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Not Today Satan
One gossip column photo. One meddling family. One fake relationship that got way out of hand.
With no job, no apartment, and no money in the bank, unemployed chef Harley Plotkin didn't think her life could get any worse. Until she accidentally destroyed a high fashion photoshoot and got one of her best friends fired.
Now she has exactly one chance to repay her debt and get her friend his job back. All Harley has to do is survive ten weeks working for Santana Torres, legendary fashion designer, control freak, and all-around boss from hell. Santana has the warmth of a glacier, and Harley will be at her beck and call, day and night, from Manhattan ateliers to the runways of Paris.
But when menial servitude turns into tabloid fodder, suddenly Satan herself needs a favor. And for the first time, Harley has the upper hand.
The rules are simple. No feelings. No complications. Absolutely no funny business.
The problem? Harley never did know how to follow the rules.
A hilarious sapphic romance about fake relationships, real feelings, and the alarming discovery that this job from hell might lead to a match made in heaven.
With no job, no apartment, and no money in the bank, unemployed chef Harley Plotkin didn't think her life could get any worse. Until she accidentally destroyed a high fashion photoshoot and got one of her best friends fired.
Now she has exactly one chance to repay her debt and get her friend his job back. All Harley has to do is survive ten weeks working for Santana Torres, legendary fashion designer, control freak, and all-around boss from hell. Santana has the warmth of a glacier, and Harley will be at her beck and call, day and night, from Manhattan ateliers to the runways of Paris.
But when menial servitude turns into tabloid fodder, suddenly Satan herself needs a favor. And for the first time, Harley has the upper hand.
The rules are simple. No feelings. No complications. Absolutely no funny business.
The problem? Harley never did know how to follow the rules.
A hilarious sapphic romance about fake relationships, real feelings, and the alarming discovery that this job from hell might lead to a match made in heaven.
384 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2026
About the author
T.B. Markinson
77 books1,226 followersT. B. Markinson is an American writer, living in England. When she isn't writing, she’s traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
May 23, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Fashion designer Santana, the epitome of an ice queen, clashes—almost literally—with the sharp-tongued chef Harley. The perfect ingredients for a hilarious rom-com.
I know just as little about fashion as Harley, am a bit less creative in the kitchen, but I can keep my job for longer than a few months, so I was able to relate to her quite well. Harley, with her heart in the right place, who is sometimes a bit clumsy but always stands up for others without regard for her own job, wins my heart very quickly. Because she often gets in her own way, she’s struggling to find the right path for herself in life; she needs to figure that out soon, or she’ll never be able to stand on her own two feet and will end up couch-surfing at friends’ places her whole life.
On the other hand, the icy-cold Ice Queen Santana, whose sharp words can cut as deep as Harley’s kitchen knives, is a different story. She unfairly takes out her frustration on her employees, making few friends in the process. Betrayal and disloyalty have hardened her, and no one dares to stand up to her—except Harley. It took me much longer to see beyond her impossible behavior and understand her better. And I loved her little dachshund, Luca.
Due to a special deal, Harley ends up having to work for Santana. Harley tries not to let Santana’s harassment get her down, which was by no means always easy. By biting her tongue with great effort at times and through small gestures, she slowly but surely becomes an indispensable muse.
This story comes alive not only through the actions of the characters but above all through the dialogues and verbal sparring between Harley and Santana, and through Harley’s inner monologues and commentary. I have rarely laughed or smiled so often. And the fact that fashion design and culinary arts can complement and inspire each other so well was a surprise at first, but upon closer inspection, I recognized the similarities.
Another highlight is Santana’s family; I would have loved to spend more time with them, not only because they helped me understand Santana better, but because they are such a multifaceted, lovable, and humorous family.
The fact that we experience the entire story from Harley’s perspective has its charm and makes sense in many ways. But sometimes I would have liked to know what Santana was thinking in various situations; that would certainly have been a story worth telling as well.
The only minor complaint I have is that, toward the end, it felt a bit rushed the way Harley discovers and pursues her calling in her job. In contrast, we see Santana’s character develop over a longer period of time.
Another great collaboration by T.B. Markinson and Miranda MacLeod. I can imagine that this story, as an audiobook with perfect narration, will be even better than it already is.
ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review
Fashion designer Santana, the epitome of an ice queen, clashes—almost literally—with the sharp-tongued chef Harley. The perfect ingredients for a hilarious rom-com.
I know just as little about fashion as Harley, am a bit less creative in the kitchen, but I can keep my job for longer than a few months, so I was able to relate to her quite well. Harley, with her heart in the right place, who is sometimes a bit clumsy but always stands up for others without regard for her own job, wins my heart very quickly. Because she often gets in her own way, she’s struggling to find the right path for herself in life; she needs to figure that out soon, or she’ll never be able to stand on her own two feet and will end up couch-surfing at friends’ places her whole life.
On the other hand, the icy-cold Ice Queen Santana, whose sharp words can cut as deep as Harley’s kitchen knives, is a different story. She unfairly takes out her frustration on her employees, making few friends in the process. Betrayal and disloyalty have hardened her, and no one dares to stand up to her—except Harley. It took me much longer to see beyond her impossible behavior and understand her better. And I loved her little dachshund, Luca.
Due to a special deal, Harley ends up having to work for Santana. Harley tries not to let Santana’s harassment get her down, which was by no means always easy. By biting her tongue with great effort at times and through small gestures, she slowly but surely becomes an indispensable muse.
