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Beneath the Surface
Wesley Callahan has always been charming, charismatic, a little arrogant, and the life of every party.
A well-known lawyer in Bayport Cove, he considers himself to be an expert in the field. And never having seen the appeal of relationships, he considers himself to be an expert in the art of singledom. Still, he appreciates the company of women, and he’s never met one he couldn’t charm.
Well, except her…the one who manages to get under his skin like no one ever has before.
Morgan Hayes is witty, feisty, a little stubborn, and a spirited social butterfly.
As one of the leading interior designers in the area, her professional life is thriving. If only she could say the same for her dating life. She walks a thin line between wanting to believe in that all-consuming kind of love she’s only ever heard about and thinking it’s complete and utter nonsense. However, she’s still a woman with needs.
When she hits a dry spell, the last person she thought would end her drought is the egocentric lawyer who grates on her every damn nerve.
The only things Wes and Morgan have in common are a group of friends and their mutual disdain for one another. But a spontaneous hate-fueled hookup turns into something they never saw coming and spawns secret trysts, a drunken pact, and some playful sabotage.
When unwanted and unexpected feelings start to arise, sentiments begin to shift, and they realize there’s much more to their one-time foe than they ever cared to notice before.
They’re everything the other wants…if only they can get out of their own way.
A well-known lawyer in Bayport Cove, he considers himself to be an expert in the field. And never having seen the appeal of relationships, he considers himself to be an expert in the art of singledom. Still, he appreciates the company of women, and he’s never met one he couldn’t charm.
Well, except her…the one who manages to get under his skin like no one ever has before.
Morgan Hayes is witty, feisty, a little stubborn, and a spirited social butterfly.
As one of the leading interior designers in the area, her professional life is thriving. If only she could say the same for her dating life. She walks a thin line between wanting to believe in that all-consuming kind of love she’s only ever heard about and thinking it’s complete and utter nonsense. However, she’s still a woman with needs.
When she hits a dry spell, the last person she thought would end her drought is the egocentric lawyer who grates on her every damn nerve.
The only things Wes and Morgan have in common are a group of friends and their mutual disdain for one another. But a spontaneous hate-fueled hookup turns into something they never saw coming and spawns secret trysts, a drunken pact, and some playful sabotage.
When unwanted and unexpected feelings start to arise, sentiments begin to shift, and they realize there’s much more to their one-time foe than they ever cared to notice before.
They’re everything the other wants…if only they can get out of their own way.
- GenresEnemies To LoversRomance
444 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2025
27 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Ani Thomas
3 books35 followersAni is a romance enthusiast fueled by coffee and endless daydreams. She writes heartfelt stories that incorporate angst, humor, and open-door spice with endearing characters and happily ever afters. Born and raised in Upstate New York, she now lives in the South with her husband, three children, and their dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
August 26, 2025
DNF. Yet another FMC that's abstinent for months during their third act breakup while the MMC fucks another woman all those months (the girlfriend he gets just to forget her)...and the FMC is still gagging for it when he finally dumps the OW. Too many of y'all have no self respect to accept this as romantic and it shows.
May 26, 2025
loved this book! This series has been so fun! I’m disappointed that it’s not complete because I love the world that Ani Thomas has built. It’s an escape for sure! I love that there are serious themes as well as jokes and sooo much banter. I loved the dynamic between Wes and Morgan so much. They were some of the most fun characters to read about since they bad such a unique and fun relationship. The progression of their characters was fun to see! I was honestly disappointed with the whole Lorelei situation and felt that could have been left out, but it made for more angst in their situation. Definitely would recommend this series!!!
May 27, 2025
Another amazing romance from Ani Thomas!! Beyond the Wall was amazing, but BtS was special to me because there were so many laugh out loud moments. Love Wes and Morgan!!
But listen. I’ve been feral for Blake for over a year now, so catch me in the corner gnawing on a leather belt until his book comes out. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
But listen. I’ve been feral for Blake for over a year now, so catch me in the corner gnawing on a leather belt until his book comes out. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
May 24, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
This might be one of the best hate-to-love romances I’ve read in awhile! Morgan and Wes tow that fine line of lust/hate so well and their chemistry is off the charts. Their banter is so good and the spice is 🔥🔥🔥. It takes place over a few years time so we really get to see how these two grow from disdain to realizing their feelings for each other. The friend group has such a fun cast of characters and sets up the next book in the series as well!
This is book 2 in the Bayport Cove series and takes place in about the same time frame as book 1, Beyond the Wall, so we get glimpses of that second chance romance as well which is great!
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
This might be one of the best hate-to-love romances I’ve read in awhile! Morgan and Wes tow that fine line of lust/hate so well and their chemistry is off the charts. Their banter is so good and the spice is 🔥🔥🔥. It takes place over a few years time so we really get to see how these two grow from disdain to realizing their feelings for each other. The friend group has such a fun cast of characters and sets up the next book in the series as well!
This is book 2 in the Bayport Cove series and takes place in about the same time frame as book 1, Beyond the Wall, so we get glimpses of that second chance romance as well which is great!
May 27, 2025
I was so ready to go back to Bayport Cove. I fell in love with Wes and Morgan in Beyond the Wall, and was so excited for their story.
The deep hate Wes and Morgan had for each other at first made me cackle. It was beautiful and I was here for it. There is nothing I love more than enemies to lovers, and this is by far my favorite read of the year.
The little moments where the hate is turning to love were so sweet, and it was also fun to see both of them freaking out in their own ways.
Also, paperclip hearts. Will never be over them.
The deep hate Wes and Morgan had for each other at first made me cackle. It was beautiful and I was here for it. There is nothing I love more than enemies to lovers, and this is by far my favorite read of the year.
The little moments where the hate is turning to love were so sweet, and it was also fun to see both of them freaking out in their own ways.
Also, paperclip hearts. Will never be over them.
May 28, 2025
Omggggg….I was so excited for this story! I was hoping in book 1 that these two would end up together somehow!
Wes is charming, funny, a bit arrogant, and the life of the party. He helped take over his father’s law firm and is just enjoying life. He has no interest in settling down and have a girlfriend. He just wants to have fun.
Morgan is hilarious, witty, stubborn, very successful, and beautiful. She is ready to try and find that person who she can have that amazing spark with and maybe finally settle down. But life is just not going that way for her.
The banter and non friendship between Wesley and Morgan is FANTASTIC! The two throw insults at each other left and right and had me cracking up. They just get under each others skin without even trying. They both share the same circle of friends so they are always finding themselves together. After the two hit a dry spell, they find themselves having hate sex. It’s happens again and Wes decides to propose an agreement. The two are going to have unattached sex without any benefits. They both hate each other, so what could go wrong?
The dynamic between the two start to shift behind closed doors. They don’t “hate” each other as much and start to do little things. She is there for him when he needed her, he bought her flowers. At some point he realizes that he has fallen in love with her. Wes, the man who has sworn off women, fell first. He doesn’t think she feels the same way and she is leaving for a job in Florida for 2 months. He tries to bait her and when she doesn’t fall for it, he decides it’s time maybe he try to find a girlfriend.
The two sabotaging each others date was so freaking hilarious. I was dying laughing! I am telling you I devoured this book in one sitting. I couldn’t get enough. Watching these characters grow and change, it was beautiful and emotional. I couldn’t help but root for them. I wanted them both to get their HEA.
5⭐️
3.5🌶️
Wes is charming, funny, a bit arrogant, and the life of the party. He helped take over his father’s law firm and is just enjoying life. He has no interest in settling down and have a girlfriend. He just wants to have fun.
Morgan is hilarious, witty, stubborn, very successful, and beautiful. She is ready to try and find that person who she can have that amazing spark with and maybe finally settle down. But life is just not going that way for her.
