Thank you to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Unfortunately this one didn't take long to lose me. There was just something off about the writing for me & it shifted POVs without any warning. It took me a second to realize that it had changed to the MMC's pov which had me all sorts of confused. The plot itself is interesting, however there's a really weird inclusion of religious things such as bible verses that just felt really weird to me. Also, the sex club scene gave me the major ick, especially considering the FMC was a virgin.

Overall this one just wasn't for me & I ended up skimming most of it & DNFing around 70%

Thanks to the publisher for the email invitation to read this. But the first chapter Just Starts, and it's so confusing and clunky that I immediately lost interest in the entire thing.

I absolutely loved the tension (chemistry) between Fiona and Maurice. Fiona was my favorite - I loved watching her come into her own and find her voice. I would have loved to have some of her and Maurice’s more intimate moments on page instead of just being told about them after the fact (specifically all the bonding they did off page at night).

The story was cool for what it was. I enjoyed the characters and the romance but I've come to learn that Jane Austen re-tellings are not my vibe (neither are the actual Austen stories). So I don't think I'm the target audience for this book but it was okay to read nonetheless.

The Princess and the P.I. by Nikki Payne is an absolute gem—equal parts sharp, sexy, and socially insightful. From the first page, I was hooked by her witty, modern take on The Princess and the Pea, set in a world that’s both glam and grounded in real issues. The chemistry between the main characters? Fire. But what truly elevates this story is Payne’s ability to blend romance with substance. She tackles themes like privilege, identity, and justice without ever losing the swoony, banter-filled energy that makes a good romance feel like magic. The heroine is strong, complex, and refreshingly aware of her power. The P.I. is layered, with just the right mix of broody charm and vulnerability. Their connection felt real, earned, and oh-so-satisfying. Nikki Payne continues to prove she’s not just writing love stories—she’s reshaping the genre with style, smarts, and soul. If you love modern fairytales with bite and brains, this one’s a must-read.

there's nothing i love than a man obsessed and black romance!!! whew this gave and gave and GAVE! i picked it up and really couldn't stop reading. i loved their connection, the banter, how dedicated he was 🥹 yep pls read this!!!

berkley, netgalley, thank you so much for the arc! i absolutely loved this one.

The Princess and the P.I. is an intriguing, character-driven romantic mystery that blends internet sleuthing, emotional depth, and sizzling chemistry into one wildly entertaining story. It’s smart, heartfelt, and full of surprises, but it’s the characters, especially Fiona, that make it unforgettable.

From the moment I met Fiona Addai, I loved her. Reddit legend and mystery solver by night, sheltered preacher’s daughter by day, Fiona's entire life is thrown into an upheaval when she tries to take back her brother's invention and becomes the lead suspect in a murder. I loved her growth over the course of the story and how she breaks down the walls of her carefully constructed life. With the help of Maurice, the sexy private investigator, Fiona begins to realize that she is more than the daughter of a pastor, a grieving sister, and a devout rule-follower. She’s clever and astute, brave even when she’s scared, and constantly searching for the truth in the case, in herself, and in the people around her.

Of course, my favorite part of the story is the romance between Fiona and Maurice. So swoon-worthy! Maurice is jaded, broody, and nursing old wounds, but he’s also deeply intuitive and surprisingly gentle, especially when it comes to Fiona. I love the way he treats her and makes her feel seen. He pushes her to be her authentic self, not what other people want or expect. Their dynamic is loaded with sexual tension and banter, and though I didn't always love Maurice's train of thought, overall, I enjoyed their relationship. They are a great team, and they complement each other so well with a relationship that is a great blend of sexy, sweet, caring, and funny.

The mystery itself is a tangled, high-stakes situation that is much more duplicitous than I expected. Fiona’s late brother’s invention and the ruthless tech world she steps into make for an intriguing backdrop, as does the mysterious religious cult with some deadly secrets in its closet. There are some darker themes and elements, and though they don't overtake the story, I would suggest checking out the content warnings before reading.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Nikki Payne does it again. I swear she has a secret magic that makes her books (and characters) so attractive. Also I loved the mystery bits in this romance, it was exactly what I needed!

Fiona Addai has always been the obedient daughter. As the daughter of a prominent church leader, she was forced to conform to being the good girl that she was raised to be. What her father doesn't know is that she has a secret sleuthing hobby. Fiona's alter ego is @Princess_PI - a well-respected web sleuth who helps investigate crimes. When she is arrested for a murder that she didn't commit, she convinces private investigator Maurice Bennett to help her figure out who the real murderer is. As Fiona and Maurice spend a lot of time together, it's difficult for them to resist the electric chemistry that they have.

This fascinating story drew me in from the first chapter! This romance story was mixed with mystery and suspense and it made for a very entertaining experience. I won't give up too much on the plot since I don't want to spoil things, but I have to say that it was a fun rollercoaster!

Fiona was an undercover badass. It took a while for her real self to shine through the shell that her parents forced her into, but once she could grow into that new skin, it was glorious! I was rooting for her to find her voice and confidence the whole way.

