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The Insufferable Adam James
One immature dare.
Two childhood enemies.
Three kisses to bring him to his knees ...
Clarissa Wilson hates Adam James - his dentist-white smile, his ridiculous body built of muscles-upon-muscles, and that movie-star swagger that carries him into every room. So, back in their hometown of Moonshine — sixteen years later — with a revenge body and a new name, it’s a guilty thrill when Adam wants her … and has no idea she’s the chubby girl he teased throughout school.
As ‘Lissy,’ she’s determined to live by her own rules and hide her old scars — meaning she needs a plan to deal with Adam, their past, and the present. Luckily, his cheeky dare offers Lissy the perfect opportunity for payback: she has three kisses, and three chances to seduce the man who ruined her life … then leave him in the dust.
But Adam is playing with her heartstrings and rewriting their history, revealing things aren’t what they seem. Now, Lissy must decide who she really is and what her heart desires, because three kisses can’t undo a lifetime of hate … right?
The Insufferable Adam James is a dual POV childhood enemies-to-lovers rom-com with a drool worthy MMC and a sassy FMC who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. It is part of the Moonshine Romance series of interconnected standalones, which can be read in any order.
Two childhood enemies.
Three kisses to bring him to his knees ...
Clarissa Wilson hates Adam James - his dentist-white smile, his ridiculous body built of muscles-upon-muscles, and that movie-star swagger that carries him into every room. So, back in their hometown of Moonshine — sixteen years later — with a revenge body and a new name, it’s a guilty thrill when Adam wants her … and has no idea she’s the chubby girl he teased throughout school.
As ‘Lissy,’ she’s determined to live by her own rules and hide her old scars — meaning she needs a plan to deal with Adam, their past, and the present. Luckily, his cheeky dare offers Lissy the perfect opportunity for payback: she has three kisses, and three chances to seduce the man who ruined her life … then leave him in the dust.
But Adam is playing with her heartstrings and rewriting their history, revealing things aren’t what they seem. Now, Lissy must decide who she really is and what her heart desires, because three kisses can’t undo a lifetime of hate … right?
The Insufferable Adam James is a dual POV childhood enemies-to-lovers rom-com with a drool worthy MMC and a sassy FMC who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. It is part of the Moonshine Romance series of interconnected standalones, which can be read in any order.
- GenresRomance
365 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2024
41 people want to read
About the author
Brooklyn Dean
6 books24 followersBROOKLYN DEAN is a perpetual daydreamer from rural Australia.
When she’s not writing, Brooklyn can be found practicing to become the world hugging champion, drinking coffee, throwing her head back in laughter, or stealing time to nap in the sun.
Her second novel, a sexy Aussie enemies-to-lovers novel, The Insufferable Adam James, won the BEST INDIE BOOK AWARD (Romance, 2024).
Meet Adam in Brooklyn's debut Moonshine Romance series.
When she’s not writing, Brooklyn can be found practicing to become the world hugging champion, drinking coffee, throwing her head back in laughter, or stealing time to nap in the sun.
Her second novel, a sexy Aussie enemies-to-lovers novel, The Insufferable Adam James, won the BEST INDIE BOOK AWARD (Romance, 2024).
Meet Adam in Brooklyn's debut Moonshine Romance series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 9, 2024
Lissy Wilson and Adam James.
The two people that get each other the most but are too stubborn to take the leap and just be.
Clarissa and Adam have known each other since kindergarten, they grew up together, teased each other, fought each other, loved each other and broke each other’s hearts.
Their story is filled with hurt, regret and finally healing.
I really enjoyed the banter in this book between all of the characters. I loved seeing Anita, Samuel and Edith again as well as get some depth into Adam.
My heart broke for both of these characters. Clarissa and Adam have their own fair share of trauma, some physical and some emotional but they aren’t letting it define them.
They are both survivors in their own right.
This is a beautiful story. The characters have depth and are developed nicely, the chemistry is there right next to the banter and it’s written in a way that flows nicely.
I also really enjoy that little snippet of the next book.
A massive thank you to Brooklyn for allowing me to ARC read. I can’t wait to see what you deliver next.
The two people that get each other the most but are too stubborn to take the leap and just be.
Clarissa and Adam have known each other since kindergarten, they grew up together, teased each other, fought each other, loved each other and broke each other’s hearts.
Their story is filled with hurt, regret and finally healing.
I really enjoyed the banter in this book between all of the characters. I loved seeing Anita, Samuel and Edith again as well as get some depth into Adam.
My heart broke for both of these characters. Clarissa and Adam have their own fair share of trauma, some physical and some emotional but they aren’t letting it define them.
They are both survivors in their own right.
This is a beautiful story. The characters have depth and are developed nicely, the chemistry is there right next to the banter and it’s written in a way that flows nicely.
I also really enjoy that little snippet of the next book.
A massive thank you to Brooklyn for allowing me to ARC read. I can’t wait to see what you deliver next.
August 13, 2024
Brooklyn - You’ve done it again! Great story! I love how the chapters were alternated between ‘then’ and ‘now’. It kept me turning page after page not wanting to put the book down. I love your sense of humour and think that is one of the reasons your stories are so enjoyable to read. Whilst it can be serious or quite steamy at times it is also lighthearted with laugh out loud moments.
