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Uncomplicate It
When an office attraction threatens her career, Hollis Reed’s carefully laid plans demand revision.
After a painful breakup, Hollis is determined to climb the corporate ladder by charting a meticulous three-year plan. Just as she vows to keep love at arm’s length, her new boss threatens to disrupt everything. Ainsley Jones is a force to be reckoned with—brilliant, sophisticated, and irrefutably attractive.
As Hollis navigates her new role, she can’t deny the magnetic pull between them. But workplace policies against fraternization, Hollis’s doubts about mixing business with pleasure, and Ainsley’s micromanaging style prevent their budding romance from blooming. With the unwavering support of her best friend, Harrison, Hollis must risk everything she thought she wanted to have the love she can’t live without.
After a painful breakup, Hollis is determined to climb the corporate ladder by charting a meticulous three-year plan. Just as she vows to keep love at arm’s length, her new boss threatens to disrupt everything. Ainsley Jones is a force to be reckoned with—brilliant, sophisticated, and irrefutably attractive.
As Hollis navigates her new role, she can’t deny the magnetic pull between them. But workplace policies against fraternization, Hollis’s doubts about mixing business with pleasure, and Ainsley’s micromanaging style prevent their budding romance from blooming. With the unwavering support of her best friend, Harrison, Hollis must risk everything she thought she wanted to have the love she can’t live without.
264 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 28, 2025
After a messy breakup, Hollis decides to fully focus on work, but when Ainsley, a hot spin instructor, asks her out on a date, how can she say no? Fortunately or unfortunately, in this case, Hollis doesn’t actually have to wait until then to see her again. Yeah, the new boss at work that's expected to start soon, the one whose name she and her colleagues were not told, is Ainsley Jones. Oh, goody.
Obviously, this changes everything. It’s unprofessional and, besides, Hollis has no interest in getting involved with a colleague again. Suffice to say that last time it didn't end well, and she doesn’t need a repeat. So Hollis and Ainsley agree that mixing business with pleasure would be a terrible idea, so they’ll keep things strictly professional. Well, at least they try to.
A sapphic workplace romance that had tight deadlines and important private meetings. Hollis and Ainsley had great chemistry and things really spiced up in the bedroom…among other places. The characters were likable for the most part and I rooted for them. Harrison was charming, funny, and gave off big brother vibes when it came to his relationship with Hollis. The ending pace was quick, but it didn’t change how good I thought the book was. Overall, it’s one I recommend giving a read. Happy reading!
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the arc. This is my voluntary review.
Obviously, this changes everything. It’s unprofessional and, besides, Hollis has no interest in getting involved with a colleague again. Suffice to say that last time it didn't end well, and she doesn’t need a repeat. So Hollis and Ainsley agree that mixing business with pleasure would be a terrible idea, so they’ll keep things strictly professional. Well, at least they try to.
A sapphic workplace romance that had tight deadlines and important private meetings. Hollis and Ainsley had great chemistry and things really spiced up in the bedroom…among other places. The characters were likable for the most part and I rooted for them. Harrison was charming, funny, and gave off big brother vibes when it came to his relationship with Hollis. The ending pace was quick, but it didn’t change how good I thought the book was. Overall, it’s one I recommend giving a read. Happy reading!
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the arc. This is my voluntary review.
September 9, 2025
Very early in the book, the characters are attracted to each other like two magnets. Even if they try to respect the rules for like two minutes, McCord uses each scene to get Ainsley and Hollis closer, and I loved it. I love when authors really show me what makes two people click, with a good balance of talks and acts of love. I definitely felt the chemistry. The book was easy to read and perfectly paced.
There are just two things that did not sit right with me. The first one is a detail on the cover; Ainsley is supposed to have auburn hair, and it seems she dyed it for the cover. The second is the resolution of the conflict that was a bit frustrating because to me, Hollis didn't own her part in the fight and was a bit too much in her own ways. Overall, this book definitely made me want to read more of this author.
There are just two things that did not sit right with me. The first one is a detail on the cover; Ainsley is supposed to have auburn hair, and it seems she dyed it for the cover. The second is the resolution of the conflict that was a bit frustrating because to me, Hollis didn't own her part in the fight and was a bit too much in her own ways. Overall, this book definitely made me want to read more of this author.
October 28, 2025
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
hollis has a 3 year plan and woo betide anyone messing with that plan
it also doesnt help that she now has a boss that is micromanaging their department, its not as if hollis or harrison arent hitting their targets because they are, but the new boss might be coming in to make changes or worse lay off...
ainsley has to work out how to make those changes in a place that is doing really well but the ceo of the company has ideas and as hes in charge she has to work with what she has...
its a mine field...
office romances are off the cards and being the boss attracted to someone she is in charge of makes for a compelling read... its not a bad read and it was fun to see how ainsley and hollis got around the issues.... it could have been a bit more in depth but on the whole its not a bad one
hollis has a 3 year plan and woo betide anyone messing with that plan
it also doesnt help that she now has a boss that is micromanaging their department, its not as if hollis or harrison arent hitting their targets because they are, but the new boss might be coming in to make changes or worse lay off...
ainsley has to work out how to make those changes in a place that is doing really well but the ceo of the company has ideas and as hes in charge she has to work with what she has...
its a mine field...
office romances are off the cards and being the boss attracted to someone she is in charge of makes for a compelling read... its not a bad read and it was fun to see how ainsley and hollis got around the issues.... it could have been a bit more in depth but on the whole its not a bad one
September 17, 2025
Hollis Reed works with her friend Harrison as joint supply chain managers in the new west coast second HQ of Fitwear, the athletic and sportswear company based out of Raleigh, NC. The new HQ had been open for about a year, and in that time they were out-performing other parts of the company. This is why the whole HQ was surprised and irritated to find that they were getting a CEO, Ainsley Jones.
There is a sort of cut and thrust between Hollis and Ainsley. They go from being gently lovey-dovey, to forceful sex suddenly. In their conversations this happens too; one minute they are forcefully discussing work in an almost argumentative manner, and the next they are passionately kissing and trying to remove each other’s clothes. The story is intense in places; both women are hiding difficult pasts, and bad communication leads to disagreement and breakup.
I really loved the way this was written, the vulnerability they both showed towards the end was very emotional. I would have liked to have seen more emotion from them, especially Ainsley, earlier in the story.
For a first book this was very good, 4.5 stars. There are parts that could be improved, but I think an author to watch for the future.
There is a sort of cut and thrust between Hollis and Ainsley. They go from being gently lovey-dovey, to forceful sex suddenly. In their conversations this happens too; one minute they are forcefully discussing work in an almost argumentative manner, and the next they are passionately kissing and trying to remove each other’s clothes. The story is intense in places; both women are hiding difficult pasts, and bad communication leads to disagreement and breakup.
