Wrong Order

by Alice Li

A spicy, trope-packed romcom for BookTok fans of Ali Hazelwood and Ana Huang, filled with sizzling sparks, billionaire tension, and a forbidden workplace FWB arrangement that refuses to stay casual.

Sophie Huang has spent five years climbing the corporate ladder as the assistant to the CEO of a prestigious PR firm. Driven by ambition and a relentless pursuit of success, Sophie dreams of one day becoming Account Director. But her meticulously planned career path takes an unexpected turn when a chance encounter at a coffee shop catapults her into a PR disaster of her own making.

James Tian walked away from his influential father's empire to carve out his own path, and his risk paid off—he's now one of the world’s youngest billionaires. Riding high on his company’s success, James is blindsided when a multi-million dollar deal turns sour, and a trusted client betrays him. As his troubles mount, James turns to external PR management for damage control. Little does he know, the woman hired to fix his public image will be the very same woman who could unravel his carefully constructed life.

Sparks fly and tensions rise as Sophie and James find themselves in a high-stakes game of power and desire. With neither willing to back down, they agree to a Friends-With-Benefits arrangement to keep things simple. But as passion deepens and emotions get involved, they’re both left wondering—can they keep their hearts out of the equation? And what will happen when their secret relationship becomes front-page news?

Genres: Romance

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 12, 2026

About the author

Alice Li is an Asian-American author who writes romantic comedies featuring BIPOC leads. She loves incorporating a perfect mix of humor, heat, and sweetness in her stories. She graduated from the University of Connecticut where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. When she's not writing, she can be found drinking way too much coffee, listening to Taylor Swift, and baking up a storm. Wrong Order is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Aimz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 ⭐

[10:32am —15/12/2025]

𐙚⋆°👠⋆♡ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀

⤷ he falls first
⤷ billionaire romance
⤷ friends with benefits
⤷ workplace romance

𐙚⋆°👠⋆♡ 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸

❛❛𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐢'𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬.❜❜
⤷ 𝒊'𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 by 𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗮

-`♡´- 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 -`♡´-

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for trusting me with this book. Everything written here is my own honest and true opinion as a reader.

This book was fun to read, I was a little skeptics at first but then the chapters started to get better. I really enjoyed Sophie as a character and same with James too. Their relationship was exciting and interesting.

My only concern was that their love felt a little too insta. It felt rushed in and the layout of this book deserved a desperate, needy slow burn. I think that’d be better for the characters.

Sophie was a darling to get know. I loved her character and attitude, though some moments, I was a little confused (her decision making) but other than that, she was a splendid character!

James. Omg. I love me these kinda guys in books. He was falling for her before they both knew it. I enjoyed his character even if at times he got a little iffy (for me personally), on an overall scale, he was everything really.

I also want to give my flowers to the author, Alice Li. This is her debut novel, and as a reader to an author, I want to congratulate her and wish her the best in her author career.

It is daunting releasing your first project ever so if you’ve come far in my review, please be respectful to the author, and spread kindness here <3

[10:42am — 15/12/2025]

[Moa · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a 3.5⭐️ for me. It’s not a bad book at all 💕 I really loved the friend group and would love more books about the other love stories 🥰

Personally, I just wished for a bit more from the ending 🙂 Maybe it just wasn’t the right book for me ❤️

That said, I really want to point out that for a debut novel, this is a good book ⭐️

[Patricia Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖 ARC Review 📖
Wrong Order by Alice Li
rating: 3/5 ⭐️
spice lvl: 3/5 🌶️

If you love spicy billionaire romance, secret relationships, and broody CEOs, this one might be for you.

