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Drive Me Crazy #1
Drive Me Crazy
A grumpy boss and a sunshiney mess of an employee forced on a cross-country road trip… what could possibly go wrong?
Elliot James is a mess. All she wants is to find her dream job… and actually keep it, but her crippling anxiety disorder always seems to get in the way.
Benjamin Williams is content. He’s got all he needs in his business, and he’s not looking for any complications — no matter how beautiful one like Elliot may be.
Fumbling her way into her first big break, Elliot lands a job at Benjamin’s company and will have to fight for her seat at the table… especially after almost killing someone on the first day. Her wild idea to expand their portfolio with Instagram Influencers and her accidental airplane freakout, lands Elliot and her grumpy boss, Benjamin, on the No Fly list. In a mad rush to seal the deal, they’ll have to take their business trip on the road… let’s just hope they can both make it home in one piece.
Author's Note: Grumpy/Sunshine. Opposites attract. Slow burn. Workplace. Roadtrip. Boss/Employee. Overprotective hero. Tortured hero. Hot-mess heroine who always seems to find trouble. Major squad-goal vibes. Laugh out loud, feel-good read.
Elliot James is a mess. All she wants is to find her dream job… and actually keep it, but her crippling anxiety disorder always seems to get in the way.
Benjamin Williams is content. He’s got all he needs in his business, and he’s not looking for any complications — no matter how beautiful one like Elliot may be.
Fumbling her way into her first big break, Elliot lands a job at Benjamin’s company and will have to fight for her seat at the table… especially after almost killing someone on the first day. Her wild idea to expand their portfolio with Instagram Influencers and her accidental airplane freakout, lands Elliot and her grumpy boss, Benjamin, on the No Fly list. In a mad rush to seal the deal, they’ll have to take their business trip on the road… let’s just hope they can both make it home in one piece.
Author's Note: Grumpy/Sunshine. Opposites attract. Slow burn. Workplace. Roadtrip. Boss/Employee. Overprotective hero. Tortured hero. Hot-mess heroine who always seems to find trouble. Major squad-goal vibes. Laugh out loud, feel-good read.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2021
232 people are currently reading
876 people want to read
About the author
Jeré Anthony
6 books346 followersJeré Anthony (pronounced like hooray with a J) writes steamy, swoony, and hilarious romantic comedies with depth.
She is a mental health advocate, a lifelong anxiety warrior, and is ADHD AF. Her quirks bleed out into her stories making for an exciting group of characters. Because of her undiagnosed ADHD, growing up she always felt different from everyone around her. Now she strives to create stories that give readers an escape from reality while also helping them feel seen.
She loves a strong cup of coffee and thinks beer + buffalo wings are a delicacy that is unmatched.
Jeré currently lives in NW Arkansas with her husband, three children, dog, and two cats. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, driving her kids all over for travel soccer games, watching cat videos on her phone, or trying to convince her husband to go on another family adventure somewhere new.
Connect with Jeré:
NEWSLETTER: https://mailchi.mp/87e346b13331/jere-...
INSTAGRAM: @author_jere_anthony
TIKTOK: @author_jere_anthony
WEBSITE: JereAnthony.com
She is a mental health advocate, a lifelong anxiety warrior, and is ADHD AF. Her quirks bleed out into her stories making for an exciting group of characters. Because of her undiagnosed ADHD, growing up she always felt different from everyone around her. Now she strives to create stories that give readers an escape from reality while also helping them feel seen.
She loves a strong cup of coffee and thinks beer + buffalo wings are a delicacy that is unmatched.
Jeré currently lives in NW Arkansas with her husband, three children, dog, and two cats. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, driving her kids all over for travel soccer games, watching cat videos on her phone, or trying to convince her husband to go on another family adventure somewhere new.
Connect with Jeré:
NEWSLETTER: https://mailchi.mp/87e346b13331/jere-...
INSTAGRAM: @author_jere_anthony
TIKTOK: @author_jere_anthony
WEBSITE: JereAnthony.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 26, 2021
I received an arc from the author for an honest review.
Elliott is a hurricane, she is energetic and passionate but always leaving a disaster wherever she goes. The fact that she can not keep a job is proof of it however dealing with crippling anxiety doesn't help. When Elliott gets a job for POW! she thinks she has hit her big break, however she comes to realize that everyone looks at her she's just a pretty face instead of seeing her potential until Benjamin, the co-CEO gives her a chance by sending her on a cross country work trip.
Benjamin hasn't always had things so easy, so instead of focusing on the other aspects of life he puts all his time and energy into work. He has no interest in finding love after his wife and stepdaughter die in an accident that he deems himself at fault for. When he saw the potential in Elliott and gave her the opportunity to work on this big project he couldn't let her go by herself.
If i'm being completely honest this book started off as a 2 for me. The further I went in the book the more annoyed I got with Elliott. I understand her crippling anxiety however I think her personality was over-exaggerated to the point where she felt immature. However, about half way through the book things started working for me and I really started liking Elliott and all of the characters.
I did enjoy the road trip aspect of this book as well as the relationships Elliott and Benjamin had with their friends and themselves. I did also like the epilogue which gave a sneak peek into possibly a sequel involving Gwen and Jack. Overall, this book did grow on me to the point where i'd give it a 3.
Elliott is a hurricane, she is energetic and passionate but always leaving a disaster wherever she goes. The fact that she can not keep a job is proof of it however dealing with crippling anxiety doesn't help. When Elliott gets a job for POW! she thinks she has hit her big break, however she comes to realize that everyone looks at her she's just a pretty face instead of seeing her potential until Benjamin, the co-CEO gives her a chance by sending her on a cross country work trip.
Benjamin hasn't always had things so easy, so instead of focusing on the other aspects of life he puts all his time and energy into work. He has no interest in finding love after his wife and stepdaughter die in an accident that he deems himself at fault for. When he saw the potential in Elliott and gave her the opportunity to work on this big project he couldn't let her go by herself.
If i'm being completely honest this book started off as a 2 for me. The further I went in the book the more annoyed I got with Elliott. I understand her crippling anxiety however I think her personality was over-exaggerated to the point where she felt immature. However, about half way through the book things started working for me and I really started liking Elliott and all of the characters.
I did enjoy the road trip aspect of this book as well as the relationships Elliott and Benjamin had with their friends and themselves. I did also like the epilogue which gave a sneak peek into possibly a sequel involving Gwen and Jack. Overall, this book did grow on me to the point where i'd give it a 3.
March 19, 2021
I’m so happy I’m finally able to sit down and write this review!
What a crazy day I had, but so happy I can sit down now to write this review.
What a delightful debut! This book made me happy! So so happy! 🥲This is a story about true joy, positivity and lights at the end of the darkest tunnels. Elliot and Benjamin’s story made me smile, laugh and cry with the many adventures they had and the beautiful relationship they built!
Imagine Bridget Jones with a severe case of Generalized Anxiety and panic disorder and a very broken hearted and sad Mr. Darcy. Those are Elliot and Benjamin!
As a person who deals with this type of mental health illness, I found Elliot extremely relatable. I just wish I had the same attitude! She wanted to see the best in everything even though she constantly feel for the lies her anxiety made her believe, resulting in extreme situations. It broke my heart to see how people treated her and the struggles she went through. She just wanted to prove herself and live her life to the fullest! I felt so angry and frustrated to see her go through awful situations and people trying to take advantage of her.
