The Naked Truth

Two Truths and a Lie #1

by Ana Kirk Shaw

Two 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 nemesis: 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?

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance, Spicy, Rom Com, Contemporary

366 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2026

About the author

Ana 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.

Reviews

[purlpur · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
це був неймовірно вайбовий автотріп через пів країни на весілля сестри. різні міста, локальні ресторани, дегустації, затишні прогулянки лісом, гаряче купання в природному кар'єрі і на додачу палкий урок бачати 💃 атмосферка літньої подорожі - кайф. я повністю розчинилася в цьому романтичному поєднанні смачнющої їжі та мальовничої природи 🥘🍧🌳🌄

а коли в одній машині опиняються двоє ворогів ще зі шкільних років, ця подорож одразу набуває зовсім інших обертів і стає ще більш гарячою та захопливою 🚗💨

енні - колюча, хаотична й безладна шибеничка, яка по життю колекціонує «погані ідеї» та тимчасові стосунки. любителька словесно розносити мудаків, захищаючи слабших. і не втрачає жодної нагоди підколоти ніко, нагадуючи йому про суперництво й образи ще зі школи.
працює гострайтеркою і пише кулінарну книгу для популярного шефа з онліка, який готує.. повністю оголеним. його особистість - суцільна таємниця, адже обличчя в кадрі він ніколи не показує 😏

ніко - о боже цей нікооо, пакуйте це спекотне сонечко, я беру. прискіпливий науковець-хімік і за сумісництвом «творець контенту для дорослих». хлопець підзаробляє тим, що знімає, як готує смачнющі страви повністю голяка, супроводжуючи це своїми розумними задротськими коментарями про нюанси кулінарної хімії. єєєєп, такий мастершеф я б зацінила 👨‍🍳😈
те, як він говорить про їжу та наукову складову процесу готування.. тільки на цьому моменті вже можна закохатися. ще й слинка потече від кулінарних знань ніко, і не тільки від них 😍🤤

вибухова хімія енні та ніко мені теж прийшлася до смаку 😋
усі ці перепалки, шпильки, насмішки й загравання тримали в напрузі. але коли почався процес їхнього зближення, оголення душ, і нарешті розкриття старої образи з минулого.. це було настільки емоційно. те, як він турбувався про неї в ці моменти, які обійми їй дарував. я калюжа 🫠
ну і в ліжку ці двоє добряче смажаться, з рум'яною скоринкою 😮‍💨🔥 а по завершенню золотце ніко ще й гарненько прибере їхній спільний безлад 👅🥵

багатьох може підбішувати характер енні, але для мене вона, навпаки, дуже зрозуміла. зі своїми травмами в минулому, які так і не були належним чином пропрацьовані, а тому й тягнуть цю нестабільність у її вже доросле життя. звідси і деякі її заскоки під фінал були.. ем очікуваними, мабуть.

пів бала все ж знімаю за події на самому весіллі й після нього. фінал, звісно охохо, під попкорн ішов ідеально🍿 але авторка трохи переборщила з мелодрамою, не зовсім на мій смак, хоча і відірватися було неможливо. ну треба ж було під кінець епічно позакочувати очі, куди без цього 🤪

і який милий епілог 🥹
оце добротним хаотичним щастям ніко себе оточив. постаралися вони на славу, нічого не скажеш 🤭

[joni ౨ৎ (ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a fun time! rtc!!! loved the emotional aspects and the food

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
this plot sounds intriguing and i love mmc's who are chefs 😋 the cover is gorgeous and i think it'll be a fast paced read!! book #6

↪ started jan 8
↪ finished jan 10

[Yuliia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Це неймовірно смішна, мила й тепла історія про двох ворогів дитинства, які вирушили в автотріп на весілля сестри головної героїні. Ця подорож була наповнена гумором, сарказмом, підколами, неочікуваними зізнаннями у своїх почуттях, смачною їжею 🤤, новими містами, прогулянками лісом, купанням у кар’єрі й танцями. Тут така класна атмосфера літа 😍

Ніко - золотисте цуценя лабрадора, творець еротичного контенту й доктор Ніко (хоча Енні називає його «недосвідчений горила-хімік» )💪😈🍆. Від його рецептів, задротських ботанських коментарів і наукового погляду на їжу мокнуть трусики 🥵. І все це він робить голяка. Усім би таких чоловіків - це просто мрія.

