E-ARC Book Review—The Blond Who Came In From the Cold by Ally Carter—Spoiler Free

“To all the little girls who wanted to be spies when they grew up. There’s still time.” Starting out with such a sweet dedication.

Alexandra “Alex” Sterling met Michael “King”Kingsley the night before they both started “spy school” ten years ago. They started as rivals but after years and some missions together they fell in love. Then a year ago something happened and Alex left without a trace.

Now she’s waking up in a dark room without any knowledge of how she got there and she’s handcuffed to King. They’ll have to work together on this mission they didn’t sign up for.

I think fans of movies like Mr. And Mrs. Smith or Knives Out would enjoy this second chance, rivals to lovers romance with a mystery. You’re getting past POVs and current POVs in dual POV learning what happened to these two CIA agents who met ten years ago to lead them to their current unfortunate situation. Alex is funny and King is her more strait-laced counterpart. The story was both humorous and sweet. I felt like the ending was perfect and fitting for these characters

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this digital ARC.

I love this series! It was so great to finally get to know Alex after having her be such a mysterious and then badass figure in The Blonde Identity. And King! Loved him! I love the way Ally Carter blends mystery/suspense with romance. Seriously, keep 'em coming!

Just for the publisher: I spotted a couple typos in the ARC copy, but I'm sure you'll catch those before it goes to print. I think there were only three or four.

Book two! In "The Blonde Identity", a woman woke up in the life of a spy, with no idea how she got there...but in "The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold", we're following that woman's sister, who is, you know, actually a spy. This is something of a then-and-now story: in the now, Alex and King find themselves unexpectedly in danger and on the run. In the then...well, they spend a lot of time finding themselves *expectedly* in danger and on the run.

It is predictably unlikely. And it is a *delight*. You have to pay attention to what section you're in, timing-wise, because the now is now but the then moves through the past ten years, and since so many of the scenes focus on the same two characters in the same types of scenarios I sometimes needed a moment to think. But I love this sort of spy-life-as-is-only-seen-in-Hollywood book, and Carter knows what she's doing with it. Think lots of action, high octane, gadgets, jewels...oh, and a will-they-won't-they romance, of course. It's a naturally low-sugar dessert in book form—not all that nutritious, but not too sweet and completely delicious.

It's worth reading "The Blonde Identity" before "The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold"; the books are functionally standalone, but there's some significant context that will make more sense if they're read in order. Plus...that's double the fun, no?

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

The perfect sequel to The Blonde Identity! The characters are so witty and fun. The alternate timeline makes the story so interesting and everything connects so well. I didn’t want this one to end!

Ally Carter delivers yet another wildly fun, fast-paced spy romance with The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold. Picking up where The Blonde Identity left off, this sequel cranks up the banter, action, and swoon-worthy chemistry between Alex and King. Told in dual POV and dual timeline, we get a mix of flashbacks showing their earlier fake-dating missions and their current situation—kidnapped, handcuffed, and stuck together again. The way their relationship evolves through all the chaos is both hilarious and heartwarming, and King’s "simp" energy had me grinning through entire chapters. Alex continues to shine as a fierce, funny, and totally lovable heroine who’s part Elle Woods, part superspy.

Yes, some of the timeline jumps can feel a bit disorienting, and keeping the various missions straight might be a mild challenge—but it honestly doesn't matter when the ride is this much fun. Carter leans into the campy, over-the-top spy shenanigans in all the best ways, balancing high-stakes drama with sharp, self-aware humor. It’s pure entertainment with a side of romance, and I absolutely ate it up. If Ally Carter keeps writing like this, she’s a must-read author for anyone who loves their thrillers with a flirty twist.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful addition to the Ally Carterverse! I enjoyed learning about Alex's story and getting to know her as the other side of the twins. The style is very similar to The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, so it was easy to follow and the pacing was great. I hope we get more out of this universe!

so much better than the previous book. i loved the prose and the plot was interesting enough to keep forward tho sometimes it felt a bit boring. i would recommend if you want to read something just by the vibes.

A fun read, sometimes confusing, but just go along for the ride! Enjoy the spy stories, the safe houses, and a fabulous ending.

I’ve been a fan of Ally Carter for a long time, and I’ve enjoyed all of her series, but the Gallagher Girls was an absolute favorite. With this novel about a woman who trains to become a spy, it really felt like I was back in that world. I loved the humorous internal dialogue of the main character.
I really enjoyed being able to watch these two fall in love over the course of several missions, and seeing how well they worked together. I would have loved an extra 100 pages to give us more in the present-day timeline, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all!

The Blonde Who Came In From The Cold is exactly the follow up I needed to The Blond Identity!

