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, Grumpy Sunshine, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Audiobook, 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

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture Perfect Mistake by Ana Ashley is a stand alone, grumpy/sunshine, age gap (fifteen years,) forbidden, office romance that I have fallen head over heels in love with. I said stand alone but the author is calling this Spencer Brothers related since Thatcher who is one of the main characters, is the cousin of the brothers and I believe was introduced in one of the books. I have not read them but now I will have to. I need more of this world. I adore her writing style. This is actually only my third book of hers ever!



Thatcher Edward Charles III is thirty years old. Thatcher is my favorite kind of character. He’s so full of sunshine. He’ll do anything to make someone else happy. He is also a walking disaster area. Chaos follows him. His own father never fails to tell him what a disappointment he is. Thatcher has had dreams of being an artist but he also needs a paycheck. Which requires him to hold an office job. But remember what I said about chaos? Because of this, Thatcher has a bit of trouble holding on to those jobs.



Six months prior, at the wedding of his cousin, Thatcher saw a very good looking, lonely stranger standing alone. Besides acknowledging how beautiful the man was, he just wanted to make him happy, if only for a moment. Which is exactly what he did.



Pierce Dellcourt is forty six years old. He is the CFO of Van Stern Enterprises. Pierce is the exact opposite of Thatcher. He is controlled, always dressed perfectly, not a hair out of place. His life consists of organized spread sheets and data. But Pierce has his own inner battles to fight. And at the wedding, he is feeling all of it. Until a beautiful younger man approaches him and they just connect in that once in a lifetime way. After spending a little time alone, making each other forget everything but each other, then he’s back to real life.



Six months later, Pierce’s personal assistant is retiring. When his replacement walks in, he can hardly believe his eyes. It’s him, the beautiful man from the wedding. In his office!

Thatcher seems to thrive at Van Stern Enterprises. He’s making friends. His chaotic system, endless sticky notes and color coded pens all seem to work. Pierce’s life has never been so organized. Thatcher just seems to fit. And that chemistry that Pierce and Thatcher felt six months ago at the wedding? Well, we’ll just say that it didn’t fade, in the least. Longing gazes soon turn to stolen kisses, which soon turns to more. What they are doing/feeling is against all the rules but neither wants to stop.



Reading about Thatcher made my heart so happy. I laughed out loud several times. Watching the impact he had on Pierce was equally satisfying. Together these two were pure magic. But, boss and employee fraternizing is not allowed. And both of these men have skeletons just waiting to be let out. Are they just a short fling or does this have the potential to be more?

This is a wonderful book you simply won’t want to miss. I couldn’t put it down. I’m going to need many more of her books in my future and I can guarantee that the Spencer Brothers will be first on my list.

[Sjoukje · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I’m in a slump, maybe I’m only picking up mediocre books lately. This book was definitely mediocre at best. After the okayish prequel, the book begins with the most teeth grinding story of how Thatcher is apparently a toddler who can’t use a coffee machine in an office situation and makes a scene. He’s fired, then hired by his cousin’s husband and makes a mess with coffee again because he can’t understand why carrying 20 cups of coffee is hard. Everyone worries about him because he’s such a mess. And they call him meatball because he once tried to eat 20 meatballs and that was so funny now even people who didn’t know him at the time call him that. Right.

As soon as he’s working for Pierce, after the coffee incident, he’s incredibly capable of organizing everything because he has such an amazing color coding system. So amazing the New York office makes more money than ever. The other assistants finally have a reason to live after meeting him, he makes everything better. 🙄 The atmosphere at the whole company changes because of him.
He is the best party planner, fixer of number mistakes, and he turns out to be really great in Legal stuff too. He is the most talented drawer ever. And his dad later confesses he was tested as so highly gifted as a kid, he was mean to him (because he wanted the best for him).

Why introduce this guy as an idiot? If he can’t do life in the first pages, why is he at the same time able to be the best organizer, party planner, color coder, and on top of that people whisperer? He makes everything and everyone better, but his first company fires him for making a mess with the coffee machine?

Both Thatcher and Pierce have brother issues, a dead mom who was the only one who really loved them and a heartless dad. Pierces brother James is the successful head of a company but spends most of his time to threaten Pierce. When he fails with his hostile takeover attempt, Pierce and Thatcher break up because they don’t want to give ammunition. WHY IS HE INVOLVED in the first place?

