What do you think?
Rate this book
My Kind of Trouble
A slick conwoman meets her match in a hot and nerdy small-town librarian in this debut romance, perfect for fans of
Spoiler Alert
and
Act Your Age, Eve Brown
.
Conwoman Harmony Hale has sold lies up and down California for years, never looking back at her crafty scams or one-night stands. Now she’s come to Brookville, California, with her sights set on its wealthy mayor—the man who stole her father’s music-streaming algorithm and ruined his life. Harmony is finally ready to take him down, with her trusty con of selling a nonexistent music festival. All she needs is the cooperation of the man who owns the potential festival site.
Autistic librarian and piano teacher Preston Jones spends his days fighting book challengers trying to shut down his library programs. He’s responsible for raising his selectively nonspeaking little sister and needs to focus on keeping his job. He doesn’t have time for a romance like the ones in his books—and certainly none for the brassy festival promoter who wants to use his land for her “Coachella North.” Preston sees things in black and white, and he sees Harmony—amazing curves, flashy smile, and all—as nothing but trouble.
But when Harmony promises to help him win the public over and save his youth programs, Preston finds himself wondering if this hustler with a heart of gold might be the someone he’s been waiting for. Soon things are getting steamy in the stacks, and with her con coming to a crescendo, Harmony needs to revenge and running again or the happy ending she never saw coming.
Romance listeners and musical theater fans alike will adore this steamy, gender-swapped homage to The Music Man.
Conwoman Harmony Hale has sold lies up and down California for years, never looking back at her crafty scams or one-night stands. Now she’s come to Brookville, California, with her sights set on its wealthy mayor—the man who stole her father’s music-streaming algorithm and ruined his life. Harmony is finally ready to take him down, with her trusty con of selling a nonexistent music festival. All she needs is the cooperation of the man who owns the potential festival site.
Autistic librarian and piano teacher Preston Jones spends his days fighting book challengers trying to shut down his library programs. He’s responsible for raising his selectively nonspeaking little sister and needs to focus on keeping his job. He doesn’t have time for a romance like the ones in his books—and certainly none for the brassy festival promoter who wants to use his land for her “Coachella North.” Preston sees things in black and white, and he sees Harmony—amazing curves, flashy smile, and all—as nothing but trouble.
But when Harmony promises to help him win the public over and save his youth programs, Preston finds himself wondering if this hustler with a heart of gold might be the someone he’s been waiting for. Soon things are getting steamy in the stacks, and with her con coming to a crescendo, Harmony needs to revenge and running again or the happy ending she never saw coming.
Romance listeners and musical theater fans alike will adore this steamy, gender-swapped homage to The Music Man.
Audible Audio
First published October 8, 2024
67 people are currently reading
7554 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Schwartz
2 books67 followersLeanne “L. A.” Schwartz has spent about half her life at either the library or the theater, where she played Mrs. Paroo in her local production of The Music Man, as well as a dozen other mothers over the years. When this autistic author and English teacher hasn’t got her nose in a book, she can be found baking pizzelle, directing scenes for the student Shakespeare festival, and singing along to showtunes. She is also the author of the young adult fantasies A Prayer for Vengeance and To a Darker Shore, and lives in California with her family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
Read
December 25, 2024nicola coughlan and luke newton from bridgerton need to be in this book to movie adaptation asap
March 10, 2024
healthy relationships in books are so underappreciated but this book really did that!! it is all i could ever want in a romance novel (i mean, autistic librarian x fat conwoman?? hello???) it is fun and sweet and sexy and i LOVE it with all my heart!!
February 17, 2025
"... an autistic man so sweetly smitten and a fat woman so deliciously confidant."
November 22, 2024
2 ˖⁺‧✮
what was it?
at first i actually enjoyed characters and storyline even though there were so many wholes in the plot. some actions had no sense and i was confused about everything.
end had no sense. was she criminal? did she escaped jail? i need someone to clarify for me.
overall, i wasn’t the biggest fan of the book. nothing was making sense and characters acted immature. i was close to dnf it but i was curious about its ending.
decide on your own if you want to read it👀
Thank you Edelweiss and Alcove Press for the copy of this book.
what was it?
at first i actually enjoyed characters and storyline even though there were so many wholes in the plot. some actions had no sense and i was confused about everything.
end had no sense. was she criminal? did she escaped jail? i need someone to clarify for me.
overall, i wasn’t the biggest fan of the book. nothing was making sense and characters acted immature. i was close to dnf it but i was curious about its ending.
decide on your own if you want to read it👀
Thank you Edelweiss and Alcove Press for the copy of this book.
October 24, 2024
CANCEL ALL YOUR PLANS IMMEDIATELY AND READ THIS FUCKING BOOK!!!!!!!!!
