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Lucky in Love #3
To All the Guys I Loathed Before
The man I met in the holding cell is my new boss.
I repeat: Holding cell.
New boss.
Nightmare.
Roman Drake is younger than me, inconveniently gorgeous, and way too good at pushing my buttons. I don’t need a playboy like him in my life, especially because I’m already plagued by my poor taste in men.
Case in point? I’m currently working with my ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend…at a matchmaking company. To make matters worse, my first love has just dumped a pile of debt in my lap, leaving me scrambling for an extra job. Good thing I can take care of myself; I’ll shoulder this burden on my own. But when my problems keep piling up, it’s none other than Roman freaking Drake who rides to my rescue, offering a solution too tempting to resist.
So I’ll work with him for a while—just long enough to rejuvenate my bank account—and then I’ll move on, leaving him and his laughing eyes in the rearview mirror.
Except the more time I spend with Roman, the more I realize I was wrong about him. It’s not his flirting I need to watch out for; it’s the way he looks at me. Somehow he sees what I’m trying to hide. He’s delighted by the things that have scared other men away.
I’ve sworn off love, and I refuse to soften now. I’ve had too many bad experiences in the past to go down that road again. If only the man from that stupid holding cell didn’t make it so difficult to stay away…
I repeat: Holding cell.
New boss.
Nightmare.
Roman Drake is younger than me, inconveniently gorgeous, and way too good at pushing my buttons. I don’t need a playboy like him in my life, especially because I’m already plagued by my poor taste in men.
Case in point? I’m currently working with my ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend…at a matchmaking company. To make matters worse, my first love has just dumped a pile of debt in my lap, leaving me scrambling for an extra job. Good thing I can take care of myself; I’ll shoulder this burden on my own. But when my problems keep piling up, it’s none other than Roman freaking Drake who rides to my rescue, offering a solution too tempting to resist.
So I’ll work with him for a while—just long enough to rejuvenate my bank account—and then I’ll move on, leaving him and his laughing eyes in the rearview mirror.
Except the more time I spend with Roman, the more I realize I was wrong about him. It’s not his flirting I need to watch out for; it’s the way he looks at me. Somehow he sees what I’m trying to hide. He’s delighted by the things that have scared other men away.
I’ve sworn off love, and I refuse to soften now. I’ve had too many bad experiences in the past to go down that road again. If only the man from that stupid holding cell didn’t make it so difficult to stay away…
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2026
About the author
Gracie Ruth Mitchell
19 books947 followersGracie lives in a tiny town in Idaho, where she subsists on a diet of chocolate, romance novels, and kisses from her cute family. She may or may not have a cheesecake addiction, as well as an addiction to scribbling story ideas on whatever flat surfaces happen to be nearby. Clean romance, romantic comedy, and mystery rom coms are her passion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
April 1, 2026
Was in the mood for a quick romcom, and that's what it was. Felt pretty indifferent towards the characters. All in all, not a new favorite.
February 28, 2026
This book was just a little piece of sunshine I needed on a dreary day! I’ve been excited for Aurora’s love story since All’s Fair in Love and Blackmail, & Gracie did her so good!
I felt for Aurora as she was navigating unforeseen challenges in her personal and professional life. She kept her emotions close to the vest, but her facade was crumbling in the face of so much change. Roman came into her life in a very unusual way (hello, holding cell😅🤣), but their chemistry was immediate & the banter was always good.
Both MCs were layered, with softer hearts than their stoic/flirty fronts showed. I liked their honesty, willingness to admit their wrongs, and apologize. Those were key in turning the trajectory of their journey to love one another. Roman’s appreciation for Aurora’s strength & work ethic was so good, and he brought levity and lightness to her life. She saw his depth and desire for growth, which made him better. They fit so well as a couple. ❤️🔥
I will always say this, but Gracie writes the Marigolds as such a relatable and grounded sibling group. Their conversations, arguments, and text threads all resemble things I would say in real life, and her humor shines there. I appreciated all the cameos of India, Jules, and Cyrus, as well as their significant others. 👀🤩
Overall, this was a delightful read and I recommend it for those reading this series!! Please go and enjoy the two before it to appreciate all the Marigold siblings have to offer. I can’t wait to watch grumpy Cy fall in love!! 🫠🥰
Thanks for the ARC, Gracie! All thoughts are my own. 🫶🏻
CW: This is a closed door romance with kisses only with no language. There’s mention of past cheating from former partners & a somewhat absent parent.
I felt for Aurora as she was navigating unforeseen challenges in her personal and professional life. She kept her emotions close to the vest, but her facade was crumbling in the face of so much change. Roman came into her life in a very unusual way (hello, holding cell😅🤣), but their chemistry was immediate & the banter was always good.
Both MCs were layered, with softer hearts than their stoic/flirty fronts showed. I liked their honesty, willingness to admit their wrongs, and apologize. Those were key in turning the trajectory of their journey to love one another. Roman’s appreciation for Aurora’s strength & work ethic was so good, and he brought levity and lightness to her life. She saw his depth and desire for growth, which made him better. They fit so well as a couple. ❤️🔥
I will always say this, but Gracie writes the Marigolds as such a relatable and grounded sibling group. Their conversations, arguments, and text threads all resemble things I would say in real life, and her humor shines there. I appreciated all the cameos of India, Jules, and Cyrus, as well as their significant others. 👀🤩
Overall, this was a delightful read and I recommend it for those reading this series!! Please go and enjoy the two before it to appreciate all the Marigold siblings have to offer. I can’t wait to watch grumpy Cy fall in love!! 🫠🥰
Thanks for the ARC, Gracie! All thoughts are my own. 🫶🏻
CW: This is a closed door romance with kisses only with no language. There’s mention of past cheating from former partners & a somewhat absent parent.
March 4, 2026
it was pretty good. not sure if it was the book or me, but I had a hard time keeping my attention on the book. on the surface, a lot of the characters in this series are fairly extreme, almost black and white, until you get their stories unfolded. I don't know how much I like that.
May 1, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ maybe it should be 4????? Something about it fell flat and I don’t feel like I saw the personal growth in either main character that I expected???? But still really cute and worth reading!!
June 23, 2026
GENRE
-rom-com
CONTENT
-🤬:none
-❤️: just kisses
-⚠️: stupid exes
Roman and Aurora kept me company on my travel day, and I absolutely loved their story! I think this is my favorite of Gracie’s series. I really enjoyed seeing India, Felix, Juliet, Luca, Cyrus, and Poppy again. The Marigold family is just so much fun! If you haven’t met them yet, I HIGHLY recommend it.
All right, so Aurora is definitely an eldest daughter with a black-cat personality. She gets into some sticky situations due to her dumb ex-boyfriends, but Roman figures out a way to be helpful with these things.
Roman! He’s younger than Aurora, and he is not intimidated by her. I loved his confidence. He was flirty, which was fun, but he also encouraged Aurora to ask for what she wanted. I really loved that about him. Oh, and I loved his nickname for Aurora! It made me smile every time.
This is a slow burn, for real. You will be waiting for that first kiss, but it’ll be worth it! I can’t wait to see what Gracie has in store for Cyrus and Poppy.
Favorite Quotes:
-"It's just cleaning."
He's not wrong, but I love cleaning. And he seems to know that.
"Because fast food is depressing and call centers are worse," he goes on with a sigh. Then he smirks, his gaze darting over my face as his former bitterness disappears.
"And you, little vandal, deserve better."
-Roman looks over at me. "Would you like me to open the door?" he says. His gaze is mildly amused, his voice polite, and he looks perfectly at ease as he renews pushing the door wider open while Tyler curses on the other side.
