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Swan Cove
Hottie on Her Shelf
Hallie Scott expected the hangover from her thirtieth birthday. She did not expect to find her calm, orderly life as Swan Cove’s head librarian to completely change overnight when her best friend added Hallie to the mayoral ballot because of one little remark. One. Now she’s going head-to-head with the small coastal town’s prominent “prince,” Fitz Montgomery…whose charm is about to get seriously checked.
All Fitz wants is to prove himself, beyond being the latest in the unbroken line of Montgomery mayors. Nobody, least of all Fitz, expected the town’s cute-as-hell librarian to step up and run against him. Hallie’s definitely in over her head, which is a problem, since Fitz wants a fair fight. But is he helping Hallie level the playing field…or arming his opponent?
Hallie and Fitz are on completely different sides. Their backgrounds, their lives, their ongoing ebook vs paperback argument. But they’re both about to learn that the art of war is nowhere near as complicated as falling for the enemy...
All Fitz wants is to prove himself, beyond being the latest in the unbroken line of Montgomery mayors. Nobody, least of all Fitz, expected the town’s cute-as-hell librarian to step up and run against him. Hallie’s definitely in over her head, which is a problem, since Fitz wants a fair fight. But is he helping Hallie level the playing field…or arming his opponent?
Hallie and Fitz are on completely different sides. Their backgrounds, their lives, their ongoing ebook vs paperback argument. But they’re both about to learn that the art of war is nowhere near as complicated as falling for the enemy...
330 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2022
26 people are currently reading
580 people want to read
About the author
Christi Barth
59 books778 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes award-winning contemporary romance, including the Naked Men and Aisle Bound series.
Christi can always be found either whipping up gourmet meals (for fun, honest!) or with her nose in a book. She lives in Maryland with the best husband in the world.
Christi can always be found either whipping up gourmet meals (for fun, honest!) or with her nose in a book. She lives in Maryland with the best husband in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
July 4, 2022
Good but missing the fire and spark. Loved him.. her - meh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book had fun and wit, sarcasm, and enough play on words that made it a fun read. It also had the hottie male interest that is a must-have for me. In fact, Fitz was a bit of a surprise. I had him pegged as being a difficult and frustrating character.
But I was wrong. Hallie definitely had that covered. She was not a favorite of mine in the least. In fact, this story, while amusing and engaging, really missed the fire and spark for me.
In the beginning, it was growing but as the story moved forward, I felt he was trying way harder than she was. He was all in but she fought him every step almost to the ending. Barth lost me along the way.
Overall Hottie on Her Shelf was a fun read, but stories that have a bit more balance, spark, and fire are just more my style.
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/hottie-on-he...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book had fun and wit, sarcasm, and enough play on words that made it a fun read. It also had the hottie male interest that is a must-have for me. In fact, Fitz was a bit of a surprise. I had him pegged as being a difficult and frustrating character.
But I was wrong. Hallie definitely had that covered. She was not a favorite of mine in the least. In fact, this story, while amusing and engaging, really missed the fire and spark for me.
In the beginning, it was growing but as the story moved forward, I felt he was trying way harder than she was. He was all in but she fought him every step almost to the ending. Barth lost me along the way.
Overall Hottie on Her Shelf was a fun read, but stories that have a bit more balance, spark, and fire are just more my style.
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/hottie-on-he...
August 25, 2022
the writing is amazing. but the bookworm nerd thing was too repetitive. and by the end it just felt like the story was dragging. overall it was a good book tho
July 3, 2022
A fun enemies-to-lovers romance, the story follows Hallie and Fitz both of whom are running for mayor. Hallie is the town librarian. A reserved woman who loves her job, Hallie never expected to run for mayor, but she knows the town needs change. I like her determination and her courage. Hallie knows she probably won’t win, it that doesn’t stop her from trying to invoke change in her community. Torn between family duty and his own wants, as well as the needs of the town, Fitz goes through a lot over the course of the story, especially as he learns more about his family’s past and influence. He is so much more than the charming ladies’ man Hallie initially pegs him to be, and he proves it throughout the story.
Both Hallie and Fitz are well-developed, layered characters, and their romance is great. They have the opposites attract, enemies to lovers vibes going on, and the sparks between them really fly. They have great banter, and I love how they challenge each other while still respecting each other’s opinions. Though they don’t start on the best of terms, their relationship slowly builds into something special.
I also like the messages about honor, friendship (Hallie’s friend group is the best!), following your heart, and more. However, the ending felt a bit rushed, and some of the actions of the secondary characters seemed, well, out of character. Overall, it is a quick and fun read, and I’m thankful to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Both Hallie and Fitz are well-developed, layered characters, and their romance is great. They have the opposites attract, enemies to lovers vibes going on, and the sparks between them really fly. They have great banter, and I love how they challenge each other while still respecting each other’s opinions. Though they don’t start on the best of terms, their relationship slowly builds into something special.
I also like the messages about honor, friendship (Hallie’s friend group is the best!), following your heart, and more. However, the ending felt a bit rushed, and some of the actions of the secondary characters seemed, well, out of character. Overall, it is a quick and fun read, and I’m thankful to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
March 31, 2023
A fabulous small town, opposites attract romance between two mayoral candidate rivals. I LOVED this steamy, dual POV love story between a wealthy mayor running for re-election and the Librarian from humble beginnings who is determined to bring new blood to the local government. Perfect for fans of Run for your honey by Staci Hart or The boyfriend candidate by Ashley Winstead. This was well worth the wait for the audiobook version narrated by Amy Hall!
