Kate thought that everything was going well in her life. She had a job she loved and a fiancé who doted on her. She gets the shock of her life when a Dutch man named Willem shows up on her doorstep and tells her that fiancé is also engaged to Willem’s sister. Kate is shocked at the news and reluctantly agrees to help Willem convince his sister that she’s real. After meeting, they learn that there is another soon to be out there. Instead of being sad, the women decide to get even. With the help of Poppy, a matchmaker that Kate has employed in the past (although she is not the one who set her up with the fiancé), the ladies set up a sting operation to get back at the man who lied to them all.

When I chose this book to read, I saw that it was book 2 in a series that I had not started. (Actually, it looks like it is book 5). As no characters other than Kate or Willem were mentioned in the summary (other than the philandering fiancé and Willem’s sister), I figured it would be ok to jump in here. As I started reading, I quickly became a bit confused. After a chapter or so, Kate brings up some matchmakers by name, without much other information. I assumed that they were mentioned in the first book. No bother. Then, I reached a point in the chapter where the POV changed and went to one of those matchmakers (Poppy). Maybe if I had read the first book, this would have been a welcome surprise, but as I had not and she wasn’t mentioned at all in the book’s provided summary, I was confused and a bit annoyed. I had expected that characters from the first book might get a mention, but if they character is important enough that they get their own POV chapters, I should be told about them in the summary. I found myself frequently irritated by the Poppy chapters and it took me out of the story.

Ok, now that that’s out of the way. I thought that the story was fun overall. I liked the fact that instead of the women getting into cat fights or calling each other liars, they accepted the truth pretty quickly and recognized the actual bad guy in the situation. This was pretty refreshing. An overarching theme that happened in this book over and over again was “women supporting women”, which is always a big plus for me.

I found the romantic lead nice enough but a little flat. I feel like Kate probably would have fallen for any guy who came to her rescue like Willem did. Another slight annoyance in this department, Kate spends a lot of time thinking about the sex she could have with Willem, but then when the time came it was mostly closed door. Expectations were set up that were not met.

Overall, this book was a light read, that I think I would have appreciated more if I hadn’t gone into it so blind.

3.5 Stars

Funny, quirky, and sometimes revolving around clueless, but almost a 1930's comedy vibe - with multiple players, multiple fiancé's, new crushes, and revenge in the shape of a con that just keeps growing. Everyone wants to see the hapless rake caught, and it is entertaining getting there. An amusing amd cozy weekend read for sure.

Dont get wrong.

Get even.

Ugh I loved this story!!! The characters were simply perfect and I found myself squeezing in any spare minutes to dive into the story.

Are you a romcom lover? An upcoming publication, I Knew You Were Trouble by Sandy Barker, was an entertaining read. Check it out.

This is so fun. Reminds me of the movie The Other Woman with Leslie Man and Cameron Diaz.

Kate gets the "Hey girl" of all hey girl messages in the form a Dutch man at her door telling her that her fiancé is also his sister's fiancé. And he needs her to come back to Amsterdam with him to convince his sister that she's real and their mutual fiancé is a scum bag. What results is 4 women in three different countries who plot a revenge scheme to get back at the trust fund weasel who's playing them all. And if new love pops up in the process......well they deserve it, don't they?

It's funny, it's emotional, and at time refreshingly raw and vulnerable. I really enjoyed all three women and their journey's. Kate's plot is well thought out with realistic emotions, turmoil, and melt downs. The friendships are wholesome and entertaining. And the romance, though fast, is sweet and empowering. A quick, easy, fun read.

3.25⭐️



Kate estaba feliz con su vida: tenía un buen trabajo y su novio acababa de pedirle matrimonio. ¿Qué más podría pedir? Sin embargo, se lleva una gran decepción cuando un hombre llamado Willem le dice que su prometido es un mentiroso e infiel, ya que tiene otra prometida: la hermana de Willem. De repente, muchas de sus acciones cobran sentido, como el hecho de que nunca le presentó a su madre, o los viajes improvisados. Kate contrata a un detective privado para descubrir en qué más le ha mentido, y lo que descubre la deja destrozada y con ganas de venganza.


