4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

This may be my new favorite book by Lana Ferguson. The RANGE she has in the stories she writes is just fantastic and this one just tops them all. I was hooked from the prologue (which was hoooot) so I knew this was going to be good and spicy!! The chemistry between Dani and Ezra was 🔥🔥🔥 !!!!!!! I was swooning and blushing and just rooting from them from the beginning.

What I didn’t like was how much Dani was referred to as prickly and how much Ezra was referred to as an idiot or a**hole. It just didn’t sit right with me, especially as their relationship progressed.

Otherwise, these two lawyers are fun and took me into another world of dramatic divorce court. I really enjoyed the side characters and the drama from their proceedings.


Put this one on the top of your TBR- you will not be disappointed!!!

Thanks NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC!

Great romance with spice and substance! My favorite Lana Ferguson book so far! Ezra and Dani have a playful chemistry sometimes a bit hateful, but overall fun to read.
She does a great job developing the characters’ romance as well as the case they’re both on,
Great read!

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

Overruled was a fun, fiery, and irresistibly steamy read with the perfect blend of courtroom drama and emotional depth. Danica and Ezra had sizzling chemistry from the very first page, and their enemies-with-benefits dynamic made for plenty of sharp banter and delicious tension.
Ezra was a charming and persistent love interest, and watching him break through Danica’s emotional walls was just as satisfying as their legal battles. The push-and-pull between them kept things engaging, though at times, Danica’s reluctance felt a bit drawn out.
With witty dialogue, well-developed characters, and a romance that was both passionate and heartfelt, this book delivered everything a great contemporary romance should. Fans of workplace rivals-to-lovers tropes will absolutely enjoy this one!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Lana Ferguson always writes feel good books, and this one is no exception. I’d love to see this one played out on the big screen. It would be such a great rom com movie. It has the right amount of sexy balanced with serious and real life issues. There are characters of various ages and back grounds. It would be so fun to see on the screen. Quick, fun read. Highly recommend.

One thing I love about Lana is that she is always going to be giving us something different! Her range as an author has no bounds. This is another win for her

I had an absolute blast reading Overruled! From start to finish, this book had me completely hooked. There was something so refreshing about Danica and Ezra’s dynamic that set them apart from the usual romance tropes. The push and pull between them, combined with the thrill of their professional rivalry, made every interaction feel electric.

Opposing counsels secretly sleeping together? Yes, please. And the fact that Ezra falls first? Perfection. He’s the kind of hero who wears his heart on his sleeve, while Danica fights every step of the way to keep hers guarded. Their banter was sharp, their chemistry was off the charts, and beneath all the legal battles and late-night rendezvous, there was such a deep emotional undercurrent that made their story even more compelling.

Lana Ferguson has a way of making her characters feel real—flawed, stubborn, and undeniably human. Danica isn’t just a tough, career-driven woman; she’s someone with wounds that make her hesitant to trust. Ezra isn’t just a charming playboy; he’s someone who sees her for who she is and wants her despite the walls she puts up. Watching them navigate their feelings while standing on opposite sides of the courtroom was both frustrating and exhilarating in the best way possible.

Overruled was a fun, fiery, and irresistibly steamy read with the perfect blend of courtroom drama and emotional depth. Danica and Ezra had sizzling chemistry from the very first page, and their enemies-with-benefits dynamic made for plenty of sharp banter and delicious tension.
Ezra was a charming and persistent love interest, and watching him break through Danica’s emotional walls was just as satisfying as their legal battles. The push-and-pull between them kept things engaging, though at times, Danica’s reluctance felt a bit drawn out.
With witty dialogue, well-developed characters, and a romance that was both passionate and heartfelt, this book delivered everything a great contemporary romance should. Fans of workplace rivals-to-lovers tropes will absolutely enjoy this one!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Lana Ferguson is the QUEEN of tension that delivers incredible spice, and let me tell you, Dani and Ezra's relationship really delivered on that. Two lawyers on the opposite side of career making- or breaking- case is already a scenario that piqued my interest, but when those lawyers are secretly hooking up???? INTENSE! This book is filled with so much humor, witty banter, a case that was interesting all on its own, and a rivals to lovers tale that really had me hooked.

The tension between the two lawyers was incredible. From the moment they first met, there was an undeniable spark between them. Both had complicated pasts and had sworn off relationships, especially with someone in their field. They were determined to stay focused on their work and avoid any distractions. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t keep away from each other.

Their interactions, though always professional, were charged with an intensity that neither could ignore. Every glance seemed to pull them closer, every word seemed to linger in the air, creating a magnetic force between them. They both fought it, telling themselves they should stay focused, but the attraction was too strong to resist.

Every time they were near each other, it was like an invisible thread was pulling them closer, and the tension grew with each passing day. They never truly pulled away. The attraction between them became an undeniable force that neither could escape, no matter how much they tried to keep things strictly professional.

In the end, they couldn't keep their distance any longer. The chemistry between them was simply too strong. They didn’t resist—it felt like they were meant to be, and when they gave in to the pull between them, it felt like a perfect, inevitable moment.

You know what hell yeah!! This book was so much fun!

Two battling divorce attorneys always end up on opposite sides in the court room, their hate and competitive dynamic brings them together in more ways than they want. But as one of their cases brings them back together they begin to learn more about each other.