"Wrong Order" by Alice Li had a lot of elements that I really enjoyed. It’s packed with sparks, tension, and even some fun moments like accidental coffee shop meet-cutes (and the wrong coffee orders… if you know, you know 😉).
James and Sophie work well together as a couple. James has that broody, commanding presence and clearly expects the respect he’s earned, but he’s also written with a deeper emotional backstory that adds a lot of depth to his character. Despite coming from wealth, it’s clear he’s worked hard to build his own success, and the tension with his father—who constantly tries to control him—adds another interesting layer to the story.
Sophie was also very easy to root for. She’s hardworking, driven, and committed to her goals, and I liked that she stays true to herself and doesn’t entertain negativity from others. Watching her finally get the promotion she’s worked so hard for and develop feelings for James made her journey satisfying. As their secret friends-with-benefits relationship evolves, we get to see her walls slowly come down and a more layered side of her personality emerge.
I also appreciated how the story balances their romance with the outside pressures in their lives—career challenges, family dynamics, and the found-family group of friends that adds warmth and personality to the story. The plot twists later in the book genuinely surprised me and helped pull me back in when my attention started to drift.
That said, I did feel like the book was a bit longer than it needed to be. The pacing slowed down quite a bit in certain sections, and there were moments where I struggled to stay fully engaged. At times, the main character’s insecurities felt excessive and started to feel more frustrating than compelling.
One thing that stood out to me (minor spoiler) was the inconsistency in the protagonist’s behavior—she repeatedly says she’s angry with him and claims to be over the relationship, yet she continues using his credit card and money. That contradiction made it harder for me to fully connect with her choices.
Overall, this book has an intriguing premise, strong romantic chemistry, and some great twists. While pacing issues and a few character decisions held it back a bit for me, the engaging relationship dynamics, friend group, and emotional layers still made it an enjoyable read, especially for debut novel!

Thank you Netgalley, Alice Li. & Rising Action Publishing for receiving an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Sekarima · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. It took me a while to accept I'd have to read this on my browser because the Kindle file was awry, which is why I only read this now. Anyway.

I don't know about this... it started off interesting, as interesting as a cliched meet cute encounter could be, but it dragged, and dragged, and dragged... the main PR issue could've been more engaging if there was more balance between the investigation and the romance plot. I understand fully that this is a romance book first and foremost, but it could've had more grit that way.

I didn't quite understand long drawn subplot of them worrying over the media. Plenty of billionaires and even royals now date "commoners" and/or people they work with. And nobody really cares about billionaires and their random nobody partners, not in the way they do with celebrities or influencers. James and friends weren't even written as a high profile, jet set pack... would people really care? It's no issue unless you count internet trolls in niche spaces expressing their opinions. Their privacy was disturbed by the tabloid pics but I feel that adding quotes or snippets from public chatter would illustrate the situation better. Here it just felt like they're both overthinking it.

I didn't like the multiple attempts at third act breakup. They could've just talked it out like normal adults. They're almost 30 and in high positions in their respective fields, but they read like younger college kids unsure of what they truly want. It dragged the story even further.

I didn't feel like I wasted my time on this. It's a page-turner, even. But it just felt lacking and shallow in things that should matter most, and it didn't feel immersive. There's a warning ahead of the story that it's adult and spicy, but like the other aspects of the book, it didn't even go all the way. I don't need graphic scenes to understand if someone cares about someone else, but again... their dynamic and general characterization were so milquetoast! I wish her therapy sessions had been included too and also a follow-up about his mother in the epilogue.

Lastly, I didn't like how the Spanish characters were written here, particularly in the way they talk. It seemed almost caricature-ish, more obvious when compared with how the French ones were written. It rubbed me the wrong way. It's not like Hagrid or Wuthering Height's Joseph where the purpose was to illustrate their pronunciation and accent, it's... something else that didn't feel right with me. Maybe I'm the one overthinking now.

Still, thank you for writing about two Asian leads, from an Asian myself, and including their families. That's very rare in this genre.

[YZ (wordwanderlust) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fortunately or unfortunately, this book was just…fine…? It was not bad, but neither was it fantastic or anything I had never read before. It capitalises on the usual tropes one would expect in a spicy rom-com. Tropes like friends with benefits but they both catch feelings, rich x normal, CEO billionaire romance, and insta-lust (a trope I am not the biggest fan of).

I was excited to know that our main characters had Chinese backgrounds, as I anticipated themes and discussions on Chinese heritage or culture. However, there was close to none whatsoever. If they didn’t have Chinese surnames or used “baobei” (Chinese for “baby”), I would have assumed that both the MCs were white. The combination of common (overused) tropes and the lack of cultural incorporation made this a very generic romance-comedy. This was seriously such a missed opportunity which could have set it apart from books in this oversaturated genre.

