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Risky Business
In this whip-smart romance, a woman desperate to keep her start-up afloat is forced to pose as her brother’s assistant during a tech competition, hoping a male-led company will be taken more seriously, only to find her secret identity compromised when she has a hot one-night stand with the head of the competition’s assistant.
When tech founder Jess Cole is struggling to gain funding for her company, she begins to wonder if it’s because she’s a woman in the male-dominated tech industry—especially due to a former incident and subsequent NDA that’s been following her for years. In an act of financial desperation, she applies to a competition for start-ups using her twin brother Spencer’s name, pretending to be a man. To her surprise, it works! As though she’s discovered the ultimate industry cheat code, Jess and Spencer are invited into the exclusive world of Tech Rumble, an annual innovation competition hosted on the world’s stage by tech darling Dominic Odericco.
Spencer, an out-of-work actor, must pretend to be the CEO, and Jess must become his loyal “assistant,” Violet. Spencer is thrust into the limelight; charming Dominic and the competition judges but making promises Jess can’t keep—or afford.
“Violet” is introduced to the handsome Oliver, a fellow assistant who shows her how to let her hair down and enjoy life outside the pressures of her job. But she soon discovers falling for Oliver is riskier than any mistake Spencer has made.
During wild nights with Oliver in Rome, secret rendezvous in Paris, and luxurious parties in Vienna, Jess must navigate the competition and try to stay on top of her lies, especially when someone from her past comes sniffing around, putting her ruse at risk.
A nod to the early 2000s Shakespeare adaptations, this twist on The Twelfth Night is a fast-paced steamy ride from start to finish!
When tech founder Jess Cole is struggling to gain funding for her company, she begins to wonder if it’s because she’s a woman in the male-dominated tech industry—especially due to a former incident and subsequent NDA that’s been following her for years. In an act of financial desperation, she applies to a competition for start-ups using her twin brother Spencer’s name, pretending to be a man. To her surprise, it works! As though she’s discovered the ultimate industry cheat code, Jess and Spencer are invited into the exclusive world of Tech Rumble, an annual innovation competition hosted on the world’s stage by tech darling Dominic Odericco.
Spencer, an out-of-work actor, must pretend to be the CEO, and Jess must become his loyal “assistant,” Violet. Spencer is thrust into the limelight; charming Dominic and the competition judges but making promises Jess can’t keep—or afford.
“Violet” is introduced to the handsome Oliver, a fellow assistant who shows her how to let her hair down and enjoy life outside the pressures of her job. But she soon discovers falling for Oliver is riskier than any mistake Spencer has made.
During wild nights with Oliver in Rome, secret rendezvous in Paris, and luxurious parties in Vienna, Jess must navigate the competition and try to stay on top of her lies, especially when someone from her past comes sniffing around, putting her ruse at risk.
A nod to the early 2000s Shakespeare adaptations, this twist on The Twelfth Night is a fast-paced steamy ride from start to finish!
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2026
About the author
Annabelle Slator
4 books193 followersFollow Annabelle on Instagram and Tiktok: @annabelleslator
Annabelle Slator grew up writing stories in the depths of the British countryside. After achieving a degree in creative writing Annabelle spent most of her late teens and early twenties writing social media and blog posts for start-ups and tech companies in London. Nowadays, if she isn't spending time writing, you can almost always find her obsessing over niche internet drama, practising her fencing parry or mooching around vintage fairs and flea markets with her husband and two mini dachshunds, Gruffalo and Gryffin. The Launch Date is Annabelle's first book, inspired by her time working in the wild world of dating apps.
Annabelle Slator grew up writing stories in the depths of the British countryside. After achieving a degree in creative writing Annabelle spent most of her late teens and early twenties writing social media and blog posts for start-ups and tech companies in London. Nowadays, if she isn't spending time writing, you can almost always find her obsessing over niche internet drama, practising her fencing parry or mooching around vintage fairs and flea markets with her husband and two mini dachshunds, Gruffalo and Gryffin. The Launch Date is Annabelle's first book, inspired by her time working in the wild world of dating apps.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
May 9, 2025
This book made me feel things I didn’t know I could feel. Specifically the feeling of a gun resting against the back of my head as the author, aka my wife, encourages me to write this five star review. Please go read it. Please.
May 5, 2026
Okay, so I’m giving this one four stars because honestly, it was pretty slow at the very beginning 😭. Once it got going though, I was completely hooked. Jess is the kind of heroine who makes you root for her even when you’re groaning at the page (like girl WHAT are you doing?!). BUT I loved how fearless she was in putting herself—and her dreams—on the line, even when there was no guarantee she’d succeed.
Watching her navigate this crazy tech competition while pretending to be her brother’s assistant was thrilling (and also slightly stressful). She’s so strong. Especially given what she’s been through and how little support she really has 😔, I loved seeing her learn to stand up for herself and actually enjoy life a little. ✨🫶🏼
Now, Spencer… I have feelings. Mostly irritation LOL. 😒🤚🏼 I get he’s trying to help, but a lot of the time I wanted to shake him for not really supporting her or for taking advantage of her plan. He improves later, but wow was my patience was tested. And Oliver… oh poor sweet Oliver 😭 He was so nice and steady, yet stuck in the dark for so long thanks to Jess/Violet’s secrecy. 🥲🥲 The miscommunication trope was driving me a little crazy, but it did make the tension and the stakes feel more real (though it was frustrating at times). 🤦🏼♀️
Overall, this story is a great reminder that taking risks is scary and exhausting, but sometimes the payoff is so worth it. Between the high-stakes competition, secret identities, and romance that sizzles in all the right ways, it’s a fun, suspenseful ride. Definitely worth picking up if you want a story that’s clever, a little messy, and totally satisfying in the end.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”He smells like black pepper and dark chocolate, two foods I've never thought of putting together and now am craving nothing but.”
"My attraction to you is choiceless. If you let me, I'd have you with any name.”
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
💜 meet cute
💜 one night stand (ish)
💜 hidden identity
💜 strangers → lovers
💜 single POV (hers)
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Annabelle Slator for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
Watching her navigate this crazy tech competition while pretending to be her brother’s assistant was thrilling (and also slightly stressful). She’s so strong. Especially given what she’s been through and how little support she really has 😔, I loved seeing her learn to stand up for herself and actually enjoy life a little. ✨🫶🏼
Now, Spencer… I have feelings. Mostly irritation LOL. 😒🤚🏼 I get he’s trying to help, but a lot of the time I wanted to shake him for not really supporting her or for taking advantage of her plan. He improves later, but wow was my patience was tested. And Oliver… oh poor sweet Oliver 😭 He was so nice and steady, yet stuck in the dark for so long thanks to Jess/Violet’s secrecy. 🥲🥲 The miscommunication trope was driving me a little crazy, but it did make the tension and the stakes feel more real (though it was frustrating at times). 🤦🏼♀️
Overall, this story is a great reminder that taking risks is scary and exhausting, but sometimes the payoff is so worth it. Between the high-stakes competition, secret identities, and romance that sizzles in all the right ways, it’s a fun, suspenseful ride. Definitely worth picking up if you want a story that’s clever, a little messy, and totally satisfying in the end.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”He smells like black pepper and dark chocolate, two foods I've never thought of putting together and now am craving nothing but.”
