Love Bytes

by Rory Quinn

Paige thought she could code her perfect match. Turns out love bytes back.

Paige Reynolds trusts logic far more than she trusts people. Which is why she secretly created CupidCode, her personal project meant to bring a little order to the messiness of dating. But when she tests it on herself and the screen flashes one infuriating name, her entire brain promptly short-circuits.

Alex Spencer.
Her office rival.
Her daily irritation.
Her perfect match.

Paige is determined to ignore whatever CupidCode thinks it sees and throws herself back into her work at NexGen Technologies. Just as she pushes the result out of her mind, her boss assigns her to a major new initiative called MindMeld. And of course, her partner on it is Alex. Charming, competitive, impossible to overlook Alex.

As late nights, sharp words, and reluctant teamwork shift into something warmer, Paige clings to her rules. She has boundaries. A plan. A carefully controlled world. Her heart has no interest in following any of it.

When a private mistake puts both her career and her almost-relationship with Alex at risk, Paige has to choose between her rules and her heart. Not even her cleanest code can solve this one for her.

Love Bytes is a modern, heartfelt rivals-to-lovers romantic comedy about two stubborn coworkers, one very inconvenient match result, and the surprising magic of letting someone past your firewall.

Expected publication April 23, 2026

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Paige and Alex are like oil and water, but somehow they make it work. He's the life of the party and she's a total ice queen. They're proof that opposites attract, and then some. I'm right there with Paige, not trusting anyone, especially when it comes to love. But Alex is like a bad habit, he just wears her down. Their love is hotter than a July sidewalk. Check out this spicy page-turner.

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.

[Steph Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Heart of the Story
Love Bytes starts with a premise that hooked me immediately. It features one of my favourite dynamics: he falls first, and she is the relationship-phobic skeptic. The early banter is sharp, and the friction between the FMC and the "marketing guy" MMC provides a fun, office-romance foundation. If you’re looking for a comfy read that focuses on the long-game journey of a relationship, there is a lot to enjoy here.

The Turning Point
However, the reading experience felt a bit like a ship changing course mid-voyage. About halfway through, the FMC’s characterisation shifts significantly; she begins exhibiting neurodiverse traits that weren't established in the opening chapters. While I would have loved to see this representation fully integrated, the late arrival made it feel like the author changed their plan for her character halfway through the writing process.

Structure & Pace
The book suffers from what I call "Web Novel Syndrome"—it feels as though it was originally written in serialised chapters that were later stitched together into a novel. This led to a few frustrations:

Dropped Threads: We see the MMC planning two "big win her back" gestures, yet we never actually get to see the execution.

Pacing: The story drags in the middle, and while the spicy scenes are well-written, some felt unnecessary to the actual plot.

Character Dynamics: The FMC often paints the MMC as the problem, even when she is the one being reluctant or difficult. This made it hard to fully root for her at times as there was a lack of backstory for her that could have explained her relationship-phobia.

Final Verdict
Love Bytes is an entertaining, cosy journey, but it lacks the tight "road map" that i need for a novel to truly shine. There are great moments of connection and genuine chemistry, but they are occasionally buried under a plot that feels a bit unplanned.
3.5⭐

Recommended for: Readers who love the "he fell first" trope and don't mind a wandering, character-driven pace.

I received an advance review copy, thanks BookSirens, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Stavroula Kalantzis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Bytes by Rory Quinn is a quintessential rom-com novel about two co-workers who start out as enemies and end up lovers. Their story begins when they are tasked with an AI project titled, "MindMeld" and have to work alongside each other but in doing so, Alex and Paige kick off a rivalry slinging insults at each other and arguing about everything. They eventually put their differences aside to focus on the project and gradually become friends. Their relationship evolves into a romantic tryst yet their individual obstacles to finding happiness are thwarted when Alex and Paige do not find the fulfillment they each desire; Paige's concerns about getting hurt by becoming vulnerable and Alex's concerns about his ailing mother and the worry that Paige is only playing him, prevent them from coming together and an act of seeming betrayal on Alex's side drives Paige away. Eventually Alex sets up a scheme to win Paige back with help from his friend Sam using sophisticated computer programming codes to link with various places associated with their "couple-hood." The novel's ending has a satisfying conclusion with the resolution of their issues and both Paige and Alex come up stronger for it. There are moments of romantic longing and hapless desperation on both their sides but the introduction of Alex's mother, Karen, brings to the story a tearful yet poignant encounter brimming of familial love, new friendships, and hope for the future. I enjoyed reading "Love Bytes" for its potent themes on love, loss, hope, loneliness, friendship, and family togetherness, and the author did a swell job in weaving the above themes into the story. The novel was well written, and the pace was perfectly balanced (not fast but not slow). The narrative was descriptive in its layout of the ongoing drama and the dialogue was intriguingly charming. I congratulate Rory Quinn for a wonderful novel that was easy to read and a literary treat. Kudos! DISCLOSURE: This novel was an ARC I received in NetGalley from the publisher to read and review.

