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Between the Lines #1
Undone by You
Some things are worth
breaking the rules for.
Julian works for his father’s law firm and growing up as the CEO’s son, he is used to being in control and he is a stickler for the rules. But then the ambitious junior lawyer Madison Reid joins his team. She questions Julian’s decisions, pushes his boundaries and manages to get under his skin without even trying.
Madison wants to prove that she deserves her new job after what happened at her previous workplace. Even with the impossible hours and all the office politics, she loves her job, but working with her arrogant boss is a challenge. Julian Moreau is cold, calculating and annoyingly good-looking – and somehow, he has wormed his way into her head.
When they have to work on a difficult case and fate keeps throwing them together outside office hours, tensions rise and something more starts to build between them. Pretending it isn’t there is getting harder by the minute…
Julian works for his father’s law firm and growing up as the CEO’s son, he is used to being in control and he is a stickler for the rules. But then the ambitious junior lawyer Madison Reid joins his team. She questions Julian’s decisions, pushes his boundaries and manages to get under his skin without even trying.
Madison wants to prove that she deserves her new job after what happened at her previous workplace. Even with the impossible hours and all the office politics, she loves her job, but working with her arrogant boss is a challenge. Julian Moreau is cold, calculating and annoyingly good-looking – and somehow, he has wormed his way into her head.
When they have to work on a difficult case and fate keeps throwing them together outside office hours, tensions rise and something more starts to build between them. Pretending it isn’t there is getting harder by the minute…
- GenresRomance
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 17, 2025
About the author
Rochela van Buuren
2 books42 followersRochela is a romance author with a background in criminology and a love for stories with a little extra depth. Born and raised in the Netherlands, she balances a full-time job with writing interconnected standalone novels set in New York City.
Her interest in human behavior and intrigue often finds its way into her books, adding tension and complexity beneath the romance. She writes love stories that don’t just focus on feelings, but also on the choices people make—and the secrets they keep.
Her debut novel, Undone By You, was released in November.
Her interest in human behavior and intrigue often finds its way into her books, adding tension and complexity beneath the romance. She writes love stories that don’t just focus on feelings, but also on the choices people make—and the secrets they keep.
Her debut novel, Undone By You, was released in November.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 24, 2025
romance girlies, come to the front please!
this was such a fun and steamy debut, i really enjoyed reading it! i would definitely recommend this romance if you like ana huang, elsie silver and lyla sage.
here are some of the tropes if you’re not yet convinced:
🍎 NYC setting
💻 workplace romance
⚖️ law firm
2️⃣ dual POV (we love to see it)
🚫 forbidden romance
🌶️ spicyyyy hehe
go read it!!! (release date: 17th of november)
—
pre-read
i got an arc for this one... very excited 👀
this was such a fun and steamy debut, i really enjoyed reading it! i would definitely recommend this romance if you like ana huang, elsie silver and lyla sage.
here are some of the tropes if you’re not yet convinced:
🍎 NYC setting
💻 workplace romance
⚖️ law firm
2️⃣ dual POV (we love to see it)
🚫 forbidden romance
🌶️ spicyyyy hehe
go read it!!! (release date: 17th of november)
—
pre-read
i got an arc for this one... very excited 👀
November 2, 2025
4⭐️
This book was exactly what I needed right now. Billionaire romance, forced proximity, work place romance & forbidden romance. Perfect for readers who love Ana Huang, Elsie Silver and Liz Tomforde.
Rochela you did such a great job with this book!! I really loved the storyline and the writing style. It read so easy and I flew through the book. Some scenes also had me giggling 🤭. Can I have a Julian for myself please?🥵
I also can’t wait for the second book in the series!
This book was exactly what I needed right now. Billionaire romance, forced proximity, work place romance & forbidden romance. Perfect for readers who love Ana Huang, Elsie Silver and Liz Tomforde.
Rochela you did such a great job with this book!! I really loved the storyline and the writing style. It read so easy and I flew through the book. Some scenes also had me giggling 🤭. Can I have a Julian for myself please?🥵
I also can’t wait for the second book in the series!
January 7, 2026
If Ana Huang & Lauren Asher had a daughter, it would be Rochela van Buuren. That’s how I felt reading Undone By You.
It brought me back to the early days when I first started reading adult romances (my first were by Lauren and Ana btw). After reading so many YA books and diving into new genres, I came home to fav; contemporary adult romance. I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for this.
Rochela, I’m so proud of you. I’ve seen your writing-to-self-publishing process on TikTok and it’s so beautiful to see you following your passion and dreams. Huge respect for authors who do everything on their own, writing, editing, marketing etc. “Go, Kylie, GO!”
This is a 300 page romance story and the length was PERFECTLY fine! But I wouldn’t have minded if it was 50 pages longer.
At a lawfirm in New York, Madison is assigned to work with and report to Julian, the CEO’s arrogant son. Even though they can’t stand each other, there is tension between them.
Then it doesn’t help when your girl group becomes friends with his friend group, and y’all go on a vacation together in Spain. A few days of bikinis, the hot sun, shots, parties and your boss? Don’t let HR find out.
I only wished we would have seen Julian’s dad, since he is the boss and kinda important to shaping Julian’s character and career.
I cannot wait to read book two in the series. As much as I liked these lawyers, I’m so hyped for Lena and Noah (journalist x detective)!!!
I’ve tried keeping up with the spice scenes, so here you go girls xxx
* H13 (p90/p92)
* H21 (p154-157)
* H23 (p170-p171)
* H29 (p225-231)
* H31 (p243-244)
* H32 (full chapter)
It brought me back to the early days when I first started reading adult romances (my first were by Lauren and Ana btw). After reading so many YA books and diving into new genres, I came home to fav; contemporary adult romance. I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for this.