The banter and non friendship between Wesley and Morgan is FANTASTIC! The two throw insults at each other left and right and had me cracking up. They just get under each others skin without even trying. They both share the same circle of friends so they are always finding themselves together. After the two hit a dry spell, they find themselves having hate sex. It’s happens again and Wes decides to propose an agreement. The two are going to have unattached sex without any benefits. They both hate each other, so what could go wrong?
The dynamic between the two start to shift behind closed doors. They don’t “hate” each other as much and start to do little things. She is there for him when he needed her, he bought her flowers. At some point he realizes that he has fallen in love with her. Wes, the man who has sworn off women, fell first. He doesn’t think she feels the same way and she is leaving for a job in Florida for 2 months. He tries to bait her and when she doesn’t fall for it, he decides it’s time maybe he try to find a girlfriend.
The two sabotaging each others date was so freaking hilarious. I was dying laughing! I am telling you I devoured this book in one sitting. I couldn’t get enough. Watching these characters grow and change, it was beautiful and emotional. I couldn’t help but root for them. I wanted them both to get their HEA.
5⭐️
3.5🌶️
May 16, 2025
Thank you so much to Ani Thomas for the opportunity to read and review!
I loveddddd the first book in this series so I had really high hopes for this and it absolutely surpassed my expectations!!!
Wes And Morgan are known for their all time bickering and bantering. Truly what more could you ask for? It only gets better. Wes and Morgans “relationship” (if we’ll even call it that at this part in the book 😂 ) starts at a party that Lucas is throwing. After that one night a couple weeks go by and it happens again… and again.. and again… and none of their friends know which makes it even better!
Welppp that is until one day when Wes offers Morgan a pact. No strings attached, no falling in love, just strictly booty call - that kind of deal. They could go on dates if they wanted but you already know the sabotage was coming!!
I’m telling you i loved seeing the secret “relationship” blossom right in front of my eyes! They’re in love they just don’t know it yet 😂
The day comes for when Morgan has to leave for Florida to work on Lucas’ new office space for a couple months. Wes is feeling doubtful about his feelings towards her. Sooo while she’s gone, he gets a GF Lorelei (UGH!!!!) love the name, dislike the person in this book!!
- on her trip, Morgan comes to realize she misses Wes and being away from him and *GASP* realizes she’s in love with him. So when Morgan gets back and finds out about their little love affair miss girl is PIIIISSED!!!
Fast forward they all go on a trip together, Morgan sees Wes’ new girlfriend with one of his buddies outside a bar… and i think you kinda get the rest 🥹
I didn’t want this to end to be honest!!! And I think I have an idea of who the next book will be about (if there will be one!!)
I loveddddd the first book in this series so I had really high hopes for this and it absolutely surpassed my expectations!!!
Wes And Morgan are known for their all time bickering and bantering. Truly what more could you ask for? It only gets better. Wes and Morgans “relationship” (if we’ll even call it that at this part in the book 😂 ) starts at a party that Lucas is throwing. After that one night a couple weeks go by and it happens again… and again.. and again… and none of their friends know which makes it even better!
Welppp that is until one day when Wes offers Morgan a pact. No strings attached, no falling in love, just strictly booty call - that kind of deal. They could go on dates if they wanted but you already know the sabotage was coming!!
I’m telling you i loved seeing the secret “relationship” blossom right in front of my eyes! They’re in love they just don’t know it yet 😂
The day comes for when Morgan has to leave for Florida to work on Lucas’ new office space for a couple months. Wes is feeling doubtful about his feelings towards her. Sooo while she’s gone, he gets a GF Lorelei (UGH!!!!) love the name, dislike the person in this book!!
- on her trip, Morgan comes to realize she misses Wes and being away from him and *GASP* realizes she’s in love with him. So when Morgan gets back and finds out about their little love affair miss girl is PIIIISSED!!!
Fast forward they all go on a trip together, Morgan sees Wes’ new girlfriend with one of his buddies outside a bar… and i think you kinda get the rest 🥹
I didn’t want this to end to be honest!!! And I think I have an idea of who the next book will be about (if there will be one!!)
May 19, 2025
Beneath the Surface (Bayport Cove Book 2)
by Ani Thomas
“Falling for Wes Callahan was a plot twist I never saw coming. Yet here I was. I’d fallen… and hard.”💗
4⭐️
3🌶️
This is Wes & Morgan story. And in my opinion you definitely need to read Book 1 “Beyond the Wall “ to get the full picture and understand what’s going on. Because to me the other characters in the previous book really do make a strong presence in this story.
“ Wes & Morgan “ omg …these two… lol 😂 had me pulling my hair out!
They have a love/hate relationship/ friendship. They are constantly bickering, name calling , and have some hilarious and sarcastic banter between each other. And all I wanted to do shake some sense into them!
But behind all that hate is some undeniable sexual chemistry ! So they decide to give in to those urges and secretly go at it like rabbits lol 😂 🥵
At first I really didn’t like (reformed playboy) Wes, but he definitely grew and matured throughout the story . And he finally saw what was right in front of his face, “Morgan” the love he push aside . It does end happily and I’m glad Wes and Morgan finally found love and respect for each other.
Loved the support system/ friendships in this story but I also think these past events and characters kind of overshadowed Wes & Morgan’s story.
I understand you have to intertwine certain events / relationships in an interconnected series. But I just felt that Wes & Morgan’s backstory was kind of pushed aside or blended into this book.
Overall I truly enjoy this book, and I’m excited to read what happens next book in the “Bayport Cove Series “ 🩷🩷🩷🩷
Thank you to Ani Thomas and Torch Lit Ink for an ARC copy of this book
I really appreciate the opportunity! 🩷
by Ani Thomas
“Falling for Wes Callahan was a plot twist I never saw coming. Yet here I was. I’d fallen… and hard.”💗
4⭐️
3🌶️
This is Wes & Morgan story. And in my opinion you definitely need to read Book 1 “Beyond the Wall “ to get the full picture and understand what’s going on. Because to me the other characters in the previous book really do make a strong presence in this story.
“ Wes & Morgan “ omg …these two… lol 😂 had me pulling my hair out!
They have a love/hate relationship/ friendship. They are constantly bickering, name calling , and have some hilarious and sarcastic banter between each other. And all I wanted to do shake some sense into them!
But behind all that hate is some undeniable sexual chemistry ! So they decide to give in to those urges and secretly go at it like rabbits lol 😂 🥵
At first I really didn’t like (reformed playboy) Wes, but he definitely grew and matured throughout the story . And he finally saw what was right in front of his face, “Morgan” the love he push aside . It does end happily and I’m glad Wes and Morgan finally found love and respect for each other.
Loved the support system/ friendships in this story but I also think these past events and characters kind of overshadowed Wes & Morgan’s story.
I understand you have to intertwine certain events / relationships in an interconnected series. But I just felt that Wes & Morgan’s backstory was kind of pushed aside or blended into this book.
Overall I truly enjoy this book, and I’m excited to read what happens next book in the “Bayport Cove Series “ 🩷🩷🩷🩷
Thank you to Ani Thomas and Torch Lit Ink for an ARC copy of this book
I really appreciate the opportunity! 🩷
August 14, 2025
✨✨✨✨✨
Beneath The Surface
By: Ani Thomas
“Ya know, I may not like you, Princess… but you taste like a f***ing dream. I could spend hours doing this… just worshipping your sweet, wet p*ssy with my tongue.”
“For the first time in nearly the year since we made our deal, I messaged Wes for more than just s*x. I messaged him because, at that moment, I didn’t feel like being alone.”
