4.5 stars for Emily Harding’s solo debut novel. When I say that I devoured this novel in less than 24 hours, I am serious. I LOVED this book.

The chemistry in this novel between Bea and Nate is off the charts great. It was so refreshing that this novel just jumped right in; I feel like I’ve read a lot of slow burn romances lately.

Grab immediately if you love:
*** Enemies to lovers
*** Found Family
*** A gorgeous MMC that ticks all boxes
*** Holy hot first kiss

I am absolutely preordering my own copy of “How Freaking Romantic” for when it comes out in July.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

I can’t resist the charm of any book featuring my all-time favorite trope: enemies to lovers—and luckily, this one delivers! It’s a quick, entertaining read filled with sizzling chemistry, tension, witty banter, and the perfect dose of drama, making it a great one-sitting read.

I was close to rating this book four or even five stars, but one thing held me back—though this is purely personal, and I don’t want others to be influenced by it. The heroine’s extra bitchy and negative tone irritated me. From the very first page, the author explains why Beatrice, an NYU law student on the verge of graduating, has become so cynical about love—thanks to her mother’s endless cycle of marriages and divorces. But her relentless bickering, impulsive decisions, and refusal to listen made me roll my eyes more than once. I get it—starting life on your own while dealing with a selfish, narcissistic mother is tough—but Bea’s constant anger and pessimism, along with her never-ending inner monologues, were a bit too much for me to tolerate.

On the other hand, I truly liked Nathan Asher, despite his job as a divorce lawyer! He was patient, charming, intelligent, and incredibly understanding from the start. However, even his unwavering positivity couldn’t fully balance out Bea’s negativity, which bordered on toxic at times.

I did love their growing attraction and their fiery—not-so-cute—first meeting, where Bea storms into Nathan’s office to berate him for representing her best friend’s ex in an alimony case. That scene was explosive, but as their encounters continued to escalate into volatile arguments (thanks to Bea), I found myself thinking, Come on, let’s tone it down and be a little more civilized!

Aside from that—and a slightly unnecessary third-act misunderstanding (you know the one, since most romcoms have them)—it was still an enjoyable read. I loved the pacing, the undeniable attraction, and the blend of opposites-attract and forced-proximity tropes. I’m sure most readers will love it, even if I personally struggled with the overly aggressive heroine.

I’ve read Emily Harding before as a co-writer of Jane Austen retellings and loved each one. I’m excited to read more of her solo and collaborative works in the future!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing this intriguing romcom’s digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts

How cute! First read for me from Emily Harding. How Freaking Romantic was a really fun romance book. I’m really enjoying romance and I’ll definitely read more from this author.

The story follows Beatrice (Bea), a fiercely loyal friend and aspiring lawyer who’s always fighting for everyone else’s happily ever after—except her own. When her best friend’s marriage falls apart, Bea goes full-on warrior mode, ready to take down the opposing counsel, Nathan Asher. But here’s the twist: Nathan is annoyingly charming, unfairly attractive, and—plot twist—her new colleague at NYU Law. Cue the enemies-to-lovers tension.

The banter between Bea and Nathan is *everything*. It’s sharp, it’s snarky, and it’s so full of chemistry, you’ll be rooting for them from the first page. Bea’s fiery personality and Nathan’s calm, collected demeanor make them the perfect match, even if they’re both too stubborn to admit it. Total slow burn. The tension builds so beautifully, you’ll be screaming, “Just kiss already!” by the halfway point.

What I loved most about this book is how real it feels. Bea isn’t your typical romance heroine—she’s messy, she’s angry (rightfully so), and she’s got a lot of growing to do. Her journey of learning to prioritize herself and her own happiness is so relatable, especially if you’ve ever felt like you’re always the sidekick in someone else’s story. Nathan is the perfect balance of swoony and supportive, with just enough vulnerability to make him irresistible. I read this all in one evening!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

The story introduces us with to Beatrice Nilsson, a woman fueled by righteous anger against societal injustices and fiercely loyal to her friends. Bea is the ultimate sidekick, the champion of other people's happiness, but her own romantic life is practically non-existent, a fact she seems perfectly comfortable with.
The story kicks off with the messy disintegration of her best friends' marriage, igniting Bea's protective instincts and leading her on a collision course with Nathan Asher, the infuriatingly attractive and intelligent lawyer representing the ex-husband. What starts as a fiery confrontation quickly morphs into a complex dynamic as Nathan unexpectedly becomes Bea's colleague at NYU Law.
Harding skillfully crafts the enemies-to-lovers trope, layering it with wit, genuine emotion, and a healthy dose of social commentary. The forced proximity situation works brilliantly, allowing Bea and Nathan's initial animosity to gradually thaw and reveal the vulnerabilities beneath their facades. The dialogue is sharp and snappy, often laced with Bea's self-deprecating humor and Nathan's dry wit, making their interactions a joy to read.
The novel explores the complexities of friendship, the challenges of prioritizing oneself, and the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths. Bea's journey is particularly compelling as she grapples with her ingrained habit of putting others first and learns to navigate the delicate balance between loyalty and personal happiness. In additional, the underlying mystery surrounding the divorce adds an extra layer of intrigue.
This book is a delightful read for fans of romantic comedies who are looking for something with a little more substance. I would highly recommend!

