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Loveless Brothers #1
Enemies with Benefits
(Alternate Cover Edition of ASIN B07RWDH7XK.)
I don’t love him. I don’t even like him. I just want him.
Eli Loveless was my nemesis from the first day of kindergarten until we graduated high school. Everything I did, he had to do better - and vice versa. The day he left town was the best day of my life. Ten years later, the day he came back was the worst. Now he’s my co-worker. Grown-up Eli Loveless is sexy as sin. He’s hotter than asphalt in the summer. The irritating kid I once knew is gone, and he’s been replaced by a man with green eyes, perfect abs, and a cocky smile. It’s bad that I want him. It’s worse that he wants me back. There are looks. There are smirks. There are smiles that make my panties burst into flame. And then there’s a shared kiss that leads to the hottest night of my life. This is no office romance. This is a five-alarm fire. What’s a girl to do when the man I can’t stand is the one I can’t stop lusting after? Enter into a friends-with-benefits agreement, of course. No dates. No relationship. Just blisteringly hot sex, because if there’s one person I could never fall for, it’s Eli.... right?
Enemies with Benefits is the first book in the Loveless Brothers series, and can be read as a total standalone. It's for fans of high-heat, low-angst romantic comedies and anyone who enjoys a rivals-to-lovers story. This book also has tons of sibling banter, a workplace romance that smolders, and a small town with tons of charm and quirk. It's steamy, hilarious, and of course it's got a guaranteed HEA. (And yes, it bangs.)
I don’t love him. I don’t even like him. I just want him.
Eli Loveless was my nemesis from the first day of kindergarten until we graduated high school. Everything I did, he had to do better - and vice versa. The day he left town was the best day of my life. Ten years later, the day he came back was the worst. Now he’s my co-worker. Grown-up Eli Loveless is sexy as sin. He’s hotter than asphalt in the summer. The irritating kid I once knew is gone, and he’s been replaced by a man with green eyes, perfect abs, and a cocky smile. It’s bad that I want him. It’s worse that he wants me back. There are looks. There are smirks. There are smiles that make my panties burst into flame. And then there’s a shared kiss that leads to the hottest night of my life. This is no office romance. This is a five-alarm fire. What’s a girl to do when the man I can’t stand is the one I can’t stop lusting after? Enter into a friends-with-benefits agreement, of course. No dates. No relationship. Just blisteringly hot sex, because if there’s one person I could never fall for, it’s Eli.... right?
Enemies with Benefits is the first book in the Loveless Brothers series, and can be read as a total standalone. It's for fans of high-heat, low-angst romantic comedies and anyone who enjoys a rivals-to-lovers story. This book also has tons of sibling banter, a workplace romance that smolders, and a small town with tons of charm and quirk. It's steamy, hilarious, and of course it's got a guaranteed HEA. (And yes, it bangs.)
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2019
About the author
Roxie Noir
68 books3,225 followersRoxie is a romance author by day, and also a romance author by night. She lives in Los Angeles with one husband, two cats, far too many books, and a truly alarming pile of used notebooks that she refuses to throw away.
She's the author of the Loveless Brothers series, the upcoming Wildwood Society series, and a bunch of other books that are also delightful.
If you need updates or free stories, you can sign up for her newsletter: http://roxienoir.com/newsletter
She's the author of the Loveless Brothers series, the upcoming Wildwood Society series, and a bunch of other books that are also delightful.
If you need updates or free stories, you can sign up for her newsletter: http://roxienoir.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,071 reviews
May 27, 2021
“Sometimes I wish we weren’t us,” he says.
I LOVED LOVED LOOOOVEED Enemies with Benefits. I was so absorbed with this book that I did not want to sleep, eat or work! Whilst this book doesn’t add anything new to the enemies to lovers and friends with benefits tropes, it’s the characters that really shine through in this story. Roxie Noir is a new to me author, but she went over and beyond my expectations – she promised, and she delivered!
♡ Plot: ♡
Elijah ‘Eli’ Loveless (29) and Violet Tulane (29) have been enemies since they were kids, torturing each other in every way possible. After graduation takes them down different paths, Eli makes his return back to their small town of Sprucevale. Their reunion is anything but friendly and what’s worse, they find out that they’re working at the same company.
Violet is now an Event Coordinator and Eli is an Executive chef. But they’re both adults now so what could go wrong? Absolutely everything. When the boss announces a twenty-grand bonus for the MVP staff member of the year, their old rivalry is back in place but this time, there’s an intense physical attraction between them.
♡ Characters ♡
Violet was such an interesting character. I didn’t quite know what to make of her at the beginning because she seemed to have a huge chip on her shoulder but the more I got to know her, the more I understood a lot of the choices she made in life. And I eventually started rooting for her.
Eli officially has my heart!! I want to marry him. He’s arrogant, hot, and so funny. And the fact that he’s a chef wins bonus points from me. The cover model does this book justice – he’s exactly how I imagined Eli, right down to the arrogant smirk. (I’m stealing him away from Violet and you’re all invited to the wedding.)
I ADORED Eli’s brothers – Levi, Daniel, Seth and Caleb, and the wholesome dynamic they had with each other. The playful banter and the loyalty they had was incredible. They ruthlessly joked around with each other, but they totally had each other’s backs. I can’t wait to read each and every single one of their books. And omg, Daniel’s daughter, Rusty, was ADORABLE and SUCH A SCENE STEALER! Cutest 6-year-old ever!
♡ The Romance ♡
We’re not in love. We’re not even in like.
The chemistry between Violet and Eli was out of this world! I loved how competitive they were as kids, but even more so as adults. Although they overstepped a few boundaries (I mean, their insults were harsh), they made me laugh so hard with their constant bickering and bantering. I also love the fact that this book didn’t have the whole ‘it-was-you-all-along’ trope, Violet and Eli were genuinely enemies from the beginning. The solid history of animosity between them made the story a lot more interesting and heated!
“But I want to be someone you can always trust. I want to always have your back. I want to always be there, behind you, and I want to be so constant you never have to think about whether I’m yours or not. I just am. I’m there. I’m there and I always am and you never have to wonder whether I’d hurt you, and can you believe I rehearsed this?” he asks.
I genuinely believe that is one of the best enemies to lovers romances I have ever read. The transition from enemies to lovers was perfectly seamless. Violet and Eli’s relationship progressed so organically here! I’m so glad this book had dual POV’s because it was so fun seeing the distrust dissolve from both sides and how they succumbed to the explosive chemistry.
“You’re it, Violet. You’re all there is for me. It’s you or a life of austere hermitude. Let me be yours.”