“I realized that before Morgan, I was simply existing. When I was with her, that’s when I truly felt alive. And all at once, everything I thought I never wanted… I wanted with her. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Wes and Morgan are oil and water, cats and dogs. They don’t get along, until they are both hit with dry spells and take that hate and use it towards hate s*x. One time turns into many and when real feelings get involved things start to get messy. I love these two so much!! Wes is so freaking dreamy my gosh, and Morgan is a strong and independent and doesn’t want to give Wes any idea the type of power he holds over her. But they are fantastic together! Once they get their head out of their a**es. ❤️
Tropes:
Hate to Lovers
Enemies with Benefits
Secret Relationship
Banter for Days
He Falls First
Spice Starts at: 15%
Spice: 3/4
Stars: 5/5
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Beneath The Surface
By: Ani Thomas
“Ya know, I may not like you, Princess… but you taste like a f***ing dream. I could spend hours doing this… just worshipping your sweet, wet p*ssy with my tongue.”
“For the first time in nearly the year since we made our deal, I messaged Wes for more than just s*x. I messaged him because, at that moment, I didn’t feel like being alone.”
“I realized that before Morgan, I was simply existing. When I was with her, that’s when I truly felt alive. And all at once, everything I thought I never wanted… I wanted with her. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Wes and Morgan are oil and water, cats and dogs. They don’t get along, until they are both hit with dry spells and take that hate and use it towards hate s*x. One time turns into many and when real feelings get involved things start to get messy. I love these two so much!! Wes is so freaking dreamy my gosh, and Morgan is a strong and independent and doesn’t want to give Wes any idea the type of power he holds over her. But they are fantastic together! Once they get their head out of their a**es. ❤️
Tropes:
Hate to Lovers
Enemies with Benefits
Secret Relationship
Banter for Days
He Falls First
Spice Starts at: 15%
Spice: 3/4
Stars: 5/5
Available on Kindle Unlimited
November 24, 2025
“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵, 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.”
5/⭐️
2/🌶️
Another one that just leaves me speechless. I don’t know if there’s words to describe how much I loved this story. This is quite literally one of my favorite reads this year 👏🏼 And enemies to lovers x secret relationship with their banter?? I mean, it was just PERFECTION. Literally everything I could want in a book — Wes and Morgan were just everything I wanted!!
Wes is MY GUY. This man. No wonder Morgan was put off by him when they met, Wes just has a way with words 🤭 but the way I SQUEALED when they were in the bedroom at Gabe’s house.. “𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯, 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰— 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤—𝘬.” I was LOSING IT. These two had me wrapped around their fingers, these pages weren’t turning fast enough!! I love some good hate fking 🤭
The depth of these characters and their growth though, that really is what had me captivated. I loved how this played out, seeing them really understand their feelings and overcome their own fears. I was sobbing.. through quite a few chapters actually. My heart was just breaking for them.. there were just some audible gasping moments for sure!
This is an absolute MUST read! I’m onto book three 👏🏼
Hate to Love
Secret Relationship
Enemies with Benefits
He Falls First
Small Coastal Town
Lots of Banter
5/⭐️
2/🌶️
Another one that just leaves me speechless. I don’t know if there’s words to describe how much I loved this story. This is quite literally one of my favorite reads this year 👏🏼 And enemies to lovers x secret relationship with their banter?? I mean, it was just PERFECTION. Literally everything I could want in a book — Wes and Morgan were just everything I wanted!!
Wes is MY GUY. This man. No wonder Morgan was put off by him when they met, Wes just has a way with words 🤭 but the way I SQUEALED when they were in the bedroom at Gabe’s house.. “𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯, 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰— 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤—𝘬.” I was LOSING IT. These two had me wrapped around their fingers, these pages weren’t turning fast enough!! I love some good hate fking 🤭
The depth of these characters and their growth though, that really is what had me captivated. I loved how this played out, seeing them really understand their feelings and overcome their own fears. I was sobbing.. through quite a few chapters actually. My heart was just breaking for them.. there were just some audible gasping moments for sure!
This is an absolute MUST read! I’m onto book three 👏🏼
Hate to Love
Secret Relationship
Enemies with Benefits
He Falls First
Small Coastal Town
Lots of Banter
May 23, 2025
I love when frenemies with benefits become more to each other and Morgan and Wes’ relationship didn’t disappoint. This book was very spicy, emotional and sweet and I rooted so hard for them. Once again, I enjoyed their found family of friends and I loved reading more about Lucas and Callie’s relationship (their story starts in the first book in this series, Beyond the Wall). I am so impressed by this author’s writing and I can’t wait to read more by her. Thank you to Ani Thomas and Torch Lit Ink for giving me the chance to read this early.
May 25, 2025
Morgan + Wesley = Morley
🤩😍🔥
This is book 2 of the Bayport Cove series and I literally am in love with Wesley Callahan. The enemies to lovers trope gets me every time.
The banter, the drama, the spice … I love how it’s all woven together beautifully where you can’t even put the book down. Like I needed to know what happened next!
I was fortunate enough to read the ARC and it did not disappoint!
This has been my favorite one so far, and don’t get me wrong I do love book 1 (Luke and Callie), but the snark of Morgan and Wesley just gave it that edge lol
🤩😍🔥
This is book 2 of the Bayport Cove series and I literally am in love with Wesley Callahan. The enemies to lovers trope gets me every time.
The banter, the drama, the spice … I love how it’s all woven together beautifully where you can’t even put the book down. Like I needed to know what happened next!
I was fortunate enough to read the ARC and it did not disappoint!
This has been my favorite one so far, and don’t get me wrong I do love book 1 (Luke and Callie), but the snark of Morgan and Wesley just gave it that edge lol
December 12, 2025
Beneath the Surface by Ani Thomas 🫶🏻
I was so excited for Wes and Morgan’s story. The banter between these two is top tier. They dislike eachother SO MUCH but when they are both in serious slumps they decide to make a pact to sleep with each other, no strings attached. We all know how that usually works out 🤭
This book was great. I really enjoyed it. I think Lucas and Callie’s story still has my heart but I am very exited for book 3.
What to expect:
Hate to love
Enemies with benefits
Loads of banter
Secret relationship
He falls first
I was so excited for Wes and Morgan’s story. The banter between these two is top tier. They dislike eachother SO MUCH but when they are both in serious slumps they decide to make a pact to sleep with each other, no strings attached. We all know how that usually works out 🤭
This book was great. I really enjoyed it. I think Lucas and Callie’s story still has my heart but I am very exited for book 3.
What to expect:
Hate to love
Enemies with benefits
Loads of banter
Secret relationship
He falls first
June 2, 2025
So nice to be back with this friend group again!
As we saw in Cassie and Lucas' story, Wes and Morgan have an antagonistic relationship - not quite hate, but certainly not friendly. But as we all know, chemistry doesn't always show up pretty, and these two have quite the time handling their attraction to each other!
This builds on the first book a bit, so I would recommend reading these in order, for the best experience. While this one was not as big of a roller-coaster ride of emotions as book one, it definitely held my interest and pulled at my emotions during my read. I enjoyed the tension and secrecy of Wes and Morgan's steamy connection, but it was hard emotionally when these two caught real feelings, because I was invested in the story line, because - oops! Not sharing spoilers! ;)
There were a couple surprises thrown in, but this moved (mostly) the way I thought it would - and I enjoyed my read and their HEA a lot.
I can not wait for the next couple, and recommend this series and this author. Definitely worth your time. I was fortunate to have received an ARC (thank you), and happily leave my review.
As we saw in Cassie and Lucas' story, Wes and Morgan have an antagonistic relationship - not quite hate, but certainly not friendly. But as we all know, chemistry doesn't always show up pretty, and these two have quite the time handling their attraction to each other!
This builds on the first book a bit, so I would recommend reading these in order, for the best experience. While this one was not as big of a roller-coaster ride of emotions as book one, it definitely held my interest and pulled at my emotions during my read. I enjoyed the tension and secrecy of Wes and Morgan's steamy connection, but it was hard emotionally when these two caught real feelings, because I was invested in the story line, because - oops! Not sharing spoilers! ;)
There were a couple surprises thrown in, but this moved (mostly) the way I thought it would - and I enjoyed my read and their HEA a lot.
