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Love at First Spite
Falling in love is the ultimate payback in this delightful romcom about an interior designer who teams up with a mysterious architect at her firm to get revenge on her ex the only way she knows how: by building a spite house next door
They say living well is the best revenge. But sometimes, spreading the misery seems a whole lot more satisfying. That’s interior designer Dani Porter’s justification for buying the vacant lot next to her ex-fiancé’s house…the house they were supposed to live in together, before he cheated on her with their Realtor. Dani plans to build a vacation rental that will a) mess with his view and his peace of mind and b) prove that Dani is not someone to be stepped on. Welcome to project Spite House.
That plan quickly becomes complicated when Dani is forced to team up with Wyatt Montego, the handsome, haughty architect at her firm, and the only person available to draw up blueprints. Wyatt is terse and stern, the kind of man who eats his sandwich with a knife and fork. But as they spend time together on- and off-site, Dani glimpses something deeper beneath that hard veneer, something surprising, vulnerable, and real. And the closer she gets to her goal, the more she wonders if winning revenge could mean losing something infinitely sweeter…
“Love at First Spite had me hooked from the first page! The playful banter, steamy love scenes, and delightful cast of secondary characters made this debut an unputdownable read.”
—Alexandria Bellefleur, author of Written in the Stars
“Love at First Spite delivers on every level with humor, heat, and heart. Collins has crafted characters I was so delighted to spend time with, and whose love story was full of emotion and sparkling sexual tension.”
—Denise Williams, author of How to Fail at Flirting
They say living well is the best revenge. But sometimes, spreading the misery seems a whole lot more satisfying. That’s interior designer Dani Porter’s justification for buying the vacant lot next to her ex-fiancé’s house…the house they were supposed to live in together, before he cheated on her with their Realtor. Dani plans to build a vacation rental that will a) mess with his view and his peace of mind and b) prove that Dani is not someone to be stepped on. Welcome to project Spite House.
That plan quickly becomes complicated when Dani is forced to team up with Wyatt Montego, the handsome, haughty architect at her firm, and the only person available to draw up blueprints. Wyatt is terse and stern, the kind of man who eats his sandwich with a knife and fork. But as they spend time together on- and off-site, Dani glimpses something deeper beneath that hard veneer, something surprising, vulnerable, and real. And the closer she gets to her goal, the more she wonders if winning revenge could mean losing something infinitely sweeter…
“Love at First Spite had me hooked from the first page! The playful banter, steamy love scenes, and delightful cast of secondary characters made this debut an unputdownable read.”
—Alexandria Bellefleur, author of Written in the Stars
“Love at First Spite delivers on every level with humor, heat, and heart. Collins has crafted characters I was so delighted to spend time with, and whose love story was full of emotion and sparkling sexual tension.”
—Denise Williams, author of How to Fail at Flirting
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2022
584 people are currently reading
27622 people want to read
About the author
Anna E. Collins
10 books420 followersANNA E. COLLINS is a Seattle-area author who writes stories about the lives and loves of women. Once upon a time she was a teacher with a master’s degree in educational psychology. Nowadays, plotting fiction and raising humans are her main pursuits. Find her (and her canine sidekick) on Instagram, @aeccreates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,635 reviews
May 19, 2022
Sweet, workplace romance & sunshine meets the grump troupe with well planned cold served revenge dish vibes!
Can you imagine to catch your fiancée cheating on you with the realtor of the house you’ve planned to spend your entire life! And when you stop by for getting your belongings from the house, finding the same woman already replaces you, barking orders how to carry your boxes: what would you do? Screaming, crying or having a cat fight with mistress are the several options. But those actions may not redeem the pain they created. Maybe planning a revenge might be better option. Yes, that’s exactly what Dani Porter will do!
As an ambitious interior designer, she already dreamed her own studio space but douchebag she was so close to get married already ruined her dreams without discussing with her.
Now she has an opportunity to buy the vacant lot next to her ex-douchebag’s house. The very same lot which will be turned into vacation house ( thanks to silent business partners: bestie and her new landlord )
When the construction process starts, the life of her ex douche will be insurmountably challenging. ( ugly construction view and so much noise could be great elements to ruin your entire peace. I know from the experience: thanks to my neighbors from hell)
But she has to find an architect who may help to conduct this entire plan. Thankfully the perfectionist architect Wyatt Montego accepts to be on her team: actually he gets volunteered in expanse getting her help to redesign his grandmother’s place!
But the cold, arrogant man who gives hell of a time to his coworkers, who eats sandwiches with fork and knife, wears impeccable suits Dani accidentally pours on something, looks like extra friendly, caring guy.
Since he saw Dani in her wedding dress ruined by paintball attack, too drunk to put one foot in front of the other, he acts like he truly cares about her.
Dani keeps her revenge plan as a secret but one thing she doesn’t plan is falling for her coworker and risk everything in her life to give a chance to their relationship.
Well, this was entertaining, feel good, sweet work friends to lovers story I devoured in one sit! Definitely recommended to true lovers of well written romcoms!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sharing this lovely digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Can you imagine to catch your fiancée cheating on you with the realtor of the house you’ve planned to spend your entire life! And when you stop by for getting your belongings from the house, finding the same woman already replaces you, barking orders how to carry your boxes: what would you do? Screaming, crying or having a cat fight with mistress are the several options. But those actions may not redeem the pain they created. Maybe planning a revenge might be better option. Yes, that’s exactly what Dani Porter will do!
As an ambitious interior designer, she already dreamed her own studio space but douchebag she was so close to get married already ruined her dreams without discussing with her.
Now she has an opportunity to buy the vacant lot next to her ex-douchebag’s house. The very same lot which will be turned into vacation house ( thanks to silent business partners: bestie and her new landlord )
When the construction process starts, the life of her ex douche will be insurmountably challenging. ( ugly construction view and so much noise could be great elements to ruin your entire peace. I know from the experience: thanks to my neighbors from hell)
But she has to find an architect who may help to conduct this entire plan. Thankfully the perfectionist architect Wyatt Montego accepts to be on her team: actually he gets volunteered in expanse getting her help to redesign his grandmother’s place!
But the cold, arrogant man who gives hell of a time to his coworkers, who eats sandwiches with fork and knife, wears impeccable suits Dani accidentally pours on something, looks like extra friendly, caring guy.
Since he saw Dani in her wedding dress ruined by paintball attack, too drunk to put one foot in front of the other, he acts like he truly cares about her.
Dani keeps her revenge plan as a secret but one thing she doesn’t plan is falling for her coworker and risk everything in her life to give a chance to their relationship.