June 18, 2022
This was such a fun Rom com with lovable characters and friendly competition!
This book is about Hallie who just turned 30 and after a night out, her friend decides to sign her up to run for mayor as her birth day present. Hallie is the towns librarian so she is intelligent and sees a need to chance in their small town and thinks a change in mayor is the thing that needs to be done to make a change. Fitz is a Montgomery and a Montgomery is always the mayor in Swan Cove. That is a fact that both benefits and frustrates Fitz. He wants to have people see his worth and not his name. When he sees someone is finally running for mayor with him he wants to make sure they have the best chance possible so he offers to help Hallie with her campaign. At first she is hesitant because she doesn't know his intentions, but soon she softens up and sees Fitz for who he really is.
This was a great read! I love how strong and fearless Hallie is and how sweet and caring Fitz is. I also loved the small town feels of this book and the friendly competition aspect. The side characters were also really fun. I recommend this read!
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
This book is about Hallie who just turned 30 and after a night out, her friend decides to sign her up to run for mayor as her birth day present. Hallie is the towns librarian so she is intelligent and sees a need to chance in their small town and thinks a change in mayor is the thing that needs to be done to make a change. Fitz is a Montgomery and a Montgomery is always the mayor in Swan Cove. That is a fact that both benefits and frustrates Fitz. He wants to have people see his worth and not his name. When he sees someone is finally running for mayor with him he wants to make sure they have the best chance possible so he offers to help Hallie with her campaign. At first she is hesitant because she doesn't know his intentions, but soon she softens up and sees Fitz for who he really is.
This was a great read! I love how strong and fearless Hallie is and how sweet and caring Fitz is. I also loved the small town feels of this book and the friendly competition aspect. The side characters were also really fun. I recommend this read!
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
June 17, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own"
I love rom - coms they put a
smile on my face Hottie on Her Shelf just by the title had me laughing it was a fun read 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review
Happy Reading Lisa 📚
I love rom - coms they put a
smile on my face Hottie on Her Shelf just by the title had me laughing it was a fun read 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review
Happy Reading Lisa 📚
July 25, 2022
A bookish romance set in a small seaside town in Maine? Yes, please! Add in the fact that the main character is the town librarian, and you have a winner in my book. See what I did there? As a librarian myself, I could really identify with Hallie's character, whether it be the misconceptions about our career or the feeling of accomplishment in a field many do not take seriously. On a whim, Hallie's best friend Megan throws Hallie's name to run for Mayor in the town of Swan Cove. Hallie, who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak, in a neighboring town full of fisherman, would rather just mind her business in the library and keep out of the political spotlight, as well as the crosshairs of the uber-wealthy Montgomery family, who have been basically running the town of Swan Cove and most of its businesses for decades. I too live in a very small town where certain families remind me a lot of the Montgomery family with their single-mindedness and better than thou attitudes that keeps going through the generations. At first, Hallie wants nothing to do with running for Mayor against the current Mayor, Fitz Montgomery. But after meeting Fitz and getting to know him better, she realizes that she may be just what the town needs to grow and knock the untouchable Montgomerys (namely Fitz's parents) off of their self-made pedestal. Even more intriguing to Hallie is that Fitz is not who she expected at all...in a good way. He takes an interest in her immediately, and Hallie finds herself really enjoying his company. This is a fun enemies to lovers, small town romance with plenty of banter and plenty of steam. Along with Hallie's best friend Megan being a great side character, Fitz's best friend Everett makes for an interesting side character as well. I do hope the author writes more books that take place in Swan Cove, Maine. Thank you to the publisher for the early review copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.
July 14, 2022
A great romcom with a political twist. The mayor of swan cove has only ever been someone with the last name of Montgomery. Hallie the town librarian has decided to run against him even if she doesn’t win but maybe with some luck can change the views of the people.
I loved the relationship between hallie and futz and how even with their backgrounds they are more alike than you would think.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me this arc and I am reviewing voluntarily.
I loved the relationship between hallie and futz and how even with their backgrounds they are more alike than you would think.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me this arc and I am reviewing voluntarily.
June 25, 2022
Hottie on Her Shelf is a stellar small town romcom with excellent banter, loveable characters and an exciting mayoral election plot line.
Hallie is a librarian for Swan Cove, who’s friend puts her on the local mayoral election ballot after a night of drinking and complaining about the current mayor. Panicking, Hallie rushes to city hall the next day, determined to remove herself from the race. Instead, she overheard some trash talk from the mayor and his campaign manager and instead digs in her heels to declare she will run after all. Fitz is a Montgomery, the family that basically owns Swan Cove. They’re family has been in power as mayor for over 100 years. He’s served 2 terms and has never had opposition until now. He wants to earn the vote, not just win because of his name. And an unlikely partnership grows out of their race.
