Boom Boom Bang

Love & Lawlessness Trilogy #1

by Sam Evans, Travis Walter

Fiona Carson and Tre White have been enemies since high school, and when Fiona moves back to small-town Kalomish after fifteen years away, that hasn’t changed. Tensions are still high, and she would like nothing more than to see Tre thrown in a jail cell. Tre would settle for Fiona disappearing back to Seattle—or wherever she was—instead of showing up at every town hall to support plans to turn Kalomish into a tourism hellhole.

But when Tre ventures to the developers’ construction site late one night, planning to sabotage the whole thing and finds Fiona already there—with a bomb in her hands—everything goes awry. Tre is forced to confront the fact that he has no idea who Fiona is, and demands they put their differences aside to stop the town's destruction.

Boom Boom Bang is a small-town, enemies-to-lovers romcom for fans of The Anarchist Cookbook that’s built on destruction, resistance, and the kind of love that explodes when you least expect it.

383 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

Sam Evans has lived all over the US but currently resides in the upper midwest. She’s a software engineer by day, but letting her imagination run wild is her full-time occupation. She lives with her partner, a high-strung border collie, and an insane kelpie. She routinely drinks too much coffee and gets too little sleep.

Reviews

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I previously read one of the author’s books and really enjoyed it, especially because it was inspired by a real-life event. So the moment I saw this one on NetGalley, I requested it immediately.

And honestly? This book had SO many cool ideas.

First of all, the playlist ...Woop Woop... Absolutely elite. It felt like opening a time capsule of everything I used to listen to twenty years ago. (Omg, has it been 20 years already???!?!?)

I also loved that this story was inspired by a real event, because I genuinely had no idea something like this had happened before.

And another really cool detail: the book was co-written by the author and her partner, with each of them writing one character’s POV. I thought that was such a fun concept and worked pretty well throughout the story.

Now into the actual plot.

Tre and Fiona have known each other forever because… small town... But after something Tre said years ago in school, Fiona has absolutely hated him ever since and she isn't keeping it a secret either.

Now as adults, the two somehow separately arrive at the exact same brilliant idea:
blowing up a construction site to stop developers from turning their small town into a tourist attraction.

Honestly, iconic behavior... LOL.

After their unexpected meeting at the construction site, they reluctantly agree to work together and gather more information, and from there the enemies-to-lovers dynamic slowly develops.

I did enjoy the chemistry between them overall, and I liked seeing them slowly move past old resentment while secretly spending more and more time together.

That said… I do think this book was way too long.

There were definitely chapters where I started feeling the pacing drag, and while I appreciated all the ideas and themes the story was trying to explore, it occasionally felt stretched more than necessary.

Still, the uniqueness of the premise, the small-town atmosphere, and the chaotic energy of the story kept me entertained overall.

⭐ 3 stars

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[mariam mazen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

Let me tell you, this book was WILD! Taking down the big-bad corporation while also having an explosive romance?? (literally and figuratively) sign. me. UP!

The story starts with our FMC Fiona moving back to her hometown after many years away, and unfortunately, running into her long-time nemesis from high school, Tre. On the outside, Fiona seems like she couldn't care less about her hometown being overtaken by a big corporation, but she's secretly plotting their demise. Tre, on the other hand, has made his thoughts abundantly clear on how much he hates the idea of the new development planned that'll wreck the ecosystems and drinking water of his beloved town. He knows who he is up against and is more than willing to take the corporation down. However, what he didn't see coming was Fiona, standing at the development site, with a bomb...

Can these two put their past differences aside to take down the common enemy?

Now for the review...

✨The good✨
I found the story to be so fast-paced and addicting that I genuinely couldn't stop reading. It really felt like every chapter, something new was happening that was adding to the plot that kept me hooked the whole time. And the chapters being so short? *chefs kiss*.

✨The bad✨
I don't know why, but I felt the dialogue sometimes came off as super unnatural and repetitive?? It seemed like the characters had a set script, and we saw them saying the same things over and over again. Also, I think this book does a lot of telling you versus showing you. I really wanted to believe the chemistry between Fiona and Tre, but sometimes it just felt that they kept stating their feelings versus showing us how much they really cared for each other🤷🏻‍♀️

✨The ugly✨
The use of food... IS NO ONE SCARED OF UTI'S AND INFECTIONS???! AM I CRAZY?? (still fun to read but omg they better have gone to the gyno immediately after cause... yikes)

Thank you again to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ARC Book Review✨

This enemies to lovers story was definitely a high stakes romance!

I enjoyed the dual POV, especially since Fiona seriously hated Tre. It made the story more interesting knowing how they each felt. I liked that they eventually started working together. I enjoyed the transition from enemies to lovers and wanted more from that aspect of the story.

This book leans heavily on corporate sabotage and bombings. I enjoyed the activism and seeing them work together, but that ended up being more of the plot than the romance. That being said, they each had a lot at stake, and it was interesting watching them start to trust each other after years of hate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Super Gravity Press LLC Publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[KaleidoscopeLaiReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review | Out May 26, 2026

Boom Boom Bang! by Sam Evans and Travis Walter absolutely took me out—and I mean that in the most chaotic, explosive, “did that really just happen??” way possible.