Rochela, I’m so proud of you. I’ve seen your writing-to-self-publishing process on TikTok and it’s so beautiful to see you following your passion and dreams. Huge respect for authors who do everything on their own, writing, editing, marketing etc. “Go, Kylie, GO!”
This is a 300 page romance story and the length was PERFECTLY fine! But I wouldn’t have minded if it was 50 pages longer.
At a lawfirm in New York, Madison is assigned to work with and report to Julian, the CEO’s arrogant son. Even though they can’t stand each other, there is tension between them.
Then it doesn’t help when your girl group becomes friends with his friend group, and y’all go on a vacation together in Spain. A few days of bikinis, the hot sun, shots, parties and your boss? Don’t let HR find out.
I only wished we would have seen Julian’s dad, since he is the boss and kinda important to shaping Julian’s character and career.
I cannot wait to read book two in the series. As much as I liked these lawyers, I’m so hyped for Lena and Noah (journalist x detective)!!!
I’ve tried keeping up with the spice scenes, so here you go girls xxx
* H13 (p90/p92)
* H21 (p154-157)
* H23 (p170-p171)
* H29 (p225-231)
* H31 (p243-244)
* H32 (full chapter)
October 12, 2025
I have just finished reading the e-ARC of Undone by you, and it was such a fast-paced and easy read!
If you love a NYC setting, workplace romance, forbidden romance, and dual POV, then this is the book for you! It was really fast-paced and a quick read. It was entertaining. The only thing I wished was a bit different was the romance. Sometimes it felt like it was going a bit too fast, and I would have loved for it to take a bit longer. But overall, it was a really fun read!
If you love a NYC setting, workplace romance, forbidden romance, and dual POV, then this is the book for you! It was really fast-paced and a quick read. It was entertaining. The only thing I wished was a bit different was the romance. Sometimes it felt like it was going a bit too fast, and I would have loved for it to take a bit longer. But overall, it was a really fun read!
October 3, 2025
Rochela heeft zo’n een goede en fijne schrijfstijl om te lezen. Het is echt net of ik gewoon met een vriendin gezellig een bakje thee of een wijntje aan het doen ben, en heel haar love Story aan hoor. De banter met Julian is echt gewoon geweldig. de spanning is om te snijden continu, gewoon zo erg dat het bijna frustrerend is. Wel op een goeie manier natuurlijk! Een van de scenes is echt te hot voor woorden! Ook dit is zo goed beschreven!
De vriendschappen in dit boek zijn ook zo leuk en oprecht beschreven, ook voor mij persoonlijk heel herkenbaar hoe dat bij mij vriendinnen gaat en ook hopen dat ooit onze mannen met elkaar omgaan! ja I just love it 🥰
Het einde van het boek is amazing, zo mooi hoe de personages de keuzes hebben gemaakt die ze uiteindelijk hebben gemaakt! Laat ook een enorme persoonlijke groei zien! En hoe belangrijk het is om te laten zien dat je zelf zo hard voor iets werkt
Rochela bedankt heel erg bedankt dat ik dit boek als Beta- reader heb mogen lezen! Kijk er naar uit om je in het echt te ontmoeten! En natuurlijk wat jouw andere boeken gaan zijn😍
De vriendschappen in dit boek zijn ook zo leuk en oprecht beschreven, ook voor mij persoonlijk heel herkenbaar hoe dat bij mij vriendinnen gaat en ook hopen dat ooit onze mannen met elkaar omgaan! ja I just love it 🥰
Het einde van het boek is amazing, zo mooi hoe de personages de keuzes hebben gemaakt die ze uiteindelijk hebben gemaakt! Laat ook een enorme persoonlijke groei zien! En hoe belangrijk het is om te laten zien dat je zelf zo hard voor iets werkt
Rochela bedankt heel erg bedankt dat ik dit boek als Beta- reader heb mogen lezen! Kijk er naar uit om je in het echt te ontmoeten! En natuurlijk wat jouw andere boeken gaan zijn😍
October 17, 2025
first of all, thankyou @rochelawrites for trusting me with your book for an honest review 💘
Undone by you is a workplace romance and i have not read many workplace romances before! Since my boyfriend and i have kinda a workplace romance going on i was very curious about this book🤭
i want to start this with that this was such a great debut! Rochela is Dutch, like me, but the book is written in English and the grammar & language is very good. you go girl!
I really enjoyed myself reading this book, there were really cute and spicy moments and the books was not too long!
Sometimes i did want to know a bit more about what happend after ‘important’ scenes (i won’t go into much detail about this to avoid spoilers). I also thought the romance/linking each other was kind off abrupt, but once i was past that i forgot a bit more about that.
I really liked the characters, and i am very curious about Madison’s friends, mostly Lena and Claire!!!
Definitely a must read if you like workplace romances and want to support an indie author 💘
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Undone by you is a workplace romance and i have not read many workplace romances before! Since my boyfriend and i have kinda a workplace romance going on i was very curious about this book🤭
i want to start this with that this was such a great debut! Rochela is Dutch, like me, but the book is written in English and the grammar & language is very good. you go girl!
I really enjoyed myself reading this book, there were really cute and spicy moments and the books was not too long!
Sometimes i did want to know a bit more about what happend after ‘important’ scenes (i won’t go into much detail about this to avoid spoilers). I also thought the romance/linking each other was kind off abrupt, but once i was past that i forgot a bit more about that.
I really liked the characters, and i am very curious about Madison’s friends, mostly Lena and Claire!!!
Definitely a must read if you like workplace romances and want to support an indie author 💘
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 23, 2025
dit was alles wat ik op dit moment nodig had 🩷
September 29, 2025
I just finished the ARC of ‘undone by you’ and let me tell you what I thought of it!
