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Puppy Love: A Contemporary Small Town Spicy Queer Workplace Romance Novel
"Puppy Love", a sapphic romantic comedy, is the first book in a diverse, interconnected standalone series, "Greenrock Valley". Written with dogs, spice, and everything nice, this debut novel is sure to make you laugh and sweat, all while tugging on your heartstrings.
Cameron Miller hates change. It makes her sweaty, tongue-tied, or worse- silent. Her anxiety doesn’t help, leaving her expecting disaster around every corner. And finding out that her almost one-night stand is her new boss only confirms her fears.
Violet Wolfe isn’t looking for love. In fact, due to her impending divorce, she plans to stay far, far away from it. Luckily, love, and a close encounter in a bar bathroom, don’t bear many similarities. But when the woman from last night turns up as her work’s newbie, Violet realizes she’s accidentally violated her boss’ #1 rule: No dating colleagues.
The chemistry between them is undeniable, sure, but it’s just a physical attraction- or so they tell themselves. Yet as they start to consider breaking workplace policy, as well as the boundaries they’ve set for themselves, they start to wonder if it really is just “puppy love”, or if something larger is pulling them together.
Content This novel contains content that may be triggering to some audiences. Themes of substance abuse, parental neglect, parental death, mental illness, and sexual assault may occur.
Cameron Miller hates change. It makes her sweaty, tongue-tied, or worse- silent. Her anxiety doesn’t help, leaving her expecting disaster around every corner. And finding out that her almost one-night stand is her new boss only confirms her fears.
Violet Wolfe isn’t looking for love. In fact, due to her impending divorce, she plans to stay far, far away from it. Luckily, love, and a close encounter in a bar bathroom, don’t bear many similarities. But when the woman from last night turns up as her work’s newbie, Violet realizes she’s accidentally violated her boss’ #1 rule: No dating colleagues.
The chemistry between them is undeniable, sure, but it’s just a physical attraction- or so they tell themselves. Yet as they start to consider breaking workplace policy, as well as the boundaries they’ve set for themselves, they start to wonder if it really is just “puppy love”, or if something larger is pulling them together.
Content This novel contains content that may be triggering to some audiences. Themes of substance abuse, parental neglect, parental death, mental illness, and sexual assault may occur.
366 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2024
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August 28, 2025
➥ 2.5 Stars *:･ﾟ✧
I'll try to keep this quick, but this is ultimately a case of a book being frustratingly mediocre, cookie cutter and cliché.
This book did have some structure and a decent premise, but the execution left much to be desired.
The writing is that kind that leans heavily into first person, to where it feels like the inner monologue is speaking directly to the reader. This type of writing doesn't endear me to the characters, personally. It feels cheap.
In sapphic romance, I usually tend to love the characters' inner monologues, because they show a tender and observant appreciation of their love interest. When instead, authors like Sprinkle lean into exaggeration and into things that feel like buzzwords, it loses its spark and authenticity.
OR.
Okay...whatever that means. More effort could have been directed into actually saying something observant, rather than meaninglessly abstract. What are her features/mannerisms that drive you crazy? She's not really being specific, and she's not creating a description of Cam/Violet that the audience can agree is attractive. Just sweeping, vague, hyperbolic statements.
Which brings me to how ambivalent I felt toward the characters. Violet (h) was okay. Her redeeming qualities include her lip and tongue piercings. She's bossy in bed. Sometimes the delivery really didn't work for me (some questionably placed "good girl"s), but I suppose it added some sort of entertainment (the boss stuff was fun-ish). Cam (h) was just not a character I liked at all. I couldn't even manage to see why Violet liked her.
I can appreciate the normalisation of having a therapist and depicting characters that have disorders. That's not something I had a problem with. I understand Cam's journey toward accepting change.
But when Cam wasn't in distress, or working, she was just someone with a bratty attitude. I mean, one of her friends said it best.
Not to mention that we're introduced to 4 characters at a time right at the beginning of the book with limited description.
Puppy Love covers the typical friends-with-benefits dynamic, that can be my catnip when done well. I wouldn't say that was really the case here. The sex is okay...but uncompelling. Those who want some dirty talk and raunchiness may enjoy it, but I personally like mine with a side of complex + compelling characters and character dynamics. It feels incomplete without it.
Also, the sex in stories like this shouldn't be used as mini-palate cleansers for the reader. It's a vehicle for storytelling !! God, I'm always preaching this like a goddamn broken record but I really wish there had been more thought put into the purpose of every sex scene in the book (actually, not even just sexual ones). Isn't that writing 101? Bit harsh, I suppose, but I don't think this book was all that concerned with fleshing out characters that feel real and mature and meant to be.
The sex was...there...like I said, but 1) Not used as a storytelling device, just mindlessly inserted. If this is friends-with-benefits to lovers, we need to SEE the characters starting to be more loving. Yes, even during sex. Maybe making it feel more intimate, more intense, more sacred. That's what this was missing.
2) Although I wasn't that big a fan of the sex scenes, for a book that doesn't shy away from writing explicit sex scenes, there should be some sort of reunion sex after that godforsaken, long-winded 3rd act conflict here. And in general, the resolution was unsatisfying and rushed also. Everyone's crying but no one is doing anything!
There was a strange mention of Krav Maga that definitely gave me pause, but maybe it's just an unfortunate example of us being propagandised as kids and defaulting to it as the norm.
Honestly, I think this book will work for some, but you have to be okay with a sort of hallmark obnoxious narration, cookie-cutter cliche, and corny half-baked characters.
This book seems to pride itself on not taking itself too seriously, but then expects us to feel convinced that we just read a love story about two people who are meant to be. For those who read exclusively tradpub, this might have some appeal (I suppose queers deserve raunchy, shallow sapphic books too, i guess?), but for those who enjoy writers like Winter and Cass, that do in a way take themselves and their characters seriously (SUBTANCE!), this is likely to disappoint.
“Get out of here, loser,” she shoots back, a glistening smile engraved into her cheeks.
I fight my own smile and take a step backward through the door frame as my eyebrow quirks, the metal piercing grazing my forehead. “That’s boss to you,” I taunt. Then, I turn around and walk out.