September 8, 2024
I’m so fucking in love with this man oh my god
April 20, 2024
The Music Man is one of my favorite shows (well, movies—I’ve never seen it on stage, alas) so I was a bit nervous about whether I’d be too picky reading a retelling. Good news! I love the way the story is reimagined here. Preston is a true cinnamon roll (cinnamon is, after all, a spice) and Harmony is a conwoman with a heart of gold, which is less ridiculous than it sounds. Really fun book, with excellent side characters and truly delightful references to the show sprinkled throughout.
June 14, 2024
"My Kind of Trouble" is a romance written by L. A. Schwartz, here at her debut.
I loved this book! Fast, light and fun, it entertained me so much. The effervescent writing and teasing pace kept me glued to the pages, pushing me to finish it in a few hours. I'm not particularly fond of romance books written in the third person, and "My Kind of Trouble" is written in third person, but I admit that didn't bother me.
The small town of Brookville won me over with its delightful settings and extremely picturesque atmosphere! The accurate and vivid descriptions allowed me to easily imagine the various places and I liked them a lot!
Harmony and Preston, protagonists with their respective third person povs, won me over! Harmony is a skilled con artist, who acts not out of malice but motivated by a kind of sense of justice. Having arrived in Brookville to take revenge on its wealthy mayor, responsible for ruining her father's life, she is ready to create a spectacular new con. Harmony is an ironic, determined, and cunning woman who beneath her deceptions and manipulations hides a good heart and deep scars. I liked her, amused me and found her well delineated! Also I loved her being plus size! My heart, however, goes to Preston, an autistic librarian and piano teacher, totally dedicated to the care of his younger sister and committed to confronting those who want to shut down his library programs and get him fired. I loved Preston and found the representation of autism really well managed! Preston's little sister warmed my heart, but in general I enjoyed many of the secondary characters. The development of the relationship between Harmony and Preston made me laugh, smile and swoon and I can't express anything but kudos!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book! Fast, light and fun, it entertained me so much. The effervescent writing and teasing pace kept me glued to the pages, pushing me to finish it in a few hours. I'm not particularly fond of romance books written in the third person, and "My Kind of Trouble" is written in third person, but I admit that didn't bother me.
The small town of Brookville won me over with its delightful settings and extremely picturesque atmosphere! The accurate and vivid descriptions allowed me to easily imagine the various places and I liked them a lot!
Harmony and Preston, protagonists with their respective third person povs, won me over! Harmony is a skilled con artist, who acts not out of malice but motivated by a kind of sense of justice. Having arrived in Brookville to take revenge on its wealthy mayor, responsible for ruining her father's life, she is ready to create a spectacular new con. Harmony is an ironic, determined, and cunning woman who beneath her deceptions and manipulations hides a good heart and deep scars. I liked her, amused me and found her well delineated! Also I loved her being plus size! My heart, however, goes to Preston, an autistic librarian and piano teacher, totally dedicated to the care of his younger sister and committed to confronting those who want to shut down his library programs and get him fired. I loved Preston and found the representation of autism really well managed! Preston's little sister warmed my heart, but in general I enjoyed many of the secondary characters. The development of the relationship between Harmony and Preston made me laugh, smile and swoon and I can't express anything but kudos!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2024
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Kind of Trouble
Author: L.A. Schwartz
Romance
Thank you so much Netgalley and Alcove Press for this ARC! Love a book about a conwoman! Harmony’s current project is a seemingly nerdy and innocent single dad librarian who is going to be a pawn in her game to take down the mayor of the town. Her con involves a fake music festival, but our librarian Preston Jones sees through all of her advances. It was cute, quirky and a fun read. I wasn’t like… blown away by it by any means but it was still enjoyable. There was a baby splash of spice but not really. I think it would be more fun as an audiobook!
My Kind of Trouble
Author: L.A. Schwartz
Romance
Thank you so much Netgalley and Alcove Press for this ARC! Love a book about a conwoman! Harmony’s current project is a seemingly nerdy and innocent single dad librarian who is going to be a pawn in her game to take down the mayor of the town. Her con involves a fake music festival, but our librarian Preston Jones sees through all of her advances. It was cute, quirky and a fun read. I wasn’t like… blown away by it by any means but it was still enjoyable. There was a baby splash of spice but not really. I think it would be more fun as an audiobook!
November 27, 2024
I had high expectations for "My Kind of Trouble" as it had an interesting plot, inclusive characters, and dual point of view narrative. Unfortunately, the novel falls short on all these promises.
Despite the engaging premise, the characters themselves are disappointingly bland. They lack the depth and complexity needed and I found it challenging to connect with or care about their journeys. The writing does not succeed in immersing the reader in the world of the story. I struggled to stay engaged, often feeling detached from whatever events that were unfolding.
The book is also plagued by a lot of filler content that seems superfluous. The attempts at deepening relationships between characters come off as dull rather than meaningful.
The romance, which is a central element of the story, comes across as superficial. It relies heavily on physical attraction rather than a genuine emotional connection, which undermines its potential impact.
