good story. I really liked both Manny and Harper.
They are a good couple and both are really likeable.
My only complaint is that at times it was a little slow.
But overall, I enjoyed it.

This was cute! I'm a fan of Nicola Marsh and will pick up just about anything she's written, so this was exactly what I was expecting it to be- light, funny and heartwarming.

My review on Goodreads:

This was a fun, quick read that did the trope of enemies to lovers pretty well. I liked the premise and the fun look into life as a food stylist. I would have liked a little more character development on both sides of this relationship, but all in all, it was a fun escape.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in return for my honest thoughts!

A fun cute quirky romance because of course the moment you swear off men… things happen because rom-com. A cute story. Good writing.

The Man Ban is a cute and flirty rom-com with two characters who are against falling in love. Nicola Marsh's writing is romantic and hilarious making it an enjoyable read.


Harper is a creative food stylist who is done with love. She has decided to go on a man ban after getting her heart broken over and over again. When she is at her best friend's wedding, she meets Manny.

Manny is a doctor who is always in his work. He doesn't have time for anything else but his family tries to remind him how nice it would be if he settled down. That's not going to happen or so he thinks.

When Manny and Harper meet and have a memorable meeting, they are shocked when they both find themselves in New Zealand. It seems like the more they try to convince themselves that relationships aren't for them, the closer they get. It's so beautiful to see their chemistry and connection grow so quickly and unexpectedly.

I give The Man Ban 4 stars. I love a rom-com and this one sure left me with feel-good feelings. Nicola Marsh brings the romance, chemistry, and witty banter!

This was a cute read but I have to say that it doesn't quite deliver on the promise of the premise. With a title like "The Man Ban," I expected more of a slow burn. That said, I don't actually *like* slow burns most of the time, so I was mostly okay with this.

Harper, after a breakup, is instituting a man ban and focusing on her career as a food stylist. When the best man at her friend's wedding insults her work, it's loathe at first sight. But is it really?

Suffice to say, there's a lot of instalust going on and shenanigans ensue. But it's a cute read, if a little steamy.

Thank you @berkleyromance @netgalley for a copy of The Man Ban. When you are on a ban, of course you meet a man that intrigues you. I love how connected Manny and Harper was and their meeting cute was hilarious. I love how the story unfolds in regards to mix race relationships and familial expectations. There was a scene in the book that I didn’t enjoy. Anytime someone does something on purpose that could hurt someone’s feelings just doesn’t feel right to me. Overall, I enjoyed this fun romance comedy.

This was such a cute read! I love to have a good romcom in the mix and this one was an absolute delight. Fun, witty, and quirky!

Witty banter and fantastic chemistry make for a fun and hot romcom! An easy to read story that you can just breeze right through. I really enjoyed how the author was able to bring awareness to vitiligo since Harper had it.

This was a cute romance that I read pretty fast. The storyline was engaging and the characters were enjoyable. Harper and Manny had strong chemistry leading to some hot, steamy parts! I loved their journey together. I thought it was cool how Harper had vitiligo and the book brought some awareness to the disease. I also appreciated the different cultural aspects of the book. This is the first book I’ve read by Nicola Marsh and it definitely won’t be my last! Overall, an enjoyable read that I would recommend!

This book might be a hit or miss for a lot of people I didn't feel a lot of connection with it but I definitely can see how it might be better suited for people who like this type of book

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

I thought this was a quick read with some characters that had great depth. I loved their motivating factors and back stories. This definitely had some heavier topics than your typical rom-com. With an autoimmune disease, a family member experiencing health problems, and commitment issues, this book covers a lot.

I was not head over heels in love with this book, but it was cute, and definitely worth the read.

I really enjoyed this light, fun read.

Harper’s first encounter with Manny was not great. He insults her work right off the bat. However, as time passes and he ends up helping her she sees he’s more than their first encounter. She is on a no men stint after a relationship gone sour. Manny is the one that will never settle down. When they finally see what the other has to offer as far as relationships go, things may change.

Then, there are the families. The are so complicated but so real at the same time. Annoying even but real. Add in the food element and you have a winner.

This is so worth a read! If you love enemies to lovers, hate to love, never serious to all in romances then this is one for you.

I would definitely by this for friends that like romances like this.

First of all, I like the diversity here. I didn't love the book, the writing seemed to fall flat and I didn't feel much chemistry between the MCs. It could be my fault or that this writing style just wasn't to my taste. Quick, easy read.

The Man Ban is a binge-worthy rom com about food stylist Harper and ED doc Manny. Harper is on a man ban after her last boyfriend dumped her once he found out that she has an autoimmune skin condition called vitiligo. But when she and Manny have undeniable chemistry, she decides to break the ban to have a little fun. But can it turn into more with a man who usually doesn’t call back after one date?

Harper and Manny’s witty banter was so much fun, and I loved seeing their relationship form amidst work and family struggles and within their friend group. Grandma Izzy was a spectacular character and it was fun to see her influence in Manny’s life. The storyline about Harper’s parents was woven in perfectly. The Indian culture included was well done, as was Harper’s struggle with vitiligo - because this is an #ownvoices piece as the author also has this condition.

Can we also appreciate that Harper has a man ban and ends up with a Manny? Nice touch, Nicola Marsh.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

Such a perfect feel-good summery read! Very funny and heart-warming and the chemistry between the characters... ooft!

This book was so much fun! I love Nicola Marsh's writing style. Harper and Manny were both great characters. There was so much tension and chemistry! I highly recommend this book.

This was a cute story. She finds someone she didn't know she needed in an unexpected way. A refreshing story of a supportive male character!

Thanks to Berkley Pub for the arc of this title!

One sentence review: The Man Ban by Nicola Marsh is a fun enemies to lovers romance set in Australia and New Zealand that does a great job of balancing steam while also handling a number of different relevant topics.

My thoughts:

- The heroine has vitiligo and I liked how the author explores the disease and how the heroine manages it.
- I always enjoy books where the couples are of mixed heritages. The family dynamics in these situations are always so interesting.
- I loved Manny's relationship with his grandmother.

To summarize, I really enjoyed this one and think it would be a great book for those that like enemies to lovers or like romances with diverse characters.

DNF. I could not continue reading this book. It was excruciating to see that all the main lead could think about was sex. It got on my nerves and maybe it's the 'it's not the book, it's me' thing but continuing reading it would be difficult for me.