I really enjoyed catching up with Poppy and the ever after team in this latest instalment. I loved the new situation and the strong women who fought back but were also recognisable. I loved the way Sandy Barker includes their inner thought and the wrangling that we all do inside our own heads, questioning our decisions and talking ourselves in and out of things. I found this story empowering we should all give ourselves regular life checks to make sure we are living and not just existing. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book

Oh Sandy Barker, I knew you were...one of my favourite authors already, and now I've read this latest (and last) instalment in the Ever After Agency series I'm even more convinced!

Sandy Barker manages to combine humour, romance, female friendships and brilliant locations in every book, and this one is no exception. I really enjoyed the Amsterdam setting, and as always it was great to catch up with Poppy, the character who links all these stories as the elite matchmaker. But the revenge plot is the main event here, and it doesn't disappoint.

Kate thinks she's engaged to the perfect man - until swoon-worthy Willem turns up on her doorstep with shocking news; her fiancé is also engaged to his sister! What follows is a gorgeous, romantic, funny escapade around the canals of Amsterdam, as the pair attempt to teach the cheat a lesson. Yes of course they end up falling in love in the process - it would be massively disappointing if they didn't! But it doesn't matter that we already know the end destination, when the journey there is so much fun. Barker's trademark witty dialogue really flows, and the romance is slow burn but utterly convincing and very, very satisfying.

A fitting end to a series that's been brilliant, romantic, escapist fun, and exactly the sort of read we need at the moment.

**ARC Review: *I Knew You Were Trouble* by Sandy Barker**

If there’s one thing Sandy Barker knows how to deliver, it’s a wildly fun, laugh-out-loud romantic adventure—and *I Knew You Were Trouble* is no exception! This latest installment in *The Ever After Agency* series brings us an irresistible mix of heartbreak, revenge, and unexpected romance that will leave readers grinning from ear to ear.

### **The Story:**
Kate Whitaker had love all figured out—until a very handsome stranger, Willem, arrives at her door with some *disturbing* news: her fiancé isn’t just hers. He’s also engaged to Willem’s sister.

Blindsided and furious, Kate agrees to accompany Willem to Amsterdam to break the news to his sister. But what starts as an awkward mission of truth soon transforms into something far more tempting—an *extremely* satisfying plan to get even.

As Kate and Willem navigate fake dates, devious schemes, and the undeniable pull between them, the question remains: is this just a revenge plot, or could it be something real?

### **What Makes It Special:**
💔 **From Betrayal to Empowerment** – Kate’s journey from heartbroken fiancée to confident, revenge-seeking queen is an absolute delight.
✈️ **A Whirlwind Amsterdam Adventure** – Romantic canal rides, cozy cafés, and a touch of European magic make for the perfect setting.
🔥 **Slow Burn with Sizzle** – Willem is not only the perfect partner-in-petty but also *exactly* the kind of grumpy, brooding hero we love to fall for.
😂 **Hilarious and Sharp-Witted** – Kate’s inner monologue and the playful banter between her and Willem are top-tier entertainment.

### **Final Thoughts:**
With its mix of sweet revenge, sizzling chemistry, and a heroine reclaiming her power, *I Knew You Were Trouble* is pure rom-com gold. If you love stories about getting even, falling hard, and finding love in the most unexpected places, this one’s for you!

📖 **Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)**
A hilarious, empowering, and swoon-worthy romance that proves the best revenge is living (and loving) well!

An enjoyable novel that is the latest instalment in the Ever After Agency series. Kate Whitaker has always believed in love, but when handsome Willem appears on her doorstep and drops a bombshell that her fiance is also engaged to his sister, her beliefs start to waiver. Should she get mad? No she should get even. This is a fun romcom. It has great characters and the plot unfolds well. It’s a tale of sweet revenge but also new love. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

What prompted me to apply for this book was mainly the title (huge swiftie here!) The description was also really interesting, really different from what I’m used to read. Though, I don’t think this book should be marketed as a romance. The encounter with the romantic interest was cute and exciting, but throughout the book, I didn’t see anything romantic: without spoiling, I’m just going to say that it’s a really slow slow burn… and I didn’t see any of the « frissons » the FMC talks about.
The plot and twists really dragged on. No hate here, just that the repetitions of discussion or events really was boring. I’m not a writer (and couldn’t ever be), but dialogues repeating the discussion/event we just read was really annoying.
Overall, I liked the idea and the story, which is why I give it 3 stars, but I’m not convinced about the romantic part. It’s really just a « girl power » book about women getting revenge. But I didn’t see the point of Poppy’s povs… I didn’t find it necessary to understand the whole picture.