The romance was also fine…? I guess there was an attempt at the meet-cute trope as well, but I wasn’t swooning. I didn’t giggle and kick my feet. I really didn’t care for James and Sophie since it was so insta-everything and they lacked actual romantic chemistry; grown adults should be able to keep it in their pants, but I guess not. There was somewhat of a push-and-pull but there wasn’t nearly enough tension to keep me rooting for them. Both of them gave in way too easily and it was clear that they both wanted, and got, each other. Their romance was painted as high-stakes but again, I didn’t feel that it was. Neither Sophie nor James was desperate enough to keep their romance a hush-hush because they would both make crazy choices all because they were thinking with their sex hormones rather than using their brain cells. The spicy scenes were spicy though, so if you’re into it, I guess you could check this one out. Both of the MC’s personalities were bland at best and inconsistent at worst. Sophie says she cares about her career but we don’t see it in her actions. James, well, he tries to be charming and broody, but is a total simp and that is pretty much it about him.

The book was longer than it needed to be, with scenes that dragged on for too long and didn’t add much to the story. While I enjoyed the tension James had with his family, this piece of drama, especially the tense relationship he had with his father, went mostly unresolved. James’ father essentially became a background character that disappeared towards the end of the book. The resolution and conclusion were rushed and too convenient—hence why I said that everything felt like it was really low-stakes. There was no real conflict or drama apart from the third-act breakup which barely lasted a few pages.

Overall, this was fine. It is genuinely an average read. It is not a book that you HAVE to read, or that would change your life. It’s there for when you want a brainless “meet-cute” billionaire, friends-with-benefits, insta-lust, he falls harder (aka, tropey) romance.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75/5
Spice: 3/5

Overall, this book lived up to the hype of it being spicy. Some of the book was predictable, but I enjoyed how Sophie and Jame's relationship developed over the time they worked together. I felt that despite James being a billionaire, he knew what he wanted when it came to Sophie and he wouldn't let her second guess it. He KNEW that she wasn't in it for the money.

When it comes to James' father and the assistant, I felt that their character arcs were a bit predictable, especially with how James' father came across in the beginning chapters. I was also a little disappointed that the leaks were from a woman because it plays into the cliche of "blame the woman" when things go wrong. Despite this, I did like James and Sophie's relationship and even though they were at the heart of a scandal, they stuck through it together.

Favorite quotes (may be altered in published version):

"Remember that no PR is bad PR"

"All the way over in London, and making me see stars. How is that fair?"

"Life is only bad if you let it be."

Highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy spicy billionaire romances and the he falls first tropes. Also recommend this book to readers who enjoy seeing women prove their worth in the cut throat C-suite.

Thank you Rising Action Publishing for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Bárbara Araújo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, but overall I felt it was longer than necessary. At several points, the pacing slowed down so much that I found myself stuck for days, struggling to stay engaged. While the plot itself is interesting and I understand why certain elements needed to remain secret, there comes a point where the protagonist’s insecurities feel excessive and, honestly, frustrating rather than compelling.

One aspect that particularly bothered me (minor spoiler) was the inconsistency in the main character’s behavior: she claims to be angry with him and supposedly “over” the relationship, yet she continues to use his credit card and money. This contradiction made it difficult to fully empathize with her choices.

On a more positive note, the core group of friends was a strong element of the story, adding depth and warmth to the narrative. I also appreciated the plot twists, which genuinely caught me by surprise and helped reawaken my interest toward the later parts of the book.

Overall, while the book has an intriguing premise and some well-executed moments, issues with pacing and character development held it back for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Liv · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wrong Order had so much going for it but unfortunately the execution just wasn't there.

This had many of my favorite tropes- a meet cute in a coffee shop where James accidentally grabs Sophie's order just to name one to start. That was a promising beginning but it kind of just went downhill from there and the main reason why is the writing. It felt extremely choppy and almost hastily put together. I often found myself being confused about something that I had literally just read, and that's one of my huge pet peeves in books- if I have to reread something immediately because it didn't properly land the first time.

I also didn't think that Sophie and James had any real chemistry. I was being told more than I was being shown and to be perfectly honest, I never really understood what either of them really saw in each other. The plot felt very contrived and very often didn't make a whole lot of sense.

