This was a fun spy thriller/romance, but the second half of the book felt repetitive and lost its direction.

Plot summary: Alex and King are CIA recruits who have a love/hate relationship. Can they get past the reasons they hate each other and save the day?

This started out very strong, with Alex getting ready to join "the farm," and Kingsley showing up and trying to outdo her. They are both flawed but perfect, if you know what I mean, and perfect for each other.

The first part, where they are introduced and start their spying activities, was fun and exciting. But it becomes unclear why they hate each other so much and can't just admit their feelings.

The thriller part becomes silly as it goes on instead of tense, as if the antics were copied from someone watching Mission:Impossible (I've actually never seen any of those films, it's just the impression I get :)) The spy part was not very credible.

There was plenty of dialogue where the MCs fight and it just drags on. The romance became droopy and sappy.

Alex has a twin sister, who apparently was featured in the first book of this series. She has some strong guilt about being healthy while Zoe is sick, but somehow at the end they just magically get together and everything is fine.

The end was actually pretty good, you just have to get there.

Bottom line: This is an outlier opinion, and most readers will enjoy this fun take on a spy romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Ally Carter for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

I need Ally Carter to write so many more of these. I need to know about more of these missions. I love that we get the sister backstory and it corresponds with the first book I was never bored reading this. I just always wanted more.

3.5 stars

Fun follow-up to the first book. The rivals-to-lovers vibe is fun, and enjoyed how they included Zoe and Sawyer from the first book.

This book hit me in the heart. The dual third person limited POV was a home run for this story and I loved being in the FMC and MMC's heads. The yearning, the tension, the desire, the banter, and the clear love and admiration they have for each other was absolutely incredible. I enjoyed book one of this series, but it was nothing compared to this. I think the sequel had more depth and more substance, and I loved how strong these two characters were. I was giggling, gasping, and tearing up while reading this book on the plane. I'm sure I had a few strange looks from the other passengers, but I was too engrossed in the book to notice. 5 stars for this one. I will forever be a fan of Ally Carter's books.

This might be my favorite Ally Carter book to date! I am loving this spy thriller/romantic series. It is charming, cute, and so much fun. The plot and dialogue can be cheesy at times, but it just makes me love the book even more! I love the shifting timelines and backstory of this one (most of it takes place before book 1 in the series), and I loved visiting lots of different locales around the world. The spy aspects are fun, and the plot keeps you engaged and on edge (while still be not stressful). I love these characters, and I really hope that there are more books on the horizon for this series!

4 Stars

A fun, action-packed love story! Perfect for a summer beach read.

I liked The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold more than The Blonde Identity because it felt more like the Gallagher Girl energy I've always loved from Ally Carter. Two spies falling in love across years despite the mistrust and emotional walls that make them so good at their jobs, a conspiracy that threatens their lives, and lots of snarky banter and general coolness on both sides. If you read The Blonde Identity and weren't sure, I would definitely say give this one a try.

I am going to be 100% honest..... I am extremely biased in my review. Ally Carter is one of my favorite authors and was my favorite author as a kid. I think I have read everything (or at least almost everything) that she has written. It would be extremely hard for me to hate one of her books. While I did not like this book as much as the first book in the series, it was still really good. I loved that we got to see Zoe and Sawyer (although not as much as I wanted to see them).

I did go into this book knowing that I would not like it as much as the first one, I am not really a fan of second chance romances. This book is funny and almost everything you could want from a spy rom com. There is mystery and romance and just a little bit of everything. I highly recommend if you love Ally Carter, want a spy romance, or just want a funny fast paced book. (The book can get a little confusing at times with the dual POV but that might just be because of the early copy and it not being 100% edited yet).

I am not going to share much about the plot because it is a spy book and one should go into them knowing as little as possible (in my opinion).

Thank you to net gallery for the ARC!

Love this and love this series. This was a solid book in the series however it wasn’t my favorite. My favorite is still the first one. I do think they are worth it though to keep reading.

The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold is a fast-paced, lighthearted read. Overall, I enjoyed it, especially as it felt like a natural follow up to The Blonde Identity.

While I appreciated getting to know Alex and her history with the CIA, I did feel as though her character was extremely similar to Zoe. It was hard for me to separate them as individual, distinct characters, and, unfortunately, this did take me out of the story from time-to-time.

I had fun with the plot and the duel timelines. I also loved having Zoe and Sterling show up and connect with the story.

Ally Carter has created a fun sequel that will keep readers engaged and entertained.

I would round up to 3 1/2 stars if possible.

Ally Carter has always had a gift for crafting smart, capable female leads who feel real—flawed, funny, brave, and human. The Blonde Who Came In From the Cold continues that legacy but somehow manages to feel both nostalgic and fresh at the same time.

This book is fast-paced without feeling rushed, witty without being overdone, and emotionally grounded in a way that caught me off guard—in the best way. The spycraft and tension hit all the right notes, but what really stood out to me was how personal the stakes felt. This wasn’t just a mission; it was about identity, trust, and learning how to move forward when your world isn’t what you thought it was.

The main character was layered and believable, with just the right mix of vulnerability and edge. I loved watching her evolve—questioning who she could rely on, what she truly wanted, and what it means to be “the good guy” when the lines get blurry.