📖 I Knew You Were Trouble – Sandy Barker
💖 Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early copy!

The Ever After Agency series delivers another unmissable rom-com, and I Knew You Were Trouble is packed with betrayal, revenge, and an unexpected romance that will have you swooning. If you love Taylor Swift-inspired chaos, slow-burn attraction, and a little bit of justifiable revenge, this book is for you!

💍 THE STORY:
Kate Whitaker is a firm believer in love—until a gorgeous stranger named Willem shows up on her doorstep with a bombshell: Kate’s fiancé is also engaged…to Willem’s sister.

How did she miss the signs? The constant traveling? The suspiciously extravagant engagement ring? The postponed dates? Suddenly, Kate is seeing all the red flags she ignored before. And while heartbreak is inevitable, fury comes first.

Determined to expose Jon for the lying, cheating pilot he is, Kate agrees to accompany Willem to Amsterdam to break the news to his sister. But what starts as a simple mission turns into something far more complicated—especially when Kate and Willem find themselves entangled in a revenge scheme that’s a little too fun.

And the biggest surprise of all? Kate’s broken heart doesn’t stand a chance against Willem’s quiet charm, piercing blue eyes, and unexpected allure. Because sometimes the best way to get over someone… is to get under someone else.

🔥 TROPES:
✔ Cheater Gets What’s Coming – Nothing is more satisfying than a well-executed revenge plan.
✔ Grumpy x Sunshine – Willem is brooding and reserved; Kate is fiery and ready for payback.
✔ Slow Burn Romance – The tension builds deliciously before it all explodes.
✔ Forced Proximity – A trip to Amsterdam definitely brings them closer together.
✔ Just One Bed? – Let’s just say things get interesting.
✔ Europe Escape – Travel, romance, and finding yourself in a new city? Yes, please.

✨ WHAT I LOVED:
💖 A Fresh Take on Revenge Romance – It’s fun, clever, and never too over-the-top.
😂 Sharp-Witted Banter – The dialogue is hilarious, fast-paced, and full of chemistry.
🌍 Amsterdam Setting – The canals, the romance, the city’s charm—it all adds to the magic.
🥰 Willem Is a Dream – Stoic, thoughtful, and completely swoon-worthy.

💙 FINAL THOUGHTS:
Sandy Barker delivers a sharp, witty, and unexpectedly heartfelt romance with the perfect blend of revenge, redemption, and slow-burn tension. If you love a “getting over heartbreak in the best way possible” kind of story, this book is an absolute must-read!

Immediately stopped reading when a very inappropriate Dutch word was used. Ouch.

NL reader checking in!

This book could have very much used a Dutch beta reader or at least a sensitivity read with a hotline to a person from the Netherlands.

Some small inaccuracies that annoyed me (it is Mr De Vries capital D and not Mr de Vries; the Dutch do not say “ja” every other sentence; there are excellent surfing opportunities here; also kind of strange to have the FMC’s POV and a POV from a minor character) but the moment “kanker” was used as a equivalent to “asshole”? Absolutely no.

Using cancer as a swearword is very much frowned upon and while it might be used, it was used in the wrong way in this book and it very much turned me off this book and honestly also the author.

There are SO MANY better and more eloquent swearwords that could have been used to describe the two-timing fiancé!

Do better!

Really too bad because I liked the idea of this book set in Amsterdam.

DNF at 22%.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for inviting me to read this book. I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

Thank you NetGalley & the Publisher for the ARC read!

This was such a good and fun book!
I love when girls get some revenge! I enjoyed Sandy's writing and plan to go back and read the series!

The Ever After Agency series is absolute gold!! Not only do I love reading about their latest clients, I want to work there and be friends with everyone in the book. There's never an unpleasant character to hate. This latest instalment brought us to Amsterdam and Verona so it's great escapist reading as well as entertaining. I hope we meet many more clients at the agency!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This book had me laughing out loud. I loved how these ladies came together! I laughed till the end. I am so glad they got their revenge! I also love how love was found along the way. It was my first time reading this author. I plan on going back and starting the series from the beginning!

There’s a lot to love it’s not just a romance, it’s about love and family, loss and healing, learning to live again and accept.
Aside from that it’s pure escapism and I loved the characters, though sometimes I found them infuriating at times, but it all comes together and they’re well developed and their actions make sense as the story goes on.