Fitz is a wonderful human in my opinion. He’s caring, understanding and really wants to help people. He does not want to simply get by on the coattails of his family name. He is very vocal in his desire to genuinely do good and help people. And he backs up his words. He is definitely not the trust fund baby that you’d expect him to be. Hallie, while also a good person, does have a bit of a complex in my opinion. She is genuinely nice and sweet and extremely well read. However, I do think she suffered from reverse snobbery a bit too much. And I wish she’d be more comfortable asking for help. Going it alone is admirable, but biting a hand that offers assistance isn’t a good look.
That said, the chemistry between them was great! Not insta-love, it definitely grows over time. And there is respect and friendship as a baseline which is wonderful. I also applaud the author for ensuring there is a condom involved in basically every sex scene. We love safe sex in this house.
One thing I wish is that we got more time spent on the campaign trail. The campaigning was supposed to be 1-2 months and we only saw maybe 3 scenes? I wish we’d seen Hallie’s progression from a librarian to a fully fledged mayoral candidate fleshed out a bit more. The story followed the romantic interactions more, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but again I just wish we’d seen more of the political part.
All in all this was a cute rivals to lovers story with themes of family heritage, wealth disparity and being your own person. It’d make an excellent read for a weekend getaway or for any day where you’d like a cute premise and great characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
Hallie is a librarian for Swan Cove, who’s friend puts her on the local mayoral election ballot after a night of drinking and complaining about the current mayor. Panicking, Hallie rushes to city hall the next day, determined to remove herself from the race. Instead, she overheard some trash talk from the mayor and his campaign manager and instead digs in her heels to declare she will run after all. Fitz is a Montgomery, the family that basically owns Swan Cove. They’re family has been in power as mayor for over 100 years. He’s served 2 terms and has never had opposition until now. He wants to earn the vote, not just win because of his name. And an unlikely partnership grows out of their race.
Fitz is a wonderful human in my opinion. He’s caring, understanding and really wants to help people. He does not want to simply get by on the coattails of his family name. He is very vocal in his desire to genuinely do good and help people. And he backs up his words. He is definitely not the trust fund baby that you’d expect him to be. Hallie, while also a good person, does have a bit of a complex in my opinion. She is genuinely nice and sweet and extremely well read. However, I do think she suffered from reverse snobbery a bit too much. And I wish she’d be more comfortable asking for help. Going it alone is admirable, but biting a hand that offers assistance isn’t a good look.
That said, the chemistry between them was great! Not insta-love, it definitely grows over time. And there is respect and friendship as a baseline which is wonderful. I also applaud the author for ensuring there is a condom involved in basically every sex scene. We love safe sex in this house.
One thing I wish is that we got more time spent on the campaign trail. The campaigning was supposed to be 1-2 months and we only saw maybe 3 scenes? I wish we’d seen Hallie’s progression from a librarian to a fully fledged mayoral candidate fleshed out a bit more. The story followed the romantic interactions more, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but again I just wish we’d seen more of the political part.
All in all this was a cute rivals to lovers story with themes of family heritage, wealth disparity and being your own person. It’d make an excellent read for a weekend getaway or for any day where you’d like a cute premise and great characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
July 8, 2022
Title: Hottie On Her Shelf
Author: Christi Barth
Hero/Heroine: Fitz & Hallie
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers/Small Town Romance
THE GOOD 😀
Small Town Romance? Check. Enemies to Lovers? Check. Hottie Mayor and a sassy librarian? Check. This book ticked a lot of boxes as you can see, and the fact that I finished it in under a day shows just how invested I was in Fitz and Hallie’s story.
Hallie, librarian of Swan Cove and self confessed wallflower, wakes up after celebrating her 30th birthday to find out that her friend Megan has put her forward for town mayor. What transpires from here is a battle of wills between Hallie and the current mayor Fitz, whose family owns most of their small town. Coming up against snobbery and narrow minded views from the locals because of where she comes from, Hallie was determined to show everyone that she could do the job. This is what made Hallie a great character for me; her sheer determination to prove everyone wrong. Fitz was also a great hero; not your typical smarmy politician, he only ever wanted to do right by the people of Swan Cove, as well as his parents, at the cost of his own happiness.
Small town shenanigans with plenty of humour and heat, Hottie On Her Shelf was an engaging and enjoyable read.
THE BAD ☹️
Fitz’s parents. Ugh. I felt that they got off a bit too easy, I would have liked to have seen Fitz confront them more about their behaviour. Into the bin they go.
Thank you to the author and @greyspromo for providing me with a copy of this to read. This is my honest review.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: Small town romance with witty and likeable characters
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Christi Barth
Hero/Heroine: Fitz & Hallie
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers/Small Town Romance
THE GOOD 😀
Small Town Romance? Check. Enemies to Lovers? Check. Hottie Mayor and a sassy librarian? Check. This book ticked a lot of boxes as you can see, and the fact that I finished it in under a day shows just how invested I was in Fitz and Hallie’s story.
Hallie, librarian of Swan Cove and self confessed wallflower, wakes up after celebrating her 30th birthday to find out that her friend Megan has put her forward for town mayor. What transpires from here is a battle of wills between Hallie and the current mayor Fitz, whose family owns most of their small town. Coming up against snobbery and narrow minded views from the locals because of where she comes from, Hallie was determined to show everyone that she could do the job. This is what made Hallie a great character for me; her sheer determination to prove everyone wrong. Fitz was also a great hero; not your typical smarmy politician, he only ever wanted to do right by the people of Swan Cove, as well as his parents, at the cost of his own happiness.
