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The Naked Truth: An Enemies to Lovers Road Trip Romance
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jan 26Two truths and a
1. I’m crushing on a faceless por—adult content creator.
2. I’m road-tripping to a wedding with my worst enemy.
3. These are totally unrelated problems.
After torching what was left of my reputation at my twin sister’s engagement party, I’ll do anything for redemption—even if it means traveling for a week in a car with my oldest the smug, infuriatingly rich and successful Nico Giannuzzi.
My plan? Keep my head down, survive this sister-mandated road trip, ignore the driver (even if he ruined my entire life), and focus on flirting wi—sorry—ghostwriting the cookbook for the anonymous por—sorry—adult content creator chef whose emails make me smile.
Even if Nico apologizes with my favorite foods.
Even if he defends me in public, cooks for me in private, and looks at me like I’m the next thing on his menu.
Even if he tries to uncover my secrets… and starts to share some of his own.
Getting my act together means not letting Nico under my skin. Or my shirt.
But… why won’t he take his off?
Why does the way he moves in a kitchen seem so familiar?
And why does this man making me laugh over breakfast suddenly feel exactly like the one who’s been lighting up my inbox for months?
The Naked Truth is a sharp, chaotically funny, and emotionally raw enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about secrets, vulnerability, and what happens when the person under your skin gets to know you better than anyone else. It features razor-sharp banter, a secret identity, a road trip from hell, a mysterious tattoo, gratuitous food-science descriptions, and a Brooklyn accent that should come with a warning label. Perfect for readers who want spicy romcoms with real feelings, laugh-out-loud chaos, and just enough tears to hurt in the best way.
1. I’m crushing on a faceless por—adult content creator.
2. I’m road-tripping to a wedding with my worst enemy.
3. These are totally unrelated problems.
After torching what was left of my reputation at my twin sister’s engagement party, I’ll do anything for redemption—even if it means traveling for a week in a car with my oldest the smug, infuriatingly rich and successful Nico Giannuzzi.
My plan? Keep my head down, survive this sister-mandated road trip, ignore the driver (even if he ruined my entire life), and focus on flirting wi—sorry—ghostwriting the cookbook for the anonymous por—sorry—adult content creator chef whose emails make me smile.
Even if Nico apologizes with my favorite foods.
Even if he defends me in public, cooks for me in private, and looks at me like I’m the next thing on his menu.
Even if he tries to uncover my secrets… and starts to share some of his own.
Getting my act together means not letting Nico under my skin. Or my shirt.
But… why won’t he take his off?
Why does the way he moves in a kitchen seem so familiar?
And why does this man making me laugh over breakfast suddenly feel exactly like the one who’s been lighting up my inbox for months?
The Naked Truth is a sharp, chaotically funny, and emotionally raw enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about secrets, vulnerability, and what happens when the person under your skin gets to know you better than anyone else. It features razor-sharp banter, a secret identity, a road trip from hell, a mysterious tattoo, gratuitous food-science descriptions, and a Brooklyn accent that should come with a warning label. Perfect for readers who want spicy romcoms with real feelings, laugh-out-loud chaos, and just enough tears to hurt in the best way.
- GenresRomance
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 16, 2026
20 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Ana Kirk Shaw
4 books91 followersAna Kirk Shaw wrote her first romance at eight years old. It was a shifter romance starring Scar from The Lion King and Amelia Bedelia. It was weird.
She is now a teacher by day and romance author by night (plus weekends and summer break). She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, kids, and cats.
She is now a teacher by day and romance author by night (plus weekends and summer break). She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, kids, and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 17, 2025
Thank you to the publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Our FMC Annie Li is a beautifully complicated and deeply flawed human being but I loved her anyway, I can understand why she went off the rails, her parents have a lot to answer for. What I loved most about this book was that neither of our main characters were goody two shoes, they weren’t perfect, neither of them could be described as innocent and they both had baggage, this for me made them seem even more realistic. I loved having a heavily tattooed FMC, as someone who is also heavily tattooed I was all for this. I wondered why Annie hated Nico so much, when we got the reveal my heart broke for both of them as all that antagonism was for nothing. I really liked Nico as despite the fact that Annie was absolutely horrible to him, I loved that he took the time to see Annie for who she was and try to break through her prickly outer shell. Overall I really enjoyed this book and have no complaints at all.
Our FMC Annie Li is a beautifully complicated and deeply flawed human being but I loved her anyway, I can understand why she went off the rails, her parents have a lot to answer for. What I loved most about this book was that neither of our main characters were goody two shoes, they weren’t perfect, neither of them could be described as innocent and they both had baggage, this for me made them seem even more realistic. I loved having a heavily tattooed FMC, as someone who is also heavily tattooed I was all for this. I wondered why Annie hated Nico so much, when we got the reveal my heart broke for both of them as all that antagonism was for nothing. I really liked Nico as despite the fact that Annie was absolutely horrible to him, I loved that he took the time to see Annie for who she was and try to break through her prickly outer shell. Overall I really enjoyed this book and have no complaints at all.
December 16, 2025
I really wanted to love this one, but the beginning was a bit hard for me to get into. I felt confused at first and had to pause and reread parts to understand what was going on. The prologue didn’t fully work for me, and when chapter one started, it felt like I was missing some context instead of being eased into the story. Once I found my footing, it was easier to settle in, but the start definitely took some patience. 🥲🥲
After that initial adjustment, things slowly began to click. The story itself is genuinely unique, and not at all what I expected going in. There’s a lot happening beneath the surface—secrets, tension, and overlapping identities—and while it didn’t instantly pull me in, it kept me curious enough to continue. I did struggle with the Annie at first, though. I usually enjoy sharp banter, but her attitude leaned more bratty than playful for me, (she was lowkey evil 😭) and it made it harder to connect early on even once you start to understand where that behavior comes from.
Somewhere in the middle, I realized I was more invested than I thought I was. The pacing evened out, the emotional beats landed better, and the dynamic between the main characters became more engaging. And when the spice finally hits the page… it really hits . The chemistry turns intense FAST—jaw-dropping & face-warming. Nico especially… If dirty talk is your thing, he does not disappoint (AT ALL).
The third-act breakup was where I started to lose a bit of momentum. I’m pretty picky about that trope, and unless it’s handled exceptionally well, it tends to feel unnecessary.🤷🏼♀️ This one didn’t fully work for me and leaned more frustrating than impactful, though it didn’t completely derail the story. The ending itself was decent, and overall, the book was entertaining enough that I walked away curious rather than disappointed.
This wasn’t a standout read for me, butttttttt it was interesting, bold, and different enough that I’m still intrigued by this world. I’d definitely be open to checking out more books connected to it.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”You walk into a room and rearrange the air. Ever since we were kids. Like some sort of volatile reaction-change the tem-perature, shift the pressure, and suddenly nothing around you is the same.”
“She smiles and my world ends, because Annie Li is smiling at me and it's so debilitating it's apocalyptic.”
“Maybe," I say, more to myself than to him,
"stability isn't peace and quiet. It's staying. It's choosing someone. Again and again, even when it's messy. Especially when it's messy."
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🍳 enemies→lovers
🍳 forced proximity
🍳 secret identity
🍳 third act breakup
🍳 dual POV
A huge thank you to Netgalley, ARC provided by Victory Editing, and Ana Kirk Shaw for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【 🔥🔥🔥 】
swearing: yes (a lot)
After that initial adjustment, things slowly began to click. The story itself is genuinely unique, and not at all what I expected going in. There’s a lot happening beneath the surface—secrets, tension, and overlapping identities—and while it didn’t instantly pull me in, it kept me curious enough to continue. I did struggle with the Annie at first, though. I usually enjoy sharp banter, but her attitude leaned more bratty than playful for me, (she was lowkey evil 😭) and it made it harder to connect early on even once you start to understand where that behavior comes from.
Somewhere in the middle, I realized I was more invested than I thought I was. The pacing evened out, the emotional beats landed better, and the dynamic between the main characters became more engaging. And when the spice finally hits the page… it really hits . The chemistry turns intense FAST—jaw-dropping & face-warming. Nico especially… If dirty talk is your thing, he does not disappoint (AT ALL).
The third-act breakup was where I started to lose a bit of momentum. I’m pretty picky about that trope, and unless it’s handled exceptionally well, it tends to feel unnecessary.🤷🏼♀️ This one didn’t fully work for me and leaned more frustrating than impactful, though it didn’t completely derail the story. The ending itself was decent, and overall, the book was entertaining enough that I walked away curious rather than disappointed.