But my shouders slump as a frustrated sigh escapes. "It's in my best interest not to break the law."
His eyes sparkle, and he leans sideways, bending down a bit until our faces are level. "But you'd look so good in prison orange," he drawls.
-"Trust me to know how much I can and can't handle, please. Take me at my word." His gaze darts over my face. "And don't give so much weight to the complaints of boys who think they're men." He shrugs and looks back out the windshield. "If he thinks you're too much to hold, then you need someone stronger. That's all."
-"It's sort of sad, that's all. But if you're not—“
“I am," I say quickly as she tries to pull her hand away. I reach around my shoulder and grab her wrist—gently, because I'm not a caveman—and say, "I am. I'm devastated. Pat my back some more."
She arches one brow at me, her eyes skeptical. "I didn't peg you as the type to beg for scraps of affection."
"I'm not, normally," I admit. "I don't see the point. But this is a special moment of emotional weakness." Then I let go of her wrist and tap my own back. "I need consoling. See?”
-"And could you kiss me like I expect a man to kiss me?" I say.
A flash of amusement jumps in his eyes. When he speaks, his voice is calm but utterly and supremely confident, not boastful but assured. "I could, yes," he says, and for reasons I cannot explain, shivers run down my spine.
Roman drifts closer, his eyes dropping to my lips. "I might be younger than you," he says quietly, "but there are some things a man knows how to do, Aurora."
-"Happiness doesn't have to be a luxury."
-"I already said yes, didn't I?" she says, raising her eyebrows.
"I'm just concerned you might be tempted to use me for my perfect body instead of cherishing my gentle soul, I say, and she tries to hide her snort of laughter. "But like I said," I go on, "that arrangement wouldn't work for me."
"No?" she says with a tilt of her head.
"No." Slowly, carefully, I lift my hand and trail one finger down her spine. "When we do this," I say, watching with satisfaction as her breath hitches at my touch, "you're only with me, and I'm only with you."
-rom-com
CONTENT
-🤬:none
-❤️: just kisses
-⚠️: stupid exes
Roman and Aurora kept me company on my travel day, and I absolutely loved their story! I think this is my favorite of Gracie’s series. I really enjoyed seeing India, Felix, Juliet, Luca, Cyrus, and Poppy again. The Marigold family is just so much fun! If you haven’t met them yet, I HIGHLY recommend it.
All right, so Aurora is definitely an eldest daughter with a black-cat personality. She gets into some sticky situations due to her dumb ex-boyfriends, but Roman figures out a way to be helpful with these things.
Roman! He’s younger than Aurora, and he is not intimidated by her. I loved his confidence. He was flirty, which was fun, but he also encouraged Aurora to ask for what she wanted. I really loved that about him. Oh, and I loved his nickname for Aurora! It made me smile every time.
This is a slow burn, for real. You will be waiting for that first kiss, but it’ll be worth it! I can’t wait to see what Gracie has in store for Cyrus and Poppy.
Favorite Quotes:
-"It's just cleaning."
He's not wrong, but I love cleaning. And he seems to know that.
"Because fast food is depressing and call centers are worse," he goes on with a sigh. Then he smirks, his gaze darting over my face as his former bitterness disappears.
"And you, little vandal, deserve better."
-Roman looks over at me. "Would you like me to open the door?" he says. His gaze is mildly amused, his voice polite, and he looks perfectly at ease as he renews pushing the door wider open while Tyler curses on the other side.
But my shouders slump as a frustrated sigh escapes. "It's in my best interest not to break the law."
His eyes sparkle, and he leans sideways, bending down a bit until our faces are level. "But you'd look so good in prison orange," he drawls.
-"Trust me to know how much I can and can't handle, please. Take me at my word." His gaze darts over my face. "And don't give so much weight to the complaints of boys who think they're men." He shrugs and looks back out the windshield. "If he thinks you're too much to hold, then you need someone stronger. That's all."
-"It's sort of sad, that's all. But if you're not—“
“I am," I say quickly as she tries to pull her hand away. I reach around my shoulder and grab her wrist—gently, because I'm not a caveman—and say, "I am. I'm devastated. Pat my back some more."
She arches one brow at me, her eyes skeptical. "I didn't peg you as the type to beg for scraps of affection."
"I'm not, normally," I admit. "I don't see the point. But this is a special moment of emotional weakness." Then I let go of her wrist and tap my own back. "I need consoling. See?”
-"And could you kiss me like I expect a man to kiss me?" I say.
A flash of amusement jumps in his eyes. When he speaks, his voice is calm but utterly and supremely confident, not boastful but assured. "I could, yes," he says, and for reasons I cannot explain, shivers run down my spine.
Roman drifts closer, his eyes dropping to my lips. "I might be younger than you," he says quietly, "but there are some things a man knows how to do, Aurora."
-"Happiness doesn't have to be a luxury."
-"I already said yes, didn't I?" she says, raising her eyebrows.
"I'm just concerned you might be tempted to use me for my perfect body instead of cherishing my gentle soul, I say, and she tries to hide her snort of laughter. "But like I said," I go on, "that arrangement wouldn't work for me."
"No?" she says with a tilt of her head.
"No." Slowly, carefully, I lift my hand and trail one finger down her spine. "When we do this," I say, watching with satisfaction as her breath hitches at my touch, "you're only with me, and I'm only with you."
February 27, 2026
“I might be younger than you…but there are some things a man knows how to do, Aurora.”
Who seems to be unlucky in love? Why, that would be Aurora. And this story starts off with a bang…or a clang.
I fell 1,000,000% in love with this latest book in the Lucky in Love series by Gracie Ruth Mitchell. Not only have I been so eager to get my hands on the oldest sister’s story, but Aurora’s romance delivered in all the ways. Combining her strong and slightly prickly personality with Roman’s casual view of life made for rich banter, sparking chemistry, and all the swoons and laughs.
These two are opposites in many ways and the slight reverse age gap allowed for Aurora to truly explore herself. I couldn’t get enough and was ready to snatch Roman up if Aurora didn’t want him.
The slow-burn was perfectly true to character growth and the struggles that this duo dealt with. I LOVED seeing the sisters and Cyrus, their grumpy older brother. From start to finish, top to bottom, this whole series is a favorite and I adored every single thing about To All the Guys I Loathed Before.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Who seems to be unlucky in love? Why, that would be Aurora. And this story starts off with a bang…or a clang.
I fell 1,000,000% in love with this latest book in the Lucky in Love series by Gracie Ruth Mitchell. Not only have I been so eager to get my hands on the oldest sister’s story, but Aurora’s romance delivered in all the ways. Combining her strong and slightly prickly personality with Roman’s casual view of life made for rich banter, sparking chemistry, and all the swoons and laughs.
These two are opposites in many ways and the slight reverse age gap allowed for Aurora to truly explore herself. I couldn’t get enough and was ready to snatch Roman up if Aurora didn’t want him.
The slow-burn was perfectly true to character growth and the struggles that this duo dealt with. I LOVED seeing the sisters and Cyrus, their grumpy older brother. From start to finish, top to bottom, this whole series is a favorite and I adored every single thing about To All the Guys I Loathed Before.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
February 28, 2026
Loooooved aurora and Roman! I feel like we got more depth from Roman’s character and not as much as I would have liked from Aurora. But we’ve had 2 previous books with her so maybe that’s why. But still. I loved Roman’s arch and can tell he will be besties with Felix. Very excited that next will be the long awaited story of Poppy and Cy!!
March 13, 2026
“Rarely do I meet a woman who falls outside the parameters of “out of sight, out of mind.” I’m present when I’m with a woman, but once I’m alone, she usually won’t cross my mind. Aurora is proving to be different.”
