I have mixed feelings on this one. I, like many others, loved Ally Carter's Gallagher Girl series so when I saw she wrote an adult romance I was first in line. But I missed having a female main character that could kick ass. Since when we start the FMC has amnesia she is saved again and again by the male main character and I personally took a while to buy into their love since she is fairly incompetent. I will say though that the voice of Zoe really did pull me in, she felt realistic and had me laughing and slowly changing my mind. By the end of the book, I was pulled in and found myself truly rooting for both of them and I thought the plot resolved itself quite well. But I still wish we could have been following Alex instead. I am really hopeful that the next book will follow Alex instead.

When I first saw this book come up on a NetGalley the cover drew me in, and then I read the author and I recognized the name but was having a hard time placing how I knew it. After a quick google search I discovered it was the same author who wrote the Gallagher Series (this is going to date me because the first one came out in 2006, but I don’t care 🤷🏼‍♀️) I was obsessed with this series growing up and finding out the author is now writing adult spy books I was hooked!

This was a suspenseful romance, there’s a few twist and turns along the way and you don’t know if a particular character is good or bad. It’s fast paced, has a hot spy guy, and a set of twins. If you are looking for a spicy romance this is not it, it’s an action packed adventure with a HEA. If you are a Gallagher Girls fan, definitely recommend checking this out!

I want to thank Avon and Harper Voyage for sending this for me to review via NetGalley!

I was a huge fan of The Gallagher Girls when I was a teen and was so excited to see Ally Carter come out with an adult version. The book starts with a bang from page one and doesn’t stop until the last page is turned. I loved the two main characters, their chemistry and their banter. I loved the spy and mystery aspect; truthfully there wasn’t anything that I didn’t like. The only issue I had was at times it read as a little immature but I kinda expected that from a Ya author. Overall this one was soooo fun and I highly recommend

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @avonbooks for an early copy of The Blonde Identity by @theallycarter. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

The Blonde Identity is a fast-paced rom-com about Zoe, a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin of a rogue spy. She woke up in the middle of the night in Paris with no memory, a splitting headache, the hottest guy she has ever seen telling her to run and people trying to kill her. She doesn’t know who’s trying to kill her, but according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s a spy’s identical twin sister. Too bad the only person who knows she's not the woman they're looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear from a criminal organization and every intelligence service in the world. Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they're lying their way across Europe--dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister's name.

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Okay, hear me out. Can someone please turn this novel into a movie? I enjoyed this action-packed espionage rom-com – I was hooked from the very first chapter! It’s fast-paced and I enjoyed the adventure Zoe and Sawyer went through, running and avoiding those who want to kill them, and pretending to be married and falling in love in the process. Zoe’s personality, although having amnesia, was fun to read about – she’s quirky, fun, and isn’t afraid to take risks (of course when someone is after you waiting for a chance to kill you’d risk anything than die, right? But that’s besides the point). It was also a delight to watch Sawyer fall for Zoe in the most sweetest, possible way. 🥹

Rating The Blonde Identity ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5. Pick this one up when it releases on August 8th, 2023 for an exhilarating, funny and adventurous romantic comedy!

What a fun, quirky, fast pasted Romcom!!! I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and thought Ally did a wonderful job making her characters relatable and loveable.

I received an ARC from NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyage, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review; all opinions are my own.

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Thriller, Mystery, Spies & Lies
Spice Level: Medium (closed door)
Language Level: Medium (a handful of f-bombs plus other curses)
Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, One Bed

Are you really going to read a book with an amnesia trope? YES!

I got sucked into this book and had so much fun! There are so many lines that got me laughing. It's fast-paced, the characters are fun, and the whole thing is awesome!

The woman who wakes up in the streets of Paris concussed is running for her life, piecing together who she is, and who she can trust. Does that sound too serious? Really, this is more of a farce with all the giggling on my part.

It's just so stinkin' hilarious, I want to have everyone read it so we can repeat lines to each other like we do with favorite movies. So, please, run out and buy this one and tell me what tickles your funny bone.

I highly recommend this book!

Happy reading!

I loved the Gallagher Girls books, so was so excited to see this read by Ally Carter!!

This was a fun, fast-paced romance that captured the spirit of Gallagher Girls! The spy elements were fun and made this book all the more unique. The romance was very cute and I loved seeing it play out!

I really enjoyed this book and hope Ally Carter writes more adult novels!

Thanks, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book for a review.

A spy themed rom-com? Count me in. This read like a fun, lighthearted movie. I very much enjoyed it, and it ended up being a quick ready for me. I enjoyed that, while there were some cliche moments, the female lead(s) were smart and resourceful.

