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Blue Ridge #1
The Principal Problem
The golden boy who made my childhood miserable is all grown up… and my new boss.
Look, I didn’t run away from my prestigious teaching job. I just… needed a change… as a substitute teacher… in the podunk town I left fourteen years ago.
The cherry on top? The principal is Sawyer Strong, the boy whose relentless teasing would make me cry. And my boss is as good looking as someone dubbed the Prince of Blue Ridge ought to be. Broad chest, bulging biceps, a jawline to make marble statues weep.
I still hate him, and he’s everywhere in this town.
At the bar, caging me against a wall.
Downtown, inviting himself on a double date.
And in a blizzard, getting us snowed in at his cabin with only one bed.
But I’m starting to think he was never as bad as I thought.
He’s steady to my flighty. He kisses me in public like it’s his favorite sport, even as the small town gossip mill makes me itch to run away—I mean… find a permanent job in a real city.
The only problem? I’m falling for the principal.
The Principal Problem is the first book in the Blue Ridge series, and can be read as a standalone. It’s for fans of high heat romances and anyone who loves a juicy history, messy heroines, heroes getting redemption, wrong-side-of-the-tracks dynamics, or a side of humor. There are plenty of steamy scenes and, as always, an HEA. Intended for adult readers.
Look, I didn’t run away from my prestigious teaching job. I just… needed a change… as a substitute teacher… in the podunk town I left fourteen years ago.
The cherry on top? The principal is Sawyer Strong, the boy whose relentless teasing would make me cry. And my boss is as good looking as someone dubbed the Prince of Blue Ridge ought to be. Broad chest, bulging biceps, a jawline to make marble statues weep.
I still hate him, and he’s everywhere in this town.
At the bar, caging me against a wall.
Downtown, inviting himself on a double date.
And in a blizzard, getting us snowed in at his cabin with only one bed.
But I’m starting to think he was never as bad as I thought.
He’s steady to my flighty. He kisses me in public like it’s his favorite sport, even as the small town gossip mill makes me itch to run away—I mean… find a permanent job in a real city.
The only problem? I’m falling for the principal.
The Principal Problem is the first book in the Blue Ridge series, and can be read as a standalone. It’s for fans of high heat romances and anyone who loves a juicy history, messy heroines, heroes getting redemption, wrong-side-of-the-tracks dynamics, or a side of humor. There are plenty of steamy scenes and, as always, an HEA. Intended for adult readers.
404 pages, Paperback
Published December 28, 2025
36 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Sienna Mills
4 books51 followersSienna Mills lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where she spends most of her time dreaming up her next book boyfriend and the woman he’s obsessed with.
If she isn’t writing, she’s with her family.
siennamillsromance.com
sienna@siennamillsromance.com
If she isn’t writing, she’s with her family.
siennamillsromance.com
sienna@siennamillsromance.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 451 reviews
February 6, 2026
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚༉‧₊˚✧˚₊⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
ੈ♡˳ rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars rounded up to 2 for goodreads
ੈ♡˳ spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
ੈ♡˳ summary:
after a situation at the school she taught at forces her to leave town, brie swears she will never go back home. unfortunately, life has other plans, and she ends up returning to blue ridge for a fresh start. the only problem is that her new job places her directly in the path of the one person she never wanted to see again, her childhood bully, who is now the principal. with old resentment, complicated history, and way too much proximity, brie is forced to confront the past while trying to rebuild her life and decide what she really wants for her future. 
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
so let me get this straight. this man bullies her all through elementary school, middle school, and high school, right up until the day she finally leaves town. not because she did anything wrong. not because she hurt him. but because he was scared people would find out he liked her, because she was poor and he was rich, and in his mind that meant they could never be together. so instead of just being normal, or quiet, or literally doing anything else, he chooses to make her life a living hell on purpose. and then years later, when she finds out the reason behind it, her first instinct is to immediately start acting like the sexual tension is stronger than self respect. girl please get up 😭
this story is basically the miscommunication trope’s final boss, and i mean that in the most exhausting way possible. it starts when they are literal children and somehow the emotional logic never evolves past that. the tone shift also threw me off so bad. brie spends forever resenting him, and then out of nowhere she’s thinking about how she wishes he invited her places when they were younger. like ??? you hated him for valid reasons, and now we’re romanticizing him being a menace? it just did not feel believable to me.
i will say, i always try to finish arcs no matter what because i want to give a full review and not just dip the second i get annoyed. but i was honestly so close to dnfing this one. i kept hoping it would click into place emotionally, and it just never fully did for me.
that being said, i do have to give credit where it’s due. the characters had defined backgrounds, and they each had their own story. it didn’t feel like they were just floating through the plot with no purpose. and the smut? yeah. the smut was hot. i cannot lie. it was one of the only things keeping me locked in when i was side eyeing brie’s decision making.
overall, the premise had potential and the spice was genuinely well written, but the emotional progression just made me want to shake both of them gently and hand them a therapy referral.
thank you to the author, the publisher, and netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy. 💛
æ♡˳ tropes:
ꕥ one bed
ꕥ enemies to lovers
ꕥ he falls first
ꕥ small town romance
æ♡˳ fave quotes:
since this was an arc, quotes are subject to change, so i will not be including them in this review 💌📚
ੈ♡˳ rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars rounded up to 2 for goodreads
ੈ♡˳ spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
ੈ♡˳ summary:
after a situation at the school she taught at forces her to leave town, brie swears she will never go back home. unfortunately, life has other plans, and she ends up returning to blue ridge for a fresh start. the only problem is that her new job places her directly in the path of the one person she never wanted to see again, her childhood bully, who is now the principal. with old resentment, complicated history, and way too much proximity, brie is forced to confront the past while trying to rebuild her life and decide what she really wants for her future. 