━━━━━━━━━━━ ✯ ━━━━━━━━━━━
I'll try to keep this quick, but this is ultimately a case of a book being frustratingly mediocre, cookie cutter and cliché.
This book did have some structure and a decent premise, but the execution left much to be desired.
The writing is that kind that leans heavily into first person, to where it feels like the inner monologue is speaking directly to the reader. This type of writing doesn't endear me to the characters, personally. It feels cheap.
In sapphic romance, I usually tend to love the characters' inner monologues, because they show a tender and observant appreciation of their love interest. When instead, authors like Sprinkle lean into exaggeration and into things that feel like buzzwords, it loses its spark and authenticity.
'I think Cam was the blueprint for every sculpture ever crafted of a mythical goddess.'
OR.
'Violet looked as if Artemis and Asteria had a lesbian love child. "Beautiful" did not justice, but "ethereal" was too soft. This woman was the physical embodiment of mother earth.'
Okay...whatever that means. More effort could have been directed into actually saying something observant, rather than meaninglessly abstract. What are her features/mannerisms that drive you crazy? She's not really being specific, and she's not creating a description of Cam/Violet that the audience can agree is attractive. Just sweeping, vague, hyperbolic statements.
Which brings me to how ambivalent I felt toward the characters. Violet (h) was okay. Her redeeming qualities include her lip and tongue piercings. She's bossy in bed. Sometimes the delivery really didn't work for me (some questionably placed "good girl"s), but I suppose it added some sort of entertainment (the boss stuff was fun-ish). Cam (h) was just not a character I liked at all. I couldn't even manage to see why Violet liked her.
I can appreciate the normalisation of having a therapist and depicting characters that have disorders. That's not something I had a problem with. I understand Cam's journey toward accepting change.
But when Cam wasn't in distress, or working, she was just someone with a bratty attitude. I mean, one of her friends said it best.
"I think the difference, though, is that I’ve never meant to be rude. You…” He sighs. “It’s part of your personality.”
Not to mention that we're introduced to 4 characters at a time right at the beginning of the book with limited description.
Puppy Love covers the typical friends-with-benefits dynamic, that can be my catnip when done well. I wouldn't say that was really the case here. The sex is okay...but uncompelling. Those who want some dirty talk and raunchiness may enjoy it, but I personally like mine with a side of complex + compelling characters and character dynamics. It feels incomplete without it.
Also, the sex in stories like this shouldn't be used as mini-palate cleansers for the reader. It's a vehicle for storytelling !! God, I'm always preaching this like a goddamn broken record but I really wish there had been more thought put into the purpose of every sex scene in the book (actually, not even just sexual ones). Isn't that writing 101? Bit harsh, I suppose, but I don't think this book was all that concerned with fleshing out characters that feel real and mature and meant to be.
The sex was...there...like I said, but 1) Not used as a storytelling device, just mindlessly inserted. If this is friends-with-benefits to lovers, we need to SEE the characters starting to be more loving. Yes, even during sex. Maybe making it feel more intimate, more intense, more sacred. That's what this was missing.
2) Although I wasn't that big a fan of the sex scenes, for a book that doesn't shy away from writing explicit sex scenes, there should be some sort of reunion sex after that godforsaken, long-winded 3rd act conflict here. And in general, the resolution was unsatisfying and rushed also. Everyone's crying but no one is doing anything!
There was a strange mention of Krav Maga that definitely gave me pause, but maybe it's just an unfortunate example of us being propagandised as kids and defaulting to it as the norm.
Honestly, I think this book will work for some, but you have to be okay with a sort of hallmark obnoxious narration, cookie-cutter cliche, and corny half-baked characters.
This book seems to pride itself on not taking itself too seriously, but then expects us to feel convinced that we just read a love story about two people who are meant to be. For those who read exclusively tradpub, this might have some appeal (I suppose queers deserve raunchy, shallow sapphic books too, i guess?), but for those who enjoy writers like Winter and Cass, that do in a way take themselves and their characters seriously (SUBTANCE!), this is likely to disappoint.
━━━━━━━━━━━ ✯ ━━━━━━━━━━━
April 4, 2025
Elle Sprinkle’s Puppy Love is the sapphic rom-com that sneaks up on you in the best way—disguised beneath an adorable, cozy cover is a story that’s deeply emotional, delightfully spicy, and unexpectedly moving. With narration from Allie Shae and Jennifer Pickens that elevates both the charm and vulnerability of the characters, this audiobook is a total treat for listeners craving heart with heat.
At first glance, Puppy Love seems like your standard workplace romance—with a meet-cute that crashes straight into a new job and a “no dating colleagues” policy—but it quickly reveals more depth. Cameron Miller is a great grumpy protagonist: anxious, structured, endearing, and at times frustratingly stuck in her head in a way that feels so real. Elle Sprinkle writes her with care and authenticity, exploring mental health in a way that’s compassionate without veering into melodrama. Violet Wolfe, on the other hand, brings the sunshine. Recently separated and not looking for anything serious, she’s funny, grounding, and impossible not to adore. Their chemistry? Off the charts. We’re talking six 🔥 scenes kind of steam, expertly written and beautifully voiced in the audio.
This book honors both characters’ emotional complexities without sacrificing the joy and sexiness of a great rom-com. Cameron’s anxiety, Violet’s past hurt, and the trauma both women carry are handled with sensitivity, giving the story real emotional weight between the flirty banter and scorching tension. And that tension? Brought to life exquisitely through Allie Shae and Jennifer Pickens’ narration. Their performances are engaging and emotionally nuanced—Shae perfectly captures Cam’s internal whirlwind, while Pickens gives Violet a steady warmth and quiet strength that rounds out their dynamic beautifully.
This is a debut that sparkles with personality and depth. The community in Greenrock Valley is vibrant and comforting, the emotional arcs are layered and rewarding, and the romance is the kind that sticks with you—equal parts healing, sexy, and sweet.
Do not be fooled by the cozy dog-themed cover: Puppy Love is emotionally rich, unapologetically steamy, and full of heart. It’s a perfect listen for anyone who loves their sapphic romance with both teeth and tenderness.