First of all, a big thanks to Rochela for trusting me with your book before release. As you already know I really enjoyed it. I’m so excited for your book to release next month!😍
Now for the review:
This book was honestly so enjoyable. I was blown away by how good it was. If you told me Ana Huang wrote it, I would’ve believed you🤭
The story was so detailed. She used great language and kept surprising me. Besides that, the story also had some emotional weight to it. The characters both struggle with past relationships and something going on at home. The short portrayal of grief was a beautiful touch to this story.
The characters both have a great personality. Julian being the grumpy and arrogant boss who has a big heart for her & Madison is a sharp, independent woman, who’s in charge of her own life. I loved loved loved the characters🫶🏼
This book had the perfect amount of tension, denial, layers, romance, chemistry and spice. The smut scenes weren’t too much and if you’d rather skip them: there’s a guide at the end to see which chapters contain spice🩷
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, book that is almost impossible to put down (I went to bed at like 3 to finish it👍🏼) make sure you check out this one!!✨
First of all, a big thanks to Rochela for trusting me with your book before release. As you already know I really enjoyed it. I’m so excited for your book to release next month!😍
Now for the review:
This book was honestly so enjoyable. I was blown away by how good it was. If you told me Ana Huang wrote it, I would’ve believed you🤭
The story was so detailed. She used great language and kept surprising me. Besides that, the story also had some emotional weight to it. The characters both struggle with past relationships and something going on at home. The short portrayal of grief was a beautiful touch to this story.
The characters both have a great personality. Julian being the grumpy and arrogant boss who has a big heart for her & Madison is a sharp, independent woman, who’s in charge of her own life. I loved loved loved the characters🫶🏼
This book had the perfect amount of tension, denial, layers, romance, chemistry and spice. The smut scenes weren’t too much and if you’d rather skip them: there’s a guide at the end to see which chapters contain spice🩷
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, book that is almost impossible to put down (I went to bed at like 3 to finish it👍🏼) make sure you check out this one!!✨
November 30, 2025
Undone by You was mijn eerste workplace romance, en ik merkte tijdens het lezen dat ik echt even moest schakelen. De chemie tussen de personages gaat namelijk in sneltreinvaart, van 0 naar 100, en dat is iets waar ik persoonlijk niet echt van ben. Daardoor lag de focus voor mij nét iets te veel op de snelle aantrekkingskracht.
Dat gezegd hebbende: Rochela’s schrijfstijl zelf vond ik echt heel fijn. Het leest makkelijk, het is luchtig geschreven en de personages voelen warm en toegankelijk aan. Ook de setting vond ik grappig en herkenbaar!
Omdat ik bij het boekrelease-event was, voelde het ook extra bijzonder om het boek daarna te lezen. Je ziet hoeveel liefde en enthousiasme ze erin heeft gestopt, en dat waardeer ik echt!
Hoewel het niet helemaal mijn ding blijkt te zijn, denk ik dat mensen die wél van workplace romances en snelle romantische spanning houden, hierin helemaal kunnen opgaan. En ik kijk sowieso uit naar wat Rochela nog meer gaat schrijven!
Dat gezegd hebbende: Rochela’s schrijfstijl zelf vond ik echt heel fijn. Het leest makkelijk, het is luchtig geschreven en de personages voelen warm en toegankelijk aan. Ook de setting vond ik grappig en herkenbaar!
Omdat ik bij het boekrelease-event was, voelde het ook extra bijzonder om het boek daarna te lezen. Je ziet hoeveel liefde en enthousiasme ze erin heeft gestopt, en dat waardeer ik echt!
Hoewel het niet helemaal mijn ding blijkt te zijn, denk ik dat mensen die wél van workplace romances en snelle romantische spanning houden, hierin helemaal kunnen opgaan. En ik kijk sowieso uit naar wat Rochela nog meer gaat schrijven!
January 6, 2026
I LOVED THIS!! Can’t wait for book 2 in the series
October 10, 2025
I love me some workplace romances!! 🤍 Next to sports romances and small town romances, this is my favorite setting to read about. Rochela wrote a great debut romance novel about a workplace romance with the forbidden love trope. 📖 It did however feel a little too fast paced for my liking, but it was still a very entertaining read!
If you like a nyc workplace setting, dual pov, some spice and the forbidden romance trope, I'm sure you'd enjoy this!! 🫶🏻
If you like a nyc workplace setting, dual pov, some spice and the forbidden romance trope, I'm sure you'd enjoy this!! 🫶🏻
November 4, 2025
3 ⭐️
First of all, a huge thank you to Rochela van Buuren for sending me an early copy of her debut novel - and congratulations on such an amazing first book! 🩷
I finished Undone by You in just three days, which already says a lot. The writing style is super accessible, flows easily, and makes it impossible to put the book down. It’s definitely one of those stories that can pull you right out of a reading slump - no doubt about it!
For my personal taste, the story felt a little too fast-paced at times. I would’ve loved a bit more background information about the characters, and I think the tension between Julian and Madison could’ve been drawn out a little longer before things escalated. That said, the chemistry and banter between them were so much fun to read - I truly enjoyed every scene they shared.
All in all, Undone by You is an entertaining and addictive read that kept me hooked from start to finish. And I loved the little extras — the playlist included in the book and the sneak preview of book two at the end were such a great touch! 📖
I honestly can’t wait to see what Rochela writes next!
First of all, a huge thank you to Rochela van Buuren for sending me an early copy of her debut novel - and congratulations on such an amazing first book! 🩷
I finished Undone by You in just three days, which already says a lot. The writing style is super accessible, flows easily, and makes it impossible to put the book down. It’s definitely one of those stories that can pull you right out of a reading slump - no doubt about it!
