Picture Perfect Mistake

Spencer Brothers #related

by Ana Ashley

Hook up with a stranger at a wedding? Check.
Discover he's my new boss? Double check.
Fall hopelessly in love with the grumpy CFO? Classic me.

Pierce Dellcourt is everything I'm not: controlled, composed, and absolutely off-limits.
I'm a chaos magnet, aspiring artist, and professional disaster.

We're completely wrong for each other. Except when we're alone and his icy control thaws into a passion that sets me on fire. Stolen kisses in empty offices. Secret moments on the roof garden. Near misses that only make us want more.

He's forbidden. I'm a liability. And falling for him might be the best mistake I've ever made.
Turns out, the best things in life start as picture perfect mistakes.

Picture Perfect Mistake is a standalone spicy MM romance grumpy/sunshine, boss/employee, age gap, he falls first, only one bed (eventually), enough sticky notes to wallpaper an office, and a guaranteed HEA.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 8, 2026

About the author

Meet Ana Ashley, your friendly neighborhood romance author!
Ana has been lost in the pages of books for as long as she can remember, taking a few amusing missteps with her childhood writing attempts. But everything changed when she discovered the magical world of LGBTQ+ romance—cue the confetti!


Ana's books offer sweet and sexy romance with a charming mix of humor and heart. Getting her guys together wouldn't be the same without the meddling but well-intentioned cast of secondary characters, who always insist on having their own story.


When she’s not crafting heartfelt tales, you can find her indulging in her favorite pastime of baking delicious treats, enjoying quality time with friends, or staying up late immersed in the pages of a good book.

You can find out more about Ana and her works-in-progress by joining her Newsletter. To sign up visit Ana's website anawritesmm.com

Reviews

[Amanda Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow!!!! I was incredibly blessed to receive an ARC opportunity for this book. I was sent the physical copy and when the audio version was ready for the ALC opportunity, I was able to get that as well. This is still, however, my 100% honest review.

If I was able to do so, I would give this book 4.5 Stars and that audiobook would push it to a 5 star. Since Goodreads doesn't let me do 1/2 stars and I like to rate the book itself and rate the audio separately, my Goodreads rating is 4 very solid stars. If you are a fan of "Forbidden Romances" that feature Boss and Employee, then you are going to love this book. This book also includes an anonymous hookup at a wedding, a chaotic sunshine gremlin named Thatcher, aka, "Meatball" and a grumpy CFO, who turns out to be Thatcher's new boss, Pierce.

Honestly this book was chaos in the best of ways. There are truly so many sticky notes that it is inspiring. Thatcher is chaotic with a heart of gold who is just trying to do his best. He has many obstacles that he has to work through, including his ADHD, that makes others believe he is difficult. He truly is sunshine personified though and people really do love him and the people at his new job really see his worth.

Then you have Pierce who is this grumpy man, but people still like him. He is dedicated to this company and although he is trying to make up for past mistakes, he is also trying to be good and not give in to his feelings for Thatcher. He is also attempting to fight off his brother's underhanded attempts at ruining the company he works for as CFO.

During all this, they give in to the temptation of each other. It is filled with secret steamy moments. You are also getting to know these men underneath their outward personas and learning the depths of them. Thatcher is an artist and he tries so hard to live up to others expectations at times when all he wants to do is draw. His family, outside his dad and brother, are extremely supportive of Thatcher which I loved. He just needs to believe in himself a little more. Pierce is constantly trying to atone for past mistakes that he has already been forgiven for, he just needs to trust in the people around him to have his back and to know how hard he is working to fight outside sources trying to bring him down again.

These men make you fall in love with them throughout the book. I honestly want to be in Thatcher's family as they are menaces of the best kind. The love this family has for each other is fantastic. I kind of want to be friends with them all. This is definitely a feel good kind of book, where you have your struggles and small amounts of angst in the plot, but where you find yourself laughing and smiling more than you feel yourself biting your nails all the time.

I wanted to edit my review as I have sat with my thoughts and feelings on the book for a longer period of time. I am definitely not someone who can review a book immediately after completion, as I need space and time to gather my thoughts on what I digested. I try not to hand out 5 star ratings very often as I feel like it is disingenuous for me. I also do not rate things lower than 3 stars for the most part as I am picky but not overly critical. I also wish we could give half stars because most books that are not quite 5 stars also aren't necessarily a solid 4 stars either. So this review is a lot more thought out and truly reflects my thoughts and opinions on this beautiful love story. Ana has once again proven to me why she is quickly becoming a top author for me.

[Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.6)

4 Key Elements:
> MM romance
> Office romance
> Sex first, feelings later
> ‘Can’t be together’ trope

Three words:
Chaos, self-discovery, colourful

Mini synopsis: After a one night stand, two strangers suddenly come face-to-face with each and discover they’ll be working together as CFO and PA.

Recommend? This was a one-sitting read, this was an all consuming, it came with me to make cups of tea type of read. Oh my god, big yes

Books get an average of these scores:
Reread-ability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Main Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Supporting Cast: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotional hit: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Main characters categorising:
> Pierce: Lawful Good
> Thatcher: Chaotic Good

Song for the book’s vibe: Daylight - Taylor Swift

—————————
-Spoilers below-
—————————


Favourite character: Thatcher
Why: At this point it’s well established in my own head that I love chaotic characters who are also total sweethearts. Him being the rainbow to Pierce’s monochrome makes me melt.

