This is my first book from this author and I'm always excited to find something new. I didn't love Anyone but Rich but, I didn't hate it either. It really just fell somewhere in the middle for me. I never really felt a connection with the characters and parts of it seemed to drag a little. There were some funny parts and I enjoyed the storyline but I'm not sold on the series just yet.

***ARC provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

Sadly, this book did not work for me.
The situations presented were too OTT for me.
I wish there was a little more back story to why there was such animosity from the girls towards the guys.

I did laugh at some instances. But sadly, I couldn't finish this book.

The writing was great. No complains there.

Fun, fast and easy read. This is my first time reading a book by Penelope Bloom. I really did enjoy this book all though it was predictable.
Three girls make a promise to never date the King Brothers. Even if they grew up to become billionaires. Even if they crawled back to us asking for forgiveness.
He shows up to my job on my first day. He hasn’t changed at all. He’s also the kind of gorgeous and she knows that she is done for.
Give it a try
I hope Book # 2 and Book #3 are good also

This was a great idea for a book and was greatly executed! I loved the scorned girls pact to stay away from the popular guys! When these rich men return to town it made for great chemistry with all characters that was hot, racy, funny and entertaining. I actually love Rich's character after awhile. His desire to get Kira despite all the odds and opinions of others. Kira was strong, witty and determined female. Loved these two together.

Can't wait for next book in this series!

Kira’s friendship with Miranda and Iris is the most important thing to her. When an incident during high school threatens to tear them all apart, Kira forces the girls to agree that they will never get involved with the King Brothers. They were all good until seven years later when the King Brothers are back and they want to make amends.

Kira is ready to start her new job as a teacher. She struggled to make something of her life but she is back on the right path. Richard King arrives in town just as her new life starts off and he wants to apologize for causing her to lose out on her scholarship. Kira tries hard to ward him off but he is determined to win her over.

You ever get excited to read a book and something about it throws you off? Well that is exactly what happened to me with this book. It has all the bones to make a good story but it falls a bit flat. The characters are all juvenile. Everyone is holding onto pain from high school and they are all about to be 30 years old.

The guys are still catering to their parents and acting like young playboys. They are billionaires running their own company and the parents tell them what to do. The ladies are convening in every scene to remind each other of the pact. I wanted them to just speak about what happened and move on because it wasn’t all the way clear on how this impacted all six characters.

Overall, it all worked out and the author set it up for the other two couple to get their books.

~ Samantha

A promise was made years ago to never date a King brother..... how that can be promised is beyond me. I fell for Richard even though he is a cocky SOB but damnnnn Penelope Bloom goes into great detail with how gorgeous this man is!

I love how Anyone But Rich isn’t the norm... don’t get me wrong it has heat and steamy but it was hilarious! I was in tears laughing a lot through out this book. I can not wait for book two!!!

Witty and down hilarious. You will laugh though out the entire book. I truly enjoyed this one. Cannot wait to get the rest of the girls and brothers stories.

I’m a creature of habit and I tend to stick to authors I already know, but that was the first time I’d read a Penelope Bloom book!

I love the premise, and I adore a romance but this fell a little flat for me, either because I’m tired of the whole billionaire romance trope, or because it felt a little juvenile and naive and unrealistic in places! HOWEVER, I’m a fan of strong female friendships and this really hit the nail on the head! There was the perfect combination of comedy, dark humour and sisterhood and to be honest, that’s pretty rare these days.

The opening scene with those 3 girls sat on their bonnets in the dark, plotting and making pacts really set the scene for a more thrilling, mysterious and potentially darker read, which could’ve made it a little sexier! Overall, I didn’t hate it but wish it had been a little more of the above!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

Penelope Bloom is an amazing author. Seriously. I've loved everything I've read by her, and Anyone But Rich is no different. She's seriously talented.

this book has a great storyline. The characters are well-developed and easy to like. The book itself was a quick, easy read for me. I'll definitely be reading more by her!

Anyone but Rich by Penelope Bloom.
3 of 5 Stars.

3 brothers. 3 bestfriends. 1 pact. A lot of man-hate. A romance. The start of a series.

