An enemies to lovers novel, this book is quirky and cute. Freya is sent to NYC with romance author Jake to save his career after he made a huge confession about hating romance books, and was overheard by a reporter, who, of course, published it. In the process of attempting to salvage what is left after the damage was done, Freya finds out why Jake actually made those comments and everything else surrounding the drama. The unlikely duo of course ends up falling in love, but what kind of risk will that put to her starting career? There is miscommunication and strife, but the journey to get to the HEA is worth it! Both characters are really likable, and if you’re up to date with this author’s writing, you will see characters you have met in other books, which brings a really nice sense of familiarity to her novels.
What I like most about this book is the author’s dedication to her character, Freya, staying true to herself while being under immense pressure that is being a professional in a challenging industry. I like that she was quirky and brutally honest, and I definitely appreciated how she was a diehard romance reader, but the author allowed her to open her mind to other genres, which to me as a reader is something I find special because it’s too easy to find your genre and box yourself in. It made me connect more with the character.

As far as the blurb went, I was all the way down for this. Grumpy-sunshine, awkward-meetings? Sign me up.

But well, that was where it sort of stalled for me well. The premise was great, the execution a lot less so.

The writing, at the start, made the whole read feel like junior fiction instead of N/A or adult romance. The rather simplistic/stilted voices made both Jake and Freya more cardboard characters than flawed, three-dimensional protagonists, with just the central plot driving the story of Freya needing to rehabilitate Jake’s image despite her inexperience in all ways. New York then, became the place where they got closer and of course, a spanner must be thrown into the works and a good misunderstanding (a personal peeve of mine because communication just can’t come easy between adults especially in romantic fiction?) messes things up.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but much of the dialogue felt like it was taking place between mostly teenage girls. There sometimes wasn’t much distinction between Jake and Freya and Freya’s friends; Jake’s own narrative voice was in some ways, as awkwardly feminine as Freya’s, just from an opposite point of view and that wasn’t anything I could get used to even when I got halfway through the book.

Things definitely got a bit more interesting after the halfway mark though, and just as I was about to give up on the flightiness of Freya’s behaviour and her repetitive internal monologues, the growth and development that emerged from there was in fact, a welcome change of pace and depth.

I’m afraid this wasn’t quite the book for me after all. It’s an easy read in retrospect and I do appreciate the happy end for all involved (including the side players), but it was just difficult to enjoy the flow of the narrative.

I love grumpy sunshine I pretty sure that goes back to my childhood favorite movie being Beauty and the Beast. As well as he falls first, as long as we the reader get to watch him fall first. Which is really great when we get dual point of views.

This was a light and cute read about enemies to lovers. The book was cozy and feel good - an easy rom com for the summer!

This was cute, but it felt long. As I was reading, I thought, "Oh, we've got to be more than halfway through. Perfect." I looked down to see I was only 30% finished.

This is a quick read that is ideal for those who like their romance novels with a side of spice! I found the plot to be interesting and it made me appreciate the work that goes into plotting a romance novel. I enjoyed the beginning of the book, which really framed the plot. However, as the book progressed, I found the pace a bit too quick. I think author Victoria Walters includes a lot of rich ideas that could have been given further substance; it just felt like a sprint to the finish to a novel that had enough material for a marathon pace.

Overall, Long Story Short is a cute story with a quirky and loveable main character who lives life as authentically as we all should!

I was excited about the premise of this book (I’m a sucker for anything set in the publishing industry), but was ultimately left really disappointed. The writing and dialog felt so stilted and awkward that it left me physically cringing at points. I had such high hopes, but this one wasn’t a fit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My feminist rage forced me to stop reading this book.

After knowing each other for only a few hours and fresh off a flight, Freya puts Jake in his place, and rightly so– his response? “It’s fine, Freya; no need to put on your schoolteacher voice about it. Maybe you should lie down for a bit.”

AAARGH.

