Is there a universe in which I can read all of Lana Ferguson's books again for the first time? Because if so, sign me up!

Thank you to Lana Ferguson, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an e-ARC of "Overruled," which hits shelves July 1. Without further ado, let's get into the review!

Court is in session: Danica Pierce is all in on her career. A successful divorce lawyer in Austin, Dani has her trial prep to keep her company, along with two best friends and a shot at making junior partner—she doesn't need a grand romance. After all, if her parents didn't work out and dissolving nuptials is why she has clients in the first place, what's there to love about love? Especially when she can work out all of her stress with no strings attached sex. Well... maybe one string attached. Because her big secret is that she is *literally* sleeping with the enemy: her opposing counsel, Ezra Hart. As the two battle it out in the courtroom and learn more about each other in the bedroom, Dani is starting to find fewer and fewer objections to her growing attraction to Ezra. But will this romance survive till the final gavel? Or is this yet another trial Dani's heart won't survive?

I loved Dani's backstory. Her parents were best friends, tried their hand at a romantic relationship, realized they were better off as friends, but decided to stay together and get married to raise Dani in a two-parent household—something neither of them had growing up. Even though this is an act of love in her parents' eyes, Dani struggles with feeling like a burden to two of the best people she knows. As you read "overruled," you see how this fundamental of Dani's childhood colors her relationships through adulthood. It is layered and also very real. A child never wants to disappoint their parent(s), especially when the child and parents are close. There is a lot of discourse on how unhealthy parent dynamics can impact children or how previous relationships can impact future ones, but seeing how a healthy relationship can cause pain too, even with the best of intentions, is healing. It doesn't mean anyone is a bad person. It means they are all human and trying their best.

Having read a few Lana Ferguson books now, I also have to say that the way Ferguson writes about intimacy and sex is healing, too. So often women are left out of the narrative when learning about sex in school (if you had sex education at all) and there is certainly little discourse if any around female pleasure (or any pleasure, in some cases). Ferguson's writing makes pleasure, be it from either partner, feel normal and necessary parts of intimacy. Her writing doesn't make a big deal out of characters asking for what they want. Characters express their needs and desires freely, they change their minds, they try new things. None of this should be revolutionary, but for many adults who did not learn about these concepts growing up, the act of normalizing sexuality and pleasure like this is revolutionary.

I also really enjoyed all of the legal jargon and courtroom specifics. If I had a nickel for every rom-com with courtroom elements in it I've read, I'd have two nickels. Which doesn't sound like a lot, but the fact that it happened twice makes me giggle!

Rival divorce lawyers...with benefits!? Enemies AND lovers from page one?! Say no more, my hopes and dreams have been fulfilled.

What to expect: so many familial issues, a frustrating and riveting court case, strong female characters, flirty text messages, and most importantly character growth and healing for both main characters.

I feel the need to also mention that Ezra has a cat, looks really good in a 3 piece suit, and has a dirty bedroom mouth. For reasons.

The steamy scenes were piping hot and frequent. The tension and chemistry between Ezra and Dani was off the charts. I laughed and kicked my feet, which I feel is a necessity when reading romance books. If you're in need of a really spicy book with a substantial plot, this is the one! If you aren't a fan of multiple descriptive sex scenes this is not the book for you.

This one is hard. I really liked Ezra but I really didn’t like Danica. Maybe I would’ve liked it better if it led up to how they became enemies with benefits instead of just entering into the story when this relationship was already established. I was very close to not finishing this book because I wasn’t a fan of the fmc.

Obsessed with this one! The banter and stream are through the roof. The perfect enemies-to-lovers for the summer. Lana is absolutely a must-read author for me now.

This is hands down my favorite Lana Ferguson book so far.

I really loved Dani and Ezra’s dynamic. They’re both sharp, driven, and completely in denial about how into each other they are—which made their back-and-forth feel so real and satisfying. I especially appreciated how the story let them be excellent at their jobs without compromising who they were. Even when things between them got complicated, the respect they had for each other never wavered, and that made a big difference.

The setup—two lawyers on opposite sides of a divorce case—was clever, but what stood out most was how personal it got for both of them in very different ways. The emotional layers built up gradually and never felt forced. It was tightly written, well-paced, and I tore through it in just a couple of nights.