"My attraction to you is choiceless. If you let me, I'd have you with any name.”
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
💜 meet cute
💜 one night stand (ish)
💜 hidden identity
💜 strangers → lovers
💜 single POV (hers)
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Annabelle Slator for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
February 14, 2026
this book had me STRESSED for jess from the very beginning.
jess is in a desperate position, she’s about to lose her start up if she doesn’t secure funding. she doesn’t have any luck until she accidentally uses “mr.” on an application. deciding to move forward with the process after being accepted, she asks her charismatic twin brother to pose as the CEO while she acts as his assistant.
i felt bad for jess, her family is terrible to her. even her brother spencer is a little selfish when it comes to her problems and doesn’t notice the turmoil she’s in most of the time, some of it being his fault. she has a great idea for her company but is afraid her past and the fact that she is a women is ruining her chances of growing it into something great. you definitely root for her while hating the situation she’s put herself in.
the ending was satisfying enough to make up for the nail biting suspense of their charade! the mmc, oliver was very likable and seemed like such a breath of fresh air for jess.
thank you netgalley for the arc
jess is in a desperate position, she’s about to lose her start up if she doesn’t secure funding. she doesn’t have any luck until she accidentally uses “mr.” on an application. deciding to move forward with the process after being accepted, she asks her charismatic twin brother to pose as the CEO while she acts as his assistant.
i felt bad for jess, her family is terrible to her. even her brother spencer is a little selfish when it comes to her problems and doesn’t notice the turmoil she’s in most of the time, some of it being his fault. she has a great idea for her company but is afraid her past and the fact that she is a women is ruining her chances of growing it into something great. you definitely root for her while hating the situation she’s put herself in.
the ending was satisfying enough to make up for the nail biting suspense of their charade! the mmc, oliver was very likable and seemed like such a breath of fresh air for jess.
thank you netgalley for the arc
December 29, 2025
4 ⭐️
Thank you to Penguin, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for the review copy of Risky Business, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was such a fun read; it’s always refreshing when you read about a female CEO, and in this story that follows Jess Cole, it highlights some real important realities that women in male dominated industries face. I’m so here for all the Women in STEM books that are releasing in 2026! 🤩💜
I thought Jess was absolutely insane, but so admirable for going to the extreme lengths that she had went to by roping her twin brother into pretending to be the CEO for a company because he was a man, but does highlight the reality that if you are a man, you are likely to be taken more seriously. Equally, I found it interesting with every chapter highlighted the financial struggles that Jess faced. I could understand, however that might be some might be uncomfortable to see, but I think it offered an insight, if you will, of the financial reality that she was facing as a small start-up business founder, trying to find investors that would take her seriously.
This was a slow start initially, and at times there was a lot going on; Jess was balancing pretending to be the assistant to the CEO whilst a romance was brewing between Oliver, who was also an assistant to the founding CEO of the company that was offering the prize money investment that Jess had applied for. When the romance did pick up between Jess (pretending to be Violet) and Oliver, it was a lot of fun. I really liked Oliver. He was confident, but not in an overbearing, arrogant way. Jess, who had been a victim of workplace sexual harassment had her hesitations when it came to trusting men, which again was another important reality women have unfortunately experienced, especially within male dominated industries. At times, I would’ve liked to have seen a little more explored on their budding romance, but that’s just my personal preference.
I did find it strange, and at times genuinely baffling, what the issue was with Jess’s parents, who had clearly favoured her twin brother, Spencer. At first, I assumed it was simply that they didn’t take her start-up business seriously and not view it as a real job. However, a later scene in the book revealed something far more distressing. In a conversation with her parents, it became clear that they, particularly her father, had minimised her experience of sexual harassment, dismissing it as a cry for attention. They even implied that it was her fault, blaming her for what happened and for allegedly ruining a man’s career.
I did find that somewhat unsettling to read. As a woman myself, I fortunately have not had to fight to be taken seriously in circumstances like what Jess was a victim of, but I know how difficult it can be to be taken seriously in lesser situations, and to not be believed by colleagues or even the authorities. For that disbelief to also come from her own parents; the very people who should offer love and protection, was devastating, and it truly broke my heart.
Credit given to Annabelle for approaching such difficult and almost taboo due to not being talked about enough, matters in Jess’s story, as it was an important one to tell.
Additionally, I was really intrigued also by the side characters Spencer and Dominic, who respectively was Jessie’s twin and the latter being Oliver’s cousin, and their romance that had blossomed. I actually would’ve liked to have seen more of, because Dominic was perceived and came across as this stoic, grumpy tech billionaire, and Spencer was this carefree, energetic actor, looking also for his next acting gig.
All in all, Risky Business balances British humour which I loved, romance, and serious themes in a way I found both engaging and thought-provoking. While I did wish some relationships and themes had been explored a little more, it didn’t detract from how enjoyable and meaningful the story was overall. Annabelle Slator delivers a sharp, relevant narrative about ambition, gender bias, and resilience.
Tropes
Women in STEM
Forbidden romance
Sibling rivalry
One night stand
Shakespeare retelling (Twelfth Night)
Thank you to Penguin, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for the review copy of Risky Business, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was such a fun read; it’s always refreshing when you read about a female CEO, and in this story that follows Jess Cole, it highlights some real important realities that women in male dominated industries face. I’m so here for all the Women in STEM books that are releasing in 2026! 🤩💜
I thought Jess was absolutely insane, but so admirable for going to the extreme lengths that she had went to by roping her twin brother into pretending to be the CEO for a company because he was a man, but does highlight the reality that if you are a man, you are likely to be taken more seriously. Equally, I found it interesting with every chapter highlighted the financial struggles that Jess faced. I could understand, however that might be some might be uncomfortable to see, but I think it offered an insight, if you will, of the financial reality that she was facing as a small start-up business founder, trying to find investors that would take her seriously.
This was a slow start initially, and at times there was a lot going on; Jess was balancing pretending to be the assistant to the CEO whilst a romance was brewing between Oliver, who was also an assistant to the founding CEO of the company that was offering the prize money investment that Jess had applied for. When the romance did pick up between Jess (pretending to be Violet) and Oliver, it was a lot of fun. I really liked Oliver. He was confident, but not in an overbearing, arrogant way. Jess, who had been a victim of workplace sexual harassment had her hesitations when it came to trusting men, which again was another important reality women have unfortunately experienced, especially within male dominated industries. At times, I would’ve liked to have seen a little more explored on their budding romance, but that’s just my personal preference.
I did find it strange, and at times genuinely baffling, what the issue was with Jess’s parents, who had clearly favoured her twin brother, Spencer. At first, I assumed it was simply that they didn’t take her start-up business seriously and not view it as a real job. However, a later scene in the book revealed something far more distressing. In a conversation with her parents, it became clear that they, particularly her father, had minimised her experience of sexual harassment, dismissing it as a cry for attention. They even implied that it was her fault, blaming her for what happened and for allegedly ruining a man’s career.