I love the cute Marigold sisters and was so excited for Aurora’s story! She and Roman were adorable from their meet-cute, to their attempts to resist each other, to their happily ever after!!
Aurora’s heart is guarded after being unlucky in love. Roman is looking to find himself and break out of the mold his dad has put him in. Roman becoming Aurora/s boss is the best thing they could have happened to her. They had such a fun dynamic and I loved their banter and chemistry!!
Favorite quotes:
“If he thinks you’re too much to hold, then you need someone stronger. That’s all.”
“He wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like Aurora Marigold. He wouldn’t know how to make her happy. I’m not sure I know either, but I bet I could figure it out.”
“You’re something else, Aurora Marigold,” a low voice says from behind me, deep and smooth and full of amusement. I startle, but Roman Drake goes on. “A vandal and a liar.”
I love the cute Marigold sisters and was so excited for Aurora’s story! She and Roman were adorable from their meet-cute, to their attempts to resist each other, to their happily ever after!!
Aurora’s heart is guarded after being unlucky in love. Roman is looking to find himself and break out of the mold his dad has put him in. Roman becoming Aurora/s boss is the best thing they could have happened to her. They had such a fun dynamic and I loved their banter and chemistry!!
Favorite quotes:
“If he thinks you’re too much to hold, then you need someone stronger. That’s all.”
“He wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like Aurora Marigold. He wouldn’t know how to make her happy. I’m not sure I know either, but I bet I could figure it out.”
“You’re something else, Aurora Marigold,” a low voice says from behind me, deep and smooth and full of amusement. I startle, but Roman Drake goes on. “A vandal and a liar.”
April 16, 2026
My favorite of the series so far! I think this one showed a lot of personal growth and depth for both main characters. I also liked how confident they were with each other in the end. I’m looking forward to Cyrus and Poppy’s story!
February 28, 2026
Unexpected gem! This was so fun
June 13, 2026
❤️🔥 no-spice romance
March 12, 2026
This book is part of one of my very favorite series. I love the sisters in the Lucky in Love series so much. Aurora is one of my favorites!
The first chapter made me laugh so hard. Aurora, Juliet and India are in jail for egging Aurora's cheating ex's car. And there is another man there. They don't think much of him until, he ends up being Aurora's temporary boss, Roman.
I loved the way Roman works so hard to get Aurora to like him. He figures out pretty quickly that she likes to clean and organize things. And he needs someone to clean and organize his grandparents house.
Roman and Aurora are such a great couple. I loved this story so much!
The first chapter made me laugh so hard. Aurora, Juliet and India are in jail for egging Aurora's cheating ex's car. And there is another man there. They don't think much of him until, he ends up being Aurora's temporary boss, Roman.
I loved the way Roman works so hard to get Aurora to like him. He figures out pretty quickly that she likes to clean and organize things. And he needs someone to clean and organize his grandparents house.
Roman and Aurora are such a great couple. I loved this story so much!
May 26, 2026
I’ll be very honest, I actually loved this book and even finished it in one sitting, but something felt a little off this time. The chemistry between the characters was definitely there, but it kind of lacked that spark, if you get what I mean. I’ve read All’s Well That Friends Well before and even though it was cheesy, it still had the tension and excitement that kept me invested. In this one, I liked the characters individually, but the romantic tension felt kind of missing. The opening chapters were definitely engaging, but somewhere in the middle, a few parts started to feel a bit flat. It’s not the kind of book that makes you bored exactly, but it does feel like a “just finish it and move on” type of read. You read it, you enjoy it, you feel good for a while, and that’s it. Nothing felt deep enough to stay with me emotionally or make the story memorable in the long run. Still a good read overall, just not one that's going to leave a lasting impact on me.
TROPES
♡ Workplace romance
♡ Matchmaking company setting
♡ Boss x employee
♡ Reverse age gap
♡ Reverse grumpy x sunshine
♡ Eldest daughter FMC
♡ Playboy MMC
♡ Forced proximity
♡ Snappy Banter
♡ Slow burn
♡ Small Town
♡ Meet cute in a holding cell
♡ He calls her little vandal
♡ He fell first
♡ He sees through her walls
♡ He offers her a cleaning job
♡ He buys her house
♡ She takes care of him when he's sick
♡ She wears his clothes
♡ She always wears heels
QUOTES
TROPES
♡ Workplace romance
♡ Matchmaking company setting
♡ Boss x employee
♡ Reverse age gap
♡ Reverse grumpy x sunshine
♡ Eldest daughter FMC
♡ Playboy MMC
♡ Forced proximity
♡ Snappy Banter
♡ Slow burn
♡ Small Town
♡ Meet cute in a holding cell
♡ He calls her little vandal
♡ He fell first
♡ He sees through her walls
♡ He offers her a cleaning job
♡ He buys her house
♡ She takes care of him when he's sick
♡ She wears his clothes
♡ She always wears heels
QUOTES
“Denice’s brother, the son of our company’s founder, my temporary boss…is the man from the holding cell.”
“Were you busy last night, Ms. Marigold? Unable to get to your computer?”
He knows perfectly well we were locked in a holding cell together. “I did have a few things to attend to. What about you, sir? Busy night?”
“I’m a busy man. People to meet, places to go—you know how it is.”
“The woman standing in front of me will be the best part of this job. I can already tell.”
“Be nice to her, please.”
“I'm always nice.”
“And no flirting.”
“No promises.”
“You are wildly unprofessional.”
“Thank you.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
“You're something else, Aurora Marigold. A vandal and a liar.”
“You remembered me. I'm flattered.”
“Don't be. I can tell you need direction or you'll stand in one place all day.”
“Is that how you address the nepo baby who's been dropped into this position with no real qualifications”
“Baby is right. How old are you?”
“Old enough. Guess”
“I am supremely uninterested in guessing anything about you.”
“I'm younger than Aurora by five years. And while I never knew I had a thing for older woman, it's becoming rapidly apparent that I do. Or maybe just this older woman.”
“If Aurora Marigold is reading romances in her spare time, I want to know. I want to read everything she’s reading, just to get a peek at what’s going on inside her head.”
“A brother, maybe? Or a boyfriend? Why didn't I pay more attention while I was half-asleep, half-drunk on that concrete floor?”
“He was a great kisser.”
“Whatever you say. But there are better kissers out there.”
“I think you're too young to know anything about that.”
“You might be surprised.”
“Are you going to stay there?”
“Depends. Tell me to leave.”
“What?”
“Tell me to leave. If you want me to go, tell me to go. Don’t be shy.”
“I’m not shy.”
“Prove it.”
“Go. Please. Now. Leave.”
“Am I immature?”
“Yes. You’re immature.”
“Ouch.”
“Sorry. But it's true.”
“Let's not exaggerate. You're acting like I'm a teenager. Twenty-five. If you must know, I'm twenty-five years old—”
“A child. You can think of me as your big sister.”
“Not a chance.”
“I'm an excellent older sister—”
“Not to me, you're not. And do I look like a child?”
“You do.”
“You can ask. You're allowed to ask.”
“You want me to pry into your business?”
“No one ever does. I thought it might be fun.”
“I've heard women don't like when men keep secrets.”
“Women don't like when men do things they feel the need to keep secret.”
“Stop glaring at me.”
“I am not glaring at you or anyone.”
“Your wish is my command.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“I would be far too pricey for you.”
“I don't doubt it, little vandal. I don't doubt it at all”
“Going to miss me?”
“No.”
“Not even a little bit?”
“No.”
“You. Don't look at me. Not sexy today.”
“Are you actually embarrased?”