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
so let me get this straight. this man bullies her all through elementary school, middle school, and high school, right up until the day she finally leaves town. not because she did anything wrong. not because she hurt him. but because he was scared people would find out he liked her, because she was poor and he was rich, and in his mind that meant they could never be together. so instead of just being normal, or quiet, or literally doing anything else, he chooses to make her life a living hell on purpose. and then years later, when she finds out the reason behind it, her first instinct is to immediately start acting like the sexual tension is stronger than self respect. girl please get up 😭
this story is basically the miscommunication trope’s final boss, and i mean that in the most exhausting way possible. it starts when they are literal children and somehow the emotional logic never evolves past that. the tone shift also threw me off so bad. brie spends forever resenting him, and then out of nowhere she’s thinking about how she wishes he invited her places when they were younger. like ??? you hated him for valid reasons, and now we’re romanticizing him being a menace? it just did not feel believable to me.
i will say, i always try to finish arcs no matter what because i want to give a full review and not just dip the second i get annoyed. but i was honestly so close to dnfing this one. i kept hoping it would click into place emotionally, and it just never fully did for me.
that being said, i do have to give credit where it’s due. the characters had defined backgrounds, and they each had their own story. it didn’t feel like they were just floating through the plot with no purpose. and the smut? yeah. the smut was hot. i cannot lie. it was one of the only things keeping me locked in when i was side eyeing brie’s decision making.
overall, the premise had potential and the spice was genuinely well written, but the emotional progression just made me want to shake both of them gently and hand them a therapy referral.
thank you to the author, the publisher, and netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy. 💛
æ♡˳ tropes:
ꕥ one bed
ꕥ enemies to lovers
ꕥ he falls first
ꕥ small town romance
æ♡˳ fave quotes:
since this was an arc, quotes are subject to change, so i will not be including them in this review 💌📚
January 13, 2026
Thank you to the publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I love books where the FMC and the MMC have a history, after Sawyer tormented her all of her childhood Brie absolutely detests him. I really enjoyed it while they were sniping at each at the start of this book, while the tension between them was positively sizzling. As a reader it was really good to have flashbacks of Brie and Sawyer’s most significant childhood interactions in the first half of the book as it gave some insight into the animosity that Brie has for Sawyer and into their checkered past. I really liked both Brie and Sawyer and I really enjoyed their story, I liked Sawyers redemption arc as it was clear he wasn’t the same person that he was before Brie left their home town Blue Ridge. I was really hoping she’d forgive him as he was so kind, caring, thoughtful and protective towards her. I really did enjoy this book it was a cosy and sweet romance, there was a part near the end that made me want to jump out of my seat and shout “Go Brie”. I also liked Brie’s sisters Mara and Gia, Lizzie, Tess, Ethan and Sawyer’s brother Will grew on me but Sawyer’s dad deserved a truckload of karma. I’m really hoping Gia and Will have their own book, I’m intrigued as to why he is against her.
I love books where the FMC and the MMC have a history, after Sawyer tormented her all of her childhood Brie absolutely detests him. I really enjoyed it while they were sniping at each at the start of this book, while the tension between them was positively sizzling. As a reader it was really good to have flashbacks of Brie and Sawyer’s most significant childhood interactions in the first half of the book as it gave some insight into the animosity that Brie has for Sawyer and into their checkered past. I really liked both Brie and Sawyer and I really enjoyed their story, I liked Sawyers redemption arc as it was clear he wasn’t the same person that he was before Brie left their home town Blue Ridge. I was really hoping she’d forgive him as he was so kind, caring, thoughtful and protective towards her. I really did enjoy this book it was a cosy and sweet romance, there was a part near the end that made me want to jump out of my seat and shout “Go Brie”. I also liked Brie’s sisters Mara and Gia, Lizzie, Tess, Ethan and Sawyer’s brother Will grew on me but Sawyer’s dad deserved a truckload of karma. I’m really hoping Gia and Will have their own book, I’m intrigued as to why he is against her.
December 31, 2025
I’ll be honest, I only requested an arc of The Principal Problem on Netgalley based off the cover alone, and had no idea what I was getting myself into. I’m so happy I did though, because Brie and Sawyer’s story was so sweet, spicy, and way more emotional than I was expecting.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- small town romance
- childhood enemies to lovers
- principal + teacher
- golden boy + hot mess
- he falls first + harder
- forced proximity/snowed in
- only one bed
- pining
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- small town romance
- childhood enemies to lovers
- principal + teacher
- golden boy + hot mess
- he falls first + harder
- forced proximity/snowed in
- only one bed
- pining
January 12, 2026
3.5⭐️
“I still can’t believe how lucky I am. After all the mistakes I made with you.”
this story follows brie, who due to a scandal that happened in between her and her last school she was teaching, has had to run back to the place she hates the most, her hometown that she escaped from 14 years ago. on the first day for teaching at the middle school there, she meets sawyer, the new principal for this school, and her bully during her school years. here enters sawyer, who never thought that the girl he used to tease relentlessly would come back to this town, nevertheless be his employee. he realizes this is his one opportunity at any type of forgiveness from her, and would do anything for it…
in all honesty, i read the blurb on netgalley and thought the story seemed interesting, and have never heard of this author before this, and it was actually pretty good! i enjoyed the storyline, and seeing the redemption of sawyer become accountable for his actions rather than it just getting swept away was really great to read. i also really enjoyed the romance between sawyer and brie, and despite the complications in their relationship earlier, you could really see their love shine through while reading! the small town elements were also really fun to read about! overall a really short, fast paced winter romance read!
thank you netgalley and victory editing netgalley co-op!!
“I still can’t believe how lucky I am. After all the mistakes I made with you.”
this story follows brie, who due to a scandal that happened in between her and her last school she was teaching, has had to run back to the place she hates the most, her hometown that she escaped from 14 years ago. on the first day for teaching at the middle school there, she meets sawyer, the new principal for this school, and her bully during her school years. here enters sawyer, who never thought that the girl he used to tease relentlessly would come back to this town, nevertheless be his employee. he realizes this is his one opportunity at any type of forgiveness from her, and would do anything for it…
in all honesty, i read the blurb on netgalley and thought the story seemed interesting, and have never heard of this author before this, and it was actually pretty good! i enjoyed the storyline, and seeing the redemption of sawyer become accountable for his actions rather than it just getting swept away was really great to read. i also really enjoyed the romance between sawyer and brie, and despite the complications in their relationship earlier, you could really see their love shine through while reading! the small town elements were also really fun to read about! overall a really short, fast paced winter romance read!
thank you netgalley and victory editing netgalley co-op!!
January 4, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
The book follows Brie, who, due to scandal and change of work place, returns to her hometown, from where she escaped 14 years ago. On the first day, she meets Sawyer, who has been bullying her throughout their school years.
I liked that the book is easy and quick to read, the story pulls you in and doesn't let you go until the end, as well as the quality writing with lots of sparks between the main characters. In short, this is a book about growing up and righting the wrongs of the past.
I didn't like that there wasn't enough grovel, Brie was too quick and too easy to forgive other people's actions that made her life difficult.
Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
The book follows Brie, who, due to scandal and change of work place, returns to her hometown, from where she escaped 14 years ago. On the first day, she meets Sawyer, who has been bullying her throughout their school years.
I liked that the book is easy and quick to read, the story pulls you in and doesn't let you go until the end, as well as the quality writing with lots of sparks between the main characters. In short, this is a book about growing up and righting the wrongs of the past.
I didn't like that there wasn't enough grovel, Brie was too quick and too easy to forgive other people's actions that made her life difficult.
Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
January 8, 2026
ARC REVIEW ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ + 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Loved this book!
Enemies to lovers
Emotional damage that needs resolving for both characters
Great character development
Just the right amount of romance and spice.
Sawyer and Brie together are an absolute dream team.
Low key feel like a need a book about Nash!
Definitely worth a read!!
Loved this book!
Enemies to lovers
Emotional damage that needs resolving for both characters
Great character development
Just the right amount of romance and spice.
Sawyer and Brie together are an absolute dream team.
Low key feel like a need a book about Nash!
Definitely worth a read!!
February 4, 2026
*I received an ARC of this in exchange for my honest review* 4.75! This was so fun, I loved Sawyer and Brie as a couple and thought their character arcs were really good! I personally love a man who owns up to his wrongs and takes accountability and Sawyer was great about holding himself accountable. Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a good book! Thanks to Sienna Mills and her team for the ARC!
February 6, 2026
In a fly by night situation Brie Casey is coming home to Blue Ridge. Comforting to most this is the absolute worst case scenario for Brie. She had a childhood that was equal parts cruel and devastating and this is the last place she saw herself being ever again but her former public school had a last minute job opening and she had to take it. Enter Sawyer Strong Bries childhood bully and a major reason she left Blue Ridge at a run and now he’s her new boss? Principal Strong in a bit of a pinch himself has hired Brie to be his third grade teacher despite all their years of history. Has Sawyer grown up and seen the error of his ways and this job is an olive branch or is this just an opportunity to continue his cruelness?
Let me begin with saying that I loved this book and here are my reasons why. The depth of topics unpacked in this work were truly amazing and the character development was unmatched. You meet Brie as a teenager trying her best just to get though the days. She’s bullied at school mercilessly and her home life is nothing short of horrific. She’s trying to hold her family together both emotionally and financially and keep up a brave face at school all the while counting down the days until she can leave. She’s bullied in every way imaginable and she has this inner strength that’s so inspiring. Fast forward to her adult life when she has to come home and take a job with her old bully and the community that has caused extreme and lasting emotional damage. Here’s that inner strength again. Not many people could come back to the place or people that had such a negative impact on the majority of their life. Brie is not without her trust issues but throughout the book she begins to open up to those who care about her and you see her becoming the best version of herself. Let’s talk Sawyer for a minute. At the beginning of the book I despised him and his merry band of boys but then you start to see he was just a kid trying to get through his life too. Being the mayors son and the “prince” of Blue Ridge didn’t come with out its challenges. I would never endorse bullying or make excuses for it but you see him later as a remorseful adult trying his best to undo the sins of his past and doing the work to unpack his unhealthy childhood mistakes. This multifaceted work is a winner folks.
Let me begin with saying that I loved this book and here are my reasons why. The depth of topics unpacked in this work were truly amazing and the character development was unmatched. You meet Brie as a teenager trying her best just to get though the days. She’s bullied at school mercilessly and her home life is nothing short of horrific. She’s trying to hold her family together both emotionally and financially and keep up a brave face at school all the while counting down the days until she can leave. She’s bullied in every way imaginable and she has this inner strength that’s so inspiring. Fast forward to her adult life when she has to come home and take a job with her old bully and the community that has caused extreme and lasting emotional damage. Here’s that inner strength again. Not many people could come back to the place or people that had such a negative impact on the majority of their life. Brie is not without her trust issues but throughout the book she begins to open up to those who care about her and you see her becoming the best version of herself. Let’s talk Sawyer for a minute. At the beginning of the book I despised him and his merry band of boys but then you start to see he was just a kid trying to get through his life too. Being the mayors son and the “prince” of Blue Ridge didn’t come with out its challenges. I would never endorse bullying or make excuses for it but you see him later as a remorseful adult trying his best to undo the sins of his past and doing the work to unpack his unhealthy childhood mistakes. This multifaceted work is a winner folks.
January 20, 2026
2.5! thank you netgalley & publisher for the ARC <3
Cutest cover EVEEEERRRR which was largely why I requested this one, and the first third really had potential! You can tell that the author is a genuinely good writer, and I’d definitely consider reading more by them in the future, but the plot… hm. I’m not sure if the author/ publisher are classing this that way themselves, but this was basically an enemies to lovers; subgenre, bully romance. I’ve only ever read bully romances before in fantasy, and I fear that that was for good reason… it just makes no sense in the real world. Like if there’s a whole world and countless lives at stake somehow, you can do some mental gymnastics to justify (usually the male) character’s actions towards the (usually female) protagonist, and eventually root for them to get together, but in the real world? In a small town where the basic justification for the MMC bullying her for their ENTIRE childhood is ‘she’s really pretty and I like her but she’s poor so I’m not allowed to so I’m just going to emotionally abuse her for 12 years’ ?????????????????????????? like brother… I fear that it’s simply not serious enough to remotely justify that. Which, in turn, makes it very hard to root for the FMC to get with him since, ultimately, it’s only about expecting her to overcome her issues with him, and not a two way street. There’s also the whole added element of the power dynamic with him being her boss… which I just don’t think was explored enough for my liking, especially considering Brie’s past trauma with a similar scenario. I WILL say that I did appreciate that the flashbacks to their childhood weren’t held over our heads though; they got them out of the way in the first third and then just focused on trying to build their adult relationship for the rest. Anyway! Moral of the story: author with great potential, but truly terrible & unbelievable premise.
