I really enjoyed this and thought it was well written, especially for a debut author! It kinda has The Hating Game vibes with the workplace rivals/enemies to lovers trope, but it’s a trope that I always love. I loved the chemistry between Grace and Eric, and my only wish was that we could have seen more of their happily ever after!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this earc

This book was soooo much fun. I love me a good office romance when to kind of enemies need to work together. *heart eyes*

But seriously, I read this in one sitting. It’s cute, it’s full of heart, have great friendships and main character standing up for herself and finding her voice.

There is also some AMAZING chemistry (reminded me of Tangled. If you know, you know).

Eric also has quite a few fantastic lines that made me go “awwwww”

My point. Listen to me and for read this.

If you took everything I love about The Hating Game and tossed in a boss reminiscent of The Devil Wears Prada, you would only slightly scratch the surface of how much I adored this amazing debut novel! Enemies/rivals-to-lovers and workplace romance are two of my favorite tropes, and Annabelle Slator managed to take both of them and make an entirely fresh and exciting story. I was drawn in right from the start, and fell in love with both main characters.

Grace and Eric need to work together on a project, and their performances will determine which of them is given a promotion. It would be a lot easier if these ex-friends turned enemies could stand to be in the same room together, especially because they work for a dating app and their project entails going on dates together to test run a new version. It doesn't help that Grace is still reeling from a break up 6 months ago and Eric is a known play-boy, out with different woman every night of the week. Somehow they have to work together if they have any chance of success.

I think Eric Bancroft may be my new favorite MMC. He had so much depth, and Annabelle did an amazing job peeling back his layers and letting us see the man he really is and why he puts on the persona that defines him. Grace is delightfully messy and she allows people to walk all over her, but the extent of her growth during the course of the book was inspiring, and I felt such an overwhelming sense of protectiveness for her. The timeline of this book jumped around just enough to slowly reveal Eric and Grace's initial friendship and everything that caused it to derail. I was so invested in these characters, and the way their story wrapped up had me in tears. Trust me, you won't want to miss this delightful, fun and heart-felt rom-com, full of witty banter and off-the-charts chemistry!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This was SO FUN. My favorite tropes, and very happy to report she pulled them off brilliantly. I was invested right away. Super cute.

I am not always the biggest fan of the friends to enemies to lovers trope, but this book was so amazing! Just checked all the right boxes. It even had the one bed trope, which is normally so cheesy, and yet made it seem totally plausible? I don't think I have ever seen an author take the one bed scenario and make me believe it could actually happen in real life before. Maybe not the actual outcome, obviously. . .

Grace and Eric used to be good (just lol) friends before having a major falling out a little over a year ago. Two pages in, and I already hated Eric, although everything I knew was skewed based on Grace's internal monologuing. I think the only thing that would have made the book better is if it some of the chapters were written from Eric's point of view. I would have loved reading about it from his perspective.

I have absolutely no criticisms of the book. So many authors write horrible love interests; men who are the worst. Eric is amazing. They are a great couple who compliment each other. Especially love the contrast shown with her previous relationship with William.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free kindle book! My opinions are my own and are freely given.

Such a cute, fun rom com. This had me kicking my feet and giggling and for once was an “enemies to lovers” that wasn’t cringy. So sweet and looking forward to more from this author!

The Launch Date was such a cute and quick read, I loved it! This book is about Grace who works on a dating app called Fate and Eric who works on a dating app called Ignite. Both of these co-workers are working for the same company called Catch Group. A promotion is up for grabs and in order to share their own presentation they have to go on dates together and share their experience for a new dating app called Ditto. Even though they are enemies they put aside their differences to work together and in the process maybe hopefully admit they have feelings for each other and fall in love? Very cute enemies to lovers novel and definitely a 5 star review! Thank You NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager for this early copy of The Launce Date by Annabelle Slator! Publishing date of February 11, 2025.

What a fantastic debut! Heartwarming and driven by a strong plot, this novel seamlessly blends favorite tropes with the electric chemistry between Eric and Grace. I loved the author's writing style and how she portrayed the workplace environment and Grace's personal growth. Perfect for fans of The Spanish Love Deception and The Hating Game. There are a few parts where I wish we could have spent more time or had more context as events unfolded, but overall, I really enjoyed it! I’d love a bonus chapter from Eric's POV. Can't wait for everyone to fall in love with Eric and Grace in 2025. Huge thanks to Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC via NetGalley.

I loved it!!!! Love how Grace was still a badass even though she was working through some things. And Eric was a great MMC. Love the enemies to lovers workplace situation and how they opened up to each other complemented each other so well. Super cute and fun!

