"So obviously, we’re in an only one bed situation.”
"Yes?”
"So this is a classic only one bed scenario…”
"I’m confused.”
"There’s only one bed.”
"Yeah. I can see the bed. It’s right there. And…oh.”

OMG I did not know what to expect from this book! I had loved the author’s Gallagher girls series so when I heard that she was making an adult spy romance, I got excited because I thought we’d get some spicy scenes! Unfortunately we don’t get any spicy scenes like that, but that did not take away from this spy romance! This book is what would it be for a random person to wake up and have no memory and a hot spy telling you to run with bad guys chasing you! I cracked up so much with how Zoe would react to things dealing with amnesia. The professions and lives she thought could be hers were hilarious. If you have amnesia there’s a chance that you could be a ring fighter lol! I loved Sawyer! As a spy you don’t get a happily ever after, but I loved how Zoe made him want one! He is so swoony and I’d love to have him rescue me! While this book doesn’t have spicy scenes it does have steamy kisses, and is a closed-door romance! There are times that Zoe and Sawyer had to fake being married and I loved that! This book does leave off that it could be part of a series and I really hope we get Zoe’s sister’s romance!

Read if you like:
Third person dual POVs
Spy romance
Heroine with amnesia
Swoony spy hero
Protective hero
Closed door romance
Fake marriage
Forced proximity
Only one bed

Thank you to the author for this arc! The Blonde Identity was a five star read for me. As someone who has been reading Ally Carter since I was a child, this was everything I’ve ever wanted as an adult. The mission was glorious as were the characters. I absolutely loved the point of views of “him” and “her”. They are amazing characters and everything about this story from the pacing, action, romance, and tension was stellar!

I read anything from Ally Carter, but this was especially fun because it felt like a return to the Gallagher Girls. The only thing missing was a cameo from Cammie and Zach!

🧐 my thoughts:
I had no clue that when I requested this book from NetGalley that this was the same author who wrote the Gallagher Girls books. I read that series multiple times in middle school and loved it. So it all made sense when I started to read The Blonde Identity and was getting similar vibes 😅

👌🏻what i liked:
I genuinely enjoyed the mystery of the book. The mystery of Zoe having no clue who she was or what she was doing. The mystery of Sawyer. Was he a good guy? A bad guy? With the CIA? Not with the CIA? It was just really good. The end got super confusing trying to figure out who was with who and then you think you have it figured out until you didn’t. The twists and turns were unbelievable. Sawyer and Zoe’s little romance was super cute too, and super cheesy 😉

🙃 what i didn’t like:
I honestly thought there could’ve been more depth to the story and to the characters. Or maybe that was me just looking for more since I enjoyed the ride so much. I felt like I was still left with a lot of questions, but I also feel like Ally Carter left it open for a sequel or for a series. Which I really hope she does because I will be there! I did not like the heart strings that got pulled with Sawyer. I get that that was the point, but it made me hurt for Zoe. I’m so glad that what happened at the end happened or I don’t think I would be well writing this review right now. I was invested 😅

💬 quote:
“A danger bang. In the immortal words of Keanu Reeves, relationships that begin under extreme stress—” “Are you quoting Speed right now?” “—are doomed to fail. Last night was a whole bunch of adrenaline and dopamine and about a million other chemicals in our bodies getting all mixed up and going bang. That’s what last night was.”

📖 recommend?
If you were into the Gallagher Girls in middle school, then you most definitely have to read this one. It is so good! Please go check this one out when it releases on August 8, 2023!

🥰 special thanks
Thank you to NetGalley, Ally Carter, and Avon & Harper Voyager for granting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

An entertaining mystery and romance, with adventure and danger to add spice and suspense. I enjoyed the humorous banter between the couple and the use of the identical twin and amnesia tropes in the plot.

The ending was a little too perfect and it was hard to believe a seasoned spy operative could change his course so completely.

I have read a number of Ally Carter's YA books and have enjoyed them. This book was classified as an adult book, yet still felt very YA. There was a lot of action and some romance which was enjoyable. Yet, thoughts of the main character and the dialogue within the story did not fit an adult mindset. It was a fun and entertaining but never seemed to finish a thought or conversation before another fast-paced escape or adventure was upon them. It just felt superficial and in my opinion fell short for an adult book.

A Hilarious adventure through Europe, with all of the tropes and Ally-verse references a girl could wish for. It is a cozy escape to a world filled with mystery, confusion and comedy. It is hard not to root for the heroine and her many misadventures and yet I found myself at the edge of my seat with a rising heart rate as the plot developed and the predicaments our heroes sound themselves in became all too much.

