I absolutely loved the characters. The spicy scenes were well-written and very good. This book was such a fun read. Especially when it's about books and rivals to lovers. I very much enjoyed everything about this book.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Enemies to Lovers (I think may be more like competition than full on dislike), forced proximity, workplace romance

I enjoyed the story. I had a hard time staying connected to the characters, and sometimes I felt the humor was a little forced or didn't flow as well. But the story is sweet, I liked the characters and the work they wanted to put to grow their connection despite the obstacles and their flaws.

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for this advanced copy.

I don't think any book lately has left me more indifferent than this one. The stories of the two characters never interested me, their chemistry was nonexistent, and the plot, while not standard, lacked that certain je ne sai quoi. As much as the enemy to lovers trope is one of my favorites then, this one also lacked any kind of spark this time. In short, this book is not for me.

Non credo che ultimamente un libro mi abbia lasciato piú indifferente di questo. Le storie dei due personaggi non mi hanno mai interessato, la loro chimica era inesistente e la trama per quanto non standard, mancava di quel certo je ne sai quoi. Per quanto il tropos enemy to lovers sia uno dei miei preferiti poi, anche questo stavolta mancava di qualsiasi tipo di scintilla. In breve, questo libro non fa per me.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

First and foremost, I’m grateful for the chance to read this cozy story before its official publication. Rivals to Lovers is a charming tale set in the world of publishing, where two rival authors, Mo and Wes, compete for the opportunity to publish a retelling of a classic.

From the very beginning, I was drawn in by the main characters. Mo, raised in Iowa with a country upbringing, and Wes, a wealthy Greenwich “nepo baby” with a background in publishing, had intriguing yet polarising backstories. I eagerly anticipated their relationship to unfold.

The supporting characters were also enjoyable to read about. The inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly Wes and his friend Ajay, was refreshing and made me realise that I haven’t encountered enough representation in contemporary fiction.

The premise of a book deal competition intrigued me. I’m fascinated by the world of publishing, so I’m always drawn to stories set in that realm. Early in the story, I found myself rooting for Mo, the underdog with no connections, relying solely on her talent to secure the deal.

I must admit that my primary concern was that it seemed unsure about its intended audience. While adult themes aren’t essential for compelling fiction, it felt as though the author was struggling between a YA closed door romance or more of an adult theme, which led to some scenes feeling clumsy.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would certainly recommend this to my reader friends in the future.

Enemy to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, so maybe that’s why I’m being a little harsher than usual. Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish this book. I made it about halfway through, but I just didn’t feel any real connection to the characters. The beginning was pretty slow, and overall it just didn’t pull me in the way I was hoping. I think the book definitely had potential, but maybe a stronger storyline or a little more chemistry between the characters would have helped. It wasn’t for me, but I’m sure others might enjoy it more!

One weekend is what decides if Maureen and Wesley can turn writers. With differing perspectives and timelines, both have adapted their favourite work. But are they all that different? Can they protect their hearts while learning to embrace their flaws?

General Thoughts
> Character development
I found Wesley's character extremely guarded. Even as the author wants to give the back story, the character is holding them back, not trusting the reader to understand their choices. This is cleverly written.

> Pacing
The book has 2 sections - The Proud and The Lost. The deciding weekend in The Proud is smooth sailing without any subplots or emotional melangerie. The Lost completely loses the control and plots fly at break neck speed.

> Tropes
Typical enemies to Lovers, though the enemies part of it seems to be subdued.

> Setting
I gobbled the mansion architecture for it is rare to get an in into a legendary writer's home. It felt apt for E.J.'s life. The setting of Wesley and Ulla's interactions were noteworthy.

Who Is This Book For?
Interested in reading about aspiring writers, Perfect Rom-Com fans

Clearly this is a book about rivals to lovers, and I think it was beautifully done. I love books about books and authors. I truly loved their rivalry and tenderness towards each other, and how they were able to be supportive and still competitive. Such a sweet and emotional story.

3.5 stars - this was a cute fun read! I thought it was well written and the writing flowed nicely. I thought the idea behind the story, where our FMC and MMC are both competing to have their stories published was a fun and interesting idea. It literally was a rivals to lovers trope which meant it was fun and kept it interesting. Some parts did drag a little bit however overall I thought it was a fun easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this was super cute and a nice pace/change up from my normal reading genre. Definitely recommend! The characters were amazing and having a Bi representation MC was simply an added bonus for this!

Unfortunately DNF'ed this around 50-60 pages for personal reasons. I don't love reading 3rd person POV especially in romance books- I find it hard to connect to the characters when I'm not in their head.