Small town shenanigans with plenty of humour and heat, Hottie On Her Shelf was an engaging and enjoyable read.
THE BAD ☹️
Fitz’s parents. Ugh. I felt that they got off a bit too easy, I would have liked to have seen Fitz confront them more about their behaviour. Into the bin they go.
Thank you to the author and @greyspromo for providing me with a copy of this to read. This is my honest review.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: Small town romance with witty and likeable characters
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 18, 2022
Thank you to the author and the publisher, Entangled Publishing LLC, for letting me read an ARC of this book through NetGalley!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
“Of course because he was Mr Smooth and she was apparently Princess Awkward in this cautionary tale”
“Sharing a table with Hallie Scott. His nemesis”
“Knowledge is power, and knowledge is my stock in trade”
Wow this book !!! I had such fun reading it!!!
A Greek Adonis who has the entire town on his feet and a clumsy librarian who wants to make things right, both tuning for mayor because of a simple drunken mistake …
This book was so good!!!
I loved the characters, I loved their dynamics, their banter and the tropes !!!! We have the rivals to allies to enemies, the grumpy sunshine, and even the secret relationship trope !!!!
I wasn’t expecting to have this fun nor to enjoy the story this much. I felt like the plot was well-built and the romance was a great entertainment !!!
Honestly Fitz and Hallie are so good together and the way their story develops is amazing to read !!!
“That’s because I do my usually freak out. I’m the one in control. Controlled”
“My Kindle is fully stocked. I’m not here for books. I’m here for you”
“Hallie, I want to have sex with you Anywhere. Everywhere”
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
“Of course because he was Mr Smooth and she was apparently Princess Awkward in this cautionary tale”
“Sharing a table with Hallie Scott. His nemesis”
“Knowledge is power, and knowledge is my stock in trade”
Wow this book !!! I had such fun reading it!!!
A Greek Adonis who has the entire town on his feet and a clumsy librarian who wants to make things right, both tuning for mayor because of a simple drunken mistake …
This book was so good!!!
I loved the characters, I loved their dynamics, their banter and the tropes !!!! We have the rivals to allies to enemies, the grumpy sunshine, and even the secret relationship trope !!!!
I wasn’t expecting to have this fun nor to enjoy the story this much. I felt like the plot was well-built and the romance was a great entertainment !!!
Honestly Fitz and Hallie are so good together and the way their story develops is amazing to read !!!
“That’s because I do my usually freak out. I’m the one in control. Controlled”
“My Kindle is fully stocked. I’m not here for books. I’m here for you”
“Hallie, I want to have sex with you Anywhere. Everywhere”
June 15, 2022
This is a fun small town enemies to lovers book. It follows Hallie the towns librarian and Fitz the town mayor, who outwardly appear to be complete opposites in every way but find out they are quite alike. I was completely hooked on this book in the first chapter.
Hallie is a smart bad ass heroine, Fitz is charismatic and completely irresistible, and their friends are extremely lovable and supportive.
I really enjoyed how much we got to learn about the main characters during their perspective POVs, the way Hallie and Fitz’s banter was not only funny but also intellectual, and I especially loved the way Fitz paid attention to all of the things that made Hallie who she is (I mean the cottage, come on 😭)
The only thing I can think of wanting to be a tad different would be that their enemy status lasted a bit longer.
Overall this was one of my favorite reads so far this year. This was my first Christi Barth book, and I cant wait to get into more!
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Entangled publishing for allowing me to read and review this book prior to its release! All thoughts and opinions are of course, my own.
Hallie is a smart bad ass heroine, Fitz is charismatic and completely irresistible, and their friends are extremely lovable and supportive.
I really enjoyed how much we got to learn about the main characters during their perspective POVs, the way Hallie and Fitz’s banter was not only funny but also intellectual, and I especially loved the way Fitz paid attention to all of the things that made Hallie who she is (I mean the cottage, come on 😭)
The only thing I can think of wanting to be a tad different would be that their enemy status lasted a bit longer.
Overall this was one of my favorite reads so far this year. This was my first Christi Barth book, and I cant wait to get into more!
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Entangled publishing for allowing me to read and review this book prior to its release! All thoughts and opinions are of course, my own.
August 1, 2022
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I was so bored by this book and really struggled to get through it, honestly. There were just so many things about the story that made no sense. It's supposed to take place in a small town where the mayor has come from the same family for 200 years or something like that. Yet it's also a big enough town to have an opera house?! No thank you. It was a mess between trying to convince the reader that it's a small town romance but clearly not wanting to write about an actual small town. Also, how is it that Hallie's friend could just sign her up to be on the mayoral ballot without her knowledge/ signature/ presence, yet Hallie had to be the one to go in person to get herself off the ballot? THIS MAKES NO SENSE YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!
I really felt no connection to any of the characters and really started skimming the book after about 30% when I realized I was actively avoiding it. I will say there is one pretty good steamy scene because yes please to a literary-themed B & B. Other than that, I was just glad to finish the book and move on with my life. It's certainly not the worst book I've ever read, but there needs to be at least one truly enjoyable character in order for me to like a book, which was not the case here.