Favourite quote:
This is my life now. Chaos and color and a man who turned every mistake into something beautiful.

Things I loved:
> That they often have the same line of thinking or similar reactions to things. I love the parallels between their POVs.
> I’m sorry, his full name is Pierce Alexander Dellcourt? That’s the sexiest goddamn name
> I’m obsessed with Alli, I want to be her best friend
> Pierce and his sad little monochrome apartment
> The bathroom theme throughout

Things I'd change:
> More explanation on the lovers to blackmail to best friend to confusingly nice but also kind of rude new husband (Although maybe that’s just me being stupid)

Read-along:
> 4%
I’ve been reading this book for barely a few pages but I am so in love with Thatcher already
> 18%
“I shouldn’t find it endearing. I don’t find it endearing” practically being Pierce’s new lift motto is making me cackle (also I want to know Pierce’s opinion on the supply closet so badly)
> 20%
Me being mildly perturbed that the description says that the ant drawing has a sad face but the sticky note visual has a happy ant on it lol
> 25%
I’m confused why Pierce doesn’t go to Lior and say “My brother is an asshole and he’s trying to get around you by doing this” - then there’s literally no issue. Fully transparency so a plan can be made to combat James.
> 35%
• Oh my god. The office alone after hours? Whispering compliments and observations to each other? The near-miss kiss? Ugh, I’m dying.
• ALSO Thatcher and his piercing?? Hellooooo????? I need to see Pierce try to maintain his professional expression while having the full Thatcher experience
> 36%
Okay I’m just pissed off at Pierce now? Lior KNOWS that Dellcourt are trying to establish a merger, so I don’t get why he’s sweeping the James thing under the rug.
> 40%
The switch from it being Thatcher who caresses gently but kisses with hunger to now it being Pierce who does that? Loveeee
> 44%
Thank fuck Lior knows. I was on the verge of losing my mind from frustration
> 45%
At the least an apology text right? Just to like confirm whether it was an issue or not?
> 57%
I don’t know if I’m stupid or if the plot is purposefully vague… But I still cannot for the life of me figure out the dynamic between Pierce, Lior and Noah.
> 59%
Excuse me, Thatcher? This artist erotic game we’re playing is wild
> 61%
I’m now terrified that Thatcher didn’t rip the nude drawing out of his sketch pad that he’s taking with him into professional settings
> 70%
The biggest sigh of relief that they didn’t caught doing anything in New York
> 71%
I’m sorry if security footage shows Richard going through Pierce’s drawers in the office, doesn’t that mean all the sexy makeouts between Pierce and Thatcher have also been caught on security?
> 76%
I know Noah is like a nice person, I’m sure of it, but he seems low level manipulative and excited at the prospect of people being hurt. I can’t tell if he just still hates Pierce or if there’s something more underlying with him, or if he just simply likes to say cutting things to see the impact.
> 84%
• Well… I feel sick.
• Also I genuinely need to understand if James is just evil incarnate or like what
> 90%
Omfg don’t piss me off right now with them both quitting when Thatcher could actually stay at a job he likes
> 91%
Thank fuck for Alli - I was about to scream
> 96%
I love when a title is a line in a book
>98%
They’re engaged!! Omg!!

Other lines I loved:
> His mock-serious tone draws an unexpected chuckle from me, and for the first time tonight, my tie doesn’t feel quite so much like a noose.
> “Like how fast-food restaurants use red and yellow to stimulate appetite, except instead of hunger, we’re stimulating efficiency!”
> “I didn’t know you were you!” The words tumble out in a panic. “I mean, obviously, you are you, but not this you. Boss you. I thought you were just a gorgeous stranger in a suit. Not that you’re not still gorgeous—I mean, professionally! Professionally gorgeous. I mean… Oh god.”
> I watch Thatcher return to his desk, immediately pulling out more sticky notes—where does he keep finding them?—and adding them to files.
> “Alli, my best friend, says I have the spatial awareness of a golden retriever.”
> I use the moment to check on the axolotl tank, making sure the water temperature is perfect. The creature’s perpetually grumpy expression reminds me so much of Pierce that I have to smile.
> He was teaching me how to be a better assistant while I memorized the curve of his jaw.
> “I notice things too,” he says softly, his dark eyes piercing through my soul. “Like how you light up when you talk about your art. How you see big stories in the smallest moments. How you transform ordinary things into something… extraordinary.
> How do I tell him that I miss his chaos while being proud of his competence? That watching him maintain this perfect professionalism feels like watching someone dim their own light?
> “I find myself missing my chaos coordinator. Not a single drop was spilled tonight. Not a single glass broken. Not a single…” I shake my head. “It’s like you’re not here.”
> His arm lies heavy across my chest, possessive even in his sleep, and my chest blooms at how right this feels, how dangerous that rightness might be.
> “What? I’m just saying, you have a very distinctive post-orgasm glow. Very becoming, actually.”
> I lean in to taste his smile, unable to resist when he looks at me like that.
> I belong here among these storytellers and dreamweavers, just as much as I belong in Pierce’s arms or at my desk at VSE. The realization feels like freedom, like permission to be exactly who I am in all my contradictory glory.
> Pierce’s smile is heartbreaking. “I’ll love you for the rest of my life, whether we’re together or not. That’s not going to change.”
> “I love you too,” I gasp, arching into his touch. “Show me. Show me how much.”
> “You drew out of me a dream I thought I’d buried so deep it would never be realized. You and your beautiful chaos and your art and your absolute refusal to be anything other than exactly who you are.”
> “I’ve had a year of honing my Thatcher-disaster reflexes.”
> “Eighteen months ago, I was a miserable man in a colorless apartment, convinced I didn’t deserve happiness. Then you crashed into my life with your sticky notes and your disasters and your absolute refusal to let me stay hidden behind my walls.”

