Two lawyers who are work nemesis end up as office mates... and now have to figure out this odd frenemy relationship and fake date to stop their boss from hitting on her, too bad they might actually be falling for each other. Kriya is still reeling from being broken up with by her boyfriend and. feeling like she's trapped inn her legal career... but when she gets a new job at the same firm as her work nemesis things are about to change for her. Charles Goh is her bad luck charm, he's always been there when something disastrous happens to her... and now she has to see him every time she comes to work. On top of that she needs his help, she needs him to pretend to be her boyfriend to stop their boss from hitting on her... yet the more time they spend together the more its feeling less like enemies and more like friends... or possibly something more. This was just not for me unfortunately, I found it a bit slow and boring and couldn't connect to the characters or their romance at all. The pacing was a bit too slow for me and I just didn't believe in the romance between the two characters. While this wasn't for me, I do think that this might be for others.

Release Date: July 1, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Behind Frenemy Lines by Zen Cho is an enemies to lovers, fake dating, workplace romance between two lawyers who live in the UK. Kriya is from Malaysia and Charles Hong Kong, so I really loved the diverse backgrounds of the characters and I learned a lot especially family dynamics within their cultures. Zen Cho chose a more formal approach to writing chapters from Kriya's POV, but went more relaxed with Charles' POV. I didn't love it, because it took some getting used to, but eventually it became easier to switch back and forth.

I thought the development of the characters were strong, but I would have liked to see more chemistry between them; specifically after the fake dating assignment was over and before the escalation with Kriya's boss, Arthur. Also, leading into the fake dating; which is set up as Charles needing a date to a wedding to convince an aunt that she didn't turn him gay was really uncomfy to read. To give the author credit, I'm not sure there is a way to write that seen with any form of sensitivity but lines like "you need to act straight" and "do straight things" took me out in the worst of ways.

In summary, the book is a quick read at less than 300 pages, digs really deep into the cultural backgrounds of the characters which I think is one of it's strongest attributes, but didn't quite hit enough of the romance notes for me to really be invested in Kriya and Charles together.

Thank you Bramble for the gifted ARC.

I love a workplace romance, slow burn, fake dating, and I really loved that both MCs were lawyers, and the diversity of the characters in this book! It's a quick and sweet read. Charles is the awkward one, but it was cute to see him fall for Kriya, who I really liked! The discourse around Kriya's experience with sexual harassment at work was so relatable and well done.

I would have liked more chemistry between the MCs - they had the right moments and experiences, but I just didn't feel enough growing between them. While I usually love dual POV, Charles' POV narration style did not work for me. The lack of personal pronouns at the beginning of most sentences and their clipped nature threw me off every time.

This was a cute Enemies to lover’s romance. Charles and Kriya aren’t truly enemies but there is tension between them!

Charles is a stick to the rules type of guy and Kriya has just gone through a breakup and is not sure which way to go. Her career isn’t moving the way she wants it too and doesn't really know what to do. Her boss goes to a new company, and she does as well, and she meets Charles and the more time she spends with him they eventually fake a relationship.

Workplace romances may seem like fun but can also be damaging to a person’s career, so be careful, triggers: sexual harassment!

Overall, this was a cute, quick, fun read the banter and flirting was quirky, and I wished they had more time together. No spice was in this book, so I’ll say it was an innocent read, be


Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillian and Bramble for the eARC!

So I went into this book not really knowing what to expect but I enjoyed it! I enjoyed the pace of the book and the plot! If I ever needed a quick and easy read, I’d reach for this book. I absolutely loved that the characters were from different cultures. One of my favorite tropes is enemies to lovers and this book delivered!

Thank you to Colored Pages Tours and Bramble for the advanced copy.

As the book states through advice from the FMC best friend: “You have to leave space for life to surprise you.” And surprise me, this book did.

As someone who is a US attorney, I loved the premise of a legal romance set in the UK legal system. I also really enjoyed learning more about Malaysian culture through the main character, Kriya, and her friend group. I found myself looking up things mentioned, and expanding my world reference. I absolutely loved the MMc’s cousin’s wedding and the anime badminton cosplay. I think every character in this book was a bit quirky, and I loved seeing those personalities throughout this story.

