Undone by You

Between the Lines #1

by Rochela van Buuren

He's her boss. She's off-limits.
Too bad desire doesn't follow rules.

Julian
Growing up as the CEO's son, I learned early that control is everything. I don't get distracted, and I don't break rules. But then Madison Reid was assigned to my team. She's sharp, relentless, and incapable of letting things go. She questions decisions she shouldn't, pushes boundaries she doesn't see, and manages to get under my skin without even trying. She's a complication I didn't ask for. And one I can't seem to ignore.

Madison
Passing the bar was the easy part. Now I'm trying to prove I deserve this job, even with the impossible hours, the office politics, and the arrogant man I report to. Julian Moreau is cold, calculating, and annoyingly good at pretending I don't get under his skin. Which would bother me a lot less if he didn't keep showing up in my head when I least expect it. I don't want this. It's the last thing I need. But there's something building between us, and pretending it isn't there is getting harder by the day.

Genres: Romance

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2025

About the author

Rochela 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.

Reviews

[sanne ♥ (sann_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 👀

[Gwen_isreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

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)

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Thirsa Westende · Rating 4 out of 5]

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😍

[amber ☁️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Patricia | booksbypatries · Rating 4 out of 5]

dit was alles wat ik op dit moment nodig had 🩷

[imaginarylibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!✨

[Valerie 🌻 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS!! Can’t wait for book 2 in the series

[Nadieh · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!! 🫶🏻

[Lina Torkelsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. 🤌🏼✨

[Lotte Meert · Rating 4 out of 5]

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! 💌

[KIM · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Marijn Van Trierum · Rating 4 out of 5]

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! 💕

[Donie Innocent · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Khaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Rebecca Clifford · Rating 3 out of 5]

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…

[Ashley Mana · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Charlie Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Thinka Peeters · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

was really curious to read as romance books like this are not my genre, but I wanted to give it a try bc I have so much admiration for Rochela for self-publishing and her journey altogether!!

There were some inconsistencies/plot holes that I had some questions about and quite some plot repetition. I also think there were a few hanging plot devices, like things that were mentioned and then never addressed. I also think the romance jumps into things quite quickly without any foundation, just a bit too fast paced there for my taste.

Julian has an ex named Julia- Julia and JuliaN? Felt a little unpolished there. At the end, we hear the group going to Boston, and then they talk about landing in DC? But then they land in Boston again?

Despite this not being my genre or plot in general, the book was quick read and I finished it in a day!

2 ⭐️

[Amy Longhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

a SOLID debut with the most down bad book boyfriend??? love. the characters are smart, witty, have depth to them. as a girl in law i loveeeeeed seeing madison just outsmart everyone, and that julian was never frightened of her intelligence. he just fell so hard i was obsessed and giggling kicking my feet. i cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series and getting to know the other characters better

[Brianna Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I absolutely loved this debut! From the very first chapter, Madison and Julian had me kicking my feet and literally squealing out loud. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the way the author weaves in pieces of their past makes their present connection feel so real and earned.

Watching their relationship grow was such a treat, chapters 26 and 27 were personal favourites; I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time. The New York backdrop gives it a vibe similar to TV shows like Suits or The Lincoln Lawyer, and is perfect to be read in autumn and winter.

I’m thrilled there’s a second book coming. If you love smart, romantic tension with that big-city sparkle, Undone by You is a must-read!

[Demi Jonkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting and was captivated from the start. I felt every emotion possible throughout the entire book. I adored the characters and the storyline.🫶🏻

Rochella, you've truly done a fantastic job with your debut novel. I love the writing style and the way you managed to capture all the vibes in one book.🩷

5 stars, Elsie Silver, eat your heart out 😉

P.S. If you like Elsie Silver, Ana Huang, or the Windy City series, this book is for you. If not, give it a try anyway, it's a easy read, you will fly through the story.

[Carlijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this debut from Rochela 🍒♥️

[Aimeereadss · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you so much to Rochela for allowing me to read this arc of her debut novel!!!

This book what exactly what I needed in my life! A short workplace romance, boss & employee, dual pov?! please🙂‍↔️.
Julian being a billionaire grumpy and arrogant mmc with also a troubled backstory really brought his character to life!
Such a fun and quick read if you want an nyc forced proximity vibe!! The spicy scenes were done SO well🙂‍↔️

I’ll be waiting for the next release!🫶🏻🫶🏻