I got this book through NetGalley and want to thank them for the chance to read it early.

Tropes:
- rivals to lovers
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- dual POV and third person
- bookish setting
- he falls first
This is a standalone novel and Elise Wayland’s romance debut.

The story follows Maureen “Mo” Denton and Wesley Spencer, two writers competing to get their adaptations of a classic called The Proud and the Lost approved. When the deceased author’s daughter sets up a weekend at her estate to evaluate their proposals, these two rivals end up under the same roof, and what starts as pure professional rivalry slowly turns into something much deeper.

Mo is one of those protagonists who wins you over right away. She’s an aspiring writer from the Midwest who’s making ends meet waitressing in New York, and there’s this genuineness about her that makes it easy to root for her. She’s witty, determined, and completely obsessed with books (and cheese!). She’s not one of those perfect characters who does everything right, which is exactly what makes her believable and likable. Her passion for literature is infectious, and the way she handles financial struggles without losing her optimism is really admirable.

Wes, on the other hand, could easily come across as your typical privileged guy - son of a famous influencer and successful literary agent - but Wayland does a great job digging beneath the surface. He’s bisexual, which is handled really naturally, and has layers that unfold gradually. What strikes me most is his desire to make it on his own merit rather than riding on his mother’s name, and how caring and protective he becomes with Mo. He’s not your typical two-dimensional love interest - he has his own vulnerabilities and secrets.

What I love about this story is how the relationship between these two develops. They genuinely start as rivals, with all the friction that comes with that, but spending the weekend together they discover they have way more in common than they thought. Their dialogue is sharp and full of cutting remarks that gradually transform into something sweeter and more intimate. Sure, there are obstacles - their different backgrounds create some tension and there are secrets that complicate things - but that just makes the story feel more realistic.

Wayland’s writing flows really well and draws you in, with a style that’s both creative and accessible. The literary references and publishing world details are plentiful but never heavy-handed, creating an atmosphere that book lovers will definitely appreciate. The dialogue has personality and strikes the right balance between funny moments and romantic scenes.

Overall, I really enjoyed Rivals to Lovers. It’s a romance that knows how to use classic tropes without ever feeling predictable, with well-developed characters and a story that keeps you glued to the pages. If you’re looking for contemporary romance set in the literary world, with believable protagonists and good chemistry, this book might be right up your alley. It’s a promising debut that left me curious to read more from this author.

As the books get read and the stories known, Maureen and Wes start to know eachother... maybe they're not as different as they thought.

I personally love a good rivals to lovers book, but the second I read this book's blurb I knew it would become a favourite.

Maureen and Wes come from very different backgrounds and were raised on polar opposites. They were brought together by something I understand very well, the love for a book. And when I tell you the love for this book was big, I kinda want to read The Proud and the Lost now.

I want to be friends with Maureen and Wes. I fell in love with both of them, their personalities jumped from the paper and trapped me in their charm. Their chemistry was bubbling and the atmosphere charged with possibility.

The way society was used in the construction of the book was masterful. In the end, society and upbringing shapes us, but why should we let it become us? I think these two amazing characters, these incredible individuals will become some of my favourites.

4 ⭐ and I will surely read this again once it hits shelves and I can physically add it to my collection.

This is one of my favorite troupes. I loved the MCs, their story line and found myself smiling throughout the book. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I’m all for rival to lovers trope. This book was cute and fun. I was a little disappointed in how fast they fell in love I wish they would have had a rival for a little bit longer . But it was cute I also would have love more of a backstory on Wes and mo. I felt like the ending brought it together for me

This contemporary romance features two authors competing to adapt the same classic novel, leading to a delightful mix of rivalry and romance. With literary conversations and a compelling narrative, it's a perfect read for book lovers.