For my personal taste, the story felt a little too fast-paced at times. I would’ve loved a bit more background information about the characters, and I think the tension between Julian and Madison could’ve been drawn out a little longer before things escalated. That said, the chemistry and banter between them were so much fun to read - I truly enjoyed every scene they shared.
All in all, Undone by You is an entertaining and addictive read that kept me hooked from start to finish. And I loved the little extras — the playlist included in the book and the sneak preview of book two at the end were such a great touch! 📖
I honestly can’t wait to see what Rochela writes next!
January 7, 2026
3,5 ⭐️ denk ik?? Was ff een leuke spicy romance over een advocaten kantoor in NYC. Was gewoon een leuke vibe en leuke characters en goede tension. Verder niet heel boeiend of persee om aan te bevelen, gewoon leuk voor even tussendoor als je van smut & romance houdt.
Ik zag dit boek op tiktok, is self published en in Engels geschreven door een Nederlands meisje. Heb het e-boek dus ook gekocht ipv illegaal gedownload, because I support it. Iets wat altijd stiekem altijd al mijn droom is, maar who knows of ik het ooit zal doen..
Anywaysssss, ik heb nu echt veel romance gelezen en heb weer helemaal zin in thrillers. Of ga ik toch het feeën seks/elfjes porno boek lezen waar iederen zo hyped over is? Hmmm, ik ga morgen kijk wat ik nu ga lezen.
Ik zag dit boek op tiktok, is self published en in Engels geschreven door een Nederlands meisje. Heb het e-boek dus ook gekocht ipv illegaal gedownload, because I support it. Iets wat altijd stiekem altijd al mijn droom is, maar who knows of ik het ooit zal doen..
Anywaysssss, ik heb nu echt veel romance gelezen en heb weer helemaal zin in thrillers. Of ga ik toch het feeën seks/elfjes porno boek lezen waar iederen zo hyped over is? Hmmm, ik ga morgen kijk wat ik nu ga lezen.
October 12, 2025
Omg, I’m honestly speechless. The fact that this is Rochela’s debut novel is absolutely insane! 🔥 And knowing it was created completely independently, without the backing of a publisher… just wow. Such an impressive accomplishment!! 🤩
The book itself? SO GOOD. 🥹✨
First of all, the tension between the main characters was perfection. The sparks were sparking (!!!), and that’s not something every author manages to pull off. The chemistry between Madison and Julian? Ouff… it was everything. 🥵🔥
I also really liked the small twist woven into their love story. How Julian’s past decisions (made before Madison even entered the picture) ended up complicating things between them. It felt real. So many romance novels rely on those cliché misunderstandings like, “oh no, I saw you with someone else, so I’ll assume the worst” 😌 But here, she gave us an actual conflict!! ❤️🔥
Personally, I would’ve enjoyed a bit more build-up at the beginning. Both Madison and Julian had good reasons to avoid workplace relationships after past experiences, but things still escalated between them pretty quickly. I would’ve loved to see them resist each other just a bit more! 🙄🤏🏼
But overall: WOW. What an incredible debut. 👏🏼 The plot was engaging, the pacing kept me hooked, and the tension (yes, it deserves to be mentioned again!) was absolute chef’s kiss. 🤌🏼✨
The book itself? SO GOOD. 🥹✨
First of all, the tension between the main characters was perfection. The sparks were sparking (!!!), and that’s not something every author manages to pull off. The chemistry between Madison and Julian? Ouff… it was everything. 🥵🔥
I also really liked the small twist woven into their love story. How Julian’s past decisions (made before Madison even entered the picture) ended up complicating things between them. It felt real. So many romance novels rely on those cliché misunderstandings like, “oh no, I saw you with someone else, so I’ll assume the worst” 😌 But here, she gave us an actual conflict!! ❤️🔥
Personally, I would’ve enjoyed a bit more build-up at the beginning. Both Madison and Julian had good reasons to avoid workplace relationships after past experiences, but things still escalated between them pretty quickly. I would’ve loved to see them resist each other just a bit more! 🙄🤏🏼
But overall: WOW. What an incredible debut. 👏🏼 The plot was engaging, the pacing kept me hooked, and the tension (yes, it deserves to be mentioned again!) was absolute chef’s kiss. 🤌🏼✨
September 30, 2025
3,5 ⭐️ voor Undone by You
Ik mocht betareader zijn voor dit debuut van Rochela van Buuren en kreeg daardoor de kans om het boek al te lezen nog vóór de officiële release!
In vijf dagen had ik het uit en ik heb er echt van genoten. Dit was mijn eerste office romance en meteen een fijne ervaring met het genre. Vanaf het begin zat ik meteen in het verhaal en dankzij de korte hoofdstukken las het heel vlot door.
Soms ging het tempo wel wat snel, vooral in het begin. Ik hou er van om veel achtergrondinformatie over de personages te krijgen, en dat miste ik hier en daar een beetje. Vooral over het verleden van Madison en Julian had ik graag meer willen weten, want dat maakte me erg nieuwsgierig.
Wat me bijzonder aansprak, was de schrijfstijl van Rochela van Buuren. De chemie tussen Madison en Julian werd prachtig verwoord en hun vriendengroep vond ik ook een toffe toevoeging. Op bepaalde momenten deed het me zelfs denken aan Wild Love van Elsie Silver, een boek dat ik ook met plezier heb gelezen.
Ik raad dit verhaal zeker aan aan iedereen die van romantiek houdt en een Nederlandse auteur een kans wil geven (je merkt trouwens helemaal niet dat het door een Nederlandse schrijfster geschreven is).
Dankjewel Rochela van Buuren voor deze mooie leeservaring, en proficiat met dit prachtig debuut! 💌
In vijf dagen had ik het uit en ik heb er echt van genoten. Dit was mijn eerste office romance en meteen een fijne ervaring met het genre. Vanaf het begin zat ik meteen in het verhaal en dankzij de korte hoofdstukken las het heel vlot door.
