The Love Audit

by Lucy Eden

Childhood best friends turned workplace rivals must pretend to be engaged in order to save their jobs in this sexy rom-com.

Former childhood friends Jasmine Morgan, a PR expert, and Derek Carter, a meticulous corporate executive, have a renowned rivalry. Yet they’ve never revealed to anyone what turned their relationship sour. So when they’re thrown together on a revitalization project in the quaint town of Miller’s Cove, Florida, they plan to keep their distance and keep communication at a minimum.

Only when they roll with the little white lie of being on their honeymoon to get into an exclusive town event, they’re soon forced to keep pretending when they find out how fast news travels in a small town. Living in close quarters, navigating their rocky past, and working together day and night begins to crumble their prickly professional facades, revealing buried chemistry between them. They soon stumble across a hidden horticultural oasis planted by a pioneering Black inventor and must formulate a plan to protect the town from the corporate greed they didn’t realize they played roles in. As they navigate obstacles and uncover hidden treasures, they rediscover old feelings and realize love might be the most valuable discovery of all. 

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, African American Romance, Contemporary Romance, Slow Burn

320 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

Lucy Eden is the nom de plume of an romance obsessed author who writes the kind of romance she loves to read. She’s a sucker for alphas with a soft gooey center, over the top romantic gestures, strong & smart MCs, humor, love at first sight (or pretty damn close), happily ever afters & of course, steamy love scenes.

When Lucy isn’t writing, she’s busy reading—or listening to—every book she can get her hands on— romance or otherwise.

She lives & loves in New York with her husband, two children, a turtle & a Yorkshire Terrier.

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Reviews

[Iqra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a solid read! It had chemistry, banter, plot, depth and amazing characters.

The audiobook was so good hello? the narrators were amazing. Especially the fmc’s.

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC! ♥︎

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
This book was really cute!! I loved how the rivals to lovers storyline actually felt realistic. I was itching to see the two characters come together! I was surprised by the spice in the best way!! Whew! Loved this one!

[Isabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid romcom with fun tropes, some emotional backstory, and even a little bit of history thrown in. I don’t have a lot to rave about, but I also don’t have any complaints (except for the “kitten” nickname, I’ll always complain about that 😂). Jasmine and Derek had some fun banter, and the payoff from the slow burn was satisfying. The real star of the show is the duet narration, especially Wesleigh Siobhan! She did a great job bringing Jasmine to life. Overall this was sweet and fun!

Huge thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy!



*Late approval for this ARC but it looks soooo cute! Cant wait 💕*

[sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 3⭐️
🫧 Vibes: second chances
🎶 Song: into you - ariana grande
📖 Favourite Quote: "There has been a Jasmine Morgan-shaped hole in my heart for the last thirteen years, and now that you’re back in my life, I never want to let you go."
📚 Would I recommend? sort of
💬 tldr thoughts: a binge-able rom-com that felt a little superficial

In the package:
📦 childhood friends to enemies to lovers
📦 second chance
📦 workplace rivalry

Plot: Jasmine and Derek, once childhood best friends, are now being pitted against each other where they are assigned to lead a high-stakes PR project involving revitalizing a small town. The one with the best project proposal will get to keep their job. Old feelings start to resurface but they must face their past to move forward.

Thoughts: This was a decent rom-com but I wasn’t completely into their love story. The workplace rivalry was fun and this was a book that reads very easily. The rivalry was very short-lived and there was a third-act breakup 😩 i was hoping for some more angst. Second chance and childhood friends to lovers are some of my favourite tropes but it fell a little flat here.

Thank you Forever and Netgalley for the ARC!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook was electric! This was my first listening experience with a true duet-style narration where the narrators alternate dialogue within scenes, not just chapters, which created an immersive, movie-like listening experience. Wesleigh Siobhan truly shined—her delivery was so sharp, she definitely brought Jasmine's character to life. Overall, it was super entertaining, easy to listen to and follow along, even at increased speed.