While "My Kind of Trouble" has a promising setup, its execution leaves much to be desired. The lackluster characters, disengaging writing, and overuse of filler content result in a reading experience that fails to deliver on its initial promise.
Thank you Netgalley and Headline for the opportunity to read the ARC
Despite the engaging premise, the characters themselves are disappointingly bland. They lack the depth and complexity needed and I found it challenging to connect with or care about their journeys. The writing does not succeed in immersing the reader in the world of the story. I struggled to stay engaged, often feeling detached from whatever events that were unfolding.
The book is also plagued by a lot of filler content that seems superfluous. The attempts at deepening relationships between characters come off as dull rather than meaningful.
The romance, which is a central element of the story, comes across as superficial. It relies heavily on physical attraction rather than a genuine emotional connection, which undermines its potential impact.
While "My Kind of Trouble" has a promising setup, its execution leaves much to be desired. The lackluster characters, disengaging writing, and overuse of filler content result in a reading experience that fails to deliver on its initial promise.
Thank you Netgalley and Headline for the opportunity to read the ARC
April 14, 2024
i may have found my ultimate book boyfriend of all time… [updated review below]
An introverted, nerdy librarian and an extroverted, bombshell conwoman? This is probably the best grumpy-sunshine pairing I've seen yet!
From start to finish, My Kind of Trouble was SO hard to put down. The romance is paced perfectly, and most of all, the conflict ACTUALLY makes sense! (I can only put up with so many easily unavoidable problems in books.)
I love most of all how L.A. Schwartz treats her characters' diversities as character traits and not plot devices. Yes, she writes the reality of what people like Harmony and Preston would face in real life, but they aren't introduced to us exclusively as "the fat girl" or "the autistic guy". They just are the way they are, and aren't any less for it.
Preston would so fight to keep a book like this on the shelves.
An introverted, nerdy librarian and an extroverted, bombshell conwoman? This is probably the best grumpy-sunshine pairing I've seen yet!
From start to finish, My Kind of Trouble was SO hard to put down. The romance is paced perfectly, and most of all, the conflict ACTUALLY makes sense! (I can only put up with so many easily unavoidable problems in books.)
I love most of all how L.A. Schwartz treats her characters' diversities as character traits and not plot devices. Yes, she writes the reality of what people like Harmony and Preston would face in real life, but they aren't introduced to us exclusively as "the fat girl" or "the autistic guy". They just are the way they are, and aren't any less for it.
Preston would so fight to keep a book like this on the shelves.
December 10, 2024
Loved the chemistry between the two MCs! I liked that the book wasn’t afraid to have some Harmony’s actions be actually morally questionable without explaining them away. Even if she had good intentions, she acknowledged when she did something that hurt people. Would definitely recommend to someone looking for a cute, well-written romance.
May 29, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
"Drawing her into a kiss she wanted more than she deserved."
'Harmony arrives at a small town intent on going forward with a con to take away all the money she can from Travis, the mayor and the man who stole her dad's livelihood. All she needs to do is get the town on her side and persuade the tall, geeky, and admittedly strange librarian to allow her use of his land. Easy, right? Wrong. After a case of mistaken identity, an interrupted meeting that could have cost the librarian his job and that little pesky thing called feelings getting involved, Harmony discovers that this small town has so much more than she bargained for. Will she be able to carry out the con, or will she give into breaking the rules she never breaks?'
Excuse me whilst I go and scream into the abyss about this book.
Dramatics aside, there are so many reasons this was a five-star read, and I'm about to get into every single one. So buckle up, buckle down, grab yourself a snack, and get ready for an extensive list of reasons you should buy and read this book.
THE CHARACTERS:
We'll start with Preston because I was obsessed with him from page one. I was already excited about the fact that this book had autistic representation, but when I realised we were also getting representation from someone who had been forced into masking, I was even more obsessed. As a neurodivergent girlie, I love to see it in books and characters, and L.A Schwartz did not disappoint. Preston was believable, relatable, and the most adorable character in the entire book. From the way he treated his little sister to the way he looked after everyone around him and advocated for the teenagers of the town, Preston was the Clark Kent superhero this book needed and he didn't even need to turn into Superman!
Harmony as a character was funny, witty, and smart as hell, using her own ability to manipulate men as a way to earn money AND give back to the people affected by one person's greed. A modern day, plus size, female Robin Hood if you will. She cares so deeply for people, from immediately jumping to the defence of a teen being bullied by adults to immediately researching autism as soon as she discovered Preston and his little sister had it. She handled his overstimulisation beautifully and, despite lying at first, really did her best to be as upfront as possible with the people around her.
Lacey. Lacey is Preston's younger sister, and she is the embodiment of adorability. She loves the stars, struggles to make friends, but tries anyway and is selectively mute. I loved that the author was able to write the nuances between male and female autism to such a good degree, making Lacey completely realistic and, frankly, one of the best characters in this entire book.