I LOVED this book! The writing was so witty and sharp and the characters were so relatable. I devoured this book in basically a single plane ride because I could not put it down. The author's voice really resonated with me and so did these characters!

I had high hopes for this book, but it ultimately fell short. Bea, the main female character, was pretty immature and blew up throughout the book. I’m all for a feisty heroine, but she crossed the line into cranky territory. I did like the portrayal of addiction- it’s rarely seen in romances but it is very real for a lot of people and their loved ones. However, I wish that plot line was explored a little more. All in all, this was entertaining but the character and story development was a little lacking for me. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc,

Absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Harding expertly shows that achy phase of adulthood when friendships change and morph. The romance was sizzling, and the main character was brilliantly rendered to be sharp but vulnerable.

I absolutely devoured this book from the minute the FMC Bea stormed into the MMC Nathan’s office after hearing that her best friend’s divorce lawyer received a new alimony request. From there it hit all of my favorite tropes from forced proximity to enemies to lovers and some others along the way. I can’t wait to read more from Emily Harding.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was fine - nothing earth shattering but I did enjoy it! Worth giving it a try if you like the author or the genre. It was cute!

It's been a long time since I found a contemporary romance that checks so many boxes for me: sharp, funny writing, an FMC and MMC who make sense together, falling in love in real time instead of it just popping out nowhere, and a plot that doesn't feel like every other book these days. This is what I want from an Ali Hazelwood book but never quite get, and it has everything I love about Emily Henry's writing too. My only criticism is I don't love the book title or the cover. It shouldve been titled simple and there were more emblamatic moments than the rain scene. Anyway, this was such a joy to read, and I will be reccomending it to all my friends when the book is published. I can't wait to read what the author writes next.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC!

In author Emily Harding's solo debut, she delivers a sweet, banter-laden enemies-to-lovers and slow-burn romance that's full of compelling language that is easy to get sucked into. It reads quickly and was just an enjoyable romance read. It feels quite short, but still tells a full story that was engaging, indulgent and just plain fun.

CW: Addiction

I wanted to really love this book. The writing was entertaining but Bea was so unlikable her exhausting personality really dampened the story for me. While I won’t share my rating with my followers I will share when this book releases!

My first five star read of the year and this one hit me like a ton of bricks.

Honestly, I almost forgot about this ARC until i got an email reminding me about it and a snowstorm trapped me in my house for 4+ days. I wasn’t so sure about it but by the time I reached chapter 7 and I was hit with an overwhelming feeling of being seen by a book and an author that I knew this was going to be a book I won’t soon forget.

Bea and her determination and sheer will power, not just to be a great lawyer but an amazing friend to those around her.

Nate and his ability to to see straight through Bea, helping him make such excellent and cutting observations and remarks.

The two of these characters together were so fun (and heart-wrenching) to read, I couldn’t stop thinking about them (hence finishing the book in about 25 hours).

Not only did these two grow and develop and have such compelling backstories, but Bea and her relationship with her friends was such a highlight of the book as well. At one point, when Bea is describing her relationship to her friends, and her determination to keep them together, it reminded me of all my favorite parts of Happy Place by Emily Henry, if told in an alternate universe where things didn’t quite work out the same.

This story was able to wrap up all these characters and elements into one cohesive but complicatedly woven story that I enjoyed every minute of.

I am sure when I say that with her debut novel, Emily Harding has become an author I will read anything she writes without a moments thought.

There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book and then a few things that were boring or kind of "classic" cat & mouse romance story. I liked how the author highlighted the struggles Bea had with the love surrounding her while growing up and her anger she faced with it. That was very well told in regard to her dealing with and healing some inner child trauma. I also LOVED the flirty cat and mouse relationship between her and Nathan and mainly her sarcastic comments and "hate" for him, when really, we all knew homegirl was going to totally let those walls down eventually. It was an entertaining, quick read and very light. A fun, easy book to read while on vacation in TX over the holidays. I did catch myself smiling, laughing and feeling for both Bea & Nate. I gave it 3/5 stars just because the plot and storyline was evident from the beginning, but enjoyed the flirty, sexy banter back and forth.

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've previously read Emily Harding's work with Audrey Bellezza and wanted to give her solo debut a read as well.

How Freaking Romantic isn't quite enemies to lovers, but more 'being mean as a love language' which makes complete sense for a couple of lawyers trying to avoid falling in love with each other. This title is moderate spice and lust at first sight, but has quick quips like Gilmore Girls. Definitely for book fans of Legally Blonde.

