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Quarter-Love Crisis
A rivalry as old as time. . . The Hating Game meets Honey and Spice in this sizzling, hilarious and utterly relatable rivals-to-lovers workplace rom-com about surviving – and maybe even thriving – in your twenties.
Maddison Clarke has always lived by tick-lists, schedules, and five-year plans. So, she didn’t foresee being this close to thirty and still living at home, in an assistant role, with the closest thing to a committed relationship being her grocery delivery driver. But when she lands the opportunity to lead on the company’s biggest event to date, Maddison sees a chance to get her life back on track.
There is just one problem: she needs to join forces with Aiden Edwards, her long-time rival and the infuriatingly handsome bane of her existence. Aiden and his casual arrogance and absolute lack of urgency test her at every turn, so when he promises to walk away if she can give up her notebooks and live spontaneously, Maddison agrees. . . even if the concept is entirely alien to her.
But as the two are forced closer together, Maddison begins to wonder if this whole dare is Aiden’s way of trying to help her, rather than ruin her. And if that’s the case, can they truly insist this simmering tension between them is nothing more than hate? Maddison’s quarter-life crisis seems to be turning into a quarter-love crisis. . . and that was not part of the plan.
Maddison Clarke has always lived by tick-lists, schedules, and five-year plans. So, she didn’t foresee being this close to thirty and still living at home, in an assistant role, with the closest thing to a committed relationship being her grocery delivery driver. But when she lands the opportunity to lead on the company’s biggest event to date, Maddison sees a chance to get her life back on track.
There is just one problem: she needs to join forces with Aiden Edwards, her long-time rival and the infuriatingly handsome bane of her existence. Aiden and his casual arrogance and absolute lack of urgency test her at every turn, so when he promises to walk away if she can give up her notebooks and live spontaneously, Maddison agrees. . . even if the concept is entirely alien to her.
But as the two are forced closer together, Maddison begins to wonder if this whole dare is Aiden’s way of trying to help her, rather than ruin her. And if that’s the case, can they truly insist this simmering tension between them is nothing more than hate? Maddison’s quarter-life crisis seems to be turning into a quarter-love crisis. . . and that was not part of the plan.
- GenresRomanceContemporary
368 pages, Paperback
Published July 17, 2025
About the author
Jasmine Burke
1 book19 followersJasmine Burke is a Caribbean-British writer, marketer, and lifestyle content creator from London, who grew up with obsession with both reading and writing. She credits her love of books to her parents, who fed her passion from the age of three, in the hopes that Baby Encyclopaedias would stop her from asking so many questions about how the world works. She spent her primary school summer holidays hauled inside (when allowed), writing stories to read to her little sister. It’s fair to say that those stories have grown since then, and she is excited to share her latest one(s) with the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 3, 2025
You ever read a book and go, wait this was written for me in this exact phase of my life?
A bit of background: I’m 22 years old, recently graduated, and my current contract is coming to an end. I have been faced with so many rejection emails, I have become a pro at the jargon.
I am also someone who has always been ridiculously organised and lives off notebooks. I had a five, ten, fifteen year plan which was halted when I changed degrees after a health scare.
All that is to say, Maddy is me. Obsessively rigid and thriving in our routines. When Maddy is forced to work and compete with her rival for her dream job, they decide to make a wager.
'Some people wade in until they know what's out there for them, and some people dive in, headfirst, not knowing what's at the bottom. You're a wader. You always have been and there's nothing wrong with that. You still get there eventually. That's the important part?’
‘But you think I'd get there sooner if I dived in headfirst?’ I ask.
'This isn't a lake, Maddy - it's life. It's not a competition.'
This had so much heart. The romance isn’t at the forefront, it simmers away with tension and heat. What do you have when you take a people-pleaser, teacher’s pet and a disruptive class-clown?
There are portrayals of anxiety, panic attacks, work place toxicity, and black women.
When the steam hit, it was all out and sexy. It felt earned and not overdone.
I wasn’t a fan of the third act break up. Especially when paired with a time jump. However, the resolution was good even if I felt frustrated and disappointed in our heroine.
I also wish we got more on the side characters, but I think this is a case of word count and pages being cut as it is clear that the author knew all her characters inside and out, and had to get that across in the few scenes she could.
Physical arc gifted by Dialogue Books.
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A bit of background: I’m 22 years old, recently graduated, and my current contract is coming to an end. I have been faced with so many rejection emails, I have become a pro at the jargon.
I am also someone who has always been ridiculously organised and lives off notebooks. I had a five, ten, fifteen year plan which was halted when I changed degrees after a health scare.
All that is to say, Maddy is me. Obsessively rigid and thriving in our routines. When Maddy is forced to work and compete with her rival for her dream job, they decide to make a wager.
'Some people wade in until they know what's out there for them, and some people dive in, headfirst, not knowing what's at the bottom. You're a wader. You always have been and there's nothing wrong with that. You still get there eventually. That's the important part?’
‘But you think I'd get there sooner if I dived in headfirst?’ I ask.
'This isn't a lake, Maddy - it's life. It's not a competition.'
This had so much heart. The romance isn’t at the forefront, it simmers away with tension and heat. What do you have when you take a people-pleaser, teacher’s pet and a disruptive class-clown?
There are portrayals of anxiety, panic attacks, work place toxicity, and black women.
When the steam hit, it was all out and sexy. It felt earned and not overdone.
I wasn’t a fan of the third act break up. Especially when paired with a time jump. However, the resolution was good even if I felt frustrated and disappointed in our heroine.
I also wish we got more on the side characters, but I think this is a case of word count and pages being cut as it is clear that the author knew all her characters inside and out, and had to get that across in the few scenes she could.
Physical arc gifted by Dialogue Books.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
September 16, 2025
bro really dated her bully for 10 years and had no explanation for it 🤨
February 9, 2026
Themes – Enemies to Lovers, Office Romance, Black Leads, Anxiety
Song – Cautious (Destin Conrad)
Standout Quote:
“In five years’ time, whatever I’m doing, I’d better be doing it with Madison Clarke by my side.” — Aiden Edwards ( page 319)
Do away with notebooks and five-year plans, and engage with the unexpected of finding love where you least expect it, discovering you’re right where you need to be, even when your late twenties crisis feels closer than the future you once imagined. Or at least that's the advice I would give to 28-year-old Madison Clarke, whose rigid schedule and time-tracking notebooks get in the way of living her life to the fullest and opening herself up to opportunities that weren't carefully planned along the way.
This mindset changes when twenty-something, smooth-talking, and bright-smiling childhood rivalry Aiden Edwards enters Madison workplace. The two are forced to work in proximity for an influencer event that engages with both of their individual skillsets and pushes them to confront their weaknesses as much as their strengths.
I found Madison to be a relatable lead - Black , ambitious, but cautious of stepping out of the delicately constructed box that will lead to her planned success. While some of her decision-making felt questionable, such as her investment of time in a man who barely returned a text (not Aiden, but another love interest of hers along the way), and her reluctance to speak up against the mistreatment she faced in the workplace. That critique aside, I would've loved it if the story dove more into Aiden and Madison's history. The novel touched on many of their negative past interactions, but it also seemed to hint towards more positive ones largely glossed over, that would've made their connection a bit more realistic.
