An Oscar wining documentary filmmaker has to take on a studio project in order to secure funding for her next social issue film- making a tour documentary about the number one boy band in the world!

What I loved the absolute most about this book were the characters, who all felt so lived in, individualized, and fun to be around. Each of the boybanders gets their moment to shine, whether it be in love, music, or self-growth- UBL (unofficial band leader) and mother hen Aiden, sweet lovely Ravi, brash and spontaneous Cal, demure and caring JB, and man in development Miller. Our filmmaker Lexi makes some wild choices but I love the way she wants everyone around her to be happy and successful, and that she is steadfast in her vision!

Thanks so much to Emma Rae and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I love a good slow burn and this was a fun and well done one ! I loved the way the author has portrayed the characters making them so full of depth and very realistic! At times I wish I could enter in the book and give Aiden a huge shake , but for the most part I’d just fall for him!

This was a captivating, slow burn romance full of chemistry, banter and complicated feelings! Fresh from a Oscar win, Lexi is all set to dive into creating another hard-hitting documentary.. until her production company decides to throw a spanner in the works. Instead of her usual subjects, she’s sent off to film a behind-the-scenes doc on Rebel Heart, a newly reunited boyband, in order to secure funding for her project. As much as Lexi is unhappy to be there, the band wants her to leave even more, lead by frontman Aidan. Lexi thinks he’s cocky and arrogant, whilst Aidan thinks Lexi is uptight, and the more that he tries to get rid of her the more determined she is to stay!

Emma Rae has a real talent for building characters that pull every emotion out of you. At times, I wanted to shake Aidan for his arrogance, only to be charmed by him a few pages later. Lexi’s determination and occasional stubbornness make her a great match, and their dynamic is full of sparks. The supporting characters bring depth and even more heart to the story, and their side plots add so much to the book’s overall warmth. With on-point banter, complex personalities, and sizzling chemistry, this is a fantastic read!

This romance was very enjoyable to read. The writing was great and the story kept my attention the whole time!

If this book was about a second-chance romance about Lexi and Duncan combined with the amazing description of a boy band show tour life, this would have easily been a 5 star!

Aidan was just… absolutely unlikable and bland? I couldn’t really understand why he behaved like this in the beginning (ike why did he care Lexi didn’t want to be there if he was SO UNBOTHERED about the documentary whatsoever?) and then switched to a lovey dovey puppy boyfriend in A DAY. The whole change from enemies to lovers felt rushed and unnatural.

The scene after the quiz (iykyk) was soooo random, there is no logical reason why Lexi would sit on his lap and instantly get wet, she’s no longer a horny teenager…

The journalist in me is a bit disappointed in the way Lexi handled interviewing people - the first rule of journalism - DO. NOT. ASK. CLOSED. QUESTIONS. Wish there was a bit more research when it comes to this part, as I was shocked when Lexi asked what exactly he used to harm himself!!! This is so wrong on multiple levels… and don’t get me even started on the unethical secret recording. How that even got approved still baffles me.

Also, the spicy scenes could be a bit more descriptive, I really like how the build up to the scene is described, however the act itself is a bit lacking and feels like everything is happening over 3 sentences. To be fair, a lot of regular scenes seemed like Emma described something using flat words instead of showing us. I actually wanted to read a bit more about the filming bits, not just „we did a lot of filming”. Please. Tell. Me. What. Exactly. The. Filming. Was. About.

Apart from a few awkward wording choices (I get a flash of sex appeal… 😐), this was an entertaining read. I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

I enjoyed the story and overall the characters.
I havent read anything set like this before with a boyband and a documentary but it felt modern and different.
overall I liked the concept.

Lexi is relatable and a bit of a mess. She has a likeable attitude and people seem drawn to her.

Aidan initially doesnt seem like a very nice person
I still wasnt really sure that he even liked Lexi half way through the book but he is actually sweet at times and down to earth even though he is so famous.

I was confused a little because it look a long time for Lexi and Aidan to warm up to each other and then they were sooooo in love all of a sudden.
There is also an age gap which they mention a few times I am not sure how I feel about that because I feel like Lexi acted a lot younger than 30.


PS. Give me more Duncan!!!

Overall this was good. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Emma Rae, Netgalley and Hera Books for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Perfect for lovers of One Direction. The boy band trope is new to me as a few months ago and I haven’t been able to get enough of it! Absolutely need more of this!

Thank you netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book

This was so good and cute I could not put it down but I will say every time I thought about the band I instantly thought of one direction

This was a fun will they won't they love story about an oscar winning documentary maker and the lead singer of a boy band- it was a fun, quick, lighthearted read, full of sharp wit- the perfect holiday novel!