clever, smart, fun and joyous was what this book gives me and so much more besides. it took me right out of myself to a cosy and uplifting read.
i loved how the love of books featured in this plot. and how much you want to find out whats going to happen next both between our two characters and the plots "decisions" we invest ourselves in. i liked getting to know the characters and just what the book involved meant to them. for Mo im sure many lovers of reads can relate to how much this book effected her from a young age and still holds such a special place in her life and heart.
the writing for the interactions between our two main characters i just divine. watching how at the start they were in competition of sorts with each other, to then getting to know, spending time and finding they actually liked each other was so addictive to read. and it definitely goes a whole lot deeper than that.
i loved also how being a reader and the love of books is woven so closely through this book.
this book gives us Mo and Wes who have just written adaptions of a classic book. but they are pitted against each other when both their books are optioned. so one will be published and one ultimately deleted from existence.
so of course there is immediate rivalry. but they get to know each other and a bond soon forms. but there is more to come not just the book that will test them. and how do they figure out whats going on between them with both their futures on the line.oh, are we nervous for how our pair will end up. but loved finding out what did.

Rivals to Lovers is a fun and slow paced romance filled with sharp banter that make the enemies to lovers trope so enjoyable. The dynamic between the leads keeps the story moving, especially thanks to Mo, whose wit and charm steal the show. Her sense of humor adds a lightness that balances out the more emotional beats, and she was easily the most relatable and engaging character for me.

That said, I found it difficult to fully connect with Wes, the main male character. While his role in the story is important there was a certain emotional distance or lack of depth that made it hard to enjoy his chapters. His development felt a little underexplored, and privileged.

I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of how bizarre and intricate the book publishing world could be, having them complete to publish added tension.
Overall, Rivals to Lovers is an enjoyable light read. It delivers on the tension and chemistry, even if one half of the love story doesn’t quite hit the mark. Mo alone is worth the read.

This was cute, but it didn’t totally blow me away. I liked the concept, two writers competing over their versions of the same story? So fun. Mo was passionate and relatable, and I liked the tension between her and Wes, even if some moments felt a little forced. The pacing dragged here and there, and I didn’t always feel super connected to the characters, but the overall vibe was cozy and creative. Not a new favorite, but definitely a light, bookish romance that fans of rivals-to-lovers might enjoy.

Don’t let the rosy, slightly generic cover fool you—"Rivals to Lovers" runs deep. I actually wish the design reflected more of the book’s layered themes, because I loved it.

The prose? Absolutely magical. Creative, lyrical, flowing, and quietly mesmerizing. Elise Wayland’s writing pulls you in and doesn’t let go. I was especially drawn to the meta angle—two writers adapting a fictional classic (a literary landmark à la "The Great Gatsby") while entangled in their own evolving story. It’s clever, nuanced, and brilliantly executed.

And the love stories—plural—woven throughout? Beautiful. Some were ending, others continuing, transforming, or just quietly existing in the background. I loved the subtle complexity they added without ever overshadowing the central plot.

As for the FMC and MMC—honestly, I have nothing to say except that they were perfectly themselves. Vivid, honest, and alive on the page. Elise Wayland is a genius, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read this gem.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC!

Rivals to Lovers by Elise Wayland is a contemporary romance set in Manhattan, centered around two writers, Mo Denton and Wes Spencer, competing to adapt a classic feminist novel. Their rivalry turns into a slow-burn romance as they navigate their differences and growing attraction.he pacing may be slow for those seeking more immediate action. Nonetheless, Rivals to Lovers is recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven romances with a literary twist.

The chemistry between the main characters is awesome from the beginning, and I really enjoyed how their banter slowly shifted from sarcasm to something much sweeter. Elise did a great job balancing sass with sweetness, and the emotional payoff by the end is perfection.

It did take me a bit to warm up to the characters they’re both a little too stubborn for my taste in the beginning which sometimes drives me crazy, but once they started to fall for each other I was fully invested. I love a slow burn but sometimes it’s too slow and this felt like that at times. I still really enjoyed this book overall.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

‘Rivals to Lovers’ is exactly that - a romance blossoming between two competing writers, both seeking for their adaption of their favourite classic novel to be approved for publication. Maureen and Wesley are from completely different spheres of life - Mo has moved to the city to pursue writing but still has to work in catering to support herself, while Wes knows a life of connections and wealth as the child of a very famous lifestyle influencer.

