On an anonymous online dating app, LittleMissPerfect meets HotAussie007 and it’s love at first click. In real life, a smart but spiky woman in STEM, research scientist, Dr Eden, meets a laid-back Aussie marketing manager, Finn, at the big pharma company where they both work in California. They're forced to compete for special projects funding, and both their jobs are on the line.
Eden just wants to win at science and in life. It's not happening! She can't stand Finn's too-cool-for-school, nice guy act, or his delectable forearms that keep invading her space. While Finn is stupidly attracted to Eden, when she's not telling him off, he isn't free to pursue her. He's stuck in the worst position in his professional life, and doesn't see a clear way out. He can't tell her the whole truth about what's going on at work or in his personal life. . . or it could all blow up in his face.
When they realise the truth about their online alter egos, dating is off the table. Can they ignore their inconvenient attraction, and work together to take down their unethical boss? Or will intense rivalry cause their IRL work lives and online love lives to collide and explode like a science experiment gone wrong?
Note: Dating Little Miss Perfect is an updated take on You've Got Mail for lovers of online dating romcoms, with added science, cupcakes and old movie references! This is a full-length, stand-alone contemporary romance novel of approximately 95,000 words length.
3.25⭐ Genre ~ STEM contemporary romance, romantic comedy Setting ~ California Publication date ~ May 24, 2023 Page Count ~ 372 (28 chapters) POV ~ dual 3rd Featuring ~ workplace romance, opposites attract, enemies to lovers, slow burn, some steamage
Author Content Warning: Discussion of breast cancer in the heroine’s family and the deaths of two family members (parent and grandparent). Discussion of death of a sibling from heart disease. On page sex scenes and some graphic language (steamy heat level).
Eden & Finn work together ~ she as a scientist and he in the marketing department at a pharma company. It just so happens they are anonymously conversing on a dating app too. Their boss is pitting them against each other to see which department gets more funding. An ulterior motive just might put a snag in their budding romance.
I really liked Finn and his reasoning for wanting to be in the Heart field. He had a great relationship with his parents and friend, Sam. I was a bit disappointed when he ran away from the restaurant though, and I felt like he got off too easy for doing it.
Eden ran hot and cold and was pretty mean to Finn for a good portion of the book (I know, I know it's enemies to lovers, but still), so I never really warmed up to her. I did, however, like her passion for her work and her bond with sister, Faith.
Overall, I could have went without all the workplace drama, which was a lot to take in. I liked the STEM aspect and the cover is cute and almost fitting to the story ~ she has black hair in the story, but it looks brown on the cover, which is a small pet peeve of mine.
*Thanks to the author and Rachel's Random Resources for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
I received a copy from BookSirens, in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Cassandra O’Leary for the opportunity to read your book. This was an enjoyable read. I thought the story was cute, funny and interesting. The story revolves around the romance between Finn Donohue and Eden Robertson. I really liked their banters and their chemistry was great. For me, I thought both characters were great. Eden was a strong heroine. She was snarky, smart, and adorable. She tries to provide for her sister, Faith, while trying to pay off her grandmother’s house. She worked with Finn, and was using a dating app under the name LittleMissPerfect. She didn’t realize that the person she was talking to was Finn. I think she wanted to help people with her research, and I found her admirable. Finn was another great character. He was sexy, smart, and protective. He moved to San Diego from Australia. He had been through difficult times, but I still really liked his character. He was a great hero. From the 65% mark, the book became more engaging and interesting. I couldn’t let go of the book from that point. I am glad that they got a happy ending. I can’t wait to read more books from Cassandra O’Leary. Overall, a great read.
I love a woman in STEM story and this gave me it! The story is a bit of a slow burn which I don't mind and written great!
I really liked Eden who's absolutely brilliant and trying to open her heart back up. She also makes amazing cupcakes! Her dynamic with Finn was really amusing.
Would recommend if you're looking for a nice STEM romcom!