I completely devoured this book OMG. Enemies to lovers, workplace romance, oooooozing sexual tension, giddy humor, banter, sarcastic quips, grand romance — this had everything! It’s also sort of fake dating/forced proximity.

Eric and Grace have so much chemistry right from the start, even as rivals, and the tension is palpable. It’s definitely a slow burn but man it was so fantastic to read. There’s background and intrigue, lovable and well placed side characters like Iris, serious moments, swoony moments, smiley sweet giggling moments, sexy badass girlboss moments. I just couldn’t put it down!

Two points of weakness on my end:

— Grace’s was a little insufferable but even she realized it and amended that.

— I feel like there’s one plot thread in the book that was kind of weak and very ‘C’-tier that it seems throwaway since it was brought up so late in the game. It made it intriguing but fizzled out very quickly into nothing.



All in all though, it gives off Hating Game vibes but in my opinion this is written way better. This is Annabelle Slator’s debut romcom and she hit it out of the freaking park 😍 I truly couldn’t stop reading and binged it in less than a day today. 10/10!

Thanks for the early copy to this sweet story. I enjoyed the dynamic between the love interests and thought this was overall a cute story.

Fans of The Hating Game will like this. I don't think Grace and Eric have the chemistry and banter that Josh and Lucy had, but there was definitely heart! I giggled a little and shed a few tears along the way.

**Thanks to Avon & Harper Voyager via NetGalley for the e-arc!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was an enjoyable read. I couldn’t stop reading. The end was cute.

Who doesn't love the enemies to lovers trope? Mixed in with a cute little workplace romance, this is an incredible debut

Woooo!

This book had it all. A couple of tropes that I'm a big fan of - enemies to lovers and workplace romance, some witty back and forth banter and miscommunication, and allllll the spice! You can't help but root for Grace and Eric separately and together, because it becomes so clear that they really are perfect for each other.

Will preface this with - this is a SLOW burn. If that's not your thing this could make you mad, but I think it was all worth the wait! If you're a big dan of 'The Hating Game' I don't think there's anyway you won't devour it. Thank you to Netgalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of this novel!

Annabelle Slator, you are a QUEEN 💖

I absolutely loved this book and am SO happy I was approved for an ARC. I read this book in two days, I could not put it down.

If you love friends to rivals to lovers and workplace romance, this book is perfect for you. The banter and tension between the characters was written so incredibly well. I absolutely loved the slow burn and I should emphasize it is a “Slow, slow burn” but in the BEST way.

I cannot wait to read any other books Annabelle releases. I have already mentioned this book to my Romance book club! 🩷

SPOILER
*******************
He’s obsessed with her and she doesn’t even realize it!! 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book, this is my objective review. I was drawn in by the premise and the promise of witty banter and a romantic pairing. Ultimately, though, I don't think I was the right audience for this book. Although I am willing to try reading it again after publication as I think I partly wasn't in the right frame of mind to enjoy it. I also think that in general, I'm not the right person for workplace rom-coms as the anxiety of the potential HR issues almost always gets in my way. That said, I enjoyed the overall snark and wit, even though the mmc was difficult to buy into at first and the book was a bit of a slow start for me. Giving it 3 stars for now (closer to 3.5), although that rating may change on a re-read. I am impressed this was a debut novel for the author, and I look forward to reading other books from her.

Grace Hastings’ The Love Project is a lighthearted romance that offers a fun, flirty read. The premise of two rivals forced to work together on a dating app is a classic setup, and it’s executed with a decent amount of charm.

While the characters are likable enough, they could have been developed further. The romantic tension between Grace and Eric is enjoyable, but it lacks the depth to truly captivate the reader.

If you're looking for a quick, easy read that doesn't require too much thought, The Love Project is a solid choice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was super cute, and I absolutely loved it! I haven't finished a book that quickly, and I still wish there had been more in a while until this book. The writing was magical, and I can't believe this is Slator's debut novel. This book has me squealing and laughing continuously. It felt a lot like The Hating Game, and no complaints here! The pull between the characters is magnetic and drags you in willingly. The banter and chemistry between Grace and Eric were *chef's kiss*. This is a writer I will be reading in the future, and I highly recommend it.

Read if you like:
- Enemies to lovers
- Workplace romance
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn

Over all I liked it! There were moments that made me actually laugh out loud. The plot was pretty predictable and the resolution seemed a bit rushed at the end. I was expecting to get more out of the epilogue but it was lacking. This is probably a weird observation but I feel like the last two paragraphs should have been switched. It seemed like there was big news on top of the big news with her ring.