I wanted to like this book so bad but she was infuriating and he was an ahole not in a funny or banter way he’s literally just a mean piece of sh*t.

Designed for Disaster is the next installment of the millionaire series and another strong entry. It’s always great to catch up with the other Lost Boys. This story was fun but full of a giant miscommunication and complication so just know that going in. I enjoyed it, the two characters had a lot of chemistry and an incredibly touching epilogue.

2.5 Stained Glass Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️.5/5

Calling your book Designed for Disaster might be setting yourself up for disaster... AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT...

Yeah, this one was not for me! And coming off of really enjoying Aidan’s story, this just lacked everything I was hoping for.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This follows Trent and Natalie. Natalie works several odd jobs to fund her furniture-making business and one day has a bad run-in with Coffeezilla AKA Trent at the coffee shop where she’s employed. Their encounter gets her fired, but by some twisted fate, Trent unknowingly hires her to design furniture for his grandmother (OUR NANA DEE). When Natalie, the “hellcat” from the coffee shop, shows up at Dee’s house, Trent realizes it’s her. Seeing how happy Dee seems at the sight of his supposed “girlfriend,” he persuades Natalie to keep up the act. In exchange, she gets a job at his prestigious furniture company and the chance to design a sustainable furniture line. The two must navigate their differences, explosive banter, and mutual stubbornness to figure out if there’s something more between them than just a fake arrangement.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I really liked Natalie. She’s self-sufficient, determined, and doesn’t let anyone push her around. Right from the start, you can tell she’s guarded, careful with her heart, and burned from a bad past relationship. She’s clear about her goals and doesn’t waver in what she wants, which makes her a compelling and grounded character.

Trent, on the other hand, was the main reason this book fell flat for me. I wanted to like him, I really did! I might have developed high expectations based on the build-up of who he was based on his glimpses in the previous books... But I struggled to get past his personality. Yes, he’s the typical brooding businessman with bottled-up emotions, but his protective nature over his family and company came off more as arrogance than charm. His strained relationship with his parents (who sound like they came straight from a soap opera) creates tension in his relationship with Natalie. And while I can understand that trauma shapes people, it didn’t make me empathize with him in the way I wanted to.

The biggest problem was the lack of chemistry between Natalie and Trent. They were always at odds, they have different ideals, different outlooks on life, and different perspectives on relationships. Even in opposites-attract romances, there’s usually some aspect where the couple clicks or at least connects through their banter. With these two, it felt like they were constantly clashing, misunderstanding each other, and talking past each other. There was no sense of connection, just a series of miscommunications and unresolved tension.

Now both characters are guarded due to being hurt in the past, but instead of creating depth, it only adds to the miscommunication that drives the story. The third-act breakup felt forced, hinging on yet another misunderstanding and unfounded assumptions. While there was grovelling and begging for forgiveness after the fallout from Trent (because obviously he is the one that messes up), it didn’t feel genuine. Their relationship lacked the foundation to make me believe they could stand the test of time.

Leslie North often relies on the idea that just because two characters spend time together, the romance will naturally fall into place. And while that can work in fluffy, lighthearted romances, it just didn’t land here. I wanted to see actual development in their relationship, not just time spent together implying love.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Workplace Romance (Boss X Employee)
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Poor Girl X Rich Boy
▶ Band of Brothers

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Grovelling
▷ "Good Girl"
▷ Suit Daddy
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Nicknames
▷ Don't Stop
▷ Banter

In the end...it had some cute moments (I mean he bought her a CHURCH) and I got to see more of Nana Dee. But that doesn't fully counterbalance that for me it lacked depth and emotional resonance. So as a result, the romance didn’t feel profound or satisfying.

Thank you to Netgalley, Relay Publishing and Leslie North for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2,75/5

I wanted to love this book as much as I loved the synopsis, but here we are... First, let me thank NetGalley for sending me an ARC.

The book isn’t bad or horrendous—it just doesn’t pair the right tropes with the pacing the author chose. We start with a meet-cute that evolves into a moment where the two main characters get off on the wrong foot. I liked that part; the back-and-forth between them was engaging. Then, due to the FMC being rude to a customer, the FMC gets fired. At this point, everything made sense, and I was intrigued to see where the story would go.