The core dynamic—childhood best friends to rivals to enemies-to-lovers—was strong, providing tons of tension right from the start. The banter was hilarious, and the comebacks were delivered with such sharp, comedic timing that I was laughing out loud constantly.

Beyond the rivalry, chemistry, and spice, The Love Audit offers genuine depth and heart, and stands out in a genre that needs more diverse voices and stories. The story seamlessly wove in powerful themes of legacy and community, specifically with the resonant references to Tulsa. This grounding element elevates the novel far beyond a typical corporate workplace romance. Plus, the dog was seriously adorable, and a definite highlight of the story!

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a workplace romance that delivers on humor, sharp dialogue, bold chemistry, spice, and meaningful layers.

Thank you to the publisher, Hachette Audio, Hachette Book Group, and Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, for an advanced reader copy of this audiobook for review consideration. This review is voluntary. All opinions are my own.

Perfect if you love:
🔥 Corporate romance with spice
✨️ Workplace rivals
🔥 Enemies-to-lovers
❤️ Fake dating (fake engagement!)
💛 Saving a small town's legacy
❤️ Childhood friends / family drama
🥰 Dual POV Chapters
🎧 Duet Audiobook Narration

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Love Audit by Lucy
Contemporary diverse romance. Own voices. Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and second chance troupes.
Jasmine Morgan and Derek Carter find themselves competing against each other in a small town revamp. Neither expected their childhood friendship to tumble into a fake marriage but they both jump into the bed with the pillows between them for propriety. As they work on the town revitalization, the pillows and no-touch rules disappear. They are still competing against each other though which will be their next career move. Will it be too much for their new relationship?

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook. The narration is performed in a duet format (love!) by Wesleigh Siobhan, Leon Nixon and Lucy Eden. The voices portray the characters with clarity and emotions that can be heard throughout the story. The voices are complimentary and fit the images described.
I listened at 1.5 and slightly higher to be able to follow along with the print version.

Jasmine and Derek had a lot of backstory to work through and then are competing against each other. It stacks the odds against them but their feelings from all those years ago prevail as they get to know each other as adults. Jasmine impressed me with her integrity and follow through.

Drama, childhood to adult reconciliation, love, and a small town atmosphere make this story beguilingly lovely. Of course there are the expected disruptions, and resolution of happy town, happy people. It’s romance, and the author put it together delightfully.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio.

[suonnahbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The love audit by Lucy Eden
ARC from Forever
Release: Dec 2nd 2025
Omg loved them and the humour in this book. Their back and forth was everything. The tension and history between them was everything. I love their forced proximity having to work together and be fake married. Having them be old childhood bestie removes that layer of faking while trying to get to know basics things since they know. Now they faking and getting to know their adult selves but the feelings are there. This was a beautiful romance. I love them having to juggle wanting to kiss each other and or bickering lol. Obessed with the koda the dog 🐕🥹. The DRAMA was CRAZYYY wow. ATE THIS UP. Lucy did it again with this one 🥰
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Latazia · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆☆☆.5
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓉ℴ 𝒩ℯ𝓉ℊ𝒶𝓁𝓁ℯ𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 ℱℴ𝓇ℯ𝓋ℯ𝓇 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒜𝓇𝒸

I really enjoyed my time with Derek and Jasmine's story. This was a cute and funny romance. I absolutely loved the added elements of the black history and small town vibe that I got from reading.

Derek and Jasmine were childhood friends turned strangers due to past family drama. The banter they had was chefs kiss and I could feel their bond through the pages. They were both set in the past a bit much for me but I still enjoyed my time with these two. Tora is the highlight of this book for me. The bond he grew with Jasmine was soooo cute!

Eleanor and David were so cuteeee!