Violet and Eli were actually a lot alike in so many ways and that’s exactly what made them such a great couple. They were both incredibly stubborn and a tad bit lost. It was really sweet that they ultimately found a sense of belonging in each other. Aside from the super steamy smut, there were so many amazing moments between the pair. I loved their incessant teasing but also the quiet moments where they just enjoyed each other’s company. These two have easily made it onto my list of favourite couples.
♡ Other thoughts ♡
Enemies to Lovers had an excellent balance of sweet and sexy, as well as humour and seriousness. The tone of the story never once felt messy at all. Personally, I think that takes serious skill, so I commend the author for that. I think there were areas of the story where the author definitely could’ve delved a bit deeper, but that’s nothing major.
The epilogue was adorable and I’m so glad the author included the brothers for part of it. It just painted a really wholesome picture. There’s also a free bonus scene that takes place a month after the book ends if you sign up for the author’s newsletter. You won’t be missing out on anything if you don’t read it, but it was super fun! Rusty and Gertie the grasshopper… *sobs* I’m so happy the next book is starring her dad, in a single-father, friends to lover’s romance. I can’t wait to see more of her in the next book!
All in all, Enemies to Lovers was a BRILLIANT read. I loved this book so much (how many times have I said that??). I’m normally super picky with my 5-star ratings but the absolute joy this book brought me negates all the tiny things I could nit-pick. I’ve already fallen head over heels in love with one Loveless brother, let’s hope I’ll fall in love with the other four!
Rating: 5/5
***********************************************
Found my future husband 😍😍😍
rtc... 💖
July 10, 2021
This was amazing! Definitely an interesting and better version of the "friends with benefits" trope
✅ I REALLY ENJOYED THE concept of childhood enemies turning into adults that are still enemies but with mega-hots for each other. I definitely had a similar "childhood nemesis" where we were openly mean to each other but secretly had a big crush on the other 😅 Mine definitely did not end up like this though lol
🆗 THE SIDE PLOT was okay but nothing to get excited over. Both Eli and Violet work at a wedding venue so it was entertaining seeing all the bridezillas, but the overall villain and side conflict from the romance was just mehh
✅ THE BANTER WAS top-notch and really funny! Eli and Violet were supposed to be enemies that hated each other, but most of their "fights" were more like heated flirting and banter so I really enjoyed it
✅ SO STEAMY, BUT IN A CUTE WAY! This book definitely had a lot of sex scenes, which I am always here for 😏 I also appreciated that Eli wasn't an ass hole or alpha male - sometimes you just want a "nice guy" romance haha
This book wasn't anything groundbreaking but it was definitely highly entertaining. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun rom-com full of great banter, lots of steamy scenes, and a long list of other sexy brothers to read about in the overall series.
✅ I REALLY ENJOYED THE concept of childhood enemies turning into adults that are still enemies but with mega-hots for each other. I definitely had a similar "childhood nemesis" where we were openly mean to each other but secretly had a big crush on the other 😅 Mine definitely did not end up like this though lol
🆗 THE SIDE PLOT was okay but nothing to get excited over. Both Eli and Violet work at a wedding venue so it was entertaining seeing all the bridezillas, but the overall villain and side conflict from the romance was just mehh
✅ THE BANTER WAS top-notch and really funny! Eli and Violet were supposed to be enemies that hated each other, but most of their "fights" were more like heated flirting and banter so I really enjoyed it
✅ SO STEAMY, BUT IN A CUTE WAY! This book definitely had a lot of sex scenes, which I am always here for 😏 I also appreciated that Eli wasn't an ass hole or alpha male - sometimes you just want a "nice guy" romance haha
This book wasn't anything groundbreaking but it was definitely highly entertaining. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun rom-com full of great banter, lots of steamy scenes, and a long list of other sexy brothers to read about in the overall series.
June 21, 2023
3.75 stars
i wasn't sure how to rated this....
i liked the story, the writing's pretty good. Violet and Eli were charming, they had an incredible chemistry, their banter and back and forth was so fun and entertaining, their interactions were filled with just the right amount of sarcasm, it's never boring. their hate-to-love story was believeable, realistic, and was so engaging i found myself dying to know how their story would progessed and wrapped up.
that being said, there were some parts of the book that i couldn't get fully invested in. there were quite a lot scenes about their job and wedding stuffs that i didn't really care about and ended up skimming through. also i wish there were more scenes about Violet and Eli's relationship after they established their feelings. couldn't get enough of them🥺
still overall i throughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more about these brothers. i'd definitely recommend this to anyone who looking for a enemies-to-lovers story with great banters, lots of steamy scenes, and lovely family dynamics.
i wasn't sure how to rated this....
i liked the story, the writing's pretty good. Violet and Eli were charming, they had an incredible chemistry, their banter and back and forth was so fun and entertaining, their interactions were filled with just the right amount of sarcasm, it's never boring. their hate-to-love story was believeable, realistic, and was so engaging i found myself dying to know how their story would progessed and wrapped up.
that being said, there were some parts of the book that i couldn't get fully invested in. there were quite a lot scenes about their job and wedding stuffs that i didn't really care about and ended up skimming through. also i wish there were more scenes about Violet and Eli's relationship after they established their feelings. couldn't get enough of them🥺
still overall i throughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more about these brothers. i'd definitely recommend this to anyone who looking for a enemies-to-lovers story with great banters, lots of steamy scenes, and lovely family dynamics.
Read
July 12, 2024An enemies to lovers story set in backwoods small town USA. He's a chef who's wandered the world and come home, she's a high-school high achiever who never managed to get out of the trailer she grew up in, and they both work at the same swanky wedding venue. They also have a massive high-school hate thing going on.
I will admit to struggling with high-school hate as a plot driver in 30yo adults, but I have read many far less plausible romance plot drivers, and it comes across with absolute emotional reality. Plus I really liked the way they both grow up: there's a lot of places I was braced for someone doing a rom-com silliness and instead they act with thought and maturity and understanding, and that broadened and deepened the romance to great effect. Very well handled.
I didn't feel we quite got to grips with why Violet had never managed to leave town and her backstory, or whether she was ever going to get to leave now. Possibly that's more about my feelings as to being stuck in your home town forever than the heroine's.
Jaunty writing, high heat, nicely sketched in supporting cast/sequel bait, and mostly, a romance that feels properly real as it develops.
I will admit to struggling with high-school hate as a plot driver in 30yo adults, but I have read many far less plausible romance plot drivers, and it comes across with absolute emotional reality. Plus I really liked the way they both grow up: there's a lot of places I was braced for someone doing a rom-com silliness and instead they act with thought and maturity and understanding, and that broadened and deepened the romance to great effect. Very well handled.
