What do you think?
Not Your Enemy
Libby Burns is a good girl. She doesn’t take risks or color outside the lines, content to let others take the lead. Especially her assertive best friend Jana, who asks Libby to clean out her childhood home for her alongside Jana’s enemy. Preparing herself to meet the deceitful, sullen bully Jana described to her, she’s surprised to meet a woman who is nothing like that. In fact, she’s quite charismatic and sultry. Which makes it hard for Libby to hate her, or stay away from her.
Jade Thornton is a free spirit. Her parents taught her young that she’d never please them, so now she focuses on pleasing herself. Despite the pain that came with her father’s recent passing, she looked forward to returning to her hometown and cleaning out his home alongside her sister, as this would offer a chance to mend their strained relationship—something she’s been trying to do for years. But her sister sends a a high-strung, buxom sweetheart who Jade can’t help but pine for.
Libby knows getting cozy with Jade spells trouble. Sleeping with the enemy is not something a worthwhile best friend would do. But Jade is persistent in her advances, making it clear she wants more than just a taste.
Are her feelings for Jade worth risking her longest friendship for?
Why does something so wicked feel so righteous?
Libby has no hope of navigating this sticky situation without giving herself a deep-seated wound. She just hopes she chooses the right person to mend it.
Jade Thornton is a free spirit. Her parents taught her young that she’d never please them, so now she focuses on pleasing herself. Despite the pain that came with her father’s recent passing, she looked forward to returning to her hometown and cleaning out his home alongside her sister, as this would offer a chance to mend their strained relationship—something she’s been trying to do for years. But her sister sends a a high-strung, buxom sweetheart who Jade can’t help but pine for.
Libby knows getting cozy with Jade spells trouble. Sleeping with the enemy is not something a worthwhile best friend would do. But Jade is persistent in her advances, making it clear she wants more than just a taste.
Are her feelings for Jade worth risking her longest friendship for?
Why does something so wicked feel so righteous?
Libby has no hope of navigating this sticky situation without giving herself a deep-seated wound. She just hopes she chooses the right person to mend it.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
September 8, 2026
“Not Your Enemy” came alive through its audiobook narration and ultimately made the story for me. The characters took some time to feel familiar, but Jenna Paris’s warmth and clarity nailed it.
I found Libby’s best friend, Jana, annoying and couldn’t gel with her at all. Thankfully, her sister Jade was a character I would have liked to have heard more about, including her relationship with Libby. Overall, this book is an insta love, opposites attract romance with a fair share of spice!
I found Libby’s best friend, Jana, annoying and couldn’t gel with her at all. Thankfully, her sister Jade was a character I would have liked to have heard more about, including her relationship with Libby. Overall, this book is an insta love, opposites attract romance with a fair share of spice!
April 27, 2026
So, question: is dating your friend’s sister a big taboo? A central conflict worth structuring a book around? How about if the friend doesn’t get along with their sister? You answer to that question will probably have a large impact on your engagement with this novel, and personally I didn’t see it as overly compelling. I think this could be a decent conflict, but this novel didn’t particularly go anywhere with it.
Overall though this was an ok read. It was incredibly easy reading and went by quickly. I was underwhelmed for the most part, but still enjoyed it; kind of like a Hallmark movie that you enjoy and then move on from.
I Liked:
-Some very smooth and flirty banter, which was both fun and sweet.
-Incredibly easy-reading. The novel flowed easily and read quickly.
-The love-interest was very caring, supportive, and understanding. It was heartwarming.
-Very consent focused.
-I LOVED how they had “dates” at home. It was nice to see them putting in the effort to make things special, even though they were not leaving the house.
-There was some instances of great communication on display.
I Disliked:
-An utter failure to communicate is the central throughline of the plot of this novel, without much to justify it IMO.
-Far too instalove for me.
-The relationship development was kind of disjointed and rushed; it didn’t feel organic. Almost as though the characters knew from the start that they were in a romance novel with each other and just went with it.
-The relationship development seemed disordered; they hooked up and THEN had a conversation about if they were single and gay? There were a few details like this which seemed a little off.
-I honestly hated the best friend for the majority of the novel, and the redemption scene (paragraph?) didn’t quite do it for me.
Overall though this was an ok read. It was incredibly easy reading and went by quickly. I was underwhelmed for the most part, but still enjoyed it; kind of like a Hallmark movie that you enjoy and then move on from.
I Liked:
-Some very smooth and flirty banter, which was both fun and sweet.
-Incredibly easy-reading. The novel flowed easily and read quickly.
-The love-interest was very caring, supportive, and understanding. It was heartwarming.
-Very consent focused.
-I LOVED how they had “dates” at home. It was nice to see them putting in the effort to make things special, even though they were not leaving the house.
-There was some instances of great communication on display.
I Disliked:
-An utter failure to communicate is the central throughline of the plot of this novel, without much to justify it IMO.
-Far too instalove for me.
-The relationship development was kind of disjointed and rushed; it didn’t feel organic. Almost as though the characters knew from the start that they were in a romance novel with each other and just went with it.
-The relationship development seemed disordered; they hooked up and THEN had a conversation about if they were single and gay? There were a few details like this which seemed a little off.
-I honestly hated the best friend for the majority of the novel, and the redemption scene (paragraph?) didn’t quite do it for me.
February 8, 2026
Not Your Enemy by Madison Mars is a fairly low-angst adult contemporary romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this quick and easy read. It features sweet, intimate moments and spicy times. I like how the relationship develops organically; although it progresses rather quickly, it feels genuine and believable. Jade and Libby are wonderful characters, both endearing and sexy. Clear consent, effective communication, strong chemistry, and thoughtful plot placement make the sex scenes rewarding.
Despite the setting being the clearing out of the home of a deceased parent and the discussion of toxic parenting, the novel is, in general, light and romantic. There is a third-act breakup, but I didn't hate it. The ending is satisfying. I recommend this book as a lighter read between heavier ones.
Not Your Enemy is my first book by this author, and I would love to read more.
#oppositesattract #bestfriendssister #forcedproximity #femmefemme #tattooartist #claimsprocessor #remotejob #smalltown #bodypositivity #3rdactbreakup #lightbondage #spanking #vibrator #69 #spicy #HEA #epilogue #consentissexy
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest review.
Despite the setting being the clearing out of the home of a deceased parent and the discussion of toxic parenting, the novel is, in general, light and romantic. There is a third-act breakup, but I didn't hate it. The ending is satisfying. I recommend this book as a lighter read between heavier ones.
Not Your Enemy is my first book by this author, and I would love to read more.
