A Bridesmaid's Guide to Enemies with Benefits: A steamy small-town forced proximity romance

by South Hopkins, Michelle Hopkins (Editor)

Violet Gray does not fraternize with the enemy.

Even when the enemy is the man she spent an unforgettable night with in Nepal.

Especially when he shows up to audit her lab with twenty days to decide if her life's work gets funded or gutted.

Even when her apartment floods, and his spare room is her only option.

John Thorn is infuriating.

He steals her desk chair, mocks her fish, and looks at her like he's already won something. The fact that he's the only person who's ever looked at her research like it matters is completely irrelevant.

So is the way he looks without a shirt on. Too bad enemies don't come with benefits.

Violet has rebuilt herself from nothing once. She knows better than to trust a man who could take everything she's worked for. She is not doing that again.

The problem is that John doesn't fight like an enemy.

He fights like a man who plans to win.

Too bad Violet has no intention of letting him.

148 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2026

About the author

South Hopkins writes contemporary love stories full of supercharged banter, laugh-out-loud humor, and characters who fall hard, fast, and a little recklessly. Her stories are packed with undeniable chemistry and all the chaos that comes with it.

When she’s not writing, South collects crystals, observes life’s little disasters, or sips iced coffee while dreaming up her next story.

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or follow her on Instagram (@southhopkinswrites) and TikTok (@southwrites) to stay updated on her latest swoons, laughs, and upcoming stories.

Reviews

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet and John’s book.

Dr Violet Gray is the lead scientist at the research lab. She spent months planning her wedding, only to find her fiance in bed with the person he was tutoring. Three of her four friends have fallen in love and married the man of their dreams while she’s sat on the sidelines. Could this be her time?

John Thorn caught the bouquet at Daisys wedding and handed them to Violet after meeting at the wedding in Nepal. They share a night together and then he sets off to climb the Summit Mountain. His in the midst of a mid life crisis at the ripe age of 32 after his wife cheated on him and they had a complicated divorce. He works as an auditor and reports on whether he believes funding should be cut or regenerated. Will his feelings for Violet impact his decision and reporting?

I received this book as an ARC and am leaving an honest review.

[a.vangasse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free provided by the author. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you South Hopkins!


Oooh Violet! I think from all the books in this series I loved this one the most. It gets you also thinking about working to your goals to whatever end.

The chemistry between Violet and John is off the shards!

You could say that this book could need more pages but I would tell you that it really doesn’t. It’s perfect how it is.

I can’t wait for the next book!

If you like
👉 novella
👉 enemies to lovers
👉 second chance


Then you should definitely read this book!

[Tasha Thrall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore the second chance romance! It’s filled with frustration and conflict, yet love and destiny shine through beneath it all. The story was both brief and delightful.

This is the fourth book in the series, which I have enjoyed as a standalone, although I have read only one other book from this series. I am certainly going to continue following the series and revisit the earlier books.

Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read the eARC, and I am happy to provide my honest review in return.

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miscommunication at it's finest

This is yet another installment of South Hopkins Bridesmaid series that is worth the read. I had no idea what to expect with Violet as she was the quiet one in the previous books. Boy was I in for the surprise of my life, that girl knows how to hold a grudge. Not that I blame her, but at the same time, I wanted to force her to shut up and listen to John. But they figured it out in the end. And now, I can't wait for Rose's story as she's been waiting a long time for this and deserves her own happiness.

[Jess M 🩷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

Another 4 ⭐️ short read for the bridesmaid series. This story follows Violet and John.

💜second chance romance
💜 short novellas
💜 banter that we love
💜 rich MMC
💜 workplace romance
💜 stem FMC
💜 happy ever after

Honestly these books are the perfect novellas, so quick and easy to read, perfect for inbetween books also. The characters have depth and just make you really like them. Now for Rosie’s happily ever after!!

[Shelby Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this quick and easy read, finished it in one setting! This series has been fun to read and I can’t wait for the next book! The book is a very lighthearted enemies to lovers, at least from some of the others I’ve read.
Violet has some relationship trauma and is truly upset with John when he never calls so when he walks in to do the audit in her lab she is a bit upset to say the least…

[Megan Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the sweetest enemies to lovers novellas I’ve ever read. Violet and John are very different people, but they work well together. It’s so much fun seeing the Flower Girls finding their HEAs! I can’t wait for Rose’s story!

[blossomingwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, cute, fun little story. I really like the writing style and wish there was more to the story, but there are more in the series!

[Anayah Navarrete · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it good. I read the ARC. I love this world. I am rereading this.