Strictly the Worst: The Salinger Brothers, Book 5

The Salinger Brothers #5

by Carrie Elks, Nelson Hobbs (narrator), Cassandra Medcalf (narrator)

Linc Salinger and I have nothing in common. He's a smooth PR executive; I'm his disciplined office rival.

And he's just stolen the project I've been working on for months.

After a tough negotiation, I managed to bargain my way back on, but there's a catch. We have to travel to a tropical island and present to the client together.

Sharing a beach cottage with only one bed, we plan to stay professional. But the island's magic starts to thaw our animosity, sparking unexpected chemistry. Every laugh and touch intensifies our connection.

It's obvious there's no future between us.

He's a confirmed player. And I'm a single mom with a teenage daughter and a home that's falling down around us.

So I make a bargain with myself. A few nights of pleasure in paradise and then we'll head back to New York and pretend this never happened.

We can go back to being at each other's throats the way we always have.

The only problem is, Linc doesn't seem to get the office memo…

Enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity collide in this sizzling romantic comedy set on a lush tropical island.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Workplace Romance, Rom Com

Audible Audio

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

Carrie Elks is an international bestselling author of traditionally-published and self-published novels. Her books are sweet yet sexy contemporary small town romance stories. You can find her in all these places:


Website:https://www.carrieelks.com
Amazon: http://author.to/CarrieElksAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieElksAu...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carri...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrie.elks/

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. It felt like it was trying a bunch of tropes and none of them really stuck. Age difference…but she’s only three years older than him. Enemies to lovers…but we came into the story right before the lovers part so it was a lackluster transition. Strictly the Worst of the Salinger brother stories. (With the title, the puns write themselves.)

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was mean. It had me thinking she must be sooooo old, a husk of a woman, past her prime, a grandma… 35 years old. And he was ONLY 2 years younger. Mean.

[Torey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited for Linc's story and I was not disappointed. Take one charismatic hottie who is a closet softie and add a tough single mamma and get some amazing sweet and hot moments. I love how he puts her first in every way. Zoe is funny and a great addition to the story as well. I can't wait to see what happens with Brooks.

I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
This was so much fun. I really liked having the different dynamics of a single mom who was 3 years older than the MMC.

[Sundy Tr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linc, the 5th Salinger brother, and Tessa, a single mom of a teenager daughter, are the MCs of this instalment of the series.
It’s a cute story, an office romance even though their interaction at work only takes place during the first 30% of the book. They were not really enemies.

Linc is a cinnamon roll, super sweet and thoughtful. There was nothing not to like about him. Tessa is cool as well despite some lack of confidence. I liked that the way they dealt with some real-life issues.

I don’t like that it took so little time for feelings to develop and that there was no angst. I also didn’t like at all the way their “age difference” was mentioned all the time only to discover near the end that it’s practically non-existent.
I enjoyed it but I probably won’t remember a thing after some time.

-Dual 1st person POV
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️ for me.

[Anais Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out I love single mum romances as much as single dad romances lol

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are just so cute!

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reformed playboy and a single mum in tropical paradise with a dash of office romance! This is a recipe for a hot steamy romance!

Linc and Tessa were such bitter rivals until forced proximity brought them together.
I loved how Linc showed Tessa how much he cared for her with all his little gestures.

Thank you Carrie elks for an advanced copy.

[gem_reads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each book in the strictly series I fall in love with a new Salinger brother. Linc is no exception!

[Elle Reads a Book a Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 star, rounded to 4.

I’m going to be nicer than I usually am, because I actually did really like this book, minus one fairly major thing. It might even be my favorite of the series - though my quibble puts that up in the air.

The FMC is 35 with a 13 year old. As someone who is several years older than that age, I did not enjoy how everyone treated her like she was some dried up, elderly woman. At 35. Would she be able to have kids? Oh my god, she’s three years older than the MMC’s 32! However could he be attracted to such an old fogie?! (End sarcasm).

Listen I know the double standards and internalized misogyny at play here. Especially since the man being three years older is pretty much standard in the vast majority of the romances I read. Come on, do better.