Dating Little Miss Perfect takes place in San Diego, California. Our main characters (with alternating perspectives through the book) are Eden and Finn — also known as LittleMissPerfect and HotAussie007, respectively. Without even knowing what the other looked like, they were proving to be a perfect match for each other well before they connected the dots about their identities. Workplace competition drives them together, as they realize something isn’t quite right about what their boss is doing behind the scenes.
I couldn’t help but devour this book in just a couple of days. The chemistry between Eden and Finn was just so good, and I’m not just saying that because she’s a woman in STEM!
Dating Little Miss Perfect wasn’t just a cute romance — the story was dynamic & there were a couple of plot twists I didn’t quite see coming. It all comes together beautifully in the final 30% of the book, and I couldn’t put it down!
Eden is one of my favorite FMCs that I’ve read. She’s got so much integrity and I related to her perspectives, as both an older sister and a woman that typically keeps a careful guard on her heart.
I was able to read this book thanks to an ARC from BookSirens and the publishers, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
This cover is absolutely adorable!! This book pulled me in from the beginning, I love Eden's character, she is very headstrong and knows what she wants out of life. She is also very stubborn and has all sorts of walls up around her heart. Finn seems like his only goal for the day is to annoy Eden, but as the story progresses you learn what he is really up to. Finn has a heart of gold, and he is doing everything he can to protect Eden.
Finn and Eden have sparks going off every time they are near each other. The tension is flying off the pages and the banter between these two will keep you rooting for them.
The writing is very easy to follow, it switches between Finn and Eden's POV.
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, women in Stem, online dating, workplace romance
Thanks to the author, BookSirens and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Eden (LittleMissPerfect) and Fnn ( HotAussie007) work at a California pharmaceutical company. He annoys her, but he's attracted to her. Can their online relationship turn into something more?
The pacing was fast and the romance is mature. I wanted to know what was going to happen in their fight for funding for a heart medication as well as in their lives.
There was a real "Will they won't they" vibe in terms of romance. I enjoyed the banter between them. I really liked the rivals to lovers trope and the author does this well. The romance was very steamy.
The California setting was good, and I liked the description of their workplace and surroundings.
The hearts edited into some parts of the book were a cute detail and fit with the book as a whole.
4 stars
Thanks to Cassandra O'Leary
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a cute romcom, with an enemies to lovers and workplace trope. It was a slow burn spicy storyline with Dr Eden Robinson, STEM scientist and her Aussie co-worker Finn. It was a tad too long thus too much time spent on the scandal (a little too complicated to follow) I also felt some actions/words didn’t fit with Eden’s character but otherwise a fun read.
This story was cute, interesting, and funny. This story revolves around a romance between Eden and Finn, who are coworkers. Their chemistry and banter were soo cute. Eden is a strong, intelligent, and snarky heroine. Finn is a sexy, thoughtful, and protective hero. They were well-matched, and I enjoyed the development of their relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
My stand-alone romcom novel Dating Little Miss Perfect is inspired by classic movies such as You've Got Mail. I do hope you enjoy this fun and steamy story with a spark of science!
This delightful romantic comedy presents a captivating enemies-to-lovers storyline that I thoroughly enjoyed. The cover itself is visually appealing and drew me in from the start.
The narrative is skillfully written, seamlessly alternating between the perspectives of Finn and Eden, which added an engaging element to the storytelling. I particularly appreciate this style of writing, as it allows for a deeper connection with the characters and their individual journeys.
The book had such an impact on me that I couldn't help but envision it as a movie. The story possesses all the necessary ingredients for a captivating on-screen adaptation.
As a disclaimer, I would like to mention that I received an advance review copy of this book for free. However, I am providing this review voluntarily, as I genuinely enjoyed the reading experience and wanted to share my thoughts on it.