While I didn't walk away with many standout quotes from the male lead, which I always appreciate, overall this was a decent read. With vivid imagery, a deep dive into the female lead's consciousness, and a solid dose of office-based tension and banter, Quarter Life Crisis is the kind of read to make any romance lover want to book a trip to London and see if their unexpected mate is the antithesis of everything you thought you wanted, but exactly what you needed.
Song – Cautious (Destin Conrad)
Standout Quote:
“In five years’ time, whatever I’m doing, I’d better be doing it with Madison Clarke by my side.” — Aiden Edwards ( page 319)
Do away with notebooks and five-year plans, and engage with the unexpected of finding love where you least expect it, discovering you’re right where you need to be, even when your late twenties crisis feels closer than the future you once imagined. Or at least that's the advice I would give to 28-year-old Madison Clarke, whose rigid schedule and time-tracking notebooks get in the way of living her life to the fullest and opening herself up to opportunities that weren't carefully planned along the way.
This mindset changes when twenty-something, smooth-talking, and bright-smiling childhood rivalry Aiden Edwards enters Madison workplace. The two are forced to work in proximity for an influencer event that engages with both of their individual skillsets and pushes them to confront their weaknesses as much as their strengths.
I found Madison to be a relatable lead - Black , ambitious, but cautious of stepping out of the delicately constructed box that will lead to her planned success. While some of her decision-making felt questionable, such as her investment of time in a man who barely returned a text (not Aiden, but another love interest of hers along the way), and her reluctance to speak up against the mistreatment she faced in the workplace. That critique aside, I would've loved it if the story dove more into Aiden and Madison's history. The novel touched on many of their negative past interactions, but it also seemed to hint towards more positive ones largely glossed over, that would've made their connection a bit more realistic.
While I didn't walk away with many standout quotes from the male lead, which I always appreciate, overall this was a decent read. With vivid imagery, a deep dive into the female lead's consciousness, and a solid dose of office-based tension and banter, Quarter Life Crisis is the kind of read to make any romance lover want to book a trip to London and see if their unexpected mate is the antithesis of everything you thought you wanted, but exactly what you needed.
August 11, 2025
This was such a solid debut novel and one that I really enjoyed reading☺️. I found it cute and fun, and for a rom-com it felt quite realistic. I related to Maddison a lot, not so much in her romance but in her insecurities and the feeling of being behind in adulthood. I enjoyed watching her dynamic with Aiden shift from rivalry to something deeper, and the slow burn was satisfying without feeling over the top.
3.5⭐️
3.5⭐️
June 8, 2025
4.75!! FULL REVIEW COMING BECAUSE THIS IS FOR ALL THE GIRLIES WHO ARE SCREAMING INTO THE VOID WHILE TRASHING AROUND IN THE HELL PIT WHICH IS YOUR 20’s!!!!!
January 11, 2026
This is a rivals to lovers workplace romance. It follows 29yo Maddison, an extremely organised, Type A planner (think strict 5 year plans) who feels stuck and unfulfilled. When she’s given the chance to lead a major work project, she’s forced to team up with her longtime rival Aiden. His carefree attitude clashes with her need for structure and what starts as mutual irritation slowly shifts into something more.
🙄 First of all, Maddie’s friends needed to donate some sense to her. She annoyed me so much. That said, I loved their friendship group.
👌🏾As the story progressed, I became more interested in the themes and relatable issues than the FMC’s shenanigans. The author did a great job showing how challenging navigating your twenties can be.
👌🏾One of my favourite aspects was the expectation vs reality of life after uni, which was very relatable. (Listen I thought I’d be working for Parliament or the UN when I finished my Politics and International Relations degree. I had plans. Life said ‘nah babe’😅)
👌🏾The workplace dynamics were also well explored. It can be a jungle— survival of the fittest or…the best/well connected).
🥴The reason for the rivalry was too weak for me.
🌚 I didn’t feel the chemistry between Madison and Aiden. There were cute moments, but it lacked the emotional depth needed to make their love story believable.
🥴 As for Buldak/ Benji/whatever his name was… a total waste of space. From the first date, even the blind could see that but did our FMC have any sense? Nooo.
👌🏾 Despite how much Maddie irritated me, I rooted for her professionally. Her work life was far more interesting to read than her personal life.
Overall this was a 50/50 for me. If you love workplace romance, self discovery and quarter-life crisis themes, you’ll enjoy this.
If I rate by the themes explored I’ll give this a 4⭐️
If I rate by plot it’d be a 3⭐️
January 6, 2026
2.75 stars rounded up :/.
Feedback: The MMC was extremely unlikable at first. I don’t see how Maddison endured him for so long. I feel like the Gus character was truly irrelevant, he didn’t add much to the storyline. Additionally, I didn’t like how the physical descriptions were pretty much absent. I feel like in order to follow along with a story, knowing, or being able to conjure up an image in your head of what supporting characters at least look like, helps a lot. Towards the middle of the book, I started to dislike Madison, she has such a thick skull… I’m not sure if it’s because she’s an over thinker, but she just needs to get a grip, and understand that people can change. I found myself constantly noting “I wish I liked her” and “she’s so annoying” about the FMC.
I appreciate how the story dives into the actual experience of someone in their mid twenties trying to figure out how their life is going to go. I also like that we got to see this experience from two different types of people. When Maddison realizes that she doesn’t need to have it all figured out while visiting her brother at university, I feel like that was a message that could translate well to readers. I also like how supportive Maddison’s friend group is, from trying to set her up with someone, to rooting for her and Aiden. Additionally, I really enjoyed the dynamic between Evie and Maddison, as Maddison was finally given the chance to show off her talents in a workplace that appreciated her.
Overall, this read was quick, and the storyline was nice, but I often found myself wishing that it was done sooner.
Feedback: The MMC was extremely unlikable at first. I don’t see how Maddison endured him for so long. I feel like the Gus character was truly irrelevant, he didn’t add much to the storyline. Additionally, I didn’t like how the physical descriptions were pretty much absent. I feel like in order to follow along with a story, knowing, or being able to conjure up an image in your head of what supporting characters at least look like, helps a lot. Towards the middle of the book, I started to dislike Madison, she has such a thick skull… I’m not sure if it’s because she’s an over thinker, but she just needs to get a grip, and understand that people can change. I found myself constantly noting “I wish I liked her” and “she’s so annoying” about the FMC.
I appreciate how the story dives into the actual experience of someone in their mid twenties trying to figure out how their life is going to go. I also like that we got to see this experience from two different types of people. When Maddison realizes that she doesn’t need to have it all figured out while visiting her brother at university, I feel like that was a message that could translate well to readers. I also like how supportive Maddison’s friend group is, from trying to set her up with someone, to rooting for her and Aiden. Additionally, I really enjoyed the dynamic between Evie and Maddison, as Maddison was finally given the chance to show off her talents in a workplace that appreciated her.
Overall, this read was quick, and the storyline was nice, but I often found myself wishing that it was done sooner.
May 11, 2026
"Twenty-nine is nothing. Thirty is nothing. If I wanted to start again at fifty, I would. Time is just that - time. It dictates too much of our lives already for us to start letting it dictate what we can and can't accomplish."
