I'm a big fan of Ivy Smoak's The Hunted Series, so I was excited to see one of her new titles as an ARC on NetGalley. "Bad Things Feel Best" was not at all what I expected, but I don't mean that in a negative way. From the very beginning, Smoak does a fantastic job creating a spooky, ominous mood. Hazel Fox arrives at famous author Athena Quinn's beautiful mansion optimistic about her new job and hopefully gaining a mentor. Things quickly start to feel "not right," making Hazel question not only her decision to take the job but her own instincts as well.

The other main character, Mr. Remington, is a conundrum. As a male lead, he wasn't at all likeable, but I feel that this was 100% the author's intent with this character. I found myself coming to the same conclusion as Hazel about why Mr. Remington behaved the way he did, but also like Hazel kept second guessing what I was seeing.

Overall, this book deviated from what I normally read in a lot of good ways. The setting was masterfully created and the female lead was likeable. However, some of the storyline was farfetched, and I felt that the ending left me questioning so many things that it felt unfinished. If you're a reader that is okay living with some ambiguity, though, this shouldn't bother you at all. All in all, even with my thoughts about the ending, I don't regret picking up this book.

If you enjoy an intriguing romance with mystery then you can't go wrong with Bad Things Feel Best. As the title states, there are some bad choices to be made but they sound good on these pages! This is certainly different from Ivy's other romance novels but I think that's what makes it a winner!

This book is interesting in that it's crazily great written.
The characters are just that - a bunch of characters! (in a good way)

If you're a fan of Ivy already, you'll get a sense of deja vu in that Hazel could be the child of Ash and Penny, and Mr. Remington is totally the child of James & Matt & Tanner (yes I went there).

Hazel was hired to be the assistant of Athena Quinn. But she turned out to be the assistant of Mr. Remington. She moved to live in Athena's house, and was warned where she could walk around, and what was off limits. Yet of course, because she's ... Hazel ... she does what she wants.

Mr. Remington is interesting. You wanna love him. You wanna smack him. And you want to adore him because he's got the most interesting qualities about him.

I won't say more, because I don't want to share spoilers. But go in with an open mind and enjoy the book just because it's different, unique, and something fun.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I can't decide what's there to like at all, and this might be my first worst review. When I picked this book, I expected it to have some thrill in it, but let me tell you there wasn't. It was just a whole lot of confusion, nothing more. I guess I just expected a lot from this book.
The story feels scattered a lot. The tropes aren't clear and there's no solid direction like where exactly the story is heading?!! Also, everyone seems like they were onto something suspicious except for Hazel. At first, I thought at least Hazel was a sensible character but by the end of this book, my thoughts for her changed as well. At least her best friend's character was better than hers though. It was pure chaos. Then there was Atlas Remington's character. I did not like his character at all. Throughout the story, he was rude to Hazel and then all of a sudden he fell in love with her. Okay, even that could have been digestible but why make him sound like a pervert/stalker who plans out everything in his life and stalks Hazel?! And, Hazel sounds very confused to me throughout the whole story, first, she hates Atlas, then pines for Hudson, and then goes back to obsessing over Atlas. Her thoughts gave me whiplash. One moment he's a Vampire to her and the next, he's the man she fell in love with?!! Does that make any sense?! The woman doesn't even make Atlas grovel for his forgiveness!!! Even the plot twist wasn't shocking at all, I saw it coming from miles away, and to me, the signs were way too obvious.

This book was so good. Ivy Smoak knows how to draw you in and keep you guessing. This book is mysterious, intense and sexy. Hazel is looking to further her career, but runs into some trouble along the way and ends up fearing for her life. It doesn’t end how you think at all. I couldn’t put it down.

Wow what a great story. The twist and turn will keep you needing to find out what’s really going on. Don’t want to give anything away but so worth the read. Just a little heat to this story but the story has enough depth that it didn’t need to be hot. #lovethisstory

I think there were too many tropes in this one and the vampire thing was kind of confusing along with everything else going on in this book.

I really enjoyed this book! I have read other titles from Ivy Smoak so I was really excited to dive into this. It was nothing like I expected. I really hope that everyone who goes into this, goes in blind because it was so exciting to be able to read that way. Really good!

Romance

This book suffered from an identity crisis. The author had us going in one direction with a creepy kind of mystery while also developing a romantic storyline. Neither was successful.

Hazel Fox accepts a job as a famous writer's assistant, but when she arrives it turns out that she is the assistant to the writer's assistant. Her workplace is a gigantic house on the beach. From the beginning something seems off. The assistant insists she call him Mr. Remington, not wear shoes to dinner and tells her that she most likely won't ever meet the author she is supposed to be working for.

Hazel's imagination goes into overdrive and all of the clues indicate that Mr. Remington could be some kind of monster, yet she cannot help but be attracted to him. Smoak does a great job with the creepy storyline and I was kind of hoping the plot would go in the direction of a modern day Beauty and the Beast. It doesn't. The author isn't successful in making the relationship that develops between Mr. Remington and Hazel very believable. Mr. Remington's character isn't developed enough and his interactions with Hazel are mostly odd, so by the time they get together the relationship doesn't feel fully realized.