Oh my goodness, this was such a fun read! I knew it would be because I’ve followed this series right the way through and Sandy Barker is one of my favourite authors. Her style is so easy to read and her humour is great. I particularly loved the Amsterdam setting of this one too. I’m sad that this is the final instalment of the Ever After Agency series. I’ve loved the different romance storylines and also seeing the matchmaking play out through Poppy’s role, which has added an extra layer of interest for me over more standard romance novels. The idea of an agency like this fascinates me. I want a job there! It’s another solid five stars from me.

This is book five and the final in the Ever After Agency series. I jumped in at Book 4
and haven’t chance to go back to the earlier ones yet but had no issues with following along in the series. Kate is happily engaged to Jon, who she met through Poppy Dean from the Ever After Agency. She receives surprise visitor one day when the very attractive Willem comes to tell Kate that her fiancé is also engaged to his sister. Kate, Willem and Poppy get together to seek revenge on Jon and reveal to fiancé number 3 that he is leading multiple lives.

This was a fun read, with some very entertaining scenarios as the crew set up their revenge. I particularly enjoyed Kate visiting Willem in Amsterdam and him showing her around and introducing her to Dutch culture and her character growth and friendship/ banter with best friends and cousin Margot. Told from Kate and Poppy’s points of views I would have also liked to have had Willem’s to round out the story. A fun and fitting end to the series.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

My thoughts:
A laugh out loud romantic comedy. Though part of a series, each book can be read as a standalone.
I found this story to be entertaining with lots of humor. The friendship of the women was delightful. And, throw in a sexy, swoon worthy male….you know the story is going to be good.

I Knew You Were Trouble is a light-hearted and amusing romantic comedy that blends revenge with romance unexpectedly and refreshingly. Kate Whitaker, who has always believed in love, is thrown into turmoil when Willem, a handsome stranger, knocks on her door with shocking news. He reveals that Kate’s fiancé, Jon, is not only cheating on her but also engaged to his sister. The revelation leaves Kate reeling, unable to comprehend how she missed the signs.

Overcome with anger, but captivated by Willem’s striking Nordic charm, Kate agrees to accompany him to Amsterdam to help inform his sister about Jon’s betrayal. What begins as a simple act of kindness soon turns into an intricate plan for retribution. As Kate becomes involved in their shared mission, she finds herself drawn into a world of scheming, self-discovery, and, unexpectedly, romance.

Filled with humour, I Knew You Were Trouble offers an entertaining escape, perfect for a summer read. It is a tale of broken trust, sweet revenge, and the unpredictable paths love can take, all set against the backdrop of a vibrant and romantic European city.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

What do you do when a random dutchman turns up at your door and presents the evidence that your fiancee is not the spectacular catch you thought he was .

This is what happens to Kate when Willem turns up on her doorstep one evening with the evidence that her fiancee Jon is not only not an airline pilot but is also engaged to his sister, Willem begs Kate to come and meet his sister and let her know her fiancee is not the man she thinks he is. The idea is crazy but Kate finds herself travelling to Amsterdam to shatter the illusion.

The two girls get together and decide they need to protect the world at large from this serial fiancee, especially when it turns out fiancee number three is just round the corner.

Through all the upheaval Kate doesnt seem to feel the grief at the loss of the relationship, just anger, but when she starts to get feelings for Willem, she knows they cant go anywhere, he's her fiance's other fiancee's brother - can they.

I have to say this was a great book, a very enjoyable read, the characters were very well written and I could imagine it as a film.

If you like a story with strong female characters then this could be the book for you.

Either the author is a big taylor swift fan or she put the wrong title to the book because willem is not trouble actually far from it!
My mistake though was I did not know this was the 5th book in the series! Although you could read it as a standalone as it does sort of explain characters!!

This was an easy read but it definitely didn’t have the drama and revenge plot I was expecting and realistically how have these people got money to be flying around to these destinations at a drop of a hat so yeah story felt a bit unrealistic aswell.

Thank you to netgalley

The 5th installment in the Ever After agency was so good, I’m definitely going to read 1-4. I adored Kate, Poppy, “Penny”, Lucia, &. Adriana & her brother Willem. The MMC I absolutely wanted to throw hot dog water on - Jon. But I over all loved the plot of this book and cannot wait to read more by Sandy Barker!

Had Potential, But Too Many Issues

I really wanted to love this book, and there were some things I enjoyed—especially the male protagonist, who was well-written and easy to root for. Unfortunately, the rest of the story didn’t quite work for me. The plot was so unrealistic that it was hard to stay engaged, and the mid-chapter POV shifts were confusing and distracting. The side characters felt over-the-top, making it difficult to take the emotional moments seriously. And honestly, Poppy’s POV didn’t add much to the story—I think it would have been stronger without it.

I can see why others might enjoy this book, but it just wasn’t for me.