#oppositesattract #bestfriendssister #forcedproximity #femmefemme #tattooartist #claimsprocessor #remotejob #smalltown #bodypositivity #3rdactbreakup #lightbondage #spanking #vibrator #69 #spicy #HEA #epilogue #consentissexy
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest review.
dnf-not-my-cup-of-tea
January 26, 2026DNF at 30%. The characters feel somewhat shallow, and the romance leans heavily into insta-love territory, which isn't my preference. It's a shame because I went into this one really excited! Huge thank you to the author for the eARC though!
February 11, 2026
(rounded down from 2.25)
A quick read, but not terribly compelling. There are interesting grains of introspection that would be great to explore, such as the unbalanced dynamics of a friendship, talking it out about past trauma and reconnecting as adults despite shitty childhoods, and the complexities of dating your best friend's estranged sister. However, none of these are explored in more than a passing thought. Additionally, this book could use a quick editor with some easily fixed grammatical mistakes still present. All in all, this was a decent attempt but still some ways to go.
A quick read, but not terribly compelling. There are interesting grains of introspection that would be great to explore, such as the unbalanced dynamics of a friendship, talking it out about past trauma and reconnecting as adults despite shitty childhoods, and the complexities of dating your best friend's estranged sister. However, none of these are explored in more than a passing thought. Additionally, this book could use a quick editor with some easily fixed grammatical mistakes still present. All in all, this was a decent attempt but still some ways to go.
August 18, 2026
This was a nice low angst listen with a touch of forbidden romance. Libby and Jade are great together so that makes the listen worthwhile.
I was amazed that Libby agrees to replace her best friend Jana to clean out her childhood home since Jana is busy and has no interest to see her sister Jade again that she had a major conflict with growing up. This is however fortunate since the sister Jade is nowhere close to being the devil as claimed by Jana. During the cleaning process Libby and Jade get very close and with a very strong mutual attraction. Libby knows this may upset her best friend Jana, but Jade is just too amazing to resist. Then we have this conflict with Jana, I cannot really get that she gets so upset as she does, to me that shows that she was major issues of her own.
I was not a big fan of the selected narrator of this audiobook, I think I would have liked the story even more if another narrator that fits my ear better.
I received a free audiobook code from the author and leave an honest review voluntarily.
I was amazed that Libby agrees to replace her best friend Jana to clean out her childhood home since Jana is busy and has no interest to see her sister Jade again that she had a major conflict with growing up. This is however fortunate since the sister Jade is nowhere close to being the devil as claimed by Jana. During the cleaning process Libby and Jade get very close and with a very strong mutual attraction. Libby knows this may upset her best friend Jana, but Jade is just too amazing to resist. Then we have this conflict with Jana, I cannot really get that she gets so upset as she does, to me that shows that she was major issues of her own.
I was not a big fan of the selected narrator of this audiobook, I think I would have liked the story even more if another narrator that fits my ear better.
I received a free audiobook code from the author and leave an honest review voluntarily.
August 28, 2026
A Sweet Romance with Sharp Edges
Not Your Enemy is the kind of romance that’s easy to fly through while still packing plenty of heart underneath it all. The banter was smooth and flirty, the pacing kept things moving, and underneath all of that was a surprisingly emotional story about self-worth, acceptance, family, and learning how to start creating your own happiness instead of living for everyone else.
Libby and Jade were both incredibly easy to fall for. Libby is compassionate, confident, and a chronic people pleaser who keeps her life organized down to the smallest detail. At the same time, she’s navigating the pressure of a family that wants her to fit into a mold she doesn’t belong in. Jade is her suave, laidback, artistic opposite: effortlessly cool, deeply caring, self-aware, and completely down to earth—and nothing like the person Jana has made her out to be. Together, they balance each other perfectly, with Libby’s careful, overthinking nature meeting Jade’s easygoing confidence in all the best ways.
While their relationship develops quickly, it still feels organic and genuine. Libby and Jade naturally balance each other, with natural understanding, playful teasing, and plenty of sweet, intimate moments as they grow closer. Jade is completely mesmerized by Libby, especially the curves she was once taught to hide, seeing her body with such genuine admiration that it becomes impossible for Libby not to see herself through Jade’s eyes. The chemistry is undeniable, with some seriously good steamy scenes woven into a connection that feels both believable and emotionally grounded.
The conflict between Jade and Jana (and eventually Libby) adds additional layers to the story. We learn that their parents spent years pitting the sisters against each other, leaving them with a years-long rift that feels near impossible to repair. Jana’s inability to let go of the past inevitably spills over into Jade and Libby’s relationship, leaving Libby trapped between protecting her longtime friendship with Jana and her growing feelings for Jade. Seeing Libby finally realize she can’t keep putting everyone else’s happiness before her own. She learns that breaking that cycle means finally making choices for herself and choosing what actually makes her happy.
Jenna Paris was a perfect fit for Libby’s voice. There’s a sweet, bubbly quality to her performance that captures Libby’s inherent kindness and compassion without making her feel overly cheesy. She handled tonal shifts really well, bringing a lighter, sweeter cadence to the fun moments and a softer, more sultry breathiness to the intimate and heavier ones. It made the story so effortless to settle into.
This was a fun, sweet, and steamy romance with a lot more heart beneath the surface than I expected. A quick, heartfelt read with great chemistry, lovable characters, and just enough drama to lock down your feelings. This is a story about letting go of the version of yourself everyone else expects, learning that you don’t have to earn love or make yourself smaller to be worthy of it, and finally giving yourself permission to choose what makes you happy.
Thank you to the author for the chance to read this ALC!
Favorite Quotes:
"I was in my head with her, always overthinking everything. It was just my nature to overanalyze every situation, plan out things so they wouldn't catch me off guard."
"I wake up every day with a smile because I get to see your pretty hazel eyes. You've been the support I needed. I'm not used to that."
"I was the bigger girl who felt trapped inside her skin, the one no one wanted to give a chance. She taught me to have confidence, to love myself before I could expect others to."
"She was so perfect; so sexy and charming. No one had ever made me feel the way she did: wanted, desired, loved... I felt like I could expire from happiness, having her attention so centered on me."
"You told me you cared for her. And the [woman] I know cares for people in a way I could only dream of. I admire you for your beautiful heart; I always have."
"She made me want to please myself. She made me want to be a bright pop of color in a black and white scene. My happiness, what I wanted, would be the most important thing to her."
"I needed to stand up for what I wanted. Do things that made me happier. I couldn't fall into the same cycle anymore of letting other people pull the strings. I had my own voice, one that would not be silent anymore."
Not Your Enemy is the kind of romance that’s easy to fly through while still packing plenty of heart underneath it all. The banter was smooth and flirty, the pacing kept things moving, and underneath all of that was a surprisingly emotional story about self-worth, acceptance, family, and learning how to start creating your own happiness instead of living for everyone else.