Beatrice is attempting to pass the bar, while working as a teaching assistance while dealing with her mom's nth marriage, while adjusting to adult life without friends in close proximity, while having to work with the lawyer overseeing her friend's divorce when she realizes she can't stop thinking about how hot he is. Bea could easily be an unlikable character, but I love seeing a girl who knows she's not perfect and runs with it.

Like Bea, I also have a friend going through a break up with lawyers involved, so I initially didn't think I'd be able to stay on board with her falling for this guy, but I came around too. Harding expertly captures what it's like to feel like you're too much for people, raise your shields when you feel vulnerable, and fall for the guy you know you shouldn't. Bea is a professional at keeping folks at arms length and Nathan, who's job it is to legally separate couples, can't help keeping her in his orbit in a tender way. Don't we all just want a partner to love us because of our flaws and keep chasing after us?

If you like imperfect main characters, enemies to lovers, miscommunication tropes AND the importance to dental hygiene after a wild night out, give How Freaking Romantic a read.

I absolutely devoured this book in a single sitting, it’s UN-PUT-DOWNABLE!

This book was perfecting 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

What I didn’t love…
- Honestly I’m having a hard time deciding why to withhold the final bit and make this 5⭐️, so f-it it’s a 5⭐️ romance
- this is single POV and I know some won’t love that, but I thought it worked perfectly fine!


.75🌶️ - This book has plenty of tension that gets your pulse racing but as for explicit scenes, there is only one very mild one (end of ch. 20 after “I want you to kiss me” if you prefer to skip). The rest is eluded to and closed door - I’d feel comfortable recommending this to my teenage niece.

*I will say the cover definitely threw me off - I almost didn’t request this ARC bc the cover feels like something I’d expect from a more fluffy romance. After reading I'm even more confused by the cover considering it doesn't really reflect any scene within the book - in fact the closest scene it does reflect, that umbrella would be held by the security guard...

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

4.5! I devoured this. The banter was perfection, the slow burn was page turning. I love these two main characters so much. I felt literal butterflies reading this.

This is my first Emily Harding book and wow was I amazed. SO funny and quick witted. I loved the relationship between Bea and Nate, a true enemies to lovers. I read this book in one sitting and I almost wish I savored it more, it was that enjoyable.

Honestly, I was really really surprised at how much I loved this book. The Title was a bit off-putting and puzzling, as well as the cover, like how could this title and these 2 characters ended up with HEA when the title has a but of a sharp edge to it? But wow, I cannot tell you, how much I enjoy the banter, not only between MCs, but to the peripheral characters too.

Basically, law student Bea found out her best friends are getting divorced, and also how unreasonable the alimony is going to be. As a good friend that Bea is, she stormed to the opposing attorney's officer and 'nailed his balls to the side of the building'. I think Nathan was so shocked that for once, someone in NYC, in that circumstance, she takes up this fight on behalf of her friends. Of course, as life goes, the more you think you did a teensy thing to be forgotten, is the very thing that comes back to haunt you. Nathan kept showing up at where she is, know the same people she knows, and her fav. prof is his fav. prof too. Wow, how small New York really is?!

You go thru her journey, and the banter keeps up, and it's peppy. She's true to her friends, and shell out all the love and energy to keep them together as their core, but she realized she's lonely. As Bea and Nathan slowly drift together, tension is high, and he really want to get to know her in the most honest, sincere way. When she talks about this core group of friends, even Nathan pointed out, who's taking care of you while you takes care of everyone? He's not wrong, and totally went for the gut, but also made her face the music in the truest way.

There are a few self-sabotage in there and who can blame her with her mother as a role model of what NOT to do in love and marriage. I was most pissed off at how self-center the mom is, but most pissed off at her describing in a very back-handed way that she's a tough nut to crack and love, but once. you get past all that, she's a great nut to love (aka coconut). I get what she meant, but also very annoyed as a mom, she didn't provide the nurture and gave her tough lessons to make her who she is today. Back to the self sabotage, her experience with her mom made her feel unloved, why bother trying, let's protect than try. But good for Nate, who remembered a story Bea told him, and the morale of that story is 'Love is not easy, it's simple'. He's listening, he understood, and he gets her. No matter how she push him away, call him names, and take actions that contradicts, he's there, he understand that's underneath it all, that's not what she wants... sometimes she doesn't realizes it, but he gets her. Ugh, they're just so good together.

Truly, I really thought with the title and the cover that it'll be a meh kinda romance. But I literally can't put it down but did to force myself to go to bed and during the day, while I"m listening to other books, or reading other stuff, my mind kept thinking what's going on with Bea and Nate. I really love the two of them. I like the pacing, the character development is good, I can use more backstory on Nate but appreciate Bea's perspective. Also grateful that they move the relationship from the I-don't-Know phrase, to Awkward phase, to what-the-hell-am-I-doing phrase, to I-really-love-this-person phrase. Author didn't dwell on it, but gave each stage a good pause and show how Bea grew, that was a really good growth journey.

Thank you to NetGalley & Gallery Book for this ARC, I really truly loved it.