Other honourable mentions are Nina, Alice and Will - all of whom were absolutely wonderful in their own individual ways.
REPRESENTATION:
Too often, I read books by people trying to represent multiple minorities, disabilities and sexualities without ever understanding how to do it kindly, gently, and with heart. The author blew this out of the park. From the autism moments - the meltdowns, the not understanding social cues and stimming to the representation of sapphic relationships, the author did not fail in this book. I loved that we got to see cis people advocating for trans rights, that people's minds were changed throughout the book regarding sexuality and beliefs and the gentle, kind representation of plus-size women. Preston taught Lacey to own her autism. He stood up for her in every way she needed him to, yelling at teachers, teaching her that consent is not just about touching and showing her that no matter what poeple thought of her 'additional needs' she was loved completely. Harmony owned her looks, her body, her sexuality and her brains. She was unashamedly herself in every situation, even when people thought she was being too much or too annoying. To see two teenage side characters engage with the stumbling over first love and the difficulties of being LGBTQIA+ in a small town was so heartwarming and rendered me speechless at times. The author couldn't have done a better job with representation if she tried.
STORYLINE:
I am obsessed with this storyline. I wanted to know what was coming next, how Harmony would beat the bad guy, AND get to fall in love at the same time. I lived for the scenes where we got to see Harmony interact with Lacey or where Preston was reading out loud to the children. Nothing in the storyline of this book was left to chance. Every single scene, moment, and sentence felt purposeful and meaningful. Nothing was there as a filler. The creativity of the premise of the storyline was interesting by itself but inlcude impeccable characterisation, beautiful writing, and a never eneding twist and turns backstory, and you have a book worth every penny. And this book is worth every penny.
THE CHEMISTRY/SEXUAL TENSION
I left this one for last because seriously, I have so much to say. Let me preface this by saying that this book was definitely an 18+, with mature scenes and subjects being covered.
To begin with, Preston had a wonderful sense of right and wrong. I knew he would be attentive to consent from the get go because of how he treated Lacey when she was being bullied, but in every scene where he was being physical in any way with Harmony he checked in with her every step of the way. He reassured her, checked that what he was doing was ok, and only moved forward when he had explicit consent. I loved seeing this represented in a book. I love seeing people have the right conversations, the right boundaries, and explicit consent in romance books, and this so delivered on that.
Beyond that, the chemistry between these two was butterfly inducing. Not only did Preston compare Harmony to a Rubens painting (OMGG!!?) but he went on to spend paragraphs talking about how beautiful she was and the way her smile lit everything up and hyperfocusing on her and the dresses she wears. Throw in the fact that he calls her 'sweetheart' without even realising it, and you have sizzling chemistry coming from Preston. Harmony was attracted to him from the beginning, but she was a tougher nut to crack. However, I loved that she finally gave into her attraction to him after getting to know him on a personal level. Getting to know his personality before getting to know his body (wink wink, nudge nudge).
"Let's see how articulate you are in a minute"
The physicality between these two was on fire. The first kiss scene was absolutely phenomenal. All the little details of their first kiss made for an absolutely phenomenal scene that had me putting the book down so I could recover. At first, it seems this kiss scene is a one-off. They avoid each other, and they are embarrassed and shy. But then she finds him in the back of the library and, per every reader girlie's dreams, they end up getting a little spicier than a first kiss between the shelves. Too often sex scenes in semi public spaces are cringe and a little OTT, but this scene was the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. The way he spoke to her, his tone of voice, and her reactions to him were all so realistic. That is what I loved most about the spicier parts of this book - they were realistic. Too often romance books hyperbolise sex scenes and make them into something real sex is not, further romanticising certain kinds of sex in relationships. This book did the opposite. Instead of romanticing a super activie/virile sex life, the author romanticices emotional intimacy AND physical intimacy - including the all important note that physical intimacy does not exist properly outside of emotional intimacy.
CONCLUSION
To conclude this essay that I could turn into a dissertation, this has been one of my favourite reads of the year so far. If I could recommend one romance book that combined all the elements this one does, I would recommend this every time. I preordered a phsycal copy almost immediately upon finishing the ebook.
Easiest five stars.
"Drawing her into a kiss she wanted more than she deserved."
'Harmony arrives at a small town intent on going forward with a con to take away all the money she can from Travis, the mayor and the man who stole her dad's livelihood. All she needs to do is get the town on her side and persuade the tall, geeky, and admittedly strange librarian to allow her use of his land. Easy, right? Wrong. After a case of mistaken identity, an interrupted meeting that could have cost the librarian his job and that little pesky thing called feelings getting involved, Harmony discovers that this small town has so much more than she bargained for. Will she be able to carry out the con, or will she give into breaking the rules she never breaks?'
Excuse me whilst I go and scream into the abyss about this book.
