Love love LOVED it!! I’m in love with Lana’s writing and stories. This was such a fun read like always and will highly recommend this one to people

Overruled is a rivals-with-benefits romance about divorce lawyers that pulls no punches, inside or outside the courtroom. Their dynamic is fiery from the start.

He falls first (which I always love), and while their physical relationship kicks off early, the emotional unraveling takes longer. Both leads carry complicated personal baggage, and as their relationship deepens, so does the story, uncovering long-hidden family secrets and betrayals.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s smart, spicy, and emotionally layered. The themes around divorce added some unexpected heaviness (especially as a child of divorce myself), but they also gave the story more depth and made the HEA feel truly earned.

This is a romance that doesn’t shy away from emotional complexity. If you’re looking for something smart, sexy, and layered with real-life messiness, Overruled is it.

Danica Pierce has only one love in her life now....work. She is a divorce lawyer in Austin, TX. The only personal time activities she has is a friends-with-benefits arrangement with Ezra Hart, known as the Heartbreak Prince, also another divorce lawyer in Austin. Danica does not want any type of relationship after everything with her ex-Grant Fuller went down so this arrangement works well for her. Too Bad Ezra would like something more. He keeps hoping that one day Dani will change her mind.

When Dani gets a new client, Mrs. Bianca Casiraghi for a high profile type case, her boss tells her that if she can win this case she could be promoted to a junior partner position. Together with her assistants, Nate & Vera they dig into the case. Everything is going great until Dani realizes that Ezra is going to be opposing counsel. Throughout the trial Dani thinks things are going well until Ezra throws something dirty in....no doubt coming from Ezra's slimy dad Alexander Hart or his a$$ brother Eli Hart.

As time marches forward, Ezra and Dani start to have a positive change in their arrangement. It looks like Ezra is going to finally get what he has been hoping for all along until.....BOOM! Everything blows up. Dani already had a hard time trusting and now she is all done. It will take a huge act of good will but in the end these two will finally see through all the smoke and find their happy ever after.

I just adored this steamy love story. There was a lot of fun back and forth conversations that brought a good amount of humor to the story. I just adored Ezra. He was just the person to help Dani get over her trust issues. Overall this was a perfect story to read.

Ok…spicy!

- Enemies to lovers
- He falls first
- Work place romance

Lawyers that love to fight both in and out of the courtroom…all the angst! This has some heavier topic sprinkled throughout but also just a good romcom.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for access to this e-ARC.
I swear Lana Ferguson puts some kind of unknown addictive chemical in her books! I absolutely ate this up and loved EVERY second of it!
Dani and Ezra’s banter was off the charts! And the spice was SPICIN’! I love love LOVE a grumpy/sunshine trope - especially when the FMC is the grump!
Lana always adds so much depth to her characters, often weaving in complex family dynamics and it just adds such richness to the story. I loved following both Dani and Ezra’s journeys to healing and acceptance. Dani is complex and Ezra’s patience with her fragile heart will seriously make you believe in true love. I am so overjoyed that I got to read this one early and cannot wait for you all to experience this steamy, swoony, and heartwarming story!

4.5/5 - Overruled is an enemies-to-lovers romance that features two top divorce lawyers, Danica and Ezra. They find themselves on opposing sides of a high-stakes divorce in Austin. While their professional rivalry simmers, a secret “enemies with benefits” situation complicates their personal lives, leading to a passionate and tumultuous relationship. As they navigate the courtroom battles and emotional baggage, they must decide if love is worth the risk.

Lana Ferguson delivers a compelling and steamy romance with this book. The chemistry between Danica and Ezra is palpable, with witty banter and intense passion. The writing captures the complexities of their professional and personal dynamics, making the journey from adversaries to lovers believable and engaging.

The legal backdrop adds a unique layer to the story, providing a fresh take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. The themes of trust, vulnerability, and the challenges of balancing a career while finding love are well-balanced throughout the book. The pacing is perfect, with the emotional depth of the characters ensuring you remain engaged throughout.

