What do you think?
Better Than Revenge
Off Campus
meets Ali Hazelwood's
Deep End
when two competitive swimmers decide to fake date in this steamy sports romance.“A sharp, addictive college romance.” —Elena Armas,
New York Times
bestselling author of
The Spanish Love Deception
Daniela Williams is furious. A nasty break up after being cheated on is a crappy way to start the year. What's worse? Her ex and his new girlfriend are on Daniela's swim team. If she wasn't so against showing she cares about anything, she'd drown him in the pool. This is what she gets for dating teammates. But Daniela never admits defeat in anything—both in and out of the pool. Enter Heath Belfort; a captivating and stupidly handsome local surfer ... and her ex's biggest swimming rival. Heath smiles through her ex's jabs and beats him in every race. So, what better way to get revenge than to fake date the one person her ex hates most? Heath's up for the challenge ... on one Daniela agrees to tutor him so he can pass his history class. Private lessons and staged kisses are just fine with her, but can anyone make it out of a fake relationship unscathed? "An immensely talented author with the perfect mix of hot, witty, and emotion." —Hannah Grace,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Maple Hills series
Tropes
Fake dating
Black cat/Golden retriever
Grumpy/Sunshine
Opposites attract
Found family
Fake dating
Black cat/Golden retriever
Grumpy/Sunshine
Opposites attract
Found family
458 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2026
About the author
E.J. Blaise
6 books594 followersEJ Blaise is an Irish author of all things romance. When she's not creating unrealistically perfect men, she can be found travelling, reading, and dreaming of running a bookstore café.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 433 reviews
September 18, 2026
started off as a hehe-haha time, but i got so incredibly bored and didn’t care a lick about anything from about a third of the way through. why’d i keep reading, you may ask? my penchant for self-harm struck again. i kept turning pages when i had some limited time to read this week, much to my detriment.
i don’t have all that much to say about this, because it didn’t give me a lot to work with. it was just so repetitive. by the 70% mark, i felt as though we were in the same place we were 40% ago. story was just meandering to no end. there was hardly any development on the relationship or the characters. the characters also started feeling like caricatures because things got a bit too heavy-handed at some point. fmc so grumpy and unbending, mmc tooooo perfect and accommodating despite the fmc pushing back constantly. the fmc in here was also quite frustrating, even though i found her abrasive attitude a bit amusing in the beginning. it all just got to be a bit much when i wasn’t seeing much of a change for so long into the book. why are we still having the same thoughts and arguments, and perpetuating the same self-sabotage at 75%, 85%??? don’t even get me started on her behaviour in the last 10% of the book, because i wanted to shake her. she was so stubborn and unnecessarily cruel. this turned into a horror show for the mmc. he actually deserves compensation for everything he endured at her hand.
i also found myself getting really annoyed with the ex-boyfriend. i get that the premise of this book is that girl fake-dates cheating ex’s rival (who’s been obsessed with her since forever ago) BUT the ex was too involved in the story. it was like i couldn’t escape him and he was around every corner jumping out and shouting BOO. same with his side piece. the fmc spent way too much time thinking about these two or dealing with them in some way, and it started taking away from the relationship development between her and the mmc.
the attempts at some deeper topics (and there were several for the fmc) fell flat and didn’t elicit much of an emotional response from me. the mmc got absolutely nothing — he felt like a prop for the fmc rather than an actual character in a story i’d argue was also supposed to be about him alongside her. i love boy obsessed but you gotta have SOMETHING, some kind of character arc or some flair, damn. these boys wanna be isaiah rhodes so bad, but you can’t outdo the doer and his rightful heir (danny garcia)!!! and speaking of, this did feel like nuked leftovers of a couple recently popular books all mixed together, but it was like when leftovers are heated up and the outside is warm but the inside is cold and undercooked — a happy customer, i was not. and i’m left starving. even the little spice that was in here was really bland (and the first scene was kinda weird tbh)? anyways, allathis was a waste of a perfectly good thigh tat.
the writing was a bit questionable at times, what with the repetitive phrasing every so often. the whole thing could have been edited better — even more so since this is traditionally published.
this is the second cutesy pool cover i’ve flopped with recently (i dnfed that the theory of uncertain things book) so maybe this is my sign to accept summer is over and start filling up on fall-themed reads 😅.
but hey, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. as mentioned, heath (the mmc) did have a thigh tat 😛. it’s been factored into the rating, because that last stretch legitimately had me wanting to go down to 1.5 😅.
i don’t have all that much to say about this, because it didn’t give me a lot to work with. it was just so repetitive. by the 70% mark, i felt as though we were in the same place we were 40% ago. story was just meandering to no end. there was hardly any development on the relationship or the characters. the characters also started feeling like caricatures because things got a bit too heavy-handed at some point. fmc so grumpy and unbending, mmc tooooo perfect and accommodating despite the fmc pushing back constantly. the fmc in here was also quite frustrating, even though i found her abrasive attitude a bit amusing in the beginning. it all just got to be a bit much when i wasn’t seeing much of a change for so long into the book. why are we still having the same thoughts and arguments, and perpetuating the same self-sabotage at 75%, 85%??? don’t even get me started on her behaviour in the last 10% of the book, because i wanted to shake her. she was so stubborn and unnecessarily cruel. this turned into a horror show for the mmc. he actually deserves compensation for everything he endured at her hand.
i also found myself getting really annoyed with the ex-boyfriend. i get that the premise of this book is that girl fake-dates cheating ex’s rival (who’s been obsessed with her since forever ago) BUT the ex was too involved in the story. it was like i couldn’t escape him and he was around every corner jumping out and shouting BOO. same with his side piece. the fmc spent way too much time thinking about these two or dealing with them in some way, and it started taking away from the relationship development between her and the mmc.
the attempts at some deeper topics (and there were several for the fmc) fell flat and didn’t elicit much of an emotional response from me. the mmc got absolutely nothing — he felt like a prop for the fmc rather than an actual character in a story i’d argue was also supposed to be about him alongside her. i love boy obsessed but you gotta have SOMETHING, some kind of character arc or some flair, damn. these boys wanna be isaiah rhodes so bad, but you can’t outdo the doer and his rightful heir (danny garcia)!!! and speaking of, this did feel like nuked leftovers of a couple recently popular books all mixed together, but it was like when leftovers are heated up and the outside is warm but the inside is cold and undercooked — a happy customer, i was not. and i’m left starving. even the little spice that was in here was really bland (and the first scene was kinda weird tbh)? anyways, allathis was a waste of a perfectly good thigh tat.
the writing was a bit questionable at times, what with the repetitive phrasing every so often. the whole thing could have been edited better — even more so since this is traditionally published.
this is the second cutesy pool cover i’ve flopped with recently (i dnfed that the theory of uncertain things book) so maybe this is my sign to accept summer is over and start filling up on fall-themed reads 😅.
but hey, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. as mentioned, heath (the mmc) did have a thigh tat 😛. it’s been factored into the rating, because that last stretch legitimately had me wanting to go down to 1.5 😅.
May 12, 2026
As fake-dating books go, this one was the most un-fake of them all,
and I absolutely adored it. There were no kissing rules, no touching rules, no rules whatsoever, basically. They were just dating, and she thought it was fake 🤭
I’m giving this book five stars because of all the feels, the butterflies, and the overall perfection that was Heath.
I loved every smile, every witty comeback he delivered, and every moment he “malfunctioned” and “hallucinated.” He was the most adorable cinnamon roll ever.
Dani had issues. Lots of them. Most of them caused by the fact that life hadn’t treated her well. She was prickly, slightly antisocial, and maybe a little on the spectrum. Even though that part wasn’t spelled out, it’s just my suspicion.
I always love the grumpy-sunshine dynamic. I love when the grumpy one starts to smile a little, relax a little, and realize that life doesn’t have to be all about hardship. That’s what I loved most about this book: Heath’s energy was so positive it practically radiated off the pages and made me smile too. Cinnamon roll men make the best heroes, and I’ll die on this hill.
So this book would have been perfect if it weren’t for the very unnecessary and very annoying third-act breakup… I’m so tired of unnecessary fights ruining amazing books…
However, I’ll definitely read more from this author. If there are more men like Heath hiding in her other books, I want to find them 👀
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
Expected 25 Aug 26
and I absolutely adored it. There were no kissing rules, no touching rules, no rules whatsoever, basically. They were just dating, and she thought it was fake 🤭
I’m giving this book five stars because of all the feels, the butterflies, and the overall perfection that was Heath.
I loved every smile, every witty comeback he delivered, and every moment he “malfunctioned” and “hallucinated.” He was the most adorable cinnamon roll ever.
Dani had issues. Lots of them. Most of them caused by the fact that life hadn’t treated her well. She was prickly, slightly antisocial, and maybe a little on the spectrum. Even though that part wasn’t spelled out, it’s just my suspicion.