You need to meet your next book boyfriend Benjamin! His backstory broke my heart in million pieces. Behind that grumponess, was a broken man who was the sweetest and most protective human being! He was such a great guy who treated Elliot with respect and kindness. He never judge her or made her feel like she was overreacting when anxiety was hitting hard. He wanted to protect her and make her feel safe. He saw her in a way no one had ever seen her, as the strong and capable woman she really was!
The differences between their personalities and the way they saw life was abysmal and the contrast was hilarious but also it made me see how much they complemented each other.
“Sometimes your joy shine so bright that it reminds me of all my darkness.”
Benjamin believed in her despite all the things he didn’t understand about her and wanted to help her conquer her insecurities. He defended her and wanted her to stand up for herself. And Elliot taught him that is possible to have true joy after so much sadness and mourning!
This was a refreshing and utterly romantic story and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
What a crazy day I had, but so happy I can sit down now to write this review.
What a delightful debut! This book made me happy! So so happy! 🥲This is a story about true joy, positivity and lights at the end of the darkest tunnels. Elliot and Benjamin’s story made me smile, laugh and cry with the many adventures they had and the beautiful relationship they built!
Imagine Bridget Jones with a severe case of Generalized Anxiety and panic disorder and a very broken hearted and sad Mr. Darcy. Those are Elliot and Benjamin!
As a person who deals with this type of mental health illness, I found Elliot extremely relatable. I just wish I had the same attitude! She wanted to see the best in everything even though she constantly feel for the lies her anxiety made her believe, resulting in extreme situations. It broke my heart to see how people treated her and the struggles she went through. She just wanted to prove herself and live her life to the fullest! I felt so angry and frustrated to see her go through awful situations and people trying to take advantage of her.
You need to meet your next book boyfriend Benjamin! His backstory broke my heart in million pieces. Behind that grumponess, was a broken man who was the sweetest and most protective human being! He was such a great guy who treated Elliot with respect and kindness. He never judge her or made her feel like she was overreacting when anxiety was hitting hard. He wanted to protect her and make her feel safe. He saw her in a way no one had ever seen her, as the strong and capable woman she really was!
The differences between their personalities and the way they saw life was abysmal and the contrast was hilarious but also it made me see how much they complemented each other.
“Sometimes your joy shine so bright that it reminds me of all my darkness.”
Benjamin believed in her despite all the things he didn’t understand about her and wanted to help her conquer her insecurities. He defended her and wanted her to stand up for herself. And Elliot taught him that is possible to have true joy after so much sadness and mourning!
This was a refreshing and utterly romantic story and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
April 12, 2021
Review of Drive Me Crazy by Jeré Anthony:
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Elliot James can be best described as a hot mess who lives a chaotic life battling her crippling anxiety. She finally lands a job that she desperately needs but has to prove her worth to both of her bosses; one of whom she put in the hospital on her first day. Elliot pitches an idea to use Instagram influencers and thus sparks her business trip to campaign their product and joining her is grumpy Benjamin, one of her bosses who just wants to keep his business from going bankrupt. But what else could go wrong when on the first leg of the trip, Elliot lands them both on the No Fly list?
My thoughts on this debut novel are pretty simple, it can only be best described as a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy - emphasis on the comedy. I was in tears from laughing so hard right from the beginning. I also appreciated, as I always do, the inclusion of mental illness as a theme. That said, I found that the way in which anxiety was portrayed was exaggerated, flippant, and over-the-top (to be fair, this was noted in the Author’s Note) but I found it resulted in Elliot seeming too immature. Benjamin was every bit of chivalrous and was a strong advocate against the objectification of women and sexual harassment yet at the same time, I had a hard time getting past his use of terms of endearments and found the frequency in which he referred to Elliot as “baby”, “sweetheart”, or “my girl” incredibly annoying and hypocritical. If you can get past that, the slow burn romance was filled with loads of sexual tension culminating in steamy scenes. All-in-all, the romance and the comedy within this debut novel were entirely worth it, with the added plot drama.
Thank you to the author, Jeré Anthony {#partner}, for gifting me with an advanced readers copy of her debut book in exchange for an independent and honest review! This book was released last week and available now.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Elliot James can be best described as a hot mess who lives a chaotic life battling her crippling anxiety. She finally lands a job that she desperately needs but has to prove her worth to both of her bosses; one of whom she put in the hospital on her first day. Elliot pitches an idea to use Instagram influencers and thus sparks her business trip to campaign their product and joining her is grumpy Benjamin, one of her bosses who just wants to keep his business from going bankrupt. But what else could go wrong when on the first leg of the trip, Elliot lands them both on the No Fly list?
My thoughts on this debut novel are pretty simple, it can only be best described as a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy - emphasis on the comedy. I was in tears from laughing so hard right from the beginning. I also appreciated, as I always do, the inclusion of mental illness as a theme. That said, I found that the way in which anxiety was portrayed was exaggerated, flippant, and over-the-top (to be fair, this was noted in the Author’s Note) but I found it resulted in Elliot seeming too immature. Benjamin was every bit of chivalrous and was a strong advocate against the objectification of women and sexual harassment yet at the same time, I had a hard time getting past his use of terms of endearments and found the frequency in which he referred to Elliot as “baby”, “sweetheart”, or “my girl” incredibly annoying and hypocritical. If you can get past that, the slow burn romance was filled with loads of sexual tension culminating in steamy scenes. All-in-all, the romance and the comedy within this debut novel were entirely worth it, with the added plot drama.
Thank you to the author, Jeré Anthony {#partner}, for gifting me with an advanced readers copy of her debut book in exchange for an independent and honest review! This book was released last week and available now.
March 14, 2021
You had me at ROAD TRIP.
( Received an arc in exchange of an honest review)
🚙I loved Elliot. She was smart, funny, blunt, witty and so very true to herself. I adored her personality & how her anxiety was represented.
She was a chatter box, a full on adorable character.
🚙 Benjamin seemed like a jerk in the beginning but once you got to know him & his past, you'll understand how much he's been through & how tough he is.
Benjamin was protective, caring & sarcastic in his own way and fiercely loyal.
🚙 There wasn't a dull moment in this book, from almost killing her other boss -to everyday adventures of her hippie of a roommate- to amazing friendship- to hilarious text messages.
But the show stealer was the epic road trip.
-By passing out from a little dose of children's cough syrup-to hitting Benjamin with her purse-to pepper spraying him- to crashing the car ( note that she didn't pass her driving test)-to drinking until passing out. Again.
I chuckled so hard so much throughout.
🚙 A perfect romcom, where opposites attract through constant nagging & bickering, but fall in love and survive through an epitome of disaster together.
( Received an arc in exchange of an honest review)
🚙I loved Elliot. She was smart, funny, blunt, witty and so very true to herself. I adored her personality & how her anxiety was represented.
She was a chatter box, a full on adorable character.
🚙 Benjamin seemed like a jerk in the beginning but once you got to know him & his past, you'll understand how much he's been through & how tough he is.
Benjamin was protective, caring & sarcastic in his own way and fiercely loyal.
🚙 There wasn't a dull moment in this book, from almost killing her other boss -to everyday adventures of her hippie of a roommate- to amazing friendship- to hilarious text messages.
But the show stealer was the epic road trip.
