The story follows Wesley Spencer and Maureen Denton, who are both writing adaptations of a century-old novel. They’re invited to spend the weekend at the author’s daughter’s massive ten-bedroom mansion, where they’ll take turns reading chapters from their respective versions so she can decide which—if either—gets published.

Unfortunately for Mo, Wes is a well-connected literary agent with a rich and famous mother, and going up against him feels impossible—hence the “rivals” in the title. Of course, as expected in romance, the two eventually fall for each other, but not without clashing over ego, insecurity, and a lingering sense of injustice.

I found the book too long overall and only really started enjoying it in the last quarter, when the story finally started to move. Both characters felt somewhat immature, and I especially disliked Wes and everything he seemed to represent. Still, it was a light read—perfect for anyone who’s ever wondered what it’s like to want to be noticed while constantly being compared to someone you feel you can never compete with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advanced copy.

As a book-lover, I adored how this novel feels like a love letter to literature—reading summaries about how the same classic redefined two people struck a chord. The banter sparked joy, and I found myself rooting for Mo and Wes even if it took a bit to build. Some scenes felt like insta-lust rather than slow-burn, and I get why some readers preferred first‑person POV. Still, the clever setup, literary nods, and emotional growth earned it a sweet 3,5 ☆ —it’s clever, bookish, and meaningful.

Rivals to Lovers has a lot of elements that romcom readers enjoy, including banter, rivalry, a bookish location and the promise of some spice. I'm a big fan of these elements, too, ha had high hopes. Unfortunately I felt this one fell a little flat. The banter wasn't as quick-witted as I like, and the rivalry not as humorous. I also found the main characters had a little less depth than I enjoy, and the promised spice was a bit dull. Perhaps it's that I'm an English journalist and this American book is aimed more squarely at the US market. I did enjoy the book within a book element.

This was so cute and super fun. A perfect lighthearted read and a great palate cleanser! I think it was the perfect blend of tropes.

I enjoyed this book and found it to be an easy read! My only issue was I had just read Great Big Beautiful Life and it felt very similar! Other than that, a great read.

A smart, bookish romance full of heart and tension!
I really enjoyed Rivals to Lovers. It’s a well-paced, clever take on a literary rivalry turned slow-burn romance. Mo and Wes have undeniable chemistry, and their passion for storytelling adds depth to their relationship. The weekend pitch setting made for a fun, high-stakes environment, and I loved watching them slowly let their guards down. If you love enemies-to-lovers stories with heart, wit, and a touch of angst, this one is worth the read!

3.25 ⭐️

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

This one was… fine. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. Rivals to Lovers has an intriguing premise—a literary adaptation showdown between two rivals with romantic tension bubbling underneath—but the execution didn’t fully land for me.

The setup is unique: two characters competing to adapt a fictional feminist classic (The Proud and the Lost), spending a weekend pitching their versions to the author’s daughter. I love a good enemies-to-lovers trope but were these two ever really enemies??? I found the pacing slow, especially in the first half. It took a while for me to feel invested, and I honestly struggled to keep picking it up.

I’ve seen other readers praise the fact that the classic they’re adapting is fictional, but I actually found that to be a drawback. I think the story would have resonated more if the characters had been adapting something familiar—like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights — something with built-in emotional context. Without that existing connection, I didn’t fully understand why either of them were so passionate about this particular story.

What did work for me was the banter. Elise Wayland is undeniably witty, and the dialogue sparkled when the characters were allowed to play off each other. The “ugh, I hate how much I’m starting to like you” energy between Mo and Wes had solid potential, and I enjoyed their dynamic once it got going.

Unfortunately, the main characters didn’t hold my interest the way I hoped. I found myself much more intrigued by the side characters—especially Estelle and Gary. In fact, I would read an entire book about them instead. We don’t get any real depth about Estelle until very late in the game. Like… posthumously late. Which is a shame, because when we do learn about her, I was completely pulled in.

Also: Mo’s relationship with her dad? Completely stole the show. Quietly emotional and surprisingly healing. That part of the storyline was, without question, my favorite part of the entire book.

Overall, there were pieces of this I really liked—sharp writing, emotional moments, highs full of humor—but it never fully came together for me. The pacing, character development, and plot structure held it back. I’m glad I stuck with it, because Part Two was definitely stronger than the beginning, but this ended up being more of a 3-star experience rather than a new favorite.

I DNF'd this book at 26%

It is some of the most basic romcom slop I've read in a while. I'm not saying this is always a bad thing; sometimes the romcom slop is what I come for, but in addition to that, the writing is...not good.

I get that with many "spicy" romcoms, the romance/relationship is sped up, but this was just ridiculous. There is absolutely no build-up to the two love interests being interested in each other, let alone liking each other. Since the book is called "rivals to lovers," I was expecting maybe some hateful lusting, but it doesn't even have that.

This author tried to hit all the narrative points in this genre without any way of connecting them that would make sense. Instead, the story hops from one narrative trope to another without rhyme or reason. Eventually, I couldn't take it any longer.

This author also doesn't know how to do set up and pay off well. This wouldn't have been such a huge issue if it weren't for all the other bad parts.

If I were to rate it now, it would get 1⭐. This is sad because this is my favorite variation of enemies-to-lovers, especially when done well.

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

This one wasn’t for me, and took me a long time to finish. I didn’t connect with either main character, and didn’t get their relationship. Plus they weren’t even rivals! They were fellow writers who were physically attracted to one another - or that’s all that I got from it. Some of it even felt like objectifying/icky to me. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Rivals to Lovers is a heartfelt book that follows the journey of how the books we read bleed into our lives and shape who we are. How the story can be interpreted by each reader differently and the personal relationships we can create through books.

