Sometimes you come across someone that you continue to cross paths with even when it is uncomfortable. This story shows that happening and how the transformation of the characters progresses with the story.

Rounding up from a 2.5 stars because I liked the premise and I think it showed a lot of promise.
Part of the main reason I didn’t love this book might be just personal preference.
I’m not super into third person, it feels impersonal and I have a hard time getting into the characters and the book feels a lot longer than I think it needs to be.

I expected a lot more rivalry, but by the time they got together, we still had 70% of the book left and I was kind of like what the heck are we gonna be reading now they’ve already stopped being rivals and so it just kind of felt a book about how to adult struggled to talk to each other for hundreds of pages.

I think I would call this more of a modern romance, not necessarily a romcom because I didn’t really find myself laughing out loud.

3.5/5

I felt the need to round up my rating for this debut author and (although not necessarily my all-time favorite) this multi-faceted love story. As a bookish person and avid book lover, I found the book world setting lovely. Publishers, editors, agents, short-stories, submissions with acceptance and rejections, it was all very fascinating and woven in to the story very well. The power dynamics that were lightly discussed, but applicable and poignant in multiple ways was also very enjoyable. I thought the entire time, “this is a perfect book club book for those who love literature and romance.” Truly, this book had several themes, issues, and conflicts that could be explored and discussed at length that would make this enjoyable for any reader to read on their own, but especially with a group.

I wouldn’t say this book was laugh out loud funny, but the banter was wonderful and did having me audibly laughing. Very Emily Henry vibes in that way, while the prose was distinctly this authors own voice. The love story was not contrived, but very natural and felt effortless. Not something grand or over the top with emotion, but uniquely its own and simple like so many love stories are in their reality. There was LGBTQIA+ inclusion and discussion if that is something you prefer and look for in a book. Personally, that’s not something I need, nor look for, but I do understand readers appreciate this.

Wes, for me, was ironically relatable. Neurotic, type A, socially capable and sought out, yet found the complexities of socialization and emoting difficult and exhausting. So many things to juggle. So much nuance. Mo, was exactly the character I would aspire to be. Self-proclaimed type AB, confident and comfortable from life experience, and respectfully confrontational out of necessity, but so good at it. Isn’t it too much to be confident, quippy, and emotionally capable of approaching life or is that all purely fictional?

I will say, I probably would have given this a four anyways without rounding up, had it been written in first person. I love a first person, dual POV romance. Third person just isn’t for me. But I am happy I spent my free time reading this and will likely read more of her work, should the descriptions strike my fancy.

Thank you Elise Wayland, Alcove Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

TLDR: perfect book club book. Promising debut author vibes. So much literary goodness. Third person. Dual POV.

This book gave me all the easy cheesy feels of a good rom-com.
From the wonderful storyline to the funny banter between the main characters there was so much to enjoy about this book.
Both characters were super easy to connect with and I really enjoyed their sense of humour throughout.
The book is exactly what it says on the tin, rivals to lovers and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship blossom.
There was a bit of spice thrown in which honestly just added to the story, Wes just made me melt, I’m a sucker for a guy who knows what he wants.
There was however a fair bit of miscommunication which is not my favourite but was fine and worked within the storyline.
The only reason I gave it four stars and not five was because of the perspective, it was third person but following both the MMC and MFC seperately.
Personally I find it much easier to immerse myself in the world when it’s first person, but that’s a total preference thing.
Overall, a very enjoyable experience which had me smiling at my kindle way too much!

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This was different, and I enjoyed the fact that both main characters were writers. And rivals. But I felt like they weren’t hating each other enough, they started liking each other way too soon for me.
I also enjoyed the writing style, except at some points, or maybe it was just Wes that I didn’t enjoy too much.

Good building of the characters at the beginning of the book but I just couldn't gel with the main characters and I wasn't excited to turn the pages.

As the author states in the acknowledgements, this book is truly a must-read for those who love literature. It serves as a heartfelt tribute to classic works, blending a charming romance with an intriguing exploration of human nature.

Maureen "Mo" Denton and Wesley Spencer are in competition, each offering their own take on the classic novel The Proud and the Lost. They are invited to present portions of their manuscripts to the author’s daughter and her children. During their weekend visit, the rivalry between them evolves into something deeper, and they must navigate various challenges if they hope to make it work.

Several aspects of the story stand out in a positive way. I particularly enjoyed Mo's journey as she learns to embrace her desires for both love and ambition, and how she comes to realize that aiming for big career goals doesn’t have to conflict with her personal life. Additionally, the nods to classic literature and English literature courses were a delightful touch.

However, some elements didn't quite resonate with me. Wes’s inner dialogue delves a bit too much into the physical side of their relationship for my liking. While I’m not opposed to explicit scenes or desires, the way Wes's thoughts were phrased and the timing of these moments made me feel uneasy. Also, a few plot developments that seemed important were glossed over in lengthy descriptive passages, missing the emotional depth I expected from the characters' reactions.

On the whole, I enjoyed the writing style, and the characters' growth throughout the story was rewarding. It’s an enjoyable, quick read, and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates contemporary romance with a classic literature twist.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

wes and mo are super cute!
i personally really enjoyed the book and the whole storyline it follows. it kind of felt like a documentary of someone writing an adaptation but not at the same time.
mo and wes are both authors and work in the literature industry and i feel like this made them relate to each other a lot more personally.
they spend a weekend away together competing to be able to release a book adaptation, which then turns into something more.
gary and estelle were also really cute!
i thoroughly disliked estelle’s daughters too.
i think the whole idea of the story was actually really cool and unique.
if you like tropes such as:
enemies to lovers
rivals
competing
he falls first
then i feel like you will love this book!
it is really heart felt and does have some sad parts but mostly happy and i loved the epilogue and ending!
3.75 stars.