Libby and Jade were both incredibly easy to fall for. Libby is compassionate, confident, and a chronic people pleaser who keeps her life organized down to the smallest detail. At the same time, she’s navigating the pressure of a family that wants her to fit into a mold she doesn’t belong in. Jade is her suave, laidback, artistic opposite: effortlessly cool, deeply caring, self-aware, and completely down to earth—and nothing like the person Jana has made her out to be. Together, they balance each other perfectly, with Libby’s careful, overthinking nature meeting Jade’s easygoing confidence in all the best ways.
While their relationship develops quickly, it still feels organic and genuine. Libby and Jade naturally balance each other, with natural understanding, playful teasing, and plenty of sweet, intimate moments as they grow closer. Jade is completely mesmerized by Libby, especially the curves she was once taught to hide, seeing her body with such genuine admiration that it becomes impossible for Libby not to see herself through Jade’s eyes. The chemistry is undeniable, with some seriously good steamy scenes woven into a connection that feels both believable and emotionally grounded.
The conflict between Jade and Jana (and eventually Libby) adds additional layers to the story. We learn that their parents spent years pitting the sisters against each other, leaving them with a years-long rift that feels near impossible to repair. Jana’s inability to let go of the past inevitably spills over into Jade and Libby’s relationship, leaving Libby trapped between protecting her longtime friendship with Jana and her growing feelings for Jade. Seeing Libby finally realize she can’t keep putting everyone else’s happiness before her own. She learns that breaking that cycle means finally making choices for herself and choosing what actually makes her happy.
Jenna Paris was a perfect fit for Libby’s voice. There’s a sweet, bubbly quality to her performance that captures Libby’s inherent kindness and compassion without making her feel overly cheesy. She handled tonal shifts really well, bringing a lighter, sweeter cadence to the fun moments and a softer, more sultry breathiness to the intimate and heavier ones. It made the story so effortless to settle into.
This was a fun, sweet, and steamy romance with a lot more heart beneath the surface than I expected. A quick, heartfelt read with great chemistry, lovable characters, and just enough drama to lock down your feelings. This is a story about letting go of the version of yourself everyone else expects, learning that you don’t have to earn love or make yourself smaller to be worthy of it, and finally giving yourself permission to choose what makes you happy.
Thank you to the author for the chance to read this ALC!
Favorite Quotes:
"I was in my head with her, always overthinking everything. It was just my nature to overanalyze every situation, plan out things so they wouldn't catch me off guard."
"I wake up every day with a smile because I get to see your pretty hazel eyes. You've been the support I needed. I'm not used to that."
"I was the bigger girl who felt trapped inside her skin, the one no one wanted to give a chance. She taught me to have confidence, to love myself before I could expect others to."
"She was so perfect; so sexy and charming. No one had ever made me feel the way she did: wanted, desired, loved... I felt like I could expire from happiness, having her attention so centered on me."
"You told me you cared for her. And the [woman] I know cares for people in a way I could only dream of. I admire you for your beautiful heart; I always have."
"She made me want to please myself. She made me want to be a bright pop of color in a black and white scene. My happiness, what I wanted, would be the most important thing to her."
"I needed to stand up for what I wanted. Do things that made me happier. I couldn't fall into the same cycle anymore of letting other people pull the strings. I had my own voice, one that would not be silent anymore."
July 10, 2026
It too all of ONE post to convince me to read this book and I've never been more glad I'm easy to convince. What an absolutely incredible book, honestly. I loved every second, I actually don't think I paused the book once. I didn't want to, it was truly an incredible story with such great characters. The dynamic between Libby & Jade was everything. I loved the friendship between Libby & Jana. and how much Libby tried to respect Jana's wishes, but that she let herself love Jade anyways, sure she made some errors, but no one is perfect and It's one hell of a situation to find yourself in. And as for Jade, well, what a fucking woman honestly. she was everything and more. I wanna be her when I grow up, she was such a strong and admirable character and it was great to see her so open and vulnerable with Libby despite everything. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for her, cleaning out a dead relatives place is such a horrible thing and the fact she had to do it with virtually a stranger must have been hard. But seeing Libby step up for Jana and Jade, now that's the kind of friend so few people actually deserve. I can't recommend this book enough. Every second was incredible, the characters, the writing, the plot, the dynamics, just everything about it was amazing. Jade was so patient with Libby and made it clear to her what she wanted, and that is everything.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First thank you to the author for this ARC.
I have a hard time getting into books but this one sucked me right in and I read almost straight through. First the best friend in the story is such a unlikable character. How do you pressure your best friend to go deal with your dead parents house with the sister you hate? That was enough for me to hate Janna. Libby I wasn’t sure about for a while but I loved Jade instantly. I love her so much she’s real, self aware, intelligent, artistic, down to earth — can you tell I have a book crush? Ha ha
There were a few cliffhangers and surprises and I kept waiting for Jana or Libby’s parents to walk in on them at different points 🤣.
Overall lovable characters, relatable for those of us with familial trauma (which is most of our generation) and a very meet cute love story.
Thank you to the author for writing this tale - can’t wait to read more sapphic love stories from you in the future!!
I have a hard time getting into books but this one sucked me right in and I read almost straight through. First the best friend in the story is such a unlikable character. How do you pressure your best friend to go deal with your dead parents house with the sister you hate? That was enough for me to hate Janna. Libby I wasn’t sure about for a while but I loved Jade instantly. I love her so much she’s real, self aware, intelligent, artistic, down to earth — can you tell I have a book crush? Ha ha
There were a few cliffhangers and surprises and I kept waiting for Jana or Libby’s parents to walk in on them at different points 🤣.
Overall lovable characters, relatable for those of us with familial trauma (which is most of our generation) and a very meet cute love story.
Thank you to the author for writing this tale - can’t wait to read more sapphic love stories from you in the future!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.25⭐️ & 4🌶
This is a cute romcom opposites attract tale. Jana has lost her mom and more recently her dad. she's estranged from her sister Jade and can't go home to help settle the estate. she recruits/bribes her best friend Libby to help out.
Libby and Jade are seemingly opposites but end up working together to clean up and get the estate ready to sell. What starts as two separate parts comes together nicely at the end. I wasn't fond of the Jana. I truly didn't t like her and it didn't get better as it went along, that's probably by design but overall I did enjoy the book.
Tropes: forced proximity, opposites attract, second chance, found family, small town, instalove.
This is a cute romcom opposites attract tale. Jana has lost her mom and more recently her dad. she's estranged from her sister Jade and can't go home to help settle the estate. she recruits/bribes her best friend Libby to help out.