Thanks so much to Emma Rae and Hera Books for the eARC of this book. I loved reading about Lexi and Aidan’s story. There definitely some spice. It was overall a great book and one I’ll be adding to my library. Quick cute read can’t wait to read more from Emma !

I knew you were trouble by Emma Rae is a delightful story following Lexi Hart, an award-winning director as she steps out of her comfort zone to film a documentary of a boy band and falls in love with their front man, Aiden McArthur. One thing I love about Emma Rae’s books is that her characters are always imperfect and flawed which makes them so much more relatable! I really enjoyed this novel and couldn’t put it down! It’s been great to read the falling for a superstar storyline for a unique angle I haven’t read before. Looking forward to Emma’s next story! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

Lexi is an Oscar-winning documentary director whose focus is on some of the darker aspects of humanity. Her new boss decides to have her follow a boy band on tour and direct a documentary about their reunion. She not so happy about it but she reluctantly agrees to it. Little did Lexi know that she'll start to actually like the boys and spending time with them, becoming invested in all their lives, especially Aidan, who she can't get out of her mind.

When I decided to pick up this book from NG, I selected it because of course most of the tropes interested me. One of the tropes I don't particularly like it's a celebrity character, but I still chose it.
And thank God I did, this book was a rollercoaster of emotions, I wanted to keep reading it all the time but at the same I was dreading nearing its end, because I knew there was going to be a third act break up, you could sense it from the way Lexi handled certain things, and I knew this break up was going to hurt and it freaking did. But, unlike most break ups, this one was needed as it helped both Aidan and Lexi to figure some things out about each other and themselves.

I enjoyed reading this book so much because I actually liked every connection Lexi formed with most of the band members while helping them out in their private lives. It is an engaging book and so well written you couldn't help but keeping on reading. You actually felt you were travelling around the world with the band, you were staying in 5 star hotels and cheap hotels, you felt jet-lagged, you felt happiness at being back stage watching the band perform, you felt anger when Aiden kept boycotting Lexi's efforts to do her job, but you inevitably felt exhilarated when he started changing his mind and give Lexi his real self and some stomach-knotting lines.

Their romance is so intense and tense, there was that push and pull that kept you wanting more and more. This is a single pov book, I didn't mind it in this contest, because it was painful not knowing what Aiden felt or thought in certain parts of the book, but that's what happens in real life. Though, I wouldn't have minded to get a glimpse of his real feelings at the beginning when he didn't want Lexi around or when they broke up. So this is my official request to Emma Rae for a couple of bonus scenes.

Thank you Hera Books and NetGalley for the ARC, the opinions are entirely my own.

3.5 stars

Blurb

He’s the world’s most famous frontman. She couldn’t care less.

Lexi is already an Oscar winning documentary director at just 30-years-old. But when she is asked to ditch her current project in exchange to film Rebel Heart - a reunited boy band - she is disappointed to say the least. She didn’t work this hard to follow a boy group on tour and document their every manufactured move for teenage fans.

But after meeting Aidan, the unofficial ‘head’ of the band, something new stirs inside her. She thinks he’s egotistical, entitled, and impulsive. Equally, Aidan thinks Lexi is high-strung, secretive, and emotionally devoid.

Tensions rise, and as Lexi blends work and pleasure, she can’t let go of her difficult past with the father that abandoned her. She doesn’t expect people to stay in her life for long. Especially the lead of a boy band. But is this project about to prove all of her expectations wrong…?

My thoughts:

I recently finished reading I knew you were trouble by Emma Rae, which took me a little while to get into, but once I did, I found myself enjoying the story. The book brought back a wave of nostalgia from my younger years when I used to watch shows like Popstars: The Rivals and X Factor.

The dynamic between the characters Aiden and Lexi intrigued me, especially their enemies to lovers relationship as Lexi takes on the role of Director for the Rebel Hearts documentary, something they both initially oppose. I admired Lexi's strong-willed nature and her determination to get the job done no matter what.

One of the highlights of the book for me was watching Lexi connect with each member of the band individually, breaking down their walls and discovering their vulnerabilities. It was fascinating to see how she went from being the unwanted Director to becoming an integral part of the group.

Overall, I found this book to be a great easy read. The character development and plot kept me invested. If you're a fan of enemies to lovers tropes, boybands and enjoy stories of personal growth and self-discovery with a cute romance thrown in, I recommend giving this book a read.

Thank you to Emma Rae, Hera books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

I raced through this one in a couple of days. I really enjoyed the characters and the character development. The friendship between Duncan and Lexi was great, you could feel from the start that they had been something between them before, but friendship won. I felt the ending was a tad predictable, but that didn’t stop me from wanting the same to help for them.