This wasn't all bad though, to be clear there were some things that I did like. Sophie and James' individual stories apart from each other were a lot more interesting to read for example, and I always love seeing more books with Asian leads, but in the end, it wasn't enough to save the book.

[Makayla Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Rising Action Publishing Co. for an arc of Wrong Order!

This spicy billionaire romcom is packed to the brim with all the sparks and fireworks (and the wrong coffee orders if you know what I mean 😉) that I love in romance books. James and Sophie are paired together flawlessly. He's brooding and grounded and demands respect, but the author also layers him with an emotional past that really builds his character. And Sophie!! You can't help but root for her. She's hard working and driven and committed, but as her and James's secret friends with benefits relationship develops, her walls come down and we see a layered character with a lot of moxy. The author does a great job of balancing James and Sophie's relationship with the external conflicts of their jobs, the found family of friends, and the heartwarming and heartbreaking complexities that come with it all. If you love spicy plot twists and accidental meet-cutes over coffee, you'll love this book.

[☆Laura☆]

Sophie ha dedicado años a construir una vida estable en Manhattan, convencida de que el esfuerzo constante es la única forma de abrirse camino. Su rutina se mantiene firme hasta que, por culpa de un pedido mal entregado en una cafetería de mala fama, termina frente a un hombre que le atrae.
James Tian, dueño de un éxito empresarial tan brillante como inestable, irrumpe en sus días con la misma facilidad con la que toma su café por error.

Lo que comienza como un encuentro incómodo se convierte en una sucesión inesperada de coincidencias que los obliga a cruzar miradas, conversaciones y límites que ninguno pensaba explorar. Sophie está decidida a obtener el ascenso que ha perseguido con paciencia y sacrificio, mientras James lucha por sostener un imperio que se tambalea bajo sus pies.

__


No sé que calificación ponerle, estuvo entretenido, pero siento que falto algo.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Mimi Chang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc!

Alice Li's debut novel was electric! I'm a HUGE fan of BIPOC male and female lead books, so I was pleasantly surprised and excited to read Sophie and James' story. Both of their characters are really well written--they're far from perfect, but they also compliment each other really well. Sophie's work ethic is especially admirable, and I appreciate how the characters aren't afraid to lean on each other for support. I will say my one concern in this book was how quickly it escalated. I hadn't really seen any real, slow, development in Sophie and James' relationship before it started to escalate, and I would've like for it to have more time to grow and for them to have more interactions beforehand. However, with that being said, it's still a really solid book. I'll be looking forward to Alice Li's future projects!

[Macey Harp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

From the moment I started this book, I was hooked. James is a savvy, grounded, and genuinely compelling character—wealthy, yes, but shaped by real struggle. His father’s attempts to control him add tension throughout the story, yet James continually proves he won’t be defined by anyone else. He’s built a successful firm and demands the respect he’s earned.

Sophie was just as easy to love. She stays true to herself, never entertains negativity, and finally receives the promotion she’s worked so hard for. Watching her fall for the man of her dreams made her journey even sweeter.

The storyline kept me fully engaged from start to finish. It never dragged, never felt dull, and delivered a blend of heart, conflict, and growth that made it impossible to put down.

[maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for kindly sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. While I really wanted to like this book and the premise seemed right up my alley, unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. I tried to keep an open mind with the book, especially given that this is a debut book, but I wasn’t a fan of the prolonged pacing or the dialogue, which felt unnatural and forced to me.

I truly believe that this author has a lot of potential though—one of the things that stood out to me was the found family aspect with the side characters, which I found heartwarming, sweet, and to be overall well-written. While I didn’t love this book, I sincerely hope this author continues to write and grow her craft—and that I enjoy other stories she may publish.

[good · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning was good- but overall I wanted more from this. I wanted James to be more fleshed out- like I needed more connection than just attraction for him.
The last third/quarter lost me for a bit. I was really into the late plot points, but the ending fell flat for me. It had so much potential for development but ended so quickly and without enough explanation.

But overall- I did really enjoy this read. it was a fresh idea, the writing felt natural and it was never boring. Thanks so much to the author and Netgally for this ARC- so excited to read more from them in the future.

[Megan Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love!!!


