Even though I usually hate to dnf books, I just had to with this book at around the 15% mark. I felt no connection to the writing or the characters. I can’t really put my finger on it, but I couldn’t really get into the story and because of that, it was hard for me to continue. Although I didn’t enjoy and finish this book, I know that others might.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-ARC.

Annabelle Slator's "The Launch Date" pairs the heart clenching emotionality of EmHen with the sexual tension of "The Hating Game."

Grace Hastings and Eric Bancroft's romance is the stuff of romance readers' dreams. From friends to rivals to something potentially life-changing. If you're weak for when they call each other by their last names - until they don't - you're gonna swoon. And of course he falls first and she's been hurt before so she won't let herself be too vulnerable. But! It's all done with masterful precision.

I'd like to be work besties with Grace please. She's so relatable being a high achieving people pleaser trauma and chaos girlie. Also! Crying when the emotions just get too overwhelming or scary or the anxiety needs an outlet so it chooses tears. She. Is. Everything. To. Me.

And Then! Having the story from only Grace's point of view means we get to unwrap the mystery of Eric Bancroft one intimate moment at a time. And don't get me started on how hecasually takes up space like he belongs anywhere and everywhere, or makes a grand entrance into a meeting where he can draw all the attention to him is so brilliantly effective.

Alongside the romance is sharp social commentary on workplace politics, the dating scene, and toxic family. I appreciated the whole picture we get of both Grace and Eric's lives. I was also pleasantly not prepared for a few well timed reveals that make all the sense in the world. Every page was used to absolute perfection.

Highly recommend "The Launch Date" for the development of both characters, as well as their professional and romantic lives. Also, this will satisfy all your slow burn cravings. I'm still swooning.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins | Avon Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Annabelle Slator’s The Launch Date is a charming romantic comedy that masterfully combines workplace romance and enemies-to-lovers tropes.

Grace and her nemesis Eric, both working for rival dating apps under the same company, are unexpectedly paired to launch a new app. Forced to test the experience-based dates together, sparks and hilarity ensue as they navigate their growing connection.

With sharp humor, great chemistry, and heartfelt moments, this debut is an absolute delight. I can’t wait to see what Slator writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

4.25 stars - Friends to enemies with a side of workplace romance, what more could you want! Grace Hastings and Eric Bancroft used to be friends, or at least friendly colleagues, but six months ago that all changed and now Grace finds herself having to work together with the man she despises in hopes of securing a significant - and deserved - promotion. Surviving a series of "first dates" as part of a research effort for their company's new dating app won't exactly be a cake walk, but Grace is determined to be the one that comes out on top.

Grace and Eric's chemistry was undeniable and made for a fun and entertaining read. It's not exactly a slow burn, but there's the perfect amount of longing and tension to make the eventual moment well worth it. Romance aside, I also have to note that I adored the close relationships between Grace and her roommates and Eric and his sister. They gave a delightful, heartwarming feel to the story that I think paired nicely. Well paced and well written, the 400 page length didn't stop me from flying through this book in a just a few hours! Annabelle Slator has given us a wonderful debut novel and I'm so excited to see what the future brings.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was such a fun story! I really enjoyed both main characters, and the dynamic of workplace rivalry. They both work for dating apps. and are up for promotion through the parent company, but they have to work together. It's such a fun, and honestly, realistic set up.

I also resonated with Grace alot, and her imposter syndrome. It's something i think most people deal with, and isn't always discussed much.

This is going to be very popular and I can't wait to see the success of this story and author!

4.5✨

Friends to enemies to having to work with each other for work to lovers—sign me up!

Eric and Grace work for different dating apps within the same parent company and have both been offered a promotion to lead a new dating app. The only problem besides competing against each other? They have to work together to create unique first dates that will help their users find love, and in order for that to work, they must test the dates themselves. The tension between Eric and Grace is so thick you need an axe to cut through it, and it's so worth it in my opinion. I absolutely adored Eric, and it absolutely killed me to not have his POV in this story.

I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves workplace romances or the hate-to-love tropes as well as the he-falls-first-and-hard trope. I cannot wait to read more from this author and will eagerly be waiting for her next release, which is hopefully soon 👀🤞🏼.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Publishing and NetGalley for the E-ARC of this book.

Eric and Grace were friends turned workplace rivals. Both vying for the same promotion, they are forced to work together to promote innovation for their dating app. In doing this, they are forced to go on dates...together.
While this book is predictable, it has a lot of heart. Eric and Grace are both figuring out the best versions of themselves despite the expectations others have on them. They end up lighting a fire under each other which ignites a sexual tension that gradually builds until a titular moment in a penthouse.
I'm not always a fan of the slow burn, but I loved how the author gave enough breadcrumbs along the way. It felt well worth the wait and was delicious when they finally gave in.
I love a strong female character who has been scorned in her previous relationships. Grace learns how to stop saying she's sorry! That alone for me is enough of a character arc to love this book.

