I enjoyed this book and found it immersive once I got into it but it absolutely requires some suspension of belief - the main premise is that a civilian stands in as the prime minister of a small country so she doesn't get shot at on vacation. They look remarkably alike and have similar mannerisms. That being said, the story was told in a way that made this completely believable so it worked! There's also a second chance romance storyline but the stakes are constantly high because of all the murder plot-points.

I found all the characters to be likeable and I did not guess the ending so overall I'd recommend this as a beach or vacation read, which I know we're all craving soon!! This one published today. I also recommend her other book, the Takedown, as a similar genre (comedic romantic suspense). Books like this are fun to enjoy in a light-hearted way.

Max desperately needs a huge pay day to bail herself out of the failure of her restaurant. When the opportunity arises to be a decoy for a world leader, Max jumps at the chance to cash in. She never counted on her handler being none other than the man who broke her heart years ago, CIA agent Flynn.

This was a really fun adventure! The second chance romance was the slowest slow burn, with a strict no touching rule in place until about 95% of the way through. The tension and banter between Max and Flynn was worth it, though.

I hope Carlie Walker writes more in this universe! I’ve really enjoyed both of her contemporary spy romances.

dnf @ 40%

i wanted to really give this a chance but i was struggling sadly. i often felt too much was happening and i was feeling confused and overwhelmed. however, if you like second chance, id still give it a go as you may like this — the story line is a bit far fetched but it could be something you enjoy! since i dnfed it, i cannot speak on the remainder of the story.

A spy romance that takes place in Italy is basically the perfect summer read. This book has romance, intrigue, body doubles…basically everything a reader could want in a beach read. Max is a chef who lost her restaurant thanks to the pandemic. She’s drowning in debt and has cut herself off from her loved ones out of shame. She also happens to look exactly like the youngest prime minister in Europe (who seems to be at the center of an assassination plot). When the CIA approaches Max to pose as the prime minister for $5million, all she can think about is getting out of debt. But her handler is a familiar former flame-her first love, Flynn. Sparks fly!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

When Max is recruited to pose as a prime minister with death threats floating around, and you add in the bodyguard ex-boyfriend, the quirky roommate guy, and goofy hotel staff, you've got a fun summer romance on your hands!

A very cute and quick rom-com. I'll definitely read more from Carlie Walker in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review,

Synopsis:

Max is just your average girl, working odd jobs, a crushing amount of debt but with an uncanny resemblance to Europe’s youngest female PM, Sofia Christensen . . . so when the PM receives a death threat, the CIA approaches Max with a a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the PM’s annual Italian trip. It would be a dream if it weren’t for those pesky assassins and Flynn, Max’s ridiculously hot handler - the man who broke her heart years and years ago.

Review:

This was such a fun read - with the CIA and assassins around every corner, I thought it would make for a great movie. I love second chance romances so I enjoyed Max & Flynn reconnecting. I thought Max was so relatable in that when she fails, she pushes away her loved ones because of the guilt that she feels, and doesn’t want their sympathy. I loved the setting in Italy because I could picture them running through the cobble stone lined streets and past the piazzas and fountains. Found this read really refreshing and different.

I liked the premise of "Code Word Romance," but the execution was inconsistent and almost farcical. Max seems incredibly young and naive, and doesn't grow much. The teenage romance between Max and Flynn is drawn out and doesn't make much sense. Calvin was the one bright spot - he was an unexpected delight.

One element of the writing that continued to distract me was the inconsistent years and ages, especially with all the little flashbacks. Overall, "Code Word Romance was just too absurd and careless to be enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

This was SO FUN. It was like The Princess Diaries meets a spy movie meets The Parent Trap but without the parents just the ol’ switcharoo.

Flynn is such a darling and Max is so determined and they are both so terrified (like in general but also of this specific situation, which is so valid).