Overruled is a must-read for fans of enemies-to-lovers romances seeking a story filled with tension, passion, and heartfelt moments. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

My first book by Lana Ferguson and I am NOT disappointed!
I absolutely loveeeee this book!
I was hooked all the way through!
Not only did I love the heavy banter, nemesis with benefits, and secret pining but I loved the side stories and what was going on in Court!
So this story follows Dani and Ezra
They are both divorce lawyers working for different law firms and find themselves representing opposing teams.
They have been hooking up even though Dani DESPISES HIM!
Every time is the last.. until it’s not
She can’t resist him but isn’t shy about telling him how much she hates while still getting under him.
Ezra plays into it for the sake of continuing whatever they have because he is secretly PINING for this woman!
He is down bad and is waiting for her to catch up to her own feelings that she ignores due to past trauma.
They are both working on a really big case against each other.
Family secrets are revealing and they continue their nemesis with benefits until they starts to feel less like a nemesis
I love Ezra and how patient and willing to wait for her
I love their banter and the spice ❤️‍🔥
Although Dani would drive me crazy I love her and her growth!

I truly didn’t know what to expect from this but I absolutely loved it!
Definitely recommend for a fun good standalone contemporary romance read!

Congrats Lana on your new release!

Summary in Brief

Dani and Ezra are rival divorce lawyers who can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. When they both land a big case but are on opposite sides, Dani realizes Ezra may not be the player she initially thought.

Genre + Plot

Tropes: Rivals/Enemies to Lovers, Friends with Benefits, Workplace Romance, Insta Lust, Miscommunication, Third-Act Breakup

Unfortunately, within the first few chapters, I knew this would probably be a DNF for me if I hadn’t received an ARC. And I feel really bad about that because I genuinely like Lana Ferguson’s books! But for some reason, this one just didn’t sit well with me from the get-go. There are a few things in books that I just can’t tolerate and that make my blood boil. I love a strong, independent FMC who doesn’t take any crap from anyone and can also rise above any bullshit a man might pull. I do not like it when said FMC can’t help but succumb to her sexual desires whenever she sees the MMC—but also hates him oh so much, yet can’t resist him because he is just oh so sexy. See where I’m going with this?

I also do not like it when women (or men) resent others simply for being good at their job. Like, why are you so mad at them for doing their job? Buckle up, buttercup, and do your own thing! But alas, I decided to power through.

Dani and Ezra are enemies with benefits, and I mean enemies. Well, at least that’s what Dani thinks. Ezra loves to push Dani’s buttons, and she is way too easy to rile up. Honestly, I was getting annoyed at how fired up she would get if Ezra even looked at her. Then she would be so rude and snappy to him, like, actually mean. I could not stand her character. She just seemed to hate the world and everyone in it. Even the smut scenes I found myself skimming over because I genuinely could not have cared less about them.

What I actually loved about this book was the divorce case they were working on together. I loved Bianca—she is a powerful woman who doesn’t let a man get her down. Love that for her. And the ending of the book was SO GOOD with how the case wrapped up and the drama that came with it. What I didn’t love was the third-act breakup with Dani, but I could see that coming from a mile away. She was just waiting for a reason to push Ezra away. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I feel like Ezra deserved better.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really wanted to like this book, but it didn’t hit the mark for me. I didn’t like Dani as a person, and I didn’t see her character grow at all. The smut was almost over the top, and there was no slow burn, which I love in my romance books. The one good thing about this book was the actual divorce case and the drama around it.

WOW this was such a fun enemies with benefits to lovers. Right off the bat with tension and wide open door romance lol. LF doesn’t hold back apparently! Loved the attorney drama & made it simple for someone like me who isn’t good at law lingo to understand the plot. Really enjoyed!!
Thanks @berkleyromance for my e-arc!

Love the banter, the drama of the divorce proceedings, the sexy scenes. This is a super easy and entertaining read. I love a cocky but humble MMC!