———
☞ Childhood Friends x Strangers x Workplace Rivals
☞ Small Town Vibes
☞ Found Family
☞ Forced Proximity
☞ Family Secrets
☞ Black History Reps

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC Review
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (and I’d give it more if I could)
Tropes: Childhood friends to almost lovers → enemies to lovers → second chance → forced proximity → fake marriage → workplace rivals
Setting: Miller’s Cove, Florida (aka the Black Hallmark town of my dreams)

Let me just say this: The Love Audit gave me everything. I’m talking tension, tenderness, betrayal, berries, and a fake marriage that had no business being that hot. Jasmine Morgan and Derek Carter are childhood besties turned corporate rivals, both gunning for the same promotion. So naturally, their boss sends them to a small town to “collaborate” and evaluate its potential for corporate investment. Oh.....and they have to pretend to be married. Because of course they do.

💼
These two are so good at pretending to hate each other while clearly wanting to climb each other like a tree. Their families used to be close until a Big Secret blew everything up, and now they’re stuck in Miller’s Cove trying to play nice while also low-key sabotaging each other. It’s messy. It’s delicious. I was living.

🏡 Miller’s Cove deserves its own spin-off
This town? Iconic. It’s a Black-owned, culturally rich, quietly powerful community full of inventors, doctors, lawyers, and lowkey millionaires who’ve chosen peace over capitalism. The soil is rich, the berries are magic, and the town’s history is deeply tied to Black resilience.....including connections to the Tulsa Massacre. Jasmine and Derek are supposed to assess its “value,” but instead they fall in love with the town, its people, and..oops..their fake spouse.

🔥 Slow burn
This is a slow burn with tension so thick you could spread it on toast. And when the spice finally hits? It’s earned, it’s tender, and it slaps. Nothing gratuitous just two people finally letting go and letting love in. I didn’t love the third-act breakup (I was stressed), but the resolution was satisfying enough that I forgave it. Barely.

🎙️ Duet narration supremacy
Wesley? A goddess. Her voice paired with the male narrator’s was pure audio gold. Every glance, every sigh, every “we shouldn’t but we will” moment was elevated by their chemistry. And the author interview at the end? Insightful, warm, and made me want to hug Lucy Eden through my headphones.

This book is Black joy, Black love, and Black legacy wrapped in a cozy, spicy, emotionally intelligent package. It’s giving Hallmark, but with depth, history, and heat. If you love your romance with brains, banter, and a whole lot of heart The Love Audit is your next obsession.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC 4.5 Stars!

Workplace Enemies to Lovers + Rival Families + Small Town Road Trip + Fake Marriage

This book follows Jasmine and Derek, who are told their company is making cuts and they need to find a way to show they are valuable to the company and present a PR strategy that can save their jobs. However there is only one position available and its best strategy wins. They both present projects at a small town called Miller's Cove to their boss and they embark on a destination trip to research the town and save their jobs.

Jasmine and Derek have a complicated past. Their families were close friends and business partners, and Derek even took Jasmine to prom. However things went sour between the families and they ghosted each other. During this trip to Miller's Cove, they present themselves to the townspeople as a newly married couple to earn trust and facilitate companionship among the locals. But like most fake relationships, feelings start to develop and their work trip becomes a little more complicated. Not to mention, they are starting to form real friendships with the locals they are lying to.

I loved the local small town in this book. It was such a close knit community where every one looked out for their neighbors. And I loved how they welcomed Jasmine and Derek into their fold. I did find the third act conflict to be very frustrating. Derek didnt want to listen to Jasmine, however when he wanted to come crawling back he wanted her to hear him out. I made me lose some respect for him. Also their nicknames for each other during spicy times was cringe for me and it felt out of place.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! I am a sucker for a workplace romance and combined with the small town vibes, it was a great listen!

This book was sent to me from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Allison • Alli’s Fairy Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars!!

[rtc]

[Angela Y (yangelareads) ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing).

There are three things that PR strategist Jasmine Morgan knows for sure: One, she is damn good at her job. Two, she will do whatever it takes to save her team from looming layoffs. And three, Derek Carter will always be her archnemesis—even if the man is ridiculously fine. Unfortunately, she and Derek end up on competing projects in Miller’s Cove, a small town highly suspicious of corporate outsiders. To gain the trust of the locals, she will have to ditch her blazer and pose as a honeymooning couple with her mortal enemy.