OK OK the FMC is very much ditzy (being flustered always; not being aware of her professional environment; wearing a (straw?) hat, sleeveless dress, and cowboy boots for a flight to NYC, to name a few) so perhaps the MMC was a tiny bit justified to do an eye roll, at the most, but to effectively tell her to calm down and stop being hysterical?

I am ready to cut a bitch.

Grumpy does not mean rude AF. He does not have to hate women. And sexual ‘jokes’ between colleagues about first times wink wink nudge nudge are a HR violation and not a cute “how did you two meet?”-anecdote.

On top of that, this story could use some editing to cut out unnecessary sentences and remove spelling mistakes (you two, versus, you too).

I should have stopped when the bestest romance writer in the world was a MAN. Which is the topic of the first chapter ;)

Shoutout to the very very cute cover!!

DNF at 14-17%.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for inviting me to read this book. I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

This was a really lovely and sweet romance that I flew through in the space of twenty-four hours. I enjoyed Freya and Jake's chemistry from the get go, they were a fun duo and their short trip to New York was a great time to follow their fling and how they were going to get Jake's career back on top. The writing and dialogue flowed easily and the outcome was incredibly satisfying. I had a lot of fun with this one and it's made for the perfect read whilst the sun is out.

I really liked this book! It was perfect for the relaxing afternoon that I had planned after a long work week! The story is well written, the characters relatable and there are a lot of cute moments!

It’s really funny that i read this book while on twitter people are raging because all the books that you can find at target are seemingly written for a woman audience and they said that there are no men author anymore while here the best romance writer is indeed a man! What a coincidence!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Long Story Short centers around an aspiring literary agent and romance reader, Freya, and successful romance author, Jake. Jake's career has taken a massive hit after he was caught making disparaging comments about romance readers and the genre itself; Freya is sent by her boss Hayley to accompany Jake to a romance conference in New York to do damage control. The goal is to get him back into his publisher's good graces. As they reluctantly team up, these polar opposite personalities find they work together well, in more ways than one.

The premise interested me, because it held a lot of potential to take this book in multiple directions, and Walters does just that. Not only is this book an opposites attract romance, but there is an equal amount of plot focusing on Freya's career. And that secondary plot really kept my interest as much, if not more, as the romance.

The writing itself took getting used to, and it honestly (that's what I'm doing here) isn't the greatest. A bit cringe at times. Long Story Short is narrated by Freya, and it is basically her thinking out loud as she narrates, and sometimes it's repetitive. I'd describe the writing itself as stream of consciousness, heavily focused on Freya's reactions in the moment, and actions (a lot of “I”-language). Freya over-explains and over-analyzes her own insecurities and actions repeatedly. I would have liked more descriptions, character development / background, and scene-setting. While not entirely devoid of lovely moments, I wanted to be swept up in the romance. As a reader, I swooned... but I wanted more. That said: the plot moves, and it's never boring.

The dialog between Freya and Jake is very direct. As I noted while reading, maybe it's my Dutch directness, but I liked it. Doesn't mean there isn't any misunderstanding happening in the story, but I thought it was refreshing to see characters not beat around the bush every time they actually had a conversation. And although the dialog may come off as unrealistic at times, it did fit with the characters. Throughout the book, Freya is praised for her directness and her honesty, and it's a character trait Jake appreciates and needs in a person. So that's why in THIS story, with THESE characters, the dialog actually works for me.

And as such, the pairing works for me, too. It's somewhat of a whirlwind romance, and I would have liked to see them get to know each other more during their time in New York (re: I wanted to be swept up in the romance more), but the potential was believable from the start, and that foundation made me root for them regardless.

Finally, Walters ended up surprising me with some side characters' developments, and it kept me hooked, particularly after the halfway mark. I couldn't put it down by that point.

Long Story Short (ha!): this is a quick and light read with enough plot and believable romance to keep you reading, but it would certainly have benefitted from a different approach to the story-telling itself.

