Muddy Messy Love

by Emme Spire

The sweet and steamy romance that will make you feel . . . everything.

When art prodigy Avery Masters graduated high school in the top three of her class, she expected to celebrate—not for her mum to up and leave. She also didn’t expect living alone to bite so hard. Nor that she’d fall for the first charismatic bad boy to smirk her way. But it all happened, and dumb mistakes were made. Now her freedom is in jeopardy, and her adult life will start with the worst date imaginable: one in court.

Cue Cole Benedict. Successful and hot lawyer extraordinaire. Hell knows why he wants to help Avery or what he sees in an anxious mess like her. But Cole does see Avery. All of her. And beneath his crisp designer shirt might lie a genuine heart.

. . . If he’s not too good to be true.
. . . If she can mind her language.
. . . If they can stop their painful pasts from poisoning their future.

Muddy Messy Love is a sparkling debut by Australian author Emme Spire. Fall into Avery and Cole’s emotionally charged journey of self-discovery, heartbreak, and healing in this new adult contemporary romance with delicious banter and spice.

Genres: Romance

438 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2024

About the author

Emme Spire was born and raised in the charming city of Adelaide, South Australia, and discovered a passion for romantic fiction at age eleven thanks to Judy Blume’s Forever. Unfortunately, Emme’s primary school didn’t appreciate her sharing that particular book amongst her friends, but the risqué story and trouble she experienced as a result perhaps sparked her path to writing Muddy Messy Love. So thank you, Judy. (And Ralph.)

When Emme isn’t writing or grappling her way through chronic fatigue syndrome, she’s enjoying her beautiful little family or pondering existence and spiritual teachings in her Nepalese socks while drinking tea.

Follow her on Instagram: @emmespire

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. I was truly blown away by this sparkling debut by Australian author Emme Spire! This sweet and spicy romance was incredibly well-written and I absolutely fell in love with Avery and Cole. I could feel the spark between them and felt like I knew them each on a personal level by the end of the book. The banter, inside jokes, and interactions, not just between the MCs, but also with the secondary characters, felt so real and genuine throughout. I truly empathized with the characters and their experiences and felt such a wide range of emotions while reading. What an emotional, heart wrenching, beautiful love story with excellent messages sprinkled throughout… I was shocked by every twist and turn, and I just didn’t want it to end! This book surpassed all expectations and I cannot recommend it highly enough! I wish I could read it again for the first time. 5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Emme Spire, and Nine Light Press for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a story of love, grief, friendship, heartbreak, and growth. It deals with a couple of heavy themes, which play a huge part in the character development of our FMC Avery and MMC Cole. I enjoyed the banter and chemistry, and really liked the side characters! They were fun; I would happily read a book about any of them. I also love that it's set in Australia, with a bunch of references that make you feel truly comfortable diving into this story.

Thank you to Emme Spire and BookSirens for giving me an early copy of this book!

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like an old friend sharing their tale of mistakes, hurt, betrayal, trauma, friendship, love, trust and forgiveness.
The characters are relatable and charming as they navigate their trials and relationships with humility and humor.
Such a wonderful story that I recommend, it starts with a bang and ends with one…

[Laikyn Meng · Rating 4 out of 5]

A transitional experience that moves from one stepping stone to another. This romance was a unique perspective with a range of variety.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nicky Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read with a HEA ending. The words were a bit descriptive and prolonged scenes to more than one page, but made the story more whole.

[Emily Knaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so utterly and completely impressed by how incredible this book is. It is like a punch to the gut and hug to the heart. The emotions you feel are so big and strong, completely wholesome and healing. I can’t get enough of Avery & Cole. They both have been through so much and truly deserved the HEA they received.

Cole takes on the job as Avery’s lawyer after she finds herself on the wrong side of the law, due to an unwise decision and the influence of Slade, her bad boy hookup. Cole is very thoughtful and protective over Avery, even from their very first encounter. As a condition of her bond (parole) Cole adds in that along with good behavior she will be working at his law firm. Unbeknownst to Avery, she takes the offer and begins working in the daycare. Due to a traumatic past, he feels protective over those in his inner circle, like his sister and niece, which is why he wants to keep Avery close. Cole is immediately enamored by Avery and her kindness, talent, and drive. I love the way he cares for her and shows her how important she is to him. The banter between the two is top notch, Avery is witty and just doing her best to figure her life out. She is fiercely loyal and so good for Cole. Their chemistry is explosive, the build up is totally worth it with these two for the spicy scenes that we get.