Libby and Jade are seemingly opposites but end up working together to clean up and get the estate ready to sell. What starts as two separate parts comes together nicely at the end. I wasn't fond of the Jana. I truly didn't t like her and it didn't get better as it went along, that's probably by design but overall I did enjoy the book.
Tropes: forced proximity, opposites attract, second chance, found family, small town, instalove.
March 15, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
First off, Libby and Jade are adorable and deserve all the happiness in the world. Their romance is a bit insta lust/love but I didn’t care because they were so cute.
However… Jana… GIRL! Who just asks their best friend to help their estranged sister pack up their dead parents home??? If you don’t wanna see your sister that bad, you should have hired a company to help her not sucker your people pleasing bestie into it.
The things Jade and Jana did to each other to win their parents affection was awful, but Jana playing the victim and holding Jade accountable and not her parents was kind of shitty. Also she needs hella therapy lol
Lastly, asking your best friend to choose between you and your sister and then calling her a backstabbing bitch is crazy work. You literally forced your sister and your best friend together and didn’t think shit was going to go down? Be serious 🤣
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- small town romance
- best friend’s older sister
- forced proximity
- forbidden romance
- plus size fmc
First off, Libby and Jade are adorable and deserve all the happiness in the world. Their romance is a bit insta lust/love but I didn’t care because they were so cute.
However… Jana… GIRL! Who just asks their best friend to help their estranged sister pack up their dead parents home??? If you don’t wanna see your sister that bad, you should have hired a company to help her not sucker your people pleasing bestie into it.
The things Jade and Jana did to each other to win their parents affection was awful, but Jana playing the victim and holding Jade accountable and not her parents was kind of shitty. Also she needs hella therapy lol
Lastly, asking your best friend to choose between you and your sister and then calling her a backstabbing bitch is crazy work. You literally forced your sister and your best friend together and didn’t think shit was going to go down? Be serious 🤣
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- small town romance
- best friend’s older sister
- forced proximity
- forbidden romance
- plus size fmc
Read
September 3, 2026Thank you to the author for a copy of the audiobook.
This is a fast paced read that’s easy to devour in one or two sittings. I think the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life.
I liked the opposites attract aspect to Libby and Jade’s dynamic. I truly adored Jade and want her to have all the good things in the world.
This is a fast paced read that’s easy to devour in one or two sittings. I think the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life.
I liked the opposites attract aspect to Libby and Jade’s dynamic. I truly adored Jade and want her to have all the good things in the world.
January 28, 2026
Other than still slightly being pissed at Libby, i can say i understand too. Blah that was tough but im so happy for the two of them
A whirlwind of unlikely lovers. 🖤 also just love that jade was a tattoo artist & another thing i really weirdly liked was that the author did force the sister reunification. I feel like it made it so much more authentic as well.
Jades dirty talk even had me blushing 🫣☺️
A whirlwind of unlikely lovers. 🖤 also just love that jade was a tattoo artist & another thing i really weirdly liked was that the author did force the sister reunification. I feel like it made it so much more authentic as well.
Jades dirty talk even had me blushing 🫣☺️
February 15, 2026
3.5✨ okay so, i got the arc for this (thank you so much madison for the chance to read this early!)
i was simply not in the mood for romance tho, so i put it down for a couple weeks bc i just knew i would like it if i gave it the chance and i DID.
i enjoyed the relationship between jade and libby, it was a bit too insta love/lust for me personally, but that’s not a fault of the book lol. i love pet names so jade calling libby princess was so sweet, and then libby eventually calling jade sweetheart i loved that.
i really liked how jade always understood what she was trying to say and what she needed, and how gentle she was about things with jana and how regretful she was over the past.
i liked how the ending went, and how she didn’t immediately forgive her and jana giving them permission. i would have liked to see some of them mending fences, but jana getting therapy was good. jana drove me crazy for a while but got better😅
i was simply not in the mood for romance tho, so i put it down for a couple weeks bc i just knew i would like it if i gave it the chance and i DID.
i enjoyed the relationship between jade and libby, it was a bit too insta love/lust for me personally, but that’s not a fault of the book lol. i love pet names so jade calling libby princess was so sweet, and then libby eventually calling jade sweetheart i loved that.
i really liked how jade always understood what she was trying to say and what she needed, and how gentle she was about things with jana and how regretful she was over the past.
i liked how the ending went, and how she didn’t immediately forgive her and jana giving them permission. i would have liked to see some of them mending fences, but jana getting therapy was good. jana drove me crazy for a while but got better😅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2026
I read this in one day. I had to find out what happened. The book explores a lot of different relationship dynamics and how they can be toxic, but also how people can mature, change, hold on to grudges, and try too hard to keep other people happy.
The characters are well thought out and work well together. I absolutely loved the communication between Libby and Jade from the very beginning. The author manages a few different layers of tension throughout the book, and that really kept me engaged.
Libby falls for her best friend’s sister, who also happens to be her best friend’s worst enemy. A well crafted story. Wonderfully lesbian characters. An enjoyable journey from start to finish, with plenty heat to enjoy along the way.
The characters are well thought out and work well together. I absolutely loved the communication between Libby and Jade from the very beginning. The author manages a few different layers of tension throughout the book, and that really kept me engaged.
Libby falls for her best friend’s sister, who also happens to be her best friend’s worst enemy. A well crafted story. Wonderfully lesbian characters. An enjoyable journey from start to finish, with plenty heat to enjoy along the way.
May 6, 2026
Tak přesně něco takhle pohodového se mi hodilo do nálady. Je to jednoduché, čtivé nemusí se u toho absolutně přemýšlet a angličtina je poměrně základní. Celkově to byla taková fajn záležitost, kde navíc najdeme nucenou blízkost, tak trošku enemies to lovers a zároveň druhou šanci. Prostě sladká romance pro dospělé, kde máme předvídatelný závěr a nějaké to smut, což jednou za čas nezaškodí 🤭 Navíc je to plné kafe a společných snídaní, máme tu taterku, do toho holčinu, která plete, takže za mě extrémně comfy čtení, jež i přestože narazí na pár vážnějších témat, si jede stále na své pohodové vlně 🥰
August 25, 2026
This was a fun read — full of witty banter, sweet & spicy moments, and chemistry that made so much sense. I gotta be honest though, I couldn’t stand Jana… and maybe that was because I never got her POV, but woof she was not it for me.
Would absolutely read more by this author in the future!!
3.75⭐️ rounded up
3🔥
Would absolutely read more by this author in the future!!
3.75⭐️ rounded up
3🔥
February 7, 2026
Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity!
This was such a cute read! The MCs were so cute together! I didnt like how the sister was about the whole thing but glad it got better in the end.
Over all ai really enjoyed it!
This was such a cute read! The MCs were so cute together! I didnt like how the sister was about the whole thing but glad it got better in the end.