~

Al principio me pareció raro que Poppy tuviera capítulos desde su punto de vista, porque ella ya había tenido su propia historia, pero al final creo que fue algo positivo, ya que permitió ver cómo termina su historia.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book #5 in the Every After Agency series. I have not read any novels by this author so I was looking forward to reading this one. This can be read as standalone. Kate Whitaker, the FMC, is a mid 30-something that has always believed in love and has always wanted her happily ever after. After dating Jon Dunn for a very short time, they get engaged. Kate overlooks a few red flags – she has never met his family, he’s an airline pilot so he’s away traveling (many postponed and cancelled dates)., he lives in a hotel as his home is being renovated, and her engagement ring is so huge and isn’t even her taste…..does he even know her at all?! One night, a (very hot) stranger named Willem shows up on her doorstep and has news to share – Kate’s fiancée Jon is also engaged to his sister, Adriana. Willem also asks Kate to come to Amsterdam to tell his sister in person, as she doesn’t believe Willem is telling the truth about a second fiancée. After processing her heartbreak, Kate accepts and travels to Amsterdam with her zany cousin, Margot, along for support. Kate has undeniable chemistry with Willem but has to focus on the task at hand – tell Adriana about Jon. They then hatch a plan for revenge against Jon.

This was a fun romcom; I quite enjoyed the first part of the book, though I would have liked POV from FMC and MMC. The dual POV was from FMC and from a secondary character, Poppy, which I thought was bizarre and didn't contribute much to the storyline. This was a missed opportunity as it would have given better character development having Willem’s POV. The middle part of the novel lagged and I was contemplating finishing it; however I trudged on and I enjoyed the last half of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Sandy Barker, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I Knew You Were Trouble is a lighthearted romcom that’s easy to breeze through. The book is filled with witty dialogue, fun banter, and entertaining scenarios that keep the story moving at a fast pace. The dynamic between the main characters is engaging, and their interactions are often humorous. It’s the kind of book you pick up for a cozy, feel-good read without too much emotional investment.

One of the highlights for me was the setting. As a Dutch reader, I loved that part of the story took place in Amsterdam. The references to the city made the book feel more familiar and immersive, and it was fun to recognize certain elements of Dutch culture. However, while the book captured some aspects well, there were moments where the representation of the Dutch language and customs fell short.

Unfortunately, one major flaw stood out: the incorrect use of Dutch swear words. At one point, the book claims that the Dutch word for “asshole” is “kanker” (which actually means "cancer"). This is a painful and offensive mistake that could have easily been avoided with proper research. As a native Dutch speaker, it was jarring to read, and I’d strongly recommend the author fact-checks foreign languages more carefully in future works.

While the book had its enjoyable moments, the plot sometimes felt disjointed, making it difficult to follow. The story jumped from one event to another without much cohesion, which disrupted the overall flow. In the end, "I Knew You Were Trouble" is a fun, fluffy read with some great references, but due to the language inaccuracies and the occasionally messy storyline, I can’t rate it higher than three stars.
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PS Sandy Barker kindly reached out to let me know that she and her editor will review the correct usage of cuss words.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC of 'I Knew You Were Trouble'.

This is well worth £1.99 of anyone's money. A light hearted twist on enemies to lovers. I think the whole story may have made a little more sense if I'd have read others in the series, but it was a nice filler read. Closed door romances aren't often for me, but I didn't mind this one :)

A twist on the typical enemies-to-lovers trope.

The FMC keeps things entertaining, but the MMC is the one that wins you over.

While the story is your typical romance it’s lighthearted, charming, and feel-good escape! The perfect beach read.

Kate Whitaker has always believed in love, but when a stranger named Willem shows up on her doorstep, the news he has to share isn’t as exciting as his god-like looks might suggest. He’s come to tell her that Kate’s fiancé is also engaged to his sister.

Kate doesn't know how she didn’t see the red flags: Jon’s work as an airline pilot having him flying around the globe, the postponed dates, the huge rock of an engagement ring that isn’t her style at all.

Overcome with fury – and entranced by the Nordic god’s piercing blue eyes and quiet allure – Kate agrees to accompany Willem to his hometown of Amsterdam to help break the news to his sister. Yet what begins as a simple gesture of support soon twists into a deliciously devious plan to get back at Jon.
Kate is drawn into a world of retribution, revenge and – unexpectedly – romance. Because sometimes the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else

There is only one word for this and it is addictive! This whole series has been wonderful and it was great to be back with a Poppy but in a slightly different role.

I loved Kate and Willem and Margot too was just fantastic. The chemistry between the main characters was evident without the spice (which for me is the preference). The story was written so well and the characters were all represented well. This is a top series which I adore and this last one adds a fantastic end to it. Obsessed, lighthearted, warming, engaging and addictive. Sandy you have incredible talent.