I can't lie, I didn't expect to love this when I first started reading it but I think I kind of did. Wes was really endearing. I liked how determined he was to make a name for himself on his talent, not on his mothers, yet how thoughtful and considerate he was of Maureen.

That, and how immediately gone he was for her. I will never love anything in a romance book more than an MMC that is immediately a goner for the FMC and doesn't even try to deny it to themselves. How magical it would be to live in a world where men like this weren't a minority. Or entirely made-up. I loved how effortless the friendship and relationship between Wes and Mo developed. Their banter just clicked and nothing about them felt forced.

This book was a little corny at times, but it had a couple of laugh out loud moments. It wasn't a remarkably stand-outish book in the world of romance books, but it's definitely for the people who love academic rivals, bookish dorks falling in love with each other and genuinely earnest male main characters.

Maureen and Wes have written a modern adaption of a book they were inspired by while in high school. The original author’s estate has rights and must approved the adaptation leaving Maureen and Wes both vying for the right. They are invited to the estate and are reading their manuscripts to Estelle, the daughter of the original author. I loved that Maureen had to work as a caterer to write while Wes came from a wealthy background and was a literary agent himself. Their friends, family and acquaintances contributed to the story of Maureen and Wes. I enjoyed Maureen’s family, and the puppy farm her sister ran in Iowa. The contrast of New York City and Iowa was fun. There is a lot of love in the story as well as humor, reflection, and pride in all people. Great book!

I think this book had a lot of potential, but continued to fall flat for me. The dialogue felt forced at times and didn't quite seem to fit nicely into any category. I feel like it was trying to be a romance, but even fell flat there.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was SUCH a cute and easy read!! I really don't have any substantial criticism — I enjoyed it thoroughly, it made me smile, laugh, tear up a little, and warmed my heart. The characters were endearing, very relatable, and they had such good, well-written chemistry and banter. The rival to lover trope was done well, and the plot was good and interesting (and new to me!). I liked that the MMC was bi, and I loved that he was called out for his privilege being from a rich, well-connected background. Also looved that the characters weren't teenagers or young, young adults, but my age :).

Perhaps my only criticism is that the spice stood between closed-door and descriptive in a vague sort of way, which I'm not sure is the type for me but might be quite good for others!

Loved the edgehog too haha! The ending and epilogue were super cute. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for an easy, flirty modern romance with an interesting bookish plot!

I loved the chemistry, the characters- the plot, the best way I can describe it is a modern day pride and prejudice! Beautifully written; exactly as the title suggests. If you love the trope, you’ll love this!

4/5!
If you love Pride & Prejudice, I think this book is for you. Wes being from a family of well standing, famous mother and connections wishing the publishing industry whereas Mo is from a small town, working in catering, looking for her big break. Ultimately I thought both charters to be prideful and almost prejudice towards each other.
This book started off really slow and I almost DNF'd it within the first quarter BUT as the characters started competing for the adaptation I found the story picked up pace. I thought Mo and Wes to be socially awkward and slightly neuro- spicy which I think really made me like this story more as I found them really endearing. The ending was super cute and I really enjoyed the slight twist.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the Arc!

This is quite possibly one of my favourite reads of 2025, it was so beautifully written and the chemistry was off the charts. The plot was intriguing and I think it was written really well!

I loved the premise of this book, but ultimately it fell really flat for me.

What worked for me: Mo and Wes had great chemistry and banter. If you love bookish stories and are looking for a low-key romance, this book may be for you!

What didn't work for me: The story fell really flat for me and I felt like I had to really push myself to pick up the book/finish it. When I reached the half way point of the book, it felt like nothing had really happened.

Overall, this was a light and easy read but it fell a little flat.

Rivals to Lovers is a fun, flirty take on the rivals-to-lovers trope, mixing literary ambition with undeniable chemistry. Mo and Wes are both determined to bring their dream adaptation to life, but only one can win—cue the tension, banter, and plenty of stolen glances over well-worn pages.

The premise is fresh and intriguing, though at times the story leans a little too heavily on familiar romcom tropes. That said, the witty dialogue and playful flirtation keep things entertaining, and there are some genuinely funny moments sprinkled throughout.

If you love bookish romances with a competitive edge and a bit of spice, this one is a solid choice. While it doesn’t break new ground, it delivers exactly what you’d expect—a charming, lighthearted read with just enough drama to keep you hooked!

3 stars

Overall, this was mostly cute and enjoyable enough for a Rom-com (a genre I am notoriously picky about0! I enjoyed that both characters were writers and I liked the overarching plot/competition between them, though I wish that their rivalry was a bit stronger, in a sense? Basically, I feel like they started to like each other way faster than I wanted/expected for a book called "Rivals to Lovers." Additionally (though this is a common complaint for me for romcoms), so many of their problems could have been resolved by them just talking to each other earlier on, before things blew up/got complicated! Otherwise, I appreciate that the author added some elements that (at least in my experience) aren't as common in the genre (like the MMC being bisexual, and the book calling him out on his privilege) and it was a pretty easy read, hence my overall rating !

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute book. I did enjoy the premise, but found it to be a little too tropey and similar to other books i had read. There were some funny moments, and the flirting was cute too!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this was really cute! at times i felt like the publishing world setting was almost too much for those who aren't familiar with it (certain parts might be confusing) but on the whole, i think this was heart warming, sweet, and a good comfort read. the competition between the two felt so low stakes at points and so high stakes at all, but it all wraps up into a really satisfying ending which i always enjoy.