We are getting Alex's side of the story now, a dual POV with her spy-nemesis-romance interest, with a timeline that jumps between now and then and I could not put it down!!! Ally Carter has done it again! The story was full of her wit and banter that I've come to expect, even more spy adventures, and still all of the romantic tension that she's so good at building! (Shout out to the little Zoe cameos as a reminder of why I loved The Blonde Identity so much, too!)

Thank you so much, Avon, for the arc in exchange for an honest review! I honestly loved it!

Anything by Ally Carter is a fun time and this is no exception! I can't wait to read the next one from her! I will actively seek anything out by her. She has a great voice and style that make reading anything from her a load of fun!

I felt like this book was a lot stronger than the first in the series! So much pining, so much spying! This felt more like a Gallagher girl grown up to me, and I really really loved that!

I feel like if you read this standalone as well, that wouldn't be too confusing. So much of Alex's story is separate from Zoe's. It was interesting to see how the two books intertwined, though, so still a fun companion piece to the first book. I'm excited to recommend it to friends!

Ally Carter really just said, “what if I wrote a book with Alison’s favorite tropes?” and then she did it. Enemies to lovers. Hurt/comfort. Who did this to you? TWO sickbed scenes. Second chance. Ya girl was spoiled.

The plot felt a lot thinner than the first book, and as much as I adore flashbacks/alternating timelines for my romance building, the external plot relied a little too heavily on them—not as many twists and reveals that I’ve come to expect from my Ally Carter stories. Overall though the book was funny and romantic and an adventuring romp.

Love this author and this series continues to deliver! Action packed and full of intrigue, action, romance, spies and witty banter!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have read all of Ally Carter’s YA series. This is the 2nd book in the Blonde Identity series but could certainly be read as a stand alone. As always, Carter has a strong female lead - in this case an amazing spy. Alex and King are back again. Quick wit, adventure, a bit of romance. It’s all there and it’s fun and a quick enjoyable read. My only note is that it does bounce back and forth a lot through timelines. Just have to pay attention!

So glad Ally Carter is still going strong!!!

After reading The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, I knew I had to request this ARC on Netgalley as soon as it was avaitable. Let me tell you- this book had me giggling and kicking my feet. Kingsley and Sterling are two spies that meet at "spy school" (every time Alex said that I had to laugh). It's a slow-burn romance with lots of action, funny banter, and a really interesting plot. I would have loved to see more interaction between Alex and her sister Zoe, but getting to see them interact at all was such a treat. Alex's journey through her guilt and grief was also really, really well done. Thank you Avon for the ARC of this book! And most importantly, thank you to Ally Carter for your witty books. I'm obsessed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fun follow up to the first one. Admit that I liked that one better but still fun to go back to this world. Wish there had been more bits to remind me of the last book. Still enjoyed and would recommend to others.

Ah! Fun, action packed, full of tension, beautiful people blowing things up. 2 people have amnesia, but just lose the last 48 hours when they wake up hand cuffed together.

Alex meets King on the night before “spy school “, and she keeps calling it spy school to annoy King. He tells her she can’t hack it and to go home. But he’s really thinking Alex is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen and she’s going to wreck him.

We time hop between present day while Alex and King try to figure out why someone is trying to kill then, and the 10 prior years of them fight/flirting on jobs. The reader doesn’t know what’s going on in any time line, but we know they were together or almost together at some point but now they aren’t.

Lots of tension, YEARNING, world travel, and suspense.

I really enjoyed this. A fun follow up to the first book. I wanted Alex and King to get their HEA. And we even get a little of Zoe and Sawyer.

Arc provided by the publisher.

I’ve been reading Ally Carter since I was a kid, and I’ve loved every one of her books—so I was super excited for this one. And honestly? It totally delivered.

The story is about spies two spies, who keep getting sent on missions together. The plot was really suspenseful, that kept me guessing the whole time. One of my favorite parts was how it moved between the past and present—it made everything feel so layered and interesting without ever getting confusing.

Reading this felt like going back in time in the best way. It had all the fun, mystery, and heart I’ve come to expect from Ally Carter. If you’ve read her books before, you’ll definitely love this one.

I absolutely loved this book! From the very first page, I felt completely hooked by the tension, the mystery, and the undeniable chemistry between the two main characters. I found the setup so compelling—the layers of history between them, the years of secrets and betrayals, and the sudden, terrifying predicament they’re forced into. I felt every moment of suspense, every sharp exchange, and every lingering emotion between them. I appreciated how the story balanced action with raw, emotional depth, making their dynamic feel electric but also deeply personal. The twists kept me on edge, and I loved how each revelation built on their tangled past. By the end, I felt completely satisfied—the pacing, the characters, and the payoff all worked beautifully. The banter was sharp, the tension palpable, and the stakes gripping from start to finish.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fast-paced thrillers with intense, unforgettable chemistry.


ALL THE STARS FOR THIS ONE!