If you love romance you need to read this series. This can be read as a stand-alone but you will be missing out on a great romance series. This one is out on the 23rd March.

A super cute romcom about betrayal, revenge, and finding yourself.

I really enjoyed this, super fun and the romance is adorable - Willem is so sweet and I loved how much joy he took in introducing Kate to new foods and new places. Kate and Margot are friendship goals and I adored how fiercely they loved each other. By the end things felt almost like a little found family with Lucia, Adriana, and Poppy.

In the first third of the book I did find it a little difficult to tell the difference between Poppy and Kate's POVs, as the way they think and speak felt quite similar - a couple of times I had to glance back to check whose POV it was. However after the first few POV swaps they became very distinct and the rest of the book flowed really well. One other thing I noticed was that the word "snigger" was used rather often and this took me out of the story a little every time I noticed it.

Overall I absolutely adored this story - I haven't read the rest of the series but I'll definitely be picking up the others in future :)

This was an enjoyable read to pass the weekend. Interesting premise, which probably would make a little more sense if I'd read the previous books in the series.
Our FMC, Kate, is living her expected life with a job she loves and a fiancé who supports her independence. This reality comes crashing down when news of her fiancé's lies come to her via her fiancé's other fiancé's brother! Can you follow??
I actually really enjoyed the revenge plot. It was funny and exciting and honestly the romance really took the back burner. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the characters and that's ok, I was still entertained.
Willem seems like a truly great guy and was a perfect MMC.
Spice, beyond kissing, was kept behind closed doors, but again, it didn't have the big off an impact on the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Thank you so much Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Sandy Barker for the chance to read the ARC for this wonderful book! I believe I first learned of this author when I saw the 4th book in the series, Someone Like You, on NetGalley and realized it was a series so I read the first three books, then the 4th and now this one. I love the concept of the authors stories, how they're based in different fields and sometimes different countries but all centered around London. It makes the story very vivid and engaging when you read it. And I am so happy with this book and the ending of the series, which isn't often. It makes me feel content as all the main characters from this series all got happy endings and they'll go on living their best lives which we catch a glimpse of. I loved the story in this, meeting the side characters and watching the main characters fall in love. It's a wonderful book and I look forward to continuing to read this author's works :). Overall, feel good and wonderful HEA.

This is a delightful, laugh-out-loud rom-com with the perfect mix of revenge and romance. Kate's journey from betrayal to unexpected love with the charming Willem is both heartwarming and hilarious. This book is a fun, feel-good read for anyone who loves a good story about love, trust, and sweet retribution! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Sandy Barker, and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a cute story, quick and lighthearted read. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars for the diverse representation in this book. It's a bit more diverse than some of the romance chick lits I have read. The part I struggled with was the pacing at the beginning was quick and then it slowed down and the plot meandered somewhat. There were a few plot points that I had to suspend my disbelief in order to continue reading: fortuitous coincidences with plot device side characters, vague/mystical cybersecurity abilities, and how easily and lightning fast the FMC got over her lying fiancee, to name a few.

I was a little thrown off by the book being told in dual POV but not FMC and MMC but rather FMC and a supporting character. Not a lot of development or depth to the characters. Zero spicy peppers and it was more of a sudden awkward plunge to black rather a natural fade to black for the slammed closed door intimate scenes.

All in all, I loved how the MMC was written. He was supportive, mature, and a very sweet cinnamon roll that brought out the best in the the FMC. I loved that there was no miscommunication. Both the FMC and MMC were capable of adult communications.

I haven’t read any books by Sandy Barker before, but I’m officially a fan and about to binge all of her books! It took me a second to get into the book just due to the British language, but once I was in it, I was in it!

Willem is a man after my own heart. The way he literally went to another country to protect his sister from marrying the wrong guy is so honorable.

I was truly never bored and honestly there were moments that truly surprised me. I definitely didn’t Jon with someone else as well!

Well done!!

*Sandy Barker’s* *I Knew You Were Trouble* is a fun, flirty rom-com with sharp banter and great chemistry. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is engaging, and the witty protagonist keeps things entertaining. While the story follows familiar romance beats, it’s an enjoyable, lighthearted read perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Sophie Kinsella. A bit more character depth would’ve been nice, but overall, it’s a charming, feel-good escape!