I can not wait for the next couple, and recommend this series and this author. Definitely worth your time. I was fortunate to have received an ARC (thank you), and happily leave my review.
May 16, 2025
𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓓𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓼
- Beneath The Surface by Ani Thomas
- 1st Person, Dual POV
- Bayport Cove Book 2
- 417 pages
- eARC from Torch Lit Ink
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼
- Small Town
- Hate to Love
- Hate but with benefits 🤭
- Secret Relationship
- He Falls First
- Reformed Playboy
- Idiots In Love
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
- “One Night” Stand (turned into prolonged benefits)
- Semi Public
- It is frequent and plentiful in the beginning and starts relatively early in the story. The first few scenes are pretty quick (lol I mean what else do you expect with quickies) but after that it gets quite explicit and detailed which we love to see.
- The frequency really dies down in the second half of the book, with scenes only here and there
𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
- Morgan and Wesley hate each other, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Need outweighs logic as they decide to find release with one another, yet it doesn’t stay the one time only night they expected it to.
𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
So first off: this is considered a standalone, but I heavily recommend reading the first book. Is that partially because the first book lives rent free in my mind? Of course. But it’s mainly due to the fact that the timelines slightly overlap and you will be missing a lot of character depth and situation understanding if you haven’t read the first book.
Morgan and Wes are such FUN characters! I was pretty certain this book would be about them based on some hints in the first book, and I am SO GLAD to finally get to read their story and watch them slowly but surely fall in love. As hate turns to tolerance, then friendship, then love.
And while the main characters are clearly the ones who steal the show, can I talk about the SIDE CHARACTERS for a moment?! Probably a controversial take, but I fucking love Chad. Idiot himbo boy that is so stupid I can’t help but love him. Heavy emphasis on the idiot part. And Blake? Blake is MY BOY and no one can say a single bad thing about Blake because I already claim him as my husband. Corbin my dear, you were in it for TOO SHORT OF A TIME!
Okay I’ll shut up about my new favorite side characters now. Once again, Ani Thomas made me cry in the best way possible. I love having my heart hurt while I read.
Now for the negative (Ani Thomas istg I love you, stop reading this right now.)
I won’t lie, I did like the first one better, and I think this book suffered BECAUSE it takes place at the same time as the first book did. The overlap between both book occasionally leads to skipping around in time during this book and trying to make everything fit timeline wise with the plot that was developed in the first book instead of giving these characters their own plot line to add drama and conflict to their story.
The first 50% of the book spans an entire year and while there are plenty of scenes between Wes and Morgan in that time, some of it felt very TELL not show. The narrative would reference decisions the characters had made off page that made me WISH we got those scenes instead of the ones I was reading. I know not EVERYTHING can be written out, but sometimes the telling made me feel a bit disconnected from them because I wasn’t actually watching them build that relationship, just hearing about it after.
But once it got INTO it? Once most of Callie and Lucas’s story had finished and we were able to focus solely on Wes and Morgan? That part I loved. It just took awhile to get there.
While I overall did still enjoy Morgan and Wes’s story, I do think I would have preferred if they had their own timeline and story instead of keeping it so interwoven with the story of the first book. It just felt like too much housekeeping before really getting into Wes and Morgan’s story independent of Lucas and Callie’s story.
Thank you SO MUCH to Ani Thomas and Torch Lit Ink for an ARC copy of this book :)
- Beneath The Surface by Ani Thomas
- 1st Person, Dual POV
- Bayport Cove Book 2
- 417 pages
- eARC from Torch Lit Ink
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼
- Small Town
- Hate to Love
- Hate but with benefits 🤭
- Secret Relationship
- He Falls First
- Reformed Playboy
- Idiots In Love
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
- “One Night” Stand (turned into prolonged benefits)
- Semi Public
- It is frequent and plentiful in the beginning and starts relatively early in the story. The first few scenes are pretty quick (lol I mean what else do you expect with quickies) but after that it gets quite explicit and detailed which we love to see.
- The frequency really dies down in the second half of the book, with scenes only here and there
𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
- Morgan and Wesley hate each other, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Need outweighs logic as they decide to find release with one another, yet it doesn’t stay the one time only night they expected it to.
𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
So first off: this is considered a standalone, but I heavily recommend reading the first book. Is that partially because the first book lives rent free in my mind? Of course. But it’s mainly due to the fact that the timelines slightly overlap and you will be missing a lot of character depth and situation understanding if you haven’t read the first book.
Morgan and Wes are such FUN characters! I was pretty certain this book would be about them based on some hints in the first book, and I am SO GLAD to finally get to read their story and watch them slowly but surely fall in love. As hate turns to tolerance, then friendship, then love.
And while the main characters are clearly the ones who steal the show, can I talk about the SIDE CHARACTERS for a moment?! Probably a controversial take, but I fucking love Chad. Idiot himbo boy that is so stupid I can’t help but love him. Heavy emphasis on the idiot part. And Blake? Blake is MY BOY and no one can say a single bad thing about Blake because I already claim him as my husband. Corbin my dear, you were in it for TOO SHORT OF A TIME!
Okay I’ll shut up about my new favorite side characters now. Once again, Ani Thomas made me cry in the best way possible. I love having my heart hurt while I read.
Now for the negative (Ani Thomas istg I love you, stop reading this right now.)
I won’t lie, I did like the first one better, and I think this book suffered BECAUSE it takes place at the same time as the first book did. The overlap between both book occasionally leads to skipping around in time during this book and trying to make everything fit timeline wise with the plot that was developed in the first book instead of giving these characters their own plot line to add drama and conflict to their story.
The first 50% of the book spans an entire year and while there are plenty of scenes between Wes and Morgan in that time, some of it felt very TELL not show. The narrative would reference decisions the characters had made off page that made me WISH we got those scenes instead of the ones I was reading. I know not EVERYTHING can be written out, but sometimes the telling made me feel a bit disconnected from them because I wasn’t actually watching them build that relationship, just hearing about it after.
But once it got INTO it? Once most of Callie and Lucas’s story had finished and we were able to focus solely on Wes and Morgan? That part I loved. It just took awhile to get there.
While I overall did still enjoy Morgan and Wes’s story, I do think I would have preferred if they had their own timeline and story instead of keeping it so interwoven with the story of the first book. It just felt like too much housekeeping before really getting into Wes and Morgan’s story independent of Lucas and Callie’s story.
Thank you SO MUCH to Ani Thomas and Torch Lit Ink for an ARC copy of this book :)
May 26, 2025
“𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪…𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚.” 𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙. “𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜?” “𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙮.”
Beneath the Surface by Ani Thomas
4.5 ⭐️ || 3 🌶️
This series took everything I loved about the first—tight-knit friend dynamics, sharp banter, and slow-burning tension—and cranked it up in book two. Wesley and Morgan are THE textbook definition of enemies-with-benefits and their journey from verbal sparring partners to something much deeper had me hooked from the first insult.
Wes and Morgan have always been oil and water. Same friend group, completely different vibes. Every time they cross paths, it’s all eye rolls and snarky comebacks—until one impulsive, chemistry-loaded night changed everything. What was supposed to be a one-time “drought solution” becomes something they deny talking about… especially when it keeps happening.
They’re both emotionally unavailable—Wes, a public courts lawyer, avoids commitment like it’s a full-time job, and Morgan, an extremely talented interior designer, is OVER the dating scene entirely. So obviously, casual is the name of the game. Except feelings don’t play by their rules—and that’s where the fun and the TENSION—really begins.
The banter is TOP-TIER. These two are endlessly entertaining when they’re bickering (cackling and internally screaming included).
I loved Wes’ journey in book two. In the first book, he’s the quick-witted, obnoxious flirt…and never serious. But in book two, we see the cracks. The aftermath of past events weighs heavily on him, and it adds so much depth. My heart actually broke for him a few times.
