The Launch Date was a very fun concept, I was really looking forward to the dating app twist on the workplace romance. So often this setting feels repetitive, and I do feel like The Launch Date successfully distinguished itself as something new! Unfortunately I do feel that the execution overall was a bit lackluster for me, and the conflict was not resolved fast enough to enjoy the romance.

First, the positives: I did love Annabelle Slator's writing voice and her style of storytelling. The mystery of what happened in the past, and knowing eventually my answers would come through a timeskip / flashback was largely what kept me reading. I love that we didn't have to sit through a large text block of the main character explaining her past, and instead got to witness it. A great tool utilized perfectly to keep us hooked and keep the story moving at a good pace! I loved Grace's roommates, most of the time I enjoyed them more than Grace herself, and I loved Eric and his sister.

Where I got stuck was there was when I realized there was too much workplace and not enough dates! The dates and how they would be rated and reviewed afterwards were 100% my favorite part. I loved the way the dates functioned for them the way they would any other couple - the learning and bonding and working as a team to conquer challenges, I loved every minute. However their effect didn't last - Grace in particular would shrug off her growing fondness. Grace forcing herself back into her rivalry mindset every single day that she went to work... it really became a chore, and less believable the longer she held onto her grudge. Sadly, the balance just wasn't right for me, and then the story overall began to drag the longer she insisted she hated him - enemies to lovers in a contemporary setting has many pitfalls and blind stubbornness truly is the biggest of them all.

I rated The Launch Date a 3/5. Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.75 stars

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator was absolutely outstanding! The book follows Grace Hastings as she tries to get a work promotion while working under a terribly demanding direct supervisor who is punishing her for trying to move forward and having to partner up with her ex-friend and work rival (Eric). If that weren't enough her absolute garbage can of an ex-boyfriend is also reaching out to her, which only serves to distract her from her goals. Weirdly, the only person helping her focus on the work is Eric who is up for the same promotion. Together they are coming up with great ideas that are working together amazingly considering the incident that happened between them at the Christmas party. She insist that nothing is happening between them but isn't there?!

Ahhhh! I loved this book so much. I've been in a reading slump and decided to pick this book up and it was so freaking good. I read the whole thing in one sitting. I was literally running downstairs to update my husband on when the rivals were starting to become lovers. I haven't had this much fun with a book in a minute. I highly recommend this read as it was absolutely delightful. The one criticism that I do have is what happens during her promotion interview, I didn't like how that ended. Other than that, the book was absolutely perfect, that's why I rated it 4.75 stars out of 5.

Tropes: workplace, rivals to lovers, billionaire

Triggers: nepo baby, demanding boss, attempted DV, manipulative ex

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, and Annabelle Slator for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

There's just something that I utterly love about rivals-to-lovers, the TENSION, the connection, the intense inner monologues; it's all just utterly beautiful. In a workplace romance? That's just extra delicious. The semi-forced fake dating with that level of tension was swoon-worthy, and the added drama of a meanie of a boss? Oh, I ate that up!

Grace was not my favorite character to start the book - she was an absolute doormat, and just seemed excessively whiny and I just don't usually find myself enjoying those types of characters. I didn't get annoyed though because only a few chapters in and it was already clear of how she was growing, and changing, and just really growing into her own. Eric did help, but I love that Grace really did it on her own, also.

I loved the tension and the banter and the spice was absolutely delicious! Such an absolutely fantastic debut from this novel and I cannot wait to see what she writes in the future!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Lots of great things happening in this book. I love a slow burn and this one heightens anticipation by making the reader wait, but the payoff is worth it. Love the interaction between the two main characters as well.

Thank you to the publisher Avon, Ms Slator, and Net Galley for the eARC of this debut in exchange for an honest review. Although I had an advance (text) copy, I waited until the audiobook was available to the general public, and listened to it via Spotify Premium.

At a glance:
Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️
🌶️: 4/5 (2+ explicit sex scenes)
Availability: check your library. Not on Hoopla.
🎧 Sarah Novak. Great!
Setting: London
Key Tropes: Office Rivals, Forced Proximity (dates), Slow Burn, Only One Bed.
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance. Not funny, therefore not a Rom Com.

I’m glad I listened to the book—it enhanced the story having a British narrator for a CR set in London.

This is a debut, and Ms Slator shows promise. I feel bad about giving it a lower rating (3.5 stars) but the FMC goes on and on and on about her boss expecting her to work all the time (60+ hours per week) while not sticking up for herself/setting boundaries. It made the story drag. The publisher did a disservice to this book likening it to The Hating Game by Sally Thorne—it set expectations too high that couldn’t be met.