July 7, 2024
I absolutely adored and devoured this book! Lucky enough to get my hands on an early copy. My 2nd novel by the talented Brooklyn, she has a way of bringing all the things that make a small Aussie town vibrant and "in each other's pockets with info on everyone" and then throws in a muster of romance and banter and tops it off with some shrimp on the bbq with a bittersweet take off unrequited first love between Clarissa aka Lissy now and the sexy, swoony and innuendo talking Adam James.
Running away 16 years ago to a new start of life, Lissy then comes back to the place where her life changed forever and not in the good way. Small towns thrive off gossip and Adam is the talk of the town. Every woman wants to be with him and likely every man wishes they were in his shoes. Add in a dare.... Only three kisses.
Shake it up and let it loose on a hike through the beautiful Australian landscape. And you have a spicy, funny, charming romantic comedy set in the wonderful land down under.
Running away 16 years ago to a new start of life, Lissy then comes back to the place where her life changed forever and not in the good way. Small towns thrive off gossip and Adam is the talk of the town. Every woman wants to be with him and likely every man wishes they were in his shoes. Add in a dare.... Only three kisses.
Shake it up and let it loose on a hike through the beautiful Australian landscape. And you have a spicy, funny, charming romantic comedy set in the wonderful land down under.
June 1, 2024
***ARC Review. As always, spoilers have been removed, so review has gaps due to large chunks being omitted.***
I can’t even begin to describe how wonderful it was to return to Moonshine! In the third book of the Moonshine series, we turn our attention to the town heartthrob, Adam James. We were given a hint of something going down at the end of “The Write Way for Love,” and it turns out these two books are set within the same timeline. While this can be read as a standalone, reading the books out of order will reveal spoilers for the previous books. If you intend to read “Meet Me in Moonshine” (where it all begins), definitely read it first, as this will give away the ending of that book (and trust me, the mystery is what makes that book so much fun!). With Lissy’s sass and Adam’s ability to turn anything into an innuendo, get ready to laugh, swoon, and fall in love with the people of this quaint little town.
Sixteen years. Sixteen years had passed since Adam James broke Clarissa Wilson’s heart. But you know what they say, revenge is best served cold. Adam may think it is a cute game of Truth or Dare with the new stranger in town, but Clarissa (now known as “Lissy”) has other things in mind. She’ll take Adam up on his little three-kiss dare, doused with much-deserved payback. The problem is, this kindling is fanning a flame she had hoped was extinguished. She wasn’t looking for complicated; she just wanted to return to her hometown of Moonshine under the cover of night, live her life, and maybe grab a singing gig at The Pope. Instead, she has become the star hairdresser at the local beauty salon and can’t seem to shake the attention of the last person she wants to recognize her. All games aside, the past and the present need to stay separated, which means keeping Adam as far away from her heart as possible. She has survived worse; surely, she can survive the gravitational pull of one “Adam freaking James.” How hard could that be?
Brooklyn has an incredible talent for creating characters that you not only admire but also want to be best friends with. From Lissy’s vivid imagination to Meredith’s admirable free spirit, good nature, and electric personality, to Adam being an enigma of a person that you want to hate, love, and everything in between—you don’t just enjoy these characters, you fall in love with them.
I don’t even know where to begin with everything I liked (and absolutely loved) about this book. Let’s start with the leap between past and present. The story structure is always my favorite because it provides the best foundation for the relationship between characters. We are not being told second-hand how they “used to be”; we get to witness it. This tethering of the past and present intensified the emotions, feelings, and fallout. Again, we weren’t just hearing about what happened or sympathizing via a retelling (which can be skewed); we were there—forming our own opinions.
I also appreciated the slow burn of the story. It wasn’t a “Will they, won’t they” per se, but more about whether they could overcome the past to build a future. This prevented the story from magically resolving and allowed for a much-respected realistic aspect.
This structure also allowed Brooklyn to focus on the secondary characters of the story instead of solely on the intensity between Clarissa and Adam. By doing this, she did an excellent job recapping the important highlights of prior stories to bring the first two books into this one. While you don’t need to read “Meet Me in Moonshine” or “The Write Way for Love” to enjoy “The Insufferable Adam James,” it does give you a more complete history of sub-stories referenced and the wonderful town of Moonshine.
My absolute favorite aspect was the war between the angel and demon on Clarissa’s shoulders. It felt as if there were times they didn’t even understand what side they were on! This added an additional dimension to Clarissa’s character—the innocence and rawness of her past warring with the sassiness and strength of her present. By personifying these parts of her, we were given an even better understanding of the inner turmoil of her feelings towards Adam.
Brooklyn focused hard on bullying in this story and the destruction it could cause. She also highlights that whether you run away or stay, the greatest obstacle to overcome is the healing process.
Perspective, assumption, and orchestrated narratives were also ongoing themes.
While I am sad to close the book on Clarissa and Adam, I was very excited to get a sneak peek at a pairing I have always been suspicious about. For those who are as much of a fan of the Moonshine series as I am, get ready for a little festive magic coming later this year!