This is a dual-POV enemies-to-lovers eco-activism romance following Fiona and Tre, and listen… if you go into this thinking it’s going to be some cute small-town activism story… you are in for a RUDE awakening. Because yes, it starts there, but then things escalate FAST. And by escalate, I mean things literally start blowing up.

Beyond the chemistry (and whew, the spice 👀), what really stood out to me was how grounded the story feels. The authors don’t shy away from showing how corrupt small-town officials can be, how easily law enforcement can be bought, and how corporations continuously harm the environment without caring about the long-term consequences for communities.

What I loved most is that the fight back isn’t polished or pretty—it’s messy, raw, and very real. Fiona is an absolute force, and I will always be here for women being unapologetically badass.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, slightly unhinged (in the best way) romance with real stakes, real anger, and characters willing to burn it all down for what’s right—this is 100% for you.

Also… there is a strawberry scene that will live rent-free in my head forever. You’ve been warned.

[Han Bento · Rating 3 out of 5]

~ NETGALLEY ARC REVIEW ~
i had fun reading this book! ive never read a romance involving ecoterrorism before so that was definitely a new and unique experience. the beginning of the story felt kinda slow and i was worried i wouldn't be able to get invested but somewhere along the way i suddenly caught myself just blowing through chapters and accidentally pulling an all nighter lol.
pieces of the plot felt a bit surface lever like we never really address why the fmc father is Like That, and we also never really address much detail about the mmcs relationship with his parents and why its Like That. feels like while overall the plot didnt have too many extra unnecessary things going on, there were pieces of plot that were somewhat relevant that weren't addressed. my understanding though is that there will be two other books in this series so maybe thats why?
the sexual tension kinda just appears outta nowhere, the characters are in some sort of "rivals to lovers" plot but in all honesty it really felt one sided. the fmc held a grudge and the mmc didnt even know why she hated him so much. it really went from not being there to bam suddenly theyre making out but idk it was almost like half of it took place off page so we don't get to witness it.
in the end the book kinda ended suddenly. like so suddenly that when i hit the acknowledgment page i got so confused and flipped back to make sure i hadn't accidentally skipped a chapter. so while technically the book does have an hea, it felt almost incomplete. but no third act breakup so thatwas a win!

[tanisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

attraction alone is not chemistry ★★

i actually really liked the presentation of this book at first. the chapters being labelled thematically instead of numerically was such a fun touch, and i liked that each chapter had its own song attached to it instead of trying to force one song to represent the whole book. books have highs and lows. one singular song cannot carry all that. the content warning page starting with “this book will self-destruct in 5…4…3…2” was also really clever because it made something that is usually kind of intimidating feel playful instead.

unfortunately i did not care about these people at all.

the biggest issue for me was the romance. this is supposed to be enemies-to-lovers, but it felt incredibly uneven. she seemed to hate him WAY more than he hated her to the point where i was not even convinced he disliked her at all.

this man is out here:
opening wine early so it can breathe properly.
stress-cleaning his apartment.
worrying about whether the countertops need wiping down again.

sir.

there are entire scenes where he is basically playing house in his head while she is still mentally calling him “that asshole.” and honestly? “that asshole” was one of the more convincing enemies-to-lovers moments in the book because after that the tension mostly disappears and gets replaced with physical attraction.

there is a lot of “trying not to notice how soft his hair was.”

and then suddenly they are sleeping together.

where was the actual emotional progression. where was the tension. where was the yearning. because it just, it felt like:
she notices his hair.
he exists in a room.
they have sex.

attraction alone is not chemistry.

ironically some of the strongest interactions in the book were not even between the main couple. at one point i was more invested in tre and councilman nammier than the actual romance.

i also struggled with parts of the plot because the fmc is presented as highly intelligent and precise in some scenes, but bizarrely careless in others. she is apparently careful enough to think through things like avoiding cameras and not buying multiple suspicious items together, but somehow never considers that the supplies for building a bomb could easily be traced back to her household? especially when she is supposedly doing all this because she cares about people and the environment.

and apparently this was loosely inspired by a real event which honestly just made me more confused because surely the planning in real life would have been more sophisticated than this. like the issue is not even “this would never happen,” it’s that the book keeps insisting she is extremely intelligent while having her overlook things that feel painfully obvious whenever the plot needs her to.

also i am sorry but
environmental activism via bomb?
okay.

there were moments i liked. some of the banter worked, i liked that the fmc was tall and a doctor (we love a strong female lead), and i appreciated that the male and female povs were written by different authors, making the characters’ voices so much more distinct. but overall this felt like a book where i admired certain ideas and isolated moments more than the actual story itself.

thank you netgalley for this ERC <3

[Cheyenne Oleson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boom Boom Bang was absolute chaotic perfection in the best possible way. This book somehow managed to blend small-town tension, environmental activism, enemies-to-lovers chemistry, humor, emotional depth, and literal explosions into one wildly addictive story that I could not put down.

From the very beginning, Fiona and Tre had electric chemistry. Their dynamic balanced frustration, banter, attraction, and emotional history so well that every scene between them crackled with tension. Fiona was fierce, stubborn, intelligent, and completely unapologetic about fighting for the town she loved, while Tre brought this chaotic golden retriever energy wrapped inside a ridiculously attractive small-town troublemaker package. Together? Absolute disaster duo soulmates.

What really made this stand out for me, though, was how grounded the story felt underneath all the humor and romance. The book doesn’t shy away from exploring environmental destruction, corruption, overdevelopment, and the way powerful people often dismiss smaller communities for profit. The activism felt messy, emotional, and very human rather than polished or performative, which made the stakes feel real the entire time.

And somehow, despite the serious themes, this book was still SO much fun. The pacing moves incredibly fast without feeling rushed, and every chapter pulled me deeper into the chaos. One moment I was laughing at town council antics, the next there were explosions, emotional confrontations, sabotage plans, and unbearable romantic tension simmering in the background like a lit fuse.

The romance itself was excellent. The slow burn hit perfectly because the chemistry was there from the start, and once things escalated… wow. The spice felt natural to the progression of their relationship and added to the emotional intensity instead of distracting from it. Fiona and Tre genuinely felt like equals challenging and balancing each other at the same time.

I also loved the small-town atmosphere and supporting cast. Kalomish felt alive in that very specific way where everyone knows everyone else’s business, town meetings become entertainment, and community ties run deep even when people disagree. Ewan especially was such a standout side character, and the family dynamics throughout the story added so much heart.

This book was funny, explosive, emotional, surprisingly thoughtful, and ridiculously bingeable. I already know I’m going to be impatiently waiting for the next installment.

A wildly entertaining romance for readers who love enemies-to-lovers tension, messy activism, small-town chaos, explosive chemistry, and characters willing to risk everything for the people and places they love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[E.K. Oakley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little chaos, a one-sided love to hate relationship with a co-written dual POV perspective culminating in a fantastic read that had me giggling and deeply concerned.

Boom Boom Bang (Love & Lawlessness Trilogy, #1)
By, Sam Evans & Travis Walter
Dark romance/suspense
(I might even suggest Rom-Com to add in, it was funny, with good banter)

Tropes:
- Enemies-to-lovers (more like one-sided love to hate lovers)
- Morally gray love interests (both of them)
- Forced proximity (as in they live in the same town)
- Danger-to-lovers
- Cinnamon Role MMC x Black Cat FMC

Spice Level:
3.5🌶️/5🌶️ (explicit scenes, plot + spice balance)

Content Warnings:
- Violence
- Crime elements
- Power imbalance
- Explicit sexual content
- Emotional manipulation
- Trauma themes

What worked for me:
The black cat FMC (Fiona) versus the golden retriever (maybe a cinnamon roll?) MMC (Tre) relationship and chemistry. I absolutely love the premise of the story and related heavily to Fiona, her profession and why she is choosing to do what she is doing throughout the book as I have had similar thoughts. It was kind of fun to live vicariously through her while reading this book.

I loved the banter, the spice was well written and supporting characters had some great moments that indicate additional interconnected standalones potentially forthcoming.

I found myself annoyed & concerned with Fiona often as I kept wishing she would relax and let thingsgo, but honestly, I think I related to hardcore with Fiona and was projecting. Although she does need therapy for a few of her issues.

Tre was sometimes a bit too aloof and, maybe a bit too laid back. I kind of wish I had gotten a bit more back story on his relationship with his parents and used that with a bit more character development.

What was unique about this book:
It was co-written with Sam Evans and her husband, Travis Walter. Her husband wrote Tre's perspective and she wrote Fiona's perspective. Let me just say it is obvious they are written be two individuals that know each other extremely well and are of opposite sex. It does sometimes cause some halt in the flow of the writing but overall, I did end up enjoying the co-writing dual POV.

It is a fast and enjoyable read, I was able to finish in a bit over 3 hours.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review—no sugarcoating, no holding back, questionable grammar and dialogue entirely from my brain. All thoughts entirely my own.

[Mandy Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boom Boom Bang! by Sam Evans and Travis Walter is a highly engaging, dual-perspective eco-activism dark romance that balances chaotic energy with grounded, real-world stakes.

Written collaboratively—with Sam voicing Fiona and Travis voicing Tre—the dual-author dynamic is remarkably cohesive, successfully maintaining a unified voice while alternating between the two perspectives.

The narrative functions as a dark romantic comedy inspired by real-world events, following Fiona, a small-town doctor, and Tre, an old adversary, as they unite to sabotage a corrupt corporate developer.
​
The pacing is one of the novel's strongest assets once the momentum builds. The chapters are short and propulsive, contributing to an addictive reading experience that keeps the reader hooked from the moment the characters begin their sabotage.