Cutest cover EVEEEERRRR which was largely why I requested this one, and the first third really had potential! You can tell that the author is a genuinely good writer, and I’d definitely consider reading more by them in the future, but the plot… hm. I’m not sure if the author/ publisher are classing this that way themselves, but this was basically an enemies to lovers; subgenre, bully romance. I’ve only ever read bully romances before in fantasy, and I fear that that was for good reason… it just makes no sense in the real world. Like if there’s a whole world and countless lives at stake somehow, you can do some mental gymnastics to justify (usually the male) character’s actions towards the (usually female) protagonist, and eventually root for them to get together, but in the real world? In a small town where the basic justification for the MMC bullying her for their ENTIRE childhood is ‘she’s really pretty and I like her but she’s poor so I’m not allowed to so I’m just going to emotionally abuse her for 12 years’ ?????????????????????????? like brother… I fear that it’s simply not serious enough to remotely justify that. Which, in turn, makes it very hard to root for the FMC to get with him since, ultimately, it’s only about expecting her to overcome her issues with him, and not a two way street. There’s also the whole added element of the power dynamic with him being her boss… which I just don’t think was explored enough for my liking, especially considering Brie’s past trauma with a similar scenario. I WILL say that I did appreciate that the flashbacks to their childhood weren’t held over our heads though; they got them out of the way in the first third and then just focused on trying to build their adult relationship for the rest. Anyway! Moral of the story: author with great potential, but truly terrible & unbelievable premise.
January 10, 2026
"Fun, witty, banter filled dialogue, with redemption arcs and character growth for everyone!"
Brie is forced to return home after the gossip and pressure at her elite teaching job forces her to make a change. After returning to her not home home town of Blue Ridge, she is thrown back in the path of her least favorite person in all of Blue Ridge, and her childhood, Sawyer. Trying to escape her past in a small town and figure out where to go next is only one of the things Brie faces while being back.
This book has all the best parts contemporary romance, with just the right amount of spice to feel the draw our two main characters have to each other.
If you ever lived in a small town where everyone knows everyone and the same restaurant has been owned and run by the same town couple for 50 years, you will feel right a home in Blue Ridge. I had a hard time putting this book down to accomplish anything else over the three days I read it.
The characters are intriguing and have a depth some romance books are missing, and a MMC written to love kids, naturally be good with them, and show that soft side often was so refreshing and made me melt. The supporting characters have just enough story and in put that I hope we get a stand alone for every single one of them (well except for Rich....) and the found family, blended family that makes us all long for home and the days we could see our sisters and best friends every day is felt through every small step our FMC makes.
Spoilers To Follow
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Brie is forced to return home after the gossip and pressure at her elite teaching job forces her to make a change. After returning to her not home home town of Blue Ridge, she is thrown back in the path of her least favorite person in all of Blue Ridge, and her childhood, Sawyer. Trying to escape her past in a small town and figure out where to go next is only one of the things Brie faces while being back.
This book has all the best parts contemporary romance, with just the right amount of spice to feel the draw our two main characters have to each other.
If you ever lived in a small town where everyone knows everyone and the same restaurant has been owned and run by the same town couple for 50 years, you will feel right a home in Blue Ridge. I had a hard time putting this book down to accomplish anything else over the three days I read it.
The characters are intriguing and have a depth some romance books are missing, and a MMC written to love kids, naturally be good with them, and show that soft side often was so refreshing and made me melt. The supporting characters have just enough story and in put that I hope we get a stand alone for every single one of them (well except for Rich....) and the found family, blended family that makes us all long for home and the days we could see our sisters and best friends every day is felt through every small step our FMC makes.
Spoilers To Follow
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
January 14, 2026
This is a small town romance following a teacher and the principal after she suddenly comes back to town. No one knows the circumstances which lead her to return after her much enthusiastic departure, but Sawyer is overjoyed. The girl he teased in school and was (and still is) obsessed with is back. And he’s determined to redeem himself.
I wasn’t sure how Sawyer could prove himself to Brie, but the author does an incredible job with making him grovel. He makes no excuses, because there are none for being mean to her all these years, but feels deep remorse and we see that throughout the book. He constantly shows up for her, helping her through a date disaster, and saving her from a snowstorm. There is no point in the book where I doubted his affection for Brie and although it takes her a while to get used to, they finally find space to forgive each other. It was hard for Brie to match the boy who tormented her to the man who takes care of her.
I found the side characters like Brie’s sisters and the town residents witty and interesting. Overall a great binge-worthy read.
Thank you to the author for an early copy.
I wasn’t sure how Sawyer could prove himself to Brie, but the author does an incredible job with making him grovel. He makes no excuses, because there are none for being mean to her all these years, but feels deep remorse and we see that throughout the book. He constantly shows up for her, helping her through a date disaster, and saving her from a snowstorm. There is no point in the book where I doubted his affection for Brie and although it takes her a while to get used to, they finally find space to forgive each other. It was hard for Brie to match the boy who tormented her to the man who takes care of her.
I found the side characters like Brie’s sisters and the town residents witty and interesting. Overall a great binge-worthy read.
Thank you to the author for an early copy.
January 3, 2026
3.25 stars rounded down
For the first 70% of this book, I thought this would be a 4 star read. It’s a fun and light romance where a woman unexpectedly returns to her hometown and catches feelings for her former bully. The small town setting feels cozy, and the banter between MCs was entertaining. The setup is super promising, but the story suffers from a few flaws.
While I enjoyed the development of Brie and Sawyer’s romance, and the author did a good job building tension between the two, I thought there was an imbalance of the characters on the page. There was not enough development and description given to the side characters (Dev, Brie’s friends/sisters, Sawyer’s friends/brother), so those characters and relationships fell flat. Meanwhile, it felt like there was too much internal conflict from Brie and Sawyer as the third act conflict unfolded, and at a certain point it felt repetitive to prior character development.
This is also not a particularly realistic story (beyond what you might expect). In particular, when it comes to Brie’s job interview, the conflict with the board toward the end felt over the top and rushed, and that conflict subsequently resolved very quickly. It also felt odd that the principal is simply allowed to have a relationship with a teacher they manage. None of the other characters batted an eye to the boss/employee relationship, which seemed unrealistic for that scenario. Lastly, despite saying they would take it slow earlier in the book, both characters decide that doesn’t need to include going slow sexually. In the epilogue, they appear to move in together within two weeks, which makes me wonder what part of their relationship is left to go slow?
I think plenty of romance readers will still enjoy this book - the romantic chemistry and small town vibes are there, I only wish the plot was a bit more grounded and the characters felt more balanced.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this arc. These opinions are my own.
For the first 70% of this book, I thought this would be a 4 star read. It’s a fun and light romance where a woman unexpectedly returns to her hometown and catches feelings for her former bully. The small town setting feels cozy, and the banter between MCs was entertaining. The setup is super promising, but the story suffers from a few flaws.