I can’t even begin to describe how wonderful it was to return to Moonshine! In the third book of the Moonshine series, we turn our attention to the town heartthrob, Adam James. We were given a hint of something going down at the end of “The Write Way for Love,” and it turns out these two books are set within the same timeline. While this can be read as a standalone, reading the books out of order will reveal spoilers for the previous books. If you intend to read “Meet Me in Moonshine” (where it all begins), definitely read it first, as this will give away the ending of that book (and trust me, the mystery is what makes that book so much fun!). With Lissy’s sass and Adam’s ability to turn anything into an innuendo, get ready to laugh, swoon, and fall in love with the people of this quaint little town.
Sixteen years. Sixteen years had passed since Adam James broke Clarissa Wilson’s heart. But you know what they say, revenge is best served cold. Adam may think it is a cute game of Truth or Dare with the new stranger in town, but Clarissa (now known as “Lissy”) has other things in mind. She’ll take Adam up on his little three-kiss dare, doused with much-deserved payback. The problem is, this kindling is fanning a flame she had hoped was extinguished. She wasn’t looking for complicated; she just wanted to return to her hometown of Moonshine under the cover of night, live her life, and maybe grab a singing gig at The Pope. Instead, she has become the star hairdresser at the local beauty salon and can’t seem to shake the attention of the last person she wants to recognize her. All games aside, the past and the present need to stay separated, which means keeping Adam as far away from her heart as possible. She has survived worse; surely, she can survive the gravitational pull of one “Adam freaking James.” How hard could that be?
Brooklyn has an incredible talent for creating characters that you not only admire but also want to be best friends with. From Lissy’s vivid imagination to Meredith’s admirable free spirit, good nature, and electric personality, to Adam being an enigma of a person that you want to hate, love, and everything in between—you don’t just enjoy these characters, you fall in love with them.
I don’t even know where to begin with everything I liked (and absolutely loved) about this book. Let’s start with the leap between past and present. The story structure is always my favorite because it provides the best foundation for the relationship between characters. We are not being told second-hand how they “used to be”; we get to witness it. This tethering of the past and present intensified the emotions, feelings, and fallout. Again, we weren’t just hearing about what happened or sympathizing via a retelling (which can be skewed); we were there—forming our own opinions.
I also appreciated the slow burn of the story. It wasn’t a “Will they, won’t they” per se, but more about whether they could overcome the past to build a future. This prevented the story from magically resolving and allowed for a much-respected realistic aspect.
This structure also allowed Brooklyn to focus on the secondary characters of the story instead of solely on the intensity between Clarissa and Adam. By doing this, she did an excellent job recapping the important highlights of prior stories to bring the first two books into this one. While you don’t need to read “Meet Me in Moonshine” or “The Write Way for Love” to enjoy “The Insufferable Adam James,” it does give you a more complete history of sub-stories referenced and the wonderful town of Moonshine.
My absolute favorite aspect was the war between the angel and demon on Clarissa’s shoulders. It felt as if there were times they didn’t even understand what side they were on! This added an additional dimension to Clarissa’s character—the innocence and rawness of her past warring with the sassiness and strength of her present. By personifying these parts of her, we were given an even better understanding of the inner turmoil of her feelings towards Adam.
Brooklyn focused hard on bullying in this story and the destruction it could cause. She also highlights that whether you run away or stay, the greatest obstacle to overcome is the healing process.
Perspective, assumption, and orchestrated narratives were also ongoing themes.
While I am sad to close the book on Clarissa and Adam, I was very excited to get a sneak peek at a pairing I have always been suspicious about. For those who are as much of a fan of the Moonshine series as I am, get ready for a little festive magic coming later this year!
May 13, 2024
"Player.Flirt.Tease.Fuckboy.Douche Canoe."
Did I absolutely lose it when I read Douche Canoe? Yes, yes, I did. This book had me in fits of giggles. I loved it. The banter was SPOT ON. Also, very refreshing having Aussie Banter that just made it feel right. So how many quotes can I fit into one review?! Well, there will be a few because Brooklyn's writing was so effortless to read; it was like I was watching a TV series instead of reading a book.
"She watched the path of a bead of sweat, wondering just how warm and salty his skin might be. You did NOT just think about tasing Adam freaking James!"
This story was very much about letting go of the past and starting over, but also accepting the past as something that happened and learning from it. Clarrisa, or Lissy, was a complex character, and as much as her forced therapy sessions must have worked out some issues, I still like that she turned up a bit of a mess.
Her anger was so visceral, but we also didn't understand how wrong she was until later in the book. I totally believed her; the writing was so full of passion that it almost leapt off the page.
I did appreciate the dual POV, but I wish we saw a bit more of Adam and the conversations behind the scenes, especially the frantic call from Meredith near the end of the book. There are just a few more vulnerable moments from him, but that is being nit-picky at best. Adam is just a bit flirty cinnamon roll, that had some more depth to be explored.
The conversation Clarissa had with her Dad, had me tearing up. The conversation between them that he could not be proud of his daughter... damn. This quote hit me hard because it just rang true for me and obviously anyone who has a close relationship with their Dad.