If you like romance with smart characters, actual stakes, and emotional depth that doesn’t lose its sense of fun, I’d definitely recommend this one.

This is easily my favorite Lana Ferguson book yet!

Dani and Ezra had me hooked from the start. They are SO down bad for each other and in such denial about it, a play on the "I really like you and I'm mad about it" dynamic that I really enjoy. Their characters are richly developed. The banter is top tier. They're both at the top of their game in their professions, and one of the things I really enjoyed was how neither of them ever backed down professionally. Even when their personal relationship gets messy, there's still mutual respect for their skill and intelligence.

The romance unspools against the backdrop of a divorce case where Dani and Ezra are opposing counsel. But as you go along, layers of personal and family history start to stack up against each other, mirroring the emotions of the central couple despite very different circumstances. And of course, it's not just any divorce case, but one that is uniquely situated to give Dani a very personal reason for wanting to win on top of her professional goals. The end result is that the external plot was so cleanly woven into the emotional arcs that I tore through this in two nights after work and finished it with a happy sigh.

Thank you to Berkley & Lana for the early copy!

This was such a great novel. The romance was the best I've read from the author, only comparable to The Nanny, which was my favorite before. The plot, as well, was amazing. Ezra was the best hero I've read about in a while. Overall, perfection!

an instant hit!!

Overruled is sweet, sexy, and smart! I loved the complicated/mystery element of this steamy attorney romance! Overruled is a bit different from Ferguson's other works but just as brilliant!

Can't wait to read what she writes next

You can tell when an author loved writing a book and Lana Ferguson LOVED writing this book. Dani and Ezra are delicious together. I loved the rivalry in court, the back and forth of "I hate you but not really" I'm weak on my knees. This book was hot, emotional, fun and has that signature touch from LF. This is a book that is not only so loved by me but will be so loved by readers! I'm so excited for this to be out in the world.

I think I just don’t like her books. The way she writes sex scenes makes me cringe and I can’t put my finger on why. I hate how the guy defends horrible people and we’re supposed to accept this “it’s just my job.” And the backstories of the main characters were absurd. I finished it and I liked parts of it, but overall I wasn’t a fan. It hurts to say that, I hate giving authors bad reviews, but I didn’t like it.

As usual, Lana Ferguson has delivered. As much as I enjoyed the story of Dani and Ezra, I also thoroughly enjoyed the side stories and getting to know the other characters. My favorite part of this book was definitely the character development and seeing them figure it out. I cannot wait for this to be released and for my friends to read it!

Also - I am BEGGING for a novella of Vera and Nate's wedding!

I’ve known that Lana LOVES this book with her whole heart and while reading it I could just tell!! Lana’s writing is always so good! It’s always so easy to read but also so layered. The spice in her books is ALWAYS TOP TIER. The legal proceedings were super interesting, I know literally knowing about law, but I found myself really engaged and there were so many twists and turns!! It made for such a good subplot! And the rest!!! It was fun and sexy and the best kind of rivals to lovers?? Enemies with benefits??? because Ezra was SOOOOOOO in love the whole time and Dani was OBVIOUSLY just sticking around because the benefits were GOOD!

I honestly loved Dani and Ezra. Their banter was TOP TIER. Their chemistry was absolutely fantastic. They were such a good match for one another and seeing them FINALLY open up with each other was SO GOOD!! Ezra really is that man! Like I said before he was SO DOWN BAD and seeing himself holding back because he didn’t want to scare Dani away?? Because he knew she was worth it?? I love him so much!! And sweet sweet Dani! She had been hurt before and she was scared to get hurt again…but she also knew that once she gave in…there was no going back!!!

The family drama on both sides was… a lot. Ezra’s family was a literal nightmare?? And Dani seemingly made such a big deal over her parents divorce…which as a child of divorce I GET!! It’s not a fun time!!! but also all of her parents and step partners are FRIENDS and they love her so much?? Idk that just didn’t work for me.

Thank you so much to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First, thank you for the opportunity to read this early. What a fun book. Excellent banter, fun characters, and a wild story. Really enjoyed it.

This book was everything i needed and more! Lana is a must read author to me and I just knew this book was going to SERVE!!!

I won’t go into details but i just loved the bickering, the tension, the tug and pull. I couldn’t get enough.

i am ever so slightly conflicted on this one, so i am going to try and list out the things i liked vs. disliked as i feel that'll be the easiest way to get my feelings across!!

things i liked:
- lana's writing, i always love her writing style and how easy it is to digest her books, and this one is no exception
- i find the spice in lana's books to always be written very well
- loved the chemistry between the characters, felt very believable and their 'banter' was fun
- the sub plot of the legal proceedings in this one was SUPER interesting to me
- the sprinkling of a lil romance between the side characters was so fun (although i will say i almost wanted to hear their story more than the main characters one haha)things i didn't like as much:
- i feel like the romantic connection was slightly lacking - the chemistry was definitely there but i didn't feel that overwhelming romantic connection between them
- part of me feels like the MMC in this kinda deserved better....which isn't something i say often about men lol
- the FMC was kinda mean!!!!!!!!The characters are supposed to be in their thirty's I believe? It's a little hard to believe when these two have so many issues with their parents. To a degree I can understand Ezra's circumstances. He comes from a wealthy family. His father is a big powerhouse attorney name. It made a little more sense to me why he may have some daddy issues that are difficult to navigate.

I love this author. I have read a lot by this author and have loved every book I have come across. I was sucked into this book from the first page and wished I had more story to read.

More like a 3.75 stars!! I really like Lana Ferguson’s sense of humour (which is something I’m quite picky about in books!) and the romcom vibes were served here!!! I really liked Ezra and Dani’s dynamic — how he falls first and HARD, how patient and understanding he is, how things were paced in a way that made sense for them — and both of them as characters!!

What I didn’t love as much was the ratio of physical relationship to emotional relationship between them, I think some more scenes of development and conversation and fluff would have been nice!! I also feel like Ezra’s family drama was built up SO much throughout the book just for it to be resolved quite quickly/easily. I think more on that would have been interesting to see! Still enjoyed overall!!

This book was everything I wanted and more. Lana sure knows how to write a steamy, smutty, gut wrenching, devastating story. Dani is such a powerhouse of a FMC. She is smart, confident, powerful, everything one could want.... in the courtroom at least. Ezra is intimidating, broody, decisive, demanding... when he is on the case. Both characters are such amazing lawyers and dramatic people, but they are hiding struggles of their pasts. Dani is facing gut wrenching insecurities. Ezra has his own demons to battle. This situationship - turned rivals - turned reluctant more than one night stands - turned lovers is such a refreshingly light and yet still incredibly deep love story that I cannot wait to read again.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this arc.

A local romance bookstore owner recommended Lana Ferguson as an author she loves. Trusting her judgement, I read "The Fake Mate" and enjoyed it. While I will continue to devour Lana Ferguson books, I think"Overruled" was even better.

When reading an enemies-to-lovers, I look for really witty banter. This book had that. FMC Dani and MMC Ezra are opposing counsels on several court cases, including a high-profile divorce case that drives the plot of this book. There is also a lot of family drama and nuances for both lead characters, that helps drive them together.

From the first chapter, I really felt the sexual tension between these two characters was strong. You get why they like each other but also can't stay away from each other.

While this is a romance book, I also thought the additional plot of the divorce case unfolding and Ezra's families back story kept me engaged. I had a hard time putting this book down!

I have "Under Loch and Key" on my nightstand and can't wait to get started reading it- especially if it's even a fraction as fun as "Overruled!"

4 stars
Dani and Ezra have sizzling banter. Dani, a divorce lawyer, has an enemies-with-benefits relationship with Ezra. Ezra wants to convince Dani that they can be more, that she is worth staying. Dani has a hard time letting people in. What's the point of starting a relationship when it's going to end and inevitably hurt each other? It happened to her parents and every client she has. There's no such thing as a civil divorce, she says.

I like how in the end, Dani grovels (a little). She thanks Ezra in showing that she is worth staying and now she wants to prove that to him. He is worth staying for too.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinion are my own