Derek is not about to let Jasmine best him on the venture that will seal their fate during this company audit. But wherever he goes, she is there—in his hotel suite, digging for the same research, and even stealing the loyalty of his dog (traitor). Worse, her tempting performance as his fiancée has him torn between killing her career or kissing her senseless. But as the two get deeper into their charade, they discover little Miller’s Cove has a lot of big secrets. Secrets that could save their careers but at what cost?

The Love Audit was a perfectly cute workplace romance, full of plenty of fun tropes. It was a decent rom-com but I was not completely into Derek and Jasmine's love story. They were trying so hard not to like each other that I did not feel the chemistry before they got together, and then the spice did not work for me. The story moves quickly and is very readable, though the classic third-act breakup felt somewhat forced.

That said, Miller’s Cove was a charming setting, and the small-town vibe added a lot of warmth. I especially enjoyed the subplot involving the hidden horticultural oasis, which gave the story extra depth. The town’s layered history was well done, and I loved how Eden thoughtfully incorporated Black history into the narrative. Overall, there was nothing wrong with this book—it just never quite rose to the level of being memorable or standout for me.

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up!!

i had a GREAT time with this book. i have been eyeballing this since it was put on netgalley but due to being a bit backed up arcs i couldn’t commit to it but i simply couldnt help myself when seeing the audiobook became available and i am soooo glad i finally pulled the trigger!! the narrators brought and already amazing story to life in such an incredible way.

i am a total sucker for childhood best friends to lovers, so adding on an enemies/rivals to lovers on top of this was already an automatic win for me but jasmine & derek completely took my heart and ran with it from the very start!! i almost listened to this in its entirety in one sitting, if i hadn’t started it so late in the day yesterday i very much wouldnt have put this book down!

the historical aspect of this book both real and fictional was one of my favorite parts of this read, the writing was so beguiling that i found myself completely forgetting that millers cove was not a real place i could get in my car and just drive to for a visit, yet i still yearn to do so. the way lucy tied in the tragedy of the tulsa race massacre with the founders of millers cove was simply phenomenal, i remember learning about what happened in tulsa for the first time when i was around 21 or 22 and just being completely baffled by the fact that this wasnt something we spent time being taught about in school. i think its really amazing that lucy included this history in her book that will only further help memorialize and honor the people lost in the tragedy.

this is one of those stories where id just love to see it brought to life by a movie, every last bit of this book was perfection to me!!

[Bookish Fam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story! It’s about Jasmine and Derek, who were raised in families that were best friends. Derek always showed up when Jasmine needed him, even though he was a couple years older. But when the family business dissolved and Derek’s parents got divorced they fell apart. Both are successful business people now and competing for the same contract. They have to go to a small idilic town to do research. They don’t want anyone to know why they are really there, so they pretend to be married and all their old feelings come flooding back. I loved the mixture of history, romance, and intelligence in this book. The banter was sometimes a little awkward, but the pace of the book was perfect. There’s some spicey scenes, but it’s not the main event of the book, which I thought was a good balance. I listened to the audio book and loved the narrators voices. I loved that they used the voices consistently throughout, instead of the male voice attempting a female voice in his chapters or vice versa.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced copy for an honest review!

[Mostly Bookish Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading and loving Love in Bloom, I knew I had to pick up The Love Audit—and Lucy Eden did not disappoint.

Eden absolutely nails spicy small-town romance. Jasmine and Derrick grew up together, always sharing a connection that went deeper than friendship, until their parents’ business partnership fell apart and tore them apart too. Years later, they’re thrown back into each other’s lives as adults when a work project forces them together—and all that unresolved history comes rushing back.

This story delivers everything I love: second-chance romance, found family, emotional depth, and undeniable chemistry. The tension is delicious, the romance feels earned, and the small-town setting adds so much warmth and charm!