Hurt by Rich in highschool, Kira swears off him. When suddenly he comes back to town to explain why he did what he did all those years ago & to apologise and eventually to tell Kira the truth. Kira doesn't want to hear it; she has moved on and the pact she has with her bestfriends (Iris & Miranda) to stay away from Rich (& the King brothers) proves difficult, but it's working to protect her heart or so she thinks.
As the story progresses Rich & Kira grow closer. His reasons now seem reasonable and their relationship & feelings haven't changed from what they were in highschool, but now as adults they recognise it is Love they feel. But will they get their HEA when her friends & their families make it clear they don't belong together. -
First off, I struggled to read this book. The synopsis had me hooked but the writing had me stalling at an infuriating pace.
I expected grit - like Meredith Wild/Sylvia Day - but the plot just seemed dragged out. The side characters were given a lot of scenes & Rich & Kira's story just felt neglected in places & I was constantly waiting for their story to start - it was staggered.
Secondly... it is very wordy. Silly as it's a book, words make a book. But again, this book was just long winded - for me. And that ending... Even now, it felt anti-climatic. If this was to be a t.v show I'd watch it. Honestly. But as a book, I would have cut a lot out that didn't make Rich & Kira shine.
Thirdly... their relationship just seemed too easy. After reading the synopsis I excepted a love hate relationship. What I got was a girl who just wanted to forgive & forget & have him. I get it, life is too short. But I felt misled by the synopsis.

I haven't read anything from this author before. She is very descriptive. So with this been a first read, my opinion the author has tried, REALLY HARD, to give us everything. But she gave too much to this book and it drowned it.
Positives. RICH'S P.O.V.. I do want more from the series. I look forward to Cade's book - OH BOY! But I am a Michael fan.
This book should come with a warning for a lot of one liners that are LOL.

3.5 stars! Almost 4. Hahaha. Enjoyed this book way more than the last 2 (or 3?) books of Penelope Bloom.

3 friends. 1 promise: to stay away from the 3 brothers. But then, Rich makes it really hard for Kira to keep her promise. Kira is sweet and funny and can definitely handle Rich. Rich, who has come to realize why he’s back, is sweet too. And earnest. And they fit.

I’m loving all the rest of the cast: Miranda, Iris, Cade and Nick. This is all classic Penelope Bloom! Have to admit, I almost didn’t ask for this book, after going over the last 2... Thank you Montlake Romance for the review copy of this book! It was a nice read.

Anyone But Rich is a kind of spin-off to Penelope's other series "Her" although you do not have to read that series that one is fantastic. Now about this book.

You have three King brothers who are, for some reason, messed around emotionally with three best friends. Kira, Miranda, and Iris. When the friends find out that Rich and Kira have an issue the three girls make a pack there is to be NOTHING to do with them whats so ever.

When the King brothers come back into town, will the girls be able to keep away from the boys now that everyone is older and suppose to be wiser?

I enjoyed this story. Can't wait for the next brother's story!

Kira and her friends vowed never to date any of the King brothers. Seven years later, Richard King is back in town and ends up being Kira's boss. He never forgot the woman he really wanted from years ago. He and his brothers are building their company in their hometown. Kira tries to stick to her promises to her friends but Richard is so handsome and charming. A wonderful read and recommend.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.

Another fantastic story with a humorous vibe. I thought their agreement was amusing and I loved their convictions. Fast forward and we have the makings of a hilarious romp that kept me entertained from the very first page. The subtle nuances that the author places within the story kept me glued to the pages wondering just what they might get up to next. The characters are attention grabbing due to their interactions and the attraction between them are steam-worthy. Great story and a great new series from an amazing author.

**Thank you to NetGalley, Penelope Bloom, and Montlake Romance for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

This was a bit of a mixed read for me, which is why I decided to not rate it 4/5 stars. Even though the back cover was spot on with what to expect, I still felt a little empty when I finished this; like I was still expecting more that I didn't get.

The first installment in this series follows Rich and Kira (hehe, get it?) who already have some history together when we first really meet them. Seven years ago, back in high school, a pact was made between Kira and her best friends. Never, under any circumstances, fall for a King brother. Easy enough when they all live in a small town and the brother's are off become millionaires...until they return.

(view spoiler)

No matter the pact, as soon as Kira lays eyes on Rich, all thoughts of resisting his charm fly right out her classroom window. Immediately swooning, Kira dives head first into Rich.

During this whole book, I kept going back and forth between, "this is way too cheesey," and, "it's not TOO too cheesy." There were some great moments, and those moments are really what kept me powering through the story. The rest of it just didn't do it for me.