Well, this was entertaining, feel good, sweet work friends to lovers story I devoured in one sit! Definitely recommended to true lovers of well written romcoms!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sharing this lovely digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
January 14, 2022
Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins is a 2022 Graydon House
Publication.
When Dani Porter discovers her fiancé has been unfaithful, she decides to put her interior decoration skills in motion to exact a little revenge.
She buys the property adjacent to his and begins work on her very own ‘Spite House’. With her cousin, Mia, on board, she finds and unlikely ally in one of her co-workers- an architect named Wyatt Montego. While Wyatt may be good at his job, he’s not exactly the warmest person in the world, and has garnered a bit of a bad reputation because of his aloofness.
But, when he offers to help Dani in exchange for her help in helping his grandmother with some interior design, she’s not able to decline. While Wyatt is a completely clueless about Dani’s motives, Dani discovers he is not at all as cold as he lets on…
Okay, I’m not sure if everyone else was aware, but I’d never heard of a ‘Spite House’ before reading this book. The author’s note at the end had me doing a few Google searches, and apparently, this is really a thing- who knew?
As to the story- I liked it. It was cute and I liked most of the characters, especially cousin, Mia, who had some of the best lines, I thought. While the premise is original, the book still utilizes the usual Rom Com/ contemporary romance format, with no real surprises on that front.
Still, I was entertained, enjoyed the dialogue, thought the MC's had a good chemistry, and enjoyed the mood lift I got from reading this book- and I learned something I didn’t know before. So, overall, I happy with my experience!
3.5 rounded up.
Publication.
When Dani Porter discovers her fiancé has been unfaithful, she decides to put her interior decoration skills in motion to exact a little revenge.
She buys the property adjacent to his and begins work on her very own ‘Spite House’. With her cousin, Mia, on board, she finds and unlikely ally in one of her co-workers- an architect named Wyatt Montego. While Wyatt may be good at his job, he’s not exactly the warmest person in the world, and has garnered a bit of a bad reputation because of his aloofness.
But, when he offers to help Dani in exchange for her help in helping his grandmother with some interior design, she’s not able to decline. While Wyatt is a completely clueless about Dani’s motives, Dani discovers he is not at all as cold as he lets on…
Okay, I’m not sure if everyone else was aware, but I’d never heard of a ‘Spite House’ before reading this book. The author’s note at the end had me doing a few Google searches, and apparently, this is really a thing- who knew?
As to the story- I liked it. It was cute and I liked most of the characters, especially cousin, Mia, who had some of the best lines, I thought. While the premise is original, the book still utilizes the usual Rom Com/ contemporary romance format, with no real surprises on that front.
Still, I was entertained, enjoyed the dialogue, thought the MC's had a good chemistry, and enjoyed the mood lift I got from reading this book- and I learned something I didn’t know before. So, overall, I happy with my experience!
3.5 rounded up.
May 11, 2024
4 ⭐
The truth is that I had a great time with the audiobook, I think it made me enjoy it more. Dani is a super fun and honest character, and I found Wyatt to be a sweetheart (except for some scenes in which he seemed like a rather cold character to me). In general it keeps you hooked all the time since quite a few things happen
The truth is that I had a great time with the audiobook, I think it made me enjoy it more. Dani is a super fun and honest character, and I found Wyatt to be a sweetheart (except for some scenes in which he seemed like a rather cold character to me). In general it keeps you hooked all the time since quite a few things happen
March 12, 2025
After a fun start with Dani venting her wrathful feelings in a satisfying way, I settled in to enjoy what I hoped would be a light romantic comedy. The petty and immature revenge of the Spite House also appealed because haven't we all imagined revenge on an ex who's done us wrong? I wanted a little vicarious mischief and yet still be able to claim I'm a mature adult.
The first third or so of the story was exactly what I wanted; the setup for the plot, the introduction of primary and secondary characters, and a sense of where the overall story would go. The next third of the story is where things seemed to meander off course after feelings heated up between Dani and Wyatt. Their romance wasn't what I expected, it quickly got hot and heavy and lacked almost all beyond the physical. I knew not to necessarily expect mature conversation, especially for bedroom talk, but some words beyond "Yeah" would have been nice. The friendships and secondary characters are part of some other storyline as they do not appear much, if at all, beyond the barest mention.
Then we delve into the descent, or perhaps I mean ascent, of a hopefully fair and amiable conclusion to the Spite House punishment. Now, we should see someone -- Dani, Wyatt, Mia, Iris -- come to their senses and backtrack at least a little. But again, the plot takes an unexpected turn, and slides firmly out of the romance genre and into general fiction with a tiny touch of mystery leaning when some lex talionis business amps up the danger factor. The friendships and characters from the first third were back, but their roles felt more like obligatory mentions than real supporting characters.
Overall, I liked the story, I just wish it had a tighter focus and solid genre. It moves from women's fiction to romance to fiction, but with some alterations in structure and flow it would move from a satisfactory read to a four-star or better read in any of those three genres.
The first third or so of the story was exactly what I wanted; the setup for the plot, the introduction of primary and secondary characters, and a sense of where the overall story would go. The next third of the story is where things seemed to meander off course after feelings heated up between Dani and Wyatt. Their romance wasn't what I expected, it quickly got hot and heavy and lacked almost all beyond the physical. I knew not to necessarily expect mature conversation, especially for bedroom talk, but some words beyond "Yeah" would have been nice. The friendships and secondary characters are part of some other storyline as they do not appear much, if at all, beyond the barest mention.
Then we delve into the descent, or perhaps I mean ascent, of a hopefully fair and amiable conclusion to the Spite House punishment. Now, we should see someone -- Dani, Wyatt, Mia, Iris -- come to their senses and backtrack at least a little. But again, the plot takes an unexpected turn, and slides firmly out of the romance genre and into general fiction with a tiny touch of mystery leaning when some lex talionis business amps up the danger factor. The friendships and characters from the first third were back, but their roles felt more like obligatory mentions than real supporting characters.
Overall, I liked the story, I just wish it had a tighter focus and solid genre. It moves from women's fiction to romance to fiction, but with some alterations in structure and flow it would move from a satisfactory read to a four-star or better read in any of those three genres.