[Darriona]

DNF @ 65% not even because I think it’s bad. I actually think this would be fine palette cleanser type of book possibly? but I just don’t really care how it ends right now. I may come back to it at a later date. (Probably not)

Thank you to Forever for the ARC.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Love Audit is such a fantastically satisfying read. It hit all the markers in a romance I adore, in which we see our leads find love through both emotional and physical connection. This is a romance full of second chances, of learning to trust, to take risks, and to stand by what's right. From its leads to its setting, I was utterly enamored.

Jasmine and Derek are two excellent leads that brought the banter, the heart, and all the chemistry! They grew up sharing vacations and laughs through amicable friendships between both of their families, until their respective parents cut the cord to any further connection. The reasoning was cloudy at best, but it ensured Jasmine and Derek would part for a number of years to come. And it would ensure they'd each blame the other's family for the falling out. Needless to say, they are truly at odds with one another. And on a corporate level, they're (distant) rivals, until they are forced to share space in a fight to save their jobs (but only one will move forward in promotion). They're sent to a small town to assess its viability for a corporate investment (in which they each create their own project idea) and find themselves tangling with truth and fiction as they reluctantly pose as spouses.

Second chance romance and fake marriage?! Say less!

The forced proximity during their stay also forces them to confront their past and reconcile what it means of their present and what it could mean for their future. There's certainly some miscommunication to attend to, Derek in particularly is quick to jump to judgement over communication, but I loved how the narrative gets all those knots untangled in due time. In many ways, Jasmine and Derek are learning about each other for the first time again. They aren't the kids they once were, harboring secret crushes. They are 30-something adults who either will let their parents' elusive discord continue to pull them apart, or finally forge their own path. One perhaps they can do so together. And I really, really hoped they'd do just that! They may be re-learning one another, but they also fall into each other's safe and comforting space so beautifully. It showcases how even with the years gone by, they can still find a home in one another. One that can share vulnerabilities, fears, and dreams. The chemistry between them is so tantalizing, but also so heartfelt. Even in the spice, which is so sensational! I consider the spicy scenes some of the best I've read in any romance. And I tend not to be big on spicy scenes, so I was truly impressed (and swooning nonstop!).

Then there's the setting...the setting itself feels like its own character. Miller's Cove has a rich history, one rooted in both tragedy and resilience as we come to find out its founders were survivors of the Tulsa Massacre. Weaving this factual history into this idyllic, dreamy town made its setting truly come to life. Like it's a tangible place to visit, to explore its culture, try its delicious unique berries, find community that lovingly stands by one another, and to makes dreams come true. I loved this town so much; its residents, its very soil, its history elevated this already beautifully rising journey.

My singular and truly not significant qualm is the resolution with the parents' drama. I'm with Derek, I don't see how those two sets of parents will mend into friends again. All I will say is Derek's mother in particular is a saint because I'd have lasers shooting out of my eyes in a certain scene in the end. But truly, such a minor qualm based on my own personal preference. I did think the overall exploration of that subplot was extremely well done. The reveal is incredibly well set up, I could sense it coming, and anticipated its every detail, which, once revealed, felt like a gut punch. In a way that means I was seriously invested! In a way that just emotionally fueled my reading experience positively. I think that's truly why I wasn't sure about its final resolution, because I became so invested to the point I felt the angst personally. So well done!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5

[Shauntelle (shauntellereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book understood the assignment and then exceeded it. The Love Audit gave me banter, tension, second-chance feelings, and a setting that actually mattered, not just a backdrop to prop up the romance. Jasmine and Derek felt lived-in, like two people with real history, real wounds, and unfinished business that refused to stay buried.

I loved how their past wasn’t brushed off or rushed through. You can feel the resentment, the hurt, and the longing in every interaction, which made the fake engagement trope hit even harder. Watching them circle each other, pretend they were fine, and slowly realize they never really stopped caring was deeply satisfying. The chemistry simmered instead of exploding right away, and when it finally boiled over, it felt earned.