And Morgan is a FORCE. Fierce, independent, and completely unwilling to let Wes get away with 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. Watching her chip away at his armor while holding firm to her own was so satisfying. She doesn’t take him seriously at first, but the evolution of her feelings—slow, resistant, inevitable—was *chef’s kiss* 🤌🏻.
There are highs, lows, heated moments, and surprising tenderness—all packed into a story that feels equal parts fiery and heartfelt.
“𝙄 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚…𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙨, 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩.”
This series continues to deliver all the tension, heart, and found-family vibes I crave in contemporary romance. This story is proof that sometimes the person you “hate” might just be the one who understands you best.
Beneath the Surface by Ani Thomas
4.5 ⭐️ || 3 🌶️
This series took everything I loved about the first—tight-knit friend dynamics, sharp banter, and slow-burning tension—and cranked it up in book two. Wesley and Morgan are THE textbook definition of enemies-with-benefits and their journey from verbal sparring partners to something much deeper had me hooked from the first insult.
Wes and Morgan have always been oil and water. Same friend group, completely different vibes. Every time they cross paths, it’s all eye rolls and snarky comebacks—until one impulsive, chemistry-loaded night changed everything. What was supposed to be a one-time “drought solution” becomes something they deny talking about… especially when it keeps happening.
They’re both emotionally unavailable—Wes, a public courts lawyer, avoids commitment like it’s a full-time job, and Morgan, an extremely talented interior designer, is OVER the dating scene entirely. So obviously, casual is the name of the game. Except feelings don’t play by their rules—and that’s where the fun and the TENSION—really begins.
The banter is TOP-TIER. These two are endlessly entertaining when they’re bickering (cackling and internally screaming included).
I loved Wes’ journey in book two. In the first book, he’s the quick-witted, obnoxious flirt…and never serious. But in book two, we see the cracks. The aftermath of past events weighs heavily on him, and it adds so much depth. My heart actually broke for him a few times.
And Morgan is a FORCE. Fierce, independent, and completely unwilling to let Wes get away with 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. Watching her chip away at his armor while holding firm to her own was so satisfying. She doesn’t take him seriously at first, but the evolution of her feelings—slow, resistant, inevitable—was *chef’s kiss* 🤌🏻.
There are highs, lows, heated moments, and surprising tenderness—all packed into a story that feels equal parts fiery and heartfelt.
“𝙄 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚…𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙨, 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩.”
This series continues to deliver all the tension, heart, and found-family vibes I crave in contemporary romance. This story is proof that sometimes the person you “hate” might just be the one who understands you best.
May 26, 2025
This book is part of a series, which I wish I would have read prior to this one. That way I could have got more of the back story of all the characters, however I still enjoyed this book. The 2 main characters will have you screaming at them to get their shit together, I tell you! There is great banter, the chemistry was on point, if you enjoy the following you will enjoy this book:
#smalltown
#hatetolove
#hatebutwithbenefits
#secretrelationships
#hefallsfirst
#refomedplayboy
#idiotsinlove
#Foundfamily
#enemiestolovers
Wesley Callahan is a well-known laywer in Bay Port Cove, and he believes himself to be an expert, and he is not one for relationships. He feels he has mastered the art of “Singledom” He’s a hot and cocky.
Morgan Hayes is witty, feisty, stubborn and a social butterfly. She is an interior designer, her professional life is on point, however her dating life not so much, dry spell, and she needs to release.
Have to say when you hear Morgan’s story grab some tissues, but this woman is a spitfire!
Wesley and Morgan know each other, and she just gets so annoyed when he is around, but the chemistry is there, they fight all the time. Then one night a spontaneous late hookup between the 2 happened. Oh, this creates some interesting meet ups. They have agreed this is a secret, friends can’t know, nobody can know. They were seeing each other a lot, and realize there’s more but with these two, they want it there way or no way. So they created a deal, no feelings, no strings, no love just plain booty. Do you think this is going to work? OH hell no, when one sees the other with someone, its war.
Morgan had to go out of town for business, and going to be gone for a spell, she finally realizes she misses him and that she is in love with him. But Wesley had his own agenda and a new GF. Oh wait until they see each other in person, cat fight anyone?
“Falling for Wes Callahan was a plot twist I never saw coming. Yet here I was. I’d fallen…and hard.”
#smalltown
#hatetolove
#hatebutwithbenefits
#secretrelationships
#hefallsfirst
#refomedplayboy
#idiotsinlove
#Foundfamily
#enemiestolovers
Wesley Callahan is a well-known laywer in Bay Port Cove, and he believes himself to be an expert, and he is not one for relationships. He feels he has mastered the art of “Singledom” He’s a hot and cocky.
Morgan Hayes is witty, feisty, stubborn and a social butterfly. She is an interior designer, her professional life is on point, however her dating life not so much, dry spell, and she needs to release.
Have to say when you hear Morgan’s story grab some tissues, but this woman is a spitfire!
Wesley and Morgan know each other, and she just gets so annoyed when he is around, but the chemistry is there, they fight all the time. Then one night a spontaneous late hookup between the 2 happened. Oh, this creates some interesting meet ups. They have agreed this is a secret, friends can’t know, nobody can know. They were seeing each other a lot, and realize there’s more but with these two, they want it there way or no way. So they created a deal, no feelings, no strings, no love just plain booty. Do you think this is going to work? OH hell no, when one sees the other with someone, its war.
Morgan had to go out of town for business, and going to be gone for a spell, she finally realizes she misses him and that she is in love with him. But Wesley had his own agenda and a new GF. Oh wait until they see each other in person, cat fight anyone?
“Falling for Wes Callahan was a plot twist I never saw coming. Yet here I was. I’d fallen…and hard.”
May 22, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW✨ 5⭐️ I am absolutely obsessed with Beyond the Wall so I just had a good feeling I was going to be obsessed with this one too!! Man do I love this series and these characters! Wesley and Morgan have been enemies since the beginning. They may have the same group of friends but their interactions are far from friendly when they see each other. So when they stumble into bed one day they are both adamant it was a one time thing because they both were in a drought….until it happens again. The one time hate-fueled hookup turns into an arrangement that allows them both to get the satisfaction they desire. Wesley has never been a relationship guy and Morgan has all but given up on her dating life so since they hate each other they don’t have to worry about catching feelings…right? But as time goes on and their arrangement is still holding up will feelings start to creep in and cause them both to rethink everything they once thought about the other? I am absolutely in love with Wes and Morgan. The banter between these two is amazing and I loved all of their interactions. They have nothing but disdain for each other so the barbs back and forth are so entertaining! I really enjoyed getting to see behind these characters more in this book since you meet them in the first book. Wes has so much more dimension and heart to him that you don’t really notice until you get into his head. You could really see how much the events of the first book affected him and it broke my heart to see all that he went through. Morgan is simply put INCREDIBLE. I love how feisty she is and how much she gives Wes a run for his money. There were so many highs and lows here and that’s my favorite types of books to read so this one really hit for me!! I got to see all the characters I loved from the first book and even got a hint of another pairing I could see coming later! I cannot recommend this series enough!!
Tropes:
✨Hate to Lovers
✨Enemies with Benefits
✨Small Town Romance
✨Secret Relationship
✨He Falls First
Tropes:
✨Hate to Lovers
✨Enemies with Benefits
✨Small Town Romance
✨Secret Relationship
✨He Falls First
May 27, 2025
Need more of this town!
I'm falling in love with this small coastal Carolina town. This friend group is so fun and I can't wait to see where we go next (although the hints seemed pretty big towards the end of this one!)
Under the Surface is book 2 in the Bayport Cove series by Ani Thomas. It is an interconnected standalone so while it can be read on its own, some of the timeline and events overlap with book 1, Beyond the Wall. And we meet our main characters there as well.
Wesley Callahan is a lawyer. He grew up in Bayport Cove, went to a private school and comes from a wealthy family. He's pretty known as the player of the group, never wanting to settle down or even really date.