While I enjoyed the development of Brie and Sawyer’s romance, and the author did a good job building tension between the two, I thought there was an imbalance of the characters on the page. There was not enough development and description given to the side characters (Dev, Brie’s friends/sisters, Sawyer’s friends/brother), so those characters and relationships fell flat. Meanwhile, it felt like there was too much internal conflict from Brie and Sawyer as the third act conflict unfolded, and at a certain point it felt repetitive to prior character development.
This is also not a particularly realistic story (beyond what you might expect). In particular, when it comes to Brie’s job interview, the conflict with the board toward the end felt over the top and rushed, and that conflict subsequently resolved very quickly. It also felt odd that the principal is simply allowed to have a relationship with a teacher they manage. None of the other characters batted an eye to the boss/employee relationship, which seemed unrealistic for that scenario. Lastly, despite saying they would take it slow earlier in the book, both characters decide that doesn’t need to include going slow sexually. In the epilogue, they appear to move in together within two weeks, which makes me wonder what part of their relationship is left to go slow?
I think plenty of romance readers will still enjoy this book - the romantic chemistry and small town vibes are there, I only wish the plot was a bit more grounded and the characters felt more balanced.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this arc. These opinions are my own.
December 31, 2025
I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is my first book by this author, and I’m officially sold. I literally finished this book in one day. The story follows Brie and Sawyer, who grew up together and absolutely hated each other or did they 🤪. When Brie moves back to town, she finds out her childhood nemesis is now her boss. I think you can imagine what happens next. 😉
As a teacher, I really appreciated how well the author portrayed how a school actually works—it felt realistic and thoughtfully done. Would I ever picture myself dating my boss? Heck no… but then again, my boss doesn’t look like Sawyer.
This book had a great balance of plot and spice. I’m giving it 4.5 stars because Brie started to get on my nerves a bit toward the end, but she eventually pulled herself together, which redeemed it for me.
This is my first book by this author, and I’m officially sold. I literally finished this book in one day. The story follows Brie and Sawyer, who grew up together and absolutely hated each other or did they 🤪. When Brie moves back to town, she finds out her childhood nemesis is now her boss. I think you can imagine what happens next. 😉
As a teacher, I really appreciated how well the author portrayed how a school actually works—it felt realistic and thoughtfully done. Would I ever picture myself dating my boss? Heck no… but then again, my boss doesn’t look like Sawyer.
This book had a great balance of plot and spice. I’m giving it 4.5 stars because Brie started to get on my nerves a bit toward the end, but she eventually pulled herself together, which redeemed it for me.
January 7, 2026
Thank you Net Galley and ATLast books for this ARC!!
This was a cute and cozy romance with an fun trope that I have never read before ( principal and substitute
teacher) but really enjoyed. I like how this book is tasteful with the whole teacher and principal thing and that the author didn’t make it creepy. I gave this 4 stars because there is a bad history between the two main love interests of this book and YIKES was it bad. I was just kinda thrown off with how Brie ( the female love interest, teacher) was able to glance over the past even with Sawyer( the male love interest, principal) being a changed man. Overall still really enjoyed this book and would love to read more books by this author.
This was a cute and cozy romance with an fun trope that I have never read before ( principal and substitute
teacher) but really enjoyed. I like how this book is tasteful with the whole teacher and principal thing and that the author didn’t make it creepy. I gave this 4 stars because there is a bad history between the two main love interests of this book and YIKES was it bad. I was just kinda thrown off with how Brie ( the female love interest, teacher) was able to glance over the past even with Sawyer( the male love interest, principal) being a changed man. Overall still really enjoyed this book and would love to read more books by this author.
January 18, 2026
Thank you to the author for sending me this ARC
I liked this book. Brie, I just wanted to hug her the entire time. She was deprived a proper childhood and was left with plenty of unresolved trauma as a result and unfortunately everything had to hit the fan for her to confront it. As for Sawyer, it was precious that he yearned for her all of these years. I do wish we got a bit more of his interactions with his dad or some other people in that circle to really drive home exactly how the actions of Brie's dad tarnished any perception of her and her sisters.
I liked this book. Brie, I just wanted to hug her the entire time. She was deprived a proper childhood and was left with plenty of unresolved trauma as a result and unfortunately everything had to hit the fan for her to confront it. As for Sawyer, it was precious that he yearned for her all of these years. I do wish we got a bit more of his interactions with his dad or some other people in that circle to really drive home exactly how the actions of Brie's dad tarnished any perception of her and her sisters.
January 6, 2026
ARC review. I loved this book. I would have given it 5 ⭐️ but it just fell a little short. It has all the elements of a cute small town romance with a whole lot of smut. The main character, Brie is a whole lot better than I’ll ever be for forgiving her school bully. I could never! I’m keen to explore more from this author now.
January 5, 2026
3.5*
This is a story focusing on two enemies to lovers who unexpectedly find themselves working together at a school after not seeing one another for fourteen years.
Brie, the FMC, was very badly treated during most her school life, bullied and teased by Sawyer, the MMC, and his friends. Reading about how Sawyer treated her hurt to read and as a teacher myself I almost felt disappointed that no adults within the schools seemed to notice the bullying despite some of the events being well known around the small town.
I felt that Brie’s hostile attitude towards Sawyer was totally justified after their past and I was slightly saddened that she forgave him so quickly. His excuses for his actions didn’t really make sense to me. However, I did find myself hoping that he made the right choices in order to keep making progress with Brie and to better himself.
After the hot and cold, emotional back and forth between the two there was a lot of much needed healing.
The writing describes the settings well and the snowy event made me feel very wintry.
Thank you to ATLast Books, the author and NetGalley for this ARC.
This is a story focusing on two enemies to lovers who unexpectedly find themselves working together at a school after not seeing one another for fourteen years.
Brie, the FMC, was very badly treated during most her school life, bullied and teased by Sawyer, the MMC, and his friends. Reading about how Sawyer treated her hurt to read and as a teacher myself I almost felt disappointed that no adults within the schools seemed to notice the bullying despite some of the events being well known around the small town.
I felt that Brie’s hostile attitude towards Sawyer was totally justified after their past and I was slightly saddened that she forgave him so quickly. His excuses for his actions didn’t really make sense to me. However, I did find myself hoping that he made the right choices in order to keep making progress with Brie and to better himself.
After the hot and cold, emotional back and forth between the two there was a lot of much needed healing.
The writing describes the settings well and the snowy event made me feel very wintry.