The writing is witty, with the right amount of banter and tension between the characters. It had me laughing from early on and wanting to learn more about the story and how it would unfold. Reading about Wes and Mo turning from rivals to something different and much deeper was wholesome and had me entranced in the story.

This is book is for readers, it tells the story of finding solace in a book and how the story shapes you as a person. If you are someone who reads and feels stories deeply, this book is for you 🫶🏼

Thank you NetGalley & Alcove Press for the ARC

This was a cute romance with a creative, interesting concept. Maureen and Wes are each pouring their heart and soul into their own adaptations of their favorite classic novel, The Proud and the Lost. The author’s estate has agreed to consider one of their projects to move forward with - but only one. When they’re both invited by the author’s aging daughter to visit the estate and pitch their adaptations, the rivalry and tension starts to feel more like chemistry.

I love books about book people. This was such a fun look into the world of authors, agents, and publishers. I really enjoyed reading about the process of writing, editing, finding representation, and trying to sell and publish books. What made this one special for me was getting to know the plot and characters of the original story, and then hearing about Mo and Wes’ specific interpretations, inspirations, and reasoning behind their individual adaptations. I thought the story of The Proud and the Lost, as well as EJ and Estelle’s life stories, were really interesting and added a lot to the book. The competition aspect reminded me a little of Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life, especially in the beginning when they both travel to the estate to pitch their novels to Estelle. I think fans of that book would enjoy this one as well!

For me personally, the romance didn’t fully land. I was rooting for them, but I didn’t feel particularly connected to either Mo or Wes. Wes made a bad first impression on me and never fully dug himself out of the hole, and Mo sort of lost me as the story continued. Mostly, however, I think I can put it down to personal preference - I prefer more of a slow burn, with lots of tension and build up. Mo and Wes got together pretty quickly, and when that happens, I feel like all I do is await the dreaded third act break up. Again - that’s just me. Some people loathe a slow burn and will eat this right up!

To summarize, this one is for the books about books lovers! Great insights into the publishing world, and an interesting “book within a book.” Rivals to Lovers is out on August 12!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for my review, and congratulations to Elise Wayland for a great debut!

It was a decent read. The beginning was good, i became confused in between. I loved the end. I mean, who does not love a happy ending??

If you love your romance smart, bookish, and packed with sizzling tension, Rivals to Lovers by Elise Wayland is one for the TBR!

Mo and Wes are competing writers with dueling adaptations of the same beloved feminist classic, and the stakes are sky-high: only one of their versions will get approved by the author’s estate. What follows is a weekend of witty banter, quiet longing, and unexpected emotional depth as they clash, connect, and slowly start to see each other in a whole new light.

This story is a love letter to books, creativity, and second chances. Mo is passionate and fiery, Wes is brooding with hidden depth, and their chemistry is off the charts. Think Emily Henry meets Ali Hazelwood with a literary twist! Complete with secrets, forced proximity, and a charmingly eccentric estate setting.

This was overall a cute read, but I felt a bit disconnected while reading this, not really being able to connect with the MCs. Overall it was a nice, but didnt feel like a strong hitter for a R2L romance, to the point it feels like reading it was a blur. I didnt DNF this.
Im a sucker for a good rivals/ enemies to lovers, and while they were competing the stakes and tension just didnt feel like they were there.

I was really excited to read Rivals to Lovers, as I’m a big fan of the trope and the blurb sounded right up my alley. While the story had potential, I found it a bit hard to fully connect with the characters and the pacing didn’t quite work for me personally. There were some promising moments, but ultimately I decided to set it aside around the halfway point. I’m sure this will resonate with the right audience—it just wasn’t the best fit for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book! Unfortunately I ended up DNFing this read. I was looking forward to a light hearted, rivals to lovers (as promised by the title!) romance and it fell a little short. The two main characters never felt like rivals - they had an instant connection and there was never any animosity between them. The premise of the story was interesting but the pacing was so slow it just didn't keep my attention. I liked the writing style though so I hope to try something else by this author in the future.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

I got Rivals to Lovers as an eARC.

I finished this book yesterday, and I don’t think there was anything that truly felt like it stuck with me.

One thing that took me out of the book the entire time is the simplicity of the title and how in the book they weren’t really “rivals”. Yes, they were competing for the same thing, but I don’t think there was actual hatred for the other person.

I thought Mo was a bit childlike throughout the book and wish she kinda grew up more as I was reading. I did like Wes a lot though. He was the best part of the book.

I did enjoy their mutual respect for each other and how even though they were competing, they still were rooting for the other person.

I think this was just a case of wrong timing for me to read it.
There was nothing wrong with the book and the writing was good I just really couldn't get into it! I feel like so many romance books are currently following similar plots of the whole authors competing for book rights etc and so I really needed this one to stand out and it just wasn't for me. So l've had to pass it up but what I did read was well written so maybe one day in the future when it's a less saturated subgenre in the market l'll try again and enjoy it more.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little unsure about this one. My first struggle was that it’s written in third person, which I personally find harder to connect with. The pacing also felt a bit off—it dragged in places and then wrapped up very quickly at the end, which left the story feeling unbalanced.

There were moments where I found myself losing interest and tempted to skim. It actually took me around three weeks to finish, when normally I’d get through a book like this in three or four days. I just didn’t feel that pull to pick it up.

That said, the premise was solid—it’s a strong plot idea—but for me, the execution didn’t quite land. I’d definitely be open to reading more from Elise Wayland in the future, though, as I think she has potential and I’d love to see how her writing develops.