Morgan Hayes is an interior designer. She also grew up in Bayport Cove but had a more modest upbringing. She doesn't feel like love is in the cards for her.
Wes and Morgan got off in the wrong foot and have been enemies ever since. However they have mutual friends so they are often hanging out together. Somehow all the tension finds its way into a quickie and an agreement to be enemies with benefits.
I absolutely loved Morgan! She's so sassy. She's got a comeback for everything. She's also really good at her job and standing up for herself. And a great friend.
Wes falls first and hard. It was cute to see both of them figure their feelings out. It takes them a bit to get on the same page but when they do, it was both sweet and hot. There are quite a few spicy scenes, since that's the focus of their relationship in the beginning.
There are great moments with the friend group, especially as we see them all prepare for Luke and Callie's wedding (couple from book 1.) Some intense moments as well that definitely had me tearing up. As I mentioned above, I look forward to more from this group.
I'm falling in love with this small coastal Carolina town. This friend group is so fun and I can't wait to see where we go next (although the hints seemed pretty big towards the end of this one!)
Under the Surface is book 2 in the Bayport Cove series by Ani Thomas. It is an interconnected standalone so while it can be read on its own, some of the timeline and events overlap with book 1, Beyond the Wall. And we meet our main characters there as well.
Wesley Callahan is a lawyer. He grew up in Bayport Cove, went to a private school and comes from a wealthy family. He's pretty known as the player of the group, never wanting to settle down or even really date.
Morgan Hayes is an interior designer. She also grew up in Bayport Cove but had a more modest upbringing. She doesn't feel like love is in the cards for her.
Wes and Morgan got off in the wrong foot and have been enemies ever since. However they have mutual friends so they are often hanging out together. Somehow all the tension finds its way into a quickie and an agreement to be enemies with benefits.
I absolutely loved Morgan! She's so sassy. She's got a comeback for everything. She's also really good at her job and standing up for herself. And a great friend.
Wes falls first and hard. It was cute to see both of them figure their feelings out. It takes them a bit to get on the same page but when they do, it was both sweet and hot. There are quite a few spicy scenes, since that's the focus of their relationship in the beginning.
There are great moments with the friend group, especially as we see them all prepare for Luke and Callie's wedding (couple from book 1.) Some intense moments as well that definitely had me tearing up. As I mentioned above, I look forward to more from this group.
May 23, 2025
“No matter what it looked like, I wanted to do life with Morgan Hayes.”
Overall Rating: 5/5⭐️
Spice Rating: 2.5/5🌶️
STOPPPPPP this book was plain ADDICTING! i couldn’t put it down, and constantly had some late nights where I sacrificed my normal sleep schedule to keep reading. Morgan and Wes were explosive in all the right ways. If there’s one thing i’m a sucker for, it’s a hate to love romance where they start out hate banging and it just gets more tensious, and overall better and better from there. I loved watching their relationship from beginning to end, hate all the way to love, and getting to revisit Callie and Lucas from book one!
I adored the first book in this series and loved this one just as much as I did that one. Ani is a hidden gem of an author, i’m her biggest fan and I cannot emphasize enough that Ani knows how to write the perfect book - it’s not just plain good ol’ romance she writes but romance with meaning, intent, all the emotions where you’re laughing, crying, swooning, everything in between all while showcasing the utmost of all flaws of these characters who, while falling in love and saying they hate every second of it, are just trying to navigate their way through life — above all, it felt so human.
What to expect in Beneath the Surface:
🌸 hate-to-love
🌸 secret relationship
🌸 he falls first
🌸 lawyer x interior designer
🌸 small town romance
🌸 enemies with benefits
🌸 banter banter banter
🌸 open door spice + dual pov
Thank you to the lovely Ani Thomas & the team at Torch Lit Ink for letting me be a part of this release — i adored every second of it and I only hope heroes will take a chance on this series and these characters ❤️
Beneath the Surface released May 22nd, 2025!
Overall Rating: 5/5⭐️
Spice Rating: 2.5/5🌶️
STOPPPPPP this book was plain ADDICTING! i couldn’t put it down, and constantly had some late nights where I sacrificed my normal sleep schedule to keep reading. Morgan and Wes were explosive in all the right ways. If there’s one thing i’m a sucker for, it’s a hate to love romance where they start out hate banging and it just gets more tensious, and overall better and better from there. I loved watching their relationship from beginning to end, hate all the way to love, and getting to revisit Callie and Lucas from book one!
I adored the first book in this series and loved this one just as much as I did that one. Ani is a hidden gem of an author, i’m her biggest fan and I cannot emphasize enough that Ani knows how to write the perfect book - it’s not just plain good ol’ romance she writes but romance with meaning, intent, all the emotions where you’re laughing, crying, swooning, everything in between all while showcasing the utmost of all flaws of these characters who, while falling in love and saying they hate every second of it, are just trying to navigate their way through life — above all, it felt so human.
What to expect in Beneath the Surface:
🌸 hate-to-love
🌸 secret relationship
🌸 he falls first
🌸 lawyer x interior designer
🌸 small town romance
🌸 enemies with benefits
🌸 banter banter banter
🌸 open door spice + dual pov
Thank you to the lovely Ani Thomas & the team at Torch Lit Ink for letting me be a part of this release — i adored every second of it and I only hope heroes will take a chance on this series and these characters ❤️
Beneath the Surface released May 22nd, 2025!
May 12, 2025
yet another author that gets little traction and not because they don't write a great book. she's amazing 🤩
I read book one and I thought I could not imagine topping that but she did.
Wes and Morgan's story was great. talk about hateful enemies to lovers this had it down pat. but I go back to your mom saying those who tease and rile you up like you. although it took Wes a while. what was a mutual benefit bang session turned their hate sex into yowsers he's good. I would say he fell first. pretty sure the author wrote it that way. she wanted us to swoon over Wes. and I wanted to kick Morgan in the arse often. I'm like come on you can't read signals. I think this author has a knack on making the reader like the MC. and we definitely needed to warn you.
but once you were warmed it has baking hot! I found it more smexy than the first book. I think because this was hate sex based relationship and these two needed to work it out.
I think I sent lots of time cursing Morgan for not having a tragic backstory as to why she woulda coulda not commit. but she had none. then she became her worst enemy. and I yelled wake up. he's gonna walk.
he did not have a tragic backstory either just a dude who did not want to commit. felt no feelings for anyone until the hate sex banging times became feelings and neither one were equipped for that.
but in the end the hea was just what we wanted two clueless people who thought banging every once in a while would not turn into feelings even with rules that were broken often. it was fun watch the reckoning
I read book one and I thought I could not imagine topping that but she did.
Wes and Morgan's story was great. talk about hateful enemies to lovers this had it down pat. but I go back to your mom saying those who tease and rile you up like you. although it took Wes a while. what was a mutual benefit bang session turned their hate sex into yowsers he's good. I would say he fell first. pretty sure the author wrote it that way. she wanted us to swoon over Wes. and I wanted to kick Morgan in the arse often. I'm like come on you can't read signals. I think this author has a knack on making the reader like the MC. and we definitely needed to warn you.
but once you were warmed it has baking hot! I found it more smexy than the first book. I think because this was hate sex based relationship and these two needed to work it out.
I think I sent lots of time cursing Morgan for not having a tragic backstory as to why she woulda coulda not commit. but she had none. then she became her worst enemy. and I yelled wake up. he's gonna walk.
he did not have a tragic backstory either just a dude who did not want to commit. felt no feelings for anyone until the hate sex banging times became feelings and neither one were equipped for that.
but in the end the hea was just what we wanted two clueless people who thought banging every once in a while would not turn into feelings even with rules that were broken often. it was fun watch the reckoning
June 1, 2025
I am newly obsessed with Ani Thomas’ books- her writing style flows so beautifully, and the plots of her book are phenomenal! The romance is fire, and the plot keeps you flipping those pages.