«Я завжди називав сестер Лі повними іменами. Просто так краще звучить. Як у знаменитостей. Кіану Рівз. Двейн «Скеля» Джонсон. Мей Лі. Енні «мій найгірший блядський кошмар» Лі.»

Еллі… Коли я виросту, то хочу бути як Еллі. Хочу завжди бути на її боці, бо опинитися по інший буде боляче - і фізично, і морально. Колюча, гостра на язик, голосна, заводиться з пів оберту, але водночас захисна, любляча й чуйна сестра та подруга. Встигла наробити не дуже гарних виборів, зірватися з котушок, але мала на це повне право й усі підстави. Її було занадто багато - у найкращому сенсі.

«Том фиркає, але я підходжу до нього й з усієї сили б’ю його ногою просто по яйцях, бо я, блядь, зараз як американські гірки без гальм. Тричі поспіль, сучара.»

І яка ж у них була напруга - і емоційна, і сексуальна 🥵❤️‍🔥. Усі ці жарти, підколи, бажання придушити одне одного 😅. Їхня хімія - просто ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥. Але було й безліч милих моментів. Наприклад, коли Ніко поступово розумів, що закохався 🥹

«Енні дивиться на мене крізь мокре волосся так, ніби хоче випатрати мене від живота до горла. Схожа на мокре, розлючене кошеня, яке щойно впало у ванну. Я колись одружуся з цією дівчиною.»

І окремо варто відзначити маму Ніко ❤️‍🔥. Ця жінка - просто 🤌

«Мама жбурляє мені в обличчя кухонний рушник — той, із малюнком духовки й написом: «Якщо сумніваєшся — витягай».»

«Вона стоїть, уперши руки в боки, у фартуху, який тато подарував їй двадцять років тому, і той випинається навколо напису: «Я — секретний інгредієнт».»

І бонусні розділи… Які ж вони милі бубліки 🥹. Створили таку ідеальну сім’ю, наповнену сміхом і любов’ю 🥹

Тепер хочу книжку про Мей 🔥

[TetyanaSun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Просто злочинно-поетична історія карамелізації скоринки.

Жартую. Але книга справді виявилася дуже смішною, теплою і романтичною. А ще дорослою. Герої помиляються, ростуть, говорять одне з одним, (ведуть веселі і пізнавальні внутрішні діалоги) підтримують і поступово стають кращими версіями себе.
Читати рекомендую після їжі) а то на порожній шлунок можна собі такого 💦🫦🤌🫰 навізуалізувати))))

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Це було смішно, весело, цікаво та місцями сумно.
Такий смішний діалог між головними героями і цей їхній сарказм в голові та думках, прям інколи в голос ржала 😅 А сама ця подорож на весілля сестри чого тільки варта. Але коли вже розкрилася Енні та те що з нею сталося, а Ніко її підтримав, ось цей момент прям такий зворушливий 🥹 Фінал шикарний, так пишаюся цими героями. І взагалі вся ця фішка з хімією та готовкою така захоплююча, дуже сподобалася 🤗

[Anastasiia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Неймовірно класна книжка. Я настільки раділа, коли її читала, що передати не можу.
Така собі пригода поїхати зі своїм шкільним ворогом на весілля сестри. А разом з тим отримати кохання свого життя, знайти себе, зрозуміти свої проблеми та відкритись життю. І це все за один тиждень автомобільної подорожі 🚘🚙
💕Ніко та Енні пройшли шлях від ненависті до розуміння, а потім і до кохання.
Я раділа з ними, переживала негаразди з ними, за їх зупинку в лайняному мотелі, за машину, що зламалась; відчувала красу природи разом з ними; переживала труднощі боротьби з Енні; вагалась разом з Ніко, підтримувала його і розуміла щодо допомоги його мамі.
Я прожила цю подорож і дуже рада, що прочитала цю історію.
Бо тут я отримала неймовірний гумор разом з сарказмом, крутих персонажів зі своїми проблеми та переживаннями, але готових боротись за своє щастя, глибокі та здорові почуття та стосунки 🤗
І вже чекаю з нетерпінням на наступні книжки.

