I received an early e-arc of Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon in exchange for an honest review.
I was interested in reading Make Up Break Up as Lily Menon is a pen name of the author who wrote the When Dimple Met Rishi companion series and this is her first adult romance book. I am new to adult romance myself, and I think that if you're also a beginner adult romance reader, this could be a good starting point.
Make Up Break Up follows Annika Dev, an app developer who is the CEO of an app called Make Up which is basically a 'Google Translate' for couples, I thought that this app concept was really cool and the AI technology that the app uses would be interesting to see in an actual app.
Annika hooks up with Hudson Craft at a conference in Vegas sometime before the start of the book, and Hudson ends up being a rival app developer with his app Break Up. Hudson's app seems so similar to Make Up, which leads Annika to think he stole her idea.
So this was a slowish burn romance, and I think it had the issue of telling versus showing, there were a lot of scenes where I felt there could be more detail but weren't explored further. Annika was also repeating herself A LOT about Make Up and how she felt about Hudson.
I really liked the scene at the yoga studio, I thought it was really funny and there was just enough tension between the characters.
Also maybe this is just my pet peeve in romance but the characters never talked about contraception and I think it's kinda important before you have sex. Like number one is consent and number two is contraception, this book had the consent though.
Overall, I think Make Up Break Up was a good debut romance, and I understand it's really hard to break into writing a different genre and age group so I would give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

This story had all the perfect pieces of a love/hate rom com! I loved the writing and the character building! Would recommend to friends!

This was Menons first book in the adult romance world and she did not disappoint!
The girl power and motivation we see through Annika was wonderful! Sometimes I wanted to strangle her or cover my eyes for her because I was feeling the embarrassment for her! Hudson was such a great counter balance and the banter he brought to the story was superb.
I tell you this book made me cringe for them, laugh, sob and more! I can't wait to see what she comes up with this

A fun and timely look at the world of online dating and breaking up apps with two very likable characters. I thought this was a fun quick read, although I would have liked a bit more background information for both of the main characters and their two best friends!

Loved this book, it will make the perfect Valentine's Day read! The dating app story line is very relevant and relatable!

Adult rating warning! Lots of sex here.

There were too many tiny holes I poked in this. I thought Menon's writing was engaging and fun, but multiple times I was completely drawn out because there was something I didn't believe or that didn't make sense. And there was a plot twist at the end that felt really unnecessary and kind of cheapened the book a bit.

Overall, though I feel like Menon's writing had potential, I didn't buy the romance or the plot enough to really love it.

I’ll start by saying the writing is excellent and the premise was an interesting idea but I could not get on board with the main character, Annika. She was annoying and kind of naive but supposed to be CEO of a business. It didn’t translate well. Also some details seemed implausible from as little as how she buys a coffee everyday when they’re in dire money problems to as big as.....the ending. I loved the side characters in the story, especially June and Ziggy so there were definitely redeeming moments. I wish they showed more of their story. It was still good enough to pass the time.

A brilliant slow burn romance that goes from hating to loving. You know they will get together but the journey they take was a delight to read. I loved the characters and the storyline was such fun! I was so engrossed with the main characters I didnt want it to end. Loved it.

Sassy second-chances enemies-to-lovers romance set in the world of (anti-)dating apps!

I love a good rom-com, but I can rarely find a modern, hello-we're-in-the-digital-age kind of rom-coms. Yes, it's nice to read about hot people meeting of fancy vacations or bus stops, but ain't nobody talking to strangers IRL these days! Luckily, Make Up Break Up came to the rescue of this genre.

This novel is brilliant, super sassy and full of misunderstandings and romance. The two main characters both work in the tech industry.
Annika's app called Make Up is meant to heal broken relationships.
Hudson's app called Break Up is meant to heal yourself after broken relationships.
The issue is... they are enemies! After a week-long romantic vacay in Vegas, someone's heart was broken and business idea stolen...

So when Hudson's company moves to the same office building as Annika's, some juicy drama is bound to happen. One thousand times yes to a well-written, funny and fast-paced romance novel like this.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the eARC of Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon. This was a fun read. Annika has a romantic encounter with Hudson; but that's in the past. Currently, Annika has developed an app Make Up to help couples reunite. She is running her business but soon finds out that she is close to losing it all. The company is in debt. Could things get any worse? Actually, yes........Hudson moves in to the same office building. Hudson has launched an app Break Up to help couples break up. Surely, he stole this idea from Annika?????? When Annika discovers that Hudson is running his business from the same building she is livid.. She can't stand the sight of him......or can she? Annika can't stop thinking about Hudson. What does this all mean.? Soon, both Annika and Hudson have a change to pitch their apps to a company. If Annika wins, Make Up can stay in business. She is determined to win the pitch. So, how does this all play out? Who will win the pitch? And will Annika give in to her desires?

I really enjoyed this book. It's fun, it's interesting, and it's realistic. It was just the right length and wasn't too drawn out! I'm giving it 4 stars. If you are a fan of Rom Coms, Make Up Break Up is for you! This one releases on Feb. 2, 2021!

I was drawn to this book because I love a good rom-com! I had no idea it was Lily Menon's first venture out of YA - I definitely need to check out her other books. I did fall in love with all of the characters but I wanted more to the story. Annika and Hudson's rivalry was perfectly approached and often cringeworthy in the best way! I wanted more background on how they met and the ending felt rushed so I would have loved an epilogue. It was a fun, quick read and I would recommend it to friends!