-By passing out from a little dose of children's cough syrup-to hitting Benjamin with her purse-to pepper spraying him- to crashing the car ( note that she didn't pass her driving test)-to drinking until passing out. Again.
I chuckled so hard so much throughout.
🚙 A perfect romcom, where opposites attract through constant nagging & bickering, but fall in love and survive through an epitome of disaster together.
September 21, 2021
“There’s something about Elliot James that drives me crazy with a mixture of anger and lust like pouring salt in an open wound. She’s so awkward and funny; it’s like the light she radiates aggravated my darkness and I can’t stand to be around her.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elliot is a hot mess and I love it! This book had me laughing from the beginning. From a jello fight, farting in yoga, funny moments with Elliot’s friends, Maggie and Gwen, I loved how real and down to earth these moments were. While it is mostly a light hearted rom-com it does have some touchy subjects. Benjamin is still grieving a loss, dealing with guilt and a shady brother in law..but cannot deny his attraction to Elliot!
This was a great workplace romance read that also includes fun, ride or die besties!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elliot is a hot mess and I love it! This book had me laughing from the beginning. From a jello fight, farting in yoga, funny moments with Elliot’s friends, Maggie and Gwen, I loved how real and down to earth these moments were. While it is mostly a light hearted rom-com it does have some touchy subjects. Benjamin is still grieving a loss, dealing with guilt and a shady brother in law..but cannot deny his attraction to Elliot!
This was a great workplace romance read that also includes fun, ride or die besties!
March 26, 2021
This book had me hooked from the first chapter. Elliot is such a relatable character and you have to keep reading to see what unfortunate event will happen to her next. I could not put this book down! Perfect romantic comedy! First-time author Jere Anthony knocked this one out of the park!
April 14, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
🌶🌶
Okay there is a reason why I lived for this book
♡ best friends/sister bond ✔️
♡ the utter messy life of fl ✔️ ✔️
♡ THAD GETTING HIS MF NOSE BROKEN ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
♡ Elliot becoming a girl boss ✔️✔️✔️✔️
♡ their back stories 😭
🌶🌶
Okay there is a reason why I lived for this book
♡ best friends/sister bond ✔️
♡ the utter messy life of fl ✔️ ✔️
♡ THAD GETTING HIS MF NOSE BROKEN ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
♡ Elliot becoming a girl boss ✔️✔️✔️✔️
♡ their back stories 😭
March 11, 2021
This book truly had it all. Witty writing, endearing characters, love, true friendship, and a story you end up reading with a continuous smile. Elliot James is quirky and completely lovable. I found myself so invested in the life she was creating for herself and her will to push forward even through the most embarrassing of times. She has a strength that amazed me and her sense of humor and bluntness is so refreshing.
I adored Benjamin and felt his pain in my heart. His character grew on me quickly and I ended up being a big fan of his. This is truly a story of opposites attract and gives you hope that, if you’re lucky, you’ll find someone to balance you out as these characters did for each other in the book. I highly recommend this book and hope you like it as much as I did!
I adored Benjamin and felt his pain in my heart. His character grew on me quickly and I ended up being a big fan of his. This is truly a story of opposites attract and gives you hope that, if you’re lucky, you’ll find someone to balance you out as these characters did for each other in the book. I highly recommend this book and hope you like it as much as I did!
March 14, 2021
“Maybe she could get you to smile or something crazy like that!”
Loved this debut novel! 😍
I loved Elliot two seconds into the prologue 😂 she’s a ray of sunshine with no filter and a bit of a train-wreck, in the best possible way.
Ben is a well put together grumpy ass but in an endearing way. You just want to hug him and tell him to loosen up.
This is classic opposites attract, the kind that compliments the other persons quirks. ❤️ Even when they drive each other crazy, it’s because they know how to get under each other’s skin and push their buttons. That’s passion & fire. 😍
The secondary characters and genuine friendships in this make it even better.
Loved this debut novel! 😍
I loved Elliot two seconds into the prologue 😂 she’s a ray of sunshine with no filter and a bit of a train-wreck, in the best possible way.
Ben is a well put together grumpy ass but in an endearing way. You just want to hug him and tell him to loosen up.
This is classic opposites attract, the kind that compliments the other persons quirks. ❤️ Even when they drive each other crazy, it’s because they know how to get under each other’s skin and push their buttons. That’s passion & fire. 😍
The secondary characters and genuine friendships in this make it even better.
March 18, 2021
I laughed so hard reading this book! The writing was witty and so well done. Both Elliot and Benjamin were, in my opinion, well developed characters with relatable qualities. I found myself thinking about this story when I wasn’t reading and itching to get home and pick it up. This is definitely a book that I stayed up way to late to read “just one more chapter” and is certainly one that I could see myself reading again!
November 30, 2024
FMC is insanely annoying.
April 1, 2021
Thank you, Jere for sharing an ARC of this book in exchange for a candid review.
Taking into account just how much I love watching Rom-Coms, I'm wondering why I don't read them more frequently. So Jere had me at Rom-Com.
What I absolutely loved about the book was the chemistry Elliot and Benjamin had with their friends. Everyone needs a support system like that - to keep one sane, to go crazy together, and for a little tough love...
I started off not quite liking Elliot or Benjamin.
Elliot was just too much sunshine, and she was exhausting. But she grew on me - her vulnerability, her strength, and her determination. I could relate to her anxiety, and I felt sad for her lack of confidence when she would not stand up for herself. I could also relate to being seen as nothing more than a pretty woman.
Benjamin I wanted to shake initially... Taking a photo of an unknown woman in a bar, assuming she's easy because she's been hired by Thad... Shake shake shake... So it took longer for me to kind of sort of like him...
What I liked about him was his sense of chivalry, and just how caring he was... Especially when Elliot was having an anxiety or panic attack. He just accepted her the way she was once he got to know her. Reaching out to a therapist to get help for himself was another thing that I liked about him.
Apart from chuckling as I read the book; I appreciated the tough topics that Jere has addressed - work place harassment, objectifying women, mental health issues...
And there's this little inkling of a sequel or series... Tell me more Jere...
Taking into account just how much I love watching Rom-Coms, I'm wondering why I don't read them more frequently. So Jere had me at Rom-Com.
What I absolutely loved about the book was the chemistry Elliot and Benjamin had with their friends. Everyone needs a support system like that - to keep one sane, to go crazy together, and for a little tough love...
I started off not quite liking Elliot or Benjamin.
Elliot was just too much sunshine, and she was exhausting. But she grew on me - her vulnerability, her strength, and her determination. I could relate to her anxiety, and I felt sad for her lack of confidence when she would not stand up for herself. I could also relate to being seen as nothing more than a pretty woman.
Benjamin I wanted to shake initially... Taking a photo of an unknown woman in a bar, assuming she's easy because she's been hired by Thad... Shake shake shake... So it took longer for me to kind of sort of like him...
What I liked about him was his sense of chivalry, and just how caring he was... Especially when Elliot was having an anxiety or panic attack. He just accepted her the way she was once he got to know her. Reaching out to a therapist to get help for himself was another thing that I liked about him.
Apart from chuckling as I read the book; I appreciated the tough topics that Jere has addressed - work place harassment, objectifying women, mental health issues...
And there's this little inkling of a sequel or series... Tell me more Jere...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2023
This book certainly did drive my crazy.