The authors do not shy away from heavy themes, highlighting environmental destruction, corporate greed, and political corruption with a raw, unfiltered approach. Fiona is written as an unapologetically forceful protagonist, and the friction between the leads provides a satisfying enemies-to-lovers dynamic.

The suspense sequences, notably the blueprint and rope scenes, are highly effective at building tension, and the authors successfully integrate humor into high-stakes situations.

Additionally, the romance includes memorable sensory details, such as an unforgettable scene involving strawberries.

​However, the novel is not without its critical flaws. The transition into the main plot takes some time, resulting in a slightly uneven beginning that requires a little patience. Furthermore, the dialogue occasionally feels stylized, repetitive, or unnatural, functioning more as a vehicle for exposition rather than organic speech.

There are also instances where the emotional connection between the protagonists is stated rather than demonstrated, which momentarily undercuts the chemistry.

​Overall, the novel offers a compelling blend of tension and character-driven conflict. While it has minor structural and pacing issues at the onset, it remains an entertaining, thought-provoking, and slightly unhinged read that successfully blends dark comedy with high-stakes activism.

[LM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boom, Boom, Bang by Sam Evans is a hilarious and incredibly fun rom-com that reads so effortlessly that before you know it, it’s over. I absolutely binged this book in a single day because I could not put it down.

Fiona is stubborn, determined, and brilliantly intelligent—a doctor who has just moved back to her small hometown, though she’s still unsure if she truly wants to stay. The town is filled with complicated memories and relationships from her past, but with her father and twin brother living there, she’s willing to give it a chance.

Speaking of complicated relationships...Dickie, or Richard, or Tre, is the last person Fiona wants to see. Back in high school, after Fiona’s mother died, he made a horrible remark that she has never forgotten. But now? He’s kind, taller, and ridiculously attractive. Like, unfairly good-looking. He makes it extremely difficult for Fiona to continue hating him.

At the same time, a company is trying to take over their small town, building condos and transforming it into a tourist destination with little regard for the residents or the surrounding nature. Fiona is furious about it, and the last person she expects to become an ally in the fight is Tre.

I loved the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Fiona and Tre. The slow burn was perfectly done, and I especially enjoyed the push and pull as Fiona struggled to forgive him for the hurt he caused years earlier. Meanwhile, Fiona’s twin brother, Ewan, has not only forgiven Tre but become one of his closest friends. And honestly, what’s not to love? Tre is hot, an amazing cook, intelligent, deeply caring, and a true pillar of the community. He’s basically perfect.

Fiona and Tre completely carried this story for me, and I adored every scene they shared. The only thing I didn’t love was the ending—not because it was bad, but because I simply wanted more. I could have easily read another fifty pages (easy for me to say, right? Lol). I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters, and I genuinely hope there’s more to their story in the future because it was that good.

Thank you to Sam Evans, Super Gravity Press LLC, and NetGalley for the fun ARC. I had an absolute blast (pun intended)!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona left Kalomish to become a doctor, and hadn’t planned to return, but when she came back 15 years later to take over the local medical practice, she realized that not much had changed, aside from a major developer trying to take over the town. Leading the charge against it is her high school nemesis, who can’t seem to keep his mouth shut at town hall meetings long enough to get his point across, but Fiona figures he’ll just get himself arrested while she can work on her actual plans to get the developers out. Until she shows up to a construction site one night to enact phase one, and finds him standing there.

Tre isn’t quite sure why Fiona hates him so much, but since their animosity has been going on for the better part of two decades, he’s just been rolling with it, especially since she’s been publicly supporting the very people determined to ruin everything good about Kalomish. What he didn’t expect when he showed up at a construction site in the middle of the night planning to sabotage them, is Fiona holding a bomb. Realizing there’s more to her than he expected, he proposes that they team up in their destructive plans, hoping they’ll be more effective if they work as a team. But the more time they spend together and with their chemistry heating up, the sooner they realize that bombs aren’t the only thing about to explode.

I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley, and absolutely loved it. What set this book aside is that while Sam Evans wrote all the female POV chapters, her real-life partner, Travis Walter wrote the male POV ones, and then they were blended together seamlessly. I loved how they managed to highlight the real life issues of overdevelopment, with a little environmental extremism, some sizzling chemistry and humorous elements to lighten the mood. Fiona and Tre have very different approaches to life in general, but in many ways they’re so similar that it’s not surprising her twin was trying to get them in the same room together. I loved the storyline as a whole, and I’m hoping that we’re going to see more of it given that this is a trilogy.

[Rid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was fantastic, I highly recommend it. The chapters alternate between the MCs (and the authors) in a really exciting way, while still feeling very cohesive. From engaging characters to exciting explosions (literal and figurative), this book kept me interested from page one. Book 1 wraps up nicely with just enough resolution to feel satisfying, but still several questions left unanswered to keep me interested for the next book in the trilogy.

I really enjoyed the “light” enemies-to-lovers vibes, but would more call it rivals-to-lovers (I think?). It’s pretty light on the hate, especially for readers of fantasy/romantasy, but I’d say it’s pretty standard level for a contemporary romcom.