But the fake dating trope, combined with miscommunication and the overly stubborn FMC—who literally didn’t listen to her boyfriend when he told her multiple times that the situation with his parents wouldn’t change—made it hard for me to root for the characters. Not to mention that Trent’s borderline obsessive focus on Natasha’s body (specifically her ass) came off as creepy. Yes, we get it—you like the view. You don’t need to mention it more than twice.

Because of this, the book lacked depth in character development, which made it difficult for me to connect with or root for the main characters. Honestly, I felt more connected to Dee than to either of the MCs.

I knew going into this that it wasn't going to be a serious read and I was buckled in for a good time. However, my main problem with this book is how physical and immediate the relationship came together. No joke in the first chapter he's checking out her butt, and the nicknames really didn't do it for me. However, I think for some people, who are into this more raunchy, lusty romance, would like it. For me who likes a little more character-centered story, I wasn't very swayed. I found Natasha and Trent to be boring, and they only existed for the sake of the romance with each other. Also, I had major problems with Trent, who not only refuses to hear Natasha out during an argument but is screaming at her in the workplace. His character was irredeemable to me. But the most ridiculous thing was the ending, I was again strongly reminded that these are not real people. Even though I do have a lot of criticism for this book, this was fun at times, and I could be whisked away for this office romance.

Natasha, an ambitious furniture designer, is working multiple jobs to open her own custom furniture store after her ex stole her designs. She first meets Trent, the grumpy CEO of a family furniture company, when he gets her fired from her café job after ignoring her warnings about a broken table. Their rocky encounter turns into an unexpected opportunity when Natasha is commissioned to design pieces for Trent’s grandmother, Dee Saunders—Natasha’s idol in the furniture world. Mistakenly believing Natasha is Trent’s girlfriend, Dee encourages her to design a sustainable furniture line for the company.

As Natasha and Trent work together, their fake relationship slowly turns real. Trent grows to admire Natasha’s creativity and drive, while Natasha sees past Trent’s gruff exterior to the vulnerable man beneath. Despite their growing connection, unresolved family tensions and past heartbreaks threaten their relationship. Natasha encourages Trent to mend his relationship with his parents, but his boundaries remain firm, creating conflict.

With humor, heartfelt moments, and a refreshingly honest take on family dynamics, this “grumpy-meets-sunshine” romance celebrates ambition, love, and the power of setting boundaries in a beautifully crafted story.

From cocktails to furniture : that’s a big change in the Manhattan Bossholes series. However, Leslie sticks to the Zillas: from grumpzilla in On the Rocks to Coffeezilla in Designed for Disaster.

And Trent definitely starts out as a Boss hole first class, getting Natasha fired from her job as a barista. But” of course, there is more than meets the eye and we learn about why Nana Dee’s grants on Trent has a difficult relationship with his parents.

Per Leslie’s trademark, sparks are flying and of course it’s a matter of time, before Natasha and Trent combust.

Traditionally Leslie’s stories come per three, but we still have some unfinished business with Nana Dee’s Lost Boys, so I do hope they get their own story. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Designed for Disaster is a fun and charming workplace romance that follows Trent and Natasha, who first meet after a coffee shop mishap. Their witty banter and undeniable chemistry make for a fast-paced, lighthearted read, while family drama and some emotional depth add richness to the story. With plenty of humor, heat, and heart, it’s the perfect pick for anyone looking for a sweet escape. 3.5/4 ⭐️

Leslie North does it again!
Trent and Natasha at eachothers throat not expecting what would happen next. Love Trents tender side which is very unexpected. Nana Dee's character is great at how it intertwines everything. If you like a slow burn this is it!
Great job Leslie North

This book grabbed me right from the beginning. Lots of banter and chemistry between the characters and a good story. Spice was minimal, 2/5. Would recommend.

Leslie North's bosshole series have the camp of an Annika Martin billionaire book, but without the laugh out loud zaniness that make those pretty darn enjoyable reads. The bosshole series is entertaining enough to fill my time during my public transit commute. Are these keepers and re-reads? Nope.

great book and I loved the action and the romance . I loved seeing the friends and family. I loved that they were able to figure things out. Overall a great book .