Both Avery & Cole come from broken families with undeserving parents and their own baggage they bring into the relationship. After the death of her father, Avery’s mother has been verbally abusive. She has spent years listening to her mom belittle her and blame her for things outside of her control, to the point that Avery feels unworthy and like a burden to those around her. Avery’s sister Beth helps her overcome those insecurities by being there for her when she needs her most. Avery’s bestie also supports her and helps her realize she is more than the vile words that have been thrown at her over the years. Overall, it is Cole who defends and empowers her, he shows her she is worthy of love and that she is an incredible artist despite what her mother has said. Cole has dealt with family trauma as well, after his mother’s death his father became physically abusive. Cole and his sister endured years of neglect and abuse, until their uncle takes them in. This, Cole takes over the family business after his passing. Both Avery & Cole feel immense pressure from the way their families have treated them; resulting in their struggle to see their own self worth.

There are a couple MAJOR plot twists near the end which I did not see coming! The whole story is tragically heartbreaking, with glimmers of happiness and hope. As the story progresses, it slowly puts pieces back into place and creates an immensely beautiful picture in the end. Highly recommend this perfect romance filled with all the most amazing components to make it incredibly memorable.

This is a must read. Two beautifully broken people who heal one another, accept each other’s flaws, and encourage each other to be themselves. The emotional connection between Avery & Cole is unparalleled. Talk about emotional healing and growth, leaps and bounds are made during their journey regarding self-discovery, overcoming past trauma, and finding love.

Thank you so so much Emme Spire & BookSirens for the early copy! I feel incredibly blessed to have received an early copy of your debut novel. So many moments are engrained in my mind making me both smile and cry!

[Bookskee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book by incredible debut author Emme Spire!

There may be spoilers, I'll try my best not to give much away.

Avery Masters has gotten herself into a bit of trouble just before her 18th birthday. It looks like a correctional facility of sorts may most likely be the start of her adult life.
With the help of her sister, Cole Benedict comes in to represent her in court. She cannot help but be attracted to his good looks. He helps her get a job at his firm and there she makes new friends and also gets close to Cole. Her recent Ex makes moves to get her back but Cole is always around to save her from anticipated messes.

Avery has a lot to deal with, keeping her record clean, dealing with a resentful and neglectful mother, her anxiety and her growing attraction to Cole.

Cole is fulfilling his duties, being supportive and protective as it has become his nature. He also is unable to resist the tug between them. Our sweet, caring and protective hero carries a ton of pain which we only discover towards the end. Do not be deceived, strong men also carry hurt and pain even though they are experts at concealing. His letter to Avery? Beautiful..

This book should not be rushed. The side characters are delightful as is the banter.

Many many thanks to Netgalley, Emme Spire and publisher for the amazing opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts.

I'm definitely going to follow Emme Spire with a teeny tiny hope that our beautiful Hannah also finds a love utterly amazing because she absolutely deserves it!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. The amount that I cried was ridiculous.
The vivid pictures you wove of the gallery openings made me feel as if I was there.

[Jam O · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything i enjoyed reading in a book.
I just realized this is the authors first book. I was hoping to find more books by the author.
I'll be looking forward to reading more books by her.

[Rashmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I lost myself,” I say, but the moment the words are free, I know it’s a lie. How can you lose something you never found?

Thank You https://www.netgalley.com/ , Nine Light Press and Emme Spire for the ARC!

Muddy Messy Love is a beautifully written book about love, hate, grief, trauma, loss and growth.

The writing about our FMC Avery Masters's mental health is so raw and pure and achingly relatable in many instances.
Also, Cole Benedict is a man of safety and hope and peace. that surely has left me craving for one such fine man!