At first glance, Puppy Love seems like your standard workplace romance—with a meet-cute that crashes straight into a new job and a “no dating colleagues” policy—but it quickly reveals more depth. Cameron Miller is a great grumpy protagonist: anxious, structured, endearing, and at times frustratingly stuck in her head in a way that feels so real. Elle Sprinkle writes her with care and authenticity, exploring mental health in a way that’s compassionate without veering into melodrama. Violet Wolfe, on the other hand, brings the sunshine. Recently separated and not looking for anything serious, she’s funny, grounding, and impossible not to adore. Their chemistry? Off the charts. We’re talking six 🔥 scenes kind of steam, expertly written and beautifully voiced in the audio.
This book honors both characters’ emotional complexities without sacrificing the joy and sexiness of a great rom-com. Cameron’s anxiety, Violet’s past hurt, and the trauma both women carry are handled with sensitivity, giving the story real emotional weight between the flirty banter and scorching tension. And that tension? Brought to life exquisitely through Allie Shae and Jennifer Pickens’ narration. Their performances are engaging and emotionally nuanced—Shae perfectly captures Cam’s internal whirlwind, while Pickens gives Violet a steady warmth and quiet strength that rounds out their dynamic beautifully.
This is a debut that sparkles with personality and depth. The community in Greenrock Valley is vibrant and comforting, the emotional arcs are layered and rewarding, and the romance is the kind that sticks with you—equal parts healing, sexy, and sweet.
Do not be fooled by the cozy dog-themed cover: Puppy Love is emotionally rich, unapologetically steamy, and full of heart. It’s a perfect listen for anyone who loves their sapphic romance with both teeth and tenderness.
November 18, 2025
I liked this novel a lot. There were a LOT of things that I really liked about it but also a few things that I disliked; this is a case where being forced to round off ratings worked in the novels favor as its definitely closer to a 5 than a 4. Anyways, this was a very full novel (complimentary) where there was a lot going on, yet the plotline was also relatively simple so it balanced out well. I had a really good time reading this and found a lot of the content relatable (results may vary). I definitely recommend this novel, and the author in general as I liked their other novel as well.
Rating: A / 5-Stars
Highlights:
-I really liked the characters. The protagonists. The friend group in particular. There were a lot of genuinely likable characters with some very distinct personalities. The book indicates that it’s the beginning of a series of interconnected stand-alone novels, and I will be reading them all.
-The protagonists. Individually I liked them both a lot, but also together. They had some great chemistry together, and they also each had a lot of their own things going on as well.
-This book had layers!
-The mental health representation. I think that Cam’s struggles were very well presented, and the author did a great job of getting us insider her mind. There were also other characters (no spoilers!) with mental health struggles that contrasted her nicely and demonstrated how everything doesn’t always look the same from the outside.
-The therapist. That poor man. Those scenes were delightful.
-DOGS. I love dogs, what can I say. Easy way to pull my heartstrings.
-Being a child of parents with addiction issues (or any of their loved ones) is a very difficult and complex topic/experience. I think that this novel addressed it well. As I said before; layers.
-Oh yeah: very spicy.
Nitpicks:
- You can only have someone walk into a room/situation at the exact wrong moment so many times in a novel. Whatever that limit is, this book exceeded it. Pick a different plot device please, mix it up a little.
-I thought that this book ended too quickly. We didn’t get to see enough of them together (so many books do this though). Many plot points were wrapped up too quickly and without enough detail/follow up.
-There are a few situations where I did NOT get enough detail. I won’t say due to spoilers, but I was left with several burning questions that I would really like answered. This particularly bothered me because I think the protagonist would also be wanting the same answers so I think its unrealistic that they never went looking for more information (or if they did then it was off-page and that doesn’t help me!). This point was nearly enough to knock off a star, so this novel is lucky that I had to round off the rating.
Rating: A / 5-Stars
Highlights:
-I really liked the characters. The protagonists. The friend group in particular. There were a lot of genuinely likable characters with some very distinct personalities. The book indicates that it’s the beginning of a series of interconnected stand-alone novels, and I will be reading them all.
-The protagonists. Individually I liked them both a lot, but also together. They had some great chemistry together, and they also each had a lot of their own things going on as well.
-This book had layers!
-The mental health representation. I think that Cam’s struggles were very well presented, and the author did a great job of getting us insider her mind. There were also other characters (no spoilers!) with mental health struggles that contrasted her nicely and demonstrated how everything doesn’t always look the same from the outside.
-The therapist. That poor man. Those scenes were delightful.
-DOGS. I love dogs, what can I say. Easy way to pull my heartstrings.
-Being a child of parents with addiction issues (or any of their loved ones) is a very difficult and complex topic/experience. I think that this novel addressed it well. As I said before; layers.
-Oh yeah: very spicy.
Nitpicks:
- You can only have someone walk into a room/situation at the exact wrong moment so many times in a novel. Whatever that limit is, this book exceeded it. Pick a different plot device please, mix it up a little.
-I thought that this book ended too quickly. We didn’t get to see enough of them together (so many books do this though). Many plot points were wrapped up too quickly and without enough detail/follow up.
-There are a few situations where I did NOT get enough detail. I won’t say due to spoilers, but I was left with several burning questions that I would really like answered. This particularly bothered me because I think the protagonist would also be wanting the same answers so I think its unrealistic that they never went looking for more information (or if they did then it was off-page and that doesn’t help me!). This point was nearly enough to knock off a star, so this novel is lucky that I had to round off the rating.
December 8, 2025
2.5
I really appreciated the diversity in this book. There is trans rep, non-binary rep, mental health rep, and disability rep, which is always great to see. I also enjoyed the writing itself. Writing distinct POVs and keeping character voices consistent is not easy, but Elle Sprinkle did a solid job keeping Cam and Violet’s perspectives clearly separated throughout the story.
But where it lost me was Cam. She was just not a nice person, and I really struggled to root for her. There is a big difference between being an ice queen and just being an a-hole, and while I think the author was going for the first, she mostly came across as the second. She was immature, selfish, and emotionally manipulative, which made it hard for me to care about her arc at all.