The rest was honestly great. Would have been a solid 4-star if not for the age weirdness.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. From enemies to lovers, to overcoming their age gap, to dealing with all their blended families’ drama, Linc and Tessa had their work cut out for them. I really appreciated that even though we could all see the sparks between them, and knew what they really meant, the two of them had some work to do in order to put their initial animosity behind them. I loved that with such potentially heavy subject matter as this story touches on, the Salinger brothers still kept me howling with laughter. I adore this quirky clan of misfits and I kind of hate that the book’s over already. I can’t wait until our next chance to come back and visit with them
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author.

[K.M. Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so this wasn’t my favourite of the series. From the beginning, in all of the previous books, I was picturing a very different character where Lincoln was concerned. There was nothing wrong with this book, it just didn’t live up to my expectations, it’s a me problem. I’ve loved all of the Salinger’s, but this one just felt a bit flat for me. I think I was expecting more of the joker, the instigator, the wind up merchant that we’ve seen in all of the other books. But it doesn’t matter, because The Salingers as a whole is a good series to read.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this sweet book. Good spice, good communication, no third act breakup, mature characters. Tessa is 35 and recovering from a bad divorce and has a 13 yr old daughter. Lincoln is 32 and a smooth PR exec. They work together on a project in the Bahamas and share a room. They go from rivals/enemies/more. Loved the small moments, character growth for both, all the way they were there for each other made the spice so much better. A great fun read. Love!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not the greatest. The FMC is made to sound like she’s 5 seconds away from the grave only to find out she’s 35. 35!!! And there was this, oh but I’m so much older than him! Uh, it was 3 years. Does that even qualify as an age gap?

Overall, it was kinda boring. I hope the next book ends the series on a high.

[Nicole Howcroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Enemies to lovers forced proximity single mom romance. He falls first. Playboy turned golden retriever. Pretty instalovey. Still enjoyed the story.

[Anna; · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐ loved this!

[Sarah (Books_with_a_cuppa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

War ein nettes Buch für zwischendurch
Reverse (Mini) age gap
Single parent
Nemesis to lovers
Vacation

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.75⭐️

Eh. The relationship building was lacklustre for me and there was just too many tropes going on that weren’t done all that well. Coming in midway into the story, where we have no previous history or flashbacks of their interactions, just didn’t make me believe the “enemies” part at all.

[Mila · Rating 3 out of 5]

-co workers
- forced proximity
- single mom
- playboy
-he falls first
- "enemies" to lovers
- mild spice

It was okay i guess just not my favorite... I thought that she was way easy on him. I would've have like her to be more hard to get and not being instantly jealous of him flirting with someone right away. It was like just because they were there together she felt a claim on him 😂 i also didn't like him playing with her feelings with Maya. Im just not into that sorta of things, i dont understand it why they feel the need to hurt the other to get a reaction of the person of interest .i feel its so childish . Grow balls and go for it if you want her. I wanted that than the zig zag dance. I've just got tired and dunno their intimate scene didn't do it for me. I felt also bored by the end like ive quick read as i so wanted to finish it.

Also i hated most how everybody always reinforce the idea that she is so old for him when shes farther from old. Shes 30ish and he was 2 years younger than her. Like this isnt the 20th century when women had to marry young. I just couldn't understand it honestly. I could more understand the fact that his life vs her's were completely different as he was a Playboy and she was a divorced single mom. But that's it. So yeah that also pissed me off.

But well my main issue was her being all puppy like for him and him being way too careless of his actions. I've wanted more banter more realistic fights i felt we got robbed of so many altercations like with Maya, with him ghosting her, like him with that model in Paris etc etc it was like they presented an issue but the protagonist had a "hi my name is tom" moment and forgot all about it or was too horny for him to get mad at him. And that its just so infuriating i wanted more realness, drama and more build up. But that may also be a personal preference but yeah good but not enough to make me fall in love with it

[Any (aany.books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

love me like you do by ellie goulding

[Peggy M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntarily, honest review of it.

