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The Code of Love

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From award-winning author, Katy Summers, comes another perfectly pitched romcom that will steal your heart away. Narrated by Stuart Martin (star of star of Miss Scarlet and The Duke) and Emily Atack (star of Rivals).

Sydnie De Grado’s a bonafide girlboss who isn’t looking to settle down; she’s been there, done that, twice. When her dad unexpectedly announces he’s selling their not-for-profit tech firm she’s torn between family loyalty and a suspicion that something isn’t right… especially as the deal hinges on a chatbot that’s not even ready for market yet.

But then Syd finds an unlikely ally in Nathaniel Caldwell, the quiet CEO at the company trying to buy them out.

Nate’s heir to a vast business empire and a title that will one day make him a Lord, but under his polished exterior lies someone very different. Forced to mask his autism and hide his creativity, Nate’s set aside his dreams of Broadway musicals to become the tech-savvy businessman his father demands.

As the deal gathers pace, it’s all-hands-on-deck to test the chatbot. When Syd and Nate take a road trip for a family business summit in the Scottish Highlands, an undeniable attraction sparks. But Nate doesn't do casual relationships, and Syd’s allergic to commitment, so there’s absolutely no danger of crossing any lines, right?

Under the pressure of a deal neither of them believes in, and parents who force them to be something they’re not, they each turn to the safety of the chatbot to bare their souls. But as the conversations grow deeper, the technology begins to feel eerily human – almost as if they’re not speaking to a bot but someone who really sees them…

Meddling families, corporate intrigue, and a romance for the ages, The Code of Love is the literary love child of You’ve Got Mail and Succession. Blending her trademark wit with emotional depth, Katy Summers delivers a whip-smart romantic comedy about ambition, authenticity, and finding love where you least expect it.

Audible Audio

Published March 26, 2026

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About the author

Katy Summers

2 books82 followers
Katy’s debut, LOVE, REBOOTED was released in 2025, as an Audible Original. It was awarded the Joan Hessayon Prize for New Writing at the Romance Novels of the Year Awards, and was shortlisted for Romance Audiobook of the Year at the inaugural Speakies Awards.

Book two, THE CODE OF LOVE, is now availabe exclusively from Audible. Both books are STEM RomComs, narrated by Emily Atack (star of Rivals) and Stuart Martin (star of Miss Scarlet and the Duke) and explore themes of acceptance, neurodiversity, body positivity and finding love in your 30s or 40s.

Katy lives in South London and describes herself as an over-caffeinated, autistic/ADHD, Snoopy-loving, cat-butler to two noisy bengals.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
85 (21%)
4 stars
159 (39%)
3 stars
127 (31%)
2 stars
24 (5%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
161 reviews
April 7, 2026
3,5 ⭐️

I find this pretty hard to rate. I liked it a lot and the narrators did an amazing job. Its also sort of a duet, which is always a huge plus. I laughed out loud multiple times and Sydney and Nate were made for each other.
I just felt it was a bit too long. Couldn't really keep my attention on the book and the emd just fell a bit flat for me.
The diverse characters were also a huge plus.

I don't want to round down, so up it is.
Profile Image for Caila.
233 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2026
I could not stop listening! This was so much fun! Also first (I could be lying) romance audiobook. I was worried I would cringe at the spice but I didn’t… really well done. Not to say I’ll be listening to romance audiobooks consistently but yeah.

Great book, great story, great performers, great characters.

Imagine that, going from one five star read last year to feeling like I’m handing em out like candy this year.
38 reviews
March 29, 2026
Loved it ! This audiobook is funny, witty, geeky and defenitly not your typical surface level romance!

Even though the two main characters, Sydnie and Nate initially have their own ideas of each other, they quickly realise that there is more at play than they thought. Each will have to deal with meddling families and personal issues as they navigate the Deal they’ve both been thrown into. Adding to the mix topics that are very relevant right now, which made it so refreshing and got my brain working!

This book had me giggling and laughing out loud at Syd’s beautifully crude analogies and swooning over Nate’s adorableness!

And again, superb performance by Emily Atack and Steweart Martin! Loved every minute !
69 reviews
April 1, 2026
Cute little neurodivergent love story, hot chocolate read whilst celebrating the spectrum
Profile Image for Spicy Book Connoisseur.
21 reviews
March 28, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyable fandango

Overview

Syd, girlboss by day, professional single by night, is reacquainted with the musical-loving and reluctant CEO, Nate, when their fathers conspire to sell Syd's family tech business from under her. 

As tensions rise and attraction develops during a trip to the Scottish Highlands, both Syd and Nate confide in the chatbot at the centre of the deal, only to find it responding in increasingly human ways. 

