Fair Trade

by Renate Rowland

Finleigh
I expected the things I wanted not to come easy. What I didn’t expect was Kai.
We used to be inseparable, until a pact gone wrong shattered our bond.
Now, he’s my nightmare.
While we’re competing for the same position, a permanent job at the most prestigious
tech firm in the country, he treats me like the enemy encroaching on his turf.
If he expects me to cave to him and go quietly, he’ll be met with stark disappointment.
But what’s he really after, the job or retaliation?


Mekhi
I can’t believe my eyes. Of all the new hires, it had to be Finn?
For 5 years I've avoided her, yet the wound of her betrayal still bleeds.
Every time I look at her, a fresh wave of hatred sears me to the bone.
How am I supposed to work with her?
I can’t!
I have to get her to quit, and a little bet should do the trick — winner takes all.
The job, the promotion, the new office... they’re mine, and I’m not above playing dirty.
She should leave while she can with her head high. I’ll ruin that perfect façade of hers.
For too long I’ve been itching to get her out of my system.

When it comes to Finn, nothing is fair.

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 13, 2026

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fair Trade is a sharp, emotionally charged enemies-to-lovers romance that thrives on unresolved history, workplace rivalry, and the kind of tension that crackles every time two characters share a room. It’s messy in the best way because hurt people don’t fight fair, and this book knows it.

Finleigh is driven, proud, and refuses to be intimidated, even when the past comes roaring back in the form of Kai, now Mekhi standing in her way. Her refusal to accept half-measures, especially when it comes to her heart, gives her a quiet strength that anchors the story. She’s not just fighting for a job; she’s fighting to prove she won’t be broken or pushed aside.

Mekhi is all sharp edges and unresolved bitterness. His anger is raw, simmering just beneath the surface, and his need to win at work and emotionally fuels some deliciously toxic tension. The bet, the power plays, the thin line between revenge and desire…it all feels intentional and personal. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s laced with resentment, making every interaction feel like a spark waiting to ignite.

What makes Fair Trade stand out is how it handles fairness or the lack of it. This isn’t a story about clean rules or easy forgiveness. It’s about two people carrying old wounds into a high-stakes environment and daring each other to flinch first. The push and pull between wanting everything and settling for nothing keeps the emotional stakes high until the very end.

If you love workplace romance, second-chance angst, and enemies who know exactly how to hurt each other because they once cared too much, Fair Trade delivers a compelling, tension-filled read that proves some battles are never just about winning they’re about survival. 💼🔥

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up! when the past comes crashing into the present, Kai and Finn must challenge their demons and each other for a prized position. Since we get to visit the past with both characters POV, we feel all the things. From childhood besties to rivals. As they come face to face with the competition to win the position, they clash on everything and it's hot. There are points when I was almost to tears from all the big emotions, laughing, and fanning myself from all that heat. This was fun and also a great mood boost. It might have you dreaming up a Hawaiian vacation *for reasons*

[Amber Lemons · Rating 5 out of 5]

💜ARC Review💜

Fair Trade by Renate Roland
Release Date: 3/13

Renate! Girl! This book was everything! I finished it in under 5 hours because I could not get enough of Kai and Finn 💜

This story follows two former childhood BFFs who had a huge falling out, and went radio silent for 5 years. Then as fate would have it, they found themselves clear across the country from their hometown in Colorado, working for the same company in NYC. After being forced to work closely on the same project, things take a tense and spicy turn!

I LOVED the dual POV and the constant flashbacks from both Kai and Finn. You truly felt every emotion conveyed from each of them. It made the banter and constant push and pull so addicting.

AND THE SPICE! Yeah it started early and happened often! Keep your water close by because you’re going to need it! I read A LOT of smut and it can get repetitive in spice heavy books. Renate has a true smut writing gift because there was not one repetitive scene! Each one had me fanning myself and clutching those pearls.