This story comes alive not only through the actions of the characters but above all through the dialogues and verbal sparring between Harley and Santana, and through Harley’s inner monologues and commentary. I have rarely laughed or smiled so often. And the fact that fashion design and culinary arts can complement and inspire each other so well was a surprise at first, but upon closer inspection, I recognized the similarities.
Another highlight is Santana’s family; I would have loved to spend more time with them, not only because they helped me understand Santana better, but because they are such a multifaceted, lovable, and humorous family.
The fact that we experience the entire story from Harley’s perspective has its charm and makes sense in many ways. But sometimes I would have liked to know what Santana was thinking in various situations; that would certainly have been a story worth telling as well.
The only minor complaint I have is that, toward the end, it felt a bit rushed the way Harley discovers and pursues her calling in her job. In contrast, we see Santana’s character develop over a longer period of time.
Another great collaboration by T.B. Markinson and Miranda MacLeod. I can imagine that this story, as an audiobook with perfect narration, will be even better than it already is.
ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review
May 13, 2026
This honestly had all the potential to become a 5-star read for me, but there were a few things that held me back from fully giving it that rating. That being said, this is easily my favorite book from these two authors so far, and considering how many of their books I’ve already read, that genuinely surprised me. Going into this, I was expecting a fun fake dating romance with entertaining banter, but I ended up getting so much more than that. One of the biggest surprises for me was the romcom tone because while the authors have included humor in previous books before, I had never seen them lean into it this much. I genuinely lost track of how many times this book made me laugh, which is saying something because I normally struggle to enjoy comedy in books. Thankfully, the humor here felt really natural and never forced or over-the-top.
Another thing I unexpectedly loved was the fashion aspect of the story. You can really tell the authors put effort into researching the fashion industry because every design, gala, and creative process felt detailed and immersive. As someone who usually has almost no interest in fashion, I was surprised by how invested I became in that side of the story. Honestly, this book feels just as much about fashion and creativity as it does about romance. I also really enjoyed the parallels between fashion and cooking because it was fascinating seeing how two completely different forms of art could inspire one another.
The characters were a little more complicated for me though. I absolutely loved Harley’s chaotic and genuinely kind personality. She constantly tried to make the best out of every messy situation she found herself in, which made her incredibly easy to root for. At the same time, I felt conflicted about her character growth because it seemed to stagnate for a large portion of the book. Harley spent so much time putting everyone else first that when she finally made decisions about her own future, it felt abrupt and lacked the emotional buildup I was hoping for. I would’ve preferred seeing her slowly work through those realizations instead of suddenly reaching them near the end, so that aspect of her arc left me feeling a bit unsatisfied overall.
Santana was an even harder character for me to connect with emotionally because she was truly an ice queen from beginning to end. While we do gradually see her open up to Harley, I still felt like she never completely let her walls down, so I never connected with her on the same level as Harley. Even so, I still think her character arc was handled well for the most part.
The romance itself started out incredibly strong for me. The tension, banter, and slow-burn buildup were honestly some of my favorite parts of the book, and I was so excited to see how their relationship would eventually evolve into something real. Unfortunately, around the middle of the story, things started to feel repetitive because they kept refusing to acknowledge their feelings for each other. At first, I didn’t mind the denial because it added tension to the fake dating dynamic, but after a while it became frustrating watching them repeatedly avoid admitting what was obviously happening between them, especially Harley. Because the same conflict kept repeating itself, the final confession didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to. Instead of feeling like an inevitable emotional payoff, it came across as somewhat rushed and underwhelming. I honestly think an epilogue would’ve helped a lot because it could’ve made their relationship feel more complete and emotionally satisfying by the end, but unfortunately we never got that closure.
I also wish we had gotten more scenes with Santana’s family because those moments showed a softer and more human side of her character that I really enjoyed. Their connection with Harley was also genuinely sweet, and I think more scenes with them could’ve strengthened Santana’s emotional development even further. I was also surprised by how little Dustin actually appeared in the story considering Harley enters the arrangement because of him in the first place. The story emphasizes how important he is to Harley, but after the setup he barely shows up, so all that focus on him ended up feeling a little unnecessary in hindsight.
While it didn’t fully hit 5 stars for me, I still had such a good time with this one! It’s a solid, engaging read, and I’m pretty sure most readers will love it even more. If the premise catches your eye, I highly recommend picking it up, as it delivers way more than it suggests!
Another thing I unexpectedly loved was the fashion aspect of the story. You can really tell the authors put effort into researching the fashion industry because every design, gala, and creative process felt detailed and immersive. As someone who usually has almost no interest in fashion, I was surprised by how invested I became in that side of the story. Honestly, this book feels just as much about fashion and creativity as it does about romance. I also really enjoyed the parallels between fashion and cooking because it was fascinating seeing how two completely different forms of art could inspire one another.
The characters were a little more complicated for me though. I absolutely loved Harley’s chaotic and genuinely kind personality. She constantly tried to make the best out of every messy situation she found herself in, which made her incredibly easy to root for. At the same time, I felt conflicted about her character growth because it seemed to stagnate for a large portion of the book. Harley spent so much time putting everyone else first that when she finally made decisions about her own future, it felt abrupt and lacked the emotional buildup I was hoping for. I would’ve preferred seeing her slowly work through those realizations instead of suddenly reaching them near the end, so that aspect of her arc left me feeling a bit unsatisfied overall.