Overall, I’d recommend The Blonde Identity to those looking for a romance/comedy with mild spice and a unique storyline.

This was a quick and fun read. I feel like a broken record repeating what I have seen in other reviews, but this is similar to an adult Gallagher Girls book.

The story starts with the main character waking up with no memory of who she is, where she is, or what is going on. It only escalates when she finds herself the target of multiple enemies. Luckily for her, one mysterious hot guy comes to her rescue and helps her escape. He explains that all of her struggles are because of something her twin did. Everything could go back to normal if only anyone knew where to find this mysterious twin.

The rest of the story follows the main character Zoe and our hot guy as they try to stay alive and figure out how to find the problem twin.

There were some laugh-out-loud moments, especially during fake honeymoon scenes and when jumping scenes. I can't even explain the jumping scenes more without giving something away.

Zoe's internal monologue really makes the book. I think it would have just made it weird if everything that was going on in her head was spoken out loud, but the fact that the reader has the ability to just know what is going on in her mind, makes it funny without the cringe.

There is no way this will be a standalone, the book ends with a leadup to a new story. This book was one that was enjoyable to the point that I will be reading the sequel when it comes out.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: 08 Aug 2023

This was a very fun, funny, tongue-in-cheek adult romance debut from Ally Carter. When a woman wakes up in the middle of the street on Paris, she can't remember anything, not even her own name--but quickly discovers that she has been mistaken for her identical twin sister, Alex, who is a super-badass super-spy. Alas, our main character is the Much Less Coordinated Twin Sister who has not inherited any of the spy genes. The Grumpy But Hot Spy who helps her escape immediate danger reluctantly agrees to help her further, and they set off to find her sister and clear her name. Thus ensues a hilariously enjoyable romp across Europe.

I remember reading Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series a million years ago, but you don't need to have read those in order to enjoy this book. This is a book that is very self-aware of its status as a romance novel, with some tropes and cliches included that feel like a wink to the reader. Fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining, this is for anyone looking for a nostalgic return to the spy series of their youth or just for a light, entertaining rom-com. There is mild language but it is a closed-door romance.

How I have missed you, Ally Carter. I read the Gallagher Girls series in high school, as well as her heist series and absolutely loved them. I was seriously so excited when I saw this book and I was not let down at all! Action packed and sexy, it was just so perfect. Don't even get me started on Sawyer. Zoe was so funny. I hope that ending was a set up for another book because I need more!

One of my favorite YA series when I was younger was Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls – clever, tightly plotted books about an all-girls spy academy. So imagine my delight when I heard that Ally Carter was coming out with an adult romcom about spies.😎

The story follows a woman who wakes up in Paris with no memories, and quickly realizes she’s being pursued by a whole bunch of very dangerous men – including a super hot one who keeps insisting he’s her partner. She trusts her gut and decides to trust him, and from there we get a romp filled with quick-thinking, bluffing, and tons of tension.

All the things that I loved about the Gallagher Girls books are found in The Blonde Identity – banter and action, a bit of mystery and a big dose of romance. But on that note, it must be said that though things in this book do heat up (and up and up), it is actually a closed-door situation. But! This book is such a good time that you shouldn’t let that deter you too much.

A fun, tropey romance, The Blonde Identity is a very quick read that will have you laughing and swooning and cheering and gasping (it wouldn’t be a spy story without some surprises!) in all the best ways.

And if you’re a grown-up Gallagher Girl, this will definitely hit the spot.

I can’t even begin to express how much I loved this book. However; I don’t want to give too much away on this book or I’ll spoil it. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year once I got started I didn’t want to put it down. The male main character is your favorite type of hero he’s a bit grumpy/sunshine, so very protective, & a bit mysterious. The female main character is quirky and fun. I just loved how her brain worked. Some Tropes included grumpy sunshine, mistaken identity, amnesia, only one bed, and many more. It also includes one my favorite tropes touch hr and die. I’m definitely recommending this book to everyone. Will review on websites closer to release date.

Wow this was exactly what I was looking for - don't you love when you're in the perfect mood for the book you pick up? As a very die hard Gallagher Girl, I was SO excited to read Ally Carter's first dabble with adult fiction, and it did not disappoint. The dialogue had everything I loved about her YA books, just smarter and more mature, and I was happy to see her creative plots are still shining through!

I rated this book five stars not because it's a literary masterpiece or intense fiction that makes you think, but because it's fun, creative, doesn't take itself too seriously. It has so many tropes, so there's really something for everyone here.