I really loved the way this was written, the vulnerability they both showed towards the end was very emotional. I would have liked to have seen more emotion from them, especially Ainsley, earlier in the story.
For a first book this was very good, 4.5 stars. There are parts that could be improved, but I think an author to watch for the future.
August 20, 2025
4/5 🌟
Thank you NetGalley, Kel McCord and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC!
This was a very enjoyable read. Two women who meet in the most complicated circumstances trying to make sense of their feelings, falling harder and harder for each other and without homophobia as its main complication? Sign me in.
I loved it and it was very well narrated. Perfect for a pallet cleanser and to unwind! I love sapphic romances and this one was genuinely a joy!
Thank you NetGalley, Kel McCord and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC!
This was a very enjoyable read. Two women who meet in the most complicated circumstances trying to make sense of their feelings, falling harder and harder for each other and without homophobia as its main complication? Sign me in.
I loved it and it was very well narrated. Perfect for a pallet cleanser and to unwind! I love sapphic romances and this one was genuinely a joy!
October 16, 2025
This was fun, cute, and made me smile.
I would have loved to have a dual POV where we got to see more of Ainsley’s inner thoughts and decisions. I liked how Ainsley pursued Hollis and made her intentions clear.
The only downside for me was the ending felt really rushed and tbh I thought Hollis’s reaction was a bit much. I wanted more of a resolution between them not just okay let’s act like nothing happened and communicate better.
I would have loved to have a dual POV where we got to see more of Ainsley’s inner thoughts and decisions. I liked how Ainsley pursued Hollis and made her intentions clear.
The only downside for me was the ending felt really rushed and tbh I thought Hollis’s reaction was a bit much. I wanted more of a resolution between them not just okay let’s act like nothing happened and communicate better.
July 27, 2025
Holli meets this hot hot spin instructor that asks her out on a date that she agrees to, and they plan to go out next Saturday. The focus for Holli is however always her job and her ex even broke up with her since she worked too much. When clear that the hot spin instructor is also her new hot boss Ainsley feels a date is out of scope. They start work together, get to know each other, and soon clear the chemistry is there despite Ainsley isn’t her usual type, she is older and confident, not younger and more reliant that Hollis has gone for in the past. Hollis also tends to jump into a relationship way too fast. In the long run this is not something they can avoid but they decide to keep it casual, friends with benefits to round the company policy regarding not allowing a relationship between managers and direct report. It is so amazing and Hollis let Ainsley take the lead in the bedroom, something so different from past relationships. They have this great thing going so perhaps way more to this after all will the job thing be a breaker, Ainsley is after all there to rationalize the workplace.
This was fast nice read. I would have loved to dig deeper into their feelings and past relationships as well as also get Ainsley’s POV since now a bit one-dimensional. However, since they are so hot together, I forgive most of that.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily
This was fast nice read. I would have loved to dig deeper into their feelings and past relationships as well as also get Ainsley’s POV since now a bit one-dimensional. However, since they are so hot together, I forgive most of that.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily
August 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC of this book!
*This review contains very mild spoilers*
Uncomplicate It is a sapphic office romance between Hollis, a 30 year old supply chain manager, and Ainsley, a 35 year old who's just been brought in to manage the West Coach branch of the company that Hollis works for. They have a lil meet cute at spin class before Ainsley's first day at the office, and then try to resist their attraction to each other before starting a secret "situationship" (they call it friends with benefits but it is so clearly an actual relationship that at times I was nearly banging my head against the wall because of the intense mental gymnastics Hollis was doing to convince herself that they were not acting like girlfriends - babe you told her you wanted to be EXCLUSIVE FRIENDS).
I thought their relationship was really sweet and I liked that it did seem like Ainsley really wanted to support Hollis, especially when it came to helping Hollis with running (although I do wish we could have actually seen Hollis run her marathon!) but their relationship also definitely had some flaws; namely, their communication. Nearly every conflict the two had could have been easily resolved if they had just sat down and laid everything on the table. That being said, I appreciate that the make-up included Hollis saying that they needed to fix their communication if they were gonna make things work, and both of them resolving to be better.
Overall I felt like this book was pretty solid, and I think it'll be a great read for lovers of office romances, having ice cream delivered straight to your home, and women protagonists who don't have to choose between love or a successful career.
*This review contains very mild spoilers*
Uncomplicate It is a sapphic office romance between Hollis, a 30 year old supply chain manager, and Ainsley, a 35 year old who's just been brought in to manage the West Coach branch of the company that Hollis works for. They have a lil meet cute at spin class before Ainsley's first day at the office, and then try to resist their attraction to each other before starting a secret "situationship" (they call it friends with benefits but it is so clearly an actual relationship that at times I was nearly banging my head against the wall because of the intense mental gymnastics Hollis was doing to convince herself that they were not acting like girlfriends - babe you told her you wanted to be EXCLUSIVE FRIENDS).
I thought their relationship was really sweet and I liked that it did seem like Ainsley really wanted to support Hollis, especially when it came to helping Hollis with running (although I do wish we could have actually seen Hollis run her marathon!) but their relationship also definitely had some flaws; namely, their communication. Nearly every conflict the two had could have been easily resolved if they had just sat down and laid everything on the table. That being said, I appreciate that the make-up included Hollis saying that they needed to fix their communication if they were gonna make things work, and both of them resolving to be better.
Overall I felt like this book was pretty solid, and I think it'll be a great read for lovers of office romances, having ice cream delivered straight to your home, and women protagonists who don't have to choose between love or a successful career.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2025
I enjoyed it and to be honest found something compelling about the whole thing, how would it work out!…… however the forbidden at work angle, and the superiors frankly cavalier attitude to it….. the whole, must be kept secret, no one can ever know, coupled with….. I couldn’t wait to see you, come here, just makes me uncomfortable rather than being swept along with the passion and inevitability of the connection. I think the writer is aiming for inevitability but, for me, just slightly missing the mark. Its odd, because this is not the first boss/employee mix but I am not as on board as usual.
Naturally all the intimate tick boxes are filled. Unfortunately tho I am honestly not that invested in the relationship or expression of it.
Having said all that I enjoyed the section where they did the long run together. Also the softball game. In fact I finally warmed up to this couple. The break up before make up seemed a bit over the top but I was pleased with the resolution. Parts of the book or rather my antipathy to the mains had it under 3 but the end third brought it up to a stronger 3.
Naturally all the intimate tick boxes are filled. Unfortunately tho I am honestly not that invested in the relationship or expression of it.
Having said all that I enjoyed the section where they did the long run together. Also the softball game. In fact I finally warmed up to this couple. The break up before make up seemed a bit over the top but I was pleased with the resolution. Parts of the book or rather my antipathy to the mains had it under 3 but the end third brought it up to a stronger 3.
August 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and author Kel McCord for this ARC opportunity! Happy to share my honest review.