BOOK IDEATION

➽ Age gap
➽ Forced Proximity
➽ OTT MMC/Protective/Possessive
➽ Touch her and 💀
➽ Mental health
➽ Past trauma
➽ DV/abuse
➽ Second chance

SPICE RATING
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[ Check for TWs ]

[SH · Rating 4 out of 5]

When art prodigy Avery Masters graduated high school in the top three of her class, she expected to celebrate—not for her mum to up and leave. What follows is Avery’s struggle to live alone and to find herself in court. It is there that she meets Cole Benedict, a successful lawyer who sees beyond her current issue. They only have to let their pasts not damage any future they have together.
The title of this book quantifies the struggles of both Avery and Cole. This was an emotional read, with plenty of highs and lows as they struggle with past traumas. The twists in this book and the intensity of the romance, made for great reading.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m new to Emme Spire but let me just say that I’m definitely a fan now. Muddy Messy Love was an emotional roller coaster and I absolutely loved it! Avery and Cole were a joy to get to know and the story was emotionally satisfying and heartbreaking. I highly recommend reading this book and I give it 5 stars 🌟

[Koukla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book should be a bestseller

[Brendee Vee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story will transport you into a world of twists and turns, but in the most beautiful ways. Avery Masters is young woman that has been through a mayhem of events as she grew up with her father taking his own life when she was young and a mother that seemed to despise her and makes sure to tell her so it is no secret. That is until the night Avery ends up in trouble due to a less than ok boy. Her attorney sister is able to secure her some representation in the form of Cole Benedict. He is able to rid her of her legal troubles in one fell swoop and even offers her employment at his law firm, but there is more behind his eyes. Cole is able to break through Avery’s self-deprecation and self-loathing anxiety and depression and shows her what she is able to accomplish, how it is to be truly loved and to have someone screaming their head off in your corner, signing your praises. Oh what a man he is!!

I truly fell for Cole’s character and all he tried to accomplish with his law firm, his sister and niece, the love of Avery and learning a lot about himself in the process. I even love how he encouraged her to return to her art and making a go at life living her dream and it has little hearts spinning around my head throughout the story. Avery is so relatable and real. A girl who goes through hell growing up with her insane mother and is still such an amazing person at her core. I would want an invitation to their wedding so I could witness this love story first hand it was that good. So many details I would love to spill over this review, but you’re going to have to trust me and just reaad it for yourself so you can learn all that is this amazing story. Chef’s kiss to Emme Spire for writing this amazing story of family and love. And thank you for normalizing mental illness and getting help through trauma. As someone who is in therapy and trying to work through my own trauma, I felt a sense of calmness even through the characters to hear it inside me. This book is one I wish I could read again for the first time!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michelle Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I don’t admit I think there’s something horribly wrong with me deep inside—a fatal, unforgivable flaw. A repellent people only see when they get too close. After all, if your own mother doesn’t like you or stay, who the hell ever could?"

Muddy, Messy Love (MML) is exactly my vibe - there's romance, angst, humour, emotional demons to be conquered, pop culture references, epic revelations and at least one artist fighting to believe in themselves and their art.

Spire's writing is absolute perfection and the dialogue jumps off the page (or screen in my case). Main character Avery is relatable, especially to the younger version of me who was a neurotic overthinker plagued by self doubt.

I loved getting to know Avery's unlikely love interest Cole, also. There are plenty of sweet and passionate moments between Avery and the man she puts on a pedestal, but MML also grabbed my emotions with the various family and friend relationships. I adored Avery's faithful bestie Jennifer Lawrence (you read right!). One particular scene between the two of them made me tear up! Avery's mother was a complex character, to say the least, and made my emotions ramp up in a more, shall I say, fiery manner!

MML is a gripping read that's difficult to put down. It provides plenty of twists and turns that not only kept me absorbed but grew the characters and their relationships in ways I couldn't have fathomed in the beginning.

Spire is an exciting new Australian indie author to get amped up about and I can't wait to read whatever she comes up with next! Loved it 💗👌

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars rounded up for GoodReads

This was a beautiful and emotional read, and as the title suggests, a messy love story. Avery’s life was full of hardships, grief, and heartbreak, and this book covered some very heavy topics incredibly well.

Avery was a great FMC and experienced a lot of growth throughout the book. She and Cole had great banter from the moment they met, and he felt like a fantastic fit for her. They had both gone through so much and deserved to start healing together. 

I really enjoyed Jen, Beth, Hannah, Tej and Liam, who were all so supportive of Avery in their own ways. And I loved that this was set in Australia, which I haven’t seen much of. Liam’s boganisms and the Aussie references throughout were a nice touch.

