This was a decent book - not really anything special, or emotionally-packed, but it was a rom-com and it was sweet.

Lexi is a lovely character; she's relatable and all she's trying to do is her best - even though she's a bit of a mess! She's vibrant and charismatic which goes a long way with getting her in with the group. Aidan at first comes across as a really miserable jerk, but as the book progresses it's easier to see as how he shows his protective side. He's very slow to warm up and let loose - but he's a sweetheart at the absolute heart of it all.

The book did throw me for a bit as I was very confused as to if there were missing chapters as there was just some harmless flirting and then bam - insta-love. That's not my favorite trope to begin with and it was so sudden & abrupt that it really was difficult to read.

Aside from that the writing style was really addictive and it flowed so beautifully, and was just really enjoyable. I also absolutely adored how Emma Rae wrote Aidan - this is a single POV yet you truly get such a feel for Aidan - how he feels, what he feels, what he thinks - it's really nicely done. The 3rd act breakup drove me absolutely insane, as I just absolutely cannot stand the great majority of how they are written - this one however, I was able to see the point and what resulted was truly beautiful (the reconciliation).

I really enjoyed this one and have put Emma Rae on my must read list from now on!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fairly enjoyable read and what I'd describe as an "okay" book.

The premise sounded really fun - an Oscar winning documentary film maker stuck with a boy band she has zero interest in, until she falls for one them.

I really enjoyed the sub plots and side characters in this and I really liked how the boys in the band and Lexi's relationship developed. The side characters and especially Duncan (I would 100% read Duncan's book!) kept me interested enough to keep going, The main attraction was a bit meh for me though. I struggled to feel any real chemistry between Lexi and Aidan or really understand their attraction to each other at all. I couldn't really figure out why Aidan suddenly seemed to want her so badly out of nowhere and she fell for him way too fast considering everything that leads up to it.

I also didn't warm to Lexi. I loved her at the start, this great documentary film maker who won an Oscar for a really important piece. I loved that she wanted to do a documentary on fast fashion because she was so passionate about the environment, but that's NEVER spoken about in the book again. No comment about how many outfits the boys get through or how their merch is destroying the planet. She even goes out to buy a new dress and shoes at one point to impress Aidan, and it just felt off for a character who's supposed to be an environmental activist. I also did not love the whole lying and filming people without permission aspect to the story. I'm all for flawed characters who make mistakes but if I was dating someone who was secretly filming me without my permission for a documentary I don't think I'd personally ever get past that. That is a huge betrayal of trust without any good reason apart from "it would be great footage".

This book also felt very formulaic to me, from the plot to the sex scenes, and it just felt like I was skimming the surface the whole time. Lots of telling rather than showing. There are also situations that have caused characters a lot of trauma and pain that get resolved very conveniently out of nowhere. It felt quite predictable and a bit like ticking off all the beats in a romance novel.

But while I had some gripes, I did still kind of enjoy this, and I would maybe recommend to younger readers (maybe early 20s) who were super into boy bands!

3.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Hera Books and Emma Rae for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I lowkey loved this book!

After winning an Oscar, documentary maker Lexi wants to continue with shooting documentaries that make an impact. However, the sponsor for her next documentary tells her she will only get the necessary funds if she first makes a documentary about a famous boyband.

After reluctantly agreeing to do it, she finds out that the band might be difficult to work with since they don’t want the documentary. The most vocal about this, is Aidan the ‘main star’ of the band.

But of course Lexi is able to convince Aidan and the rest of the band to work with her, instead of against her and the end result is an amazing documentary and maybe some love?

The book is an easy read and makes for an interesting viewpoint of the rich and famous. In the beginning of the book, you are almost forced to hate the boys, because of their attitudes and manners. But slowly, you start to fall in love with them, just like Lexi.

Only downside, I could see the third act breakup coming from a mile away and it could have so easily been avoided.

But I would definitely recommend the book!

This book unfortunately was not for me. I felt like the MMC and the FMC had no chemistry. It also felt a little too insta-love for me. They went straight from hating each other to being together with no real interactions. I also didn’t find the main FMC very likable.

This was such a fun, fast-paced read. I loved it when characters have great banter & dialogue and this story was full of it! Loved it!