This wasn’t a standout read for me, butttttttt it was interesting, bold, and different enough that I’m still intrigued by this world. I’d definitely be open to checking out more books connected to it.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”You walk into a room and rearrange the air. Ever since we were kids. Like some sort of volatile reaction-change the tem-perature, shift the pressure, and suddenly nothing around you is the same.”
“She smiles and my world ends, because Annie Li is smiling at me and it's so debilitating it's apocalyptic.”
“Maybe," I say, more to myself than to him,
"stability isn't peace and quiet. It's staying. It's choosing someone. Again and again, even when it's messy. Especially when it's messy."
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🍳 enemies→lovers
🍳 forced proximity
🍳 secret identity
🍳 third act breakup
🍳 dual POV
A huge thank you to Netgalley, ARC provided by Victory Editing, and Ana Kirk Shaw for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【 🔥🔥🔥 】
swearing: yes (a lot)
December 21, 2025
if ana writes it, ima read it.
loved the naked truth so much that i’ve read it twice. i beta read it earlier in the year and then re read the final version.
i am absolutely in love with Nico. it’s like Ana writes her mmcs just for me. the banter, the spice, the comedy, the emotions.
all of it. always good time reading her books.
I have now looked at my husband and I’m just like he is a beefy Guido to me like if he was from Jersey he would be that and he is just my own version of that and I love it and I’m just gonna start calling him an illiterate gorilla from now on.
i loved all the different POV and the emailing between the characters and the plot between the secret identity and enemies to lovers and literally everything abut this book.
loved the naked truth so much that i’ve read it twice. i beta read it earlier in the year and then re read the final version.
i am absolutely in love with Nico. it’s like Ana writes her mmcs just for me. the banter, the spice, the comedy, the emotions.
all of it. always good time reading her books.
I have now looked at my husband and I’m just like he is a beefy Guido to me like if he was from Jersey he would be that and he is just my own version of that and I love it and I’m just gonna start calling him an illiterate gorilla from now on.
i loved all the different POV and the emailing between the characters and the plot between the secret identity and enemies to lovers and literally everything abut this book.
December 10, 2025
ohhhhhhh honey! you have got to be kidding me!
okay, listen, i didn’t really know what to expect when starting this arc. i knew the tropes sounded like my type of book, but i didn’t realize i would be hysterically laughing through the entire thing, then wiping tears at certain moments too.
nico is genuinely impossible not to love. as a mmc, he is everything you could want, wrapped up in a sweet (maybe even caramelized) bow. annie, however, is what he later refers to as “the softest wrecking ball i’ve ever loved.”
she is raw, real, and a character i really needed to read. she can have a sharp tongue, and she will stop at nothing to make sure her people are good, and that her people feel protected and seen. even when she doesn’t.
this was one of the best enemies to lovers/secret identity little crossovers i’ve ever read. ever. i am absolutely reeling. annie’s big moment in chapter 30 is the kind of standing up for myself i wish i could do sometimes.
what an incredible little romcom. wonderful. chef’s kiss
okay, listen, i didn’t really know what to expect when starting this arc. i knew the tropes sounded like my type of book, but i didn’t realize i would be hysterically laughing through the entire thing, then wiping tears at certain moments too.
nico is genuinely impossible not to love. as a mmc, he is everything you could want, wrapped up in a sweet (maybe even caramelized) bow. annie, however, is what he later refers to as “the softest wrecking ball i’ve ever loved.”
she is raw, real, and a character i really needed to read. she can have a sharp tongue, and she will stop at nothing to make sure her people are good, and that her people feel protected and seen. even when she doesn’t.
this was one of the best enemies to lovers/secret identity little crossovers i’ve ever read. ever. i am absolutely reeling. annie’s big moment in chapter 30 is the kind of standing up for myself i wish i could do sometimes.
what an incredible little romcom. wonderful. chef’s kiss
December 11, 2025
After finishing Strictly Extracurricular, the final book in the “Lessons in Love” series, I was genuinely sad to say goodbye to that world. So when the epilogue hinted at new characters and new beginnings, I was immediately curious. Discovering that one of those characters would later become the star of her own book made me even more excited. I could not wait to dive in and see what direction this spin-off would take.
Even though I missed the familiar chaos and charm of the PS 2 staff, I fell in love with the characters in this book almost instantly. The chemistry between them is undeniable from the start, and the fact that it leans into one of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers, made it even better. I honestly could not imagine how these two were going to move past their prickly dynamic, but watching that slow shift happen was one of the most satisfying parts of the story. Their banter, tension, and eventual vulnerability all worked together perfectly.
All in all, I absolutely loved this book. It had heart, humor, a romance worth rooting for, and a main character who truly deserved her moment to shine. And as someone who is a complete sucker for a well-done epilogue, I am happy to report that this one delivers in the best possible way. It left me smiling and already hoping for more stories set in this universe.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Even though I missed the familiar chaos and charm of the PS 2 staff, I fell in love with the characters in this book almost instantly. The chemistry between them is undeniable from the start, and the fact that it leans into one of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers, made it even better. I honestly could not imagine how these two were going to move past their prickly dynamic, but watching that slow shift happen was one of the most satisfying parts of the story. Their banter, tension, and eventual vulnerability all worked together perfectly.
All in all, I absolutely loved this book. It had heart, humor, a romance worth rooting for, and a main character who truly deserved her moment to shine. And as someone who is a complete sucker for a well-done epilogue, I am happy to report that this one delivers in the best possible way. It left me smiling and already hoping for more stories set in this universe.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
**Thank you Ana Kirk Shaw and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review **
You're so sexy it's gross.
Annie Li was an immediate YES for me. The snark. The insults. The sarcasm. Hiding behind these outrageous personality traits and feeling like a shell of a person on the inside. It was like revisiting a past I didnt want to revisit, but made the character incredibly relatable. I rooted for her from start to finish. I didnt expect to cry reading this book, at all! I laughed A LOT, but cry I did when Annie let herself go a little at rental number 2. It hit so close to home and that right there is superb writing.
Nicholas "Nico" Giannuzzi That Brooklyn accent that reads perfectly on page had me wishing this had an audiobook to pair along. Sign me up!! Another very relatable character, I grew up in an Italian home. Family is everything! Nico picking up his life and making sure his mother was set made me instantly like his character as well.
Know who I didnt like? Tom. What an absolute pile of dog poo. I couldn't stand him from the second he came on page and I absolutely hated how poor May retreated into herself. ANOTHER relatable situation. 100% emotional abuse and making yourself small so someone can be big while you fund their life. YUP. Can this author please stop writing my life as multi-characters?! Lol
The characters were written perfectly. Everything felt very authentic and organic, which made the plot flow flawlessly. I got to about 3/4 in and almost walked away for a few days. Not because it wasn't good, but because I didn't want it to end. I adore Nico and Annie together. Their growth as a partnership and as individuals. They're PERFECT for each other!
You didn't just hug me. You held me together.
I was a little shocked Nico didn't put it all together....
I loved how everything came out. It wasn't some dramatic thing that blew up and took chapters to mend. A true testament to their personalities being the perfect balance for one another.
You walk into a room and rearrange the air
I 100% recommend this book to any style of romance reader. Very ready for hopefully a May book... She deserves it!
honorable mention
Jing and Elton, hilarious! 10/10 scene.
You're so sexy it's gross.
Annie Li was an immediate YES for me. The snark. The insults. The sarcasm. Hiding behind these outrageous personality traits and feeling like a shell of a person on the inside. It was like revisiting a past I didnt want to revisit, but made the character incredibly relatable. I rooted for her from start to finish. I didnt expect to cry reading this book, at all! I laughed A LOT, but cry I did when Annie let herself go a little at rental number 2. It hit so close to home and that right there is superb writing.
Nicholas "Nico" Giannuzzi That Brooklyn accent that reads perfectly on page had me wishing this had an audiobook to pair along. Sign me up!! Another very relatable character, I grew up in an Italian home. Family is everything! Nico picking up his life and making sure his mother was set made me instantly like his character as well.
Know who I didnt like? Tom. What an absolute pile of dog poo. I couldn't stand him from the second he came on page and I absolutely hated how poor May retreated into herself. ANOTHER relatable situation. 100% emotional abuse and making yourself small so someone can be big while you fund their life. YUP. Can this author please stop writing my life as multi-characters?! Lol
The characters were written perfectly. Everything felt very authentic and organic, which made the plot flow flawlessly. I got to about 3/4 in and almost walked away for a few days. Not because it wasn't good, but because I didn't want it to end. I adore Nico and Annie together. Their growth as a partnership and as individuals. They're PERFECT for each other!
You didn't just hug me. You held me together.
I was a little shocked Nico didn't put it all together....