This was such a cute story. I especially loved it because my husband’s name is Eric so it was like reading a book about us… well if we were in another dimension.

Grace Hastings is a marketing manager at Fate, a dating app aimed at helping its users find true love, while Eric Bancroft, her old friend turned rival, serves the same position at Ignite, a swipe-right, hook-up app owned under by the same umbrella company. When the big boss reveals his plans to start a third dating app, one aimed at setting up its users with fun first dates based on their interests, he pitches the idea to both Grace and Eric. The catch: they have to work together to come up with ideas for the app and then present those ideas to the big-boss where he will decide which one of them will head-up the new app.

This was a slow start for me but once I was about a third of the way through, I was pretty invested in Grace and Eric. I found Grace's imposter syndrome in the workplace super relatable. Her "say yes" default, even at the expense of your own mental health, is something I think most women can relate too also. The heartbreak she was feeling and the insecurities that go along with the end of a long-term relationship had me really pulling for Grace. The banter between Grace and Eric was pretty entertaining and broke up the heavier subthemes. I ended up really enjoying this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The main protagonist of The Launch Date is Grace Hastings - she works for Fate, a dating app that looks to have people find their happily-ever-after. Fate has a sibling app called Ignite (similar to a Tinder) that helps people find their hopefully-happy-tonight match. Grace was taken on by Susie who is the ultimate #girlboss that has transitioned into using Grace as a glorified assistant along with expecting her to fulfill her normal responsibilities. The parent company of both Fate and Ignite is now looking to start up another dating app and there's a position open for Head of Marketing. The only problem is that Grace's nemesis Eric Bancroft is also gunning for this promotion. They're both given the opportunity to interview, but they have to work together to build out the premise of Ditto.

I really enjoyed this book! I very much resonate with the imposter syndrome that Grace feels, though I wouldn't have let the nonsense with Susie go on as long as it did. The chemistry between Grace and Eric is palpable and I liked watching how that relationship grew and changed. The end wasn't entirely surprising but it wrapped up well. I also do love the ideas of the Ditto app - in case there are any dating app developers who happen to be reading this review! I would definitely recommend if you enjoy the friends to enemies to lovers trope, a bit of workplace competition, and when the FMC grows into her own skin and finds some confidence.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for this advanced reader's copy!

This was a fun romp into online dating!! Grace and Eric were so lovable, and I rooted for them the whole time! This is going to be a popular one.

Thanks for NetGalley far the advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC read!

The start of this books plot very much reminded me of The Hating Game, which also went on to be a movie. Two similar companies merging/sharing office space, one male dominate one female dominate. Office rivals competing for a promotion. Etc.

Personally I love that book and movie so that wasn’t a huge deal and I enjoyed this story. I liked seeing them go on dates and the hotel room scene was *chefs kiss*

She made me angry that she rushed out the next morning and went on her date still 😠 but it worked out in the end, showing her what she didn’t want.

If you’re looking for a cute office romance, this is for you!

Listen, give me a romance book with friends to enemies to lovers plus through in incredible banter between love interests and I’m here for it. The Launch Date follows the story of 2 colleagues both competing for the same promotion, who happened to be good friends at one point only until only most recently. I found myself championing for Grace while also intrigued as to what Eric could’ve done wrong to possibly ruin their friendship-the author wrote the story in a way where you somehow knew Grace was justified in her anger while hoping they would work it out since it was plain she still had feelings for him. If you’re a fan of “The Hating Game”-you’ll enjoy this one! Just when you think you recognize the trope and where the story is going, there’s an enough of a plot pivot to keep you intrigued. Wonderful debut novel by Annabelle Slator & I can’t wait to read what she writes next!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Launch Date is a story of rival coworkers becoming reluctant daters after they're forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—and it was giving The Hating Game in the best ways!

Rivals to lovers and workplace romance are two of my favorite tropes, and The Launch Date did them both so tastefully. I also tend to not love a slow burn, but with Grace and Eric, I was so here for it. From all of the witty British banter, to the product marketing / tech vibes (which is my day job), to the realization that maybe what ended their friendship was just one giant miscommunication—I really couldn't get enough and actually felt the connection between the two main characters.

Read if you like:
✅ workplace romances
✅ enemies/rivals to lovers
✅ forced proximity

This was my first romance read of 2025 and it did not disappoint!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC

This book had me at fake dating and enemies to lovers. And also throw in a second chance romance and omg we have a bomb ass story. This was such a great debut novel for this author and I am looking forward to reading more!!