I made it to 44% before I had to tap out. I really liked Elliot at first, and as someone with a diagnosed anxiety disorder I was looking forward to that representation. However, for some reason Elliot’s anxiety makes her come off as some infantilized naive idiot who can’t do anything right. The scene in the airplane was very cringe and I had to skim it for my own sake. I related to her in some instances but overall she became incredibly insufferable and I was over it.
Benjamin, oh Benjamin. I really did not like this character. While I understand what grief can do to a person, he had zero redeeming qualities for me. I hated all his inner thoughts about Elliot, they came off incredibly sexist and misogynistic. For example, Elliot is innocently applying mascara and his thought was “why do women wear makeup, don’t they know men don’t like it?” 🚩 not to mention him questioning how she got the job at his company and implying she hooked up with Thad for it 🚩
This is more a personal thing but I’m not the biggest fan of interconnected “standalone” books, especially if it’s the first book in the series bc then I have to be introduced to 6 side characters that I don’t care about 🤷🏻♀️
I made it to 44% before I had to tap out. I really liked Elliot at first, and as someone with a diagnosed anxiety disorder I was looking forward to that representation. However, for some reason Elliot’s anxiety makes her come off as some infantilized naive idiot who can’t do anything right. The scene in the airplane was very cringe and I had to skim it for my own sake. I related to her in some instances but overall she became incredibly insufferable and I was over it.
Benjamin, oh Benjamin. I really did not like this character. While I understand what grief can do to a person, he had zero redeeming qualities for me. I hated all his inner thoughts about Elliot, they came off incredibly sexist and misogynistic. For example, Elliot is innocently applying mascara and his thought was “why do women wear makeup, don’t they know men don’t like it?” 🚩 not to mention him questioning how she got the job at his company and implying she hooked up with Thad for it 🚩
This is more a personal thing but I’m not the biggest fan of interconnected “standalone” books, especially if it’s the first book in the series bc then I have to be introduced to 6 side characters that I don’t care about 🤷🏻♀️
April 12, 2021
I could not put this book down! From the start of “Drive Me Crazy” to the end, I found myself laughing out loud while reading the hilariously awkward situations Elliot found herself in. I love how Elliot and Benjamin bring out the best in each other, even though they’re both suffering. My favorite books are those that have strong character development themes, and breakout author Jeré’ Anthony perfectly delivers this! The friendship between Elliot, Maggie, and Gwen is one of my favorite parts, and I look forward to their text conversations in the book, because not only are they full of laugh out loud moments, but they embody all that is women supporting women. I look forward to reading more about these bad ass women and their love lives as more books in this series come out!
March 22, 2021
First book out & Jeré Anthony hit a homerun!
What a great book full of hot chemistry, hilarious laugh-out-loud moments (that need to be made into a movie - someone gets on that asap) with a mixture of heartbreaking & tough moments. I enjoyed the back and forth spicy build-up between Benjamin & Elliot while they both helped each other along the path to becoming their best versions. Jeré did a great job of capturing us as humans at our best & our worst moments while making us chuckle along the way.
Can't wait to see more from this talented author!
What a great book full of hot chemistry, hilarious laugh-out-loud moments (that need to be made into a movie - someone gets on that asap) with a mixture of heartbreaking & tough moments. I enjoyed the back and forth spicy build-up between Benjamin & Elliot while they both helped each other along the path to becoming their best versions. Jeré did a great job of capturing us as humans at our best & our worst moments while making us chuckle along the way.
Can't wait to see more from this talented author!
May 15, 2025
This book has the most outlandish, unrealistic and just straight up dumb situations and dialogue. I kept thinking it must get better because the reviews are good, but no. I’m shocked that this has a decent rating. My eyes are sore from rolling them so hard. The FMC starts off annoying just gets more and more annoying to the point of absolute immaturity. The whole book is completely unbelievable and never once did I “laugh out loud” or even laugh at all.
Do not recommend this book at all!
Do not recommend this book at all!
March 2, 2024
I have a lot I want to say about this book but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. The only reason this one didn’t get five stars is because of the weird pacing issues with the writing and plot that the author has had in all three books. Sometimes it moves too slow, and other times it isn’t drawn out enough, and it’s a smidge confusing to read at times. But overall it was a super cute read.
As I’ve said in the other two reviews, I read this series in reverse order. For the most part it worked, sometimes I wish I’d caught things in the right order. But honestly, I’m glad I read this one last. I wouldn’t have enjoyed Pretty Please Me nearly as much if it had to follow this and Wild for You, but also Benjamin and Elliott were a bit mysterious to me so I had lots of questions by the time I got to this one. For the most part, it did not disappoint.
I felt a bit of kinship with Maggie, as that’s also my name, and Jack was my absolute favourite character of the series. But Elliot was such a close second, and I felt a kind of fondness for her that’s hard to explain. I Can relate to get better than I’ve ever been able to relate to another fictional character before, and I’m quite certain I will be hard pressed to find another that I relate to more.
All of her anxious thoughts are the exact same things I struggle with and think and feel. Especially the scene where she thought that the guy on the plane had a bomb and to a slightly lesser extent, when she thought Benjamin was kidnapping her.
While I thought her physical reactions were dramatic, upon ready Jeré Anthony’s author’s note, I understood a bit more. Plus, you have to amp it up for the sake of a story. After all, they couldn’t have put Elliott on the no fly list for having a panic attack.
But I thought their whole story was so, so sweet in a way that was a step above the other four (though Jack & Gwen and Maggie & Sam had chemistry of their own, and I loved them too). I just thought the way Elliott slowly got through Benjamin’s darkness without even really trying was so perfect. I did wish for a little more spice in this one, but it didn’t necessarily need it. It didn’t cost a star in my review.
I do wish Benjamin’s backstory’s conclusion had been a bit more fleshed out. We were simply told the conclusion with his ex family in-law but I wish we’d been show it, especially with a proper confrontation with Thad.
I also was not a fan of some of the comments Benjamin made to Elliott in the beginning, especially because he never properly apologized for them. But the way he protected her later on did go a ways to making up for that I felt.
And perhaps the best part for me is how desperately Benjamin needed someone like Elliott. I felt similarly to the way Gwen needed someone like Jack, but Elliott was just such a little chaotic light that that man desperately needed and it was so beautifully written.
Again, needed some more editing, but overall great story and I recommend it to pretty much everyone who likes a good love story.
As I’ve said in the other two reviews, I read this series in reverse order. For the most part it worked, sometimes I wish I’d caught things in the right order. But honestly, I’m glad I read this one last. I wouldn’t have enjoyed Pretty Please Me nearly as much if it had to follow this and Wild for You, but also Benjamin and Elliott were a bit mysterious to me so I had lots of questions by the time I got to this one. For the most part, it did not disappoint.
I felt a bit of kinship with Maggie, as that’s also my name, and Jack was my absolute favourite character of the series. But Elliot was such a close second, and I felt a kind of fondness for her that’s hard to explain. I Can relate to get better than I’ve ever been able to relate to another fictional character before, and I’m quite certain I will be hard pressed to find another that I relate to more.
All of her anxious thoughts are the exact same things I struggle with and think and feel. Especially the scene where she thought that the guy on the plane had a bomb and to a slightly lesser extent, when she thought Benjamin was kidnapping her.
While I thought her physical reactions were dramatic, upon ready Jeré Anthony’s author’s note, I understood a bit more. Plus, you have to amp it up for the sake of a story. After all, they couldn’t have put Elliott on the no fly list for having a panic attack.
