining.

Was this review helpful?

Well.. The book was hot indeed but I also think it would been better, very slow pace at least for me, i get the FMC had been through a heartbreak but still. there were some parts that would have been better with a proper exploration, it wasn't bad but personally for me it wasn't the best
either

Was this review helpful?

Nice romantic story with a few twists and turns. Strong male and female lead with good backstories that kept them at the forefront of the story.

Was this review helpful?

I gave it several tries but I just didn't get into the story. Did not finish at about 30%. The story was just to slow for me and the writing not my style.

Was this review helpful?

Ivy is dumped by her horrendous oily boyfriend. She has been relying on him for everything as he told her she didn't need to work as they were trying for a baby. He leaves her with practically nothing and a flat she cant afford.
She gets a job with as a copywriter with a company handling make up.
Her boss seems grouchy but he has his own issues.
They meet out with work by chance both having had a bit much to drink. The attraction is too much and they have an intimate night.
This is told from two pov which I enjoy. I warmed to Ethan as the book went on.
Nella her friend was likeable she was supportive and helpful. Ivy also had some nice colleagues.
I liked Ivy but she didn't always make the right choices and sometimes was a bit naïve.
The dialogue was sometimes a bit predictable,
On the whole I enjoyed the book and it was a quick read.
Thanks publisher and netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

The humor sprinkled throughout Ivy’s struggles, juggling her job, her messy emotions, and her undeniable attraction to her boss adds a layer of lightheartedness to the more profound themes of healing and self-discovery. As Ivy navigates her feelings, you can’t help but feel the weight of her unhealed wounds, making her journey toward love all the more poignant.
It perfectly balances laugh-out-loud moments with heartfelt introspection, and I adored every second of Ivy’s adventure. If you’re in the mood for a story that’s equal parts funny and romantic, this one is a must-read!

Was this review helpful?

A fast paced romance with just a touch of heat. A bit complicated at first but once you have sorted the characters out it's a good tead

Was this review helpful?

This book let me down. I love a good grumpy/sunshine boss/assistant romance, but this one did not work at all. I congratulate the author on writing a complete novel, but I feel as though an editor is needed.

I disliked all of the characters. Ivy was a victim of emotional abuse and neglect, but in the end she kind of brushes it off? Rob and Lily are horrible human beings who get off lightly. Ethan is boring and forgettable. At no point did it feel like I was reading a romance story. When did they fall in love? When did they get to know each other?

The plot felt like a bunch of trope stereotypes and dramatic speeches thrown together. The description was basic, the story flow was disjointed, and the dialogue was stilted and awkward.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Eddy Twice for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I'm sorry, no, this is not a book for me.

It's all over the place, the characters make no sense. Their language it's like teenagers', with all those, let'g go out girlfriend, not like the real age of these protagonists, who are in their 30s.

The chapters move from one thing to the other. You expect a chapter to follow up the end of the previous one but it goes somewhere else instead. They skip days or event that might have been interesting to read about.

It's listed like erotica but it has very little spice in it and it's quite mild. Last but not least, it should come with a couple of TW. I ran blind into one that could be triggering.

The only positive thing is that it's short.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing, this is my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book just wasn’t for me. I had trouble connecting to the writing style. It took a little while to get into the book and to like the main characters. Although it was an easy and fast read that was also entertaining.

Was this review helpful?

A short spicy book that was great for an in between books read. I enjoyed the characters and relationships between them. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a good book! I really enjoyed sinus story and though I was a bit hesitant at forest I loved the story and also the look into the beauty industry! Very well written and highly enjoyable

Was this review helpful?

Quite a lot happens as soon as I start reading. Oh, my gosh. Ethan's a workaholic, is having second thoughts about his fiancée because of the constant fights. He pours his heart and soul into work and comes home to a gloomy house.

Ivy, on the other hand, is also having problems with her boyfriend of eight years. After years of depending on him financially and emotionally, cooking and cleaning for him, he abandons her. Just like that.

My heart breaks for her! He left her in such a precarious state (you'll see what I mean when you read it yourself.) She pulls through and manages to get herself a personal assistant's job with nothing to her name and bills to pay for.

Oh, guess who her new boss is? Yep. Ethan, working for a makeup company, and now he's got to train her. She knows nothing about makeup and never worn it, she's never felt the need to. He teaches her about colour themes, cool and warm tones, which hues and shades she should go for, etc, etc. Gradually she improves in the makeup world and creates her first ever copy as a copywriter, which gets approved and accepted. She doesn't want her heart broken again, she tries her best to focus on herself, her job...can she though? Especially when her boss keeps turning up wherever she is? Doesn't help when her ex keeps harassing her to take him back...

~At what store did he purchase so much audacity from?~
I want this on a t-shirt.

Ethan gives me grumpy boss vibes in comparison to her sweet, endearing personality. When he is too strict on her she doesn't back down and stands up to him, which he's not used to. He admires that secretly. The bickering and bantering to start and I am giggling and kicking my feet at my big age. Shush, Ethan! I'm blushing. Don't you love it when the stoic/grumpy guy finally smiles a little? Because I do.

Something happens that brings them closer before pushing them away and I'M TRYING SO HARD TO NOT GIVE SPOILERS! Let me just tell you about the spicy scenes? F**K OFF. So hawt. Just the way the kissing scenes and prolonging eye contact makes me blush! So good!

Now, I wouldn't say that for ME this is a full blown erotica, it's very spicy and full of slow-burn heat, however, for those readers who're just dipping their toes in spicy content it can definitely be more of an erotica - I guess it just depends. Again, for ME, this is kind of a slow-burn simply because I've been reading "insta-loves" back to back, so this has a slow-medium pace, which I actually very much like.

This book was so refreshing from my usual horror and dark romances and I'm glad I gave it a chance! If you love close proximity office romances, with strong banter and snappy comebacks, secret glances and stolen kisses, humour and heartbreak and more, all in one delicious goodness? This one's for you. Plus, there's Ethan, your new hot book boyfriend. Grab him on the 30 Sep 2024 (Pub Date!)

(A quick one! There is a content warning I want to give; there is a mention of blood and miscarriage. So proceed with caution.)

🌸 Cover: ✨✨✨✨
🌸 Heat: ️‍🔥🔥🔥🔥
🌸 Passion: 💋💋💋💋💋
🌸 Yearning: 🥺🥺🥺🥺
🌸 Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
🌸 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌸 Slow-Burn: 🎯🎯🎯🎯
🌸 FMC: 💕💕💕💕💕
🌸 MMC: 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋.
🌸 Character Development: 👍👍👍👍👍
🌸 World Building: 🌍🌏🌍🌏🌏
🌸 Would I recommend? Yep!
🌸 Overall Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Was this review helpful?

This is a quick and easy spicy novella. A perfect pallet cleanser inbetween heavier books. Ivy does have a bad “woe is me” attitude and Ethan gives mega push over vibes. I can’t say too much about this book without giving it away but Rob is an absolute douche bag and I wish Ivy let him know that.
Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?