One other aspect that I absolutely adored was the attention to detail that was put into the Hawaiian parts of this book. I currently live in Hawaii and have been fortunate enough to see firsthand how important and cherished the culture and traditions are to the people of Hawaii. It was amazing to see how much effort Renate put into incorporating and conveying the culture and traditions in her story 💜

Thank you so much for the advanced copy Renate! This was an amazing read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Susan]

Fair Trade by Renate Rowland

This book is spicy with lots of sexual can’t keep their hands off each other disguised as hate and bullying at the workplace.

Under all the office bullying were years of past friendship and unresolved feelings between Finleigh “Finn” And Mekhi “Kia”that were never named between them.
For me this had all the feels for a frienemies with benefits to lovers feel. He was also so possessive and all like “mine” I was so here for.

The dual time lines give us so much more of them growing up and what really leads to the current situation. But also the deep connection that was already established between them also giving it so must angst. I felt like they really missed out on so much together being young and being best friends having shared so many firsts together would totally complicate and confuse the relationship when things started to change and grow into something more.
Well written I enjoyed the plot with them on a joint cybersecurity job together. Well paced and great characters.

Workplace Rivals
Childhood Best Friends
Office Bully
Forced Proximity
(Frien)Enemies with benefits

[SinfulReadsByV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fair Trade was such an amazing story! The characters had depth and all kinds of messy, complicated feelings that made everything feel real. And the office tension? So good. Yes, I’m talking about the closet. Chapter 30 🥺 That’s all I’m saying. No spoilers here. Kai was demanding and bossy (yes, please), and I will never say no to an enemies-to-more trope. Finn was captivating in her own way, and I loved her determination not to let herself be beaten down. The back-in-time moments that built the foundation for the present worked well for me. Now Kai… Some of those bully moments? You were skating on thin ice. And that epilogue? The cherry on top of a heartfelt finale that made my heart so happy.
If you are looking for a feel-good story with missed/second-chance vibes and plenty of workplace tension, this one is for you.

Tropes
🌺 She wears his shirt
🌺 All the ‘Firsts’
🌺 Hate f**king
🌺 Praise kink
🌺 Edging & Begging
🌺 He's a biter
🌺 “Crawl to me."
🌺 “I licked it, so now it’s mine.”
🌺 "It's always been you."

[Megan Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really rate this at a 4.5⭐ and 3.5🌶️and man did I love this book. This is the first book by Renate that I have read and I will be going back and reading some of her other books as well. Finn and Kai are have known each other since childhood until lines are crossed and they have a falling out. Years later they cross paths when they both are interning at the same place, competing for the same job. The s*xual tension in this book was perfect. There were times I wanted to reach through my Kindle, grab Kai by the shoulders and shake some sense into his a** though. I enjoyed the dual POV as well as the flashbacks we get from when they were younger. You get to see the connection they have from the very beginning and when they see each other again after 5 years it's obvious that the connection never went away. They fight their feelings for one another hardcore, and the hate s*x was chef's kiss. Overall I couldn't get enough of Finn and Kai's story!!

[C.J. North · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC, Renate!
I flew through this book over a weekend because I was completely sucked in.

Two former best friends must now compete for the same job... while also working on a project together.
The hostility and attempts at sabotage are immediate and often spicy. There was definitely a moment I couldn't resist DMing Renate a gif of outrage.
The characters are complex and so is their relationship that started as young children. There are a number of flashbacks that flesh out their long history together and shows how the animosity started.
Something else I loved was the portrayal of Mekhi's Hawaiian heritage. It isn’t just in the background, it informs his views on life and relationships. There is a lot of symbolism involved in his tattoos and even the nicknames given to each person. It was very sweet even if he... isn't always. 😉

[Robin.Bookish.Escape · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Ask me nicely.”

This contemporary office bully romance is a former best friends turned enemies with benefits and forced to worth together, with SPICE and kinks, one office, high tension and emotional, complicated decisions and sacrifices, and perfect banter to round it all out. Your cheeks will be blushing and you will be looking at your coworkers in a whole new light. Please check triggers as your mental health matters.