January 18, 2022
Danielle (Dani) Porter is an interior designer for a house building firm near Seattle. She was engaged to Sam but caught him cheating with their realtor one month before the wedding. He kept the house they bought together but he had reneged on buying the adjacent property she wanted for her dream textile printing studio. It’s been a month now but she’s still seething, even though Sam wants her back. But she’s got another plan…buy that property, build a rental house born of Sam’s nightmares and market it as the Spite House. With her cousin and new landlord as investors, Dani now needs an architect. Enter Wyatt Montego who is the talented but prickly architect at her firm, feared by many in the company. He agrees to do it quid pro if Dani will help him with a project for his grandmother. Wyatt also brings on the contractor and the revenge project takes off! However, neither of them counted on this morphing into something more between the two of them.
They say revenge is best served up cold but this was more clever. As the project progressed, it became fun and interesting. Dani kept Wyatt in the dark about the true objective of the house so much of it was designed conventionally. He didn’t even know that Sam lived next door and as he and Dani’s feelings began to transition from distant colleagues to romance, she found herself facing a moral dilemma. Frankly, I never thought the project would go this far, let alone that she’d find two people willing to invest in something like this but as the house began to take shape and become a reality, I kept hoping that Dani would lose some of the passion behind it. Wyatt had his own issues, which were slowly revealed, making him a lot more appealing and understandable. I liked that there were good reasons for his cool and distant behavior, that he wasn’t standoffish without basis.
Dani and Wyatt were almost complete opposites, which worked well for them. Their communication issues created unnecessary drama at times (like this story needed more of that!) but they were illustrative of what most couples experience so it felt realistic. I disliked the concept of the Spite House but it served as a method for Dani to exorcise all that Sam baggage. Dani was slow to the realization but she eventually got there. The climactic ending was unexpected but it did provide a resolution that fit well. What I loved most about the story was the relationship between Dani and Wyatt where they were forced to get to know each other without the distraction of lust, though that did surface pretty quickly. They also had to juggle the issues related to them working for the same company and carrying on a secret affair. It all made for a deeper story than I’d expected but still brought the laughs.
I listened to the story and the narrator brought a lightheartedness that made this feel less mean. Her voice for Dani sounded perfect and Wyatt came across exactly as I thought he should. This is my first time listening to her and I was very pleased with her performance. She helped make this a fun listening experience. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
They say revenge is best served up cold but this was more clever. As the project progressed, it became fun and interesting. Dani kept Wyatt in the dark about the true objective of the house so much of it was designed conventionally. He didn’t even know that Sam lived next door and as he and Dani’s feelings began to transition from distant colleagues to romance, she found herself facing a moral dilemma. Frankly, I never thought the project would go this far, let alone that she’d find two people willing to invest in something like this but as the house began to take shape and become a reality, I kept hoping that Dani would lose some of the passion behind it. Wyatt had his own issues, which were slowly revealed, making him a lot more appealing and understandable. I liked that there were good reasons for his cool and distant behavior, that he wasn’t standoffish without basis.
Dani and Wyatt were almost complete opposites, which worked well for them. Their communication issues created unnecessary drama at times (like this story needed more of that!) but they were illustrative of what most couples experience so it felt realistic. I disliked the concept of the Spite House but it served as a method for Dani to exorcise all that Sam baggage. Dani was slow to the realization but she eventually got there. The climactic ending was unexpected but it did provide a resolution that fit well. What I loved most about the story was the relationship between Dani and Wyatt where they were forced to get to know each other without the distraction of lust, though that did surface pretty quickly. They also had to juggle the issues related to them working for the same company and carrying on a secret affair. It all made for a deeper story than I’d expected but still brought the laughs.
I listened to the story and the narrator brought a lightheartedness that made this feel less mean. Her voice for Dani sounded perfect and Wyatt came across exactly as I thought he should. This is my first time listening to her and I was very pleased with her performance. She helped make this a fun listening experience. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
January 12, 2022
Who builds a house for the sole purpose of spiting an ex? Dani Porter does 😯.
Did she build the spite house alone? Nope. Lucky for her, her cousin (Mia) and landlady were happy to help her bring the spite plan to life. It's hard to believe they chose to go along with the spite house plan, but they did. Most importantly, they brought friendship and different perspectives to Dani's life.
Wyatt Montego, one of the architects at the house building firm Dani works at, designed the house. How did this architect with a stern business exterior sign up for the job? That's part of the fun of this story. For the record, though, he didn't know he was designing a spite house. The more he and Dani worked together on this project, the more they got to know each other.
For the most part, I didn't find Dani to be as likable as I'd hoped. She was so wrapped up in revenge against her ex, that she came across as selfish and irrational for most of the story. Fortunately, the other characters brought quirkiness and positivity to the story.
Did she build the spite house alone? Nope. Lucky for her, her cousin (Mia) and landlady were happy to help her bring the spite plan to life. It's hard to believe they chose to go along with the spite house plan, but they did. Most importantly, they brought friendship and different perspectives to Dani's life.
Wyatt Montego, one of the architects at the house building firm Dani works at, designed the house. How did this architect with a stern business exterior sign up for the job? That's part of the fun of this story. For the record, though, he didn't know he was designing a spite house. The more he and Dani worked together on this project, the more they got to know each other.
For the most part, I didn't find Dani to be as likable as I'd hoped. She was so wrapped up in revenge against her ex, that she came across as selfish and irrational for most of the story. Fortunately, the other characters brought quirkiness and positivity to the story.
January 9, 2022
rep: love interest with Ménière's disease, lesbian side character
Actual rating: 1.5 (lowered it after reviewing because I felt angry again).
This title is highly misleading. Does the book have spite? Meh, sure, there’s some spite, mostly towards Dani’s ex, as you’d expect since he cheated on her. But that’s about it. If you’re hoping to find any ACTUAL love at first spite, you’ll find only some mild discontentment.
Dani and Wyatt are both cut-outs of every chick-lit book out there and so vague I could barely care about what happened to them throughout this book. When you’re a main character, you’re supposed to feel , to make us feel with you. All that I could feel was a lack of personality and originality, since they had typical backstories, good old miscommunication (not the funny kind) and a case of insta-love (because the attraction is just soooo undeniable). Their romance didn’t make me feel much, since, guess what? It’s teased since the very first chapter. The author couldn’t even wait until chapter 3 or 5 to kickstart.
Plot, the unicorn, rainbow, stuffing of the entire book, as one may call it: the oh-so-promised spite house. The author reveals in the ending notes that she grabbed the idea from real life; real people bought slots or houses next to their ex-lovers just so they could continue to be in their lives and annoy the crap out of them. This idea, highly toxic and immature, intrigued me. I could muster up 50 or so scenarios, what-ifs, imagine how funny it’d be to read them, how I’d laugh and cry and love. Hell, I expected it for Dani to rival Naomi from You Deserve Each Other in terms of spite.
