Two lawyers from opposing sides quickly fond themselves fighting feelings of attraction in this delightful rom com. I quickly became invested in the characters and storyline.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t put this one down! This book is smart, funny, and so well written that I was shocked to find out this is a debut novel. I loved Nate and although grumpy, Bea was hilarious. Great chemistry and tension with a touch of spice. There were two miscommunications that seemed a bit forced, but I was able to suspend reality for the sake of the trope. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this author!

Loved this story. Really enjoyed the writing. Deducting a star for so many f bombs. I can appreciate a couple well placed f bombs but this was like a lot. Also deducting another star because I hate a 4th quarter breakup. They avoided so many opportunities to let a miscommunication derail them throughout the book only to let one catch them in the end.

What a delightful, busy, entertaining story that takes a look
at life at its’ busiest, The story and characters are just perfect.
By the time I read the last sentence, I was just delighted.
I recommend this to everyone who wants a lite, fun book.
My thanks to Galley Books for the download of the book
for review purposes.

This was such a cute and complicated story. I loved Bea and her personality. She loves fiercely, and very few understand her. Bea feels strongly about so much and comes across as the angry friend instead of being seen as passionate, strong, and the backbone of their group.

The banter was perfect, not just with the main characters but with all the characters. And I loved the friendship group and their drama filled dynamic.

Nathan and Bea have a complex relationship, and I liked how they progressed throughout the story. I wish we could've had insight into Nathan's thoughts and feelings, I think that would've added a little extra depth to the story, but that's just me. I love knowing what the guy is thinking when our crazy comes out 🤣

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an engaging read! I enjoyed the plot and would read it again.

How Freaking Romantic by Emily Harding
Writing: B
Story: B-
Characters: C-
Setting: B-
Best Aspect: There were good scenes, and it moved fast.
Worst Aspect: Did not love the FMC at all, and since I am into character driver stories this was hard on me.
Recommend: Yes.

I don’t know where to begin. It wasn’t a bad read, though Beatrice is a bit negative for my liking- I do understand the circumstances. She is the true definition of grumpy.

This book is wacky! I mean, the setup…

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

But the plot is more straightforward than the summary makes it seem, I have to say. Yes, he is managing her friends’ divorce. Yes, they do start working together. But the divorce proceedings are not as much of a thing as I thought they would be. You definitely do not get bogged down in legal jargon. This book is much more about the emotional journey of Beatrice and her friends.

This book deals with divorce, addiction, and a lot of quite emotional topics. It does have funny moments, but it is much more focused on the growth of the characters. And communication is a huge part of the struggles! Huge! For so many characters!

Bea is a quite solid romance lead. She is flawed and makes mistakes. She has to endure and grow through the course of the novel, but in doing so, she does not become a different person, but a more realized, mature adult. She is near the end of law school, trying to figure out her next steps while facing quite a lot of stress in her personal life. I enjoyed reading this from her perspective.

And Nathan was a lovely male lead. Again, not a perfect human being, but far from waving red flags by any means.

This was a delightful romance, with personal growth and funny and sad bits all around.

Overall, I enjoyed How Freaking Romantic. Quick little rom-com with some spice and a HEA. A solid 2.75 stars

I appreciated that this was a more grown-up story with characters with real jobs and responsibilities. So often, novels like these devolve in a constant dereliction of duty in favor of the relationship, which really doesn’t equate with real life.

Where I had issue with this novel was the FMC’s insistence that nothing change in her friend group. Adulthood and long term relationships alter college friend groups, and it’s up to the friend group to evolve or drift apart. It seemed that the FMC was far to worried about drifting apart from her friends than embracing the evolution of the friendships. But she got there in the end. And I’ve literally never heard of anyone looking for a job by just sending out dozens of random emails and crossing their fingers.

The MMC seemed like a good guy, with a real job and real responsibilities. As a big fan of a dual POV narration, I would have been curious to have a handful of chapters from his perspective thrown in there for fun, as I at times had a hard time understanding why he was remotely interested in the FMC at the beginning.

Still, a good read and would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley & Gallery Books for the opportunity to read & review the ARC.

📚 How Freaking Romantic
✍ Emily Harding
📖 Contemporary Romance
⭐3.5/5
🌶️ 🌶️
📆 Out 7/1/25

🎯 What I loved: I breezed through this book and found the writing easy and propulsive. I love a main character with ambition and Bea definitely fit the bill. This was a great enemies to lovers trope with fun banter and I really loved Nate as a character. He had such warmth and depth and oozed kindness, even when Bea didn't reciprocate. I've enjoyed all of Harding's previously published co-written books and found her banter and steam to be on par with what I loved about those books.