The solution is so ridiculous I almost dnf’d at 90%. Pierce happened to have an architect degree in his back pocket he got in two years without his ex boyfriend knowing. So he quitsand starts a new company so he can be with Thatcher and help the poor. Or whatever. Come on!

And cousins barging in while they’re in bed because that’s what they do. They have no lives, they only exist to protect their little chaos cousin, whose dad suddenly came around.

So… not reading this book or anything from this author again. I hate it when neurodivergent people are depicted as stereotypical idiot savants. And when solutions to unrealistic made up problems are so incredibly out there.
Don’t recommend.

[Darcy (at the cottage) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! 💕💕💕💕💕 I love boss/employee stories with one chaotic and one serious MC! Bonus scene available at the end of book.

[Ammandareadsdark · 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.

[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!

[Anna With Unpopular Opinions · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

Boring, like literally nothing happened.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just kind of boring and the characters were all fine. Kinda just a blah book

[Nath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes & Themes

Age gap
Serious guy vs the colourful over excited guy


What I loved / liked :

“It’s scary, isn’t it? They crash into our lives like it’s not a big deal, and before we know it, they’ve burrowed so deep that they’re stuck on permanently, and then you wonder how life was before them.”
Lior, page 238.

I usually don’t quote books but that one was perfect. Lior and Noah’s book then Pierce and Meatball’s were exactly that. Younger men crushing older ones’ lives with their colourful personalities. I was so scared to hate Pierce after Lior’s book but he turned out to be perfect. The kind of villain that was no villain at heart in fact and went through a great character development. I really loved both of them.

I also usually hate separations in books but this one was totally different in the sense that they decided it with a purpose and knowing they’d get back together. It didn’t feel like the end of their relationship.

I also loved that we got to see much of the past characters.


What I hated / disliked :

Some former characters were missing, like Avo who’s not mentioned once. And same for Ellie, who was always stuck with the guys before but doesn’t appear once here.


Quick summary:

At Lior and Noah’s wedding, Pierce hooks up with Meatball, not knowing who he is.

Some months later, Meatball, who’s a disaster on walking legs, gets fired from his job but gets an opportunity at Lior’s company to assist the CFO, who’s Pierce. The day before Meatball starts, Pierce is pressured by his brother James to close a merging deal with VSE, which is what should have happened had he married Lior, but he holds his ground, and so does Lior when someone from the board suggests a merger.

On his first day, Meatball bumps into Pierce in the hall while holding 12 coffees that fall on Pierce and the floor, then he soon discovers that Pierce is his new boss. They’re obviously still attracted to each other but have to remain professional though Meatball is way to straightforward and honest so he has to clear the air and lay things down.

A small week later, Meatball makes friends with other assistants who give him tips and congratulate him on reorganizing the supply room. He also solves a paper crisis situation and agrees to a family dinner at Lusitana. Next day, he sorts an ants crisis in Pierce’s office then later helps solve a legal crisis in a contract, staying late to work with Pierce. Pierce is confused by how he feels for the energetic chaos Meatball leaves around, his unexpected smartness and all the sticky notes.

Saturday night Meatball has dinner with Alli, his best friend, telling her about his week, and learns his dad will be at lunch on Sunday. Seems like he has a difficult relationship with his snob father who never paid attention to his art. In Sunday, lunch is tense with his dad denigrating his artistic tendencies and talking him down until he leaves. His mother is actually Jack’s sister and was a more open woman. He gets strong support from the family though as they defend him against his dad.

Monday, Meatball is in earlier than Pierce and has already done a lot, reorganized the agenda and scheduled a lunch session for them both which gets partly ruined when James shows up unannounced to threaten Pierce with botching distributors and delays their lunch break.

Saturday morning, Meatball helps at Alli’s pet store. Hé shows her sketches he made of Pierce and she asks if he’ll go to a comics convention in NYC to give his artistic career a chance, but he’s unsure. Sunday evening, he and Pierce meet at Lior and Noah’s for dinner. Meatball speaks about the comics, impressing Pierce with the parallel story between them, and Pierce opens up on himself, how he was adopted as a baby before his parents had James naturally, their father turning everything into competition between them.