I did struggle a bit at first with the author’s writing style - particularly as the voice of the MMC, Charles. It was almost as if those chapters were in a bit of shorthand. I think it definitely highlighted Charles’s manner and his lacking social skills. After a few chapters, I did get used to it.

Overall, this was a fun, entertaining workplace Romance that was a quick read (at around 285 pages). Dual POV, plus size FMC (trigger warning - fat insults and workplace harassment).

Behind Frenemy Lines is a whirlwind romance that I absolutely devoured While it may have featured less romance than I anticipated, the chemistry between Kriya and Charles was electric. The narrative felt refreshingly authentic, steering clear of the tired tropes that often weigh down the genre. The dual perspectives enriched the experience, with Kriya and Charles offering unique insight. Overall, this gem from Tor Publishing Group Bramble was a delightful read that left me wanting more. Thank you for this Advanced copy in exchange for my honest review this book will release 7/1/2025

DNF @ 10%.

Unfortunately, I can’t get through the writing style change with Charles’s chapters. I understand wanting to show differences in characters personalities with how they speak or act and since we’re in his head it makes since that his POV is different. I think there are better ways to short the shortness the author way trying to get across then with shorting the actual prose. It made an enjoyable story unbearable to read.

Rated 3 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

This was just a okay romance, it did not have many romantic moments or much banter for it being frenemies to lovers. I did find the main couple cute and thought they had a lot in common but I wanted more romantic moments. The POV for the MMC felt very stilted but I think that was due to his personality. I also thought the ending was minor jarring. I did overall enjoy this but I can also see a lot of issues that maybe with a little more editing or changes could have made this more memorable for me.

I received an eARC thanks to NetGalley and Bramble. All opinions are my own.

The enemies to friends to lovers trope was so well done—it had just the right amount of tension, banter, and heart. The chemistry between the main characters leapt off the page, and I especially appreciated how supportive the MMC was when the FMC faced harassment at work—he had her back without overshadowing her strength. The found family vibes from the FMC’s friend group added so much warmth and depth to the story. A perfect mix of swoon, sass, and emotional depth!

Based on the description, I had very high hopes for this book and I will say overall, the storyline and plot was pretty good. It was just the writing that didn't necessarily do it for me. I loved the multicultural romance, and it was definitely a nice break from traditional romance books and random places sex scenes lol

However, one thing I didnt enjoy was Charles' POV. The writing was kind of weird and clipped. I understand the idea of wanting it to sound different and maybe even more personal, but it just feels weird while reading.. I also didn't enjoy how during dialogue, the author decided to put their initials and what they said, it makes it look more like a move script during dialogue and again, makes it hard to read at that point.


Of course, thank you so much Zen Cho, Tor Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Cute contemporary romance with other themes of multicultural familial relationships and expectations. Good chemistry with the characters and definitely a PG13 account of things.

Kriya is following her supervisor to a new, high-powered law firm where she must share an office with her longtime “nemesis,” Charles Goh. This coincides with both Kriya and Charles each needing a reason for a fake romantic partner–Charles needs to assure his overreaching family that he is not gay, and Kriya needs to frighten away her boss, who is now sexually harassing her. Of course, this fake relationship only reveals Kriya and Charles’ incredible attraction. As they discover the problems of merging their corporate culture with their cultural heritage, they also learn how much they want a life outside of their all-consuming work.

I love diverse representations in romance, and I love The Hating Game, so I was truly excited to read this book. The representation of Malay and Lingnan culture did indeed serve as my favorite part of the book. The hilarious Malay friend group, the disapproving aunties, and the desire for justice for places that are still recovering from colonialism add moments of uniqueness to an otherwise standard office romance plot.

As much as the premise and representation work, the work plot line and the central chemistry each left me wanting. The legalese in many scenes seems excessive, and the plot with the supervisor feels predictable. I also wanted the scenes of intimacy to be more thoroughly developed and made into a focus. Charles is an admirable character, and I loved seeing the moments in which he parallels Darcy, but he does not gain strength over the book, and I found myself wishing that he would be more of a fighter.

Readers seeking new twists on a workplace romance may find success with this book. It is also worth mentioning that Kriya is a curvy, accomplished heroine who is easy to admire.

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to try this one out!

ehind Frenemy Lines is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romance, but it reads more like a hate-to-love story. Charles and Kriya aren’t truly enemies, their early interactions are more awkward and curt than genuinely antagonistic. There's tension, yes, but not the kind rooted in true conflict.