[cat (catching up slowly) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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)

[Kseniia · Rating 4 out of 5]

тут цілий коктейль емоцій під час читання, що мені подобається 🔥
книга створює класну атмосферу, де можна від душі посміятись, розчулитися від реалістичних життєвих труднощів та насолодитися романтикою стосунків між героями.
а ще я люблю задротів як Ніко, тож це пряме попадання в яблучко 🫶🏻 і як же смачно описана їжа та її приготування 🤤 обережно, можна захлинутися слиною 😂

[booksvanereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to get into the writing style. Anna Kirkshaw reminds me of Jessa Hastings because you will always know what the main characters are thinking through their monologues and written thoughts. Once I was a few chapters in, I was invested in the characters and the writing. This is probably one of my top reads ever? I just related a ton to the FMC. I will also never forget the adjectives that Nico uses to describe Annie Li 😭

[Марина · Rating 5 out of 5]

Мила книга, хвилююча книга, чіпляюча серце, до біса гарна книга, з якою не хочеться прощатися.

Під маскою гарячої історії з гумором на кожній сторінці захована вразлива серцевина, добираючись до якої починаєш смакувати всю палітру. Гірка напруга та ненависть між героями балансуються солодким фліртом, взаємним тяжінням і коханням, що виростає з повної та глибокої довіри, якої так потребують герої. Кислий смак розчарувань, жалю через раніше ухвалені рішення омивається солоними нотками сліз, які спершу ллються від смутку та відчайдушного небажання прийняти себе, а потім, під силою кохання, трансформуються в сльози радості. Усе вдалося, маски зняті, щастя неминуче.

Мене так сильно захопила ця історія. Тут було всього вдосталь. За той короткий проміжок часу, що Ніко та Енні проводять разом як попутники, вони проходять шлях від ненависті до кохання, і ти їм віриш. Немає відчуття, що це взялося нізвідки, не мало підстав чи реальних шансів на існування.

Енні. Саме за такими персонажами дуже цікаво спостерігати. Вона далека від образу хорошої дівчини — у її житті були темні періоди, зумовлені спробами захиститися, знайти те, чого їй так не вистачало. Просто вона не знала й не розуміла, чого саме потребує, не знала де, та й не вміла цього знайти. Вона гучна, хаотична, яскрава. Але все це — маска, яку вона не могла зняти. До нього.

Ніко — абсолютний зелений прапорець на всю стіну. Його життя теж змусило ухвалювати рішення, якими він не пишався, але він продовжував гнути свою лінію, щоб допомогти родині. І так би його життя й залишалося розділеним на різні сегменти, які він не хотів об’єднувати. Якби не вона.

Я витратила багато тексту, а по суті, нічого не сказала. Але додам: під час читання ви можете захотіти сміятися, плакати або їсти. Будьте готові.

5/5 ⭐️

[ri ⊹.˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ‎ the naked truth ꒱ 3.75 stars
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎⌗ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: jan 12, ‘26 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: jan 12, ‘26

review with light spoilers

the plot of this book had me intrigued from the moment i found it on netgalley. the roadtrip along with them having secret identities was such a fun aspect of the story and i really enjoyed reading it.

the dynamic between the characters was probably my favorite part of the story. seeing the character growth as the book progressed was very rewarding.

anne li, we get to learn a lot about who she is a person and the evolution of her characters from childhood to adulthood as the story progresses. her being a reader was also such a great add to the story, her getting lost in books was so relatable and i loved finding that in common with a character. i am a sucker for tattooed and flawed characters so i really enjoyed her character design. she, easily, was the character that had the most growth and seeing her shed the hard shell that she put up to protect herself was so cathartic .

nicholas giannuzzi, his character was so fun especially with his secret job. it was also very interesting to learn about the chemistry behind cooking. while he was ashamed of being an adult content creator he did it for a novel reason and i was glad to see him come to terms with his profession. i found it sad that he trained himself out of an accent but completely understand why he did it. i wish we got to see a bit more of him and his postdoc research and a bit more of the academic side but i had a lot of fun with his character. his growth was also very much present and he was very understanding as he got to know the real anne li and why she acted the way she did.

the relationship, the bantering was very fun and the miscommunication was not unnecessary as they had years of not seeing eachother alongside animosity. seeing ali and nico talking and finally realizing what was behind years of resentment and hostility was very satisfying. nico was a great partner for anne li and seeing him fight for their relationship, even when the struggle was her insecurities, made him such a great partner.

overall, i had a lot of fun with this book and its plot. the characters had a lot of depth which kept me entertained. i can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for this series.

── preread

super excited to read this cause i was really intrigued by the premise :P

ⓘ thank you netgalley, anna kirk shaw & victory editing for this arc in exchange for an honest review

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by Ana Kirk Shaw.