Uncomplicate It was fun, sexy and wonderfully entertaining. I really enjoyed this book. This debut by Kel McCord was a hit for me and I will most certainly look for more from her in the future. I love a good ole complicated office romance and this book definitely delivered. Hollis and Ainsley were fire together and it was a joy to follow their journey…bumpy as it may have been. McCord delivered on a fun plot with pretty layered characters. I was engaged the entire time and never got bored. That’s a winner for me.
We meet Hollis, a career driven young woman who has been in more than a few failed relationships. Her career often takes priority and suffice it to say that her romantic life has taken a back seat. After her most recent relationship fails she decides to take a beat, so to speak, and regroup. She fully intends to focus on her career and herself, leaving matters of the heart to remain on the back burner. But when she meets Ainsley she is instantly attracted and certainly intrigued so, naturally, all bets are off. That is until she meets her new boss at work which is, yes you guessed it, Ainsley! Ha! Let the antics ensue!
What follows is a very angsty “will they or won’t they” or more like “Will they, when will they” read and I am all about it. Hollis and Ainsley are extremely attracted to each other and their chemistry is off the charts. But…well…technically they are at work and technically Ainsley is Hollis’s superior so they try to keep it professional. I could predict that there was no keeping their desire for one another under control and thank goodness for that! I was in the mood for a super spicy page turner and that's what I got in Uncomplicate It. The steamy scenes were oh so hot! And adding in the element of secrecy and sneaking around made it all the more juicy. I was often reading wide eyed, smiling and a bit shocked they weren’t found out. I will say the power dynamic issue may not have been addressed in a satisfactory way. Ainsley is, after all, Hollis’s boss so technically she has the upper hand when suggesting the friends with benefits arrangement to obfuscate the company rules. But for me, this was a non issue because I really read the book as a “colleagues who couldn’t keep their hands off each other” sort of thing.
I was never off put by Ainsley and never felt like she was taking advantage of Hollis. In fact, they managed to display a healthy level of consideration and respect for each other throughout. The obstacles were plentiful but our girls made their way through and relatively unscathed. Their relationship grows organically and they develop a real connection that is believable and realistic.
The writing was fun, humorous and flirty. I felt the pacing was quick and the angst was kept to a relative minimum. I was happily entertained and engaged until the end. The characters were flawed, likeable and realistic. I was certainly rooting for them all along. The book moves quickly and though there is a bit of predictability it still feels like a unique and fun take on the taboo office romance trope. Ainsley and Hollis were great together. They choose each other and fight for their Happily Ever After! Very cute! I would absolutely recommend this spicy and fun sapphic office romance!
Uncomplicate It was fun, sexy and wonderfully entertaining. I really enjoyed this book. This debut by Kel McCord was a hit for me and I will most certainly look for more from her in the future. I love a good ole complicated office romance and this book definitely delivered. Hollis and Ainsley were fire together and it was a joy to follow their journey…bumpy as it may have been. McCord delivered on a fun plot with pretty layered characters. I was engaged the entire time and never got bored. That’s a winner for me.
We meet Hollis, a career driven young woman who has been in more than a few failed relationships. Her career often takes priority and suffice it to say that her romantic life has taken a back seat. After her most recent relationship fails she decides to take a beat, so to speak, and regroup. She fully intends to focus on her career and herself, leaving matters of the heart to remain on the back burner. But when she meets Ainsley she is instantly attracted and certainly intrigued so, naturally, all bets are off. That is until she meets her new boss at work which is, yes you guessed it, Ainsley! Ha! Let the antics ensue!
What follows is a very angsty “will they or won’t they” or more like “Will they, when will they” read and I am all about it. Hollis and Ainsley are extremely attracted to each other and their chemistry is off the charts. But…well…technically they are at work and technically Ainsley is Hollis’s superior so they try to keep it professional. I could predict that there was no keeping their desire for one another under control and thank goodness for that! I was in the mood for a super spicy page turner and that's what I got in Uncomplicate It. The steamy scenes were oh so hot! And adding in the element of secrecy and sneaking around made it all the more juicy. I was often reading wide eyed, smiling and a bit shocked they weren’t found out. I will say the power dynamic issue may not have been addressed in a satisfactory way. Ainsley is, after all, Hollis’s boss so technically she has the upper hand when suggesting the friends with benefits arrangement to obfuscate the company rules. But for me, this was a non issue because I really read the book as a “colleagues who couldn’t keep their hands off each other” sort of thing.
I was never off put by Ainsley and never felt like she was taking advantage of Hollis. In fact, they managed to display a healthy level of consideration and respect for each other throughout. The obstacles were plentiful but our girls made their way through and relatively unscathed. Their relationship grows organically and they develop a real connection that is believable and realistic.
The writing was fun, humorous and flirty. I felt the pacing was quick and the angst was kept to a relative minimum. I was happily entertained and engaged until the end. The characters were flawed, likeable and realistic. I was certainly rooting for them all along. The book moves quickly and though there is a bit of predictability it still feels like a unique and fun take on the taboo office romance trope. Ainsley and Hollis were great together. They choose each other and fight for their Happily Ever After! Very cute! I would absolutely recommend this spicy and fun sapphic office romance!
August 10, 2025
*Possible Spoilers*
Kel McCord’s debut novel, Uncomplicate It, is unexpectedly enjoyable. While boss x employee is far from my favorite trope, this one made it work. I appreciated that the power imbalance wasn’t glossed over, it was a legitimate stumbling block for the relationship. Refreshingly, the main conflict wasn’t because Ainsley abused her power. It relied on miscommunication, admittedly not an original struggle, but it worked here. I did get a little annoyed with how insecure Hollis was in the relationship, but I also understand that forbidden romance can cause tension and uncertainty.
Ainsley and Hollis actually get to know each other somewhat before declaring their undying love, which makes the relationship more believable and the book stronger. The two go on more than two dates. An effort is at least made to help the other with her problems. I did feel like the development was slightly lopsided. Ainsley helps refuel Hollis’ passion for running. Hollis visits her family often, but we barely get a mention of Ainsley’s family. We know Ainsley likes cross-training, Love Island, and that she’s a workaholic. Oddly, I know more about Ainsley’s ex than who and what’s important to her, other than Hollis and work. I would’ve liked it if she got the minimal level of fleshing out that Hollis got.
The power imbalance was fairly well explored. Ainsley had constant pressure from higher ups to change Hollis’ division. Hollis had to balance her romantic relationship with loyalty to her team and best friend, who’s also a colleague. It felt more realistic that neither woman could delude herself into thinking that breaking company policy and mixing work/pleasure would have no consequences. I liked that their breakup wasn’t because Ainsley uses Hollis as a stepping stone in her path to business domination. She did poorly communicate why Hollis was getting transferred to another project, but Hollis almost instantly blew up, so there’s blame to share. I also liked that they broke up due to their imperfect relationship, not because HR found out about them.