Clinical Researcher Dr. Eden Robinson, takes her chances on a dating app that involves only chats. So far, she's been having some luck with this guy HotAussie007. He just gets her. Unlike her work enemy-- Marketing Lead Finn Donohue who constantly looms over her, as if their research deadlines aren't bad enough. Not to mention their boss. Atleast, she was finally meeting her would-be/potential boyfriend in real life. Except, he never turns up. Or did he?
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This book is an experience, particularly Act II to III, where things all turn for the worse and the stakes are high. There were so many signs we are headed to that direction but I was pleasantly surprised still, and could not stop reading to see where it took us.
If you are looking for a book that balances spice and fluff on the backdrop of STEM. This might just be the book for you.
What I loved about this book best is how O'Leary tackled the spicy scene. She had made it a point to address character insecurities as well, so that when we get to those parts, the emotional vulnerabilities were also simultaneously dealt with. Which makes a lot of sense with Eden's character development.
Character-wise, I like the chemistry between the two main leads although I think it was in their characters to have their hormones blaring for each other all the way through the book. At times, I'd wish they'd set it aside earlier than they did, when they did, so we can logically or emotionally process everything. But then again I guess I can let it pass, for I'll allow that O'leary probably devised it to make the climax more impactful. I'm normally not such a fan of having information held from me as a reader, but I think I can make an exemption.
The book is a switch of perspectives between the main leads and I feel like it helped push forward the plot and build suspense.
Overall, I like it. Better than Love Hypothesis IMHO.
- Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Finn and Eden are co-workers, competing for project funding, who have a problem getting along with each other. Dr. Eden Robinson is a research scientist and Finn Donohue is an Aussie marketing manager at the big pharma company where they both work. He thinks of Eden as rude and arrogant with a dragon’s personality, meaning she breathes fire on him whenever she opens her mouth. Their only outlet is their dating app partner whom they have been connected with for some time and can tell their troubles to under their anonymous names. When they decide to meet each other face-to-face, still not realizing that they know each other already, Finn is held up on a phone interview and is late. He wanders inside the restaurant looking for his mystery date. He finally looks out on the terrace and sees Eden! It couldn’t be for so many reasons!
Forty minutes late, Eden gave up and left. Finn is ready to back out immediately… quite literally, and crashes into something. Sprawled on her side behind his car, a woman is sprawled out on top of an overturned Vespa scooter, legs outstretched across the asphalt and bleeding. It’s Eden!
Eden refuses to go to the hospital, but she can’t ride home on her damaged scooter. Her sister was working late and could not pick her up. But with her leg injured, she couldn’t easily take a taxi home. So she asked Finn, who had already intended to take her home. He would need to help her inside, maybe even carry her in? And then he would clean and bandage her wound. She noticed so many things about him as he drove her to her home. And she was liking what she was seeing. With a sprained ankle, she needed help if she could only stop imagining his kissing her every time he bent down to move her. Will they ignore the attraction they both feel? Or is it better to just walk away?
"Dating Little Miss Perfect" blends romance, humour and some suspense that kept me reading along happily. I received an ARC for review consideration and here are my thoughts!
I always appreciate a strong woman in STEM, and there's more to Dr. Eden Robinson that readers discover through her hobbies and passions, which I felt made her more multi-dimensional than the typical lab control freak trope. Finn was a good MMC for me; they start as rivals but he's not toxic or disrespectful - that's usually a buzzkill for me!
There's also introspective moments that reveal their underlying fears and insecurities (grief, health scares, toxic relationships, career) to add emotional depth, as well as the pivotal moments in their lives that motivate them (family). The relationship was a slow build for sure, but I think that's what I liked about it.
Other small details I appreciated: - Finn is dyslexic and uses text to voice readers - Eden is of Mexican descent (but I think the story could have leaned into that more!) - Felicity is queer and has her own romance going on - Dr. David Zhang is "the very definition of tall, dark, and handsome with an extra serving of brilliant" (Asian men don't get enough love out there!)
