Love at First Fight is a freshly modern frenemies-to-lovers take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing… full of love, miscommunications, hidden identities, and scheming!

Bridie is a late-20s something who is tired of dating and has become cynical to the idea of finding “The One” ever since her high school almost-sweetheart Ben stood her up at their prom. In an effort to clear her sorry state of affairs, she lines up 20 dates in 20 days with the hope of putting off love for good…. Just in time for Ben to return home after a year abroad. Bridie’s wish to avoid Ben at all costs is impossible once Ben’s brother Cal becomes engaged to her best friend and roommate Hattie, and the pair are recruited for maid of honor and best man duties. As they spent more and more time together, it's quickly obvious to everyone but them that their witty insults and general dislike for each other are only a mask for much deeper feelings - if only they would admit it to themselves and each other. Enter: a fortunate disguise, scheming friends, and mischief galore!

While overall this was an enjoyable romantic comedy, I did feel like there was some unevenness to the plot line. I can certainly appreciate the attention to closely following the story of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, but it seemed like even the secondary characters were bent so tightly fit the story rather than loosely following it that they barely felt like characters. I would have loved to see more freedom from the original - I think I would have found more joy in the story if I felt like I was discovering these little callbacks to M.A.A.N. like Easter eggs scattered throughout, than knowing how everything is built around the strict plot. Still, a fun easy summer read, perfect for a pool lounger or beach.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to net galley and the publishers for the ARC.

If you’re looking for a super speedy summer read with over the top Shakespearean-esque drama this is a good book for you! It is light and fun and full of antics.

I personally couldn’t become invested in the characters because I felt that their conflicts could so easily be resolved. Ben and Bridie did a 180 and then the plot completely flipped, and I would have liked to just watch a happy secondary romance between Cal and Hattie.

I wouldn’t consider this enemies to lovers, if anything maybe estranged friends? Or even just generally friends to lovers. If you want to dramatic flair, this is your book for it!

Love at First Fight by Mary Jayne Barker a fantastic five-star read. This is funny, and sweet and will make you fall in love with Bridie and Ben as the slowly realise there is such a fine line between love and hate. Bridie, Bridie, Bridie, me think the lady doth protest too much, but in her heart of hearts I can see why she would. It’s a difficult and challenging age for anyone, I would probably be much ruder to Ben!! This is a great story and the way the author weaves the story by the main players giving us their side just plays so well. It did have a couple of minor wobbles, but I was able to see past them into the overall story, and what a story it was. I adore this author and can’t wait to see what they will come up with next.

While Love at First Fight was not what I would consider an enemies to lover theme, it was definitely a cute romantic read. It starts off a bit slow and I had a hard time really attaching to the characters, everything ends up pulling together.

Love at First Fight is such a cute read!! It had me smiling at my book like a weirdo and laughing out loud.
The characters were so much fun, relatable and realistic. It is refreshing to find characters in their late twenty’s in books that have their lives together in some aspects but also don’t have a clue what they’re doing 😂

Whilst the writing was fantastic and I was drawn into the story from the start. Some of the scenes between Ben and Bridie just felt slightly cringey. I did however, still absolutely adore them together.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute, fun read with some realistic non-adulting adults 😂

Love at First Fight by Mary Jayne Baker startet out really nice and promising. The banter between the main characters was funny, witty and overall enjoyable. The first 40% of the book we're just right up my alley. Unfortunately it startet to drag from that point onwards. There was no more sassy banter between the protagonists, but a lot of (childish) insecurities and lack of communication, which I thought was frustrating. I also didn't like the friends playing cupid.
Another thing was the storyline between Hattie and Cal. In the beginning it was nice to see how these two act together and see their relationship grow. I really sympathized with them. In the end there was too much fake drama for me and their storyline was ultimately bigger than the main characters.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and review it.

DNF
I love Much Ado About Nothing. This book is a romcom retelling. But it just didn't deliver. It isn't sharp or cute. I wish it just focused on the two main POVs.

OOH well this is just lovely, isnt it? My love for Much Ado About Nothing came flooding back in an instant as did my love for Bridie and Ben's quick wit as they try and out-do each other.
This was cheeky, flirty, fun and loved this story in its modern day context. Not without its unexpected twist or two, but packed with excitement. The perfect amount of rage was created for these two strong characters but enough to believe that they were still meant to be together. The meddling friends plotting really added to the drama. Loved it..