I was so bored by this book and really struggled to get through it, honestly. There were just so many things about the story that made no sense. It's supposed to take place in a small town where the mayor has come from the same family for 200 years or something like that. Yet it's also a big enough town to have an opera house?! No thank you. It was a mess between trying to convince the reader that it's a small town romance but clearly not wanting to write about an actual small town. Also, how is it that Hallie's friend could just sign her up to be on the mayoral ballot without her knowledge/ signature/ presence, yet Hallie had to be the one to go in person to get herself off the ballot? THIS MAKES NO SENSE YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!
I really felt no connection to any of the characters and really started skimming the book after about 30% when I realized I was actively avoiding it. I will say there is one pretty good steamy scene because yes please to a literary-themed B & B. Other than that, I was just glad to finish the book and move on with my life. It's certainly not the worst book I've ever read, but there needs to be at least one truly enjoyable character in order for me to like a book, which was not the case here.
July 1, 2022
3.75⭐
Hottie on Her Shelf is a fun Rom Com featuring Hallie a just turned thirty small town librarian. Who thanks to a drunken conversation with her best friend Megan gets nominated to run for mayor against current mayor and prominent local Fitz.
Who is beyond happy to have some competition at last, as he's sick of his status as a Montgomery affording him the luxury of the mayorship.
But Hallie has no clue what she's doing. So to even the playing field, Fitz thinks it's only fair to help her. But can it really be a fair fight if one opponent is helping the other?
And with two characters who have nothing in common (They can't even decide which are better ebooks or paperbacks.) chaos ensues. As well as plenty of sparks as the pair banter and constantly challenge each other.
And with a nice message of friendship and honour, characters that grow and a well-developed storyline. This was an engaging read. That was only let down by an ending that felt rushed and a little flat.
**I was kindly provided with an ARC via Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
Hottie on Her Shelf is a fun Rom Com featuring Hallie a just turned thirty small town librarian. Who thanks to a drunken conversation with her best friend Megan gets nominated to run for mayor against current mayor and prominent local Fitz.
Who is beyond happy to have some competition at last, as he's sick of his status as a Montgomery affording him the luxury of the mayorship.
But Hallie has no clue what she's doing. So to even the playing field, Fitz thinks it's only fair to help her. But can it really be a fair fight if one opponent is helping the other?
And with two characters who have nothing in common (They can't even decide which are better ebooks or paperbacks.) chaos ensues. As well as plenty of sparks as the pair banter and constantly challenge each other.
And with a nice message of friendship and honour, characters that grow and a well-developed storyline. This was an engaging read. That was only let down by an ending that felt rushed and a little flat.
**I was kindly provided with an ARC via Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
July 2, 2022
I voluntary read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really, really, enjoyed this book! Both main characters are lovable and during the book, we see them growing and evolving. The plot itself was also nice, all-do a little predictable, but I was OK with that! Fitz and Hallie had some really nice banter which I appreciate! They talked and debated and had fun poking each other, but they also made each other feel safe about the insecurities each of them had. I felt that they were really made for each other! They fit perfectly! There were also Fitz's issues with his family, which can be so relatable to many people. The other characters were also very loveable. I felt that the end was a little rushed, I felt that there was more to right instead of rushing it. Also, they were never enemies? There was a one-sided rivalry, with no justification whatsoever on Hallie’s part.
I really, really, enjoyed this book! Both main characters are lovable and during the book, we see them growing and evolving. The plot itself was also nice, all-do a little predictable, but I was OK with that! Fitz and Hallie had some really nice banter which I appreciate! They talked and debated and had fun poking each other, but they also made each other feel safe about the insecurities each of them had. I felt that they were really made for each other! They fit perfectly! There were also Fitz's issues with his family, which can be so relatable to many people. The other characters were also very loveable. I felt that the end was a little rushed, I felt that there was more to right instead of rushing it. Also, they were never enemies? There was a one-sided rivalry, with no justification whatsoever on Hallie’s part.
June 14, 2022
I love rom coms where the main characters find themselves on opposite sides! If the author does the witty banter correctly, then it makes for an awesome story. This book definitely lives up to that. Hallie and Fitz are both running for mayor of their town. Fitz is already the mayor, just as his family has for several years. Hallie is the town librarian. As Fitz offers to give Hallie tips, they find themselves falling for each other, but must keep it a secret because of his family.
I loved this book! I already mentioned the banter, but the growth Hallie made in how she saw herself made this worth reading. Fitz also made a lot of growth in viewing what he wanted for himself. If you like politics mixed with steam and sweet moments, then this is the book for you.
I loved this book! I already mentioned the banter, but the growth Hallie made in how she saw herself made this worth reading. Fitz also made a lot of growth in viewing what he wanted for himself. If you like politics mixed with steam and sweet moments, then this is the book for you.
dnf
July 12, 2022Ok so I've been really trying my best to follow through with this book, but unfortunately it's just not doing anything for me.
The chemistry between the main characters are pretty non-existent (at least up to where I stopped reading): their first kiss almost happened and I did not even realise it? It was more of a telling thing than a describing the scene thing.
At one point I checked my progress, saw that I was still on 19% and it bummed me out because I hoped I was nearly done with the book. Goes to show how much it's not working for me.