I really enjoyed the spice level. This is technically a slow burn, but I don’t think the wait was too long or painful by any means. The spice picked up as a natural progression, with the right amount of yearning leading up to it (in my opinion). As far as spicy scenes go, they were good, well written and further the plot/relationship development. The food play was a fun element and I am interested to see how it develops in the rest of the trilogy.

The activism in the book was also well explained and obviously well researched. With limited understanding of how construction, demolition, explosives, etc. work it was easy to understand and comprehend what was happening and why. There were reasons for each of the MCs actions and why things were a certain way or not, which (without giving anything away) made it more believable.

There were a lot of side characters and at times it was a little difficult to remember where each person came from. The side characters that you do get to know in a little more detail are super interesting, I am excited to see what book 2 has in store for several of the supporting characters.

[Ayesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boom boom bang - This book has brilliant plot, narration and characters. It is filled with romance, banter, tension, humour, small town vibes and an important mission. I did experience an adrenaline rush while reading this and gained a lot of knowledge from it.

It revolves around the main characters Fiona and Tre. The trope of enemies to lovers was written really well and I did enjoy their banter a lot. The character of Fiona was a perfectionist, organized and helpful.I did enjoy reading about her character development and she was amazing as a doctor.

The character of Tre was an extrovert, caring and a very good cook. The setting of Betty and how everyone gathered there for gossip and conversation was really interesting. At times I felt like visiting this place and taste this amazing coffee which Fiona really enjoyed 🙈

Though Fiona and Tre started off as enemies but when they were on a mission they proved to be a good team and I really enjoyed their whole planning and plotting. Their chemistry was electric and their journey towards love was amazing to read.

The setting of Kalomish town and their council meetings were really good. It shows how small towns function and how every decision is taken where every voice matters. Tre was the highlight of these council meetings😂

The title of every chapter was really creative and interesting to read. The sticker was really cute !!

The character of Ewan and his bond with Fiona and Tre was heartwarming to read . He was favorite side character. The bond and conversations between Fiona and her father were really interesting.

I would say I gained a lot of knowledge from this book regarding environmental activisim and I was totally surprised to know that It was inspired by true events. Overall I enjoyed this story a lot and I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys small town romance, humor, banter and some serious talks about conserving environment.

[Adri · Rating 5 out of 5]

😏 yesssssss! 5🌟

Tropes:
- Small Town
- Enemies to Lovers
- Dark Rom Com
- Morally Grey Main Characters
- Vigilante secret forced proximity

What worked (for me):
- The quick wit, tension and banter between Fiona and Tre.
- The Vigilante motivation, plans and behaviour.
- That Tre took responsibility for his actions, who doesn’t like a man to do that.
- Fiona didn’t immediately excuse Tre
- Fiona and Tre were on a similar level in their feelings and intensity of their relationship overall.
- If I hadn’t known going into the book that it was written by two author’s, I wouldn’t have been able to tell from the writing, the transitions are seamless.
- How Tre protected Fiona
- How Fiona supported Tre
- That it’s based on a real incident! 💥
- That I know there’s at least 2 more books because it’s a trilogy.

What Didn’t work:
- Nothing
- Loved it
- Gimme the other 2 books

Accessibility:
- no problems changing the book on my kindle to the open dyslexic font and accessible reader.
- some pronunciation, but I’ll send that to Kindle to fix. They were things like spelling Tre, when it is in the title for his POV. Saying Fi phonetically and not as Fee. But they are really minor and Kindle tend to pick up what’s on their accessibility fixes quickly.

Who’s this for:
- Readers who like; Brynne Weaver, K N Wilder, Navessa Allen, Aura Hayes, Keary T, Lauren Biel and Effie Campbell to name the first few off the top of my head.
- But mainly those who like Dark humour, romance with spice, morally grey actions and fun times.

[Emily Cassel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author, @sam_evans_writer for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Boom Boom Bang.

We love a romantic thriller! Book Boom Bang is written by Sam Evans and her irl romantic partner Travis Walter. Written in a dual-POV styler, Evans wrote all of Fiona’s chapters, while Walter wrote Tre’s chapters.

I love when romance novels have dual-POV to see inside each characters head, why the act the way they do, why they fell for the other, etc., and having each character written by different authors took it to the next level. Fiona hates Tre and you can see the break down of how her feelings evolved, and Tre is clueless as to why Fi hates him and how he reacts when he finds out the reason.

Both Fiona and Tre are trying to stop a corporation from building in their small town, which would cause ecological harm to the community. While they have different approaches as to how they plan on driving the corporation out, they ultimately decide it’s best to work together.

Both the plans they concoct and the romance that ensues are explosive in nature 💣👀💣

Outside of the romance and blowing things up, the book does a great job of showing the corporate/political greed and how it can affect the small towns the large corporations prey on. It’s also inspired by true events; the sabotage of the Sea to Sky Gondola in 2019/2020 (which was never solved) and I think it makes the story that much cooler!

