Cupid only strikes once. At least that’s what Lissette Alonso believes. Ever since the Most Disastrous Valentine’s Day of All Time™ she has hated all things V-day. But Lizzie’s best friend is having pre-nuptial festivities for a week leading up to her February 14th wedding and Lissette is taking her maid of honor duties seriously, maybe too seriously. Of course of course of course who is the first person she runs into on the way to the wedding? None other than her childhood nemesis, Brian Anderson, the reason for all of her Valentine’s Day hatred.
Brian knows he messed up with Lizzie but give him a break, he was just a kid who was trying to look cool and Lizzie regularly pushed all of his buttons—both in school and out of it. He’s always been gruff and grumpy, but these days, Brian is much better off with his writing; fictional characters never talk back. Unlike Lizzie who always has something to say.
Suddenly the two are back under the same roof and bickering like old times, except that Brian has bigger problems than dealing with Lizzie’s verbal sparring. Someone Brian is desperate to avoid shows up and somehow Lizzie gets roped into pretending to be dating him. And, suddenly, the simmering anger has blossomed into something extra spicy…
Release Date: Dec 27, 2022
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon Books
Price: $10.99
Lizzie and Brian have been at war since they first met in elementary school. Brian has always embarrassed Lizzie on Valentine’s Day so much that she hates the holiday. Lizzie is forced to face Brian again when they are stuck going to the same place. She is there for her friend’s wedding, and he is doing a book tour for a series he created. He needs her help, and she could use his. They agree even if they both think it could lead to another showdown.
I love the start of the story. Lizzie had good reason to dislike Brian in their younger days. He just seems to always be there for all of the embarrassing moments in her life, which happened on Valentine’s Day. From the moment they met in 2nd grade, they had become enemies. The background gave a good idea of why Lizzie would be hesitant around him.
The premise and ploy of the “super fans” are very shaky. It gets them together to play along as lovers, but it is unrealistic. I also didn’t care for the fan part of the story. I push Brian’s career stuff out of my mind.
They have an instant connection which they use to become enemies with benefits. I liked the premise, but they couldn’t stay mad at each other long. This is not my first read by Ms. Halston, so I knew they would find themselves entangled quickly.
Here is what bugged me the most about the story. Brian and Lizzie seem to be in such a good space. Readers get this chance to connect with them on an adult level as lovers and bam, a silly misunderstanding occurs. We are right back at the beginning of the book, where they are like children. The small misunderstanding does not call for the big blowout. I wanted them to behave like adults. I think it would have shown character development. Unfortunately, it did not add value to the story.
The last thing is that the author kind of left it open. I don’t particularly like that. She didn’t have to include an epilogue, but the way it leaves it kind of open. I wonder, will there be another book, or is this a part of a series?
Overall, this is a relatively fast-paced read for people who like a light-hearted and steamy rom-com.
~ Samantha
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