Spice: medium
Tropes: forced proximity, age gap (10 years), colleagues, opposites attract

Freya lives in the UK and is a PA to Hayley and aspires to become a literary agent too, sooner rather than later. Reading mainly romance Freya definitely knows the audience and sentimentality of the genre. One of her favourite romance authors, Jake, just so happens to be one of Hayley's clients. Jake has been accused in the press for criticising romance readers and claiming writing within the genre is easy, this has not gone down well with his followers and now Hayley is in damage control mode. Hayley has signed Jake up to a prestigious. five-day, romance conference in New York to try and win his publisher around to release his newest book. Inconveniently Hayley's sister is getting married in the UK during the conference so she also signs up Freya to go with Jake to make sure things go smoothly.

Freya is comfy dresses and practical boots. Jake is flawless facial hair and tailored suits. With a ten year age gap, distinctly different bank accounts and sunshine vs grumpy personalities this is a slow burn romance story incorporating forced proximity.

The spice is minimal. The writing didn't always gel with me, sometimes I had to read a sentence a time or two to understand it, however this is a personal opinion. The twists and turns of Freya's professional life was generally more convincing than the romance between the main characters, it felt a little over explained and the dialogue unemotional. Also this is from Freya's point of view throughout and it might have benefitted from Jake's POV to make the tension more believeable.

A cozy, feel-good rom-com with just the right touch of spice—perfect for romance readers who crave warm-and-fuzzy feels, bookish characters, and forbidden tension.

Long Story Short by Victoria Walters feels like stepping into a cozy rom-com in book form. With a swoon-worthy male main character who happens to be a romance writer, the book is a sweet and romantic treat for book lovers and romance enthusiasts alike.

The story combines age gap romance, forbidden romance, and a touch of spice, all set against a backdrop of tension-filled forced proximity. The chemistry between the characters and their bookish charm give the story a lighthearted and uplifting feel. The plot is simple but entertaining, and the ending leaves you with a heart-warming smile on your face.

While the book doesn't delve into complex themes, it's a delightful and easy read—perfect for when you're in the mood for something sweet and cozy. If you enjoy lighthearted romances with a touch of spice, Long Story Short is a great pick.

Long Story Short is a spicy, trope-packed romance that throws two unlikely characters together in the city that never sleeps—and makes them confront not just each other, but their own messy truths.

Freya Harrison is an assistant literary agent desperate for her big break. Instead, she gets stuck babysitting the agency’s most difficult client: Jake Richards, a globally successful romance author who’s just tanked his reputation by calling romance “easy money” and mocking his readers. Freya already thinks he’s arrogant and fake—now she has to clean up his PR mess at a romance conference in New York, while somehow keeping her own career afloat.

From the first scene, the dynamic between Freya and Jake is classic enemies-to-lovers: sharp, chaotic, and a little unhinged. Their banter starts off barbed and often veers into cringey (Jake’s early “jokes” toe the line between flirty and wildly inappropriate), but as the story unfolds, so do the characters. Jake, initially all ego and eye-rolls, starts to show vulnerability and sincerity. Freya, while ditzy and flustered at times, comes into her own with real emotional depth. Her journey—standing up for herself, claiming her voice, and no longer being anyone’s doormat—is a highlight.

The tropes are strong:
• Enemies to lovers – Check.
• Grumpy x sunshine – Definitely.
• Forced proximity – They’re stuck together all week.
• He falls first – Oh yes.
• Reputation redemption – Front and center.
• Slow burn – Deliciously so.
• Spicy moments – Oh, it brings the heat.

Still, Long Story Short isn’t without its flaws. Some dialogue feels stilted, especially early on, and certain scenes—like Jake making sexual jokes after knowing Freya for five minutes—don’t quite land. The writing could be tighter in places, and a few character choices feel more like plot devices than real development. That said, the emotional payoff is solid, and the final chapters deliver the satisfying kind of swoon that fans of Emily Henry or Christina Lauren will appreciate.