I did find that somewhat unsettling to read. As a woman myself, I fortunately have not had to fight to be taken seriously in circumstances like what Jess was a victim of, but I know how difficult it can be to be taken seriously in lesser situations, and to not be believed by colleagues or even the authorities. For that disbelief to also come from her own parents; the very people who should offer love and protection, was devastating, and it truly broke my heart.
Credit given to Annabelle for approaching such difficult and almost taboo due to not being talked about enough, matters in Jess’s story, as it was an important one to tell.
Additionally, I was really intrigued also by the side characters Spencer and Dominic, who respectively was Jessie’s twin and the latter being Oliver’s cousin, and their romance that had blossomed. I actually would’ve liked to have seen more of, because Dominic was perceived and came across as this stoic, grumpy tech billionaire, and Spencer was this carefree, energetic actor, looking also for his next acting gig.
All in all, Risky Business balances British humour which I loved, romance, and serious themes in a way I found both engaging and thought-provoking. While I did wish some relationships and themes had been explored a little more, it didn’t detract from how enjoyable and meaningful the story was overall. Annabelle Slator delivers a sharp, relevant narrative about ambition, gender bias, and resilience.
Tropes
Women in STEM
Forbidden romance
Sibling rivalry
One night stand
Shakespeare retelling (Twelfth Night)
February 10, 2026
**𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
I want to get this started on a high note!!
Thank you so much Annabelle Slator for sending me a copy of your book (!!!) via Goodreads Giveaway!!
While I really enjoyed this book I have some constructive feedback! so in advance- please! don't think I'm hating on the author at all. Quite the opposite actually, I really loved the approach Annabelle took with the book!
One thing I definitely want to say first is that.. ANNABELLE SLATOR I LOVE YOUR WRITING STYLE 😳😳.
This book was written in such a beautiful almost lyrical way, I found myself getting pulled in and wanting to read this book very often, which wasn't hard -* despite how long I took to actually finish the book *- and was quite fun.
𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔:
I definitely enjoyed this book but one thing I really didn't like was the characters.
𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙚, Welll... I most definitely felt for her and was excited to see how business would flourish!
But I just had this constant thought in my head that she was painfully average.
No hobbies, no favourite foods, no favourite color - I could go on and on- not a single personality trait in her body. Oh! Except that she likes to lie, drink "Negroni" and constantly send mixed signals to the man she supposedly "loves". Unfortunately that's all I got out of her character. Yes she was very determined and confident in her work, and I LOVED reading about someone voicing the struggles of companies being prejudiced in the workspace of tech!
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙚: This man made me mad. As someone who understands what it's like to not be financially stable, him constantly saying things like "I need a suite" or "Oh I'll survive with a king size bed." After his sister repeatedly told him she didn't have enough money to afford that. Like?? Who does that? She didn't have enough money to eat lunch and yet he says "Go get me a chocolate Croissant." He was just giving me 100% rich boy "money doesn't matter" vibes.
Oh and also? His parents undeniable favoritism?? 100% not his fault but in the scenes where they're parents were belittling Jess, HE DID NOTHING!
MAYBE SPOILER UP AHEAD! ❗️❗️
𝙊𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 + 𝘿𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙘:
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! These two being cousins was an amazing twist and I loved them both so so much.
Oliver is such a perfect dude, he unknowingly stuck with Jess when she was at her worst and supported her.
I'm not really sure if this is a spoiler or not but Spencer ending up with Dominic made me so giddy, I love them together. Jess said it best "He's a stoic man mountain and you're a bouncy ball."
𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕:
I hate to say this so bluntly but a lot of what happened, we could have gone without.
I'd say this whole book could have been summed up in about 250-280 pages instead of the 366 pages there were. Which- in my opinion is quite long, considering I've only been reading short books this year. 🫢
𝑴𝒚 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
I enjoyed it! It was fun (more importantly it was: FUNNY!) and bordering on fast paced! I felt like the ending was a tad rushed despite what I said about the page count 😭😭.
The romance was perfect imo I don't have any complaints on that.
"𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐈'𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮."
Overall: 3/5⭐️, 3/5🌶
Again! Really really greatful to own a physical galley of this good book even though I didn't finish the arc in time!
I want to get this started on a high note!!
Thank you so much Annabelle Slator for sending me a copy of your book (!!!) via Goodreads Giveaway!!
While I really enjoyed this book I have some constructive feedback! so in advance- please! don't think I'm hating on the author at all. Quite the opposite actually, I really loved the approach Annabelle took with the book!
One thing I definitely want to say first is that.. ANNABELLE SLATOR I LOVE YOUR WRITING STYLE 😳😳.
This book was written in such a beautiful almost lyrical way, I found myself getting pulled in and wanting to read this book very often, which wasn't hard -* despite how long I took to actually finish the book *- and was quite fun.
𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔:
I definitely enjoyed this book but one thing I really didn't like was the characters.
𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙚, Welll... I most definitely felt for her and was excited to see how business would flourish!
But I just had this constant thought in my head that she was painfully average.
No hobbies, no favourite foods, no favourite color - I could go on and on- not a single personality trait in her body. Oh! Except that she likes to lie, drink "Negroni" and constantly send mixed signals to the man she supposedly "loves". Unfortunately that's all I got out of her character. Yes she was very determined and confident in her work, and I LOVED reading about someone voicing the struggles of companies being prejudiced in the workspace of tech!
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙚: This man made me mad. As someone who understands what it's like to not be financially stable, him constantly saying things like "I need a suite" or "Oh I'll survive with a king size bed." After his sister repeatedly told him she didn't have enough money to afford that. Like?? Who does that? She didn't have enough money to eat lunch and yet he says "Go get me a chocolate Croissant." He was just giving me 100% rich boy "money doesn't matter" vibes.
Oh and also? His parents undeniable favoritism?? 100% not his fault but in the scenes where they're parents were belittling Jess, HE DID NOTHING!
MAYBE SPOILER UP AHEAD! ❗️❗️
𝙊𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 + 𝘿𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙘:
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! These two being cousins was an amazing twist and I loved them both so so much.
Oliver is such a perfect dude, he unknowingly stuck with Jess when she was at her worst and supported her.
I'm not really sure if this is a spoiler or not but Spencer ending up with Dominic made me so giddy, I love them together. Jess said it best "He's a stoic man mountain and you're a bouncy ball."
𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕:
I hate to say this so bluntly but a lot of what happened, we could have gone without.
I'd say this whole book could have been summed up in about 250-280 pages instead of the 366 pages there were. Which- in my opinion is quite long, considering I've only been reading short books this year. 🫢
𝑴𝒚 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
I enjoyed it! It was fun (more importantly it was: FUNNY!) and bordering on fast paced! I felt like the ending was a tad rushed despite what I said about the page count 😭😭.
The romance was perfect imo I don't have any complaints on that.
"𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐈'𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮."
