I had the pleasure of reading Here Comes Trouble thanks to NetGalley (huge thanks to them!), and I have to say—it was a surprisingly engaging read. This book has a Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman vibe, so if you loved that one, you’ll definitely enjoy this too. The story unfolds over just two weeks, but despite the short time frame, everything feels believable and well-developed.

Jess Lafayette works for a magazine and takes life way too seriously. Her childhood left a deep mark on her—her mother, a former model, always dreamed of Jess following in her footsteps, but she never felt like she measured up. Forced into beauty pageants she hated, she spent years carrying the weight of judgment and disappointment.
Being watched and evaluated still makes her uncomfortable, so she prefers to keep a low profile. Her journey in this book is a slow and beautiful realization of self-worth, helped by someone who’s also battling his own demons.

Xander Heaton is an artist with a rough past, and after the harsh criticism of his latest exhibition, he’s completely lost his inspiration. The fear of failure haunts him, and the thought of not being “special” anymore has trapped him in a shell of detachment and self-defence.
He’s always kept people at arm’s length to protect himself, but Jess manages to break through his walls, showing him what he didn’t want to admit: his obsession with success has pushed everyone away. He needs to find himself again—but most importantly, he needs to understand that his worth isn’t defined by other people’s opinions.

Their relationship is a perfect example of opposites attract—she’s methodical and cautious, he’s impulsive and troubled. Forced to work together, their dynamic unfolds naturally and engagingly, with sharp dialogue and an attraction that builds gradually and convincingly.
Their chemistry is undeniable, and the spicy scenes are perfectly balanced—intense but never forced or out of place. Every moment between them is packed with emotion, and the way Xander makes Jess feel special is one of the best parts of the story.

Here Comes Trouble is a quick read (just ten chapters!), perfect for a weekend. Despite its brevity, the story is well-paced and delivers genuine emotions. It’s the kind of romance that sticks with you—thanks to its flawed yet deeply human characters and a story that, while unfolding in a short time, feels completely authentic. If you love short, spicy opposites attract romances, this one is a must-read!

I wanted to like this more than I did. The chemistry just wasn’t there for me between the characters. It was a quick and easy read but there was just something lacking, it felt a little too forced.

I did appreciate the way themes of body image issues/dysmorphia were handled and that was one of the redeeming aspects of the story for me but overall it was just a bit lacklustre.

A great short story packed full of detail, spice and vulnerability.

I often struggle with novella's. It is hard to find that balance of enough story and pull with less pages. This book hit that good novella stride for me.

The initially opposites attract and mutual need between Jess and Xander grabbed me. They were tentative but fun and I could see their potential.

The way they opened up to the other while simultaneously calling the other out fit perfectly.

Overall, I very much enjoyed their story and thought it was very good for such a short one.

This book went by so quick and I wish I meant that in the best way. It was fine, very short and quick to read. I think the issue for me was how fast the relationship seemed to happen and we were thrown into this world with little to no backstory. This made it feel forced trying to root for these characters relationship without being attached to them beforehand. I feel if this book was 100-150 pages longer and provided us with more information I would have enjoyed it a lot more. I understand the author wanting to write this as a novella but it should have been changed into a novel instead. Thank you NetGalley and and Boldwood Books for the chance to read this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books Publishing for the opportunity to receive an ARC of Here Comes Trouble by Christy McKellen.

This book follows Jess, a journalist on the verge of being let go from Spark due to her subpar writing. However, an unexpected opportunity arises when she is assigned to interview Xander, a once-renowned artist looking to reclaim his status in the art world. If her article is good enough, she just might save her job.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I struggled to feel the romantic connection between Jess and Xander until the final two chapters. From the beginning, Xander comes across as self-absorbed, focused solely on reviving his career, while Jess often feels like a pushover. The story also touches on body dysmorphia and eating disorders, so readers sensitive to these topics should be aware.

I just finished Here Comes Trouble by Christy McKellen, and I am completely obsessed! This book was the perfect mix of sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and just the right amount of emotional depth to keep me hooked from start to finish. The characters were vibrant and dynamic, and their push-and-pull tension had me grinning the entire time.

I love a romance where sparks fly and trouble only makes things more interesting—this book delivered that and then some! Christy McKellen has such a way with words, crafting a story that’s equal parts fun, flirty, and full of heart. I’m officially adding her to my must-read author list! If you love a romance that keeps you smiling, swooning, and rooting for love, this one is an absolute must!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing the ARC.

This book was deeply lackluster for me.

I couldn't relate to any of the characters, Jess was almost like a caricature of your typical woman making it in the real world, and Xander was really smarmy, not in a good way. There was no chemistry between the two characters. They felt as dry as toast. I hoped for more from them, but I got nothing. The prose is also very rudimentary and doesn't evoke any emotional attachment. It was just all very bland.

I'm sure some people will like this book, but I am not one of them unfortunately.

"Here Comes Trouble" reads more like a novella, balancing spicy tension with deeper themes, including the characters' struggles with mental health. Journalist Jess is assigned to write about Xander, but instead of exposing his truths, she finds herself stepping out of her comfort zone as he helps her see her worth. Their connection brings them both a renewed sense of purpose.

For its shorter length, the pacing was solid, but the journalism and art aspects felt underdeveloped. Jess rarely focused on writing her article, and it took a while for Xander to start her portrait, despite it being central to their deal. Additionally, the ethics of Jess sleeping with her subject weren’t really addressed, which felt like a missed opportunity.