Spice 🌶️🌶️ 🩷 Workplace romance 🩷 Women in STEM 🩷 Online to IRL 🩷 Rivals to Romance 🩷 Slow Burn Romance
A little bit of You Got Mail, corporate espionage, a Hot Aussie, and smart STEM heroine... lots of fun and mayhem.
Tropes: Work colleagues Rivals to lovers Secret identity Online dating He falls first STEM heroine Dual POV
I loved all the old movie references in this book and how that inspired the FMC, Eden's, fashion taste. She was the epitome of classy on the outside but very passionate and fiery on the inside. The tension and banter between her and Finn was so fun to read. Although this was loosely based on the movie You Got Mail, there was so much more happening to increase the conflict. At times, it felt like too much, but it did add to the drama. Plus, it helped bring them together more and finally give in to that sexual tension. There was just enough spice to alleviate the build-up but wasn't overdone.
Overall, I loved the tension that the secret identity built up and was then expanded upon in their face to face interactions. I'm in the mood to watch all the classic movies again and ride a Vespa. Highly recommend for fans of old movies and rivals to lovers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Triggers/Content warnings: Sexism in the workplace, death of sibling (shared as memory), terminal illness, sexual content
This was my first time reading something by this author and it was quite an enjoyable experience. The story caught my attention from the beginning and held it all the way through. I love reading books about women in STEM, and this one really hit the mark! Eden and Finn really hit it off with their online personalites, LittleMissPerfect and HotAussie007, respectively, when they connected on an online dating app. They also work together in reality, and are both forced to complete for special projects funding. Finn is extremely attracted to Eden, but knows he can't pursue her. Something strange seems to be happening behind the scenes, and ultimately, they end up working together to uncover what their boss is really up to. Things aren't really as they seem as the story progresses and you realize what Finn is really up to as he tries to protect Eden.
This was a quick and easy read, but left quite an impression. The book definitely left me with a smile on my face and a happy feeling afterwards. The characters were interesting and well-developed with realistic qualities that gave them an authentic personality and were easily relatable. The story was delightfully cute and I really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a fun, quick and light read, then you definitely will want to pick this one up.
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
What a “meet cute” and subsequent story that’s follows two people looking for an anonymous love connection on an app and hoping it translates to a real life romance going “somewhere”. The banter between Eden and Finn, and their online personas were cute, flirty, and really laugh out loud funny at times. I did enjoy the internal struggles that Eden was going through that may have held Finn at a distance because it seemed real, especially in the face of the circumstances they were going through. I felt like the story drug on just a little long, and more emphasis was put into making the case against their boss. In most romances, miscommunication is a given and this story does include that trope to keep the characters working for their relationship. I feel I would have enjoyed the story more if we had more of the cute moments between them, more dialogue of the characters and how their feelings were changing or not changing, and less of the scandal that was going on (even though I understand it was part of the plot.). I even felt that the many side characters were very one dimensional and didn’t really add too much to the story as well. Overall I’d rate this story 3.25 stars, as it didn’t keep my attention as quickly as I prefer when reading.
Thank you to BoonSirens for providing me this ARC and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
This was a fu ln and interesting read that had me in suspense, laughing and eager to see what happened next. It is a slow burn and over 300 pages so you have to be in the mood for that, but it is worth it.
Eden is a woman in STEM, who has to be serious and appropriate in work, she tries an anonymous dating app to try and find a real connection, where she can be herself and not put on a front. Finn or HotAussie is her match. They have fun, a connection and share similar hopes and dreams. But Finn is a little closer to home than Eden knows. He is her work colleague, handsome, irritating and recent star of inappropriate fantasies.
Tropes include:
Woman in STEM Protective Hero He falls first Workplace romance Workplace drama Secret identity
I loved the chemistry and banter between these two, both online and in person. I do wish we saw more of those steamy and sweet moments, the workplace drama although interesting, did take up alot of space from the sweet relationship moments. But still enjoyable, but definitely made this more of a slow burn.