I was intrigued by the blurb and the cover and had high hopes. Sadly this book didn't fully convince me. Tbh I almost quit reading in the beginning. But then I went back and read some early reviews. One having the exact problem with the story than I had at this point. It was confusing, the prologue didn't work for me at all. I had trouble finding into the story and a connection with the characters. However, the review recommended to keep going. So I did.

It did get better and easier. But I still missed the spark. To me it also wasn't as funny as I thought it would be. It was entertaining, though. I loved the character development and in the end I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would when I started it.

It was a good read, but nothing outstanding.

[loya-yalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Легко читається) живі, складні герої ❤️які розмовляють і чують один одного, хоч і не відразу)
P.S не читати на голодний шлунок))))
І хочу продовження про сестру))

[Nikole Babcock · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 70%. This book has all the things that normally call to me, but I couldn’t get over the lack of chemistry and the FMC. Listen, I love a bitchy take-no-shit type of gal, which is what I think the book was trying to do, but instead Ani just came off absolutely vile and self-centered. She was unlikable and a literal bully, and up to the point where I stopped there was nothing redeemable about her. She made his life literal hell but all is forgiven after a dry hump sesh? Pass. I tried to push through to see where this would go, but the constant whip lash and immature dialogue lost me.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect as I've never read anything by Ana previously—something I will be rectifying asap btw, but I loved every messy, chaotic, slightly toxic minute of The Naked Truth. It was so steamy, fun, and chock full of hilarious banter, but was also unexpectedly emotional.

I kind of loved that Annie was an absolute trainwreck (but working on it), sharp tongued, and willing to throw down for those she loved. Not that Nico was a saint by any means, but Annie's character just resonated with me.

& Nico, bless him. I loved him so much. Once he saw past the walls constructed and all the pressure Annie has/had put on herself, I loved how he weathered the hurricane that is Annie and her emotions. She needed someone to stay and see the best in her, and I'm so glad that he did.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- sex worker (naked chef) + ghostwriter
- black cat x golden retriever
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- road trip
- only one bed
- secret identity
- kinks on kinks
- dirty talk

[ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony Bourdain I love you

[✨books_19✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

what a waste of my time
I went into this book really excited because not only did the cover have me hooked but also the description
and then this book literally sucked
first of all the plot was all over the place, nothing that was happening made sense they were just going from restaurant to restaurant talking about how crazy Annie was
and i thought they were supposed to be enemies but from the start it was clear there was a connection and she was constantly in need of his reassurance and she was crying at random times like it made no sense the plot just sucked
Annie also was awful she was plain annoying mean and over dramatic
Noah also annoyed me because he couldnt shut up about this food science mumbo jumbo
the spice was meh and written weird
save your time dont read this

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Maybe stability isn’t peace and quiet. It’s staying. It’s choosing someone again and again, even when it’s messy.”

5 Stars — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Naked Truth is an intimate and emotionally honest read that surprised me in the best way. The writing feels raw and personal, as if you are being invited into someone’s most vulnerable thoughts.

I loved how the story leans into self reflection and emotional exposure without overcomplicating it. There is a quiet softness beneath the intensity that makes the moments of connection feel genuine and meaningful.

There is a softness beneath the intensity that really stayed with me. Moments of connection, longing, and self discovery are handled with care, giving the book a depth that goes beyond surface level emotion. It is the kind of read that makes you pause, reflect, and maybe even see parts of yourself in the pages

Overall, this book stayed with me in a gentle, thoughtful way. It is tender, introspective, and quietly powerful, a story that lingers after the final page and leaves you reflecting long after you have finished reading.

[Steph Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the publisher Victory Edititng Netgalley co-op for providing me with this arc for review through NetGalley. The below review is my own personal thought.

❤️enemies to lovers
❤️childhood/ early adult rivalry
❤️ 🌽 star/ creator
❤️ road trip
❤️ hidden identity
❤️black cat FMC
❤️golden retriever MMC
❤️spicy 🌶️

The below may not necessarily include ‘spoilers’ but I don’t want to give anything away