[Jo Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOVE BYTES by RORY QUINN ⭐️⭐️⭐️

After a disastrous dating past,Paige Reynolds, coder extraordinaire, has designed CupidCode, her own dating program which is guaranteed to find her perfect man. When the program matches her with Alex Spencer, her infuriatingly irritating, if handsome coworker, she decides to ignore her codes advice. There is No Way they’re a match!

When the pair are assigned to a new project called MindMeld however, they are forced to work together and it’s not just code that is flying, but the sparks of chemistry….

————————————
I have read some of Rory’s work before so I was looking forward to this book but I have to say for me there was something missing in this read.

The premise is there, there is a decent idea but it felt rushed. I didn’t feel like I could connect with either of the MC’s at all. It kept swinging between them being enemies to falling in bed together, even when they seemed to despise each other then rinse and repeat.

There were plenty of things that could have been expanded on to make this a great read but it fell short. There were also a lot of open door spicy scenes that I felt were there to fill. I also felt like a couple of the plot points were repeated, almost instantly, like she ran out of ideas so just repeated herself.

All that said, this is a fun, spicy, quick read so if you’re looking for something light, and easy then this is for you.


I read an ebook copy of this book at around 110 pages, with a colourful, sketched couple cover and great editing.

With thanks to Rory Quinn and BookSirens for an early read of this book. All comments are my own honest, unbiased opinion.

💻 Close Proximity
💻 Enemies- Lovers
💻 Romantic Comedy
💻 Opposites Attract

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige and Alex . . .

Paige Reynolds is working after hours on her pet project called CupidCode, an AI-driven algorithm attempting to make dating more reliable. Answering a few questions will let the AI deliver your perfect match to your inbox. It's 11 p.m. and she should be going home, but she's close to success and keeps on working. Her friend Jamie stops by and asks how this program is any different from all the rest. Paige tells her that this program focuses on compatibility, gathering data from a varielty of sources and building a comprehensive profile of who you are and what you're looking for in a partner/soulmate. Jamie compares it to a digital stalker! And she also thinks it may be an excuse for Paige to claim she is over her ex Brian, a programmer who lured her in then dumped her for a fashion model. But Paige insists that love is messy and unpredictable while code makes sense and is logical. Her new program will spare users tons of heartache... if it works.

Paige's first test is a huge disappointment. CupidCode selects Alex Spencer, an office rival who irritates her daily! He is certainly not a "perfect" choice for her and she puts her new program aside! So she is quite upset when her boss partners her with Alex on a new project named "MindMeld". More late nights and constant arguing are ahead for her. Their inability to fully trust each other keeps them both on edge. But a mistake will put everything at risk! Will she lose her job over this? And would she have to give Alex up since they sort of were attracted to each other? (I did feel the pacing was occasionally "off" a bit, but the story was still interesting enough to hold my attention.)

[Sierra Havens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige is a logic-driven software engineer who believes code can solve just about anything, including dating. But when her matchmaking algorithm pairs her with her office rival, things get complicated fast. Forced to work closely together on a project with a tight deadline, professional tension slowly blurs into something much more personal, challenging everything Paige thought she could control.

If you enjoy workplace romances with a modern, tech-forward setting, this is a good choice. As someone with a background in Computer Science, I appreciated the coding elements and how they were woven into the story.

The chemistry between the main characters is strong, though the romance moved a bit faster than I expected early on, which made some of the emotional back and forth feel slightly rushed for me. I did find myself wishing a few moments, and some character back story, had more space to develop, but I still enjoyed the banter, tension, and overall dynamic between the two main characters.

There are multiple open-door scenes throughout the book, adding heat to the story without overpowering the romance. The ending was satisfying and left me happy with where the characters landed.

If you enjoy contemporary office romances with rivals-to-lovers energy and a tech/STEM theme, this one is worth picking up.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

[Mona M · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review let’s get into it!

4.8 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️

This was a quick and fun read!

He calls her by her last name microtrope = endgame

Tropes:

Workplace romance
Enemies to Lovers
Enemies with Benefits

Paige Reynolds and Alex Spencer are PERFECT for each other no matter how much denying Paige is willing to do. The pacing in this book was perfect - getting you a taste into them as rivals and slowly shifting into more.

Their tension, the banter and Alex’s POV 👏👏


Quotes:

“more like an intuitive matchmaker”

“You wound me, Reynolds. And here I thought we were friends."

"For the record, Reynolds? I think you're brilliant. Whatever it is you're working on, I have no doubt it's going to change the world."