Something I love about Beneath the Surface (the 2nd book in this series) is that you could almost tandem read the first part of this book with Beyond the Wall. You get the POV of Wesley & Morgan for the scenes they were involved in during Beyond the Wall and it was so fun to re-visit what happened in Beyond the Wall (my fave of the series so far).
A couple of things that will stick with me from this book- Paperclip hearts & “she left already?”. Let’s just say, Wesley is freaking swoon worthy! I love it when a player falls in love and pines over a girl who is totally up his alley! The way he chased after Morgan had my heart pounding!
I caught myself wanting to know more about Blake’s story- I’d love for him to have his own story! I have a feeling that Chad and Loralei’s story will be next, which I’m also cool with!
I was SCREAMING “Just tell him already!” towards the end of the book, but when they FINALLY let go and loved each other, they were EVERYTHING I hoped they would be!
*Standing ovation* Awesome start to this series, Ani. I’m a huge fan! Thank you @torchlitink for sending me an advance reader copy of this book! Can’t wait for book 3!
Something I love about Beneath the Surface (the 2nd book in this series) is that you could almost tandem read the first part of this book with Beyond the Wall. You get the POV of Wesley & Morgan for the scenes they were involved in during Beyond the Wall and it was so fun to re-visit what happened in Beyond the Wall (my fave of the series so far).
A couple of things that will stick with me from this book- Paperclip hearts & “she left already?”. Let’s just say, Wesley is freaking swoon worthy! I love it when a player falls in love and pines over a girl who is totally up his alley! The way he chased after Morgan had my heart pounding!
I caught myself wanting to know more about Blake’s story- I’d love for him to have his own story! I have a feeling that Chad and Loralei’s story will be next, which I’m also cool with!
I was SCREAMING “Just tell him already!” towards the end of the book, but when they FINALLY let go and loved each other, they were EVERYTHING I hoped they would be!
*Standing ovation* Awesome start to this series, Ani. I’m a huge fan! Thank you @torchlitink for sending me an advance reader copy of this book! Can’t wait for book 3!
May 17, 2025
Loved being back with this group, especially Wes. Loved him so much in the first one and this one was no exception. It was great to see his POV on the things that overlapped with Beyond the Wall. The part with his father and how vulnerable he reacted, with Morgan of all people was good. But I liked that it started intertwined with the first book. Cool to see their side and perspective.
Wes and Morgan’s hate-fueled jabs and banter were funny. They were sharp, and they both kept getting pulled together it seemed. They had great chemistry! The hate to love is a process in this one, and spans over quite some time, but I liked that you saw how their relationship turned, and the rules went out the window. The spice maybe got a little repetitive, but it was still hot! When they both realize their feelings, especially Wes, I was dying! So funny! “Paper clip hearts!” Knew there had to be some drama coming when neither would admit their feelings , but I found myself yelling “No, no…you idiot” so take that for what you will… haha
I picked up the vibes a little bit in the first book, but this one was vibing all over the place with the set up for the next book (possibly) and can’t wait!
Thank you to Ani Thomas for the eARC. So happy to have discovered your books!
Wes and Morgan’s hate-fueled jabs and banter were funny. They were sharp, and they both kept getting pulled together it seemed. They had great chemistry! The hate to love is a process in this one, and spans over quite some time, but I liked that you saw how their relationship turned, and the rules went out the window. The spice maybe got a little repetitive, but it was still hot! When they both realize their feelings, especially Wes, I was dying! So funny! “Paper clip hearts!” Knew there had to be some drama coming when neither would admit their feelings , but I found myself yelling “No, no…you idiot” so take that for what you will… haha
I picked up the vibes a little bit in the first book, but this one was vibing all over the place with the set up for the next book (possibly) and can’t wait!
Thank you to Ani Thomas for the eARC. So happy to have discovered your books!
May 21, 2025
Hands down, this is one of the best books I've read this year! The chemistry between Wes and Morgan is top tier along with their sharp jabs and witty banter throughout. I could not stop giggling and smiling and laughing throughout this whole book as these two face off over and over and over again. Of course, if the banter is that explosive, you can only guess what else is... Yep, that's right, their hate sex was hot as fire! These two went from burning each other with their barbs to burning up some sheets and I could not have loved that more for them!
This book isn't all hate and sex though, there's a lot of heart as both of them come to figure out that what started out as a way to scratch an itch, turned into forever. Of course that doesn't mean their banter ends, they just do it in a more loving way.
Not only were Wes and Morgan amazing, but this whole band of characters has been great and I have loved getting to hang in Bayport Cove with them and I can't wait to head back here again for the next happily ever after for their crew!
TROPES:
🖤Small Coastal Town
🖤Hate to Lovers
🖤He Falls First
🖤Secret Relationship
🖤Banter
Thank you to Ani Thomas and Torchlit Ink for the ARC.
This book isn't all hate and sex though, there's a lot of heart as both of them come to figure out that what started out as a way to scratch an itch, turned into forever. Of course that doesn't mean their banter ends, they just do it in a more loving way.
Not only were Wes and Morgan amazing, but this whole band of characters has been great and I have loved getting to hang in Bayport Cove with them and I can't wait to head back here again for the next happily ever after for their crew!
TROPES:
🖤Small Coastal Town
🖤Hate to Lovers
🖤He Falls First
🖤Secret Relationship
🖤Banter
Thank you to Ani Thomas and Torchlit Ink for the ARC.
May 31, 2025
This was a fun one!
Wes is Bayport Cove’s most charming (and arrogant) lawyer who doesn’t see the need or benefit of relationships.
Morgan? A fiery interior designer who’s immune to his charm and is starting to think true love isn’t in the cards for her.
All it takes is one spontaneous, hate-fueled hookup to flip their whole world upside down. What starts as an arrangement to ease the dating dry spells slowly turns into way more than they bargained for.
Wes & Morgan’s relationship dynamic evolves over a number of years so nothing feels rushed and we see their subtle shifts towards each other, but when feelings finally did click, it killed me that I had to wait some more for them to get it together.
Whether they’re bickering or f**king, there is definite chemistry between these two! I loved them in the tension-filled moments as well as the softer ones. They just fit.
This book had me feeling all the emotions right alongside the characters: smiles, laughs, swoons, angst, disappointment, heartbreak. And I loved it!
I thought the timeline got a little confusing here and there and some of the plot points seemed unnecessary but overall I liked the pacing and the development of Wes & Morgan 💜
Thank you TorchLit Ink and Ani for letting me in on this one!
Wes is Bayport Cove’s most charming (and arrogant) lawyer who doesn’t see the need or benefit of relationships.
Morgan? A fiery interior designer who’s immune to his charm and is starting to think true love isn’t in the cards for her.
All it takes is one spontaneous, hate-fueled hookup to flip their whole world upside down. What starts as an arrangement to ease the dating dry spells slowly turns into way more than they bargained for.
Wes & Morgan’s relationship dynamic evolves over a number of years so nothing feels rushed and we see their subtle shifts towards each other, but when feelings finally did click, it killed me that I had to wait some more for them to get it together.
Whether they’re bickering or f**king, there is definite chemistry between these two! I loved them in the tension-filled moments as well as the softer ones. They just fit.
This book had me feeling all the emotions right alongside the characters: smiles, laughs, swoons, angst, disappointment, heartbreak. And I loved it!
I thought the timeline got a little confusing here and there and some of the plot points seemed unnecessary but overall I liked the pacing and the development of Wes & Morgan 💜
Thank you TorchLit Ink and Ani for letting me in on this one!
May 24, 2025
If you love a good enemies-to-lovers story with tension that crackles like a downed power line, Beneath the Surface is your next must-read.
Ani Thomas takes the classic trope and turns it into something that feels fresh and intimate—like a slow dance that gradually builds into a wild, passionate tango. Wes and Morgan are perfectly matched in all the wrong ways... until they’re not. Their verbal sparring is delicious, their chemistry undeniable, and watching their icy glares melt into something much steamier is just so satisfying.