I loved how everything came out. It wasn't some dramatic thing that blew up and took chapters to mend. A true testament to their personalities being the perfect balance for one another.
You walk into a room and rearrange the air
I 100% recommend this book to any style of romance reader. Very ready for hopefully a May book... She deserves it!
honorable mention
Jing and Elton, hilarious! 10/10 scene.
December 23, 2025
ARE-YOU-KIDDING-ME?!
I am so glad I found my way to this book because it was **pure joy** in word form. I cracked open this ARC just after getting approved for it just to feel out the vibes AND NEVER PUT IT BACK DOWN. That truly doesn’t happen to me often. All day yesterday I was consumed. And smiling at the flirting. And giggling out loud at the banter! THE BANTER.
About halfway through this book I couldn’t help but wonder where the heck has Ana Kirk Shaw been and why have I been deprived of her writing this long? Because I enjoyed every bit of this read. I hope this is the first in a LONG SERIES because I could read books focused on just about every damn side character here. (Esp May!!!🖤 she deserves the world.) I will happily read 100 more of these books.
But seriously Nico 🥵🥵🥵 is so so good and I love Annie Li (and relate to her) so damn much. I appreciate Annie’s storyline with the outer armor and it being so hard/impossible to be vulnerable to other people. Especially someone who has hurt you before. How letting people in is such a struggle but it can be so worth it when the person is worthy. How nice it feels to be a softer version of yourself when you’re safe. Nico never giving up. I love them. So so much.
This next part is just for me. Some of my favorite bits from the book. They’re mostly out of context and spoiler-free but scroll on at your own risk! 🫶🏼
Hilarity:
•gym tan laundry
•illiterate gorilla
•LIKE CALLS TO LIKE 🤣🤣🤣
•creatine-soaked shirt
•fecal distress brown
•worst nightmare/wettest dream
•sitting there like a potted fern 😅
•sad Damien Turney, sorry Damien Turney
•”and then I die”
•who taught him to kiss?
•three times in a row, bitch
Less funny but so memorable:
•miserable hurricane of issues
•mine, must protect 🥵
•THE ADJECTIVES (one of my absolute favorite on-going bits in this book!)
•Nico’s huuuuug
•Nico’s huge hoodie (I need it)
•Nico’s reason for stopping smoking 🫠
I am so glad I found my way to this book because it was **pure joy** in word form. I cracked open this ARC just after getting approved for it just to feel out the vibes AND NEVER PUT IT BACK DOWN. That truly doesn’t happen to me often. All day yesterday I was consumed. And smiling at the flirting. And giggling out loud at the banter! THE BANTER.
About halfway through this book I couldn’t help but wonder where the heck has Ana Kirk Shaw been and why have I been deprived of her writing this long? Because I enjoyed every bit of this read. I hope this is the first in a LONG SERIES because I could read books focused on just about every damn side character here. (Esp May!!!🖤 she deserves the world.) I will happily read 100 more of these books.
But seriously Nico 🥵🥵🥵 is so so good and I love Annie Li (and relate to her) so damn much. I appreciate Annie’s storyline with the outer armor and it being so hard/impossible to be vulnerable to other people. Especially someone who has hurt you before. How letting people in is such a struggle but it can be so worth it when the person is worthy. How nice it feels to be a softer version of yourself when you’re safe. Nico never giving up. I love them. So so much.
This next part is just for me. Some of my favorite bits from the book. They’re mostly out of context and spoiler-free but scroll on at your own risk! 🫶🏼
Hilarity:
•gym tan laundry
•illiterate gorilla
•LIKE CALLS TO LIKE 🤣🤣🤣
•creatine-soaked shirt
•fecal distress brown
•worst nightmare/wettest dream
•sitting there like a potted fern 😅
•sad Damien Turney, sorry Damien Turney
•”and then I die”
•who taught him to kiss?
•three times in a row, bitch
Less funny but so memorable:
•miserable hurricane of issues
•mine, must protect 🥵
•THE ADJECTIVES (one of my absolute favorite on-going bits in this book!)
•Nico’s huuuuug
•Nico’s huge hoodie (I need it)
•Nico’s reason for stopping smoking 🫠
Review of advance copy received from Author
FMC - Annie: ♾️ 🌟
MMC - Nico: 5 🌟
This book completely won me over from the first chapter!
I loved both main characters individually and together. Their chemistry was effortless and electric, the banter was sharp, and the spice? Absolutely delivered 🥵 Every intimate moment felt earned, emotional, and deeply connected to who they are as people
The pacing was spot on. Nothing dragged, nothing felt rushed, and even the third-act breakup actually made sense within the story. It wasn’t drama for drama���s sake. It was grounded in the characters’ emotional and mental struggles, which made the reconciliation and HEA hit even harder. And that ending? So sweet and satisfying it left me kicking my feet long after I finished 💕
I especially loved how the humor was balanced with very real, very human issues! It added depth without weighing the story down, making the characters feel authentic and easy to root for.
This was funny, emotional, spicy, and heartfelt in all the right ways. A standout romcom and an easy five-star read for me 💕
MMC - Nico: 5 🌟
This book completely won me over from the first chapter!
I loved both main characters individually and together. Their chemistry was effortless and electric, the banter was sharp, and the spice? Absolutely delivered 🥵 Every intimate moment felt earned, emotional, and deeply connected to who they are as people
The pacing was spot on. Nothing dragged, nothing felt rushed, and even the third-act breakup actually made sense within the story. It wasn’t drama for drama���s sake. It was grounded in the characters’ emotional and mental struggles, which made the reconciliation and HEA hit even harder. And that ending? So sweet and satisfying it left me kicking my feet long after I finished 💕
I especially loved how the humor was balanced with very real, very human issues! It added depth without weighing the story down, making the characters feel authentic and easy to root for.
This was funny, emotional, spicy, and heartfelt in all the right ways. A standout romcom and an easy five-star read for me 💕
December 10, 2025
This was so cute in the best, rom-com chaos kind of way. The setup grabbed me immediately…a week long road trip to a wedding with the one man she absolutely cannot stand, Nico Giannuzzi… who also just so happens to have completely derailed her life once before. And somehow they’re supposed to survive this trip without killing each other? Sign me up.
Add in the fact that she’s ghostwriting a cookbook for a mysterious porn star chef and suddenly the anonymous emails that have been making her smile might not be coming from who she thinks. The whole thing unfolds with the kind of banter that makes you sit there giggling to yourself…sharp, effortless, and genuinely laugh out loud funny. (Literally “my family is looking at me because I’m cackling at my Kindle again” levels of funny.)
The chemistry between these two??? Chef’s kiss. It balances enemies to lovers tension with the soft moments. Ana Kirk Shaw nails the humor, the timing, and that addictive rom com energy that keeps you reading for “just one more chapter.”
If you love road trip shenanigans, top tier banter, and a romance that feels both messy and swoon worthy, this one absolutely belongs on your TBR.
Add in the fact that she’s ghostwriting a cookbook for a mysterious porn star chef and suddenly the anonymous emails that have been making her smile might not be coming from who she thinks. The whole thing unfolds with the kind of banter that makes you sit there giggling to yourself…sharp, effortless, and genuinely laugh out loud funny. (Literally “my family is looking at me because I’m cackling at my Kindle again” levels of funny.)
The chemistry between these two??? Chef’s kiss. It balances enemies to lovers tension with the soft moments. Ana Kirk Shaw nails the humor, the timing, and that addictive rom com energy that keeps you reading for “just one more chapter.”
If you love road trip shenanigans, top tier banter, and a romance that feels both messy and swoon worthy, this one absolutely belongs on your TBR.
December 10, 2025
hands down one of the best enemies to lovers romances I have read, and the absolute best road trip romance I have ever read!!
Niko and Annie might have had some pretty serious differences, but once they were able to overcome them, they were perfect together!
Niko and Annie might have had some pretty serious differences, but once they were able to overcome them, they were perfect together!
December 13, 2025
The naked Truth was such a fun read, if you love a good cheesy romance with 2 people who love to annoy the hell out of each other, then this book is definitely for you!
I found myself quite confused at the start of this book, everything felt a little all over the place and like myself as the reader was thrown into the book with no context of anything. However, once i got past this, i really enjoyed the book.
The tension in this book was everything, there were times when i wanted to grab Nico and Annie through the book and bang their heads together. But all the tension, the angst, the witty arguments made it all worth it and really helped build the relationship between Annie and Nico.
I was so unsure about Annie at the start of ‘the naked truth’, i found her quite annoying and defensive. But the more you delve into the book and get to know her character, i ended up really liking her. I see a lot of myself in Annie and i feel like her struggles aren’t things that are spoken about a lot in romance books. So, i loved that aspect of this book, to see a character full of so much self doubt, finally realise that she’s worthy of love.