I always love the grumpy-sunshine dynamic. I love when the grumpy one starts to smile a little, relax a little, and realize that life doesn’t have to be all about hardship. That’s what I loved most about this book: Heath’s energy was so positive it practically radiated off the pages and made me smile too. Cinnamon roll men make the best heroes, and I’ll die on this hill.
So this book would have been perfect if it weren’t for the very unnecessary and very annoying third-act breakup… I’m so tired of unnecessary fights ruining amazing books…
However, I’ll definitely read more from this author. If there are more men like Heath hiding in her other books, I want to find them 👀
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
Expected 25 Aug 26
September 13, 2026
mean women being loved by the perfect golden retriever man who’s been yearning for YEARS get behind me!!!!
as an angst warrior this FED ME
Bookstagram | Blog
as an angst warrior this FED ME
Bookstagram | Blog
August 25, 2026
Wow. I’m disappointed. This book had basically every trope I love, a gorgeous cover that immediately caught my attention… and unfortunately, I think the cover was the only thing that I liked in the end. 💀
I enjoyed the beginning. It was fast-paced and I got into the story pretty quickly, but somewhere along the way it completely lost me. The biggest problem for me was the characters.
Daniela… I just couldn’t. I really thought she was going to have some character growth throughout the book, or that we’d at least see some improvement in her awful attitude. But nope. She stayed basically the same until the very end.
And oh my god, she annoyed me SO much. She would constantly say something stupid, not realize that Heath actually had feelings for her, and then somehow end up hurting him. After a while, I just got tired of it. And honestly, I don’t even understand what Heath loved about her so much because she could be really mean to him, while he just… never said anything.
Heath, on the other hand, is such a golden retriever. He’s sweet, funny, and would do absolutely anything for her. But I really wish we’d gotten a proper conversation where Heath actually explained that he’d liked Daniela from the very beginning. There were so many little hints from his friends basically saying he’d been into her for years, but every single time someone started to explain it, they were interrupted! 😡 And after a while, that started annoying me too.
I really wanted more. And different FMC, I guess.
I enjoyed the beginning. It was fast-paced and I got into the story pretty quickly, but somewhere along the way it completely lost me. The biggest problem for me was the characters.
Daniela… I just couldn’t. I really thought she was going to have some character growth throughout the book, or that we’d at least see some improvement in her awful attitude. But nope. She stayed basically the same until the very end.
And oh my god, she annoyed me SO much. She would constantly say something stupid, not realize that Heath actually had feelings for her, and then somehow end up hurting him. After a while, I just got tired of it. And honestly, I don’t even understand what Heath loved about her so much because she could be really mean to him, while he just… never said anything.
Heath, on the other hand, is such a golden retriever. He’s sweet, funny, and would do absolutely anything for her. But I really wish we’d gotten a proper conversation where Heath actually explained that he’d liked Daniela from the very beginning. There were so many little hints from his friends basically saying he’d been into her for years, but every single time someone started to explain it, they were interrupted! 😡 And after a while, that started annoying me too.
I really wanted more. And different FMC, I guess.
September 8, 2026
Okayyy wait! Contemporary romances are very hit or miss for me, as you’ll see, I either love it with my whole being and can’t put it down, or it takes me like two months because I get slightly bored and zone out…. The first half I was starting to feel a bit of the latter; it’s not really the books problem, but it did feel a little insta love. At least it was by the mmc and the fake dating while they were becoming fast friends like…. Just cross that last line babes. I’m the first to protect my peace a little too much, but there wasn’t really a valid reason they couldn’t go from fake dating to real, like you’re basically there, and hello, Heath is perfect, snatch him up. I did end up loving how it played out though.
Daniela was a very complex character. I had times where I was like girl why are you so rude, but then I looked in the mirror and thought you can be perceived the exact same, who are you to judge? so I shut up real quick. She did still have moments where I was thinking let’s practice thinking through words in our head before we say them to innocent, adorable, perfect fake boyfriends instead of becoming instantly defensive. BUT I did love her. She recognised that about herself and struggled with a lot of these things. Emotions don’t come easy to my sis (same) and defensive can be a natural response (same). Once you learn more about her: her FKN TRASH TEAM & SCHOOL, TRASH EX, TRASH COACH, TRASH STEP-MUM AND TRASH DAD, it makes a lot more sense that she’d struggle with these things.
Health was fucking adorable (albeit maybe too perfect sometimes) like if you don’t want him, move over! This man already knew little details about her: her degree/classes, her fkn drink orders before she ever even remembers talking to him. He studied her night-time routine when he was over “studying” and went and bought her whole skincare routine IN CASE she ever slept over while being a FAKE boyfriend…. Yeah, bye. Also, patience of a saint.
Speaking of, yes it's like the whole page idc this made me want to sob
… ‘I don’t need a fake boyfriend to psycho-analyze me too, okay?’
‘Hey. I’m your real friend, Dani, and I fucking care about you and just because you got better doesn’t mean it’s okay for anyone to throw that shit at you like that. Family or not, that’s fucked up.’
‘It’s fucked up that you let her.’
‘I’m not finished,’ he cuts me off, firm and stern and so damn serious. ‘There is no one in the fucking world that is owed the right to talk to you like that.’
‘That was her choice. You didn’t choose to lose your parents, but she chose to be one. And if she regrets it, then that’s her cross to bear, not yours. That’s her loss, and it’s such a fucking loss, you hear me? Jesus, Dani, I mourn the twenty years I didn’t know you. You don’t deserve to be looked down on like that. Not by your stepmom, not by your coach, not by yourself- And not by Ben either.’
…
‘There is no thinking, Heath. I didn’t have anyone else.’
‘Well, you do now. You have people who care about you. People who would lose their fucking minds if they’d heard that tonight. I’m losing my mind. I feel fucking insane because I don’t get how you, you, can just sit there and take it. You… you are so fucking wonderful, honey. Anyone who treats you otherwise does not deserve you.’
That ending was also adorable. It actually ended up being VERY slow burn considering they were practically dating the whole time and I ate that up. Idc, give me all the angst, slow burn, third act breakup if you could even call it that, and grovelling xoxo it almost made me want to up my rating it was that good, but I went out yesterday and bought Please Don’t Go because I’ve heard it’s a similar vibe so do with that what you will!
Also, is this going to be a series? Because I’m nosy as fuck and need a book for all the side characters that were so clearly teased please!!
pre-read: my tbr watching me start a book I discovered days ago🤨 dw heir of fire I’m not abandoning you but I’ve been seeing this everywhere and I’m dying to see if it’s as good as people say & something light hearted wouldn’t hurt🥰
Daniela was a very complex character. I had times where I was like girl why are you so rude, but then I looked in the mirror and thought you can be perceived the exact same, who are you to judge? so I shut up real quick. She did still have moments where I was thinking let’s practice thinking through words in our head before we say them to innocent, adorable, perfect fake boyfriends instead of becoming instantly defensive. BUT I did love her. She recognised that about herself and struggled with a lot of these things. Emotions don’t come easy to my sis (same) and defensive can be a natural response (same). Once you learn more about her: her FKN TRASH TEAM & SCHOOL, TRASH EX, TRASH COACH, TRASH STEP-MUM AND TRASH DAD, it makes a lot more sense that she’d struggle with these things.
Health was fucking adorable (albeit maybe too perfect sometimes) like if you don’t want him, move over! This man already knew little details about her: her degree/classes, her fkn drink orders before she ever even remembers talking to him. He studied her night-time routine when he was over “studying” and went and bought her whole skincare routine IN CASE she ever slept over while being a FAKE boyfriend…. Yeah, bye. Also, patience of a saint.
Speaking of, yes it's like the whole page idc this made me want to sob
… ‘I don’t need a fake boyfriend to psycho-analyze me too, okay?’
‘Hey. I’m your real friend, Dani, and I fucking care about you and just because you got better doesn’t mean it’s okay for anyone to throw that shit at you like that. Family or not, that’s fucked up.’
‘It’s fucked up that you let her.’
‘I’m not finished,’ he cuts me off, firm and stern and so damn serious. ‘There is no one in the fucking world that is owed the right to talk to you like that.’
‘That was her choice. You didn’t choose to lose your parents, but she chose to be one. And if she regrets it, then that’s her cross to bear, not yours. That’s her loss, and it’s such a fucking loss, you hear me? Jesus, Dani, I mourn the twenty years I didn’t know you. You don’t deserve to be looked down on like that. Not by your stepmom, not by your coach, not by yourself- And not by Ben either.’
…
‘There is no thinking, Heath. I didn’t have anyone else.’
‘Well, you do now. You have people who care about you. People who would lose their fucking minds if they’d heard that tonight. I’m losing my mind. I feel fucking insane because I don’t get how you, you, can just sit there and take it. You… you are so fucking wonderful, honey. Anyone who treats you otherwise does not deserve you.’
That ending was also adorable. It actually ended up being VERY slow burn considering they were practically dating the whole time and I ate that up. Idc, give me all the angst, slow burn, third act breakup if you could even call it that, and grovelling xoxo it almost made me want to up my rating it was that good, but I went out yesterday and bought Please Don’t Go because I’ve heard it’s a similar vibe so do with that what you will!
Also, is this going to be a series? Because I’m nosy as fuck and need a book for all the side characters that were so clearly teased please!!
pre-read: my tbr watching me start a book I discovered days ago🤨 dw heir of fire I’m not abandoning you but I’ve been seeing this everywhere and I’m dying to see if it’s as good as people say & something light hearted wouldn’t hurt🥰
September 12, 2026
i miss summer reading time
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had a fun time reading this book.
After discovering that her boyfriend cheated on her, and that their entire swim team knew about it but never told her, Daniela decides she's not interested in getting him back. She simply wants a little revenge. Her solution? Fake date his biggest swimming rival, Heath Belfort. What starts as a plan to make her ex jealous soon turns into something much, muuuuch more complicated.
Heath was easily my favorite part of this book. He has total golden retriever energy: sweet, patient, supportive and completely gone for Daniela from the very beginning. I couldn't help rooting for him and I loved seeing how much effort he put into making their fake relationship feel real.
The fake dating trope was well done, and there were some genuinely fun moments throughout the story. I especially enjoyed the banter whenever Daniela allowed herself to let her guard down, and I flew through the book in a single sitting.
Daniela, however, was a much more difficult character for me to connect with. I completely understood where many of her walls came from. Her upbringing, her father's unhealthy obsession with athletic performance and so on. I appreciated that the story didn't shy away from those lasting effects and showed her working with a nutritionist and beginning to heal.
That said, I often felt she was unnecessarily harsh toward the people around her, particularly Heath and his friends, who repeatedly welcomed, supported and included her. While I understood why she was guarded, there were moments where her behaviour felt frustrating rather than believable, and because of that, I struggled to fully invest in the romance.
On the other hand, I admired her patience throughout everything she had to deal with. Between her toxic teammates, her manipulative ex and even her coach, she was constantly surrounded by people who made her life more difficult. Watching her eventually leave that environment behind and slowly become more open was a satisfying way to end her journey.
Overall, this was an entertaining, fast-paced college sports romance with a lovable hero, enjoyable fake dating and plenty of fun moments. While I never fully connected with Daniela or the romance itself, I still enjoyed the reading experience and think readers who enjoy emotionally guarded heroines may connect with her much more than I did.
Rating: 3.5⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
After discovering that her boyfriend cheated on her, and that their entire swim team knew about it but never told her, Daniela decides she's not interested in getting him back. She simply wants a little revenge. Her solution? Fake date his biggest swimming rival, Heath Belfort. What starts as a plan to make her ex jealous soon turns into something much, muuuuch more complicated.
Heath was easily my favorite part of this book. He has total golden retriever energy: sweet, patient, supportive and completely gone for Daniela from the very beginning. I couldn't help rooting for him and I loved seeing how much effort he put into making their fake relationship feel real.
The fake dating trope was well done, and there were some genuinely fun moments throughout the story. I especially enjoyed the banter whenever Daniela allowed herself to let her guard down, and I flew through the book in a single sitting.
Daniela, however, was a much more difficult character for me to connect with. I completely understood where many of her walls came from. Her upbringing, her father's unhealthy obsession with athletic performance and so on. I appreciated that the story didn't shy away from those lasting effects and showed her working with a nutritionist and beginning to heal.
That said, I often felt she was unnecessarily harsh toward the people around her, particularly Heath and his friends, who repeatedly welcomed, supported and included her. While I understood why she was guarded, there were moments where her behaviour felt frustrating rather than believable, and because of that, I struggled to fully invest in the romance.
On the other hand, I admired her patience throughout everything she had to deal with. Between her toxic teammates, her manipulative ex and even her coach, she was constantly surrounded by people who made her life more difficult. Watching her eventually leave that environment behind and slowly become more open was a satisfying way to end her journey.
Overall, this was an entertaining, fast-paced college sports romance with a lovable hero, enjoyable fake dating and plenty of fun moments. While I never fully connected with Daniela or the romance itself, I still enjoyed the reading experience and think readers who enjoy emotionally guarded heroines may connect with her much more than I did.
Rating: 3.5⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 25, 2026
I wanted to like this one, but I just couldn't get past Daniella.
She's SO bitter and hostile, and by the time she says she has no friends I'm honestly like... yeah, I can see why. 😂 I love a black cat character, but Daniella isn't even really giving black cat to me. She's just straight-up rude.
Heath is constantly trying to make her feel better, cheer her up and get her to loosen up, and she just snaps at him every single time. He's this lovely, bubbly golden retriever character and I actually really liked him, but I genuinely don't understand why he likes her because there is basically zero build-up to their relationship.
Even the fake dating felt like it skipped all the interesting parts. There's barely any awkwardness or tension, Heath immediately has a nickname for her and it just feels like they're already together rather than pretending to be. I kept waiting for that moment where the fake relationship actually started to feel believable, but I never got there.
I understand that Daniella has confidence issues and clearly has a lot of baggage from her family and past relationships, and I'm sure there's meant to be a whole "peeling back the layers" thing happening with her. But I'm 60% in and we still haven't really been given enough context for why she's like this, so instead of feeling sympathetic towards her, I just find her exhausting.
She has absolutely no self-awareness about how cruel she can be. She seems to think that because she's being "honest", she can say whatever she wants to people, and honestly... no. There's a difference between being blunt and just being an asshole.
I kept waiting for her to show some softer side or do something that made me understand why everyone around her actually wants to be there, but it just wasn't happening.
Then there's the party scene where she decides to get obscenely drunk. There's also just this kind of lack of communication between her and Heath about what is going on. He's so friking gentle with her and she's a constant viper.
At 71%, I've decided I'm done. I'm sure there are more layers to Daniella that would eventually be revealed, but I don't have the patience to keep peeling this particular onion.
She's SO bitter and hostile, and by the time she says she has no friends I'm honestly like... yeah, I can see why. 😂 I love a black cat character, but Daniella isn't even really giving black cat to me. She's just straight-up rude.
Heath is constantly trying to make her feel better, cheer her up and get her to loosen up, and she just snaps at him every single time. He's this lovely, bubbly golden retriever character and I actually really liked him, but I genuinely don't understand why he likes her because there is basically zero build-up to their relationship.
Even the fake dating felt like it skipped all the interesting parts. There's barely any awkwardness or tension, Heath immediately has a nickname for her and it just feels like they're already together rather than pretending to be. I kept waiting for that moment where the fake relationship actually started to feel believable, but I never got there.
I understand that Daniella has confidence issues and clearly has a lot of baggage from her family and past relationships, and I'm sure there's meant to be a whole "peeling back the layers" thing happening with her. But I'm 60% in and we still haven't really been given enough context for why she's like this, so instead of feeling sympathetic towards her, I just find her exhausting.
She has absolutely no self-awareness about how cruel she can be. She seems to think that because she's being "honest", she can say whatever she wants to people, and honestly... no. There's a difference between being blunt and just being an asshole.
I kept waiting for her to show some softer side or do something that made me understand why everyone around her actually wants to be there, but it just wasn't happening.
Then there's the party scene where she decides to get obscenely drunk. There's also just this kind of lack of communication between her and Heath about what is going on. He's so friking gentle with her and she's a constant viper.
At 71%, I've decided I'm done. I'm sure there are more layers to Daniella that would eventually be revealed, but I don't have the patience to keep peeling this particular onion.
August 31, 2026
es tan emocionante ver cómo poco a poco más autoras escriben acerca de personajes femeninos complejos
✮⋆˙ Daniela no es la reina del hielo que todos creen que es, ella siente, siente tanto que está dispuesta a exigirle al tipo que su ex odia que finja ser nu novio, lo que sea con tal de hacerle pagar todo lo que la hizo sufrir. Heath está más que dispuesto de ser el novio falto de Daniela, ¿cómo no iba a estarlo si siempre la ha querido?
Decir que devoré este libro no es una exageración, en un solo fin de semana terminé una historia que más de amor, es de descubrimiento. Tengo que elogiar que la autora escribió este libro únicamente desde el punto de vista de Daniela, es verdaderamente la única forma en que podría funcionar.
Más que una historia de amor es una historia de autodescubrimiento. Daniela cree tener la vida resulta, una estructura y reglas rigurosas, un futuro que solo se basa en nadar y la autoaceptación (errónea) de que es demasiado para todas las personas que la rodean.
Cuando Ben, su novio, decide que es tiempo de divertirse con alguien más mientras aún está con Daniela, desequilibra todo lo que ella creía seguro. Ahora no tiene a nadie, no a un novio, no amigas, no un equipo que las respalde, no tiene a nadie. Así que cansada de que todos la juzguen a ella decide buscar venganza y ahí es donde Heath entra a la ecuación.
Heath es todo lo que Ben, el ex de Dani, odia. Carismáticos, buen nadador, atractivo y es el príncipe proclamado de toda la pequeña ciudad costera. Daniela se toma muy enserio la tarea de golpear el ego de Den así que un plan comienza a gestarse entre ambos.
En el libro solo hay un pov de Heath y es el epílogo pero en las 400 páginas de este libro no necesité tener un capítulo narrado por él para entender lo profundo de los sentimientos que siempre tuvo por Dani, nunca necesité estar en su cabeza para entender lo enamorada que siempre estuvo de ella y como cada segundo que pasó a su lado "fingiendo" siempre fue un regalo para él.
Mientras la relación de ambos avanza Daniela descubre mucho:
Cómo realmente es ser amada.
Que merece ser elegida.
Que el amor no tiene que doler.
Que es una gran amiga.
Que es elegida en muchas ocasiones.
Nuestra protagonista sale de la caja que normalmente encontramos en los libros de romance, no es tímida, es mordaz, usa sus palabras para herir, es insegura y aleja a todo el mundo como defensa propia. Es tan real y creo que eso la ha hecho una de mis mujeres favoritas en los libros, leer a Daniela es refrescante, se siente como ser vista.
Este libro también es una carta de amor a la amistad y al found family, porque lo que comenzó con Dani estando sola, llena de reglas e inseguridades que la apartaban de todos, termino rodeada de amigos que la aprecian por ella no porque es solo la novia de su amigo. La amistad entre chicas y chicos es tan hermosa de leer. En general todos los temas que trata la autora acá son bien abordados: la presión impuesta por padres, el cómo debemos de comportarnos para ser aceptados, las inseguridades de trazar un destino diferente al que se supone que debemos de anhelar.
Espero que Blaise siga escribiendo en este mundo porque creo que encontré un nuevo hogar.
✮⋆˙ Daniela no es la reina del hielo que todos creen que es, ella siente, siente tanto que está dispuesta a exigirle al tipo que su ex odia que finja ser nu novio, lo que sea con tal de hacerle pagar todo lo que la hizo sufrir. Heath está más que dispuesto de ser el novio falto de Daniela, ¿cómo no iba a estarlo si siempre la ha querido?
Decir que devoré este libro no es una exageración, en un solo fin de semana terminé una historia que más de amor, es de descubrimiento. Tengo que elogiar que la autora escribió este libro únicamente desde el punto de vista de Daniela, es verdaderamente la única forma en que podría funcionar.
Más que una historia de amor es una historia de autodescubrimiento. Daniela cree tener la vida resulta, una estructura y reglas rigurosas, un futuro que solo se basa en nadar y la autoaceptación (errónea) de que es demasiado para todas las personas que la rodean.
Cuando Ben, su novio, decide que es tiempo de divertirse con alguien más mientras aún está con Daniela, desequilibra todo lo que ella creía seguro. Ahora no tiene a nadie, no a un novio, no amigas, no un equipo que las respalde, no tiene a nadie. Así que cansada de que todos la juzguen a ella decide buscar venganza y ahí es donde Heath entra a la ecuación.
Heath es todo lo que Ben, el ex de Dani, odia. Carismáticos, buen nadador, atractivo y es el príncipe proclamado de toda la pequeña ciudad costera. Daniela se toma muy enserio la tarea de golpear el ego de Den así que un plan comienza a gestarse entre ambos.
En el libro solo hay un pov de Heath y es el epílogo pero en las 400 páginas de este libro no necesité tener un capítulo narrado por él para entender lo profundo de los sentimientos que siempre tuvo por Dani, nunca necesité estar en su cabeza para entender lo enamorada que siempre estuvo de ella y como cada segundo que pasó a su lado "fingiendo" siempre fue un regalo para él.
Mientras la relación de ambos avanza Daniela descubre mucho:
Cómo realmente es ser amada.
Que merece ser elegida.
Que el amor no tiene que doler.
Que es una gran amiga.
Que es elegida en muchas ocasiones.
Nuestra protagonista sale de la caja que normalmente encontramos en los libros de romance, no es tímida, es mordaz, usa sus palabras para herir, es insegura y aleja a todo el mundo como defensa propia. Es tan real y creo que eso la ha hecho una de mis mujeres favoritas en los libros, leer a Daniela es refrescante, se siente como ser vista.
Este libro también es una carta de amor a la amistad y al found family, porque lo que comenzó con Dani estando sola, llena de reglas e inseguridades que la apartaban de todos, termino rodeada de amigos que la aprecian por ella no porque es solo la novia de su amigo. La amistad entre chicas y chicos es tan hermosa de leer. En general todos los temas que trata la autora acá son bien abordados: la presión impuesta por padres, el cómo debemos de comportarnos para ser aceptados, las inseguridades de trazar un destino diferente al que se supone que debemos de anhelar.
Espero que Blaise siga escribiendo en este mundo porque creo que encontré un nuevo hogar.
August 29, 2026
2 stars cause I’m too disappointed to give more. I am a sucker for a good swimming sport romance, but this FMC is probably one of the worst I’ve ever read !!! She is just awful from the beginning to the end, and while I was waiting to see growth and improvement in her character, NOTHING happened. Heath is the perfect Golden retriever, but he just stays here, put up with her without a fight, and never says anything mean. But she would deserve it. Honey, sweety, I’m so sorry you’re stuck with her. Oh and, of course, swimming is barely present.
September 3, 2026
i feel conflicted about this book ……… i soft dnf’d at 35% bc it wasn’t clicking but decided to go back and finish reading it and lowkey flew through it. i love fake dating and love the “get back at my ex” trope too - dani is a complex character i get it but sometimes she was just so mean it was almost uncalled for? but i also felt for her, i wish we got a little more background to her trauma and her work through it more than what was shown. heath is just a ball of sunshine and a golden retriever to his core. i do feel like he put up with more than he should’ve…. anyways those are my tidbits i still enjoyed the story i just felt like certain thing couldve been conveyed better
September 5, 2026
4.25!!! heath belfort i love you
August 6, 2026
How do i get revenge on my cheating ex??? Fake date his rival, who is undoubtedly the golden prince of his college and who has amazing friends that get under my skin in the best possible way and become my friends, who is the best male swimmer and praise me and takes care of me and is very likely he has been pinning after me for quite some time 👉🏼👈🏼
There are not that many words to describe how Better than revenge made me feel. It’s that kind of romance book that has everything. Developing relationships, characters that by the end of the book will make you so proud of them, the kind of friendships that will last beyond college, and a romance that will make you swoon and question whether you can make a boyfriend from scratch.
Heath and Daniela are the kind of romance that that shows you can love a flawed person, you can love their insecurities, that you can grow and learn from your mistakes and most importantly start loving and believing in yourself.
Ej Blaise continues to amazes me in a way i fear for my sanity. I love her books with all my heart and there’s no doubt in my mind that she is one of my favorite writers.
Thank you to the publisher for the arc
There are not that many words to describe how Better than revenge made me feel. It’s that kind of romance book that has everything. Developing relationships, characters that by the end of the book will make you so proud of them, the kind of friendships that will last beyond college, and a romance that will make you swoon and question whether you can make a boyfriend from scratch.
Heath and Daniela are the kind of romance that that shows you can love a flawed person, you can love their insecurities, that you can grow and learn from your mistakes and most importantly start loving and believing in yourself.
Ej Blaise continues to amazes me in a way i fear for my sanity. I love her books with all my heart and there’s no doubt in my mind that she is one of my favorite writers.
Thank you to the publisher for the arc
Read
September 7, 20264.5 ★★★★!I was soo invested in this crazy slow burn relationship… the fake dating.. the yearner … the banter … ohh gimme gimme.
Was she complex and a little mean?? Well yes but she was my pookie !!! She never had anybody on her corner sooo yep . I totally get her. Her relationship with her parents and stepmother .. Oh my Shayla. Her father sorry to that man .IM GLAD THAT YOURE NOT AROUND because the traumatic relationship you made my baby have. Oh No…. I was sad… swimming a meet with an infected wisdom tooth ads saying dentists are for winner”. When she was thirteen got streps and he made her swim laps in the pool …and her almost drowning in the ocean .. my babyyy…. Oh Dani's dad .. you are giving Phil Graham a serious fighting competition for the absolute worst father in history.
Then we have her stepmom who is utter shit!! And she never really cared about her and then we’re gonna add in the double shits aka Ben the cheating ass loser ex and Coach Keller who never really saw her as person only as a person who swam really well. Daniella Marina Maldonado Williams .. you never really had a single person in your corner until enters the golden retreiever surfer blonde buz cut 6 feet man . I just really wanted to hug her and protect her and keep her safe. She was complex character but she had a good reasoning. I truly loved the character development in this book , she did grow and I was happy that she knew that she had people supporting her.
Heath Belfort .. my yearner..my golden retriever . I loved him the first time he showed up. He was patient; caring ; he truly loved her and cared about her so much . He reminded me sooo much of Lukas Blomqvist and YOU KNOWWWWWW I DO NOT PLAY ABOUT THAT SEXY SWEDYYYY !!! Him being in love with her all of those years and always paying attention to her. Like hm knowing her Degree; Knowing her favourite meal ..brown rice, sweet potato, tofu, getting her ear plugs because she once complained about it being too loud; bought her favorite drink { green tea } when they first started fake dating; bought her detergent and her favorite band tee; having a candid picture on his wall in his bedroom; made her a cornflower blue miniature surfboard for their one month anniversary; giving have an orca with a wonky fin for good luck at the meet; made her soup and cleaned her apartment ; left her post its for her to do things to past the time .
The slowburnnnn.. the spicy scene ... the pool scene HELLOOOOOOO.. the party scene >> SHUT UPPPPPPP that shit was sooooo hot !!! OMG OMGGGGGG yep yepppppp .
I loved the found family. Like Imani and Matilda and Dani are my favorite chaotic trio. Kai aka Kiki and Saylor … I need to know about my cute little family. Alsooooo Brendan and Imani helloooo… the buildup of them .. yes please.
Was she complex and a little mean?? Well yes but she was my pookie !!! She never had anybody on her corner sooo yep . I totally get her. Her relationship with her parents and stepmother .. Oh my Shayla. Her father sorry to that man .IM GLAD THAT YOURE NOT AROUND because the traumatic relationship you made my baby have. Oh No…. I was sad… swimming a meet with an infected wisdom tooth ads saying dentists are for winner”. When she was thirteen got streps and he made her swim laps in the pool …and her almost drowning in the ocean .. my babyyy…. Oh Dani's dad .. you are giving Phil Graham a serious fighting competition for the absolute worst father in history.
Then we have her stepmom who is utter shit!! And she never really cared about her and then we’re gonna add in the double shits aka Ben the cheating ass loser ex and Coach Keller who never really saw her as person only as a person who swam really well. Daniella Marina Maldonado Williams .. you never really had a single person in your corner until enters the golden retreiever surfer blonde buz cut 6 feet man . I just really wanted to hug her and protect her and keep her safe. She was complex character but she had a good reasoning. I truly loved the character development in this book , she did grow and I was happy that she knew that she had people supporting her.
Heath Belfort .. my yearner..my golden retriever . I loved him the first time he showed up. He was patient; caring ; he truly loved her and cared about her so much . He reminded me sooo much of Lukas Blomqvist and YOU KNOWWWWWW I DO NOT PLAY ABOUT THAT SEXY SWEDYYYY !!! Him being in love with her all of those years and always paying attention to her. Like hm knowing her Degree; Knowing her favourite meal ..brown rice, sweet potato, tofu, getting her ear plugs because she once complained about it being too loud; bought her favorite drink { green tea } when they first started fake dating; bought her detergent and her favorite band tee; having a candid picture on his wall in his bedroom; made her a cornflower blue miniature surfboard for their one month anniversary; giving have an orca with a wonky fin for good luck at the meet; made her soup and cleaned her apartment ; left her post its for her to do things to past the time .
The slowburnnnn.. the spicy scene ... the pool scene HELLOOOOOOO.. the party scene >> SHUT UPPPPPPP that shit was sooooo hot !!! OMG OMGGGGGG yep yepppppp .
I loved the found family. Like Imani and Matilda and Dani are my favorite chaotic trio. Kai aka Kiki and Saylor … I need to know about my cute little family. Alsooooo Brendan and Imani helloooo… the buildup of them .. yes please.
August 30, 2026
this low-key reminds me of deep end but like a less kinky and fake dating one lmao
what really bothered me was the amount of typos.. did the proofreaders not do their job? i genuinely thought i was misreading or reading too fast but nope some words were missing which was a bit of a nuisance but i still enjoyed the book
what really bothered me was the amount of typos.. did the proofreaders not do their job? i genuinely thought i was misreading or reading too fast but nope some words were missing which was a bit of a nuisance but i still enjoyed the book
September 9, 2026
I was so excited for this but... what in the world was this? I don't have a lot that is nice to say about this but Daniela is quite possibly the WORST freaking FMC I have ever read and Heath deserved so much better. This was poorly written and I just didn't enjoy it, which is super sad to me because I thought it might be like Ali Hazelwood's Deep End and I think it was trying to be but really missed the mark. I am sure some people will love this but I was really disappointed and I want my time back reading this.
June 19, 2026
4 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
This book was so binge worthy I genuinely could not put it down.
If you love an acts of service, yearning, golden retriever mmc like me. you are going to love Heath Belfort. He was perfect. The dynamic between him and our FMC Dani has me smiling like an absolute nerd in places. It was the perfect mix of black cat x golden retriever vibes.
Dani, the FMC, is navigating her way through a breakup with someone who cheated on her, with a team mate. Her and Heath plan revenge by entering a fake relationship to get back at Dani’s ex boyfriend. Heath just so happens to be said ex boyfriends rival. I loved watching this all unfold on every page and when I say Dani upgrade, SHE FULLY UPGRADED.
Dani self sabotages, she absolutely works herself into overdrive, and can’t accept love easily. This is where Heath comes in, and shows Dani her worth, and loves her so loudly like she deserves. There is something about a black cat FMC that just resonates with me, and when they’re done so well like this I just connect with the story so much more.
Overall, loved this book. I need the next one asap. Brendan and Imani’s story next please 👀♥️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
This book was so binge worthy I genuinely could not put it down.
If you love an acts of service, yearning, golden retriever mmc like me. you are going to love Heath Belfort. He was perfect. The dynamic between him and our FMC Dani has me smiling like an absolute nerd in places. It was the perfect mix of black cat x golden retriever vibes.
Dani, the FMC, is navigating her way through a breakup with someone who cheated on her, with a team mate. Her and Heath plan revenge by entering a fake relationship to get back at Dani’s ex boyfriend. Heath just so happens to be said ex boyfriends rival. I loved watching this all unfold on every page and when I say Dani upgrade, SHE FULLY UPGRADED.
Dani self sabotages, she absolutely works herself into overdrive, and can’t accept love easily. This is where Heath comes in, and shows Dani her worth, and loves her so loudly like she deserves. There is something about a black cat FMC that just resonates with me, and when they’re done so well like this I just connect with the story so much more.
Overall, loved this book. I need the next one asap. Brendan and Imani’s story next please 👀♥️
May 28, 2026
☆ 4.5 stars
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 464 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: E.J. Blaise
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Headline Eternal
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 25 August 2026
What you can expect:
— Adult College Sports Romance
— First Person X Single POV
— Grumpy X Sunshine
— Ex-Boyfriend’s Rival
— Fake Dating
— Black Cat X Golden Retriever
— Tutoring Lessons
— Introverted FMC X Extroverted MMC
— Found Family
— Opposites Attract
— Angst & Yearning
Better Than Revenge is my first book by author E.J. Blaise after having her work on my radar for the past year and it most definitely won’t be my last. This was such an gripping story that had me feeling invested from the very first chapter in the way that it was explored with full emotional impact. The characters are blatantly flawed and complex which was a thrill to experience in its honest reflection of humanity. The college setting felt aptly utilised with the focus of the story being on young adults stumbling their way through life as they desperately try to figure it all out and make memories in the process. The searing romantic chemistry, vulnerable conversations and found family elements left me unwilling to put the book down as I devoured it from start-to-finish in less than ten hours. I love nothing more than to read about imperfect characters undergoing a deeply personal journey and that is exactly what Better Than Revenge delivered for me. I adored this book and I will absolutely be making a conscious effort to read more from this author in the near-future.
Daniela Williams is for the angry and hurt women that are constantly being told that who they are will never measure up nor be good enough. She is for the daughters of parents that place an infinite number of expectations on their shoulders no matter the cost to their wellbeing. I truly believe that Daniela will be a character that will be received with mixed responses from readers as you will either dislike her for her actions… or you will understand and resonate with her. I loved her in all of her complexities as it becomes very clear to me from the beginning that underneath a prickly exterior is a worn and battered heart that has endured too much, too early in life. I hated to see how she was treated by her team and peers despite bearing no responsibility for the outcome of her previous relationship. I raged alongside Daniela during every moment of mistreatment that she received and I was honestly rooting for her to react worse than what she did. Dani is a woman that feels her emotions deeply whilst struggling to find a healthier outlet to express them. Many of her actions are dictated by her misplaced need to punish and isolate herself from the good people in her life that regularly try to prove that they want her there. Her vulnerabilities and insecurities felt well-explored as they enabled me to better understand and connect to all of the struggles that we witness her undertake. It broke my heart to recognise how little value Daniela places within herself and the way that this reflected in the way that she approaches friendships, but at the same time it felt rewarding to see this become a source of growth for her character. She undergoes a tremendous amount of growth throughout her journey whilst still managing to stay true-to-self. I adored getting to see Daniela become more open to the people in her life as they slowly earn her trust and prove that they won’t let her push them away. Dani’s journey felt both emotionally layered and fulfilling… and I couldn’t be happier with where we, as the reader, get to leave her with by the end of her story.
Honestly… my only one complaint about this book is the way that I had wished to have seen more of Daniela’s ‘after’ in the end. Her story wraps up quite quickly so I felt like I had been missing some of the vital moments in her recovery and her connection to Heath’s family. I’m hoping that we might get the chance to receive bonus content in the future that will help fill the gap and make the ending feel all the more fulfilling.
Heath Belfort is one of the biggest green flag MMCs that I have ever read about and I cannot express how much I adored getting to know this sweet and emotionally vulnerable man. Heath is the kind of character that exudes warmth and joy to the point that everybody within his orbit cannot help but be pulled in. The love and loyalty that he displays for the people within his life is unmatched and I adored getting to see this being extended to the prickly woman that he’s yearned for over a long duration of time. Heath is a gentle and patient soul who never once attempts to push Daniela past her clearly established boundaries unless it’s something he knows that he can fully support her with. I loved that his character stayed fairly consistent throughout with little need for growth or development, and the way that he continued to prioritise open communication. I truly wish that we could have been granted the opportunity to read certain chapters within his POV as I was desperate to experience his inner thoughts during some of my favourite moments, both the good and the bad. Heath is a deeply empathetic and earnest man who is unafraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve… and there’s no denying that he’s now one of my all-time favourite book boyfriends that I’ve read.
Daniela and Heath’s romantic development was executed perfectly for me in the way that it was approached with tenderness and care. The aftermath of Dani’s breakup finds her struggling to open herself up to new people and it broke my heart to see how deeply this affected her everyday life. The fake-dating aspect was a lot of fun to explore in the way that it centres around a man that has yearned from afar for a woman that has only now began to acknowledge his existence. The banter and quick-wit that both Daniela and Heath volley back and forth left me constantly grinning in my giddiness to see what they would come up with next. I loved how settled both characters seemed in the safety of their bargain until the discussion surrounding real feelings is implemented. The natural progression to their relationship felt effortless in the mutual give and take of their dynamic with the people around them rooting to see their relationship succeed. The angst and moments of struggle felt well balanced and honest alongside the many moments of tenderness. Their relationship isn’t linear and faces many struggles, however it becomes clear just how deeply both characters feel about one another in their desperation to make what they share work. I loved getting to witness the friendship that blossomed with patience and care, and the way that this acted as the foundation for their romantic chemistry. Health and Daniela work hard to achieve their inevitable happily ever after and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome of their efforts.
I had the best time reading Better Than Revenge and I find myself greatly hoping that this isn’t our last time exploring this wonderful cast of characters. Daniela and Heath’s story may be complete… but that doesn’t mean that there is another story waiting to be told from within their friendship group. There are at least two prospective couples that I would love to see receive their own book so if you need me I’ll be trying to manifest them into existence.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 464 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: E.J. Blaise
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Headline Eternal
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 25 August 2026
What you can expect:
— Adult College Sports Romance
— First Person X Single POV
— Grumpy X Sunshine
— Ex-Boyfriend’s Rival
— Fake Dating
— Black Cat X Golden Retriever
— Tutoring Lessons
— Introverted FMC X Extroverted MMC
— Found Family
— Opposites Attract
— Angst & Yearning
Better Than Revenge is my first book by author E.J. Blaise after having her work on my radar for the past year and it most definitely won’t be my last. This was such an gripping story that had me feeling invested from the very first chapter in the way that it was explored with full emotional impact. The characters are blatantly flawed and complex which was a thrill to experience in its honest reflection of humanity. The college setting felt aptly utilised with the focus of the story being on young adults stumbling their way through life as they desperately try to figure it all out and make memories in the process. The searing romantic chemistry, vulnerable conversations and found family elements left me unwilling to put the book down as I devoured it from start-to-finish in less than ten hours. I love nothing more than to read about imperfect characters undergoing a deeply personal journey and that is exactly what Better Than Revenge delivered for me. I adored this book and I will absolutely be making a conscious effort to read more from this author in the near-future.
Daniela Williams is for the angry and hurt women that are constantly being told that who they are will never measure up nor be good enough. She is for the daughters of parents that place an infinite number of expectations on their shoulders no matter the cost to their wellbeing. I truly believe that Daniela will be a character that will be received with mixed responses from readers as you will either dislike her for her actions… or you will understand and resonate with her. I loved her in all of her complexities as it becomes very clear to me from the beginning that underneath a prickly exterior is a worn and battered heart that has endured too much, too early in life. I hated to see how she was treated by her team and peers despite bearing no responsibility for the outcome of her previous relationship. I raged alongside Daniela during every moment of mistreatment that she received and I was honestly rooting for her to react worse than what she did. Dani is a woman that feels her emotions deeply whilst struggling to find a healthier outlet to express them. Many of her actions are dictated by her misplaced need to punish and isolate herself from the good people in her life that regularly try to prove that they want her there. Her vulnerabilities and insecurities felt well-explored as they enabled me to better understand and connect to all of the struggles that we witness her undertake. It broke my heart to recognise how little value Daniela places within herself and the way that this reflected in the way that she approaches friendships, but at the same time it felt rewarding to see this become a source of growth for her character. She undergoes a tremendous amount of growth throughout her journey whilst still managing to stay true-to-self. I adored getting to see Daniela become more open to the people in her life as they slowly earn her trust and prove that they won’t let her push them away. Dani’s journey felt both emotionally layered and fulfilling… and I couldn’t be happier with where we, as the reader, get to leave her with by the end of her story.
Honestly… my only one complaint about this book is the way that I had wished to have seen more of Daniela’s ‘after’ in the end. Her story wraps up quite quickly so I felt like I had been missing some of the vital moments in her recovery and her connection to Heath’s family. I’m hoping that we might get the chance to receive bonus content in the future that will help fill the gap and make the ending feel all the more fulfilling.
Heath Belfort is one of the biggest green flag MMCs that I have ever read about and I cannot express how much I adored getting to know this sweet and emotionally vulnerable man. Heath is the kind of character that exudes warmth and joy to the point that everybody within his orbit cannot help but be pulled in. The love and loyalty that he displays for the people within his life is unmatched and I adored getting to see this being extended to the prickly woman that he’s yearned for over a long duration of time. Heath is a gentle and patient soul who never once attempts to push Daniela past her clearly established boundaries unless it’s something he knows that he can fully support her with. I loved that his character stayed fairly consistent throughout with little need for growth or development, and the way that he continued to prioritise open communication. I truly wish that we could have been granted the opportunity to read certain chapters within his POV as I was desperate to experience his inner thoughts during some of my favourite moments, both the good and the bad. Heath is a deeply empathetic and earnest man who is unafraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve… and there’s no denying that he’s now one of my all-time favourite book boyfriends that I’ve read.
Daniela and Heath’s romantic development was executed perfectly for me in the way that it was approached with tenderness and care. The aftermath of Dani’s breakup finds her struggling to open herself up to new people and it broke my heart to see how deeply this affected her everyday life. The fake-dating aspect was a lot of fun to explore in the way that it centres around a man that has yearned from afar for a woman that has only now began to acknowledge his existence. The banter and quick-wit that both Daniela and Heath volley back and forth left me constantly grinning in my giddiness to see what they would come up with next. I loved how settled both characters seemed in the safety of their bargain until the discussion surrounding real feelings is implemented. The natural progression to their relationship felt effortless in the mutual give and take of their dynamic with the people around them rooting to see their relationship succeed. The angst and moments of struggle felt well balanced and honest alongside the many moments of tenderness. Their relationship isn’t linear and faces many struggles, however it becomes clear just how deeply both characters feel about one another in their desperation to make what they share work. I loved getting to witness the friendship that blossomed with patience and care, and the way that this acted as the foundation for their romantic chemistry. Health and Daniela work hard to achieve their inevitable happily ever after and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome of their efforts.
I had the best time reading Better Than Revenge and I find myself greatly hoping that this isn’t our last time exploring this wonderful cast of characters. Daniela and Heath’s story may be complete… but that doesn’t mean that there is another story waiting to be told from within their friendship group. There are at least two prospective couples that I would love to see receive their own book so if you need me I’ll be trying to manifest them into existence.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.
Did Not Finish
September 23, 2026DNF at 22%
I picked this up hoping it would get me out of my reading slump, but I think it made it worse. I enjoyed their banter in the beginning, but I can't stand Daniela. I don't find her complex or interesting, just annoying and rude. The single pov isn't really working for me either. Maybe I'll come back to this, but right now, I'm just not in the mood.
I picked this up hoping it would get me out of my reading slump, but I think it made it worse. I enjoyed their banter in the beginning, but I can't stand Daniela. I don't find her complex or interesting, just annoying and rude. The single pov isn't really working for me either. Maybe I'll come back to this, but right now, I'm just not in the mood.
Did Not Finish
May 27, 2026DNF @ 33%
I really wanted to love this because the premise sounded exactly like something I’d enjoy —> fake dating, golden retriever x black cat energy, rivalry… all of that normally works so well for me. And honestly I did enjoy the beginning and liked the dynamic between the characters initially.
But somewhere along the way I just stopped connecting to it. I don’t even fully know how to explain it because I don’t think it was a bad book at all — I think it just ultimately wasn’t for me personally. I felt like the relationship progression happened very quickly and I personally prefer more slow burn and tension before the feelings fully settle in. Even if attraction is there early on, I still like that emotional build-up and yearning.
I also think at times I struggled a little with visualising certain scenes and following where everything was happening. There was quite a lot of dialogue and for me it sometimes made the pacing feel a little convoluted rather than immersive.
That being said, I can absolutely see why other people would enjoy this because the banter and character dynamics were still fun. I think this was probably just a case of wrong timing and me being a little more critical and picky with books at the moment
Thank you NetGalley and Headline for the eArc 🫶🏽🫶🏽
I really wanted to love this because the premise sounded exactly like something I’d enjoy —> fake dating, golden retriever x black cat energy, rivalry… all of that normally works so well for me. And honestly I did enjoy the beginning and liked the dynamic between the characters initially.
But somewhere along the way I just stopped connecting to it. I don’t even fully know how to explain it because I don’t think it was a bad book at all — I think it just ultimately wasn’t for me personally. I felt like the relationship progression happened very quickly and I personally prefer more slow burn and tension before the feelings fully settle in. Even if attraction is there early on, I still like that emotional build-up and yearning.
I also think at times I struggled a little with visualising certain scenes and following where everything was happening. There was quite a lot of dialogue and for me it sometimes made the pacing feel a little convoluted rather than immersive.
That being said, I can absolutely see why other people would enjoy this because the banter and character dynamics were still fun. I think this was probably just a case of wrong timing and me being a little more critical and picky with books at the moment
Thank you NetGalley and Headline for the eArc 🫶🏽🫶🏽
August 30, 2026
Got the eARC, was running to order a paperback mid-read.
Infinity stars.
Emotional rollercoaster in the best way.
I will be thinking about this book forever.
Amazing writing. Complex and beautifully written characters. Compelling storyline providing absolutely all kinds of emotions.
I was giggling, I laughed, I swooned, I felt deeply. The banter and chemistry - out of this world. At the same time it was also sad and depressing. I promise, it was a total mix, but executed in flawless way.
Lately I’m tired of books with such length (450 pages) but I don’t feel it here. Every page was worth my time and there was absolutely no page wasted.
Dani is a very complex character. I think some readers might find her unlikable and off putting but for me she was a very strong, but complex and misunderstood character, with difficult history. She was written so well I literally cannot shut up about it.
THE CHEMISTRY, THE BANTER
The found family made me cry. Heath, oh my god, Heath. He was so damn patient with Dani and so, so fucking good for her. And impossibly down bad.
I don’t have a list with too book boyfriends rated too top to bottom (I hate picking favs, I have tons of favs but don’t make me choose THE one), but if I did, Heath would probably end up as number one.
I finished this book 2 days ago but I STILL feel the emotions it gave me.
Thank you Headline for NetGalley ARC.
Can I already request whatever next EJ Blaise writes?
Infinity stars.
Emotional rollercoaster in the best way.
I will be thinking about this book forever.
Amazing writing. Complex and beautifully written characters. Compelling storyline providing absolutely all kinds of emotions.
I was giggling, I laughed, I swooned, I felt deeply. The banter and chemistry - out of this world. At the same time it was also sad and depressing. I promise, it was a total mix, but executed in flawless way.
Lately I’m tired of books with such length (450 pages) but I don’t feel it here. Every page was worth my time and there was absolutely no page wasted.
Dani is a very complex character. I think some readers might find her unlikable and off putting but for me she was a very strong, but complex and misunderstood character, with difficult history. She was written so well I literally cannot shut up about it.
THE CHEMISTRY, THE BANTER
The found family made me cry. Heath, oh my god, Heath. He was so damn patient with Dani and so, so fucking good for her. And impossibly down bad.
I don’t have a list with too book boyfriends rated too top to bottom (I hate picking favs, I have tons of favs but don’t make me choose THE one), but if I did, Heath would probably end up as number one.
I finished this book 2 days ago but I STILL feel the emotions it gave me.
Thank you Headline for NetGalley ARC.
Can I already request whatever next EJ Blaise writes?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You know an ARC is good when you’re 30% through the book and you’re already pre-ordering it.
Better Than Revenge follows Daniela Williams, a D1 swimmer, who recently broke up with her cheating boyfriend and she asks her ex’s greatest rival, Heath, for a little help to get her ex off her back - pretend to be her boyfriend in exchange for helping him with his course - that’s right, there’s fake dating, jealousy, lots of “fake” kisses and touching and REALLY big emotions (but they’re fake, right?). They had SO MANY cute pet names, well, mostly Heath for Dani, but I am a sucker for them.
This was the ultimate black cat x golden retriever book and it had me giggling and swooning so much. Dani was an unapologetic black cat, set in her ways and routines, believing that the only thing she really needed in life was to swim as a D1 athlete and live up to her dad’s expectations. She didn’t have or “need” any friends and had a hard time with her sneering swim team (they were all a bunch of a-holes). Dani got used to seeing herself as a “witch” or “heartless viper” as her teammates called her to the point that when people really wanted to be her friend, she couldn’t believe them. It was heartbreaking to see how many walls she built around herself and how strong they were. She really kept people at a distance nearly to the very end, showing how deeply entrenched her harsh self-criticism was. The only one she didn’t manage to push away was Heath.
My boy Heath was down BAD. Like, BAD bad. I know a “he fell first” man when I see him and you could see him from a mile away. I’m talking, he’s been wanting her ever since he set eyes upon her. Naturally, Dani had no idea and every time Heath looked at her with stars in his eyes, she brushed it off as being part of the whole fake scenario. Heath was an amazing MMC and he was there for Dani more than anyone ever was. He was so charismatic and his positive energy and ease was infectious, not just to Dani but to the reader as well. I’m usually a grumpy MMC girly but I absolutely adored Heath.
I ABSOLUTELY EAT UP this type of fake dating and dynamic. The fact that it was single-POV made it even better because you couldn’t really know the depths of Heath’s infatuation with Dani until she herself was able to accept it. Even being very much a slow burn, you still get really steamy scenes that will get you all hot and bothered and make you fall even more for Heath.
I wish we spent a bit more time with them together at the end or maybe got another chapter with Heath’s POV. I just really want more of them! Is it too early to ask for a novella? 😭
Thank you so much to Headline Eternal and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨
The vibes Dani and Heath bring to the function:
‘Good morning, my love.’
‘Fuck off.’
‘That’s my girl.’
"Jesus, Dani, I mourn the twenty years I didn’t know you."
"You’re an eighty-yearold woman trapped in a hot young body, you know that?"
"You bring his leash, Dani?"
Heath fucking woofs.
"You don’t wanna hear that I wanted you the fucking second I laid eyes on you. You don’t wanna know that the main reason I hate Ben is because he was your boyfriend and I wasn’t. You don’t wanna know that I love you."
"I love you. Mean and grumpy, sweet and shy, literally everything in between, I love you."
Better Than Revenge follows Daniela Williams, a D1 swimmer, who recently broke up with her cheating boyfriend and she asks her ex’s greatest rival, Heath, for a little help to get her ex off her back - pretend to be her boyfriend in exchange for helping him with his course - that’s right, there’s fake dating, jealousy, lots of “fake” kisses and touching and REALLY big emotions (but they’re fake, right?). They had SO MANY cute pet names, well, mostly Heath for Dani, but I am a sucker for them.
This was the ultimate black cat x golden retriever book and it had me giggling and swooning so much. Dani was an unapologetic black cat, set in her ways and routines, believing that the only thing she really needed in life was to swim as a D1 athlete and live up to her dad’s expectations. She didn’t have or “need” any friends and had a hard time with her sneering swim team (they were all a bunch of a-holes). Dani got used to seeing herself as a “witch” or “heartless viper” as her teammates called her to the point that when people really wanted to be her friend, she couldn’t believe them. It was heartbreaking to see how many walls she built around herself and how strong they were. She really kept people at a distance nearly to the very end, showing how deeply entrenched her harsh self-criticism was. The only one she didn’t manage to push away was Heath.
My boy Heath was down BAD. Like, BAD bad. I know a “he fell first” man when I see him and you could see him from a mile away. I’m talking, he’s been wanting her ever since he set eyes upon her. Naturally, Dani had no idea and every time Heath looked at her with stars in his eyes, she brushed it off as being part of the whole fake scenario. Heath was an amazing MMC and he was there for Dani more than anyone ever was. He was so charismatic and his positive energy and ease was infectious, not just to Dani but to the reader as well. I’m usually a grumpy MMC girly but I absolutely adored Heath.
I ABSOLUTELY EAT UP this type of fake dating and dynamic. The fact that it was single-POV made it even better because you couldn’t really know the depths of Heath’s infatuation with Dani until she herself was able to accept it. Even being very much a slow burn, you still get really steamy scenes that will get you all hot and bothered and make you fall even more for Heath.
I wish we spent a bit more time with them together at the end or maybe got another chapter with Heath’s POV. I just really want more of them! Is it too early to ask for a novella? 😭
Thank you so much to Headline Eternal and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨
The vibes Dani and Heath bring to the function:
‘Good morning, my love.’
‘Fuck off.’
‘That’s my girl.’
"Jesus, Dani, I mourn the twenty years I didn’t know you."
"You’re an eighty-yearold woman trapped in a hot young body, you know that?"
"You bring his leash, Dani?"
Heath fucking woofs.
"You don’t wanna hear that I wanted you the fucking second I laid eyes on you. You don’t wanna know that the main reason I hate Ben is because he was your boyfriend and I wasn’t. You don’t wanna know that I love you."
"I love you. Mean and grumpy, sweet and shy, literally everything in between, I love you."
August 30, 2026
⭐️ 2 stars.
This has got to be the worst FMC I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading about. She had the nastiest character and I can understand having a bit of attitude because of the trauma you’ve suffered but I genuinely don’t understand why she thought that gave her the right to be so bitchy to literally everyone.
I didn’t even bother finishing this book. After she told the MC to fuck off after he told her he loved her I just couldn’t bring myself to continue. Mind you this was at THE FREAKING 90% MARK.
90% INTO THE BOOK. YOUV’E MANAGED TO TELL EVERYONE THAT’S BEEN NICE TO YOU TO LEAVE YOU THE FUCK ALONE COUNTLESS TIMES THEN CRY THAT YOU’RE LONELY.
YOU’VE LITERALLY CUT OFF THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD HONESTLY EVER LOVE YOU BECAUSE OF HOW HORRIBLE YOU ARE.
LIKE I WAS GENUINELY LOSING MY MIND READING THIS BOOK.
She was so unpleasant literally no one would understand why Heath even liked her.
I’m never doing this again.
This has got to be the worst FMC I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading about. She had the nastiest character and I can understand having a bit of attitude because of the trauma you’ve suffered but I genuinely don’t understand why she thought that gave her the right to be so bitchy to literally everyone.
I didn’t even bother finishing this book. After she told the MC to fuck off after he told her he loved her I just couldn’t bring myself to continue. Mind you this was at THE FREAKING 90% MARK.
90% INTO THE BOOK. YOUV’E MANAGED TO TELL EVERYONE THAT’S BEEN NICE TO YOU TO LEAVE YOU THE FUCK ALONE COUNTLESS TIMES THEN CRY THAT YOU’RE LONELY.
YOU’VE LITERALLY CUT OFF THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD HONESTLY EVER LOVE YOU BECAUSE OF HOW HORRIBLE YOU ARE.
LIKE I WAS GENUINELY LOSING MY MIND READING THIS BOOK.
She was so unpleasant literally no one would understand why Heath even liked her.
I’m never doing this again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wasn't expecting to like Better Than Revenge as much as I did. It's an emotional rollercoaster that takes you on some highs and a lot lows but it's a beautiful look at finding yourself, found family and realising what you might think you want really isn't what you want. Daniela hasn't had the best start to a new year, her cheating ex and his new girlfriend are on her swim team, she wants to continue being the best and her ex's biggest rival is always there. And you what that brings us to? Oh they have to fake date? I love fake dating and Dani and Heath and perfect together. The dynamic they have with one another is topknoch and I frothed it. Dani hates the world - or she thinks she does and Heath slowly starts to help her realise that maybe the world and her life isn’t that bad. And maybe she helps him too.
Better Than Revenge isn’t an easy read. It’s filled with emotion and heartbreak but also found family, trusting yourself and others and finding yourself again. I am so excited to read more books from E.J. Blaise too.
August 31, 2026
50% through and i would have dropped this one if not for heath. i get it daniela is a “complex” character. but you don’t have to be a bitch with no character growth at all to be complex. just saying. 🤷♀️
September 1, 2026
I've already written this review and deleted it about ten times but I have nothing good to say, just know that I have very strong opinions about Daniela 🍅🍅🍅
August 29, 2026
This was temu Please Don’t Go without any of the traumatic back stories
July 7, 2026
Thank you to netgalley & publishers for this arc!!
What you can expect:
- fake dating
- he falls first & harder (!!)
- black cat x golden retriever
- found family
- banter & yearning
This was one of those books I just could not put down. The pacing was strong throughout & I was hooked right from the start. I’m a sucker for anything with a found family & this was no exception.
Dani is going through a breakup when she decides to fake date Heath to ‘get revenge’ on her cheating ex who happens to be Heaths rival. All the characters, especially Dani are written with such depth that it was easily to see and feel the full emotional impact.
I absolutely adored the dynamic between Heath & Dani. Let me just say the banter was bantering and THE YEARNING !!! The yearning in this book was next level. Heath was everything - between the yearning, the acts of service - Dani and Heath may just be the perfect black cat x golden retriever.
I absolutely loved this book & can’t wait to see what’s next for this author and this series !!
What you can expect:
- fake dating
- he falls first & harder (!!)
- black cat x golden retriever
- found family
- banter & yearning
This was one of those books I just could not put down. The pacing was strong throughout & I was hooked right from the start. I’m a sucker for anything with a found family & this was no exception.
Dani is going through a breakup when she decides to fake date Heath to ‘get revenge’ on her cheating ex who happens to be Heaths rival. All the characters, especially Dani are written with such depth that it was easily to see and feel the full emotional impact.
I absolutely adored the dynamic between Heath & Dani. Let me just say the banter was bantering and THE YEARNING !!! The yearning in this book was next level. Heath was everything - between the yearning, the acts of service - Dani and Heath may just be the perfect black cat x golden retriever.
I absolutely loved this book & can’t wait to see what’s next for this author and this series !!
August 31, 2026
3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)
i won’t lie. i had a really fun time reading better than revenge. for the most part it kept me super entertained, and i enjoyed spending time with these characters. plus this also has some of my favourite tropes, including fake dating and grumpy x sunshine, and i also really loved the found family aspect of it all. the writing style was actually pretty addictive, and made it so easy to get into the story. e. j. blaise wrote this in a way that made me not want to put it down.
that being said, i did have some issues with the pacing. i felt the start off the book was a little too fast, and then it tapered down towards the middle. some of the scenes in the middle felt a little repetitive but it was also daniela and heath being cute and flirty so i can accept that. and the last half of the book is again packed, where a lot of confrontations, albeit well needed, happens (seriously ben can go f- himself). i would have appreciated more steady pacing but overall it was still enjoyable.
i usually don’t say this about fmcs, but daniela was surprisingly rude in my opinion. like at so many points in the story, i felt she was being waaay too mean to heath. and heath was just a sweetheart. the chemistry is there for sure, but i would have liked the meanness to be dialled down a little bit. but the relationship was cute, and more than the spice, i loved the banter and how flirty they were with each other.
all in all, better than revenge was pretty entertaining and i will definitely be reading more of what e.j. blaise writes!
thank you hachette anz for sending me an e-arc!
i won’t lie. i had a really fun time reading better than revenge. for the most part it kept me super entertained, and i enjoyed spending time with these characters. plus this also has some of my favourite tropes, including fake dating and grumpy x sunshine, and i also really loved the found family aspect of it all. the writing style was actually pretty addictive, and made it so easy to get into the story. e. j. blaise wrote this in a way that made me not want to put it down.
that being said, i did have some issues with the pacing. i felt the start off the book was a little too fast, and then it tapered down towards the middle. some of the scenes in the middle felt a little repetitive but it was also daniela and heath being cute and flirty so i can accept that. and the last half of the book is again packed, where a lot of confrontations, albeit well needed, happens (seriously ben can go f- himself). i would have appreciated more steady pacing but overall it was still enjoyable.
i usually don’t say this about fmcs, but daniela was surprisingly rude in my opinion. like at so many points in the story, i felt she was being waaay too mean to heath. and heath was just a sweetheart. the chemistry is there for sure, but i would have liked the meanness to be dialled down a little bit. but the relationship was cute, and more than the spice, i loved the banter and how flirty they were with each other.
all in all, better than revenge was pretty entertaining and i will definitely be reading more of what e.j. blaise writes!
thank you hachette anz for sending me an e-arc!
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