GENRE: Comtep. Romance
RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: eBook
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, Office Romance, Anxiety, Self-discovery
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Review:
This one hit so close to home for me because of how Maddison is a type A personality with so many notebooks (honestly, highly relate to that) and it was such a sweet story, with character developments that I enjoyed
Quarter-Love Crisis is exactly what it is, a crisis right before Maddison hit the 30s, especially since she hasn't achieved any of her big things on her list yet and the moment it clicks in the book? It's all so worth it seeing it coming together. I think Jasmine Burke did such an amazing job of showing how sometimes, its the things we ask of ourselves that put so much pressure on us and drive us mad. This book truly captures that feeling of being in your 20s and feeling like you're truly running out of time due to anxiety, pressure and so many other things.
Watching Maddison let these notions go (especially as that's a journey I've done myself recently and still undergoing) and embrace living in the moment with the help of Aiden Edwards made the book a fun ride and I finished it in less than 24 hours (with a pause to sleep because I am too old to stay up at night now lol)
I think this was an amazing debut and I will say that, usually with single POVs, you get to focus on one character and don't really learn much about their love interest. I think Burke did a good balance in here by bringing Aiden's story without letting it out-shine Maddison's. And I loved getting to know her friends group too
I cant wait to read more by Jasmine Burke, I love Romance books set in the UK and this one was set in London plus the dynamic & writing won me over! It's a perfect book for those of us entering our 30s and realising that actually, we've just start our lives while enjoying Maddison & Aiden's relationship blossom and her friendship + family thrive!
July 12, 2025
This wasn't the book for me. I read it but I didn't love it.
This is a solid debut and is certainly pitched at the folk who have drunk the Cool-Aid of achievement by a certain time or perish in a land of failure to launch. Maybe it's a generational thing?
Maddie is almost 30. Living at home, working in an assistant role and not in a longterm relationship. She has a tight group of girlfriends and a brother who is a fabulous sounding board living an independent life. Maddie has the opportunity to work on a big project which brings her into contact with a blast from her past, Aiden.
The immaturity of the "rivalry" between Maddie and Aiden had me scratching my head. I didn't get it. Surely with all seven of her notebooks, Maddie had more to do than dwell on one guys lack of emotional intelligence and ability to communicate over time? The little bit of OM drama didn't make sense as a plot point other than to reinforce the insecurity of Maddie's character and it didn't work for me.
I enjoyed the challenge to swap task approaches. From Maddie's hyper scheduling Type A checklists to embracing Aiden's more laisse faire Type B flowing method.
What I cared about was seeing Maddie being assetive and taking ground for herself. The amount of self sabotage and unhelpful internal dialogue meant there was more than once I wanted to reach into the page and sit Maddie down and lay it all out over a pot of tea. She gets there but geez, its hardwork.
I admit to skim reading a good chunk. Whether the pacing was off or the lack of investment I had for the characters or a combination of both. I think theres a great writer at work here who is obviously aware of the challenges facing 30-somethings in a competetive career, life and love landscape.
With many thanks to the author, Jasmine Burke, Netgalley and Dialogue Books/ Renegade Books for a copy of the eARC to read ahead of publication. All opinions and grammatical errors are my own.
This is a solid debut and is certainly pitched at the folk who have drunk the Cool-Aid of achievement by a certain time or perish in a land of failure to launch. Maybe it's a generational thing?
Maddie is almost 30. Living at home, working in an assistant role and not in a longterm relationship. She has a tight group of girlfriends and a brother who is a fabulous sounding board living an independent life. Maddie has the opportunity to work on a big project which brings her into contact with a blast from her past, Aiden.
The immaturity of the "rivalry" between Maddie and Aiden had me scratching my head. I didn't get it. Surely with all seven of her notebooks, Maddie had more to do than dwell on one guys lack of emotional intelligence and ability to communicate over time? The little bit of OM drama didn't make sense as a plot point other than to reinforce the insecurity of Maddie's character and it didn't work for me.
I enjoyed the challenge to swap task approaches. From Maddie's hyper scheduling Type A checklists to embracing Aiden's more laisse faire Type B flowing method.
What I cared about was seeing Maddie being assetive and taking ground for herself. The amount of self sabotage and unhelpful internal dialogue meant there was more than once I wanted to reach into the page and sit Maddie down and lay it all out over a pot of tea. She gets there but geez, its hardwork.
I admit to skim reading a good chunk. Whether the pacing was off or the lack of investment I had for the characters or a combination of both. I think theres a great writer at work here who is obviously aware of the challenges facing 30-somethings in a competetive career, life and love landscape.
With many thanks to the author, Jasmine Burke, Netgalley and Dialogue Books/ Renegade Books for a copy of the eARC to read ahead of publication. All opinions and grammatical errors are my own.
January 13, 2026
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a minute and it did not disappoint! It was truly a great mix of romance and coming of age. I really related to the FMC which made this all the better. Overall it was a great read!!
Want to Read
May 28, 2026Where is the book for Around the World in 80 Dates? It looked really good on Instagram! The author seems so fun and polished.
July 18, 2025
Insert euphoria “is this f*cking play about us?” gif👀
ahhhh, as someone who is nearly thirty and is nowhere near where teen me thought I’d be, this book hit so hard😭
“I don’t know who I offended to get this level of karma, but somehow my friends are killing their careers, buying property and now getting married, while my chance at making it past assistant level hinges on a guy who hates my guts.”
Maddison is in her late twenties, still lives at home with her parents, and is not progressing in her career as fast as she would like. She gets the opportunity to work on a big project with an influencer she loves, but it also means working alongside her school nemesis, Aiden.
Maddison is a type A person. She loves to have everything planned and wants to follow a strict plan. Aiden is more type B. He goes with the flow and is way more laid back. As part of a bet, they switch their approaches to life, leaving Maddison to say yes to everything that comes her way.
I relate so hard to how the fmc is feeling throughout this book, including feeling left behind in life achievements and how out of control it makes you feel, particularly being a type A person.
The conversation near the end of the book between the fmc and another character about whether you would judge others for not reacting their goals hit hard😮💨
I also loved the other relationships that this book touches on, particularly how Maddison’s family and friends are so supportive and loving towards her🩵
ahhhh, as someone who is nearly thirty and is nowhere near where teen me thought I’d be, this book hit so hard😭
“I don’t know who I offended to get this level of karma, but somehow my friends are killing their careers, buying property and now getting married, while my chance at making it past assistant level hinges on a guy who hates my guts.”
Maddison is in her late twenties, still lives at home with her parents, and is not progressing in her career as fast as she would like. She gets the opportunity to work on a big project with an influencer she loves, but it also means working alongside her school nemesis, Aiden.
Maddison is a type A person. She loves to have everything planned and wants to follow a strict plan. Aiden is more type B. He goes with the flow and is way more laid back. As part of a bet, they switch their approaches to life, leaving Maddison to say yes to everything that comes her way.
I relate so hard to how the fmc is feeling throughout this book, including feeling left behind in life achievements and how out of control it makes you feel, particularly being a type A person.