This is a romance about second chances—at love, at work, and at being seen for who you really are. It’s messy, funny, sharp in parts and soft in others. And even when the dialogue stumbles, the chemistry and heart still carry it through.

Books that take place within the literary world are some of my faves. This was no exception. I loved that the male main character was the grumpy author in this story. Walters is an expert storyteller and the book has charm and fun banter. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

There is lots to love about this book! The New York setting is really atmospheric and you see the City leaping off the page, practically forming another 'character' in the book. As a book lover it's so interesting to dive into the literary world of agents and authors.
The personal stakes for Jake's time in New York were high, and it was compelling to see how he dealt with his challenges and to see the developing relationship between Jake and Freya helping him to learn to open up, rescuing his career as a result.
The two leads are nicely drawn as very different in nature, she being ditzy and a bit chaotic, with him very buttoned up and controlled. I would have loved to feel that I'd got a deeper understanding of who they were as people, and thus be 100% invested and carried along by their romance.
The 'ball-breaking' literary agent character was a little too pantomimey bad-guy for my taste, but what do I know, perhaps the author knows better, though I hope not for her sake!!
Thank you to Boldwood for the ARC.

‘Long Story Short’ by Victoria Walters is a fun, spicy enemies-to-lovers romance with a slow burn that will keep you kicking your feet.

I had such a fun time with this book and getting to know Freya and Jake. Their dynamic was phenomenal and was a perfect vibe to the sunshine to his grumpy trope. There was so much tension and humor and was super easy to get through.

However, this book certainly was not a favorite. There were times when the pacing felt a little rushed, and I wished for more depth in the emotional stakes. Although I giggled a few times, the charcaters didn’t call to me and made me feel attached. They were quite forgettable to say the least. This is not to say that the story was bad in anyway because I’m certain there will be people who absolutely love it. I just think there were certain factors missing that took away from the emotional depth of the story to make it a 5 star read. The story didn’t always hit as hard as I hoped.

It’s a solid 3.5-star read with a fun premise and plenty of steamy moments for fans of lighthearted rom-coms, and this rating typically means I would still recommend it and possibly reread it even!

3.5 rounded up.

Cute and fun! Freya is a young literary agent assistant who's eager to prove herself and become an agent. One of her agency's top clients and romance novelists, Jake, gets himself in a bind after a reporter overhears him trashing romance books. Freya's boss sends her to a New York romance book convention with Jake to repair his image, and the fun begins...

The story was very cute, with Freya definitely having some embarrassing moments and needing a lesson on how to keep her moth shut, and Jake being grumpy and making things worse at times. They have some good chemistry, and get to know each other a little better, but also have trust issues and are hesitant to open up. I loved Freya's attitude--honesty and empathy in what's often a fake and cutthroat world. Loved how they grew together but were by no means perfect; their missteps were perfectly in character and allowed them to grow together. There were a few spicy scenes but nothing too crazy. The dialogue was a little stilted at times, and I liked but wasn't swooning over the writing. But I really loved the messages and ideas in the story most. All in all, a light and fun read.

This book follows Freya who is an aspiring literary agent and Jake Richard’s who is a renowned romance author on the brink of career ruin. The first part of the book the two are attending a work conference in New York and have to face the trials of repairing Jake’s career after he outted himself for “hating romance and writing the novels for money”. Here the two discover their attraction to each other but also their fate in regards to both have relations to Hayley (Freya’s boss and mentor). I absolutely LOVED the character development throughout the book. Freya eventually finding her voice and learning to stand up for herself, and Jake being more open and honest with his readers. I absolutely LOVED it. I’m so excited to add this to my bookshelf!

Cozy. Cute. Humours. Sometimes romantic. And had a great flow. I was not disappointed and really enjoyed the main characters banter back and forth. Thank you for an arc of this book.