[Julie Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture Perfect Mistake by Ana Ashley is the story of a very controlled boss and his chaos creating assistant who against all the odds fall in love. Pierce Dellcourt has had a complicated life. His father adopted him but when his brother came along always looked at him as better than Pierce. In order to prove himself he did something to try to cause problems for his friend, Lior, who he thought he loved and it backfired when Lior married Noah. But Lior forgave him and made him CFO of his company, Van Stern Enterprises, which was directly at odds with Dellcourt Holdings, something his father and brother James didn’t let him forget. Pierce was hiding at their wedding when a young man approached him with a glass of champagne and suggested they get away which led to a hot love scene in the restroom and afterwards they knew they would never see each other again, even though they both thought about that incident a lot as time passed. Thatcher Charles was that young man and was Noah’s cousin. They called Thatcher Meatball from a stunt he pulled when they were young and he was also a chaos magnet because everywhere he tried to work ended up in a disaster caused by him and each job only lasted several months. He had just been let go from another one when Noah called him and said that Lior’s company’s CFO needed a personal assistant. He was hesitant to take it because of the messes he created but he needed the job so he decided to try his best. Of course, there was a disaster when he first met Pierce, and both of them recognized each other from their previous encounter. Pierce remembered that both Lior and Noah had warned him but also said everyone needs a second chance so they decide to see if their professional relationship can work. Thatcher brings life back to Pierce and the office with his color-coded sticky notes, plants that contain varmints, and generally creating chaos wherever he goes, but he’s also very good at his job, dealing with phone calls and messages from others in the company and the others at the company adore him. He also likes to sketch and doodle and wishes that someday he could be an artist and create children’s books. When he goes to a family dinner and his father shows up, he is ridiculed by him for not settling down and getting a real job like his brother Tobias but the rest of his family defends him. Meanwhile Thatcher is slowly getting Pierce to warm up and counts it as a win when he gets him to smile and then to laugh and loosen up. He starts bringing him lunch and they eat together and get to know each other. Thatcher takes on more tasks with the company like the annual office party that he does very well at. Meanwhile James is trying to infiltrate Van Stern Enterprises and wants them to have a merger with Dellcourt Holdings but Lior and Pierce have done an excellent job with the company and say they don’t want to do it. But James is determined. Thatcher notices something is wrong with the numbers for the board meeting and when Pierce comes in, they work on it and kiss. This eventually leads to some hot love scenes and Thatcher telling him about his art work, which gets good reviews when he goes to a convention for artists. They say they love each other and continue to be together but both are worried because it is a boss/employee relationship and not condoned in their work world. But Lior, Noah, and the cousins all see what is happening and are happy for them. Then they manage to trick James and he is not happy and everyone is sure that he will be watching what is happening at Van Stern so he can get his merger and Pierce and Thatcher know they have to break up because Thatcher needs the job until he can get a deal for his books. They are both heartbroken and do the best they can as strictly boss and assistant but it takes its toll on them. Finally the family steps in and they come to a decision that allows both of them to fulfill their dreams and be together. I really enjoyed this book. Thatcher is such a sweet man but chaos follows him everywhere and he knows it. He is also very competent and a great artist, even though he was scared to share it with others. Pierce was controlled and composed and doesn’t like his schedule or work changed. But when Thatcher entered his life, he realized what he had been missing. Both men had problems with their fathers and brothers which were hard to overcome and James caused a lot of angst for the company. Their friends and Thatcher’s family were there for them and also helped them see they needed to be together. Thatcher’s chaos was often very funny and added a lot of humor to the story which made it fun to read. It was also heartbreaking when they had to break up but their happiness at finding a way to be together in the end was joyous. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like boss/employee romances involving a controlled and stuck in his ways boss and a chaos creating employee who somehow find a way to work together and then fall in love.

[Brianne McCallum · Rating 5 out of 5]

M/M
Anonymous hookup at Pierces exes wedding
Age gap
Boss/employee
Office romance
Secret/forbidden romance
Opposites attract
Grumpy/Sunshine
Found family

Arc audio review

Story = 5 stars
Narration = 4 stars (Iggy = 3 stars and Alexander = 4.5 stars)

This was supposed to be a standalone and I haven't read much by Ana, so while listening to this I felt a little lost because Pierce kept referencing his ex, who would pop up alot as a side character in this story and how they had been through a lot and it had affected Pierces current business. So I do think this book would be more enjoyable having read his book. Other than that I loved the world the author created and all the side characters that were there for each other with whatever they needed.