I didn't feel we quite got to grips with why Violet had never managed to leave town and her backstory, or whether she was ever going to get to leave now. Possibly that's more about my feelings as to being stuck in your home town forever than the heroine's.
Jaunty writing, high heat, nicely sketched in supporting cast/sequel bait, and mostly, a romance that feels properly real as it develops.
July 11, 2019
If you're going to enjoy this book, you're going to have to ignore two crappy production issues. One is that awful cover. I just wanna smack that smirky wienie with his see-I-can-grow-a beard. Eli is 31. This kid looks like 31 would be unimaginably old. Also, I wanna smack his smirky face. Did I mention that, already?
The second issue is that the copy editing is abysmal. You could improve the copy edit on this thing with a high school freshman drafted from a fan fiction site. Seriously, there are dropped words, duplicated words, stray words that wandered in from other sentences. It was baaaad.
And the plot wasn't great, some of the side characters were cartoons, at best, (Montgomery-the-boss and Martin-the-weasel both come to mind). And the story stalls at about mid way when they're both clearly in love but can't get past their history to admit it.
And I didn't care, I enjoyed it anyway!
The things the author gets right are strong leading characters, a fun family dynamic that will be the center of this series, and some decent banter. I mean, I cared about Eli and Violet pretty much from the start. I liked their back and forth and whatever they were in the past, they were clearly good people looking for connection, now. I loved seeing their quiet moments and how they bolstered each other in important ways. And I loved how they overcame the late-story problems, even if it took them a few days to get around to talking it out.
So there's a serviceable romance in there and that's what drew me through the rocky bits. Roxie Noir has potential as an author. I hope she gets a handle on the production side (and characterization for the side characters). I'm at least interested in the next book of the series, at any rate.
A note about Steamy: There are four or five explicit sex scenes which puts this on the high side of my steam tolerance. Frankly, I skimmed the last two as they were completely unnecessary and seemed to be just showing off new positions or whatever. The initial couple were well-done, though, and showed the growing connection between the protagonists.
The second issue is that the copy editing is abysmal. You could improve the copy edit on this thing with a high school freshman drafted from a fan fiction site. Seriously, there are dropped words, duplicated words, stray words that wandered in from other sentences. It was baaaad.
And the plot wasn't great, some of the side characters were cartoons, at best, (Montgomery-the-boss and Martin-the-weasel both come to mind). And the story stalls at about mid way when they're both clearly in love but can't get past their history to admit it.
And I didn't care, I enjoyed it anyway!
The things the author gets right are strong leading characters, a fun family dynamic that will be the center of this series, and some decent banter. I mean, I cared about Eli and Violet pretty much from the start. I liked their back and forth and whatever they were in the past, they were clearly good people looking for connection, now. I loved seeing their quiet moments and how they bolstered each other in important ways. And I loved how they overcame the late-story problems, even if it took them a few days to get around to talking it out.
So there's a serviceable romance in there and that's what drew me through the rocky bits. Roxie Noir has potential as an author. I hope she gets a handle on the production side (and characterization for the side characters). I'm at least interested in the next book of the series, at any rate.
A note about Steamy: There are four or five explicit sex scenes which puts this on the high side of my steam tolerance. Frankly, I skimmed the last two as they were completely unnecessary and seemed to be just showing off new positions or whatever. The initial couple were well-done, though, and showed the growing connection between the protagonists.
September 12, 2021
i needed something lighthearted, fun and just swoon-worthy after a few consecutive intense reads. and this bitch
served
i was hoping for some mediocre entertainment at best, not sure what i was getting myself into. and i left with a new book boyfriend and a bad bitch heroine with a spine of steel added to my list of faves.
eurgh. Eli and Violet. these bitches... their petty competitiveness knew no bounds. seriously. none at all. and i loved it, in spite of their ridiculousness. it was gleeful and hilarious to read, honestly.
their work’s night out bowling, i just knew would end in ruins. and i enjoyed the hell out of it. the way they goaded the shit out of each other while Eli’s inner monologue couldn’t stop gushing about how beautiful Violet was under the dingy bowling alley lights? p e r f e c t i o n
the tension? palpable.
the angst? immaculate.
the animosity? juicy.
the pining? delicious.
the banter? top-tier.
the wedding cake disaster was just priceless. the way they giggled together, smeared in cake and frosting? it was adorable. their winking game during one of the weddings? steamy af. the way Eli’s eyes would always follow Violet throughout the room and how one wink from her made him desperate to kiss her? like he would die if he didn’t? swooooon🥰
despite all of this, these two still irritated the fuck out of each other and it just gave it that extra spice a good romance thrives on. the fact it pissed them off that they were so enthralled by one another made me snicker a time or two.
and all of that is before they even begin their friends (or rather enemies) with benefits arrangement. so these two were truly fucked if they believed they wouldn’t fall in love lol.
even when they start fucking they still antagonise the fuck out of each other in the bedroom😭 and it was hilarious. everything was a competition still and it just heightened their intense connection. when you can feel the tension, the feelings and the chemistry, you know you’re in for a phenomenal romance. and this just delivered on everything you’d want in an enemies to lovers.
like their first sex scene...😏 that shit was hot it was steamy and intense, with their teasing but peppered with small, soft intimacies— like after they finish and their fingers slowly intertwine? i am a whore🥺
Eli’s banter with his brothers was golden. the whole Loveless family were great and im excited to read more about each of them. small town romances centred on a group of siblings is truly my weakness. i become obsessed with the whole family and i end up with a horde of new book boyfriends😌
and their inevitable fall out didn’t bother me at all. honestly i wasn’t mad at Violet for jumping to conclusions? the entire misunderstanding did look like it was Elijah... even tho it wasn’t. and with their past rivalry spanning about twenty-five years... again, it kinda looked like Elijah🤷🏻♀️ they were both just as stubborn as the other, and it totally aligned with the characters’ personalities. and it was solved pretty quickly too— it wasn’t dragged out for unnecessary drama and that’s another reason why i loved this book. there was no ow/om drama, no convoluted plots to complicate things. it was still effective without having to resort to ridiculous plot twists.
overall, this was the perfect steamy, fun read without any unnecessary shit. i am definitely gonna be checking more of this author out!
im scared the rest of the series won’t live up to this tho🤔 i don’t wanna read Seth’s or Daniel’s from reviews i’ve read... but Levi’s falling for his best friend’s little sister? need i say more?😏😌
i was hoping for some mediocre entertainment at best, not sure what i was getting myself into. and i left with a new book boyfriend and a bad bitch heroine with a spine of steel added to my list of faves.