Overall, i really enjoyed it, i genuinely couldn’t put the book down once i got into it.
I found myself quite confused at the start of this book, everything felt a little all over the place and like myself as the reader was thrown into the book with no context of anything. However, once i got past this, i really enjoyed the book.
The tension in this book was everything, there were times when i wanted to grab Nico and Annie through the book and bang their heads together. But all the tension, the angst, the witty arguments made it all worth it and really helped build the relationship between Annie and Nico.
I was so unsure about Annie at the start of ‘the naked truth’, i found her quite annoying and defensive. But the more you delve into the book and get to know her character, i ended up really liking her. I see a lot of myself in Annie and i feel like her struggles aren’t things that are spoken about a lot in romance books. So, i loved that aspect of this book, to see a character full of so much self doubt, finally realise that she’s worthy of love.
Overall, i really enjoyed it, i genuinely couldn’t put the book down once i got into it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy of this for my honest review
In this story our FMC and MMC have a past - and it's not great. So when they reconnect at her sisters engagement party - it quite literally ends in flames. Our FMC is the wild twin, the loud one who is always causing chaos. She has spent the last year trying to be good for her sister's wedding. She is currently ghost writing a cook book with an adult content creator - and sending very fun flirty emails. Our MMC is that content creator, but only as a secret. He never shows his face and has worked hard to hide his Brooklyn accent. They each truly hate the other - but she needs a way to the wedding and he is doing a road trip - where her sister (who has always thought there were some other feelings than hate) suggests they go together. She doesn't want to, but can't disappoint her sister. He wants to make content, but can't let her know his secret. So a week together it is. And maybe, it's just what they needed to prove that they aren't the screw ups they both think they are.
In this story our FMC and MMC have a past - and it's not great. So when they reconnect at her sisters engagement party - it quite literally ends in flames. Our FMC is the wild twin, the loud one who is always causing chaos. She has spent the last year trying to be good for her sister's wedding. She is currently ghost writing a cook book with an adult content creator - and sending very fun flirty emails. Our MMC is that content creator, but only as a secret. He never shows his face and has worked hard to hide his Brooklyn accent. They each truly hate the other - but she needs a way to the wedding and he is doing a road trip - where her sister (who has always thought there were some other feelings than hate) suggests they go together. She doesn't want to, but can't disappoint her sister. He wants to make content, but can't let her know his secret. So a week together it is. And maybe, it's just what they needed to prove that they aren't the screw ups they both think they are.
December 12, 2025
Annie & Nico’s story is told from a first person dual point of view. It is a very spicy open door romance.
I picked up this book with the intention of reading a few chapters everyday and instead devoured it all in one go. I love how this Author writes diverse characters within her stories.
I picked up this book with the intention of reading a few chapters everyday and instead devoured it all in one go. I love how this Author writes diverse characters within her stories.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Annie Li does not have her life together — not even a little. Instead of becoming the flourishing poet she once imagined, she’s ghostwriting a cookbook for an adult content creator who cooks in the nude. To make things even messier, she and this creator are deep into an NSFW email exchange that she absolutely should not be as obsessed with as she is. And just to sprinkle in a bit more emotional chaos, her high school nemesis Nico — the boy who stole valedictorian, derailed her college plans, and has been living rent-free in her resentment ever since — suddenly reappears in her life. Rich, smug, thriving, annoyingly gorgeous… Nico seems to represent every single thing Annie isn’t.
Annie is very much Not A Fan of Nico. Or so she keeps insisting. But when her only option to make it to her sister’s wedding is to embark on a week-long road trip with him, their dynamic begins to shift in ways neither of them are prepared for. Secrets come to light. Old wounds open. And the version of Nico she’s built up in her head starts to crumble in the most inconveniently attractive way.
I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THIS BOOK.
I don’t think I’ve ever loved two main characters so fiercely and simultaneously. Annie is absolute, unfiltered chaos. She’s made some objectively terrible life choices and spent the past two years reinventing herself as “Sister Annie” — the version of herself who has no sex, no alcohol, no drugs, no fun, no excitement… basically, none of the spark that made her Annie in the first place. When she sees Nico for the first time in fourteen years, everything combusts. Literally. Their reunion feels like a wildfire catching a dry forest — destructive, bright, and impossible to look away from.
And the relationship that unfolds from there? Stunning. Yes, it happens over a week, but it somehow never feels rushed. The pacing is immaculate. Their chemistry builds slowly and naturally, filled with banter, tension, vulnerability, and moments that feel so utterly genuine. Every emotional beat lands. Every reveal feels earned. It’s one of the rare romances where the connection feels not just believable, but inevitable.
Now let’s talk about Nico. NICO. GUYS. He is the filthiest nerd I have ever encountered in fiction, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment. He is my Roman Empire now. This man is kind, soft, thoughtful — and then suddenly absolutely feral in the most delightful way. He balances tenderness and filth so perfectly it should be illegal. I physically kicked my legs while reading. He has permanently cemented himself at the very top of my book boyfriend list, and honestly? I don’t see anyone dethroning him anytime soon.
This was my first book from this author, but it will not be my last. Her writing is electric — funny, emotional, sharp, and deliciously intimate. And I am holding out every hope in my body that May gets her own book, because watching her grow toward the end of this one was such a pleasant surprise. She’s absolutely ripe for her own story arc.
This is one of those books I’m going to recommend to literally everyone. If enemies-to-lovers is your jam — especially when it’s messy, hilarious, deeply emotional, and unexpectedly filthy — you need this book in your life.
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Adult content creator
Tattooed FMC
Enemies to lovers
Golden retriever × Black cat dynamic
Annie is very much Not A Fan of Nico. Or so she keeps insisting. But when her only option to make it to her sister’s wedding is to embark on a week-long road trip with him, their dynamic begins to shift in ways neither of them are prepared for. Secrets come to light. Old wounds open. And the version of Nico she’s built up in her head starts to crumble in the most inconveniently attractive way.
I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THIS BOOK.
I don’t think I’ve ever loved two main characters so fiercely and simultaneously. Annie is absolute, unfiltered chaos. She’s made some objectively terrible life choices and spent the past two years reinventing herself as “Sister Annie” — the version of herself who has no sex, no alcohol, no drugs, no fun, no excitement… basically, none of the spark that made her Annie in the first place. When she sees Nico for the first time in fourteen years, everything combusts. Literally. Their reunion feels like a wildfire catching a dry forest — destructive, bright, and impossible to look away from.
And the relationship that unfolds from there? Stunning. Yes, it happens over a week, but it somehow never feels rushed. The pacing is immaculate. Their chemistry builds slowly and naturally, filled with banter, tension, vulnerability, and moments that feel so utterly genuine. Every emotional beat lands. Every reveal feels earned. It’s one of the rare romances where the connection feels not just believable, but inevitable.
Now let’s talk about Nico. NICO. GUYS. He is the filthiest nerd I have ever encountered in fiction, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment. He is my Roman Empire now. This man is kind, soft, thoughtful — and then suddenly absolutely feral in the most delightful way. He balances tenderness and filth so perfectly it should be illegal. I physically kicked my legs while reading. He has permanently cemented himself at the very top of my book boyfriend list, and honestly? I don’t see anyone dethroning him anytime soon.
This was my first book from this author, but it will not be my last. Her writing is electric — funny, emotional, sharp, and deliciously intimate. And I am holding out every hope in my body that May gets her own book, because watching her grow toward the end of this one was such a pleasant surprise. She’s absolutely ripe for her own story arc.
This is one of those books I’m going to recommend to literally everyone. If enemies-to-lovers is your jam — especially when it’s messy, hilarious, deeply emotional, and unexpectedly filthy — you need this book in your life.
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Adult content creator
Tattooed FMC
Enemies to lovers
Golden retriever × Black cat dynamic
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Generally, I enjoyed this read. It's a typical enemies to lovers novel but with two characters who have a unique backstory - especially the MMC. This story follows Annie and Nico - childhood enemies as they are forced into each other's company during the length of a roadtrip down to Miami to attend Annie's sister's wedding. They think they haven't interacted with one another since they graduated high school - but little do they know, their jobs have brought them together already.
There is a lot of scope which is well-considered and explained, so, emotionally, the characters came off as very intelligent despite certain choices they make. On the whole, they were aware of feelings behind their choices hence it never felt frustrating as the reader. I really enjoyed the cooking aspect to the book. The combination of Annie's poeticisms and Nico's thorough descriptions, I felt that the scenes with food really came to life.
