Not on the Same Page

by Allie Samberts

An opposites attract romance set in the publishing world, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Colleen Hoover.

They agreed on no strings. But their hearts keep landing on the same page.

A year ago, literary agent Trina McBryde and editor Casey Endersen ended their no-strings arrangement. It was perfect for two people who didn't want a relationship. But what started as a way to blow off steam and have a little fun almost put their careers at stake, along with their feelings for each other.

When an important publishing conference brings them together again, the desire they tried to deny is back, and stronger than ever. But the real challenge comes afterward—Casey needs Trina to sign a promising new writer, which means that after a year of avoiding each other, they'll be forced to work together again. Late-night calls, whispered strategy sessions, and stolen glances make every professional interaction dangerously personal.

Every secret meeting carries the risk of exposure. If anyone finds out, they could lose more than just their jobs—they could lose their reputations. But Casey has already fallen . . . again. And Trina is running out of ways to resist.

As professional boundaries blur, they'll have to decide if being on the same page means following the rules—or finally writing their own.

Contains mature themes.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance

333 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2026

About the author

Allie Samberts is a romance writer, book lover, and high school English teacher. She was voted funniest teacher of the year for 2023 by her students, which is probably her highest honor to date. She is also a runner, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two kids, and a very loud beagle. You can follow her on Instagram @alliesambertswrites, read her blog at alliesamberts.substack.com, and get other updates at www.alliesamberts.com.

Reviews

[Alya]

✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
Not on the Same Page by Allie Samberts
Publication date: August 18th 2026

Thoughts
I missed this world and characters so much! I had to request the second book -- Trina and Casey's story was so beautiful in it's own way, it feels like they complete each other, I was so happy to see sprinkles of Scarlett and Ryan in this book 🥹 now with them in mind I must admit Trina and Casey's story didn't hit in the feels as hard -- not in a bad way but Scarlett and Ryan were truly SOMETHING ELSE 🫠❤️‍🩹😭

Allie's writing is just so profound that you can tell there's so much heart in her stories, the characters are written in such a relatable way; complex and layered, it's hard not to resonate with the characters in someway even if just with the way they express themselves, one other aspect I love about Allie's writing is the way she writes her FMCs specifically, they're just as strong as they are vulnerable which is a factor in making the characters feel realistic rather than fictional

I really enjoy picking up this author's books and I can't wait to eventually get through her backlist


Plot Summary
A year after ending their no-strings relationship, literary agent Trina McBryde and editor Casey Endersen are reunited when work forces them back together. As they collaborate on a promising new author, the attraction they tried to leave behind quickly returns.With their careers and reputations on the line, Trina and Casey must decide whether risking everything is worth a second chance at love.

Tropes
▪︎ Workplace romance
▪︎ No strings attached
▪︎ Found family
▪︎ Anxiety rep
▪︎ He falls first

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC

My Bookstagram

[Liana Gold]

3.5-3.75 FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW!

The audio was great!

A literary agent and an editor fall in love despite their no-strings arrangement.

Honestly needed a break from all the crappy fantasies I've been reading lately.



Many thanks to NetGalley, Tantor Media and the author, Allie Samberts for an early ALC!

Narrators: Dahlia Summers, James Cavenaugh
Duration: 9 hours 53 minutes
Speed: 1.75-2x

Publication date: August 18, 2026

[The Rampant Reader]

Thank you to Page and Vine and the author for the gifted copy.

“But being with Casey is like driving a luxury car that cradles you perfectly in its seat and anticipates your needs.”

Vibes: Work conference to more

The tension in this book is perfect. MMC and FMC go from a relationship that is fun and no-strings to working closely together and that dynamic really made for an epic slow burn. The long glances and chemistry were yummy!

Tropes:
Second Chance
Friends w/ Benefits
Forced Proximity
Secret Relationship
Workplace
Publishing Industry

[Kate]

(4.5 Stars) Thank you, @libro.fm for the gifted copy! #libroaudioinfluencer

Neither literary agent Trina McBryde nor editor Casey Endersen were interested in a relationship, which is how their no-strings-attached arrangement worked, until they called it off last year when it could have put their careers in jeopardy. With the conflict that pulled them apart now out of the way, they find themselves “reconnecting” at a literary conference, only to quickly realize that a promising new author may put them right back in that same messy situation. But Casey hasn’t stopped thinking about Trina, and she can’t get him out of her head either.