I genuinely enjoyed this read! What surprised me most is that unlike many books I’ve read lately that fall under a similar category (where, let’s be honest, the plot comes secondary to the spice) the plot of Designed for Disaster was what kept me reading. If anything the spicy scenes felt like an afterthought!
My only true complaint of the book is a minor one, that I wish it had a few sentences thrown in here or there giving general timeframes within the story. Because it read as if the relationship occurred over the span of a couple weeks, when by the end I think it was actually over the course of several months. I know it’s something small and may seem silly, but having a few timestamps would have made the timing of the story feel more realistic, likely because I would have been more likely to assume additional relationship building was happening behind the scenes. Regardless, overall I enjoyed the read and am glad to have picked this one up.

Spicy, male female, 1st person dual point of view, contemporary romance. This is the third interconnected standalone book in the Manhattan Bossholes series. Fun, well paced, perfect length read. This had fake dating and grumpy/sunshine (though they were both delightfully antagonistic) tropes. I will definitely read the other books in this series.

「 ★ ★ ★ ★ 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 」

Trent & Natasha

Excuse me miss ma'am! But to give me a man groveling for forgiveness and making me ball my damn eyes out in the process so much that I couldn't see the words is just diabolical.

Trent is very jaded man with crappy parents and some past family trauma, who is learning how it feels to actually be loved unconditionally. And Natasha is a firmly independent woman with a creative flair and a passion for challenging the man she is falling in love with.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has me shocked, giggling, kicking my feet, crying and swooning.

This would be loved by any romance reader.

She laughed at his coffee spill. He got her fired. Now he’s offering her a dream job and fake-dating chaos—because of Grandma, obviously. This rom-com serves up zingy banter, awkward sparks, and just enough sweetness to keep you hooked. It’s frothy, fun, and perfect for fans of "I-hate-you-but-also-maybe-love-you" vibes.

Designed for Disaster" is the third installment in Leslie North's Manhattan Bossholes series. The novel follows Natasha, a passionate furniture designer working as a barista, and Trent Saunders, a grumpy billionaire. Their story begins with a contentious encounter in a coffee shop, leading to Natasha's dismissal. Subsequently, Trent offers her a job designing furniture for his grandmother, Nana Dee, who mistakenly believes they are romantically involved. To maintain the ruse, Natasha and Trent agree to a fake relationship, which gradually evolves into genuine affection as they navigate personal challenges and trust issues. The novel combines elements of humor, romance, and emotional growth, culminating in a satisfying happily-ever-after.

Leslie North is a USA Today Bestselling author known for her romantic comedies and contemporary romances. Her works often feature strong characters and humor, providing readers with engaging and heartwarming stories.

The third book in the series begins with Natasha working as a barista and meeting Trent. The meeting does not go well since he is a customer and she is fired. Later they meet again when he wants to commission a piece of furniture for his grandmother Dee who is in the other books. After meeting again he offers her a designer job at his family's furniture factory. The story from there has the same moments as the other books and they will break up and get back together eventually, but getting there and with all of the characters this book worked for me. I enjoyed the story.

Designed for Disaster by Leslie North is the third book in her Manhattan Bossholes series. It is, however, the first book in the series I’ve read. I had zero problem following things so I assume they are set up to be read as standalone, but the lives of the characters in the story are all connected so I’m sure I’d have gotten a bit more out of the story had I known what had happened in the previous stories. This is a spicy romcom with a surprising amount of heart. As I said there is a decent amount of ‘heat’ so if you prefer a ‘clean’/closed-door romance, you might want to skip this one…or skip certain scenes. That info out of the way, I must say I loved the characters from the very start. That snappy/antagonistic meet-cute was excellent. Natasha is a struggling furniture designer/maker, though she works a handful of other jobs to make ends meet. Trent (aka Mr. Moneybag/Coffeezilla man) happens to run a major furniture business, not that Natasha knows that at the start. Loved the banter between Natasha and Trent, and you could already feel the chemistry. The story implements one of my favorite tropes, fake dating. And I loved the how much Trent (and everyone really) cares for his grandmother, Nana Dee. While a bit spicier than what I normally read, I enjoyed the heck out of it and will definitely be checking out the earlier books in the series. 4.5 stars. I’d like to thank Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Designed for Disaster.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1E2GTOS48LCAI/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Loved this even more than the 2nd book of the series. This book has the perfect blend of characters, plot, drama,love and happiness.
Highly recommend, one of Leslie North's best books