On Monday, Pierce gives Meatball a new project to organise the annual party at work, and they stay after work to work on it, Pierce ordering food for dinner. Tension builds between them but is interrupted by the cleaning crew, so Meatball leaves abruptly and goes him to jerk off, fantasising about topping Pierce.

Three weeks later it’s the annual party and everything goes very well. Pierce defends Meatball when a board member says they were expecting chaos. Pierce actually misses his chaotic assistant and tells Meatball so when they find themselves together in the restrooms, nearly kissing again. Later that night, as Meatball drops documents in the office he check a report for the following day’s board meeting and sees that someone changed sources so he fixes everything, again impressing Pierce as he joins him. They end up making out, interrupted by the security guard, then finish the evening at a pizzeria, Pierce leaving him a note that some mistakes are worth making twice.

The next day, before the board meeting, James shows up and offers a merge to Lior, telling him about the loss of distributors, but Lior sends him off. After the meeting, Pierce drags Meatball to the rooftop, desperately needing him, and as they kiss, Meatball stops him from going further. Pierce then meets Lior and tells him all, and Lior quickly finds a solution. Pierce feels super guilty about the situation with Meatball and the power imbalance. Back at his desk, Meatball has left, arguing an private emergency. In fact Meatball is pissed that he had to leave for a last minute dinner with his father who got him a spot at Meatball’s brother company and told them he’d accept. Meatball left the restaurant and after a shower to calm down at his place, Pierce shows up to apologize. Meatball says he doesn’t need to because he feels the same, so they have sex and spend the night together. In the morning, they’re caught by Alli’s surprise visit, and she’s overwhelmingly excited about this, and shares indiscreet info to Pierce about Meatball’s drawing and pining. In the office, Lior reveals a plan to find who leaks information to James and arranges a 3 day trip to NYC for Pierce and Meatball, who will take the opportunity to attend the artist convention over the weekend.

When Thatcher suggests cheaper hotels for him, Pierce tells him that he must stay in the same hotel, and also announces that he will stay for the weekend with him. When Lior visits him in his office, he mentions him taking the lead of the company when he’ll be on holidays with Noah, and how Pierce has changed a lot lately, looking happier. But pierce doesn’t tell him the truth about Meatball.

When they arrive in NYC, it turns out Pierce booked only one room. They have dinner and then Meatball draws Pierce, naked, whispering what he draws sensually, making Pierce come hands free and ends with Meatball topping Pierce. The next day in the office, Meatball impresses everyone again and bonds with colleagues.

Comes Saturday and the convention goes perfectly, his work impressing more people than he thought. He makes contacts with fellow artists and publishers, then meets Pierce at the hotel in the evening. On Sunday, they explore before they fly back and go their separate ways. Meatball finds Alli in his apartment and tells her all, confessing he’s fallen in love with his boss.

On Monday, Pierce has a meeting with Lior who announces that their plan worked and Thornton is leaking information. James calls at that moment, and offers a merge again. Lior accepts to arrange a board meeting on Friday, part of their plan. He then tells Pierce he knows about him and Meatball, and confirms that Meatball can’t work with him if they want to keep their relationship.

On one evening, they attend the mayor’s event. Lior having leaked the info, all the cousins now know about their relationship and tease Meatball, but Noah also makes him see that there’s a possibility for more.

On Friday, it’s the board meeting goes as per the plan, with James and Thornton exposed and the latter fired. Lior fears that James will want to play dirty then, confirming that Pierce and Meatball either have to end their relationship or Meatball has to leave the company, so Pierce texts him to meet that night at his place to discuss. Meatball was at an appointment with the publisher which went very well, telling him he’ll have to find an agent. As they discuss their options, they decide to pause their relationship until Meatball has signed with a publisher and can quit his job. Meatball stays over so they can make love and once more in the morning. Their first day broken up in the office is torture.

A month later, Meatball is depressed, being his usual catastrophe as he tries to repaint his bathroom. His cousins arrive with food and over lunch, they discuss options for him and Pierce to get back together, and that includes leaving VSE to work with his brother. Meanwhile, thank fuck, Lior is having a talk with Pierce who confesses he always wanted to be an architect so Lior convinces him to explore that option. Thanks to the cousins’ intervention, they’re brought together and decide that Meatball will stay at VSE until he gets published and Pierce starts his own firm.