I found the backstory of the FMC to be a little ridiculous—like the MMC has a really shitty family life and she’s like…sad that her parents get along post divorce?? She needed a little perspective, TBH. I also found the relationship between the FMC’s friends a little too similar to the relationship of the leads and it was a bit lackluster when they got together because I was more interested in the relationship between the two leads.

—
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Your Honor, I AM A STANNN.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. The writing was addictive, and the characters were so well developed.

Dani recently took on Bianca Casiraghi as a client—her biggest case to date. If she wins, it could significantly boost her chances of making partner at the firm. The opposing divorce lawyer representing Bianca’s husband is none other than Dani’s longtime rival, Ezra Hart. She’s beaten him a few times before, but he’s a tough opponent. The kicker? Outside the courtroom, Ezra is her nemesis with benefits.

I loved how Dani was portrayed. She was a Sour Patch through and through—sour at first, but sweet at her core. It took her a while to come to terms with her feelings, but I really enjoyed how their romantic relationship developed and played out.

Ezra loved to grate on her nerves—in fact, he got off on it. The way he was always locked and loaded with sharp comebacks after all her responses was hilarious. That said, he didn’t go easy on her in the courtroom, and I loved that. He challenged her but still allowed her to shine on her own. Their dynamic was everything.

Dani: “It was a lapse of judgement on my part.”
Ezra: “Eight lapses of judgement, … I think they call that a bad habit, Dani. Maybe you need a hobby. You know beside me.”

What to Expect:
• Rom Com
• Enemies/Rivals with benefits
• She’s the grump and he’s the sunshine
• Black Cat Heroine x Golden Retriever Hero
• Sassy cat daddy
• Forced Proximity


Thank you to the author and Berkley Publishing for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Dani & Ezra have chemistry from page 1, proving that the line between love and hate is thin.

I love the frenemies with benefits spin on rivals to lovers. It adds a fresh feel to the trope— and allowed for the spice to hit so much earlier in the book, which I was a big fan of.

You can always count on a Lana Ferguson book to have 1) excellent banter 2) tons of spice and 3) rich tapestry of characters.

I loved all the side characters/side plots. Unraveling the motivations and mysteries of them was so enjoyable!

Read if you like:
- Frenemies with Benefits
- Rivals to Lovers
- Workplace Romance
- Family Drama
- Banter

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC.

3.5 ⭐️

Overruled started out with such a bang, I mean literally 😉. This follows two opposing divorce lawyers, Danica Pierce and Ezra Hart, and their insane chemistry outside of the courtroom. Tied in with some family drama, this had so much grounds to be one of my top reads from Lana Ferguson but unfortunately, it was kinda meh.

I really thought this was going to be my next 5⭐️. Yes, we’re IMMEDIATELY thrown into the spice but their banter?! SO hot. I wish we got a little more back story of them earlier and what led to them being enemies with benefits.

This book kinda dropped off in the middle 25%-75% of the book for me. Largely attributed to Danica and her lack of character development. She was trying to figure her shit out while battling her lust/like for her opposition Ezra. While that was all fine and dandy, it was the way she went about it… that left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth? For me, I really wish that they played up her ex Grant more which led to her distrust in love & added in the fact about her parents divorce/staying together for her as a sprinkle (that she couldn’t get over even though she found out in HIGH SCHOOL). Because the way this was structured it gave that she as a grown woman still can’t get over her parent’s divorce from a few years ago and that is the biggest reason she doesn’t trust love? And that was the reason why she was so mean to Ezra? Hmm… not my vibe.

Ezra though … a saint of a man. He was so hot, charming, witty, and patient which was refreshing. He also had some family drama which IMO was so interesting. For me, he stole the show.

Nonetheless, Lana is such a great writer and I love reading her when I need something fun and spicy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — No Notes, Just Vibes

Lana Ferguson has officially cemented herself as my guilty pleasure go-to. Overruled might just be my favorite of hers yet! Is it a Pulitzer Prize–winning, life-changing novel? No. But is it everything I want in a romance? 100% yes .Did I devour every page with a big grin and zero regrets? Absolutely!!