But I thought their whole story was so, so sweet in a way that was a step above the other four (though Jack & Gwen and Maggie & Sam had chemistry of their own, and I loved them too). I just thought the way Elliott slowly got through Benjamin’s darkness without even really trying was so perfect. I did wish for a little more spice in this one, but it didn’t necessarily need it. It didn’t cost a star in my review.
I do wish Benjamin’s backstory’s conclusion had been a bit more fleshed out. We were simply told the conclusion with his ex family in-law but I wish we’d been show it, especially with a proper confrontation with Thad.
I also was not a fan of some of the comments Benjamin made to Elliott in the beginning, especially because he never properly apologized for them. But the way he protected her later on did go a ways to making up for that I felt.
And perhaps the best part for me is how desperately Benjamin needed someone like Elliott. I felt similarly to the way Gwen needed someone like Jack, but Elliott was just such a little chaotic light that that man desperately needed and it was so beautifully written.
Again, needed some more editing, but overall great story and I recommend it to pretty much everyone who likes a good love story.
April 4, 2021
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a strong debut novel, and it was well-written and funny! I enjoyed the overall plot and I did genuinely like the two main characters, Elliot and Benjamin. I would be interested to read more from this author. The smut was realistic (I laughed at loud at the shower scene) and strong as well- I just wished there had perhaps been more of it, but I understand this was more of a slow burn.
I was excited to read this because, like Elliot, I struggle with anxiety and intrusive thoughts. I identified with her internal monologue quite a bit, and I definitely understood a lot of the struggles she faced. However, I felt the externalization of her anxiety was often exaggerated and made over the top in order to increase comedic value. The scene where she convinces herself that Benjamin is a murderer (after 6 months working together and several days on the road with him already) and attacks him pretty much lost me, as did the scene on the airplane. I appreciated the inclusion of mental illness, but these scenes did not feel realistic to me and they unfortunately made Elliot come off ridiculous and immature.
I also wish Benjamin’s character and his admitted attraction to Elliot had been fleshed out more. Since it is dual POV we knew he was attracted to her, but I felt the sexual tension lacked build up and wasn’t coherent through the book. I felt the scenes where they finally gave in to their attraction came a bit out of left field because I really didn’t feel Benjamin was actually struggling with some deep burning love and attraction up to that point.
I did not care for Benjamin’s decision to hide his past from Elliott, and since this was used for the climax of the book, I think it bears pointing out this plot line had continuity errors. When Elliott started at POW, Thad explicitly stated that Benjamin had been struggling since the loss of Thad’s sister and the implication that he was a widower was clear. Suddenly Benjamin is blatantly lying about who the people in a picture on his nightstand are and Elliott has no idea he’s ever been married. I think some stronger editing could have helped here.
Altogether it was a funny, cute romcom that is definitely worth reading! If that’s your genre, definitely go for it- you won’t be disappointed! I don’t think this book does anything monumental, but it’s a good light and fun read.
This was a strong debut novel, and it was well-written and funny! I enjoyed the overall plot and I did genuinely like the two main characters, Elliot and Benjamin. I would be interested to read more from this author. The smut was realistic (I laughed at loud at the shower scene) and strong as well- I just wished there had perhaps been more of it, but I understand this was more of a slow burn.
I was excited to read this because, like Elliot, I struggle with anxiety and intrusive thoughts. I identified with her internal monologue quite a bit, and I definitely understood a lot of the struggles she faced. However, I felt the externalization of her anxiety was often exaggerated and made over the top in order to increase comedic value. The scene where she convinces herself that Benjamin is a murderer (after 6 months working together and several days on the road with him already) and attacks him pretty much lost me, as did the scene on the airplane. I appreciated the inclusion of mental illness, but these scenes did not feel realistic to me and they unfortunately made Elliot come off ridiculous and immature.
I also wish Benjamin’s character and his admitted attraction to Elliot had been fleshed out more. Since it is dual POV we knew he was attracted to her, but I felt the sexual tension lacked build up and wasn’t coherent through the book. I felt the scenes where they finally gave in to their attraction came a bit out of left field because I really didn’t feel Benjamin was actually struggling with some deep burning love and attraction up to that point.
I did not care for Benjamin’s decision to hide his past from Elliott, and since this was used for the climax of the book, I think it bears pointing out this plot line had continuity errors. When Elliott started at POW, Thad explicitly stated that Benjamin had been struggling since the loss of Thad’s sister and the implication that he was a widower was clear. Suddenly Benjamin is blatantly lying about who the people in a picture on his nightstand are and Elliott has no idea he’s ever been married. I think some stronger editing could have helped here.
Altogether it was a funny, cute romcom that is definitely worth reading! If that’s your genre, definitely go for it- you won’t be disappointed! I don’t think this book does anything monumental, but it’s a good light and fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2021
This debut from Jeré Anthony is sweet, sexy, and while hilarious, it also takes serious issues seriously. It’s witty and just the right side of zany, with the types of slightly over-the-top scenarios that make rom-coms so fun. There’s farting in yoga class, a jello wrestling lease fight, an unexpected road trip that is so full of laughs you’ll wish you’d done those Kegels.
First of all, I loved the authentic anxiety representation. Elliot has a nuanced treatment plan for her anxiety, including medication and exercise. For years, exercise was my go-to release for anxiety. I sweated it out a buti yoga, barre, zumba, and community yoga classes, forcing my body to “breathe”. While I’ve been used to doing online workouts for a few years, my “me” time has gotten reduced to pretty much nothing in the past year, and the struggle to fit in exercise time has been one of the hardest parts of the pandemic for me, physically and mentally. Seeing Elliot lose control felt genuine and relatable.
“𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝙄 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝. 𝙄 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮; 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙄 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮. 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚.”
Anthony has done an incredible job writing multi-dimensional characters with tons of room for growth. Watching Benjamin work his way through grief was especially heartfelt. It’s beyond refreshing to read about men who have :gasp: bona fide emotions and embrace therapy and mental health issues.
I feel like Elliot and her friend group embodied everything my closest friend group did in our mid-twenties. It’s kind of a “sink or swim” time in the first few years (possibly) out of college. The trio was just the right balance of supportive, impulsive, encouraging, and fun. (Same with Benjamin’s friends!)
There are a few shady characters who will have you rooting for their epic takedowns. 😏
Finally the chemistry and romance is HOT. It’s feisty, fiery, funny & fun. I hope you fall just as head over heels for Elliot and Benjamin as I did!
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read and review this debut. Fingers crossed for a sequel! 😉
First of all, I loved the authentic anxiety representation. Elliot has a nuanced treatment plan for her anxiety, including medication and exercise. For years, exercise was my go-to release for anxiety. I sweated it out a buti yoga, barre, zumba, and community yoga classes, forcing my body to “breathe”. While I’ve been used to doing online workouts for a few years, my “me” time has gotten reduced to pretty much nothing in the past year, and the struggle to fit in exercise time has been one of the hardest parts of the pandemic for me, physically and mentally. Seeing Elliot lose control felt genuine and relatable.
“𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝙄 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝. 𝙄 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮; 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙄 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮. 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚.”
Anthony has done an incredible job writing multi-dimensional characters with tons of room for growth. Watching Benjamin work his way through grief was especially heartfelt. It’s beyond refreshing to read about men who have :gasp: bona fide emotions and embrace therapy and mental health issues.