“Definitely. You're suppposed to think I'm dashing, remember?”
“You're sick. No one is dashing when they're sick.”
“Bet you are.”
“Did you miss me?”
“I did not.”
“What about at work? Be honest. You miss me at work, don't you?”
“Not even a litte bit,” I lie.
“I'm going to go shower. No peeking, little vandal.”
“I would never.”
“What are you doing?”
“I don't know. Consoling you, I guess. But if you're not—”
“I am. I am. I'm devastated. Pat my back some more.”
“I didn't peg you as the type to beg for scraps of affection.”
“I'm not, normally. But this is is a special moment of emotional weakness. I need consoling. See?”
“You're clearly just fine. I'm stopping now. You're perfectly okay.”
“What would you think about dating a younger man?”
“I don't know. It would depend how much younger, I guess.”
“Five years younger.”
“What—you?”
“You don't date, do you?”
“I could date someone. If I wanted.”
“You're only twenty-five. Could you even be the kind of man I'd need you to be? And could you kiss me like I expect a man to kiss me?”
“I might be younger than you, but there are some things a man knows how to do, Aurora.”
“So…what? What are you trying to say?”
“I’m asking you out. I think I like you.”
“That is a perfect dress.”
“Complimenting the dress and not the woman?”
“Would the woman in question be amenable to compliments?”
“She would.”
“Call it a down payment.”
“I'm wearing lipstick.”
“Red looks good on me”
March 1, 2026
I'm really enjoying this series, and while being a solid read this is my least favourite entry to date.
Aurora is the quintessential eldest daughter. Carries the world on her shoulders and hasn't met a responsibility she won't take accountability for. We've been well introduced to her through her sisters' books but it was nice getting a closer look inside her head.
Poor Aurora though is in the weeds, after finding out that her first ex-boyfriend has defaulted on their previously shared business loan and she's now under a mountain of debt. Ever a problem solver, she takes up a second job with her new temporary boss (x2) Roman. I'm going to yada yada the plot, but know what Aurora and Roman's first meeting was very cutesy and involved a jail cell, and there were immediate sparks.
I'll dive straight into why this is a 3.5 read (rounded up to 4 stars for the sake of Goodreads), although an argument could be made for rounding down to 3.
The long and short (which will prove ironic in a moment) is this was about 100 pages too short in my opinion. In meeting Aurora and Roman at these specific points in their life, there were a lot of themes that were introduced that didn't get a full pay-off. Even in reading it, as we wrapped up the story, it felt too short, so I actually checked the page count against the rest of the series and sure enough it's significantly a smaller book. There's obviously no rule for page count, but I always need a healthy balance with pacing and the story being told. And this book was rich in material but short in runway.
Aurora for example is outwardly dealing with her debt situation. But really it's her unwrapping and processing core parts of herself and how she had chosen to live up to this point. How her hyper-independence serves a purpose but also affects her romantic life. How her need to feel in control also at time sabotages her having genuine experiences. While some of this was covered well, by the time we got to the close of the book, I felt like I had just started to get to know Aurora and then the book was done. Maybe it's because I've been spoiled with the first two entries, but with those we got the complete arc. We got the issues, the grappling, the resolution, and the conclusion. Here it felt like everything was truncated after the second stage which was fine but not fully satisfying.
I especially felt this with Roman's arc. Roman, moreso than Aurora (who is just dealing with an out and out situation) is very much at an impasse in his life. A prototypical trust-fund kid, he's finally woken up to himself and decided that he's not happy in himself and his choices. His quandary is in not knowing how to resolve an of it or in which direction to go. He's drawn to Aurora, but wonders if his poor role models in life means he's damned to continue the cycle of philandering and misuse. Truly lost in life. We even had father-issues, and then grand-father issues thrown into the mix.
I liked Roman a lot, and thought he had believable chemistry with Aurora. But to me, everything felt set-up and that was it. The pieces were there but never fully went anywhere. Every thread that was introduced for Roman didn't feel resolved at all. Although by the close of the book in the epilogue we see he settled down into a boring banking job, it would have been nice to actually have gotten some chapters on this rather than a line in the epilogue, since this was a huge piece of his character work the whole book. The father-issues didn't see any progress, which is actually not the worst because it never felt like the book was driving towards that. I do however dock points for the romance.
Like I've said I liked Roman and Aurora and how they challenged each other. Roman had the innate confidence and astuteness to both see Aurora for who she is and call her out on some of her protective mannerisms. Aurora similarly didn't let Roman hide behind his blasé façade. All good stuff. But it comes back to my point of feeling like the tension was built up nicely but not entirely resolved. Roman and Aurora get to a stage where he, although still feeling unmoored, takes a chance and asks her out. Aurora, still holding tightly to trying to never get hurt ever, demurs, and then they enter a pseudo-stalemate until the very end when they decide to take a chance on each other. Mmm.
I just felt a little robbed. What I've enjoyed so far in the series is getting the full arc. Actually seeing how the couple works as friends and also as a couple. And this felt cut short. That transition moment, even in establishing a friendship of sorts felt missing.
All of this is complainey and it's not reflective of my reading experience, which was very enjoyable. It just felt that there was a stronger book tucked in here and I got half of it.
So all that being said, I think I'll go with 3 stars. But will definitely be back for more in this series.
Aurora is the quintessential eldest daughter. Carries the world on her shoulders and hasn't met a responsibility she won't take accountability for. We've been well introduced to her through her sisters' books but it was nice getting a closer look inside her head.
Poor Aurora though is in the weeds, after finding out that her first ex-boyfriend has defaulted on their previously shared business loan and she's now under a mountain of debt. Ever a problem solver, she takes up a second job with her new temporary boss (x2) Roman. I'm going to yada yada the plot, but know what Aurora and Roman's first meeting was very cutesy and involved a jail cell, and there were immediate sparks.
I'll dive straight into why this is a 3.5 read (rounded up to 4 stars for the sake of Goodreads), although an argument could be made for rounding down to 3.
The long and short (which will prove ironic in a moment) is this was about 100 pages too short in my opinion. In meeting Aurora and Roman at these specific points in their life, there were a lot of themes that were introduced that didn't get a full pay-off. Even in reading it, as we wrapped up the story, it felt too short, so I actually checked the page count against the rest of the series and sure enough it's significantly a smaller book. There's obviously no rule for page count, but I always need a healthy balance with pacing and the story being told. And this book was rich in material but short in runway.
Aurora for example is outwardly dealing with her debt situation. But really it's her unwrapping and processing core parts of herself and how she had chosen to live up to this point. How her hyper-independence serves a purpose but also affects her romantic life. How her need to feel in control also at time sabotages her having genuine experiences. While some of this was covered well, by the time we got to the close of the book, I felt like I had just started to get to know Aurora and then the book was done. Maybe it's because I've been spoiled with the first two entries, but with those we got the complete arc. We got the issues, the grappling, the resolution, and the conclusion. Here it felt like everything was truncated after the second stage which was fine but not fully satisfying.
I especially felt this with Roman's arc. Roman, moreso than Aurora (who is just dealing with an out and out situation) is very much at an impasse in his life. A prototypical trust-fund kid, he's finally woken up to himself and decided that he's not happy in himself and his choices. His quandary is in not knowing how to resolve an of it or in which direction to go. He's drawn to Aurora, but wonders if his poor role models in life means he's damned to continue the cycle of philandering and misuse. Truly lost in life. We even had father-issues, and then grand-father issues thrown into the mix.