As someone who doesn’t gravitate toward spy thrillers often, this still hit hard. It read like Ally Carter meets The Americans, with heart, danger, and a heroine you want to root for. If you’re a fan of the Gallagher Girls or just love clever, high-stakes stories with heart—this is a must-read.

Ally Carter does what she does best: makes you feel seen and entertained, all while keeping you on your toes. I’m already hoping for more in this world.

I loved every page of this book. From the opening quote by Logan Echolls to the final sentence, The Blonde Who Came In From the Cold is gripping, twisting, and thrilling. Ally Carter has long been a favorite, and now that I am a full=fledged adult in my forties, I love that she has come back to an adult audience. The pacing is tight and just right. The dual narration is excellent, giving the audience insight into both Alex's and King's sides of everything, and has excellent development. It was also nice to see Zoe and Sawyer again. I will always be a Gallagher Girl at heart, and I love that we readers get to see adult versions of them on the page, too.

Very different set up than the first novel in this series. I do think the first one should be read before jumping into this one.

This novel tells the backstory of the spy from novel one. At the end it ties it all together which I loved.

There are 2 timelines- present day and then the history of the spies starting 10 years ago and working its way up to present day.

I loved how the backstory and the present day tied together but definitely kept me guessing.

Well-written, well planned out, love the spy story with a bit of humor and romance.

It ends on a cliff hanger so I really hope there is a third novel!

First off, thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I STRUGGLE with POVs that are not first person. So this book brought me a ton of challenges but I love ally carter so I wanted to read it as I read the first in this series. I really enjoyed the premise of this book, but it was a bit confusing for me and the back and forth of past and present and changing POVs were a lot and I got bored during the middle and just wished it was a bit shorter. Still liked the book though!

I’ve been an Ally Carter super fan since I discovered the Gallagher Girls in middle school and read them until my copies fell apart at the bindings, and her adult romcoms have given me everything I’ve needed! This book was easily a 5 ⭐️ read for me! It was fast-paced, but the timeline jumps slowed it down enough that it wasn’t too rushed. The banter, the will-they-won’t-they, the rivals to lovers…it was perfection! I knew I was excited for Alex’s story after reading The Blonde Identity, but this blew my expectations out of the water! I cannot wait to reread!

Thank you a million times to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC! The squeal that came out of me when I got the approval email was unholy!

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book! I did have to go and read the first one ahead of diving into this, but I don’t think it’s exactly necessary. We only really get to stuff that happened there in the last little bit. I am really annoying Ally Carters writing and can’t wait for more from her!

I did enjoy this book, but I struggled with all of the jumping back and forth in time. Especially when there were multiple chapters in one time period. I had to go back and check where I was sometimes. It was part sequel and part prequel to the first book in the series which was nice since that book just jumped right in. I like the banter between the 2 main characters but sometimes I struggled with their relationship. Overall, it was a decent read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold by Ally Carter
Romance, action
Pub day: August 5, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)

This can be read pretty much as a standalone, but I think you’d appreciate/understand some things more if you read book 1: The Blonde Identity. I loved that one as well! They’re interconnected spy rom-coms with some mysteries sprinkled in.

No surprise, but I absolutely ate this UP! I love a good spy/action story and this delivered! I was hooked from page 1 and it was such a fun, quick read that I finished it pretty quick. It was fast-paced, and action packed!

I absolutely adored Alex’s personality. She is quirky, clever, and sharp as a tack. The banter between her and “King” was sooo goooodddd. Some parts I was giggling and others I was swooning 🩵 they were the perfect pair for this story.

The setting takes you all over the world to different places on their missions and it was so fun feeling like I traveled right along with them.

I love this book so much! How everything came together and the epilogue 🥹🥹 just amazing! 🤍

I’m already a huge Ally Carter fan, and if you’re not yet, what are you even doing?!?! Go grab this series or “The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year” and fall in love with her writing!

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for my gifted copy! All thoughts are my own.

This was simply a cute book! It delivered pretty much exactly what I anticipated - quirky characters with great banter and fun dialogue built around a spy story with a little romance between it all! I did find the dual timeline process to be a bit jarring since it felt like we were jumping back and forth almost every other page, and a lot of what was happening in the past was the same as what was happening in the present (or similar enough) that it just kept me having to flip back to see when/where we were… I also wish we spent more time with our main characters liking each other than mostly bickering in both past AND present; so the dual timeline didn’t seem to serve any sort of character or relationship development purpose but rather a “fill in the plot” purpose and I just would have preferred the former.
But overall a cute book when you need one!

Short sweet but not much depth. The storyline seemed to skip around and I felt lost and confused throughout much of it.

Once again, thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for giving me early access to this sequel story.

Spies, strong women and an enemies to lovers plot.. recipe for an enjoyable read. Alex and King met in spy school (which wasn’t actually called that) and from day one knew exactly how to push each others buttons. Years down the line they find themselves handcuffed together in an unknown location with no memory of how they got there. What follows is a fast paced race to find out who kidnapped them and what they want. As they jump back into their spy ways to try and solve this mystery, the pair also recall their tension filled history and the missions that came before.

This was a quick and fun read much like the first book in this series The Blonde Identity. While the story was fast paced and the tension high, the actual plot fell a little short for me. The story jumps both in timeline and in perspective which requires the reader to pay a little more attention and if you miss something, you may be confused. It also felt there were a number of loose ends throughout the book, including the ending which is why I gave it a solid 3 stars.