Kira and her friends seem super immature; as does Rich and his brothers. There were really odd random things thrown into it that I didn't feel were flushed out enough and the story line didn't make me want to dive into the rest of the series, which is a real bummer. 😐 / 😩🙁😐😀😍

Such a wonderful romance with a woman full of gumption and a man willing to let it all go for her. Loved the characters in this book and how they all come together very concise in this story of frenemies to lovers.
Highly Recommended!

Funny and irreverent, Anyone But Rich is an excellent opener to Penelope Bloom's new series, which is clearly intended to pair each of the King brothers with the women who swore off of them.

Kira and Rich's story has some witty banter, some trying-too-hard-and-not-so-witty-but-still-funny banter, and some interesting plot twists, while keeping everything fairly surface-level. It's a fun read rather than one that'll get you super emotionally involved with the characters, but I enjoyed it just the same.

3.5 stars--ANYONE BUT RICH is the first instalment in Penelope Bloom’s contemporary, adult ANYONE BUT romance series focusing on the King brothers: twins Rich and Cade, and younger brother Nick. This is twenty-four year old billionaire tech businessman Rich King, and high school drama teacher Kira Summerland’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Rich and Kira) ANYONE BUT RICH follows the enemies to lovers/ second chance romance, of a sorts, between former high school friends twenty four year old Richard ‘Rich’ King and Kira Summerland. Seven years earlier Kira Summerland’s plans for the future were all but destroyed when Richard King interfered in Kira’s hopes and dreams. Fast forward to present day wherein Richard and his brothers Cade and Nick, have returned to their hometown of West Valley, North Carolina in an effort to upstart a new division in their billion dollar high tech industry. But first, Rich is desperate to make amends to the girl that stole his heart years before, a woman whose life, once again, is about to implode at the hands of the family King. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship and romance between Rich and Kira, and the potential fall-out as the political machine, and old money ways begin to interfere in the lives of our story line couple.

Seven years earlier, Kira Summerland and her two best friends Miranda and Iris made a pact to never date or fall in love with one of the Kings but promises made in anger and defeat are meant to be broken when the heart longs for something it should now want. Kira’s attraction to Richard is immediate and intense, and she finds herself easily forgiving our hero for past transgressions while desperately trying to avoid her best friends’ promises. Richard King and his brothers struggle with their place in the family-always about money and prestige, the King parental units will do anything to keep appearances including destroying their own children in the process.

The relationship between Rich and Kira is an enemies to lovers forbidden affair, an affair that threatens family and friendships, and promises made in the heat of the moment. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied but I struggled to feel any real palpable love between our leading couple perhaps due in part to outside interference from friends, family and small-minded individuals.

We are introduced to Rich’s twin Cadwick aka Cade, and their younger brother Nick, as well as their parents Harper and Edna King; Kira’s father Mayor Summerland, and her best friends Miranda and Iris who both have a history with one of the King brothers; and Rich’s friend Stella, who has a secret of her own.

ANYONE BUT RICH is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, forgiveness and love. The back and forth frenetic energy between the friends, and the brothers is flirty and fun; all of the parents’ attitudes need a major adjustment in maturity level, behavior and personality- slightly reminiscent of most YA story lines. The premise is entertaining; the romance is tender; the characters are spirited. ANYONE BUT RICH is a charming and delightful introduction to ANYONE BUT…


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Unrelatable characters with a predictable storyline. I’m sure others loved it but it’s not for me at all. Had I have been familiar with the authors previous works then I would not have chosen to read this book. It does however seem a step up from her back catalogue.

5 STARS

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way.

Penelope Bloom is a new author for me & based on this awesome read I am adding her to my TBR author list.

This book had everything - awesome Fren-enemies storylines to an eventual HEA but so much more in a very engaging - at times laugh out loud story line!

Rich & Kira have a past - one where she has promised herself to NEVER get involved with him EVER again even if he is the hottest billionaire to come back to their small town. She & her friends made a pact to never get involved with any of the King brothers ...

That being said Rich & his brothers do come back to town - the attraction is still there for Rich & Kira - so much so that their chemistry is off the charts. I love that Rich brings out Kira’s playful side. No one seems happy that their relationship will work out except Rich & Kira - takes some convincing for others to get on board....

Really happy that Cade & Nick will be getting books too - Anyone but Rich however can be read as a standalone.

Penelope Bloom writes great romance - loved this !!!! Rich proved to be Kira’s “someone” for sure - they were perfect together !!