Overall: 3/5⭐️, 3/5🌶
Again! Really really greatful to own a physical galley of this good book even though I didn't finish the arc in time!
March 2, 2026
A very “She’s the Man” rom-com (she uses her brother’s identity to enter a competition because she’s been constantly passed over based on a pre existing condition — being a woman).
My knees were weak over this man hand making her pasta because she didn’t get to have any while they were in Italy.
My knees were weak over this man hand making her pasta because she didn’t get to have any while they were in Italy.
February 4, 2026
4.5⭐️ rounding up to 5⭐️. I loved Annabelle Slator's debut novel, The Launch Date, so I looked forward to this book and it didn't disappoint. I felt for both Jess and Oliver when something outside of their control had turned their worlds upside down and I was glad they found each other. I also appreciated that Jess was a creative woman working in a STEM field and that even though deception happened, I felt that the author found a way to deal with the repercussions in a fair and truthful way. Thank you to Annabelle Slator and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this early on NetGalley. It was my pleasure.
February 17, 2026
After adoring the launch date I was so excited to read risky business, and as a woman working in the STEM field it appealed to me even more.
Essentially our main character Jess desperately needs an investor for her Femtech startup Wyst. She accidentally applies to Techrumble, competition to get investment, as a man (signs her email off as Mr Cole) and - as she expects more success to come if a man is CEO - plays along.
As she gets through to the first stage, she hires her failing actor brother Spencer to act as CEO whilst she guides him through the presentations and hopefully she can get the investment she desperately needs to keep Wyst afloat.
Oh gosh this had so much going for it so let’s start with the good.
Firstly, as I mentioned I am a female in a STEM career, so reading a book about a woman with a FemTech start up company was refreshing and watching the journey of the business throughout the competition was something I was super invested in.
I adore this author’s writing so much, the way she describes things, the witty remarks, the descriptions of environments, food, etc - she can write really well.
And sadly I do want to talk about the things that didn’t work for me.
The romance - it just didn’t hit for me at all unfortunately. I could have done without it as personally it wasn’t slow burn enough for my taste and the chemistry that had me hot under the collar in the launch date was missing here.
The ending really upset me. After being so inspired by Wyst, Jess’ decision at the end took me by surprise and I can’t deny how much it disappointed me after she’d been such a strong woman throughout.
I still had fun with this and think others should read it but ultimately I preferred the launch date so much more.
Essentially our main character Jess desperately needs an investor for her Femtech startup Wyst. She accidentally applies to Techrumble, competition to get investment, as a man (signs her email off as Mr Cole) and - as she expects more success to come if a man is CEO - plays along.
As she gets through to the first stage, she hires her failing actor brother Spencer to act as CEO whilst she guides him through the presentations and hopefully she can get the investment she desperately needs to keep Wyst afloat.
Oh gosh this had so much going for it so let’s start with the good.
Firstly, as I mentioned I am a female in a STEM career, so reading a book about a woman with a FemTech start up company was refreshing and watching the journey of the business throughout the competition was something I was super invested in.
I adore this author’s writing so much, the way she describes things, the witty remarks, the descriptions of environments, food, etc - she can write really well.
And sadly I do want to talk about the things that didn’t work for me.
The romance - it just didn’t hit for me at all unfortunately. I could have done without it as personally it wasn’t slow burn enough for my taste and the chemistry that had me hot under the collar in the launch date was missing here.
The ending really upset me. After being so inspired by Wyst, Jess’ decision at the end took me by surprise and I can’t deny how much it disappointed me after she’d been such a strong woman throughout.
I still had fun with this and think others should read it but ultimately I preferred the launch date so much more.
October 29, 2025
I'm a big fan of Twelfth Night and its retellings, most of all She's The Man. But I'm happy to report there's a new favourite in town! Risky Business is a STEM romance after my own heart: Whip-smart, sexy and full of tension stemming from the main character making up a fake identity at a high-stakes tech start up competition.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I want to keyboard smash my love for this book. RISKY BUSINESS delivers the romance goodies–a failed one-night stand that evolves into a slow emotional burn, but make it a conflict of interest during a business competition, with a side of mistaken identity. It's comedy and tension and ooey-gooey chemistry.
Jess is the founder and CEO of a FemTech startup looking to revolutionize women's access to community, care, and support. But she's broke and the business is hemorrhaging cash, so she enters an investment competition hoping to earn, if not a winning prize, some publicity. A little oops on her application snowballs into a Twelfth Night-esque intrigue that has Jess playing the part of assistant rather than the CEO of her own company.
I love that so much of the story is about being "seen". Jess had to quit past work and disappear from social media after an ex violated her privacy. She's the "spare" child to her parents. And now she essentially erases herself to become "Violet the assistant" while her brother plays the part of CEO. The scheme is working as the business advances in the competition, but Jess isn't getting the recognition she deserves.
Oliver notices Jess though, okay Violet the assistant really, and by notices I mean collides into her during an elevator traffic jam spilling his charisma, charm, and coffee all down her only coat. He sees her across every bar and ballroom and countryside café. They always happen to gravitate towards each other, slowly developing trust alongside their attraction. But I'm shaking the pages needing Jess to tell the truth of who she is even knowing it'll tank her progress in the competition.
My brain was also shaking trying to figure out how everything would resolve into the classic romance HEA. Ethics of course are questioned the longer Jess plays her assistant persona. Villains crawl out from the gutter (no, really you will absolutely them) to stir up trouble. Financial deadlines looming on the horizon. I appreciated that the drama kept knocking on the fantasy of escaping reality. Jess had demons to face as herself and couldn't keep up the scheme forever.
Also, Oliver. This man. He yearns from a respectful distance then begs when the opportunity arises. I love that he sees an authentic version of Jess even under her Violet persona. He's got eyes only for Her and that's a heady powerful thing. So swoony.
I highly recommend RISKY BUSINESS for readers who ever wanted to respond very candidly to an under qualified manager. For readers who have been made to feel undeserving of the space they take up. For readers who might be hesitant to take a chance on themselves. Jess' journey represents how we deserve to be seen and heard and valued and loved. I am dreaming of what Jess is doing next. Four more epilogues please.
Thank you Avon Books for the advance copy to read and review.
Jess is the founder and CEO of a FemTech startup looking to revolutionize women's access to community, care, and support. But she's broke and the business is hemorrhaging cash, so she enters an investment competition hoping to earn, if not a winning prize, some publicity. A little oops on her application snowballs into a Twelfth Night-esque intrigue that has Jess playing the part of assistant rather than the CEO of her own company.
I love that so much of the story is about being "seen". Jess had to quit past work and disappear from social media after an ex violated her privacy. She's the "spare" child to her parents. And now she essentially erases herself to become "Violet the assistant" while her brother plays the part of CEO. The scheme is working as the business advances in the competition, but Jess isn't getting the recognition she deserves.
Oliver notices Jess though, okay Violet the assistant really, and by notices I mean collides into her during an elevator traffic jam spilling his charisma, charm, and coffee all down her only coat. He sees her across every bar and ballroom and countryside café. They always happen to gravitate towards each other, slowly developing trust alongside their attraction. But I'm shaking the pages needing Jess to tell the truth of who she is even knowing it'll tank her progress in the competition.