On top of that, the book felt at least five chapters too long, and there were some inconsistencies with the characters along the way.
In the end, while I appreciated the rep and the writing on a technical level, this one just was not for me.
I really appreciated the diversity in this book. There is trans rep, non-binary rep, mental health rep, and disability rep, which is always great to see. I also enjoyed the writing itself. Writing distinct POVs and keeping character voices consistent is not easy, but Elle Sprinkle did a solid job keeping Cam and Violet’s perspectives clearly separated throughout the story.
But where it lost me was Cam. She was just not a nice person, and I really struggled to root for her. There is a big difference between being an ice queen and just being an a-hole, and while I think the author was going for the first, she mostly came across as the second. She was immature, selfish, and emotionally manipulative, which made it hard for me to care about her arc at all.
On top of that, the book felt at least five chapters too long, and there were some inconsistencies with the characters along the way.
In the end, while I appreciated the rep and the writing on a technical level, this one just was not for me.
December 19, 2024
This was an interesting book,classical yet original at the same time. Classical in the sense of the rom-com pattern, but original thanks to Cam's character. She suffers from an anxiety disorder and has past experiences that make her handle things in a very particular way. She is both in control and a bit lost when she embarks on a casual relationship with Violet. It’s both endearing and a bit infuriating at the same time. Violet has her share of trauma but remains very positive. She is protective, thoughtful, and really easy to love, exactly what Cam needs. Cam has a whole endearing queer gang that represents almost all the colors of the rainbow flag, which almost feels unrealistic. The sex scenes were hot with great chemistry. Oh, and there are dogs!
Overall a really good read.
Overall a really good read.
January 20, 2025
I enjoyed almost every single character in this book… Aside from Cam.
During her chat with Avery, I was so glad he called her out on how rude she is, how she’s incredibly self-centered, and how just because she has a mental illness, it’s not a scapegoat for how she treats people. Because my god. She is SO damn rude. Not in an endearing way, but get this toxic shit out of my life, rude.
I’m sorry, I’m not even sure why Violet fell in love with her and how Cam treated her CONSTANTLY through this book, like how she didn’t tell Violet she was ending things but it was just “implied” because she said she would see her at work? Like… I’m sorry what? Violet can’t read minds, so how would she understand because you snappily responded and it was implied in your mind, that things were over?
How she treated her when Violet found her Christmas present?
Yeah, I’m sorry. If someone treated me like that after giving me something that is super special to me and being like, “no you’re wrong, that’s not what it means…” I’d never speak to them again.
I also was FURIOUS with Cam as when Violet explained how her addicted parents were and how she wished they were dead, how she made it all about her and her trauma? Oh absolutely NOT. I have a dead parent and if someone explained their situation like Violet did, I wouldn’t take it as a personal attack; I’d understand that they were never there, chose an addiction over their kids and say I’m sorry they felt that way.
I also hated that Hayden was in love with her. Again. WHY. SOMEONE EXPLAIN IT TO ME.
I honestly felt like Cam was a spoiled 12 year old who didn’t know how to express emotion.
During her chat with Avery, I was so glad he called her out on how rude she is, how she’s incredibly self-centered, and how just because she has a mental illness, it’s not a scapegoat for how she treats people. Because my god. She is SO damn rude. Not in an endearing way, but get this toxic shit out of my life, rude.
I’m sorry, I’m not even sure why Violet fell in love with her and how Cam treated her CONSTANTLY through this book, like how she didn’t tell Violet she was ending things but it was just “implied” because she said she would see her at work? Like… I’m sorry what? Violet can’t read minds, so how would she understand because you snappily responded and it was implied in your mind, that things were over?
How she treated her when Violet found her Christmas present?
Yeah, I’m sorry. If someone treated me like that after giving me something that is super special to me and being like, “no you’re wrong, that’s not what it means…” I’d never speak to them again.
I also was FURIOUS with Cam as when Violet explained how her addicted parents were and how she wished they were dead, how she made it all about her and her trauma? Oh absolutely NOT. I have a dead parent and if someone explained their situation like Violet did, I wouldn’t take it as a personal attack; I’d understand that they were never there, chose an addiction over their kids and say I’m sorry they felt that way.
I also hated that Hayden was in love with her. Again. WHY. SOMEONE EXPLAIN IT TO ME.
I honestly felt like Cam was a spoiled 12 year old who didn’t know how to express emotion.
January 12, 2025
I would throw away every memory if it meant I could make room to know more about her.
3 stars isn't a bad rating for me, but I'm disappointed because I know I could have (and would have) rated this f/f rom-com higher if certain things had been different. This showed a lot of promise, but some of the character development and writing didn't really work for me. We have a classic setup. Cam is going to start a new job as a pet-groomer, and meanwhile, the night before, she goes to a bar to try to have a one-night stand, as part of an experiment to try new things. She meets a sexy but annoying woman in a bar, has a sexy interlude with her, but it's cut short. Then she goes to her new job the next day and who's the manager the the pet resort where Cam will be grooming dogs? Violet, the woman she almost hooked up with. And the owner, Violet's boss, has very strict rules about employee fraternisation.
So that's the setup, and it's pretty fun. Cam is anxious, depressed, allergic to change and kind of prickly, but finds herself really drawn to Violet, despite it being forbidden for them to start a romance. Violet, who's a lot more laidback and sunshiney, is just getting out of a long term marriage, and isn't looking for love either, but is undeniably drawn to Cam also. Very much an opposites-attract situation, which I really like. They start a hidden coworkers-with-benefits situation, and of course, despite their intentions, they become friends and then more. This was really cute, especially because it revolves around a pet resort, and there are SO MANY GOOD DOGS. Cam and Violet are both dog moms, and so are most of their friends, and there are lots of scenes that take place in the resort itself, while Cam works as a groomer. It's cute and messy and down-to-earth, and it feels like the author knows a lot about animal caretaking, and also that she just loves dogs as much as the characters. And that was lovely. Both main characters have cute and sometimes heart-wrenching scenes with their pups, and with each other's pups. (I actually wish there were a few more scenes with Cam and Violet playing with each other' dogs.) I liked the chemistry between the main characters, and Violet especially had me kicking my feet a bit. I love a dominant woman who has golden retriever energy. The writing wasn't my favourite, but there were some good romantic quotes, and it felt like a sweet rom-com overall, while also including a lot of great commentary about mental health.