This book is really short and I think it would have benefitted by adding some meat to the bones - round out the characters, have the relationship go through some different ups and downs.

I do so appreciate receiving the ARC and want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

This book was amazing. I could not put it down and stayed up all night reading it. I love Ivy Smoak's books so much. I already can not wait for the next one. She makes the best stories and characters. Hazel Fox and Mr Remington are incredible characters. I loved this book so much.

4.5 ⭐️ My girl Ivy has yet to let me down with any of her books that I read. This was a quick suspenseful thriller that had a twist I didn’t see coming.

Thank you so much #netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of one my favorite authors!

Well where to start.. Ivy smoak is an absolute genius when it comes to writing. You can tell she really does love to write. The book is good. I like it. But I'm partial to her other stories.
James and Penny, Matt and Brooklyn, Scarlett and Axel and the rest of them too. This books is different from her others but still equally written as her other stories are. She's an amazing writer. She knows how to suck you in for sure.

Good job .Ms.Ivy Smoak it's a good story but I prefer James, Penny, Matt, Brooklyn and the others. But you're an awesome writer and an amazing person so please keep writing and sucking all of us in.
Can't wait to read a new book from you.

Thank you. Netgalley for a copy of this novel.

I was really looking for Ivy’s new novel and so iñwhen I got it well.. I went straight to read it.

Unfortunately I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would? I mean, creepy old mansion? Love story? BFFs. Relationship goals? sign me up!

I want to say that I sort of got the plot right away.. I knew what was gonna happened before it did and the ending felt a little flat FOR ME.

Still I was able to finish it and there were many parts that I liked but this was a missed for me.

The plot twist omg I saw it coming it keep you on your toes that felt like they need to be more to this story I need more answer I'm so use to Ivy Smoak series I want a story about the other character in the book their no cliffhanger.
Mr Remington was a mystery went hazel come to the mansion he the one that let her know how is going to be but she does the opposite because she want to meet the famous author and the author doesn't want to be seen by any one and Hazel is getting obsessed to meeting her.
I really would recommend this book to everyone it is such a short and thrilling read with so many twists. Thank you netgalley for the arc! And Ivy Smoak for letting us have this opportunity to read it. Once the book come out I'll write more of the book their so much more to say that I can't give any spoilers.

I enjoyed this book. I thought I had figured out Mr. Remington, and the plot took a surprising turn. I enjoyed this book with all of its twists and turns.

ARC Review: This is the first Ivy book that I was totally in the dark for when the ARC released. No teasers ahead of time, and no idea what the book was about. I absolutely love this side of Ivy’s writing - Ivy has so much talent in writing romance thrillers that have you thinking you’ve solved them half way through, to only be proven wrong at the end. Loved the characters, I hope one day we get more of them!! Also reviewed on good reads, and will review on Amazon when able to do so.

From the start I was excited to read this. Something new for a while that I've been wanting from Ivy! It was a surprise ARC to her street team. A great surprise! The very beginning story starts off so good and it's just exhilarating to be on my tippy toes wanting more and more before I fall in. Towards the middle end the story was kinda stalled and there were sooo soo many different theories swirling in My mind.

Hazel Fox is aspiring to be a writer and she is taking a job to assist a well known author Athena Quinn. When she arrives its different and not at all what she expected. Turns out she's just an assistant to the real real assistant. Lol and it's all a whirlwind from there. Hazel's BFF Kehlani is a ride or die and I love her. She's the best BFF to Hazel in this story. While assisting Hazel AKA Ms. Fox is questioning EVERYTHING and she was correct to do. Nothing is as it seems. Everything is up to no good. Everyone is up to no good. The title is perfect. Hazel is a bit naive and that's why she was chosen I'm sure. In the end will Hazel get through this and make it out alive and happy? I know the ending, and it is wild. This is a standalone. Ivy is a maniac. 😆 Find out for yourself. 👀🖤

This book follows Hazel who accepts a new job working for famous novelist Athena Quinn. As she arrives to Ms. Quinn’s estate she is met with a surprise, she has actually been hired to be assistant to Mr. Remington (who is already Athena Quinn’s assistant). Mysterious and creepy things happen throughout the estate and Hazel tries to get to the bottom of it.

I really loved the imagery in this book but a lot of the other aspects fell short for me. There were so many questions left unanswered and loose ends. The romance aspect was hard for me to believe and I wanted so badly to root for them and love them but I just never did.

And the ending fell flat for me too! The two major “plot twists” were obvious. I have loved some of Ivy’s other books so I’m sad I didn’t love this one. Just not for me.

Very easy to read and enjoyable story. It flowed and was entertaining throughout the whole of the book. The main character worked well together.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

Hazel gets a job as an author’s assistant’s assistant. She goes in thinking she’s going to get a lot of experience writing wise but she doesn’t understand how much more she just signed up for by working for Mr.Remington.

I really enjoy this novel. I wish it was a bit longer because I didn’t want it to end. I will say I do think the ending was wrapped up way too fast and should’ve been drawn out a little bit more. I think the plot and characters were fantastic. I seen the plot twist coming from a mile away though.

If you like romance and mysteries then I would definitely check this book out. It was a fun and fast read. I read it in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down.

4 stars!