My brain was also shaking trying to figure out how everything would resolve into the classic romance HEA. Ethics of course are questioned the longer Jess plays her assistant persona. Villains crawl out from the gutter (no, really you will absolutely them) to stir up trouble. Financial deadlines looming on the horizon. I appreciated that the drama kept knocking on the fantasy of escaping reality. Jess had demons to face as herself and couldn't keep up the scheme forever.
Also, Oliver. This man. He yearns from a respectful distance then begs when the opportunity arises. I love that he sees an authentic version of Jess even under her Violet persona. He's got eyes only for Her and that's a heady powerful thing. So swoony.
I highly recommend RISKY BUSINESS for readers who ever wanted to respond very candidly to an under qualified manager. For readers who have been made to feel undeserving of the space they take up. For readers who might be hesitant to take a chance on themselves. Jess' journey represents how we deserve to be seen and heard and valued and loved. I am dreaming of what Jess is doing next. Four more epilogues please.
Thank you Avon Books for the advance copy to read and review.
January 18, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.
This book is such a beautiful, interesting way of showcasing just how difficult it can be for women both inside and outside of the work environment. Such an unexpected, thoughtful look into male privilege and how even the smartest, most successful women can be overlooked for not being male. If you like books about women’s struggles, strengths, and overall eventual successes, this is for you.
This book is such a beautiful, interesting way of showcasing just how difficult it can be for women both inside and outside of the work environment. Such an unexpected, thoughtful look into male privilege and how even the smartest, most successful women can be overlooked for not being male. If you like books about women’s struggles, strengths, and overall eventual successes, this is for you.
February 18, 2026
4/5 ⭐️
This had a slow start and it took me awhile to get through but once the two love interests met I was hooked. Oliver and Jess were a great match and Oliver's confidence was just the best - every scene with them together was 5 star quality.
Thank you to NetGalley, Annabelle Slator, and Avon and Harper Voyager
This had a slow start and it took me awhile to get through but once the two love interests met I was hooked. Oliver and Jess were a great match and Oliver's confidence was just the best - every scene with them together was 5 star quality.
Thank you to NetGalley, Annabelle Slator, and Avon and Harper Voyager
February 17, 2026
i feel like ali hazelwood would approve of this
February 5, 2026
Okay I don’t even mind the romance element of this book, but I was so distracted by the Jess’s asshole brother that I could hardly focus on it. Her parents are obviously not supposed to be sympathetic characters; they berate and belittle her for every little thing. But even though her brother is the golden child that they prefer, Jess and her twin brother are supposed to be close despite that and yet he’s the biggest most self important asshole ever?? Maybe it’s just because I have good siblings but how the fuck am I supposed to like this guy who constantly throws Jess under the bus, takes and takes from her, lies to his parents to make himself look good and her look selfish, and be so completely self-absorbed so as to not see how his actions impact her? At one point, he stands up for her in front of her parents, but he actually makes it all about him (insinuates that she will succeed only because he’s helping her). I actually felt physical visceral rage towards him. The MMC, Oliver, was basically a side character in comparison to his enormous fucking ego. The podcaster/influencer Jess tried to get to invest in her company also sucked. And the ending was completely unsatisfying.
(safe read)
(safe read)
Did Not Finish
December 20, 2025Dnf @30%
I'm struggling with this book. I can't stay focused or remember who characters are. I liked the idea but it's just not pulling me in
I'm struggling with this book. I can't stay focused or remember who characters are. I liked the idea but it's just not pulling me in
October 15, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I love the movie She’s the Man, and I when I saw that this was inspired by the film, I knew I had to nab it. (I especially loved the nod to the film).
We follow Jess, an entrepreneur who has come up with a new app that gives women, girls, and those who identify as women access to health and mental health resources. All she needs to get the business off the ground is an investor or two, but she runs into many road blocks. Unfortunately, the tech industry is dominated by men, and it’s still very much a boy’s club. When she accidentally applies to a tech investment competition as a man and gets accepted, she asks her twin brother to step in as the fake CEO of the company. On a whirlwind tour as they make it through each town, she didn’t expect to develop an attraction to the CEO’s assistant. Jess is juggling so many lies, what will happen when the balls drop?
Ms. Slator does an excellent job of capturing the world women must navigate in business. The hurdles that Jess faces are all too real. Obviously, you’re rooting for her to succeed and shove her success into the faces of family and investors who don’t believe in her. As the reader, you get a front row seat as to the frustration and pain Jess feels. You can’t help to feel it yourself and to look on your own experiences in a patriarchal world. She’s a great character, who despite the obstacles she faces is full of grit and determination. She’s quite admirable. I adored her and was with her the whole way.
The romance between Jess and Oliver is fun and flirty. I really enjoyed their banter and the moments where their vulnerabilities shone through. Oliver has dreams of his own that don’t include being his cousin’s assistant. I was curious to see his character arc as he realizes his goal of becoming a chef. He’s kind and thoughtful, and I loved how he stepped up for Jess. His playfulness was a nice contrast to her seriousness. I like how they bonded as assistants, and would’ve loved to see them navigate the world of an assistant a little bit more.
I’m not going to lie, the closer Jess got to winning the competition, the more nervous I felt for her. I felt as if I was cranking a jack in the box, waiting for the doll to spring out at any moment. The anticipation was anxiety inducing for sure, but that’s just a testament to Ms. Slator’s writing. As a reader, I could seamlessly picture myself in Jess’s position and feel the weight of her circumstances on my shoulders. This is what good writing is meant to do; make you feel something. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and was happy that Jess got the ending she deserved.
I love the movie She’s the Man, and I when I saw that this was inspired by the film, I knew I had to nab it. (I especially loved the nod to the film).
We follow Jess, an entrepreneur who has come up with a new app that gives women, girls, and those who identify as women access to health and mental health resources. All she needs to get the business off the ground is an investor or two, but she runs into many road blocks. Unfortunately, the tech industry is dominated by men, and it’s still very much a boy’s club. When she accidentally applies to a tech investment competition as a man and gets accepted, she asks her twin brother to step in as the fake CEO of the company. On a whirlwind tour as they make it through each town, she didn’t expect to develop an attraction to the CEO’s assistant. Jess is juggling so many lies, what will happen when the balls drop?
Ms. Slator does an excellent job of capturing the world women must navigate in business. The hurdles that Jess faces are all too real. Obviously, you’re rooting for her to succeed and shove her success into the faces of family and investors who don’t believe in her. As the reader, you get a front row seat as to the frustration and pain Jess feels. You can’t help to feel it yourself and to look on your own experiences in a patriarchal world. She’s a great character, who despite the obstacles she faces is full of grit and determination. She’s quite admirable. I adored her and was with her the whole way.