However, I do feel the setup to their ENEMIES-to-lovers is perhaps too profound for me to move on from easily. The FMC says things which I can only assume would be really genuinely hurtful, and the fact that her 'bullying' has affected the MMC enough to get speech-therapy is not something I feel that I could move past. I think the additional context to their situation we gather later in the story only makes it more shocking! Explaining it via her fierce protective personality and immense pressure at home did not make me feel any more inclined towards her case. I will only say this once 🙊 but I feel like the MMC was in the right here and these issues are only overcome because of his patience and compassion for her problems, whilst also allowing his own to be sidecast.
All of which is to say, despite the novel taking a reasonable direction and depiciting a genuine bond between the couple over time, I felt that their foundations prevented me from fully rooting for them.
There is a lot of scope which is well-considered and explained, so, emotionally, the characters came off as very intelligent despite certain choices they make. On the whole, they were aware of feelings behind their choices hence it never felt frustrating as the reader. I really enjoyed the cooking aspect to the book. The combination of Annie's poeticisms and Nico's thorough descriptions, I felt that the scenes with food really came to life.
However, I do feel the setup to their ENEMIES-to-lovers is perhaps too profound for me to move on from easily. The FMC says things which I can only assume would be really genuinely hurtful, and the fact that her 'bullying' has affected the MMC enough to get speech-therapy is not something I feel that I could move past. I think the additional context to their situation we gather later in the story only makes it more shocking! Explaining it via her fierce protective personality and immense pressure at home did not make me feel any more inclined towards her case. I will only say this once 🙊 but I feel like the MMC was in the right here and these issues are only overcome because of his patience and compassion for her problems, whilst also allowing his own to be sidecast.
All of which is to say, despite the novel taking a reasonable direction and depiciting a genuine bond between the couple over time, I felt that their foundations prevented me from fully rooting for them.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was so excited to sign up and receive this ARC because I loved Ana's Lessons in Love series. I gotta be honest and say, during the first few chapters, I was worried I wasnt going to like this and I will explain why in a bit. But after I start understanding Annie and really Nico too, I felt the shift.
Annie and Nico grew up together but eventually started to hate each other - I think moreso Annie hated Nico. I had a hard time connecting with Annie at first because I really felt like she was just downright mean. There's banter and insults and when they work, they are funny but some of Annie's insults just seemed more mean and I truly felt bad for Nico. As Annie starts to open up and her behaviors and attitude are explained more, I related to her more. I loved Nico. For me, he had a combination of amazing MMC qualities I like - he was protective, obsessed and down bad, intuitive, caring and he had a dirty mouth (and mind). I love the shift in their journey as email pals to them finding out each other. I wish the reveal was a bit more dramatic but I also appreciated the simpleness of it all and that it wasnt dragged out. I loved learning more about food science and publishing. They werent boring parts of the book, I really had a good time learning about it from Nico and Annie's POVs. The spice in this book, same as all of Ana's other books, is so well done. The incorporation of food was chef's kiss (pun intended). I loved the ending and epilogue. I was happy to be on this rollercoaster ride with both Annie and Nico - so amazing to see them grow and lean into who they are and to be brave. I love when Annie said she was too much but Nico craves for more of her. That just perfectly sums up the book for me.
Thank you Ana for the advance reader copy. I am so excited for you and this release. Congratulations for another amazing love story with lots of heart.
Annie and Nico grew up together but eventually started to hate each other - I think moreso Annie hated Nico. I had a hard time connecting with Annie at first because I really felt like she was just downright mean. There's banter and insults and when they work, they are funny but some of Annie's insults just seemed more mean and I truly felt bad for Nico. As Annie starts to open up and her behaviors and attitude are explained more, I related to her more. I loved Nico. For me, he had a combination of amazing MMC qualities I like - he was protective, obsessed and down bad, intuitive, caring and he had a dirty mouth (and mind). I love the shift in their journey as email pals to them finding out each other. I wish the reveal was a bit more dramatic but I also appreciated the simpleness of it all and that it wasnt dragged out. I loved learning more about food science and publishing. They werent boring parts of the book, I really had a good time learning about it from Nico and Annie's POVs. The spice in this book, same as all of Ana's other books, is so well done. The incorporation of food was chef's kiss (pun intended). I loved the ending and epilogue. I was happy to be on this rollercoaster ride with both Annie and Nico - so amazing to see them grow and lean into who they are and to be brave. I love when Annie said she was too much but Nico craves for more of her. That just perfectly sums up the book for me.
Thank you Ana for the advance reader copy. I am so excited for you and this release. Congratulations for another amazing love story with lots of heart.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Annie Li and Nico Giannuzzi are on a road trip from hell.
After a very long string of questionable decisions, it's time for Annie Li's redemption arc- just in time for her twin sisters wedding.
Of course, I don't think she intended to begin turning a new leaf by getting sucked into a week long road trip, to said twin sisters wedding- with her arch nemesis, Nico.
And Nico certainly didn't plan on having a ride along with his high-school bully on his road trip, where he intended to be making stop's along the way to film his super secret *cough* spicy cooking content *cough*.
Now that we've covered where we started, lets discuss where we ended up...
Well... we ended up with The Naked Truth quite possibly being the best romance I have ever read.
With no exaggeration, THE BEST ROMANCE I HAVE EVER READ!
It was an emotional rollercoaster of the best sort.
The Naked Truth somehow managed to have you laughing out loud, kicking your feet in excitement, and rubbing your chest with all the feels (and sometimes, all three of those things in the span of one chapter!)
Annie Li and Nico's story is one for the ages.
These two MMC's had so much individual and combined growth in the span of their week long road trip.
I absolutely fell head-over-heels for our cinnamon-roll a-dork-able MMC Nico, and I felt a deep connection to our chaotic, heartburn inducing, but oh-so strong FMC Annie Li.
It was hilarious, it was messy, it was REAL.
The Naked Truth will no doubt be going on my re-read roster, and this new-to-me Author will be on my permanent 'auto-buy' list until the end of time.
**HUGE Thank You to NetGalley and the Author for the opportunity to read this ARC!**
After a very long string of questionable decisions, it's time for Annie Li's redemption arc- just in time for her twin sisters wedding.
Of course, I don't think she intended to begin turning a new leaf by getting sucked into a week long road trip, to said twin sisters wedding- with her arch nemesis, Nico.
And Nico certainly didn't plan on having a ride along with his high-school bully on his road trip, where he intended to be making stop's along the way to film his super secret *cough* spicy cooking content *cough*.
Now that we've covered where we started, lets discuss where we ended up...
Well... we ended up with The Naked Truth quite possibly being the best romance I have ever read.
With no exaggeration, THE BEST ROMANCE I HAVE EVER READ!
It was an emotional rollercoaster of the best sort.
The Naked Truth somehow managed to have you laughing out loud, kicking your feet in excitement, and rubbing your chest with all the feels (and sometimes, all three of those things in the span of one chapter!)
Annie Li and Nico's story is one for the ages.
These two MMC's had so much individual and combined growth in the span of their week long road trip.
I absolutely fell head-over-heels for our cinnamon-roll a-dork-able MMC Nico, and I felt a deep connection to our chaotic, heartburn inducing, but oh-so strong FMC Annie Li.
It was hilarious, it was messy, it was REAL.
The Naked Truth will no doubt be going on my re-read roster, and this new-to-me Author will be on my permanent 'auto-buy' list until the end of time.
**HUGE Thank You to NetGalley and the Author for the opportunity to read this ARC!**
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Unhinged and beautiful - I loved it.
Where do I even start? Maybe at the very beginning - the dedication cracked me up.
In general it’s so fast-paced and - once again - unhinged that it scratched my ADHD in just the right way. I had serious issues putting it down. I think it's great for anyone who needs speed and wants to read something that resembles the chaotic mess that is their mind.
On top of that, the language is so vivid, vulgar, violent, vivacious, dynamic, and sometimes straight-up unapologetically beautiful that I perfectly understood the way Annie describes her own reading experience - I was drowning in the text, no outside world in existence. Yes, sometimes I cringed, but I genuinely think those parts were written on purpose and were part of the experience. I had so much fun. And it has some of the sickest burns I’ve read.
Going into details, I liked the portrayal of families in a non-cookie-cutter-perfect way, on both sides. That's a rarity in my opinion, because usually they don't get that kind of attention, unless the book is meant to make you sad and is mostly general fiction or women's fiction.
The adjective thing was adorable.
Also, as much as I usually hate it, the miscommunication absolutely makes sense here and while impacting the story, it’s not the one and only key to the character’s behavior as it so often happens. I didn't mind it, not even for a second, and that's how you know that it's done right.