The conversation near the end of the book between the fmc and another character about whether you would judge others for not reacting their goals hit hard😮💨
I also loved the other relationships that this book touches on, particularly how Maddison’s family and friends are so supportive and loving towards her🩵
May 22, 2026
SPOILERS AHEAD. Rivals to lovers? More like passive aggressive man who likes to neg. He had so much criticism of her character, her behaviour, etc. but the FMC couldn't even tell you why she didn't like him (I could; he was an asshole). I was waiting to see what made them (mutual) enemies to begin with.
‘Why do you hate me so much?’
I let out a deep, accidental laugh, cringing as it echoes around the taxi.
‘That’s what we do, Aiden. We’ve been playing this game since we were,
like, ten years old.’ I search for his face in the dark. ‘Though the last round was pretty cruel of you, I have to say.’ this is not a good reason to be "enemies" well into adulthood. But this just adds to my point that the author couldn't even give the FMC a reason as to why she dislikes him —‘Since we were eight years old, actually,’ he says. ‘I think about that last round a lot. And how you seem to really hate me now.’ .... ‘Because you’re the worst!’ —but the MMC has sooo much to say about her and he character. I mean she can't come up with anything.
This is just a classic case of guy is rude to girl and girl dislikes him for that, but that doesn't make then mutual enemies, it makes him an asshole. We find out later in this book the so called reason why she dislikes him so much and it's such a pathetic, pick-me ass answer.
I also didn't like he would say something negative about her character and then when called try to act all aloof about it when she called him out or implied that he disliked her, just negging her. But I mean the FMC exhibited such self deprecating behaviour throughout this book. I mean, every negative thing he had to say about her, she would agree with him. It was honestly just very pathetic and so insecure —considering how mean this guy was— especially since she also had minimal retorts for him. And the one times she does say something mild, she takes it back immediately.
————————————————————————
"What matters is that I was awful. I know it now and I knew it back then too. That’s why, when I saw you in that boardroom, I thought it’d be better to just pretend I didn’t remember you like that.’" None of that stopped him from being rude to her when they first started working together.
I seriously think that after being around her for a while, he got horny and wanted to ****, so he decided to do the whole oops my fault for treating you terribly thing...
At one point we find out he dated her bully for 1o years... At some point while they were dating the ex gf mentioned how "he could never stop going on about how irritating you were." I mean wow just adding to list of ways this man hates her. He does later go on to say that what she said wasn't true but none of this actions past or present makes me believe that.
This girl ended up with her number 1 OPP I swear.
————————————————————————
They've been "enemies" since primary school, she obviously thinks he dislikes her throughout all these years (he def does), based on his behaviour towards her.
After all of that he enters her life now, at her job, and he is still being an asshole. Plus, let's not forget the group chat fiasco, AFTER they get together/have sex. She stumbles across his group chat and none of his friends are happy for him. Based on their reactions he clearly has not said one positive thing about this girl to them.
- Maddison Clarke? This has to be a joke . . .
- Not Moany Maddy?!
- Thought u were just tryna steal her job lol
- Not a single girl in years and now HER? Bro . . .
- Nah u can’t go from Lucy to that, come on . . .
- Yo u dog!
"They go on and on, back and forth with each other longer than I can stand.
It’s too much, too real. The same boys from school saying the same things they said every day for years of my life."
he goes to say that he would never encourage that and
‘They’re your friends, Aiden. That doesn’t just come out of nowhere.’
‘I barely talk to them!’
‘Then how did they know?’ My voice cracks.
‘I just . . . I don’t know.’ He gestures, grasping for words. ‘I just needed to tell someone about you. Someone who knew—
‘What a joke I was to you?’
‘What you meant to me. Still mean to me. I thought they would get it. I don’t know, I thought they’d understand.’
You cannot convince me that a man's friends all have something negative to say about a girl, but he's telling you that he has never once spoken negatively about her/encouraged those conversations. Oh okay...
I mean there are just so many moments where you realize, both present and past, that this guy has never defended this girl in his life.
Him (past/present), his ex girlfriend (in the past), his friends (past/present). All have been mean towards this girl (bullying her essentially) and you're telling me that this is the guy she gets with. In my opinion, this book tried to be the epitome of he's mean to you because he likes you..
booo
. but it failed at that too because this guy absolutely did not like her (past or present).
————————————————————————
‘I would never let anyone make you feel like that
again. You’ll always know exactly where you stand with me. I can promise you that.’
‘Seriously? Maddison. I told you last night that I would never do that to you again.’
The horror..... words I never want my partner to say. omg.
————————————————————————
I must also mention how his terrible behaviour bled into the smut/physical attraction. Did not like that one bit. I mean he was impatient, aggressive, had no regards for safety and just overall rude. Per the FMC's own words in a particular moment, it was "blunt and tactless". I actually really hate this guy. The scenes describe him as someone who honestly lacks self control and care for their partners comfortability. Not sure the FMC actually enjoyed any of that; between his lack of self control during kissing and the fact that he just tried to insert his penis inside of her, no talk, no protection, and when she asked if he has protection / is tested he's just like ‘Are you not on the pill?’ / ‘I don’t have anything, I’d know if I did,’ he laughs, rolling his eyes. She says she's not on the pill and he says ‘I’ll pull out,’ huh???
After they agree not to do that he's still kind of rude about it smh.
After that happens he then tried to force her head down shoving her under the covers so she could give him head. That whole scene was so jarring and went on too long. I fight back, pretending I don’t understand and trying to bring us back to that brief moment where everything felt good.
...
His hand pushes harder and harder until he realises it’s no use and resorts to words.
‘Give me head.’
She says "you first" and he says ‘Yeah, I don’t do that. Especially not the first time.’. She says ‘Then neither do I,’ I say, pulling away as he leans in to kiss me again and shoots his hand straight to the top of my head to audaciously try his luck a
third time. A THIRD TIME?? Then he has the nerve to be confused as to why she would not want to give him head when he just said that's something that he doesn't do.
What do you mean?’ he asks, genuinely wide-eyed and confused.
I roll my eyes and attempt to make it as clear as day. ‘If you won’t go
down on me, then I won’t go down on you.’
He snorts in disgust, the space between our bodies growing cold as he
pulls away. ‘You being serious?’
Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘Because that’s not—’
‘That’s not what?’ I ask, ready to fight.
Their first intimate scene was sooooo close to reading like when you end up realizing that "weird" experience you had back in the day was just in fact SA. It was so coercive. Way to many moments of him forcefully doing something, not taking no for answer, or straight up trying to bypass her reasoning. They did not have sex in that moment but he was so damn coercive.
No part of this book made me believe this man should be with her. She deserve soo much better than to end up with a man who honestly hates her. I mean everyone past and/or present around this guy, including him, has bullied this girl. Oh my goodness.
‘Why do you hate me so much?’
I let out a deep, accidental laugh, cringing as it echoes around the taxi.
‘That’s what we do, Aiden. We’ve been playing this game since we were,
like, ten years old.’ I search for his face in the dark. ‘Though the last round was pretty cruel of you, I have to say.’ this is not a good reason to be "enemies" well into adulthood. But this just adds to my point that the author couldn't even give the FMC a reason as to why she dislikes him —‘Since we were eight years old, actually,’ he says. ‘I think about that last round a lot. And how you seem to really hate me now.’ .... ‘Because you’re the worst!’ —but the MMC has sooo much to say about her and he character. I mean she can't come up with anything.