Boom Boom Bang is just the first in a trilogy and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series unfolds!

[alishasbooknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

It was a slow start and I really struggled to get into it. Even when things picked up a little, I still kept losing interest. I just couldn't seem to stay locked into the story at all.

I liked the idea of these enemies coming together to save their town. Although I wouldn’t necessarily say they were enemies, she hated him sure, but he was pretty indifferent to her once he realised she didn’t want the construction to go ahead either. She was very hot and cold with him and he was just confused until he finally found out why she hated him.

I liked Fiona, she’s headstrong and smart enough to curate a reputation that keeps her above suspicion. She knows exactly what she stands for and fights for what’s right no matter what. I didn’t mind Tre but I couldn't get past him being so oblivious and forgetting what he said about Fionas mum. It’s the ultimate bully move to forget the damage they did just because it didn't hurt you. It was just cruel, doesn’t matter if he was repeating things he heard, 16 is old enough to know and do better.

The pacing was up and down for me and I definitely preferred Fiona’s chapters, probably because I liked her a lot more than Tre. Despite his past tho, he does seem like he’s completely changed and is a good person now. They did have chemistry and I liked the banter they had.

Overall it was an okay book, the ending was very abrupt though. It was a HEA ending but it was just very sudden.

[Hollollolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful commentary on today’s world that hits on the importance of being involved in your local community and local politics, not just voting.

The reason FMC Fiona has for starting their whole endeavor is incredibly understandable and infuriating. Not the first book I’ve read by Sam Evans that has left me believing following the law and doing the right thing are not always in line with one another. As a fan of Mario’s brother, I wholeheartedly approve.

Fast and funny read. Appreciate the nods to true PNW and not just what the media thinks Oregon is like.

Thanks to authors Sam Evans and Travis Walker I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Spoilers! Below are the tags I included in my personal tracking that other readers may find relevant: best friends sister, contemporary, crime, fmc-fiona, grumpy sunshine, mmc-tre, Oregon, small town, start of series, toys

Fiction, romance, thriller, adventurous, funny, tense, fast pace
Plot or Character Driven: character
Strong character development: yes
Lovable characters: yes
Diverse cast of characters: yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: no
Prior reading required: no
Would you read it again: yes
Recommend to friends: yes, if they were looking for a quick social justice romance read. Yes twice if they’re mad at the current state of the world.
Meet Cute: high school originally, then as he’s being tossed out of a town hall meeting
POV: first person, dual

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I devoured Sam Evans' Kill the Puckers in March, I knew I would read anything else she wrote and immediately pre-ordered this book. And just like with Kill the Puckers, I couldn't put Boom Boom Bang down until I was finished. All day long, I had my Kindle in hand, sneaking a few sentences here and there in between life duties until I could sit down and finish the rest.

Tre and Fiona have been enemies since high school, but when Tre catches Fiona planting a bomb at a developer's construction site in the middle of the night, they're both forced to reconsider their initial outlooks on each other, and face that they may have more in common than they originally thought.

This book is so fun!!! Yes, there's crime and feds and explosions, but there's also banter and shenanigans and plans going completely, ridiculously, awry. I loved the characters so much. Tre and Fiona were amazing of course, but Ewan and all the hiking/rafting friends were such a joy and worked to steal all the scenes they were in.

The dual POV, dual author aspect is genius and works so well with both Sam Evans and Travis Walter's distinct voices. I noticed the chapter titles were really two titles as well and had fun pulling them apart and interpreting their dual names. All in all, this book is fabulous, everyone who likes romance and mayhem should read it, and I'm excited to see what these two authors have for us next.

[Constance Haske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this is something a little different! Two eco-terrorists join forces in this enemies to lovers, small town romance. Fiona, grudge-holder extraordinaire, and newly returned to town doctor, can't stand ex-asshole and outspoken environmentalist Tre. It doesn't help that everyone in their small town seems to adore him and hate her. An accidental meeting over explosives brings the two, begrudgingly, together in a "two heads are better one" endeavor to take down the development company destroying the local ecosystem. Despite mutual attraction, Fiona can't let go of a 15 year old grudge from their high school days. Tre won't give up though - even asking, and taking "advice" from squirrels to try and get Fi to tear down the walls she put up against him (while simultaneously tearing down the walls of the new condo complex).

This book is so much fun - and actually based on a true eco-terrorism unsolved crime! It is well-written, fast-paced, and sprinkled with moments of absolute hilarity. Authors Sam Evans and Travis Walter (real life romantic partners) have written this as a standalone in a planned trilogy - she wrote the scenes from Fiona's perspective and he wrote those from Tre's. I'm excited to see where they go from here!

Tropes
Eco-terrorism
Enemies to Lovers
Small town
Unlikely pairing
Twin's best friend
Secret relationship

[Teresa Trencher · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something electric about Boom Boom Bang by Sam Evans and Travis Walter, and it's not just the tension, the pacing, or the way every scene feels like it's one bad decision away from detonating. It's the narrative structure that really sets this one apart.