It featured a few of my favourite tropes, including forced proximity and an age gap, and had some excellent spice. I do wish that Avery was a little older or Cole was a little younger. I think the story would have worked just as well if she had been in her early twenties. A nine-year age gap at eighteen felt a bit icky, personally.

It was such a well-written story, and I am very thankful that I was lucky enough to read this as an advanced review copy.

[Taylor H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muddy Messy Love is an emotional but beautiful read.
This book deals with heavy topics, heartbreak, grief, trauma, mental health struggles, and hardships, in a messy love story.
Avery our heroine is a young adult and in the beginning, it very much shows through her naivety. She makes dumb decisions that lead her to attend court on her 18th birthday. Our handsome lawyer hero, Cole strikes a deal to prevent Avery from doing jail time which includes her having to start working at his law firm.
From there the MC's journey begins, their banter and chemistry despite the age gap was believable and their spicy scenes were hot. I enjoyed seeing the character growth Avery displayed and how she fought hard to achieve her future. I also loved the emotional rollercoaster I was on with these two trying to heal from their past trauma together and separate. They fought hard for their happily ever after.
I highly recommend this contemporary romance that will give you all the feels.

Thank you NetGalley, Emme Spire, and Nine Light Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Christina Close · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

New Adult, Second Change, Mild spice, happy-ending

This book was just wow... I felt so many emotions while reading it. The things Avery and Cole had both been through before meeting each other and the things that happened while they were together were bound to cause a muddy relationship.



The things Cole and his sister Hannah went through at the hands of their father was just absolutely messed up but it for sure shaped them into the power duo siblings that they are. Avery learned some life lessons the hard way but it brought her to Cole. Her mother and bio-father were pieces of work and are easily the easiest characters to hate.

I'm just glad that Avery was able to follow her dreams to be an artist but also teach kids, and that Cole got away from his toxic law firm to create one he believed in. I would like to see a story for Hannah and her daughter Ella where they get a happy ending like Cole and Avery.

[Alyce Hopton · Rating 5 out of 5]

You need to learn to love yourself to love another and accept them for their mistakes.

I loved this book. It was beautiful and traumatic in a good way, It's a beautiful story about finding yourself as well as love.

Have you ever felt the person you are sleeping with is out of your league, and you can't understand why they would want someone like you?

Avery is very self-deprecating and struggles to see how anyone can love her for who she is.

Avery has grown up with a toxic mother who constantly makes snide comments and makes her feel less than.

Avery meets an extremely hot lawyer who helps her out of a bad situation. Cole is not only good looking, he's good at his job, has a big heart, but comes with his own trauma.

Avery & Cole fall for each other, but can they work through both their issues to be together? Just as Avery is coming to terms with everything, a secret comes out that throws her into a spin and into a dark hole.

This secret is the key to Avery learning to love herself.

[bookish faye rebinds · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you Emme Spire for the opportunity to read this ARC of Muddy Messy Love!

Avery Masters starts off her first day of adulthood with a bang by ending up in a courtroom. However, her knight in shining armor comes in the form of one extremely handsome lawyer, Cole Benedict. These two have an instant connection, but the skeletons hiding in their closets might just hurt their chances of finding happiness.

I really enjoyed reading this debut novel! The anxiety of the FMC was extremely well written, and I found both her mental health struggles and strained parental relationship completely relatable.

The age gap in this novel was also quite well done. The FMC feels naive at times being a very young adult, and the progression of her reactions to others over the course of the novel felt like super genuine character growth.

I loved Cole’s (MMC) character so much. His character felt mysterious at times, but in the end his story was so engrossing and sincere. I loved that he also had an artistic passion and that he could share in that creative spirit like two of the important women in his life.

All in all I THOROUGLY enjoyed reading Muddy Messy Love, and I highly recommend it for a heartfelt contemporary read. ♥️

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens and Emme Spire. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved Muddy Messy Love! Avery and Cole meet after Avery is arrested on her 18th birthday. There is an immediate spark between them and it turns out both have tragic pasts and both feel broken.

I found Avery very relatable and the mental health and grief storyline was done really well. I wish though that Avery had been aged up to about 20 as the age gap between her and twenty seven year old Cole felt a bit too big. I did love Avery and Cole's relationship though and Cole was one of the best MMC's I've ever read about.