This is just a classic case of guy is rude to girl and girl dislikes him for that, but that doesn't make then mutual enemies, it makes him an asshole. We find out later in this book the so called reason why she dislikes him so much and it's such a pathetic, pick-me ass answer.
I also didn't like he would say something negative about her character and then when called try to act all aloof about it when she called him out or implied that he disliked her, just negging her. But I mean the FMC exhibited such self deprecating behaviour throughout this book. I mean, every negative thing he had to say about her, she would agree with him. It was honestly just very pathetic and so insecure —considering how mean this guy was— especially since she also had minimal retorts for him. And the one times she does say something mild, she takes it back immediately.
————————————————————————
"What matters is that I was awful. I know it now and I knew it back then too. That’s why, when I saw you in that boardroom, I thought it’d be better to just pretend I didn’t remember you like that.’" None of that stopped him from being rude to her when they first started working together.
I seriously think that after being around her for a while, he got horny and wanted to ****, so he decided to do the whole oops my fault for treating you terribly thing...
At one point we find out he dated her bully for 1o years... At some point while they were dating the ex gf mentioned how "he could never stop going on about how irritating you were." I mean wow just adding to list of ways this man hates her. He does later go on to say that what she said wasn't true but none of this actions past or present makes me believe that.
This girl ended up with her number 1 OPP I swear.
————————————————————————
They've been "enemies" since primary school, she obviously thinks he dislikes her throughout all these years (he def does), based on his behaviour towards her.
After all of that he enters her life now, at her job, and he is still being an asshole. Plus, let's not forget the group chat fiasco, AFTER they get together/have sex. She stumbles across his group chat and none of his friends are happy for him. Based on their reactions he clearly has not said one positive thing about this girl to them.
- Maddison Clarke? This has to be a joke . . .
- Not Moany Maddy?!
- Thought u were just tryna steal her job lol
- Not a single girl in years and now HER? Bro . . .
- Nah u can’t go from Lucy to that, come on . . .
- Yo u dog!
"They go on and on, back and forth with each other longer than I can stand.
It’s too much, too real. The same boys from school saying the same things they said every day for years of my life."
he goes to say that he would never encourage that and
‘They’re your friends, Aiden. That doesn’t just come out of nowhere.’
‘I barely talk to them!’
‘Then how did they know?’ My voice cracks.
‘I just . . . I don’t know.’ He gestures, grasping for words. ‘I just needed to tell someone about you. Someone who knew—
‘What a joke I was to you?’
‘What you meant to me. Still mean to me. I thought they would get it. I don’t know, I thought they’d understand.’
You cannot convince me that a man's friends all have something negative to say about a girl, but he's telling you that he has never once spoken negatively about her/encouraged those conversations. Oh okay...
I mean there are just so many moments where you realize, both present and past, that this guy has never defended this girl in his life.
Him (past/present), his ex girlfriend (in the past), his friends (past/present). All have been mean towards this girl (bullying her essentially) and you're telling me that this is the guy she gets with. In my opinion, this book tried to be the epitome of he's mean to you because he likes you..
————————————————————————
‘I would never let anyone make you feel like that
again. You’ll always know exactly where you stand with me. I can promise you that.’
‘Seriously? Maddison. I told you last night that I would never do that to you again.’
The horror..... words I never want my partner to say. omg.
————————————————————————
I must also mention how his terrible behaviour bled into the smut/physical attraction. Did not like that one bit. I mean he was impatient, aggressive, had no regards for safety and just overall rude. Per the FMC's own words in a particular moment, it was "blunt and tactless". I actually really hate this guy. The scenes describe him as someone who honestly lacks self control and care for their partners comfortability. Not sure the FMC actually enjoyed any of that; between his lack of self control during kissing and the fact that he just tried to insert his penis inside of her, no talk, no protection, and when she asked if he has protection / is tested he's just like ‘Are you not on the pill?’ / ‘I don’t have anything, I’d know if I did,’ he laughs, rolling his eyes. She says she's not on the pill and he says ‘I’ll pull out,’ huh???
After they agree not to do that he's still kind of rude about it smh.
After that happens he then tried to force her head down shoving her under the covers so she could give him head. That whole scene was so jarring and went on too long. I fight back, pretending I don’t understand and trying to bring us back to that brief moment where everything felt good.
...
His hand pushes harder and harder until he realises it’s no use and resorts to words.
‘Give me head.’
She says "you first" and he says ‘Yeah, I don’t do that. Especially not the first time.’. She says ‘Then neither do I,’ I say, pulling away as he leans in to kiss me again and shoots his hand straight to the top of my head to audaciously try his luck a
third time. A THIRD TIME?? Then he has the nerve to be confused as to why she would not want to give him head when he just said that's something that he doesn't do.
What do you mean?’ he asks, genuinely wide-eyed and confused.
I roll my eyes and attempt to make it as clear as day. ‘If you won’t go
down on me, then I won’t go down on you.’
He snorts in disgust, the space between our bodies growing cold as he
pulls away. ‘You being serious?’
Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘Because that’s not—’
‘That’s not what?’ I ask, ready to fight.
Their first intimate scene was sooooo close to reading like when you end up realizing that "weird" experience you had back in the day was just in fact SA. It was so coercive. Way to many moments of him forcefully doing something, not taking no for answer, or straight up trying to bypass her reasoning. They did not have sex in that moment but he was so damn coercive.
No part of this book made me believe this man should be with her. She deserve soo much better than to end up with a man who honestly hates her. I mean everyone past and/or present around this guy, including him, has bullied this girl. Oh my goodness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2025
him dating her bully for years and then the third act miscommunication arc that unravels all the development that was building up. I hate that I wasted my time with this. Maddison, you deserve better than that man!
August 17, 2025
3.5 stars. i love british books, especially black british romances so i was delighted to pick this up. i found maddison to be incredibly relatable, especially with her goals and the constant panic of running out of time. as someone who is going on the corporate ladder myself with rigid goals that i find often stifle me, i cheered for maddison when she finally let go. i also loved that she found herself a mentor in evie that genuinely believed in her, and it helped immensely that she too was a black woman who empowered her. it was a nice foil to her evil boss and i liked that the book explored the vindictive nature of workplace politics. however, i think the overall world-building could use some work. i didn't care for her friendship group, they seemed almost tacked on, like she just HAD to have a forgettable '#girlgang'. it felt repetitive and boring and i hated that she was a later addition to the group, and she definitely felt that way. i just had no use for their chats, online or in person. i also hated that her storyline with that grim waste of time was stretched on so long. it felt unrealistic and was a blow to her characterisation & self esteem that after he constantly disrespected her, she was hung up on him. i wasn't even convinced that he had a chance after the fumbled first hook up so it was galling that they dragged it on for a couple more chapters and he was too convenient a distraction to stall the main romance. i had no use for that.