Thank you to ATLast Books, the author and NetGalley for this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2025
I LOVED this childhood enemies to lovers book. I had the privilege of getting my hands on it early as an ARC and I’m so glad I did!
An amazing writer and storyteller- I fell in love with the characters and their personal development through it all. I did hate Sawyer for most of it but he pulled through towards the end and I forgave him alongside Brie. The forced proximity trope is one of my fav so I LOVED that part of the book.
Huge congrats to the author 👏
An amazing writer and storyteller- I fell in love with the characters and their personal development through it all. I did hate Sawyer for most of it but he pulled through towards the end and I forgave him alongside Brie. The forced proximity trope is one of my fav so I LOVED that part of the book.
Huge congrats to the author 👏
January 9, 2026
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
✩₊˚ ☾┊Thoughts & Summary
I really enjoyed this book more than I expected. We get a glimpse into Sawyer and Brie’s childhood through a few short chapters, and even though it’s only three chapters, it does a great job of showing their dynamic and history.
Kid Sawyer was honestly so mean. Throwing Brie’s little pink mouse—Squeakers—into the bin broke my heart. That toy meant everything to her. It was given to her by her mom when she was a baby, so that moment really stuck with me and made me feel for young Brie 🥹
That being said, Sawyer has clearly changed a lot. He genuinely regrets his past actions, and you can see that growth throughout the story. One moment that really stood out to me was when he told his old friend—the one who bullied Brie—to back off or their friendship was over. That alone showed how much he’s matured.
There’s also a slow, underlying tension between Sawyer and Brie that I really loved. It’s not insta-love, even though the chemistry is definitely there. Since I love a good slow burn, this worked perfectly for me.
ׂ╰┈➤ Tropes
❀ Small town
❀ He falls first
❀ Teacher x Principal
❀ Childhood nemeses
❀ Snowed in
──── 𝜗𝜚
⋆˚࿔ Sawyer Strong 𝜗𝜚˚
Child Sawyer was honestly awful. He was a full-on bully, and the Squeakers incident still hurts to think about. That said, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for him as a kid, even though his actions were wrong. He was clearly dealing with his own struggles too.
Adult Sawyer, however, is a completely different person. He’s matured, taken accountability, and you can tell he’s put in the work to change. I really liked that he talked about going to therapy in the past and how it helped him grow into a better person.
And let’s be honest—he was obsessed with Brie the entire time. Since childhood. HELLO??? That yearning was everything.
⋆˚࿔ Brie Casey 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
Brie is such a sweetheart. I wanted to hug her so badly, especially her younger self. Despite everything she went through, she never backed down or lost her softness.
I genuinely liked her character the entire time. She was never annoying or frustrating to read about, which is something I loved reading. She felt real, kind, and strong in a quiet way.
My heart really hurt for her because of how the town treated her. Everyone judged her based on her father’s reputation, and because of that, she was never given the respect she deserved. It was so unfair, especially since Brie is genuinely such a good person.
⋆˚࿔ Brie & Sawyer 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
Despite their past, their chemistry was so good. Brie is trying hard not to fall for him, while Sawyer is already falling harder, knowing she may never want him the same way. That emotional tension added so much depth to their relationship.
I also liked how similar they actually are. Both of them have complicated relationships with their fathers, and that shared experience connects them in ways they don’t immediately realize.
The cabin scenes really elevated their dynamic. Being snowed in together allowed them to truly spend time with each other, build more tension, and gave Brie the chance to see just how much Sawyer has changed since they were kids. It added emotional depth and some great sexual tension.
Overall, I 100% enjoyed this book and had such a good time reading it. I would definitely recommend it.
✩₊˚ ☾┊Thoughts & Summary
I really enjoyed this book more than I expected. We get a glimpse into Sawyer and Brie’s childhood through a few short chapters, and even though it’s only three chapters, it does a great job of showing their dynamic and history.
Kid Sawyer was honestly so mean. Throwing Brie’s little pink mouse—Squeakers—into the bin broke my heart. That toy meant everything to her. It was given to her by her mom when she was a baby, so that moment really stuck with me and made me feel for young Brie 🥹
That being said, Sawyer has clearly changed a lot. He genuinely regrets his past actions, and you can see that growth throughout the story. One moment that really stood out to me was when he told his old friend—the one who bullied Brie—to back off or their friendship was over. That alone showed how much he’s matured.
There’s also a slow, underlying tension between Sawyer and Brie that I really loved. It’s not insta-love, even though the chemistry is definitely there. Since I love a good slow burn, this worked perfectly for me.
ׂ╰┈➤ Tropes
❀ Small town
❀ He falls first
❀ Teacher x Principal
❀ Childhood nemeses
❀ Snowed in
──── 𝜗𝜚
⋆˚࿔ Sawyer Strong 𝜗𝜚˚
Child Sawyer was honestly awful. He was a full-on bully, and the Squeakers incident still hurts to think about. That said, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for him as a kid, even though his actions were wrong. He was clearly dealing with his own struggles too.
Adult Sawyer, however, is a completely different person. He’s matured, taken accountability, and you can tell he’s put in the work to change. I really liked that he talked about going to therapy in the past and how it helped him grow into a better person.
And let’s be honest—he was obsessed with Brie the entire time. Since childhood. HELLO??? That yearning was everything.
⋆˚࿔ Brie Casey 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
Brie is such a sweetheart. I wanted to hug her so badly, especially her younger self. Despite everything she went through, she never backed down or lost her softness.
I genuinely liked her character the entire time. She was never annoying or frustrating to read about, which is something I loved reading. She felt real, kind, and strong in a quiet way.
My heart really hurt for her because of how the town treated her. Everyone judged her based on her father’s reputation, and because of that, she was never given the respect she deserved. It was so unfair, especially since Brie is genuinely such a good person.
⋆˚࿔ Brie & Sawyer 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
Despite their past, their chemistry was so good. Brie is trying hard not to fall for him, while Sawyer is already falling harder, knowing she may never want him the same way. That emotional tension added so much depth to their relationship.
I also liked how similar they actually are. Both of them have complicated relationships with their fathers, and that shared experience connects them in ways they don’t immediately realize.
The cabin scenes really elevated their dynamic. Being snowed in together allowed them to truly spend time with each other, build more tension, and gave Brie the chance to see just how much Sawyer has changed since they were kids. It added emotional depth and some great sexual tension.
Overall, I 100% enjoyed this book and had such a good time reading it. I would definitely recommend it.