But I also had a few issues, most of which I'll stick under a spoiler cut. It's all kinda nitpicky, because I am a deeply annoying person and I notice tiny things.
I will mention that reading this took me longer than it could have, because for once, I actually paid attention to the playlist at the beginning, and made sure to listen to the songs at the appropriate moments. I don't have spotify, so I recreated the playlist on youtube. (Here is is, if anyone would like it.) The author does this thing where she actually has little markers in the text for when you're supposed to start and stop playing to songs, and I went along with those instructions. The music did add to the vibes and elevated the reading experience a bit, and I did discover some songs I really like. But not gonna lie, after a while, seeing the numbers and asterisks for when to start and stop the music started to feel a liiiiittle intrusive. And having them in the text made my stupid brain feel like I COULDN'T skip them. So idk if I'd like to read another book exactly like this.
Err, I feel like this review is all over the place, but that's par for the course for me. It might not sound like it, but I did like the book quite a bit. It's just that all those little things added up, and the third act conflict especially was a let down. But I would definitely read from the author again.
I can’t think of anything I need more right now than Cam’s skin against mine. Than her eyes guiding me silently to solace. For once, I’m scared to be alone.
October 24, 2025
Oh my god this book! It was so good. I loved the story and all of the characters!! It had me hooked. Do not be fooled by the cute cover, this book is spicy 🥵 (6 scenes total). The anxiety rep was done so so well in this book! I highly recommend. I tandem read this with audio, Allie Shae and Jennifer Picken did an absolutely amazing job!
This book is written in first person with 2x POV’s. Found family, Grumpy x Sunshine, Workplace Romance, First time with a woman, bisexual FMC, trans and non binary side characters, anxiety, depression and adjustment disorders. And great spicy scenes!
This book is written in first person with 2x POV’s. Found family, Grumpy x Sunshine, Workplace Romance, First time with a woman, bisexual FMC, trans and non binary side characters, anxiety, depression and adjustment disorders. And great spicy scenes!
June 4, 2024
The Story of Cam and Violet, who both love dogs, both have disastrous backgrounds, but are both shaded by love.
The relationship between Cam and Violet develops so easily, they try to avoid how they feel, they stay seperate, but sometimes business and pleasure does mix. the story was well written and enjoyable to read, I found myself smiling at parts of the story, I found myself wanting to know more and continuously picking it up every time I put it back down!
I found myself wanting more spice 🌶️ than what was in the book hence the four start rating otherwise it was a very easy, quick and enjoyable read!
The relationship between Cam and Violet develops so easily, they try to avoid how they feel, they stay seperate, but sometimes business and pleasure does mix. the story was well written and enjoyable to read, I found myself smiling at parts of the story, I found myself wanting to know more and continuously picking it up every time I put it back down!
I found myself wanting more spice 🌶️ than what was in the book hence the four start rating otherwise it was a very easy, quick and enjoyable read!
June 16, 2024
5/5 stars
I received an eARC of this book.
I came for some LGBTQ+ representation and stayed because this book stole my heart! I've been needing a perfect WLW book in my life, and this author did not disappoint! I felt like I could relate to both the main characters so easily. I even fell in love with all the side characters, even Avery (iykyk lol). I loved the author's writing style and sense of humor that shone throughout the book. The spice was delicious and the mental health representation was spectacular! If hot, sapphic workplace romances with all the dogs sound like a good time, this book is definitely for you!
I received an eARC of this book.
I came for some LGBTQ+ representation and stayed because this book stole my heart! I've been needing a perfect WLW book in my life, and this author did not disappoint! I felt like I could relate to both the main characters so easily. I even fell in love with all the side characters, even Avery (iykyk lol). I loved the author's writing style and sense of humor that shone throughout the book. The spice was delicious and the mental health representation was spectacular! If hot, sapphic workplace romances with all the dogs sound like a good time, this book is definitely for you!
June 21, 2024
Cam + Violet
-workplace romance
-grumpy/sunshine
-mental health rep
-benefits to lovers
-found family
gahh omggg this book was SOOOOO freaking cute i couldn’t stand it!!! but they also were SOOOO dang real & got hit with a little slap of reality for each of them & i loved it so so much!!
-workplace romance
-grumpy/sunshine
-mental health rep
-benefits to lovers
-found family
gahh omggg this book was SOOOOO freaking cute i couldn’t stand it!!! but they also were SOOOO dang real & got hit with a little slap of reality for each of them & i loved it so so much!!
March 18, 2025
It was a nice rom-com and I liked that it was more than just that. It touched on serious topics and there was a good balance. Cam’s mental health issues and her great support system of friends. Violet, trying to navigate life after a divorce and dealing with her own issues. Like her attraction to the new dog groomer.
Their banter and chemistry is a chef’s kiss. The dirty talk and praise were so hot that I had to clutch my invisible pearls. Happy reading!
Their banter and chemistry is a chef’s kiss. The dirty talk and praise were so hot that I had to clutch my invisible pearls. Happy reading!
December 6, 2024
This book started out bad, and promptly got worse. The two characters start off as almost indistinguishable (besides the fact that one is blonde and one is brunette.) Then, you find out that one of them (the brunette one) is the other’s boss (and several years older.) There’s approximately a million dogs running about, that all get a different name that you’re supposed to remember, by the way.
There’s as many side characters as there are dogs. All of them are severely underdeveloped while being in almost all of the scenes. The one characteristic they do have, is that they treat the MC (who is supposedly their best friend in the world) as a child who is incapable of doing anything because of her mental illness.
Don’t get me started on the descriptions in this book. This author must have an obsession with eyes because every other sentence there is an eye description! The main character’s eyes are the color of brown agate, DID YOU KNOW!!!! I did, since I was told seven thousand times.