Miller’s Cove deserves a shoutout because it felt like a character all on its own. The Black history, the community, and the quiet resistance to corporate greed added real weight to the story. It made the romance feel grounded in something bigger than just two people falling back in love.

This was tender, funny, emotional, and thoughtful all at once. I smiled, I sighed, and I absolutely believed in Jasmine and Derek by the end. Five stars for giving me romance with heart, history, and purpose.

[Esosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasmine and Derek are childhood best friends who haven’t spoken in years. A tense falling-out between their parents tore their families apart, and their friendship dissolved with it. Now, over a decade later, they end up working at the same firm—competing to keep their respective departments alive, and it all comes down to who can secure a major deal in the small town of Miller’s Cove.

This is a childhood-friends-to-lovers and fake dating trope, and the messy situation they’re thrown into creates the perfect backdrop for a funny, charming romance. Their banter feels so natural and genuinely had me smiling. The decades-old feud between their families adds an interesting thread of mystery throughout the book, raising the stakes as Jasmine and Derek start to rebuild their bond.

In the end, their trust is put to the test, and they’re forced to decide what truly matters most. I had a great time reading this one!

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did this as an audiobook & was pleasantly surprised that it was duet narration. Wesleigh Siobhan is one of my favorites & this was my intro to Leon Nixon and it didn’t disappoint. Jasmine & Derek grew up together until a rift with their parents forced them apart for 13yrs. I’m a sucker for a fake dating/marriage, small town, forced proximity story. And I loved seeing them come (back) together organically with so much fun banter, sarcasm, and dry humor. I loved the small town vibes and the side characters. The town was full of rich history that connected back to the Tulsa Race Massacre. Being able to weave a heavy topic like that into a rom-com took skill and was nicely done. Beyond the romance though, this was a story of learning to trust again, healing parent wounds, and deciding how much is your soul worth in order to advance your career.

[Montes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the storyline, I’m always a fan of a second chance romance. I liked the small incorporation of history into the story. The characters that lived in Miller’s Cove were all such wonderful people, I wish Jasmine and Eleanor’s friendship had been featured more.

My favorite part were the narrators, they were so incredible you could hear the smiles in their voices. Truly, so wonderful.

If you like second chance, childhood friends to rivals to lovers, miscommunication and workplace romance, then you can definitely give The Love Audit a try.

Thank you to Lucy Eden, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC.

[samantha ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Forever, Hachette Audio & NetGalley for the eARC/ALC in exchange for a review.

The audiobook narration was really great - both narrators were really enjoyable to listen to. I especially loved the female narrator!

I think this was overall fine, I enjoyed it enough, I liked the fake dating/marriage and thought it was done well. I feel like the workplace rivals fell short - I wish that we would've gotten more background of the project that is so important for both of the characters. The small town and second chance romance was done very well. But I found the MMC irredeemable at the end.

[Celine 📚💘 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think kitten as a pet name needs to be punishable by law 😬 why was I the biggest fan of Derek until that came out of his mouth 🤢 immediate ick

Aside from that atrocity, I really did enjoy the history that was intertwined with the story, and I was a big fan of their second chance-ish romance and the characters’ journey with forgiveness and renewed trust. I loved Tora too!! 🐶

[anovelaccount (Kayla) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, I was really enjoying this one, but the end ruined things for me. Sadly I found the MMC irredeemable. Full review to come.

[siarra ʚɞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick palate cleanser with cozy small-town vibes. I really loved that the town is a predominantly Black community and how the author tied in real Black history, it made the setting feel warm and intentional. The banter between the main characters was fun too, even if some of the dialogue felt a little awkward.
My biggest issue was the fake marriage/fake dating trope. It felt unnecessary and kind of forced, especially since plain old forced proximity would’ve worked. There’s also a lot of miscommunication, predictable drama, and side characters that randomly disappear. The pacing is fast but repetitive, and the ending felt rushed.
Not amazing, not terrible, just an easy, light read when you don’t want anything too deep.

