Thank you to Netgallery for this ARC in return for an honest review. This is a cute and lighthearted rom com that adds a twist of revenge. I loved the characters who were easy to love, especially the dynamic between Kate and Margot. The travel across Europe and tension between the leads kept me hooked throughout. There were points where I felt the revenge plot wasn't the strongest in its execution but the end product was great. I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a funny, romantic escape book with mostly closed door spice.

I didn't love this book, admittedly this was my first book in the series.. so it didn't help that I was confused by the dual narrative with Kate and Poppy. Everything seemed to move too quickly and felt like a summary of events but I didn't understand any motivation or feelings the characters had.

ARC from netgalley.

Sandy Barker is back with another fun and drama-filled installment of the Ever After Agency series, and I Knew You Were Trouble does not disappoint! It’s got humor, romance, and just the right amount of revenge to keep things interesting.

This time around, our favorite matchmaker, Poppy, finds herself in a bit of a different situation—helping a client with something way outside her usual matchmaking duties. Kate, the client in question, just found out that her fiancé, Jon, isn’t just hers… he’s engaged to other women.! Instead of looking for a new love, she’s looking for payback—and she enlists Poppy to help her get it.

And that’s just the beginning!

Read it!

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Sandy Barker and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I did not realize this was the final book of the series so at first I was a little lost when there were two points of view, Kate and Poppy. Kate is the main character and I was fully satisfied with her development and her hea! Poppy is connected to the main plot but also clearly has much more of a story in the first five books. I did find her interesting and Barker added enough "past reflections" for Poppy so I was not totally lost. I really enjoyed the female friendship and sisterhood aspect of this romcom. The characters could easily have had much more drama but came together with a common goal!

One thing that was a bit troublesome was the author's habit of telling rather than showing. There were some scenes that seemed crucial to the plot that were presented to the reader in the past tense. These scenes could have had more of an impact if you didn't already know it all worked out because the character starts by being back safe and sound from their "mission." For all the oceans 11 and Charlie's angels references, I expected a bit more suspense or at least mild tension as they plotted together.

Overall this was a great light read that was short and sweet. I loved the hea that also included new female friends in addition to a boyfriend for Kate!

look. this one is my fault. i didn't know this was book #5 in a series when i requested the arc, so i was extremely confused about all the name dropping (of in-universe characters) and why poppy was getting her own pov. i feel like i would have enjoyed this a lot more if i knew the lore and already knew these characters, but going in blind just didn't hit right.

with that being said, if this had to be a dual pov book, it would have made more sense for a book in a series of interconnected standalones to feature the pov of the characters from that book, not from previous ones. the thing about interconnected standalones is that you're supposed to be able to pick up any of them without feeling like you're missing out on important stuff by not starting with book #1. this would have felt a lot better if we had povs for both kate and willem instead.

(the title is misleading. it's not willem who's "trouble".)

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. I felt like the story made no sense and was unbelievable. I didn’t like the characters, I didn’t feel the chemistry. I am struggling to find anything I did like about it and I think it ends with the title.

This was a super cute rom com. There were parts that made me laugh, and then there were parts where I wanted to yell at them to just be in love already. =] Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC

This was an easy, light hearted, funny ,cute, romance book. I loved the part in Amsterdam. I also enjoyed reading the different povs as you get to read the story from different perspectives which makes it interesting. Overall I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

This was a fun, light hearted romance that was the perfect swoony read. The characters were likeable with witty banter and I loved the will they/won’t they romance. Definitely a book worth reading this year!

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain spoilers

I’d give this book a solid 3 stars—an enjoyable read overall!

This was a light, fun book with more layers than just the central love story. It featured strong female leads, great female friendships, a revenge subplot, and a book boyfriend that was described Thor lookalike!

Kate and Willem's romance was a slow burn, filled with plenty of tension and banter that I was absolutely invested in. Kate's best friend/cousin made a fabulous character, may we all be so lucky to have a Margot in our lives!

I also really enjoyed the book’s exploration of different countries. The details about the lifestyle, food, and landmarks were fascinating. And the vernacular used in the book? Loved it!

This was the 5th book in an interconnected series, I did not read the previous 4 books and felt that it was ok to be read as a standalone. I would recommend reading this author, I can't wait to go back and read this whole series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #IKnewYouWereTrouble #NetGalley.

This was a cute easy rom com. The whole double life and revenge plot was a little juvenile but still charming. This was my first book by Sandy Barker and I enjoyed her British humor.

Another great rom com within this series of intertwined standalones, The Ever After Agency.

I loved the fact we managed to get revenge as well as a HEA in this one. Both were sweet!!

Thank you for the ARC!