The Verdict

After Syd’s appearances in Love, Rebooted, I was delighted to see Book 2 was about her! 

Syd and Nate were such fantastic characters. They both knew what they wanted, but highly valued family (in some ways maybe too much). The chemistry, the flirting, the unforgettable road trip were all absolute highlights. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments and once again, the autistic representation was a breath of fresh air. 

While it felt like a rinse and repeat of Book 1’s formula, it flowed beautifully and is a solid follow-up.

Tropes to Expect

- Second-chance romance
- Neurodivergent representation (autism)
- Close-proximity
- Meddling family dynamic
- Happily Ever After

⭐ Rating: 4/5
🌶️ Spice: 2/5

Consumed via: Audible
Audiobook: Duet narration - Stuart Martin and Emily Atack
POV: Dual – MMC & FMC
Series: Debugged Love - Book 2
Profile Image for Céline.
20 reviews4 followers
May 14, 2026
definitely smut. He is autistic. She is not but understands it. The whole book is about only a few days. Few weeks at most. It has both few points. In my opinion it is well written. Some autistic people will definitely find themselves in this representation. They also use the phrase that 'if you meet one person with autism, you met one person'.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Cat Sykes.
12 reviews
April 12, 2026
Picked this out as a light listen in between some heavier ones and I am SO glad I did! It’s turned out to be an unexpected top listen of the year so far.

This is a contemporary romance following two ‘proper’ adults (late 30s and early 40s) who are on opposing sides of a business deal that neither of them wants or believes in, each under the pressure of their parents-come-bosses’ heavy expectations.
Nate is already pretty smitten with Syd after catching feelings from a one-night stand some time ago and Syd is strictly no-strings-attached following her second divorce form Nate’s step-cousin (I think … the link is a bit confusing). They both agree nothing is going to happen because; (a) that would be unprofessional, and (b) they both want the exact opposite out of relationships. Despite their agreement, they find themselves struggling to keep to all of their terms …

I loved the representation amongst the characters. Particular shout out for having a male character working as an actor, within a strong group of other LGBT characters that wasn’t gay! But most of all, I appreciated the portrayal of autism and the contrast of Nate against Syd’s best friend showing how it can present differently across different people. This is the first time I seen hyper-empathy shown and well explained in a novel, and I also appreciated how both of the most prominent autistic characters were shown as very competent most of the time, then experiencing challenges that didn’t disqualify them from their competence at all, merely framed it as a greater achievement.
However some characters felt a bit check-box - there are a few additional minor LGBTQ characters that are only encountered briefly and not at all fleshed out and while I’ve nothing against a cast of mostly minority groups, the almost thrown in additions without and detail felt more like a token attempt to represent as many possible identities as possible in one book. I would have been happier to just enjoy the pan/bi representation within the central relationship and the more properly developed LBGTQ sibling.

🌶️-wise this did not leave me hanging. There are 2 or 3 especially explicit sections, and I loved the realistic portrayal of both how autism can affect intimacy (both positive and negative), and the challenges and benefits for a partner navigating that. It makes a solid start mid-book with lots of juicy tension in between the more explicit bits.
One bit in particular is probably one of the hottest things I’ve ever read and there’s not even any sex involved!

Overall so glad I picked this up!!
Profile Image for Faye Anne.
795 reviews21 followers
April 10, 2026
This Audible Plus title has a mixed dual/ duet narration with two amazing narrators - Emily Atack and Stuart Martin. The two main characters are always voiced by the male and female narrator respectively, but the other characters are voiced by the narrator for whichever main character's chapter it is at the time. I did love hearing the two narrators go back and forth as the two main characters whenever they were together. Emily Atack puts so much personality into her performance and is a perfect match for the flirty, innuendo-loving, confident Sydnie. The two narrators really deliver the humour of the book as well as the emotion, and they had me laughing out loud a lot.

Plot-wise, I was infuriated by Sydnie's dad wanting to sell the business, rather than hand over the reins to his daughter like they'd always talked about, and for not listening to her throughout the book. After wanting to shake him for the entirety of the book, the ending felt very rewarding and satisfying!

I loved the diversity in The Code of Love. Not only did the sexuality of both main characters feel completely right for each of them, I also loved the autism representation. Nate's autistic traits were shown in a very detailed and genuine way and it was handled so sensitively.