You also could predict without even needing to read this novel that the spite house is meant to be a bad idea from the very start. To be a metaphor, a plot device, something meant to provide a few good chuckles and a life lesson at the end.
Except it doesn’t do even half of what it could do. The book has no real pay-off and the spite house doesn’t entertain; its climax and big twists besides being predictable (which wouldn’t even matter if I at least cared about these people), deem the entire book as vain and childish. Whatever life lesson it tried to transmit with that cartoon-ish ending just has me pissed off. It was disappointing, and as much as I wanted, I couldn’t find it funny. I realise now, I expected the humour in this book to be placed in the house, and it was placed somewhere else.
Let’s mention the things I did like about this book, for a change: the chapters are tiny, thus leaving the passing very fast. It’s a breeze to read this book, and if you just want a story that is light, it could work for you. Dani’s landlord and cousin, the most prevalent side characters, stole the show for me.
In summary, this book is your package deal of teen romcom traits, only that it features adults instead. It’s a Disney real live action movie, but not one of the recent ones where there is semi-good CGI and the writers try to give everyone some semblance of a happy ending.
After this experience, I think I either take a break from romance or have to start seriously training how to lower my expectations. First book of 2022, everybody! Here's to happier reads!
-----
did i take out one star out of spite? maybe
rtc to come, ill try to sound less pissy
Actual rating: 1.5 (lowered it after reviewing because I felt angry again).
This title is highly misleading. Does the book have spite? Meh, sure, there’s some spite, mostly towards Dani’s ex, as you’d expect since he cheated on her. But that’s about it. If you’re hoping to find any ACTUAL love at first spite, you’ll find only some mild discontentment.
Dani and Wyatt are both cut-outs of every chick-lit book out there and so vague I could barely care about what happened to them throughout this book. When you’re a main character, you’re supposed to feel , to make us feel with you. All that I could feel was a lack of personality and originality, since they had typical backstories, good old miscommunication (not the funny kind) and a case of insta-love (because the attraction is just soooo undeniable). Their romance didn’t make me feel much, since, guess what? It’s teased since the very first chapter. The author couldn’t even wait until chapter 3 or 5 to kickstart.
Plot, the unicorn, rainbow, stuffing of the entire book, as one may call it: the oh-so-promised spite house. The author reveals in the ending notes that she grabbed the idea from real life; real people bought slots or houses next to their ex-lovers just so they could continue to be in their lives and annoy the crap out of them. This idea, highly toxic and immature, intrigued me. I could muster up 50 or so scenarios, what-ifs, imagine how funny it’d be to read them, how I’d laugh and cry and love. Hell, I expected it for Dani to rival Naomi from You Deserve Each Other in terms of spite.
You also could predict without even needing to read this novel that the spite house is meant to be a bad idea from the very start. To be a metaphor, a plot device, something meant to provide a few good chuckles and a life lesson at the end.
Except it doesn’t do even half of what it could do. The book has no real pay-off and the spite house doesn’t entertain; its climax and big twists besides being predictable (which wouldn’t even matter if I at least cared about these people), deem the entire book as vain and childish. Whatever life lesson it tried to transmit with that cartoon-ish ending just has me pissed off. It was disappointing, and as much as I wanted, I couldn’t find it funny. I realise now, I expected the humour in this book to be placed in the house, and it was placed somewhere else.
Let’s mention the things I did like about this book, for a change: the chapters are tiny, thus leaving the passing very fast. It’s a breeze to read this book, and if you just want a story that is light, it could work for you. Dani’s landlord and cousin, the most prevalent side characters, stole the show for me.
In summary, this book is your package deal of teen romcom traits, only that it features adults instead. It’s a Disney real live action movie, but not one of the recent ones where there is semi-good CGI and the writers try to give everyone some semblance of a happy ending.
After this experience, I think I either take a break from romance or have to start seriously training how to lower my expectations. First book of 2022, everybody! Here's to happier reads!
-----
did i take out one star out of spite? maybe
rtc to come, ill try to sound less pissy
January 6, 2022
A book that's basically about how a rich white guy gets away with arson. But that's an oversimplification so lets backtrack a bit.
Danielle, having recently walked out on her fiancé weeks before their wedding because he cheated on her with the realtor who sold them their house, is a woman on a mission. Having sworn off men, relationships, and love, she's hell bent on getting revenge on Sam, her cheating fiancé.
Wyatt is the hotshot architect who works at the same firm where Danielle is an interior designer. Taciturn, aloof, and kind of difficult, he's also the only one Danielle can get to design her a house on the property adjacent to her fiancé's. She wants to build a spite house, to block Sam's view and generally be a nuisance to him.
The first half of the book is fairly solid - I like a good revenge plot, I'm petty and I'm not ashamed of it. Watching Danielle and her cousin/best friend Mia and her landlady Iris join forces to help Danielle reach her goal, is kind of sweet and also empowering.
The trouble begins in the second half of the book. At some point, when Danielle and Wyatt give into their mutual attraction, I keep expecting Dani to come clean to Wyatt about her real intention about building that house. But she never does. And I kind of hate that she keeps this big thing a secret and yet, keeps getting mad at him for pulling away from her and sending her mixed signals when she's been less than forthcoming with him. Secondly, there's a major thing she forgets to do, that when the big bad thing happens, could potentially derail not just her plans but Iris and Mia's as well. I love a competent heroine and I really wish the author had found a way to achieve her plot goals without having Danielle come off looking like an incompetent, unprofessional flake. Third, when the big bad happens, it's a bit OTT. And that's where the arson thing comes into play. Sam literally burns down the house Dani is having built. Intentionally. Like. WTF. And then Dani and Mia and Iris break into his house, find proof of his criminal doings and blackmail him into buying the plot of land at over market value so they can recoup their losses because that's the thing Dani forgot - she forgot to get insured on the property. And so, she feels bad about turning him into the police because of their shared history and offers him an out - he buys the property from them and they won't go to the police.
Anyway, they get their $$$ back, Wyatt and Danielle end up together and honestly, this is one of those books where I really liked the hero a LOT and also spent much of the second half of the book questioning what he saw in the heroine. It did not make sense to me at all. I don't understand how they fell for each other, or why he was even attracted to her in the first place. I feel like he was far better developed as a character than she was despite the fact that the book was entirely in her POV.
I will say I liked the stuff about Wyatt having vertigo due to his Ménière's disease - I have no direct experience with this but I thought it was done fairly well and I liked the scene were Dani took care of him.