Written across two parts, ‘Rivals to Lovers’ follows Maureen and Wes as they first meet as rivals. Both writers are fighting to have their adaptation of their favourite classic novel - The Proud and the Lost - approved for publication by the estate of the late author. The first part was all about the rivalry, and the second part about discovering their romance, and it sometimes felt like these were two novellas in the same book, featuring the same characters. While the ‘competition’ for adaptation rights is always in the present of the book, I was expecting there to be more build up to the weekend away where they pitch their books. Given this was the main event of the book and what was mentioned in the book’s summary, I was surprised that it took place so early. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and I still enjoyed the read, I did feel that the pacing could have been better to help this main event occur a little bit later in the book.

That being said, ‘Rivals to Lovers’ is written well and is an easy read that lovers of enemies-to-lovers and rivals-to-lovers will surely enjoy. The romance between Mo and Wes comes hard and fast, and their banter is an absolute delight to read. I was just wishing their rivalry (not their professional one) had lasted a tiny bit longer before the romance came in.
Probably the only part of their romance I didn’t like was an excess of miscommunication and not coming clean with information soon enough. With our bi-MMC and his close friends there was great representation for sexuality in this book, and some really open and refreshing conversations about sexuality in the publishing world. I thought the dual POV was done very well, and I liked that this romance novel didn’t feel like another one pulled from a cereal box.

‘Rivals to Lovers’ really felt like an ode to readers and lovers of all things bookish, and it was a joy to read about romance in a literary setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for sending me a digital ARC of ‘Rivals to Lovers’. All opinions shared in this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mo & Wes are semi-strangers but have both, unbeknownst to each other, have been following each others careers. When they meet, it’s essentially to go head to head to try and get their books picked up by the daughter of a famous author. Throughout this process they learn each other, not just in the literal sense, but also in the literary, emotional, and physical sense as well.

While I thought this was a sweet story & enjoyed hearing both points of view throughout, it was not my favorite book. There were a lot of unnecessary details that made the book feel like it was dragging at times. It really picked up speed by about 85% with more action packed into the final 15% of the book, but I wish it had picked up sooner so the exciting bits could’ve gone on longer.

ich weiß nicht, ob ich das ganze zu kritisch sehe, aber die geschichte liest sich wie "the great big beautiful life" von emily henry. also es fühlt sich wirklich an, als hätten die zwei autorinnen zusammen an ihren büchern gearbeitet. daher für mich leider nicht das richtige.

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced release copy of this book. This book was such a fun read!

I really liked this book. At first glance it reminded me a bit of Great Big beautiful life, but it turn out way different (which was so good), since this is truly more focused on the romance.
This was funny, cute & sweet. The rivalry between the two main characters was good, both of them being writers after the same job.
Sometimes the pacing felt a bit off; some chapters were too slow for me & other too rushed. It still got me hooked on the story all the way through.

Overall, I would recommend it, specially to people who enjoy books about books/writers.

Mo Denton is an aspiring writer hoping to publish her adaption of a classic book. Wes Spencer is a literary agent who has also written an adaptation for the same book. When both Wes and Mo get the opportunity to visit the author’s family home to have one of their books chosen for publication, things get complicated with their budding attraction for one another. This contemporary romance told from both Mo’s and Wes’s point of view will appeal to both book lovers and romance readers.

Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC! I loved the concept of a couple brought together by their shared passion. It was such a sweet setup, and their slow fall into love was lovely. That said, it just didn’t quite have enough momentum to keep me fully engaged.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Alcove Press for this eARC! I've got to be honest, I'm fairly disappointed. I tried to pick this up several times, and just couldn't get into the story or these characters. I found the pacing all over the place and characters to be one-dimensional. The rivals weren't rivaling, I actually found this to be insta-love. Maybe my expectations were different because of the title? Either way, this wasn't my favorite and I ended up DNFing.
On a positive note, I love Elise's writing style and hope she continues to bring her stories to life!

This was… fine. I’m sorry, I really wanted to like this. It sounded just like the cutesy bookish romance with heart that I needed. But all I can say is I simply was not compelled. I was just missing that je ne sais quoi, that x factor, that special sauce.