We’ve got rival lawyers to frenemies to lovers, grumpy vs. sunshine (with the FMC as the grump, which I loved), and a romance that’s both deliciously steamy and deeply emotional. She just gets what makes a romance fun—great banter, sizzling tension, and characters you can’t help but root for.

Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something that hits all the right spots—no notes, just pure enjoyment. If you love smart banter, sizzling slow burns, and characters with real heart, Overruled is a total must-read.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What really brought this book down for me was the FMC which rarely happens because I support women. But I just found her so unlikable! I think it started when she complained about her divorced parents getting along. She’s a divorce lawyer, she should know how rare and wonderful that is. It’s obviously fiction, but as a lawyer, some of the legal aspects that were wrong bugged me also. You don’t get to make arguments during your questioning. It also was just too spice focused for me, especially right at the beginning. I needed more plot. I did like the MMC and I felt like he was a well written character.

I had the great pleasure of reading Lana Ferguson’s upcoming release Overruled this week and I was so very pleasantly surprised! Her books are always good and I’ve never had a bad time reading one but this one was so much better than I expected! I started it about noon and by 5pm I had finished it!

The book follows Dani & Ezra, two rival divorce lawyers who have started off as l rivals with benefits but quickly morph into something else. Early on it’s very quick to see that Ezra has already fallen for Dani, and hard, and he’s just waiting for her to catch up and realize she feels the same way. Dani however has some issues of her own that she’s going to have to tackle head on before she can admit that maybe it was never actually hatred she felt for Ezra in the first place.

I thought the pace of their relationship throughout the book was good. It didn’t feel too long or too short, and it’s established prior to the start of the novel that they’re already familiar with each other, that we’re just new to their dynamic.

Overall I would give the book a solid 4/5 ⭐️’s and I might now have to go find more smutty little lawyer romances or restart Suits again!



Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for giving me the opportunity to read and review early!

Lana Ferguson knows how to bring the spice and this was no exception. If you love the black cat x golden retriever pairings, this is for you.

Rival and opposing divorce lawyers pack the heat in the bed room and the court room. Dani is the black cat to Ezra’s golden retriever and their banters had me gushing—they’re so cute. Dani took me a bit to win over as she was hard to connect with but I enjoyed her development and growth by the end. The MMC was the perfect sunshine—no notes.

I can’t speak to the accuracy of lawyering since my knowledge stems from Law & Order: SVU, but I thought this was a fun and drama-filled lawyer romcom. I couldn’t wait to see the truths unfold in the story’s divorce trials. The side characters were also a joy to read and I’m glad Ezra’s brother had a redemption moment. Overall, the story wrapped up nicely and the money-hungry bad guys didn’t win. 🙌🏼

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC.

Readers, hold on to your hats. Divorce lawyers Danica and Ezra are here and ready to steal your hearts.

Overruled is the exciting new release from author Lana Ferguson. This book is filled with explosive chemistry and witty banter. And the fact that Ezra and Dani were opposing counsel, well that made the tension and will they won't they moments all that more delicious.

Like any good romance novel, Overruled had its fair share of drama. The character insecurities were relatable and the twists kept me on my toes. I loved that the author didn't shy away from the tough moments.

Overruled was an exciting read from beginning to end. This book easily consumed me and nailed the enemies to lovers vibe. If you're looking for a book that's fun, entertaining, and full of steam, you won't want to miss Overruled.

This was entertaining! I wasn’t super attached to the characters, but I had fun with it. There was definitely something missing — maybe more yearning?? But still really liked it. Thank you Berkley for the advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC. Unfortunately, I do not think this book was for me and I ended up not finishing the story. I enjoy some spice in my reading, however, the amount of spice in the first several chapters without much plot or character building made it hard for me to get into the story and care where the characters were headed. This book ended up not being for me, but I am sure others may enjoy it. Again, thank you for the opportunity.