Seriously cannot express how fun this was. I loved their dynamic and both characters were so much fun to read about. Shoutout to DUAL pov!!

An enemies to lovers story that actually feels like they don't like each other in the beginning? Yes, FINALLY someone nailed it! I love Lana Ferguson and can't wait for her next book!

I have read three Lana Ferguson books and I am completely floored by how uniquely different they are. Overruled was fun from the start! Ezra is a little ahead of Danica in their relationship, but he is determined to wait for her to realize how perfect they are for one another.

Enemies with benefits? Yes, please! The trope I didn't even know I was missing.

I love everything Lana Ferguson writes! Enjoyable from start to finish with so much fun, snarky banter. I love a FMC who is completely oblivious to a down bad MMC.

You know what? This was exactly what I needed.
Fun, flirty and I love people arguing as foreplay so what’s better than this. You can always count on Lana’s book to be a good time!

2.5 Stars. I'll round up because I feel a little bad. It's not that I think the book is terrible - it's just not really my taste.

We follow our FMC, Danica and our MMC, Ezra who are both attorneys at separate firms. The two end up as opposing counsel in a major divorce case between two very wealthy and powerful individuals.

I tried. And all of these stars are basically for Ezra, I thought he was a great MMC. Sure, he could have been a little more fleshed out. But all and all I loved him. He had swag, a great personality, a sense of humor. Definitely seemed like he could lay the pipe lol.

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.

But Danica? Girl bye. You're mad at the ripe age of thirty something that your parents are best friends after divorce? Oh how terrible. First world problems. I mean really cry me a river.

It's completely reasonable to have family issues no matter your age - it's just the way the character comes across sounding like a child. World hinging on what her parents do. Woe is me.

There's also a fair amount of miscommunication and complete lack of communication sprinkled with a steady seasoning of avoidance of communication. Again, understandable to a degree but got really old with repetition. I understand feelings are scary but at your mid thirties you should be able to talk.

Every single time these two seemed like they were about to talk about their feelings. Or LITERALLY just talk it was brushed off to bang. Which was pretty frustrating. Not sure what the author was trying to do there other than not develop her characters.

There is a side story going on regarding the case the two are 'opposing' counsel on that made for an interesting side story and of course Ezra was a gem the whole time, I wish there was a little more to his character.

Danica annoyed me the entire time. She doesn't even deserve him lol.

I do think this would make for a good beach read. Steamy minimal substance romance.

💜Enemies to Lovers
💜Workplace Rivals
💜Forbidden Romance
💜He Falls First
💜She's in Denial
💜Emotional Scars
💜Rival Lawyers

Expected Pub Date - 07/05/25

Thank you for the advanced digital copy, Berkley Pub (besties 🌷) - all thoughts are my own.

Dani and Ezra have been up against each other in more ways than one, and they can't stop doing it over and over again. Dani and Ezra are divorce attorneys and they have their biggest clients to date. They need to keep it professional, but really have a hard time doing that when they are drawn together as soon as they are in each other's presence. I wasn't sure "why" they couldn't be together, as the book started off with them already in their situationship, but it was clear that they just thought this was a casual hookup, until it wasn't. Until they were thinking of the other.. all day.
Dani is a little more skittish than Ezra and I absolutely love how hard he fell and how he was willing to wait till she caught up. There was a little more depth to this with each of their family situations, his was a doozy, and I liked how it was handled. I wouldn't be mad if we got a book about his brother. *wink*.
Dani and Ezra were just so adorable and the spice was on point with the tension that simmered each time they looked at one another. I was giddy!
Thanks to Berkley, Netgalley and Lana Ferguson for an early copy.

The novel centers on Danica Pierce, a fiercely independent and career-driven lawyer who's built walls around her heart after past heartbreak. Her dedication to work is admirable, but her fear of vulnerability threatens to keep her from true happiness. Then there's Ezra Hart, the charming and seemingly frivolous opposite counsel, with whom she's indulging in a strictly physical affair.
What elevates this story beyond a typical steamy romance is the depth Ferguson gives to both characters. Danica's guarded nature is explored with sensitivity, revealing the pain and fear that drive her. Similarly, Ezra is more than just a playboy; the novel gradually peels back his layers, hinting at a hidden vulnerability and a genuine desire to connect with Danica on a deeper level.
The courtroom scenes are well-written and add a layer of authenticity to the story. While the legal details might not be overly complex, they provide a convincing context for the characters' interactions and motivations. The dynamic between Danica and Ezra in the courtroom provides a fascinating contrast to their private encounters, highlighting the challenges and complexities of their relationship.
Ferguson successfully balances the sizzling chemistry between Danica and Ezra with the exploration of their emotional baggage. The novel ultimately delivers a heartwarming message about overcoming fear, embracing vulnerability, and finding love in unexpected places.

Lana is an automatic buy/ automatic read for me! She writes fantastic, it’s easy to read and easy to follow. This was no different and did not disappoint on any level, especially the spice 🔥

Well worth the wait! Ferguson's writing is always a wonderful time. Ezra and Dani are well worth the wait and I love them so much!

I’ve never read a book by this author before but after a few chapters I was an immediate fan! Such a perfect quick read!