The romance between Jess and Oliver is fun and flirty. I really enjoyed their banter and the moments where their vulnerabilities shone through. Oliver has dreams of his own that don’t include being his cousin’s assistant. I was curious to see his character arc as he realizes his goal of becoming a chef. He’s kind and thoughtful, and I loved how he stepped up for Jess. His playfulness was a nice contrast to her seriousness. I like how they bonded as assistants, and would’ve loved to see them navigate the world of an assistant a little bit more.
I’m not going to lie, the closer Jess got to winning the competition, the more nervous I felt for her. I felt as if I was cranking a jack in the box, waiting for the doll to spring out at any moment. The anticipation was anxiety inducing for sure, but that’s just a testament to Ms. Slator’s writing. As a reader, I could seamlessly picture myself in Jess’s position and feel the weight of her circumstances on my shoulders. This is what good writing is meant to do; make you feel something. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and was happy that Jess got the ending she deserved.
February 16, 2026
4.5 stars
This book wasn’t on my radar at all, but Avon (thank you so much) randomly sent me a finished copy. Well, it was a big win for me. I saw it compared to She’s the Man, which is one of my all time favorite movies, and dove right in!
Jess is the owner and CEO of Wyst which is an app developed to offer resources specifically for women. When she gets a chance to apply for a big tech competition, Jess accidentally enters as a man. Knowing that men get more attention in the tech scene, Jess decides to continue the ruse and employs her brother to act as the CEO of Wyst for the competition and she poses as his assistant Violet.
During the first round of the competition, Jess connects with Oliver in the messiest of ways. It was such a funny meet cute. After a chemistry filled night between the two, Jess finds out that Oliver is the assistant of the CEO holding the competition, immediately making him off limits. As Wyst surprisingly continues to advance in the competition, the stakes get higher and the romance more forbidden!!
OMG… this book had me stressed out, but in the best way. I can’t fault Jess for her duplicity here because it’s for the sake of her company which is in a dire financial situation. And the reader is constantly reminded of this, as at the beginning of every chapter the bank account for Wyst, Jess’s personal bank account (which is constantly in overdraft), and all her expenses are tallied. Add in the constant threat of Jess potentially being found out as liar and the true owner of Wyst, I was constantly turning the pages to see how everything was going to unfold.
And then there’s the romance. Oliver and Jess had off the charts chemistry from the very beginning. I absolutely loved Oliver and his bold cheekiness. It never came off as smarmy or creepy. He exuded a confidence that was so attractive. He had an uncanny way of getting Jess to get out of her head to let loose and have a good time. Their chemistry mixed in with the forbiddenness of the situation made for a swoony, slow burn romance. The icing on the cake was no third act break up. I was holding my breath, waiting for the fallout, but the way Oliver reacted to everything solidified him as an amazing MMC.
This is such a well rounded, multilayered story. Jess‘s family dynamic truly broke my heart, but the family she found within Wyst put it back together. I loved the deep dive into women in STEM and how much women are overlooked in the tech industry. I really appreciated how that was rounded out with Jess’s triumphant ending. I truly didn’t know how everything was going to come together at the end, but it was so satisfying. This is a hidden jam of a romance, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Romance: open door
Thank you to Avon for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
This book wasn’t on my radar at all, but Avon (thank you so much) randomly sent me a finished copy. Well, it was a big win for me. I saw it compared to She’s the Man, which is one of my all time favorite movies, and dove right in!
Jess is the owner and CEO of Wyst which is an app developed to offer resources specifically for women. When she gets a chance to apply for a big tech competition, Jess accidentally enters as a man. Knowing that men get more attention in the tech scene, Jess decides to continue the ruse and employs her brother to act as the CEO of Wyst for the competition and she poses as his assistant Violet.
During the first round of the competition, Jess connects with Oliver in the messiest of ways. It was such a funny meet cute. After a chemistry filled night between the two, Jess finds out that Oliver is the assistant of the CEO holding the competition, immediately making him off limits. As Wyst surprisingly continues to advance in the competition, the stakes get higher and the romance more forbidden!!
OMG… this book had me stressed out, but in the best way. I can’t fault Jess for her duplicity here because it’s for the sake of her company which is in a dire financial situation. And the reader is constantly reminded of this, as at the beginning of every chapter the bank account for Wyst, Jess’s personal bank account (which is constantly in overdraft), and all her expenses are tallied. Add in the constant threat of Jess potentially being found out as liar and the true owner of Wyst, I was constantly turning the pages to see how everything was going to unfold.
And then there’s the romance. Oliver and Jess had off the charts chemistry from the very beginning. I absolutely loved Oliver and his bold cheekiness. It never came off as smarmy or creepy. He exuded a confidence that was so attractive. He had an uncanny way of getting Jess to get out of her head to let loose and have a good time. Their chemistry mixed in with the forbiddenness of the situation made for a swoony, slow burn romance. The icing on the cake was no third act break up. I was holding my breath, waiting for the fallout, but the way Oliver reacted to everything solidified him as an amazing MMC.
This is such a well rounded, multilayered story. Jess‘s family dynamic truly broke my heart, but the family she found within Wyst put it back together. I loved the deep dive into women in STEM and how much women are overlooked in the tech industry. I really appreciated how that was rounded out with Jess’s triumphant ending. I truly didn’t know how everything was going to come together at the end, but it was so satisfying. This is a hidden jam of a romance, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Romance: open door
Thank you to Avon for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
January 7, 2026
Early copy @ NetGalley
What do you get when a brilliant woman, a "broken" startup and tech-bro sexism collide? Apparently: chaos, fake identities, a hot assistant and a tour through central Europe.
Risky Business follows Jess Cole, the founder of a FemTech startup who is smart, driven and extremely tired of not being taken seriously. When she accidentally applies to a prestigious startup competition as “Mr. Cole” and gets accepted (shocking, I know 🙃), she does what any reasonable person would do: ropes in her twin brother to pretend to be the CEO while she hides in plain sight as his assistant.
The book is funny, yet painfully accurate in how it portrays the nonsense women deal with in male-dominated industries. Jess is constantly overlooked, talked over and underestimated, unless, of course, people think she’s a man. Annabelle handles these moments with humor, but the commentary still hits hard.
And yes, there is romance because annabelle wouldn't let us down. Enter Oliver, a charming assistant who is observant, kind and somehow manages to see Jess for who she actually is, even when she’s pretending to be someone else. Their chemistry is flirty, awkward and adorable, with plenty of tension thanks to Jess’s rapidly spiraling web of lies.
Fake identity + workplace proximity + mutual attraction = chef’s kiss.
What really makes Risky Business shine is its balance. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, but it also has heart. Jess isn’t just trying to win a competition, she’s trying to prove (to investors, to the industry, and to herself) that she belongs in the room. Bonus points for a supportive sibling dynamic and a cast of side characters who add to the fun rather than dragging things down.
If you like:
smart rom-coms
fake identities
women winning despite the system being stacked against them
and stories that feel like *She’s the Man* grew up and joined a startup
…this one is for you.
Final verdict: clever, charming, and rage-inducing in the best way. Read it for the romance, stay for the feminist mic drops. 💼💘📈
What do you get when a brilliant woman, a "broken" startup and tech-bro sexism collide? Apparently: chaos, fake identities, a hot assistant and a tour through central Europe.