This was a fun and sweet story. It was low to medium angst. Not so much in the relationship itself and their feelings for each other but due to the external factor that their relationship had to remain secret. Their relationship is slow to start but there are some good steamy scenes. I found the relationship development pacing to be realistic. Once I started listening to this I could not stop and listened to it in one listen. There were several plot lines that made me totally invested in the story from start to finish. Not just the relationship. Not gonna lie and say I wasn't hating the angst they went through but it was good for them both and I love how it ended.

Both of the characters were great. Thatcher was such a clumbsy, chaotic, hilarious disaster but also a fun ray of sunshine. Pierce was loveable too. He is described as a grump but other than being a series business man, I wouldn't call his grumpy. He definitely was not grumpy towards Pierce whom he couldn't resist from the moment they met. They had amazing chemistry. I loved that outside of the relationship both characters were dealing with their own drama, both family and work related and I loved the character growth in the end for both of these men.

I'm not really a fan of Iggy but his voice did suit the older, more mature character of Pierce. He kept a good pace/flow and expressed all the emotions wonderfully bringing the story to life. Unfortunately I found he didn't give the characters distinct voices within his chapters. Due to this I would have preferred a single narrator rather than having 2 and I would have preferred just Alexander.
Alexander had a pleasant reading voice. He kept a good pace/flow and expressed all the emotions wonderfully bringing the story to life. He had the perfect voice to suit Thatchers young and fun character perfectly. He gave all the characters their own distinct voice making it easy to follow the story. I did find that the female side characters all sounded like nasal cartoon characters though.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read the Spencer Brothers series then the names Pierce and Thatcher aka Meatball will definitely be familiar! Thatcher and Pierce first meet at Noah and Lior’s wedding. Thatcher is Noah’s cousin and Lior is Pierce’s ex and friend. Yet, the two of them find one another and it leads to them having stole moment of fun. Though they never exchange names. Months later, Thatcher finds himself at a new job working for Lior’s company. Thatcher is an artist and trying to make something of it but in the meantime, he needs a job. He is chaotically organized and artistic and that doesn’t always translate in the workplace. But he is determined to do a good job here and cause as little chaos as possible. But doesn’t exactly workout when he locks eyes with his new boss. The guy he has been thinking about for months and never got his name until now: Pierce. Pierce has been trying to make up for some crappy things he has done in the past. He lives his life pretty organized and strict. The craziest thing he has done recently was hooking up with a stranger at his ex’s wedding. And even months later, he can’t stop thinking about him. But he tells himself he has to stay focused on his work. But then comes Thatcher. Crashing into his life with lots of color and chaos and Pierce just can’t look away. Nothing can happen between them. Again. Their jobs won’t allow it. But the more they spend time together and get to know one another, the harder it is hold back. And both know deep down that this thing between them is inevitable and maybe just the thing they’ve both been searching for. I adored these two! They were absolutely perfect for one another. Bringing out exactly what the other needed in so many ways. They just worked together so well. And while Thatcher may be this chaotic artist, he is also super smart and knows exactly how to do his job. There are just so many sides to him. And I love that Pierce finally found someone who was just right for him and brought him back to life in so many ways. These two were so much fun to get to know. And of course cameos from the Spencer Brothers and their partners are a must! If you know them, you know exactly what they are gonna do! Great story all around!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ana Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

If clumsy was a person, it’ll be Thatcher!🤣🤣🤣

This book was absolutely brilliant. It lifted my spirits and left me with a huge smile on my face. I love chaotic characters who somehow ground the MCs and bring color into their monotonous life.

When Thatcher and Pierce met at his ex’s wedding, neither of them expected to see each other again. But life has a funny way of making things interesting.

When Thatcher shows up as Pierce’s assistant, all the desire they had for each other came rushing back. Neither had been able to forget that night at the wedding but now they were working together and couldn’t be anything but boss/employee.

It took every ounce of self restraint for Thatcher not to throw himself at Pierce’s arms. He had spent weeks thinking about the sexy older man who rocked his world.

Pierce never thought he’d find someone who would consume him the way Thatcher did. His life went from peaceful and quiet to loud and colorful. Thatcher just made everything better.

Thatcher could never hold down a job for long. His ideas always backfired and got him in trouble, which is why he was let go from multiple jobs. But working for Pierce was different. He could be himself and not be reprimanded for it.

Pierce saw the real him and accepted it. Pierce encouraged Thatcher to do the things he loved and be proud of them. He never made him feel dumb for his clumsiness or the silly way he did the things.

They shouldn’t have worked, yet they fit perfectly. When it came time to choose their jobs or their relationship, Pierce never hesitated. Thatcher would always come first. He was his happiness and Pierce was done pretending his job made him happy.