The dual POVs are handled with a kind of precision that feels almost unfair. Each voice is distinct, grounded, and emotionally sharp. What makes it exceptional is the relationship between the main characters, each with their own backstory (Shout out to Fiona's Dad!) and the intimacy that builds. Knowing the authors are romantically involved adds a layer that's impossible to fake. There's a natural rhythm between the two perspectives that doesn't feel constructed but rather lived in. This push-pull dynamic keeps the tension high without ever feeling forced.

Beyond the structure, the story itself delivers (as all of Sam's books do). It's gritty, fast, and unafraid to lean into the darker edges of its characters and their willingness to do what's right.

Boom Boom Bang doesn't just tell a story. It builds an emotional echo chamber between two voices that clearly understand each other on a deeper level. That kind of authenticity is rare, and it's what makes this book stick with you after you put it down.

[Stéphanie Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t really know what to say about this book, which is kind of how I feel about it overall.

The idea is actually really interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story about two people basically teaming up to damage a building together, so that immediately stood out to me. It has this chaotic, slightly unhinged energy that I should have loved.

I also liked the dynamic between the two main characters. There’s something there, the tension, the banter that worked at times. I could see what the story was going for, and I did enjoy parts of their interactions.

But for some reason, I just never fully connected with them… or with the story as a whole. It’s like all the right pieces were there, but it never quite clicked into something addictive or immersive. I wasn’t bored, but I also wasn’t hooked.

I think that’s what makes this a bit frustrating for me. I can see the potential so clearly. The premise is strong, the vibe is there, but something in the execution didn’t fully land emotionally.

So yeah, I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t love it either. It just kind of sits in that middle space where I wanted to feel more than I did.

[Maria Medrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a five star read for me. It had the perfect amount of spice (that didn’t take over the plot), eco-activism, explosions, black cat/golden retriever vibes, and so much more! Tre is such a sweetheart, but not one to back down when it matters the most. Fiona is a badass, but her inability to let go of the past was kind of frustrating for me. I’m not one to hold grudges, so that may have had something to to with it. In that regard, I identified more with her brother.

I also liked that the FMC POV was written by the author and the MMC POV by her real-life partner. I hadn’t had this reading experience before and I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of a conversation I had with my boyfriend when he took a peek at another book I was reading and said “A guy would never talk like that.” So when I learned it was co-written in this way, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed every book by this author and I’m so glad I found her! Also, I don’t usually read the after word (in most books), but for some reason I actually get excited as I get close to finishing Sam Evan’s books and look forward reading it. It usually leads to a google deep dive followed by me blowing up the group chat. This one didn’t disappoint.

[Alani Nycole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free ARC along with an honest review. All opinions are my own!

This was a fun, easy read. I seriously enjoyed Kill the Puckers, so I was excited to read another book by Sam. I did not enjoy it as much as Kill the Puckers but still thought it was a great book.

Synopsis:
Fifteen years after leaving her small town, Fiona Carson returns to Kalomish still hating Tre White and the feeling is mutual. But when the two enemies accidentally cross paths while trying to sabotage the same construction project, they’re forced to work together to save their town from it becoming a tourist disaster.

Okay so I absolutely love the fact that this book was written in the perspective of a couple. That’s such a cool idea that I’ve never seen done before. It allows us to get a real males perspective in a romance book instead of just a man written by a woman.

I’m also a super huge fan of Gilmore Girls, so this book being inspired by those characters but make it destructive is so fun!!!

I love where Sam Evan’s is going in her writing career as a indie author and can’t wait to read her future books.

Tropes:
💣 Voyeurism
💣 Bondage Play
💣 Crime
💣 Brothers Best Friend
💣 Secret Dating
💣 Small Town

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Releasing May 26th!

@sam_evans_writer and @travis_walter_writer come together perfectly in what is an explosive novel.. literally! Based on a real event, we are taken on a thrilling journey of planning, bomb making and action. There's no hiding behind council members, no waiting for them to [probably not] make a decision. There are many heated moments both of the frustrating discussion variety as well as the 🌶spicy variety.

If I didn't know going in that two people wrote this, I wouldn't even realize it. The transitions between people is seamless. The relationships between friends,between fathers and between are main characters are developed well. You can feel the tension and the unease in parts and it feels real and authentic.

"I've seen mazes that were more direct. "

Whipped cream...
Chocolate syrup...
Strawberries...

I recommend this to readers who enjoy their romance slow burning, full of tension and desire while their plot is actively exploded throughout the chapters.

Thank you Sam and Travis for the early copy of your book!

#BoomBoomBang #SamEvans #TravisWalter #EnemiestoLovers #slowburn

[Rhiannon Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boom Boom Bang - Sam Evans & Travis Walter

I love reading books by Sam Evans so I knew I had to give this one a read as well. I was instantly drawn to the theme of Eco terrorism since I’ve never read a book with that theme or subject in it before. And I was pleasantly shocked to find out that it was based off a real case that has happened. Tre and Fiona have a great chemistry, and I loved the reluctant allies dynamic they had. I’m very intrigued to see how the other books in this trilogy will go. I love all of the characters in this small town and I can’t get enough of it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️

🌶️ / Spice Rating ☀️

# of Pages 🌙 383 Pages

Release Date 🌟 5/26/26

Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy

Series 🌙 Love & Lawlessness, #1

Genre/Tropes ✨ small town romance, doctor FMC, secret dating, reluctant allies, brothers best friend

Favorite Character ☀️ Fiona

Favorite Line 🌟 ‘I’m sure I can figure out the basics of bomb-making. But I’m a whole lot less sure I can figure out how to make a shaped charge, which is what I want.‘

“A little civil disobedience gets you off, I should’ve figured.”

[Books.with.Lauren_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book kind of got right to the point from the start. Although the enemies-to-lovers dynamic felt one-sided.

Fiona recently moved back to her hometown and runs the doctor's off in town. She’s strong-headed and has given herself the persona that she is all for the developers coming in and building, but that’s not what she really feels. With Tre, her feelings are very hot and cold. The poor guy is so confused because she makes it known she doesn’t like him, but he can't remember the reason for it.

They find out they have a shared interest in getting these big developers out of town so they end up working together which leads to them literally blowing stuff up. The longer they work with each other they start to realize there’s chemistry and growing feelings.

The banter was definitely a hit for me. I laughed at the bickering a bit. But some parts of the story felt a little silly and sometimes it felt kind of cheesy.

The ending felt really abrupt.

[Melissa Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tre & Fiona

Fiona has just moved back to town. She’s a Doctor and has purchased the clinic in town.

Tre has been here all his life. He grew up with Fiona, but then she moved away. His best friend is Fiona’s brother. He owns and operates the diner in town.

The town is being ransacked by big builders. Think Stars Hallow- but with big companies, and developments moving in. The councilmen think it’s a great idea. The town hates it.

So Tre is going to do something about it. He just doesn’t realize Fiona is going to be doing the same.

As they worked together to dismantle the big corporations- they realize they have more in common than they think.

Although their story gained some laughs and Oh Crap! Moments here and there- I found the story lacking half way through. The beginning was great. But as soon as we got to the middle it became boring and repetitive. The ending was lackluster at best. I truly wanted to love Tre and Fiona’s story- but it just wasn’t for me- BUT, it might be for someone else.

Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for this ARC copy.

[Nicole del Rosso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Super Gravity Press LLC, Sam Evans and Travis Walter for the eARC! :) Congratulations on publishing!

This was an exciting read! It was suspenseful, mischievous and spicy. I really enjoyed the plot, it wasn’t a typical storyline and I appreciated how different it was while still being realistic. It was as if Gilmore Girls met Breaking Bad. I’m also a big fan of the enemies to lovers trope, it always ropes me in.

Where this novel fell flat for me was in the ending. I found it almost anticlimactic with the ATF subplot. There was still 20 pages remaining in the novel and I still had this feeling like another bomb (no pun intended, or maybe!?) was about to drop, but it never did. The title stipulates that this is a trilogy, therefore is there more trouble lurking in the distance for Fi and Tre? Or was this a standalone novel within the trilogy? I was not left feeling certain of this.

Overall, I’d recommend this book and give it a big thumbs up!

#BoomBoomBang #NetGalley

[Barney Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small town dark romcom involving ecoterrorism, which is inspired by real life events.

This was told in two POVs, Sam wrote Fiona and Travis wrote Tre's chapters.

Fiona moved back to the small town she grew up in to become the new and only town's doctor, and who does she bump into when setting up a bomb at a developer's construction site late one night?
Yup, Tre, a guy she hated for years.
With reluctance, she agrees to work towards their mutual goal to stop the developers from ruining their beloved town, and so, they target another construction site, and following a bit of accidental voyagerism, they get the hots for eachother pretty bad.

This story had a slow start and I took a while to get into it, but I was captivated by the time the pair were nabbing blueprints.

There's a scene involving rope and I was as anxious as Tre that he's be discovered! Theres also a spice scene involving strawberries, so I don't think I can quite look at them the same for a while 😄🤭

[ReadingEraByEmma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from the authors

4.5 ⭐'s - I had a really good time with Boom Boom Bang! Such a fun read!

The dual POV between our MC's worked very well, especially knowing that Fiona and Tre were written collaboratively by the authors Sam Evans and Travis Walter. The two perspectives felt distinctly different without making the book feel disjointed and once the sabotage plot picked up, the pacing became much stronger.

Fiona was a spicy FMC and Tre worked well opposite her and complimented her aggression. They had good banter and despite their differences, work very well as a pair as they plan to stop the destruction of their towns landscape.

The only minor issue for me, was that some of the dialogue felt a little unnatural at times, like it was forced to get a point across. This doesnt happen often and is my only critique.

Overall, a very fun, spicy read with a scene involving a strawberry that I won't be forgetting anytime soon!