Sophie Reads YA: Enemies to Lovers

ARC Review: Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams

10:00

Enemies to Lovers
Series: None
Author: Laura Jane Williams
Published August 13th 2024 by G.P. Putnam's Sons/August 15th 2024 by Penguin

Goodreads Synopsis
The best way to get over a crush? Simply get to know him better...

Flo Greenberg: highly strung. Over-achiever. And currently on an enforced break from life after The Embarrassing Meltdown Incident That She Does Not Wish To Talk About, Thank You.

Jamie Kramer: her brother's best friend. Pain in the arse. And somehow on Flo's family holiday to Greece.

Flo and Jamie hate each other.

Except, they don't. Flo has a secret. She actually has a mortifying crush on her mortal enemy, and nobody - absolutely nobody, least of all her bonkers family, and certainly not Jamie himself - can know.

And so she has a plan. With two surprise weeks of sharing breakfast, lunch and dinner, boat trips and sun-loungers, Flo is going to have to remedy herself the only way she can think of: by spending time with him.

Actually getting to know Jamie is the perfect cure for Flo's romantic feelings.

Isn't it...?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Flo Greenberg has had a difficult few years, and needs nothing more than a relaxing family holiday. Spending a few weeks in the Greek sun, not having to care about reality, is just what she needs. But when her nemesis, and her brother's best friend, Jamie, appears at the villa, all of Flo's plans are out of the window. She's always had feelings for Jamie, but after he ghosted her last Christmas, she is too embarrassed by what might have been, and wants nothing to do with him. But Jamie might just reciprocate those feelings, and there were other forces at hand keeping them apart. Can these enemies come to the heart of the issue, and open themselves up to love?

I adore the brother's best friend trope nearly as much as the enemies to lovers one, so as soon as I saw the synopsis for this book (and both the UK and US covers) I knew I needed to read it. Flo was a definite overachiever, which led her to have a breakdown due to burnout, and she was on an enforced leave of absence from work. The time with her family was sorely needed, but she also needed to be treated like an adult. I liked the family dynamic, but did also feel like they coddled her a little too much, though perhaps understandably so after her low period. She and Jamie weren't really want I would call enemies, but had always been friends until Christmas happened. Over the holidays they had a "will they, won't they" moment, but then Flo found a note under her bedroom door saying he couldn't break his promise to her brother. I did hate that, and the fact the pair didn't speak about the note until over half way into the story. I guessed what had actually happened, and hated it for them. They honestly were perfect for each other, and were so good together, but had lost out on those months due to other's machinations. The ending was sweet, however, and this was a great book to read over a rainy weekend.

Dates Read:
March 8-9 2024

Rating
4 Stars

2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Stage Kiss/Enemies to Lovers by Amelia Jones

10:00

The Stage Kiss: A Novel/Enemies to Lovers
Series: None
Author: Amelia Jones
Published December 12th 2023 by Alcove Press

Goodreads Synopsis
In this slow-burn yet highly combustible enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Abby Jimenez, two stage actors find themselves falling for each other with each onstage kiss...against their better judgment.

Actress Eden Blake’s biggest claim to fame is a mortifying pharmaceutical commercial for male enhancement pills. That is until the female lead on the nationwide tour of Broadway’s hit Pride & Prejudice musical abruptly quits and Eden is called up to fill the role.

The cast of Liz and Darcy: The Musical has just settled into a three-week run in Washington, DC, and Broadway royalty Brennon Thorne is set to play Darcy. Despite Brennon’s reputation as being “a dream to work with,” Eden’s first impression of him is more like a nightmare. Now, she’ll have to kiss the pompous jerk eight shows per week.

Brennon can’t disguise his disdain for understudies like Eden. But New York is filled with reminders of his most recent failed relationship, and this American tour is a much-needed distraction from his loneliness. As Eden and Brennon take the stage playing Jane Austen’s most memorable characters, their reality begins to mirror Elizabeth and Darcy’s—explosive chemistry and all. Together, they power through press performances and curtain calls, even as rumors of Brennon’s checkered romantic past resurface and prove to Eden that he can’t be trusted.

But with each choreographed stage kiss, Eden and Brennon’s passion for the stage—and each other—ignites. Maybe, just maybe, not all rumors are to be believed—and not all showmances are doomed to fail.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Joining the cast of Liz and Darcy: The Musical was a dream come true for Eden Blake, but she never expected that she would soon become the principal lead for the part of Lizzie as it makes it's debut American tour. And the fact that Broadway royalty, Brennon Thorne is set to play Darcy is a set too far. But where Eden thought she would be having the time of her life, it's clear that Brennon would rather act alongside any one other than herself. However, soon it seems as if the parts they are playing are coming reality, and the chemistry between the two could rival even that of Lizzie and Darcy.

I simply adore anything and everything Pride and Prejudice related, so as soon as I saw the cover and synopsis of this book, I immediately requested it, and dove right in! This was such a great P&P inspired book, and the premise of having a stage show where the cast are starting to embody the characters of Lizzie, Darcy, and all the others, was wonderful. Eden was such a great main character, who felt so real in her vulnerabilities that I wanted to reach into the book and give her a big hug at times. Her and Brennon's chemistry was electric, and they gave as good as they got. Brennon was so rude and grumpy to begin with, but as any P&P lover will know, he was hiding his shyness behind that gruff exterior, which Eden managed to break through. There were so many moments in the book which were the epitome of Lizzie and Darcy's interactions in the original material, but also so new and fresh that it wasn't a clear copy from Austen. I found myself unable to put this book down at all, and needed to see if Eden and Brennon would be able to overcome all of their miscommunication to find their happiness, but it was all worth it in the end. A fantastic Pride & Prejudice inspired contemporary romance!

Dates Read:
June 24, 2023

Rating
4 Stars