Thank you to Sarah Echvarre Smith, Harlequin and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This one started off fast and spicy! Nothing wrong with that at all! I loved how the FMC and MMC started off as a hate-hate work relationship - it added just the right about of tension and banter! I would have loved to have had the story be more "showing" vs. "telling" but overall a fun read that I'm sure will get a lot of traction this summer!

Review template

I received a free early copy of this audiobook for review. This is my own opinion. Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to review!

The narrators were both excellent.

<b>Genre:</b> contemporary romance

<b>Tropes:</b> enemies to lovers, office romance, fanfic writers, pranks, snowed in

<b>Spice Level:</b> 2.5/5 a few descriptive scenes but nothing wild. A few more scenes through the lens of fanfiction

<b>Content Warning:</b> workplace pranks, accidental boob staring?

This book is an HR violation for sure. It’s wildly unrealistic (if people spoke to each other publicly the way these 2 do, I really think they’d be be fired) and reads like a fic, which is probably the intent given the subject matter.

Our characters start off on the wrong foot before they even meet, and Aiden childishly insults her name where she can hear him, and then they immediately butt beads jn meetings. It devolves from there into a few office pranks until they’re stuck together and finally hate hook up.

Like I said, this is office hatred to a bit of an extreme and might be divisive. I enjoyed how snappy they were with each other, but if books like The Hating Game aren’t your jam, proceed with caution on this one.

I liked it and if you like fanfic levels of ridiculousness (and an ending that deserved groveling from HIM not her), give this one a shot. The ending wasn’t what I wanted, but it’s fiction and it went okay.

3.5/5 ⭐️

This book was… fine. I feel like I had to force myself to finish it, and I’m not sure if I can pinpoint a specific reason why. The romance itself was good and the premise was promising, but I really could not get past some major issues with the character development, specifically Micah. Maybe it’s because I am a teacher, and teachers live our lives constantly being told by people who have never set foot in a classroom how to do our jobs, but Micah’s outrage at people being irritated with her presence at the university ran all over me. Your job is to literally compile a list of who should be fire from their jobs, and yet you are outraged that they would not welcome you with open arms?? Her “prickliness” just came off as arrogant and tone deaf. And her childishness does not help my opinion of her. Her outrage at Aiden’s actions would be a lot more convincing if she didn’t change her tune the minute he tells her she’s pretty.
I did enjoy this more from about 35%-90%, but the third act breakup felt forced. She had made progress with writing and her views of what she should do with her life, yet she found Aiden’s suggestion of making writing her career absurd. I get it. She’s scared, and yes she rectifies it. All in all, I think this one just wasn’t for me, but the writing was good, so I am sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy it.

this was fine. it was easy to get through - it’s pretty short and moves pretty fast - but wasn’t anything to write home about. i listened to the audiobook and preferred the male narrator over the female, but they both did well.

🎧 listened to audiobook
#netgalley

A lot of spicy scenes which felt like it was doubled as the story also shared the fanfics the main characters wrote though I'm not fully mad given that I was expecting it! I wish there was a bit more development between our two characters as them falling in love felt quite quick. Otherwise, it was a fun read!

3.5⭐️/2🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin audio for this ALC!

I think this book was super cute and had a lot of potential. Sadly the two MCs just didn’t have a relationship that made sense to me lol. The plot was fun - An English university professor who write spicy fanfic in his free time, and a financial advisor hired by the university who secretly reads (his) spicy fanfic in her free time, meet on an ao3 adjacent fanfic sight and unknowingly become friends.

I didn’t hate this, the voices were well cast, and it was nice and short and spicy. Just didn’t keep my full attention during the later half I suppose. I do still think if this interests you, check it out! May have just been me :”)

I went absolutely feral for this book—I hated that it ended! The chemistry, the tension, and the banter had me completely hooked, and the spice? Chef’s kiss!
This was my first read from this author, and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve listened to these narrators before, and they were absolute perfection here. Their delivery brought the characters to life and made the story even more enjoyable.
My only critique is that the initial hookup felt a little rushed. I would’ve loved a bit more buildup and banter before things escalated. From a production standpoint, everything was solid. The only minor issue I noticed was during transitions between POV narration and message reading—it felt slightly spaced or disjointed. It may have just been a quirk of the ALC, but worth noting.
Overall, I loved this book and will definitely be recommending it to fellow romance readers.

I love the enemies to lovers trope! I also enjoy any books about authors, book shops, libraries, any book related stories really!!

Thank you to Harlequin Audio, NetGalley, and Sarah Echavarre Smith for an advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

These adults are written with the maturity level of high schoolers. It was super redundant, they flat out refused to just communicate, the amount of miscommunications that occurred really had me loathing any interaction between the FMC and MMC just waiting for a new miscommunication. I found finishing this book to be a chore instead of something I was enjoying. I got 0 chemistry between them there was a lot of “telling” and not a ton of “showing” as far as the plot went on. I also found the FMCs inner monologue to just be obnoxious. The MMC was better. I don’t know, the book was a good premise- but bad execution for me at least.