January 3, 2026
ARC REVIEW: Thank you to Book Funnel and Sienna Mills for choosing me to be an Arc reader on this book! I am honored to have this opportunity!
Duel POV: Brie and Sawyer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
Brie Casey needs a fresh start after a disastrous experience at her past teaching position. But what was supposed to be a new chapter turns into something more she didn’t expect. Going home will be what she needed all along.
Sawyer Strong left after high school to get away from the pressure and expectations of his father. But now he is back and better than before as the elementary school principal. Which makes him Brie’s new boss.
He wants to prove he is worth the second chance for her after their history growing up together.
He definitely matured a lot over the years and I really liked that he talked about going to therapy. I loved how strong Brie was and how she was able to overcome so much. It was really nice when she was finally able to open up to her sisters and friends.
I would totally recommend to anyone that is a fan of some snowed in fun and romance and any of the following tropes:
❄️Enemies to Lovers
❄️Forced Proximity
❄️Small Town
❄️Caretaking
❄️He talks her through it
❄️Pining
❄️He falls first
The Principal Problem releases on January 14th in paperback and on kindle so get your copy today!
Duel POV: Brie and Sawyer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
Brie Casey needs a fresh start after a disastrous experience at her past teaching position. But what was supposed to be a new chapter turns into something more she didn’t expect. Going home will be what she needed all along.
Sawyer Strong left after high school to get away from the pressure and expectations of his father. But now he is back and better than before as the elementary school principal. Which makes him Brie’s new boss.
He wants to prove he is worth the second chance for her after their history growing up together.
He definitely matured a lot over the years and I really liked that he talked about going to therapy. I loved how strong Brie was and how she was able to overcome so much. It was really nice when she was finally able to open up to her sisters and friends.
I would totally recommend to anyone that is a fan of some snowed in fun and romance and any of the following tropes:
❄️Enemies to Lovers
❄️Forced Proximity
❄️Small Town
❄️Caretaking
❄️He talks her through it
❄️Pining
❄️He falls first
The Principal Problem releases on January 14th in paperback and on kindle so get your copy today!
January 5, 2026
After scandal forces Brie to leave her current job, she never expected to end up in her home town. To make matters worse she’s now going to be working for the man who spend all their school years tormenting her, Sawyer Strong. Now Brie is desperate to get to the end of the school year once again so she can go back to teaching somewhere where Sawyer isn’t the principal.
Overall I really enjoyed this one. There was a lot more spice in this one than I’m used to, I’m still easing my way into romances but I thought it was well done. I really liked Sawyer’s character and thought there was a lot to him that made him seem like a genuinely good guy. Brie could be frustrating at times but it was nice to see her growth throughout the story. I definitely understand a lot of her actions, she was finally facing up to her childhood bully, but there were times when she misread situations and I just wanted to shake her! I was really glad that she learned to communicate better by the end.
If you enjoy a good redemption love story with a good amount of spice then I highly recommend this one!
Overall I really enjoyed this one. There was a lot more spice in this one than I’m used to, I’m still easing my way into romances but I thought it was well done. I really liked Sawyer’s character and thought there was a lot to him that made him seem like a genuinely good guy. Brie could be frustrating at times but it was nice to see her growth throughout the story. I definitely understand a lot of her actions, she was finally facing up to her childhood bully, but there were times when she misread situations and I just wanted to shake her! I was really glad that she learned to communicate better by the end.
If you enjoy a good redemption love story with a good amount of spice then I highly recommend this one!
January 25, 2026
The Principal Problem is a smart, engaging read that balances clever writing with genuine heart. The story moves at a great pace and keeps you invested, blending humor, emotion, and tension in a way that feels effortless rather than forced. The writing is sharp and intentional, with moments that genuinely made me smile.
What really stands out are the characters. They’re complex, layered, and wonderfully human—flawed in ways that make them relatable and easy to root for. Their interactions feel authentic, and the growth that unfolds throughout the story will have readers cheering right alongside them. This is the kind of book that knows exactly what it is and executes it well, delivering both entertainment and emotional payoff.
Overall, The Principal Problem is a fun, heartfelt story that will leave readers smiling long after the final page. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys character‑driven stories with wit, warmth, and plenty of charm.
This honest review was written in exchange for a free copy of the book through NetGalley.
What really stands out are the characters. They’re complex, layered, and wonderfully human—flawed in ways that make them relatable and easy to root for. Their interactions feel authentic, and the growth that unfolds throughout the story will have readers cheering right alongside them. This is the kind of book that knows exactly what it is and executes it well, delivering both entertainment and emotional payoff.
Overall, The Principal Problem is a fun, heartfelt story that will leave readers smiling long after the final page. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys character‑driven stories with wit, warmth, and plenty of charm.
This honest review was written in exchange for a free copy of the book through NetGalley.
January 10, 2026
The principle Problem by Sienna Mills
Dates read (08.01.26 - 09.01.26)
Published on 14th of January 2026
374 pages
Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ark Review for netgalley
Spice ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Brie packs up her life and heads back home to Blue Ridge after swearing years ago never to return.
Destination in mind , Temporary new job being a substitute teacher for 3rd Grade in her home town. Only to find out that the principle is none other than Sawyer Strong the prince of Blue Ridge, and the bane of her childhood .
Wow just wow , I loved this book from start to finish . It was one of those reads where you say to your self just one more chapter and ill go to sleep but end up reading 10 more . Brie and Sawyers duel points of view chapters were key in helping me understand both sides of the story and were great to read .
The chapters set in the past were heartfelt and thought provoking and well done . My heart was breaking for them both . I felt like i was there with brie experiencing the trauma . I loved how brie didnt just accept that Sawyer had changed , Difficult conversations were had , both had to reflect on their pasts , learn and grow before they could forgive and wholeheartedly love each other .
The tension and yearning through out the book had me gripped and rooting for that first kiss .Which had me laughing out loud . Hilarious . If you've read you will know why 🤣🐰
The chemistry between Brie and Sawyer was off the charts . Now lets talk about the CABIN chapters , Omg i will not get over it .Loved every delicious page and i didnt want them to end . Chefs kiss
Great read , loved every second . Looking forward to reading the next installment in the series .If you've read small town romance books by Lucy Score , Devney Perry and Elsie Silver you will love Sienna Mills books .