Thank you to the publisher and author the the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
The chemistry between the main characters are pretty non-existent (at least up to where I stopped reading): their first kiss almost happened and I did not even realise it? It was more of a telling thing than a describing the scene thing.
At one point I checked my progress, saw that I was still on 19% and it bummed me out because I hoped I was nearly done with the book. Goes to show how much it's not working for me.
Thank you to the publisher and author the the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
July 7, 2022
This is an adorable story. Fitz is the mayor of a small coastal town where his family has reigned for years. He loves the city but does not love the job of mayor. Hallie is the librarian who after a drunken night finds herself on the ballot for mayor. It is wonderful and witty conversations as Fitz and Hallie go to battle. They find that they have a lot in common and the more they spend time together they fall further in love.
July 12, 2022
Hallie and Fitzs story was a cute lighthearted story that had a few laughable moments. Hallie got more then a hangover after her birthday party and throws her into the mix with Fitz and they both get more then they expected
June 17, 2022
This was a fun read!! It’s a small town romance with a bit of enemies to lovers and some politics in it. Fitz and Hallie’s chemistry was super cute and I loved reading the banter.
There were lots of messages throughout the story about loyalty, friendship, family and making your own way in life. I loved the lessons that both Fitz and Hallie learn throughout and it made you think about your own life and values a bit. I feel like they were both good characters that kept me smiling throughout the story. I found the pace a little slower than what I typically like and it seemed to jump a little from one event to the next without a lot of context. I would have liked a little more of the middle fluff pieces! Also, a bit more of Fitz and Hallie’s relationship growth to be seen in action rather than just thought about through one of their internal thoughts. However, with that said, I still enjoyed the read and would recommend it after it’s published.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
There were lots of messages throughout the story about loyalty, friendship, family and making your own way in life. I loved the lessons that both Fitz and Hallie learn throughout and it made you think about your own life and values a bit. I feel like they were both good characters that kept me smiling throughout the story. I found the pace a little slower than what I typically like and it seemed to jump a little from one event to the next without a lot of context. I would have liked a little more of the middle fluff pieces! Also, a bit more of Fitz and Hallie’s relationship growth to be seen in action rather than just thought about through one of their internal thoughts. However, with that said, I still enjoyed the read and would recommend it after it’s published.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 16, 2022
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a small town rom-com and I loved it. It was everything I would want from a small town romance and a rom-com.
This was a small town rom-com and I loved it. It was everything I would want from a small town romance and a rom-com.
July 29, 2022
I loved quite a few things about this book. For one, the witty banter was entertaining. I love a good sassy remark! I found myself laughing quite often throughout, so that was definitely a plus in my book.
I love the fact that this was an enemies-to-lovers as this is my favorite trope! Throw in some opposites attract and you’ve sold me HARD. Fitz and Hallie were as opposite as you can find. But they worked so well together. Their relationship was so entertaining to see unfold!
I love the fact that this was an enemies-to-lovers as this is my favorite trope! Throw in some opposites attract and you’ve sold me HARD. Fitz and Hallie were as opposite as you can find. But they worked so well together. Their relationship was so entertaining to see unfold!
July 30, 2022
This was a great rom com. It was very entertaining, enemies to lovers story. Just the right amount of steam and back and forth banter. I felt like the book may have been a tad long but I did love the character romance development. If you love romcoms you’ll love this one.
July 9, 2022
I love a good enemies to loves story with great banter between the two love interests. This book was so good with well developed characters and solid character growth. Good competition with a fun newly forming relationship. This book was well written. A great summer read by Christi Barth. She’s quickly becoming an automatic buy author for me! Huge thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!
July 8, 2022
3.5 stars
ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review
When a small town librarian ends up in the race for town mayor, things are going to get a little heated.
And that's just between herself and the incumbent mayor.
I really liked Fitz and the way he is fighting against family and decades of his family running this town. He can see how things should be and works to make change.
Hallie though, I don't know, she was just flat to me. I liked her but I didn't feel.. anything really for or about her.
I liked the friends and townspeople. and I would read more about this town in the future if it comes.
ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review
When a small town librarian ends up in the race for town mayor, things are going to get a little heated.
And that's just between herself and the incumbent mayor.
I really liked Fitz and the way he is fighting against family and decades of his family running this town. He can see how things should be and works to make change.
Hallie though, I don't know, she was just flat to me. I liked her but I didn't feel.. anything really for or about her.
I liked the friends and townspeople. and I would read more about this town in the future if it comes.
July 4, 2022
4 stars!
I totally dug "Hottie on Her Shelf" by Christi Barth, an enemies-to-lovers, political, spicy rom-com with characters who are more than meet the eye.
Hallie and Fitz live in Swan Cove, a small, rich town in Maine. Hallie is the town's librarian. For the most part, she keeps her head down, is quite reserved, and doesn't attract any unnecessary, unwanted attention to herself. She grew up in Crow Harbor, a working town just across the tracks from Swan Cove. Fitz is a Montgomery, a
Swan Cove legacy family that has all of its fingers in every town pie. Fitz grew up there and is currently the town's mayor, having run unopposed in the last several elections. After a night of booze-fueled ranting about Fitz's inadequate job as mayor, Hallie's best friend enters her into the mayoral race as a birthday gag. With every intention of quitting the race immediately, Hallie overhears a conversation that makes her go against every bone in her body to stick out the rest of the race come hell or high water, even when she knows she likely won't win against the Montgomery machine. What Hallie did *not* expect is that Fitz might not be the person she initially thought he was and that she might get more than she bargained for with Fitz Montgomery.