Santana was an even harder character for me to connect with emotionally because she was truly an ice queen from beginning to end. While we do gradually see her open up to Harley, I still felt like she never completely let her walls down, so I never connected with her on the same level as Harley. Even so, I still think her character arc was handled well for the most part.
The romance itself started out incredibly strong for me. The tension, banter, and slow-burn buildup were honestly some of my favorite parts of the book, and I was so excited to see how their relationship would eventually evolve into something real. Unfortunately, around the middle of the story, things started to feel repetitive because they kept refusing to acknowledge their feelings for each other. At first, I didn’t mind the denial because it added tension to the fake dating dynamic, but after a while it became frustrating watching them repeatedly avoid admitting what was obviously happening between them, especially Harley. Because the same conflict kept repeating itself, the final confession didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to. Instead of feeling like an inevitable emotional payoff, it came across as somewhat rushed and underwhelming. I honestly think an epilogue would’ve helped a lot because it could’ve made their relationship feel more complete and emotionally satisfying by the end, but unfortunately we never got that closure.
I also wish we had gotten more scenes with Santana’s family because those moments showed a softer and more human side of her character that I really enjoyed. Their connection with Harley was also genuinely sweet, and I think more scenes with them could’ve strengthened Santana’s emotional development even further. I was also surprised by how little Dustin actually appeared in the story considering Harley enters the arrangement because of him in the first place. The story emphasizes how important he is to Harley, but after the setup he barely shows up, so all that focus on him ended up feeling a little unnecessary in hindsight.
While it didn’t fully hit 5 stars for me, I still had such a good time with this one! It’s a solid, engaging read, and I’m pretty sure most readers will love it even more. If the premise catches your eye, I highly recommend picking it up, as it delivers way more than it suggests!
July 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 (4.75 stars, rounded up here)
It’s been a long while since I’ve been so obsessed with a book that I actually longed to be able to read it whenever I had something to do. For the last 24h I did feel like a woman on a drug not gonna lie.
Going in, I expected a fun fake-dating romance with entertaining banter. What I got was so, sooo much more. The romcom tone here is a real standout in itself, I literally lost count of how many times this book made me laugh or chuckle, pair that with a surprisingly immersive fashion-industry backdrop (every gala, design, tiny task Harley had to do and EVEN the creative process felt genuinely researched), and this book ends up being just as much about creativity and passion as it is about romance. Plus, if you’re a fan of DTWP, I might just add that you might want to pick it up for the vibes alone (hih)!
Besides that, I really. loved the unexpected parallels drawn between fashion and cooking. I mean these two come off as completely different art forms but still end up complementing each other in a way I didn't expect to care about as much as I did (thanks to the perfect delivery of Santana and Harley’s dynamic might I add). Speaking about Santana, our aloof fashion designer with trust issues (and an adorable dachshund), is easily the highlight here. She's an ice queen through and through, but watching her slowly thaw and let her walls down (and this without ever losing that composed exterior) was so satisfying to watch. I wished for a bit more time in her head...a dual POV would have been a dream not gonna lie.
Moving on to Harley though, our outspoken, unemployed chef (who has a knack for standing up for people who are being mistreated), is chaotic and kind in a way that makes her easy to root for, even if her arc felt a little uneven. What I mean is that her growth stagnates for a good chunk of the book before shifting rather abruptly near the end. I think a few more quiet moments of her working through things gradually would have made that payoff hit harder. I did understand why the book handled it the way it did, and I still enjoyed it but, as I mentioned, I would’ve liked to see a few more introspective moments so the reader would’ve been able to actually understand her arc in the end much better. Mobing on to the romance. The romance itself was done SO well; the tension, banter, the enemies to lovers and slow burn were excellent. And a huge part why this book kept me as hooked as it ultimately did. Things get a touch repetitive in the middle as both leads avoid admitting their feelings, but the chemistry carries it through in my opinon, and by the end, watching Santana fully thaw feels earned. Moreover, I also really liked how included the side characters felt, especially also Santana’s family (the ones who’ve read this book already know what I’m talking about).
Overall though, this is a witty, funny, wonderfully written enemies to lovers, slow burn with real heart, and chemistry to spare. It has it’s ups and downs (and me being nit-picky as hell), but it's an absolute joy from start to finish! As I said at the beginning, I felt like a woman on drugs flying through this (haha). I can only recommend!!
It’s been a long while since I’ve been so obsessed with a book that I actually longed to be able to read it whenever I had something to do. For the last 24h I did feel like a woman on a drug not gonna lie.
Going in, I expected a fun fake-dating romance with entertaining banter. What I got was so, sooo much more. The romcom tone here is a real standout in itself, I literally lost count of how many times this book made me laugh or chuckle, pair that with a surprisingly immersive fashion-industry backdrop (every gala, design, tiny task Harley had to do and EVEN the creative process felt genuinely researched), and this book ends up being just as much about creativity and passion as it is about romance. Plus, if you’re a fan of DTWP, I might just add that you might want to pick it up for the vibes alone (hih)!
Besides that, I really. loved the unexpected parallels drawn between fashion and cooking. I mean these two come off as completely different art forms but still end up complementing each other in a way I didn't expect to care about as much as I did (thanks to the perfect delivery of Santana and Harley’s dynamic might I add). Speaking about Santana, our aloof fashion designer with trust issues (and an adorable dachshund), is easily the highlight here. She's an ice queen through and through, but watching her slowly thaw and let her walls down (and this without ever losing that composed exterior) was so satisfying to watch. I wished for a bit more time in her head...a dual POV would have been a dream not gonna lie.