“𝓘 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓲𝔃𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓷𝓸 𝓳𝓸𝓫 𝓲𝓼 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓱 𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓑𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮, 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮.”

Fantastic story! Just what I’m used to from Ana Ashley. If you want a feel good story to make your day, this one is it.

[Amanda Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture Perfect Mistake was such a fun, sweet read and honestly had me smiling the whole way through.

Pierce and Thatcher were absolute opposites in every possible way, which made their dynamic so entertaining. Pierce is all structure, control, and routine, while Thatcher—aka Meatball—is basically chaos in human form...Sticky notes everywhere, accidental disasters, random plants with bugs in them… and somehow it all just works.

I loved Thatcher so much. Beneath all the chaos he’s genuinely talented, kind, and trying so hard to prove he’s more than the guy who can’t keep a job. Watching Pierce not only accept him exactly as he is, but encourage his art and creativity, was honestly beautiful.

And Pierce? That man never stood a chance. Thatcher completely turned his quiet, controlled world upside down in the best way possible. Seeing Pierce slowly loosen up, smile more, laugh more, and realise there’s more to life than work was one of my favourite parts of the story.

The relationship development felt really natural too. There’s definitely chemistry from the start (that wedding bathroom scene), but the emotional connection builds slowly through lunches together, small moments, and learning to trust each other.

I also appreciated that both characters had their own family and work struggles outside the romance, which gave the story a lot more depth. And while there is some angst because of the boss/employee dynamic and needing to keep things secret, it never felt overdone.

The side characters were fantastic too—Alli and the cousins especially added so much humour and chaos to the story.

Overall, this was funny, heartfelt, swoony, and full of joyful moments. If you love grumpy/sunshine, office romance, opposites attract, chaotic disaster x controlled businessman energy, and found family vibes, I’d absolutely recommend this one.

[Bill Bottomley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.

Thatcher Clarke (aka Meatball) is a walking chaos phenomenon. He’s also someone who has ever met a stranger. Right at the outset, he meets Pierce Dellcourt without knowing who he is and immediately they have an assignation at a friend’s wedding. It turns out to be quite unforgettable, despite the anonymous nature. Some six months later, Thatcher has lost another job due to the havoc that follows him, and he gets hired as Pierce’s personal assistant (Pierce is the Chief Financial Officer of the company). Neither has a good family background, both having difficult fathers and brothers; at least Thatcher’s are less vile than Pierce’s. And Thatcher is chaotic to Pierce’s extreme order and lack of colour. Somehow, they fall in love.

The author has a knack for humour. I could not stop laughing through a lot of the book, especially the scene where Thatcher loses his latest job. He isn’t just joke, however, and I found him totally loveable right from the start. Pierce, with his sober and well-turned-out nature is also someone I could love easily once the story starts going. But they sure could not be more of a contrast, the situation proving that opposites attract. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed characters this much. They are assisted by a whole group of wonderful secondary characters, though Pierce’s brother James is up to a lot of dirty tricks that they manage to overcome. It was fun seeing him be embarrassed after falling into a trap the Pierce and his boss Lior set. This seems to be a standalone novel, but it sure is a good follow-on to the Spenser Brothers series. The plot develops nicely and the book seems shorter than it actually is.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book.

[Nancy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
PICTURE PERFECT MISTAKE di Ana Ashley (Inglese, cartaceo)
USCITA: 8 MAGGIO 2026
PROTAGONISTI: THATCHER E PIERCE
RECENSIONE: Libro Autoconclusivo (consiglio di leggere The fake husband Deal per capire alcune dinamiche)
Picture Perfect Mistake é un dolcissimo office-romance. Thatcher è il protagonista impacciato ma adorabile mentre Pierce è il suo capo più serio ma altrettanto dolce.
Non avevo idea di cosa aspettarmi da questo libro quando l'ho cominciato ma ammetto che mi é piaciuto così tanto che l'ho letteralmente divorato in un giorno! Questo romanzo comincia con il matrimonio tra Lior e Noah rispettivamente ex di Pierce e cugino di Thatcher. I due finiranno per avere un momento di passione ma non si dicono nemmeno il nome e pensano di non vedersi mai più. Thatcher Edward Charles III é un giovane ragazzo che per colpa della sua sbadataggine perde un sacco di lavori finché non viene assunto dall'ufficio di Pierce come segretario personale. Essendo Pierce un uomo molto serio, la prima impressione che ha di Thatcher non é proprio delle migliori ma con il tempo i due si conosceranno meglio, soprattutto dopo aver superato l'imbarazzo iniziale e la loro storia d'amore é davvero bellissima e dolcissima! La storia é angst free ma ci saranno dei momenti dove per ragioni di trama la tensione salirà alle stelle.
Questo libro é il classico romanzo coccola che adoro, ha tutto quello che cerco in una storia d'amore: una found family stupenda, protagonisti adorabili e una sensazione di calore mentre lo si legge.
Picture Perfect mistake è un libro davvero ben scritto e scorrevole. Mi piace molto il modo di scrivere di Ana Ashley, é frizzante e non ci si annoia mai.
Voglio leggere la serie Spencer a questo punto per comprendere meglio alcune dinamiche che sono state accennate in questo libro.
Ho ricevuto una copia ARC cartacea e per quanto io sia un'amante dei libri digitali (per comodità e spazio) vi consiglio di prendere il libro fisico perché Ana ha inserito ad inizio capitolo delle piccole note adorabili che mi hanno fatta sorridere tutto il tempo.
Libro super raccomandato e non vedo l'ora di leggere gli altri romanzi dell’autrice!💜