"Hottie on Her Shelf" was a real treat to read! I'll be thinking about the witty banter between Hallie and Fitz all year! There is one scene involving a very famous book... and all I'll say is: SWOOOOOON!! This book is as successful as it is because the characters are so well-developed. Author Christi Barth did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life! I believed in both Hallie and Fitz as individuals and as a potential couple. I rooted for them from the beginning, and my heartstrings were pulled on more than one occasion. Their chemistry starts off rocky because not only are they political rivals, but there are many other factors working against them, including their wealth gap, their many miscommunications and differences of opinion, and Swan Cove's small-town penchant for thriving on drama. Through it all, I really felt that they cared for and respected one another despite their differences and their different backgrounds. Sure, the story might be *a little* predictable, and it might wrap up a *little* too quickly, but I didn't mind because it is so well written. It's full of humor, and heart, and has a great commentary on nepotism, particularly nepotism in politics. My only wish is that something bigger and better would have happened to Fitz's horrible, egotistical, selfish, dirtbag parents. Otherwise, this is a really fun, breezy rom-com that you'll most likely enjoy!
I totally dug "Hottie on Her Shelf" by Christi Barth, an enemies-to-lovers, political, spicy rom-com with characters who are more than meet the eye.
Hallie and Fitz live in Swan Cove, a small, rich town in Maine. Hallie is the town's librarian. For the most part, she keeps her head down, is quite reserved, and doesn't attract any unnecessary, unwanted attention to herself. She grew up in Crow Harbor, a working town just across the tracks from Swan Cove. Fitz is a Montgomery, a
Swan Cove legacy family that has all of its fingers in every town pie. Fitz grew up there and is currently the town's mayor, having run unopposed in the last several elections. After a night of booze-fueled ranting about Fitz's inadequate job as mayor, Hallie's best friend enters her into the mayoral race as a birthday gag. With every intention of quitting the race immediately, Hallie overhears a conversation that makes her go against every bone in her body to stick out the rest of the race come hell or high water, even when she knows she likely won't win against the Montgomery machine. What Hallie did *not* expect is that Fitz might not be the person she initially thought he was and that she might get more than she bargained for with Fitz Montgomery.
"Hottie on Her Shelf" was a real treat to read! I'll be thinking about the witty banter between Hallie and Fitz all year! There is one scene involving a very famous book... and all I'll say is: SWOOOOOON!! This book is as successful as it is because the characters are so well-developed. Author Christi Barth did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life! I believed in both Hallie and Fitz as individuals and as a potential couple. I rooted for them from the beginning, and my heartstrings were pulled on more than one occasion. Their chemistry starts off rocky because not only are they political rivals, but there are many other factors working against them, including their wealth gap, their many miscommunications and differences of opinion, and Swan Cove's small-town penchant for thriving on drama. Through it all, I really felt that they cared for and respected one another despite their differences and their different backgrounds. Sure, the story might be *a little* predictable, and it might wrap up a *little* too quickly, but I didn't mind because it is so well written. It's full of humor, and heart, and has a great commentary on nepotism, particularly nepotism in politics. My only wish is that something bigger and better would have happened to Fitz's horrible, egotistical, selfish, dirtbag parents. Otherwise, this is a really fun, breezy rom-com that you'll most likely enjoy!
July 9, 2022
It was a fun read featuring two well developed characters, they're an unlikely couple and I rooted for them.
The book is very funny and I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The book is very funny and I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
July 16, 2022
From tongue and cheek dialogue to irresistible romance, Hottie on Her Shelf is one wild ride. Barth knows how to make sparks fly and hearts melt.
Read
June 22, 2022HOTTIE ON HER SHELF is an overall entertaining rom-com read. After being put on the ballet for mayor by an overeager friend, Hallie is in a rush to town hall to take it off, when she hears the current mayor and his campaign manager talking about her. With new purpose, Hallie decides to take him on - even though he is Montgomery and they literally own the town and even though she has not been at all involved in politics before. Hallie is the town librarian and she sees all the problems that come from the current Montgomery reign, and she thinks she could do it better.
However, Hallie quickly learns that though she may know a lot of facts, it's not so easy to be the politician campaigning. She also discovers that her competition, Fitz Montgomery, is not at all what she imagined - and for some reason, he has offered her his aid behind the scenes. Fitz has never been sure that being mayor is what he wanted to do - it was basically foisted upon him by his parents. He can't help but feel for Hallie, his attractive opponent. As they spend time together, their attraction grows until being enemies seems impossible.
This was a pretty quick read with an enemies-to-lovers flair. It was easy to get pulled into the book, and I appreciated the time spent building their relationship as well as their personal obstacles. However, the book felt pretty long in the middle towards the end. The campaign sometimes got in the way of all the steam, which was the point of the book, but it felt like it dragged out a bit. I guess I just really liked their chemistry and wanted more of that and less of the pesky campaign - though the premise was really fun overall.
Hallie could be a bit much with her overcompensating know-it-all attitude, but as she warms up in the book, she does tone it down. She came from the poor neighboring town, so she is a bit defensive about the way she is viewed. Fitz was infinitely patient and infinitely likable. He wants fairness and to help everyone. He has been steamrolled by his parents, since he cares for them and wants to make them happy - however, now that their goals might hurt someone he cares about, Fitz is learning to take a stand. Together, they had a lot of chemistry, and I appreciated seeing them find romance.
Overall, this was an engaging rom-com with an enemies-to-lovers trope. I would recommend for people who want a lot of banter, small-town settings, and light-hearted politics. Please note that I received an eARC. All opinions are my own.
However, Hallie quickly learns that though she may know a lot of facts, it's not so easy to be the politician campaigning. She also discovers that her competition, Fitz Montgomery, is not at all what she imagined - and for some reason, he has offered her his aid behind the scenes. Fitz has never been sure that being mayor is what he wanted to do - it was basically foisted upon him by his parents. He can't help but feel for Hallie, his attractive opponent. As they spend time together, their attraction grows until being enemies seems impossible.
This was a pretty quick read with an enemies-to-lovers flair. It was easy to get pulled into the book, and I appreciated the time spent building their relationship as well as their personal obstacles. However, the book felt pretty long in the middle towards the end. The campaign sometimes got in the way of all the steam, which was the point of the book, but it felt like it dragged out a bit. I guess I just really liked their chemistry and wanted more of that and less of the pesky campaign - though the premise was really fun overall.
Hallie could be a bit much with her overcompensating know-it-all attitude, but as she warms up in the book, she does tone it down. She came from the poor neighboring town, so she is a bit defensive about the way she is viewed. Fitz was infinitely patient and infinitely likable. He wants fairness and to help everyone. He has been steamrolled by his parents, since he cares for them and wants to make them happy - however, now that their goals might hurt someone he cares about, Fitz is learning to take a stand. Together, they had a lot of chemistry, and I appreciated seeing them find romance.
Overall, this was an engaging rom-com with an enemies-to-lovers trope. I would recommend for people who want a lot of banter, small-town settings, and light-hearted politics. Please note that I received an eARC. All opinions are my own.
July 10, 2022
This book is a super cute Rom-Com that is sweet, spicy and the bantering between Hallie & Fitz was entertaining. While I grew to like Hallie as the book went on, Fitz was definitely the star of this book!
Hallie was your stereotypical librarian, often using large words (that I had to look up more than once) but you could really see her character relax once Fitz came into her life. She truly transformed (with the help of her friends)…changed her hair, changed her wardrobe and even toned down her extensive vocabulary(a bit). It was fun to learn some new words but she did seem to come across as a know-it-all which was annoying at times.
Fitz was my absolute favorite character! Honest, handsome, sweet and genuine. I love all of the volunteering and charity stuff that he does without anyone knowing. The only downfall to him is that he let his family manipulate him for far too long.
I was so frustrated by the snobby Montgomery parents doing anything & everything to keep their status and monopoly on their community! I did feel like there was too much emphasis on their family wealth and history in this book. It seemed repetitive and could have cut down the length of this book. It was also confusing to me why they felt the need to bring her parents' bankruptcy into the election - what does that have to do with her personally?
I loved the close, supportive friendships that both characters had. As an avid reader, I did love seeing Hallie use quotes from her favorite books. I would love to go on vacation to a place like themed cottages that they visited. And mostly, I loved how Fitz broke free the hold that his parents had on him!
I did feel at times the book went on longer than it truly needed to. The extensive vocabulary did get annoying too. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who love a sweet romance. I will definitely be reading more books by this author!
Thank you to NetGalley, Christi Barth & Entangled Publishing LLC, for letting me read an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read/reviewed this book & all opinions are my own.
Hallie was your stereotypical librarian, often using large words (that I had to look up more than once) but you could really see her character relax once Fitz came into her life. She truly transformed (with the help of her friends)…changed her hair, changed her wardrobe and even toned down her extensive vocabulary(a bit). It was fun to learn some new words but she did seem to come across as a know-it-all which was annoying at times.
Fitz was my absolute favorite character! Honest, handsome, sweet and genuine. I love all of the volunteering and charity stuff that he does without anyone knowing. The only downfall to him is that he let his family manipulate him for far too long.
I was so frustrated by the snobby Montgomery parents doing anything & everything to keep their status and monopoly on their community! I did feel like there was too much emphasis on their family wealth and history in this book. It seemed repetitive and could have cut down the length of this book. It was also confusing to me why they felt the need to bring her parents' bankruptcy into the election - what does that have to do with her personally?
I loved the close, supportive friendships that both characters had. As an avid reader, I did love seeing Hallie use quotes from her favorite books. I would love to go on vacation to a place like themed cottages that they visited. And mostly, I loved how Fitz broke free the hold that his parents had on him!
I did feel at times the book went on longer than it truly needed to. The extensive vocabulary did get annoying too. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who love a sweet romance. I will definitely be reading more books by this author!
Thank you to NetGalley, Christi Barth & Entangled Publishing LLC, for letting me read an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read/reviewed this book & all opinions are my own.
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