I absolutely loved this book! It was such a quick read because I was so invested! I loved both Drake and Kate. I thought they were both super relatable and their interactions were hilarious. The banter was great and they complimented each other nicely. I really enjoyed the dual perspectives from both of them and I thought the speed was perfect.

Newton's writing made me want to move to that small town and be a part of that community. I loved every single secondary character, especially the brothers! I would totally be interested in more books about their stories! Drake's mom was another favorite. Her love for her family is obvious and she was also quite funny!

I cant wait to see more from the author!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. I really enjoyed this book so much - How Sweet It Is is a sweet (!) romance between an event planner and a horror writer. I absolutely loved the elevator scene - the best setting for a :insert fire emoji: scene!

This book is an adorable, easy read!

The story centers on Kate Sweet, event planner who loves Happily Ever Afters and Drake Matthews, a horror writer experiencing some serious writers block. When Kate is tapped to plan Drake's Halloween-themed book launch, chaos (and romance) ensues!

This book had THE best main character first meeting that I've had the pleasure of reading! Author Dylan Newton crafts the plot in a way that you get easily lost in the antics of these two and I didn't want to stop reading.

I also loved the small town setting and Drake's brothers--hoping we get to revisit them, this was giving me serious series vibes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an advanced copy of this and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one was really cute, but I felt the story fell a little flat. I was expecting a lot more from this one.

Event planner extraordinaire, Kate Sweet is known as the "Queen of Happily Ever Afters". Her weddings are the things that dreams are made of... but her newest client is going to require a slightly different playbook when it comes to his event...

Bestselling horror author Drake Matthews is lovingly called the "Knight of Nightmares" by his hordes of loyal fans. But there is more to Drake than the scary books he writes... and when he meets Kate, he realizes just how much sweet has been missing from his life...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How Sweet It Is was an adorable and charming, opposites attract romance! Kate and Drake's story was a sexy, fun-filled read that will warm your heart and have you laughing out loud, all at the same time! 

Kate was a sugary sweet event planner who prided herself on her organizational skills and her ability to complete any task efficiently and effortlessly. That is, until she meets Drake and disaster after disaster starts to plague her customarily, perfectly ordered life...

Drake is a well-known horror writer who secretly longs to write... a romance?! When he meets the woman in charge of his latest book launch, Drake realizes he has found a muse for his super secret writing project... only he and Kate have no idea just how hard it is going to be for them to keep their interactions professional in the face of the simmering attraction they share...

I really enjoyed this fun and sexy read! Kate and Drake were both fantastically written characters who each had obstacles to overcome in their personal lives. And while they embark on a burgeoning relationship that definitely doesn't work on paper, these two will find the missing pieces that they never knew they were searching for...

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

This was a *sweet* story about an event planner who helps a reluctant horror author with a book launch. Kate is the queen of details and happy ever afters but keeps finding herself in one catastrophic situation after another.

The chaotic moments were funny and I enjoyed watching the relationship build up between Kate and Drake as they figured out their feelings. This is a low-steam romance and I loved the side family characters and meddling small town.

My only beef with this book is the summer release date — it would make a great fall read heading into spooky season with Drake’s horror stories and Halloween book launch event.

Thank you Forever Publishing for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. If you want a book that will keep you smiling, pick this one up when it hits shelves 7/13!

Harlequin Junkie Top Pick!

Both Kate and Drake were such amazing characters with insanely hot chemistry. Kate was such a hoot to read, I loved that she was so committed to creating the prefect event for her clients and that she went above and beyond to bring them to life. I loved all her spreadsheets and planning but it was her awkward quirky moments that made her one of my favorite female characters. Be it their hilarious first meeting or jumping into an empty crypt Kate was just a bundle of laughs.

However it was Drake that truly stole my romance loving heart, if you’re a fan of a grouchy hero who is actually a big ole softie then Drake is the guy for you! I absolutely loved watching this big scary horror author writing such a beautiful historical romance, while having such a cute little puppy Sasha. Drake was genuinely a great guy, that wanted to do his bit to help out retired veterans. I absolutely loved all the detail that went into describing Drakes family home, I was so ready for some creepy moment to happen each time Kate was at the house, that is how good Newton was with depicting the house! Another thing I loved about Drake was that he was not afraid of a successful woman, he supported Kate and her dreams completely.

I have to give all the secondary characters a huge shout out, they each made this novel all the more loveable. I absolutely loved both of Drakes brothers and the quirky cute relationship they shared. Also how cute was their mum; Patty! I loved that she gave Kate the little push that she needed and once again pushing Drake and Kate together at the Harvest Festival. I loved Imani and the little bits that we got to see of her. I have to say that I also loved the way Drake brought Kate and her family back together.

How Sweet It Is, is definitely a must read, this super cute laugh out loud romcom will have you hooked right from Drake and Kates hilarious first meeting. I do hope that the rest of the Matthews brothers get their own books soon!