#theprincipleproblem #netgalley #siennamills #smalltownromance bookreview
Dates read (08.01.26 - 09.01.26)
Published on 14th of January 2026
374 pages
Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ark Review for netgalley
Spice ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Brie packs up her life and heads back home to Blue Ridge after swearing years ago never to return.
Destination in mind , Temporary new job being a substitute teacher for 3rd Grade in her home town. Only to find out that the principle is none other than Sawyer Strong the prince of Blue Ridge, and the bane of her childhood .
Wow just wow , I loved this book from start to finish . It was one of those reads where you say to your self just one more chapter and ill go to sleep but end up reading 10 more . Brie and Sawyers duel points of view chapters were key in helping me understand both sides of the story and were great to read .
The chapters set in the past were heartfelt and thought provoking and well done . My heart was breaking for them both . I felt like i was there with brie experiencing the trauma . I loved how brie didnt just accept that Sawyer had changed , Difficult conversations were had , both had to reflect on their pasts , learn and grow before they could forgive and wholeheartedly love each other .
The tension and yearning through out the book had me gripped and rooting for that first kiss .Which had me laughing out loud . Hilarious . If you've read you will know why 🤣🐰
The chemistry between Brie and Sawyer was off the charts . Now lets talk about the CABIN chapters , Omg i will not get over it .Loved every delicious page and i didnt want them to end . Chefs kiss
Great read , loved every second . Looking forward to reading the next installment in the series .If you've read small town romance books by Lucy Score , Devney Perry and Elsie Silver you will love Sienna Mills books .
#theprincipleproblem #netgalley #siennamills #smalltownromance bookreview
January 12, 2026
This book had me so completely hooked that I had to pace myself just to savor every chapter. Following Brie and Sawyer’s “enemies” to lovers journey was absolutely delicious. The writing and overall structure were impeccable, nothing felt rushed or randomly thrown in. Every moment was thoughtfully placed, creating a truly cohesive story.
I especially enjoyed how realistically Brie’s emotional growth was portrayed. She doesn’t go from guarded to fully open overnight, which makes her feel authentic and relatable. Sawyer’s intentional way of building trust, showing his care through both actions and words (like a true gentleman) it just makes you fall even harder for him.
Half the time, I was internally screaming “OMG, just kiss already!” The yearning was on another level, which made the spicy scenes even more spicy 🥵.
Thank you so much for Sienna Mills for the opportunity to read this ARC your writing is amazing and I can’t wait to read more of your work
I especially enjoyed how realistically Brie’s emotional growth was portrayed. She doesn’t go from guarded to fully open overnight, which makes her feel authentic and relatable. Sawyer’s intentional way of building trust, showing his care through both actions and words (like a true gentleman) it just makes you fall even harder for him.
Half the time, I was internally screaming “OMG, just kiss already!” The yearning was on another level, which made the spicy scenes even more spicy 🥵.
Thank you so much for Sienna Mills for the opportunity to read this ARC your writing is amazing and I can’t wait to read more of your work
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2026
What a fun way to start 2026! I’m so lucky that Sienna Mills chose me to be on her ARC team. This book has all the feels a romance should have. The storyline was on point because I was engaged from the first to the very last page. Quite frankly, I’d like a little more of these characters and hope to hear how the community in Blue Ridge progresses Even the jerk who only shows up for a chapter or two seems like he deserves a redemption story! There’s a lot of steam in this book, so probably age appropriate for adults. Thank you for putting a sappy grin on my face with this book, Ms Miller, and starting my year out
January 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📆 Pub Date January 14th 2026
✏️childhood enemies to lovers
✏️ workplace romance
✏️ forced proximity
Childhood enemies Brie and Sawyer come face to face once again after finding out he’s the principal of the school she’s now working for.
I was hooked from 2%; usually, it takes me about 20% of the book to decide if I like it or not, but not here!! 15% in, and I’m staying up all night reading. I really appreciated the flashback chapters, proving just how much Brie hates Sawyer. From the start, this book was giving me butterflies. CHAPTER 9, take my heart and CRUSH IT.
I adored the relatable millennial humour (Michael Scott plug) and would like to have FIRST dibs on her next installment, ESPECIALLY after that epilogue!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📆 Pub Date January 14th 2026
✏️childhood enemies to lovers
✏️ workplace romance
✏️ forced proximity
Childhood enemies Brie and Sawyer come face to face once again after finding out he’s the principal of the school she’s now working for.
I was hooked from 2%; usually, it takes me about 20% of the book to decide if I like it or not, but not here!! 15% in, and I’m staying up all night reading. I really appreciated the flashback chapters, proving just how much Brie hates Sawyer. From the start, this book was giving me butterflies. CHAPTER 9, take my heart and CRUSH IT.
I adored the relatable millennial humour (Michael Scott plug) and would like to have FIRST dibs on her next installment, ESPECIALLY after that epilogue!!
February 11, 2026
I am so happy I got to ARC this story. I loved the evolution of Brie and Sawyer’s relationship. I’m not usually one for second chances but I ate this UP!
Second chance
Enemies to lovers
Sprinkle in some forced proximity and one bed 🫠
One time only 🤭
He falls first AND harder
Highly recommend The Principal Problem!
Second chance
Enemies to lovers
Sprinkle in some forced proximity and one bed 🫠
One time only 🤭
He falls first AND harder
Highly recommend The Principal Problem!
January 17, 2026
This was such an unexpected read, I started reading it randomly but I ended up enjoying it way more than I expected!!!
It’s a fun, cute, easy read, especially if you’re in a reading slump.
It’s a fun, cute, easy read, especially if you’re in a reading slump.
December 30, 2025
ARC review. This was such a cozy read! I read it in under 24 hours, and mostly in one-sitting!
Dual POV with some childhood flashbacks, trauma and character development which enhanced the story. Story is somewhat predictable, like with most romance stories, but I don’t find that annoying, I’m just here for the good vibes - which this book certainly delivers!
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️ (Open door scenes)
Dual POV with some childhood flashbacks, trauma and character development which enhanced the story. Story is somewhat predictable, like with most romance stories, but I don’t find that annoying, I’m just here for the good vibes - which this book certainly delivers!
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️ (Open door scenes)
January 10, 2026
I was so excited to read this book, and I honestly couldn't put it down. Brie and Sawyer's love story was so sweet. Sawyer was a yearner, and that is always top tier to me. Brie's back story made me sad, so I was cheering for her to have a happy ending. I absolutely adored this book, and I hope this author write more about the side characters, because they were just as fun to read about as the main characters.
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