Moving on to Harley though, our outspoken, unemployed chef (who has a knack for standing up for people who are being mistreated), is chaotic and kind in a way that makes her easy to root for, even if her arc felt a little uneven. What I mean is that her growth stagnates for a good chunk of the book before shifting rather abruptly near the end. I think a few more quiet moments of her working through things gradually would have made that payoff hit harder. I did understand why the book handled it the way it did, and I still enjoyed it but, as I mentioned, I would’ve liked to see a few more introspective moments so the reader would’ve been able to actually understand her arc in the end much better. Mobing on to the romance. The romance itself was done SO well; the tension, banter, the enemies to lovers and slow burn were excellent. And a huge part why this book kept me as hooked as it ultimately did. Things get a touch repetitive in the middle as both leads avoid admitting their feelings, but the chemistry carries it through in my opinon, and by the end, watching Santana fully thaw feels earned. Moreover, I also really liked how included the side characters felt, especially also Santana’s family (the ones who’ve read this book already know what I’m talking about).
Overall though, this is a witty, funny, wonderfully written enemies to lovers, slow burn with real heart, and chemistry to spare. It has it’s ups and downs (and me being nit-picky as hell), but it's an absolute joy from start to finish! As I said at the beginning, I felt like a woman on drugs flying through this (haha). I can only recommend!!
June 25, 2026
4.5
I absolutely flew through this, reading it in a day because I couldn't put it down. It's a really well-written and funny ice queen, boss-employee, fake dating romance. I loved Santana as an MC and honestly wish this had been dual POV because I would have loved to spend more time in her head.
My only real gripe was the other MC, Harley. She felt really immature and spent a lot of the book feeling sorry for herself, which got frustrating. Why everyone felt the need to baby her is beyond me.
Thankfully, Santana more than made up for it and I'd recommend this one to anyone who liked films like The Proposal and The Devil Wears Prada (which gets a few fun nods in here).
I absolutely flew through this, reading it in a day because I couldn't put it down. It's a really well-written and funny ice queen, boss-employee, fake dating romance. I loved Santana as an MC and honestly wish this had been dual POV because I would have loved to spend more time in her head.
My only real gripe was the other MC, Harley. She felt really immature and spent a lot of the book feeling sorry for herself, which got frustrating. Why everyone felt the need to baby her is beyond me.
Thankfully, Santana more than made up for it and I'd recommend this one to anyone who liked films like The Proposal and The Devil Wears Prada (which gets a few fun nods in here).
August 6, 2026
4.5 stars. This one was a lot of fun! This writing duo has become a solidly reliable hell yes for me. Almost always, I love both MCs and am rooting for them to get together. The plots always make sense and the secondary characters often feel well fleshed out. Lori Prince (one of my fav narrators) performs a lot of them and that only adds to my enjoyment.
In this one, I found Santana very dreamy. I would have liked to get her pov in addition to Harley’s, but i loved seeing her through Harley’s eyes all the same. I personally found the dog chef thing at the end ridiculous but i am not as fond of animals than your average person and think people who dress their pets up in clothes and feed them gourmet food deserve to step on LEGO’s at least once a month for their crimes. So I’m just not the audience for that. The fashion stuff I don’t care about much in real life, but enjoy a lot in fiction and it was fun here. All in all def rec and had a lot of fun.
In this one, I found Santana very dreamy. I would have liked to get her pov in addition to Harley’s, but i loved seeing her through Harley’s eyes all the same. I personally found the dog chef thing at the end ridiculous but i am not as fond of animals than your average person and think people who dress their pets up in clothes and feed them gourmet food deserve to step on LEGO’s at least once a month for their crimes. So I’m just not the audience for that. The fashion stuff I don’t care about much in real life, but enjoy a lot in fiction and it was fun here. All in all def rec and had a lot of fun.
May 22, 2026
Harley is, in her own opinion, a loser. She has had many jobs in the one decade of her adult life, and most have ended in disaster, or in her leaving in anticipation of a probable disaster. Since she was young she has wanted to be a chef, and her skills and knowledge are extensive. She just can’t get the personal side of holding down a job.
Santana is a fashion designer, running her own top brand in New York. However, mixing business and pleasure six years earlier nearly made her company fold, and so now she micro-controls everything and plays it excessively safe with her designs, because she still hasn’t recovered from the hurt.
When Harley has a temporary job as a photographer’s assistant which ends in a total disaster with Harley unwittingly destroying much of Santana’s designs for that season, Harley has to go talk to Santana to make amends. The photographer on the shoot had been her late brother’s best friend Dustin, and now because of her, Dustin is out of a job.
There are so many layers in this story. The comedy, almost getting into slapstick at the photoshoot, and continuing throughout the story. The plays on words, especially with both Harley’s and Santana’s names. Santana’s slowly thawing ice queen persona, and how she sometimes shows the beautiful vulnerability under her sarcastic exterior. Harley, with her chaotic, deeply rooted fear of abandonment and being seen. All of these and many more are interlaced in this wonderful deep story.
Santana is a fashion designer, running her own top brand in New York. However, mixing business and pleasure six years earlier nearly made her company fold, and so now she micro-controls everything and plays it excessively safe with her designs, because she still hasn’t recovered from the hurt.