I feel like Elliot and her friend group embodied everything my closest friend group did in our mid-twenties. It’s kind of a “sink or swim” time in the first few years (possibly) out of college. The trio was just the right balance of supportive, impulsive, encouraging, and fun. (Same with Benjamin’s friends!)
There are a few shady characters who will have you rooting for their epic takedowns. 😏
Finally the chemistry and romance is HOT. It’s feisty, fiery, funny & fun. I hope you fall just as head over heels for Elliot and Benjamin as I did!
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read and review this debut. Fingers crossed for a sequel! 😉
April 5, 2021
This was a sweet and funny sunshine vs. grump romance. In true rom-com fashion, the story follows one misadventure to the next as the duo are forced on a work-related road trip together. The premise of this is great, as are some of the zany situations they found themselves in.
Elliot is struggling to establish herself in her career, hindered by an anxiety disorder and bad luck. Still, she’s optimistic and determined to land on her feet. She is also very independent which I appreciate. Elliot is also someone who always looks for the good in people, including her grump of a boss, Benjamin.
I admit that in the first section of the book, when you are first getting to know the characters individually, I didn't really love either of them. Elliot's anxiety isn't explained upfront so she just appears a little zany. And Benjamin just seems mean and dismissive.
BUT! Once they get together... here is where we realize that Ben’s past is pretty tragic and he's doing all he can to stay miserable as punishment for his past. And Elliot's mental health struggles are more explained so you understand her better as well.
A great thing about Ben is that he always bolstered Elliot’s work. He genuinely finds her to be brilliant and encourages her to advocate for herself more in her work and in her personal life. I appreciate that he didn’t simply step in a take charge of her life—he encouraged her to do it herself and respected the choices she made.
One big TW - sexual harassment/assault in the workplace. I was not prepared for this and honestly thought it could have been left out, but maybe that's just my sensitivity to the subject.
This story is a romcom through and through, so if you love comedy in your romance and opposites-attract love stories, I’d check this one out!
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Elliot is struggling to establish herself in her career, hindered by an anxiety disorder and bad luck. Still, she’s optimistic and determined to land on her feet. She is also very independent which I appreciate. Elliot is also someone who always looks for the good in people, including her grump of a boss, Benjamin.
I admit that in the first section of the book, when you are first getting to know the characters individually, I didn't really love either of them. Elliot's anxiety isn't explained upfront so she just appears a little zany. And Benjamin just seems mean and dismissive.
BUT! Once they get together... here is where we realize that Ben’s past is pretty tragic and he's doing all he can to stay miserable as punishment for his past. And Elliot's mental health struggles are more explained so you understand her better as well.
A great thing about Ben is that he always bolstered Elliot’s work. He genuinely finds her to be brilliant and encourages her to advocate for herself more in her work and in her personal life. I appreciate that he didn’t simply step in a take charge of her life—he encouraged her to do it herself and respected the choices she made.
One big TW - sexual harassment/assault in the workplace. I was not prepared for this and honestly thought it could have been left out, but maybe that's just my sensitivity to the subject.
This story is a romcom through and through, so if you love comedy in your romance and opposites-attract love stories, I’d check this one out!
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2021
Title: Drive Me Crazy
Author: Jere Anthony
Hero/Heroine: Benjamin and Elliot
Trope: Workplace Romance/Forced Proximity
THE GOOD 😁
The characters. These are what made this book so enjoyable for me, as there was such a great mix. From Elliot and Benjamin, to Gwen and Maggie, I loved how well they all complimented each other.
Elliot, our wonderfully quirky heroine, spends each day of her life battling crippling anxiety whilst trying to find the perfect job. After a chance meeting at a gala she attends with her friend Gwen, Elliot ends up working as an assistant at POW! where she has regular run ins with the delightful Benjamin, who’s the CEO. Both fighting their own personal battles, these two were just incredible whenever they were on the same page together. After a slight misunderstanding on a flight to a client meeting, they end up on the No Fly List and have to drive cross country, which makes for some hilarious situations.
What I loved about these characters was how real they were; Elliot with her endless positivity even though she suffered every day, and Benjamin with how much he cared for Elliot and how protective he was of her. When she experienced a panic attack, he was there supporting her and helping her through it. I love the fact that the author created a heroine that wasn’t perfect, she was experiencing something that thousands of people do every day. She was the true hero of this book for me.
THE BAD 🙁
Thad and Chad, the pair of rhyming douchebags. That’s it.
TW: Death of a loved one, grief, sexual harassment
OVERALL THOUGHTS: A wonderful, feel good romance with real characters and no end of hilarious situations.
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Jere Anthony
Hero/Heroine: Benjamin and Elliot
Trope: Workplace Romance/Forced Proximity
THE GOOD 😁
The characters. These are what made this book so enjoyable for me, as there was such a great mix. From Elliot and Benjamin, to Gwen and Maggie, I loved how well they all complimented each other.
Elliot, our wonderfully quirky heroine, spends each day of her life battling crippling anxiety whilst trying to find the perfect job. After a chance meeting at a gala she attends with her friend Gwen, Elliot ends up working as an assistant at POW! where she has regular run ins with the delightful Benjamin, who’s the CEO. Both fighting their own personal battles, these two were just incredible whenever they were on the same page together. After a slight misunderstanding on a flight to a client meeting, they end up on the No Fly List and have to drive cross country, which makes for some hilarious situations.
What I loved about these characters was how real they were; Elliot with her endless positivity even though she suffered every day, and Benjamin with how much he cared for Elliot and how protective he was of her. When she experienced a panic attack, he was there supporting her and helping her through it. I love the fact that the author created a heroine that wasn’t perfect, she was experiencing something that thousands of people do every day. She was the true hero of this book for me.
THE BAD 🙁
Thad and Chad, the pair of rhyming douchebags. That’s it.
TW: Death of a loved one, grief, sexual harassment
OVERALL THOUGHTS: A wonderful, feel good romance with real characters and no end of hilarious situations.
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 3, 2021
This was a sweet and funny opposites-attract romance. In true romcom fashion, the story follows one misadventure to the next as this grump/sunshine and boss/employee duo are forced on a work-related road trip together. I absolutely loved the premise of this and the zany situations they found themselves in. This book would be good for fans of Would Like to Meet and The Worst Best Man.
Elliot is struggling to establish herself in her career, hindered by an anxiety disorder and a strong case of bad luck. Despite this, she’s unfailingly optimistic and determined to land on her own two feet. She is also fiercely independent and refuses to be looked at as a charity case, despite how much she struggles financially in the beginning of the novel.
I loved her perseverance and the way she refuses to be brought down by her anxiety or her unfortunate circumstances. Elliot is also someone who always looks for the good in people, including her cantankerous boss Benjamin.
Ben was someone that took me a while to come around to. He’s so cranky for the first third of the story and I initially found it hard to get a read on his behavior towards Elliot. He was very flippant and short-tempered, but the more his story came out the more I understood his behavior.
Where I really started to like Ben is halfway through their road trip together. Here is where we realize that Ben’s past is pretty tragic and he’s doing anything he can to keep Elliot’s ray of sunshine’s from getting through to him, determined as he is to be miserable and punish himself for his past.
What I did love about Ben is that he, from the beginning, has always bolstered Elliot’s work. He genuinely finds her to be brilliant and encourages her to advocate for herself more in her work and in her personal life. I appreciate that he didn’t simply step in a take charge of her life—he encouraged her to do it herself and respected the choices she made. He pushes her to have confidence in her abilities and I loved that.
