𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 $𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿… 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼? 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁?

After recently finishing The Takedown, I was so excited to hear that Carlie was publishing another book this year. I was even more excited that it was in the same universe as The Takedown!

Code Word Romance combines a spy thriller with a kick-your-feet-giggling romcom, giving you the perfect taste of both genres. With Max and Flynn being not just ex’s, but THE ex’s, we got the slowburn, the you-hurt-me back and forth banter, some FAKE DATING (which you always know is even better with an ex), as well as trying to be professional at the same time since Max is supposed to acting as the Prime Minister during all of this. Carlie has a way of writing the best books for screen adaptations - we need more adventure romance!!

I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this one, publishing 3/18/25!

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC!

☀️ undercover mission
☀️ CIA agent x handler / bodyguard
☀️ second chance romance
☀️ fake dating
☀️ italian getaway with a twist

Thanks to Berkley for an advanced copy of Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker.

I loved The Takedown so was excited for another spy/CIA romantic comedy and Code Word Romance was just as much fun.

Max has been struggling since she needed to close her restaurant and is just getting by. All that changes when the CIA approaches her because she's a doppleganger for Sofia - the Prime Minister of a small Nordic country who has just received death threats. They want Max to go to Italy and be her body double. Max agrees and then finds out that her handler/bodyguard is Flynn. The ex boyfriend who broke her heart one summer.

This book was fun. I loved the banter between Max and Flynn. The scenarios they managed to get in and everything about this book. Was is super realistic, nope - but it was a perfect book to enjoy on a sunny afternoon and I can see this being a great pool/beach read. I love books that make me laugh and are fun.

Code Word Romance comes out March 18th!

I'll be the odd one out who just can't suspend belief to enjoy this implausible second chance romance between Max and Flynn. CIA simply would not do this- would not hire someone to impersonate a leader and so on. If you can get past that, then you'll find a couple who has to work together. They do have good banter and you'll root for them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

✨️Thank you for the free book Berkley! And thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the e-book edition as well.

❤️What a fun, unique and adventure-filled book! I loved every minute of it.

🕶When assassins try to kill the prime minister of Summerland, the CIA hires Max, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Sofia, to impersonate her during her annual vacation to Italy. There, Max discovers that her handler is none other than Flynn, the boy who broke her heart back when they were teenagers. During the course of one short week in Italy Max and Flynn will find themselves eating delicious food, dodging assassins and trying not to rekindle their old spark.

❤️I've never read a book quite like this one. It was fast-paced, romantic, and intriguing. I enjoyed seeing Max grapple with the disarray of the life she left behind in Maine, the feelings she's fighting for Flynn, and her attempt to impersonate the prime minister. She showed so much strength and resilience. Flynn was the most protective CIA agent...because his feelings for his asset were more than just professional and I loved seeing him fight to maintain focus on his job while being incredibly distracted by Max. I had no idea how this book was going to end, which is always fun because there were twists that I never saw coming. And I can't write this review without mentioning my favorite character, Calvin. Max's American roomate was the perfect comedic relief in the book and I absolutely, 100% adored him and his pet turtle, Kevin.

This book was so funny! I loved all the banter between Max and Flynn. The humor kept a high-stakes book feeling light-hearted and fun. It was a delight to watch Max and Flynn still pining for each other after all these years but trying to be professional. I found the ending to be a bit rushed. I wanted a big showdown with whoever was after the prime minister but the assassination plot got wrapped up too quickly for me. Overall though I had a good time. If you're looking for a light book to make you laugh this would be a great pick.

Five stars!! I thoroughly enjoyed Code Word Romance and was entertained right from the beginning. I suspended my disbelief at times but even still loved this story. Margaux, known as Max, is in a terrible spot but taking a vacation as a body double for a Prime Minister may be just what she needs. So why not?! Her handler turns out to be a man from her past and I looooved the complications this brought to the story. I also loved learning their history as the story went on. Code Word Romance is laugh out loud funny, action packed, thrilling, and swoon worthy. I enjoyed every moment reading and need to read Carlie Walker’s previous book asap!

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for my e-arc!! Code Word Romance is out March 18th!!

This book is light and fun, but a bit chaotic. There’s no real chemistry between the hero and heroine, no real character development. The spy thriller subplot didn’t make a whole lot of sense, especially when she decided to wing it and give a speech as if she were the real prime minister. Risk of being exposed as a body double? High. Risk of getting killed by the assassin? Also high. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Code Word Romance was such a fun read. If you want a romance with action mixed in, this is the perfect book! I loved the tension between Max and Flynn and their second chance romance. It’s funny and it kept me guessing who was behind the threats to Sofia.