Over all ai really enjoyed it!
April 28, 2026
I didn't click with any of the characters and the author's writing style wasn't for me.
September 28, 2026
Fun and spicy sapphic romance. I loved the best friend's sister trope. Great messaging about messy family relationships and friendship.
Review of advance copy received from Author
1.5⭐️
I think this book would be great for fans of the best-friends-siblings and forbidden-romance tropes. Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. For me, it missed the mark in both the writing and the story.
While fully acknowledging that reviewing is subjective, the writing style seemed a bit juvenile at times. The example that comes to mind was that there were multiple times where an exclamation mark was used when it wasn’t necessary or expected. It made the tone feel off and gave the impression that the characters were teenagers rather than adults. The other example that made it feel juvenile to me was its choppy nature. The flow from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph at times didn’t feel natural. There were moments where it felt like a stream-of-consciousness series of sentences rather than a character's thought process, making it hard to follow. I will also mention that Jade used the pet name “princess” the whole book, which, to me, is hard to take seriously in an adult romance. But that is 100% a personal preference; I have no doubt that there are adult romance readers who would enjoy it.
The story also fell flat for me. I will be upfront and say that forbidden romances and best-friends-siblings romances are not my favorite tropes. I don’t dislike them, but I don’t love them either. I didn’t love the way Jana (the best friend) approached and handled this whole situation. The whole time, she refused even to consider the possibility that she was in the wrong in both the situation with her sister and with Libby. I also didn’t love the way the main character, Libby, approached it, especially towards the end. She was very back-and-forth the whole time, which made sense to an extent, but sometimes it felt repetitive. I feel like in this scenario, only Jade, the love interest, acted like an adult.
For those who like those tropes, forbidden romance and best friends’ siblings, I think you would like this romance. It was an easy read, and for fans of those tropes, I think this book would hit the mark. Unfortunately, because of my issues with the writing, it wasn’t the book for me.
Thank you Madison Mars for the advanced copy! I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
🌶️🌶️🌶️(a few explicit scenes/comments)
I think this book would be great for fans of the best-friends-siblings and forbidden-romance tropes. Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. For me, it missed the mark in both the writing and the story.
While fully acknowledging that reviewing is subjective, the writing style seemed a bit juvenile at times. The example that comes to mind was that there were multiple times where an exclamation mark was used when it wasn’t necessary or expected. It made the tone feel off and gave the impression that the characters were teenagers rather than adults. The other example that made it feel juvenile to me was its choppy nature. The flow from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph at times didn’t feel natural. There were moments where it felt like a stream-of-consciousness series of sentences rather than a character's thought process, making it hard to follow. I will also mention that Jade used the pet name “princess” the whole book, which, to me, is hard to take seriously in an adult romance. But that is 100% a personal preference; I have no doubt that there are adult romance readers who would enjoy it.
The story also fell flat for me. I will be upfront and say that forbidden romances and best-friends-siblings romances are not my favorite tropes. I don’t dislike them, but I don’t love them either. I didn’t love the way Jana (the best friend) approached and handled this whole situation. The whole time, she refused even to consider the possibility that she was in the wrong in both the situation with her sister and with Libby. I also didn’t love the way the main character, Libby, approached it, especially towards the end. She was very back-and-forth the whole time, which made sense to an extent, but sometimes it felt repetitive. I feel like in this scenario, only Jade, the love interest, acted like an adult.
For those who like those tropes, forbidden romance and best friends’ siblings, I think you would like this romance. It was an easy read, and for fans of those tropes, I think this book would hit the mark. Unfortunately, because of my issues with the writing, it wasn’t the book for me.
Thank you Madison Mars for the advanced copy! I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
🌶️🌶️🌶️(a few explicit scenes/comments)
Review of advance copy received from Author
I didn’t hate this book, but it also didn’t fully land for me.
The biggest issue was the characters. Libby, Jade and Jana all felt flat and underdeveloped, but Libby and Jana were honestly borderline insufferable at times. A lot of the dialogue felt cringe and weirdly juvenile, even though the themes themselves are more mature. I struggled to connect emotionally because everything stayed very surface level.
Jade, in particular, had SUCH potential to be absolutely swoon worthy, but it just missed the mark for me. She came across as really forward without the charm or smooth energy I’d normally expect from her character type, which made her feel more awkward than magnetic.
The themes of self acceptance, choosing your own happiness and growing emotionally are genuinely great. It’s a real pity that Libby was completely spineless for basically the entire book. Like literally right up until the end, where she almost develops a spine. I also really didn’t love the whole “she saved me because she made me feel special” thing. That didn’t feel romantic to me so much as emotional dependence dressed up as love.
The pacing was also off. Somehow it felt rushed and dragged out at the same time. Important moments were skimmed over, while less meaningful scenes lingered. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, which made it harder to feel immersed. Even the way the characters were described felt flat, which just added to the overall lack of depth.
The spicy scenes didn’t work for me personally, but that’s very much a preference thing and not something I’d judge the book on objectively.
On the positive side, I appreciated the plus size representation (even if it felt a bit surface level), and I genuinely loved the family acceptance around Libby’s queerness. Those moments were genuinely nice to see and stood out as a couple of brighter spots in my reading experience.
Overall, this book explores heavier emotional themes, but I personally struggled with the execution. I was hoping for more depth, stronger character development and smoother pacing. While it didn’t fully work for me, I think readers who connect with the characters more than I did may have a better experience.
The biggest issue was the characters. Libby, Jade and Jana all felt flat and underdeveloped, but Libby and Jana were honestly borderline insufferable at times. A lot of the dialogue felt cringe and weirdly juvenile, even though the themes themselves are more mature. I struggled to connect emotionally because everything stayed very surface level.
Jade, in particular, had SUCH potential to be absolutely swoon worthy, but it just missed the mark for me. She came across as really forward without the charm or smooth energy I’d normally expect from her character type, which made her feel more awkward than magnetic.
The themes of self acceptance, choosing your own happiness and growing emotionally are genuinely great. It’s a real pity that Libby was completely spineless for basically the entire book. Like literally right up until the end, where she almost develops a spine. I also really didn’t love the whole “she saved me because she made me feel special” thing. That didn’t feel romantic to me so much as emotional dependence dressed up as love.
The pacing was also off. Somehow it felt rushed and dragged out at the same time. Important moments were skimmed over, while less meaningful scenes lingered. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, which made it harder to feel immersed. Even the way the characters were described felt flat, which just added to the overall lack of depth.
The spicy scenes didn’t work for me personally, but that’s very much a preference thing and not something I’d judge the book on objectively.