The playlist that is supposed to accompany your reading starts out as a fun idea but quickly becomes incredibly annoying. The songs are either way too specific to the scene, or they are a completely different vibe. I found it extremely difficult to get through the reading when I was supposed to play a song every 2 minutes.
The spicy scenes were… interesting. Despite the fact that the MCs keep bringing up their power imbalance (or supposed lack thereof), and constantly affirming that there is none, they do seem to love mentioning it during sex. Violet makes Cam call her ‘boss’ in bed, which is crazy enough without the fact that all of the other employees start calling her that at work as well. Before this sex scene, nobody had called her that. Suddenly afterwards, it was her number one nickname… which was a bit weird. Speaking of nicknames, it is strange to use the terms ‘good girl’ in a sexual context, when you work at a dog hotel slash groomer where those words are used daily to refer to said dogs!
All in all, this book was way too long. The set up took up way too much time and the climax was basically nonexistent. There were almost no stakes—the ones they did set up (their boss finding out) were basically nullified when you figure out that Violet doesn’t even like her job. The friends finding out was anticlimactic, since they had no strong reaction, and there were no negative consequences at all! I was hoping the conflict would make it all worth it, but I thought wrong.
I did like the character of Avery, so this book is getting 2 stars. If you look closely, you can see the stars are brown agate colored.
There’s as many side characters as there are dogs. All of them are severely underdeveloped while being in almost all of the scenes. The one characteristic they do have, is that they treat the MC (who is supposedly their best friend in the world) as a child who is incapable of doing anything because of her mental illness.
Don’t get me started on the descriptions in this book. This author must have an obsession with eyes because every other sentence there is an eye description! The main character’s eyes are the color of brown agate, DID YOU KNOW!!!! I did, since I was told seven thousand times.
The playlist that is supposed to accompany your reading starts out as a fun idea but quickly becomes incredibly annoying. The songs are either way too specific to the scene, or they are a completely different vibe. I found it extremely difficult to get through the reading when I was supposed to play a song every 2 minutes.
The spicy scenes were… interesting. Despite the fact that the MCs keep bringing up their power imbalance (or supposed lack thereof), and constantly affirming that there is none, they do seem to love mentioning it during sex. Violet makes Cam call her ‘boss’ in bed, which is crazy enough without the fact that all of the other employees start calling her that at work as well. Before this sex scene, nobody had called her that. Suddenly afterwards, it was her number one nickname… which was a bit weird. Speaking of nicknames, it is strange to use the terms ‘good girl’ in a sexual context, when you work at a dog hotel slash groomer where those words are used daily to refer to said dogs!
All in all, this book was way too long. The set up took up way too much time and the climax was basically nonexistent. There were almost no stakes—the ones they did set up (their boss finding out) were basically nullified when you figure out that Violet doesn’t even like her job. The friends finding out was anticlimactic, since they had no strong reaction, and there were no negative consequences at all! I was hoping the conflict would make it all worth it, but I thought wrong.
I did like the character of Avery, so this book is getting 2 stars. If you look closely, you can see the stars are brown agate colored.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2025
Sad, as really loved her previous books but this series is not for me. Thank you.
August 27, 2025
DNF page 175 / 44% of the way through. might come back to try it again a different point but so disappointed.
Inner monologue of the two characters are identical, the side characters are weak/also very very similar.
Cam is flat out rude and selfish, thoroughly dislikable character if I'm honest. She was the thing that really broke it for me - Violet tells her about her drug addict parents and she makes it all about herself and is so hostile? Closed the book can't sympathise with that. She's rude, she's bitchy, she's whiney.
So so slow. I feel like I've read a marathon and I'm not even half way through and I have very little to relay about what's happened. they have a friend's with benefits contract. that's it. in 175 pages they have established a contract and had mediocre sex. No development of characters, little relationship building, why Violet likes Cam is absolutely a mystery to me.
No Can Do.
Inner monologue of the two characters are identical, the side characters are weak/also very very similar.
Cam is flat out rude and selfish, thoroughly dislikable character if I'm honest. She was the thing that really broke it for me - Violet tells her about her drug addict parents and she makes it all about herself and is so hostile? Closed the book can't sympathise with that. She's rude, she's bitchy, she's whiney.
So so slow. I feel like I've read a marathon and I'm not even half way through and I have very little to relay about what's happened. they have a friend's with benefits contract. that's it. in 175 pages they have established a contract and had mediocre sex. No development of characters, little relationship building, why Violet likes Cam is absolutely a mystery to me.
No Can Do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2024
ARC Review. I enjoyed some parts of this book more than others. I love Elle’s writing style as well as Cam and Violet! Some parts of the book I skimmed over because I felt like there was too much going on and went into a lot of unnecessary details. Overall the romance was cute and the spice was on point!
April 26, 2025
Great Sapphic Romance
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Puppy Love is a great debut novel and I can’t wait to read Elle’s upcoming sapphic hockey romance. I loved every second of this and related to both Cam and Violet as characters and wanted the best for them. They were both fleshed out individually and their chemistry is amazing!
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Puppy Love is a great debut novel and I can’t wait to read Elle’s upcoming sapphic hockey romance. I loved every second of this and related to both Cam and Violet as characters and wanted the best for them. They were both fleshed out individually and their chemistry is amazing!
January 19, 2025
something’s wrong here. I can’t really put it into words. But I shall try.
Too much.
Just a lot of words.
A lot of characters.
*Too much*
( added after 10 minutes of putting my phone down.)
okay. so this book could’ve been great but there’s just a lot going on. The thing about having characters with their own demons and problems is that it’s already a heavy thing to put in a book. And it can almost never be balanced with the sheer amount of side characters one puts in a book. Even worse if you try to allude to the side character’s own stories.
The author is clearly working on a series and you can definitely tell that these side characters are going to have their own books. But she does it in a way that just…made it seem like a lot to me. I prefer when books focus on the two main characters, and the side characters are there but as *side characters*. No long lengthy explanations about them, their personality and their problems. Like come on. Let’s leave that for their own books.
