This book is a must read for everyone who loves a little ennemies/rivals to lovers. It’s so well written and extremely engaging. I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know how the story unfold. I enjoyed the characters and the suspense, their chemistry and banter was also 10/10! I’m totally smitten with Wes… 🤭 The anticipation was on point.

I loved how complex Wes and Mo were, and seeing their character development. I would’ve loved to learn more about Wes coming out and accepting his bisexuality. I don’t usually see bisexual MMCs, so I would’ve liked to delve deeper into this. But I find it interesting either way.

This book perfectly describes the love for a story, how it touches and you and builds you. It reminded me a little of A Study in Drowning and Divine Rivals, which are my favorite books.

The side characters were also really interesting and fun, like Mo’s and Wes’ friends, Ulla, or Gary and Estelle’s story.

This book delivered everything I was expecting and more. I recommend it a 100%!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. It was everything I needed and more. ✨

One classic book. Two adaptations. A competition that shakes up everything.

Rivals to Lovers on paper should have been a book I loved. It had a unique premise, rival authors both vying to be the one chosen to adapt their favourite classic novel but there weren’t as many ‘rival’ scenes as I expected that really leaned into this trope. Wes throughout the story was constantly trying to make sure that both their novels had equal opportunity.

I did really enjoy the MCs banter, but would have loved more of the tension and fun that comes with a rivals to lovers story. I found the connection between Mo and Wes to be sweet but I would have liked a bit more spice (but that’s just me 😂).

Taking the romance aspect out of the equation, I enjoyed the way the author explored both characters love of the original novel. She did a fantastic job illustrating how the same story, the very same scenes, can mean entirely different things to different people. It reminded me of high school English classes and how we would analyze passages to decipher the author’s true meaning. Did we ever actually come to the right conclusions?

Overall it was a cute, light read. It felt like a tribute to book lovers everywhere and to those first stories that ignited our love of reading.

Read if you like
Writer MCs
Rivals to Lovers
He falls first
Bisexual rep

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC.

Thank you for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rivals to lovers should have won me over on the trope alone, yet everything about it seemed to fall flat. The adaptation of the same novel was unique, but didn’t really engage with the concept of ‘rivals’ as well as it could have.

This felt very romance by numbers, with scenes that felt forced and diversity tick boxes scattered throughout.

This is a perfect recommendation for anyone who loves a good contemporary romance with a literary theme. It is humorous with fantastic banter between the lead characters, and the love for books and reading that pours off the page is something all of us book lovers can resonate with.

This title has been ordered for the library collection, and has a hold list on it. Once it is on the shelves this is one I will recommend and put on display often.

From the blurb it seems they were trying to compare this book to those by Emily Henry. This book felt like someone was trying to be Emily Henry but definitely fell short. Some of the conversations around sexuality rubbed me the wrong way a bit too, I feel like Wes' bisexuality could've been written with more care instead of it feeling like a diversity point.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc💕

I loved the premise of two MCs competing to adapt the same classic novel they both love, but only one can get chosen. It had potential, and started well in the first few chapters. But the “rival” part... didn’t last long. For a book called Rivals to Lovers, I was expecting more of that fun, playful banter and tension. There were some of it, but not enough to fully convince me of the rivalry. And I struggled to connect with the characters too. Some of the parts also felt boring and dragged out. I feel like the book could've been shorter.

Overall, it was a cute, light read. Not a favorite, but still enjoyable in some parts, especially the ending. I adored the last few chapters. And who knows, it might work better for you, so don’t let my review stop you from picking it up!😊

Read if you like:
🖊Writer MCs
🔥Rivals to Lovers (obvi)
😍 He falls first
💋"Let's get it out of our systems"
💗 Bisexual rep

Mo and Wes are both writing an adaption of the same classic novel. As they are forced to spend time together they move from rivals to lovers, but what will happens when one of them wins the chance to have their adaption published? I liked how it was told from both points of view. A great read.

This is a bookish romance that pits two writers against each other in a battle to adapt their favorite classic novel. Mo, a devoted fan of the book, and Wes, the literary agent representing the original author’s estate, find themselves in a high-stakes competition when the estate’s heir invites them both to pitch their adaptations. Despite the professional rivalry, there is also undeniable chemistry. While the rivals-to-lovers tension could have been more pronounced, the connection between Mo and Wes is sweet and engaging. Their shared love for storytelling feels like a nod to all of us readers who love stories old and new.

The pacing stumbles slightly in the middle, and some conflicts seemed to resolve a bit too neatly, but overall it's an enjoyable read. Fans of Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood will appreciate the literary setting.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.

Who doesn’t love a good enemy to lovers trope? Me usually. Lol but this book was so fun to read and it kept me really excited the whole time. This book kept me on my toes the entire time. I love a great rom-com with witty banter, I loved it.

Rivals to Lovers by Elise Wayland is an entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
They are realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

Thank You NetGalley and Alcove Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is my first book I have read by Elise Wayland. Rivals to Lovers is about Wes and Mo who are in competition to have their novel adaption pick to be published. This was a cute read for me I would have given it a 4 star but the romance just didn't hit for me. I can't wait to read more by this author.

This was a cute story and I loved the premise! Something about the main characters fell a little flat for me and I had a hard time connecting with them and their relationship. But I really enjoyed the plot and the side characters and now kind of want to read The Proud and the Lost and both adaptations!