It goes with out say that the cliches add to the allure of the comedic element of this story as it is truly a romantic comedy, set around the loss of ones identity and the overwhelming rise in the need to survive. The Spy adventure shares remnants of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, North by Northwest, Romancing the Stone, as well as Ally Carters own YA stand alone novel, Not If I Save You First.

The story combines the elements of her known YA Novels well also solves the overwhelming and necessary urge to involve the grown ups. The growth and change in our heroes is natural for this specific stage their lives. It is a reminder of why I find these stories so easy to connect to. The growth and change in the characters feels real, it is a warm, feel good read that serves as a point of anchoring for future me, when I find myself in a reading slump.

Ally Carter wrote the first book I ever read in one day. The Blonde Identity takes all the things I loved about her YA books and brings them to the adult level: the book is fun, action-packed, and filled with enough romantic tension between the lead characters, it keeps you hooked. I had the hardest time putting this book down to accomplish other things; all I wanted to do was follow Zoe and Sawyer’s adventures as they tried to restore her lost memory, escape bad guys in Paris, find her missing spy sister, and maybe fall in love along the way. The book was funny and I particularly loved Zoe’s dedication to classifying any and all romantic situations into common tropes: is this a classic enemies-to-lovers situation or maybe there was only one bed! I’ve already pre-ordered several copies for friends and I can’t recommend the book enough.

I'm a fan of Ally Carter, and this was such a win for me. If you loved the Gallagher Girls you are absolutely going to be ga-ga for this book. It was so. much. fun. and you could tell that it was fun to write. I love these books that don't take themselves too seriously and lean into the fun part of books - I was smiling almost the entire way through. Excellent characters, a well balanced and well-plotted thrilling caper. Highly recommend.

I've been a fan of Ally Carter for years. She has a knack for drawing readers into a story quickly. I think my library patrons will enjoy this one. I would recommend it for readers looking for action and witty banter with a romantic twist.

This book was a really fun read! The chemistry between Sawyer and Zoe was really believable and I found myself unable to put the book down. I feel like it's tough sometimes to read a really compelling romance without there being a lot of intimate scenes, but this one seemed to transcend that with intimate conversation and time together. The book kept me guessing from one page to the next about what was going to happen and the continuous plot twists really reward the reader. 5/5 stars would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I just reviewed The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter. #TheBlondeIdentity #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

"Blonde Identity" by Ally Carter is a thrilling and entertaining read that will keep you hooked until the very end. This adult mystery novel is the perfect blend of suspense, humor, and hot romance, with a well-crafted plot and relatable characters.

Carter's writing is fast-paced and engaging, drawing the reader in with witty dialogue and clever plot twists. The characters are well-developed and likable, with unique personalities and backstories that add depth and complexity to the story.

Carter's masterful storytelling and relatable characters make this novel a joy to read, and the blend of mystery, humor, and steamy romance will keep you entertained from beginning to end. Highly recommended!

Imagine reading a very zany Sandra Bullock rom com (specifically Miss Congeniality) and that's this book! I would have absolutely said "no, I don't need to read a Sandra Bullock book", but you know what? I would've been wrong. This was absolutely delightful.

If by some miracle a publisher is reading this, someone should definitely do a find and replace for the word sweetheart - it's infantilizing (plus, like the "lady" as a term of affection was HILARIOUS).

Anyway, if you are looking for a very silly but deeply entertaining read, look no further. This screams to be read on vacation, and I imagine that's why it has a summer pub date.. Anyway, 5 stars, I loved it!

A woman wakes up in the middle of Paris with no memory and no idea who she is. All she knows is that people keep chasing her: men with guns who are trying to kill her and a hot guy who claims to know who she is.

Ally Carter has never let me down. As someone who grew up reading Gallagher Girls and has reread them so many times they are now falling apart, I was thrilled to find out she was releasing a book for adults.

With a combination of vibes from Gallagher Girls, Heist Society, Embassy Row and Not If I Save You First, along with the comfort of Ally Carter's writing style, this was not only an easy read but a truly enjoyable one too.

The main characters, who I will call Female Character and Male Character since they don't get named for a while, are fantastic. Female Character goes through every range of emotions while trying to figure out who she is. She's brave but vulnerable and Male Character understands that even though some of her jokes go over his head. Male Character is grumpy and mysterious but he and Female Character are able to form a great bond despite this. Even the side characters that we barely see were fun to read about.