Risky Business follows Jess Cole, the founder of a FemTech startup who is smart, driven and extremely tired of not being taken seriously. When she accidentally applies to a prestigious startup competition as “Mr. Cole” and gets accepted (shocking, I know 🙃), she does what any reasonable person would do: ropes in her twin brother to pretend to be the CEO while she hides in plain sight as his assistant.
The book is funny, yet painfully accurate in how it portrays the nonsense women deal with in male-dominated industries. Jess is constantly overlooked, talked over and underestimated, unless, of course, people think she’s a man. Annabelle handles these moments with humor, but the commentary still hits hard.
And yes, there is romance because annabelle wouldn't let us down. Enter Oliver, a charming assistant who is observant, kind and somehow manages to see Jess for who she actually is, even when she’s pretending to be someone else. Their chemistry is flirty, awkward and adorable, with plenty of tension thanks to Jess’s rapidly spiraling web of lies.
Fake identity + workplace proximity + mutual attraction = chef’s kiss.
What really makes Risky Business shine is its balance. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, but it also has heart. Jess isn’t just trying to win a competition, she’s trying to prove (to investors, to the industry, and to herself) that she belongs in the room. Bonus points for a supportive sibling dynamic and a cast of side characters who add to the fun rather than dragging things down.
If you like:
smart rom-coms
fake identities
women winning despite the system being stacked against them
and stories that feel like *She’s the Man* grew up and joined a startup
…this one is for you.
Final verdict: clever, charming, and rage-inducing in the best way. Read it for the romance, stay for the feminist mic drops. 💼💘📈
January 17, 2026
4.5
ARC: Thank you Penguin and Netgalley
I went into this book at what I thought was going to be a bad time - I felt in a romance slump, but turns out - I think I’d just been reading romances which were not hitting the spot for me. Risky Business turned everything around and I ended up reading it 3 stints over a weekend - never wanting to put it down between!
The Launch Date was Annabelle’s debut last year and was so excited to get my hands on the ARC of her second novel. Risky Business is based on a retelling of Twelfth Night - this had the air of Rom-Coms from the 2000s, and I could picture this as a fun film throughout as reading.
Tech founder Jess Cole executes a desperate gamble to secure funding by entering a high-stakes competition under her twin brother’s name for her business Wyst - an app focused on providing women access to mental health and therapy resources. While Jess poses as a humble assistant to bypass industry bias, her plan begins unravelling across a series of glamorous European cities. The stakes escalate when Jess falls for the charming Oliver, only to realise their connection threatens to expose her secret and destroy her company’s future.
I loved Jess and Oliver and was deeply invested in them as characters. The humour in this had me chuckling, particularly from Jess’ sharp humour - and I l found it smart that each chapter started with a bank balance update which anchored the story without having to over-explain.
I loved The Launch Date, but Risky Business was even better and I’m (not so) patiently waiting for Book 3 already. I’m looking forward to adding the physical to my shelf when I can hopefully pick it up at a lincs launch event!
ARC: Thank you Penguin and Netgalley
I went into this book at what I thought was going to be a bad time - I felt in a romance slump, but turns out - I think I’d just been reading romances which were not hitting the spot for me. Risky Business turned everything around and I ended up reading it 3 stints over a weekend - never wanting to put it down between!
The Launch Date was Annabelle’s debut last year and was so excited to get my hands on the ARC of her second novel. Risky Business is based on a retelling of Twelfth Night - this had the air of Rom-Coms from the 2000s, and I could picture this as a fun film throughout as reading.
Tech founder Jess Cole executes a desperate gamble to secure funding by entering a high-stakes competition under her twin brother’s name for her business Wyst - an app focused on providing women access to mental health and therapy resources. While Jess poses as a humble assistant to bypass industry bias, her plan begins unravelling across a series of glamorous European cities. The stakes escalate when Jess falls for the charming Oliver, only to realise their connection threatens to expose her secret and destroy her company’s future.
I loved Jess and Oliver and was deeply invested in them as characters. The humour in this had me chuckling, particularly from Jess’ sharp humour - and I l found it smart that each chapter started with a bank balance update which anchored the story without having to over-explain.
I loved The Launch Date, but Risky Business was even better and I’m (not so) patiently waiting for Book 3 already. I’m looking forward to adding the physical to my shelf when I can hopefully pick it up at a lincs launch event!
February 23, 2026
Annabelle has such a captivating writing style!
This was quite fun and also hard hitting on a few topics which was unexpected going in
I wish I felt a lil more for the romance, I didn’t really connect with Oliver as it felt very insta love without any deep emotional backing. Their spice scenes were incredible but other than that I didn’t feel any sort of connection between the both of them, which may be due to the fact we weren’t introduced to Oliver until late into the story
Spencer, Jess’ twin, was absolutely insufferable. I know siblings love to provoke each other but he really was a self centred asshole throughout. He continually threw Jess under the bus, especially with their parents, and never truly seemed to understand the impact of her past with her ex. He never truly redeemed himself imo.
Whilst the obvious villain was the ex, I feel like everyone bar Oliver played a part in destroying a piece of Jess. Spencer and his ego, her parents, STEM & the Tech space, even Dominic and unconscious bias.
I love a women in STEM romance and it definitely delivered on that part
Thank you Penguin Audio and Libro for letting me listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review 💫
This was quite fun and also hard hitting on a few topics which was unexpected going in
I wish I felt a lil more for the romance, I didn’t really connect with Oliver as it felt very insta love without any deep emotional backing. Their spice scenes were incredible but other than that I didn’t feel any sort of connection between the both of them, which may be due to the fact we weren’t introduced to Oliver until late into the story
Spencer, Jess’ twin, was absolutely insufferable. I know siblings love to provoke each other but he really was a self centred asshole throughout. He continually threw Jess under the bus, especially with their parents, and never truly seemed to understand the impact of her past with her ex. He never truly redeemed himself imo.
Whilst the obvious villain was the ex, I feel like everyone bar Oliver played a part in destroying a piece of Jess. Spencer and his ego, her parents, STEM & the Tech space, even Dominic and unconscious bias.
I love a women in STEM romance and it definitely delivered on that part
Thank you Penguin Audio and Libro for letting me listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review 💫
March 6, 2026
I adored Annabelle Slator’s debut The Launch Date, so it was a no-brainer that I’d pick up whatever she published next! When I found out her second novel was a Twelfth Night retelling, I was immediately sold! Twelfth Night is my favorite Shakespeare play, and She’s the Man is one of my favorite movies! Risky Business was such a fun and clever modern retelling of the story of "Viola and Sebastian."
I really loved Jess as a heroine! I felt so bad for her, but not in a pitying way. She’s smart, clever, and incredibly resilient, and she deserved so much better than what life kept throwing at her. Watching her navigate everything while still fighting for what she wanted made it so easy to care about her and root for her. Oliver was so dreamy! The yearning, the care, the respect…he was a perfect MMC! Spencer drove me absolutely nuts for about 98% of the book, but I’m glad he managed to pull himself together by the end.