This was a cute read, perfect for book lovers like me!

The two main characters each wrote an adaptation of an old classic and were in competition to see which one would get chosen by the estate to move forward. Of course the line between rivals and lovers is very thin and sparks fly between them right from the start.

I always enjoy books about books and this one was no exception. I thought both main characters were very sweet and I enjoyed seeing them fall for each other. They had excellent banter, but I wanted more of it! I also felt like they crossed the line from rivals to lovers very quickly and I wished for more time where they were rivals because that was where the best banter, yearning and tension was.

I was happy with the way the story unfolded, and honestly wasn't sure at all whose book would be chosen. I love a story that isn't too predictable! It definitely kept me turning pages quickly. There was a third act conflict, which I never mind in a romance, but I did feel like it got resolved a bit too quickly and neatly.

Ultimately I will say that I definitely recommend this one to anyone who is a fan of sweet romance, particularly set in the book/publishing world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the e-arc!

To be honest I found this book to be very middling. It didn’t hold me but there was nothing specifically bad about it

3.5 stars
The premise of the book is an absolute winner: two writers in New York have rewritten their respective adaptations of a classic that the original author’s estate is picky with retelling. For lovers of classics — or just books in general — retellings and adaptations are a sensitive subject, but when done well, it can make the whole exercise feel so sacred. (I personally love retellings or when a novel is in conversation with another novel…you get the drift)

As an Emily Henry fan, I am biased towards book plots with this kind of literary fabric. You learn about the quirks of the publishing industry, while simultaneously getting to celebrate stories. The book started with a whiff of Great Big Beautiful Life, and then took on a life of its own.

There were moments in the book when I would pause, sit and take notice, re-read those sentences because so much truth dripped from a throwaway remark or fleeting conversation. To that end, the book was very realistic and enlightening.
Case in point:

“The curse of being a creative. He had more than enough imagination to play the whole scene out to its frustratingly satisfying conclusion.”

“There were so many uncertainties in publishing, so many maybes or somedays that it was hard to talk about with people not in the business. Relationships were the same way, honestly. She had spent years of her life writing a book that might never see a bookshelf. She’d spent a year dating a man who hadn’t, essentially, understood her at all. In life, so much effort went into something that might really end up being nothing.”

“Sometimes these older books were so much about the mind of the woman, but they didn’t mention her body.”

These were such astute observations that I wanted to sit with Elise and tell her how incredible they were.

The opening scene was gripping and very memorable, but not all character introductions hit me the same way as I made my way through the book. The pace of the plot really bugged me, because the spotlight on critical scenes versus filler scenes was a bit uneven. Not a lot would change from one page to another, then suddenly, things would have flipped entirely. I would have loved a slightly tighter and punchier plot that edited out every extraneous detail.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC

Couldn’t get into this book. I don’t know what it was, but I just felt disconnected. It wasn’t badly written and the characters were okay, but idk maybe it’s because I’ve been in a fantasy kick, so I haven’t been into some contemporary romance.

I do plan on trying to read it again, just not today. I won’t be posting on Goodreads until later out of courtesy to the author

Fun premise and very bookish — two authors competing to adapt their favorite classic. I liked the publishing-world details and the little glimpses of the original story. The romance was cute, but the pacing dragged at times, so it didn’t fully hold my attention at times. Still, the ending was sweet, and I think book lovers will enjoy this one.

Thanks to Elise Wayland and NetGalley for the ARC.

j'ai adoré le contexte ainsi que Mo et Wes, nos deux héros, ils ont su me toucher, me faire vibrer et j'ai apprécié l'intrigue autour de leurs deux histoires. Ils vont devoir convaincre mais en même temps leur compétition est bon enfant et j'ai trouvé cette intrigue vraiment géniale, j'étais curieuse de savoir qui allait "gagner" et de quelle manière l'autrice allait l'amener. L'intrigue m'a tiré quelques larmes mais encore davantage de sourires et de rires et on les quitte d'une très jolie manière. Une romance entre douceur et tendresse mais aussi intensité et rires !

I’ll just cut to the chase; I did not love this book. It was a good premise, but overall wasn’t great.

Mo and Wes were sweet, but felt very immature. It was insta-lust and it just didn’t feel real. Yuri and Estelle were great side characters, but we don’t see enough of them. It didn’t start out well, so I wasn’t invested, then stayed fairly bored throughout.

Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two writers, each obsessed with the same classic feminist novel are pitted against each other to create the definitive modern adaptation. The rivals-to-lovers trope was on full display here and the added layer of a high-stakes competition made for a compelling setup.

On the one hand, the book was a love letter to literature and the creative process which was a joy to read. The characters, Mo and Wes had a shared passion that was genuinely infectious and the details about the publishing world and the original author’s estate were fascinating. Their banter was sharp and the undeniable chemistry between them made their journey from professional rivals to reluctant allies and then to something more, incredibly satisfying.

However, the competition aspect which should have been the source of all the dramatic tension, sometimes felt a little too neat. While the rivalry was fun, the secrets Wes was keeping felt a little more like a predictable speed bump than a truly shocking betrayal. The plot followed the familiar beats of the rivals-to-lovers trope a bit too closely and the grand reveal while important to the characters didn't quite deliver the gut punch I had been hoping for.

Overall, it was a fun and charming romance!