On the positive side, I appreciated the plus size representation (even if it felt a bit surface level), and I genuinely loved the family acceptance around Libby’s queerness. Those moments were genuinely nice to see and stood out as a couple of brighter spots in my reading experience.
Overall, this book explores heavier emotional themes, but I personally struggled with the execution. I was hoping for more depth, stronger character development and smoother pacing. While it didn’t fully work for me, I think readers who connect with the characters more than I did may have a better experience.
January 27, 2026
Cute sapphic romance
Libby & Jana are best friends since college who would do just about anything for each other. Jana’s mom passed away when they were still in college and now, her dad passed leaving the house .. with her parents’ antiques and art left to sort through. But Jana can’t bring herself to return to her childhood home because she’ll have to face her sister Jade and Jade is Jana’s worst enemy for the things she did to her when they were growing up.
So, Jana asks Libby to go in her place. Just stay there for a little while, help sort through the stuff and get it appraised so Jade doesn’t wind up with everything. What could possibly go wrong?
When Libby shows up and meets Jade, she can feel the hostility from a mile away. But over the course of her stay.. that turns into flirtation,
Now Libby is stuck between a rock and a hard place. She has feelings for her best friend’s enemy, her sister. Libby can’t live with her secret any longer and when she returns home and tells Jana that she’s dating Jade, Jana reacts in a way Libby never expected and Libby makes a terrible mistake that can cost her the person she’s in love with and her best friend.
To start off, thank you to Madison Mars for allowing me to ARC read Not Your Enemy. It’s a contemporary, spicy, sapphic romance and it’s a great read for Valentine’s Day. I absolutely ADORED Libby & Jade together. Libby is a plus sized FMC and the praise given to her by Jade? *chefs kiss*. I loved how dominant Jade was and that she was a tattoo artist. Their chemistry was top notch from the beginning.
While I did enjoy this read, the only downside for me was how repetitive Jana was with the negativity regarding her sister, Jade. Every time Libby & Jana spoke, she brought up how bad Jade was. I do believe in second chances, so I would have loved to see Jade & Jana work through their issues at some point during the story. I also did not like the ultimatum that Jade gave to her best friend. Other than that, it was a fun and enjoyable read with lots of SPICE. Giving it 3.75 stars and I definitely recommend for all sapphic romance lovers.
Libby & Jana are best friends since college who would do just about anything for each other. Jana’s mom passed away when they were still in college and now, her dad passed leaving the house .. with her parents’ antiques and art left to sort through. But Jana can’t bring herself to return to her childhood home because she’ll have to face her sister Jade and Jade is Jana’s worst enemy for the things she did to her when they were growing up.
So, Jana asks Libby to go in her place. Just stay there for a little while, help sort through the stuff and get it appraised so Jade doesn’t wind up with everything. What could possibly go wrong?
When Libby shows up and meets Jade, she can feel the hostility from a mile away. But over the course of her stay.. that turns into flirtation,
Now Libby is stuck between a rock and a hard place. She has feelings for her best friend’s enemy, her sister. Libby can’t live with her secret any longer and when she returns home and tells Jana that she’s dating Jade, Jana reacts in a way Libby never expected and Libby makes a terrible mistake that can cost her the person she’s in love with and her best friend.
To start off, thank you to Madison Mars for allowing me to ARC read Not Your Enemy. It’s a contemporary, spicy, sapphic romance and it’s a great read for Valentine’s Day. I absolutely ADORED Libby & Jade together. Libby is a plus sized FMC and the praise given to her by Jade? *chefs kiss*. I loved how dominant Jade was and that she was a tattoo artist. Their chemistry was top notch from the beginning.
While I did enjoy this read, the only downside for me was how repetitive Jana was with the negativity regarding her sister, Jade. Every time Libby & Jana spoke, she brought up how bad Jade was. I do believe in second chances, so I would have loved to see Jade & Jana work through their issues at some point during the story. I also did not like the ultimatum that Jade gave to her best friend. Other than that, it was a fun and enjoyable read with lots of SPICE. Giving it 3.75 stars and I definitely recommend for all sapphic romance lovers.
September 20, 2026
Our protagonist, Libby, is asked by her best friend, Jana, to go to her parents’ house and clean it out in her place. Why? Because Jana’s older sister (and worst enemy) Jade is also going to be there. Libby is determined to hate her—for Jana’s sake—but Jade is kind. She’s into Libby. And the feeling is very, very mutual, especially as Libby learns more about what caused the rift between Jana and Jade in the first place and finds her loyalties divided.
Libby as a character felt very familiar, in that I am also a plus-size anxiety-ridden people-pleaser who is prone to getting caught up in my friends’ lives instead of my own. It was nice to see that represented. But what I liked even more about Libby was that she was given the opportunity to fuck up.
And she DOES.
She has to face the very real consequences of her choices, her actions and inactions alike. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the book anywhere near as much as I did if it hadn’t dealt with the fallout of those consequences, especially when it came to Libby’s relationships. Not just with Jade, but with Jana and even with her parents. It was therapeutic without being chock-full of therapy-speak, which I personally find a relief.
I just wish that the fallout had happened sooner. So much of the book is Libby’s internal debate as she falls for Jade, and none of it has real-world consequences until maybe the last quarter. As a result, the first hefty chunk of the book wasn’t really my favorite. At the same time, though, I see the setup that chunk was doing? It puts me in a difficult position as a reader.
I think there’s a lesson for me personally to be learned here, and I do NOT mean this in any derogatory way: I just don’t think small-town-romance-hallmark-movie-esque books are for me. Don’t get me wrong. They’re cute and sweet and romantic, but there’s often not enough bite or chew to make my brain latch on and go “oh yes, that is exactly what I wanted.” Does that make sense? Like, there is definitely an audience for these books. It just may not be me.
Libby as a character felt very familiar, in that I am also a plus-size anxiety-ridden people-pleaser who is prone to getting caught up in my friends’ lives instead of my own. It was nice to see that represented. But what I liked even more about Libby was that she was given the opportunity to fuck up.
And she DOES.
She has to face the very real consequences of her choices, her actions and inactions alike. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the book anywhere near as much as I did if it hadn’t dealt with the fallout of those consequences, especially when it came to Libby’s relationships. Not just with Jade, but with Jana and even with her parents. It was therapeutic without being chock-full of therapy-speak, which I personally find a relief.
I just wish that the fallout had happened sooner. So much of the book is Libby’s internal debate as she falls for Jade, and none of it has real-world consequences until maybe the last quarter. As a result, the first hefty chunk of the book wasn’t really my favorite. At the same time, though, I see the setup that chunk was doing? It puts me in a difficult position as a reader.