When Harley has a temporary job as a photographer’s assistant which ends in a total disaster with Harley unwittingly destroying much of Santana’s designs for that season, Harley has to go talk to Santana to make amends. The photographer on the shoot had been her late brother’s best friend Dustin, and now because of her, Dustin is out of a job.
There are so many layers in this story. The comedy, almost getting into slapstick at the photoshoot, and continuing throughout the story. The plays on words, especially with both Harley’s and Santana’s names. Santana’s slowly thawing ice queen persona, and how she sometimes shows the beautiful vulnerability under her sarcastic exterior. Harley, with her chaotic, deeply rooted fear of abandonment and being seen. All of these and many more are interlaced in this wonderful deep story.
May 31, 2026
Soooo good!! I absolutely loved every page of this brilliantly written story!! This is definitely my favorite book of the year. Every character had a purpose. When I first started reading this, it felt like it was going all in one direction, but by the end it had so many layers that unfolded and ended up with me wanting to read more. I’ll miss the quirky and composed characters and hope there will be a sequel.
October 20, 2026
An absolute delight from start to finish! I loved the premise: an unemployed chef accidentally torpedoes a high-fashion photoshoot, leading into an unexpected and high-stakes entanglement with a famously intimidating fashion icon.
As usual from this great author pairing, the narrative shines brightest through its character dynamics and expertly handled tropes. Santana embodies the quintessential ice queen with the precision of a glacier; enjoy her (formidable) armor chip away! The introduction of a fake dating dynamic injects a wonderful layer of tension, wit, and sparkling banter that will keep you happily turning pages far too late in the night.
I also really enjoyed the blend of high-fashion backdrop, but, crucially, the romantic chemistry is magnetic, and the narrative execution is polished and fun. A well-crafted romance, brilliant banter, and a stellar fake relationship arc, make this novel as strong as anything I’ve read from TB Markinson and Miranda MacLeod.
As usual from this great author pairing, the narrative shines brightest through its character dynamics and expertly handled tropes. Santana embodies the quintessential ice queen with the precision of a glacier; enjoy her (formidable) armor chip away! The introduction of a fake dating dynamic injects a wonderful layer of tension, wit, and sparkling banter that will keep you happily turning pages far too late in the night.
I also really enjoyed the blend of high-fashion backdrop, but, crucially, the romantic chemistry is magnetic, and the narrative execution is polished and fun. A well-crafted romance, brilliant banter, and a stellar fake relationship arc, make this novel as strong as anything I’ve read from TB Markinson and Miranda MacLeod.
May 15, 2026
This was a delightfully fun age gap, ice queen rom-com.
June 15, 2026
Not a fan
May 24, 2026
Loved it. It’s a lighthearted and fun read. Loved the characters too. Can’t wait for the next book from the writers.
Recommend
Recommend
May 30, 2026
I always like DWP-like romances, and I think it's difficult to write something that adds to the infinite number of fanfics and novels that took inspiration from it.
What I liked of it?
Harley has a fire in her at the beginning that I really enjoyed. The novel is written in first person from her POV and we get to experience all that she thinks of Santana Torres, aka Ice Queen, aka the Devil, and what Harley would like to do to her if she could. Harley can't stabd bullies, and well, Santana had a reputation of always getting what she wants, the way she wants it. No one has the guts to stand up against her, but hurricane, clumsy Harley will bulldoze her ways into Santana's life.
I wonder if this novel isn't a tribute to all Ice Queen novels we all love. It has so many tropes in it that reminded me of some of my favs readings. From enemies to lovers, to fake dating, to only one bed etc etc...
One thing about the melter... I usually want to read more concrete actions of the character's individual growth, especially from a career point of view. And, I usually prefer some more angst and difficulties in the romance, but I am sure many other readers will love this low angst aspect. Torture the cinnamon roll lol.
I have to say that both Harley and Santana made me laugh quite a lot in the beginning. Those sharp comments, back and forth... Love feisty women.
The mix of fashion and culinary worlds was very pleasant, and you can never have enough cheese in the world. Go Harley... and... Ratatouille awwww
On another note, one thing puzzled me and wanted to highlight it, because words are powerful and even if it's a 29 years old character saying them, they carry the wrong perception.
This is the quote, Harley thinking:
Now I was babbling. To myself. In my head. Like a crazy person.
"Crazy", "Babbling to myself".... "Like a crazy person".
From someone that after this feels strong about women working in fashion having to lose so much weight so they can wear designers clothes on the runaway.... Giving a message that some of them might be push their bodies to the limits... It seemed to me that Harley knew hoe to use words and she had strong values. Why would she then use "babbling in my head like a crazy person"?
No one is crazy. People get sick, and some people are lucky enough to be supported by the health system in their countries. Crazy is such an outdated and wrong word to use when comparing what is normal and what is not. There could have been million other ways to convey that Harley was a mess and that her mind was speeding like 100 miles per hour, rather than say "crazy".
Sometimes we use words just because everybody else does. Next time, we might want to think how those words will be received by people who can be sensitive about the subject.
A 3.8 stars read for me.
What I liked of it?