Contemporary and office romance are not my preferred reads but Renate can do no wrong and she is one of the few authors that I would read any genre for. I just love her writing style, captivating and imaginative, alluring and emotional. Her characters are so distinct and beautifully dynamic. And her spice is always chef’s kiss!!! You will love to hate Kai and then beg for more!!

“I licked it, so now it’s mine.”

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made feel all the feels!! I’m not a cryer but there are some scenes that had me tearing up.
First of all… Kai is an a*hole; a hot, delicious, kissable a*hole. Finn got on my nerves. I know that sometimes the chemistry is just undeniable, but girl!! He’s treating you like sh*t… resist him a little bit! Girl!! At least try!! I spent half the time screaming at her and wishing to be her.
The spice was *chef’s kiss*. The dual timeline and dual POV covered all the important details.
Kai and Finn are both interns in a Cybersecurity company; they haven’t seen a each other in a few years (or so she thinks) and have a whole lot of baggage and history between them. Who will give in first? Who will win the permanent position at work? Who will en up on their knees?

Definitely will keeping an eye on Renate Rowland for future reads.

[Amy Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Finn and Kai’s story, so much so that I flew through this in a day. The sexual tension and the angst had me hooked and I just couldn’t stop reading!
Two former best friends competing for the same job sharing one office, what could possibly go wrong?👀
I went through all the emotions in this book. I loved the petty banter that had me cackling to myself and the way their relationship developed was beautiful, getting to see into their history to understand their characters and what happened helped so much with the story line and it made me love them both that little bit more🖤
The audacity on Kai!! But I can’t lie he pulled it off
And of course the SPICE was spicing, so well written and not too much where it took over the story but added to it and made it that much better🥵

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Renate, for the ARC! I devoured this steamy story in two days!

Finn and Kai are best friends for twelve years until their feelings get too big and complicated for teenagers to handle and they walk away. Fast forward five years and they find themselves competing for the same job. Kai is still furious with Finn for ruining their friendship, and yet can't keep his hands off her. He thinks he can keep his emotions out of their increasingly hot encounters, but he is so very wrong. The line between love and hate is razor thin.

We get both POVs in the past and present, which helps build the connections. My heart broke for their teenage insecurities, and soared for them as they were finally brave enough to share their true feelings. Tears were shed!

[mystical_reads_booknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow where do I begin?

This book is a spicy romance that’ll leave you crying happy tears. The plot was amazing! The characters and their development was beautifully written.
Kai and Finn’s journey was truly mesmerizing.
The book made me laugh, cry, scream and everything in between.
The back and forth banter between the two MCs honestly was amazing. In my opinion, it made whole book. It was catty, petty, and downright hilarious. At times it was heartbreaking, then sometimes it wrecked me.

Kai is so frustratingly possessive and so full of audacity, it’s infuriating but so captivating.

10/10

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lei and Kai’s story is a rollercoaster I didn’t want to get off of. I read this book QUICKLY! I had previously been in a slump for a couple weeks, and when this came through it definitely pulled me out.
I loved both characters so much. While their story is filled with angst, love, hard decisions and sacrifices, I didn’t feel like there was any unnecessary “miscommunication” tropes, which can get irritating. The spice felt balanced but abundant, it didn’t overwhelm the story between the two characters, and you are able to connect with them both throughout the book. Definitely recommend to anyone who’s looking for a book with spice and a little bullying with a HEA.

[Countryluv23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a few days ago. I spent the last few days trying to decipher how I felt about the story. My opinion hasn't changed a lot, but I know that my opinion of the story is not the same as the quality of the story. I honestly personally didn't care for the story, but that's not because of the author's abilities, it's my personal choice of books. The story is about a long time friendship of two characters that something draws them apart and they see each other again as enemies then become lovers. So I suggest if that is a trope you enjoy, give the book a try. Also read triggers and there are several explicit scenes in the book.