Not to mention that all the characters overlapped. Like they all knew each-other and had scenes together a lot. So there were no clear lines and it’s just a jumble. And all the dogs had their names.
Ugh. Just such a mess.
In my opinion, the key to a good book exploring topics and essences of characters lies in a good balance and smooth trajectory that doesn’t leave the reader feeling frustrated at the amount of information being shoved down their throat.
This book didn’t have that for me. :/
Too much.
Just a lot of words.
A lot of characters.
*Too much*
( added after 10 minutes of putting my phone down.)
okay. so this book could’ve been great but there’s just a lot going on. The thing about having characters with their own demons and problems is that it’s already a heavy thing to put in a book. And it can almost never be balanced with the sheer amount of side characters one puts in a book. Even worse if you try to allude to the side character’s own stories.
The author is clearly working on a series and you can definitely tell that these side characters are going to have their own books. But she does it in a way that just…made it seem like a lot to me. I prefer when books focus on the two main characters, and the side characters are there but as *side characters*. No long lengthy explanations about them, their personality and their problems. Like come on. Let’s leave that for their own books.
Not to mention that all the characters overlapped. Like they all knew each-other and had scenes together a lot. So there were no clear lines and it’s just a jumble. And all the dogs had their names.
Ugh. Just such a mess.
In my opinion, the key to a good book exploring topics and essences of characters lies in a good balance and smooth trajectory that doesn’t leave the reader feeling frustrated at the amount of information being shoved down their throat.
This book didn’t have that for me. :/
June 29, 2025
2.5⭐
Wanted to give it a 3 but writing this review made me realize how much I actually disliked this.
I didn't like the characters, nothing happened, it dragged, the romance wasn't believable.
I liked the side characters more than the main characters.
I truly didn't like the main characters at all, especially Cam.
Both of them honestly gave red flag.
Cam was rude and self centered, like only her trauma and feelings are valid and no one else matters.
I get she has anxiety and stuff, but that doesn't give you the right to be a rude person.
Violet wasn't likeable either, especially during sex she did a few things that gave me the ick.
I really don't see the chemistry.
None at all.
There was absolutely nothing going on in this book.
Everything that happened basically just happened so it could lead to another sex scene.
It also didn't need to be this long, cut like 100 pages out and it honestly would have still been boring.
I did enjoy it at first and overall it was fine, but I won't continue the series and wouldn't recommend.
There are other spicy books out there that are better.
Wanted to give it a 3 but writing this review made me realize how much I actually disliked this.
I didn't like the characters, nothing happened, it dragged, the romance wasn't believable.
I liked the side characters more than the main characters.
I truly didn't like the main characters at all, especially Cam.
Both of them honestly gave red flag.
Cam was rude and self centered, like only her trauma and feelings are valid and no one else matters.
I get she has anxiety and stuff, but that doesn't give you the right to be a rude person.
Violet wasn't likeable either, especially during sex she did a few things that gave me the ick.
I really don't see the chemistry.
None at all.
There was absolutely nothing going on in this book.
Everything that happened basically just happened so it could lead to another sex scene.
It also didn't need to be this long, cut like 100 pages out and it honestly would have still been boring.
I did enjoy it at first and overall it was fine, but I won't continue the series and wouldn't recommend.
There are other spicy books out there that are better.
July 23, 2025
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
I enjoyed my time listening to this book, getting to know our characters, and watch them grow both separately and together, plus the fact that they both were huge animal lovers made it all the more better! Despite the length of the book which I personally felt didn’t need to be so long, it was a quick and fun read and the smut was *chefs kiss* and plentiful!
I enjoyed my time listening to this book, getting to know our characters, and watch them grow both separately and together, plus the fact that they both were huge animal lovers made it all the more better! Despite the length of the book which I personally felt didn’t need to be so long, it was a quick and fun read and the smut was *chefs kiss* and plentiful!
June 18, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
love love love !!! can’t wait to read more from this author soon <3
love love love !!! can’t wait to read more from this author soon <3
June 1, 2024
ARC Review
Well let me tell you this, the ARC was released this morning, it took me all but 6 hours to read it!
Just in time for pride month we get cutest queer romance!! I love everything about Cam and Violet, and I see myself in both of them. The characters in this book are all so well thought out and I love all of their individual personalities. We also see a lot of diversity! Adrian our non binary royalty is one of my favorite side characters, you can tell they are the comedian of the group! I have a special place in my heart for Hayden, and I hope he gets his HEA🫶🏼
I’ve been waiting for some detailed WLW smut, and Mrs.Elle has DELIVERED! It’s so well written and it does its job (iykyk) 👀
Overall, this book made me laugh, cry, and kick my feet! If you are in need of a FUN read and you want queer, dogs, and personal characters, you need to get your hands on this! It’s releasing on KU June 14th but is you would like a SIGNED paperback Elle has them on her website, link in her IG bio @ellesprinkleauthor!
Well let me tell you this, the ARC was released this morning, it took me all but 6 hours to read it!
Just in time for pride month we get cutest queer romance!! I love everything about Cam and Violet, and I see myself in both of them. The characters in this book are all so well thought out and I love all of their individual personalities. We also see a lot of diversity! Adrian our non binary royalty is one of my favorite side characters, you can tell they are the comedian of the group! I have a special place in my heart for Hayden, and I hope he gets his HEA🫶🏼
I’ve been waiting for some detailed WLW smut, and Mrs.Elle has DELIVERED! It’s so well written and it does its job (iykyk) 👀
Overall, this book made me laugh, cry, and kick my feet! If you are in need of a FUN read and you want queer, dogs, and personal characters, you need to get your hands on this! It’s releasing on KU June 14th but is you would like a SIGNED paperback Elle has them on her website, link in her IG bio @ellesprinkleauthor!