Harley has a fire in her at the beginning that I really enjoyed. The novel is written in first person from her POV and we get to experience all that she thinks of Santana Torres, aka Ice Queen, aka the Devil, and what Harley would like to do to her if she could. Harley can't stabd bullies, and well, Santana had a reputation of always getting what she wants, the way she wants it. No one has the guts to stand up against her, but hurricane, clumsy Harley will bulldoze her ways into Santana's life.
I wonder if this novel isn't a tribute to all Ice Queen novels we all love. It has so many tropes in it that reminded me of some of my favs readings. From enemies to lovers, to fake dating, to only one bed etc etc...
One thing about the melter... I usually want to read more concrete actions of the character's individual growth, especially from a career point of view. And, I usually prefer some more angst and difficulties in the romance, but I am sure many other readers will love this low angst aspect. Torture the cinnamon roll lol.
I have to say that both Harley and Santana made me laugh quite a lot in the beginning. Those sharp comments, back and forth... Love feisty women.
The mix of fashion and culinary worlds was very pleasant, and you can never have enough cheese in the world. Go Harley... and... Ratatouille awwww
On another note, one thing puzzled me and wanted to highlight it, because words are powerful and even if it's a 29 years old character saying them, they carry the wrong perception.
This is the quote, Harley thinking:
Now I was babbling. To myself. In my head. Like a crazy person.
"Crazy", "Babbling to myself".... "Like a crazy person".
From someone that after this feels strong about women working in fashion having to lose so much weight so they can wear designers clothes on the runaway.... Giving a message that some of them might be push their bodies to the limits... It seemed to me that Harley knew hoe to use words and she had strong values. Why would she then use "babbling in my head like a crazy person"?
No one is crazy. People get sick, and some people are lucky enough to be supported by the health system in their countries. Crazy is such an outdated and wrong word to use when comparing what is normal and what is not. There could have been million other ways to convey that Harley was a mess and that her mind was speeding like 100 miles per hour, rather than say "crazy".
Sometimes we use words just because everybody else does. Next time, we might want to think how those words will be received by people who can be sensitive about the subject.
A 3.8 stars read for me.
May 15, 2026
Love a chaos
The story has a lot of great banter between the main characters. Harley stands up for what’s right and called Santana out on her bullying. You can tell they have a mutual love/hate relationship going on. It’s fun to watch the tension between them. I really enjoyed this book.
The story has a lot of great banter between the main characters. Harley stands up for what’s right and called Santana out on her bullying. You can tell they have a mutual love/hate relationship going on. It’s fun to watch the tension between them. I really enjoyed this book.
June 28, 2026
Harley the outspoken unemployed chef meets Santana the aloof fashion designer with trust issues and a dachshund.
Its really well written and an easy page turner. I think the problem is I've read quite a few by these two good authors and they do follow the same kinda format.
A mix of wit, sarcasm and minimal spice. I maybe struggled to stick with the setting, I'm not really into couture fashion nor culinary food personally.
But I loved the great characters and chemistry build up. Overall its a good enjoyable read.
Its really well written and an easy page turner. I think the problem is I've read quite a few by these two good authors and they do follow the same kinda format.
A mix of wit, sarcasm and minimal spice. I maybe struggled to stick with the setting, I'm not really into couture fashion nor culinary food personally.
But I loved the great characters and chemistry build up. Overall its a good enjoyable read.
September 15, 2026
Harley Plotkin is having a spectacularly bad run of luck. She has lost her job, her apartment, and whatever money she had left, and then manages to destroy a high fashion photoshoot and get one of her best friends fired. Her reward is a ten week stint working for Santana Torres, a legendary fashion designer whose reputation for being demanding has earned her the nickname “Satan.” It is an irresistible setup for a romantic comedy, particularly when a photograph lands the two women in the tabloids and turns a professional arrangement into a fake relationship. But what makes Not Today Satan work isn’t simply the fun of watching these two very different women collide. Markinson and MacLeod understand their personalities well enough to let the conflict come from who Harley and Santana actually are.
Harley is irresponsible, but she isn’t incompetent, and that distinction becomes increasingly important. Her impulsiveness and willingness to improvise can be exasperating, particularly to someone as controlled as Santana, but those same qualities give her an energy and flexibility Santana doesn’t have. Santana, meanwhile, can certainly be intimidating, but the authors resist making her simply cold or cruel. Her softer side emerges around the people she trusts, giving readers a fuller picture of the woman behind the formidable professional persona. The contrast between them becomes more interesting as the story progresses because neither woman is simply there to change the other. Harley and Santana begin to recognize qualities in one another that they don’t possess themselves. Rather than trying to make each other more alike, they gradually run with it and discover how well their differences fit together.
The fake relationship could easily have become an excuse to string out the attraction, but the story keeps moving. One complication leads to another, and the circumstances surrounding Harley and Santana continue to change. Their time together in the fashion world, including the move from Manhattan to Paris, provides plenty of opportunities for humor and conflict while also putting Harley in a world that is very different from her own. As the situation becomes more complicated, so does their understanding of each other. The relationship gradually stops being something they are merely pretending to have.
That shift feels convincing because the emotional intimacy develops alongside the attraction. Harley and Santana begin revealing vulnerabilities and showing one another parts of themselves that aren’t visible to everyone else. Those moments matter more than any declaration of love because they explain why the relationship has changed. The women aren’t falling for an idealized version of one another. They are getting to know the real people beneath the impressions they formed at the beginning. There is also a nice irony in that progression: a relationship that begins with pretending ultimately gives them the freedom to be more honest with each other.