I liked Roman a lot, and thought he had believable chemistry with Aurora. But to me, everything felt set-up and that was it. The pieces were there but never fully went anywhere. Every thread that was introduced for Roman didn't feel resolved at all. Although by the close of the book in the epilogue we see he settled down into a boring banking job, it would have been nice to actually have gotten some chapters on this rather than a line in the epilogue, since this was a huge piece of his character work the whole book. The father-issues didn't see any progress, which is actually not the worst because it never felt like the book was driving towards that. I do however dock points for the romance.
Like I've said I liked Roman and Aurora and how they challenged each other. Roman had the innate confidence and astuteness to both see Aurora for who she is and call her out on some of her protective mannerisms. Aurora similarly didn't let Roman hide behind his blasé façade. All good stuff. But it comes back to my point of feeling like the tension was built up nicely but not entirely resolved. Roman and Aurora get to a stage where he, although still feeling unmoored, takes a chance and asks her out. Aurora, still holding tightly to trying to never get hurt ever, demurs, and then they enter a pseudo-stalemate until the very end when they decide to take a chance on each other. Mmm.
I just felt a little robbed. What I've enjoyed so far in the series is getting the full arc. Actually seeing how the couple works as friends and also as a couple. And this felt cut short. That transition moment, even in establishing a friendship of sorts felt missing.
All of this is complainey and it's not reflective of my reading experience, which was very enjoyable. It just felt that there was a stronger book tucked in here and I got half of it.
So all that being said, I think I'll go with 3 stars. But will definitely be back for more in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2026
🌟 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5
📝 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲: Guarded heroine meets calm, confident hero. Witty tension, family chaos, and small-town charm.
💬 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
I went into this one really excited because I loved the first book in the series. The second did not quite work for me, so I was hoping this would bring back the spark. If you’re anything like me, I’m not usually a fan of reverse age gap tropes. I prolly have a limit because I struggle when the gap is more than five years, but that’s just a personal preference. Thankfully, this one stays within that range. And I appreciated that Roman wasn’t portrayed as a man-child either.
Aurora is guarded and carries emotional walls for a reason. I appreciated that her hesitation felt rooted in experience rather than unnecessary drama. Roman, on the other hand, is steady and self-assured in a way that complements her. He does not try to overpower her personality. Instead, he meets her with patience.
That said, the pacing felt a bit uneven to me. The opening chapters were engaging, but the middle section slowed down noticeably. I found myself waiting for stronger chemistry and deeper emotional moments. They were present in parts, but overall it felt slightly muted. Around the seventy percent mark, though, the story really picked up. The relationship finally gained the momentum I had been hoping for. One of my favorite parts of the book was the sibling dynamic within the Marigold family. Their banter, loyalty, and chaotic support system added warmth and personality to the story.
Overall, this had strong elements and some sweet moments, but it did not completely sweep me away. I am still very curious about Cyrus’ story, though, and I will likely continue the series because the family as a whole keeps me invested.
❤️🔥 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿:
The Marigold sibling dynamics
Roman’s steady presence
The small-town atmosphere
⚠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: Kissing and romantic tension, Discussions of past heartbreak, cheating, and emotional baggage
✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱/𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Family-centered contemporary romance
Small-town settings with strong sibling bonds
Series where each sibling gets their own story
📝 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲: Guarded heroine meets calm, confident hero. Witty tension, family chaos, and small-town charm.
💬 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
I went into this one really excited because I loved the first book in the series. The second did not quite work for me, so I was hoping this would bring back the spark. If you’re anything like me, I’m not usually a fan of reverse age gap tropes. I prolly have a limit because I struggle when the gap is more than five years, but that’s just a personal preference. Thankfully, this one stays within that range. And I appreciated that Roman wasn’t portrayed as a man-child either.
Aurora is guarded and carries emotional walls for a reason. I appreciated that her hesitation felt rooted in experience rather than unnecessary drama. Roman, on the other hand, is steady and self-assured in a way that complements her. He does not try to overpower her personality. Instead, he meets her with patience.
That said, the pacing felt a bit uneven to me. The opening chapters were engaging, but the middle section slowed down noticeably. I found myself waiting for stronger chemistry and deeper emotional moments. They were present in parts, but overall it felt slightly muted. Around the seventy percent mark, though, the story really picked up. The relationship finally gained the momentum I had been hoping for. One of my favorite parts of the book was the sibling dynamic within the Marigold family. Their banter, loyalty, and chaotic support system added warmth and personality to the story.
Overall, this had strong elements and some sweet moments, but it did not completely sweep me away. I am still very curious about Cyrus’ story, though, and I will likely continue the series because the family as a whole keeps me invested.
❤️🔥 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿:
The Marigold sibling dynamics
Roman’s steady presence
The small-town atmosphere
⚠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: Kissing and romantic tension, Discussions of past heartbreak, cheating, and emotional baggage
✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱/𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Family-centered contemporary romance
Small-town settings with strong sibling bonds
Series where each sibling gets their own story
March 5, 2026
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars
I really adored the other two books in this series, and I am so obsessed with so many of Gracie's other works, so I had super high expectations for this book. Mostly, I came away from this book...disappointed.
The only way I know how to describe my struggle with this book is that I felt that the two MCs didn't have much chemistry. Their relationship felt very one-sided (Roman falls in insta-love) and superficial. I never quite understood exactly what Aurora saw in him except that he was...there. It felt like, just as they started to actually get to know each other in a real sense, it was suddenly the end of the book and they got together. I think I expected them to grow more before the book ended.
Roman's arc was super interesting to me and he made some great, intentional steps towards taking control of his own life and not letting himself take a free ride because someone was willing to give it to him. But I would have pushed for him to take some bigger steps for himself. By the end, his situation still hasn't changed much, and he doesn't appear to have any plans for continuing to make himself useful apart from using his fortune to help his friends.
And I never felt like Aurora truly made any significant progress on her own arc. Since her growth centred around asking for help, I guess I expected her growth moment to come from a tangible moment she asks someone to ASSIST her in a goal. But it seemed like her growth came from other characters diving in to single-handedly save her, and Aurora accepting their actions. Which would be fine, but for a character who's supposed to be a girlboss, it felt...passive and anticlimactic.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it. I was just so surprised when I realised the book was almost over. It kind of felt like we only got the first half of the book, and it wasn't totally believable to me they'd get together at the end considering the growth I'd seen.
I really adored the other two books in this series, and I am so obsessed with so many of Gracie's other works, so I had super high expectations for this book. Mostly, I came away from this book...disappointed.
The only way I know how to describe my struggle with this book is that I felt that the two MCs didn't have much chemistry. Their relationship felt very one-sided (Roman falls in insta-love) and superficial. I never quite understood exactly what Aurora saw in him except that he was...there. It felt like, just as they started to actually get to know each other in a real sense, it was suddenly the end of the book and they got together. I think I expected them to grow more before the book ended.
Roman's arc was super interesting to me and he made some great, intentional steps towards taking control of his own life and not letting himself take a free ride because someone was willing to give it to him. But I would have pushed for him to take some bigger steps for himself. By the end, his situation still hasn't changed much, and he doesn't appear to have any plans for continuing to make himself useful apart from using his fortune to help his friends.
And I never felt like Aurora truly made any significant progress on her own arc. Since her growth centred around asking for help, I guess I expected her growth moment to come from a tangible moment she asks someone to ASSIST her in a goal. But it seemed like her growth came from other characters diving in to single-handedly save her, and Aurora accepting their actions. Which would be fine, but for a character who's supposed to be a girlboss, it felt...passive and anticlimactic.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it. I was just so surprised when I realised the book was almost over. It kind of felt like we only got the first half of the book, and it wasn't totally believable to me they'd get together at the end considering the growth I'd seen.