June 5, 2025
3,5
pretty sweet (and spicy)
pretty sweet (and spicy)
January 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ Listen, I really really enjoyed this, but I’m so conflicted on how I want to rate this book!!! The trans/nonbinary representation was amazing to see, and dogs being such a big part of this was so fun. I was super into this in the beginning, but then it just became sooo jumpy. It just felt like it lost any sense of flow between chapters, and it also felt like it lost the plot at some point. And cam??? She was pissing me offffff… like violet is my baby so maybe im just projecting and getting defensive of her, but I felt like cam would start something and then somehow it would end up being violets fault. Ughhh I don’t even know how to feel. I do think I’d read from this author again because overall I did still really like this. I really hope there is a book about Hayden because I loved him and would 100% read his book, but he deserves the world so be careful!!!
November 25, 2024
(rounded up from 4.5)
I was on the fence with this one because it has far more spice than I usually enjoy but it also has compelling characters, found family dynamics, and people overcoming emotional trauma from past relationships and parental issues. I also enjoyed the setting because of the many, many dogs coming through the business. The cover is a bit deceptive because it gives the appearance of a very sweet and PG sort of romance but it's actually quite spicy. A fun read!
I was on the fence with this one because it has far more spice than I usually enjoy but it also has compelling characters, found family dynamics, and people overcoming emotional trauma from past relationships and parental issues. I also enjoyed the setting because of the many, many dogs coming through the business. The cover is a bit deceptive because it gives the appearance of a very sweet and PG sort of romance but it's actually quite spicy. A fun read!
April 27, 2025
Cam is a toxic boring selfish person that has nothing to offer but drama and being rude
When Violet open up about her past and the addiction and having to grow up with parents like that and Cam flip the story making it all about her and being a victim ??
Cam deciding to break things off without telling violet ?
The gift drama ? And a third act on cam making thing up’s being jealous and not even given violet a chance to tell her she didn’t hook up with her ex wife ? Oh give me a break cam is like a kid not a grown women
Chau DNF too boring ….
When Violet open up about her past and the addiction and having to grow up with parents like that and Cam flip the story making it all about her and being a victim ??
Cam deciding to break things off without telling violet ?
The gift drama ? And a third act on cam making thing up’s being jealous and not even given violet a chance to tell her she didn’t hook up with her ex wife ? Oh give me a break cam is like a kid not a grown women
Chau DNF too boring ….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2024
3-3.5 stars. A lot of spice (you wouldn't believe based on the cover or title!), a lot of dogs, past traumas, found family, friendship, no strings contract. I just didn't feel it. The writing is good, nothing wrong with it.
September 7, 2025
I liked this book and the characters for the most part. There were times where I felt Cam’s “rudeness” or “annoyance” towards Violet was forced and unnatural. The teasing between the two worked, but I feel like the author really tried to have Cam be annoyed at Violet, and it didn’t make sense to me for her character.
Other than that, the chemistry between the two MCs was pretty good. I knew going in that this book was spicy. A lot of people in reviews said that they were surprised at the amount of spice with the cute cover. I agree that I would’ve been surprised as well if I hadn’t known. The spice was abundant and it was really good. It was a little kinky, but nothing too much. I’m vanilla, so if I say it’s a little kinky, it probably isn’t kinky at all.
The found family was wonderfully written. A lot was told about Violet’s childhood and parents, but I feel like more could’ve been done in terms of how it affects her today and what she is going to do about it. While I feel like the book did a great job of wrapping things up and together at the end, this is one thing that is still unfinished and couldve been more fleshed out. I’m weirdly bothered that we never find out Violet’s age.
This was my first book by the author and I would read another of hers in the future.
Other than that, the chemistry between the two MCs was pretty good. I knew going in that this book was spicy. A lot of people in reviews said that they were surprised at the amount of spice with the cute cover. I agree that I would’ve been surprised as well if I hadn’t known. The spice was abundant and it was really good. It was a little kinky, but nothing too much. I’m vanilla, so if I say it’s a little kinky, it probably isn’t kinky at all.
The found family was wonderfully written. A lot was told about Violet’s childhood and parents, but I feel like more could’ve been done in terms of how it affects her today and what she is going to do about it. While I feel like the book did a great job of wrapping things up and together at the end, this is one thing that is still unfinished and couldve been more fleshed out. I’m weirdly bothered that we never find out Violet’s age.
This was my first book by the author and I would read another of hers in the future.
November 21, 2024
The beginning of this started out pretty rough for me. The writing and dialogue made Cam and Violet feel a bit immature and juvenile. I stayed for the spice, tbh, and I am glad I did. The story and the characters became more real and frankly, more adult, and then the book clicked into place for me.
I was truly glad for the workplace romance, as it created forced proximity and there could be no chance for massive ghosting. The extended characters were very supportive, particularly Cam’s group of friends. There were just a lot of them and at times, I wasn’t able to keep them separate in my head.
Violet was great at meeting Cam where she was without trying to “fix” her with love. (I hate that trope so very, very much) Did I mention the spice? I’ll never look at my washing machine the same.
I was also very glad that the meds were finally addressed at the end. A story about mental illness should never ignore the meds. It did feel like the end was very rushed, but this is a debut from this author and I think Elle Sprinkle will do nothing but get better and better. I can’t wait to see more from this author.
I was truly glad for the workplace romance, as it created forced proximity and there could be no chance for massive ghosting. The extended characters were very supportive, particularly Cam’s group of friends. There were just a lot of them and at times, I wasn’t able to keep them separate in my head.
Violet was great at meeting Cam where she was without trying to “fix” her with love. (I hate that trope so very, very much) Did I mention the spice? I’ll never look at my washing machine the same.
I was also very glad that the meds were finally addressed at the end. A story about mental illness should never ignore the meds. It did feel like the end was very rushed, but this is a debut from this author and I think Elle Sprinkle will do nothing but get better and better. I can’t wait to see more from this author.
August 12, 2025
I’ll start off by saying the two MCs had really good chemistry. I loved their banter, and truly saw how they fell in love with each other and why.
However, I found Cam to be so incredibly insufferable. I found the book to have too many conflicts that were not super fleshed out, which caused the resolutions to said conflicts to feel rushed and lacking. The twist with their exes felt unrealistic and over the top.
However, I found Cam to be so incredibly insufferable. I found the book to have too many conflicts that were not super fleshed out, which caused the resolutions to said conflicts to feel rushed and lacking. The twist with their exes felt unrealistic and over the top.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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