Allie is an auto-buy for me, and she always writes characters who are real, messy, conflicted, and deeply lovable. I particularly enjoyed how this story connects with the first in the series. We got a deep dive on two characters we met before while getting to catch up with our beloved main characters from book one - and them getting to play a sincere role in the storyline here. Part of the interconnectedness isn't just the characters, but the publishing ecosystem. I thought Allie’s take on anxiety, impostor syndrome, and toxic workplace cultures was superb.

Audio Performance (9 hrs, 53 min): A dual narration of a dual POV story by Dahlia Summers and James Cavenaugh; both were perfectly cast.

[Jessica]

Just finished listening to an advanced copy of a book that was just released on August 18th called, Not on the Same Page. This is about Trina, she works in the publishing world as an agent for authors. She was casually and secretly hooking up with an editor Casey but they decided to end things because of the risk to their jobs. Then a year later they reconnect at a work conference and realize the undeniable attraction between them hasn't faded at all. And when they both start working with the same author, they realize they will be talking to each other regularly again and before they know it they're in each other's beds again. But they're not only keeping what's going on between them a secret, they are also keeping parts of themselves from each other in an effort to not get attached because this is supposed to be casual. But they both have had feelings for each other much longer than they want to admit and what was supposed to be casual has come to meet a lot to both of them and might just be something real.
This is book 2 in the Strong Enough series, and I really enjoyed it! I love the setting of the characters being in the publishing world, and I loved how these two were total opposites but they were exactly what the other needed. They tried so hard to resist things becoming real between them, but as the story progressed they became each other's person to rely on and turn to, and it was really beautiful seeing them finally let each other in. This was a dual narration and both narrators did a great job with the voices and bringing this story to life. I really enjoyed this book! 🤍📚

Thank you to Allie Samberts, Tantor Media, Page & Vine, and Netgalley for this ALC of Not on the Same Page, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla]

I had the honor of alpha reading this as Allie wrote it and I cannot wait for everyone to read it next August. it is incredible.

[Amy]

✨ Happy Release Day @alliesambertswrites ✨

Not on The Same Page is officially out in the world, and you’re going to want to add this to your TBR!

This is book two in the Strong Enough series, and although you could technically read this as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Not a Strong Enough Word first so you can meet some of the other characters.

Okay now onto my review….

I LOVED this one. I read it in less than one day, I literally couldn’t stop reading. After meeting Casey & Trina in book one, I was so ready for their story and they didn’t disappoint. Casey was a walking green flag of an MMC in the best possible way. And he had it bad for Trina 👏🏻👏🏻 The chemistry between these two was so good 👌🏻 🫠 As for Trina, I loved that we saw more of her backstory. Her hesitancy to let someone in made so much more sense even though it just broke my heart. And I love that this whole series is based around characters who work in the literary world.

I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to spoil it, but simply put, I LOVED it and you should start this series 👏🏻

A huge thank you to @pageandvinebooks for the e-ARC, I’m so grateful 💕

[Brittni Whitesell]

4.5⭐️ rounded to 5!

A huge thank you to both Page and Vine and Allie for an early copy of Not on the Same Page!

Allie is one of my auto-read authors, so I was more than excited to get an early copy of this! I have read and loved everything she has written! Not on the Same Page was no different!

I absolutely LOVED and devoured Not A Strong Enough Word when it released! When I saw we were getting two more interconnected standalone books in this world, to say I was excited is an understatement!

I always love books about books and this was no different! It was so fun to get a peak into the world of editing and publishing!

Allie knows how to write a TOP TIER romance! She was spicy, but she was GOOD! The emotional depth of our characters and the development of their relationship was perfection! Casey is a true golden retriever MMC!

I loved getting a peak at Scarlett and Ryan made my heart so happy!

Loved it and YES, you need to read it (and Not a Strong Enough Word too while you’re at it)!

[Kat (kvcatnip)]

Not on the Same Page is the steamiest book I've ever read about letting someone love you, take care of you, and fully see the parts of you that hurt (but need to be loved).

[megan ◡̈]

4.5 rounded up!!

[Holly Schwartz]

I have loved all of Allie’s books that I’ve read and this was no different!!!! The first book in this series is truly one of my favorites by her and this was a BEAUTIFUL follow up! Being back in this universe was such a treat, and I’m SO happy we get to don’t again! Another set of imperfectly perfect people falling in love and I loved every single second!!

Casey and Trina were an absolute JOY! I loved that they were SORT OF a second chance, well more of a right person wrong time!! And seeing them figure things out was so good!! They were FUN together, their chemistry was delicious! Their banter inside and outside of work was SO good! And not only did they have fun together, this time around they were really holding something strong and something that was going to last. I was really rooting for them the whole time!!Between their complicated family dynamics and the pressures they faced together and separately at work, the romance was the main focus but also so well balanced between everything else!

ALSO a little shout to Ryan and Scarlett bc I love them DEEPLY and I loved every second they were on page! Bc not only are THEY in such a good place, they were also the best friends Casey and Trina could have had in their corners!

Thank you so much to Page and Vine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Mamawattto4 Melissa]

Thank you Victory Editing and Tantor Media for the kindle and audio ARC


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars

I had the privilege of both reading and listening to this ARC, and I absolutely loved the experience! Not on the Same Page was a heartfelt, second chance workplace romance with fantastic chemistry and plenty of emotional tension.

I really enjoyed watching Trina and Casey navigate their complicated past while trying to keep things professional. Their banter, lingering feelings, and undeniable connection made it easy to root for them from beginning to end. The publishing world setting was such a fun backdrop and added something a little different to the romance.

The audiobook made an already enjoyable story even better. The dual narration was excellent, and both the male and female narrators brought so much emotion and personality to the characters. They captured the chemistry between Trina and Casey perfectly and made the story even more engaging.

If you enjoy second chance romance, workplace romance, and opposites-attract couples with plenty of heart, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!
:::writing

If you’d like, I can also make it a little more emotional, more “Bookstagram” style, or shorter for Goodreads or Amazon.

[Meghan Sheets]

Thank you to Tantor Audio for the ALC!

I absolutely loved Not a Strong Enough Word and have been eagerly awaiting its sequel! Not On the Same Page may be my favorite Allie I’ve ever read.

This series seems to find me when I most relate and need it. Scarlet found me when I needed a reminder that depression and burnout is real and can be overcome.

Trina finds me as I navigate difficult familial relationships with those entrusted to raise me when my mother could not. I felt so seen and understood throughout her story!

I really enjoyed reading the ins and outs of publishing, specifically through Casey’s story. I felt like the author did an extensive amount of research into the BIPOC experience in the publishing world.

*The only thing of note for me here is that I wish Casey would’ve been narrated by a black man. His story about being a minority in the publishing world being told by a white man didn’t feel right.

Reason 101736402 you should read this. It’s freaking HOT 🔥 Their chemistry was undeniable and beautiful! It was such a natural transition from casual to not that it didn’t feel forced at all.

All in all, I loved this book and cannot wait to get my shelf trophy 💙

[Stephanie]

I loved this book! This is book two in the Strong Enough series, and even though I haven’t read book one yet, I never felt lost. It was such a fun workplace romance centered around a literary agent and an editor, and I loved getting a little peek into the publishing world. It definitely had me wondering… does this actually happen? 👀

Trina and Casey have had a no strings attached situation before, but when they end up in the same place again a year later, things start to feel a lot less casual. I loved watching them fall for each other while slowly opening up and confiding in one another. They had a lot of fun with each other and the chemistry was felt through my immersive read.

I really felt for Trina and everything tied to her upbringing. This was light and fun, but still had those emotional moments that made the story feel grounded. I had such a good time with it and would definitely continue the series.

Tropes:

✨ no strings attached

✨ workplace romance

✨ he falls first

✨ opposites attract

✨ anxiety rep

✨ found family

Narrated by Dahlia Summers & James Cavenaugh
Many thanks to Page & Vine for arc & alc.

[kerry]

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing and Page and Vine for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!!

This is the second standalone book in this series and while not necessary to read the first, it’s highly encouraged because it’s a fantastic book!

Allie Samberts has an effortless way of creating such dynamic and realistic characters that you just can’t help but cheer for. This book also deals with a lot of sensitive topics and I feel like a lot of care and research was given to them.

The prologue really had me hooked and I ended up reading this book very quickly! Trina and Casey find themselves in each other’s orbit again after breaking off their coworkers with benefits arrangement a year prior. They both navigate new jobs and family traumas all while struggling with their feelings for one another. My heart truly broke for Trina when she realized how devoid of love her life has been since she was a small child.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was emotionally fulfilling and gives an interesting perspective on the publishing world as well.

[Julie Booklover]

I loved the first book in this series, and I was excited to read the next book. I was not disappointed. We met both Casey and Trina in the first book. Casey is an editor and Trina is an author agent. Their arrangement is casual and secret, but they end it before risking their jobs.

A year passes, and paths cross, the attraction is still there. A new author and they are working together again. The secret meetings resume, and this time feelings are involved, yet neither of them admit it.

I am loving this Strong Enough series, as we get a peek into the publishing world. Trina and Casey tried to resist their connection, but once they opened up to each other there was no going back. I think may favorite piece to both books is that the characters are not perfect, and that is alright as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Page & Vine for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[Savannah Wilson]

so excited that we finally got casey & trina’s story!! i’ve been waiting for this one since not a strong enough word released and we met these main characters. i really loved casey & trina’s story and love all the different emotions that allie is able to bring out of me throughout her story telling. while i did really love this story, i did feel like there was a bit too much dialogue that was unnecessary for the story and this already isn’t a super long romance book or anything so i feel like that space could have been utilized better, especially in the beginning. however, i did still really love this book and enjoy my time while reading it! i loved how much of scarlett and ryan we got to see and get updates on their lives throughout this story. i will always recommend an allie samberts book & this series is seriously such a great one!

[Leslie | Books Are The New Black]

Thank you, Tantor Media and Page and Vine, for the gifted e-ARC and ALC! All thoughts and opinions are my own! I didn’t grab the e-ARC before it expired, so there’s no Netgalley review for it! Sorry!

I always love a good second-chance romance, but when you throw in books and publishing, I’m sold. This is a dual narration. Dahlia Summers and James Cavenaugh worked well together and were perfectly cast. They captured the tension between Trina and Casey perfectly.

I did not realize this was book two in the series, but I didn’t feel lost. I will be going and grabbing the first book though! The tension in this book was so good. They ended their no-strings attachment for their careers, but end up being in each other’s paths again. Both of them can’t forget the other and have a hard time resisting. I love a good plotline that gets in the way; it creates a lot of good tension! I loved learning about some of the behind-the-scenes with publishing too.

Trina and Casey are in the same industry, but have different ways of doing things. I loved how Trina was no-nonsense. Watching them try to handle a new author and figuring out how to work together was a lot of fun. They learned how to complement each other, and I loved seeing them bring out the best sides of each other. The romance was steamy, and they had great chemistry!

Overall, I enjoyed this one, and I look forward to reading more from Samberts!

[Kelsey Spisak]

I had the best time reading and listening to Not on the Same Page! This was such a fun second-chance workplace romance filled with chemistry, banter, and plenty of unresolved feelings.

I loved watching Trina and Casey navigate their complicated past while trying to work together. Their connection was so easy to root for, and I really enjoyed the publishing-world setting.

The audiobook was also fantastic! The dual narration brought so much personality and emotion to both characters and made the story even more enjoyable.

If you love second-chance romance, workplace romance, and undeniable chemistry, definitely add this one to your TBR!

Thank you Page & Vine for the ARC & thank you Net Galley for the ALC!!

[Taylor Wilson]

The way I am obsessed with Allie Samberts and her writing.

Book two of the Strong Enough series is as phenomenal as I expected. Trina and Casey are spicy and sassy and perfect. Both of their characters have so many layers, and they truly highlight and bring out the best in each other. Their banter had me laughing, their relationship had me swooning. And they are spicy compared to Allie’s other books 🥵

Highly, highly recommend grabbing this as soon as it’s available in August!

Thank you Allie for the gifted eARC so I could fall in love with Trina and Casey’s story.

[Sam]

✨𝐀𝐋𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰✨

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 9, 16 & 21
𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧: 41%
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Workplace romance, he falls first, opposites attract, found family, no strings attached
𝐏𝐎𝐕: 1st person, Dual POV
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Dual
𝐊𝐔: No

I loved book 1 so of course I requested the ALC of book 2 when I saw it on Netgalley. I had no idea this was Trina and Casey’s story! The inside look into the publishing world was really interesting.

This is narrated in dual style, and both narrators did an exceptional job bringing life to these characters! Samberts is very skilled at writing dynamic characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!


⚠️𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:⚠️
Multiple open door scenes with explicit descriptions
Strong language

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:Loss of a loved one (recounted) & mention of cancer

[Cindy]

3.5 rounded up. This two-sided story centers on literary agent Trina and editor Casey, who have strong feelings for each other but have agreed to set them aside because they need to work together on occasion. Yet fate brings them to the same conference where their passions reignite. The story moves pretty slowly, with some heavy subplots involving their respective family members. It would be boring and predictable, but for the sex scenes peppered throughout. Trina is happy to be dominated by Casey and likes him to order her around.

[Kristen]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so sweet and I loved how these two started as a situationship and then slowly progressed to more. I also enjoyed how this story connected to the book before it and yet remained a stand alone romance. This was a great and emotional read.

[Sabrina | thebookishspot]

DNF at 39%. No chemistry between the MCs, not even a third of the way into the book and they're already hooking up and have so many feelings. I get it's a second chance but show me why I should be invested in their second chance!

[Megan Cowell]

What a cute little redemption, second chance story!

This was the first book I’ve read from Allie, and it won’t be my last.

This was fun, flirty, and beautifully written. (Or in my case, heard!)

[What.Nikki.Reads]

Workplace romance
He falls first
Secret relationship
No strings attached agreement
Anxiety rep
Found family

A literary agent and editor have a no strings attached agreement BUT we know how that goes... They fall deeply in love.

The drama of keeping their relationship a secret was spicy and fun!

The audio was done really well and one of my favorites of Allies.

Thank you for this ALC/ARC Tantor Media and Allie.

[Melissa]

This was my first Allie Samberts book, and I’m so thankful to Page & Vine Publishing for selecting this one for me! I jumped into this one without reading the first book and never felt like I was missing anything. It absolutely works as a standalone, but I will be going back to read book 1 immediately.

Not on the Same Page is a heartfelt second-chance workplace romance with fantastic chemistry, plenty of banter, and just the right amount of emotion. There’s something about a romance set in the book world that immediately works for me, and this one delivered all the publishing-industry goodness I wanted while also bringing plenty of emotional depth. Will Trina and Casey ever get on the same page? You’ll just have to turn the pages to find out!

Essentially - Trina is a literary agent, Casey is an editor, and a year ago they ended their no-strings relationship when their careers and feelings started getting a little too tangled. They’ve managed to avoid each other ever since—until a publishing conference… I really loved Trina and Casey. They have so much history, chemistry, and unresolved emotion between them, but I especially enjoyed getting to know who they were beyond their relationship. Watching their walls slowly come down gave their romance so much more emotional weight.

Both are also navigating complicated relationships with work, family, anxiety, and self-worth, which made them feel messy, vulnerable, and incredibly real. Their banter, lingering feelings, and undeniable connection made it incredibly easy to root for them.

The publishing-world setting was such a fun backdrop, and I especially enjoyed getting a look at the ins and outs of the industry through Casey’s story. I felt like the author brought a lot of thought and research to the BIPOC experience within publishing, which added another meaningful layer to the story.

One of my favorite things about this book is that there’s more than just the romance. There’s depth, emotion, character growth, and meaningful themes woven throughout the story. I love when a book can give me a great romance while also leaving me with something to think about after I’ve finished it.

The audiobook narration was another highlight for me. Dahlia Summers and James Cavenaugh did a wonderful job bringing Trina and Casey to life. I really enjoyed how their performances captured the chemistry, banter, and emotional tension between the characters while keeping their individual personalities distinct. Their narration made it easy to settle into the story and added another layer to the connection between Trina and Casey. That said, I do wish the male narrator had been BIPOC, especially given the representation and themes woven throughout the story. I think that would have added an even more authentic layer to Casey’s character. But other than that, I really enjoyed the audiobook experience.

And, of course, you all know immersion reading is my favorite, so being gifted both an ARC and ALC made this reading experience even better!

Thank you so much to Allie Samberts, Page & Vine Publishing, Tantor Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and listen to this one. I absolutely loved discovering a new-to-me author, and I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series!

[Hope (bookedwithhope)]

Contemporary Romance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
💞 romance • 💃🏻 characters • 💔 emotional impact

•••••••••••••••

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩...
‣ Workplace romance 🖊️
‣ Second chance (ish?) romance
‣ Mental health (anxiety) rep
‣ Emotional stories 🥲
‣ No strings attached
‣ Tension + banter
‣ He falls first

𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨…
An editor and a literary agent walk into a room. They thought they were on the same page of just being friends with benefits. But what happens when the connection becomes deeper than they anticipated? Can they make their personal relationship work within the bounds of the professional world?

𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 is book 2 in the 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 series but can be read as an interconnected standalone. (However, I highly recommend reading 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 first because it makes this book hit even harder. 🥲❤️) It follows Casey, a book editor, and Trina, a literary agent, who thought they were just friends with benefits but come to find a strong connection they quickly can't deny.

Allie Samberts deserves the biggest round of applause for 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞. 👏🏻 Not only did she get me to shed a tear (which I rarely do when I'm reading), she might've (?) topped book 1 in this series, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝, which I wasn't sure could be done. (What mostly likely happened is I love both couples equally and just can't get enough of them. 😂 )

{ If you haven't read one of Allie's books yet, do yourself a favor and start now. She's an incredibly talented writer who puts so much love and care into her stories. I'm lucky to have been with her close to the start of her writing journey and am so freaking proud of how far she's come! 🫶🏼 }

I have so much love for these characters. Casey and Trina thought they wanted no strings attached, but their hearts keep landing on the same page. Casey is navigating his new promotion, and imposter syndrome, as a Black man in a white-dominated industry. Trina is a powerhouse agent who is coping with her anxiety and trust issues. Both are falling for each other in unexpected ways.

Allie does a fantastic job of tackling difficult themes like anxiety, microaggressions, parental death, and abandonment in a way that is both sensitive and kind. I love how she includes them in romance novels because though I love a book that helps me escape, I also want the story to be realistic. And Allie accomplishes that every single time.

Okay, I'm done rambling. Read the book when it releases in August 2026! It, like all of Allie's books, is worth your time.

Thank you to Allie Samberts, Page & Vine, and NetGalley for my advanced copies of 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞! All opinions are my own.

[TenshiMari]

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing a digital review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I read the previous book Not a Strong Enough Word by this author and was not impressed, so you're probably wondering why I requested an arc for the sequel? I wanted to see if any of my complaints about the previous book have been addressed. I can happily report I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one, though some major flaws remain the same. It's very clear Casey and Trina feel a very strong attraction to each other, but to call it love feels a bit of a stretch. Similarly to our couple from the first book, the communication level between them is absolutely zero. Like the first book, they get together almost immediately, despite there being a lot more spice in this book than the previous book, there's no real tension between our main couple, sexual or otherwise, and they don't communicate or form any kind of emotional connection until they're forced to at the end of the book for the sake of plot reasons. They stand strong as individuals and I enjoyed their characters, I just didn't enjoy their romance. I felt like they needed to actually spend time getting to know each other and talking about their issues because every time these two are together they immediately start fucking. You would expect the amount of spice in this book to be a good thing, but ironically, I found it a bit of a turn-off. I felt their relationship was purely physical and there was no emotional connection to be found. This gets addressed a tiny smidge towards the end of the book after the third act conflict, so I felt satisfied enough to give it a better rating than it's predecessor. I don't think it's a bad book, and I can tell by the other ratings that a lot of people adore this book, so you might too. I just think perhaps I'm not the right target audience for this series. Despite the flaws I have listed, this was a light and easy read and very easy to binge, so I finished the book in a single sitting. I hope whoever ends up reading this will love it a lot more than I did.

[Nicole]

Trina is a successful literary agent, and until a year ago, was in a no-strings relationship with an editor. When things felt like they were getting too serious, and their careers fell on the line, they agreed it was better to walk away rather than risk everything. A year later, Trina still thinks about him, but has been able to avoid him, until they find themselves at the same publishing conference. While a night of blowing off steam seemed harmless at the time, when they end up having to work together to sign a new writer, the lines quickly get blurred, and soon it becomes hard to keep work and life separate, or pretend there are no feelings involved.

Casey hasn’t stopped thinking about Trina in their year apart, but when he’s offered a position as the editorial director for a newer YA press, he wonders whether this could mean he and Trina might have a chance, given that she doesn’t represent authors in that genre. But as they both met the same author at the conference, he knows she is the only one who could do her justice, and they find themselves right back where they started. While he’s ready and willing to risk everything for a chance at something real, he knows Trina keeps her walls high for a reason, he just doesn’t know what it is.

I was able to do an immersive read of this book, thanks to @Netgalley, and I really enjoyed it. Trina and Casey both have their insecurities and trauma they need to work through, with different motivations keeping them apart. While Casey focuses on doing whatever it takes for his family, Trina has been on her own for most of her life, meaning that her job is the only thing keeping her grounded. As they gradually see pieces of the other’s real life, outside of work or the bedroom, the walls slowly begin to come down, but it was difficult watching them try to fight their own insecurities. As they both begin to realize what’s truly important in life, it gave them hope that they could truly become more.