Something else that I enjoyed was that these two have their own FRIENDS. I don’t know why it was ever a thing for contemporary romance couples to have absolutely zero friends (cough The Hating Game cough) but I found that this makes the story richer and helps endear you to the characters. These two have their respective groups that look out for and love them and I really liked that. I had a lot of fun reading their group chat messages.
This story is a romcom through and through, so if you love comedy in your romance and opposites-attract love stories, I’d check this one out!
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
CWs for workplace harassment (not from the male MC), grief, and the death of a spouse
Elliot is struggling to establish herself in her career, hindered by an anxiety disorder and a strong case of bad luck. Despite this, she’s unfailingly optimistic and determined to land on her own two feet. She is also fiercely independent and refuses to be looked at as a charity case, despite how much she struggles financially in the beginning of the novel.
What Benjamin doesn’t realize about my anxiety is that I have to fight for my mental health.
I loved her perseverance and the way she refuses to be brought down by her anxiety or her unfortunate circumstances. Elliot is also someone who always looks for the good in people, including her cantankerous boss Benjamin.
Ben was someone that took me a while to come around to. He’s so cranky for the first third of the story and I initially found it hard to get a read on his behavior towards Elliot. He was very flippant and short-tempered, but the more his story came out the more I understood his behavior.
Where I really started to like Ben is halfway through their road trip together. Here is where we realize that Ben’s past is pretty tragic and he’s doing anything he can to keep Elliot’s ray of sunshine’s from getting through to him, determined as he is to be miserable and punish himself for his past.
When I’m around her my nightmares seem to disappear. She has a way of filling a void in my heart that I didn’t think could ever be filled again.”
What I did love about Ben is that he, from the beginning, has always bolstered Elliot’s work. He genuinely finds her to be brilliant and encourages her to advocate for herself more in her work and in her personal life. I appreciate that he didn’t simply step in a take charge of her life—he encouraged her to do it herself and respected the choices she made. He pushes her to have confidence in her abilities and I loved that.
Something else that I enjoyed was that these two have their own FRIENDS. I don’t know why it was ever a thing for contemporary romance couples to have absolutely zero friends (cough The Hating Game cough) but I found that this makes the story richer and helps endear you to the characters. These two have their respective groups that look out for and love them and I really liked that. I had a lot of fun reading their group chat messages.
This story is a romcom through and through, so if you love comedy in your romance and opposites-attract love stories, I’d check this one out!
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
CWs for workplace harassment (not from the male MC), grief, and the death of a spouse
January 24, 2024
considering i picked this up expecting it to be a simple and light read, i’m not disappointed at all.
if otherwise, i might have been a bit disappointed with things like how the heck time passes in this book and when we’re from one point to another and also how a few things are just mentioned in order to create the plot but not really see them happening or understanding them. like, they’re mentioned in a rushed way just so we can see the rest of it.
if i was super invested i might be annoyed by that, but as i said i’m not mad.
even though i wasn’t that invested with the characters or the plot (and i sure found the FMC extra annoying —everything was so exaggerated 🙄— the MMC is a very likeable character, though) i found myself laughing at loud a lot and i read it in almost one sitting. i couldn’t stop reading, really. so that’s a good sign, isn’t it?
i adored the group chats with both the girl and the boy gang. it was hilarious and i wish i had this type of friendships.
it was also great how she mentions real struggle and trauma and is also inspiring.
the connection between the MCs is there but due to these rushed events seems a bit forced sometimes.
other than that, i can’t say i didn’t enjoyed it. i actually did and i’m happy i read it.
if otherwise, i might have been a bit disappointed with things like how the heck time passes in this book and when we’re from one point to another and also how a few things are just mentioned in order to create the plot but not really see them happening or understanding them. like, they’re mentioned in a rushed way just so we can see the rest of it.
if i was super invested i might be annoyed by that, but as i said i’m not mad.
even though i wasn’t that invested with the characters or the plot (and i sure found the FMC extra annoying —everything was so exaggerated 🙄— the MMC is a very likeable character, though) i found myself laughing at loud a lot and i read it in almost one sitting. i couldn’t stop reading, really. so that’s a good sign, isn’t it?
i adored the group chats with both the girl and the boy gang. it was hilarious and i wish i had this type of friendships.
it was also great how she mentions real struggle and trauma and is also inspiring.
the connection between the MCs is there but due to these rushed events seems a bit forced sometimes.
other than that, i can’t say i didn’t enjoyed it. i actually did and i’m happy i read it.
April 3, 2021
Wow!! Well, I’ve definitely found another new favorite author! This book is hilarious and steamy while dealing with some pretty heavy issues as well.
Elliot is one of the most anxiety ridden characters I think I’ve read about. I can actually relate to her in many ways. She lacks the self-confidence she fully deserves to make it in the Chicago working world. When she’s finally able to find the perfect job opportunity, she almost kills her boss on the first day. Yes, you read that right! So, after MANY other details happen she now has to go on a business road trip with Benjamin, the Co-CEO of the company. This is the man she is fairly certain hates her every breath.
Benjamin absolutely does not hate Elliot. His attraction to her is very intense and he definitely wants to act on it. However, he feels he doesn’t deserve to find love after a tragedy in his past has convinced him he’s not worthy.
This book is 100% amazing! I was laughing out loud, covering my face in embarrassment for Elliot, and swooning like a teenager the whole time!! I look forward to reading more and more from this author.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Elliot is one of the most anxiety ridden characters I think I’ve read about. I can actually relate to her in many ways. She lacks the self-confidence she fully deserves to make it in the Chicago working world. When she’s finally able to find the perfect job opportunity, she almost kills her boss on the first day. Yes, you read that right! So, after MANY other details happen she now has to go on a business road trip with Benjamin, the Co-CEO of the company. This is the man she is fairly certain hates her every breath.
Benjamin absolutely does not hate Elliot. His attraction to her is very intense and he definitely wants to act on it. However, he feels he doesn’t deserve to find love after a tragedy in his past has convinced him he’s not worthy.
This book is 100% amazing! I was laughing out loud, covering my face in embarrassment for Elliot, and swooning like a teenager the whole time!! I look forward to reading more and more from this author.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 4, 2021
What a delightful debut rom com! This book is so sweet and swoony with an awesome sunshine/grump
in Elliot and Benjamin. Elliot has struggled to hold down a job but is determined not to leave Chicago. She crashes into Benjamin one night at a bar and finds out he’s the CEO at the company she’s just been hired at. When Elliot pitches a marketing campaign, Benjamin gives her the chance she has been looking for as they head across the country together meeting clients.
I really loved the dynamic between Elliot and Benjamin. They push each other to grow and develop over the course of this book. They both also have excellent friend groups who play a big part in their story (I sure hope that epilogue means we’ll see more of them down the line!) This is also an own voices book - the author’s note indicates she has anxiety similar to Elliot’s. There’s the absolute perfect amount of steam to play a meaningful role in the arc of the story 😍
Tropes: workplace romance, grump/sunshine, only one bed, road trip
Content warnings: loss of a spouse/child, sexual harassment and sexual assault, gaslighting, panic attacks
Thanks to the author for an early copy. Opinions are my own!
in Elliot and Benjamin. Elliot has struggled to hold down a job but is determined not to leave Chicago. She crashes into Benjamin one night at a bar and finds out he’s the CEO at the company she’s just been hired at. When Elliot pitches a marketing campaign, Benjamin gives her the chance she has been looking for as they head across the country together meeting clients.