But really, the capper on the book was the arson and Sam just having to buy the property and not facing a single criminal charge. The premise had potential, the execution just wasn't there.
CW: cheating ex fiancé (off page), breaking and entering, arson, some fat phobic commentary about Mia;
ARC from Netgalley, review is all mine.
Danielle, having recently walked out on her fiancé weeks before their wedding because he cheated on her with the realtor who sold them their house, is a woman on a mission. Having sworn off men, relationships, and love, she's hell bent on getting revenge on Sam, her cheating fiancé.
Wyatt is the hotshot architect who works at the same firm where Danielle is an interior designer. Taciturn, aloof, and kind of difficult, he's also the only one Danielle can get to design her a house on the property adjacent to her fiancé's. She wants to build a spite house, to block Sam's view and generally be a nuisance to him.
The first half of the book is fairly solid - I like a good revenge plot, I'm petty and I'm not ashamed of it. Watching Danielle and her cousin/best friend Mia and her landlady Iris join forces to help Danielle reach her goal, is kind of sweet and also empowering.
The trouble begins in the second half of the book. At some point, when Danielle and Wyatt give into their mutual attraction, I keep expecting Dani to come clean to Wyatt about her real intention about building that house. But she never does. And I kind of hate that she keeps this big thing a secret and yet, keeps getting mad at him for pulling away from her and sending her mixed signals when she's been less than forthcoming with him. Secondly, there's a major thing she forgets to do, that when the big bad thing happens, could potentially derail not just her plans but Iris and Mia's as well. I love a competent heroine and I really wish the author had found a way to achieve her plot goals without having Danielle come off looking like an incompetent, unprofessional flake. Third, when the big bad happens, it's a bit OTT. And that's where the arson thing comes into play. Sam literally burns down the house Dani is having built. Intentionally. Like. WTF. And then Dani and Mia and Iris break into his house, find proof of his criminal doings and blackmail him into buying the plot of land at over market value so they can recoup their losses because that's the thing Dani forgot - she forgot to get insured on the property. And so, she feels bad about turning him into the police because of their shared history and offers him an out - he buys the property from them and they won't go to the police.
Anyway, they get their $$$ back, Wyatt and Danielle end up together and honestly, this is one of those books where I really liked the hero a LOT and also spent much of the second half of the book questioning what he saw in the heroine. It did not make sense to me at all. I don't understand how they fell for each other, or why he was even attracted to her in the first place. I feel like he was far better developed as a character than she was despite the fact that the book was entirely in her POV.
I will say I liked the stuff about Wyatt having vertigo due to his Ménière's disease - I have no direct experience with this but I thought it was done fairly well and I liked the scene were Dani took care of him.
But really, the capper on the book was the arson and Sam just having to buy the property and not facing a single criminal charge. The premise had potential, the execution just wasn't there.
CW: cheating ex fiancé (off page), breaking and entering, arson, some fat phobic commentary about Mia;
ARC from Netgalley, review is all mine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2021
3.5
This was a mixed bag for me. I loved the beginning where we meet Dani and her cousin Mia as they’re playing paintball on what was supposed to be Dani’s wedding day. The girl gang with her cousin and her spunky elderly landlady was amazing.
But I wasn’t a huge fan of just how extreme Dani’s revenge “spite house” scheme became. She got really focused on making her ex’s life miserable, whereas I just wanted her to move on and pay attention to the hot architect that clearly had a crush on her.
Speaking of Wyatt, I really wanted to get in his head. This was a single perspective romance with not a lot of steam. I found the overall chemistry between the two MCs rather disappointing.
Overall a fast read that I did enjoy more than not but it won’t be one of my favourites this year. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.
This was a mixed bag for me. I loved the beginning where we meet Dani and her cousin Mia as they’re playing paintball on what was supposed to be Dani’s wedding day. The girl gang with her cousin and her spunky elderly landlady was amazing.
But I wasn’t a huge fan of just how extreme Dani’s revenge “spite house” scheme became. She got really focused on making her ex’s life miserable, whereas I just wanted her to move on and pay attention to the hot architect that clearly had a crush on her.
Speaking of Wyatt, I really wanted to get in his head. This was a single perspective romance with not a lot of steam. I found the overall chemistry between the two MCs rather disappointing.
Overall a fast read that I did enjoy more than not but it won’t be one of my favourites this year. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.
May 28, 2022
Love at First Spite surprises me. I thought it was another boring chick lit. Miss Collins's writing style is fresh and fun. I enjoy the whole story.
Wyatt and Dani certainly have sizzling chemistry. I like their connection, their chemistry. Wyatt is certainly a very sweet hero despite his attempt to stay aloof. The twist and turn is mild and good thing Miss Collins using light, cute and fun banter to balance the plot.
Overall a very enjoyable book.
4 stars
Wyatt and Dani certainly have sizzling chemistry. I like their connection, their chemistry. Wyatt is certainly a very sweet hero despite his attempt to stay aloof. The twist and turn is mild and good thing Miss Collins using light, cute and fun banter to balance the plot.
Overall a very enjoyable book.
4 stars
January 5, 2022
Rating 5
Woah, this story was fantastic! These characters were filled with so much emotion, personality and depth. I read this book in two days and I wish I could have read it in one! I just...Ahhhh...words cannot truly express how happy this book made me. Honestly, I don’t have one bad thing to say about this book. The author did an amazing job with the characters, overall storyline, the pacing was great, and the writing had a nice flow.
One thing I really loved about this story was how emotionally honest it felt. The main character Dani struggles with being strong and allowing others to help her. Her character felt very realistic and open. She was definitely someone I could relate to and honestly inspire to be one day. After having her heart broken she goes through all of the stages of grief and learns to be okay for herself rather than doing it for someone else. I absolutely adored the love interest Wyatt! He was so grumpy, charming, and full of confidence. I could tell he deeply cared about Dani even when he was extremely upset. No matter what happened, I could feel the love he had for her. This book made me swoon so many times!
Not only did this book have a cute and steamy romance but it had a lot of laughable moments. I loved how much the side characters Mia and Iris added to the story. They each had their own personality and character growth throughout the story. I could go on and on and usually I do. However, I want to keep this review shorter so you can experience everything for yourself.
Perfect for fans of enemies to lovers as well as grumpy to sunshine love interests.