April 17, 2026
The man I met in the holding cell is my new boss.
I repeat: Holding cell.
New boss.
Nightmare.
Roman Drake is younger than me, inconveniently gorgeous, and way too good at pushing my buttons. I don’t need a playboy like him in my life, especially because I’m already plagued by my poor taste in men.
Case in point? I’m currently working with my ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend…at a matchmaking company. To make matters worse, my first love has just dumped a pile of debt in my lap, leaving me scrambling for an extra job. Good thing I can take care of myself; I’ll shoulder this burden on my own. But when my problems keep piling up, it’s none other than Roman freaking Drake who rides to my rescue, offering a solution too tempting to resist.
So I’ll work with him for a while—just long enough to rejuvenate my bank account—and then I’ll move on, leaving him and his laughing eyes in the rearview mirror.
Except the more time I spend with Roman, the more I realize I was wrong about him. It’s not his flirting I need to watch out for; it’s the way he looks at me. Somehow he sees what I’m trying to hide. He’s delighted by the things that have scared other men away.
I’ve sworn off love, and I refuse to soften now. I’ve had too many bad experiences in the past to go down that road again. If only the man from that stupid holding cell didn’t make it so difficult to stay away…
Can I be professional? Sure.
Do I want to? Not really.
I don’t do lifelong commitment. I don’t do deep feelings. And when I invite someone into my life, I keep the exit within reach so that I can boot them out when it’s time.
She offered me a fling. A no-strings-attached relationship. But I don’t want that with her. With Aurora, I would want more.
“I like you; you don’t feel the same. Why on earth would I stick around and make things worse for myself?”
This was an okay book. I was in the mood for a quick romcom, and that’s what this was. 3.5 stars.
I repeat: Holding cell.
New boss.
Nightmare.
Roman Drake is younger than me, inconveniently gorgeous, and way too good at pushing my buttons. I don’t need a playboy like him in my life, especially because I’m already plagued by my poor taste in men.
Case in point? I’m currently working with my ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend…at a matchmaking company. To make matters worse, my first love has just dumped a pile of debt in my lap, leaving me scrambling for an extra job. Good thing I can take care of myself; I’ll shoulder this burden on my own. But when my problems keep piling up, it’s none other than Roman freaking Drake who rides to my rescue, offering a solution too tempting to resist.
So I’ll work with him for a while—just long enough to rejuvenate my bank account—and then I’ll move on, leaving him and his laughing eyes in the rearview mirror.
Except the more time I spend with Roman, the more I realize I was wrong about him. It’s not his flirting I need to watch out for; it’s the way he looks at me. Somehow he sees what I’m trying to hide. He’s delighted by the things that have scared other men away.
I’ve sworn off love, and I refuse to soften now. I’ve had too many bad experiences in the past to go down that road again. If only the man from that stupid holding cell didn’t make it so difficult to stay away…
Can I be professional? Sure.
Do I want to? Not really.
I don’t do lifelong commitment. I don’t do deep feelings. And when I invite someone into my life, I keep the exit within reach so that I can boot them out when it’s time.
She offered me a fling. A no-strings-attached relationship. But I don’t want that with her. With Aurora, I would want more.
“I like you; you don’t feel the same. Why on earth would I stick around and make things worse for myself?”
This was an okay book. I was in the mood for a quick romcom, and that’s what this was. 3.5 stars.
August 21, 2026
“𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒖𝒙𝒖𝒓𝒚.”
I always hate to say this about books by authors I tend to really enjoy, but this book was not it for me 😬 I really enjoyed the first two books in this series—especially book 2—but this one just felt like it was lacking in something, though I’m not exactly sure what. The writing didn’t seem to flow as well as normal, and there were a few editing errors that popped up and took me out of the story. It didn’t help that as the story progressed, I began to realize that I really did not care for the plot. By the end of the story, I was very ready to be done with it.
I really thought Aurora’s story would end up being one of my favorites because she’s one of my favorites out of the three sisters. Alas, I found I didn’t like her character quite as much as I thought I did. I did like that I could somewhat relate to her love for cleaning/organizing because I love a good organization project, but she definitely thrives on it much more than me.
Roman Drake lacked in the character department. He just rubbed me the wrong way whenever he would show up with his cocky persona, and I found it difficult to root for him. I didn’t like the way he would do his best to push Aurora’s buttons every chance he got; I just didn’t find him to be a very likable character as a whole.
Drake & Aurora’s whole dynamic just felt a touch off to me. The whole age-gap thing was pushed so strongly for the first chunk of the book, and it ended up giving the romance a bit of an icky feel. And then with the way Drake was so full of himself, it just gave off major red flag vibes. Neither character seemed to be in any way ready for a relationship so it threw off the feel of the entire story. Safe to say this book was NOT for me!
I always hate to say this about books by authors I tend to really enjoy, but this book was not it for me 😬 I really enjoyed the first two books in this series—especially book 2—but this one just felt like it was lacking in something, though I’m not exactly sure what. The writing didn’t seem to flow as well as normal, and there were a few editing errors that popped up and took me out of the story. It didn’t help that as the story progressed, I began to realize that I really did not care for the plot. By the end of the story, I was very ready to be done with it.
I really thought Aurora’s story would end up being one of my favorites because she’s one of my favorites out of the three sisters. Alas, I found I didn’t like her character quite as much as I thought I did. I did like that I could somewhat relate to her love for cleaning/organizing because I love a good organization project, but she definitely thrives on it much more than me.
Roman Drake lacked in the character department. He just rubbed me the wrong way whenever he would show up with his cocky persona, and I found it difficult to root for him. I didn’t like the way he would do his best to push Aurora’s buttons every chance he got; I just didn’t find him to be a very likable character as a whole.
Drake & Aurora’s whole dynamic just felt a touch off to me. The whole age-gap thing was pushed so strongly for the first chunk of the book, and it ended up giving the romance a bit of an icky feel. And then with the way Drake was so full of himself, it just gave off major red flag vibes. Neither character seemed to be in any way ready for a relationship so it threw off the feel of the entire story. Safe to say this book was NOT for me!
June 13, 2026
This is the third book in the “Lucky in Love” series by Gracie Ruth Mitchell and boy was it a fun read! I remember when she first started putting teasers up, I knew I had to read it! When the words ‘holding cell’ are mentioned you can’t help but be intrigued!
Aurora is 30, independent, newly minted single, and loyal to a fault (if you don’t cross her)! She has just been crossed and that’s how we find her trying to reason with local law enforcement to release her [and sisters] after getting revenge on an ex. To be fair, the ex-boyfriend deserved it! Cheating and starting/ending relations to start anew, not cool! However, they aren’t the only ones behind bars, but he’s asleep, so what harm could that guy be?!
Turns out sleeping man happens to have an affinity for Rubik’s cubes and jumping into situations as his dad beckons! Roman Drake may not be very old, 25, he has yet to truly make his mark in the world. One thing rings true is that he has fierce loyalties to his sister and newborn niece! When it’s brought to his attention that Aurora could use an extra boost financially, he has just the solution, call it a win-win!
The banter between these two is top notch! Their quips know no bounds, and I love it so much! He allows her to let her hair down and be more playful/relaxed, while she teases him about being young, she also challenges to go for what he really wants! I loved seeing the other Marigold sisters and even Cyrus their brother in this story! I feel like the sisters helped showcase what Aurora can really be like too! While not everything was always ideal, everything had its place and purpose! Bravo Gracie Ruth! Can’t wait to read Cyrus’ book so much!