eurgh. Eli and Violet. these bitches... their petty competitiveness knew no bounds. seriously. none at all. and i loved it, in spite of their ridiculousness. it was gleeful and hilarious to read, honestly.
their work’s night out bowling, i just knew would end in ruins. and i enjoyed the hell out of it. the way they goaded the shit out of each other while Eli’s inner monologue couldn’t stop gushing about how beautiful Violet was under the dingy bowling alley lights? p e r f e c t i o n
the tension? palpable.
the angst? immaculate.
the animosity? juicy.
the pining? delicious.
the banter? top-tier.
the wedding cake disaster was just priceless. the way they giggled together, smeared in cake and frosting? it was adorable. their winking game during one of the weddings? steamy af. the way Eli’s eyes would always follow Violet throughout the room and how one wink from her made him desperate to kiss her? like he would die if he didn’t? swooooon🥰
Before she can say a word, I kiss the hell out of her. Violet’s arms go around me. I kiss her harder. I kiss her like I’ve been to war. I kiss her like I haven’t seen her in years, her soft warmth flooding through me, bright against the cold room. I kiss her like I won’t be sleeping much tonight, either.
despite all of this, these two still irritated the fuck out of each other and it just gave it that extra spice a good romance thrives on. the fact it pissed them off that they were so enthralled by one another made me snicker a time or two.
Besides, dear God Violet is pretty when she’s mad. She’s pretty all the time, but anger sparks something in her eyes that makes her light up like a human flame, burning and flickering from the inside, dangerous and alluring all at once.
But I can’t stop. If she’s the flame, I’m the moth, and despite myself, I want to see her light up again and again.
and all of that is before they even begin their friends (or rather enemies) with benefits arrangement. so these two were truly fucked if they believed they wouldn’t fall in love lol.
”I’ve had too much whiskey,” he murmurs.
“For what?” I ask, suddenly alarmed.
Eli laughs.
“For kissing you like this,” he says, his other hand sliding down my arm, taking me by the wrist. “For all this sweet foreplay bullshit where we kiss like we’re lovers and not like we’re trying to destroy each other.”
even when they start fucking they still antagonise the fuck out of each other in the bedroom😭 and it was hilarious. everything was a competition still and it just heightened their intense connection. when you can feel the tension, the feelings and the chemistry, you know you’re in for a phenomenal romance. and this just delivered on everything you’d want in an enemies to lovers.
like their first sex scene...😏 that shit was hot it was steamy and intense, with their teasing but peppered with small, soft intimacies— like after they finish and their fingers slowly intertwine? i am a whore🥺
We slow. He releases my wrist, his hand slides up mine until our fingers interlock and then he closes it, intertwining our hands. I wrap my other arm around his back, holding him close, unfurling my legs from around him.
Eli’s banter with his brothers was golden. the whole Loveless family were great and im excited to read more about each of them. small town romances centred on a group of siblings is truly my weakness. i become obsessed with the whole family and i end up with a horde of new book boyfriends😌
This is dangerous. It’s dangerous the way drugs are dangerous, because it feels too good. It feels warm and right, soothing, like there’s a deeply tangled piece of me coming untwisted in this moment. It feels like the world outside my Bronco has stopped so that we can be here, together, warm and safe.
and their inevitable fall out didn’t bother me at all. honestly i wasn’t mad at Violet for jumping to conclusions? the entire misunderstanding did look like it was Elijah... even tho it wasn’t. and with their past rivalry spanning about twenty-five years... again, it kinda looked like Elijah🤷🏻♀️ they were both just as stubborn as the other, and it totally aligned with the characters’ personalities. and it was solved pretty quickly too— it wasn’t dragged out for unnecessary drama and that’s another reason why i loved this book. there was no ow/om drama, no convoluted plots to complicate things. it was still effective without having to resort to ridiculous plot twists.
It’s love. It’s dirty and rough, physical and tangible, but it’s love. The way I need her like this is love. The way I feel her in my soul is love.
overall, this was the perfect steamy, fun read without any unnecessary shit. i am definitely gonna be checking more of this author out!
im scared the rest of the series won’t live up to this tho🤔 i don’t wanna read Seth’s or Daniel’s from reviews i’ve read... but Levi’s falling for his best friend’s little sister? need i say more?😏😌
April 12, 2021
Fun read! I enjoyed both Eli and Violet on their own but we also got the added enjoyment of Eli's family in their story. Eli has 4 brothers and one of them has a 6 year old little girl. Let me tell you that little girl almost stole the show. I highly recommend the audiobook version. The narrators did such a great job with these characters. It's an easy and fun listen to a great book.
November 9, 2024
4.5 Enemies to “not friends” to lovers stars
I’ve had this on my TBR for years… and I’m glad I finally read it. There were some funny moments, some swoony moments, but also some steamy ones 🔥.
Violet’s (29?) on a date with an a h0le who treats the workers horribly, makes immature comments, and then leaves Violet to pay the check when she tells him she won’t leave with him. Unfortunately, Violet doesn’t have her wallet with her. That means she has to wash dishes in order to pay for their expensive meal. The problem? Her childhood nemesis is the main chef at the restaurant.
Eli (29) sees Violet and can’t believe his eyes. First off, he thinks the woman washing dishes is hot, and then he realizes who it is. The blast from the past scene is full of animosity, but it also has some tension.
They end up being forced to work together to plan weddings. Neither is happy, but it is what it is. A game of darts takes them both over the edge, and the tension only gets 🔥🔥… and now they need to act on all this tension or else they’ll explode. Enter the benefits part.
What I liked/loved-possible spoilers
—the 🔥 times. From their first “tell me to stop” kiss, to the bowling victory make out sesh that gets interrupted, to the “the kiss wasn’t good, don’t kiss me” work kisses, to the agains the door- throw me on the bed full on smexx, to the wedding barn 🔥💦 and all the other times, I was fanning my face😉. I love enemies to lovers because of all the tension🥵. I wouldn’t have minded some more aggressive tension, but I’ll take it 🙃
—the banter. There were some funny moments that had me smiling
—the times Eli came through. He saved Violet more than once. I found myself feeling warm and gooey when he stopped what he was doing to help her ❤️
—the “benefits” part. Yup. Not exactly friends, so that was delicious. I love the moments where the main characters don’t like each other, and that was definitely true when they were younger
—the side characters. I can’t wait to read more of them, especially book 2: friends to lovers. I just hope Charlie hasn’t been pining away 🫣
—the swoony moments. Aww Eli 🥹. The things he would do ❤️ especially what he does in the epilogue ❤️
— the fact that Eli falls first. Just 😋 when this happens. It’s evident quickly that he’s willing to be more than “just smex” and he has to show Violet that he’s serious
What I didn’t like/wanted more of:
—the anticlimactic “whodunit” part. Considering there was sabotaging being done, I would’ve liked this to take longer than saying “oh it’s done” ESPECIALLY when it’s what causes problems with Violet and Eli. I’m also not a fan of picture stuff 😐
—though Violet wasn’t a v, we don’t know much about her previous relationships or experiences. We know Eli has traveled the world and been around, but Violet has not
—Violet not exploring the world. This made me sad. She was taking care of her dying mom and never left their small town. In fact, she still lives in the same trailer as she did growing up. Made me sad
— the bullying that was done is almost mentioned as an afterthought. What I mean by this is that some of the things Eli did or said were hurtful, and I wish this had been addressed more. It’s mentioned and then just kind of brushed under the rug.