Dramatics aside, there are so many reasons this was a five-star read, and I'm about to get into every single one. So buckle up, buckle down, grab yourself a snack, and get ready for an extensive list of reasons you should buy and read this book.
THE CHARACTERS:
We'll start with Preston because I was obsessed with him from page one. I was already excited about the fact that this book had autistic representation, but when I realised we were also getting representation from someone who had been forced into masking, I was even more obsessed. As a neurodivergent girlie, I love to see it in books and characters, and L.A Schwartz did not disappoint. Preston was believable, relatable, and the most adorable character in the entire book. From the way he treated his little sister to the way he looked after everyone around him and advocated for the teenagers of the town, Preston was the Clark Kent superhero this book needed and he didn't even need to turn into Superman!
Harmony as a character was funny, witty, and smart as hell, using her own ability to manipulate men as a way to earn money AND give back to the people affected by one person's greed. A modern day, plus size, female Robin Hood if you will. She cares so deeply for people, from immediately jumping to the defence of a teen being bullied by adults to immediately researching autism as soon as she discovered Preston and his little sister had it. She handled his overstimulisation beautifully and, despite lying at first, really did her best to be as upfront as possible with the people around her.
Lacey. Lacey is Preston's younger sister, and she is the embodiment of adorability. She loves the stars, struggles to make friends, but tries anyway and is selectively mute. I loved that the author was able to write the nuances between male and female autism to such a good degree, making Lacey completely realistic and, frankly, one of the best characters in this entire book.
Other honourable mentions are Nina, Alice and Will - all of whom were absolutely wonderful in their own individual ways.
REPRESENTATION:
Too often, I read books by people trying to represent multiple minorities, disabilities and sexualities without ever understanding how to do it kindly, gently, and with heart. The author blew this out of the park. From the autism moments - the meltdowns, the not understanding social cues and stimming to the representation of sapphic relationships, the author did not fail in this book. I loved that we got to see cis people advocating for trans rights, that people's minds were changed throughout the book regarding sexuality and beliefs and the gentle, kind representation of plus-size women. Preston taught Lacey to own her autism. He stood up for her in every way she needed him to, yelling at teachers, teaching her that consent is not just about touching and showing her that no matter what poeple thought of her 'additional needs' she was loved completely. Harmony owned her looks, her body, her sexuality and her brains. She was unashamedly herself in every situation, even when people thought she was being too much or too annoying. To see two teenage side characters engage with the stumbling over first love and the difficulties of being LGBTQIA+ in a small town was so heartwarming and rendered me speechless at times. The author couldn't have done a better job with representation if she tried.
STORYLINE:
I am obsessed with this storyline. I wanted to know what was coming next, how Harmony would beat the bad guy, AND get to fall in love at the same time. I lived for the scenes where we got to see Harmony interact with Lacey or where Preston was reading out loud to the children. Nothing in the storyline of this book was left to chance. Every single scene, moment, and sentence felt purposeful and meaningful. Nothing was there as a filler. The creativity of the premise of the storyline was interesting by itself but inlcude impeccable characterisation, beautiful writing, and a never eneding twist and turns backstory, and you have a book worth every penny. And this book is worth every penny.
THE CHEMISTRY/SEXUAL TENSION
I left this one for last because seriously, I have so much to say. Let me preface this by saying that this book was definitely an 18+, with mature scenes and subjects being covered.
To begin with, Preston had a wonderful sense of right and wrong. I knew he would be attentive to consent from the get go because of how he treated Lacey when she was being bullied, but in every scene where he was being physical in any way with Harmony he checked in with her every step of the way. He reassured her, checked that what he was doing was ok, and only moved forward when he had explicit consent. I loved seeing this represented in a book. I love seeing people have the right conversations, the right boundaries, and explicit consent in romance books, and this so delivered on that.
Beyond that, the chemistry between these two was butterfly inducing. Not only did Preston compare Harmony to a Rubens painting (OMGG!!?) but he went on to spend paragraphs talking about how beautiful she was and the way her smile lit everything up and hyperfocusing on her and the dresses she wears. Throw in the fact that he calls her 'sweetheart' without even realising it, and you have sizzling chemistry coming from Preston. Harmony was attracted to him from the beginning, but she was a tougher nut to crack. However, I loved that she finally gave into her attraction to him after getting to know him on a personal level. Getting to know his personality before getting to know his body (wink wink, nudge nudge).