3.5 stars

This was a liked it but didn't love it for me. After hearing great things about it (albeit, mostly about the audio, which I can definitely see this story lending itself better to that format), I was a bit disappointed the story didn't reach out and grab me more. I love an Italian setting, so I had high hopes for an action packed spy thriller/second chance romance, but felt there was almost no connection between Max and her handler/teenage Summer fling, Flynn. The concept of Max being a doppelganger for a Nordic prime minister and acting as a decoy during a suspected assassination attempt was fun, but the story was much more focused on this plot with any romance being secondary. The best parts of this story were the side characters, who provided most of the comic relief, particularly effusive hotelier Giorgio and Max's stoner roommate Calvin, who was peak Portland, ME man if ever I saw one. While still a quick read, I didn't feel like I just had to know who the bad guy really was, and wasn't particularly invested in a HEA for Max and Flynn.

Thank you for the free book @penguinrandomhouse and @berkleyromance! #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram. Thank you for the free audiobook, @prhaudio!

I might be revealing my age here but do you guys remember Lizzie McGuire the movie?? But instead of having a celebrity look-alike, our female lead in this book looks like a prime minister!

Unfortunately, there’s rumors about possible assassination attempts towards this prime minister while she goes on her annual vacation, so our female lead enters the story to act as her double and goes on an undercover mission! So a little of a Miss Congeniality vibes in this book also!!!

(And if you’re too young to know these movie references, you have to watch these movies because theyre 👌)

You guys, I went into this book blind and I seriously didnt expect to love it so much!!

I love all the characters, there were so many funny moments, I love all the action scenes, love the second chance romance storyline with some bodyguard subtrope, and all of these happening with Italy as the main background setting!!! It was honestly sooo entertaining and I cant recommend it enough!!!

This book comes out March 18!!! Please pick it up!!! It was such a fun read!!!

💭 What kind of vacation do usually gravitate too? Tropical, European, or mountain/ hiking trips?
☕️ Beach person here so tropical always!! But I think I really need to see Italy soon (I haven’t been!)

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker was such a fun ride! I absolutely loved how it blended espionage, comedy, and romance in the best way possible. The story follows two former lovers who get thrown back together on a high-stakes mission through the stunning streets of Italy. Between the danger, twists, and unexpected laughs, their connection sparks all over again, and let’s just say it’s impossible not to root for them. This book had me hooked from start to finish!

This cute, suspenseful romance was highly entertaining! I enjoyed the decoy and bodyguard romance plot because it added a lot of tension that felt different than other regular romcoms. There's lots of humor mixed in with the tension too, making it easily bingeable. And the Italian setting brings an extra layer of interest.

However, the main character was a bit too silly for me sometimes, drawing me out of the story long enough for me to roll my eyes. There were also random subplot aspects and characters that didn’t make a ton of sense for the story. (Like, what is up with her weird roommate?)

Overall, I'd say don't expect a lot from this romance. But if you're looking for something fun, quick, and easy to read, this is a good pick!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 3
Overall: 4

Thank you, Berkley, for the arc!

Content: 2 vague open door scenes

The book starts with a prologue, but it is really a full chapter with end of story action. There is narrative about the FMC’s confusing thoughts regarding the man sitting behind her, even though they are being chased on a Vespa. The story built slowly for me from there, with the author using odd grammatical and sentence structure.
There were many times I thought about putting this book down, but I am glad that I persevered. A little over a third of the way through the book, the storyline picks up, and the action regarding Max and the Prime Minister finally picks up. The pacing of the book improves and the villain was predictable. However, the overall story was enjoyable and I would read another book by Carlie Walker.

