Here Comes Trouble by Christy McKellan is a short somewhat predictable novella that takes on some rather deep themes. Jess, a journalist needs to make more of an impact at work. In an odd chain of events Jess Lafayette winds up going away for the weekend to interview Xander Heaton famous artist and lothario. Xander and Jess spend the weekend and then some discovering each other. Only to fall back into old patterns and leave apart. They learn much about themselves and connect again. It should be noted that the book deals with a previous eating disorder and body image issues.

“Here Comes Trouble” is by Christy McKellen. I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was predictable (which at times is a comfort read for me) and there were some cute moments. On the other hand, I did some serious eye rolls at some of the descriptions (comparing stomach muscles to ski slope mogul????) and the boss’s comments to Jess (main female character) about needing to get laid [excuse you now? In what office setting is that appropriate?]. There’s not a lot of build-up between the two main characters - they nearly go from meeting to romance very very very quickly. I did like having both characters’ POVs in this book. There’s spice and it was kinda cute. The cover, in my opinion, doesn’t match the book’s contents at all - but that’s a minor nit.

3..5 stars. This was a quick read but I wish I could have had more? It almost felt too rushed for me. It had spice but I wasn't feeling connected to the characters so I wasn't loving it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very short and easy read. The two main characters were fairly two dimensional and the plot was predictable, but it was well written and I enjoyed the resolution.

Rating - 4/5
I rated this as a novella due to the length of the book

What a cute read! I loved the pacing and the plot was great. Both characters really learned about themselves and developed throughout the story and I can imagine this as such a fun film to watch! Great spice too.

I enjoyed this but it felt rushed?

It progressed very quickly, cute storyline but it wasn’t enough to really get to know the characters before it progressed. The chapters were very long, and I liked having insights into both but it felt like it should have been in perspectives!

Overall the storyline was sweet, it was nice to have some spicy scenes where the female wasn’t a professional as I feel like this doesn’t happen often and it makes it relatable!

Just wished it went deeper into certain aspects, who Jess is, who Xander is before they meet. A little bit more too and fro before they go on holiday together.

This was nice. I would say there’s nothing too stand-out about this book but if you’re looking for a short spicy read this is perfect for you. I was really surprised to see the discussion of deeper topics like EDs, parental trauma and body dysmorphia and they were handled well. Especially Xander’s understanding of the grace he had to give Jess. If this was a few more pages this would’ve been a 4 ⭐️ read for me honestly.

Loved this book in the end! Totally gave me a How to a lose a guy in 10 days meets 10 things I hate about you vibes! Seemed slow to start with Jess’s overly buttoned up personality but quickly became a continuous read when she started to let go more!

I love the cover and description. The concept is fun. I did find myself skimming a lot. I never felt interested in the characters and never felt the sexual tension.

A short, cute and spicy read that’s perfect as a palette refresher but unfortunately wasn’t entirely my cup of tea. There were some words that just kept putting me off reading it sadly.

This is a fun rom-com, perfect for a vacation read. It's opposites attract and the characters are both pretty fun to get to know. Nothing too deep, just a fun, quick read.

Starting with what I liked: The story is entertaining and the spice is good. It's easily digestible and even went over a few deeper themes than I originally thought it would.

Unfortunately, I feel like the book should've been longer and more fleshed out for it to have the opportunity to be even better and to give us more insight into the characters to make them feel more relatable.

Here comes trouble, and so did my mixed feelings!

This book is a super quick, fast-paced read and while that makes it easy to fly through, it also means things move "fast". Maybe a little too fast. Jess and Xander have that classic opposites-attract dynamic: she’s the guarded journalist, he’s the charming artist, and they’re forced into close proximity. The tension? So good. The spice? Even better. But the romance itself felt a bit rushed - like they went from “who are you?” to “I can’t live without you” in record time. I wanted more buildup, more depth, and maybe a few extra chapters to really feel their connection.