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Even though this is adjacent to the shared world of the Spencer Brother’s books, it can be a standalone. However, the other books are great as well and I highly recommend. Anyway if you’ve read those, especially Lior & Noah, this book is a redemption arc for Pierce and it was a deserved one. Thatcher and Pierce have a hot hookup at Lior & Noah’s wedding celebration that they both thought was one and done. After Thatcher finds himself jobless, again, after his well-meaning chaos personality sets off a sprinkler system in his office, he lands a position at Lior’s company as a PA to Pierce. With a bit of Noah’s meddling, unbeknownst to him. The two men finally come face to face after months apart and the spark is instant. But, professionalism must be paramount. Or should it. Day by day Thatcher makes Pierce’s life better, through color-coded sticky notes with doodles and the ability to see the real man behind the stuffy persona. Both men have tricky family situations, being older brothers forced to compete with a younger sibling for a father’s affection/attention. Despite Pierce’s desire to remain professional, as Thatcher’s boss, he can’t help but continue to catch feelings for the younger man. And Thatcher is catching them right back. When an ugly confrontation at work happens Pierce has to decide if what he wants with Thatcher is worth protecting. Don’t worry, as with all this author’s books there is a HEA, and the drama that tried to separate them is satisfying to watch unfold. And Pierce is welcomed into the family in true Spencer fashion, IYKYK 😂. Looking forward to whatever this author writes next!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Fun with feels.

Thatcher is an extremely intelligent, extremely chaotic man full of life and optimism. The perfect foil to Pierce who is somewhat grumpy and very composed. A chance encounter at a wedding shows there’s a connection between them but it goes no further until 6 months pass. That’s when Thatcher is employed as Pierce’s assistant. So begins a beautifully written story of a forbidden age gap romance between two wonderful men who are decidedly different and perfect for each other. Silverfox corporate CEO Pierce soon learns that artistic and chaotic Thatcher is the person for him. It’s not an easy ride to their HEA as they negotiate the power dynamics of a boss/employee relationship as well as toxic family members - up to no good in Pierce’s case and a a complete lack of understanding his artistic side in Thatcher’s case.
Things I loved about this very entertaining read include Thatchers inability to dance, his constant use of sticky notes as a communication device, the joyfully chaotic atmosphere surrounding him and how Pierce wholeheartedly loves every part of him. There’s a lovely balance of sweet and steamy with plenty of fun moments and moments that gave me some feels and of course the Spencer brothers can’t help but make themselves known!

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a boss x employee to more romance, featuring Thatcher Edward Charles III (meatball) and Pierce Dellcourt, and is a standalone book.

Thatcher’s impulsive wedding hookup turns into a slight nightmare when he discovers the mysterious stranger is his new boss, the cold and grumpy CFO Pierce Dellcourt.

This book was all kinds of cute. I absolutely loved Thatcher’s chaos energy and how he brightened everyone’s day - even with his various accidents, and I loved watching Pierce’s controlled demeanour crumble around Thatcher. They were so good together, believing in eachother even when they didn’t believe in themselves. And the pining and longing - chef kiss.

And cameos from the Spencer Brothers series, YAY! Audiobook was fantastic, Alexander and Iggy performing their characters perfectly.

Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone book
MM romance
Boss x Employee
Age gap
Size difference
Grumpy x Golden retriever
Controlled x Chaos
Anonymous hookup
Opposites attract
Executive x Artist
Forced proximity
Longing & pining
So many sticky notes
Slow Burn
Spicy times & dirty talk
Mirror s*x & public s*x
Pierced c*ck
Marking & carries him
Drawing as foreplay
Secret Relationship
Right person / wrong time
Meddling found family
HEA

[Mom Needs Coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opposites Attract, Sweet Forbidden Romance

Low angst
Age gap
Boss + Employee
Opposites Attract
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Romance
Dual first person pov

This was really good! I'm still new to this author so I wasn't sure what to expect.

I love yearning and a slow build romance as long as the push and pull makes sense (I'm not into angst) so Thatcher and Pierce dancing around their attraction while being sweet and patient with one another hit all my buttons. Thatcher is a bit of a walking disaster while Pierce is constantly put together and organized. There are enough similarities between them to make their attraction work, though. Plus, aside from the attraction, they genuinely like each other.

Even though first person present pov is not my thing the characters and story held my attention and I got a little choked up when they had to deal with their forbidden romance in a fairly logical manner. I love that Pierce was worried about the power imbalance, it was refreshing to see in a boss+employee romance. I liked the final solution to their problem and the epilogue had HEA vibes that tied everything up nicely, however, I think the epilogue was labeled incorrectly and definitely had a few timeline discrepancies that bothered me.