Soms ging het tempo wel wat snel, vooral in het begin. Ik hou er van om veel achtergrondinformatie over de personages te krijgen, en dat miste ik hier en daar een beetje. Vooral over het verleden van Madison en Julian had ik graag meer willen weten, want dat maakte me erg nieuwsgierig.
Wat me bijzonder aansprak, was de schrijfstijl van Rochela van Buuren. De chemie tussen Madison en Julian werd prachtig verwoord en hun vriendengroep vond ik ook een toffe toevoeging. Op bepaalde momenten deed het me zelfs denken aan Wild Love van Elsie Silver, een boek dat ik ook met plezier heb gelezen.
Ik raad dit verhaal zeker aan aan iedereen die van romantiek houdt en een Nederlandse auteur een kans wil geven (je merkt trouwens helemaal niet dat het door een Nederlandse schrijfster geschreven is).
Dankjewel Rochela van Buuren voor deze mooie leeservaring, en proficiat met dit prachtig debuut! 💌
January 26, 2026
i really loved this book!!💜💜
February 18, 2026
Debut novel? More like she’s a veteran romance author with 20 hit novels.
I feel like she woke up one day and decided to publish a banger. Even character development is so good in this.
Get it girl 🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻
I feel like she woke up one day and decided to publish a banger. Even character development is so good in this.
Get it girl 🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻
September 8, 2026
What a wonderful debut! Undone By You is the first book in a contemporary romance series, and after reading A LOT of fantasy lately, I really needed something completely different. Enter: an office romance. I think this might actually be my first office romance, and honestly? It did not disappoint.
Sometimes you just need a silly little romance where you can turn your brain off, enjoy the ride, and watch two people fall for each other—and this book delivered exactly that.
From the very beginning, I really enjoyed following Madison and Julian's story. They were both characters I could immediately connect with, and I found myself invested in their relationship right away. There is definitely some insta-lust going on, but considering the forbidden romance aspect, I actually think it worked really well and added to the tension between them.
The writing itself was very easy to follow, which made this such a quick and enjoyable read. I could easily see myself reading this in one sitting. I did notice a few inconsistencies here and there, but honestly, I was having such a good time that they didn't bother me enough to stop me from absolutely flying through this book.
I read the indie version of Undone By You, so I'm especially happy for Rochela that she managed to get not only this book, but the entire four-book series published! What an achievement for a debut author!
Overall, I think this was a fantastic start to the series, and I'm already looking forward to seeing where things go next. I can't wait for book 2!
If you're looking for a contemporary forbidden romance with an office setting, some good chemistry, and an easy, bingeable read, definitely give this one a try!
Sometimes you just need a silly little romance where you can turn your brain off, enjoy the ride, and watch two people fall for each other—and this book delivered exactly that.
From the very beginning, I really enjoyed following Madison and Julian's story. They were both characters I could immediately connect with, and I found myself invested in their relationship right away. There is definitely some insta-lust going on, but considering the forbidden romance aspect, I actually think it worked really well and added to the tension between them.
The writing itself was very easy to follow, which made this such a quick and enjoyable read. I could easily see myself reading this in one sitting. I did notice a few inconsistencies here and there, but honestly, I was having such a good time that they didn't bother me enough to stop me from absolutely flying through this book.
I read the indie version of Undone By You, so I'm especially happy for Rochela that she managed to get not only this book, but the entire four-book series published! What an achievement for a debut author!
Overall, I think this was a fantastic start to the series, and I'm already looking forward to seeing where things go next. I can't wait for book 2!
If you're looking for a contemporary forbidden romance with an office setting, some good chemistry, and an easy, bingeable read, definitely give this one a try!
October 6, 2025
I received Undone by You as an ARC from Rochela, and honestly, for a debut, this was such a strong book! It’s a forbidden love and workplace romance (two of my favorite tropes), and I really enjoyed reading it.
This reminded me of the Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde and the King of Sins series by Ana Huang. If you like those, I think you will like this one as well!
I liked the characters a lot, though I have to admit I needed some time to warm up to Julian. He came across a bit guarded at first, but as the story went on and he slowly turned into a biiiiig softie for Madison, I started liking him more and more 🥹
One thing I loved was the humor. Rochela added so many funny moments, and I actually laughed out loud several times. Overall, her writing was really strong (again, especially for a debut!)
My only downside is that I would’ve liked a bit more explicit verbal consent at the beginning between the main characters. Luckily, there was a lot of that later in the book. Other than that, I had such a good time reading this book.
Overall, Undone by You is a fun, well-written romance filled with chemistry, humor, and that forbidden tension. I can’t wait to read book 2 in this series! 💕
This reminded me of the Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde and the King of Sins series by Ana Huang. If you like those, I think you will like this one as well!
I liked the characters a lot, though I have to admit I needed some time to warm up to Julian. He came across a bit guarded at first, but as the story went on and he slowly turned into a biiiiig softie for Madison, I started liking him more and more 🥹
One thing I loved was the humor. Rochela added so many funny moments, and I actually laughed out loud several times. Overall, her writing was really strong (again, especially for a debut!)
My only downside is that I would’ve liked a bit more explicit verbal consent at the beginning between the main characters. Luckily, there was a lot of that later in the book. Other than that, I had such a good time reading this book.
Overall, Undone by You is a fun, well-written romance filled with chemistry, humor, and that forbidden tension. I can’t wait to read book 2 in this series! 💕
October 4, 2025
I recently finished the ARC of "Undone by You" by Rochela. Thank you for entrusting me with your novel Rochela.