No, it's better to keep things strictly professional. To focus on the project at hand and try to ignore the persistent tug of attraction I feel whenever she's around.

"Look, Alex, I'm not blind. I see the way you look at her when you think no one's watching. The way your eyes follow her every move, like you can't bear to let her out of your sight."

One minute she's pushing me away, insisting that we keep things strictly professional. And the next, she's kissing me in her doorway and inviting me to stay for dinner.


Happy Reading! - Mona

Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC

[Reda · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a general matter, I really enjoy workplace romances and STEM FMCs, but for me this one fell short. The general premise was easy enough to get behind (enemies to lovers, etc.), but the pacing was really challenging. Reading the book was like watching a movie on 4x speed: you can get the gist of what's going on, but it seems like there are big things missing in the story. And though the spice was well-written, I would have settled for half as many sex scenes in exchange for more substance in the narrative.

One big thing that is missing is character development, especially for the FMC. She's extremely cynical and closed-off, but there's no backstory to explain why she's this way. In the absence of an understandable explanation, her treatment of the MMC frequently just reads as cruel and gas-lighting (why is he always the one trying to fix things he didn't break?).

The other thing that presents a challenge is that some of the chapters seem like they may be in the wrong order. There are at least three instances of important plot points happening twice five chapters apart. I kept wondering whether that was intentional, but I don't think that it is.

I think there were some good ideas here, but this was a miss for me.

Thank you to BookSirens for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.

[Jade Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to fully enjoy this book because it felt like it skipped a final editing pass. Several plot threads appeared briefly and then vanished, and there were continuity slips - at one point a character referenced saying something that, as readers, we hadn’t actually seen yet. Add in the occasional name mix-up or unclear dialogue tag, and some scenes became more confusing than immersive.
The emotional beats were also very on-the-nose. Nearly every chapter wrapped up with a neat little emotional conclusion, which left very little room for nuance or reader interpretation.

Paige, the main character, is written as stubborn, but without enough context to make that trait feel meaningful rather than frustrating. She tends to blame Alex for a lot of her own issues, and since we never really understand what drives her behaviour, it’s hard to root for her growth. As a couple, they didn’t always feel like they had the foundation to last beyond the final page.

The spicy scenes were well written in isolation, but they sometimes felt like they were filling space where more plot or character development could have gone.

By the last 15%, I found myself skimming. Once the couple got together, the story slipped into repetition, and the two epilogues felt excessive - one would have done the job, or better yet, leave a little something to the reader’s imagination.

[Rebecca Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun read, telling the story of Paige and Alex who are two colleagues working on a joint project. To work colleagues they cannot stand each other, but really are secretly attracted to each other. There is tension throughout the first half of the book, however this was also frustrating at times. This was also in part because it appeared that the FMC had experienced some kind of trauma in her past, which led to her pushing Alex away, however this was never explained so it felt like she was doing this against her own best interests and her inability to communicate was annoying.

I enjoyed the early on scenes between Paige and Alex where they were building the tension. This had a satisfying conclusion, although I felt that some parts were rushed. Although I do like that it looks like this is a potential book 1 in a series.

I loved the cover on this one and was one of the reasons that I picked this book.

This book will appeal to people with a computer/coding/STEM background and anyone that likes a good enemies to lovers/workplace romance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lynn_G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant but not especially confident coder Paige has been working in her spare time on a dating app to find not just compatible matches, but The One, the perfect soul mate. As she’s wrapping up the project, it indicates her perfect partner is none other than himbo (in her estimation) and marketing genius Alex. To her further dismay, the bickering she and Alex constantly engage in has drawn the attention of higher ups who make the two of them collaborate on an AI to perform conflict resolution and settle disputes.

As Paige and Alex spend long hours working together on the project, they realize that they’ve each been wrong about the other, and it’s not long before they begin a steamy, “strictly physical” relationship. Alex wants more than Paige is willing to give him, however, and he becomes hurt and frustrated by her lack of interest in trying to make a go of their relationship. A huge misunderstanding with a software developer leads to Paige withdrawing from Alex altogether, and he decides he must come up with a grand gesture or he risks losing her altogether.

I received an advance reader copy from Booksirens, and I’m sharing my honest review.

[Anime Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved the arc for free and I'm leaving my review voluntarily

Where to begin.... Miss Paige Reynolds is an independent, self aware and a damn smart coder. She knows what she wants and she is the one who does not give up until she has what she wants. Past trauma made her give up on feeling. Absolutely no L word ever words in her world.

Alex spencer is the type to hide his grief with sarcasm and flirting. Easy going and 'flirts with everything with a skirt' (not my words)

When her baby, her code, pairs her up with the notorious alex spencer, she is in denial. She is adamant that there's a glitch in her ' meticulously debugged the whole night ' code.