I didn't see the plot twists coming and the story got very dark towards the end. I loved Avery's friends Jen and Liam and I also loved Hannah. The setting of Australia was a nice change from American books.

[Aryani Siti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muddy Messy Love made me feel a lot of things. Many scenes felt very relatable, and that’s what made the story really stay with me. It’s fun, sexy, heartfelt, and sweet all at once.

The story is about Avery, who is young, talented, and suddenly must learn how to live on her own. Her choices are messy and real, and sometimes hard to read—but in a good way. When Cole enters the story, things change. He is confident, caring, and not what you expect.

I liked the fun talk, the love story, and the emotional moments. Some parts made me smile, some made my heart hurt, and others were spicy fun. The book shows how past pain can stay with you, but also how healing is possible.

Overall, this book made me feel everything. It’s a great read to end the year—emotional, comforting, and spicy. I really enjoyed it.

[Mic Villamayor · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book filled with raw and intense emotions. True to its title, Muddy Messy Love follows the muddy and messy love story of two individuals through an unlikely twist of fate. But when is love ever not messy anyway?

This book is a smorsgasbord of tropes and themes which caters to all audiences. Age gap. Forced proximity. Sweet and spicy. All check.

I think that the vibe of the book fits a young adult novel, with pent up emotions and angst of a typical troubled teenager. Can we still call a book YA if it's spicy, though? 🤔😅

All in all, this was a great read but I would mostly recommend this to younger (but adult!) readers 🤭

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kate Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What incredible writing. And poor Avery... she was so relatable, a little broken, but so fierce and gee, did she get put through the wringer! I was totally drawn into her story and rooting for her every step of the way. Her creativity was inspiring, too.

I loved seeing the change in Cole. His too-perfect persona slowly unravelled as each layer of his past came to light, and it made him feel so much realer for it. The whole thing was intense, dramatic, heartbreaking, and totally swoony. I am so here for the all-in, I-can't-breathe-without-you kind of love!

Put your time into this amazing Aussie read. What a debut!

[Samantha Love HEA Romance Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing read. Muddy Messy Love had me captivated. I will admit that I almost put it down within the first chapter, but I am so glad I didn't. This book was a beautiful read. I may have even teared up a few times. By the end of the book I was sad It was over. I truely hope Hannah gets her own story and finds the love she deserves after everything she has been through.

This book is one of my favorite reads of 2024, and I can't wait to see what else Ms Spire brings us in the future.

Thank you Netgalley for my Advance copy.

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book so much! I completely recommend this book! It was sooo good ! I can't wait to read more books from this author and I will definitely be recommending this book to all my bookie friends!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic debut book. It was a an emotional rollercoaster of a journey, but felt that the HEA in the end was earned by both characters.

[Christine Kaio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crap

[Kaycee Racer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muddy Messy Love had my heart from the very first page. Equal parts heartfelt and steamy, this book brings the heat with a romance that’s sexy, tension-packed, and utterly electric. But, it’s not just about the sizzle. This story is emotionally charged with moments that hit you right in the heart and characters who stay with you long after the final page. Fans of Emily Henry and Talia Hibbert will fall in love with its deeply character-driven storytelling and rich emotional depth.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more than just a romance, this is a heart wrenching deeply thought provoking story about love, friendship, grief, and self discovery. The two main characters are so broken and tortured but there is still so much light and hope - it really will have you feeling all the feelings.

This is an age gap romance with 9 years between the characters. The FMC Avery is just 18 years old so some of the language and story read a little young for me but this didn’t take too much away from it, the naivety and character growth was necessary for the story. Thinking of my younger years I could really sympathise with certain aspects of Avery’s life.

The open door spice was excellent and felt relevant to the plot. The twists and turns in the story kept me on edge and the way mental health was handled felt honest and real. This romance delves into deep issues in an experienced way that felt honest and raw.

The interactions between the main character and her mum were so brutal and heartbreaking. I really felt the despair and utter betrayal on behalf of Avery and it left me reeling.

This is Emme Spire’s debut novel and it’s a great one. Thank you to netgalley, Victory Editing and Emme Spire for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review, I can’t wait to read what she writes next.