If you're a fan of steamy, character-driven romance with emotional depth, I Knew You Were Trouble will keep you hooked from start to finish.

I enjoyed this rom com especially the banter between the hero and heroine even though i think the title caused a Taylor Swift song to get stuck in my head.

Anyone who grew up with a favorite boy band, is going to love I Knew You Were Trouble by Emma Rae. Lexi and Aiden's story was so sweet, I read this book twice. Will highly recommend this title to adult romance readers. I will definitely be reading Rae's other book soon.

Thank you so much for the arc! I absolutely loved this one, it just felt so cozy and nostalgic to me and the characters were like people I already knew which I adored. I really didn’t want this story to end and I would love to close tha characters again, maybe a book about miller 🙈

Thank you NetGalley, Emma Rae and Hera for this e-ARC of I Knew You Were Trouble. This was my first book by Emma Rae and it was wonderful! In this enemies-to-lovers story, Lexi - an Oscar winning documentary director is given the job (against her wishes) of a behind the scenes look at the boy band Rebel Heart. Aiden, the unofficial band leader and major heartthrob, is against the documentary and does everything he can to have Lexi taken off the project. Of course, things change and sparks fly as they tour the world and fall in love. Not only was this a love story between Lexi and Aiden, but all of the members of the band are working through their own love story in unique and beautiful ways. Overall, this book was a delight to read!!

This one was such a delightful whirlwind! Imagine being an Oscar-winning documentary director and getting stuck filming a boy band reunion tour. Yeah, Lexi’s not thrilled either. Enter Aidan, the cocky, charming lead of Rebel Heart, who rubs Lexi the wrong way in all the right ways. She thinks he’s a diva, he thinks she’s uptight—classic enemies-to-lovers vibes!

Their banter is as sharp as their chemistry, and despite her best efforts, Lexi starts questioning everything she thought she knew about love, life, and boy bands. Funny, swoony, and full of heart—this one’s a backstage pass to romance!

I really like this book!! I really enjoyed Emma's other book love game so I was so happy when i got approved to read this book!! I loved Lexi and Aiden and even though we didn't see It at first they grew to have amazing chemistry🫶 the side characters where also really loveable! They were a few twists In the book that definitely kept me hooked! It was sweet to see Lexi make up with her dad too! I love a happy ending and Im very glad Lexi and Aiden found their way back to eachother!🩷 I will continue to read this author's work! Thank you to Netgalley and Emma Rae for this ARC!

📚 Book Review 📚
Rating: 4🌟

A big thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Lexi, a documentary director, who is tasked with taking over the filming of a boy band, Rebel Heart's reunion documentary after the previous director is fired. Lexi isn’t thrilled about the project, as it’s a far cry from her usual educational documentaries. However, as she spends more time with the band, she becomes particularly close to Aidan, though their growing connection is complicated by unresolved traumas from their past.

While this book wasn’t mind-blowing, it was still an enjoyable read. There were a few unexpected twists that kept me intrigued throughout. The writing of the steamy scenes is brief and to the point, though I found the language used a bit repetitive at times.

I already have Love Game on my physical TBR, and after reading this, it’s definitely moving up to the top of my list. Overall, it was a light, easy read, and I couldn’t wait to see how things would unfold for Lexi and Aidan.

This is a perfect fast-paced read. The life on tour was really fun to see and experience. This book may feel a bit unrealistic but it’s fun following the boy band and the film crew. The banter is witty and humorous. I could feel the chemistry between Lexi and Aidan through the pages. The band aspect was a really great found family background to the book. It’s a perfect book to escape reality with. Even though Aidan at first was a real ass I just couldn’t help but fall for him. He may have been stand-offish but underneath all that was a guy with heart of gold and a really loving boyfriend. From the beginning you know that the hidden cameras Lexi uses are going to come out and it’s going to blow up, but it just add to the tension. Every time I thought it was the last. Normally I’m not a fan of song lyrics in books but the ones here were quite good and I actually wouldn’t mind listening to them for real.

In I Knew You Were Trouble, Lexie, a grounded and mature professional, takes on a documentary project following Aidan’s boy band. Unlike the typical fan-turned-love-interest trope, Lexie is focused on doing her job well, bringing empathy and depth to her work while navigating the chaotic world of fame. Aidan, a dedicated and loyal bandmate, shares a natural and growing chemistry with Lexie, resulting in a romance that feels genuine and heartfelt.