Love At First Fight has an interesting premise plus it was mentioned as an enemies-to-lovers book, so I was very excited to read this. And that cover? Stunning. But unfortunately, I was completely disappointed by the story. I had to force myself to get through the book. It was slow to start and felt like such a drag. I do have to say, the beginning was nice but then it started dragging on and on. And as much as I wanted to like the main couple (Bridie and Ben), I just didn't enjoy reading them + I disliked how the story suddenly changed midway to be about Ben's brother's wedding to Bridie's best friend and certain other things. It completely took away attention from the main couple.

Review copy courtesy of Net Galley.

Halfway through this book, I thought the plot was so familiar and then had to look up “Much Ado About Nothing” to see that it was very clearly a retelling. But it was a pretty fun romance: Bridie and Ben (both white) dated once in high school, and now her best friend is marrying his brother, so they are forced to interact and their friends scheme to make them fall for each other.

This book was exactly what I needed. A fun, light read with some good laugh out loud moments.
Loved it

I loved my first read by this author and I was ready to dive into this one. I was not as enamored of this book. The beginning is very slow, the dialogue feels forced and doesn't fit the characters.
Once the story get going though I found myself engrossed in the story and unable to put it down. This author creates realistic down to earth characters you can't help but fall in love with.
Despite the slow beginning, this book is a definitely on the recommend list.
I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fabulous fun filled story that was amusing and interesting as we watched the Bridie and Ben clash with each other as they are roped in as chief bridesmaid and best man for their best friend and brothers wedding.
I loved the set ups and crossed wires moments.
Great situation and well written.
Just my cup of tea ☕️

This was a cute and light enough enemies to lovers read. I really enjoyed the banter going on but found the romance a bit underwhelming. It started strong but it lost a little of the charm as I read. Overall this is an okay romance to relax and spend a few hours under the sun with.

This was a quick, easy read that I enjoyed as there were a lot of elements that made this book fun:
- Enemies to lovers
- A wedding
- Misunderstandings
- Multiple perspectives from the two main couples of the novel
- Plotting friends and characters that are oblivious about their feelings
- The characters (Bridie, Ben, Hattie and Cal)

Bridie and Ben were good characters and I enjoyed seeing them winding each other up and then seeing them both change their views on relationships and dating over the course of the book. This book wasn’t necessarily what I was expecting it to be plot wise, and I didn’t go into it expecting Hattie and Cal’s storyline, however I did enjoy most of their story, aside from the ending as I wasn’t a fan of the ‘cheating’ storyline and I guessed what was going to happen as soon as Johanna came back into the picture.

I did enjoy this book, however it probably isn’t one I’d pick up again.

Ideal if you are looking for a quick and fun romance that is lighthearted with laugh out loud funny moments.

Love at First Fight is a fun, light-hearted romance that takes place in England. Bride has always nursed a grudge for her first love who stood her up for their school dance 12 years ago. Ben has never realized how upset Bride was all those years ago. They are still friends, but they bicker and put each other down all the time now, Ben is a player, Bride is a jerk magnet. Neither are very happy with where they are.

But Bride’s best friend, Hattie is getting married to Ben’s brother, Cal and the two of them are going to be thrown together quite a bit as the best man and maid of honor, not to mention that Cal and Hattie are going to be doing a little playing at Cupid.

Mary Jayne Baker has delivered another amusing tale of romance amidst all sorts of bizarre shenanigans. Her characters hit the mark with just the right amount of teasing and love that makes believable friendships. Looking forward to reading more from her.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love at First Fight by Mary Jayne Baker is a cute rom-com. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the enemy to lover trope.

Love at First Fight is a cute rom-com that is unlike many books "inspired by" a certain work of Shakespeare's, as this one is very clearly Shakespearean in its characters, plot, and tropes. Lifted from Much Ado About Nothing are the following:
--Our lothario returning from abroad, to his small town (and the girl he left behind).
--A masquerade ball with disguises.
--A clever woman whose biting words hurt said lothario.
--Friends plotting to set up the resistant couple by convincing each of them that the other is in love with them.
--TWO couples (this isn't just Romeo & Juliet, ya'll, it's an ensemble)
--The appearance of cheating.
--A wedding.
--A trickster antagonist who nearly derails said wedding.
--Much fuss is made over mostly a string of misunderstandings.
While the Shakespearean ties were what intrigued me about this book, I think most of the things that annoyed me about it were actually pulled from Much Ado (the carefully planned, overheard discussions, mostly). I don't think his comedies work as well in modern adaptations (save Shrew) as his tragedies/romances/histories. A for effort, C for effect.

Love at First Fight by Mary Jayne Baker is about two friends/ enemies with a rocky past that meet up again after some time apart . I love an enemy to lovers read and the characters, Ben and Bridie are very cute together. I liked how much their friends were rooting for them and the devious plans to get them together. It was a great read and I fully recommend it.