I think there’s a lesson for me personally to be learned here, and I do NOT mean this in any derogatory way: I just don’t think small-town-romance-hallmark-movie-esque books are for me. Don’t get me wrong. They’re cute and sweet and romantic, but there’s often not enough bite or chew to make my brain latch on and go “oh yes, that is exactly what I wanted.” Does that make sense? Like, there is definitely an audience for these books. It just may not be me.
January 27, 2026
Not Your Enemy by Madison Mars 💖🌶️
Thank you to the author for the eARC — I was excited for this one and immediately understood why because I devoured it in a single day! At just over 200 pages, it was a fun snow day read ❄️🩷
This is a sweet, very spicy WLW romcom told from Libby’s POV. Libby is a pathological people-pleasing, Type A introvert. She somehow gets convinced by her best friend, Jana, to go in her place to clean out her deceased parents’ house. Jana refuses to go because her older sister will be there, who is his archenemy. How Libby agreed to this? I truly may never understand 😂
Enter forced proximity with Jade — the hot lesbian sister who is outgoing, carefree, wildly spontaneous, and absolutely relentless with her flirting. Jade’s blunt, outspoken energy completely intoxicates Libby, and Libby falls hard in the most painfully relatable lesbian way possible.
What follows is tension, banter, undeniable chemistry, and the ultimate impossible choice: best friend loyalty… or potential future partner?
If you love: ✨ forced proximity ✨ sapphic smut ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ spicy but heartfelt romances
Add this to your TBR immediately 💘🔥
I rated this book 3.75/5 stars. I do wish it had been a bit longer so we had more time to really get to know Libby and Jade — the characters felt like they were just slightly lacking depth for me. One thing I really enjoyed, though, was how quickly the story got started. You learn the plot in the very first chapter, which I loved. It didn’t take long to get into at all, and that’s something I really appreciate as a reader.
I also lowkey loved the details in the spicy scenes 🤭 I’m not a huge smut reader in general, but the sapphic scenes were written so well, and I genuinely enjoyed them.
Overall, a fun and steamy quick read that’s guaranteed to pull you out of a reading slump.🔥🥰
Thank you to the author for the eARC — I was excited for this one and immediately understood why because I devoured it in a single day! At just over 200 pages, it was a fun snow day read ❄️🩷
This is a sweet, very spicy WLW romcom told from Libby’s POV. Libby is a pathological people-pleasing, Type A introvert. She somehow gets convinced by her best friend, Jana, to go in her place to clean out her deceased parents’ house. Jana refuses to go because her older sister will be there, who is his archenemy. How Libby agreed to this? I truly may never understand 😂
Enter forced proximity with Jade — the hot lesbian sister who is outgoing, carefree, wildly spontaneous, and absolutely relentless with her flirting. Jade’s blunt, outspoken energy completely intoxicates Libby, and Libby falls hard in the most painfully relatable lesbian way possible.
What follows is tension, banter, undeniable chemistry, and the ultimate impossible choice: best friend loyalty… or potential future partner?
If you love: ✨ forced proximity ✨ sapphic smut ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ spicy but heartfelt romances
Add this to your TBR immediately 💘🔥
I rated this book 3.75/5 stars. I do wish it had been a bit longer so we had more time to really get to know Libby and Jade — the characters felt like they were just slightly lacking depth for me. One thing I really enjoyed, though, was how quickly the story got started. You learn the plot in the very first chapter, which I loved. It didn’t take long to get into at all, and that’s something I really appreciate as a reader.
I also lowkey loved the details in the spicy scenes 🤭 I’m not a huge smut reader in general, but the sapphic scenes were written so well, and I genuinely enjoyed them.
Overall, a fun and steamy quick read that’s guaranteed to pull you out of a reading slump.🔥🥰
September 26, 2026
You could have just said sapphic enemies to lovers and handed me the headphones.
Then you add sister’s best friend, forbidden romance, forced proximity, opposites attract, small-town vibes AND a plus-size FMC?
Yeahhhh. This should absolutely be my nonsense.
Libby agrees to help her best friend Jana by standing in for her to clean out her parents’ house, which unfortunately means spending a whole lot of time with Jana’s sister Jade.
And Libby and Jade?
They do not like each other.
Sure, babes. I’ve read books before. Carry on.
Their sharp banter was easily one of my favorite parts of the audiobook, and Jenna Paris really brought out their completely different energies. Jade especially has this free spirited, black cat vibe that I was waiting to crack open.
My biggest struggle was that it took a while to get there.
The beginning was slow for me, and there were several spots where the story felt stilted enough that my brain wandered off without permission. With audio, I want to invent errands just so I can keep listening, and I never consistently hit that level of obsession.
But then the emotional side started sneaking up on me.
Underneath the sapphic romance is this really lovely thread about healing, self acceptance, choosing your own happiness, and finding someone who makes you want to take up a little more space in your own life.
And then:
“She made me want to be a bright pop of color in a black and white scene.”
HELLO?!
THAT is what got me.
Jenna Paris helped keep me invested when the pacing wasn’t quite doing it, especially once Libby and Jade’s walls started coming down and the relationship became softer.
So 3.75 stars for me. The pacing and flow kept it from hitting four, but there was still a lot to love here.
Sapphic enemies to lovers got me through the door. Jade eventually got my feelings involved.
Then you add sister’s best friend, forbidden romance, forced proximity, opposites attract, small-town vibes AND a plus-size FMC?
Yeahhhh. This should absolutely be my nonsense.
Libby agrees to help her best friend Jana by standing in for her to clean out her parents’ house, which unfortunately means spending a whole lot of time with Jana’s sister Jade.
And Libby and Jade?
They do not like each other.
Sure, babes. I’ve read books before. Carry on.
Their sharp banter was easily one of my favorite parts of the audiobook, and Jenna Paris really brought out their completely different energies. Jade especially has this free spirited, black cat vibe that I was waiting to crack open.
My biggest struggle was that it took a while to get there.
The beginning was slow for me, and there were several spots where the story felt stilted enough that my brain wandered off without permission. With audio, I want to invent errands just so I can keep listening, and I never consistently hit that level of obsession.
But then the emotional side started sneaking up on me.
Underneath the sapphic romance is this really lovely thread about healing, self acceptance, choosing your own happiness, and finding someone who makes you want to take up a little more space in your own life.
And then:
“She made me want to be a bright pop of color in a black and white scene.”
HELLO?!
THAT is what got me.
Jenna Paris helped keep me invested when the pacing wasn’t quite doing it, especially once Libby and Jade’s walls started coming down and the relationship became softer.
So 3.75 stars for me. The pacing and flow kept it from hitting four, but there was still a lot to love here.