Hollis’ friend, Harrison, is “a middle-aged, balding white man” and hooks up with men in their early twenties. That just gives me the ick. Hollis and Ainsley’s five year age gap doesn’t bother me too much, but when you’re literally middle-aged, having situationships with people who are college-aged, it’s bordering on gross.
The writing was straight forward but still had humor. My one note is that the sex scenes felt mechanical. They didn’t leave much space for the women’s chemistry to speak for itself. Hollis and Ainsley were a satisfying couple who did the work to deserve their happily-ever-after. Their relationship moved fast, especially during the epilogue, but they’re lesbians, it’s kind of expected. If you’re looking for a low-stakes forbidden office romance, this one’s pretty good.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Kel McCord’s debut novel, Uncomplicate It, is unexpectedly enjoyable. While boss x employee is far from my favorite trope, this one made it work. I appreciated that the power imbalance wasn’t glossed over, it was a legitimate stumbling block for the relationship. Refreshingly, the main conflict wasn’t because Ainsley abused her power. It relied on miscommunication, admittedly not an original struggle, but it worked here. I did get a little annoyed with how insecure Hollis was in the relationship, but I also understand that forbidden romance can cause tension and uncertainty.
Ainsley and Hollis actually get to know each other somewhat before declaring their undying love, which makes the relationship more believable and the book stronger. The two go on more than two dates. An effort is at least made to help the other with her problems. I did feel like the development was slightly lopsided. Ainsley helps refuel Hollis’ passion for running. Hollis visits her family often, but we barely get a mention of Ainsley’s family. We know Ainsley likes cross-training, Love Island, and that she’s a workaholic. Oddly, I know more about Ainsley’s ex than who and what’s important to her, other than Hollis and work. I would’ve liked it if she got the minimal level of fleshing out that Hollis got.
The power imbalance was fairly well explored. Ainsley had constant pressure from higher ups to change Hollis’ division. Hollis had to balance her romantic relationship with loyalty to her team and best friend, who’s also a colleague. It felt more realistic that neither woman could delude herself into thinking that breaking company policy and mixing work/pleasure would have no consequences. I liked that their breakup wasn’t because Ainsley uses Hollis as a stepping stone in her path to business domination. She did poorly communicate why Hollis was getting transferred to another project, but Hollis almost instantly blew up, so there’s blame to share. I also liked that they broke up due to their imperfect relationship, not because HR found out about them.
Hollis’ friend, Harrison, is “a middle-aged, balding white man” and hooks up with men in their early twenties. That just gives me the ick. Hollis and Ainsley’s five year age gap doesn’t bother me too much, but when you’re literally middle-aged, having situationships with people who are college-aged, it’s bordering on gross.
The writing was straight forward but still had humor. My one note is that the sex scenes felt mechanical. They didn’t leave much space for the women’s chemistry to speak for itself. Hollis and Ainsley were a satisfying couple who did the work to deserve their happily-ever-after. Their relationship moved fast, especially during the epilogue, but they’re lesbians, it’s kind of expected. If you’re looking for a low-stakes forbidden office romance, this one’s pretty good.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 6, 2026
3 stars cause at first I quite enjoyed it, the main characters and the secondary characters but I’m not the biggest fan of some last min break up. I’m going to give a spoiler/shitty summary here so please look away if that’s not your vibe!!
So Hollis is 30, set in her way of this 3 year plan at the company but hidey hoe she meets Ainsley the 35 year old hot spin instructor who is actually her new boss. She is just drooling at the fact Ainsley is older and more put together, whatever lol. They get into this friendship fuck buddy relationship because Hollis had this previous relationship with a coworker and said never again, plus this memo about no boss & subordinate relationships allowed tsk tsk. Anywho obviously they continue to have this bs fuck buddy shit going on while clearly they are full on dating, like Hollis brought Ainsley home to meet the rents at their place for Sunday family dinner. Whatever, not what I have issues with actually, like 85% into the book, Hollis gets this promo that she clearly stated she didn’t want multiple times regarding opening a brick and mortar store that was her idea and Ainsley noticed she was passionate about it and storms into Ainsley’s office to chew her ass out for giving it to her behind her back. Poor Ainsley wants to explain, she wasn’t the one who put her up for the promo, the guy Matt was just in Europe and asked her to do the paperwork cause she’s the highest in that west coast office. But stupid ass Hollis wouldn’t let her explain, stormed off & got wasted with Greg her work bestie. Anyway Ainsley shows up at her apartment to explain and says girl I love you, but Hollis says sayonara get out of my apartment. Anyway they are miserable, Hollis tries to go back to her old job that sucks the life out of her, Matt’s back from Europe says wtf my job offer was that bad you quit, Hollis is like oh fuck, books it to Ainsley’s place, says “I didn’t realize you didn’t move me as I was ranting and breaking up with you and gave you no time to say it wasn’t Matt who did it”, Ainsley says no shit, I tried to tell you, they get back together thee end. Like wtf, I got annoyed at the back 15% cause it was just so shitty, talk about 0 communication and speed fricken run of drama to moving in and I was just irked but other than that it was fine. Lowkey though, in the beginning I was also irked with how much Ainsley said “all my first timers are sore the next day” or whatever.
Anyway, despite my kinda obvious irritation in my shitty summary, it was kinda enjoyable and it’s a quick easy read.
So Hollis is 30, set in her way of this 3 year plan at the company but hidey hoe she meets Ainsley the 35 year old hot spin instructor who is actually her new boss. She is just drooling at the fact Ainsley is older and more put together, whatever lol. They get into this friendship fuck buddy relationship because Hollis had this previous relationship with a coworker and said never again, plus this memo about no boss & subordinate relationships allowed tsk tsk. Anywho obviously they continue to have this bs fuck buddy shit going on while clearly they are full on dating, like Hollis brought Ainsley home to meet the rents at their place for Sunday family dinner. Whatever, not what I have issues with actually, like 85% into the book, Hollis gets this promo that she clearly stated she didn’t want multiple times regarding opening a brick and mortar store that was her idea and Ainsley noticed she was passionate about it and storms into Ainsley’s office to chew her ass out for giving it to her behind her back. Poor Ainsley wants to explain, she wasn’t the one who put her up for the promo, the guy Matt was just in Europe and asked her to do the paperwork cause she’s the highest in that west coast office. But stupid ass Hollis wouldn’t let her explain, stormed off & got wasted with Greg her work bestie. Anyway Ainsley shows up at her apartment to explain and says girl I love you, but Hollis says sayonara get out of my apartment. Anyway they are miserable, Hollis tries to go back to her old job that sucks the life out of her, Matt’s back from Europe says wtf my job offer was that bad you quit, Hollis is like oh fuck, books it to Ainsley’s place, says “I didn’t realize you didn’t move me as I was ranting and breaking up with you and gave you no time to say it wasn’t Matt who did it”, Ainsley says no shit, I tried to tell you, they get back together thee end. Like wtf, I got annoyed at the back 15% cause it was just so shitty, talk about 0 communication and speed fricken run of drama to moving in and I was just irked but other than that it was fine. Lowkey though, in the beginning I was also irked with how much Ainsley said “all my first timers are sore the next day” or whatever.