"Let's see how articulate you are in a minute"
The physicality between these two was on fire. The first kiss scene was absolutely phenomenal. All the little details of their first kiss made for an absolutely phenomenal scene that had me putting the book down so I could recover. At first, it seems this kiss scene is a one-off. They avoid each other, and they are embarrassed and shy. But then she finds him in the back of the library and, per every reader girlie's dreams, they end up getting a little spicier than a first kiss between the shelves. Too often sex scenes in semi public spaces are cringe and a little OTT, but this scene was the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. The way he spoke to her, his tone of voice, and her reactions to him were all so realistic. That is what I loved most about the spicier parts of this book - they were realistic. Too often romance books hyperbolise sex scenes and make them into something real sex is not, further romanticising certain kinds of sex in relationships. This book did the opposite. Instead of romanticing a super activie/virile sex life, the author romanticices emotional intimacy AND physical intimacy - including the all important note that physical intimacy does not exist properly outside of emotional intimacy.
CONCLUSION
To conclude this essay that I could turn into a dissertation, this has been one of my favourite reads of the year so far. If I could recommend one romance book that combined all the elements this one does, I would recommend this every time. I preordered a phsycal copy almost immediately upon finishing the ebook.
Easiest five stars.
January 5, 2025
niet echt een goed boek om het jaar mee te beginnen, maar ik had niet anders moeten verwachten (wanneer ga ik stoppen met shitty romance lezen)
March 15, 2025
this was such a cute romance! the way their relationship had CLEAR and GOOD communication made me appreciate this book even more :) the pace was a little bit too fast for me, but i still was able to enjoy it! the setting of the small town was so fun to read :)
Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review!
Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review!
October 9, 2024
This small town romance debut FAR exceeded my expectations!! I loved that the MMC, Preston Jones is an autistic librarian and guardian to his younger autistic, nonverbal sister. When fat, conwoman Harmony Hale blows into town trying to organize a 'fake' music festival, she can't help being intrigued by the shy, seemingly grumpy Preston. This was a great opposites attract romance with emotional depth and a love letter to all the librarians out there fighting against book banning and censoring!! Great on audio and HIGHLY recommended for fans of authors like Talia Hibbert or Olivia Dade! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to reading what L.A. Schwartz writes next!
February 23, 2025
This was cute, funny, and mostly adorable. We have a few different representations in this including plus sized FMC and autism rep. On top of this, this book also brings up the importance of not banning books especially diverse stories. Overall i thoroughly enjoyed the majority of the book. My biggest gripe was i did not enjoy the FMC's personality at the beginning of the story. But as we continue the story, she quickly morphed into such a fun character. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun different romance read.
November 1, 2024
3.75⭐️
V cute.
V cute.
March 2, 2025
Loved it!
Our heroine is a plus-sized con artist, and our hero is a geeky, autistic librarian.
She plans the con of her life, he just wants to focus on his own agenda. Naturally, their lives get tangled and messy.
Our heroine is a plus-sized con artist, and our hero is a geeky, autistic librarian.
She plans the con of her life, he just wants to focus on his own agenda. Naturally, their lives get tangled and messy.
July 17, 2025
This was a debut novel? Whaaat? It was fantastic!! I’ve never seen the music man so I went into this book blind.
An adorable story with diverse characters and a wonderful insight to what a relationship with autism looks/feels like. Harmony was likeable, kind and patient. Preston was hilarious straight to the point and never said anything without meaning it. Their relationship felt realistic and so god damn cute. That scene in the library made my jaw drop - I wasn’t expecting any spice!! 🔥🔥🔥
Great read, highly recommend and I’m so glad I picked this up. Such a fun time reading 🫶🏻
An adorable story with diverse characters and a wonderful insight to what a relationship with autism looks/feels like. Harmony was likeable, kind and patient. Preston was hilarious straight to the point and never said anything without meaning it. Their relationship felt realistic and so god damn cute. That scene in the library made my jaw drop - I wasn’t expecting any spice!! 🔥🔥🔥
Great read, highly recommend and I’m so glad I picked this up. Such a fun time reading 🫶🏻
October 5, 2024
Got an arc through the publisher, 4.5/5
This was super cute! My friends all know you give me a funky little bespectacled nerd in glasses and it’s like catnip to me so I freely admit that was the principle draw, but this was a lot of fun! I tend to be picky about romance novels but I really enjoyed this
This was super cute! My friends all know you give me a funky little bespectacled nerd in glasses and it’s like catnip to me so I freely admit that was the principle draw, but this was a lot of fun! I tend to be picky about romance novels but I really enjoyed this
June 5, 2025
Originally posted on Just Geeking by.
Content warnings:
In My Kind of Trouble by L.A. Schwartz, con woman Harmony Hale returns to her home town with revenge in sight. Her latest mark is the man who ruined her father’s life, and she’s determined to make him pay for it. She doesn’t expect to find herself caught up in a book censorship case or fall in love with the cute librarian championing the cause. When things get complicated, Harmony finds herself split between revenge and a happy ever after.
I loved every minute of My Kind of Trouble! As a fan of Leverage and Hustle, the grifter angle appealed to me, and as a neurodivergent reader, I loved the representation. Schwartz has a real flair for writing romantic comedies, and the dialogue is as hot as the sex scenes. Harmony and Preston sizzle together, and the way she makes him flustered is adorable. A full cast of well-developed secondary characters supports them, adding depth and meaning to every scene.