Sapphic enemies to lovers got me through the door. Jade eventually got my feelings involved.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not Your Enemy follows Libby, a people pleaser who agrees to help her best friend by cleaning out her childhood home after her parents’ death. The complication is that Libby has to do it alongside her best friend’s estranged sister, Jade, who she’s been warned to stay away from. Instead, Libby finds herself drawn to someone very different from what she expected.
There were elements I really enjoyed here. I’m always a fan of forced proximity, and I love sapphic romances. This was a fast paced read with short chapters which always makes for an enjoyable read. I also appreciated the plus size representation with Libby, which, while not heavily emphasized, was nice to see.
That said, this one didn’t fully work for me. Once the romance begins, which felt a bit instalove ish, there's a strong emphasis on physical intimacy, which started to feel repetitive. I found myself wishing there had been more time spent developing the characters and the relationship, as the emotional connection felt rushed.
The central conflict was also frustrating for me, particularly the role of Libby’s best friend. The tension felt exaggerated, and the resolution came together a little too conveniently for my taste. I did appreciate that the epilogue offered some closure for one of the side character arcs though, which ended the story on a nice note.
Overall, this was a mixed experience. I think readers who enjoy sapphic romances with frequent, open door spice, and a quick pace will likely enjoy this more than I did.
💕 Tropes-
❤️ Forced proximity
❤️ Sapphic love
❤️ Instalove
❤️ Open door spice 🌶️ 🔥
❤️ Plus size rep
Thank you to Madison Mars for my copy, which I read and gave my honest thoughts on!
Not Your Enemy follows Libby, a people pleaser who agrees to help her best friend by cleaning out her childhood home after her parents’ death. The complication is that Libby has to do it alongside her best friend’s estranged sister, Jade, who she’s been warned to stay away from. Instead, Libby finds herself drawn to someone very different from what she expected.
There were elements I really enjoyed here. I’m always a fan of forced proximity, and I love sapphic romances. This was a fast paced read with short chapters which always makes for an enjoyable read. I also appreciated the plus size representation with Libby, which, while not heavily emphasized, was nice to see.
That said, this one didn’t fully work for me. Once the romance begins, which felt a bit instalove ish, there's a strong emphasis on physical intimacy, which started to feel repetitive. I found myself wishing there had been more time spent developing the characters and the relationship, as the emotional connection felt rushed.
The central conflict was also frustrating for me, particularly the role of Libby’s best friend. The tension felt exaggerated, and the resolution came together a little too conveniently for my taste. I did appreciate that the epilogue offered some closure for one of the side character arcs though, which ended the story on a nice note.
Overall, this was a mixed experience. I think readers who enjoy sapphic romances with frequent, open door spice, and a quick pace will likely enjoy this more than I did.
💕 Tropes-
❤️ Forced proximity
❤️ Sapphic love
❤️ Instalove
❤️ Open door spice 🌶️ 🔥
❤️ Plus size rep
Thank you to Madison Mars for my copy, which I read and gave my honest thoughts on!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first contemporary sapphic romance, and I enjoyed it.
I did not expect to be triggered so emotionally, though. Libby and Janas' friendship dynamic brought back some past trauma with a friend who was very much a Jana, but to the narcissistic extreme without the ability for internal reflection,while I was a Libby. Unlike how my friendship ended, badly and without growth from my Jana, I respect how the author made at least the friendship dynamic a growing moment for both Libby and Jana in their own ways by acknowledging they both messed up and could grow from this without ultimatums.
In terms of romance, I enjoyed the warm, cozy feeling Jade and Libbys' relationship gave me as it evolved. Yes, it was quick, but sometimes relationships are like that.
I'm not sure if the author plans to write any more books with these characters, but I would be interested to see if we get more insight into Jade and Janas past before Libby as well as Libbys past before Jana or Jade. Our past does a lot to form foundations of who we are as a person, be that for the worse or better, and I would like to see how all their futures evolve. For now, I will just cozy up with my own tattooed love and call it good.
I did not expect to be triggered so emotionally, though. Libby and Janas' friendship dynamic brought back some past trauma with a friend who was very much a Jana, but to the narcissistic extreme without the ability for internal reflection,while I was a Libby. Unlike how my friendship ended, badly and without growth from my Jana, I respect how the author made at least the friendship dynamic a growing moment for both Libby and Jana in their own ways by acknowledging they both messed up and could grow from this without ultimatums.
In terms of romance, I enjoyed the warm, cozy feeling Jade and Libbys' relationship gave me as it evolved. Yes, it was quick, but sometimes relationships are like that.
I'm not sure if the author plans to write any more books with these characters, but I would be interested to see if we get more insight into Jade and Janas past before Libby as well as Libbys past before Jana or Jade. Our past does a lot to form foundations of who we are as a person, be that for the worse or better, and I would like to see how all their futures evolve. For now, I will just cozy up with my own tattooed love and call it good.
February 9, 2026
Libby is asked by her best friend Jana to help sort through her deceased father's house and storage unit, as Jana can't get off work (really?) and wants to avoid her sister, Jade.
Libby arrives at the house to find out Jana didnt tell her sister she was sending her, and Jade is pretty rude. And she keeps teasing Libby, calling her Princess.
We learn from Jana that Jade was a narc when they were teens, telling on her with their parents. Jana claims Jade framed her, but Libby doubts that.
They work together and Libby increasingly realizes Jade is her type. Jade also reveals part of why the sisters had issues is their parents subtly et them against each other, as they were too busy.
They finally clear out the house, Libby goes home and finally confesses to Jana about dating Jade.
Jana goes ballistic, demands that Libby break it off or their friendship is over.
Third act breakup.
Libby ghosts Jade and is miserable. Jana springs a blind date on Libby, which goes awful, and Jana realizes she screwed up. Libby goes to see Jade, who's understandably pissed, but do make up.
3 out of 5. The breakup just feels weird and wrong, and kinda threw me out of thd book. Decently written overall tho.
Libby arrives at the house to find out Jana didnt tell her sister she was sending her, and Jade is pretty rude. And she keeps teasing Libby, calling her Princess.
We learn from Jana that Jade was a narc when they were teens, telling on her with their parents. Jana claims Jade framed her, but Libby doubts that.
They work together and Libby increasingly realizes Jade is her type. Jade also reveals part of why the sisters had issues is their parents subtly et them against each other, as they were too busy.
They finally clear out the house, Libby goes home and finally confesses to Jana about dating Jade.
Jana goes ballistic, demands that Libby break it off or their friendship is over.
Third act breakup.
Libby ghosts Jade and is miserable. Jana springs a blind date on Libby, which goes awful, and Jana realizes she screwed up. Libby goes to see Jade, who's understandably pissed, but do make up.
3 out of 5. The breakup just feels weird and wrong, and kinda threw me out of thd book. Decently written overall tho.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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