**Received a copy from #Netgalley in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much @graydonhousebooks and @aeccreates for providing me with a copy!**
Woah, this story was fantastic! These characters were filled with so much emotion, personality and depth. I read this book in two days and I wish I could have read it in one! I just...Ahhhh...words cannot truly express how happy this book made me. Honestly, I don’t have one bad thing to say about this book. The author did an amazing job with the characters, overall storyline, the pacing was great, and the writing had a nice flow.
One thing I really loved about this story was how emotionally honest it felt. The main character Dani struggles with being strong and allowing others to help her. Her character felt very realistic and open. She was definitely someone I could relate to and honestly inspire to be one day. After having her heart broken she goes through all of the stages of grief and learns to be okay for herself rather than doing it for someone else. I absolutely adored the love interest Wyatt! He was so grumpy, charming, and full of confidence. I could tell he deeply cared about Dani even when he was extremely upset. No matter what happened, I could feel the love he had for her. This book made me swoon so many times!
Not only did this book have a cute and steamy romance but it had a lot of laughable moments. I loved how much the side characters Mia and Iris added to the story. They each had their own personality and character growth throughout the story. I could go on and on and usually I do. However, I want to keep this review shorter so you can experience everything for yourself.
Perfect for fans of enemies to lovers as well as grumpy to sunshine love interests.
**Received a copy from #Netgalley in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much @graydonhousebooks and @aeccreates for providing me with a copy!**
July 20, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Love at First Spite was fun romcom to jump into. In this, you will meet Dani and Wyatt. In the beginning, things are definitely tough for Dani. She's flying high on rainbows and everything until the day she catches her fiancée cheating on her. It doesn't help that it's with their realtor either.
The day she walks back into their dream house to collect her things, she sees the one thing she never would have imagined. They are living together. So, instead of throwing a tantrum she does the next best thing: plan her freaking revenge. Honestly, they deserve it.
After buying the vacant lot next door to her douche of an ex, she starts building her dream vacation house. All she needs is an architect and she can start creating all kinds of noise to disrupt her new neighbor's lives. Welcome to hell douche canoes.
Enter Wyatt. Things do not start off on the right page between them. Then again, I think if I watched someone eat a sandwich with utensils it would kind of annoy me too. Just saying. Slowly, but surely, they start to like one another.
I definitely enjoyed them getting closer to one another because they were so freaking cute. The tension was on fire when it needed to be. The chemistry was obvious to anyone with good eyesight. It just needed to happen.
In the end, drama came and went. The romance thrived and everyone was left happy. I'm so happy that I got the chance to dive into this.
Love at First Spite was fun romcom to jump into. In this, you will meet Dani and Wyatt. In the beginning, things are definitely tough for Dani. She's flying high on rainbows and everything until the day she catches her fiancée cheating on her. It doesn't help that it's with their realtor either.
The day she walks back into their dream house to collect her things, she sees the one thing she never would have imagined. They are living together. So, instead of throwing a tantrum she does the next best thing: plan her freaking revenge. Honestly, they deserve it.
After buying the vacant lot next door to her douche of an ex, she starts building her dream vacation house. All she needs is an architect and she can start creating all kinds of noise to disrupt her new neighbor's lives. Welcome to hell douche canoes.
Enter Wyatt. Things do not start off on the right page between them. Then again, I think if I watched someone eat a sandwich with utensils it would kind of annoy me too. Just saying. Slowly, but surely, they start to like one another.
I definitely enjoyed them getting closer to one another because they were so freaking cute. The tension was on fire when it needed to be. The chemistry was obvious to anyone with good eyesight. It just needed to happen.
In the end, drama came and went. The romance thrived and everyone was left happy. I'm so happy that I got the chance to dive into this.
January 3, 2023
3.5⭐️
Cute little read. Revenge on a ex with your bossy/grumpy co-worker.
It was a short & fun. Not the best thing I have ever read but I did enjoy myself while reading !!
Cute little read. Revenge on a ex with your bossy/grumpy co-worker.
It was a short & fun. Not the best thing I have ever read but I did enjoy myself while reading !!
March 18, 2022
Enemies to lovers - can never get old - fun story and laughable characters..yes :)
February 20, 2022
I was a bit wary of jumping into this one because of the reviews, but I’m glad I gave it a chance.
I really liked Dani and Wyatt. They’re both smart and driven and have been hurt in past relationships. It was fun reading them slowly morph from colleagues to friendly to more and I absolutely adored the slow burn build up. Mia and Iris are both fantastic secondary characters and provided common sense and levity when needed.
Plot wise, it was good. There’s a bit of push and pull towards the end and of course, everything could have been fixed with a conversation, but then the make up wouldn’t have been so sweet.
Overall, it was a fun story with a relationship I could really root for and I’ll definitely be looking into Anna’s future books.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked Dani and Wyatt. They’re both smart and driven and have been hurt in past relationships. It was fun reading them slowly morph from colleagues to friendly to more and I absolutely adored the slow burn build up. Mia and Iris are both fantastic secondary characters and provided common sense and levity when needed.
Plot wise, it was good. There’s a bit of push and pull towards the end and of course, everything could have been fixed with a conversation, but then the make up wouldn’t have been so sweet.
Overall, it was a fun story with a relationship I could really root for and I’ll definitely be looking into Anna’s future books.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
January 1, 2022
This had all the ingredients of a great read, but it never came together in a way that was satisfying, and instead fell flat. I was immediately charmed by the blurb - the storyline is completely unique, a little crazy, and I'm always up for a misunderstood grump of a hero. Throw in an opposites attract team-up and some rom com vibes, and I should've loved this. I just didn't. The writing is clunky and some of the word choices were strange. The romance was pretty lackluster, feeling more like a rebound/fling than anything. It's single perspective, but not done in a way that had me charmed and intrigued by the hero. I didn't get swoony vibes from him, and there was definitely a lack of chemistry. It just didn't work, but the foundation of a solid romance is here.
The story follows Dani, a woman who has recently gone through a breakup. Her fiancé cheated, and Dani feels like she needs to do something to settle the score. Realizing that the property next to her ex's house is available, Dani decides to do something unexpected - build a spite house. She'll rent out the property and be the worst neighbor ever, and that will (hopefully) make her feel better. Enlisting the help of the moody architect at her workplace, Dani moves forward with her plans. But spending time with Wyatt outside of the office allows her to see a whole other side of the man, and she likes what she sees. As they grow closer, Dani feels like she's finally moving forward - even if her past is right next door.