[Elle Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pierce Dellcourt is as buttoned-up as his name sounds. Thatcher Edward Charles III is as different from his name as can be. His family affectionately call him Meatball and he’s a bit of a chaos goblin. He’s also a talented artist who is addicted to sticky notes (seriously, I don’t want to think about how much the office supplies budget ballooned when he started working for Pierce). To say this is a case of Grumpy / sunshine is an understatement. The two men are polar opposites in so many ways. And thus they compliment each other completely. Pierce never stood a chance.

Meatball’s best friend Alli is hilarious and adds a spark of mischief to the story. His honesty with her both propels the story and brings out the swoon factor when he says things like, “But he makes me feel safe. Like I can be fully myself, chaos and competence, art and anxiety, everything I usually try to keep separate.” The cousins are pretty amusing also and pivotal to the HEA.

This book is one that brings out lots of joyful smiles as you read it. And who couldn’t use a feel-good story right about now? 5 stars.

[Xanthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

**4.5**
8 can't actually remember the last time I smiled so much while reading a book. Meatball is definitely a character with ... an attraction to chaos, as known by anyone who knows him. Pierce is quite the opposite. Older, serious, focused on business.
When his new assistant turns out to be the young guy he had a 'moment' with at Lior and Noah's wedding, well, it will be nothing if not interesting. Meatball is sweet, hilarious and always tries his hardest, regardless of the outcome. The connection they shared six months previously has not lessened. If anything, it just grows stronger and more electric and Meatball shines in his new role and brings life to what was a fairly quiet office space.
Chemistry is definitely not something they are lacking but with Pierce's brother looking to cause trouble and a boss/employee relationship never the best idea, they have to decide what is more important.
I love the entourage of characters in the book! We have all of the cousins from the Spencer Brothers books, along with Lior, Meatball's best friend Alli, and then our two MC's. All together an entertaining group who bring the family feels, love and support shown in chaos, while Meatball and Pierce show just how well opposites can attract.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thatcher is an artist and chaos personified, and Pierce a serious and strait laced Chief Financial Officer for his ex’s company, and together they make for one of the best rom-com stories I’ve read this year. When Thatcher looses another job, and becomes Pierce’s new assistant, they each realise that the other is the man they hooked-up with at Pierce’s ex’s wedding and the person they can’t stop thinking about. What follows is sweet, charming and funny as they work together, get to know one another and try to resist the attraction between them at work. Thatcher is a cousin of the Spencer brothers from a previous series, and it was great to see them make appearances in this book, along with other great characters. There is nothing not to like about this tale, Thatcher is adorable and it was wonderful to see Pierce let himself relax and I loved their story from the first page to the last. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

[abookwithacupoftea · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Review for the audio below)

This is a very sweet story, fun, easy to read, low angst, very entertaining that I read in one sitting. Both characters are actually very sweet, Thatcher (meatball) being a complete marshmallow, and Pierce a teddy bear in a grumpy (and hot) exterior. I loved their chemistry, interactions and how Pierce accepts and loves Tatcher just as he is, in his chaos and even maybe because of his chaos. This book has a lot of tropes, one night anonymous hook-up, forbidden romance, secret romance, boss/employee, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, age gap, office romance, slow(-ish) burn, family and found family. It's a perfect comfort read.

Regarding the audio:
I loved the narration, and I even maybe loved the book more while listening to it (after reading it). Both narrators do a great job conveying their characters. I highly recommend.

I got an ARC and an ALC and this is my honest reviews.

[Copper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thatcher (Meatball) the chaotic accident prone artist and Pierce the CFO living in a organised life looking for a bit of chaos make such a fun couple. This story is set as a stand alone but fits into the previous series so well. Giving us context and a beautiful love story for the side characters from boon 2.

The ballence of these characters different lifestyle coming together was so fun. After a chance hookup at a wedding to Thatcher starting as Pierce's assistant bringing change and colour into his life.

Seeing all the brother from the previous stoeys was great and I love seeing Lior and Pierce relationship development into a solid friendship. The romance between Thatcher and Pierce is well developed throughout the story and felt so grounded. Great couple that seemed so perfect together so quickly.

[Metz874 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review
This was my perfect read. I love Thatcher and Pierce and their chaos. They are total opposite whereas Pierce is calm and collected, Thatcher is the more chaotic type. It's written in a warm and humoristic way. A comfort read when you need a little pick-me-up. It was so entertaining and fun that I lost track of time and finished it really fast.
Very well written, easy to read and get drawned into. Like being embraced in a big warm hug that you don't want to step out of.
I enjoyed to meet some of the characters from earlier books and that there is a sneak peek into their lives as well.
A really good read. Ana Ashley is an excellent writer så I highly recommend this book or any other she's written.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun story. It was a lot more emotional than I expected from the blurb, and it absolutely made me want to do a reread of the Spencer Brother series. Thatcher is total chaos, and seeing Pierce embrace that was completely life affirming for me. They are a perfect example of not dimming yourself to please others. There is a 3rd act breakup, but it isn't due to miscommunication or anything the MCs really have control of. It's part of a subplot in the book and is rectified fairly quickly. While this book is related to the Spencer Brothers series, it can absolutely be read as a stand alone. There are familiar characters, but you don't need to know their stories to enjoy this one.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, fun, color coded office romance🗃