Is the tagline accurate if her "worst nightmare" is just her ex-friend who she had a misunderstanding with? I think her worst nightmare is probably just her boss taking advantage of her at every opportunity.

Was this a perfectly acceptable average romance? Yup! Did it feel the exact same as every other work romance ever? Yup! Why do anything different when the formula works, I guess. 🤷🏼‍♀️

My ranting & rambling:

Can we please please please stop calling everything enemies to lovers? They are not enemies, at most you could say they are rivals, but really they are two people belatedly working through an issue they had 6 months ago.

"in non-computer-genius language" come ON stop, you have been working with this person forever and also constantly talk about statistics and metrics, you knew what she was saying. Find something not annoying if you want to explain to your reader what the stuff was you just googled to make your characters seem more realistic.

I am very tired of characters creating issues between each other just by refusing to communicate.

Sure, Grace's ex is most definitely a piece of garbage, but was he really a bad person for wanting her to have time for her life outside of work? There were better ways to communicate that, sure, but Grace was letting her boss ruin her chance to have a happy life outside of work and she never stood up for herself.

A fast, fun read by a debut author.

This enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance sticks to the conventions of the genre without becoming trite or cliche.

Grace Hastings and Eric Bancroft are former friends and current nemeses, up for the same promotion. She needs a win after a bad breakup, not to mention getting out from under a toxic boss. He needs to escape the trust-fund, playboy reputation that precedes him. Obviously, in both cases, there is more than initially meets the eye. They reconnect over a series of test “dates” while developing a new app for their company.

I do love enemies-to-lovers, especially when the ‘enemy’ part is more one-sided than initially thought. There is great chemistry between Grace and Eric, something that is apparent from the start but also builds throughout this slow-burn romance, allowing the reader to truly see how well-suited they are to one another.

I also enjoyed the little side plots, especially the relationship between Eric and his sister. I liked that Grace’s boss wasn’t a one-dimensional villain. If there is a weak spot for me, it’s William—I feel like there should have been more of him or less of him, but as it stood, his reappearance was an unnecessary complication, as the competition for promotion felt like conflict enough.

Can’t wait to read more from this author! Thanks so much to NetGalley / Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced reader copy of this book, provided in exchange for by unbiased opinion.

4.5 stars (with .25 specifically going out to the Lordi Eurovision reference)(not really but also maybe??)

Similar vibes to The Hating Game, but instead it’s the marketing managers for competing in-house dating apps! Grace (aka Hastings) and Eric (aka Bancroft) each work for a different dating app, hers more focused on finding The One and his more focused on finding The One For Tonight, but the two find themselves collaborating on a pitch for a new product and competing for the promotion that comes with its launch. Through planning dates for the app, the two start to connect and fill in the blanks of what turned their supportive friendship into a heated rivalry. The two push each other, in both good and bad ways and the road from here is rocky and exciting!!

Grace’s journey with impostor syndrome, recovering from a toxic ex, and trying to not just survive but thrive is an inspiring story for the modern working gal- she has to learn how to advocate for herself at work, she has to surround herself with friends that lift her up, and she has to go for what really brings her passion!! Eric has to deal with battling a public image and making a name for himself based on his own worth, but also has to come to terms with the fact that he’s a carer for those in his life that really matter- and that it’s okay to let that show and drop the facade!

This was a great debut and I can’t wait for more from Annabelle in the future!! Thank you so much to Annabelle Slator, Avon, and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

3.75 stars. With shades of ‘The Hating Game’, this was a fun workplace rivals-to-lovers debut romance novel.

Grace Hastings and Eric Bancroft, once friends and current rivals/nemeses at their competing dating app employers, have a history they have to face as they’re paired together to develop a new concept dating app. Over the course of “research” dates, they work through misunderstandings, pressures of their respective employers, and interfering exes to resolve their animosity and find that they actually work better together than individually.

There was a lot going on for both Grace and Eric separately and together. Grace’s boss was kind of the worst for most of the book and when Grace finally stood up to her, I was really proud of her. Eric has his own extracurriculars playing into his image that I’m still not sure how I felt about. It wasn’t really clear to me how much of it was fact and how much was press fabrication because he and Grace never really discussed it too much. It was a slow burn between the two of them to sort through their issues, and there was some great tension and fun banter. I wanted some deeper conversations between them though to really feel the strength of their reconnection.

Overall this was a solid and enjoyable debut. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars. This book was really sweet! I loved the premise. However, I felt like sometimes the conflicts felt forced. But I love a good rivals to lovers story. I thought the banter was funny and cute