—a longer epilogue. I signed up for the author’s newsletter, so I hope it’s a cute one lol
Overall, I really enjoyed it.
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd/omd
-OW- the h sees the H with a drunk OW. He was only helping the OW to her hotel room but then he left. He doesn’t even know the OW or care to do anything with her
-condoms/and then none/pill
-the H hasn’t had sex in six months/the h in one year
-parent dying of cancer recounted/other parental death
-HEA/epilogue/5 months later/bonus epilogue is one month after
I’ve had this on my TBR for years… and I’m glad I finally read it. There were some funny moments, some swoony moments, but also some steamy ones 🔥.
Violet’s (29?) on a date with an a h0le who treats the workers horribly, makes immature comments, and then leaves Violet to pay the check when she tells him she won’t leave with him. Unfortunately, Violet doesn’t have her wallet with her. That means she has to wash dishes in order to pay for their expensive meal. The problem? Her childhood nemesis is the main chef at the restaurant.
Eli (29) sees Violet and can’t believe his eyes. First off, he thinks the woman washing dishes is hot, and then he realizes who it is. The blast from the past scene is full of animosity, but it also has some tension.
They end up being forced to work together to plan weddings. Neither is happy, but it is what it is. A game of darts takes them both over the edge, and the tension only gets 🔥🔥… and now they need to act on all this tension or else they’ll explode. Enter the benefits part.
What I liked/loved-possible spoilers
—the 🔥 times. From their first “tell me to stop” kiss, to the bowling victory make out sesh that gets interrupted, to the “the kiss wasn’t good, don’t kiss me” work kisses, to the agains the door- throw me on the bed full on smexx, to the wedding barn 🔥💦 and all the other times, I was fanning my face😉. I love enemies to lovers because of all the tension🥵. I wouldn’t have minded some more aggressive tension, but I’ll take it 🙃
—the banter. There were some funny moments that had me smiling
—the times Eli came through. He saved Violet more than once. I found myself feeling warm and gooey when he stopped what he was doing to help her ❤️
—the “benefits” part. Yup. Not exactly friends, so that was delicious. I love the moments where the main characters don’t like each other, and that was definitely true when they were younger
—the side characters. I can’t wait to read more of them, especially book 2: friends to lovers. I just hope Charlie hasn’t been pining away 🫣
—the swoony moments. Aww Eli 🥹. The things he would do ❤️ especially what he does in the epilogue ❤️
— the fact that Eli falls first. Just 😋 when this happens. It’s evident quickly that he’s willing to be more than “just smex” and he has to show Violet that he’s serious
What I didn’t like/wanted more of:
—the anticlimactic “whodunit” part. Considering there was sabotaging being done, I would’ve liked this to take longer than saying “oh it’s done” ESPECIALLY when it’s what causes problems with Violet and Eli. I’m also not a fan of picture stuff 😐
—though Violet wasn’t a v, we don’t know much about her previous relationships or experiences. We know Eli has traveled the world and been around, but Violet has not
—Violet not exploring the world. This made me sad. She was taking care of her dying mom and never left their small town. In fact, she still lives in the same trailer as she did growing up. Made me sad
— the bullying that was done is almost mentioned as an afterthought. What I mean by this is that some of the things Eli did or said were hurtful, and I wish this had been addressed more. It’s mentioned and then just kind of brushed under the rug.
—a longer epilogue. I signed up for the author’s newsletter, so I hope it’s a cute one lol
Overall, I really enjoyed it.
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd/omd
-OW- the h sees the H with a drunk OW. He was only helping the OW to her hotel room but then he left. He doesn’t even know the OW or care to do anything with her
-condoms/and then none/pill
-the H hasn’t had sex in six months/the h in one year
-parent dying of cancer recounted/other parental death
-HEA/epilogue/5 months later/bonus epilogue is one month after
September 2, 2021
I enjoyed Eli and Violet together. Their banter and back and forth was fun, even during sex they managed to bicker. They had great sexual chemistry tho. I also really liked Eli's family.
The book was a little longer than it needed to be tho. I ended up skimming thru alot of the scenes having to do with their job and the weddings, I found these to be a bit boring.
The book was a little longer than it needed to be tho. I ended up skimming thru alot of the scenes having to do with their job and the weddings, I found these to be a bit boring.
May 18, 2019
I loved Violet and Eli! This was such a fun, cute read!
Violet and Eli were competitors at everything since the first day of kindergarten. When graduation takes Eli in one direction and Violet’s plans take a serious detour, they each live their life with what they’ve been dealt. But with Eli’s return to town and the fact he’s now her co-worker, the competition is on again.
”Besides, dear God, Violet is pretty when she’s mad. She’s pretty all the time, but anger sparks something in her eyes that makes her light up like a human flame, burning and flickering from the inside, dangerous and alluring all at once.”
This couple were so cute despite their constant bickering. As the story progresses, the arguments change into a fun, flirty banter that I loved. The chemistry between these two absolutely sizzles and the gradual change from enemies to lovers to more was wonderful. There really isn’t a lot of drama here, and what we are given is relatively low angst. I loved how things worked out for them and the epilogue was perfect. I know we’ll be seeing more of Eli and Violet as we get more of the Loveless boys and I cannot wait!
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Violet and Eli were competitors at everything since the first day of kindergarten. When graduation takes Eli in one direction and Violet’s plans take a serious detour, they each live their life with what they’ve been dealt. But with Eli’s return to town and the fact he’s now her co-worker, the competition is on again.
”Besides, dear God, Violet is pretty when she’s mad. She’s pretty all the time, but anger sparks something in her eyes that makes her light up like a human flame, burning and flickering from the inside, dangerous and alluring all at once.”