The character development here is where the book truly shines. Thomas doesn’t rush anything. Wes and Morgan each carry emotional baggage, and it’s through their hidden relationship—kept under wraps until it’s spectacularly exposed—that they’re forced to face truths about themselves and each other. That exposure acts like a mirror, leading to a true epiphany that transforms their connection from forbidden fun into something real and raw.
Oh, and those spicy romps? Buckle up. They’re not just hot—they’re charged with tension, vulnerability, and that “I shouldn’t want you but I do” energy that makes enemies-to-lovers so addictive.
Ani Thomas takes the classic trope and turns it into something that feels fresh and intimate—like a slow dance that gradually builds into a wild, passionate tango. Wes and Morgan are perfectly matched in all the wrong ways... until they’re not. Their verbal sparring is delicious, their chemistry undeniable, and watching their icy glares melt into something much steamier is just so satisfying.
The character development here is where the book truly shines. Thomas doesn’t rush anything. Wes and Morgan each carry emotional baggage, and it’s through their hidden relationship—kept under wraps until it’s spectacularly exposed—that they’re forced to face truths about themselves and each other. That exposure acts like a mirror, leading to a true epiphany that transforms their connection from forbidden fun into something real and raw.
Oh, and those spicy romps? Buckle up. They’re not just hot—they’re charged with tension, vulnerability, and that “I shouldn’t want you but I do” energy that makes enemies-to-lovers so addictive.
May 7, 2025
I’ve been counting down the days for Beneath the Surface ever since reading Beyond the Wall, and let me just say, it absolutely delivered! I was so excited for Wes and Morgan’s story, and it exceeded every expectation. The fact that it runs alongside the timeline of the first book was such a clever and beautifully executed touch. Seeing the overlap from a fresh perspective made everything feel even more immersive.
Wes and Morgan are both fiery, sharp, and full of personality, watching their hate-fueled banter evolve into something deeper was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way. I laughed, I cried, and I felt everything in between. Their chemistry is magnetic, their dialogue is razor-sharp, and the emotional depth of their journey took me by surprise more than once.
Ani Thomas has written a story that’s not just about romance, it’s about vulnerability, growth, and learning to love beyond first impressions. This is an absolute must-read for fans of enemies-to-lovers stories with real heart. I already can’t wait to see what comes next in Bayport Cove.
Wes and Morgan are both fiery, sharp, and full of personality, watching their hate-fueled banter evolve into something deeper was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way. I laughed, I cried, and I felt everything in between. Their chemistry is magnetic, their dialogue is razor-sharp, and the emotional depth of their journey took me by surprise more than once.
Ani Thomas has written a story that’s not just about romance, it’s about vulnerability, growth, and learning to love beyond first impressions. This is an absolute must-read for fans of enemies-to-lovers stories with real heart. I already can’t wait to see what comes next in Bayport Cove.
May 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (because five just isn’t enough!)
Beneath the Surface by Ani Thomas (Bayport Cove #2)
I knew Morgan and Wes would eventually win me over, but their constant bickering and enemy vibes in Beyond the Wall had me skeptical about how their love story could actually work in book two. But oh my gosh, they absolutely did—and then some. This book had the best banter, the perfect amount of spice, and those laugh-out-loud, cover-your-mouth giggle moments that I live for.
Even with all the fun and sass, there were also deep, meaningful moments that completely stole my heart. Ani Thomas did such a beautiful job balancing the swoon with emotional weight—I was hooked from beginning to end.
One of my favorite parts was seeing familiar events from the first book through a different perspective. It added so much depth and richness to the story and made me appreciate both books even more. Ani Thomas is firmly on my auto-buy list now. Crossing all my fingers for Blake and Haley... please make it happen!
Beneath the Surface by Ani Thomas (Bayport Cove #2)
I knew Morgan and Wes would eventually win me over, but their constant bickering and enemy vibes in Beyond the Wall had me skeptical about how their love story could actually work in book two. But oh my gosh, they absolutely did—and then some. This book had the best banter, the perfect amount of spice, and those laugh-out-loud, cover-your-mouth giggle moments that I live for.
Even with all the fun and sass, there were also deep, meaningful moments that completely stole my heart. Ani Thomas did such a beautiful job balancing the swoon with emotional weight—I was hooked from beginning to end.
One of my favorite parts was seeing familiar events from the first book through a different perspective. It added so much depth and richness to the story and made me appreciate both books even more. Ani Thomas is firmly on my auto-buy list now. Crossing all my fingers for Blake and Haley... please make it happen!
May 21, 2025
If you love sharp banter, explosive chemistry, and a top-tier enemies to lovers romance, Beneath the Surface will absolutely deliver!
Wes, the charming yet cocky lawyer, and Morgan, a bold and fiery interior designer, have hated each other for years. Their mutual friends keep them in close circles, and every encounter is dripping with tension, biting words, and a not-so-subtle desire to get under each other’s skin.
But when their love lives hit a dry spell, one spontaneous hookup turns into a two-year situationship filled with fire, shenanigans, and enemies-with-benefits energy. It’s messy. It’s hot. It’s impossible to stop reading.
Loved jow Ani flips the script. This isn’t your typical love story—it’s a slow-burning realization that the very thing they thought they hated is actually everything they needed. Beneath all the banter is mutual respect, unspoken admiration, and a love neither of them expected.
A sexy, emotional rollercoaster with characters who grow beautifully—this one’s a must-read.
Wes, the charming yet cocky lawyer, and Morgan, a bold and fiery interior designer, have hated each other for years. Their mutual friends keep them in close circles, and every encounter is dripping with tension, biting words, and a not-so-subtle desire to get under each other’s skin.
But when their love lives hit a dry spell, one spontaneous hookup turns into a two-year situationship filled with fire, shenanigans, and enemies-with-benefits energy. It’s messy. It’s hot. It’s impossible to stop reading.
Loved jow Ani flips the script. This isn’t your typical love story—it’s a slow-burning realization that the very thing they thought they hated is actually everything they needed. Beneath all the banter is mutual respect, unspoken admiration, and a love neither of them expected.
A sexy, emotional rollercoaster with characters who grow beautifully—this one’s a must-read.
May 23, 2025
Beneath the Surface is book 2 in the Bayport Cove series. I didn't read the first one and felt this could have been a standalone as Ani Thomas does a really good job building the characters up in this 2nd book.
The first 30% of the book shared a ton of bantering between the MC's, Wes and Morgan. They made a pact to be each other's booty call & I felt I was just reading about their hook-ups and booty-calls. After about 35% in, some substance started to form and their relationship took a turn (for me). I won't give any spoilers, but I did really enjoy reading about their characters and how their relationship evolved. Time away, new relationships, had my heart breaking for a moment and I wanted these 2 MC's to find love from each other.
I'm now fully invested in this series and eager to see how the other characters’ stories unfold. The author skillfully kept all the characters relevant throughout the book, setting the stage for what promises to be a compelling continuation in the next installment.
Solid 3.5 stars for me. Thanks Ani Thomas and Torch Lit Ink for a copy of book.
The first 30% of the book shared a ton of bantering between the MC's, Wes and Morgan. They made a pact to be each other's booty call & I felt I was just reading about their hook-ups and booty-calls. After about 35% in, some substance started to form and their relationship took a turn (for me). I won't give any spoilers, but I did really enjoy reading about their characters and how their relationship evolved. Time away, new relationships, had my heart breaking for a moment and I wanted these 2 MC's to find love from each other.
I'm now fully invested in this series and eager to see how the other characters’ stories unfold. The author skillfully kept all the characters relevant throughout the book, setting the stage for what promises to be a compelling continuation in the next installment.
Solid 3.5 stars for me. Thanks Ani Thomas and Torch Lit Ink for a copy of book.
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