Finn is just everything, protective, smart, sexy, attentive and funny, Eden is intelligent, has some walls up, fun and snarky. A good enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. -----
Firstly, this book has a funny opening line with an eye-catching username (HotAussie007) that made me laugh. One look at that username and I immediately knew that I'd enjoy this book. Seeing the other username as LittleMissPerfect made me giggle.
After a date gone wrong, Finn and Eden are forced to spend more time together leading to major developments in their strained relationship. As they spend more time together, their relationship slowly progresses to an actual friendship and a potential relationship with their fiery chemistry. We are given a first-class view of seeing the burning heat between them ascent to new heights.
And when that tension finally tipped over the edge... whew that was spicy! And I enjoyed every second of it. The intimacy between them was beautiful.
I loved that Finn and Eden were shown to actually have animosity towards each other before it tamed down. The rivalry was clearly defined by petty insults and snarky remarks. But this also helped to intensify the tension between the two of them. It was entertaining to see how both of them clearly have the hots for the other but refuse to acknowledge it even after doing half of the deed. I also appreciated that Eden was an independent woman who could stand up for herself and her team.
I was also happy that the villain got what he deserved for being a bag of dirt. I was cackling with happiness after reading about the outcome of his actions. He deserved it after all. Overall, this book had a great story pacing and I was really invested in the characters. I also loved the beautiful ending to Finn and Eden's love story.
Slow burning goodness - Eden and Finn are not each other's biggest fan. And that's putting it mildly. Imagine his surprise when he realizes she is the femme fatale he's "dating" online. Now he can barely restrain himself from kissing her at every opportunity. He has to make her fall for him, Finn, and break up with her online suitor. That'll be complicated by a secret he is keeping from her. For her own good, mind you, but she isn't likely to appreciate that. She is Little Miss Perfect, after all, and she can do it all herself.
A fun read with great banter between the MCs from the very beginning, especially when they were snapping at each other. Their back-and-forth alone makes it worth every minute I spent reading it. The passionate tension simmers when they are together, lying in wait until they finally give in to their desire. The remaining cast members are great in their own ways, even the baddie. We knew he was up to something lowdown, but to be embroiled in a revenge plot related to an incident from years ago is a twist I did not see coming. Great writing!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Eden Robertson joins a local dating app in search of a normal man, not the nerds and judgemental men she meets around her work. She's a research scientist at a pharmaceutical company and her online name is LittleMissPerfect. She's allowed to be flirty and fun with HotAussie007, unlike her normal serious and professional self. When forced to work with marketing manager Finn Donahue, sure he's hot, but also so annoying. When he accidentally hits her with his car and is forced to drive her to work, the more time they spend together, the more she suspects that Finn and HotAussie could be the same guy. But an office romance is against the rules and she needs her job... I thought this was a cute story. The banter between the two was fun especially after Finn knew who she was. I felt bad for Finn trying to protect Eden without letting her know what was going on, fighting to keep his job and not get deported. Eden was a good representative for women in STEM,unappreciated and harassed by her old school boss. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.
Opposites Attract in a Steamy Workplace Rom-Com with a Hint of Intrigue
This book had a bit of everything, but was well written with fun characters so the pages kept turning. Finn and Eden are competing for workplace funding - he is the outgoing "marketing guy" while she is the "nerdy scientist" but of course there is a lot more depth to both of them and some nefarious dealings in upper management. Whenever they are together sparks fly, and they both have more going on underneath the surface. Watching all of this unfold and seeing them finally begin to trust each other, fall in love and work together to take down the culprits was a lot of fun. Their text conversations and banter - both before and after they figure out their 'secret identities" are witty and fun to read. Enjoy!
It’s giving The Love Hypothesis vibes with You’ve Got Mail with some The Hating Game energy sprinkled in. With a username like HotAussie007, you know he’s got to be forward but classy and that’s exactly who Finn is. Definitely gives off HOT golden retriever energy to Eden’s Little Miss Perfect proper and prim energy.