I had such a genuinely good time reading this entire book - from the vivid descriptions to the absolute chaos to the way that the forced proximity forces Max and Flynn to reckon with their past in a way neither of them anticipated.

There are moments of surprising tenderness mixed in with literal scaling of buildings and a Liam Neeson side character. Max has put her literal life on the line for a stranger and Flynn has put his on the line for her. I, like Max, questioned everyone and maintained a healthy dose of suspicion for every new character (except for Flynn, though she would never admit it. I personally do admit it).

Like actually this was so fun I loved it. We need more romance/spy hybrid books.

Thank you so much @prhaudio for this gifted audiobook @berkleyromance for the free book!

“Getting a second chance with you has been the biggest blessing of my life.”

Review Title & Vibes:
{CODE WORD-CUTE} I love a good adventure romcom. This was super cute and such an easy read. The tension between Max and Flynn is delicious, and humor was completely on point. The mystery kept the plot moving. I love the “second chance” of it all. Also - there is surprisingly delightful side character that’s a total hidden gem.

This is one of those books that gave Miss Congeniality vibes - funny, romantic, and fast paced.

Audio Notes:
Wonderful performance by Stephanie. Each character voice was distinct and comedic timing on point. Also - love the foreign language / pronunciation. I would definitely recommend this audiobook.

Rating: 4.25⭐️ | Spice: 🌶️ | Audio: 4.5🎙️
What to Expect:   
Second Chance
Undercover Romance
The One That got Away
Only One Room
Epic Escapes

Recommended to...  
Anyone looking for a fun adventure romcom / beach read.

Narrated by @snemethparker
Produced by @prhaudio

Okay, gotta say — Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker blew me away. I wasn't expecting to get hooked so quickly, but wow, it nailed that perfect mix of suspense, romance, and those swoony vibes. Max is such a fantastic lead—she's relatable with all her chaos (hello, soul-crushing debt and odd jobs), but then suddenly, she's thrown into this wildlife pretending to be a prime minister on the Amalfi Coast. The setting alone made me want to drop everything and book a flight.
And Flynn? Oh man, Flynn is the kind of guy who lingers in your mind long after you close the book. Their history, the tension, and the slow-burning rekindling of old feelings while dodging literal assassins kept me on the edge of my seat and invested. The way Carlie Walker weaves in danger and heart-fluttering romance without ever feeling forced is impressive.
I seriously couldn't put this down. It's one of those stories that sticks with you, not just for the thrills, but because the characters feel so real, so messy and raw. It's a perfect escape wrapped in a love story with enough twists to keep it fresh and engaging. It's going on my "read again" list.

This was a little more exaggerated than I expected it to be. While the drama and high stakes were fun, I sort of missed the weight of consequences. The story is highly engaging and the cast of characters while not necessarily well developed are all a fun time.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a wonderful job with all of the accents and capturing the characters personalities and feelings. I ended up listening to the whole book- I didn’t switch between print and audio because I enjoyed the audio so much.

I thought this was such a fun madcap caper of a romance. I had no problem suspending reality and diving into the fake dating, impersonating a prime minister in a foreign country, try and stay alive story. I would love for it to be a movie. It reminded me of old Cary Grant romantic comedies. Plus there was great food and scenery descriptions. I really want to go to Italy now.

4.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me. All opinions are my own.

Thank you @berkleyromance for the free book!
#BerkleyPartner #BerkleyRomance

Down on her luck American chef Max agrees to play body double for a European prime minister on the Amalfi Coast. Tempted by a big payday, Max unknowingly invites danger and Flynn, her former fling turned CIA handler, into her life.

I really enjoyed Carlie Walker’s debut, The Takedown. With its charming characters, action, and humor, Code Word Romance is just as big a hit with me.

I loved Max and Flynn, especially their banter! This spy romcom balances the thriller and romance perfectly. I enjoyed learning about their past and watching figure out if there was a second chance for them while trying to stay alive. I couldn’t help but rooted for them.