‘Strictly the worst’ is the fifth book in the Salinger brothers series and this story is about one of the younger brothers, Lincoln (Linc). In the previous stories we got to know Linc as a likable, carefree and cheerful person. Someone who liked to tease his older and more serious brothers. (I think that’s typical behavior when you’re one of the youngest in a large family.) I was very curious about Linc’s story and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by Lincoln’s character in this story. He was still a laid back person but also a hard worker, who took his work very seriously, he was charming and responsible. We got to see a more mature version of him in this story and I loved it.

This is an enemies to lovers, office romance story. You get both POV’s in the story. Linc and Tessa both work for the Hampshire PR company. In the two years that Linc has been working there, he and Tessa haven’t had to work together. Luckily, because Tessa isn’t a big fan of the handsome and charming Linc. As a divorced, single mother of a 13 year old daughter, she has a lot on her mind and Linc isn’t one of them. But then their boss decides to give her big project, that she has worked so hard on, to Linc. Tessa is furious and when her best friend Angela convinces her to stand up for herself, her boss decides that both Linc and Tessa should work on this important project. This means that they have to fly together to the Bahamas and spend a few days together on the beautiful, romantic island of Exuma to experience the special atmosphere for themselves. But due to a miscommunication only one cottage with one bed has been reserved for them. Tessa and Linc decide to be grown-ups and share the cottage. But now that they spend so much time together, they get to know each other better and soon the romantic atmosphere has its effect. For once, Tessa decides to do something for herself and so she and Linc spend a few hot, steamy nights together. Tessa doesn’t expect anything from playboy Linc. However, at home she’s surprised to discover that Linc wants something more with her. Tessa is afraid, there are so many obstacles. There’s her daughter Zoe, the fact that Tessa’s three years older than Linc and his many travels for his work. But her biggest fear is that he will break her heart (just like her ex-husband did). Can she trust Linc to stay with them forever?

I really enjoyed this story. It’s my favorite of this series. Both Linc and Tessa were great characters. She was deeply hurt by her divorce, but she was strong and intelligent. She was a hard worker, but unlike Linc, she was more serious and didn’t have the gift to charm people the way Linc did.
She loved her daughter Zoe very much. Zoe was a great child, She was very mature for her age. It was nice to see how Zoe and Linc had a connection and how it grew throughout the story. Those two had fun together and were good friends.

From the moment Linc decided Tessa was the one for him, he went for it. He tried very hard to show Tessa that she was the one for him. He took her side in every situation (even his own mother had some doubts about their relationship). The age difference between Linc and Tessa wasn’t that big. Linc was 32 years old and Tessa was 35 years old.
Tessa and he were a great couple. There were some steamy sex scenes in the story and some funny scenes too, one of them was a scene with swimming pigs (yes! Swimming pigs, how cute is that!) that scene really made me laugh.

The secondary characters were wonderful too. Tessa’s best friend Angela was a very supportive and loyal friend. It was nice to see so many familiar faces again from the previous books. The Salinger family expands with every book! But no matter what happens, the bond between the brothers remains strong, they have each other’s back. Even if they live far apart, they stay in touch with text messages and phone calls. And their wives are just as supportive.

I really, really loved the ending and the epilogues, it was great to see how Tessa, Linc and Zoe were doing and how their little family was growing.

I really enjoyed this story.

[Jess | jess.books20 · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗘 𝗘𝗟𝗞𝗦: 5/5 𝓢𝓣𝓐𝓡𝓢 ⭐️

𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓽 is my favorite so far in the Salinger Brothers series, and wow — what a ride! 😍 From enemies to lovers, navigating their age gap, and handling all the blended family drama, 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒄 and 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂’s journey was full of challenges, but so beautifully done. I loved that even though the sparks between them were obvious from the start, Carrie Elks didn’t rush it — 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂 and 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒄 had real work to do to get past their initial animosity, which made their eventual connection feel authentic and earned. 💥

𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒄, the charming youngest Salinger brother we’ve seen in previous books, really grew in this story. He’s still that laid-back tease, but also mature, responsible, and downright swoony. And 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂! A strong, intelligent single mom who’s been through heartbreak but refuses to lose herself—she’s one of the most relatable heroines I’ve read in a while. Her love for her daughter 𝒁𝒐𝒆 was heartwarming, and their dynamic with 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒄 added such a sweet layer to the story. 🥰

The forced proximity office romance set on the stunning island of Exuma was the perfect backdrop for their sizzling chemistry 🔥 and hilarious banter. Sharing a one-bed cottage led to some seriously steamy and genuinely funny moments (swimming pigs and treadmill antics? Yes, please! 🐖🏃‍♀️😂). The mix of humor, heat, and heartfelt vulnerability made this story a total page-turner.