When I first hear that one of my favorite YA authors was breaking into the Contemporary Romance genre, I got so excited! To say I've been (impatiently) waiting for this book is an understatement. When NetGalley reopened the option to read the ARC for this book, I jumped at the chance!
Make Up Break Up is a romance between two people who shared an incredible week together at a tech retreat. Their chemistry is undeniable during that week they shared, but neither one takes the initiative to see where things go once they both return to reality in Los Angeles and they lose touch.
The next thing the heroine, Annika, knows, the man she left behind, Hudson Craft is a millionaire playboy with a booming business that is an exact opposite of her up-and-coming business. Her still-under-development app.named Make Up is meant to give couples a second chance at love. Hudson's, on the other hand, helps take the hassle out of ending relationships and is aptly named Break Up.
After allegedly taking her idea and flipping it on its head, it's no surprise that Annika can't even stand to read articles about Hudson in the magazines he seems to own front page property in. Then to make matters worse, he takes the vacant office just across the hall to serve as headquarters for his thriving business.
This enemies-to-lovers story is packed full of angst and true, heartfelt moments. Lily Menon's first Contemporary Romance novel certainly did not disappoint.

The enemy to lovers trope has always been a favorite and Make Up Break Up took that love and amped it up by about 1000. The tension between these two was so deliciously sweet. In fact at times it was heart pounding make you want to fan your face hot. The pages were burning with what you could feel between these two and the more they battled it out, the hotter it got.

And while I loved these two together and all that delicious sexual tension, there were things about this that didn't quite sit right with me. I'm all for making sacrifices for those we love but some of the pre-judgments and all that the hero had to sacrifice felt wrong sometimes. I know if the roles had been reversed, there would be tons of people crying out about women being strong and not letting men push them around and give up their dreams, etc., etc,. so yes, at times, I didn't absolutely love this and some of the messages it portrayed.

But overall, this really was a cute love story with a trope that a lot of us love and a lot of us will really enjoy.

Make Up Break Up is a cute read. The story is about two competing CEO's of completely opposite tech start up companies and their evolving relationship. Annika is a believer in love and her company is all about getting people together while Hudson is the head of a company which breaks up with significant others for their clients. The attraction between the two characters is undeniable but I felt that some of their interactions were shallow. I would love for them to have spent more time together and to have read more about their thoughts and developing feelings. Despite this, I did like the characters overall and would definitely read a spin off about June and Ziggy if there were one.

I like the way the story is written. It is intelligent and interesting. The love interest's relationships were well written and not sappy as they can be in some rom com books. Annika is a smart character, and I liked reading about the business she was creating and some of her trials and successes with her business. I also liked the relationship with her father and her pluck toward the end of the book.

Overall I would recommend this book for someone who wants an easier rom com read.

* I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Make Up Break Up is a contemporary, diverse, enemies to lovers romcom.

This had some really cute moments (mariachi band!) but the main characters spent a lot of time doing mean things to each other. I'm all for the snarky banter or even some light pranks but doing things like deliberately sabotaging a presentation when you supposedly care about someone is just cruel. So I had a difficult time cheering them on as a couple.

I cheered harder for Ani's best friend June and Hudson's coworker Ziggy.

No spoilers but the ending felt really contrived.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! One the best romcoms I’ve read in awhile. This is just what I have been looking for!! I was laughing, tearing up, shaking my head, etc. ALL OF THE EMOTIONS!! The angst and chemistry between the two main characters was on fire. Phew! I was so sad when I flipped the last page, I wanted more! Everyone this is a must read!!

Thank you Netgalley for this auto approval for librarians!

If I'm being honest, I thought this one was just average. I love Lily Menon and was really looking forward to her first adult romance, because I have adored every YA she's ever put out. But...I think this one lacked the mature tone she was going for and the leads lacked chemistry. I wasn't a fan of a last act crisis that happened, because it felt like the characters could have reached their emotional conclusions without it and it felt unnecessary. There were really cute moments and I think it was really worth a read, but perhaps not an all time favorite romance. Regardless, I'm looking forward to Menon's future novels and she's always an author I'll pick up.

4.5 stars

*I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I was so excited to pick up this book. I have enjoyed Menon's YA work and was looking forward to an adult romance since they are my new love. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. I think there was tension between them that was well done. Hudson gives me Christian Grey vibes in the CEO sense, but he also has boyish, fun vibes.

I do wish that the ending was a little more extended. I think an additional chapter or an epilogue would have worked really well. The resolution was happening in the final chapter, so I wish it was just a chapter or two longer for some more wrap up. For this reason, I bumped it down a half star.

I'm hoping we can have a book that follows June's story, even a novella to see how her story is going.

I'm very excited to see what Lily Menon does next.

I had a hard time visualizing the characters and development. There were two grammatical errors within the middle of the book. The plot itself seemed very predictable and a little hallmarky.

I wanted to love this book. And I almost succeeded.
Annika & Hudson are a case of lovers to enemies to lovers, having met in Vegas and having a fling previously. The enemies portion was most definitely that. Each character was out to get the other, with very little remorse in respect to their actions.
When we got to the lovers portion, they had already been so rotten to one another that it was hard for me to reconcile that this was the relationship they needed to be in.
I didn’t particularly have any warm fuzzy feelings for either MC, and it was a bit difficult to connect with them.