I started this book on Friday and finished it by Saturday morning before 9 a.m.; I couldn't put it down. I'm obsessed with Maddie and Juian. This book is just what I needed right now. I was about to go back into a reading slump, but this book kept me going. The plot of Maddie and Julian was very easy to follow, and I like the slow burn in this book. It was not rushed, rather was on point; Juian had me kicking my feet, and I'm here for it. And we had to witness each character's back story, where they came from, and all they had to cope with, including grief, imposter syndrome, and anxiety. I soaked it all in.
September 24, 2025
ARC REVIEW
4.5 stars!!!
Wow—huge thanks to Rochela for sending me a beta copy of Undone by You!
This story was exactly what I’d been craving: smart characters, forbidden romance, and a plot that keeps you hooked from page one.
We follow Madison and Julian—two lawyers who live by one rule: don’t fall in love. But, of course, the heart doesn’t always listen.
From the very first chapter, I was completely invested. You know something’s going to go wrong—it’s forbidden love, after all—but Rochela does an amazing job keeping you guessing about when and how.
The tension is so well done, and nothing felt too predictable. That was a huge win for me!
Let’s talk about the characters for a sec:
Madison is fierce, witty, and someone I’d 100% want to be friends with (or maybe even be!). She’s fun, driven, and not afraid to stand her ground.
Julian... ugh, I adore him. He’s the mysterious, swoon-worthy, off-limits type (he’s the CEO’s son 😏), and the chemistry between him and Madison is off the charts.
Also, yes—this book has its spicy moments 🔥 but it’s the right amount. Steamy without overpowering the story. Totally enjoyable.
If you love tension-filled slow burns with just the right amount of heat, office drama, and strong female leads, definitely add Undone by You to your TBR.
4.5 stars!!!
Wow—huge thanks to Rochela for sending me a beta copy of Undone by You!
This story was exactly what I’d been craving: smart characters, forbidden romance, and a plot that keeps you hooked from page one.
We follow Madison and Julian—two lawyers who live by one rule: don’t fall in love. But, of course, the heart doesn’t always listen.
From the very first chapter, I was completely invested. You know something’s going to go wrong—it’s forbidden love, after all—but Rochela does an amazing job keeping you guessing about when and how.
The tension is so well done, and nothing felt too predictable. That was a huge win for me!
Let’s talk about the characters for a sec:
Madison is fierce, witty, and someone I’d 100% want to be friends with (or maybe even be!). She’s fun, driven, and not afraid to stand her ground.
Julian... ugh, I adore him. He’s the mysterious, swoon-worthy, off-limits type (he’s the CEO’s son 😏), and the chemistry between him and Madison is off the charts.
Also, yes—this book has its spicy moments 🔥 but it’s the right amount. Steamy without overpowering the story. Totally enjoyable.
If you love tension-filled slow burns with just the right amount of heat, office drama, and strong female leads, definitely add Undone by You to your TBR.
October 4, 2025
3.5⭐️ firstly, I’d like to say a massive thank you to Rochela for the pleasure of selecting me as a beta reader of this story. I can say after seeing the mood boards for this that Julian and Madison did not disappoint. As a massive fan of suits - the Manhattan law firm setting was perfect. My only wish would’ve been to stay in the corporate setting more. I felt there was too much moving around which made the plot feel a little jumpy at times.
I really loved the strong, independent, intelligent woman that we had in Madison’s character. She stayed true to herself from start to finish which I really liked. I was also so glad she didn’t just give up everything she had worked for to pursue the relationship with Julian. A woman who knows what she wants👌🏻
Julian Moreau… the man that you are👏👏👏 the way he was so down bad for Madison from the get go was a big yes from me. He was literally her biggest supporter and had such respect for her as his equal. I also loved that he wasn’t naive about the world that we live in when it comes to workplace relationships such as theirs and he did the right thing to allow her to continue to thrive. I would’ve loved to see the showdown between Julian and his dad at the end. I feel we really only scratched the surface of that relationship which was one thing I wish we could’ve had more of.
I really see the vision for the found family that is coming in this series so I shall definitely be picking up book 2 next year…
I really loved the strong, independent, intelligent woman that we had in Madison’s character. She stayed true to herself from start to finish which I really liked. I was also so glad she didn’t just give up everything she had worked for to pursue the relationship with Julian. A woman who knows what she wants👌🏻
Julian Moreau… the man that you are👏👏👏 the way he was so down bad for Madison from the get go was a big yes from me. He was literally her biggest supporter and had such respect for her as his equal. I also loved that he wasn’t naive about the world that we live in when it comes to workplace relationships such as theirs and he did the right thing to allow her to continue to thrive. I would’ve loved to see the showdown between Julian and his dad at the end. I feel we really only scratched the surface of that relationship which was one thing I wish we could’ve had more of.
I really see the vision for the found family that is coming in this series so I shall definitely be picking up book 2 next year…
October 5, 2025
Oh my gosh this was my first Arc and my first “Forbidden Workplace Romance”.
The story really felt like a romcom sometimes, the banter between Madison and Julian was so good! That made the tension between them even better. I also liked the bond between Madison and her girlfriends, when they talked it really felt like conversations that could happen in real life!
I also liked that they both had their struggles with their relationships with their parents in some way and that they could bond over that a little bit. I loved that they just communicated like grown ups every time they had a discussion or a fall out and not acted like little children..
The only thing I wished was that the moment when they gave in to each other would take a little bit longer.. cause the tension between them was so good and every time they where near each other I sat at the edge of my stool.. I just felt like it was too soon, the perfect moment would be for me when they were in Valancia.. but overall it was a vibe!
I don’t know what it was but the last 10% was 10/10. The conflict and the conversation between them about work and their relationship, had me in a chokehold!
The spice was spicing and every time they were with each other I felt the tension between them in my room!