This couple were so cute despite their constant bickering. As the story progresses, the arguments change into a fun, flirty banter that I loved. The chemistry between these two absolutely sizzles and the gradual change from enemies to lovers to more was wonderful. There really isn’t a lot of drama here, and what we are given is relatively low angst. I loved how things worked out for them and the epilogue was perfect. I know we’ll be seeing more of Eli and Violet as we get more of the Loveless boys and I cannot wait!
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
June 21, 2021
Wow! This is how you write a perfect enemies to lovers book with a touch of rom-com. I must say this took me by surprise. I didn’t expect Enemies with benefits to not only deliver a story as good as The Hating Game (so if you like the later, this one is definitely for you), but also to be funny, drama-free and super steamy!
What deserves the appreciation is definitely the couple dynamic. They started from the same point, both hating each other, both trying to keep things casual… this is not that common since often we get one-sided hate instead. Here the trope was developed really nicely and the relationship seemed realistic. I think this may be the best book I read this month! Truly recommend 💪
What deserves the appreciation is definitely the couple dynamic. They started from the same point, both hating each other, both trying to keep things casual… this is not that common since often we get one-sided hate instead. Here the trope was developed really nicely and the relationship seemed realistic. I think this may be the best book I read this month! Truly recommend 💪
Read
January 27, 2022💫 3 stars
’Violet’s always gotten under my skin, like she knows exactly what to say or do that will get to me.
No one else has ever gotten to me like she does. Not my other friends, not my brothers, none of the girlfriends I’d had over the years. No one’s ever even come close.
She still gets to me, but something’s changed. It feels like she’s lifting up my top layer and peeking underneath, examining, critiquing.
It feels like she’s seeing me raw and naked. Exposed.
The strange thing is that I don’t hate it.
Stranger still, I’m starting to like being seen the way only she can see me.’
“Fuck off, Eli.”
“No, thanks.”
“Great,” she says, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Glad I can entertain the guy who spread the rumor that he saw me making out with a golden retriever. Was being eighth grade class president worth it?”
“Hell yes,” I say, because honestly? It was.
July 15, 2021
“You know this is proof that you’re a devious, ruthless asshole sometimes, right?” I ask.
“Only for the right reasons,” he says. “I���d go to the ends of the earth to be a devious, ruthless asshole to anyone who hurt you. Even if you won’t believe me.”
I AM SQUEALING 😭🥰😩
The Loveless brothers are something and I’m glad Eli got his first book because I was so entertained!! His relationship growing over time with Violet-I know this book was long but I still couldn’t get enough after they established their feelings!
“Only for the right reasons,” he says. “I���d go to the ends of the earth to be a devious, ruthless asshole to anyone who hurt you. Even if you won’t believe me.”
I AM SQUEALING 😭🥰😩
The Loveless brothers are something and I’m glad Eli got his first book because I was so entertained!! His relationship growing over time with Violet-I know this book was long but I still couldn’t get enough after they established their feelings!
June 7, 2021
I picked up this book after seeing Ren ‘s appealing review. (Sorry in advance Ren 😩).
It’s a fluffy enemies to lovers. With lovely family dynamics and the MCs shared great chemistry and funny banter.
Sadly, my problem with this, is the same I have with Mariana Zapata, everything is great but the slow pace kills the book for me, it makes the story drag, hence the 3 stars rating.
So if you love MZ, you are probably going to enjoy this one!
It’s a fluffy enemies to lovers. With lovely family dynamics and the MCs shared great chemistry and funny banter.
Sadly, my problem with this, is the same I have with Mariana Zapata, everything is great but the slow pace kills the book for me, it makes the story drag, hence the 3 stars rating.
So if you love MZ, you are probably going to enjoy this one!
July 28, 2022
“I tried to talk myself out of this,” he whispers into my ear.
“Out of fucking me in a barn?”
“Out of fucking you at all. I know danger when I see it, and you’re nothing but.”
“I’m no such thing,” I whisper.
“Then why are we fucking on the floor of a barn?”
“A bed was too far.”
I was almost grateful for the little slump I fell into, because it gave me the perfect excuse to pack my Kindle with all the shameless smut and cheesy romance I would reluctantly parade around reading on a normal day. Yay for smutty slump books!
August 11, 2024
will never forget "shark-colored eyes" as a character descriptor for as long as i read ✨🦈🩶✨
ok this was slow to get into and i don't think i'd quite call this enemies with benefits. most of their worst transgressions all took place in the past, in present day they're now forced to work together peacefully. also since it's contemp i think we just need to delegate any "enemies to lovers" to either "hate to love" or "rivals to love", as in this case.
i actually thought they typically got along pretty well. it was pretty run of the mill banter, not really them going head to head on any issues, but they had some really great chemistry and steamy scenes.
overall, it was an ok contemp read.
note: tw-wise there is a [spoiler]
ok this was slow to get into and i don't think i'd quite call this enemies with benefits. most of their worst transgressions all took place in the past, in present day they're now forced to work together peacefully. also since it's contemp i think we just need to delegate any "enemies to lovers" to either "hate to love" or "rivals to love", as in this case.
i actually thought they typically got along pretty well. it was pretty run of the mill banter, not really them going head to head on any issues, but they had some really great chemistry and steamy scenes.
overall, it was an ok contemp read.
note: tw-wise there is a [spoiler]
June 19, 2021
I don't have enough words to express how much I loved "Enemies With Benefits". Violet and Eli were hands down one of my favorites couplings in a long time. Their funny banter, slide marks/comments and oozing chemistry made it near impossible to put this down. Roxie Noir, the author, create the perfect novel for the enemies turned lovers trope and the witty characters she assembled for this romance company we're phenomenal. She is a definite must read author and I look forward to the future editions to the Loveless Brothers series.
June 5, 2023
I’ve never read a romance with this combination of tropes, but I love it.
Really good (albeit vanilla) spice
Really good (albeit vanilla) spice
June 9, 2021
I have mixed feelings for this book. I didn’t like it for the first 30%, mostly because it was too slow paced, for my liking of course. After the 30 % I started enjoying it more and I really liked the ending.
This is an enemies-to-lovers story about two former classmates (if I got that right, I’m not really sure about that, sorry) who they were always competitive with each other and they meet by chance a few years later in a restaurant where Eli works, and Violet goes out for a date. After that they become coworkers, they are both attracted to each other, and they decide to have a friends/enemies with benefits relationship.
As I said I have mixed feelings for this book because it was slow burn which I’m not really fond of. Also, in my opinion, their intimate scenes where quite extensive for no particular reason and I had to skim a lot of them. I don’t really know why I felt that, but I was kinda bored while reading them.