5 ⭐️ read i finished this within 24 hours, found it so easy to go with the flow of the story. I loved the back and forth ‘banter’ between Nico and Annie they were funny and it was definitely clear they had ben like that for a long time. The spicy scenes were spicy and i loved every second of reading them. The sexual chemistry between them unknowingly before that just meant the spice was even better when they got round to it. The connection that grew between them was amazing to read about from both povs’. I did genuinely feel for Annie and her struggles it was very clear how hard it was for her to let anyone in but i was so happy they got their HEA and Nico was not the kind of man to give up.
I think Annie as very misunderstood and no one seemed to take the time to really find out why, she was very much a black cat personality, she was also quite stubborn, snarky and independent but i loved her!
Nico is a golden retriever type of man that seems to have all the love in the world, he seems like such a shy gentle soul but is willing to fight for what he wants. He definitely loves his family that is very clear when you discover the reasons for hiss choices.
There is some cheating which is mentioned and does cause some drama but this is not between the main characters.
The only thing I couldn’t get behind was the way Nico would call Annie ‘honey’ i think this started as a way of annoying her but turned into a term of endearment when he started to get feelings for her. The realisation of that in itself was beautiful it is just not the sort of term i like, i preferred when he would call her anything else.
Overall i absolutely adored this book from start to finish. The ending they had was full of so much love and happiness and was exactly the sort of ending i hoped they would have. It was so warming to jump several years in the future and get a glimpse of their lives together.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this up as a light palette-cleanser and was served poop on a plate. Not only is this book Not Good, but I am extremely confident that this author used AI at the least to generate several parts. These segments have all the hallmarks of AI writing: odd parallelisms, overuse of triplets, contrastive rhetorical framing, em dashes, weird inspirational pivots, and incredibly predictable rhythm! But don’t just take my fallible human word for it. I fed the following passage to 5 different AI writing detectors and every one said that the passage was either AI-generated or used AI-generated segments.

If you’re looking for a normal cookbook, I should warn you: this isn’t it. Yes, there are recipes. Some are precise. Others are more of a suggestion. A few were born during late nights in industrial kitchens, all burned fingers and bad lighting. Others came to life in the quiet—slow mornings, long afternoons, the only sound someone breathing across the counter. But none of them exists just for the food. Because this book isn’t just about food. It’s about the burn of wanting. The sweetness of trying. The strange alchemy of care. It’s about chemistry—the molecular kind, and the human kind. The kind that simmers low and slow, or sparks hot and irreversible. The kind that lingers on your tongue long after it’s gone. The kind that sneaks up on you in a kitchen, when you’re just trying to make something decent, and suddenly you realize you’re making something that means something. Cooking is chemistry, yeah. I can tell you the exact temperature beef fat begins to render. I can explain the molecular structure of an emulsion, the bonds in caramel, the slow miracle of a reduction. Science demands respect. Timing. Attention. The Maillard reaction doesn’t give a shit about your feelings. It needs the heat high, the surface dry, and the contact exact. But even the most scientific recipes can’t account for grief. Or joy. Or memory. They won’t tell you how laughter gets caught in the shell of a crawfish. How bacon and eggs the morning after can feel like a truce. Or how ice cream for breakfast can feel like equilibrium. How honey, slow and sticky on your fingers, can feel like love. There was a time I thought I had to keep every part of myself separated—my past, my work, my body, my family, my future. Like I could compartmentalize myself into being palatable. But real flavor needs contrast. Sweet and acid. Soft and sharp. Something to burn, and something to cool it down. This book came out of a season of undoing. Of unlearning shame. Of finding ways to say what I couldn’t say out loud. It’s full of recipes, yeah—but also full of risk. Of things I made when I didn’t think I was allowed to want anything. Of moments that demanded truth when I wanted to hide. Of the ways I’ve tried to be brave. Of mistakes I didn’t think I could come back from. Because sometimes, one wrong move can ruin everything. One missed cue, and you scorch the pan. Overbeat the eggs. Oversalt the broth. You lose the thing you didn’t even know you’d been building toward. But if you’re lucky—and if you care enough—you try again. You taste as you go. You make adjustments. You get better. Not perfect, just braver. Because cooking isn’t about perfection. It’s about attention. About presence. It’s about watching something change under heat and not walking away. Letting it get messy. Giving it time. Giving it care. Trusting it to bloom. You improvise. You ruin things. You start again. You remember how someone takes their coffee, and you try to get it right next time. You feed people the way you want to be fed. That’s what this book is about. It’s about split-second timing and slow forgiveness. About chemistry, memory, and the miracle of what softens when it’s seen, what melts when you look at it long enough. About the truth that heat, when applied with care, can turn almost anything tender. I’ve never been the one with the right words. That’s her superpower. But I know what it means to try. To keep trying. To beg. To make something with both hands and hope it lands as love. This book? It’s messy. It’s meticulous. It’s full of heat, hunger, and a hell of a lot of heart. It’s: Here. I made this. It’s: I thought of you the whole time. It’s: You’re allowed to want more. Please come back for seconds. Let’s begin.