On paper, this is exactly the kind of book that I love to read. A mysterious grump of a hero with a softer side that's revealed along the way, a low angst feel with a deeper storyline beneath the humor, an office romance that sparks as our couple works together. It's all great, and yet... it didn't work this time. The spite house was too central to the storyline, and we really needed to get to know Wyatt better. Their relationship fell flat for me, and there's a reveal towards the end that was a total miss. More time with them and less time on the ill advised scheme would've improved the book significantly, though the writing itself was a little rough. Overall, I can't say that this was a win for me, but there's definitely some good stuff going on. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this unique romance.
The story follows Dani, a woman who has recently gone through a breakup. Her fiancé cheated, and Dani feels like she needs to do something to settle the score. Realizing that the property next to her ex's house is available, Dani decides to do something unexpected - build a spite house. She'll rent out the property and be the worst neighbor ever, and that will (hopefully) make her feel better. Enlisting the help of the moody architect at her workplace, Dani moves forward with her plans. But spending time with Wyatt outside of the office allows her to see a whole other side of the man, and she likes what she sees. As they grow closer, Dani feels like she's finally moving forward - even if her past is right next door.
On paper, this is exactly the kind of book that I love to read. A mysterious grump of a hero with a softer side that's revealed along the way, a low angst feel with a deeper storyline beneath the humor, an office romance that sparks as our couple works together. It's all great, and yet... it didn't work this time. The spite house was too central to the storyline, and we really needed to get to know Wyatt better. Their relationship fell flat for me, and there's a reveal towards the end that was a total miss. More time with them and less time on the ill advised scheme would've improved the book significantly, though the writing itself was a little rough. Overall, I can't say that this was a win for me, but there's definitely some good stuff going on. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this unique romance.
January 8, 2022
2.5 Stars
This wasn't bad by any means, but I didn't really get much from it either. I was expecting a fun revenge romp with a hot romance on the side, but the revenge was kinda lackluster and underdeveloped, and the romance felt a little rushed to me. Because while I do think Dani and Wyatt have some chemistry, there wasn't much development for the actual relationship - They become involved early on and I missed feeling the tension and build in the relationship.
This wasn't bad by any means, but I didn't really get much from it either. I was expecting a fun revenge romp with a hot romance on the side, but the revenge was kinda lackluster and underdeveloped, and the romance felt a little rushed to me. Because while I do think Dani and Wyatt have some chemistry, there wasn't much development for the actual relationship - They become involved early on and I missed feeling the tension and build in the relationship.
March 28, 2023
Cute and short rom-com! Fast read!
Everything in this book is surface level so do not go into this book expecting anything deep. Do not expect well developed characters, a revenge that is satisfactory, a beautiful love story, etc.
This is the author's first novel and it shows in the multiple parts where the writing is too stiff but overall decent debut!
Do not be fooled by the title. This is not an enemies to lovers romance and not really a grumpy x sunshine romance either.
This book is good as a palate cleanser!
Everything in this book is surface level so do not go into this book expecting anything deep. Do not expect well developed characters, a revenge that is satisfactory, a beautiful love story, etc.
This is the author's first novel and it shows in the multiple parts where the writing is too stiff but overall decent debut!
Do not be fooled by the title. This is not an enemies to lovers romance and not really a grumpy x sunshine romance either.
This book is good as a palate cleanser!
May 6, 2022
an office romance where shitting where you eat turns out to be (surprise!) not the best idea + a textbook enemies to lovers romance where it didn't feel like they were rly enemies in the first place + an unlikeable FMC who is petty in the stupidest (and not funny!) way + a man baby MMC with the emotional capacity of a walnut + two people who just can't fucking talk? to each other? no thx. the FMC was so dumb and annoying that i didn't even want her to have an HEA. also the plot was just garbage
August 14, 2022
This book gets 2 stars for being set in Bellevue
May 17, 2023
Escritura 4⭐
Personajes 3⭐
Argumento 3⭐
Coherencia 4⭐
Originalidad 4⭐
Disfrute 3⭐
Personajes 3⭐
Argumento 3⭐
Coherencia 4⭐
Originalidad 4⭐
Disfrute 3⭐
January 30, 2022
⭐️⭐️/5
this book was labeled at a “enemies to lovers” but that vibe wasn’t in there at all. for me, this didn’t even seem like a romance book. it made me laugh a lot but it wasn’t what i wanted from something that’s suppose to be a romance book. i couldn’t feel any chemistry between dani and wyatt and had a hard time picturing their actions and what they look like which is something i never have an issue with.
this book was labeled at a “enemies to lovers” but that vibe wasn’t in there at all. for me, this didn’t even seem like a romance book. it made me laugh a lot but it wasn’t what i wanted from something that’s suppose to be a romance book. i couldn’t feel any chemistry between dani and wyatt and had a hard time picturing their actions and what they look like which is something i never have an issue with.
July 1, 2024
2/5⭐
Es verdad que la comedia romántica no es un género que explore demasiado pero este año sí que he leído alguno ya sea por audiolibro, en físico o en ebook; saliendo así de mi zona de confort, y éste es el que menos me ha gustado hasta la fecha.
La historia parte de una buena premisa y por eso me decidí a escucharla por Audible. Y es que en principio tenía buenos argumentos para haber sido una historia en la que pasar unos ratos de risas y distracción y no ha sido ni lo uno ni lo otro...me ha resultado bastante plana y los personajes no me han llegado en ningún momento.
Una pena porque esperaba más con la idea de la "casa del despecho" para vengarse del ex 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️ dando guerra como casa de alquiler vacacional y tapándole las maravillosas vistas...y conociendo en el proceso de la construcción a su compañero gruñón arquitecto 😅😅...en fin...no ha sido para mí 😓😓
Es verdad que la comedia romántica no es un género que explore demasiado pero este año sí que he leído alguno ya sea por audiolibro, en físico o en ebook; saliendo así de mi zona de confort, y éste es el que menos me ha gustado hasta la fecha.
La historia parte de una buena premisa y por eso me decidí a escucharla por Audible. Y es que en principio tenía buenos argumentos para haber sido una historia en la que pasar unos ratos de risas y distracción y no ha sido ni lo uno ni lo otro...me ha resultado bastante plana y los personajes no me han llegado en ningún momento.