If you decide to read this book, please note that there’s an extended epilogue that you can read if you subscribe to the author’s newsletter. It was cute but definitely not must-read. I’ll probably read the next book about Daniel, he seemed really sweet and I’m interested in his story (and I loved Rusty so, yeah, I’m gonna read it)
(if you think you would enjoy this book it’s currently free on Amazon Kindle so make sure to grab it)
Ren I’m really sorry but I didn’t enjoy it that much but I’m glad you liked it. 😊
June 2, 2021
4-4.5 stars
This was everything I could have wanted from an enemies-to-lovers romance. Often times the 'enemies' part is over too quickly, but I didn't feel like that was the case here. I loved that Eli and Violet were both the uncool smart kids in school and that their competitiveness was so heated that they were bitter enemies all throughout childhood. That childhood pettiness transferred into their newfound adult relationship as co-workers, but quickly transformed into passion and they were soon just pretending to only be enemies with benefits when it was clear to themselves and everyone else a lot more was going on.
This book was a funny, feel-good small-town romance with low angst and it exactly what I was in the mood to read. I feel like the enemies-to-lovers and co-worker romance tropes were executed really well. The tension and chemistry between Eli and Violet was also built well and their romance was believable. This gave me slight Winston brothers vibes with the small-town dynamics and big family of trouble-making brothers and a harried, sweet mother looking after them all. Levi, the oldest brother, especially reminds me of a mix of Jethro (job+age) and Cletus (personality). I'm intrigued and endeared by the rest of the Loveless family (especially sweet little Rusty) and I've had several of the books in this series in my TBR for years so I have no doubt I'll be reading the rest soon. Hats off to Ren for bringing this series to my attention again with her glowing reviews that pushed me to finally give this series a chance. Here's her much better and more comprehensive review of this book: ren's review haha🤍
This was everything I could have wanted from an enemies-to-lovers romance. Often times the 'enemies' part is over too quickly, but I didn't feel like that was the case here. I loved that Eli and Violet were both the uncool smart kids in school and that their competitiveness was so heated that they were bitter enemies all throughout childhood. That childhood pettiness transferred into their newfound adult relationship as co-workers, but quickly transformed into passion and they were soon just pretending to only be enemies with benefits when it was clear to themselves and everyone else a lot more was going on.
This book was a funny, feel-good small-town romance with low angst and it exactly what I was in the mood to read. I feel like the enemies-to-lovers and co-worker romance tropes were executed really well. The tension and chemistry between Eli and Violet was also built well and their romance was believable. This gave me slight Winston brothers vibes with the small-town dynamics and big family of trouble-making brothers and a harried, sweet mother looking after them all. Levi, the oldest brother, especially reminds me of a mix of Jethro (job+age) and Cletus (personality). I'm intrigued and endeared by the rest of the Loveless family (especially sweet little Rusty) and I've had several of the books in this series in my TBR for years so I have no doubt I'll be reading the rest soon. Hats off to Ren for bringing this series to my attention again with her glowing reviews that pushed me to finally give this series a chance. Here's her much better and more comprehensive review of this book: ren's review haha🤍
July 26, 2019
***3.25 happy stars***
Good stuff -
1. Great chemistry
2. Uber hot *** scenes
3. Well written (as in time spent on good vocabulary, grammar)
4. Inspite of being an overused trope keeps you interested due to good writing & ahem steamy steamy scenes
5. Male and female characters that you don't hate but actually like (ikr so rare) + they have a brain
Things that could be improved
1. Just wish there were some flashbacks into when they were younger or just a little more than 2-3 months in the story..just wish the time span was longer. Even though it was a slow burn it felt like an insta love just cause it was 2 months
2. First half of the book felt slow cause they weren't getting together soon enough & all that tension was making me crazy ( but that's probably a good thing?)
3. Wish they spent more time falling in love outside of the work space , wish it was less of the wedding/catering stuff... Wish there were other people & some healthy jealousy involved.
That's all the complaint I have but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book & I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good old fashioned enemies to lovers trope, it's a hidden gem.
Good stuff -
1. Great chemistry
2. Uber hot *** scenes
3. Well written (as in time spent on good vocabulary, grammar)
4. Inspite of being an overused trope keeps you interested due to good writing & ahem steamy steamy scenes
5. Male and female characters that you don't hate but actually like (ikr so rare) + they have a brain
Things that could be improved
1. Just wish there were some flashbacks into when they were younger or just a little more than 2-3 months in the story..just wish the time span was longer. Even though it was a slow burn it felt like an insta love just cause it was 2 months
2. First half of the book felt slow cause they weren't getting together soon enough & all that tension was making me crazy ( but that's probably a good thing?)
3. Wish they spent more time falling in love outside of the work space , wish it was less of the wedding/catering stuff... Wish there were other people & some healthy jealousy involved.
That's all the complaint I have but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book & I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good old fashioned enemies to lovers trope, it's a hidden gem.
December 30, 2019
Okay, this is a weird one. I'm DNFing at 61% (cause I don't care anymore) but rating it a THREE and writing a review...
I do not think I've done this before. All I can is that I've had enough. The couple is together, sexing it up all the time (so glad he can hit ALL THOSE nerves!) and I started reading like 1,000,000 books and realizing that I just don't care.
In fact, I can just imagine my ideal ending and avoid reading the rest.
Hero's a chef. Fact is, I have no idea what his name was anymore. It won't even take till morning I guess? I'm still rating it a 3, which is more like...eh, nevermind, it's a 2. Bad editing and we don't need to hear the same thing repeated from the hero AND the heroine's POV.
It was ok. Really, ok.
I do not think I've done this before. All I can is that I've had enough. The couple is together, sexing it up all the time (so glad he can hit ALL THOSE nerves!) and I started reading like 1,000,000 books and realizing that I just don't care.
In fact, I can just imagine my ideal ending and avoid reading the rest.
Hero's a chef. Fact is, I have no idea what his name was anymore. It won't even take till morning I guess? I'm still rating it a 3, which is more like...eh, nevermind, it's a 2. Bad editing and we don't need to hear the same thing repeated from the hero AND the heroine's POV.
It was ok. Really, ok.
September 20, 2021
4,5 ⭐️
Ma che lettura stupenda! 😍 Non conoscevo questa autrice, mi è capitato di leggere qualche recensione positiva, mi sono lasciata incuriosire dalla trama e iniziando a leggere devo ammettere che sono rimasta subito piacevolmente sorpresa! La storia è la solita che abbiamo letto mille mila volte ma grazie ad uno stile di scrittura fresco, divertente, sexy al punto giusto e tanto dolce si prosegue senza esitazioni fino alla fine! Ho adorato Eli, Violet con tutti i suoi muri intorno è più difficile da amare ma si ama comunque e insieme sono proprio perfetti 🤩
Ora voglio la storia di tutti i fratelli Loveless!