Maurice was an intriguing character. He had questionable morals because of the things he had to do to get leads and it was an interesting juxtaposition with Fiona's inherently good character. Maurice made questionable choices in the past and Fiona made him want to be a man who deserved her. He proved that people can change for the better and sometimes it takes love and support to want to make those changes.

The supporting characters in this book were just as well-written as the main characters. Maurice's sisters had me cracking up! (I'd like to see books for each of them, please, Nikki Payne!). Fiona's sister and father were complex characters with messy feelings and situations. Although I didn't like them at first, in the end, I liked them because I understood them more.

Nikki Payne has a way with words. There were so many times were I paused and re-read lines because of how profound they were. Payne can seamlessly mix the different genres together while giving it a visceral vibe that I feel in my bones.

Pick this one up for a exciting and sexy romantic mystery!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥½
⚠️: grief, murder, mention of death of a loved one

The premise of this mystery/thriller romance is so fun, and I enjoy Payne's Austen retellings. The opening scenes of this one left me more confused than hooked. It felt like Payne was trying to shove way too many details in the early pages in order to pick up the pace of a thriller later on, but it read as too much tell, not enough show. And rushed, not rhythmic or enjoyable prose. I am super picky about my romance novels these days, so I set it down and moved on.

Hey, hey, my favorites 😁💚. #annieethebookiee is back with another book review—and this one is for my mystery lovers who also enjoy a little sass, tech, and slow-burn tension.

The Princess and the P.I. is such a fun twist on the classic mystery/romance setup. Fiona Addai is an online sleuth who ends up in the middle of a murder investigation—and gets paired up with a grumpy-but-fine PI who’s not here for her Princess P.I. antics… at first. I adored the way this story unfolded. The case had layers, the chemistry built naturally, and the back-and-forth between them gave me life.

Fiona is sharp, brave, and witty—I was rooting for her the whole way through. And the blend of modern internet culture with old-school detective work? Chef’s kiss.

🕵🏾‍♀️ Thank you to NetGalley for this gem! Nikki Payne is definitely one to watch.

I loved every bit of this! Glad to see Maurice again from Pride and Prejudice. Fiona reminded me of so many of my friends. This is an in-one-sitting kind of read so clear your day, get all the snacks and beverages you need, and curl up. It is so good!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for providing me this ARC in an exchange for a honest review!!

This was such a thrilling, high stacks, edge of your seat book and from page one I was hooked. I’ve been having a hard time these last few months finishing books, but once I started this book I was hooked and just had to know more!!!

I really loved Fiona has a character she was resourceful, tenacious, determined. My favorite part of her journey in the story was her learning she didn’t have to shrink herself or not speak up for what she wants. Her journey to loving her body and stepping out of this docile, obedient church girl added so much depth and layer to her character. She truly embodies the song Chuch Girl by Beyoncé. She’s a character many woman are going to resonate with.

Maurice was one of my favorite secondary characters in Pride and Protest so when I found out he was getting his own story I couldn’t wait. Maurice was such a determined, cunning and calculated character. I really enjoyed seeing him in his own light. The Tameka part of his story really added depth to his character and showed up how much he really feels things deeply.

Now let’s talk the romance which was one of my favorite part of the book. The romance between Fiona and Maurice was so sweet and tender. I loved how the stakeouts were the background to building their romance because we got to see how much of a team they truly are. A lot of times I feel it’s rare to see the MMC showing how much he respects the FMC in books on page to me it’s often implied but seeing how much Maurice respected her on the page gave me the biggest buzz🥹😭. He was also so protective of his princess and I absolutely loved to see it!!!

This was such a great read and I highly recommend it!!! If you haven’t already please be sure to pre-order it

Quick thoughts reviews—

📖 have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

🌊 A Shore Thing cements for me that Joanna Lowell is an amazing historical romance author. Lowell’s writing is exquisite—she writes romances with humor & emotional sensitivity, all the while capturing perfectly human humans falling in love. The romance is wonderfully done & the way she captures characters is so satisfying. 5 ⭐️, out now.

✏️ The Princess & the P. I. was an odd story for me. There’s a lot going on & not all of it is executed as tightly as I would have liked. But I did enjoy the resourceful heroine, the body rep for both leads, & how they’re getting things done to serve the causes they believe in. 2.5 ⭐️, out 09/16. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

☂️ The tagline for The Formidable Miss Cassidy evokes this story so well: “Solver of Problems Both Practical & Supernatural.” For this fan of supernatural stories, this book is done so well. With every challenge, Miss Cassidy tackles it with aplomb; she is a problem solver extraordinaire & it was so satisfying to read. The structure of the book is a bit odd & disjointed, but overall, this book is fantastically entertaining. Check it out if you’re a fan of historical heroines saving the day on the practical & supernatural planes. 4.5 ⭐️, out 09/16. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

I loved this story for its brains, its heart, and its heat. It’s the kind of book I want to recommend to everyone.

I enjoyed this story. Watching the character overcome their fear and insecurities was a delight. This story was a slow burn, but offered funny moments to move the story along.

Nikki Payne goes in a different direction from her Austen retelling but I loved it. Sexy, smart and romantic. I was so deeply invested and to see this trope redone with diverse leads and a a multicultural universe was such a joy.