The topic of book censorship in libraries is incredibly relevant right now, and it works well alongside the plot of Harmony’s con. Preston and his sister are both autistic, and the age gap between them allows for Schwartz to highlight the lack of change over the years regarding support for disabled and neurodivergent students. Schwartz is writing from her own lived experience, and it was wonderful to see an authentic representation of autism, especially in an educational context. The battle for support in schools for neurodivergent and disabled students is something that many people will recognise.
Lastly, I wanted to add that last year I interviewed L.A. Schwartz for repDISND, and we talked about My Kind of Trouble! Check out the interview here!
----
Follow me for more book reviews that discuss disabled and neurodivergent representation!
♦ repDISND ♦ Join us every July to discuss disabled & neurodivergent representation!
BLOG | REVIEWS | REVIEW SCHEDULE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST |
Content warnings:
In My Kind of Trouble by L.A. Schwartz, con woman Harmony Hale returns to her home town with revenge in sight. Her latest mark is the man who ruined her father’s life, and she’s determined to make him pay for it. She doesn’t expect to find herself caught up in a book censorship case or fall in love with the cute librarian championing the cause. When things get complicated, Harmony finds herself split between revenge and a happy ever after.
I loved every minute of My Kind of Trouble! As a fan of Leverage and Hustle, the grifter angle appealed to me, and as a neurodivergent reader, I loved the representation. Schwartz has a real flair for writing romantic comedies, and the dialogue is as hot as the sex scenes. Harmony and Preston sizzle together, and the way she makes him flustered is adorable. A full cast of well-developed secondary characters supports them, adding depth and meaning to every scene.
The topic of book censorship in libraries is incredibly relevant right now, and it works well alongside the plot of Harmony’s con. Preston and his sister are both autistic, and the age gap between them allows for Schwartz to highlight the lack of change over the years regarding support for disabled and neurodivergent students. Schwartz is writing from her own lived experience, and it was wonderful to see an authentic representation of autism, especially in an educational context. The battle for support in schools for neurodivergent and disabled students is something that many people will recognise.
Lastly, I wanted to add that last year I interviewed L.A. Schwartz for repDISND, and we talked about My Kind of Trouble! Check out the interview here!
----
Follow me for more book reviews that discuss disabled and neurodivergent representation!
♦ repDISND ♦ Join us every July to discuss disabled & neurodivergent representation!
BLOG | REVIEWS | REVIEW SCHEDULE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST |
March 11, 2025
This was really cute and the premise was a lot of fun, however I struggled a little with the execution.
While I absolutely adored Preston, I just couldn’t get past the amount of time Harmony strung along her con, despite knowing how many people she’d hurt in the end, even if they did get their money back. I also felt the conclusion was far too easy and quick considering the lies she’d told. I also wasn’t totally sold on the emotional connection between Preston and Harmony.
That being said, overall this was a fun read and I absolutely adored the multiple facets of diverse representation, especially Lacey and Preston’s varying autistic experiences. Even though I didn’t love this quite as much as I’d hoped, I’d definitely be interested in reading more from L.A. Schwartz in the future.
what to expect:
- plus sized fmc
- autistic mmc and side character
- single guardian
- small town
- opposites attract
- con woman x librarian
TW: biphobia, transphobia, ableism
While I absolutely adored Preston, I just couldn’t get past the amount of time Harmony strung along her con, despite knowing how many people she’d hurt in the end, even if they did get their money back. I also felt the conclusion was far too easy and quick considering the lies she’d told. I also wasn’t totally sold on the emotional connection between Preston and Harmony.
That being said, overall this was a fun read and I absolutely adored the multiple facets of diverse representation, especially Lacey and Preston’s varying autistic experiences. Even though I didn’t love this quite as much as I’d hoped, I’d definitely be interested in reading more from L.A. Schwartz in the future.
what to expect:
- plus sized fmc
- autistic mmc and side character
- single guardian
- small town
- opposites attract
- con woman x librarian
TW: biphobia, transphobia, ableism
January 18, 2025
Was giving 3 star for a while, just because I couldn’t stand Harmony — but that was kinda the point. If you like character development plots, you’ll like this book! Found family is present for both FMC and MMC. Representation is emphasized (in authors note) to have a fat main character, and a character with autism. The negative effects of banning books is touched on as well.
Loved the way this all came together. Small town community vibes that highlights the pros & cons of that. Romance was present throughout, but there was a lot more to this plot as well which I really liked.
Overall enjoyed this cozy read! :)
Loved the way this all came together. Small town community vibes that highlights the pros & cons of that. Romance was present throughout, but there was a lot more to this plot as well which I really liked.
Overall enjoyed this cozy read! :)
May 3, 2024
Ella es una estafadora.
El es un bibliotecario .
