I really enjoyed listening to this full cast dramatisation as I read the ebook of A Court of Thorns and Roses. It's technically an adaptation but I can report that this dramatisation includes almost all the novel's narration, bar a few dialogue tags. A fun way to consume this series! 

In my opinion, an enemies-to-lovers romance depends on the strength of the characterisation during the enemies dynamic - what substantial conflict is causing the main characters to consider each other enemies? What in the characterisation of each hints at how well they will eventually work together... and how does each need to grow before they will recognise their romantic destiny? That's a lot of heavy lifting for the enemies dynamic to do!

I love Christmas and I really wanted to enjoy The Naughty or Nice Clause. This book delivered on its Hallmark Christmas movie promise, serving the aesthetics of a secret Santa romance set in the North Pole (or "Yule"), unfortunately accompanied by the same somewhat bland characterisation that comes with those same holiday flicks. The narrative voice did not grab me well enough to look past the cartoonish feel of the enemies dynamic, which hindered my buy-in for the transition to lovers.

Though unfortunately The Naughty or Nice Clause couldn't hold my interest this holiday period, and reading this novel became an obligation rather than a pleasure, you may enjoy this book If you have a soft spot for Netflix or Hallmark Christmas movies. It's an easy read so it may be a good one to be able to pick up and put down during the busy holiday period. 

Thankyou to NetGalley, CallaghanWriter and Kate Callaghan for providing an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Category romances are like a shot of seratonin and this is no exception. My only quibble is the use of the evil stepmother trope, which isn't my favourite. 

Things to love:
💋 Ex-lover rivals to lovers
💋 Second chance romance (my favourite! 💞) 
💋 Latinx entertainment scene 

Do I love spy thrillers now? Spy Fall was an absolute delight! It was refreshing to move away from the purity requirements of the upper classes for this love story. A fab set up to a series with a cast of secondary characters I can't wait to read about it the later books! 

My toxic trait is that retro CLo is my comfort reading. Don't get me wrong, I adore Christina Lauren and make no apologies for their autobuy status, but Beautiful Bastard is... very 2013. I imagine that anyone who has had to endure persistent sexual harassment or a persistently negative or overly critical boss probably won't find Bennet and Chloe's high jinx sexy. Beautiful Bastard also features all the fingerprints of early Christina Lauren which dates this novel as almost a decade old, including a cast of white rich businesspeople, a gorgeous rich boss man with a younger woman, repetition of the key plot points at the beginning of each chapter as the POV switches. So... it's not perfect. But do I relisten to the entire series at least once a year? Yes, I do.