Jess was a great character, and I was rooting for her to find confidence amid her anxiety. Xander, the classic 'misunderstood bad boy,' was intriguing but had a history of treating women poorly. While he aimed to redeem himself, some of his behavior throughout the book made it hard to fully support his character.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

You name a romcom trope, it’s likely in this book. It was cute and a VERY quick read but I think it could have benefitted from being longer, as a lot of the story seemed rushed.

Extremely rushed with no believable chemistry between the characters. They meet, within minutes she decides to join him in Italy despite being portrayed as extremely insecure and shy. Then suddenly she’s taking the lead and kissing him. Again, with minimal chemistry. There were hints of depth for the characters but it didn’t really get into it much. Overall it felt rushed and shallow. I reread the description and it doesn’t describe it as a novella.

i did, in fact, not have a good time.

this felt like trope-stravaganza, written just to sell and go viral. get your coin, by all means, but at least be entertaining. and please don't give me bland characters and a sleazy love interest.

this was too short, with little to no development, and it would benefit from both being longer and from another round of edits to cement the characters' personalities and make them more likable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this e-ARC.

Jess is a journalist for a magazine. According to her editor, she needs to find a way to bring life into her pieces. Xander is an artist that has lost his touch. He believes Jess could be exactly what he needs in order to bring back his inspiration.

I found the pace rushed. The characters meet one another and maybe a hour later Xander is asking if she’ll go to Italy with him. The attraction between the characters is instantaneous. Despite the attraction being on page, I didn’t feel a connection to their relationship. I am glad, however, that the characters had depth, they had their own story/issues. I think if it was flushed out a little bit more, I would feel more connected to the story and characters.

I did like the idea behind his “grand gesture” at the end though!

In Here Comes Trouble, we read about Jess, a journalist, and Xander, a famous artist who is known to be a bad boy. Jess' boss gives her a last chance to write a good article about Xander; Xander agrees to being interviewed by Jess in exchange of having Jess as his muse for his next art exhibit. Jess and Xander embark to an adventure in Italy (only place away from London, where Xander can fully focus in his art).

Here Comes Trouble by Christy McKellen was just an ok read. The author did a good job in creating characters with their own issues/traumas; however, the relationship between the main characters lacked chemistry, which made it difficult to cheer for their relationship.

Thank you Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

A quick romance but a gooden. We've got a journalist trying to prove herself. And the artist that's seen as just "one of those blokes" right? But there's more to him than meets the eye (thank god) and he helps her to see these more to her than she believes and allows to show too.
Just the right length,spice and romance. With believable characters and a fab and fun storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this novella.
This is a short story about a artist and a journalist. The artist previously had a bad review and the journalist is interviewing him before his next exhibition.

You get forced proximity, opposites attract and bad boy reputation. I really enjoyed the characters development, both together and individually. I found that the characters really help d each other to grow to who they wanted to be.

Overall I thought it was a cute short story. I liked the way the characters were brought together, however it did really a little rushed in certain points.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this E-ARC!

Jess is a journalist early in her career who is desperately trying to prove to her boss (and herself) that she’s got what it takes.

Xander is an artist and notorious playboy who also happens to be Jess’ new interview assignment.

When Xander invites Jess to Italy for an exclusive interview, she finds that there’s more to this artist, than meets the eye!

This novella is short and sweet but felt a little rushed at the end. I was left wanting to know more about their feelings and relationship.

I really wanted to like this book - but it was an inconsistent reading experience for me.

Breaking the book into thirds -

The first third was slow. I wasn't quite as engaged as the story didn't grab me from the onset, but I could sense that it was building up. I could tell that there were more layers to Jess but they took time to unravel. Xander - jury was out for me because again - I couldn't really know or understand his character. So the beginning was muddling and I wasn't really convinced at this point but I perservered!

The second third was a lot better. Jess & Xander's time in Italy - I could feel the chemistry starting to build and inklings of tension. Then, they got together and it was just sort of glossed over. These are 2 very interesting & difference characters and there was some fertile ground to explore in playing out their dynamic. Instead, we got a summary of their relationship and it quickly jumps to the next phase.

The last third was confusing for me. It felt rushed and I didn't quite buy into decisions on both sides. So it ended up being a little dissatisfying.

Overall, a lot of potential with the story here but that didn't quite come through.

Put a by the rule's reporter and a notorious bad boy artist together and you have a great spicy book to read. I absolutely loved this book. It had the perfect amount of spice, romance, and the story wasn't dragged out like most romance books these days.

Jess has the chance to prove to her boss that she is a good writer after one of her coworkers falls sick, when artist Xander invites her to Italy to interview him. Xander is known to go with the flow, short romances with his models. and he keeps his background story secret. Jess has the chance to get close to Xander on this trip and maybe finally get him to tell his story.

This is a quick fun read and makes me want to take off to Italy and find an artist for myself.

I didn't particularly enjoy this read. The premise was good - obviously, or I wouldn't have requested it - but it promised more than it delivered.
Perhaps it was because it was such a short book. There wasn't really enough time to get to know the characters or for the two main characters to even get to know each other.
I got the impression that the author was trying to convince the reader of the chemistry between Jess and Xander and it just didn't work.
Neither Jess nor Xander are that lovable either. I think I'd go so far as to call it boring.

It was a novela, so it moved quick. I think it could have used more pages to give the characters time to connect and grow. I didn't buy their connection. I felt that she tried to tie in some deep topics, but it could have used more time to really build their characters and their relationship.

It was a quick romance that I could see some people really enjoying.