Aurora is 30, independent, newly minted single, and loyal to a fault (if you don’t cross her)! She has just been crossed and that’s how we find her trying to reason with local law enforcement to release her [and sisters] after getting revenge on an ex. To be fair, the ex-boyfriend deserved it! Cheating and starting/ending relations to start anew, not cool! However, they aren’t the only ones behind bars, but he’s asleep, so what harm could that guy be?!
Turns out sleeping man happens to have an affinity for Rubik’s cubes and jumping into situations as his dad beckons! Roman Drake may not be very old, 25, he has yet to truly make his mark in the world. One thing rings true is that he has fierce loyalties to his sister and newborn niece! When it’s brought to his attention that Aurora could use an extra boost financially, he has just the solution, call it a win-win!
The banter between these two is top notch! Their quips know no bounds, and I love it so much! He allows her to let her hair down and be more playful/relaxed, while she teases him about being young, she also challenges to go for what he really wants! I loved seeing the other Marigold sisters and even Cyrus their brother in this story! I feel like the sisters helped showcase what Aurora can really be like too! While not everything was always ideal, everything had its place and purpose! Bravo Gracie Ruth! Can’t wait to read Cyrus’ book so much!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If Gracie Ruth Mitchell writes it, I'm going to read it... and love it. She truly is the queen of romcoms, delivering unique stories, laugh out loud moments and swoon worthy romance that I absolutely cannot get enough of. This one was no exception... I mean, a meet cute in a jail cell? And then discovering that your mystery cellmate is your new temporary boss!? Talk about a way to start a romance! Needless to say, Roman and Aurora's story caught my attention right from the very start... and their chemistry and banter kept me smiling through the end. Roman was such a fun character- little bit cheeky, with just the right amount of confidence and flirting. He was truly a perfect match for Aurora... even if he was five years younger! I loved catching back up with the Marigold family and all of their crazy antics... they are an impossible family not to love, that's for certain! With a reverse age gap and workplace romance, this one had a lot to love, and I certainly did just that.
To All the Guys I Loathed Before is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is the third book in the Lucky in Love series, but I do believe it could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
To All the Guys I Loathed Before is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is the third book in the Lucky in Love series, but I do believe it could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
April 4, 2026
I've known since we met Aurora in book one of this series that I adored her. The Marigold sisters have the exact kind of bond that should be considered a super power and I adore the way
eat should be conse
they lean on each other throughout each book.
This one might just be my favorite of the series, though I adore the first two as well. Aurora and Roman are absolutely swoony. the "will they, won't they" vibes are immaculate and Roman's shameless flirting made me giggle. And Aurora's serious nature and struggle with letting go was so relatable.
As always, Gracie Ruth Mitchell has a way of weaving in more weighty topics with her signature humor that gives the book substance without dragging you down.
It was about time our Aurora got her HEA and I think she met her match in the adorable Roman. Love love love. So many stars.
Thank you so much Gracie Ruth Mitchell for the eARC copy of this amazing book! I've been counting down the days. All thoughts are my own.
: closed door books | no spice romance | reverse age gape | workplace romance | book review | reverse grumpy sunshine | meet disaster | sibling group}
eat should be conse
they lean on each other throughout each book.
This one might just be my favorite of the series, though I adore the first two as well. Aurora and Roman are absolutely swoony. the "will they, won't they" vibes are immaculate and Roman's shameless flirting made me giggle. And Aurora's serious nature and struggle with letting go was so relatable.
As always, Gracie Ruth Mitchell has a way of weaving in more weighty topics with her signature humor that gives the book substance without dragging you down.
It was about time our Aurora got her HEA and I think she met her match in the adorable Roman. Love love love. So many stars.
Thank you so much Gracie Ruth Mitchell for the eARC copy of this amazing book! I've been counting down the days. All thoughts are my own.
: closed door books | no spice romance | reverse age gape | workplace romance | book review | reverse grumpy sunshine | meet disaster | sibling group}
July 26, 2026
Okay this might be my favorite book ever by Gracie! Definitely my favorite in the series!
What I loved:
*Roman for Aurora. He is just perfect! Teasing, helps her let her hair down, falls for her even when she doesn't want him too, understands her need to clean and decompress, there for her whether she wants him to be or not. I was here for it!
*Getting to know Aurora. I loved really getting to know her and understanding her character more. My heart ached for her as she feels like she doesn't deserve true love. And I loved when she was brave enough to be vulnerable and fight for it.
*The Marigold family. I LOVE THEM! So much fun seeing India and Juliet happy after their books. And I loved the moment when all the siblings celebrate India's good news together. Cannot wait for Cyrus' book! We need to see how he and Poppy get together (because, come on, they're obviously meant to be!)
*The wit and sibling relationships are just fantastic. Loved the meet cute in the holding cell! Haha. And loved the banter between characters from Roman and Aurora to the Marigold siblings. Just a delightful read and I am officially hooked on the Marigolds!
What I loved:
*Roman for Aurora. He is just perfect! Teasing, helps her let her hair down, falls for her even when she doesn't want him too, understands her need to clean and decompress, there for her whether she wants him to be or not. I was here for it!
*Getting to know Aurora. I loved really getting to know her and understanding her character more. My heart ached for her as she feels like she doesn't deserve true love. And I loved when she was brave enough to be vulnerable and fight for it.
*The Marigold family. I LOVE THEM! So much fun seeing India and Juliet happy after their books. And I loved the moment when all the siblings celebrate India's good news together. Cannot wait for Cyrus' book! We need to see how he and Poppy get together (because, come on, they're obviously meant to be!)
*The wit and sibling relationships are just fantastic. Loved the meet cute in the holding cell! Haha. And loved the banter between characters from Roman and Aurora to the Marigold siblings. Just a delightful read and I am officially hooked on the Marigolds!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I made 58 annotations in this book.
35 of them are Roman Drake one-liners.
I kind of love him.
One of my absolute favorite things about Gracie Ruth Mitchell’s writing is her character development, both in how she creates her characters and how they grow throughout the story. Sometimes I feel like characters in books can end up feeling like caricatures of well known personality types, but never in a GRM book!
Aurora and Roman are both deeply nuanced characters with strengths and weaknesses which create realistic conflicts and drive the storyline. I love how Roman’s confidence helps to push Aurora to ask for what she wants instead of accepting the bare minimum. And I love how Aurora’s ambition helps Roman rediscover his own.
The plot was entertaining, the characters were charming, and I laughed out loud several times! This whole series is one of my absolute favorites, they’re the kind of stories that stick with you long after you’ve read the last page, and this new addition is no different!
35 of them are Roman Drake one-liners.
I kind of love him.
One of my absolute favorite things about Gracie Ruth Mitchell’s writing is her character development, both in how she creates her characters and how they grow throughout the story. Sometimes I feel like characters in books can end up feeling like caricatures of well known personality types, but never in a GRM book!
Aurora and Roman are both deeply nuanced characters with strengths and weaknesses which create realistic conflicts and drive the storyline. I love how Roman’s confidence helps to push Aurora to ask for what she wants instead of accepting the bare minimum. And I love how Aurora’s ambition helps Roman rediscover his own.
The plot was entertaining, the characters were charming, and I laughed out loud several times! This whole series is one of my absolute favorites, they’re the kind of stories that stick with you long after you’ve read the last page, and this new addition is no different!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the eARC.
LIGHT AND SWEET.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Oh I needed a book like this. Something quick, on the lighter side and filled with sweetness. I love the sibling relationship between Aurora and her sisters. I long for those kind of bonds and the way they take care of each other is just my favorite. This also included Roman and Denice’s relationship too!! Give me all the good family vibes pleeeease.