📚✨ Book Review Time! ✨📚
Title: Rivals to Lovers
Author: Elise Wayland
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5 stars)

Enemies? Check.
Sizzling chemistry? Double check.
Witty banter that made me laugh and blush? All the checks. ✔️✔️✔️

Rivals to Lovers by Elise Wayland is everything I want in a slow-burn romance: tension, growth, and that delicious payoff when rivals finally admit there’s more fire between them than fury. 😍🔥

The characters? Iconic. Our leading duo starts off sniping at each other like it’s an Olympic sport, but underneath all the sarcasm is mutual respect—and a whole lot of unresolved tension. Watching them go from “I can’t stand you” to “I can’t stop thinking about you” had me flipping pages like a madwoman. 🫣💕

Wayland nailed the emotional depth, too—it's not just flirty jabs and stolen glances. There’s vulnerability, healing, and that sweet moment when they finally let their walls down. Sigh.

If you love: ✔️ enemies-to-lovers tension
✔️ dual POVs
✔️ smart, stubborn main characters
✔️ a romance that actually earns its ending
This one’s for you. 💌

#Bookstagram #RomanceBooks #RivalsToLovers #EliseWayland #EnemiesToLovers #RomanceReads #BookLovers #BookReview #SlowBurnRomance #ReadingVibes

In this steamy rivals-to-lovers romance set in Manhattan, two writers, Mo Denton and Wes Spencer, compete to adapt their favourite classic novel, The Proud and the Lost. With the author's estate only allowing one project to move forward, they spend a weekend pitching their versions to Estelle Morgan, the daughter of the original author. As Mo and Wes clash and connect, their growing bond is tested by secrets and the fierce competition for their dreams

Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish this book. I made it about half of the way through, but I just didn’t feel any connection to the characters. The beginning was quite slow, and I found myself having to keep rereading because I wasn’t enjoying it at all

I’m genuinely sad I didn’t like this one because the premise is so good, and I really wanted to love it. Hopefully it clicks better for other readers, but it just wasn’t for me

I loved the premise of this book. The dual POVs helped show the conflicting feelings between the FMC and MMC. Although parts were definitely predictable, I really enjoyed the way that the story moved and the way that Wayland tied everything together at the end.

Rivals to Lovers was such a fun, flirty read! The banter between the main characters was sharp and entertaining, and their chemistry totally delivered. I loved the mix of laugh-out-loud moments with just the right amount of emotional depth. If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers with heart and heat, this one’s a win. Can’t wait to see what Elise Wayland writes next!

3 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
This book is for the lovers of literature and the nerds of the publishing world. I enjoyed learning about the world, and the story was fun. I did like the bi representation and the portrayal of the reality of being a writer.
But there were things I did not enjoy. First of all the pacing of the story felt off for me, it was weirdly slow and fast at the same time. Also, I think it's a shame that this book is written in the third person; it prevented me from connecting to the characters at all. They both had their struggles and emotions, but the third-person narration made it feel distant, and I don't think it had any emotional impact on me. The way I can best describe this book is that it was two-dimensional; it was good, but something was missing that would have made it feel more real.
I think I would only recommend this book to a very small niche group of people.

*3.5 stars rounded up*
This book was such a fun and easy read! I was so intrigued by the concept of the book and I felt like I was hooked the entire time reading. The beginning was a bit slow but only because we had to have the MCs backgrounds set up, but once I pushed past that it was hard to put it down.
I loved seeing the character development and growth of both Mo and Wes, but I do wish we got to see a bit more of their "rivalry".
All in all, a very cute and fun romance story!!
Thank you NetGalley for an opportunity to read this story.

I enjoyed this book! I wasn't sure what to expect, but as always, the books I'm not sure about end up being the books I enjoy!
This is so witty, has self-discovery, and digs into how books influence our lives and how those books can shape who we are as adults.
The MMC and FMC are Mo & Wes. Both are authors and have written their own adaptations of a classic book. This makes them rivals that turn to lovers!
The characters are well-developed and I enjoyed their banter.
The plot was structured well.. I didn't enjoy some of Wes's self talk but overall, enjoyed it.
Multiple POV.
It wasn't quite the love story I expected but I enjoyed it in the best way. It also made me laugh and I LOVE when a book can make me laugh.
He falls first - and he falls so hard! Its really just adorable.
Book lovers unite and see if you fall in love with the book about how a book brings love!

Thank you to NetGalley and Elise Wayland for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

although the premise was really good. I love the authors loving a book and making a retelling of their favorite book. the book drug on a bit...... and took a bit to get into. I found so many of the situations and conversations between the mc's boring. I felt like I eye rolled more than actually enjoyed anything I was reading. I couldn't get through this book and ended up stoping the book 1/2 way through...... I couldn't care how it ended.

This book was such a fun and enjoyable read! I loved the concept of two writers competing to adapt the same classic novel—it was creative, fresh, and kept me hooked. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic was done really well, and I enjoyed watching Mo and Wes go from tension to connection. Their chemistry felt natural, and the romantic moments were really sweet (and a little steamy too!).

Mo was such a relatable character, and I appreciated how passionate she was about her writing. Wes had his flaws, but I liked how layered he was. The story had just the right mix of drama, romance, and heart.

Also, can we talk about the cover? It’s so cute and definitely made me want to pick the book up right away.

Definitely recommend it if you love books about writers, enemies-to-lovers, and emotional but fun romances!