A variety of well-developed characters, a fun plot, and ...spicey. Yes, please! I Knew You Were Trouble, by Emma Rae, is a book you will not want to put down! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I love Emma Rae’s writing.
I couldn’t put this book down as I just wanted to know what was going to happen on the next page and couldn’t help myself.

I didn’t want this book to end. I needed more Lexi and Aidan!

Enemies to lovers. Lexi and Aidan hated each other from first sight. She thought he was an arrogant playboy out to ruin her job.

Lexi had to follow a band around making a documentary about their world tour. She hated it instantly but had to grin and bear it, or risk getting fired.

Things started to heat up between Lexi and Aidan when she sat on his lap one night at a party and he may have gotten a little bit too excited 😉

I loved the back and forth between these two.

The other characters drew everything together. You got to know them all on a deeper level and really feel connected to everyone.

The third act breakup was so sad 😢 I really felt for Lexi. Such a misunderstanding could have ruined everything.

The grand gesture from Aidan was so heartfelt. It may have made me feel a bit giddy.
I love these two so much and just wish we could have more of them!

Tropes:
-reverse age gap
-grumpy/sunshine
-workplace/secret romance
-forced proximity
-enemies to lovers
-rockstar
-slow burn (heat starts at 44%, spice at 62%)
-single pov
-miscommunication
-found family

If you like any variation of the tropes listed, definitely read this book! The tension was palpable in the beginning and the found family aspect is perfection! It was slow going for me initially, but when it started going from enemies to lovers, I was hooked! I ended up loving this book and not wanting it to end!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

This is the second book that I have been fortunate enough to read an ARC copy of from Emma Rae. While the storyline in I Knew You Were Trouble is completely different from Love Game, some of my comments and critiques of the two books are very similar.

I'll be completely honest: there were moments when I wanted to abandon the book and leave it on my DNF list, but I pushed on for various reasons. The first is because I don't have many DNF books. I have some books that I take a hiatus on, sometimes a years-long hiatus, but I always end up returning to the book when I am in a different mindset. I also wanted to push through because the overall plot and concept of the story were interesting. I was initially drawn to the story because of the blurb and I wanted to see it through. I knew that Love Game was worth finishing when I read that a few months ago, and something told me that I Knew You Were Trouble would also be worth it.

The writing itself was fine, good actually. I still do not enjoy all the time cuts within a chapter, similar to what Emma did in Love Game, and I think some of them could have been edited out completely as the information provided in some sections wasn't too relevant to the overall plot, but it wasn't a deal breaker for me. What bothered me was the lack of evolution or insight into Aiden and Lexi getting to know each other and spending time together. Aiden's feelings for Lexi start to change at one point and, because we don't have any of the stories from his PoV, nor any scenes where they start to spend time together and see them growing closer. I think we either needed to add pages to the story and develop that part of the plot or, remove some of the sections that didn't really do anything for the overall story (was mainly just a filler) and switch it out.

I really enjoyed all of the characters. I know Aiden and Lexi are our main love interests, but the whole band of Rebel Hearts is well-written, and I love the partners that they end up with. I grew up with a lot of boybands. New Kids on the Block started when I was very very young, Backstreet Boys, NSync, 98 degrees, and, even though I was a little too old, I also experienced One Direction. This story spoke to my boyband pop groupie inside my heart and I loved it. I guess, because I read this book so soon after the death of Liam Payne, I kept thinking of One Direction throughout the whole story. Duncan and Merideth are also amazing additions to the story. I actually want there to be a second part of this book just to see how the relationships evolve and continue (please, please continue) in a few year's time.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I am glad NetGalley, Hera Books, and Emma Rae gave me the opportunity to read it in advance. Thank you!

I loved this book. It reminded me a lot of The Idea of You by Robinne Lee. I was hooked from the beginning of the book, and hard a hard time putting it down because I enjoyed it so much. It is a great story about love and trust, and just WOW i loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Hera Books for allowing me to read this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

3.75 ⭐️
I read this book in a little over 24 hours, because I immediately got a little obsessed with the story and a certain broody unofficial band leader. ;) I don’t know if it’s just me, but I kinda kept thinking of One Direction whenever the band was mentioned. (Proud directioner <3 ) So who could blame Lexi when she started fantasizing about and falling for Aiden? Not me. I loved Lexi and how she connected with the boys and what she did for all of them. She also didn’t let anybody tell her how to shoot her documentary, and I kinda admired her for it and therefore loved it even more how the documentary turned out in the end. I was a little bit worried though, how Aiden would take her secret filming, and I was always waiting for the bomb to drop. Luckily it all did work out in the end.
All of the characters felt so real, because everyone of them had their flaws and their baggage and I could relate to some of them.