Witty, engaging, and sweetly romantic!

How Sweet It Is is an enchanting, whimsical tale featuring the kindhearted, affable, event planner, Kate and the private, thoughtful, horror writer, Drake as they discover that even though they got off to a rocky start, in the end, they might just be perfect for each other.

The writing is sharp and crisp. The characters are endearing, supportive, and dependable. And the plot is an irresistible, charming blend of tension, humour, chemistry, familial drama, friendship, awkward mishaps, tender moments, self-reflection, tricky situations, taking chances, and unconditional love.

Overall, How Sweet It Is is a delightfully amusing tale by Newton that had everything I look for in a lighthearted rom-com and more. I loved the characters, I loved the storyline, and I loved the happy-ever-after ending. It is undoubtedly one of my favourite contemporary romance reads of the year, with my only complaint being that I now have to wait a whole year, until the summer of 2022, to read the next novel in the series.

I just loved this book and especially since it was debut book! The plot was just so funny and original. Also enjoyed having the best friend and his brothers, and mom in it which added a bit to it all and made a great away into hopefully a series!! The chemistry is at first leap with this one, and loved loved how it ended. Super cute Aww moment he created for her.
I just loved the writing, flow of plot, side characters, the whole first meeting of each other, and epilogue! I can't wait for more of Dylan's writing!

4.5 stars
2.5 stars (closed door)

Thanks to forever for this book

This was such a fun, laugh-out-loud romance. Drake and Kate's meet cute had me chuckling and I enjoyed their banter for the rest of the story as well.

Would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a story to make them smile.

4.5 Rounded Up

A book where the main character has a Shih Tzu? What's not to love?! But in all seriousness, this was such a cute story. Kate Sweet is an event planner, whose best friend is a publicist for a horror writer. She enlists Kate to launch his latest book and she's hoping to gain the attention of a prestigious award committee with this party.

This book was such a cute rom-com. I loved the meet cute and all the crazy antics that happened throughout the book. The main characters were very likable, especially Drake, The Knight of Nightmares. This also had just a touch of steam to balance out the really sweet. I don't read a lot of forced proximity tropes so it was a nice switch up from my usual tropes and I really enjoyed it!

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Kate Sweet (now you know how this book got it’s title) is a planner who has been stuck in orchestrating the perfect wedding for far too long. While she loves planning weddings, she longs to be seen less as a wedding planner and more as an all encompassing event planner. She also wishes to be taken seriously by her medically minded family and the industry she’s in in general.

So when her best friend offers her the opportunity to spread her wings- Kate dives right in, even when it means cultivating a book launch around horror writer Drake Matthews latest release. Kate has never met Drake before, but if social media is any indication he’s very hot, but also very scary.

When Kate meets Drake, their first few encounters are awkward to say the least. Drake is also confused as to why they’d be paired up. Kate really wants the gig, but can she get past her fear of working with the fear master himself? And, more importantly, will Drake even give her the chance to prove herself?

After a bit of a slow start, this book takes some surprising-and refreshing turns for a rom com. Kate and Drake’s romance is imminent, but the way they grow on each other doesn’t feel forced or strained. Due to Drake’s occupation, I see this book as more of a Halloween, fall time rom com then a summer release. I also predict more books will come after getting introduced to Drake’s brothers, and even Kate’s best friend, the way readers do. And who doesn’t love a good romantic series?

Dylan Newton’s debut, How Sweet It Is, was so much fun. It had a great concept - Kate Sweet, event planner and ‘Queen of Happily Ever Afters’ is tasked with planning a book launch for horror author Drake Matthews, the ‘Knight of Nightmares’. Full of classic romcom tropes and plenty of mishaps and misunderstandings, this book was laugh-out-loud funny and highly entertaining. Kate and Drake had great chemistry, and I enjoyed watching their relationship blossom from their hilariously awkward and cringe-inducing meet cute to their very own happily ever after. As a fall and Halloween lover, I loved that the book was set at that time of year since it's not all that common. The small-town setting and meddling, (mostly) well-meaning side characters were a fun touch, too.

I’m hoping Drake’s brothers Zander and Ryker will get their own stories and we’ll get to catch up with Kate and Drake and the rest of the kookie inhabitants of Wellsville.

I really enjoyed this slow burn romance between an event planner and a horror writer. Kate Sweet and Drake Matthews are both struggling with the labels they've gotten stuck with. Kate wants to branch out from being just a wedding planner, while Drake has writer's block with his next horror book and wants to write a historical romance based on his grandfather's life during WWII instead. When Kate gets hired to plan Drake's book launch party, the two are forced to spend a lot of time together and sparks start to fly. Their "meet cute" moment is hilarious and ridiculously funny and the book has lots of Kate's trademark "aww" moments, including an impromptu trip to Niagara Falls.

I loved the cast of secondary characters in this book. Drake is one of three Matthews brothers (all of whom served in the military) and I'm excited that there's going to be a book for each of them. His mother is a bakery owner with a big heart who raises money for domestic abuse survivors. So while the book is generally a light-hearted read perfect for the summer (I enjoyed my copy at the beach) - there is also some great moments of vulnerability and depth.

This debut was a win for me and Dylan Newton is now an author I can't wait to read more from. Recommended for fans of Beach read, Talk Bookish to me, Isn't it bromantic or The wedding planner movie. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-arc and gifted finished copies!

Yeah, this was just not it for me.

It started off great - I had a great time in the first five chapters. It was fun and funny, and although a bit cliche at times, I thought...this could go somewhere. This could be a good, quick, summer read. But I was wrong. The more I read, the less interested I was.

The writing felt so bland and mechanical at times. The conversations they had, the way they talked to each other, it felt so robotic. At times I felt like phrases and sentences were just added into the mix for the sake of adding something funny, but it was just too cringe.

The conflict literally lasted 10 pages. It all happened so fast, I didn't even get to feel anything. Neither did the characters apparently...I felt there was no chemistry in their relationship at all. I wasn't invested in any of it.

I feel like the premise was good, but the writing needs some work. It's too cliche and too cringy. Even if it's supposed to be a nice, light, romantic read, I don't want this.

Sadly, I didn't really enjoy it, and halfway into the book I just wanted it to end.

Kate Sweet, event planner NOT party planner, is better known as “The Queen of Happily Ever Afters.” She wants to expand her portfolio in hopes of winning a coveted EVPLEX. Cue Drake Matthews, horror author, better known as “The Knight of Nightmares.” He is in need of an event planner to plan a launch party for his upcoming book release. Although he conjures nightmares for a living, he doesn’t want the launch to be a circus or paint him to be a sideshow freak. In fact, he doesn’t just want to be “The Knight of Nightmares,” he, like Kate, also wants to branch out. Drake has dreams of writing a Historical Romance.

I LOVED how Kate and Drake first met with an epically embarrassing meet-cute, complete with blood shed. Does that still count as a meet-cute?? They seemed like complete opposites on the surface, but really complemented each other well once they showed each other who they truly were, beyond their public reputations. As much as Kate and Drake tried to keep things professional, there was no denying their chemistry. I was rooting for them every step of the way because they were so dang cute together, even when they weren’t “together” together. I also loved all of the supporting characters in this story, and wouldn’t mind reading a spin-off with Imani, Kate’s best friend and Drake’s publicist.

Looking to escape the summer, and ready for fall? If that's you, let me suggest this contemporary romantic comedy, HOW SWEET IT IS, by debut author Dylan Newton. Do not sleep on this novel - add it to your TBRs, pre-order it now, and/or request this book from your library. It will be released next Tuesday, July 13, 2021.

I simply devoured the book in two sittings a few weeks ago (I might have even been late to a casual Father's Day lunch at my sister's because I was trying to finish the book). Now I need the next book in the series immediately.

You know how there are meet cutes, and meet embarrassments? Well our main characters, Kate and Drake, have an epic meet disaster. Normally, not something I like, but Newton writes these scenes so deftly, it works. You would think that it would be uphill after their first meeting, but it's not. It gets worse (in the best way) before it gets better.

This is even before we even get Drake being locked into writing horror fiction though he currently has a passion project that is causing some writer's block. Drake is currently the Knight of Nightmares, but I think he wants to become as versatile as James Patterson. Kate is providing the needed inspiration to unlock his creative juices, so Drake comes up with reasons for the two to hang out that is unrelated to the event Kate is planning.

If you are in the mood for a slow burn romance with some laugh out loud moments, minor hero pining, that is Halloween adjacent, I highly recommend adding HOW SWEET IT IS to your TBR.

CW: mention of war/military service, amputation, blood, exploitive relationship

Thank you to @readforeverpub for an early review copy via @netgalley.

Get ready to throw away your Heathcliffs and Mr. Darcys because Drake Matthews is about to steal your heart. From the very first page I was hooked! Kate Sweet, which is an excellent character name, is the event planner of everyone's dream. She can't be stopped no matter how many obstacles she comes across. Drake Matthews is a famous horror writer who also is the sweetest man you will ever meet. I picked up this book ready for a chill beach read type feel, but I found myself awake at two am finishing this book because I just couldn't get enough.

It just failed to keep my attention. I was looking for a fun rom-com, but I found it more cringey and awkward than funny.

This story had me smiling from the first chapter to the last. I loved how Kate and Drake’s relationship grew, although I seriously wanted them to kiss from day one. This story is definitely a slow burn, but even though I wanted it to be faster, the growth in the relationship seemed more believable to real life, and I loved that. 😂 They were seriously meant to be with each other. There is a little bit of drama, but it considering the plot it seemed natural for it to happen. I really loved how Kate handled it though, it didn’t make her shrink like a lot of leading women in romance novels would. Overall it was a great feel good rom-com. I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future.