Beyond the love story, the book offers a captivating glimpse into the high-paced, emotional life of a boy band, exploring the challenges, joys, and camaraderie that come with fame. The supporting characters, including the band members and close friends, add warmth and charm, creating a family-like dynamic that enhances the story.

Charming yet grounded, mature yet lighthearted, the novel balances romance, character growth, and deeper themes, making it a refreshing and engaging read—even for those who don’t typically enjoy celebrity romances.

Oscar winning documentarian Lexi is forced by her production company to take over a project following a world famous boy band on their latest world tour. The band is uncooperative, no one more so than unofficial band leader Aidan.

"I Knew You Were Trouble" delivered on its premise with an enjoyable Romance and some engaging side characters. I enjoyed seeing the members of the band get to have their own storylines developed. The relationship between Lexi and Aidan started with classic enemies to lovers vibes. By the end, the narrative wrapped up how I expected, but it was an enjoyable experience getting there.

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the opportunity to read this ARC

Thank you NetGalley, Hera Books and Emma Rae for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️ I found this book really fun. I kept looking forward to when I could pick it up again.

Lexi is an Oscar winning documentary director who is forced to jump into a project covering the popular boy band, Rebel Heart. This is her nightmare- she knows next to nothing about the band and her documentaries focus on much darker topics.

Aiden is the unofficial leader of the band and super protective of the group. He leads the fight against the documentary and tries to sabotage Lexi’s efforts.

Lexi is shocked when she not only starts to enjoy the 5 members of the band but also finds a way to help several of them and make an impactful documentary. I liked the side storylines.

Third act breakups are not my favorite but this one was well done.

Open door.
Small reverse age gap.
Hidden/workplace romance.

This is a pretty predictable book about boy bands. Each band member has a personality type, and of course the leader of the band, the grumpy protector, turns out to be the one the female lead falls for. What’s difficult about this book is that the relationship never makes much sense. They are so mean to each other at first. Aiden is mean for no reason. And then they start kissing and he’s suddenly kind. I am all for enemies to lovers tropes, but there has to be character development as well. This book’s premise had promise, but it was really just a pretty flat portrayal of a boy band.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4/5🎤 this is my second ARC with emma and i can definitely say i have loved this book even more than the first i’ve read of hers. i want to thank emma, NetGalley and Hera books and for allowing me to read her ARC- i loved it!

short summary:
after finishing up an oscar-worthy documentary, lexi hart is now tasked with a job that she doesn’t think she wants: go on tour with the biggest boy band in the world, rebel heart and film their own documentary. she’s not exactly thrilled about her new endeavor, and neither are her new subjects, especially (unofficial) band leader, aiden mcarthur. while on tour, aiden and lexi find themselves being brought together, in more than one way. question is, can they put up with each other long enough for lexi to finish her job?

things i loved:
🎥the red shirt project actually sounds really cool and i hope she goes on to make that documentary 😌
🎥there were so many times i felt the nostalgia of loving a boy band -AIDEN IS A DREAM
🎥I loved how funny and also UNIQUE each band member was- the fact that they were all from different countries was so fun and along with their specific struggles, they were well rounded characters
🎥lexi being a little matchmaker for the boys was so cute, I loved all the mini HEAs for the side characters

the entire book felt like i was waiting for lexi and aiden to JUST. BE. TOGETHER. very on again off again which can be frustrating, but the author wrote it so well this time around. i felt like lexi really grew as a character through her time on tour—her life was being changed through the band and her relationship with each of them.

tropes:
enemies to lovers
filmmaker x pop star
slow burn
forced proximity

would i recommend? yes!

As my first Emma Rae book, I Knew You Were Trouble did not disappoint.

These characters are so complex and written so well. Aiden and Lexi are the mcs you hate and love all at the same time. Despite my love for the mcs I loved all the side characters possibly more. The addition of a boy band gave this enemies to lovers romance the found family vibes.

My biggest complaint is the single pov, I wanted to connect more with Aiden and it just didn't feel possible without his insight