Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Overruled by Lana Ferguson had so much more depth to it than I originally thought it would. A lot of haters to lovers romances can be very fluffy, but this book had a good level of intrigue to it as well. Both main characters (Dani and Ezra) have a sad/tragic backstory that was introduced before you’re midway through the book which I loved. I’m glad both characters were lawyers as it just added to the nonstop banter throughout the novel. I only rated this novel a 3/5 because although I really enjoy Lana’s style of writing, I thought Danica was just like a mean girl with very little character growth and that Ezra deserved better.

This one was alot of fun. I enjoyed the story and how it all came together. Thanks for the opportunity to read this one!

I enjoyed reading this book. It took me by surpice because I had assumption about this book being friends with benefits. Nope! This book started about two people who know each other, did not "love" each other but know to push each button. The male falls first but doesn't know how to open his heart fully by being committed. Two people who are attracted to each other, they have their highs and lows, and they don't realize in the end that they are meant to be together. This story has it all sad, laughter, and a bit of anger and full hope, and romance.

I will read anything that Lana Ferguson wants to put out, to be honest! This was so incredibly fun, and I really LOVED the chemistry of the main characters! the banter was great, and I really liked the peek into the legal world. This was incredible and I am absolutely going to be adding it to recommendation lists!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Lana Ferguson has become one of my autobuy authors and her new book Overruled is one you don’t want to miss!

Two rival lawyers have an Enemies with Benefits relationship that causes trouble in the courtroom.

First of all any book that takes place in my home of Austin Texas gets all the stars! The I-35 references were spot on 😉 The chemistry between Dani and Ezra was hot hot hot. And let me tell you this book is not lacking in the spice 🥵it also checks the snarky banter box! The romance is sweet but I also enjoyed the family drama. There was also a small element of mystery that I appreciated.
You’ve got to check this one out on pub day 7/1/25.

Rival divorce attorneys with a no strings attached sex arrangement find themselves on opposing sides of a big case in this latest from Lana Ferguson. This book had lots of spice, emotional depth and fantastic narration by Samantha Summers and Connor Crais but for some reason it just didn't hit quite as well as the author's past books have for me. Still a great read/listen just not my fav by Ferguson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for fans of the movie Laws of attraction by Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore.

Ferguson crafts two deeply flawed yet endearing protagonists. Danica’s guarded nature stems from past heartbreak, while Ezra hides his own trauma behind humor and charm. Their banter is sharp and playful. The novel delves into themes of trust, vulnerability, and the complexities of modern relationships. The legal setting adds a unique layer, with courtroom tension mirroring the emotional stakes between the characters. Blending sharp wit, courtroom drama, and steamy chemistry, this novel is a must-read for fans of enemies-to-lovers and workplace romance tropes.

⭐️: 3.5/5

Lana Ferguson’s books have been hit or miss for me, especially when they’re contemporary romance instead of paranormal romance. I really liked both of her paranormal romances, but since this one is contemporary, I was less sure whether I’d love it or not. I have to say, although I had some reservations about this one at the start, it ended up winning me over and I enjoyed it, overall.

Like any typical book by Lana Ferguson, the spice is early and often 😂 I think what kind of threw me off about the beginning is that we kind of get allusions to why both main characters, Ezra and Dani, are the way they are, but we don’t get too many finite answers until part of the way through, and then once we do, it’s kind of hard not to judge Dani for her behavior toward Ezra. Like, I know it’s not ok to rank trauma, but like, when it comes to childhood trauma, Dani’s…wasn’t that bad. Which is kind of a shitty thing for me to say, but it made her come off as just an immature whiner. Once she starts to come to terms with it all, she becomes more bearable, but still.

I also hated the third act breakup because it was worse than contrived, it was ignoring the most obvious fact-based scenario and disregarding the reality of how situations work. It was silly and weird, and made me roll my eyes so much that the inevitable reunion didn’t hit as hard as it could have.

One thing I really liked about this book was the closure and catharsis it provided at the end. I hate in rom coms when we don’t get to see the villain get their comeuppance, and instead it’s just like “and we never thought about them again.” I like seeing RESULTS 😂

Overall, this book was a quick read, and ultimately I liked it, but there were just a few things that kept it from being a great rom com for me!

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for providing this eARC in exchange for my review!

Another great read by Lana Ferguson! It was full of banter, romance and an actually interesting story which makes this a perfect summer read. Ezra and Danica made the perfect pair, after all their ups and downs. And I would actually really enjoy stories about some of the side characters because I really liked them too. Overall, this was super cute and for fans of enemies to lovers.

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!