"Home. Here it was. In the smallest, but most meaningful of ways. Wayne's hugs were home."
The jumps in the timeline between current events and flashbacks to school events were a brilliant touch. When you're talking about a small town with people you have grown up with school is such a big deal. Seeing their relationship blossom from such a young age was so cute. Some people are just meant to be together.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a genuine rom-com with some of the BEST banter I have read in such a long time, but also to all my Aussie readers who would embrace something closer to home. ABSOLUTELY!
One more quote for good measure.
"You know, you're going to ruin my bad-boy reputation." "Oh, I look forward to obliterating it completely."
Did I absolutely lose it when I read Douche Canoe? Yes, yes, I did. This book had me in fits of giggles. I loved it. The banter was SPOT ON. Also, very refreshing having Aussie Banter that just made it feel right. So how many quotes can I fit into one review?! Well, there will be a few because Brooklyn's writing was so effortless to read; it was like I was watching a TV series instead of reading a book.
"She watched the path of a bead of sweat, wondering just how warm and salty his skin might be. You did NOT just think about tasing Adam freaking James!"
This story was very much about letting go of the past and starting over, but also accepting the past as something that happened and learning from it. Clarrisa, or Lissy, was a complex character, and as much as her forced therapy sessions must have worked out some issues, I still like that she turned up a bit of a mess.
Her anger was so visceral, but we also didn't understand how wrong she was until later in the book. I totally believed her; the writing was so full of passion that it almost leapt off the page.
I did appreciate the dual POV, but I wish we saw a bit more of Adam and the conversations behind the scenes, especially the frantic call from Meredith near the end of the book. There are just a few more vulnerable moments from him, but that is being nit-picky at best. Adam is just a bit flirty cinnamon roll, that had some more depth to be explored.
The conversation Clarissa had with her Dad, had me tearing up. The conversation between them that he could not be proud of his daughter... damn. This quote hit me hard because it just rang true for me and obviously anyone who has a close relationship with their Dad.
"Home. Here it was. In the smallest, but most meaningful of ways. Wayne's hugs were home."
The jumps in the timeline between current events and flashbacks to school events were a brilliant touch. When you're talking about a small town with people you have grown up with school is such a big deal. Seeing their relationship blossom from such a young age was so cute. Some people are just meant to be together.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a genuine rom-com with some of the BEST banter I have read in such a long time, but also to all my Aussie readers who would embrace something closer to home. ABSOLUTELY!
One more quote for good measure.
"You know, you're going to ruin my bad-boy reputation." "Oh, I look forward to obliterating it completely."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2024
In The Insufferable Adam James by Brooklyn Dean Cassidy/Lissy has reinvented herself and now she has come home to her hometown. She has changed a lot and hopes nobody recognizes her, especially not Adam James, her nemesis from school.
From the very first I enjoyed reading this book. The prologue made me so curious, because something bad happened and while reading the book I wanted to know what happened all those years ago. We get some flashbacks and mostly those are about the school photos taken and Cassidy suffers a lot thanks to Adam. Those scenes are filled with humor, but at the same time I felt for Cassidy. We all know there is a small line between hate and love, but Adam and his friends made life miserable for Cassidy and when the story progresses and more comes out, there is this bullying which shocked me a bit. Brooklyn Dean wrote this so good, all the motions Cassidy was feeling came across so well.
Cassidy/Lissy is a great character, you can totally relate to her for getting revenge, but Adam is so charming, it is hard for her. While reading the book even I had a hard time loathing Adam (haha).
Adam is a total flirt, but he puts on a mask to not let people know the real Adam.
This book is the second book written by Brooklyn Dean I have read and this second book I loved a lot! It is such a great story, with a flowing writing style, a dual POV, great characters, a mystery, and a good plot and story-line. It is a wonderful romance novel with depth.
Highly recommended!
From the very first I enjoyed reading this book. The prologue made me so curious, because something bad happened and while reading the book I wanted to know what happened all those years ago. We get some flashbacks and mostly those are about the school photos taken and Cassidy suffers a lot thanks to Adam. Those scenes are filled with humor, but at the same time I felt for Cassidy. We all know there is a small line between hate and love, but Adam and his friends made life miserable for Cassidy and when the story progresses and more comes out, there is this bullying which shocked me a bit. Brooklyn Dean wrote this so good, all the motions Cassidy was feeling came across so well.
Cassidy/Lissy is a great character, you can totally relate to her for getting revenge, but Adam is so charming, it is hard for her. While reading the book even I had a hard time loathing Adam (haha).
Adam is a total flirt, but he puts on a mask to not let people know the real Adam.
This book is the second book written by Brooklyn Dean I have read and this second book I loved a lot! It is such a great story, with a flowing writing style, a dual POV, great characters, a mystery, and a good plot and story-line. It is a wonderful romance novel with depth.
Highly recommended!