The humor keeps Not Today Satan from becoming heavier than it wants to be, and much of it comes naturally from the friction between Harley’s spontaneity and Santana’s need for control. Yet there is enough emotional substance beneath the comedy to make the romance satisfying when the stakes become personal. By the time Harley and Santana have to decide what remains when the arrangement, the publicity, and the original circumstances that brought them together are no longer enough to hold them there, the answer feels right for the women they have become. Not Today Satan may be built from familiar romantic comedy ingredients, but Markinson and MacLeod give those ingredients enough character, warmth, and emotional honesty to make the resulting romance feel distinctly their own.
Final remarks…
With its sharp humor, engaging characters, satisfying romantic tension, and lively fashion world, Not Today Satan is an entertaining read from beginning to end. Harley and Santana make an especially appealing pair because their differences create as much warmth as conflict, giving the romance plenty of spark while allowing both women room to grow. Readers who enjoy fake relationship romances, opposites attracting, and plenty of laughs will find all of those elements here, along with an emotional story about letting someone see the person behind the carefully constructed exterior. Fun, heartfelt, and genuinely charming, Not Today Satan is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a romance that delivers both laughter and heart.
Strengths…
Well-developed characterization
Well developed chemistry and emotional development
Balanced humor
Balanced pacing
Storytelling is expanded by the tropes, not bogged down
Harley is irresponsible, but she isn’t incompetent, and that distinction becomes increasingly important. Her impulsiveness and willingness to improvise can be exasperating, particularly to someone as controlled as Santana, but those same qualities give her an energy and flexibility Santana doesn’t have. Santana, meanwhile, can certainly be intimidating, but the authors resist making her simply cold or cruel. Her softer side emerges around the people she trusts, giving readers a fuller picture of the woman behind the formidable professional persona. The contrast between them becomes more interesting as the story progresses because neither woman is simply there to change the other. Harley and Santana begin to recognize qualities in one another that they don’t possess themselves. Rather than trying to make each other more alike, they gradually run with it and discover how well their differences fit together.
The fake relationship could easily have become an excuse to string out the attraction, but the story keeps moving. One complication leads to another, and the circumstances surrounding Harley and Santana continue to change. Their time together in the fashion world, including the move from Manhattan to Paris, provides plenty of opportunities for humor and conflict while also putting Harley in a world that is very different from her own. As the situation becomes more complicated, so does their understanding of each other. The relationship gradually stops being something they are merely pretending to have.
That shift feels convincing because the emotional intimacy develops alongside the attraction. Harley and Santana begin revealing vulnerabilities and showing one another parts of themselves that aren’t visible to everyone else. Those moments matter more than any declaration of love because they explain why the relationship has changed. The women aren’t falling for an idealized version of one another. They are getting to know the real people beneath the impressions they formed at the beginning. There is also a nice irony in that progression: a relationship that begins with pretending ultimately gives them the freedom to be more honest with each other.
The humor keeps Not Today Satan from becoming heavier than it wants to be, and much of it comes naturally from the friction between Harley’s spontaneity and Santana’s need for control. Yet there is enough emotional substance beneath the comedy to make the romance satisfying when the stakes become personal. By the time Harley and Santana have to decide what remains when the arrangement, the publicity, and the original circumstances that brought them together are no longer enough to hold them there, the answer feels right for the women they have become. Not Today Satan may be built from familiar romantic comedy ingredients, but Markinson and MacLeod give those ingredients enough character, warmth, and emotional honesty to make the resulting romance feel distinctly their own.
Final remarks…
With its sharp humor, engaging characters, satisfying romantic tension, and lively fashion world, Not Today Satan is an entertaining read from beginning to end. Harley and Santana make an especially appealing pair because their differences create as much warmth as conflict, giving the romance plenty of spark while allowing both women room to grow. Readers who enjoy fake relationship romances, opposites attracting, and plenty of laughs will find all of those elements here, along with an emotional story about letting someone see the person behind the carefully constructed exterior. Fun, heartfelt, and genuinely charming, Not Today Satan is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a romance that delivers both laughter and heart.
Strengths…
Well-developed characterization
Well developed chemistry and emotional development
Balanced humor
Balanced pacing
Storytelling is expanded by the tropes, not bogged down
September 28, 2026
SHE’S SO CAMP, I LOVE HER!! Also, I have this strange feeling I’ve read this before. Was this a swanqueen fic, or did I somehow forget to log a reading? 🥸 It’s driving me nuts!
I personally don’t like it when a character “speaks” directly to the reader. I find it really distracting, so naturally, that was a problem for me in some parts. But the story is so camp, the characters have so much chemistry, and the buildup is so good that, as I kept reading, it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would.
I had such a good time reading this one, and time flew by so quickly!
I personally don’t like it when a character “speaks” directly to the reader. I find it really distracting, so naturally, that was a problem for me in some parts. But the story is so camp, the characters have so much chemistry, and the buildup is so good that, as I kept reading, it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would.
I had such a good time reading this one, and time flew by so quickly!
August 20, 2026
(rounded down from 4.25)
This was a sweet and fun little story about a directionless chef and an ice queen. I had a good time, but most of the dynamics and plot points were fairly shallow and straightforward, so not quite a five-star for me. Very enjoyable and a fun time if you enjoy the Mirandy dynamic.