[Candice Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review—The Love Audit

🎧🅐🅤🅓🅘🅞🅑🅞🅞🅚 🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦🎧

🌟Thanks to partners @readforeverpub and @hachetteaudio for the listening experience.🌟

💕𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓐𝓾𝓭𝓲𝓽 by Lucy Eden | Narrated by Wesleigh Siobhan & Leon Nixon 💕

▪️ 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞:
This story caught me from the first chapter and didn’t let go. Jasmine and Derek aren’t just workplace rivals—they’re two people shaped by a childhood bond broken by adults who failed them. Their tension crackles with something deeper than irritation: unresolved hurt, tenderness, and longing they haven’t yet found words for. Every snarky remark feels like a shield; every gentle moment feels like a confession hidden between the lines. And when Derek’s dog fully chooses Jasmine? I laughed, but it also felt like the universe saying, “Stop pretending—you belong together.”

▪️ 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞:
Wesleigh Siobhan pours emotion straight into your chest—rich, textured, beautifully human. Leon Nixon matches her perfectly, giving Derek a mix of vulnerability and stubbornness that feels real. Their chemistry makes every scene throb with life.

▪️ 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭:
Beneath the playful banter and fiery chemistry, a powerful story about Black towns fighting to preserve their history unfolds. Echoes of places like Tulsa’s Black Wall Street linger in the background, anchoring the romance in something both heavy historically and deeply emotional. It’s a reminder of what gets lost when communities are erased—and what can be achieved when they stand their ground.

▪️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 & 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬:
Enemies‑to‑lovers with second chances, buried hurt, and small‑town secrets that breathe. Romantic, funny, and unexpectedly profound. As my first Lucy Eden book, it felt like discovering a writer who understands that love means nothing without truth.

▪️ 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✨ (4.25)

▪️ 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫:
Anyone who wants romance with fire, humor with heart, and narration that makes every emotion land.

▪️ 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬‑𝐔𝐩:
Expect emotional tension from childhood estrangement, enemies‑to‑lovers banter, and hurtful miscommunication. The story also addresses gentrification and erasure of Black spaces, echoing racial violence in America’s past—handled carefully, but heavy.

🏷 #TheLoveAudit #LucyEden #AudioBooks #AudiobookReview #bookstagram #CandiceReads #HaleYeahBooks #wellreadblackgirl #blackgirlsreading

[Maria Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy Eden’s The Love Audit is a fun play on the workplace romance trope, also featuring childhood friends who’ve been estranged and a fake relationship. While I’ve only read one of this author’s books in the past, there’s plenty to choose from in her backlist.

Jasmine Morgan is a PR expert whose world becomes a little more complicated when the small company she works for is bought by mega conglomerate MasonCorp. With the merger, the threat of layoffs is close at hand, and Jasmine knows she’ll have to pull off something really big to keep her and her colleague Cassie’s jobs safe. It’s not a question of money – Jasmine is an ivy league graduate with rich parents, but she doesn’t want to live off her parents’ largesse. She’s a successful businesswoman in her own right and plans to stay that way.

While waiting for a meeting with her new boss, Jasmine is stunned to see her former childhood friend Derek Carter also in the waiting room. When they were younger, their parents had been business partners but fifteen years previously (while they were teenagers) there had been a spectacular falling out and dissolution of the business for reasons Jasmine was never told. Rumors of embezzlement had abounded and the childhood friendship between Jasmine and Derek dissolved with no further contact, until now. It turns out that Derek works for MasonCorp and has designs on the same small town, Miller’s Cove, where MasonCorp has some real estate and where Jasmine is hoping to come up with a campaign for investment.

When it emerges that the boss likes both Derek and Jasmine’s ideas, he tasks them to work together to come up with detailed proposals for the town, with the winner getting to keep their job. Determined to win and best the other, Jasmine and Derek head to Miller’s Cove, and when the townspeople assume that they are married, they don’t disabuse them of the notion. And when they get stuck in a one bedroom suite at the bed and breakfast, instead of the two bedroom one they’d reserved, they’ve no choice but to go with the flow.

Getting to know the townspeople gives Jasmine and Derek second thoughts on their work objectives. In close quarters, they also rekindle their friendship and now as adults, realize that they can act on their attraction to each other. Sexy times ensue, but the clock is running out on their time in Miller’s Cove. Will winning at work mean losing at love?

I enjoyed this one. Jasmine and Derek’s history has some sweet points to it, and we also find out exactly what happened to destroy their parents’ business (it’s definitely an interesting revelation!). The small town of Miller’s Cove has some wonderful townsfolk and while it’s a fictional place, it came about as three of the founding fathers, prominent Black businessmen, escaped the very real historical event, the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. As Jasmine and Derek learn about the town’s history and meet the descendants of the original founders, they see how MasonCorp’s plans for the town could cause fundamental and unwanted changes.

On the relationship side, Jasmine and Derek connect emotionally and physically in some spicy scenes (with light kink). Both their families, especially Jasmine’s parents, Derek’s mother and his brother CJ, have key roles in the story as does Derek’s dog Tora whom he brings with him to Miller’s Cove (I really enjoyed the scenes with her).

There’s some second act drama to throw a wrench into Jasmine and Derek’s path to a happy ending, but the resolution is very satisfying. I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy spicy workplace/fake relationship romances.

This review also appears at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...

[Lochi's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Audit is a charming, slow-burn romance that does more than just tell a love story it roots it in a rich cultural legacy that elevates every moment. At its heart, this novel brings together Jasmine and Derek, two ambitious professionals thrust into a high-stakes competition to keep their jobs. What could have been a simple workplace rivalry turns into something deeper as they’re sent to Miller’s Cove, a fictional town that felt strikingly reminiscent of Oak Bluffs a real life haven of Black excellence, culture, and history (that I only recently learned about).

Miller’s Cove isn’t just a backdrop in the book, it’s a living, breathing character in its own right. The town holds stories, memories, and an enduring sense of pride that shapes how Jasmine and Derek see themselves and each other. Much like Oak Bluffs, which has long been a cultural touchstone for generations of Black families, Miller’s Cove represents resilience, legacy, and joy born out of pain (we learn more about the Tulsa massacre).

The chemistry between Jasmine and Derek is undeniable, Lucy brilliantly uses the town's history and atmosphere to create a space where the love between them just naturally progresses. As a reader, I was completely transported. I loved every minute spent in Miller’s Cove and with Jasmine, Derek and our furry friend Tora.

This was my first time reading Ludy Eden, and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for more!

[iowagirlreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Workplace rivals who used to be childhood friends and now sort of hate each other...but then they are sent to the charming little town of Miller’s Cove and they’re forced to fake being married in order to complete their tasks. The forced proximity made them confront their pasts and there were so many swoony moments. The duet narration was top notch! Wesleigh Siobhan and Leon Nixon nailed it!

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This was… fine. Solidly fine. It’s one of those reads where I don’t have a ton to gush about, but I also don’t have anything wildly negative to point to either. It passed the time, made me chuckle a few times, and delivered exactly what it promised: a light, easy romance that doesn’t ask too much of you.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Wesleigh Siobhan and Leon Nixon in duet, which is usually an automatic win for me. They both did a genuinely good job with the material — their chemistry works, and they brought the characters to life in the way seasoned narrators do. However, the sound quality threw me off more than once. It had this odd, echoing “recorded at someone’s dining room table” atmosphere instead of a polished studio finish. I hate to sound harsh, but it was distracting enough to pull me out of the story at times. If I had read the eARC instead, I suspect I might have enjoyed this one a bit more.

All that said, it’s a perfectly decent, easygoing romance. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing I’ll be shouting from the rooftops about, but definitely enjoyable enough for people looking for something fun, sweet, and undemanding. If you’re in the mood for a low-stakes, palate-cleanser kind of read, this one will absolutely do the trick.

I fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Hachette Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.