FMC Grace, 26ish, Marketing Manager, average middle class. Total pushover at work.

MMC Eric Bancroft, Marketing Manager, late 20s?, son of a business magnate, mildly famous, younger sister Iris also mildly famous.

A fun, quick read with good chemistry and some spice thrown in for fun! I wish it wasn't compared to The Hating Game because I feel like that book leaves readers' expectations way too high, and it's unfair as a comparison.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator!

3.5 stars rounded up.

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator is like a blind date set up by your most enthusiastic friend—charming, a little chaotic, and full of surprises. The premise is fun: a tech startup, a fake dating scheme, and a heroine who’s in way over her head. Slator’s writing is witty, and the banter between the leads definitely brings the rom-com sparkle.

That said, the pacing sometimes felt like it was running on caffeine—rushed in places where I wanted more depth, especially in the romance department. The chemistry was there, but I wished for a few more genuine moments between the characters to really sell the connection.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable, lighthearted read with some really funny and sweet moments. If you’re in the mood for a quick, entertaining romance with a techy twist, this one is worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an ARC.

I really enjoyed this - it was a really fun twist on the old fake dating romance, where the characters went out together to test drive different dates. The characters were well done and I found myself cheering for both of them.

Grace works for the dating app, Fate, designed to help people meet their perfect match. When she is offered the chance to compete for a promotion, she jumps at it, along with her work rival, Eric. To make things more complicated, to get the promotion, Grace and Eric need to go on a series of fake dates.

Loved this!! Really surprised this is a debut and can’t wait to read whatever this author comes out with next. I loved the banter and tension between the main characters and that the issue that caused their conflict was actually plausible and not something ridiculous. I wish there was even more tension because the tension that was there was great. It reminds me a little of The Hating Game but the concept of the dating app workplace was fresh and fun and I enjoyed the workplace descriptions of behind the scenes development of the app stuff. Overall highly recommend if you enjoy romantic comedy’s and also think this would be great as a Netflix movie adaptation!!

Grace and Eric both work for the same app company and must now work together with a chance of a promotion at the end of it. Will they become more than enemies when she gets to know him away from the way the media portrays him?

She was cute! I loved the tropes and I loved the pacing of the book. I did think it was a little slow at first but I was still in it.

A workplace enemies to lovers is always a good idea. The slow burn was a bit too slow for me to fully love and enjoy. The characters did live up the rom-com drama and had a tiny bit of tension.

Loved this book! The rom-com was rom-com-ing so perfectly. I loved Slator's writing style and THE TENSION between Grace and Eric! Perfection!

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC!

If you like The Hating Game, you will love this book! Grace and Eric are former friends, current-rivals, who are competing for the Head of Marketing position at a dating app. Their past friendship with each other ended sourly, and now they must learn to work together to create a new experience-based dating app, based on their favorite experiences. Fake dating, rivals - friends - lovers, it was so cute!

I really appreciate how much it was like the Hating Game, but it truly had its own personality and unique aspects of it. It was funny, didn't try too hard, and the romance perfectly fell into place! Never once did it seem forced when they realized they liked each other, which is why I loved how well done it was!

The story features charming characters whose playful banter and subtle chemistry make for some delightful moments. It’s the kind of book that offers a comfortable, breezy read—perfect for those evenings when you want to relax and turn your brain off.

Overall, if you’re in the mood for a cute, uncomplicated romance that provides light entertainment without any major breakthroughs, The Launch Date might be just the ticket. It’s a pleasant, engaging read that scratches the itch for a fun romance, even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

If you love “The Hating Game,” this one’s for you! Workplace romance + rivals-to-lovers + fake dating? Yes, please. The witty banter was chef’s kiss, and the fake dating situations? Pure rom-com gold—think cooking class disasters 🍳🔥 and a very spicy couples yoga session. 🧘‍♂️🥵

The pacing kept me hooked from start to finish, making it an easy, binge-worthy read. I also loved the single POV, which made it easy to connect with the protagonist.

That said, the miscommunication trope was a bit frustrating at times—I just wanted them to talk! But overall, this book delivered on the tension, the swoon, and all the laugh-out-loud moments. If you’re in the mood for a fun, flirty romance with plenty of heat, definitely read “The Launch Date.”

I liked this, It was a cute read with the trope of fake dating. Thank you so much for letting me get to read this.

4.5 stars!! 🌟 A spicy workplace romance that had me turning page after page after page! I loved it. Such a fun debut read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

i really liked this book it was a fun read and made me happy when i was reading it, i did wish it was dual pov but everything else was done amazing. cannot wait to read more by slator.