Anyway, despite my kinda obvious irritation in my shitty summary, it was kinda enjoyable and it’s a quick easy read.
August 13, 2025
Warning: Possible spoilers ahead
Hollis is a 30 year old woman who works in a sportswear company with her office bestie, Harrison. Harrison is definitely a flirt and his newest crush is the spin instructor Greg. He asks Hollis to accompany him to class to see Greg, but that day, Greg had asked his gorgeous friend Ainsley to substitute him. Ainsley and Hollis are immediately attracted to each other and, after class, Ainsley asks Hollis out. They don’t set up a date as of yet but they plan to soon.
Harrison and Hollis built the HQ 2 division from the ground up, without proper supervision and the division is successful. However, the main headquarters, HQ 1, wants to bring a new boss in to standardize the practices and reign in the Wild West, as HQ 2 was being called. The main problem is that boss is Ainsley, and now that date definitely can’t happen, or can it? Can they fight their attraction or will they just have to deal with the consequences?
For me, the most enjoyable part of the book was beginning on 80% and onwards but that’s just because I’m a sucker for angst with a happy ending. The chapters were short and the storyline was simple enough to follow. For a book called Uncomplicate It, the situations they got into were quite complicated, I was honestly surprised they didn’t get caught.
I enjoyed that Hollis got to experience many firsts with Ainsley, including letting go of control and her wishes actually being heard and respected. The characters didn’t feel childish or badly written and I’m glad we could still see their outbursts despite showing emotional maturity for the most part.
If you like office or workplace romance, quite a bit of smut and many sports references, then this is definitely the book for you.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hollis is a 30 year old woman who works in a sportswear company with her office bestie, Harrison. Harrison is definitely a flirt and his newest crush is the spin instructor Greg. He asks Hollis to accompany him to class to see Greg, but that day, Greg had asked his gorgeous friend Ainsley to substitute him. Ainsley and Hollis are immediately attracted to each other and, after class, Ainsley asks Hollis out. They don’t set up a date as of yet but they plan to soon.
Harrison and Hollis built the HQ 2 division from the ground up, without proper supervision and the division is successful. However, the main headquarters, HQ 1, wants to bring a new boss in to standardize the practices and reign in the Wild West, as HQ 2 was being called. The main problem is that boss is Ainsley, and now that date definitely can’t happen, or can it? Can they fight their attraction or will they just have to deal with the consequences?
For me, the most enjoyable part of the book was beginning on 80% and onwards but that’s just because I’m a sucker for angst with a happy ending. The chapters were short and the storyline was simple enough to follow. For a book called Uncomplicate It, the situations they got into were quite complicated, I was honestly surprised they didn’t get caught.
I enjoyed that Hollis got to experience many firsts with Ainsley, including letting go of control and her wishes actually being heard and respected. The characters didn’t feel childish or badly written and I’m glad we could still see their outbursts despite showing emotional maturity for the most part.
If you like office or workplace romance, quite a bit of smut and many sports references, then this is definitely the book for you.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2025
Uncomplicate It is a sapphic workplace romance where the chemistry is real and the stakes are high. Hollis loves her job, and after a messy workplace relationship went south, she vowed not to date another coworker. When her best friend and work colleague drags her to a spin class she is vehemently against, the cute brunette spin instructor asks her out and Hollis thinks maybe dating casually could be good for her, especially with the stress of a new boss at the company where she works looms over her. But to her surprise, when she steps into a meeting at work one day and discovers her new boss is the same cute spin instructor who asked her out, she knows things are about to get complicated again. Why? Because the two women can’t stay away from each other.
As far as sapphic romances go, I really enjoyed this book! The pacing was great, the chemistry between Hollis and Ainsley was there from the start and their pull to each other felt realistic and natural. I liked Harrison and felt that he could have been used more to help further the plot because once the relationship begins, he sort of falls to the back burner. I also thought the ex popping up in certain situations was funny and added to the drama the messiness of Hollis and Ainsley. I felt for both women and I think one thing that could have strengthened this story a little more would have been a few chapters from Ainsley’s perspective. I don’t think every contemporary romance needs to be dual POV narrative but in the case of this book, it would have added to the depth of the relationship between the two women.
This book also had some great spice and the balance between the spice, the romance and the two women just spending time with one another was really well done. Overall, it was a really fast and enjoyable read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books, Inc. for an ARC of this novel!
As far as sapphic romances go, I really enjoyed this book! The pacing was great, the chemistry between Hollis and Ainsley was there from the start and their pull to each other felt realistic and natural. I liked Harrison and felt that he could have been used more to help further the plot because once the relationship begins, he sort of falls to the back burner. I also thought the ex popping up in certain situations was funny and added to the drama the messiness of Hollis and Ainsley. I felt for both women and I think one thing that could have strengthened this story a little more would have been a few chapters from Ainsley’s perspective. I don’t think every contemporary romance needs to be dual POV narrative but in the case of this book, it would have added to the depth of the relationship between the two women.
This book also had some great spice and the balance between the spice, the romance and the two women just spending time with one another was really well done. Overall, it was a really fast and enjoyable read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books, Inc. for an ARC of this novel!
September 24, 2025
So good!
Hollis has a new boss, Ainsley who is becoming a threat to her plans to work her way up the corporate ladder. She and Ainsley share an attraction but office policy means they cannot explore it publicly, and suddenly Hollis finds they must reevaluate what they want if she also wants to keep the love and life she has found with Ainsley.
Stories like this always deliver on the drama! Nothing is more fun than fierce attraction, career goals, and affairs of the heart amongst corporate politics. Hollis was really career focused and driven but not in an over ambitious way that people are often portrayed. She is just determined but realistic and caring about her colleagues. She had a great connection with her best friend at work, Harrison and they had some fabulous moments when Ainsley turned up and they were assessing things. The moment they met chemistry was sizzling between them with an awkwardness that just screamed this would be an intense ride.
Of course like all romances it wasn’t without complications, hence the brilliant title. However they dealt with the situation they found themselves in well until Ainsley made a decision that Hollis didn’t agree with. My heart broke for them both at this point because they were both kind of stuck and at the mercy of others if they wanted to be together. Ainsley really took the brunt of the fallout and I completely understood Hollis’ anger but wished she hadn’t jumped to conclusions. Luckily, she had good friends to help her make sense of it and reevaluate. There were lots of super cute moments between them though to keep the balance and make lots of memorable moments of happiness shared.