Overall, great experience. I'd love to read more from the author in the future. Very unique writing style, in my opinion.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the author for letting me read the ARC!
Where do I even start? Maybe at the very beginning - the dedication cracked me up.
In general it’s so fast-paced and - once again - unhinged that it scratched my ADHD in just the right way. I had serious issues putting it down. I think it's great for anyone who needs speed and wants to read something that resembles the chaotic mess that is their mind.
On top of that, the language is so vivid, vulgar, violent, vivacious, dynamic, and sometimes straight-up unapologetically beautiful that I perfectly understood the way Annie describes her own reading experience - I was drowning in the text, no outside world in existence. Yes, sometimes I cringed, but I genuinely think those parts were written on purpose and were part of the experience. I had so much fun. And it has some of the sickest burns I’ve read.
Going into details, I liked the portrayal of families in a non-cookie-cutter-perfect way, on both sides. That's a rarity in my opinion, because usually they don't get that kind of attention, unless the book is meant to make you sad and is mostly general fiction or women's fiction.
The adjective thing was adorable.
Also, as much as I usually hate it, the miscommunication absolutely makes sense here and while impacting the story, it’s not the one and only key to the character’s behavior as it so often happens. I didn't mind it, not even for a second, and that's how you know that it's done right.
Overall, great experience. I'd love to read more from the author in the future. Very unique writing style, in my opinion.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the author for letting me read the ARC!
December 16, 2025
This was a fun read, even though it tackled some serious issues. I really appreciated the SW representation, it was niche, yet it still addressed the stigma that comes with it. Despite the heavier themes, there was a sense of lightheartedness mixed throughout the story. The book also explored the pressures placed on people by their families and how those pressures can shape them. Even when intentions are good, they can still cause harm, especially when someone forgets that they’re human too, and allowed to make mistakes.
We meet Anne, a ball of excitement and spunk, though she also has a volatile side. She’s trying to step into her own identity while constantly attempting to appease everyone around her. Then there’s Nico, who is doing everything he can to ensure his father’s legacy continues and that his family stays afloat. As Anne prepares to attend her sister’s wedding, she sets strict guidelines for herself to ensure she’s on her best behavior. Nico, meanwhile, is focused on his next move to keep up with the demands placed on him. Together, they end up embarking on a road trip where they test each other, push each other’s buttons, and slowly unravel.
I appreciated Anne so much because she is unapologetically herself, her insecurities, regrets, and traumas all shape who she is today. As an older sibling, she took on responsibilities that were never truly hers to carry, and that weight is deeply felt throughout her journey. In a way She was able to work on herself while also giving space to Nico to be unapologetically himself. He was ablet to face his own fears and shame surrounding his career path and was able to stand with his head held high.
I wanted to thank NetGalley for this ARC
One Bed
Enemies to Lovers
Secret Identity
We meet Anne, a ball of excitement and spunk, though she also has a volatile side. She’s trying to step into her own identity while constantly attempting to appease everyone around her. Then there’s Nico, who is doing everything he can to ensure his father’s legacy continues and that his family stays afloat. As Anne prepares to attend her sister’s wedding, she sets strict guidelines for herself to ensure she’s on her best behavior. Nico, meanwhile, is focused on his next move to keep up with the demands placed on him. Together, they end up embarking on a road trip where they test each other, push each other’s buttons, and slowly unravel.
I appreciated Anne so much because she is unapologetically herself, her insecurities, regrets, and traumas all shape who she is today. As an older sibling, she took on responsibilities that were never truly hers to carry, and that weight is deeply felt throughout her journey. In a way She was able to work on herself while also giving space to Nico to be unapologetically himself. He was ablet to face his own fears and shame surrounding his career path and was able to stand with his head held high.
I wanted to thank NetGalley for this ARC
One Bed
Enemies to Lovers
Secret Identity
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was graciously given an ARC copy through NetGalley in return for my honest opinion.
This was great. Not only did it have me laughing quite a bit, but I LOVED the premise. I've read books where one of the MCs is an adult content creator and they usually don't flow well, but this??? This was done very well. I enjoyed the shit out of it.
The feisty-ness of Annie mixed with Nico's cockiness? I ate it up. They complemented each other so well, especially when they started opening up about their pasts and hurdles they've had to overcome. It was an interesting choice to hold out so long to let the reader know why Annie didn't like him, and I felt a little confused for a minute, but it all sorted out. When they found out they knew each other???? Omg yes!!! I loved his mom too. What a sweetheart.
The banter was so good. And when the spice hit?? 😮💨😮💨 what a mouth Nico had on him, my goodness.
The use of adjectives and full names though, seemed a little over done. Like Nico referred to her as Annie Li, which he does explain in the beginning, but he did it for the *whole* book. And then throw in the exorbitant amount of adjectives they both used to describe themselves and each other. Like wow it was a lot. Felt like she just had a thesaurus sitting there and she wanted to see how many words she could use out of it. That's really kinda what knocked it down for me.
But I am very happy I got to be on this ARC team because this was such a fun read. I can't wait to see what comes next!!
This was great. Not only did it have me laughing quite a bit, but I LOVED the premise. I've read books where one of the MCs is an adult content creator and they usually don't flow well, but this??? This was done very well. I enjoyed the shit out of it.
The feisty-ness of Annie mixed with Nico's cockiness? I ate it up. They complemented each other so well, especially when they started opening up about their pasts and hurdles they've had to overcome. It was an interesting choice to hold out so long to let the reader know why Annie didn't like him, and I felt a little confused for a minute, but it all sorted out. When they found out they knew each other???? Omg yes!!! I loved his mom too. What a sweetheart.
The banter was so good. And when the spice hit?? 😮💨😮💨 what a mouth Nico had on him, my goodness.
The use of adjectives and full names though, seemed a little over done. Like Nico referred to her as Annie Li, which he does explain in the beginning, but he did it for the *whole* book. And then throw in the exorbitant amount of adjectives they both used to describe themselves and each other. Like wow it was a lot. Felt like she just had a thesaurus sitting there and she wanted to see how many words she could use out of it. That's really kinda what knocked it down for me.
But I am very happy I got to be on this ARC team because this was such a fun read. I can't wait to see what comes next!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was an intense and genuinely beautiful experience. It tells the story of two deeply flawed people whose chemistry is impossible to ignore. The tension between them stretches for days and feels electric, making this enemies to lovers romance incredibly compelling. What makes it so special is how you can feel both the angst and the desire at the same time—even when they truly can’t stand each other. Every interaction is charged with emotion.
Nico is a wonderful MMC and truly stands out as a family man. He is caring, grounded, and deeply devoted to looking after his mother, which adds so much depth to his character. His sweetness and attentiveness toward Annie Li are impossible to overlook, and he quickly becomes someone you can’t help but root for. He proves that strength can exist alongside kindness and responsibility.
Annie, on the other hand, is strong in the most realistic way. She is struggling internally, carrying her pain quietly, yet doing her best to appear strong on the outside. Her vulnerability feels raw and authentic, making her incredibly relatable.
Watching their relationship evolve was a true pleasure. They grow individually and together, learning to trust, heal, and love despite their fears and emotional scars. The emotional build-up and slow progression of their bond make every moment feel earned and deeply satisfying.
In the end, this story is a comforting reminder that love always finds a way to win.
All I can say is: Honey, honey, honey… 🍯💛
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
Nico is a wonderful MMC and truly stands out as a family man. He is caring, grounded, and deeply devoted to looking after his mother, which adds so much depth to his character. His sweetness and attentiveness toward Annie Li are impossible to overlook, and he quickly becomes someone you can’t help but root for. He proves that strength can exist alongside kindness and responsibility.
Annie, on the other hand, is strong in the most realistic way. She is struggling internally, carrying her pain quietly, yet doing her best to appear strong on the outside. Her vulnerability feels raw and authentic, making her incredibly relatable.
Watching their relationship evolve was a true pleasure. They grow individually and together, learning to trust, heal, and love despite their fears and emotional scars. The emotional build-up and slow progression of their bond make every moment feel earned and deeply satisfying.
In the end, this story is a comforting reminder that love always finds a way to win.
All I can say is: Honey, honey, honey… 🍯💛
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was a bit outside my comfort zone, but I ended up really enjoying it. The chemistry between Nico and Annie is undeniable: they have great banter and aren’t afraid to push and challenge each other. Their relationship feels genuine, and even though they both carry fears about being fully vulnerable, they choose to take a chance on one another by sharing their truths. I loved Nico, he definitely matched Annie's big/black cat personality and was able to give her what she needed. He wasn't afraid to break through her mental walls when she was scared and pulling back. Annie has spent her whole life fighting for herself and for her sister, and Nico is able to shift some of that burden off and soften her. In turn, Annie defends Nico and builds his confidence in spite of his insecurities by being supportive and non-judgmental. Their love is kind of chaotic, but fierce and unapologetic.