Alice Li’s debut Wrong Order drips with diamonds. Gorgeous prose and two sizzling, three-dimensional leads give way to a propulsive secret friends-with-benefits relationship, set against the lush backdrop of money-driven New York. The diverse and well-rounded cast lends itself to a beloved and hilarious found family. I want to be a part of this world!

Come for the spice, stay for the slow emotional burn that unfurls into a tender and beautiful portrayal of true love. This book made my Kindle overheat—in more ways than one.

[caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute, lighthearted read! Billionaire romance is my bread and butter so I know what tropes I like — Wrong Order definitely hit the spot! I was admittedly a bit confused by the business drama, but I overall enjoyed the romance between James and Sophie (love a down bad man always!).

This is Alice Li’s debut novel and I can see so much potential and room for growth from this book. I am definitely looking forward to reading Last Call, as Adam and Lina really intrigued me!

Thank you to Alice Li, Rising Action, and Netgalley for this ARC!

[CO Ajumma Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, flirty contemporary romance where Sophie and James’s friends-with-benefits arrangement quickly sparks into a genuine, electric emotional connection. Their chemistry is playful, heartfelt, and keeps the story deeply engaging, making every banter-filled scene and intimate moment feel earned. Some plot points are predictable and a few secondary characters are underdeveloped, but the leads’ connection more than makes up for it.

[Cariadne · Rating 1 out of 5]

After some brilliant Asian American led reads, I was hoping this would continue on the path of great new reads of One & Only by Maurene Goo or The Statistically Unlikely Rebound by Parker Elling. Afterall, we need more diverse books.

Sadly, Alice Li's book is the Wrong Order. The storyline, characters and even the sex scenes felt all over the place. I struggled to get to 43% and ultimately had to admit defeat.

[Mindy Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked the theme for this book and that it did have some spicy scenes. The rest of the book was disappointing. The book jumped around a lot to the point where I had to go read paragraphs again to see what was going on. The flow of the book was not well organized and there were plot holes. I also found some parts of the book to be unnecessary and felt icky to me and constantly had me questioning the characters’s actions. This book was just not for me.

[snazzy pen ✰]

You might like this book if you're interested in:

- a forbidden workplace FWB arrangement
- a slower paced romance book but quickly developing attraction
- close, supportive friends for both main characters
- FMC using MMC's credit card to buy whatever she wants
- multiple flower deliveries

Thank you to the author for sending me a link to the eARC!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I caught myself skimming a lot of Wrong Order. I felt like the story had so much potential with the meetcute, the billionaire trope, and the forbidden work romance, but it fell flat for me. I had trouble understanding the reason they couldn't be together. There were also too many side characters.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy via NetGalley

[Michelle F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute rom com about billionaire and a PR exec trying to hide their relationship. Spicy scenes were 🌶️🌶️🌶️. but I found myself skimming over too many parts with a lot of details that for me didn’t add to the story.
HEA felt rushed but all in all 3 stars. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy

[Maggie Eckersley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sizzling with spice, this billionaire romance with electrifying attraction and forbidden workplace casual arragement which quickly turns into more, will keep you turning the pages. Fans of fast paced stories with high tension and high heat will love Alice's debut!

[Ashley Detweiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrong Order, but the right mix of an inconvenient meet-cute, explosive chemistry, and a FWB situation that just might be meant to be. This is Billionaire romance at its best, with heat, humor, and heart from the very first page.

[Alice Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book and I genuinely hope you love it as much as I do ❤️

[JXR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, booktok-y romance with some good plotting and interesting storytelling from start to finish. the writing sucked you out for a bit but it didn't quite work. 4 stars. tysm for the E-ARC.

[Raphidophora · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 35%

The premise has potential, which is why I was interested in reading this book! (And the fact that it is promoted to be like Ali Hazelwood - which it is not)

But I didn't like the execution. I felt like there were too many plot holes.
Them deeply caring for one another after meeting three times at a coffee shop is unbelievable.
And the circumstances for them not being able to date seem entirely avoidable just by properly reading their emails.

They then proceed into a friends with benefits situation because they are so obsessed with each other even though they barely had relevant interactions.
Even as a non-couple they go out publicly to restaurants - why not just call it a relationship at this point?

I quit when he gave her his credit card (after they know each other for how long? Two weeks? )

Thank you NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing for providing me with this Advanced Reader Copy.