3.75 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️/5
The story really felt like a romcom sometimes, the banter between Madison and Julian was so good! That made the tension between them even better. I also liked the bond between Madison and her girlfriends, when they talked it really felt like conversations that could happen in real life!
I also liked that they both had their struggles with their relationships with their parents in some way and that they could bond over that a little bit. I loved that they just communicated like grown ups every time they had a discussion or a fall out and not acted like little children..
The only thing I wished was that the moment when they gave in to each other would take a little bit longer.. cause the tension between them was so good and every time they where near each other I sat at the edge of my stool.. I just felt like it was too soon, the perfect moment would be for me when they were in Valancia.. but overall it was a vibe!
I don’t know what it was but the last 10% was 10/10. The conflict and the conversation between them about work and their relationship, had me in a chokehold!
The spice was spicing and every time they were with each other I felt the tension between them in my room!
3.75 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️/5
November 18, 2025
Firstly, thank you for the ARC Rochela 🥰
This book is a very lighthearted, easy read. Utter definition of fluffy romance. It was short and sweet.
This is a billionaire boss and his employee romance. Which I typically really enjoy. It’s that forbidden love element.
Unfortunately, I found the pacing to be a bit off. You can clearly see the slow burn and tension the author wanted to build but it didn’t land for me. The push and pull between both MCs didn’t hit how I’d want. Also, Julian’s previous coworker relationship was mentioned and then never discussed again. The FMC wasn’t even told, despite her opening up about hers to him? I’m not sure the relevance of that to the story?
I think this series has the makings of some interesting characters (Roman I’m looking at you). I just didn’t love this as much as I wanted to. Which honestly may be a me thing as I’m fully in my dark romance era currently!
This book is a very lighthearted, easy read. Utter definition of fluffy romance. It was short and sweet.
This is a billionaire boss and his employee romance. Which I typically really enjoy. It’s that forbidden love element.
Unfortunately, I found the pacing to be a bit off. You can clearly see the slow burn and tension the author wanted to build but it didn’t land for me. The push and pull between both MCs didn’t hit how I’d want. Also, Julian’s previous coworker relationship was mentioned and then never discussed again. The FMC wasn’t even told, despite her opening up about hers to him? I’m not sure the relevance of that to the story?
I think this series has the makings of some interesting characters (Roman I’m looking at you). I just didn’t love this as much as I wanted to. Which honestly may be a me thing as I’m fully in my dark romance era currently!
October 1, 2025
After being in a big slump for weeks, this book quickly pulled me right out of it and reminded me how good workplace romance can be!
Rochela has done an amazing job with this one, the tension and angst is done perfectly! I was constantly shouting in my head 'just break the rules!' but I LOVE that about forbidden love and this was done really well.
Julian the mmc, surprised me the most. Beneath his cold, grumpy exterior, we slowly see his walls come down as he and Madison grow closer. That softer, more possessive side of him was such a treat to read! 🫶
Can't wait for the rest of the series to come out! Highly recommend this if you like workplace romance/forbidden love!
Rochela has done an amazing job with this one, the tension and angst is done perfectly! I was constantly shouting in my head 'just break the rules!' but I LOVE that about forbidden love and this was done really well.
Julian the mmc, surprised me the most. Beneath his cold, grumpy exterior, we slowly see his walls come down as he and Madison grow closer. That softer, more possessive side of him was such a treat to read! 🫶
Can't wait for the rest of the series to come out! Highly recommend this if you like workplace romance/forbidden love!
October 6, 2025
I received an ARC of Undone by You (thank you, Rochella! 🩷) and went into it completely blind — something I’ve been doing more often lately — and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised!
It turns out to be a forbidden workplace romance (yes, please 👀), and I was immediately hooked. The MMC? So claimy it should be a red flag… but somehow he’s also so adorable that it becomes ridiculously cute. In real life? 🚩 Probably.
In fiction? I ate it up. Every. Single. Page. 😌
The book is packed with humor, and I absolutely loved the FMC. She’s strong, resilient, and handles her setbacks with such grace and determination — you can’t help but root for her. 💪
I’ll admit, I wasn’t totally following all the details of the courtroom part of the story 👩⚖️ (legal talk isn’t really my thing), but honestly? I didn’t even care — because the spice and smut were on point. 🔥
It’s funny, flirty, emotional at times, and full of that addictive chemistry that makes you forget the world around you.
It turns out to be a forbidden workplace romance (yes, please 👀), and I was immediately hooked. The MMC? So claimy it should be a red flag… but somehow he’s also so adorable that it becomes ridiculously cute. In real life? 🚩 Probably.
In fiction? I ate it up. Every. Single. Page. 😌
The book is packed with humor, and I absolutely loved the FMC. She’s strong, resilient, and handles her setbacks with such grace and determination — you can’t help but root for her. 💪
I’ll admit, I wasn’t totally following all the details of the courtroom part of the story 👩⚖️ (legal talk isn’t really my thing), but honestly? I didn’t even care — because the spice and smut were on point. 🔥
It’s funny, flirty, emotional at times, and full of that addictive chemistry that makes you forget the world around you.
January 11, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
October 12, 2026
Undone by you gaf me vlinders, kippenvel, emoties en vooral dat heerlijke gevoel waardoor je opnieuw beseft waarom je zo graag leest. Een verhaal waarin de liefde, de aantrekkingskracht en de diepere thema’s elkaar perfect aanvullen. Soms heb je gewoon een boek nodig dat je alles opnieuw laat voelen en voor mij was dit er zo eentje.
Door dit boek besefte en voelde ik opnieuw waarom ik zo van lezen hou. Ik kon gewoon niet stoppen. Dit verhaal had me volledig in zijn greep en liet me niet meer los. Op sommige momenten kreeg ik zelf kriebels in mijn buik en stond ik letterlijk met kippenvel te lezen. Vanaf het allereerste begin had dit boek mij mee.