Ma che lettura stupenda! 😍 Non conoscevo questa autrice, mi è capitato di leggere qualche recensione positiva, mi sono lasciata incuriosire dalla trama e iniziando a leggere devo ammettere che sono rimasta subito piacevolmente sorpresa! La storia è la solita che abbiamo letto mille mila volte ma grazie ad uno stile di scrittura fresco, divertente, sexy al punto giusto e tanto dolce si prosegue senza esitazioni fino alla fine! Ho adorato Eli, Violet con tutti i suoi muri intorno è più difficile da amare ma si ama comunque e insieme sono proprio perfetti 🤩
Ora voglio la storia di tutti i fratelli Loveless!
September 26, 2021
Lettura molto piacevole. Non vedo l'ora di leggere altri libri sui fratelli Loveless
May 27, 2019
...Review to Come...
July 28, 2019
3 "down the middle/indifferent stars"
Wasnt on the edge of my seat reading, but I wasnt disliking it either. Just felt very Disney Channel.
Wasnt on the edge of my seat reading, but I wasnt disliking it either. Just felt very Disney Channel.
October 20, 2019
I'm so happy when I find a 'new to me' author 🧡 Completely fell in love with the characters in this enemies to lovers romance, and the writing was so addictive, I can't wait to delve into the next in this series...
August 10, 2023
were the enemies in the room with us?
December 9, 2021
3.5 stars. This is a cute story, but it doesn’t really compare to the two other books I read by this author. Tbh, I think if I had waited a while before reading this book…I would have enjoyed it more.
This is a childhood enemies to lovers romance. The hero and heroine were pretty awful to each other in their youth, extremely competitive, and both went their separate ways after graduating high school. The hero moves back to his hometown (where the heroine lived all along) and begins working at the same place she is employed. There is an instant spark between them, but both fight it because of the past. The story progressed nicely from them having animosity toward each other, to grudgingly giving in to working together, to giving in to their mutual attraction, and eventually to love. It was cute, but there were definitely some elements of the story that didn’t fully work for me.
First, I wasn’t fully captivated by the story right from the start. I felt like the storyline didn’t move quickly enough and the things happening weren’t keeping my interest fully peaked. The story did improve towards the end… maybe in the last 25%. Still, I felt like the resolution was anticlimactic for the most part. I also didn’t like that some aspects of the story weren’t fully developed. I would have liked for the H&h to have discussed the heroine’s life growing up. Or why the hero flunked out of college and changed his career path. I feel like so much was briefly mentioned and then just left as that.
Finally, I really didn’t like that the hero went off exploring the world and the heroine stayed behind, basically stagnating at home. Maybe she wasn’t stagnant sexually (it’s unclear tbh), but she certainly was in all the other ways. She was 30 and still couldn’t afford a down payment for a house so she could move out of the trailer where she grew up, ffs. She hated living in the trailer park, and didn’t manage to get herself out of there. Meanwhile, the hero saw the world, lived in all kinds of places, had lots of interesting experiences. The author tried to downplay his past, saying that he missed home, but I didn’t buy it.
Overall, this didn’t compare to her previous work, which is a bummer, but maybe my expectations were too high? 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Safety was good, no virgins, no om/ow drama, H celibate 6 months, h celibate for 1 year, no cheating, very short separation w/o other partners.
This is a childhood enemies to lovers romance. The hero and heroine were pretty awful to each other in their youth, extremely competitive, and both went their separate ways after graduating high school. The hero moves back to his hometown (where the heroine lived all along) and begins working at the same place she is employed. There is an instant spark between them, but both fight it because of the past. The story progressed nicely from them having animosity toward each other, to grudgingly giving in to working together, to giving in to their mutual attraction, and eventually to love. It was cute, but there were definitely some elements of the story that didn’t fully work for me.
First, I wasn’t fully captivated by the story right from the start. I felt like the storyline didn’t move quickly enough and the things happening weren’t keeping my interest fully peaked. The story did improve towards the end… maybe in the last 25%. Still, I felt like the resolution was anticlimactic for the most part. I also didn’t like that some aspects of the story weren’t fully developed. I would have liked for the H&h to have discussed the heroine’s life growing up. Or why the hero flunked out of college and changed his career path. I feel like so much was briefly mentioned and then just left as that.
Finally, I really didn’t like that the hero went off exploring the world and the heroine stayed behind, basically stagnating at home. Maybe she wasn’t stagnant sexually (it’s unclear tbh), but she certainly was in all the other ways. She was 30 and still couldn’t afford a down payment for a house so she could move out of the trailer where she grew up, ffs. She hated living in the trailer park, and didn’t manage to get herself out of there. Meanwhile, the hero saw the world, lived in all kinds of places, had lots of interesting experiences. The author tried to downplay his past, saying that he missed home, but I didn’t buy it.
Overall, this didn’t compare to her previous work, which is a bummer, but maybe my expectations were too high? 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Safety was good, no virgins, no om/ow drama, H celibate 6 months, h celibate for 1 year, no cheating, very short separation w/o other partners.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2021
4 stars!
Solid enemies to lovers outing here folks. More specifically this was enemies-to-lovers-to-romantic-lovers. They were great as enemies, and even better in a relationship, I really enjoyed this couple. It took these two idiots a while to realize that their "fuck buddy" situationship was just a full blown relationship but I'll give them a pass because anytime they're near each other they revert into 10 year olds mentally.
This wasn't as funny or charismatic as I was hoping it would be, it felt a little dry despite the plot points being interesting but it wasn't bad enough to ruin the whole read for me. I may read the future books... (may not because if the spiciest set up of enemies to lovers was dry I can't imagine what a regular relationship would be like).
Well, "friends". It'll have to do as a moniker, because I don't know another word for "person who irritates the living daylights out of me until she takes her clothes off, at which point she becomes my own personal sex goddess, custom-built to satiate my physical desires."
Solid enemies to lovers outing here folks. More specifically this was enemies-to-lovers-to-romantic-lovers. They were great as enemies, and even better in a relationship, I really enjoyed this couple. It took these two idiots a while to realize that their "fuck buddy" situationship was just a full blown relationship but I'll give them a pass because anytime they're near each other they revert into 10 year olds mentally.
This wasn't as funny or charismatic as I was hoping it would be, it felt a little dry despite the plot points being interesting but it wasn't bad enough to ruin the whole read for me. I may read the future books... (may not because if the spiciest set up of enemies to lovers was dry I can't imagine what a regular relationship would be like).
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