Max and Flynn’s undercover mission was everything you expected in a romcom. It was dangerous while still being comedic (and a bit unrealistic but who’s checking for that!). It kept me on intrigued and guessing who was behind the assassination plot.

I loved 90% of the book, was confused by one character who is just weird and not sure the entire point. But the two main characters were absolutely fire, loved them and their story plus the action scenes were great.

I loved this book so much. It was such a fun and interesting read. I loved both MFC and MMC and was very interested in the book, trying to figure out who was the one that was pointing the gun at her in the beginning of the book. I love a good second chance trope and this did not disappoint!

✨ Review ✨ Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker; Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker

Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

After her restaurant failed during COVID, Max is struggling financially, emotionally, socially, etc., so when the CIA offers her $5 million to be a body double for a prime minister, she jumps on it. When she arrives in Italy, she finds her handler is her first and only love, Flynn, and he trains her and accompanies her on her mission.

This is full of fast-paced Italian undercover adventure! As Max stumbles through her role, she finds more challenges than she had expected. On top of that, she struggles with her renewed atrraction to Flynn. This is the best sort of second chance romance!

🎧 The audio was a fun way to enjoy this fast-paced adventure! This is the perfect beach read for summer!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Genre: romance
Setting: small-town Maine, Rome and Positano, Italy
Length: 9 hours 53 minutes
Reminds me of: It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier
Pub Date: March 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ fast-paced narratives about spies and people undercover
⭕️ second chance romances
⭕️ Italian settings
⭕️ adventurous vibes

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || CODE WORD ROMANCE [thank you to PRH Audio and Berkley Romance for my #gifted copies!]

Title: Code Word Romance
Author: Carlie Walker
Genre: Romance
Format: audio
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Narrator: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
Narration: ★★★★☆

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
Oh my gosh, my spy romance loving heart could not get enough of this one! It’s sort of like I fyou mixed James Bond with the Lizzie McGuire Movies but added in a little more steam and assassins. And I was here for it!

I really enjoyed seeing the character development of Max in this one. She’s a girl (likely a millennial, because aren’t they all) who’s a little down on her luck after her restaurant fails and she’s not sure what she’s supposed to be doing and has lost a lot of her self-confidence.

But enter the CIA and thrust her into a life-or-death scenario, and suddenly she’s realizing that she’s capable of so much more than she’s settling for (with a little help from a dashing CIA handler, obviously).

If you suspend disbelief and read this one for the fun and adventure of it, I know that you’ll love it as much as I did!

🎧 The audiobook was really well done too! I thought that Nemeth-Parker really captured the duality of Max — both as the lost girl she was in the beginning and the confident woman she became. Her male voice for the MMC was pretty spot on as well. All in all, I’d highly recomment this format if you’re looking to pick this one up!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Tiana Smith (THE SPY AND I, MR. NICE SPY)
Spy Romance
Opposites Attract
Second Chance Romance
Bodyguard Romance

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 3.89⭐️
# of Pages: 320
Pub Date: March 18, 2025

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the review copy. This was such a fun read! This story had the perfect blend of action and romance so that neither one overpowered the other. I found myself smiling as the two struggled their way through their second chance at love. I highly recommend this.

Code Word Romance was a fun read filled with laughter, second chances, and a bit of an action adventure-esque storyline.

After starting over when her restaurant unexpectedly went under, Max gets a surprise request from the CIA—to go undercover as an influential prime minister and pose as her on an Italian getaway for a considerable amount of money. But when she accepts the offer, she discovers that she has to work in close quarters with her ex, who left her heart broken.

This reminded me of a grown-up version of The Lizzie McGuire Movie but with more action. I loved the second-chance romance with a bodyguard twist in this book. It gave me butterflies and with a name like Flynn, you can't help but swoon! It was lighthearted and fun and would make for a perfect comedic action-adventure movie.

3.5/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*