I had a great time with The Code of Love audiobook and would definitely recommend this very funny romcom. I binged it in one go and loved the humour of it. If you have Audible Plus, definitely pick it up!
Profile Image for Cara Isabella.
84 reviews
May 17, 2026
Sydnie De Grado’s a bonafide girlboss who isn’t looking to settle down; she’s been there, done that, twice. When her dad unexpectedly announces he’s selling their not-for-profit tech firm she’s torn between family loyalty and a suspicion that something isn’t right… especially as the deal hinges on a chatbot that’s not even ready for market yet.

But then Syd finds an unlikely ally in Nathaniel Caldwell, the quiet CEO at the company trying to buy them out.

Nate’s heir to a vast business empire and a title that will one day make him a Lord, but under his polished exterior lies someone very different. Forced to mask his autism and hide his creativity, Nate’s set aside his dreams of Broadway musicals to become the tech-savvy businessman his father demands.

As the deal gathers pace, it’s all-hands-on-deck to test the chatbot. When Syd and Nate take a road trip for a family business summit in the Scottish Highlands, an undeniable attraction sparks. But Nate doesn't do casual relationships, and Syd’s allergic to commitment, so there’s absolutely no danger of crossing any lines, right?

Under the pressure of a deal neither of them believes in, and parents who force them to be something they’re not, they each turn to the safety of the chatbot to bare their souls. But as the conversations grow deeper, the technology begins to feel eerily human – almost as if they’re not speaking to a bot but someone who really sees them…
Profile Image for Trissy ♡.
108 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2026
I really enjoyed this, and it was nice to catch up with the characters from the first book and have a bit of an update with what's happened since then. I loved the brief interactions with Sydney in the first book and I loved getting her POV in this book. It was also nice getting to know Nate in this book and seeing how his backbone continually develops throughout. I also loved how different he and Sydney are and how they continued bonding through banter, continuous conversation and my favorite tropes aka forced proximity and the one bed trope. This book stirred up all kinds of feelings, both good and bad, but all leading to me loving the book even more for it to be able to evoke such feelings. Also I absolutely hate Sebastian and wish him the worst. I also loved the narrators and how they both made the book even better and I hope to hear them in future books. I also love how effortlessly the narration and book flowed and didn't sound like it was just cut and inserted speaking parts a second after the description happens.
Profile Image for Shannon.
8,991 reviews442 followers
April 17, 2026
A one night stand to more as two people from rival families fall in love online as they chat with each other thinking its actually an AI bot. I loved Nate, with his cinnamon roll sweetness, his autism and his Broadway loving, poet soul. Sydnie is a twice divorced, almost 40 year old woman whose been jaded by love, multiple miscarriages and just wants to focus on creating an ethical AI bot for her father's company but when he tells her he's planning to sell her whole world is upended. Great on audio with dual narration, I loved seeing Nate and Syd dance their way around each other and slowly fall in love. Highly recommended and a perfect read for Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month!
2 reviews
May 6, 2026
If it wasn’t for the narrators & the fact that I was quite enjoying the humour of Sydney & Nate I probably would have given up on this book. We have two characters who are apparently autistic, one who is non binary, one who has ADHD & the main female character is either pan or bi sexual. Bit wokey for me. The more I read about the apparent traits of the autistic characters I was starting to believe even I am autistic! Just sounded like personality traits to me (which we all have).
That said, it was enjoyable enough (albeit quite saucy!)
11 reviews
April 21, 2026
This was an audible book and I got halfway through but I could not make myself pay attention. Not sure if it was a narrator problem or I didn’t give it a fair chance but I did not finish, felt like it was a waste of time.
Profile Image for Rivya S.
16 reviews
May 15, 2026
This was a fun, quick read. I truly enjoyed the autism and neurospicy representation. Both characters were great. It’s a feel good romance with fun quirky bits and a good summer read. Or whenever you want a quick pick me up.
21 reviews1 follower
March 30, 2026
Love love this book so much!
If you’re a fan of Love rebooted then you will devour this.
Katy summers has done it again a massive 5 stars from me !
Profile Image for April.
5 reviews
April 5, 2026
like reading a Hallmark movie... with some light steam. made for a good afternoon.
Profile Image for Delicate Rock.
643 reviews6 followers
April 10, 2026
3.5 it was cute I wish we got them as a couple a little longer
Profile Image for KateBush.
148 reviews
April 16, 2026
Pitch perfect rom com with immaculate voice acting. Good lord the heat in the off kilter only one bed (sort of) scene is *fans self*. Stuart. You perfect burr rasping jewel of a voice actor.
Profile Image for Nicole.
362 reviews11 followers
April 28, 2026
Deeper and more nuanced than I expected. Sweet story with likable main characters. Great neurodivergent representation.
169 reviews1 follower
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April 30, 2026
Cute but didn't love it I didn't hate it either, indifferent I guess
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews