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Hot Copy
“An intoxicating blend of wholesome sweetness and tear-off-your-clothes steam…Ruby Barrett’s writing leaves me breathless.” —Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate
"Sexy, smart, and fiercely feminist." —Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test
A meet-cute gone wrong is the start of a surprising courtship in this fresh, modern take on the workplace romance from debut author Ruby Barrett
Corrine Blunt knows what people think of her—she’s an icy, unapproachable executive. It’s the price she’s had to pay to get to the top. But there’s knowing you have a reputation in the office, and there’s hearing your new intern laugh when someone calls you “Blunt the C*nt” in the elevator on his first day.
She’d hoped to finally find an ally in Wesley Chambers, but she’s not about to let him off the hook for joining the office boys’ club. Taking refuge in the professional boundaries between them, she relegates Wes to assistant work—which would do the trick, if he weren’t so eager to prove he’s a decent human being.
Wes is sincerely apologetic, insisting it was a misunderstanding, and to her surprise, Corrine believes him. Being forced to work together was one thing, but long hours at the office with what turns out to be a kind, thoughtful man soon has their business relationship turning personal, and things get complicated—fast. Could this be something more serious than either of them dared to hope for? Or is their relationship just playing into the harmful power dynamics Corrine’s had to endure her entire career?
Book 1: Hot Copy
Book 2: The Romance Recipe
"Sexy, smart, and fiercely feminist." —Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test
A meet-cute gone wrong is the start of a surprising courtship in this fresh, modern take on the workplace romance from debut author Ruby Barrett
Corrine Blunt knows what people think of her—she’s an icy, unapproachable executive. It’s the price she’s had to pay to get to the top. But there’s knowing you have a reputation in the office, and there’s hearing your new intern laugh when someone calls you “Blunt the C*nt” in the elevator on his first day.
She’d hoped to finally find an ally in Wesley Chambers, but she’s not about to let him off the hook for joining the office boys’ club. Taking refuge in the professional boundaries between them, she relegates Wes to assistant work—which would do the trick, if he weren’t so eager to prove he’s a decent human being.
Wes is sincerely apologetic, insisting it was a misunderstanding, and to her surprise, Corrine believes him. Being forced to work together was one thing, but long hours at the office with what turns out to be a kind, thoughtful man soon has their business relationship turning personal, and things get complicated—fast. Could this be something more serious than either of them dared to hope for? Or is their relationship just playing into the harmful power dynamics Corrine’s had to endure her entire career?
Book 1: Hot Copy
Book 2: The Romance Recipe
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2021
70 people are currently reading
3583 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
April 25, 2021
Wowwww! I’m dipping my fingers into water bucket! They’re burning! The extremely high chemistry between Corinne and Wesley put the pages in fire! It’s freaking hot, intense, steamy, pant melting, mind blowing! You keep hyperventilating as you flip the pages faster, turning on AC to cool down !
Office romance, boss heroine and intern hero’s forbidden attraction are my favorite delicious topics and I’m telling you my friends, I haven’t seen so hot, well matched couple who can set your bedrooms on fire! They’re amazing!
Especially Wesley: loyal, kind hearted, healer, honest, sweet boy: taking care of his sick mother and after his death, he’s struggling to adopt in his old life, socializing with old friends, rejecting to sell family house he lives with his twin sister.
Two years ago he already found a job at the company his father’s close friend Richard work as CEO. Now at age 25, he’s fidgety, trying to adjust in his intern position but when some of the other interns make humiliating comment about his new boss by calling her Blunt the C*nt at the elevator, he lets out a nervous laugh just like he did at the inappropriate conditions he finds himself into before but guess who is already at the elevator ?
Yes, her new boss Corinne Blunt is back to them, looking at her phone and eavesdropping their conversation!
Sorry Wesley you made terrible first impression and ice queen, ruthless, perfectionist boss of yours are adamant to see you bleed!
On the other hand, Richard who acts fatherly around Wesley starts giving the worst Weinstein vibes around Corinne.
Classy, workaholic, reserved Corinne isn’t like a ruthless b*tch as people think about: She cares too much! Her reputation already ruined because of her previous intern’s sneaky attitudes who tried to use her to climb corporate ladders. She needs to cover her ears to ignore the unfair comments people make about her and focus on her job. But when her mother suffers from big C and her intern is too kind, caring, she gets more confused about her feelings.
When she cries in front of him after hearing her mother’s illness and suffering from one of the most painful migraine attacks, he helped her to get through one of the most challenging presentations she’s made.
Well, Corinne cannot hold herself any longer and after their first kiss, things between them growing intenser and getting more complicated!
I’m stopping right now! I already gave too much away! This book is hot as well, but also emotional, heartfelt. It’s thought provoking and its powerful approach to #metoomovenent was well crafted and impressively motivational!
Both of the MCs are so likable. They find themselves one of the most complicated situation: the forbidden affair at work place where the stakes are way too much high!
Thankfully the conclusion of the story was relieving.
Overall: I loved this book so much! Instead of romance and steamy scenes, I enjoyed the family relationships, approach to the grief and struggles to move on when you lost your loved ones and its fair and realistic perspective to mansplaining at the work place was bold objective.
I’m only cutting half star because at the last third: I found some of heroine’s actions a little annoying. I loved Wesley so much! He was the younger one of the relationship but he was the wiser one from the beginning.
I still round up 4.5 to 5 provocative, feminism vibes with forbidden but extremely hot like hell stars!
I’m looking forward to read more works of Ms. Barrett! This was one of the best office romances I’ve read for so long!
Special thanks to Netgalley and HARLEQUIN-Carina Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Office romance, boss heroine and intern hero’s forbidden attraction are my favorite delicious topics and I’m telling you my friends, I haven’t seen so hot, well matched couple who can set your bedrooms on fire! They’re amazing!
Especially Wesley: loyal, kind hearted, healer, honest, sweet boy: taking care of his sick mother and after his death, he’s struggling to adopt in his old life, socializing with old friends, rejecting to sell family house he lives with his twin sister.
Two years ago he already found a job at the company his father’s close friend Richard work as CEO. Now at age 25, he’s fidgety, trying to adjust in his intern position but when some of the other interns make humiliating comment about his new boss by calling her Blunt the C*nt at the elevator, he lets out a nervous laugh just like he did at the inappropriate conditions he finds himself into before but guess who is already at the elevator ?
Yes, her new boss Corinne Blunt is back to them, looking at her phone and eavesdropping their conversation!
Sorry Wesley you made terrible first impression and ice queen, ruthless, perfectionist boss of yours are adamant to see you bleed!
On the other hand, Richard who acts fatherly around Wesley starts giving the worst Weinstein vibes around Corinne.
Classy, workaholic, reserved Corinne isn’t like a ruthless b*tch as people think about: She cares too much! Her reputation already ruined because of her previous intern’s sneaky attitudes who tried to use her to climb corporate ladders. She needs to cover her ears to ignore the unfair comments people make about her and focus on her job. But when her mother suffers from big C and her intern is too kind, caring, she gets more confused about her feelings.
When she cries in front of him after hearing her mother’s illness and suffering from one of the most painful migraine attacks, he helped her to get through one of the most challenging presentations she’s made.
Well, Corinne cannot hold herself any longer and after their first kiss, things between them growing intenser and getting more complicated!
I’m stopping right now! I already gave too much away! This book is hot as well, but also emotional, heartfelt. It’s thought provoking and its powerful approach to #metoomovenent was well crafted and impressively motivational!
Both of the MCs are so likable. They find themselves one of the most complicated situation: the forbidden affair at work place where the stakes are way too much high!
Thankfully the conclusion of the story was relieving.
Overall: I loved this book so much! Instead of romance and steamy scenes, I enjoyed the family relationships, approach to the grief and struggles to move on when you lost your loved ones and its fair and realistic perspective to mansplaining at the work place was bold objective.
I’m only cutting half star because at the last third: I found some of heroine’s actions a little annoying. I loved Wesley so much! He was the younger one of the relationship but he was the wiser one from the beginning.
I still round up 4.5 to 5 provocative, feminism vibes with forbidden but extremely hot like hell stars!
I’m looking forward to read more works of Ms. Barrett! This was one of the best office romances I’ve read for so long!
Special thanks to Netgalley and HARLEQUIN-Carina Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
February 16, 2021
So I actually called Sam about this one. Her insight is invaluable, and I needed to sort through why this book made me so incredibly uncomfortable.
For starters, the workplace situation creates a power imbalance that’s tough to overcome. That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed a workplace romance - just to say you’re starting behind the eight ball when one of the characters has this kind of power over another.
“But the woman’s in charge here. That makes it okay!” No. No it doesn’t.
“But they talk about it. They get it out in the open and communicate.” Still not okay.
I’m not sure that efforts to be sensitive to an issue of this nature actually make it any better. Consent is great. But there’s never the feeling that it is freely given. Wesley’s status as subordinate is constantly thrown in his face - including during sex. It just feels wrong.
And then there’s this entire issue with unrelated workplace sexual harassment but we’re still supposed to cheer for the hero and heroine who are doing their own inappropriate work sex thing?
This circles back to my recent thoughts about the tension in a book. I read that Bybee that had no tension. None. Zero. Not necessarily terrible now that I’m prepared for the next one. And then we arrive at this book - where the tension is a sort of career-suicide that has me worrying about the characters. Like people who steal because they need to get caught. How can sex that threatens to destroy everything be okay? And if your job means so little that you’re willing to throw it away like this why not quit and see if the boning is still oh-so-steamy when it isn’t naughty.
I was uncomfortable throughout the book. Confused as to what I should be feeling. And overwhelmed by the sex. So. Much. Sex. Which actually added to my confusion - Bc again - what am I feeling? What was the author trying to do?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to offer my unbiased opinion.
For starters, the workplace situation creates a power imbalance that’s tough to overcome. That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed a workplace romance - just to say you’re starting behind the eight ball when one of the characters has this kind of power over another.
“But the woman’s in charge here. That makes it okay!” No. No it doesn’t.
“But they talk about it. They get it out in the open and communicate.” Still not okay.
I’m not sure that efforts to be sensitive to an issue of this nature actually make it any better. Consent is great. But there’s never the feeling that it is freely given. Wesley’s status as subordinate is constantly thrown in his face - including during sex. It just feels wrong.
And then there’s this entire issue with unrelated workplace sexual harassment but we’re still supposed to cheer for the hero and heroine who are doing their own inappropriate work sex thing?
This circles back to my recent thoughts about the tension in a book. I read that Bybee that had no tension. None. Zero. Not necessarily terrible now that I’m prepared for the next one. And then we arrive at this book - where the tension is a sort of career-suicide that has me worrying about the characters. Like people who steal because they need to get caught. How can sex that threatens to destroy everything be okay? And if your job means so little that you’re willing to throw it away like this why not quit and see if the boning is still oh-so-steamy when it isn’t naughty.
I was uncomfortable throughout the book. Confused as to what I should be feeling. And overwhelmed by the sex. So. Much. Sex. Which actually added to my confusion - Bc again - what am I feeling? What was the author trying to do?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to offer my unbiased opinion.
December 11, 2021
my thoughts on hot copy are that goodreads, booktok, and booktube have essentially popularized + worked to normalize the already ubiquitous m/f power imbalance across nearly every genre in publishing—though it’s particularly bad in romance—and so to finally see its inverse play out in an office setting (a temporary male intern who answers to a female higher-up) was actually super refreshing. it’s a novel that’s aware of its own power imbalance and that is far more than most romances with powerful men and women forced into subservience can say.
was the #metoo handling heavy-handed? yes, but i honestly expect no less from a romance novel. either way, i don’t understand the moral outrage over the workplace dynamic when this is a well-executed subversion of a trope that most goodreads users struggle to even identify as imbalanced when it’s the male love interest who wields the power. if i’m being honest, i think a lot of it is readers who feel uncomfortable when forced to confront female characters who move like straight men in romances do (aloof/unemotional, successful, and powerful).
i honestly thought the novelty of the trope subversion heightened my enjoyment of this and i found the male love interest abnormally well-written. he wasn’t an asshole, he was openly emotional, kind, and communicative, and—this most important of all—he was a complete simp for the girl of his dreams.
was the #metoo handling heavy-handed? yes, but i honestly expect no less from a romance novel. either way, i don’t understand the moral outrage over the workplace dynamic when this is a well-executed subversion of a trope that most goodreads users struggle to even identify as imbalanced when it’s the male love interest who wields the power. if i’m being honest, i think a lot of it is readers who feel uncomfortable when forced to confront female characters who move like straight men in romances do (aloof/unemotional, successful, and powerful).
i honestly thought the novelty of the trope subversion heightened my enjoyment of this and i found the male love interest abnormally well-written. he wasn’t an asshole, he was openly emotional, kind, and communicative, and—this most important of all—he was a complete simp for the girl of his dreams.
May 16, 2023
Interesting reading the reviews for this one. A lot of people were uncomfortable with the work place dynamics and the power imbalance between the female boss and her younger male intern. It was directly addressed in the book in a manner sufficient enough to stave off my "ick" but I can see why these reviewers felt uncomfortable. In the end though it was still your average simple romance with your stereotypical ice queen boss in a man's world blah blah blah. Just okay for me.
July 2, 2021
2.5 stars
Something made me keep reading this book, although I am not exactly sure what. I think this was hot?
However, for a romance that tackles sexual harassment at work, it was such an odd choice to have its main character hook up with her younger intern and have sex with him at their workplace, on several occasions. There were a lot of body fluids, just FYI. I found the heroine severely lacking in judgment. The guy was nice and eager, but something was off.
Still, I read the whole thing.
Something made me keep reading this book, although I am not exactly sure what. I think this was hot?
However, for a romance that tackles sexual harassment at work, it was such an odd choice to have its main character hook up with her younger intern and have sex with him at their workplace, on several occasions. There were a lot of body fluids, just FYI. I found the heroine severely lacking in judgment. The guy was nice and eager, but something was off.
Still, I read the whole thing.
April 16, 2021
Mothereffer...
I don't normally start a review with a semi-swear word, but whao. Whao. There's so much wrong with this book that I don't even know where to start. This is, by no means, an attack on the author (I know it's bloody hard to write a book), yet damn. Where do I even start?
Just wrong: Listen, I know the excerpt clearly states that it's a hot romance between an intern and his boss, but I didn't expect it to be quite like this. I, perhaps, imagined there was some sort of loophole around the 'intern' being her age and the hierarchy being somewhat 'same level'. I don't know. I didn't really think he'd be 24 to her 30s and legit, the guy that works under her. There's something that's just so bad about that. There's a point where she states "This is unprofessional". Gurl. Because it is! I don't care if they're both adults and they're consenting to it, it's just not the kind of thing you do. I'm in my 30s, I have a junior lawyer (24) who works with me and I'm supposed to set the example here. It's just awkward. Also, if this were a much older guy with a girl, we'd all be irked up too. It's bad any way you see it. Also, ahem, let's get something straight. Her boss was sexually harassing her and she goes straight into the hands of her intern, begging to be fucked right after? What? Am I reading this right? Is she trying to prove a point on the difference between when you don't want it and want it? It's still in the office! Keep. It. In. Your. Pants. What could have been slightly more passable? (and still awkward) That they have their encounter, he disappears and they meet years later in an actual level-playing field.
You don't wait to report harassment: As a boss lady myself, I've been there, done that. Listen, no matter what your job means to you, if you're a 'boss lady' as Corrine is described, you don't take the shit. She spends the book being harassed only to do what she should have done in the first place. What changed, Corrine? Why now, Corrine? Ugh. So frustrating.
Where's the romantic development, boo? They fuck. They fall in love. Why? I still don't get why they do so. It just happens with no other justification than because yes. #ClaroQueYes (this is a Dominican thing, don't mind me). Listen, I felt so awkward at one point that I fast forwarded through the sex scenes. You hear that? I'm here to read a steamy novel and I fast forward what the good bits are supposed to be. Why? Because they didn't make sense. I get it that sexual attraction is a thing, but man oh man, so is human logic.
I'm sad. And disappointed. I came into this book expecting so much out of it and it killed me.
Avoid and skip. That's my advice.
I don't normally start a review with a semi-swear word, but whao. Whao. There's so much wrong with this book that I don't even know where to start. This is, by no means, an attack on the author (I know it's bloody hard to write a book), yet damn. Where do I even start?
Just wrong: Listen, I know the excerpt clearly states that it's a hot romance between an intern and his boss, but I didn't expect it to be quite like this. I, perhaps, imagined there was some sort of loophole around the 'intern' being her age and the hierarchy being somewhat 'same level'. I don't know. I didn't really think he'd be 24 to her 30s and legit, the guy that works under her. There's something that's just so bad about that. There's a point where she states "This is unprofessional". Gurl. Because it is! I don't care if they're both adults and they're consenting to it, it's just not the kind of thing you do. I'm in my 30s, I have a junior lawyer (24) who works with me and I'm supposed to set the example here. It's just awkward. Also, if this were a much older guy with a girl, we'd all be irked up too. It's bad any way you see it. Also, ahem, let's get something straight. Her boss was sexually harassing her and she goes straight into the hands of her intern, begging to be fucked right after? What? Am I reading this right? Is she trying to prove a point on the difference between when you don't want it and want it? It's still in the office! Keep. It. In. Your. Pants. What could have been slightly more passable? (and still awkward) That they have their encounter, he disappears and they meet years later in an actual level-playing field.
You don't wait to report harassment: As a boss lady myself, I've been there, done that. Listen, no matter what your job means to you, if you're a 'boss lady' as Corrine is described, you don't take the shit. She spends the book being harassed only to do what she should have done in the first place. What changed, Corrine? Why now, Corrine? Ugh. So frustrating.
Where's the romantic development, boo? They fuck. They fall in love. Why? I still don't get why they do so. It just happens with no other justification than because yes. #ClaroQueYes (this is a Dominican thing, don't mind me). Listen, I felt so awkward at one point that I fast forwarded through the sex scenes. You hear that? I'm here to read a steamy novel and I fast forward what the good bits are supposed to be. Why? Because they didn't make sense. I get it that sexual attraction is a thing, but man oh man, so is human logic.
I'm sad. And disappointed. I came into this book expecting so much out of it and it killed me.
Avoid and skip. That's my advice.
Read
June 20, 2021If you craved the dynamic from The Proposal but wanted it to get the full sexy treatment? You might like this. At least, that's what I thought to expect about this when going into it (because I don't read blurbs). Except in HOT COPY not only is there an age gap (I was still on board) but he's an intern.. not the assistant (I've edged a foot off the board at this point).
The latter would've been pushing it a bit to begin with but this went a step further. Everyone is not only consenting but also adult however it made for a frustrating parallel to the very real, and pervasive, inappropriate conduct happening all around the couple. As if to say, "this is okay because want it and aren't sleazy about it"? I don't know. I could probably have put my brain on hold about the whole thing if not for all the ick going on around them because it kept reminding me that this wasn't great. But, when I could check my brain out for a second, I appreciated the switch up of the dynamics we're used to seeing play out.
Except Corinne kept wrongfooting the whole relationship (or not-relationship) which is ironic as they get off on the wrong foot because she wrongly attributes something to him. So, I mean, maybe it's not ironic. Maybe that initial interaction was foreshadowing for the whole story. He would be everything sweet, caring, kind, understanding, dedicated, and she would abuse it, not appreciate it, take it for granted.
Which isn't to say Wes is perfect as he becomes so wholly invested in her that his real life suffers for it. And then the one time he doesn't put Corrine first.. well, lets just say I fucking hated that particular argument.
What frustrates me about the whole experience though is that this could've been really good. There's an emotional thread woven through the story that really got me choked up at times and while I thought the repetition of that same element was maybe too much.. I still cried at a certain scene near the end. I wasn't immune. But yeah, the nitpicky part of me wishes it had been similar but not the same.
I'm mixed about my feelings so I'm totally copping out and not rating this (at least for now). I would definitely read from this author again as I thought the writing was surprisingly solid for a debut but this particular dynamic/romance will definitely be polarizing.
If you're down for a bit of a messy romance, and are craving something to fog up the glasses, check out some reviews and see if this'll be your cup of tea.
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
The latter would've been pushing it a bit to begin with but this went a step further. Everyone is not only consenting but also adult however it made for a frustrating parallel to the very real, and pervasive, inappropriate conduct happening all around the couple. As if to say, "this is okay because want it and aren't sleazy about it"? I don't know. I could probably have put my brain on hold about the whole thing if not for all the ick going on around them because it kept reminding me that this wasn't great. But, when I could check my brain out for a second, I appreciated the switch up of the dynamics we're used to seeing play out.
Except Corinne kept wrongfooting the whole relationship (or not-relationship) which is ironic as they get off on the wrong foot because she wrongly attributes something to him. So, I mean, maybe it's not ironic. Maybe that initial interaction was foreshadowing for the whole story. He would be everything sweet, caring, kind, understanding, dedicated, and she would abuse it, not appreciate it, take it for granted.
Which isn't to say Wes is perfect as he becomes so wholly invested in her that his real life suffers for it. And then the one time he doesn't put Corrine first.. well, lets just say I fucking hated that particular argument.
What frustrates me about the whole experience though is that this could've been really good. There's an emotional thread woven through the story that really got me choked up at times and while I thought the repetition of that same element was maybe too much.. I still cried at a certain scene near the end. I wasn't immune. But yeah, the nitpicky part of me wishes it had been similar but not the same.
I'm mixed about my feelings so I'm totally copping out and not rating this (at least for now). I would definitely read from this author again as I thought the writing was surprisingly solid for a debut but this particular dynamic/romance will definitely be polarizing.
If you're down for a bit of a messy romance, and are craving something to fog up the glasses, check out some reviews and see if this'll be your cup of tea.
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
April 24, 2021
I love a good office romance and Ruby Barrett's teasers from this book had me hyped to read Hot Copy. It ended up being a really great debut and possibly one of the most realistic office romances I've read. I found it to be emotional, tense, and achingly romantic.
Hot Copy tells the story of Wes and Corrine, two characters dealing with a lot of grief in their own ways. I've said this before but I have a soft spot for characters who have an icy exterior, particularly when they are the protagonists. Corrine here certainly has a hard shell and is, at times, a tough nut to crack. She has this reputation at her office of being unapproachable and has even been given a crude and really gross nickname behind her back just because she is assertive. So obviously, I found Corrine to be endearing. One of my favorite parts about Hot Copy was watching her open up about her feelings and her vulnerabilities. And she grows a lot! She maintains her values and doesn't abide by anybody else's nonsense, but she learns to open up about herself to the right person. That right person happens to be her new intern, Wesley. Oh, how I adored this soft, cinnamon roll boy. Wes has this gentle energy to him that instantly made him likable. He is still reeling from the passing of his mother and is still dealing with that grief. You kind of just want to give the man a hug and tell him that everything will be alright. The way he treats Corrine with nothing but respect despite knowing her reputation makes him ridiculously attractive.
While I think most readers will have no issue with Corrine and Wes as characters, I do think that their romance might not be for everyone given the power dynamic of a boss and her intern. I personally thought that the author challenges that power dynamic in the text well, but I can see that others' opinions might differ. The romance worked for me because both Corrine and Wes acknowledge that what they are doing is questionable and won't be viewed kindly by others. Yet they can't entirely resist the connection that they obviously share with each other. It definitely starts off sexual in nature but evolves into something much deeper. It's really a story of two people finding peace and comfort with each other in the midst of grappling with their grief. It's a sweet, very steamy, and sometimes angsty romance that clicked with me. I believed in them as a couple and though they had a lot to overcome, I knew they would eventually get there.
If you like your romance books with a bit of a sad tone to them (don't worry there's a HEA), you'll like Hot Copy a lot. It reminded me a lot of the 2012s-2015s contemporary romance novels with its style and I've been really missing that so Hot Copy ended up hitting all the right notes for me. Ruby Barrett is a fantastic writer and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
CWs: death of a parent, cancer diagnosis, workplace sexual harassment
Relationship disclosure: Ruby Barrett and I are mutuals on social media.
January 24, 2021
An intoxicating blend of wholesome sweetness and tear-off-your-clothes steam…Ruby Barrett’s writing leaves me breathless.
February 11, 2021
The role reversal that ‘Hot Copy’ presents—a hard, confident and goal-driven boss and an intern, the former of whom misconstrued a meeting and set them both on a path of dislike and spite—is story I couldn’t wait to get my hands on.
‘Hot Copy’ delves into sexual politics in the office and I definitely cringed at the very real issue of sexual harassment here and the delicate navigating it takes around this thorny issue especially when a woman worms her way around it in order to stay ‘professional’. On the one hand, I felt for Corinne, overly-sensitive and spiteful because of her own gender trying to climb the corporate ladder while taking all sorts of harassment along with it.
But if the story explored this question and put it all in form of Corinne and her struggles, inequality seemed to define her and Wesley’s relationship from the start: from boss to intern, from older career-woman to younger greenhorn-subordinate. I simply saw Wesley differing to Corinne at every point, taking her rejections and her whiplash mood-swings and pushing away like punches to the gut without really stepping up on his own to challenger her.
On every front, Wesley stayed the passive one, shifting the blame of everything going wrong onto himself, while refusing to recognise that Corinne needed to own her own part in her fickle ways. That she seemed ashamed of their relationship—admittedly a secret one in the office—while taking only the pieces of Wesley she wanted was too selfish and too one-sided for me to call this a pairing I wanted to get behind.
Above all, where was the communication between them, or worse yet, the reciprocity? There were pages and pages of Wesley cajoling, his rationalising monologues about wanting to be with her, taking the first step of action to do the things to make Corinne comfortable, but her reciprocity was sorely lacking throughout. For once, I wanted her to step up and out of her own comfort zone the way Wesley had done for her, but time and again, it was her tucking tail, keeping quiet and then pushing away when it mattered the most when all the sacrifices were made on his side.
Even towards the end, Corinne seemed more concerned with her job and career status than wanting to be with Wesley—after all that he’d done for her selflessly!—, displaying a mean-spirited, small-heartedness that I just couldn’t get over. She took and took and took, gave too little while Wesley did too much of the opposite. I never saw her taking the big leap forward but instead relegated him to a side matter; instead it was up to serendipity and chance that that they were together by the end of the book. What could have been a way more satisfying conclusion turned out to be a frustrating, hair-pulling one, where the romance wasn’t one made of a couple fighting for each other, but rather, one where Corinne wanted a foot out at all times.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
‘Hot Copy’ delves into sexual politics in the office and I definitely cringed at the very real issue of sexual harassment here and the delicate navigating it takes around this thorny issue especially when a woman worms her way around it in order to stay ‘professional’. On the one hand, I felt for Corinne, overly-sensitive and spiteful because of her own gender trying to climb the corporate ladder while taking all sorts of harassment along with it.
But if the story explored this question and put it all in form of Corinne and her struggles, inequality seemed to define her and Wesley’s relationship from the start: from boss to intern, from older career-woman to younger greenhorn-subordinate. I simply saw Wesley differing to Corinne at every point, taking her rejections and her whiplash mood-swings and pushing away like punches to the gut without really stepping up on his own to challenger her.
On every front, Wesley stayed the passive one, shifting the blame of everything going wrong onto himself, while refusing to recognise that Corinne needed to own her own part in her fickle ways. That she seemed ashamed of their relationship—admittedly a secret one in the office—while taking only the pieces of Wesley she wanted was too selfish and too one-sided for me to call this a pairing I wanted to get behind.
Above all, where was the communication between them, or worse yet, the reciprocity? There were pages and pages of Wesley cajoling, his rationalising monologues about wanting to be with her, taking the first step of action to do the things to make Corinne comfortable, but her reciprocity was sorely lacking throughout. For once, I wanted her to step up and out of her own comfort zone the way Wesley had done for her, but time and again, it was her tucking tail, keeping quiet and then pushing away when it mattered the most when all the sacrifices were made on his side.
Even towards the end, Corinne seemed more concerned with her job and career status than wanting to be with Wesley—after all that he’d done for her selflessly!—, displaying a mean-spirited, small-heartedness that I just couldn’t get over. She took and took and took, gave too little while Wesley did too much of the opposite. I never saw her taking the big leap forward but instead relegated him to a side matter; instead it was up to serendipity and chance that that they were together by the end of the book. What could have been a way more satisfying conclusion turned out to be a frustrating, hair-pulling one, where the romance wasn’t one made of a couple fighting for each other, but rather, one where Corinne wanted a foot out at all times.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
April 12, 2021
Uncomfortable. The power dynamics in this made me very uncomfortable. While this started off with a lot of potential - the writing is solid, the characters are interesting, and the hate to love office dynamic is one that I can't get enough of - it wasn't long before red flags started popping up. And then it just devolved into a LOT of inappropriate steam that made me feel dirty. I felt bad for this hero. He is such a sweet, cinnamon roll of a man, but this heroine... whew, she literally dismisses him after sex, makes him feel used again and again, and breaks his heart at every turn. I really don't understand how we're supposed to root for these two. Pair that with the focus on sexual harassment - while the heroine is borderline sexually harassing her intern - and... this just wasn't a fulfilling romance.
The story follows Wesley, a 25-year-old just starting out at a new internship. While he was looking forward to working with his new boss, their relationship starts off on the wrong foot when Corrine overhears him (awkwardly) laughing at an inappropriate comment about her. Corrine (30) is a workaholic who deals with small - and not-so-small - acts of sexual harassment against her on a daily basis. She has accepted it as part of her job, but doesn't want to hear it from an employee. So, Corrine does everything she can to make Wesley's job miserable. But once Corrine begins to realize what a good guy Wesley is, their relationship shifts... and it's not long before she's doing some inappropriate things in the workplace herself.
I started off enjoying this, and there were several moments throughout that pulled me back in. Wesley is a great guy, and I loved the opposites attract relationship. There was some serious potential for him to soften Corrine's edges, and there are a few scenes that started to go there. But then Corrine would do something that made me uncomfortable again. It's a very sex-focused relationship that accelerates abruptly - and at the worst times. There'd be a scene of Corrine being sexually harassed by her boss, and then suddenly she'd be demanding that Wesley (her employee) make her forget with sex. Which... yeah. Don't know what to say about that. Maybe if Wesley didn't seem so desperate for approval, it wouldn't have been so cringey. But he asks for validation of his (sexual) performance, makes pleas for more than sex, and gets disappointed or dismissed at every turn. It just didn't sit right. So every time I started to get invested in the book again, something else would make me uncomfortable. I appreciate what the author was going for here, but I can't say that it was successful. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this steamy office romance.
The story follows Wesley, a 25-year-old just starting out at a new internship. While he was looking forward to working with his new boss, their relationship starts off on the wrong foot when Corrine overhears him (awkwardly) laughing at an inappropriate comment about her. Corrine (30) is a workaholic who deals with small - and not-so-small - acts of sexual harassment against her on a daily basis. She has accepted it as part of her job, but doesn't want to hear it from an employee. So, Corrine does everything she can to make Wesley's job miserable. But once Corrine begins to realize what a good guy Wesley is, their relationship shifts... and it's not long before she's doing some inappropriate things in the workplace herself.
I started off enjoying this, and there were several moments throughout that pulled me back in. Wesley is a great guy, and I loved the opposites attract relationship. There was some serious potential for him to soften Corrine's edges, and there are a few scenes that started to go there. But then Corrine would do something that made me uncomfortable again. It's a very sex-focused relationship that accelerates abruptly - and at the worst times. There'd be a scene of Corrine being sexually harassed by her boss, and then suddenly she'd be demanding that Wesley (her employee) make her forget with sex. Which... yeah. Don't know what to say about that. Maybe if Wesley didn't seem so desperate for approval, it wouldn't have been so cringey. But he asks for validation of his (sexual) performance, makes pleas for more than sex, and gets disappointed or dismissed at every turn. It just didn't sit right. So every time I started to get invested in the book again, something else would make me uncomfortable. I appreciate what the author was going for here, but I can't say that it was successful. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this steamy office romance.
July 3, 2021
Okay, I’m calling it - DNF 53%. I tried 🤷♀️.
Another deceptive cute cover rears its head again.
Anyhoo, (nothing about it was really my cuppa, so tbh I just don’t care about this enough to go into further detail 🤷♀️) I’m gonna keep it kind of short & skip to basic points of why it didn’t work out for me...
- It was a dud 🥱. The writing just lacked punch/energy/connection (whatever you wish to call it). Sometimes transitions in their relationship felt abrupt.
- The workplace dynamics felt rather icky/uncomfortable, with the heroine’s boss particularly(which was intentional), but it kinda carried over with her being the hero’s boss (albeit I’m assuming unintentionally).
- Generally, there was kind of a sad undertone in their personal lives.
- I love a good cinnamon roll, but tbh the hero read a little too boyish for me. As far as connecting with the characters, basically, both were just a miss for me.
I’m kinda bummed. I was hoping for an engaging, fun role reversal office romance, but I didn’t get that.
April 24, 2021
Refreshingly different from anything I’ve read before.
February 4, 2021
DNF. This was a huge miss for me. It is not interesting or romantic for a victim of workplace harassment to perpetuate those power dynamics with her own intern. Corrine is not a character I can root for and Wes needs to run the hell away from her. I kept waiting for Corinne to learn or grow but at 76% I was done. Not recommended.
April 23, 2021
An age-gap office romance, featuring an icy advertising boss falling for her intern despite her best intentions. Both love interests are dealing with their complicated feelings regarding their parents' cancer (his mother, deceased; her mother, recently diagnosed). Corinne is also being sexually-harrassed by her boss and other colleagues, and she thinks Wesley is laughing about another intern calling her a c*nt on their very first meeting on an elevator ride up to the office.
While wildly sexy, and with amazing writing, I felt the swing from Corinne being scared and intimidated by her sleazy boss to her having sex on her desk with her intern very jarring.
What is handled magnificently is the complications of grief, and how each of the characters talks and feels about their loved ones and cancer. Having lost my own father to cancer, these emotions hit true (and I was in a good place when reading this book and was glad to have this knowledge before diving in).
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC
While wildly sexy, and with amazing writing, I felt the swing from Corinne being scared and intimidated by her sleazy boss to her having sex on her desk with her intern very jarring.
What is handled magnificently is the complications of grief, and how each of the characters talks and feels about their loved ones and cancer. Having lost my own father to cancer, these emotions hit true (and I was in a good place when reading this book and was glad to have this knowledge before diving in).
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC
April 23, 2021
I hoped to enjoy this book, but I didn't. There are quite a few problematic parts in this story. Sexual harassment in the workplace goes both ways. The power dynamic of the female lead being very sexually inappropriate with her male intern while at work was a real problem for me. Equality in the workplace is about EVERYONE being safe and respected. Both male and female. Flipping the script here with a woman in power doesn't make it acceptable and certainty makes it hard to read in a romantic context.
December 30, 2020
Ruby Barrett writes the best male characters I’ve ever read.
April 9, 2021
I really loved this book. The characters felt so real, their flaws and their hearts and their love. I loved how complex both characters were and how realistic the relationship was portrayed.
Hot Copy is a very steamy workplace romance between executive Corrine Blunt and her intern Wesley Chambers. What begins as an antagonistic relationship, turns into a secret love affair. But will Wes and Corrine be able to overcome all of the secrets and hurt and make things work?
I am glad that there’s a content warning that goes along with this book, as there is some workplace sexual harassment that was very intense, and the book also deals with some very heavy themes.
Hot Copy is a very steamy workplace romance between executive Corrine Blunt and her intern Wesley Chambers. What begins as an antagonistic relationship, turns into a secret love affair. But will Wes and Corrine be able to overcome all of the secrets and hurt and make things work?
I am glad that there’s a content warning that goes along with this book, as there is some workplace sexual harassment that was very intense, and the book also deals with some very heavy themes.
did-not-finish
May 25, 2021I knew this was a cancer book but I didn't realize it was a double cancer book. And difficult heroine or not, I'm not really down for anyone being an abusive boss.
March 26, 2022
2/5 boring stars
I didn't give this book 1 star because I only give those to the ones that REALLY piss me off and this one over here had at least one good thing going for it: the steamy scenes.
Outside of that it's only downhill. It's boring, forgettable. The only character I at least liked was the male main character (can't remember his name to save my life). The female main character was kinda annoying and the whole harassment thing was honestly infuriating the way it was written.
Anyways, I just decided to write this review after so much time because I'm trying to give all my books from 2021 a review (my anxious subconscious is always on and reminding me I don't have the exact same number of reviews as I have of read books).
I hope you guys are having a lovely day <3.
I didn't give this book 1 star because I only give those to the ones that REALLY piss me off and this one over here had at least one good thing going for it: the steamy scenes.
Outside of that it's only downhill. It's boring, forgettable. The only character I at least liked was the male main character (can't remember his name to save my life). The female main character was kinda annoying and the whole harassment thing was honestly infuriating the way it was written.
Anyways, I just decided to write this review after so much time because I'm trying to give all my books from 2021 a review (my anxious subconscious is always on and reminding me I don't have the exact same number of reviews as I have of read books).
I hope you guys are having a lovely day <3.
April 29, 2021
I thought this is going to be cute rom-com but this anything but that. Uneven power dynamics between leads and sexual harassment that Corinne faces from her books made so uncomfortable. Also in end they are in love ...no.
April 13, 2021
Despite knowing this novel featured a role reversal of sorts - she's the boss; he's the intern - I still found the set-up surprising and strangely fascinating. It takes just a bit to get yourself in the headspace of a man somewhat at the mercy of his stone cold, female boss; I think the author does a terrific job setting up the power dynamics via his and her PoV's. It's nicely done.
The story kicks off on day one of Wesley Chambers internship with Corinne Blunt at a marketing firm. He's feeling fortunate that Richard, a close friend of his somewhat estranged father (whom he dislikes (he abandoned Wesley's mother when she got sick)) was willing to offer him the plum internship at his firm despite the fact he's been out of school for two years. Wesley spent the last two years nursing his ailing mother before her death from ovarian cancer. He’s devastated by the loss of his mother and still hasn't fully recovered from it. [Reader, this is also a bit of a change from your usual stoic male who won't/can't admit he's hurting/sad/miserable. Wesley doesn't hide his feelings].
Speaking of hiding your feelings...Corinne has spent the past few years working her way up the corporate ladder. Her time has been similarly arduous - working harder and longer than most of the men in her office, ignoring the casual misogyny of her fellow employees and the senior staff, and the not so subtle sexual harassment of her former mentor/boss. These two are both emotionally vulnerable/putting on brave facades/hopeful as they approach their first work day together, but things don't quite go as expected.
When Wesley steps into the elevator on the way to his first day interning for Corinne Blunt, he’s looking forward to working for a woman who’s forging a new path in digital marketing. She has a reputation for excellence and he’s thrilled to have the opportunity to work for her. But his peaceful ride is interrupted by another intern who introduces himself and then immediately begins oversharing about the office staff and Corinne in particular. By the time they arrive on their floor, Wesley is eager to escape him and he nearly does - but not before the intern reveals the office nickname for Corinne - “Blunt the Cunt.” Wesley isn’t sure how to react and only manages to choke out a pained laugh (his default reaction to things that make him uncomfortable), instead of the set down the intern deserves.
Things go from bad to worse when he arrives at the office and discovers the woman who exited the elevator car shortly before him is his new mentor/boss Corinne. And she definitely heard the nickname and his reaction. She’s unfriendly - hostile even - and immediately sets out to put him in his place as her assistant/errand runner.
Corinne heard great things about Wesley and was hoping for a productive working relationship with her new intern. But after he laughed at the offensive nickname another intern shared with him, she concludes he isn’t worth her time or attention. Instead of mentoring him, she gives him shit work and errands to run. Ahem.
Obviously Wesley and Corinne get off to a rough start. But here’s where this story starts to fall apart. Corinne is supposed to be the consummate professional, ice cold, and aloof. She isn’t. She’s petty and rude and even when Wesley attempts to do the grown up thing and apologize, she ignores him. Then she starts lusting after him. And even though she treats him like total dogshit, he starts lusting after her, too.
Meanwhile, the office is a cesspool of misogyny, toxic masculinity, and Corinne’s mentor (Richard!) is a lecherous slimeball who constantly makes Corinne uncomfortable with touches and comments that are completely inappropriate. She doesn’t report him - or Mark (the offensive and inappropriate intern), because she wants to do her job and prove she deserves to rise within the organization based on her business acumen. Good for you Corinne...but that’s total bullshit and belies what we’re supposed to believe about your character - badass in the boardroom with a take no prisoners style of getting shit done, and that’s before Corinne decides to embark on an ill advised, secret affair with Wesley.
Friends, I love a good enemy to lovers story. This isn’t it. From the very beginning, Corinne is in the power position in this relationship, and she doesn’t hesitate to abuse that position right away. She pulls Wesley in and then pushes him away, and when he’s hurt by her behavior she uses sex as a weapon and tool for forgiveness. He’s constantly second-guessing how and why he’s at fault or trying to have sexy-times with her in the office after she’s asked him not to, and these two never seem to work as a couple except when they’re having sex. Sex with very little intimacy and lots of orgasms. They hook up, they part on bad terms, they kiss in the office (FFS), they make up, they break up, he tries to be there for her when her personal life falls apart, she tells him to go away, he comes back, she pushes him away...ad nauseum.
The author takes an intriguing premise and then overly commits to the characters we meet in the initial elevator ride. Brittle, tough Corinne is unwilling to show any weakness, but it blinds her to the kindness and goodness Wesley constantly offers her, and permits her to rebuff him at the smallest sign of vulnerability on her part. She lacks self-awareness and is selfish and even when her personal life is imploding, she pushes away the one person willing to help. Wesley is the opposite. He gives and gives to Corinne and never seems to need or want the same. Meanwhile, he's so wholly focused on her and her needs, he's a dick to his twin sister, former best friend...and well, he simply ignores his own life in favor of supporting Corinne through hers. He's like that girlfriend you had in high school that gets a boyfriend, drops you like a hot potato, and then wants everything to go back to normal if/when the relationship ends. He just seemed kind of pathetic more than anything else. Sorry. He did.
The premise is compelling; the execution is a total disappointment.
The story kicks off on day one of Wesley Chambers internship with Corinne Blunt at a marketing firm. He's feeling fortunate that Richard, a close friend of his somewhat estranged father (whom he dislikes (he abandoned Wesley's mother when she got sick)) was willing to offer him the plum internship at his firm despite the fact he's been out of school for two years. Wesley spent the last two years nursing his ailing mother before her death from ovarian cancer. He’s devastated by the loss of his mother and still hasn't fully recovered from it. [Reader, this is also a bit of a change from your usual stoic male who won't/can't admit he's hurting/sad/miserable. Wesley doesn't hide his feelings].
Speaking of hiding your feelings...Corinne has spent the past few years working her way up the corporate ladder. Her time has been similarly arduous - working harder and longer than most of the men in her office, ignoring the casual misogyny of her fellow employees and the senior staff, and the not so subtle sexual harassment of her former mentor/boss. These two are both emotionally vulnerable/putting on brave facades/hopeful as they approach their first work day together, but things don't quite go as expected.
When Wesley steps into the elevator on the way to his first day interning for Corinne Blunt, he’s looking forward to working for a woman who’s forging a new path in digital marketing. She has a reputation for excellence and he’s thrilled to have the opportunity to work for her. But his peaceful ride is interrupted by another intern who introduces himself and then immediately begins oversharing about the office staff and Corinne in particular. By the time they arrive on their floor, Wesley is eager to escape him and he nearly does - but not before the intern reveals the office nickname for Corinne - “Blunt the Cunt.” Wesley isn’t sure how to react and only manages to choke out a pained laugh (his default reaction to things that make him uncomfortable), instead of the set down the intern deserves.
Things go from bad to worse when he arrives at the office and discovers the woman who exited the elevator car shortly before him is his new mentor/boss Corinne. And she definitely heard the nickname and his reaction. She’s unfriendly - hostile even - and immediately sets out to put him in his place as her assistant/errand runner.
Corinne heard great things about Wesley and was hoping for a productive working relationship with her new intern. But after he laughed at the offensive nickname another intern shared with him, she concludes he isn’t worth her time or attention. Instead of mentoring him, she gives him shit work and errands to run. Ahem.
Obviously Wesley and Corinne get off to a rough start. But here’s where this story starts to fall apart. Corinne is supposed to be the consummate professional, ice cold, and aloof. She isn’t. She’s petty and rude and even when Wesley attempts to do the grown up thing and apologize, she ignores him. Then she starts lusting after him. And even though she treats him like total dogshit, he starts lusting after her, too.
Meanwhile, the office is a cesspool of misogyny, toxic masculinity, and Corinne’s mentor (Richard!) is a lecherous slimeball who constantly makes Corinne uncomfortable with touches and comments that are completely inappropriate. She doesn’t report him - or Mark (the offensive and inappropriate intern), because she wants to do her job and prove she deserves to rise within the organization based on her business acumen. Good for you Corinne...but that’s total bullshit and belies what we’re supposed to believe about your character - badass in the boardroom with a take no prisoners style of getting shit done, and that’s before Corinne decides to embark on an ill advised, secret affair with Wesley.
Friends, I love a good enemy to lovers story. This isn’t it. From the very beginning, Corinne is in the power position in this relationship, and she doesn’t hesitate to abuse that position right away. She pulls Wesley in and then pushes him away, and when he’s hurt by her behavior she uses sex as a weapon and tool for forgiveness. He’s constantly second-guessing how and why he’s at fault or trying to have sexy-times with her in the office after she’s asked him not to, and these two never seem to work as a couple except when they’re having sex. Sex with very little intimacy and lots of orgasms. They hook up, they part on bad terms, they kiss in the office (FFS), they make up, they break up, he tries to be there for her when her personal life falls apart, she tells him to go away, he comes back, she pushes him away...ad nauseum.
The author takes an intriguing premise and then overly commits to the characters we meet in the initial elevator ride. Brittle, tough Corinne is unwilling to show any weakness, but it blinds her to the kindness and goodness Wesley constantly offers her, and permits her to rebuff him at the smallest sign of vulnerability on her part. She lacks self-awareness and is selfish and even when her personal life is imploding, she pushes away the one person willing to help. Wesley is the opposite. He gives and gives to Corinne and never seems to need or want the same. Meanwhile, he's so wholly focused on her and her needs, he's a dick to his twin sister, former best friend...and well, he simply ignores his own life in favor of supporting Corinne through hers. He's like that girlfriend you had in high school that gets a boyfriend, drops you like a hot potato, and then wants everything to go back to normal if/when the relationship ends. He just seemed kind of pathetic more than anything else. Sorry. He did.
The premise is compelling; the execution is a total disappointment.
April 6, 2021
It’s official! I have a new favorite romance trope and it’s hot office romance. Bring on the steamy desk scenes and buttons popping!
Wesley was such a hot and loveable character, and at first I wasn’t sure that he would be able to pull it off against his new boss, the ice cold-hearted Corinne Blunt, but the combo of personalities totally worked.
As the layers peel back for each character, so much more to them is discovered as they lay their emotions out on display and reveal that they have family illness in common, leaning on one another for support.
I can’t wait to read more by author Barrett!
*many thanks to Carina Press/HQN for the gifted copy
Wesley was such a hot and loveable character, and at first I wasn’t sure that he would be able to pull it off against his new boss, the ice cold-hearted Corinne Blunt, but the combo of personalities totally worked.
As the layers peel back for each character, so much more to them is discovered as they lay their emotions out on display and reveal that they have family illness in common, leaning on one another for support.
I can’t wait to read more by author Barrett!
*many thanks to Carina Press/HQN for the gifted copy
April 9, 2021
A sexy, engaging, unexpectedly emotional romance! There are a lot of pieces to this story and it speaks to Barrett’s skills as an author that she can wield them all so deftly. Hot Copy is a book that’s ultimately about relationships - romantic, familial, workplace - and also how showing real vulnerability isn’t a weakness. Corinne is a seemingly tough-as-nails MC whose icy exterior is guarding softer insides, and Wes proved to be the calm, patient foil that slowly weathered down her defenses. I appreciated that their romance wasn’t just about some illicit office affair and that the conflict partly came from how women are so often punished for perceived professional missteps. The stakes felt real and genuine, and I’m always weak for a book when the love interest just comes over and takes care of chores around the house because they know their person needs that right now.
content warnings: sexual harassment in the office (against heroine), parental death (hero’s mom died of cancer prior to book), cancer (heroine’s mother receives diagnosis and is later in remission)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
content warnings: sexual harassment in the office (against heroine), parental death (hero’s mom died of cancer prior to book), cancer (heroine’s mother receives diagnosis and is later in remission)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 22, 2021DNF'd at 65%.
Ruby Barret is a STUNNING writer, and it makes me so sad that workplace sexual harassment is my biggest trigger in a book. Its surprising how uncomfortable it made me (because i can read everything else without flinching). I think part of the reason why i cant continue is how damn realistic Ruby's depiction is. And i tried to soldier on, find comfort in the fact that its ultimately a HEA, but i guess combined with other mental health things, i couldn't bring myself to read on especially because ik a third act conflict and blow up is just coming.
Also, just that in workplace harassment settings, its v v jarring and hurtful for me to see characters be almost,, callous about the consequences? There's an awareness, sure, but that doesn't stop the hero from flirting with and kissing the heroine in the office and it infuriates me LIKE YOU'RE PUTTING BOTH OF YOU AT RISK STOP IT.
But god, what a great writer Ruby is because i was laughing out loud, and crying, and also appropriately uncomfortable at parts that needed that response. Im looking forward to whatever she writes next.
Ruby Barret is a STUNNING writer, and it makes me so sad that workplace sexual harassment is my biggest trigger in a book. Its surprising how uncomfortable it made me (because i can read everything else without flinching). I think part of the reason why i cant continue is how damn realistic Ruby's depiction is. And i tried to soldier on, find comfort in the fact that its ultimately a HEA, but i guess combined with other mental health things, i couldn't bring myself to read on especially because ik a third act conflict and blow up is just coming.
Also, just that in workplace harassment settings, its v v jarring and hurtful for me to see characters be almost,, callous about the consequences? There's an awareness, sure, but that doesn't stop the hero from flirting with and kissing the heroine in the office and it infuriates me LIKE YOU'RE PUTTING BOTH OF YOU AT RISK STOP IT.
But god, what a great writer Ruby is because i was laughing out loud, and crying, and also appropriately uncomfortable at parts that needed that response. Im looking forward to whatever she writes next.
April 3, 2022
It was fine idk they were both childish and foolish. Wes simply did not have “I wear glasses” energy. Idk what I really mean by that but every mention of his glasses felt contrived. He didn’t earn the glasses? Idk I love dudes in glasses so this is saying a lot.
The power dynamics didn’t really bother me? But I didn’t really like either character but I didn’t hate them either. But yeah I don’t really take issue with her being his boss bc it’s a very common trope? Maybe I’m just desensitized
I only finished this book bc it took me over half a year and it was driving me crazy in my currently reading section. And I bought it so I was like come on bitch do it. Two stars bc it took me so long and didn’t spark joy
The power dynamics didn’t really bother me? But I didn’t really like either character but I didn’t hate them either. But yeah I don’t really take issue with her being his boss bc it’s a very common trope? Maybe I’m just desensitized
I only finished this book bc it took me over half a year and it was driving me crazy in my currently reading section. And I bought it so I was like come on bitch do it. Two stars bc it took me so long and didn’t spark joy
April 13, 2021
Thanks to Harlequin books & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided my own.
3.5 ⭐️
Ruby Barrett’s Hot Copy is spicy w/ several H O T scenes & feels modern & innovative in some big ways; it didn’t make me swoon as much as I hoped but it leaves me wanting more from the author.
On his first day as a marketing intern Wesley Chambers hears a coworker refer to his female boss as a c**t & awkwardly laughs in response before telling the guy he shouldn’t “say that word.”
His boss, a powerhouse named Corinne Blunt, overhears his laugh & this, coupled w/ previous negative experiences w/ men in the workplace, makes her give Wes annoying, time-sucking tasks to complete instead of the digital marketing jobs he hoped for.
But after Wes helps Corinne face challenges when he doesn’t *have* to, she realizes she might have misunderstood what happened. This is both bad & good b/c Wesley is described as a hot nerd & now she can see what a big heart he has...but she’s also his boss.
Hot Copy tries to tackle some big topics & it succeeds in some ways but falls a bit short in others. The exploration of grief is touching, as is the fact that it’s a way for them to connect. Beta hero Wesley is stunningly portrayed; I love his uncertainty, sensitivity, & desire to nurture.
I’m less enthusiastic about the portrayal of Corinne. On one hand I love her complexity—she’s smart, hardworking, & keenly aware of the power imbalance between herself & Wesley in the workplace & how that affects their personal relationship.
On the other, I grew frustrated w/ her prickliness bc it’s so pervasive. Corinne’s frequently rude to even her close friend & I was frustrated by how she responds to the crisis moment w/ Wes. She consistently comes across as inflexible & I would have loved to have seen her taking more emotional initiative w/ Wes throughout the book.
I’m all here for an adorkable beta hero w/ a novelty sock collection & a kicking ass, taking names heroine who’s soft w/ people she trusts. But I did want more emotional nuance in regards to the latter in Hot Copy.
CW:
sexual harassment; cancer & death of a parent (in past)
3.5 ⭐️
Ruby Barrett’s Hot Copy is spicy w/ several H O T scenes & feels modern & innovative in some big ways; it didn’t make me swoon as much as I hoped but it leaves me wanting more from the author.
On his first day as a marketing intern Wesley Chambers hears a coworker refer to his female boss as a c**t & awkwardly laughs in response before telling the guy he shouldn’t “say that word.”
His boss, a powerhouse named Corinne Blunt, overhears his laugh & this, coupled w/ previous negative experiences w/ men in the workplace, makes her give Wes annoying, time-sucking tasks to complete instead of the digital marketing jobs he hoped for.
But after Wes helps Corinne face challenges when he doesn’t *have* to, she realizes she might have misunderstood what happened. This is both bad & good b/c Wesley is described as a hot nerd & now she can see what a big heart he has...but she’s also his boss.
Hot Copy tries to tackle some big topics & it succeeds in some ways but falls a bit short in others. The exploration of grief is touching, as is the fact that it’s a way for them to connect. Beta hero Wesley is stunningly portrayed; I love his uncertainty, sensitivity, & desire to nurture.
I’m less enthusiastic about the portrayal of Corinne. On one hand I love her complexity—she’s smart, hardworking, & keenly aware of the power imbalance between herself & Wesley in the workplace & how that affects their personal relationship.
On the other, I grew frustrated w/ her prickliness bc it’s so pervasive. Corinne’s frequently rude to even her close friend & I was frustrated by how she responds to the crisis moment w/ Wes. She consistently comes across as inflexible & I would have loved to have seen her taking more emotional initiative w/ Wes throughout the book.
I’m all here for an adorkable beta hero w/ a novelty sock collection & a kicking ass, taking names heroine who’s soft w/ people she trusts. But I did want more emotional nuance in regards to the latter in Hot Copy.
CW:
sexual harassment; cancer & death of a parent (in past)
January 30, 2022
i have read a lot of bad reviews of this book complaining about the power imbalance because she's her boss and he's an intern. i wonder if the same people who complained have read the same trope but with the man being the boss. i wonder if, in that case, they also complained about the power imbalance, or if they simply giggled and called it a steamy, enemies to lovers workplace romance. so much wondering.
the entire point of this book was to give a voice to how much women struggle to be respected at their jobs. welsey and corrine actually talk about the power imbalance. they discuss it several times to make sure the situation isn't influenced by their professional life.
of course corrine is angry and defensive. she has been sexually harassed for years, her coworkers call her names for wanting her job done, and done well, and she's recently learnt her mom might be dying. of course she is mad. if you blame her for being angry, i really think you have to reread this book to understand it better.
tw: sexual harassment, cancer, grief, death of a parent
the entire point of this book was to give a voice to how much women struggle to be respected at their jobs. welsey and corrine actually talk about the power imbalance. they discuss it several times to make sure the situation isn't influenced by their professional life.
of course corrine is angry and defensive. she has been sexually harassed for years, her coworkers call her names for wanting her job done, and done well, and she's recently learnt her mom might be dying. of course she is mad. if you blame her for being angry, i really think you have to reread this book to understand it better.
tw: sexual harassment, cancer, grief, death of a parent
October 31, 2021
Excellent, very tight, efficient writing in this workplace romance with savvy boss-lady and fresh-faced male intern; events in this book unfurled so seamlessly! The characters, Wes and Corrine, are vivid with so many tiny mannerisms that echo in their big decisions that shape the plot. Even though this could have been a straight gender-swap of sorts of the traditional boss - admin assistant/intern dynamic, the elements of growing up and loss that make up huge elements of the story, as well as the amazing chemistry and respect that the two main characters have with and for each other (despite their power imbalances) make this a supremely satisfying read.
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