i liked aiden's character, he was sweet but for someone who teased maddison for being an overplanner, he didn't have the strongest foundation. and i didn't like that all his unwise relationships (his horrid ex girlfriend, his equally horrid friends) were the catalysts for he and maddison falling out. especially at the end, when he is miraculously absolved of any wrongdoings because it was his friends being nasty. that was too iffy. burke struggles to build a community out of the two characters' romance and it's such a shame because i loved evie's character, she felt more like a friend to the two than any of their other friends. while we understand how laddish 'humour' is, it felt too convenient that once again, he was absolved of any wrongdoing. while the first time could be excused because he was going through it, and the book built it up to be more than it actually was, the second time round was absurd, he really needs a new community and new friends.
the book seemed a bit unrealistic in the way both characters held on to primary school memories which should not have been as impactful in two adults' lives as they were. it was nice to see their growth and it was a nice enough book.
i liked aiden's character, he was sweet but for someone who teased maddison for being an overplanner, he didn't have the strongest foundation. and i didn't like that all his unwise relationships (his horrid ex girlfriend, his equally horrid friends) were the catalysts for he and maddison falling out. especially at the end, when he is miraculously absolved of any wrongdoings because it was his friends being nasty. that was too iffy. burke struggles to build a community out of the two characters' romance and it's such a shame because i loved evie's character, she felt more like a friend to the two than any of their other friends. while we understand how laddish 'humour' is, it felt too convenient that once again, he was absolved of any wrongdoing. while the first time could be excused because he was going through it, and the book built it up to be more than it actually was, the second time round was absurd, he really needs a new community and new friends.
the book seemed a bit unrealistic in the way both characters held on to primary school memories which should not have been as impactful in two adults' lives as they were. it was nice to see their growth and it was a nice enough book.
June 25, 2025
2.75 stars rounded up
Quarter-Love Crisis follows Maddison Clark, who is not where she thought she’d be at almost thirty. She’s still living at home, working in an assistant role, and isn’t in a committed relationship. But when she lands
the opportunity to lead on the company's biggest event to date, Maddison sees a chance to get her life back on track. Unfortunately, she has to work with her handsome, long-time rival Aiden Edwards, who challenges her to give up her notebooks and live spontaneously.
As someone who spent a lot of their twenties worrying about if they were doing the right thing and wanting to reach certain milestones by a certain age, I could really relate to Maddison and her feelings of being “stuck”. I think the messaging in this book was really positive, enforcing the message that everyone is on a different timeline in life, and that’s okay.
The event planning aspect was really fun, but I wish we had gotten to see more of the event at the end, especially as the whole book revolves around it.
I struggled to connect with the characters, who lacked depth. The reasoning for their rivalry felt flimsy and immature, and I couldn’t feel any chemistry between them, so I was not invested in their relationship at all.
Due to the fact that I couldn’t connect to the characters and I wasn’t interested in their relationship, I found this book quite slow going, and it never really gripped me.
Although the ending felt quite rushed, I enjoyed the epilogue and where the characters ended up. However, I was waiting for a character to get their comeuppance, which unfortunately never came.
Overall, this book wasn’t for me. While I enjoyed some aspects, the execution was lacking for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue Books/Renegade Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Quarter-Love Crisis follows Maddison Clark, who is not where she thought she’d be at almost thirty. She’s still living at home, working in an assistant role, and isn’t in a committed relationship. But when she lands
the opportunity to lead on the company's biggest event to date, Maddison sees a chance to get her life back on track. Unfortunately, she has to work with her handsome, long-time rival Aiden Edwards, who challenges her to give up her notebooks and live spontaneously.
As someone who spent a lot of their twenties worrying about if they were doing the right thing and wanting to reach certain milestones by a certain age, I could really relate to Maddison and her feelings of being “stuck”. I think the messaging in this book was really positive, enforcing the message that everyone is on a different timeline in life, and that’s okay.
The event planning aspect was really fun, but I wish we had gotten to see more of the event at the end, especially as the whole book revolves around it.
I struggled to connect with the characters, who lacked depth. The reasoning for their rivalry felt flimsy and immature, and I couldn’t feel any chemistry between them, so I was not invested in their relationship at all.
Due to the fact that I couldn’t connect to the characters and I wasn’t interested in their relationship, I found this book quite slow going, and it never really gripped me.
Although the ending felt quite rushed, I enjoyed the epilogue and where the characters ended up. However, I was waiting for a character to get their comeuppance, which unfortunately never came.
Overall, this book wasn’t for me. While I enjoyed some aspects, the execution was lacking for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue Books/Renegade Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2025
What a fantastic debut, I devoured this book. Maddison and Aiden were characters to root for. I love how they swapped approaches to life and learned how the other's approach had a lot of validity. Maddison with her rigid five-year plan uses seven notebooks (!) to plan every aspect of her life has to go with the flow. The more free-spirited Aiden learns to take a more planned approach to life. A man who carries snacks in a bag just for her? Oh be still my heart.
The supporting characters were also fantastic. Maddison's best friends who, instead of being overbearing, were her sounding board and let her come to realisations, but also giving her the kick she needed at times. Her mother and brother felt so real in the way family can be - nosy and pains in the neck but always there for you when you need it. I also really loved Evie who took one look at Maddison's workplace and quietly championed her and her talents so she could stand up to Pippa. Oh and speaking of Pippa, this book was very subtle in the many tiny ways that women of colour especially deal with extra hurdles in the workplace, from bosses stealing their ideas to deliberately keeping them down.
I finished this book with a smile on my face. I look forward to reading more from Jasmine Burke.
Thanks to Dialogue Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
The supporting characters were also fantastic. Maddison's best friends who, instead of being overbearing, were her sounding board and let her come to realisations, but also giving her the kick she needed at times. Her mother and brother felt so real in the way family can be - nosy and pains in the neck but always there for you when you need it. I also really loved Evie who took one look at Maddison's workplace and quietly championed her and her talents so she could stand up to Pippa. Oh and speaking of Pippa, this book was very subtle in the many tiny ways that women of colour especially deal with extra hurdles in the workplace, from bosses stealing their ideas to deliberately keeping them down.
I finished this book with a smile on my face. I look forward to reading more from Jasmine Burke.
Thanks to Dialogue Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
August 3, 2025
Somewhere between 3.5 and 4 ⭐️ for me, so I’ve rounded up!! For a debut I was super impressed, the author’s voice felt really consistent and I tore through this in 2 sittings. Each time it felt like I hadn’t been reading that long, but I had already demolished half the book (or finished it) and I had a really enjoyable time.
I did feel like the “rivalry” at the beginning of the book quickly turned to friendly banter rather than true rivalry, and I wish that had been a bit stronger, or held onto for longer, seeing as this was marketed as rivals to lovers. The reveal of the Big Bad thing that Aiden had done in their past felt a bit anti-climatic as well, especially since it was hinted multiple times. Those things aside, I loved watching their relationship grow - they were both interesting characters, but I did especially love Aiden (new book boyfriend????)
I LOVED the deal they struck around the middle of the book, and I wish we had seen that explored more in detail. It would have been great to watch a bit more of their character developments!