I didn't realize this was part of a series, but I think it could be read as a stand alone? I don't plan on reading the previous 4 books, but this one was alright! It had some slow parts, but overall, i thought it was pretty good. 3.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC!

A fun, humorous read with strong female friendships and a swoon-worthy male lead!

❤️ Lighthearted | 🤩 Entertaining | 📖 Engaging

Sandy Barker’s I Knew You Were Trouble takes readers on a journey through London, Amsterdam, and Verona as Kate Whitaker’s world is turned upside down by the shocking revelation that her fiancé is also engaged—to someone else. Rather than wallowing in heartbreak, Kate is determined to seek revenge and travels with Willem —a strikingly handsome stranger who delivered the devastating news—to Amsterdam to reveal to his sister that her fiancé is also engaged to Kate. But what starts as a mission for payback soon leads to unexpected romance.

I was intriguing by the premise, the cover and the Amsterdam setting —a mix of betrayal, revenge, and unexpected romance, which promised an engaging read. This was my first book by Sandy Barker, and while I enjoyed the humor and the strong female friendships, I later realized it was part of a series. Though it works as a standalone, I suspect I would have appreciated it more with prior knowledge of The Ever After Agency and especially Poppy’s background.

The book is fun, lighthearted, and entertaining. The humorous interactions between the characters made me smile, adding charm to the novel. The bond between the betrayed women was a refreshing aspect, focusing on female friendship rather than just the romance and the revenge plan.

Unfortunaltely, here are a few things that didn't work for me: Kate’s initial reaction to discovering her fiancé’s betrayal: She seemed to take it surprisingly well, almost as if it didn’t matter much. Later, it was revealed that they had only been together for three months and that Kate was more pragmatic due to a recent breakup, which provided some context. Still, her first instinct being revenge rather than confronting him felt unrealistic. While the premise was promising, the storyline felt flat at times. However, the smooth reading flow and pleasant writing style made it more enjoyable. The pacing and the long drawn chapters were another drawback for me. I was particularly looking forward to more development in the Amsterdam storyline, but it felt underutilized. Finally, the confrontation with Jon was underwhelming. After so much buildup, it felt like a missed opportunity for a more satisfying or dramatic conclusion.

While I Knew You Were Trouble had its moments of humor and charm, it ultimately didn’t fully deliver on its potential. However, the strong friendships and likable characters—especially Willem—kept me reading. Fans of Sandy Barker or light romance might still find enjoyment here.

Would I pick up another book by Sandy Barker? Maybe—but I’d consider reading earlier books in the series first to get a fuller appreciation of the characters and their world.

I kindly received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest

Sandy Barker’s "I Knew You Were Trouble" had all the makings of a fun romantic comedy, but sadly, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The story centres around Kate Whitaker, who’s blindsided when a handsome stranger, Willem, shows up on her doorstep to reveal that her fiancé, Jon, is also engaged to someone else. Kate’s understandably shocked, but what really threw me off was how she handled it. Despite all the red flags in her relationship, including the fact that she didn’t even live with Jon, she seemed completely oblivious. Instead of feeling empowered or mature, Kate came across as pretty naive.

Things take a turn when Kate joins Willem on a trip to Amsterdam to break the news to his sister. What starts as a supportive gesture soon turns into a plan for revenge against Jon, and unexpectedly, Kate finds herself developing feelings for Willem. I liked the idea of the plot, but I struggled to get into it. The romance between Kate and Willem never really clicked for me. By the time I’d reached the point where I stopped reading, there had been barely any real connection between them—just a lot of uncomfortable silences and not much actual interaction. For a romance to work, you need to feel the chemistry, and unfortunately, this one felt pretty flat.

Another thing that didn’t sit right was the subplot involving revenge. It seemed like the whole thing was just a way to bring back characters from previous books rather than adding anything meaningful to the story at hand. It felt forced and disrupted the flow of the narrative rather than enhancing it.

Overall, while "I Knew You Were Trouble" touches on some interesting themes, it just didn’t come together for me. The characters weren’t developed enough, the romance felt lackluster, and the plot never quite picked up the pace. If you're looking for a light read, it might work for you, but personally, it didn’t live up to its potential.

I ultimately decided to DNF this book at 50%, though I had considered stopping much earlier. I kept giving it a chance, hoping it would improve, but unfortunately, it never did.

One of my main issues was with the protagonist, Kate. From the very beginning, her choices felt questionable, particularly her decision to open the door for a complete stranger without any real justification. Additionally, her inability to recognize the clear red flags in her fiancé—someone she didn’t even live with—made her appear naive rather than mature. Her character lacked depth and self-awareness, which made it difficult to connect with her. Furthermore, her relationship with her cousin felt more like that of two teenagers rather than grown women in their thirties or forties, adding to the overall immaturity of the character dynamics.