Such a great story that kept me hooked from start to finish!
Hollis has a new boss, Ainsley who is becoming a threat to her plans to work her way up the corporate ladder. She and Ainsley share an attraction but office policy means they cannot explore it publicly, and suddenly Hollis finds they must reevaluate what they want if she also wants to keep the love and life she has found with Ainsley.
Stories like this always deliver on the drama! Nothing is more fun than fierce attraction, career goals, and affairs of the heart amongst corporate politics. Hollis was really career focused and driven but not in an over ambitious way that people are often portrayed. She is just determined but realistic and caring about her colleagues. She had a great connection with her best friend at work, Harrison and they had some fabulous moments when Ainsley turned up and they were assessing things. The moment they met chemistry was sizzling between them with an awkwardness that just screamed this would be an intense ride.
Of course like all romances it wasn’t without complications, hence the brilliant title. However they dealt with the situation they found themselves in well until Ainsley made a decision that Hollis didn’t agree with. My heart broke for them both at this point because they were both kind of stuck and at the mercy of others if they wanted to be together. Ainsley really took the brunt of the fallout and I completely understood Hollis’ anger but wished she hadn’t jumped to conclusions. Luckily, she had good friends to help her make sense of it and reevaluate. There were lots of super cute moments between them though to keep the balance and make lots of memorable moments of happiness shared.
Such a great story that kept me hooked from start to finish!
September 9, 2025
Hollis has been just fine by herself and a huge success in the west coast expansion office. When she gets pushed into taking a spin class by her gay male co-worker, who just wanted to ogle the regular gay male instructor, they find their spin class being temporarily taught by a very hot woman named Ainsley. After spin class, Hollis can't get Ainsley out of her head but back at work the next day, they all get a corporate email that a new manager was coming to oversea the west coast office.
On Monday, at the all hands company meeting, Hollis waits to see who the new manager will be when in walks Ainsley from spin class. And who does the CEO introduce as her new boss? Ainsley, of course.
Spoilers follow!
I enjoyed this book. It does have a third act breakup but it doesn't seem contrived to me at all so I quite enjoyed the story.
On Monday, at the all hands company meeting, Hollis waits to see who the new manager will be when in walks Ainsley from spin class. And who does the CEO introduce as her new boss? Ainsley, of course.
Spoilers follow!
I enjoyed this book. It does have a third act breakup but it doesn't seem contrived to me at all so I quite enjoyed the story.
August 4, 2025
A light office romance was just what I needed today. Hollis Reed loves her job at a sports clothing company. After her last break up she has vowed to never date co-workers again because it can be messy. Ainsley Harrison is the new president of their division. When sparks fly between the pair it is hard to keep their situation professional.
These are likable characters in a likable story. Everything is told from Hollis’s POV and I love how foggy her brain is when Ainsley is taking charge with kissing and charm. I was confused that Hollis was so committed to her three year career plan that doesn’t actually lead to anything beyond. I would have liked a little more background and depth on Ainsley. The basics are there but maybe a little more details to flesh her character out. And the power imbalance is not really addressed between the two. I like that the author doesn’t wait until the formulaic 65% point before throwing in heat. These two are sizzling together. And when complications happen it gets repaired quickly. Best friend Harrison got some fun lines but I wasn’t sure he was as serious about work as she was. Ainsley is smart and knows her job so it was surprising she wasn’t more concerned about the taboo of a workplace romance.
All in all, I breezed through the book and was happy when it was finished. That is more than I can say for a lot of books that I read. This is seemingly a debut novel from the author and I will watch for her future books. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
These are likable characters in a likable story. Everything is told from Hollis’s POV and I love how foggy her brain is when Ainsley is taking charge with kissing and charm. I was confused that Hollis was so committed to her three year career plan that doesn’t actually lead to anything beyond. I would have liked a little more background and depth on Ainsley. The basics are there but maybe a little more details to flesh her character out. And the power imbalance is not really addressed between the two. I like that the author doesn’t wait until the formulaic 65% point before throwing in heat. These two are sizzling together. And when complications happen it gets repaired quickly. Best friend Harrison got some fun lines but I wasn’t sure he was as serious about work as she was. Ainsley is smart and knows her job so it was surprising she wasn’t more concerned about the taboo of a workplace romance.
All in all, I breezed through the book and was happy when it was finished. That is more than I can say for a lot of books that I read. This is seemingly a debut novel from the author and I will watch for her future books. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
August 14, 2025
I received an ARC and am writing this review voluntarily.
This is a great debut novel - it has legs. When I first started, I thought, the premise is so familiar, nothing here will surprise me. But the author did surprise me, with fresh context like the fitwear concept and the way the story jumped straight to sparks at the first sign of attraction. Well, maybe not the first sign, but still within just a few interactions.
Now, I want to say something that some people may not like - it’s about a character. I did not, truly and honestly, like Harrison. I know, I know… plenty of readers may have liked him. But hear me out. Harrison annoyed and irritated me every single time he was on the page. He came across as selfish, not working as hard as Hollis, and handing off most of the workload to her despite being from the same department. He seemed to get irritated whenever he wasn’t the center of attention or included in something. And Hollis’s parents were always talking about him or asking about him - I’m still not sure why. Overall, he just got under my skin in the worst way.
The other characters, though, were much more lovable, which, given the length of the book, which is enough, there aren’t many apart from a few like Miranda. Jaydee and Megan were a breath of fresh air after enduring Harrison’s friendship.
The pacing of the story felt a bit too fast for me. I think the attraction between the main characters could have used more simmering and pining to make it feel fully believable.
That said, this is an author I would love to read more from in the future.
This is a great debut novel - it has legs. When I first started, I thought, the premise is so familiar, nothing here will surprise me. But the author did surprise me, with fresh context like the fitwear concept and the way the story jumped straight to sparks at the first sign of attraction. Well, maybe not the first sign, but still within just a few interactions.
Now, I want to say something that some people may not like - it’s about a character. I did not, truly and honestly, like Harrison. I know, I know… plenty of readers may have liked him. But hear me out. Harrison annoyed and irritated me every single time he was on the page. He came across as selfish, not working as hard as Hollis, and handing off most of the workload to her despite being from the same department. He seemed to get irritated whenever he wasn’t the center of attention or included in something. And Hollis’s parents were always talking about him or asking about him - I’m still not sure why. Overall, he just got under my skin in the worst way.
The other characters, though, were much more lovable, which, given the length of the book, which is enough, there aren’t many apart from a few like Miranda. Jaydee and Megan were a breath of fresh air after enduring Harrison’s friendship.
The pacing of the story felt a bit too fast for me. I think the attraction between the main characters could have used more simmering and pining to make it feel fully believable.
That said, this is an author I would love to read more from in the future.