Een spicy office romance die werkelijk alles uit de kast weet te halen! De aantrekkingskracht, het aantrekken en afstoten, de spanning en natuurlijk de spicy momenten die je het helemaal warm laten krijgen… Alles klopte gewoon. Je voelt de emoties doorheen de bladzijden en wilt niets liever dan zelf deel uitmaken van hun verhaal.
Een badass vrouw die zichzelf wil bewijzen, voor haar plek vecht en met al haar kracht recht blijft staan en een man die voor de buitenwereld misschien een groot ego heeft, maar uiteindelijk buigt voor de liefde.
Wat ik ook ontzettend mooi vond, was de manier waarop rouw aan bod kwam. Het boek laat zien dat verdriet er voor iedereen anders kan uitzien. Niet iedereen rouwt op dezelfde manier en dat mag er zijn.
En laten we vooral niet vergeten hoe het boek ook de ongelijke behandeling van vrouwen op de werkvloer aankaart. Zelfs wanneer vrouwen keihard werken, zich als een leeuwin bewijzen en alles geven, worden ze niet altijd op dezelfde manier behandeld.
Door dit boek besefte en voelde ik opnieuw waarom ik zo van lezen hou. Ik kon gewoon niet stoppen. Dit verhaal had me volledig in zijn greep en liet me niet meer los. Op sommige momenten kreeg ik zelf kriebels in mijn buik en stond ik letterlijk met kippenvel te lezen. Vanaf het allereerste begin had dit boek mij mee.
Een spicy office romance die werkelijk alles uit de kast weet te halen! De aantrekkingskracht, het aantrekken en afstoten, de spanning en natuurlijk de spicy momenten die je het helemaal warm laten krijgen… Alles klopte gewoon. Je voelt de emoties doorheen de bladzijden en wilt niets liever dan zelf deel uitmaken van hun verhaal.
Een badass vrouw die zichzelf wil bewijzen, voor haar plek vecht en met al haar kracht recht blijft staan en een man die voor de buitenwereld misschien een groot ego heeft, maar uiteindelijk buigt voor de liefde.
Wat ik ook ontzettend mooi vond, was de manier waarop rouw aan bod kwam. Het boek laat zien dat verdriet er voor iedereen anders kan uitzien. Niet iedereen rouwt op dezelfde manier en dat mag er zijn.
En laten we vooral niet vergeten hoe het boek ook de ongelijke behandeling van vrouwen op de werkvloer aankaart. Zelfs wanneer vrouwen keihard werken, zich als een leeuwin bewijzen en alles geven, worden ze niet altijd op dezelfde manier behandeld.
March 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Allereerst wil ik zeggen dat ik het bizar vind dat dit een debut is. Het was echt een cute romance, maar toch een spannend plot! Je had al kleine broodkruimels door het boek heen en was aan het wachten tot de bom zou vallen. Dus naast dat Maddie en Julian hun relatie aan het ontwikkelen waren (in hoeverre dat kon) was er dus ook nog wel echt iets gaande daarnaast.
Voor mij geen 5 sterren, omdat ik het ook weer niet zooo spannend vond. Het gaf me niet de 5 sterren feel.
Wat het voor mij extra leuk maakte is dat ik HR studeer en dir daarom toch een beetje extra entertaining was hahaha. De HR mentions tussen t boek door, ik voelde me alsof ik zo de villain van het verhaal had kunnen zijn 😭😂.
Allereerst wil ik zeggen dat ik het bizar vind dat dit een debut is. Het was echt een cute romance, maar toch een spannend plot! Je had al kleine broodkruimels door het boek heen en was aan het wachten tot de bom zou vallen. Dus naast dat Maddie en Julian hun relatie aan het ontwikkelen waren (in hoeverre dat kon) was er dus ook nog wel echt iets gaande daarnaast.
Voor mij geen 5 sterren, omdat ik het ook weer niet zooo spannend vond. Het gaf me niet de 5 sterren feel.
Wat het voor mij extra leuk maakte is dat ik HR studeer en dir daarom toch een beetje extra entertaining was hahaha. De HR mentions tussen t boek door, ik voelde me alsof ik zo de villain van het verhaal had kunnen zijn 😭😂.
March 5, 2026
4 🌟
Ik ben trots dat dit boek uit Nederlandse bodem is. Want wat heb ik dit boek opgevroten!
Het is een heerlijke easy read waardoor ik lekker in het verhaal zat en te genieten van de slowburn tussen Julian en Madison. Aan het begin vond ik het wat cliché van wat er zou gaan gebeuren maar Rochela wist mij zeker te overtuigen! Deze SMUT is heerlijk en Julian staat in het lijstje van bookboyfriends. Ik heb genoten van Madison en haar uitspraken. Wat een heerlijk characters. Ik vond het plot wat matig maar alsnog vermaakt. Ugh ik kan niet wachten op het volgende boek uit deze serie!💜 ik heb mij zoooo onwijs vermaakt!
Ik ben trots dat dit boek uit Nederlandse bodem is. Want wat heb ik dit boek opgevroten!
Het is een heerlijke easy read waardoor ik lekker in het verhaal zat en te genieten van de slowburn tussen Julian en Madison. Aan het begin vond ik het wat cliché van wat er zou gaan gebeuren maar Rochela wist mij zeker te overtuigen! Deze SMUT is heerlijk en Julian staat in het lijstje van bookboyfriends. Ik heb genoten van Madison en haar uitspraken. Wat een heerlijk characters. Ik vond het plot wat matig maar alsnog vermaakt. Ugh ik kan niet wachten op het volgende boek uit deze serie!💜 ik heb mij zoooo onwijs vermaakt!
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