Another major flaw was the lack of chemistry between the romantic leads. By the time I stopped reading, their interactions had been minimal, consisting mostly of “intense silence” rather than meaningful dialogue or emotional connection. Romance thrives on strong character development and engaging interactions, but this story offered neither. Without a compelling connection between the protagonists, it was difficult to stay invested.

Additionally, the subplot involving the so-called revenge plan felt contrived, as though its primary purpose was to reintroduce characters from previous books rather than contribute meaningfully to the storyline. Instead of enhancing the narrative, it disrupted the flow and made the plot feel scattered.

Beyond the character and plot issues, there were also significant cultural inaccuracies that impacted the reading experience. The book presents Amsterdam as a slow-paced, relaxing city, which is a misleading portrayal. In reality, Amsterdam is a busy, dynamic environment, more akin to London but on a smaller scale. While this could be overlooked as artistic license, the incorrect use of Dutch language was far more problematic. These mistakes could have easily been avoided with proper research.

While the book does have a lighthearted tone and some witty dialogue, these positive elements were overshadowed by weak character development, a lack of romantic tension, and significant cultural misrepresentations. Ultimately, this was not the book for me. If you’re looking for a well-developed romance with engaging characters and a compelling plot, I would recommend looking elsewhere. This book gets 1 aka 0 ⭐ from me.

This book was so good! I really loved the characters and how well developed they were! I enjoyed reading their story!

I just loved this book! It has such a good story and amazing characters. Once I started reading this book I just couldn’t put it down.

I would highly recommend reading this book and the other Ever After Agency books in this series as they are just amazing.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review the books early.

😭😭😭 I'm not crying for any negative reason; it's because this may be the last in the Ever After Agency Series, and I have become so invested in the characters that reappear, story after story!
But let's not dwell on my sadness. Let's embrace the fun of the story!
There's a little twist in the tale this time, as Poppy, our favourite matchmaker from the Ever After Agency, engages in an activity for a client that is most definitely not matchmaking!
Poppy's client, Kate, is reeling from discovering that her fiancé, Jon, is a two (three?) timing serial fiancé. Having originally found him through a match with another agency, Kate contacts Poppy for some help with revenge!
Oh, but the plot thickens. Kate finds she has feelings for the Thor-like Nordic Willem, who opens her eyes to the deception she has suffered. And he happens to be fiancé #2's brother...
I'm not saying any more about the plot because you need to read the book, but suffice to say it was so engaging that I read it in one sitting.
We have a bit of travel, lots of 'will they-won't they?' moments and some great side characters in the form of fiancé #2, almost fiancé 3, and Kate's cousin Margot, who is hilarious!
I love that though the story is about a particular client, we get constant updates about Poppy, a pivotal character in all the series books. And her life is about to take its own new turn... are you sure this will be the end, Sandy B?
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Let me start off by saying i tend to love Sandy Barkers books. This series has definitely been so fun. This book specifically has such a fun plot, and it's silly how much i enjoyed that. As always, the characters are fun, and the story reads fast and easily. I also love how the main plot of this story wasn't necessarily the romance.

However, I should mention that I’ve debated dnf'ing this book, let me explain why. I am dutch. This book has scenes in the netherlands and a couple of dutch characters, which also brings with it some dutch language. While that definitely made me excited at first, i was quite disappointed. Not only was amsterdam written as such a cozy place where people slow down, and you can relax (its really really not, i feel like amsterdam has the same vibe as london, but smaller and with some historical houses that people like. Other than the side that, its just as busy, workfocused, etc), but she also uses an extremely offensive dutch swear word (kanker is dutch for cancer, and its really frowned upon to swear with it). Apart from it being offensive, it's literally not used correctly. My recommendations as good translations for asshole would be klootzak, lul, or any english word bc dutchies know english well, and we often swear in english. Dutch people knowing english is also my last point; the dutch characters are often written to say dutch words in english convos, which isn't realistic. We wouldn't go around saying "ja briljant" in an english convo.
These things all annoyed me a bit and took away from the, otherwise enjoyable, reading experience. Now i have read in another review that Sandy Barker has worked with a dutch person to ensure that this would go well, but unfortunately, it didn't work.

Are you not dutch? I absolutely recommend this book (as well as her others). Are you dutch? If you're easily bothered by these things, i would recommend skipping this book and just reading her others.

All of that being said, i sincerely hope that these comments dont discourage Sandy Barker because i really enjoy reading her books. These comments in my review are simply notes for other readers like me or tips for future writing of international romances. I will definitely not stop reading these books and will be looking forward to her upcoming books.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review.