[P Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too much!

Kai and Finn's love story is so special. Yeah it's so sweet when things go right and they live happily ever after. (They didn't get that boring sweet version) But, when things take a hard turn in the wrong direction before the path to your destination is clear again... I mean talk about earning it! These two go through some stuff. This book is simply delicious. Prepare to be busy and put the do not disturb sign up cause this story is quite sensational in its tale through their childhood to adulthood and ways time has a way of changing things.

[Ambreezy83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This best friends to enemies to lovers tale will pull at your heart strings. Kai and Fin dance around their feelings for years until one day in high school it comes tumbling down. They both walk away with regrets to what was said. Fast forward to NY and adulthood later, Kai is stunned to hear Fin’s name mentioned by his boss as the newest hire at Ken-Cy. Both of them are strong in cyber security and now it’s on to prove it. Lots of anger hate smeggs later, how will their feud end? I may have had some tears. All the feels. Amazingly written.

[Lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this one! The spice and tension between Kai and Finn is honestly wild. The whole childhood best friends to rivals to what they are now worked well. You can feel all that history between them without it being overdone. The banter was one of my favorite parts. It felt natural and actually fun, not forced. As for Kai... his possessive ego had me rolling my eyes more than once. If anything, it made the dynamic messier in a way that kept me hooked. Overall, I really enjoyed this read. Spicy, tense and easy to get lost in.

[Kristian Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Finn and Kai’s story. It was so spicy, so sweet at moments. I cried once and teared up multiple times. The spicy moments were freaking amazing!! The push and pull, and the bully aspect were done so well. You could feel the tension between them, feel the old heartbreak. I love that Finn gave as much as Kai did, she didn’t take his crap and I loved it. I also loved the tender moments between them, the flashbacks between then and now. Learning about Kai’s culture was so amazing, as well.

[Angela Ballas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book early and just WOW! I couldn’t get enough of Finn and Kai. Their story is truly mesmerizing! I love how you hows from present to past and you see how things lead up to one another. I will say..I went through all the emotions. When Kai 🥵🌶️..yes please..has his talks with his dad and gets emotional and when he finally reveals his true feelings..sobbing😭. I kept telling just tell him and her how you feel! The SMUT was smutting 🥵. The ending though..oh it was AMAZING ♥️. This is definitely a must read!!!

[Chris Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kai and Finn have history....a lot of history and when that history comes back on both of them, they have to figure it out. With some healthy work competition, we are shown POVs of each from the past. Can Kai and Finn resolve their pasts for any possibility of a future?

I really enjoyed this book! It had a great balance of everything and definitely did not disappoint!

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok thank you Renate for making sure I didn’t miss out! Like the dedication first of all. That sets the tone for what you’re about to read and it’s true. Because through everything he realizes that she’s endgame. His dad knew it before he did and once he got his head straight that was it

And the end? You get a HEA and I shed tears because that ending was beautiful

Highly recommend!!

[Ruthella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I’m telling everyone I know they need to read it!
They’ve been friends since kindergarten. Every birthday taking a picture together. Then, when they are 17 everything changes. They don’t speak to each other for 5 years. Life brings them together again at the same work place. He challengers her. If he can hack her code, she quits.
I love the angst, the spice, everything!!!

[Rebekah Godfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book that makes me want to scream at the MCs to get their acts together! And this book made me want to do that a lot! Haha
If you love:
BFFs to rivals
Hate sex 😏
Mutual pinning
He is looking out for her...
Then you HAVE to read this book!!

[Hillary VP · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re like me and love to hate a bully romance, this book is for you because whew, I was heated!! The book is fast-paced—jumps straight into the chaos and its SPICY. Finn and Kai share a deep, messy history, revealed through flashbacks that slowly piece everything together.

[Dark_booksfan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the office romance and the spicy stuff omg i loved
You will enoy this one

[Gennaskindletbr 🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. I liked Fin and Kai.