Una pena porque esperaba más con la idea de la "casa del despecho" para vengarse del ex 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️ dando guerra como casa de alquiler vacacional y tapándole las maravillosas vistas...y conociendo en el proceso de la construcción a su compañero gruñón arquitecto 😅😅...en fin...no ha sido para mí 😓😓
November 9, 2021
do you love rom-coms? do you love the grump/sunshine trope? are you petty sometimes and really just want to get back at someone who hurt you?
if you said yes to at least two of those questions, then you should pick up LOVE AT FIRST SPITE (publishes january 4, 2022).
dani is an interior designer and just bought the vacant lot next to her ex-fiancé’s house. the plan is to build a vacation rental that will block the ex-fiancé’s view, mess with his peace of mind, and most importantly, prove that dani is not someone to mess with.
with some unforeseen complications, dani is forced to ask wyatt, the office grump, to team up and draw some blueprints. as they spend more time together, dani gets a glimpse at his soft inside and is eventually forced to decide if revenge is more important than exploring what could be with wyatt.
i loved the idea of the spite house. it was so fun watching dani plan out this house with her cousin, mia. i loved watching dani’s growth in finding herself and learning how to speak up and not get pushed around. i enjoyed her interactions with wyatt and how they secretly interacted around the office.
a couple things i didn’t love: there were a few small plot holes that were never addressed. like a broken window on a car and then someone sitting in a conference room but 3 paragraphs later, that same person was walking into the conference room 🤷🏼♀️ nothing big. i also wish there was a little more steam. i would have liked to see dani and wyatt together more.
i would absolutely buy a physical copy of this and i’ve added it to my list of favorite romances.
this would be perfect for anyone who loves grump/sunshine tropes, like LOVE HYPOTHESIS, HATING GAME, and YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER.
thank you so much to @netgalley @htpbooks and @aeccreates for my advanced copy of LOVE AT FIRST SPITE 🙏🏻 and a special thank you to anna for writing this 🥰 i cannot wait for more books from you!
if you said yes to at least two of those questions, then you should pick up LOVE AT FIRST SPITE (publishes january 4, 2022).
dani is an interior designer and just bought the vacant lot next to her ex-fiancé’s house. the plan is to build a vacation rental that will block the ex-fiancé’s view, mess with his peace of mind, and most importantly, prove that dani is not someone to mess with.
with some unforeseen complications, dani is forced to ask wyatt, the office grump, to team up and draw some blueprints. as they spend more time together, dani gets a glimpse at his soft inside and is eventually forced to decide if revenge is more important than exploring what could be with wyatt.
i loved the idea of the spite house. it was so fun watching dani plan out this house with her cousin, mia. i loved watching dani’s growth in finding herself and learning how to speak up and not get pushed around. i enjoyed her interactions with wyatt and how they secretly interacted around the office.
a couple things i didn’t love: there were a few small plot holes that were never addressed. like a broken window on a car and then someone sitting in a conference room but 3 paragraphs later, that same person was walking into the conference room 🤷🏼♀️ nothing big. i also wish there was a little more steam. i would have liked to see dani and wyatt together more.
i would absolutely buy a physical copy of this and i’ve added it to my list of favorite romances.
this would be perfect for anyone who loves grump/sunshine tropes, like LOVE HYPOTHESIS, HATING GAME, and YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER.
thank you so much to @netgalley @htpbooks and @aeccreates for my advanced copy of LOVE AT FIRST SPITE 🙏🏻 and a special thank you to anna for writing this 🥰 i cannot wait for more books from you!
January 3, 2022
The opening hooked me when we meet Dani and her cousin Mia playing paintball and I loved after at the bar when she had an awkward encounter with hot architect and office grump, Wyatt Montego.
Dani caught her fiancée cheating on her with their realtor and I understood her emotions, and while I believe karma looks after us, I even understood her need to make him suffer a little. She, along with her cousin and her dog loving landlord, invest in the small property next to the ex’s house. While she wants someone outside of her firm to handle the design, when Wyatt offers to do the work in exchange for her design work for his grandmother. Dani accepts, so long as Wyatt understands she is the boss.
I loved the secondary characters and the slow burning romance that develops between Dani and Wyatt. Turns out the office grump is quite the sweetheart and his behavior comes from some difficult baggage. I easily connected with Dani and sympathized with her in the beginning.
The romance was a mix of sweet, witty banter, and sizzling chemistry as Dani really got to know Wyatt and his story. The author touches on a subject I know all too well as my mother-in-law suffers from it. She did her research, and I appreciated how she shared Wyatt’s struggles.
Admittedly, I grew a little frustrated with Dani in the middle. Our girl had some growing pains, and she held on to the revenge idea a little too hard. She needed a rude awakening to see what was right in front of her. It wasn’t enough to deter me as I wanted a happily ever after. (for Wyatt).
Fans of the character growth, humor and grumpy heroes will enjoy this romcom. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Dani caught her fiancée cheating on her with their realtor and I understood her emotions, and while I believe karma looks after us, I even understood her need to make him suffer a little. She, along with her cousin and her dog loving landlord, invest in the small property next to the ex’s house. While she wants someone outside of her firm to handle the design, when Wyatt offers to do the work in exchange for her design work for his grandmother. Dani accepts, so long as Wyatt understands she is the boss.
I loved the secondary characters and the slow burning romance that develops between Dani and Wyatt. Turns out the office grump is quite the sweetheart and his behavior comes from some difficult baggage. I easily connected with Dani and sympathized with her in the beginning.
The romance was a mix of sweet, witty banter, and sizzling chemistry as Dani really got to know Wyatt and his story. The author touches on a subject I know all too well as my mother-in-law suffers from it. She did her research, and I appreciated how she shared Wyatt’s struggles.
Admittedly, I grew a little frustrated with Dani in the middle. Our girl had some growing pains, and she held on to the revenge idea a little too hard. She needed a rude awakening to see what was right in front of her. It wasn’t enough to deter me as I wanted a happily ever after. (for Wyatt).
Fans of the character growth, humor and grumpy heroes will enjoy this romcom. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
November 4, 2022
This has sucha unique premise! But after 40%, it's just isn't that fun.
Things liked: The hilarious start of the novel, the idea, and some funny situations.
Elements needed: Needed better side characters, transition of romance
Things liked: The hilarious start of the novel, the idea, and some funny situations.
Elements needed: Needed better side characters, transition of romance
February 13, 2022
This book lost me with the fire. There would be a more thorough inspection done by police and fire detectives. Also, the back and forth of Wyatt’s personality was tiresome. Don’t even start about an interior designer using gnomes or any of the other kitschy items mentioned.
Not worth your time
Not worth your time
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2022
An entertaining and enjoyable book! I was hooked by the first chapter when Dani spends her would be wedding day playing paintball in her wedding dress and drinking. A light- hearted romance with a revenge plot that is a captivating page-turner.
April 16, 2022
Average read
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