This was such a clever adaptation of Twelfth Night It felt modern and fresh without trying too hard to fit the original story or forcing parallels. Everything translated really naturally into the contemporary setting. And The Twelfth Night and She's the Man easter eggs were so fun! I highly enjoyed this one and can’t wait to see what Annabelle writes next!
I really loved Jess as a heroine! I felt so bad for her, but not in a pitying way. She’s smart, clever, and incredibly resilient, and she deserved so much better than what life kept throwing at her. Watching her navigate everything while still fighting for what she wanted made it so easy to care about her and root for her. Oliver was so dreamy! The yearning, the care, the respect…he was a perfect MMC! Spencer drove me absolutely nuts for about 98% of the book, but I’m glad he managed to pull himself together by the end.
This was such a clever adaptation of Twelfth Night It felt modern and fresh without trying too hard to fit the original story or forcing parallels. Everything translated really naturally into the contemporary setting. And The Twelfth Night and She's the Man easter eggs were so fun! I highly enjoyed this one and can’t wait to see what Annabelle writes next!
March 25, 2026
Annabelle Slator is officially my must read author! I will trust her at the beginning for every year for her romance book to save me!! Will never ever doubt her!
Her writing; characters, relationships all deliciously written and theres just no dull moments when reading it. She excels not only in writing flirtatious mmc but such hot scenes!! It was a fun read
Loved everyone and everything in this book except for jess’ parents, they can help themselves to the graves. Truly doesnt deserve her and honestly spencer too. Although he did become decent towards the ending. Decent but not great. He needs to do more grovelling that doesnt involve dominic.
The ending and epilogue reminded me once again, why im such a fan of romance books🫶
Her writing; characters, relationships all deliciously written and theres just no dull moments when reading it. She excels not only in writing flirtatious mmc but such hot scenes!! It was a fun read
Loved everyone and everything in this book except for jess’ parents, they can help themselves to the graves. Truly doesnt deserve her and honestly spencer too. Although he did become decent towards the ending. Decent but not great. He needs to do more grovelling that doesnt involve dominic.
The ending and epilogue reminded me once again, why im such a fan of romance books🫶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 9, 2026DNF 45%
C’est malheureusement un dnf pour moi …
C’est un bon livre, la plume sympa et l’ambiance hein retranscrite MAIS c’est trop angoissant pour moi. Ce n’est pas du tout l’ambiance que je recherche alors je vais arrêter les frais.
Les soucis financiers de Wyst et la compétition pour gagner le financement me stressent trop, je voulais une romance avec de l’humour et de la tendresse, pas prendre peur dès que je dois continuer ma lecture :(
Mais si vous êtes prêts à lire un roman qui est plus qu’une simple romance, avec des enjeux liés au travail alors vous apprécierez sûrement cette histoire !
Merci à NetGalley et Random House pour ce sp numérique 🫶🏻
C’est malheureusement un dnf pour moi …
C’est un bon livre, la plume sympa et l’ambiance hein retranscrite MAIS c’est trop angoissant pour moi. Ce n’est pas du tout l’ambiance que je recherche alors je vais arrêter les frais.
Les soucis financiers de Wyst et la compétition pour gagner le financement me stressent trop, je voulais une romance avec de l’humour et de la tendresse, pas prendre peur dès que je dois continuer ma lecture :(
Mais si vous êtes prêts à lire un roman qui est plus qu’une simple romance, avec des enjeux liés au travail alors vous apprécierez sûrement cette histoire !
Merci à NetGalley et Random House pour ce sp numérique 🫶🏻
February 4, 2026
I devoured this book! Give me a female owned STEM company in a male dominated world plus make it London based, and I’m hooked! I appreciated Jess’ struggle trying to secure funding as a female and not being taken seriously. Plus her past workplace experience really messed with her mental health. Oliver was so perfect and I really appreciated the no third act breakup.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC!
💜Single POV
💜Forbidden Romance
💜Women in STEM
💜Sibling Rivalry
💜Mistaken Identity
💜Spicy/Open Door
“If you were a man that would have gone a lot differently.”
“Being near him feels almost like a physical pull, an ache needing to be salved.”
Thank you so much NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC!
💜Single POV
💜Forbidden Romance
💜Women in STEM
💜Sibling Rivalry
💜Mistaken Identity
💜Spicy/Open Door
“If you were a man that would have gone a lot differently.”
“Being near him feels almost like a physical pull, an ache needing to be salved.”
February 19, 2026
This book was a slow start for me but the last 25-30% really sucked me in and I couldn’t stop! Everything about this book is right up my alley so it was an immediate “must read” for me. There was a good mix of romance, drama, and suspense (though not the scary kind- more so keeping you on your toes because you’re just not quite sure who’s going to say what or how things will turn out). There were times when I felt like Jess/ Violet was going to get on my nerves, but ultimately she was so very relatable and found myself connecting with her in many ways. Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publisher for the ARC!
February 3, 2026
Unofficial review: 200 billion stars, 100/10, no notes, absolutely obsessed with this book.
Official blurb: Annabelle Slator's Risky Business is a smart, sexy, laugh-out-loud workplace romance that hooked me in from page one and didn't let go until the very end. If you've ever wanted to read the literary equivalent of Taylor Swift's song "The Man" with dangerously hot levels of spice and banter for days, this is the book for you.
Official blurb: Annabelle Slator's Risky Business is a smart, sexy, laugh-out-loud workplace romance that hooked me in from page one and didn't let go until the very end. If you've ever wanted to read the literary equivalent of Taylor Swift's song "The Man" with dangerously hot levels of spice and banter for days, this is the book for you.
April 14, 2026
I liked Risky Business by Annabelle Slator, but didn’t love it as much as The Launch Date, I’m just a sucker for enemies to lovers.
The underdog storyline really worked, especially how it highlights the struggle women face being taken seriously. The relationships were great too, but honestly the best one was the FMC’s relationship with herself.
That said, it didn’t totally stand out for me. Some parts felt predictable and the pacing dragged a bit at times. Still an enjoyable read with a fun premise.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The underdog storyline really worked, especially how it highlights the struggle women face being taken seriously. The relationships were great too, but honestly the best one was the FMC’s relationship with herself.
That said, it didn’t totally stand out for me. Some parts felt predictable and the pacing dragged a bit at times. Still an enjoyable read with a fun premise.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2026
Jess is a tech founder struggling to fund her new company idea when she enters a competition to win a grant. She accidentally checks that she is a male on the application so when it comes time to the interview she gets her actor brother to pretend to be the CEO of the company. It's a whole mess. Works out though. I recommend this read.
March 24, 2026
While I enjoyed reading her previous book, this one I didn't like much.
I couldn't be bothered by following what was going on, or even liking the characters. The twin brother was a nightmare.
I had to stop reading because I couldn't go any further
I couldn't be bothered by following what was going on, or even liking the characters. The twin brother was a nightmare.
I had to stop reading because I couldn't go any further
April 7, 2026
This was a book
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