May 29, 2024
Clarissa Wilson and Adam James have been frenemies since kindergarten, but following a tragic accident and crossed wires Clarissa leaves town for good during high school. Years later Clarissa returns to town as Lissy, a singer, and runs into Adam against she is convinced she can’t like him, but her heart is telling her otherwise. To be able to move on with the future, Clarissa is going to face the past and actually talk to Adam. Will she be able to face this head on or will she keep her feelings bottled up forever?
The description of this book had me intrigued from the beginning and I enjoyed the way this story played out. All of the characters were fun and easy to get to know and even though it was clear Clarissa wanted us to dislike Adam from the very beginning, I loved him. I liked the enemies to lovers trope of this book and thought that Clarissa and Adam were perfect together in the long run. This is a slow burn story and at times I wished the romance would pick up a little quicker, but I still enjoyed this book overall. I enjoyed the banter between Clarissa and Adam and thought it drove their story. By the end of this book I had all of the feels and loved the sweet notes of Adam and the feeling of redemption between the couple. If you are a fan of slow burn, enemies to lovers romance this book is a good one to check out.
The description of this book had me intrigued from the beginning and I enjoyed the way this story played out. All of the characters were fun and easy to get to know and even though it was clear Clarissa wanted us to dislike Adam from the very beginning, I loved him. I liked the enemies to lovers trope of this book and thought that Clarissa and Adam were perfect together in the long run. This is a slow burn story and at times I wished the romance would pick up a little quicker, but I still enjoyed this book overall. I enjoyed the banter between Clarissa and Adam and thought it drove their story. By the end of this book I had all of the feels and loved the sweet notes of Adam and the feeling of redemption between the couple. If you are a fan of slow burn, enemies to lovers romance this book is a good one to check out.
June 11, 2024
Douche Canoe.
I haven't heard someone be called that in a really, really long time and I absolutely lost it laughing when I read it.
I enjoyed this book. The banter, the innuendo, the chemistry. Two stubborn childhood frenemies who after having their hearts broken 16 years earlier are back in each others orbits, except only one of them knows that.
Clarissa is back in town but now she looks completely different and goes by a new name, 'Lissy'. She's determined to stay away from her first love, the insufferable Adam James. He broke her heart in more ways than one as a teen and almost two decades later she finds he hasn't changed. He's just older, and hotter.
Adam was heartbroken over his 'one', Clarissa. Not strong enough to face her after what happened that day, and then losing his chance after she moves from their country town to the big smoke, he turns to acting and behaving like everyone believes he is. Deep down though, he's broken.
The beautiful way in which Brooklyn has written their story is impressive. I felt their moods, their emotions while reading this and I haven't laughed so hard in a while over a book. The Aussie-isms are great.
I really cannot wait to read the next in this series.
4 ⭐
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I haven't heard someone be called that in a really, really long time and I absolutely lost it laughing when I read it.
I enjoyed this book. The banter, the innuendo, the chemistry. Two stubborn childhood frenemies who after having their hearts broken 16 years earlier are back in each others orbits, except only one of them knows that.
Clarissa is back in town but now she looks completely different and goes by a new name, 'Lissy'. She's determined to stay away from her first love, the insufferable Adam James. He broke her heart in more ways than one as a teen and almost two decades later she finds he hasn't changed. He's just older, and hotter.
Adam was heartbroken over his 'one', Clarissa. Not strong enough to face her after what happened that day, and then losing his chance after she moves from their country town to the big smoke, he turns to acting and behaving like everyone believes he is. Deep down though, he's broken.
The beautiful way in which Brooklyn has written their story is impressive. I felt their moods, their emotions while reading this and I haven't laughed so hard in a while over a book. The Aussie-isms are great.
I really cannot wait to read the next in this series.
4 ⭐
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
May 23, 2024
I connected with the author, Brooklyn Dean, on Instagram and was able to receive an ARC of the Insufferable Adam James. I thought this book was really cute and well written. I loved the history between Lissy/Clarissa and Adam, and the little flashbacks to school. I thought the side characters were really great as well (with one exception, notes below). The whole book is really one giant miscommunication trope, which I’m lukewarm about. I thought Lissy was super deceptive and kind of bitchy. Adam was ok, but really had a lot of f*ckboy energy. I don’t love that he pursued Lissy when she clearly wasn’t interested; that gives me creeper vibes big time. I thought Meredith was the actual worst best friend imaginable, quite possibly borderline toxic. She was a selfish, shallow child. I also wish we had a bit more of Adam’s POV; the book was dual-POV, but Adam only had tiny sections here and there.
Overall, I’m glad I read this book. I would definitely read the next in the series!
This review is wholly my own, and I am leaving it voluntarily.
Overall, I’m glad I read this book. I would definitely read the next in the series!
This review is wholly my own, and I am leaving it voluntarily.
July 11, 2024
4.5 Stars - This story was filled with all my kryptonite.
Enemies to lovers ✅
MMC + MFC have a history of childhood taunting ✅
Secret love as teens ✅
A tragedy splits them apart before they reunite years later ✅
The story is set in a small town and I love how the author weaves glimpses of the past into the present day.
When we meet Adam he really is insufferable. He comes across as a charming but cocky douche who hits on Clarissa not knowing who she is, thanks to a change of name and appearance after ten years away.