I can only hope this writing is AI-generated because if not, YIKES. How the fuck does “laughter get caught in the shell of a crawfish”?

I’m embarrassed both because I picked this book up in the first place, and because it took me 60 pages to figure out the obvious AI use. In conclusion: a big fuck you to the author for wasting my goddamn time. Wish you’d had the courage to at least write bad like a human instead of bad like a machine!

[Tanisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.**

[emotionALLYreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Naked Truth was the perfect book made with “love and a little bit of chaos”.
Let’s put aside the fact that I was won over by the Romantasy, Jersey Shore, Game of Thrones and My Chemical Romance references, this book was probably the best romcom I have ever read.
I was immediately drawn to both Annie and Nico. They were funny, relatable, and had sexual tension as thick as Nico’s accent.
This wasn’t just a road trip navigating their way to Annie’s sister’s wedding in Florida, it was also a road map on how to accept hard truths. The immense pressure Annie and Nico put on themselves is one that came with a timer that was ready to explode. By finding out that together, they are a perfect combination, they are able to heal for the first time in years. I found that I was able to heal too.
Ana Kirk Shaw wrote a smart, poetic, hilarious book that has me drooling for more. I cannot wait for everyone to experience this magic.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even nowhere to begin this review. I’ve had this book in my Kindle Library for awhile, and I had some downtime and I was looking for a feel good book and oh my God did this book hit every single check mark. I was laughing. I was crying…the spice level, It’s so hot. You might need to get outta the kitchen. if you are a cook for me. this book hit on so many levels of addiction,being the oldest, spiraling out of control, feeling like the disappointment in your family, and at the end, giving up control she found the relationship and happiness that you wish you had with your significant other that you would hope in aspire to have. The cooking lingo and everything like that ooh, it got me hot as much as the spiced it absolutely giggling loved every single minute of it. I need the second two books to find out more of what’s going on about the other characters

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to Expect:
Hidden Identities
Cam Guy/Ghost Writer
Hate to Love
Forced Proximity
Road Trip

What happens when you end up on a road trip with your high school nemesis? If its Nico and Annie, then they get down and dirty. This book had me cackling one moment and then nearly crying for Annie and Nico in the next breath. These characters are raw, real and complicated and I could not get enough of their journey.

What attracted me most to the story was Nico's hidden identity as a cam guy and Annie's hidden identity as his ghostwriter. The way this revelation played out was brilliant.

[Kelsey H · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 💕

[carmie voracious reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf :[

the start was such a drag i couldn’t get into it no matter how hard i tried.

[LauraxChristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

**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.

[Lauren Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Naked Truth starts off as a sharp, funny enemies-to-lovers romcom filled with strong chemistry, clever banter, and a compelling secret-identity hook. After a public social disaster at her twin sister’s engagement party, Annie Li agrees to a weeklong road trip to a wedding with her longtime nemesis, Nico Giannuzzi. At the same time, she is secretly ghostwriting a cookbook for an anonymous adult content creator whose emails she has been flirting with for months. Naturally, the lines between these two situations begin to blur.

The first half of the book is where it shines. The pining, will-they-won’t-they tension, and flirtation are extremely well done, and the chemistry between Annie and Nico crackles. Annie is introduced as remarkably smart, capable, and self-possessed, with a sharp edge that makes her dynamic with Nico feel fiery and fun. The banter is strong, the road trip setup works well, and the slow unveiling of secrets adds intrigue without frustration.

However, partway through the story, the characterization of Annie shifts in a way that did not fully work for me. While I understand the intention of showing Nico breaking down her emotional walls, it felt like those walls gave way too completely. Annie’s confidence and swagger gave way to constant emotional spiraling, and she began to feel more needy than nuanced. I found myself missing the earlier version of her, the one with fire in her eyes rather than tears, and felt that the romance lost some of its spark as a result.

Overall, The Naked Truth delivers a strong premise, great early chemistry, and an engaging enemies-to-lovers setup, even if the character arc did not land as well for me in the second half. Readers who enjoy road trip romances, secret identities, and emotional vulnerability may still find this satisfying, especially if they prefer softer character transformations over sharp-edged banter throughout.

Trigger/Content Notes: Explicit sexual references, emotional distress, past reputational harm, family conflict.
ARC Disclosure: Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.