4.5🌟 stars
From Thatcher's well-meaning fumbling coffee run to the pet centric ending, this was a cute, fun read. Thatcher is an accident prone ball of energy personal assistant with a ton of ideas that have not always gone over well. Pierce is his new boss who finds Thatcher's quirks endearing and easy to adjust to as he gets over a romance he missed out on with the head of the company. The writing was good, breezy, easy to get caught up in and not want to stop. Reading Pierce's ex Lior's earlier story (The Fake Husband Deal) is not required, but it's also a good one so I would recommend both.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Mrs.V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every single, chaotic, sweet, perfect moment of this book.
I love a redemption story and I admit – as a person known for holding grudges – I started with a very preconceived image of Pierce in my head. Which he dispels quite soon, to be honest. The aloof, grumpy CFO’s icy demeanor melts quickly under the onslaught of Thatcher’s chaotic and sunshiny presence.
They are so perfect for each other and they soon realize it – just as most of Thatcher’s family does, as they are not very good at hiding their feelings.
The book is a full of sweet moments, hope, new beginnings and colorful sticky notes with heart doodles on the margins. Totally adorable!

[GhostMMreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready to smile, to laugh, to swoon, to cry, and then smile again! “Meatball” is the perfect imperfection that Pierce needed to start and live his true creative life, and Pierce is the supporting and guiding hand Thatcher needed to gain confidence to pursue a career true to its artistic spirit. The trope is not new (boss/assistant), there is a villain family member, and there are incredibly supportive friends; but all this feels fresh and funny and entertaining thanks to the author’s writing style that flows smoothly and envelops the reader in this world where rainbow sticky notes play a crucial role in colouring the grey cloud hanging over Pierce’s head.

[Cleonut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great opposites attract story

I thoroughly enjoyed Ana Ashley's novel about a chaos prone assistant to a super organized CFO. I subtracted one star for the introduction to Thatcher and the over-the-top Jerry Lewis/Three Stooges scene. Definitely too much. And one or two other small scenes such as a hidden degree suddenly popping up when needed. Too pat. But Loved the characters of Pierce and Thatcher. Both lovable in their different ways, you can totally see them falling for each other. The supporting characters were nicely written, as well as secondary plots running throughout. For sure give it a read, you'll enjoy it.

[Lisa Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing book, I didn't want to put it down. I absolutely love Thatcher, and he and Pierce were so perfect for each other. Ana has a way of creating fabulous characters who you wish you could meet in real life. Thatcher was no exception to this.

I loved seeing more of each of the Spencer brothers as well. It's not necessary to read that series first, but I highly recommend it, especially since both Pierce and Thatcher appear in The Fake Husband Deal.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ana Ashley proves once again that she can create characters that make me fall in love with them in two sentences. Both Pierce and Meatball are absolutely amazing!
The story will make you sigh, laugh out loud (PSA for reading in public places), clench your fists at certain secondary characters and want to hug every single animal you encounter.
The whole story reads like a breeze with hints of spice and sugar, with brilliant cameos from the Spencers.
Whether you know Ana’s writing or are a new reader, do yourself a favor and dig in! Meatball will steal your heart one post-it at a time ❤️

[Andrea Smedley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a follow on to the Spencer Brothers series as it features Thatcher aka Meatball who is a cousin to the Spencers and Pierce, the frenemy of Lior. Pierce is on a full redemption arc here, as he tries to make amends for past mistakes whilst falling for chaotic Thatcher. I felt really sorry for Thatcher at first, with his hapless disasters! But it's great seeing him finding his grove when he works for Pierce, and their romance is heartwarming. Lots of nice humourous moments too. Another good read from Ana Ashley.

I received an ARC.

[Likes2Explore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall 5 Star
Performance 5 Star
Story 5 Star


Absolutely Wonderful! I enjoyed this so much. From start to finish it was a delight!
I am all smiles listening to Alexander Cendese & Iggy Toma bring me to giggles and make my heart flutter!
Thatcher is a rainbow on a cloudy day and Pierce sees his true colors and it releases his own.
They are absolutely a joy to watch together along with their friends and family.

*grumpy/sunshine *boss/employee *age gap *colorful sticky notes *chaos *critters

Thank You to Ana Ashley and her team for the ALC!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It has all my favourite tropes (boss/employee; grumpy/sunshine; age gap). Meatball is one of the best characters i have read about in a while. I love his obsession with post it notes and his enthusiasm for life. He was the perfect match for Pierce who needed some sunshine in his life. This book made me feel all warm and fussy inside i just loved it. Its a great book and i would recommend the audiobook because the voices were fantastic! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unabashedly trope-forward read and leans into it with confidence: age gap, boss/employee, office romance, secret and forbidden feelings, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, chosen family, and a wedding hookup that resurfaces in the most professionally awkward way possible are all present and accounted for, and the whole thing is more immersive for it. Thatcher (Meatball) and Pierce are interesting characters who wear their respective types well, and the chemistry between them is real. An engaging read. 4.5 stars

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.