But one stuck elevation is all it took to send the sparks flying. Once ignited, their flame is not easy to distinguish.

What happens when alex spencer, who is a commitment kind of man falls for Paige who is looking for every possible excuse to divert her heart and his efforts into falling in love?

This is such a cute, short, funny and emotional read.

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

This is an entertaining romantic comedy of two very opposite people who cannot deny the love that builds between them.

Paige is an introvert, in the neurodiverse scale, she is afraid ot trust, she is quiet, lonely. Alex is her opposite, he is fun, open, amable. When they are put together to work on a project, they clash, they banter, they fight the magnetic attraction, but her fear of being hurt and his family issues keeps them apart. But he will do the impossible to mend his mistakes, and pursuit her trying to make her understand that she is worth the love she is afraid of.

This is a steamy romantic love story that brings friendship, found family, understanding, hope and a sweet relationship to life!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[The Perimenopause Book Club · Rating 2 out of 5]

The entire book has quick and witty dialogue and great banter. All of the elements required to make a book a 5-star read are in these pages, but it reads as if all of the context and substance that ties all the witty dialogue together was cut out. A few chapters felt a little repetitive; as well as some lines. As a reader who loves dialogue heavy reads, I did find the dialogue extremely well written and fun… I just couldn't connect with either the FMC or the MMC without the context.

BUT - if you are looking for something quick, fun, and has some well written spice, say for a plane ride, then this would be a 4-star version of that.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new stem-inist book from Rory Quinn seemed too interesting to pass up. I was honored enough to get an ARC for my honest review.

This story starts with a very strong enemies plot. You can feel the contempt and loathing from the leads. Unsurprising the leap from hate to love interest is quick when the two are put into forced proximity.

My only issues with the plot were lack of clear consent and contraception when it leapt to a physical role. There were also a couple of confusing points where it eludes to one thing but then back tracks later.

It was an easy read with lots of romantic tension.

[Tara.Ilea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review:

I was really excited for this book as I love reading anything involving women in STEM, especially with a touch of enemies to lovers! As much as this book seemed to be exactly my cup of tea, it fell flat for me personally. The pacing felt very rushed, there was virtually zero backstory or context behind character behaviour, and the dialogue was far too simplistic for my liking. I love romcoms but it still needs to have emotional depth and solid character development, so this just wasn’t it for me.

Thank you to BookSirens for the advanced copy!

[Tayu · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC Review - fast, quick and steamy

To be honest, I didn't really like reading this one so much. I had to put it down more often than not and it was kinda not what I was expecting it to be. I expected some workplace rivalry and banter and yearning, but it turns out this book is just insta-lust and co-workers with benefits that turn into lovers eventually.
I didn't even like the characters that much while reading it and finished it just to finish it. Although Alex is kinda funny and he grew on me. I can see people enjoy it tho it was just not for me.
Especially if you enjoy well written smut and chemistry between the two.

[PW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was elated that a WOMAN is a techie! Paige is definitely a left brain person putting more trust in numbers and what can be quantified. This story is very original and unexpected. I enjoyed how inquisitive Paige is to the point of questioning her own program. Alex is her office rival who she REFUSES to admit she is attracted to🤭. Their banter and push - pull is a very entertaining story .

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSieren, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sarah DeFeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this books was very cute. I loved how the FMC was represented and that the MMC was a total softie. Sometimes the story felt a bit choppy but overall it was a wonderful story. I definitely think the addition of the side characters was crucial especially with Alex. Definitely read this if you are looking for a cute office romance!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathleen Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books where the main characters are in STEM and the author knows what they are talking about. I got caught up in the story and didn’t even realize I’d been reading for 4 hours.

Very swoony and heartfelt book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bev]

Another fabulous story from this amazing author. I loved this one from beginning to end.

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. I found it entertaining and I liked the characters. I’m sure many others will enjoy it too.

[Barbara Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

charming, clever, and proof that sometimes the heart doesn’t care about your carefully written rules.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marlaina Knowlton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Bytes was a fun, modern take on a workplace enemies-to-lovers romance. I really enjoyed the concept of Paige as the brilliant coder behind a matchmaking algorithm—it was refreshing to see her in that role, especially as someone who relies on logic over emotion. Watching her grapple with the idea that her own code might know her better than she knows herself was a clever and entertaining premise.

The banter between Paige and Alex was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their rivalry felt playful and believable, and their dynamic naturally shifted into something warmer as the story unfolded. While the pacing slowed in a few spots, it was still a quick, easy read with several laugh-out-loud moments. And I can’t forget the cat, who added such a cozy, charming touch to the story.

Overall, this was a light, feel-good romance with a cute concept, solid banter, and just enough heart to make it a really enjoyable read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.