You really want to hate him at first and soon Clarissa comes up with a plan of revenge. But as the story progresses, we learn more about Adam and by the end you realise he has a heart of gold.
The reader gets drip fed snippets, along with Clarissa about secrets of the past that leaves you intrigued and captivated. This story sucked me in so bad that I finished it in 12 hours.
Overall this book is about characters healing from the past, learning to forgive and having the courage to move forward with an open heart.
Enemies to lovers ✅
MMC + MFC have a history of childhood taunting ✅
Secret love as teens ✅
A tragedy splits them apart before they reunite years later ✅
The story is set in a small town and I love how the author weaves glimpses of the past into the present day.
When we meet Adam he really is insufferable. He comes across as a charming but cocky douche who hits on Clarissa not knowing who she is, thanks to a change of name and appearance after ten years away.
You really want to hate him at first and soon Clarissa comes up with a plan of revenge. But as the story progresses, we learn more about Adam and by the end you realise he has a heart of gold.
The reader gets drip fed snippets, along with Clarissa about secrets of the past that leaves you intrigued and captivated. This story sucked me in so bad that I finished it in 12 hours.
Overall this book is about characters healing from the past, learning to forgive and having the courage to move forward with an open heart.
May 21, 2024
ARC Read! 🇦🇺
Rating: 4.5⭐️ 1🌶️
Release date: 9th June 2024
Tropes: childhood enemies to lovers, trauma healing, hidden identity, one tent, band/music, small town romance, second chance romance, grumpy/sunshine,
ONE dare
TWO childhood enemies
THREE kisses
Set in rural Australia this book took me home. I was back in country Victoria experiencing the story of Clarissa and her determination to dislike the insufferable Adam James. You can’t trust a guy with two first names anyway, right Lissy? Especially when Adam’s love of childhood games leads to truth or dare and you’ve gotta make your three kisses count 😏
I have never connected to a book so much. From the threat of butt-biting yabbies to a camping adventure gone wrong this romcom had me hooked. Even I felt the need to touch Adam to see if his shirt was painted on 🤣 I loved the banter, a great romance novel. I can’t wait for next instalment, maybe Billy plays footy😉
Rating: 4.5⭐️ 1🌶️
Release date: 9th June 2024
Tropes: childhood enemies to lovers, trauma healing, hidden identity, one tent, band/music, small town romance, second chance romance, grumpy/sunshine,
ONE dare
TWO childhood enemies
THREE kisses
Set in rural Australia this book took me home. I was back in country Victoria experiencing the story of Clarissa and her determination to dislike the insufferable Adam James. You can’t trust a guy with two first names anyway, right Lissy? Especially when Adam’s love of childhood games leads to truth or dare and you’ve gotta make your three kisses count 😏
I have never connected to a book so much. From the threat of butt-biting yabbies to a camping adventure gone wrong this romcom had me hooked. Even I felt the need to touch Adam to see if his shirt was painted on 🤣 I loved the banter, a great romance novel. I can’t wait for next instalment, maybe Billy plays footy😉
June 4, 2024
This sweet, swoony and very funny story tells the journey of Clarissa and Adam. When ‘Lissy’ returns to her hometown of Moonshine, she just wanted to live a quiet uncomplicated life. She looked different from the last time she lived there, 16 years ago and no one recognised her. So when Adam starts flirting with her, and dares her to a 3 kiss challenge, she thinks it might be time to extract some revenge.
Lissy is sassy with lots of secrets. Adam comes across as cocky and has an uncanny ability to turn everything into some kind of double entendres or innuendo, but he has his secrets too. Their story spans past and present timelines which adds a wonderful sense of depth and understanding to the story. Another winning book from @brooklyndeanwrites.
Thank you @brooklyndeanwrites for the e-ARC of this book. It is truly a fun and wonderful read, one filled with many laugh out loud moments along with lots of tenderness and love too.
Lissy is sassy with lots of secrets. Adam comes across as cocky and has an uncanny ability to turn everything into some kind of double entendres or innuendo, but he has his secrets too. Their story spans past and present timelines which adds a wonderful sense of depth and understanding to the story. Another winning book from @brooklyndeanwrites.
Thank you @brooklyndeanwrites for the e-ARC of this book. It is truly a fun and wonderful read, one filled with many laugh out loud moments along with lots of tenderness and love too.
March 28, 2025
I was extremely lucky and fortunate to win this ebook as well as my name 'Tash' be a character in this novel. Tash is the bitch of an ex... Put that aside, I devoured this one! One sitting and bam I had finished it. This is my first book by Brooklyn James and I found a new Aussie author that I love! This small Aussie town romance is the third in the series however I didn't realise this until I finished it. Im going to have to go back and read the previous two novels. Saying that, you could read this as a stand-alone novel, as I didn't feel like I was missing anything from the previous two novels and the plot and characters developed naturally. I enjoyed the use of the 'angel' vs 'devil' on Lissy's shoulder and how this allowed the author to share with us what was going on in Lissy's brain throughout the novel.