Read if you like:
- Fake dating
- Insta love disguised as enemies to lovers
- Romantic mysteries
- "i'll kill anyone that hurts you" vibes
- There's only one bed
- Espionage stories

No one writes spies like Ally Carter.
I'm a huge fan of her Gallagher Girls series for younger readers, and I was eager to read a spy book for adults. I wasn't disappointed. All the things that made Carter's YA series wonderful are in The Blonde Identity: strong characters, a tightly written plot that moves quickly, humor, and a little romance.

Readers who grew up with Cammie and the other Gallagher Girls will love this new, adult series!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review, but my thoughts are my own. I liked the book so much, I pre-ordered a personal copy as well.

One of the most adorable books I've read in a really long time!! A little spycraft, some witty-laugh-out-loud funny banter, and also a little of that Mandy Moore Chasing Liberty vibe?! 😭🖤

THOUGHTS:
- I feel like if this book had come out when I was a preteen - I would have been obsessed. It could definitely be a movie, and I can mentally already pull my dream cast from the 2000s-era it girls and Matthew Goode as our sexy spy hero 😂😂
- I loved our main heroine's character and everything that she accomplished with her confidence and kind personality. It was the perfect cross between funny and a slow-burn romance!!
- The cliffhanger was great! I'm already excited for the next book, while also feeling satisfied with how this romance finished.

FAVORITE QUOTE:
- '"Did my sister just say yoo-hoo during a hostage exchange?" Alex sounded like she wanted to die of embarrassment...' - Everything about this book made me laugh. Especially while in the car and giggling out loud, and having my husband give me 'the look' while he's driving and I'm in passenger princess mode 😂😂

NOTES:
- Takes place in multiple places across Europe, which might be some of my favorite parts!! My husband and I loved Europe, and I had the best time picturing The Blonde Identity play out.
- CWs: None that I can think of. Truly just a little feel-good rom-com!

**Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I was very excited going into this book because I LOVED the Gallagher Girls series growing up. Luckily, this book is fast paced and keeps you on your toes. I just felt that it was just very surface level and Zoe was pretty annoying after a while. I was also expecting at least one of the original GG characters to show up, sadly they do not. I will probably read the next book (the epilogue definitely hints at a next one), but it’s not something I would pay for.

Would recommend if you were a big GG fan, if not then I probably wouldn’t.

The Blond Identity
Ally Carter
Pub Date: August 8, 2023
Avon
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I did not read the Gallagher Girls but still found this book to be a breath of fresh air and a delight to read. The book is pretty short but I liked the pacing of the novel. I recommend this book.
Triggers: violence, murder
4 stars

What could be more fun than The Blonde Identity? I loved it! It was Ally Carter's writing style and storytelling with a bunch of action thrown into it. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A woman wakes up in the snow in the middle of the night in the middle of Paris. Who is she? How did she get there? She doesn't know, and those who do are treating her like she is some kick-a-** spy. So maybe she is. She has no id and no money, just a keycard. As she tries to figure it out, she is hunted and harassed across Paris. She gets to put those skills to the test. She is lucky enough to run into someone who seems to be another agent on her side, and he is a big help in determining why all these people are trying to kill her.

One of the things I love about Ally Carter's writing is her sense of humor. As soon as I saw the title and the cover, I knew I would love this book. It is fast-paced. The action scenes just keep coming and coming. Now, do not get me wrong. I am not saying she is just this weapon cutting her way across Paris. I have to admit that I was thinking more in terms of amnesia and that she just doesn't remember who she is and what she can do. She did a pretty good job of just "throwing" herself out there and doing what she needed to do to survive. I like to think that I could do as well and maintain that level of humor and wit as it is done. Her thoughts, which sometimes made their way out of her mouth, were, at times, just hilarious. Interestingly enough, I did not think much about the book title. I recommended the book to a cousin, who saw it immediately as he read the synopsis. He is looking forward to reading it. I wished there was a way to stay in touch with these characters, as I love a good action book combined with witty characters. This review can also be read along with other reviews at Lady Techie's Book Musings http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspot.com.

I don’t think I’ve been this obsessed with a book in a while.

So, in middle and high school, I loved Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series. So, when I saw she was coming out with her first adult book, I expected I’d enjoy it.

What I did not expect was for it to be my favorite book of the year so far.

This book is the perfect mix of spy adventure, intrigue, and romantic comedy shenanigans. It really does feel like the Gallagher Girls for adults, and I’m all for it. If you’re a fan of grumpy/sunshine or adventure romance stories, this one’s for you.

And I sincerely hope after that ending that we’re getting a sequel.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced e-ARC!