August 12, 2025
In Uncomplicate It, Hollis is a workaholic who is just out of a long term relationship. She attends a spin class with her friend and co-worker Harrison and meets the gorgeous spin instructor, Ainsley, who asks her out after the class. However, before they can have their first date the following weekend Hollis learns that Ainsley is her new boss. What comes next is the struggle between their mutual attraction and corporate protocol on interoffice relationships, particularly between managers and their direct reports.
McCord does a great job of addressing the problematic situation of the boss/employee relationship. It's not just a side part of the story and it is something that plays out all the time in the real world. I appreciate that the conversations between the MCs seem genuine and natural, like I'm just overhearing normal conversations that isn't over dramatized or immature for the ages of the characters. This kept me from doing the slight eye roll that can happen when a book gets a little to "tropey". Seriously, well done.
I would have loved to see how the story was unfolding from Ainsely's POV, because McCord did a great job of making her likable and alluring all in one, so I found myself wondering what more was going on in her head. This read sets a high bar for debut novels. Looking forward to seeing what McCord writes next.
Thank you to Bold Stroke Books and Netgalley for the ARC for review.
McCord does a great job of addressing the problematic situation of the boss/employee relationship. It's not just a side part of the story and it is something that plays out all the time in the real world. I appreciate that the conversations between the MCs seem genuine and natural, like I'm just overhearing normal conversations that isn't over dramatized or immature for the ages of the characters. This kept me from doing the slight eye roll that can happen when a book gets a little to "tropey". Seriously, well done.
I would have loved to see how the story was unfolding from Ainsely's POV, because McCord did a great job of making her likable and alluring all in one, so I found myself wondering what more was going on in her head. This read sets a high bar for debut novels. Looking forward to seeing what McCord writes next.
Thank you to Bold Stroke Books and Netgalley for the ARC for review.
August 26, 2025
i'm a sucker for a good workplace romance, so i was really excited to dive into this arc. one thing i really appreciated was the short chapters, they made it super easy to get through, and i found myself saying "just one more chapter" way too many times.
as for the plot, there was plenty of workplace drama, which i totally ate up. office tension, policy issues, boss/employee dynamics – all right up my alley.
that said, i had a few issues that pulled me out of the story. early on, both main characters were described as "ice queens," but honestly, i didn't really see that in their actions or personalities. it felt like a case of telling rather than showing, which made it harder for me to buy into their initial character setup.
it also took me a while to feel the chemistry between the leads. it wasn't instant for me, but eventually, it started to click.
my biggest gripe, though, was the third-act breakup. the miscommunication trope can work if it's well executed, but in this case, it felt a little forced. like, ainsley could've just said, "someone else recommended you, not me," and that would've cleared everything up. it made the conflict feel unnecessary and the resolution a bit flat.
all that said, it was still an okay read overall. not perfect, but enjoyable – especially if you're into workplace romance and some juicy office drama.
i received an arc from netgalley and bold strokes books and all opinions are my own.
as for the plot, there was plenty of workplace drama, which i totally ate up. office tension, policy issues, boss/employee dynamics – all right up my alley.
that said, i had a few issues that pulled me out of the story. early on, both main characters were described as "ice queens," but honestly, i didn't really see that in their actions or personalities. it felt like a case of telling rather than showing, which made it harder for me to buy into their initial character setup.
it also took me a while to feel the chemistry between the leads. it wasn't instant for me, but eventually, it started to click.
my biggest gripe, though, was the third-act breakup. the miscommunication trope can work if it's well executed, but in this case, it felt a little forced. like, ainsley could've just said, "someone else recommended you, not me," and that would've cleared everything up. it made the conflict feel unnecessary and the resolution a bit flat.
all that said, it was still an okay read overall. not perfect, but enjoyable – especially if you're into workplace romance and some juicy office drama.
i received an arc from netgalley and bold strokes books and all opinions are my own.
August 12, 2025
Uncomplicate It tells the story of Hollis and Ainsley. Their meet-up is cute, if it does strain credulity a bit. Then of course there is the complication of Ainsley turing out to be Hollis’s new boss, and their fighting against this.
For most of the book, this is an interesting interplay of the will-they-and-when variety, but it’s when the complications come in that it doesn’t seem to work quite as well. There is the ex who is only there to throw a wrench in the works (if in a different ways than I was expecting), but what didn’t work for me most of all was the work complication and Ainsley’s solution to it AND how people (including her family) react to Hollis’s reaction. McCord here falls into a common trap with romance writers, and it’s seeming to designate someone as the person in the wrong and sticking with it, despite evidence to the contrary. I believe Hollis’s issue (other than the communication, which is a two-way street, and remember Ainsley is the boss) is not an incorrect one to have, and her acquiescence doesn’t really make a lot of sense to me.
For most of the novel I enjoyed the back and forth between the two characters, and that was enough for me to enjoy the book overall, but I feel like there was a real fumble in the back half of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for this ARC.
For most of the book, this is an interesting interplay of the will-they-and-when variety, but it’s when the complications come in that it doesn’t seem to work quite as well. There is the ex who is only there to throw a wrench in the works (if in a different ways than I was expecting), but what didn’t work for me most of all was the work complication and Ainsley’s solution to it AND how people (including her family) react to Hollis’s reaction. McCord here falls into a common trap with romance writers, and it’s seeming to designate someone as the person in the wrong and sticking with it, despite evidence to the contrary. I believe Hollis’s issue (other than the communication, which is a two-way street, and remember Ainsley is the boss) is not an incorrect one to have, and her acquiescence doesn’t really make a lot of sense to me.
For most of the novel I enjoyed the back and forth between the two characters, and that was enough for me to enjoy the book overall, but I feel like there was a real fumble in the back half of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for this ARC.
August 11, 2025
Thank you so much NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this eARC!!
I cannot believe this is the first book of this amazing author!
I loved it, from the beginning until the end! The journey of it was incredible.
The book delivers a story about two women, Hollis and Ainsley, who fall for each other, but their work positions (boss-employee) make it difficult and almost impossible for their relationship to develop.
The story itself is fun, cute, engaging, and well written! I laughed, loved, and cried over it. The characters are amazing, and the author made them unique, leaving me with different feelings about each one. Now talking about our main characters, I loved both of them, they're personalities are so compatible and adorable, which makes them a perfect couple, but I have to say that I fell more in love with Ainsley, I grew more and more fond of her with each chapter.
There is a lot of spicy scenes, the teasing, dirty talk, and the actual scenes were on point, making it more fun to read. So if you're into that, I think you will enjoy this one a lot!
I'm already looking forward to the next book!
I totally recommend this if you are into boss-employee, forbidden romance and spicy settings! <33
I cannot believe this is the first book of this amazing author!
I loved it, from the beginning until the end! The journey of it was incredible.
The book delivers a story about two women, Hollis and Ainsley, who fall for each other, but their work positions (boss-employee) make it difficult and almost impossible for their relationship to develop.