The secondary characters and family dynamics made the story feel even richer. The Salinger clan is a lovable, quirky bunch of misfits who have each other’s backs no matter what — and their presence kept me laughing throughout. 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂’s best friend Angela also added so much warmth and loyalty to the story.

I adored watching 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒄 fight for 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂, even when others doubted their relationship. The age difference was barely a blip, and their growing trust and openness made their romance deeply satisfying. And that ending — with the epilogues showing their little family growing — left me smiling long after I closed the book. 💕

If you love enemies-to-lovers with witty banter, steamy tension, and a heartfelt story of rebuilding trust and family, 𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓽 is an absolute must-read. Carrie Elks knocked it out of the park again, and I’m counting down the days until the next Salinger brother gets his story! 🙌📚✨

[Rombookfanlove · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great addition to the Salinger Brothers interconnected series. Lincoln and Tessa are both so funny and I greatly enjoyed their rivalry and warm banter.

At the start, there’s a clear professional dislike of each other but also very much an interest in each other that is intriguing. When they have to go on a work trip together and stay in the same bungalow…that’s when all bets are off!

I found myself even 25% of the way into the book just giggling and smiling in a few different parts - the treadmill! The pigs! The sunscreen! This continued on throughout the book, it’s actually been a while since I pretty much smiled and laughed throughout an entire book.

While there is great, funny banter and scenes which Carrie is excellent at writing, there’s also some vulnerable sharing moments that are touching and bring the two together even more. Additionally, there’s a nice amount of open-door scenes that add to the heat between them.

I ended up writing a threads post inspired by this thought as I was reading this book: I f-ing love how giggly and funny they are during sx. This needs to be in more books. It works so well for Linc and Tessa just based on who they are too. I love seeing them enjoy each other not just physically but their personalities too while being physical.

It really was a joy to read. I almost feel like re-reading it just for their chatter with each other and that rarely happens for me.

I’ve really enjoyed all the books in this series and this one is no exception. They all can definitely be read as stand-alone so you can pick this one up and not be lost or, my suggestion, go check out the whole series from the start. Enjoy!

5/5 ⭐️

I’ve received this book in advance of release and have written an honest review as I would with any book.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Phoenix Rising from the Ashes -
Tessa detested Linc from the moment he joined the company, as he was popular with everyone, but things only got worse when her boss decided to hand o er a project she had been working on for months over to Linc, which meant should lose the bonus attached to it. Linc on the other hand didn’t like to interact with Tessa and named her the ice queen. Tessa tried one last time to get her project back, which ended up with her having to work closely with Linc on a paradise island. Having to stay in the same villa was initially awkward, but they got to know each other better as they spent time together and tension between them led to one night of experiencing mind blowing pleasures.

Unfortunately, Linc had to leave to deal with a work issue and attend a family event, but he failed to keep in contact with Tessa, which caused friction between them. However, Linc was able to convince Tessa to give them a chance, which worked as they embarked on a secret relationship for a while until the6 were ready to get their families involved. Regrettably, not everyone was happy with Linc and Tessa being together and this caused a bit of drama, but they were able to navigate through all the obstacles and get the happy life they always wanted.

This story is about a strong woman who rose from the pain of her ex-husband’s betrayal, worked on building her life with her daughter after the divorce, before starting a new relationship where she didn’t lose herself to a man. The story was captivating from the start and I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end. At this point all I can say is; Bravo Carrie Elks, you have done it again and this book will definitely be another great addition to your portfolio.

I received an advanced copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[books.tea.happy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🧰ARC Review☀️

Strictly the Worst by @carrie.elks

ARC provided by the author and I happily give my honest opinion.