Charles Goh is a socially awkward, by-the-book kind of guy who often gives in to his family’s guilt trips, making him come across as a bit of a pushover. Kriya, on the other hand, is feeling stuck and reeling from a breakup. She feels stagnant in her career and doesn't really do much about it until the end (which makes sense, you need time to build up the guts to leave.). When she follows her boss to a new company, she ends up working alongside Charles and, unexpectedly, sharing an office with him. Their proximity leads to more time together and eventually, a fake dating situation.

This is a cute workplace romance with a solid hate-to-love dynamic. Both characters clearly rub each other the wrong way at first, yet there's a magnetic pull between them. I enjoyed the story overall, it’s a quick, fun read but I found myself wishing for more flirting, more banter, and more scenes of Charles and Kriya as a couple. The ending, in particular, felt rushed; I wanted more time with them together. But that's just my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Bramble for the eARC!

"Award-winning author Zen Cho delivers a sparkling and witty rivals-to-lovers romance reminiscent of Sally Thorne's The Hating Game and Sajni Patel's The Trouble with Hating You.

Sparks fly when an ambitious rules-bound lawyer clashes with a maverick new hire who threatens his chances of partnership - and the walls he's built around his heart.

Charles Goh has always played by the rules. It's how he survived his difficult childhood as the swotty foreigner at a posh English boarding school - and now, his high-pressure job at one of the biggest corporate law firms in London. His job is his life and he's happy that way...until she shows up.

Kriya Rajasekar's lost her way. Her longtime boyfriend's broken up with her and she feels trapped in her legal career. She knows she needs a fresh start - but it turns out her new job is at the same firm as her work nemesis. Charles Goh is like the bad luck charm she keeps running into, and their encounters lead to disaster every single time. And now he's her office mate.

But just as they're figuring out how to navigate this frenemy relationship, Kriya needs Charles' help: pretend they're dating so her boss will stop hitting on her. Soon, it becomes less clear whether they're enemies, friends - or something else."

I will read anything Zen Cho writes.

Zen Cho’s Behind Frenemy Lines is a sharp, witty rivals-to-lovers romance that delivers equal parts banter and heart. Charles and Kriya’s dynamic crackles with tension as they navigate office politics, unexpected proximity, and a fake-dating scheme that blurs the lines between rivalry and romance. Cho masterfully balances humor with emotional depth, making both characters compelling and deeply relatable. With sizzling chemistry and an engaging storyline, this novel is an irresistible read for fans of sharp dialogue and slow-burn romance.

An absolute delight; the kind of book that, once it gets rolling, will not let the reader stop reading (literally: "a few pages at lunch" turned into a lost afternoon, following with bated breath as Priya and Charles navigated their way through a perfect enemies-to-lovers arc). The protagonists are smart, even when they are dumb; the times they make poor choices, Cho perfectly describes the tortured route of overthinking and self-justification that each takes to arrive at their decision. They are funny and wry and self-aware. Cho's knowledge of the world of high-powered lawyering shines through, and the secondary characters (Priya's group of overly enthusiastic friends, Charles's anime-obsessed cousin) enliven and expand the world beyond the boundaries of "firm life."

I liked this book a lot, but I mainly review SFF, which this is not -- it's a delightful romance, between two former enemies. The characters are well done and the writing is delightful. Zen Cho usually writes fantasy, but this is straight-up romance.

I'm a big fan of whatever this was. Rivals to lovers? Check. Workplace romance? Kind of. I really liked both of the main characters and thought they were strong individually but I really liked them as a couple as well even though we don't get to see much of that. I loved the fact that the story had a law backdrop and the drama filled family dynamic was also good. Some may be turned off by Charles' social awkwardness but I adored him. Kriya's friends were a hoot and I liked the scenes with them involved. All of the food talk made me want to eat the delicious meals they were talking about.

All in all I really enjoyed this book and I'm excited to have a new author to rave about.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Behind Frenemy Lines was a quick, fun romance that I sped through. There was a little less romance than I anticipated, but I still really enjoyed Kriya and Charles's dynamic. This was also a more realistic book and not filled with tropes, which I actually found refreshing. The dual points-of-view also really worked; Kriya and Charles have very different perspectives, with his chapters reading as very analytical.