18 months later, it’s Meatball’s book launch and Pierce proposes.


Characters of the series :

Alexis Spencer: 27, twin with Adam, graphic designer
Emery Livingston: 27, a teacher with a bitch family. He lost his memory in a car accident after he became Lex’s fiancé.

Adam Spencer: 27, twin with Lex, copywriter, creative director
River: 27, Adam’s best friend who has secretly been in love with him for years.

Noah Spencer: 30, accounts director
Lior Van Stern: 47, owner of a glass museum

Avo Jacinta : the boys’ grandmother

Carla: their mother

Jack: their father

Victoria: Adam’s current fiancée, very cold and self centred.

Ellie: Victoria’s sister and Emery’s colleague and best friend

Ren: a server at the restaurant where Frederick and Emery had their date, hyperactive twink, fond of succulents
Frederick : the son of Emery’s mother’s best friend. Back from Europe. Lied that he was gay 15 years before to get his mom off his back but is straight, until he meets Ren

Jax: 32, Noah’s old friend, ex military who just retired and lives in Noah’s building
Tanner Beckett: 30, owner of Tanner’s bar, dated Jax’s little sister back in high school before he came out as gay.

Jodie: Jax’s sister, used to date Tanner, moves to live in Cliffsborough, accidentally pregnant, marries Matt, Tanner’s bartender

Weston Hart : paramedic, cofounder of Star Finders. Foster brothers
Drew Carter : bartender at Lusitana, cofounder of Star Finders

Pierce: 46, Lior’s ex, a CFO at VSE who starts his firm in architecture.
Meatball: 30?, the brothers’ cousin, an artist who gets his first book out.

[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

[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.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I love a good, serious, buttoned-up, anti-hero turning-around story. And when you throw in a sunshiny chaos agent to the mix, it is just a delight. One little sexy encounter was not supposed to have any consequences, but...

Pierce Dellcourt has made mistakes, hurt people he cared about, and got a second chance to work for his ex's company and make amends. And then here comes Thatcher, aka Meatball, the master of chaos as his new personal assistant. But when some people have no patience with Thatcher, Pierce watches him with amusement and is fascinated by him. I liked seeing under Pierce’s professional façade as he tries to work hard and make up for things he’s done in the past, while also showing a softer side due to Thatcher.

Thatcher brings sunshine, color, (and a bazillion sticky notes) into Pierce's life. And Pierce becomes somebody who believes in Thatcher’s talent and skills, despite his tendency to cause disasters. These two guys were just great together despite the fact that they needed to keep it hidden.

It is a funny, sweet, witty, and heartfelt opposites-attract, forced proximity, second-chance, grumpy-sunshine, age gap, forbidden workplace love story. I loved getting more with their friends and family from the Spencer Brothers series. The whole sense of found family was strong in this one as well.

[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.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

How stinking cute is this dang book?! I did not go into this expecting to love Thatcher so much considering he started off as the office klutz. Sometimes those type of characters either does it for me or annoys me, but in this case I fell in love with Thatcher. Then after realizing that Thatcher is such a likeable character I was basically chanting to Pierce “Please don’t be mean to him” the whole time because my baby boy does not deserve that. This had so many “new to me” characters because I did not read any of the Spencer Brother’s series before diving into this (I now have went back to read the Spencer Brother’s series before writing this review) and I was super interested in the cameos that they mentioned. This was just such a lovely book, low angst, very sweet moments and I just had a heartwarming time. Pierce ended up being super sweet towards Thatcher and that’s all I really wanted for him. There were so many LOL moments that just made me so giddy because of how silly Thatcher was and I was kicking my feet the whole time. The way Pierce was so supportive of Thatcher’s doodles and just being there to support his dreams about being an illustrator was everything especially since his family had little faith in him finding a suitable job with that interest. I always believe there is a special person for everybody and I’m glad both Pierce and Thatcher found that in each other.

-Office romance
-Boss x secretary
-Grumpy/sunshine
-Sweet post-it notes with doodles
-Perfectly imperfect
-Age gap
-He falls first
-Only one bed
-Stolen kisses in the office
-Forbidden
-Wedding rendezvous in the bathroom
-Self-discovery
-Walking chaos

[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.