*I will post a review on Amazon when I am able*

When the CIA asks you to be the body double for a prime minister in order to stop an assassination but your handler happens to be the guy who broke your heart when you were 18 and never looked back at you? This mission just got a whole lot messier. Max was a totally normal girl, she works odd jobs, has a ton of debt, and the only interesting thing about her is that she bears an uncanny resemblance to Europe's by youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen. So when someone tries to assassinate Sofia, the CIA reaches out to Max with a deal, if she becomes a body and pretends to be Sofia during an Italian Vacation they'll give her 5 million dollars, money that could pay off all her debts and more and she gets a free vacation? That's an easy yes... or it was until her handler is revealed and its none other than Flynn, her ex boyfriend who dumped her over email when she was 18 and never looked back, her very first love. Flynn is going to be the one in charge of her protection which also means he's going to be stay and sleeping in her hotel room with her until the vacation is over... but that means dealing with her awakening feelings for Flynn and blurring the lines between handler and asset, while trying not to get killed by various assassins. This had the potential to be a fun rom com, but I just never felt any chemistry at all. I didn't feel like the second chance romance actually deserved a second chance. I never really cared for Flynn and didn't really believe in the romance between them. Like seriously? You're going to take back the guy who dumped you in an email, never got in contact with you again, and honestly I just don't think he did anything that proved he deserved the second chance.. but that's just me. I can see this being a fun Netflix movie but it's a book which makes it so much harder to enjoy or have fun with because I can't see Flynn's POV, I can't see the chemistry or anything. This book just felt kind of boring to me and I just wanted it to end. The spice is at a 2 and the romance was at a 1 if I'm being honest. This wasn't for me, but if you like second chance spy romances maybe give it a go.

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you PRH Audio and Berkley romance for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own. I adored the Takedown and I was super excited to read Code Word Romance.

This was such a fun read! It grabbed my attention from the opening and I didn’t want to stop listening. I loved the narration by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker!

Max is in between jobs when she’s approached by the CIA to impersonate a foreign prime minister. When she finally accepts she’s shocked to learn her handler is her ex. From there, the action never stops. What is supposed to be simply impersonating the PM on vacation, turns out to be anything but. There are romantic moments, assassins, and wild chase scenes. I love adventure romances and Carlie Walker does them so well! This made me want to immediately reread the Takedown and I can’t wait for more from Walker.

Thank you for the free book, Berkley Romance!

When Max is offered a large amount of money to pose as a double for a foreign prime minister, she can hardly say no. However, the prime minister’s life is at risk due to assassins who are determined to find her, which means Max is also in danger. If that isn’t bad enough, her main form of protection is from the man who broke her heart years ago, Flynn, who is now a CIA agent. She hopes to get through the vacation in one piece but things get more complicated by the minute.

This is a fun and lighthearted adventure rom com that moves at a fast pace. I enjoyed the Italian setting and the second chance romance of Flynn and Max. It definitely requires suspension of disbelief, but makes for a fun, different type of romance read. I think those who enjoy an escapist adventure, a bit of intrigue and mystery, and a vacation romance will love this book.

Get this to Netflix stat! Code Word Romance has the perfect plot for a great action adventure romance movie. Once I started I couldn’t convince myself to put this book down. It was fast paced and I truly never knew what to expect next. The second chance romance was very sweet and I adored both leads. Overall, Code Word Romance was a really fun summer read!

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

Carlie Walker described this to me as The Lizzie McGuire Movie with spies, and WHAT A COMP! (Moreover, it's an accurate one too.)

A chef serving as a body double for the Prime Minister of an obscure European country for 5 million dollars, no way that could go wrong, right? It's packed with vespa chases, assassination attempts, and... y'know, that kind of action too. And it makes sense, seeing as her handler is her mega hunky ex-boyfriend! Carlie Walker is able to mix romance, comedy, and suspense with ease, all set against the Amalfi Coast.

The narration was top notch, intentionally poor Norwegian accents and all. I couldn't stop laughing, which was the perfect balm after a stressful month. Check this one out if you need an escape!

High expectations after The Takedown, unfortunately it was not as good.

Unbelievable romance.
More adventurous than romantic.
Easy read.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley

4.5 stars rounded up. I am so pleasantly surprised by Code Word Romance. I've never read Walker before, but you can bet that I will be looking forward to reading more from her in the future! This book is kind of like Lizzie McGuire meets the Princess Diaries, and it had me humming "What Dreams are Made Of" the entire time. Max is a down on her luck former chef whose restaurant shut down during Covid. When she's given the opportunity (aka, offered a cool $5 mil) to impersonate the prime minister of some foreign country in Europe, how could she say no? The catch--- the prime minister needs an impersonator because there may or may not be an assassin (or several) hired to kill her. And oh yeah, her CIA bodyguard/ handler just happens to be her ex boyfriend/ love of her life. Given the premise of this one, there were certainly a ton of silly moments. But there's a different between silly and stupid, and I often find that in rom coms, things may lean more towards stupid. But that wasn't the case with Code Word Romance. I found myself laughing and shaking my head, but in a very good way. The banter was great, the side characters were fantastic (I need a Calvin/ Kevin short story ASAP), and there was also a ton of action. The book was super fast paced and easy to read, and honestly, this was exactly what I want in my rom coms. Thank you so much to Walker, Berkley Romance, and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!