Tessa has had a difficult couple of years and is just starting to get back on track when a wrench is thrown at her work life.

Her boss gives one of her biggest client presentations to the office playboy and she is determined to get it back. This leads to them being on a luxury island alone for a few days where they both find out they had the wrong impression of each other.

She thinks Linc floats from client to client, country to country having a good time. He thinks Tessa is uptight.

She learns that he is actually very good at his job and he learns how much she has on her plate and realizes that she is actually an amazing woman. This leads them to an island fling which is not meant to go home with them.

Tessa decides to get her hectic life back to normal but Linc is determined to see where they could go with their relationship.

After reading Tessa’s assessment of Linc, I expected to dislike him more to start with, but I actually liked him really quickly. He was so sweet to Tessa and her daughter.

I love a strong FMC and Tessa definitely filled that roll and I even liked her insecurities.

There was a little bit of drama caused by family, but overall there was less than I was expecting from this story and I was pleasantly surprised.

They both seemed to fill a gap in each others life that neither of them realized was there. It was so nice to see how they grew closer and became a family unit.

This was a sweet read with a nice little bit of heat and it was great to see the other family members again.

#strictlytheworst
#carrieelks
#salingerbrothers
#enemiestolovers
#arcreview
#singlemomromance

[Steffi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrie Elks has done it again with Strictly the Worst, another fabulous addition to the Salinger series! As the fifth book in the series, this enemies-to-lovers story surprised me in the best way possible. Normally, I wouldn't gravitate towards a story like this, single mother and slightly younger male lover intrest, but my love for the Salinger series drew me in, and this book did not disappoint.

I absolutely loved the characters in this story. Their relationship development was beautifully written, showing growth as they navigated their feelings. The way their personalities played off each other added a rich dynamic that kept me engaged throughout the book. Additionally, seeing snippets of characters from previous books intertwined in this story is a favorite detail of mine.

As a New Yorker, I appreciated how this book was set more in Manhattan, adding a familiar and exciting backdrop to the unfolding romance. Although it wasn't as spicy as Strictly Not Yours (still spice tho), the humor and wit of the Salinger brothers had me smiling and laughing. I'm so obsessed with all the Salinger brothers and their character development, and this book was no exception.

semi SPOILER ALERT

The epilogue and bonus epilogue were by far my favorite parts! I couldn't sleep after finishing because reading about the characters' futures kept my mind racing. It was the perfect conclusion to an incredible story, leaving me both satisfied and eager for more.

I'm seriously excited for Brooks' story, but knowing that the series will soon be over makes me sad. I'm beyond excited to read the final installment, even though it means saying goodbye to my favorite series.

✨If you've read it, please message me because I NEED people to talk about this series with!✨

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity? Sign me up! Carrie Elks delivers a fun, steamy, and heartwarming romance with this irresistible story set on a lush tropical island.

Linc Salinger and the heroine (a disciplined, driven woman juggling her career and single motherhood) start off as rivals in the high-pressure world of PR. When Linc steals a project she’s been working on for months, the sparks fly—and not the good kind. But after some tough negotiating, they’re forced to team up and travel to a tropical island to present to a client, and, oh yes, share a beach cottage with only one bed. (Cue the sizzling tension!)

I loved the chemistry between Linc and the heroine. What starts as animosity soon morphs into undeniable attraction, and Elks does a fantastic job of slowly building that heat. The island setting only adds to the magic, as every laugh and touch brings them closer together, despite their best efforts to stay professional.

The emotional stakes are high, especially for the heroine. She’s a single mom with a teenage daughter and a house that’s literally falling apart, while Linc is a confirmed player with no interest in settling down. But what really makes this story special is how both characters slowly reveal their vulnerabilities, learning to trust each other despite their differences.

This is a classic enemies-to-lovers story, but Elks takes it up a notch with witty banter, sizzling tension, and a tropical island backdrop that adds a whole lot of charm. If you’re a fan of romance that’s equal parts funny, steamy, and heartfelt, you won’t want to miss this one.

Highly recommend for readers who love a good workplace rivalry with a healthy dose of heat, humor, and unexpected love!