This was a sweet and fun little story about a directionless chef and an ice queen. I had a good time, but most of the dynamics and plot points were fairly shallow and straightforward, so not quite a five-star for me. Very enjoyable and a fun time if you enjoy the Mirandy dynamic.
June 12, 2026
This lighthearted rom-com combines an age-gap romance, an icy protagonist, against a backdrop of the fashion industry with all its glam and glitter and a saboteur in the mix. Expect plenty of laughter and very little angst—a thoroughly enjoyable read.
June 18, 2026
I had such a good time reading this book and I won't rattle one too much about it, so I'll just say:
Harley gives us a lot of great internal monologue and snarky comments that are so relatable. I love that she's so ride or die with the few people she loves and cares about. She's supportive and passionate, even if she isn't quite sure how to find the passion for her own career just yet.
Seeing the way Santana thaws toward Harley is really cute. She's stubborn and a bit of a hard ass, pushing everyone's buttons, especially Harley's. I liked that the second MC (who's POV we don't get to experience) is the one to declare her feelings first. I feel like it's a bit more rare to read that in contemp romances-in my experience, anyway.
I feel like overall it wrapped up well and the authors do a great job of making the reader feel like they're immersed in the world of fashion.
If you want something that's lighthearted and comical, Not Today Satan is a great choice.
Harley gives us a lot of great internal monologue and snarky comments that are so relatable. I love that she's so ride or die with the few people she loves and cares about. She's supportive and passionate, even if she isn't quite sure how to find the passion for her own career just yet.
Seeing the way Santana thaws toward Harley is really cute. She's stubborn and a bit of a hard ass, pushing everyone's buttons, especially Harley's. I liked that the second MC (who's POV we don't get to experience) is the one to declare her feelings first. I feel like it's a bit more rare to read that in contemp romances-in my experience, anyway.
I feel like overall it wrapped up well and the authors do a great job of making the reader feel like they're immersed in the world of fashion.
If you want something that's lighthearted and comical, Not Today Satan is a great choice.
May 9, 2026
Great start!
Well I read it in one sitting mainly with a smile on my face, morphing to lol at points!
I think one of the things I loved about this book was that the mains had plenty of on page time together. It was always entertaining, well paced and with an hour to go and a happy ending in sight, the baddy plot reignited and I was a bit tense. 4.5 rounded up because I was compelled to keep reading.
Well I read it in one sitting mainly with a smile on my face, morphing to lol at points!
I think one of the things I loved about this book was that the mains had plenty of on page time together. It was always entertaining, well paced and with an hour to go and a happy ending in sight, the baddy plot reignited and I was a bit tense. 4.5 rounded up because I was compelled to keep reading.
June 27, 2026
A fantastic ice queen romance. I have read almost all of T.B. Markinson and Miranda MacLeod's books and enjoyed them all. This one is also my favorite of all of them.
It easily makes my all-time-favorite list.
It easily makes my all-time-favorite list.
September 1, 2026
3,5⭐️
Es hat mich sehr an The Devil Wears Prada erinnert und das fand ich irgendwie echt cool :)
Es hat mich sehr an The Devil Wears Prada erinnert und das fand ich irgendwie echt cool :)
May 24, 2026
Great book.
It's no secret that I love the way these two authors co-write and it's because they're a proven, dependable, awesome writing duo.
I'm no fashion guru. But that mattered little as one of the MCs was as clueless as me. I learned the ropes along with her and was surprised at how much I enjoyed the journey.
Highly recommended.
It's no secret that I love the way these two authors co-write and it's because they're a proven, dependable, awesome writing duo.
I'm no fashion guru. But that mattered little as one of the MCs was as clueless as me. I learned the ropes along with her and was surprised at how much I enjoyed the journey.
Highly recommended.
October 1, 2026
Holy heck... Got drawn in by the dachshund, stayed for the ride
So... I don't often give a five star review. But this one? Damn it was done so well. A series of unfortunate events meets devil wears Prada - fit into a sapphic romcom.
Seriously. Just read it. Even for someone who loves dark sapphic reads this one got me right in the feels. Well done to both authors on this collaboration.
So... I don't often give a five star review. But this one? Damn it was done so well. A series of unfortunate events meets devil wears Prada - fit into a sapphic romcom.
Seriously. Just read it. Even for someone who loves dark sapphic reads this one got me right in the feels. Well done to both authors on this collaboration.
August 18, 2026
There were so many The devil wears prada nods in this... and I could not care less.
Had me laughing out loud and kicking my feet.
And the longing and slow burn, totally worth it.
Amazing audiobook as well.
Full review to come.
Had me laughing out loud and kicking my feet.
And the longing and slow burn, totally worth it.
Amazing audiobook as well.
Full review to come.
May 27, 2026
Fantastic
I've read and enjoyed many of Markinson's and MacLeod's books, but this one really hit home. The style of sarcasm, events, and side character personalities just landed perfectly to me.
I've read and enjoyed many of Markinson's and MacLeod's books, but this one really hit home. The style of sarcasm, events, and side character personalities just landed perfectly to me.
June 19, 2026
4.5 stars
June 23, 2026
A story with a lot of humor. Loved it
July 3, 2026
A fun romance that hit so many of the right notes. It drags a little a one point and a few minor things but bumping up to 5 stars because it was just a great time
June 20, 2026
You know when you start a book and immediately know where it is headed? Well. Sometimes that irks, but sometimes, like with this book, the journey is entirely satisfying. This was so much fun!
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