I like to pride myself on being able to guess the twists of books and whilst I did guess one of them, I was surprised by others and that is a feat (although Ally has been able to make me literally gasp at twists in some of her books).

Overall, I don't think I could recommend this book enough. It's spies and adventure and romance a thoroughly fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an arc in return for an honest review. And thank you to Ally Carter for continuing to write books that I can't put down.

No one does a spy novel like Ally Carter, of this I am certain. My favorite author of all time is back with a grown up spy romance that has filled my Gallagher Girl loving heart. This new adventure has so much action, a dash of romance, a bout of amnesia, and Carter's trademark sisterly love woven throughout. You should undoubtedly read this book.

This is a fun and fast grumpy/sunshine read about what happens when a spy runs into someone with amnesia, thinking she's another spy... However, the woman Sawyer bumps into on a snowy Paris night isn't Alex, but rather her twin sister who has no memory of who she is or how she got there. The two end up on the run as every government agency and nefarious villain imaginable are after the real Alex and have no idea that her twin isn't her.

This was a very fun read! I absolutely loved it, though it brought nothing new to the genre. My only qualm was the whole stereotype that men look good with graying hair and women don’t. Yeesh, Zoe.

The Blonde Identity is a unique romance novel that comes out of the gate with a heroine stricken by amnesia and a spy who mistakes her for someone else. It’s tough to summarize without revealing spoilers, but romance readers who enjoy action, thrills, and twists will be fans of this novel. The pacing, chemistry between characters, humor, and breadcrumbs sprinkled up to a neatly tied-up storyline offer an engaging read. The chemistry and sexual tension between the two main characters picks up quickly in the beginning. The intimate moments could have been steamier, but when the stakes are high, it makes sense to focus attentions elsewhere.

I was never a Gallagher Girl, so I came into this novel with pretty fresh (and excited) eyes. Overall, I really enjoyed The Blonde Identity! It was fun, the characters were enjoyable, and the premise was captivating. However, as is the forever issue with amnesia plotlines, after a while it became repetitive.

I absolutely adored The Blonde Identity. It was a perfect mix of character and plot driven, and I never found a moment dull. Ally Carter is the best at intertwining commentary about every day life within extreme plotlines, and it makes her books so relatable even if you aren't on the run from every spy agency on the map. In middle school, I used to read Ally's book by flashlight under the covers after bed. Now I'm adjusting the brightness on my screen so that I don't bother my sleeping fiance while I read into the wee hours of the morning.
There were so many quips that I highlighted, and I loved Zoe and Sawyer's dynamic. I never knew I needed a spy falling in love with his rogue partner's amnesiac twin until I read this book, and now I want more. I liked having to figure out if Zoe's amnesia made her an unreliable narrator, but her sincere nature is so refreshing in a book. I'm glad we are able to see vulnerability and sincerity be regarded as a strength. Having a character who was new to a spy world made it easy to relate to the MC, and as an amateur writer myself, I loved Zoe's fanfiction background. It also made me cackle with glee every time a book trope went straight over Sawyer's head. I loved the balance between these two love interests and how they brought out the best in one another. I appreciate that the twins were never pinned as rivals and that they were allowed to be exactly who they are with minimal comparison. When there were comparisons, it was paired with growth and the characters were able to move forward.
Overall, I loved the ride that is The Blonde Identity, and I'm desperately hoping for a Strawberry Blonde Identity to get Alex's story that was alluded to in the last pages. I haven't wanted to write fanfiction for a while, but this book is making me want to once more.

I grew up reading Ally's Gallagher Girls series, so I was super excited when she announced a more adult novel in the same vein. I was not disappointed! What I have always loved about Ally's books is how well she can balance the action and drama with comedy and romance, and The Blonde Identity is no exception. One moment, you're at the edge of your seat, then you're laughing, and then your heart is pounding for reasons that have nothing to with running from gunmen. It is a wild and fun ride, and I was so sad when it ended!

My only criticism might be that some of the points are a tad predictable. It kind of falls into a pattern of: 1. The characters get out of danger 2. They have a cute bonding moment, then 3. things are going too well, so you know that 4. gunmen show up. Also, a couple of the twists were a little too abrupt/confusing, but neither of those detracts too much from my enjoyment of the book.

That said, Ally's warnings for the content of this book are well founded: The Blonde Identity has adult language and themes, and is not intended for the same audience as her earlier works. That's not to say it's bad, just don't buy this for your 6th grader!

TL;DR: Great book, albeit a tad predictable or confusing at points. Still loved every minute of it!