I really loved the dynamic between Elliot and Benjamin. They push each other to grow and develop over the course of this book. They both also have excellent friend groups who play a big part in their story (I sure hope that epilogue means we’ll see more of them down the line!) This is also an own voices book - the author’s note indicates she has anxiety similar to Elliot’s. There’s the absolute perfect amount of steam to play a meaningful role in the arc of the story 😍
Tropes: workplace romance, grump/sunshine, only one bed, road trip
Content warnings: loss of a spouse/child, sexual harassment and sexual assault, gaslighting, panic attacks
Thanks to the author for an early copy. Opinions are my own!
March 29, 2021
Drive Me Crazy is pure rom-com gold! The moment I read the prologue I was hooked.
Elliot is an energetic, anxiety-ridden, hot mess. She is beyond relatable, so much so at times, I caught a got a bad case of secondhand embarrassment. Finally landing a job in the career field of her dreams she is desperate to keep it.
In her quest to impress at her new job, Elliot is put in charge of a marketing campaign that has her traveling across the country to meet with influencers. There is just one catch, her new extremely sexy, stand-offish boss Benjamin will be joining her.
Benjamin is the complete opposite of Elliot. He is serious, calm, and seems to hate her. But the sparks fly the moment those two set off.
From landing on the fly list to pepper spray, the cross-country road trip the two embark on is full of hilarious laugh out loud moments and lots of sexual tension.
Jere did amazing with this book, it was funny, sexy, and at times heartbreaking. From the witty banter to friendships, I loved it all and couldn’t put it down.
Elliot is an energetic, anxiety-ridden, hot mess. She is beyond relatable, so much so at times, I caught a got a bad case of secondhand embarrassment. Finally landing a job in the career field of her dreams she is desperate to keep it.
In her quest to impress at her new job, Elliot is put in charge of a marketing campaign that has her traveling across the country to meet with influencers. There is just one catch, her new extremely sexy, stand-offish boss Benjamin will be joining her.
Benjamin is the complete opposite of Elliot. He is serious, calm, and seems to hate her. But the sparks fly the moment those two set off.
From landing on the fly list to pepper spray, the cross-country road trip the two embark on is full of hilarious laugh out loud moments and lots of sexual tension.
Jere did amazing with this book, it was funny, sexy, and at times heartbreaking. From the witty banter to friendships, I loved it all and couldn’t put it down.
March 30, 2021
The story follows Elliot, a woman who has been knocked down too many times to count, but gets up with a huge smile. And Benjamin, her grumpy boss with a dark past. These two are *stuck* together on a business road trip, where the tension between them grows.
Elliot has anxiety and panic disorder, which tends to manifest itself in dramatic, over-the-top ways, but that’s what makes Elliot, Elliot. She acts out the irrational thoughts that anyone could have. Benjamin is the calming force for Elliot during her panic attacks and is fairly understanding, even when he is on the receiving end of her accidentally hurting him during one of her attacks. Both watch and help each other grow throughout the story; Benjamin with finding and being open to joy and Elliot with believing in herself.
One of my favorite parts of the book are the relationships between Elliot and her two girlfriends. They are the type of friends that I am so lucky to have IRL!
**I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
Elliot has anxiety and panic disorder, which tends to manifest itself in dramatic, over-the-top ways, but that’s what makes Elliot, Elliot. She acts out the irrational thoughts that anyone could have. Benjamin is the calming force for Elliot during her panic attacks and is fairly understanding, even when he is on the receiving end of her accidentally hurting him during one of her attacks. Both watch and help each other grow throughout the story; Benjamin with finding and being open to joy and Elliot with believing in herself.
One of my favorite parts of the book are the relationships between Elliot and her two girlfriends. They are the type of friends that I am so lucky to have IRL!
**I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
March 29, 2021
✨ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ✨
𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙚 𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮 | Jeré Anthony
“From the moment you walked into my life, it was like you had a flashlight of your sunshine and your shined it on all of my darkness”
I absolutely adored this debut romantic comedy!! It had me hooked by the very first chapter and I binged it in two days! Elliot struggles with anxiety and finding her true place in the world, which I can totally relate to. And Benjamin with his hard exterior seemingly has his life together but deep down he’s dealing with his own trauma. I totally fell over heels with their relationship! It’s sexy, caring, and hilarious + I definitely recommend 😍
Although this is a sweet & steamy workplace romance, there are some heavier parts (CW: sexual assault in the workplace) but I think it’s important to talk about since it truly is so common and I think the author did an amazing job addressing it.
Read if you like cherry jell-o (IYKYK 🤣), road trips, and opposites attract troupe!
𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢: 🔥🔥🔥
𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙚 𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮 | Jeré Anthony
“From the moment you walked into my life, it was like you had a flashlight of your sunshine and your shined it on all of my darkness”
I absolutely adored this debut romantic comedy!! It had me hooked by the very first chapter and I binged it in two days! Elliot struggles with anxiety and finding her true place in the world, which I can totally relate to. And Benjamin with his hard exterior seemingly has his life together but deep down he’s dealing with his own trauma. I totally fell over heels with their relationship! It’s sexy, caring, and hilarious + I definitely recommend 😍
Although this is a sweet & steamy workplace romance, there are some heavier parts (CW: sexual assault in the workplace) but I think it’s important to talk about since it truly is so common and I think the author did an amazing job addressing it.
Read if you like cherry jell-o (IYKYK 🤣), road trips, and opposites attract troupe!
𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢: 🔥🔥🔥
𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 26, 2025
I wanted to like this one more than I did. The plot elements are all there, but it just went from the man is a grump to suddenly he's calling her sweetheart. There wasn't enough build up between Elliot and Benjamin in my opinion. I liked the story line, but the character development I struggled with. It says it's a slow burn and that is kind of true, but for me it was lacking the bridge between the "grump" to suddenly all in. There were many sweet parts and it was still an enjoyable read, just not as enjoyable as I wanted it to be or felt it could have been. I liked the story surrounding Sarah as that is something I haven't read before. Also, Elliot and Benjamin had a wonderful friendship group which I really liked. I also felt that some of Elliot's scenes were a bit like watching Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation which is painful and not my sense of humor because for me it's just too uncomfortable - case in point, the airplane scene.
March 27, 2021
I absolutely LOVE Jeré and knew that I'd love this book, too. First off - I'm a big fan of the characters. Elliot's anxiety feels completely relatable to me as someone who has dealt with anxiety for most of their life (though I'm not on the no-fly list...yet!) I loved that Benjamin also was insecure and worked through grief, because it made the characters feel so completely real and gave them depth!
This book had me laughing out loud so many times my own husband gave me crazy glances. Plus, the romance parts were equally hot & steamy with sweet & passion. I loved it.
I can't tell you how much I truly enjoyed this book! Get your pre-orders, get your signed copies, get all the things early. Get your hands on this book and READ it!
This book had me laughing out loud so many times my own husband gave me crazy glances. Plus, the romance parts were equally hot & steamy with sweet & passion. I loved it.
I can't tell you how much I truly enjoyed this book! Get your pre-orders, get your signed copies, get all the things early. Get your hands on this book and READ it!
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