Overall, had a great time reading this!! Such an easy read, had me kicking my feet at some points, would recommend for anybody looking for a fun summer romance novel 🥰
I did feel like the “rivalry” at the beginning of the book quickly turned to friendly banter rather than true rivalry, and I wish that had been a bit stronger, or held onto for longer, seeing as this was marketed as rivals to lovers. The reveal of the Big Bad thing that Aiden had done in their past felt a bit anti-climatic as well, especially since it was hinted multiple times. Those things aside, I loved watching their relationship grow - they were both interesting characters, but I did especially love Aiden (new book boyfriend????)
I LOVED the deal they struck around the middle of the book, and I wish we had seen that explored more in detail. It would have been great to watch a bit more of their character developments!
Overall, had a great time reading this!! Such an easy read, had me kicking my feet at some points, would recommend for anybody looking for a fun summer romance novel 🥰
June 8, 2025
ARC REVIEW!!!
What a stunning debut from Jasmine!
It was pacy, funny, and so, so cute!
I wish I had got to read this in my early 20s when I first fell in love with romance. Stories like these are the reason I started writing myself and it was such a delight to read this one.
Childhood and Workplace Rivals To Lovers??? sign me up for more please.
I ate up this rivalry and the tension and I just knew Aiden could not be as bad as Maddison was convinced he was, because hello???? (I know you two thought it was fighting but it was immediately giving "let's pretend I hate you because I think you're hot) but I love how hard it was to earn that first glimpse of a truce between them. This is a true slow burn which I can't say I always go for but I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it (obviously Benji not included haha! ICK) because I really loved watching Maddison come into her own. It was so cute how Aiden was there to push (and protect) her every step of the way. I could not be more type-b myself but I could really relate to her, and that feeling of being behind. I adored Evie, Anton and Maddison's friends too.
I cannot wait to read more of Jasmine's books!
What a stunning debut from Jasmine!
It was pacy, funny, and so, so cute!
I wish I had got to read this in my early 20s when I first fell in love with romance. Stories like these are the reason I started writing myself and it was such a delight to read this one.
Childhood and Workplace Rivals To Lovers??? sign me up for more please.
I ate up this rivalry and the tension and I just knew Aiden could not be as bad as Maddison was convinced he was, because hello???? (I know you two thought it was fighting but it was immediately giving "let's pretend I hate you because I think you're hot) but I love how hard it was to earn that first glimpse of a truce between them. This is a true slow burn which I can't say I always go for but I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it (obviously Benji not included haha! ICK) because I really loved watching Maddison come into her own. It was so cute how Aiden was there to push (and protect) her every step of the way. I could not be more type-b myself but I could really relate to her, and that feeling of being behind. I adored Evie, Anton and Maddison's friends too.
I cannot wait to read more of Jasmine's books!
August 23, 2025
I want to preface this by saying that I had really high hopes for this story and maybe thats why it fell ever so slightly short. I did enjoy the book and really got into it towards the latter half but found the beginning to be on the slow side and I had to force myself to power through. I'm glad I did because the ending was sweet enough. While I could recognise the message the author was trying to get across, I just couldn't get into it enough to be enraptured by it. It was a sweet love story with a theme of self acceptance, and the character who was battling with her self esteem because of past traumas and the corporate environment she had been stuck in. I had hoped that the traumas of the past that were being built up so much throughout had actually landed but for me, by that point, I was just frustrated by the MC.
All this to say the story has sooo much potential and I'm sure there will be readers who absolutely love it, as they should. But unfortunately that wasn't me.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review
All this to say the story has sooo much potential and I'm sure there will be readers who absolutely love it, as they should. But unfortunately that wasn't me.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review
December 30, 2025
Rating: 4 🌟
This was such a beautiful debut novel.
The characters, character development, storyline, rivalry etc. It was beautifully explored and the romance was a beautiful touch without overtaking the other aspects of the story such as the self esteem, self conviction, self growth, trust and relationships explored within friendships and family dynamics.
I truly loved that the book ended wit the main fmc surrounded by her friends and their support/love.
I'm usually skeptical about single pov is romance books but with this story, it worked perfectly well as we were able to focus on the characters development and ability to stand up for herself and how she navigated the world, especially a world that is unnecessarily hard for black women, especially in very white workspaces and societies.
I absolutely loved the banter between the main fmc and mmc; it had me laughing and giggling.
I have devouted dislike/hate for the main fmc boss. She can genuinely choke.
Congratulations to Jasmine Burke for a wonderful debut!
This was such a beautiful debut novel.
The characters, character development, storyline, rivalry etc. It was beautifully explored and the romance was a beautiful touch without overtaking the other aspects of the story such as the self esteem, self conviction, self growth, trust and relationships explored within friendships and family dynamics.
I truly loved that the book ended wit the main fmc surrounded by her friends and their support/love.
I'm usually skeptical about single pov is romance books but with this story, it worked perfectly well as we were able to focus on the characters development and ability to stand up for herself and how she navigated the world, especially a world that is unnecessarily hard for black women, especially in very white workspaces and societies.
I absolutely loved the banter between the main fmc and mmc; it had me laughing and giggling.
I have devouted dislike/hate for the main fmc boss. She can genuinely choke.
Congratulations to Jasmine Burke for a wonderful debut!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
✨ Quarter-Love Crisis by Jasmine Burke ✨
Ad/PR {NetGalley}
A fizzy and fun debut - Quarter Love Crisis is a rivals-to-lovers romance that left me smiling!
Maddison and Aiden spark to life on the page; working together to plan and execute an event for a mega influencer, they have a history of conflict and competition, going right back to primary school. But Aiden’s reappearance in Maddison’s life is the catalyst for her to start living her life instead of planning everything to the nth degree and forgetting that the journey is important rather than the destination.
I really loved this; as with any good romance, you know there’ll be bumps along the way, and the ending is somewhat inevitable, but the engaging and likeable main characters, as well as a great group of secondary characters (including the truly awful Pippa 🤮), make this a fun and worthy addition to the romance genre. I can’t wait to see what Jasmine Burke writes next!
Ad/PR {NetGalley}
A fizzy and fun debut - Quarter Love Crisis is a rivals-to-lovers romance that left me smiling!
Maddison and Aiden spark to life on the page; working together to plan and execute an event for a mega influencer, they have a history of conflict and competition, going right back to primary school. But Aiden’s reappearance in Maddison’s life is the catalyst for her to start living her life instead of planning everything to the nth degree and forgetting that the journey is important rather than the destination.
I really loved this; as with any good romance, you know there’ll be bumps along the way, and the ending is somewhat inevitable, but the engaging and likeable main characters, as well as a great group of secondary characters (including the truly awful Pippa 🤮), make this a fun and worthy addition to the romance genre. I can’t wait to see what Jasmine Burke writes next!
July 31, 2025
I really enjoyed the theme of this novel being about not having everything together and feeling like a failure in your career and other aspects of your life. I related to the idea of being underutilised in a job and having a hard time to show your potential without being put down or given tedious tasks to occupy your time.
There are many engaging side characters here that really made the story thrive, in particular Maddison's friends and Evie, their encouragement of Maddison was really great, and they also gave her a bit of a kick when she needed it.