Tropes:
❤️childhood enemies to lovers
❤️hidden identity
❤️bullying
❤️shared trauma
❤️forced proximity
❤️second chances
❤️only one tent
❤️small town romance
Tropes:
❤️childhood enemies to lovers
❤️hidden identity
❤️bullying
❤️shared trauma
❤️forced proximity
❤️second chances
❤️only one tent
❤️small town romance
June 3, 2024
Lissy is returning to her hometown. Unrecognisable, she's looking to leave the past behind and have a fresh start. Not so easy when she bumps into her first love, the charming, handsome and insufferable Adam James. He doesn't recognise her but she hasn't forgotten how things ended. Is this her chance for revenge?
At first I thought I was going to dislike Adam James. However, he soon won me over and it wasnt long before I was cheering him on in his pursuit to sweep Lissy off her feet! I enjoyed having Adams POV sprinkled throughout the story as well and would have enjoyed seeing more from his perspective. I also really enjoyed the flash backs, they really helped build the story.
An enjoyable read for fans of second chance, small town Aussie romance with a bit of spice.
Thank you Brooklyn Dean, I had a blast reading this one!
At first I thought I was going to dislike Adam James. However, he soon won me over and it wasnt long before I was cheering him on in his pursuit to sweep Lissy off her feet! I enjoyed having Adams POV sprinkled throughout the story as well and would have enjoyed seeing more from his perspective. I also really enjoyed the flash backs, they really helped build the story.
An enjoyable read for fans of second chance, small town Aussie romance with a bit of spice.
Thank you Brooklyn Dean, I had a blast reading this one!
July 4, 2024
This great read by Brooklyn Dean follows Lissy as she returns to her hometown after a long absence due to a traumatic accident. Transformed in appearance, she is now stunning, with a fit body that catches everyone's attention. Upon her return, she driven by a desire for revenge against Adam, the boy from school she so desperately wants to continue to hate. Adam, unaware of her true identity, becomes intrigued by the new girl in town. Their story begins with a dare involving three kisses, setting the stage for a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected developments.
Adam James is the epitome of a book boyfriend—tall, gorgeous, and full of surprises. Lissy's best friend is just the best chick ever. And I can't wait to read more about the other characters *cough Billy cough*.
I absolutely loved this book, and couldn't put it down.
Adam James is the epitome of a book boyfriend—tall, gorgeous, and full of surprises. Lissy's best friend is just the best chick ever. And I can't wait to read more about the other characters *cough Billy cough*.
I absolutely loved this book, and couldn't put it down.
June 9, 2024
I loved the book is an understatement for how much I enjoyed the book. I loved the setup, the descriptions, the leads, the supporting characters and also the city Moonshine. I liked how the past and the present are intertwined in the chapters. Both Clarissa and Adam's perspectives were mentioned in the chapters. I’m officially setting Adam James as my boyfriend material. The novel deals spice, confrontations, trauma, friendship and mental health equally. I liked how the spice scenes were gentle as well as passionate. I would rather eat ten frogs than not suggesting the book to romance lovers (iykyk). I appreciate the author for the smooth narration with impactful characters and a wonderful reading experience.
June 10, 2024
Clarissa/ Lissy Wilson and Adam James are childhood nemesis. She’s a beautician by day and plays a guitar by night. She moves back to Moonshine after decades away with a new identity separating her from the tragic past … Just on thing threatens to drag her right back…Adam James her childhood nemesis . Adam is a gym junkie and serial flirt . When he issues a juvenile dare , Clarissa seizes the opportunity to play him at his own game giving a taste of his medicine …and her . Those darned three kisses! This was a brilliant , beautiful story by the awesome Brooklyn Dean . Great writing style , uber fresh dialogue and descriptions are awesome too. The characters are hilarious and very realistic and relatable. I’m leaving my review voluntarily in my own words.
July 24, 2025
Finally reading a romance book set in Australia was refreshing. As an Aussie romance writer myself, this was nice to read and reminded me of my own writing. Adam James is everything I thought he would be. I would like to find me a man like him, even though he does have two first names. The story of Clarissa and Adam, with the past and present merging, was enjoyable to read. I loved reading the flash backs of little Adam and Clarissa and following it all the way until they parted ways. It all flowed so nicely. Brooklyn Dean did great with this book and I cannot wait to go back to Moonshine when I get the next book.
May 18, 2024
The Insufferable Adam James is a slow burn, childhood enemies to lovers romance that has so many little twists and turns. I loved the dual timeline, where we get to see flashbacks of Lissy's past and what has shaped her current reality with Adam Freaking James!
The main characters both have their secrets, and we watch them both untangle their Web of lies and mistrust. This story is as much about letting go of the past as it is about starting over and going after what you truly want.
It's a really lovely read, I really enjoyed this one!
The main characters both have their secrets, and we watch them both untangle their Web of lies and mistrust. This story is as much about letting go of the past as it is about starting over and going after what you truly want.
It's a really lovely read, I really enjoyed this one!
June 2, 2024
I enjoyed this book very much. It intertwined with the other two books really well of the Moonshine series. I absolutely loved the flash backs to when Clarissa and Adam were at school very funny and great way of finding out why they act the way they do. The only downer I felt near the end it was being drawn out a bit too long - no spoilers! But other than that a great read.