That said, there were some REALLY cute moments. The paint fight? Adorable. The setting? Loved it. But some of the writing pulled me out of the story (I’m still thinking about those ski slope muscles...), and I couldn’t fully connect with the characters. Jess’s growth was nice to see, but I wish we got more of her outside of the romance. And Xander? He had his moments, but some of his comments just made me go HMMMMM...... So, if you’re looking for deep character development, this might not quite hit the mark.

If you’re in the mood for a cheesy, fast-paced romance with plenty of tension and spice, this might be a fun one for you. Just don’t go in expecting a deep, slow-burn love story - this is more of a whirlwind fling.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the digital copies

#HereComesTrouble #NetGalley

This was an Okay rom com - I enjoyed it, but it wont stay with me longterm. I just found it to be a bit repetitive.

A sweet story and one that I'm glad I read, but likely won't remember long term.

A young, naive journalist travels to Italy to interview a rebellious artist in attempts to save her job. Sparks fly while the two spend time together in a beautiful Italian villa.

This was a quick, sweet romance. At times it felt a little reductive, but at only 250 pages, a lot can be overlooked. It was just fine, but won’t stick in my mind as I move on to the next book.

3,5

I wouldn't say this is a forbidden relationship, the blurb gave me the wrong impression and the marketing should reflect what the book is really about because there are good ideas here. I liked how Xander took Jess out of her cage. She let failed relationships with men and her mother take control of her life, but by opening up to Xander, she ended up being used by him. This was clever because I was expecting the opposite. However, the plot moves very quickly, which hurts the characters's development a bit. I also would suggest that Jess's boss should have a bigger role, so the way she talked to Jess about relaxing more wouldn't seem invasive.

I wouldn't mind an epilogue, just to make sure the couple is still together and that they helped each other in the long run. The epilogue could be Jess interviewing Xander, and talking about his last exhibition and what he was planning to do next. This is my first book by the author, and she made me feel the angst, so I would still read other romances by her, and keep her novelas, like this one, for when I need a quick read to escape the real world.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC!

This was an okay romance - it got a bit repetitive in places, but the premise was good. I do think a trigger warning for previous eating disorders and current disordered eating would have been helpful. It's an integral part of the story because one of the character's mental health and insecurities (not to mention the third-act tension) are based around body dysmorphia. I'm not sure I would have picked this book up if I had known.

I thought both characters were interesting, but I do wish we had gotten to know them a bit more - the book could have benefited from being slightly longer. It currently is less than 200 pages, so there's definitely room for it to have been expanded.

With that being said, it's a mostly cute read, pretty quick, and spicy. So if disordered eating isn't a trigger for you, I'd say definitely give this story a chance!

Here Comes Trouble is a fun, flirty romance that brings together opposites in a classic bad-boy-meets-good-girl dynamic. Journalist Jess is determined to keep her life in order, but when she’s assigned to cover a scandal-prone troublemaker, sparks fly, and chaos ensues.

I really enjoyed the playful banter and humor woven throughout the story. The chemistry between the leads was engaging, and their push-and-pull dynamic kept things interesting. However, the plot felt predictable at times, following familiar romance beats without too many surprises. I also wished for a bit more depth in character development to make the emotional stakes hit harder.

Overall, this is an entertaining, lighthearted read perfect for fans of opposites-attract romances with plenty of charm.

⭐⭐⭐⭐️ | 💘 Opposites Attract | 😆 Witty Banter | 🔥 Fun & Flirty

A quick, emotional read with some heavy themes.
The romance moves fast, and while the chemistry is strong, the story could have used more depth and buildup. Some aspects felt underdeveloped, especially the characters' professions and conflicts. Xander's actions were frustrating at times, making it harder to root for him. Despite this, the writing was engaging, and Jess's journey was compelling. A good read that left me wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in return for an honest review.
I REALLY wanted to love this book and the premise was good but it’s not long enough. The romance goes from 0 to 100 in what feels like the speed of light which meant I struggled to connect with the characters on any level. Although it’s a very easy quick read.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7306269544