Harmony quiere vengarse del hombre que le robó a su papá y para eso necesita estafar a todo un pueblo entre ellos se encuentra Preston quien está desesperado por tener más dinero para darle todo lo que necesita durante sobrina. ¿Harmony dejara a un lado su venganza por amor o lo perderá todo?
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
El es un bibliotecario .
Harmony quiere vengarse del hombre que le robó a su papá y para eso necesita estafar a todo un pueblo entre ellos se encuentra Preston quien está desesperado por tener más dinero para darle todo lo que necesita durante sobrina. ¿Harmony dejara a un lado su venganza por amor o lo perderá todo?
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 11, 2024
I got a free e-copy through Netgalley, but this in no way affected this review.
I’m a sucker for small town romances, so I knew I would enjoy this the second I saw the synopsis.
The writing style is so good and engaging, I just flew through this book. So yeah, the plot may be a bit silly at times and yes, the ending was a bit far fetched, but it was such a fun book.
Harmony and Preston are such layered characters and I really enjoyed learning more about them as the book progressed. There’s a whole cast of side characters from the town as well, but they really didn’t contribute that much to the story and could have been fleshed out a little more or appeared a bit more on page.
The romance was so sweet and I loved seeing all the representation in this!
I’m a sucker for small town romances, so I knew I would enjoy this the second I saw the synopsis.
The writing style is so good and engaging, I just flew through this book. So yeah, the plot may be a bit silly at times and yes, the ending was a bit far fetched, but it was such a fun book.
Harmony and Preston are such layered characters and I really enjoyed learning more about them as the book progressed. There’s a whole cast of side characters from the town as well, but they really didn’t contribute that much to the story and could have been fleshed out a little more or appeared a bit more on page.
The romance was so sweet and I loved seeing all the representation in this!
dnf
April 16, 2025DNF @49% The beginning was strong, but I quickly became bored. I liked the MMC and the FMC was fine, but the book was kind of preachy…? So yeah.. not bad but not for me.
June 27, 2025
more genderbent retellings of classic musicals!! more!!!! if you write it I will read it!!!!!
August 12, 2025
3.5 Stars. I really enjoyed this one overall but at the same time the pacing was a bit uneven and often times there was just . . . nothing happening in the book. And while yes, I am currently in a Having Problems Focusing on Reading rut, I feel like taking nearly two months to finish this book is also at least partly because it wasn't consistently holding my attention. That said, I loved the hero, loved a lot of their interactions and will be reading the author again! Also yay fat heroine.
June 15, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down.
*sigh* I wanted to like this one so much more than I did!
Its not bad by any stretch of the imagination. I adored the premise and both of MCs. I loved that its a fat normative world and the discussions on book banning. And, I really resonated with Harmony's "leave them before they leave you" vibe bc: same girl, same. The buildup and miscommunication were done well. And I loved how we got two different types of autism rep. What a beautiful tribute to the diversity and breadth of this neurodivergence.
That being said I did have a few issues with this one. Like others have noted, the ending felt way too rushed and I get why that decision was necessary but I was still looking forward to it lol I also was so disappointed in the sex scene. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish it were fade to black. AH! Like the makeout scene in the library was so hot and this man is obsessed with her body so I expected that to carry over to when they had intercourse and...it just didn't! Part of this is more personal preference—I'm really craving stories where fat FMC's are worshipped—and part of this was just that the PIV was boring AF.
I would definitely be willing to try this author again, though I'd get it from the library versus purchasing.
If you're a theatre nerd, love books with quality fat and autism rep, and are looking for something with a touch of female rage, this is for you.
Rep: fat FMC, autistic MMC and side character, queer side characters
CNs: Ableism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Abandonment
*sigh* I wanted to like this one so much more than I did!
Its not bad by any stretch of the imagination. I adored the premise and both of MCs. I loved that its a fat normative world and the discussions on book banning. And, I really resonated with Harmony's "leave them before they leave you" vibe bc: same girl, same. The buildup and miscommunication were done well. And I loved how we got two different types of autism rep. What a beautiful tribute to the diversity and breadth of this neurodivergence.
That being said I did have a few issues with this one. Like others have noted, the ending felt way too rushed and I get why that decision was necessary but I was still looking forward to it lol I also was so disappointed in the sex scene. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish it were fade to black. AH! Like the makeout scene in the library was so hot and this man is obsessed with her body so I expected that to carry over to when they had intercourse and...it just didn't! Part of this is more personal preference—I'm really craving stories where fat FMC's are worshipped—and part of this was just that the PIV was boring AF.
I would definitely be willing to try this author again, though I'd get it from the library versus purchasing.
If you're a theatre nerd, love books with quality fat and autism rep, and are looking for something with a touch of female rage, this is for you.
Rep: fat FMC, autistic MMC and side character, queer side characters
CNs: Ableism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Abandonment
Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews