The Best Revenge

by Amy Carol Reeves

Bridget Jones’s Diary meets Beach Read in this wickedly funny romantic comedy with a delicious jilted-lover-gives-just-deserts twist.

Librarian Hannah is furious when her freeloading boyfriend, Chad, steals her book idea, leaves her for his agent, and becomes wildly successful. She teams up with other women Chad has wronged (and there are a lot of them!) to get revenge—just a little comeuppance.

The fabulous news is Hannah has a new boyfriend. Unfortunately, Hannah has to hide her schemes from her hunky Scottish love, James, who claims to hate revenge plots of any kind. But it gets harder to hide her increasingly elaborate plans—even as he hides his own messy past…
And everything goes hilariously wrong.

For romance readers looking A gorgeous Scottish heroAn antihero named ChadA smart, snarky librarian heroineA messy romp in the Scottish highlands, andA crew of besties planning sweet revenge!

Genres: Romance

Audible Audio

Expected publication November 24, 2026

About the author

Amy Carol Reeves has a PhD in nineteenth-century British literature and finds joy in teaching classes and writing. She has published several academic articles as well as a young adult book trilogy. She lives in Indiana with her three children. You can find her on Instagram at amycarolreeves or on her website at amycarolreeves.com.

Reviews

[brook.talks.books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Giving this a 2 star because it's so ridiculous that I can't help but laugh.

Okay. Let me just start by saying that I wanted to enjoy this book, but I just can't take it anymore.

I had hoped I'd be impressed from someone with a PhD in 19th century British literature, but I can't deal with this dialogue. Both internal and conversational. Here are multiple examples, up to where I decided to DNF (ch. 4), of just the weird obsession with the FMC's hair:

1. "I fluff my hair, freshly highlighted just for this televised interview."

2. "Alex sports marvelous blond locks, and he always looks so fresh, wonderful and upbeat. Meanwhile, I haven’t been to the salon since Chad’s MFA program tuition went up."

3. “'Well?'” Alex presses.
“'The salon’s expensive. And, I mean, we’re fine, but Chad’s tuition went up a couple months ago.'"

4. “'Good grief, Hannah. Just, well, I’m restraining myself with a great deal of effort now. Just get in with Caden, and he’ll give you the friend discount on a fresh cut and color.'"

5. "I curl into his shoulder crook, and he kisses my graying roots."

6. "I picture us on a magazine cover. Me with my cardigan and librarian hair next to jaw-droppingly hot Chad Warwick. No, I’ll definitely at least get my roots done and maybe buy a more attractive dress."

7. "'I’m talking about the constant rumpled cardigans and tights, the inattention to your roots. It seems more and more like you’re draining all your energy for Chad.'"

8. "'And your roots, Hannah. I can’t believe Alex would let you off the hook with your highlights growing so far out.'”

9. "My gray roots have grown out by another half inch. I still haven’t worked out or gone to yoga in weeks"

Whyyyyy?!?

Examples 1-4 all occur within about 2 pages, which was very frustrating. Anyways, I know there are people who might enjoy this type of writing, but I cannot.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Revenge by Amy Carol Reeves, Hannah‘s a librarian who lives with her boyfriend Chad and she also is supporting him while he writes a book. One night while drinking wine and cozy on the couch with the two cats that she adores and he cannot stand. They discuss his book and she decides to tell him all about the Scottish romance she’s been secretly riding. she even lets him read what she’s written so far including all her notes. As time goes by Hanna doesn’t give the conversation a second thought until Chad comes home and tells her he’s having a book published he even got a huge advance she’s so happy for him she starts crying but when he tells her what the book is about she sees red. The book is the exact same book she told him all about that night on the sofa he tries to gaslight her and say she was just helping him but Hanna will not be moved. Chad will however because she packs a bag and tells him she’s going away for a couple days and when she comes back he needs to be gone something he agrees to because he also tells her he’s been sleeping with his agent and their in love. hanna is a wreck but after a little intervention from her mom and twin sister she’s getting back into the swing of things she even meets a real Scottish heart throb who is a new employee at the library his name is James and is divorced and every time she sees him it seems like they wind up flirting. her sister convinces her when Chad goes public with his book and it seems like every announcement he makes is another dream she had for them and it keeps bringing her back to the heartache and her twin wants her to get the come upens groove back and get the revenge she’s so justly deserves. because when she was wronged by an ex in college they said out to get their revenge and it worked and now Hanna has agreed to do it again but this time it will be in a much bigger way and at the same time her and James start dating. when she agrees to go to the Christmas party for her ex Chad and his new pregnant fiancé he tells her that’s why he was attracted to her because she’s not petty and it seems like she is just so evolved and he loves that she’s such an adult. Because James doesn’t know in the background they’re about to put the big wammie on Chad and his existence. when they start to get serious Hanna is fearful James will learn she is not as forgiving and evolved as he once thought her to be. I really really loved this book it was so good I absolutely loved the ending the only part I could say I didn’t like was that when they got to the cottage and his ex was there I mean this was the first time on vacation and she starts telling him you need to set boundaries you need to do this and you need to do that I just felt like she was really not in a place to be telling someone else how to act with their ex. I did find that part funny though. This really was an awesome book I read it all in one setting and was so thankful I had nothing really pressing to do today because it was an awesome way to spend my Sunday. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[danica b · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m just gonna start out by saying this book was not personally for me. I considered DNFing multiple times. However, I just kept going because, even though I didn’t love it, I wanted to know how it ended.

The Best Revenge is about Hannah, who plots revenge on her ex boyfriend, Chad, after he steals her book idea. The premise sounded really interesting (who doesn’t love a good, light-hearted revenge plot?), but to me, it ultimately fell short.

First, the book was very politically heavy and was brought up all the time, which got old really fast for me. Not only this, it seemed like everyone was being cheated on (like seriously. what are the odds that you, your sister, AND your mom were all cheated on. i was beginning to wonder if there was a single faithful man in this book). The book seemed to have a pretty pessimistic view of men and relationship, especially when it came to Natalie.

Then enter James, the Scottish love interest. I loved him. He was very kind, sentimental, pretty emotionally mature (he had his moments), and a great guy.

Oh, and Hannah DEFINITELY did not deserve him.

Hannah was actively lying to him, trying to get revenge on her ex, and having sex in the basement of her job (talk about an HR violation). Whenever James would be open and vulnerable, Hannah would share nothing (she would even pry)! Not to mention the cabin part, Hannah was so annoying. Not everyone has to want revenge!

And don’t even get me started on the relationship the sisters have with Taylor. This poor girl. Yes, she might not be the smartest or the most emotionally intelligent, but holy cow cut her some slack (specifically Natalie. She was just so mean and pessimistic)! It’s not her fault that she was the result of the affair your dad had. AND she doesn’t even know the real reason why Chad and Hannah broke up. Because of this, Taylor was at a bit of a disadvantage, and as someone around her age, I sometimes found the way she and her friends were portrayed as a little frustrating.

Overall, this book wasn’t for me. There were parts I enjoyed, like the Instagram account, the book ideas, and some of the revenge plots, but it just felt too pessimistic to me. Yes, Hannah and the other girls had every right to be angry at Chad for what he did, but it leaked into the book in a way that made many interactions feel tinged with anger and frustration.

[☆Laura☆]

Iba bien la historia hasta que llego la parte final.

Tenemos a Hannah que es bibliotecaria, tiene un novio que es muy pretensioso y está escribiendo un libro. Debido a eso, ella es quien lo mantiene, pero está tan centrada en él que se está dejando de lado y solo vive para complacerlo. Cuando por fin hace algo para ella, se pone a escribir un libro romántico y él idiota de su novio se lo roba, lo vende como suyo; la deja, firma un acuerdo millonario y se consigue otra novia a la que embaraza.


-Aquí me saltare muchas partes para no dar spoilers importantes.-
Como se imaginaran la pobre de Hannah se pone mal y con la ayuda de su amiga y hermana deciden vengarse del tarado. Mientras ocurre esto conoce a James, quien también está pasando por ciertas cosas. H y J se enamoran ...

A lo largo del libro se ve como Hannah va creciendo, como deja de lado ese sentimiento de inferioridad, empieza a confiar en ella y no se deja pisotear. Entonces después de ver todo este desarrollo, me molesto como fue ella quien fue a buscar a J, siendo que él fue quien quien la dejo, ¿por qué después de ver todos errores que cometió con el idiota de Chad y decir que nunca más lo haría, va a buscar a quien la dejo sin decirle el motivo??? Para mi el mejor final hubiera sido de ella soltera publicando su libro y conociendo a alguien más; o ya mínimo que fuera J quien la buscara y le pidiera perdón.

También lo que me arruino el final fue la razón de que él regresara a su país.


Cuando se publique (y si me acuerdo) escribiré mi reseña más completa con spoilers.

[Ryane Sorenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

4 Stars!! I actually really, really loved this one. It was light, fun, and exactly the kind of feel-good, fluffy read I was in the mood for. It's a quick read, and I felt like the story flowed really well from start to finish.

While revenge may be in the title, this is really more about Hannah finally getting what she was owed and standing up for what was right. I love a strong FMC, and Hannah absolutely delivered. I also appreciated the smart, successful women who surrounded her, supported her throughout the story, and stayed firmly in her corner the entire time.

James frustrated me because he wasn't as open and honest as he expected Hannah to be, but he eventually got there, and I appreciated that growth. To be fair, Hannah showed some excellent growth of her own as well.

I hated Chad and hope he ends up with exactly the life he deserves. The author absolutely knocked it out of the park when it came to making readers feel exactly what they were supposed to feel about each character.

Overall, this was a charming, satisfying read with a lovable, intelligent FMC, great female friendships, and just the right amount of romance and justice. Perfect if you're looking for something fun, uplifting, and easy to sink into.

[Riniya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the Publisher for a Copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I really liked the concept of the book and I loved the execution of the revenge. A bunch of powerful women come together to give comeuppance to a sleaze of a guy who took advantage of them. Starting with little things like giving him dairy when he is lactose intolerant and it goes from there. Don't worry, he doesn't get permanently injured.

However, the story itself outside of these revenge moments was a bit slow. I wish that the focus was a bit more on Hannah's new relationship and really fleshed it out. I wish that we got a bit more character development from her instead of just constantly going back and forth on if she was doing the right thing and if she should tell her new beau about her torturing her ex. It just felt very yo-yo'ey and made me start to really dislike Hannah as a character.

The plot did have its moments of going a bit all over the place and deviating in weird ways, but overall it was an easy read. I did enjoy the revenge part of the story very much and loved the way it ended.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started more promisingly for me than how it ended — and I think it was just a case of too much plot spaghetti being thrown at the wall to see what would stick. On paper, some aspects of the premise absolutely worked for me; I was rooting for Hannah to get her revenge on Chad for stealing her book idea, especially once she teams up with other women he's wronged (including his own sister) to slowly pick apart his carefully crafted online persona. And her new love interest, James, was incredibly charming! But it also felt like Reeves wanted to keep raising the stakes by continually escalating the drama, and the introduction of elements like James' ex (who is written as pretty crazed) and a late-stage third-act twist when he just disappears from the story for reasons that aren't revealed until the last possible moment ultimately didn't land for me. A strong concept, but it just had one too many ingredients thrown into the mix.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Abby Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was completely captivated by this book!
The anger I felt for Chad was incredibly authentic.
Plus, I’m wondering where I can find a friend like Alex in my life—everyone deserves one!
The writing was excellent; it was a delightful and enjoyable read.
However, I did wish there was more development of the James and Hannah relationship. It felt like there was a bit, but then it faded into the background, and suddenly they’re together without being completely honest with each other, which I understand; you need some conflict, but I’m not a fan of instant love. Personally, I prefer a good build-up.
I think there were so many characters in this book that I sometimes had to ask myself who was who again. I read it in one day and really enjoyed it, but I did get a little confused with the characters at times.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[LilandtheLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book with a bunch of powerful women seeking justice (some may say vengeance 😂) against a man who is quite literally the WORST…then look no further! I loved the FMC’s journey of figuring out how to stand up for herself, put herself first and figure out what she actually wants out of life. It was such a feel-good read and there were SO many moments where I had to reread the page going….excuse me surely I read that wrong because there’s just no WAY….but apparently there is in fact a way!

Overall, this gave me all the warm and fuzzies and that ending?? Definitely one that would make all justice/vengeance-seeking girlies proud.

Sleep Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Katrina (at)FlirtingWithFiction · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Full review to come. Thank you to Harlequin for the alc— this is my personal review.

I liked this a lot! I found all of the characters lovable and the plot was engaging. I didn’t care much for the love interest for the first 80% of the book, but I was invested in the revenge plot. Eventually James, the mmc, grew on me too.

It would have been 5 stars, but I felt like the fmc placed a lot of importance of societal beauty standards annnnnnnd the ending was way too perfect and wrapped up way too nicely for me. The last quarter of the book almost felt like an entirely different novel. Still, I didn’t hate it and really enjoyed this.

This story has so many of your romance beats, and is fade to black. This was my first book by this author, and I would definitely read another.

[Angela · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I am always a sucker for anything with some Scottish base. This book was a tough start but picked up as it went on. The 2 initial characters were a tough sell!

“ Librarian Hannah is furious when her freeloading boyfriend, Chad, steals her book idea, leaves her for his agent, and becomes wildly successful. She teams up with other women Chad has wronged (and there are a lot of them!) to get revenge—just a little comeuppance.

The fabulous news is Hannah has a new boyfriend. Unfortunately, Hannah has to hide her schemes from her hunky Scottish love, James, who claims to hate revenge plots of any kind. But it gets harder to hide her increasingly elaborate plans—even as he hides his own messy past…
And everything goes hilariously wrong.”

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of John Tucker Must Die!

I thought this was such a fun premise, and I loved the idea of a women teaming up to get revenge. The revenge plot was easily my favorite part of the book.

Unfortunately, I felt like the story was trying to do a little too much at once. Between the revenge schemes, Hannah’s writing ambitions, and the romance, there were a lot of competing storylines. The romance in particular felt underdeveloped, and I struggled to get fully invested in Hannah and James’s relationship.

Overall, I really enjoyed the revenge aspect and the humor, but I wish the romance had been given a little more attention.

[Jess (lucky.bookclub) Hilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Best Revenge had such a promising premise, and I really wanted to love it! Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me.

The pacing felt slow, with repetitive scenes and plotlines that didn’t always come together. I also struggled to connect with Hannah, and the romance lacked the chemistry and tension I was hoping for. Several editing errors throughout made it even harder to stay immersed in the story.

Ultimately, an interesting concept that I wish had been developed into a tighter, more engaging read.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[TJ ❤️ books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this book wasn't bad, but it was definitely a bit all over the place. There were parts that dragged on longer than necessary, and OMG, if I had to hear the word "comeuppance" ONE MORE TIME!!! We get it!

And can we talk about the romance? Because what exactly were we doing here?! It wasn't quite closed-door, but it wasn't open-door either. We would get alllllmost to the good stuff, and then suddenly, SCENE CHANGE! Like, ma'am, either give us the details or close the door from the beginning. Pick a lane!

Overall, it wasn't a terrible read, but between the pacing, the constant comeuppance, and the romance that couldn't decide what it wanted to be, this one was just okay for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

[Tori (EighthHouseBooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think we can all agree Chad & his wife are the worst (women who uphold that are awful). Having a Chad is also so relatable to many of us, in some way. Making sure justice is served is something so many women want so I was cheering them on, plus most of it was just silly. The plot kind of goes several places, metaphorically, and spans continents. Not so much a miscommunication trope, but definitely adjacent with “wrong time/need to do this in person” type moments. This is perfect for fans who enjoy that! All and all a quick listen (thanks NetGalley for the ALC) and sadly Chad’s ending was realistic.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator wasn't a bad choice for the audiobook. She did well with the main character and James, but other characters could have used some work. She did keep my engaged in the audiobook.

The story had a good start to it and I was excited to see where the author would take it. While the revenge was entertaining, I thought the revenge took a back seat to the new relationship. I wish the relationship between Hannah and James had taken time to grow throughout the story, especially because she is just coming off a relationship.

The story was good and I think lots of readers will enjoy this story.

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the ALC.

[Molly]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style and the premise of this book. As I moved through the plot though, the characters started to feel more and more unbelievable which kind of left everything falling flat. Chad started out as such a ridiculous character in a good way and then was too over the top. Towards the end I feel like James and Hannah lost so much chemistry as well.

[Corinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not for me. It was filled with characters justifying their own bad behavior as a response to the bad behavior of others and compounded by their refusal to have adult conversations. I enjoyed another book by this author, but this book was repetitive and at times juvenile. I struggled to root for any of the characters or their relationships.

ALC provided through Libro.fm.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a good revenge plot and Chad definitely deserved everything that was coming to him. Hannah has a great support system of family and friends who are there to help her pick up the pieces. The combination of the new romance with James and the destruction of Chad made for a fun read. I enjoyed the library side plots as well.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Yaffa Koff · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC reader from Netgalley

I really liked the plot/concept for this book! Getting revenge on a cheating ex boyfriend who also stole your book? Excellent plan!
I did feel like there was so much going on and that the plot sometimes took unnecessary wandering turns.

[Jodi Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This was such a fun read. About a woman whose boyfriend steals the book she is writing and publishes it himself, it is fun, funny, and and a little meta of a read. I really enjoyed this one.

[Courtney Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, easy read. I enjoyed the revenge concept in this book. There was a lot happening, and I would get confused when random stories were told within the storyline. Overall, a nice read in between heavy books. A good “palate cleanser”.

[Jessika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute romance story with a lot of fun revenge on her ex. She is walked all over by a bunch of jerks. Her ex stole her book ideas and became famous. Now it’s time to get even. She even has time to fall in love in the process.

[Danielle · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

This book was a little too ridiculous for me. All the characters were either ridiculously stupid or naive and the plots were just silly and rather unbelievable.