Much of who Annie is stems from her relationship with her parents and her twin sister. Growing up under the pressure of immigrant Chinese parents was something I deeply related to. It was especially satisfying to see Annie finally confront her parents and set boundaries to protect her own well-being.
This book is definitely spicy, but also has a deeply emotional aspect with two characters who just want to be seen and loved for who they are.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
Much of who Annie is stems from her relationship with her parents and her twin sister. Growing up under the pressure of immigrant Chinese parents was something I deeply related to. It was especially satisfying to see Annie finally confront her parents and set boundaries to protect her own well-being.
This book is definitely spicy, but also has a deeply emotional aspect with two characters who just want to be seen and loved for who they are.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 4.75/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this chance to arc read this amazing story, all opinions are my own.
I went into this book totally blind, I had no idea what to expect but it had me laughing, kicking my feet and giddy the whole time.
There is so much that I loved in this story so here are a few of the ones that really spoke to me:
✨️I loved the relationship of Annie and May, twin sisters who are ride or die and still each growing in their own ways throughout this book.
✨️ The emphasis of family on both Nico and Annie's side, they both have very different types of family and I love how the author really hit on each.
✨️Childhood vs Adulthood: the absolute insanity of Annie's and Nicos disdain against in each other, how they carried that into adulthood and have to overcome that. What a wild ride of emotions, angst and tension.
✨️Special mention for the Perverted Golden Girls Crew, they are hysterical and I wish I had a group of friends like these.
There are many layers to Annie and Nico, yes a road trip for Mays wedding brings them together but the actual journey was so much more than that. They both hate hard but love even harder, add in the fact that there are secrets on both sides and you have a story that you will not want to put down. I really cannot wait for the next installment of this series, I cannot wait for what chaos lies next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this chance to arc read this amazing story, all opinions are my own.
I went into this book totally blind, I had no idea what to expect but it had me laughing, kicking my feet and giddy the whole time.
There is so much that I loved in this story so here are a few of the ones that really spoke to me:
✨️I loved the relationship of Annie and May, twin sisters who are ride or die and still each growing in their own ways throughout this book.
✨️ The emphasis of family on both Nico and Annie's side, they both have very different types of family and I love how the author really hit on each.
✨️Childhood vs Adulthood: the absolute insanity of Annie's and Nicos disdain against in each other, how they carried that into adulthood and have to overcome that. What a wild ride of emotions, angst and tension.
✨️Special mention for the Perverted Golden Girls Crew, they are hysterical and I wish I had a group of friends like these.
There are many layers to Annie and Nico, yes a road trip for Mays wedding brings them together but the actual journey was so much more than that. They both hate hard but love even harder, add in the fact that there are secrets on both sides and you have a story that you will not want to put down. I really cannot wait for the next installment of this series, I cannot wait for what chaos lies next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 stars.
This one was a difficult one for me to review! When reading, at first I struggled - I didn't like the characters and didn't connect with them at all. Then I skimmed some and the book got better. Then in the third act the whole thing exploded to a crisis and again I didn't like it.
WHAT I LIKED: It was hot! There were some really beautifully written sentences that I liked. I also liked how they found out their identities! It was really fun.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: They were so mean to each other, especially Annie. A bit too much for my liking! The third act was not my favorite.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Pov: dual, 1st person
Heat: open doors
Pacing: slowburn
Communication: miscommunication
Third act:
Ending:
Main characters:
* Black cat - golden retriever
* Cinnamon roll hero
* Enemies to lovers
* Opposites attract
* Physically very different
What?
* Dirty talk
* Forced proximity
* Grand gesture
* Groveling
* Second chance
Where?
* Traveling together
Drama?
* Difficult past
* Family drama
* Secret identity
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This one was a difficult one for me to review! When reading, at first I struggled - I didn't like the characters and didn't connect with them at all. Then I skimmed some and the book got better. Then in the third act the whole thing exploded to a crisis and again I didn't like it.
WHAT I LIKED: It was hot! There were some really beautifully written sentences that I liked. I also liked how they found out their identities! It was really fun.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: They were so mean to each other, especially Annie. A bit too much for my liking! The third act was not my favorite.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Pov: dual, 1st person
Heat: open doors
Pacing: slowburn
Communication: miscommunication
Third act:
Ending:
Main characters:
* Black cat - golden retriever
* Cinnamon roll hero
* Enemies to lovers
* Opposites attract
* Physically very different
What?
* Dirty talk
* Forced proximity
* Grand gesture
* Groveling
* Second chance
Where?
* Traveling together
Drama?
* Difficult past
* Family drama
* Secret identity
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Girl I cried and was reading through blurry eyes
10/10 recommend
Finally got some sleep and my slightly more fleshed out review
Annie Li and Nico Giannuzzi are my favorite couple. I love how they fed off each other's energies and understood how to meet at each other's levels while also slowly encouraging one another to be vulnerable together. I also love the little mystery as to why they don't get along/ get the title of enemies to lovers. I also, also love the VA/hidden face content creator aspect of the story. Both characters are amazingly fleshed out and come to love one another so deeply. I'm glad that there was a decent amount of groveling and was enchanted with every single side character, except for one, you'll see why; and that character def got what was coming for him.
Annie Li, my sweet, relatable, Annie Li. I fear that every time I heard that inner voice I was like... whoaaa me? how'd I get in there? I'm so proud of her for standing up for herself and her sister and her love.
The way these two are absolutely bat-crap crazy for each other is amazing. I love how they clocked the disrespect and gave it back astonishing whoever dared to throw shade. Honestly, top tier, 10/10; do it again... in slo-mo. I have so many photos of lines that I found extremely relatable or moments where I wished I could annotate on BookFunnel. Love love love!
10/10 recommend
Finally got some sleep and my slightly more fleshed out review
Annie Li and Nico Giannuzzi are my favorite couple. I love how they fed off each other's energies and understood how to meet at each other's levels while also slowly encouraging one another to be vulnerable together. I also love the little mystery as to why they don't get along/ get the title of enemies to lovers. I also, also love the VA/hidden face content creator aspect of the story. Both characters are amazingly fleshed out and come to love one another so deeply. I'm glad that there was a decent amount of groveling and was enchanted with every single side character, except for one, you'll see why; and that character def got what was coming for him.
Annie Li, my sweet, relatable, Annie Li. I fear that every time I heard that inner voice I was like... whoaaa me? how'd I get in there? I'm so proud of her for standing up for herself and her sister and her love.
The way these two are absolutely bat-crap crazy for each other is amazing. I love how they clocked the disrespect and gave it back astonishing whoever dared to throw shade. Honestly, top tier, 10/10; do it again... in slo-mo. I have so many photos of lines that I found extremely relatable or moments where I wished I could annotate on BookFunnel. Love love love!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
* ARC gifted in exchange for review *
10 stars, no notes! I ate this up. I literally started it this morning and read in between adulting all day long. When we first meet Ali, I was not a fan. She was rude and abrasive and just so nasty to Nico for seemingly no reason. I was team Nico from the time we met him. What can I say? I love a hot nerd and Nico is a sexy sexy nerdy food scientist. Truthfully,the more time I spent reading Ali’s POV, the more she grew on me and the more I started to understand her. That saying about hurt people hurting people is true, and at her core, Ali is a girl who has been hurt so many times that she doesn’t know how to put those sharp things down to stop the cycle. She spent so long trying to be perfect to shelter the person she loved most in the world and it was never enough, at least not for the people she was trying to be good enough for. Eldest daughters the world over can relate so heavily to that. Nico slipped under her defenses, and as she showed him more her truth, the good the bad and the ugly of it all, the more he wanted to know her. I think under it all, that’s what we all want right? Someone who will love all the pieces of us, even the sharp, broken, jagged edges. These enemies turned to lovers in a way that made me swoon, and with the most delicious spice. They created a safe haven where they each could be 100% themselves for the first time ever without ridicule or judgement. I read parts of this story with hearts in my eyes, and other parts through tears. I love Nico and Ali, and their unhinged love. Who I hate vehemently is Tom and I hoped amongst all hopes that he got hit by two buses from the moment we are introduced to him because one isn’t enough for that jack hole. All in all, this was a fantastic read and despite the fact that I cried, I had the best time with these two lunatics. I also now kinda low key want to get into food science
10 stars, no notes! I ate this up. I literally started it this morning and read in between adulting all day long. When we first meet Ali, I was not a fan. She was rude and abrasive and just so nasty to Nico for seemingly no reason. I was team Nico from the time we met him. What can I say? I love a hot nerd and Nico is a sexy sexy nerdy food scientist. Truthfully,the more time I spent reading Ali’s POV, the more she grew on me and the more I started to understand her. That saying about hurt people hurting people is true, and at her core, Ali is a girl who has been hurt so many times that she doesn’t know how to put those sharp things down to stop the cycle. She spent so long trying to be perfect to shelter the person she loved most in the world and it was never enough, at least not for the people she was trying to be good enough for. Eldest daughters the world over can relate so heavily to that. Nico slipped under her defenses, and as she showed him more her truth, the good the bad and the ugly of it all, the more he wanted to know her. I think under it all, that’s what we all want right? Someone who will love all the pieces of us, even the sharp, broken, jagged edges. These enemies turned to lovers in a way that made me swoon, and with the most delicious spice. They created a safe haven where they each could be 100% themselves for the first time ever without ridicule or judgement. I read parts of this story with hearts in my eyes, and other parts through tears. I love Nico and Ali, and their unhinged love. Who I hate vehemently is Tom and I hoped amongst all hopes that he got hit by two buses from the moment we are introduced to him because one isn’t enough for that jack hole. All in all, this was a fantastic read and despite the fact that I cried, I had the best time with these two lunatics. I also now kinda low key want to get into food science
Review of advance copy received from Author
Here’s the thing about Ana’s books they’re so easy to fall into and such a genuinely fun read. From the very first chapter, I was completely pulled in, and the pages just flew by. I’m so grateful I got to read this early, especially as a longtime fan of her work since Beyond the Bell. There’s something so comforting and familiar about picking up one of her books, while still feeling excited by every new story she tells.