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: A lot of this book was about Bea learning to let herself be loved and while I appreciated that journey, there were so many moments when Bea was just plain mean to Nate for no reason. I didn't like that she called him an a**hole over and over again and never gave him an opportunity to talk and that she expected him to communicate and make sacrifices while she never did. Love is a two-way street and this story wasn't always representative of that- it honestly felt like Bea was somewhat abusive to Nate and wasn't as much character growth as I hoped for. I'm also not super sure how well the addiction subplot fit into things and why it drove
◾
Read if you love:
*found family
*enemies to lovers
*teasing as flirting
*adjunct professor + TA (both lawyers)
*he's her best friend's ex's lawyer in their divorce
◾
See also: One Star Romance, Change of Heart, Perfect Fit

How freaking cute was this book ! Bea is the friend you want in your corner and Nate he’s funny witty and kind ! Having their relationship come together was beautiful ! I could see in some ways where this could be like the hating game except they aren’t coworkers , he is the lawyer of her friends soon to be ex husband who was once her friend .

This book was everything. The way she barged into his office was everything! Bear is everything you want in a main character. She loves hard and is unapologetic. She will stand toe to toe with anyone to protect her friends. Nate had to know he was in for the most from day one. They were simply perfect for each other.

How Freaking Romantic turns the classic enemies to lovers trope on its head by pitting third year NYU law student Bea against Nathan Asher, divorce attorney. Well, Bea’s best friend’s husband’s divorce attorney. This isn’t grumpy x sunshine. HFR is grumpy x grumpy—and we are all here for it.

Both the MMC and FMC are terminally lonely and begin the sweetest of unlikely friendships. This one has great chemistry, banter and chronicles the changing nature of found family in your twenties.

I have adored all of Emily Harding’s novels! This one didn’t disappoint. How Freaking Romantic debuts July 1, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy.

I absolutely devoured this book in a single sitting!
This book was perfectly FREAKING romantic!
What I loved...
- flawed and relatable MCs
- TENSION A+++++++++++++
- no really - this author should teach a class on writing tension!
- slow-burn
- FMC that is extra relatable for the girlies who've been told they are "too much"
- forbidden pairing - he's the divorce lawyer for her best friends ex-husband!
- side characters that were well developed but didn't steal the show
- trauma - I love my romance with a side of trauma and we get just the right amount in this one!
- Will have you itching to get on a plane to NYC

I feel like this book was so undersold by its title and cover! It totally snuck up on me. With the premise and the firet few chapters, I thought i was in for a Camila Isley "If the Ring Fits" type of book (which i liked btw) and I was dead wrong. This novel had so much more substance. It was really about how we can grow into our adult selves if we can let go of the past even when clinging to the past seems like a life preserver.

Bea and Nathan were both layered characters with obvious flaws. She plays all her emotions up front and out loud, while he keeps his locked tight (are all my favorite book boyfriends stoic modern updates of Mr. Darcy? Hmmm). They both fight passionately for what they want.

Loved:
She has curly hair!
Redefining romance- it's not doting or buying things, its making life easier for people in small ways.
The substance abuse storyline hit hard.
Women looking out for each other
All the supporting characters
That weekend!

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Emily Henry (esp Book People). I look forward to Harding's next book! 4.25 stars Thanks to Net Galley and Gallery Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I wanted to like this book. I found the FMC exhausting. I get it- she’s angry. She has a lot of baggage and trauma in her life, valid. However, being a ‘love story’ the way she treats the MMC, I don’t see how he is interested in her. It was hard to read quite honestly. I felt like a small bit of plot with a lot of just arguing on loop.

Not going to lie the premise for this one shouldn't have been a rom com. If your friends are going through a divorce if they are both your friends you stay out of. You don't interfere you don't give the lawyer a piece of your mind and you also don't fall for him. I can't help help it I prefer my rom com's to be a little bit more on the realistic side. As this isn't something that should happen in real life.

This was so freaking cute!

I adored Bea. She's brave, smart and came off as genuine. She embodies female rage which was refreshing to see in a contemporary romance. She felt very real. Nate and Bea were a great pairing. They have animosity but it's mostly one sided. Nate is a man obsessed with his woman and I love seeing that in books. These two had great banter and chemistry. The tension between them was good too. I liked them a lot.

I thought the plot was unique and, as someone who works in a law office, I found it interesting.

Would recommend!

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its emotional depth. The characters are not just thrown into a romance—they evolve, face personal struggles, and learn from each other. The slow-burn tension, witty banter, and tender moments make their connection feel organic and compelling.