[Fabigail Cohen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This purports to be a stand-alone story but it's actually a spinoff from the Spencer Brothers series, particularly book 2. Which I have not read. It's still enjoyable, so I guess it's a stand-alone in that sense, but all the Spencer Brothers characters appear in the book, and events from book 2 have a huge impact on the MCs.

Thatcher aka Meatball, the title character, supposedly trails chaos in his wake wherever he goes. We see him accidentally trigger the sprinkler system the day he's fired from his job. The first day at his new job, he spills coffee all over his boss. His resume is a litany of failures. Then suddenly -- he's competent. His love of color-coding isn't just silly, it makes people more efficient. He's full of good ideas. He actually has a head for numbers and is a perfect assistant for a CFO. What happened? Does he have to be in love with his boss in order to do a good job? That part was jarring and not really believable. The explicit sex scenes got boring after a while, and weren't necessary to the plot. But it was still a fun read and I'm glad Thatcher got his HEA.

[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.

[Virg Lecture · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'est toujours un plaisir de retrouver Ana Ashley et ses petites romances ultra mignonnes. Je suis sûre de passer un bon moment et de faire la connaissance de personnages hauts en couleur.

Encore une fois, cela n'a pas manqué. Avec un thème boss/employé et un coup d'un soir anonyme, c'était évident que j'allais m'éclater !

Thatcher est le cousin des frères Spencer, ce qui nous permet de tous les retrouver avec leurs indiscrétions habituelles ! J'adore. Mais Thatcher est aussi un homme très attachant. Hyper maladroit et tête en l'air, il sait se concentrer et s'organiser quand le moment l'impose. Il va d'ailleurs mener le bureau de Pierce et tous ses employés à la baguette en un tour de main !

Pierce, c'était l'antagoniste dans Le faux mari de Noah et, après son arc de rédemption, on est contents de le voir, lui aussi, avoir son happy end. Plus âgé et plus rigide, il est complètement séduit par la tornade Thatcher, même si sa raison (mais f* la raison !) lui souffle de se contenir !

Bref, un agréable moment de lecture malgré un scénario hyper convenu. J'ai néanmoins été un peu gênée par quelques petits problèmes de traduction entre le « vous » et le « tu » au début du livre (sûrement voulu, dû aux circonstances de leur rencontre, mais cela ne m'a pas semblé très fluide). Et J'ai également eu du mal avec le surnom de Thatcher, que je trouve affreux et qui ne lui va pas, mais ça, c'est tout à fait personnel !

En résumé, une lecture très sympathique pour ce one-shot dans l'univers des frères Spencer !

Service de presse

[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.

[JOELLE SAMYN · Rating 5 out of 5]

D'un côté, Pierce Dellcourt, patron du service financier chez VSE, aime le contrôle, froid et a une famille toxique.
De l'autre, Thatcher Edward Charles III, surnom Meatball, artiste, a le chaos comme ami et a beaucoup de soucis professionnels, ne supporte pas sa famille mais adore ses trois cousins et leurs parents ainsi que sa meilleure amie.
Une renconte lors du mariage de l'un de ses cousins.
Un retour à la vie normale et là ils se retrouvent patron et assistant.
Restez professionnel jusqu'à ce que l'un ne tient plus.
Seulement, Pierce devra faire face à des manipulations, des menaces et des doutes.
Thatcher essaiera de l'aider comme il le peut.
Des choix seront douloureux pour ne pas se faire écraser par d'autres.
Chacun a des rêves oubliés ou qu'il essaie de réaliser.
De l'humour, des émotions, des rires, de l'amour et des acceptations de soi-même.
Et les cousins et son amie plein de folie de tout genre.
A lire absolument.

[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.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picture Perfect Mistake was a sweet, fluffy MM romance and exactly the kind of comfort read I was in the mood for. I really liked both Thatcher and Pierce, and their grumpy/sunshine dynamic never felt too forced. The audiobook narration by Iggy Toma and Alexander Cendese was excellent as always, and there was one particularly romantic scene in a New York hotel involving Thatcher's artwork that I absolutely loved. While I enjoyed the romance, it did feel a little formulaic at times, and the third-act breakup was both predictable and resolved very quickly. I also felt like I was missing some context since so many members of Pierce's family come from previous books in the series. Still, it was an enjoyable read with a satisfying HEA, and I'd happily pick up another Anna Ashley book in the future.