The story itself is fun, cute, engaging, and well written! I laughed, loved, and cried over it. The characters are amazing, and the author made them unique, leaving me with different feelings about each one. Now talking about our main characters, I loved both of them, they're personalities are so compatible and adorable, which makes them a perfect couple, but I have to say that I fell more in love with Ainsley, I grew more and more fond of her with each chapter.
There is a lot of spicy scenes, the teasing, dirty talk, and the actual scenes were on point, making it more fun to read. So if you're into that, I think you will enjoy this one a lot!
I'm already looking forward to the next book!
I totally recommend this if you are into boss-employee, forbidden romance and spicy settings! <33
September 6, 2025
💼 Bookish Thoughts
Uncomplicate It is a sapphic workplace romance with a boss x employee dynamic. Workplace romances can be tricky, especially if they ignore the power imbalance in boss and employee relationships. I wish that piece had been explored more deeply, and I wasn’t a fan of the role play element around it.
We only got Hollis’s POV, and while I liked getting to know her, I wished we had Ainsley’s perspective too. Ainsley was clearly the dominant one in the relationship, both personally and at work, and it would have been interesting to see her thoughts. There was a lot of workplace politics to navigate, which added tension, but the romance still came through.
Sidenote, I really didn't like Harrison. He sucked as a co worker and as a friend to Hollis.
Overall, this was a 3 star read.
🏢 What to Expect
• Boss x employee
• Sapphic office romance
• Workplace politics
• Slight age gap
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 12, 2025
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Uncomplicate It is a sapphic workplace romance with a boss x employee dynamic. Workplace romances can be tricky, especially if they ignore the power imbalance in boss and employee relationships. I wish that piece had been explored more deeply, and I wasn’t a fan of the role play element around it.
We only got Hollis’s POV, and while I liked getting to know her, I wished we had Ainsley’s perspective too. Ainsley was clearly the dominant one in the relationship, both personally and at work, and it would have been interesting to see her thoughts. There was a lot of workplace politics to navigate, which added tension, but the romance still came through.
Sidenote, I really didn't like Harrison. He sucked as a co worker and as a friend to Hollis.
Overall, this was a 3 star read.
🏢 What to Expect
• Boss x employee
• Sapphic office romance
• Workplace politics
• Slight age gap
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 12, 2025
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
August 27, 2025
An office romance isn't usually my first pick but they can be quite good when executed well. This one had potential and it definitely wasn't bad but it did have its flaws.
Hollis has a good thing going on at work with her co-worked turned friend Harrison. She is on her way for her 3-year-plan to become a reality. She just needs to stay focused.
Ainsley turns all of the plans Hollis had upside down. I don't mind a little conflict and the premise of will they won't they was good and even cute at first but it got kind of tired soon. Ainsley keeps saying one thing and then doing another. And not just once or twice but several times. I don't get how Hollis didn't get whipplash from all of the back and forth because I sure did.
They had cute scenes together and the side characters added to the story but there was too much back and forth for me to really enjoy their journey as a couple.
An ARC was given to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
Hollis has a good thing going on at work with her co-worked turned friend Harrison. She is on her way for her 3-year-plan to become a reality. She just needs to stay focused.
Ainsley turns all of the plans Hollis had upside down. I don't mind a little conflict and the premise of will they won't they was good and even cute at first but it got kind of tired soon. Ainsley keeps saying one thing and then doing another. And not just once or twice but several times. I don't get how Hollis didn't get whipplash from all of the back and forth because I sure did.
They had cute scenes together and the side characters added to the story but there was too much back and forth for me to really enjoy their journey as a couple.
An ARC was given to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
August 21, 2025
Hollis has her sights set on success, determined to climb the corporate ladder with a carefully crafted three-year plan. Love, she decides, will only slow her down, but her resolve begins to waver the moment she meets her new boss. I personally love a forbidden workplace romance, but this fell a little short for me. My biggest gripe is probably the fact that the love interest, Ainsley, was a little belittling or condescending here and there. While not a huge deal, it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Solid for a debut novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2025
This is a new author and not a bad one, but it missed the mark for me. It lacked depth and moved too quickly for my taste.
Hollis has a 3 year plan and will never date a colleague again after a disaster break up. She won't let anyone screw that plan up until Ainsley, who ends up being her boss. They do their best to keep it professional, but they break that agreement and decide to do friends with benefits instead. They are opposites and usually I enjoy these types of stories, but this one I had a hard time getting invested in. It lacked depth for me and needed more development, but overall not a bad story.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hollis has a 3 year plan and will never date a colleague again after a disaster break up. She won't let anyone screw that plan up until Ainsley, who ends up being her boss. They do their best to keep it professional, but they break that agreement and decide to do friends with benefits instead. They are opposites and usually I enjoy these types of stories, but this one I had a hard time getting invested in. It lacked depth for me and needed more development, but overall not a bad story.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2025
This book hooked me from the start! I loved the author's descriptive style and how she made both Hollis and Ainsley feel so real and compelling. The premise is fantastic: a classic "forbidden romance" trope done perfectly. Hollis, wary of commitment, finds herself irresistibly drawn to an older woman, only to be thrown into chaos when that woman becomes her boss. The push-and-pull of their attraction, set against the backdrop of their professional rules, creates a thrilling and romantic page-turner. I loved every moment of it!
October 21, 2025
Uncomplicate It is such a delightful, feel-good read! Hollis and Ainsley have amazing chemistry, and their workplace romance strikes the perfect balance between tension and tenderness. I loved how both characters felt real—driven, a little flawed, and genuinely easy to root for.
The story moves at a great pace, the dialogue sparkles, and the ending left me smiling. It’s the kind of book that reminds you why you love romance—comforting, fun, and full of heart. A fantastic pick for anyone who enjoys sapphic love stories with warmth and charm.
The story moves at a great pace, the dialogue sparkles, and the ending left me smiling. It’s the kind of book that reminds you why you love romance—comforting, fun, and full of heart. A fantastic pick for anyone who enjoys sapphic love stories with warmth and charm.
July 30, 2025
Great characters and I enjoyed the build to their relationship. The conflict that briefly keeps them apart was a fun set up and made the journey worth it.
The ending felt a bit rushed to me but still felt earned. I’d read more of these characters if their journey ever continued.
Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
The ending felt a bit rushed to me but still felt earned. I’d read more of these characters if their journey ever continued.
Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
August 10, 2025
A cute and fun read, with a fast-paced plot and very lovable characters.
Hollis and Ainsley have great chemistry; it’s interesting to see how their relationship develops, and of course, Harrison is the most charming side character that brings lots of fun to the story.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC.
Hollis and Ainsley have great chemistry; it’s interesting to see how their relationship develops, and of course, Harrison is the most charming side character that brings lots of fun to the story.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC.
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