Very Lucy Score vibe to it.
Read Meet me in the Moonshine first I have that 5 stars my fav one in the series at the moment.
Watch this upcoming author, she is a lot of fun!
Very Lucy Score vibe to it.
Read Meet me in the Moonshine first I have that 5 stars my fav one in the series at the moment.
Watch this upcoming author, she is a lot of fun!
August 2, 2024
Nothing like teen jaded glasses, grudges held, misunderstandings and stubbornness, throw in a bit of hypocrisy and you've got yourself a captivating story!
This was just beautiful. The story captivated me from the first page. What wonderfully written emotions. A story of how misunderstandings and good intentions can shape lives and opinions of others. A reminder that not everything is as it seems, that everyone is redeemable and everyone is beautiful just as they are.
This was just beautiful. The story captivated me from the first page. What wonderfully written emotions. A story of how misunderstandings and good intentions can shape lives and opinions of others. A reminder that not everything is as it seems, that everyone is redeemable and everyone is beautiful just as they are.
November 3, 2025
I loved this story -it was funny, spicy, and enjoyable. The characters are well written and easy to relate to, even with some of their flaws and traumas. I enjoyed the banter, the friendships, and the additional side characters that made up the community of Moonshine. I found the author’s writing style easy to follow and the narrative flowed well throughout even with the flashback elements. Highly recommend!
June 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
This was my first Rockstar romance and I really enjoyed it.
Lissy is a strong willed, grudge holding singer who hasn’t forgiven her first love. Adam is a cinnamon roll guy who lets people think he’s a player.
There is banter; lots of banter, and there is lots of misunderstandings and misinformation. I felt connected to Lissy because I too can hold a grudge and had to hold my own during school.
“Life’s too short to wait around for someone else to make you feel like you’re living.”
“Everyone has scars, Princess, but I don’t think we should let them define us.”
🌶️
This was my first Rockstar romance and I really enjoyed it.
Lissy is a strong willed, grudge holding singer who hasn’t forgiven her first love. Adam is a cinnamon roll guy who lets people think he’s a player.
There is banter; lots of banter, and there is lots of misunderstandings and misinformation. I felt connected to Lissy because I too can hold a grudge and had to hold my own during school.
“Life’s too short to wait around for someone else to make you feel like you’re living.”
“Everyone has scars, Princess, but I don’t think we should let them define us.”
May 19, 2024
Another hit from Brooklyn Dean.
This book beautifully weaves healing and romance together to create a gripping heartfelt novel.
The characters were all great, but one of my favourite is Meredith. Everyone needs a best friend like her.
I couldn’t recommend this book enough.
This book beautifully weaves healing and romance together to create a gripping heartfelt novel.
The characters were all great, but one of my favourite is Meredith. Everyone needs a best friend like her.
I couldn’t recommend this book enough.
June 8, 2024
I LOVED this book!!! Definitely a new favourite of mine, I am in love with Adam James 🤌 do yourself a huge favour and pick this up if you enjoy these following tropes:
-contemporary romance
-small town
-friends to lovers
-contemporary romance
-small town
-friends to lovers
May 11, 2024
Slow burn 🔥 and friends to lovers. This is a lovely contemporary romance. Lizzy is trying to keep her heart from being broken by a love from 16 years ago.
May 26, 2024
Brooklyn Dean (author) did a fantastic job of creating Lissy. As a character, you can feel her pain, frustration and emotions.
June 12, 2024
SPOILER FREE REVIEW: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summed Up: Insufferably Charming
- - -
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I truly forget how much I enjoy a good rom-com novel until I finish one just like this and get all the light, fluffy, feel good feels 💕
The Insufferable Adam James puts the rom in the com. It had the ‘will they, won’t they’ romance plot 😍 and the wittiest, funniest comedy 🤣 I’ve read in a long time.
I cringed at some of the steamy parts (I always do 😅) but the overall story was enjoyable, entertaining gold. I’m already casting the movie adaption in my head with @sydney_sweeney serenading us all with country love songs in a tavern 🤠🍻
But this ain’t Texas, there ain’t no hold em. Just a full house of fun and flirty 4 stars and a great book where insufferably charming meets irrestiably entertaining.
Summed Up: Insufferably Charming
- - -
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I truly forget how much I enjoy a good rom-com novel until I finish one just like this and get all the light, fluffy, feel good feels 💕
The Insufferable Adam James puts the rom in the com. It had the ‘will they, won’t they’ romance plot 😍 and the wittiest, funniest comedy 🤣 I’ve read in a long time.
I cringed at some of the steamy parts (I always do 😅) but the overall story was enjoyable, entertaining gold. I’m already casting the movie adaption in my head with @sydney_sweeney serenading us all with country love songs in a tavern 🤠🍻
But this ain’t Texas, there ain’t no hold em. Just a full house of fun and flirty 4 stars and a great book where insufferably charming meets irrestiably entertaining.
November 25, 2024
2024 BIBA Winner!
August 31, 2025
This healed something in me, and I can’t wait to read more about this town
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