I didn't really see her relationship with Aiden as a rivalry, so I found it hard to entertain the rivals-to-lovers side of the writing, although I did enjoy the character progression of the two of them.
Quarter Love Crisis is a promising debut by Jasmine Burke, and I look forward to reading her next work!
Thank you to Dialogue Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
There are many engaging side characters here that really made the story thrive, in particular Maddison's friends and Evie, their encouragement of Maddison was really great, and they also gave her a bit of a kick when she needed it.
I didn't really see her relationship with Aiden as a rivalry, so I found it hard to entertain the rivals-to-lovers side of the writing, although I did enjoy the character progression of the two of them.
Quarter Love Crisis is a promising debut by Jasmine Burke, and I look forward to reading her next work!
Thank you to Dialogue Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
June 22, 2025
I enjoyed this book a lot. Maddison planned everything carefully with her notebooks, but she learned to go with the flow more. Aiden, who was more free and easy, started to appreciate planning too. Their slow burn romance was fun and felt real, especially with their rivalry turning into something more. I loved how Maddison’s friends and family felt so natural, sometimes annoying but always supportive. Evie was a great friend who quietly helped Maddison stand up at work. The book also showed small struggles women of color face, which was important and something I appreciated a lot to read. I finished it smiling and can’t wait to read more from Jasmine Burke. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review
July 18, 2025
I absolutely LOVED Quarter-Love Crisis, it is the perfect book for that period in your life when you’re not sure you have it all figured out yet. It’s like a warm comforting blanket reminding you that arbitrary goals and timelines are only set by yourself and aren’t necessarily helpful in making you feel like you’re achieving things. I ended it feeling very uplifted and reminded that friendship, love, and enjoying yourself are really what matters, and when it comes to careers, if it’s meant to be, it will be!
The book has some very relatable, well formed characters that will leave you smiling. They come alive off the page, they really feel like people you could know. The chemistry was electric and so well written, I read it on the train and felt like I should be hiding it away from any wandering eyes!!
The book has some very relatable, well formed characters that will leave you smiling. They come alive off the page, they really feel like people you could know. The chemistry was electric and so well written, I read it on the train and felt like I should be hiding it away from any wandering eyes!!
June 13, 2026
Quarter Life Crisis is a relatable and thoughtful look at the uncertainty that can come with being in your twenties. It captures the feeling of not quite having everything figured out, while still trying to keep going and make sense of where life is heading.
I thought the book handled the emotional side of things well, and there were several moments that felt honest and recognisable. The writing is easy to follow, and the humour is used well without overpowering the more serious parts of the story. At times, it did feel a little familiar, so it didn’t always surprise me, but I still found it enjoyable overall.
This is a good choice for readers who like contemporary fiction about self-discovery, relationships, and the more uncertain parts of adult life.
3.5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the book handled the emotional side of things well, and there were several moments that felt honest and recognisable. The writing is easy to follow, and the humour is used well without overpowering the more serious parts of the story. At times, it did feel a little familiar, so it didn’t always surprise me, but I still found it enjoyable overall.
This is a good choice for readers who like contemporary fiction about self-discovery, relationships, and the more uncertain parts of adult life.
3.5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2025
A solid debut!!
I enjoyed this one - I wasn’t rushing to pick it up but it was an easy read with an interesting premise. I enjoyed Maddison’s growth and as a mid 20s girly could really connect to her on her fears of running out of time for the big five year plan. Aiden was a nice enough MMC albeit I don’t feel like we really got that much about him.
The conflict (which took 75% of the book to come out fully) was frankly silly and a bit unbelievable that two adults would be holding on so dearly to it. The issue with the GC messages and her being upset got a weird reception from her friends that I left me ??
Overall I do think I’ll try something in future from this author but a solid debut novel!
I enjoyed this one - I wasn’t rushing to pick it up but it was an easy read with an interesting premise. I enjoyed Maddison’s growth and as a mid 20s girly could really connect to her on her fears of running out of time for the big five year plan. Aiden was a nice enough MMC albeit I don’t feel like we really got that much about him.
The conflict (which took 75% of the book to come out fully) was frankly silly and a bit unbelievable that two adults would be holding on so dearly to it. The issue with the GC messages and her being upset got a weird reception from her friends that I left me ??
Overall I do think I’ll try something in future from this author but a solid debut novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2025
I adored this story from first page to the last. Perfect for Emily Henry fans with all the witty, humorous romcom, enemies- to -lovers vibes.
I adored Maddison, she is understandably at a crisis point in her career and her carefully planned and curated life, because suddenly the main cause of all her hangups and neuroses is stood right infront of her in the boardroom. It's a huge shock but also Maddison's biggest opportunity yet. Cue some drama, multiple interventions and so much chemistry, it is a lot of fun!
Aiden is the perfect main man, his own character arc was beautiful to read and I enjoyed how he bought out the best in Maddison.
I adored Maddison, she is understandably at a crisis point in her career and her carefully planned and curated life, because suddenly the main cause of all her hangups and neuroses is stood right infront of her in the boardroom. It's a huge shock but also Maddison's biggest opportunity yet. Cue some drama, multiple interventions and so much chemistry, it is a lot of fun!
Aiden is the perfect main man, his own character arc was beautiful to read and I enjoyed how he bought out the best in Maddison.
January 28, 2026
Oh, get a grip.
Maddison is having a mid-life crisis ok quarter-life crisis at 29 because she hasn't achieved her dreams or aspirations duly noted in her life aspiration notebook. This 5 year plan includes the house, man, career etc in her 5 year goal/ ambition. I wasn't bothered by that except I found her character STUCK - doing nothing but expecting everything.
The Aiden love story backdrop was dragged - the long time enemy to friend from primary school then in the context of work was tiring but I appreciate her friendship group for saving the book.
Maybe another book by this author will be redeeming (please no sequels).
Maddison is having a mid-life crisis ok quarter-life crisis at 29 because she hasn't achieved her dreams or aspirations duly noted in her life aspiration notebook. This 5 year plan includes the house, man, career etc in her 5 year goal/ ambition. I wasn't bothered by that except I found her character STUCK - doing nothing but expecting everything.
The Aiden love story backdrop was dragged - the long time enemy to friend from primary school then in the context of work was tiring but I appreciate her friendship group for saving the book.
Maybe another book by this author will be redeeming (please no sequels).
June 21, 2025
4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this, a romcom with depth that is super realistic! I empathised so much with Maddison’s character (helped that we have the same name spelt the same way, although that did take some getting used to as someone who has never seen her name anywhere) and I think it perfectly encapsulates how it feels to be lost and feel left behind in your 20s. The only thing I would have liked to have is Aiden’s POV, I love being able to be in the MMC’s head as well and getting to see the same events from two different POVs
I really recommend this, it’s such a good summer TBR addition
I really enjoyed this, a romcom with depth that is super realistic! I empathised so much with Maddison’s character (helped that we have the same name spelt the same way, although that did take some getting used to as someone who has never seen her name anywhere) and I think it perfectly encapsulates how it feels to be lost and feel left behind in your 20s. The only thing I would have liked to have is Aiden’s POV, I love being able to be in the MMC’s head as well and getting to see the same events from two different POVs
I really recommend this, it’s such a good summer TBR addition
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