While the turns (and situations) the story takes borders on the unbelievable, I definitely felt the chemistry between the two. Definitely has some spice, but it’s a slow burn that’s well worth it! Not the best version of this rivals to lovers, but it was so fun to see how their story played out!
Special thanks to Cassandra O’Leary, the publisher, and BookSirens for gifting me an eARC for my voluntary review!
Dr. Eden is a research scientist too busy to find her own date, so she goes on an online dating app and is intrigued with HotAussie007. She loves their back-and-forth banter and is anxious to meet him. Finn is a marketing manager at the same pharmaceutical company, and they are competing for special funding which would secure their jobs. They are at odds professionally and personally. They have an unethical boss which does not help their projects. I liked Finn and his efforts to win Dr. Eden over. I did get a little tired of her lack of confidence in their relationship. It was fun to see her alter ego come alive online. Finn’s friend, Sam, was a lot of fun and added to the story as did Dr. Eden’s sister. Good story with a lot of laughs along the way.
This meet-cute story starts with two people meeting online, neither knowing who the other is. Of course, the meet up does not happen without a problem, and Finn winds up chickening out in Eden up for their first date.
Of course, and this won’t spoil the ending, they actually work together and while he knows who she is at this point, she has no clue.
It turns out there are issues at their company, issues that will come between them even before Eden find out who Finn is.
This quick-paced rom-com has a few great secondary characters and leaves itself open for the author to write another book. I’ll be sure to read it.
I got this galley first free from BookSirens and all opinions are my own.
Thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book.
A standalone workplace romance with a bit of business intrigue, an easy-to-hate big boss, a heroine with a STEM job, a hero with a heart, a mystery online relationship… these are a few of my favorite things. This was an easy read which I enjoyed quite a lot. The acknowledgement section stated this was originally a short story; my only recommendation is that the book was a bit too long. There was a section about 2/3 through the book that nothing seemed to happen for quite a while, but overall, I enjoyed this book.
I didn't care much for Eden or Finn during the first few chapters. I didn't care much for the work side of things, although after being caught up in it, I would've preferred to hear more about the sting and how it unfolded. There was a lot packed into this book, with all the usual emotions, had me laughing out loud in places, cringing, shouting ( mainly at Eden) even by the end of the book, I still didn't like her much, I loved Finn though. I did enjoy the book, and look forward to reading more of Cassandras books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m happy I got the chance to read this book. It was a very nice read situated in a scientific scene. Doctor Eden is a scientific researcher but also very stubborn and headstrong. Finn on the other hand is a sweetheart and a smooth talker( but definitely not in a bad way!) Although they have found each other online, they are drawn to each other in the real world as well but it takes some time and progress. The only thing that bothered me sometimes was the hot/cold reaction Eden had to Finn because he was nothing but a good guy.
Nevertheless I really enjoyed this book. Can’t wait to read the next story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the book a lot and for me it picked up at around 50% from there on you would've to fight me to take it off my hands! Saying that, I must also be honest on the fact that I felt the book could've been a tad shorter, felt there was too much time spent on the conflict , but otherwise it was a fun read. Loved Eden, smart as a whip and fiercely protective, loved the relationship with her sister Faith. Really enjoyed Eden as FMC, she didn't brake BS and was sanrky but adorable at the same time. And Finn..... What can I say, oh the sparks, the banter, I loved it .. I can wait to pick up another book from this author @CasandraO'leary
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the ARC
What a great story! Co-workers Finn and Eden do not get along, even though they are attracted to one another. However, in true rom com fashion, the two are texting each other using aliases. They initially connected on a dating app and have been one on one texting for some time. Their banter is on point! Now "HotAussie007" (Finn) wants to meet IRL. Eden (LittleMissPerfect) is nervous, but agrees.
However, when Finn realizes Eden is LittleMissPerfect, he decides to leave..but ends up backing into Eden and her Vespa.
He would like a real life romance with Eden; he just needs to get her on board his plan…