Ana has a real gift for writing characters who feel like actual friends the kind you instantly connect with and want to root for. Their emotions feel natural and earned, and the relationships develop in a way that makes you feel every moment, whether it’s the quiet, tender scenes or the more intense ones.
The story itself was incredibly enjoyable, with just the right balance of heart, humor, and tension. And as always, Ana absolutely delivers when it comes to the spice (fans self). It’s written with confidence and care, adding so much to the chemistry without ever overpowering the story.
I’m already impatiently counting down to release day so I can reread this and dive into the bonus epilogue. This book only made me more excited for whatever Ana writes next, and I’ll happily keep picking up anything she puts out. ✨
Ana has a real gift for writing characters who feel like actual friends the kind you instantly connect with and want to root for. Their emotions feel natural and earned, and the relationships develop in a way that makes you feel every moment, whether it’s the quiet, tender scenes or the more intense ones.
The story itself was incredibly enjoyable, with just the right balance of heart, humor, and tension. And as always, Ana absolutely delivers when it comes to the spice (fans self). It’s written with confidence and care, adding so much to the chemistry without ever overpowering the story.
I’m already impatiently counting down to release day so I can reread this and dive into the bonus epilogue. This book only made me more excited for whatever Ana writes next, and I’ll happily keep picking up anything she puts out. ✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One of my best discoveries of 2025 was stumbling upon Ana Kirk Shaw’s books. I don’t know if those targeted IG ads actually worked on me, or maybe it was someone else on social media gushing about her books—but I do know is that as soon as I read Beyond the Bell, I was hooked on anything she wrote. I devoured her Lessons In Love Series in a month or two.
So when I saw she was looking for ARC readers for The Naked Truth, you know I jumped on the chance immediately.
The Naked Truth did not disappoint. It had everything I love about Shaw’s books: flawed but loveable characters, hilarious side-characters, big angst, sublime groveling, and of course lots of hot encounters between the two main characters.
I really loved the character work of this book. Annie and Nico are both struggling with their own burdens. Annie is trying to leave her “wild child” ways in the past, and Nico engaging in adult content to pay off his mother’s medical bills while he shelves his own career aspirations. Add in a past wrong that Annie believes Nico committed against her, fold in a close-quarter road trip, sprinkle in some sexual tension, and the whole book comes to a delightful rolling boil.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book.
So when I saw she was looking for ARC readers for The Naked Truth, you know I jumped on the chance immediately.
The Naked Truth did not disappoint. It had everything I love about Shaw’s books: flawed but loveable characters, hilarious side-characters, big angst, sublime groveling, and of course lots of hot encounters between the two main characters.
I really loved the character work of this book. Annie and Nico are both struggling with their own burdens. Annie is trying to leave her “wild child” ways in the past, and Nico engaging in adult content to pay off his mother’s medical bills while he shelves his own career aspirations. Add in a past wrong that Annie believes Nico committed against her, fold in a close-quarter road trip, sprinkle in some sexual tension, and the whole book comes to a delightful rolling boil.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was my first Ana Kirk Shaw novel, and I’m genuinely grateful I received an ARC, because this book pulled me straight out of a reading slump. From the first chapters, it reminded me why I love getting lost in a romance that’s both steamy and smart.
If you enjoy intelligent romances with plenty of heat, this one delivers. Nico, the MMC, is utterly dreamy: affectionate, caring, and the kind of male lead who makes you swoon without trying too hard. Annie, our FMC, is spicy, sharp, and a little broken in a way that feels real rather than overdone. Their chemistry crackles on the page, and together they balance each other beautifully.
The story also weaves in a sexy layer of mystery that kept me turning pages, and somehow Ana Kirk Shaw managed to make food incredibly sexy, something I didn’t know I needed, but now absolutely do. The secret identity trope was especially delicious, adding tension and intrigue that elevated the romance even more.
Overall, this book was the perfect blend of heat, heart, and intrigue. It made me excited to read again and definitely put Ana Kirk Shaw on my must-read list. If you’re looking for a romance that’s sensual, clever, and just a little indulgent, I highly recommend picking this one up.
If you enjoy intelligent romances with plenty of heat, this one delivers. Nico, the MMC, is utterly dreamy: affectionate, caring, and the kind of male lead who makes you swoon without trying too hard. Annie, our FMC, is spicy, sharp, and a little broken in a way that feels real rather than overdone. Their chemistry crackles on the page, and together they balance each other beautifully.
The story also weaves in a sexy layer of mystery that kept me turning pages, and somehow Ana Kirk Shaw managed to make food incredibly sexy, something I didn’t know I needed, but now absolutely do. The secret identity trope was especially delicious, adding tension and intrigue that elevated the romance even more.
Overall, this book was the perfect blend of heat, heart, and intrigue. It made me excited to read again and definitely put Ana Kirk Shaw on my must-read list. If you’re looking for a romance that’s sensual, clever, and just a little indulgent, I highly recommend picking this one up.
December 20, 2025
I went into this book completely blind and was instantly hooked. A week-long road trip to a wedding with the one man the FMC can’t stand, Nico Giannuzzi, the person who once completely derailed her life—was all it took to sell me.
Add in Annie ghostwriting a cookbook for a mysterious porn star chef, exchanging anonymous emails that may not be coming from who she thinks, and the story explodes into romcom chaos: sharp banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and undeniable “just one more chapter” energy.
The chemistry between Annie and Nico is hot. Their enemies-to-lovers tension is perfectly balanced with soft, earned moments. Nico is a swoony, affectionate MMC, while Annie is spicy, sharp, and beautifully imperfect. Together, they just work.
I loved the focus on family, especially Annie’s ride-or-die relationship with her twin sister May, and the way childhood resentment carried into adulthood is handled with real emotional payoff. This story is about far more than a road trip; it’s about healing, secrets, and choosing love despite the chaos.
Ana Kirk Shaw nails the humor, heart, and heat, weaving in a sexy layer of mystery that pulled me straight out of a reading slump. I’m so grateful to have received this ARC from NetGalley.
Add in Annie ghostwriting a cookbook for a mysterious porn star chef, exchanging anonymous emails that may not be coming from who she thinks, and the story explodes into romcom chaos: sharp banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and undeniable “just one more chapter” energy.
The chemistry between Annie and Nico is hot. Their enemies-to-lovers tension is perfectly balanced with soft, earned moments. Nico is a swoony, affectionate MMC, while Annie is spicy, sharp, and beautifully imperfect. Together, they just work.
I loved the focus on family, especially Annie’s ride-or-die relationship with her twin sister May, and the way childhood resentment carried into adulthood is handled with real emotional payoff. This story is about far more than a road trip; it’s about healing, secrets, and choosing love despite the chaos.
Ana Kirk Shaw nails the humor, heart, and heat, weaving in a sexy layer of mystery that pulled me straight out of a reading slump. I’m so grateful to have received this ARC from NetGalley.
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