The hot nerd English professor and buttoned-up financial auditor reviewing his department have more in common than expected in this short and spicy enemies-to-lovers novel. They hate each other by day but anonymously correspond over his hot and steamy, Shakespearean fanfic after hours, and yes, there are plenty of excerpts from the fanfic site included in the novel.

I enjoyed the epistolary elements, the sizzling chemistry between the two main characters, the authentic representation of the Nashville area, how he supports her dreams, and how they impact each other’s viewpoints and perspectives.

Bonus: There’s even a snowed in moment during this workplace romance.

Do you have to suspend your disbelief some for this one? Sure, but overall, this is a fun and hot diversion of a romance novel.

The audiobook version has dual narration—that’s where a narrator covers the entire chapter from his or her character’s POV—by Cindy Kay and J. F. Harding. I especially enjoyed the chapters narrated by Harding, and, as strange as it feels to say, preferred Kay’s voice for Aidan to her voice for Micah.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Harlequin Audio and HTP Hive. All review opinions are my own.

Much Ado About Hating You
by Sarah Echavarre Smith
Narrated by Cindy Kay; J. F. Harding

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SOOO GOOD, so SPICY!!!

This Lovers to enemy, erotic academia novel was a quick listen, I enjoyed the banter but felt like there could have been a little more conflict and character development.

this was such a cheeky book and even cheekier audiobook. the narrators really did the story justice! I had a lot of fun. I Highly recommend if you're searching for a unique enemies to lovers rom-com! loved the fanfic element,,, I really thought this book brought something fresh to the genre!

I enjoyed this read- Their dynamic? Hot Professor meets Black Cat Girlie? In an academic setting?
Yeah, I was SAT 🪑 Def a fun way to start off AANHPI month 🌶️ I was living for the 🇵🇭 representation- The way her Mom called out to her “Anak” & made sure she had food? (Too much food lol!) Quintessential Filipino Mom lol! I also enjoyed the bonus epilogue at the end, although I wished it was part of the ALC.
Overall, I thought this was a light, spicy read!! Just a bit of junk food for the brain 🫶🏽
Cindy Kay & J.F. Harding did an amazing job narrating thissss, I really enjoyed them!!

This book had me hooked from the beginning! Who knew Shakespeare could be spicy? Not this girl, but I am here for it! The narrators did a fantastic job of bringing this enemies-to-lovers/workplace romance story to life.

Aidan is an English professor who, just for fun, rewrites Shakespeare act into spicy fan fiction. Micha is an auditor. hired to do budget cuts of the department at the college he teaches in, which could potentially include job losses. They get off on the wrong foot from day one, creating a great rivalry and a very toxic work environment. She also just so happens to be a fan of his work. One day she comments on one of his posts and they start a conversation, not knowing who the other is. Did I mention what happens when the supervisor they stay behind in the conference room to work out their differences? You know what they say about a fine line between love and hate? These two danced all over the line!

Well that was quite a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I could not put this down. The hate tension, the clandestine pen pals, the workplace prank shenanigans, the fanfic aspect, the bossiness (iykyk), SO GOOD!

Aidan really is a bit of a bastard, to the point where I almost had the ick, and I really didn’t know if he could redeem himself. But then his alter ego, ShakespeareInLust, stepped up and saved the day, being so kind, supportive and encouraging.

Absolutely loved Micah’s character arch as a budding writer. Can 100% relate to working a soulless analytical career, but secretly being a creative. And of course, since it’s fiction, happy endings are delivered on every level!!

Thank you Net Galley for ARC, this was so fun, short, and spicy.

Picked this up because I thought it would be quick, fun read. I mean, a book about an English professor who moonlights as a spicy Shakespeare fanfic author and a no-nonsense auditor who reads a hell of a lot of fanfiction? Sounds like my cup of tea!

Overall I would say this was good, not great. It had all the makings of an enemies (or rivals) to lovers trope with angst, banter, and spice, but all of the pieces fell just a TEEENY bit short of great. It was still very enjoyable and fun to read though! Honestly I think it could have been much better if it was just a bit longer to flush out some more relationship and character development.

On the audio specifically:
I thought the narrators were well casted for their voices and the pacing was perfect between the two narrators. The only small irk I had was that the female narrator pronounced pancit wrong. It’s a Philippino noodle dish and while I love the Asian representation in the book, I wish she had just looked up how the word was pronounced so it was represented properly in the book. It does not hugely take away from the overall enjoyment obviously as it’s such a small part of the book but a small irk nonetheless. Otherwise I really liked this on audio!

I have been in the mood for an enemies to lovers book with lots of tension and this hit the mark. Aiden and Micah instantly are in "hate" with one another but can't ignore all the sparks that fly as soon as they meet. This has a bit of a You've Got Mail vibe as well and we all know I am all about any book that is a play on that. Throw in an office romance and I am done for. This one brought the SPICE too. So, if you aren't a spice reader.. maybe don't pick this up. I have been in a slump and I FLEW through this audio. Both narrators were great.
Thanks to Harlequin, Netgalley and Sarah Echavarre Smith for an ALC.