And I LOVED that she was older than Roman??? The dynamic between them was perfect. I loved how Roman played with Aurora and the slow but sure way he showed Aurora how to let her walls down a bit. The slow burn was just right and I couldn’t get enough of them in each other’s orbit. Both characters with flaws they were working through showed wonderful growth and willingness (even if stubborn willingness) to change and adapt for the better.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
LIGHT AND SWEET.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Oh I needed a book like this. Something quick, on the lighter side and filled with sweetness. I love the sibling relationship between Aurora and her sisters. I long for those kind of bonds and the way they take care of each other is just my favorite. This also included Roman and Denice’s relationship too!! Give me all the good family vibes pleeeease.
And I LOVED that she was older than Roman??? The dynamic between them was perfect. I loved how Roman played with Aurora and the slow but sure way he showed Aurora how to let her walls down a bit. The slow burn was just right and I couldn’t get enough of them in each other’s orbit. Both characters with flaws they were working through showed wonderful growth and willingness (even if stubborn willingness) to change and adapt for the better.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
June 2, 2026
I didn’t quite feel the pull of Roman and Aurora towards each other like I did with the other characters, and I just didn’t relate to them as much in general. I will say that it was good to see how Roman handled Aurora when parts of her life were kind of falling a part. She needed that strong, confident character who was willing to meddle a bit and find sneaky ways to take care of her since she was so busy trying to be strong for everyone else.
The conflict was understandable, especially with Aurora’s past taste in men. The line in the book about her being afraid to let anything real into her life due to fear spoke to young adult/ teenage me. I think Gracie Ruth spoke to trauma and trying to pick up the pieces and protect one’s heart post trauma very well.
As always I enjoy the relationships between the Marigold siblings and I cannot wait for a Poppy and Cyrus book. Please let it be a full length book and not a Novella! We need their full love story 🥹
The conflict was understandable, especially with Aurora’s past taste in men. The line in the book about her being afraid to let anything real into her life due to fear spoke to young adult/ teenage me. I think Gracie Ruth spoke to trauma and trying to pick up the pieces and protect one’s heart post trauma very well.
As always I enjoy the relationships between the Marigold siblings and I cannot wait for a Poppy and Cyrus book. Please let it be a full length book and not a Novella! We need their full love story 🥹
June 27, 2026
This book is the weakest of the series so far. Aurora seemed a lot cooler in the previous two books. In this one, her behavior is hard to understand - like she doesn't feel like a fully developed character.
It's also a bit of a bummer that there really isn't much romance because of the nature of her personality...because of how it's structured and how it takes so long for her to come around, it feels like for most of the book she and Roman don't even have that much interaction.
They also don't really have much in common. Really all they have going for them is that they both have never felt this way before, so maybe this time it really will last. Also, I felt like there were a lot of similarities between Felix and Roman, especially in the beginning. It was almost like reading part of the same story again.
I don't know, the story just fell flat for me. I thought the first two books in the series were fun and easy enough reads, but this one was kind of boring.
It's also a bit of a bummer that there really isn't much romance because of the nature of her personality...because of how it's structured and how it takes so long for her to come around, it feels like for most of the book she and Roman don't even have that much interaction.
They also don't really have much in common. Really all they have going for them is that they both have never felt this way before, so maybe this time it really will last. Also, I felt like there were a lot of similarities between Felix and Roman, especially in the beginning. It was almost like reading part of the same story again.
I don't know, the story just fell flat for me. I thought the first two books in the series were fun and easy enough reads, but this one was kind of boring.
August 21, 2026
“If I do this… we are doing this.”
Those are undeniably my favorite words in the entire book. Ughhhh. There was just something about that moment that got me.
Roman is PERFECT for Aurora. Honestly, when I saw the five year age gap, I immediately thought, he’s going to be such a baby.
Yeah. I ate those words before I even knew his actual age.
So many times while reading, I found myself wondering, how does this man know her SO WELL without even seeming to try? He just gets her.
I’d be hard pressed to find two people more perfectly suited for each other. Their chemistry, their dynamic, the way they understand one another. I absolutely loved all of it.
That auction scene with the little bit of bonding between Roman and Cy? Loved it.
And when all the boyfriends met?
ADORED IT.
Honestly, this might be my favorite book in the series, and I’m not even entirely sure why. There’s just something about Roman that I absolutely adore.
Actually, maybe Roman is why.
Final Verdict: 4.25 🌟
Those are undeniably my favorite words in the entire book. Ughhhh. There was just something about that moment that got me.
Roman is PERFECT for Aurora. Honestly, when I saw the five year age gap, I immediately thought, he’s going to be such a baby.
Yeah. I ate those words before I even knew his actual age.
So many times while reading, I found myself wondering, how does this man know her SO WELL without even seeming to try? He just gets her.
I’d be hard pressed to find two people more perfectly suited for each other. Their chemistry, their dynamic, the way they understand one another. I absolutely loved all of it.
That auction scene with the little bit of bonding between Roman and Cy? Loved it.
And when all the boyfriends met?
ADORED IT.
Honestly, this might be my favorite book in the series, and I’m not even entirely sure why. There’s just something about Roman that I absolutely adore.
Actually, maybe Roman is why.
Final Verdict: 4.25 🌟
April 2, 2026
First off, I really enjoyed the first book in this series. I didn't end up finishing the second (the heroine wasn't my favorite). But I figured I'd enjoy this one.
Unfortunately, these characters didn't mesh well for me. There's a lot of talk about a five-year age gap, but honestly I feel like both characters had a lot of maturing to do. Their dynamic felt off.
There's talk of having a "fling" and other descriptions of how the hero acted in past relationships that definitely weren't endearing. The guy doesn't even have a "real" job for the majority of the book. There just never was a point where I felt like these characters should definitely be together.
This just wasn't romantic to me.
I still plan to read Poppy and the brother's story if it comes out next, but this one was a miss.
Unfortunately, these characters didn't mesh well for me. There's a lot of talk about a five-year age gap, but honestly I feel like both characters had a lot of maturing to do. Their dynamic felt off.
There's talk of having a "fling" and other descriptions of how the hero acted in past relationships that definitely weren't endearing. The guy doesn't even have a "real" job for the majority of the book. There just never was a point where I felt like these characters should definitely be together.
This just wasn't romantic to me.
I still plan to read Poppy and the brother's story if it comes out next, but this one was a miss.
Review of advance copy received from Author
To All the Guys I've Loathed Before
Lucky in Love Book 3
Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Release: paperback live now! Kindle 2/27/26
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🫑
If Gracie writes it, not only will I buy, read, and recommend it, but Im going to love it.
The way she writes banter is UNMATCHED. And every single time I read a book I'm like, no way will I like this couple more, and yet...I do.
Aurora and Roman are goals man. The neurotic oldest sister and the chronically underachieving younger brother? PERFECTION.
Of all the Marigold sisters, I desperately needed to see Aurora get her happy ending, and Roman was better than I ever could have expected.
Also shout out to that dedication. #emdashforlife
Anyway...check it out. Available on KU on 2/27 or order your paperback now
Lucky in Love Book 3
Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Release: paperback live now! Kindle 2/27/26
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🫑
If Gracie writes it, not only will I buy, read, and recommend it, but Im going to love it.
The way she writes banter is UNMATCHED. And every single time I read a book I'm like, no way will I like this couple more, and yet...I do.
Aurora and Roman are goals man. The neurotic oldest sister and the chronically underachieving younger brother? PERFECTION.
Of all the Marigold sisters, I desperately needed to see Aurora get her happy ending, and Roman was better than I ever could have expected.
Also shout out to that dedication. #emdashforlife
Anyway...check it out. Available on KU on 2/27 or order your paperback now
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