🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A quick spicy workplace romance listen. I particularly liked the fanfic short stories from each character. 🔥
The interactions between the two MCs in person was full of conflict, a bit more than I typically like.
But their interactions in the fanfic app was the best! 💜

The narrators were amazing! Their voices fit both main characters and i could differentiate the MCs from the side characters well. My first listen with Cindy Kay, and it was great!

— Workplace Romance
— Enemies to lovers
— Forced Proximity

🎧ALC Review🎧 -NetGalley Harlequin Audio
Narrated By: Cindy Kay & J. F. Harding

📚🔥 BOOK REVIEW TIME 🔥📚
Much Ado About Hating You by Sarah Echavarre Smith

Enemies by day 😠
Fanfic soulmates by night 🔥📖

This book? STRAIGHT. UP. DELICIOUS. 🤌

Micah is a no-nonsense auditor with a love for spicy Shakespeare fanfic 👩🏽‍💻💋. Aidan is a grumpy hot professor 👨🏼‍🏫😤 who just happens to write that exact fanfic she’s obsessed with 😳✍️. Enemies-to-lovers? Check. Forced proximity? Check. Secret identities? DOUBLE CHECK. And the smut?? OH, the smut 😮‍💨🍑💦.

Let’s talk narrators 🎧 — WOW. They were AMAZING. Brought the tension, the spice, the banter — 10/10 perfection 🥵🎭. If you're into audiobooks, do not miss this one!

If you're a fan of:
✨ Shakespeare references
✨ Secret spicy identities
✨ Praise kink & “I hate you but I love f&*$ing you” energy
✨ Nerdy hot heroes
✨ Female leads who take ZERO crap

…then this one needs to be on your TBR yesterday. 📝🔥

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Smut level: 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
Enemies-to-lovers: chef's kiss 👩‍❤️‍👨
Narration: 10/10 would listen again 🎧💯

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

Love it!!!
forbidden romance ✅
Enemies to lovers ✅
steamy Fan fiction ✅
Hella Spicy scene ✅
He falls first ✅

I need a real-life Aidan!!! Ex hockey player turned nerd, Brody literature god. Yum yum yum!!! Can not get over the conference room scene it was top tier goodness.

Aidan was such a fun character, along with his brother, secretly hoping we get a book for his brother 🫣.

Micha going for what she wants was the best freaking plot twist!!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC.

Cindy Kay and J. F. Harding were awesome as Micah and Aidan (if names are spelled wrong, apologies. I went in blind and did not read synopsis for character names.).

If you read this while driving, be mindful and set your cruise control. Seriously. I’m not kidding. The spice definitely spices and you might find your gas pedal foot, pressing down harder and harder…

Anyway, I don’t think I need to say that I enjoyed this listen… I’ll say it anyway: I had a great time listening to this book and look forward to it’s release.

This book started so strong and ended so meh. I honestly dnf'd at the 90% mark and that's wild. I was literally so bored in the last section of the book that I couldn't power through it. The premise of workplace enemies to lovers with Shakespearean fanfic intertwined really sold me and like I said, I was IN IT during the first half.

I feel like the actual romantic build up was so lame and not interesting at all. The weird little pranks and being rude to each other for no reason just felt really strange for two adults. The spice scenes were great but the rest was just blah.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for this audiobook arc!

I blazed through this audiobook. I really enjoyed the story and I thought the narration was really good. I liked the enemies to lovers story and the characters were quite interesting . I was surprised to see a man as a spicy story writer but I thought it was a neat part of the story.. I do however think the couple got together quite fast I had to keep checking to see if I missed something because it seemed that they were just fighting 5 seconds ago. I wish there was a bit more of the story that revolved around them being enemies just a little bit more. I thought the ending was cute and I would recommend this to people who want a quick fun read !

A workplace romance that fizzled before the very first sizzle for me.

Disclaimer: I read this as an audiobook from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley. This all opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This was marketed as a Shakespearean retelling made into a rivals-to-lovers workplace romance. Unfortunately, this had too many downsides for me to really fall in love with.

The audiobook was really well done and I enjoyed the narration. Dual narration is some of my favorite because it feel very cinematic and immersive, and I had no issues with that either. It was clear, concise and well produced. I didn't have to adjust the speed between narrators it was all done very well.

There were a few things that I did enjoy about this book. I did enjoy the aspect of meeting as strangers with a common interest online. I also really liked the literary aspect between the two main characters. I felt like the spicy scenes were written very well and very detailed. Some of the best written non-cringe spicy I've read in a while. I did also like how honest the characters were with each other. Both being honest about their complicated family and past relationships. While also being very forward and how they feel overall.

However, the entire story felt very rushed. I felt like we went from acquaintances, to rivals, to lovers at an extremely quick pace. It didn't allow for any buildup or chemistry to happen between the two main characters. The most buildup we had were extremely juvenile pranks that didn't even really lead to any tension. They were discovered right away and not even really dealt with. The pranks didn't lend any comic relief or build up any sexual tension for me between the two main characters. They felt very odd and out of place.

Which leads me to my next issue. I didn't really have any warm feelings towards either of the main character characters. While they did dive very surface level into some problematic issues in their personal lives, they weren't really explored or given any kind of depth or layering. The side characters that were placed in order to give our main characters development were super artificial, and the relationships between them were never developed. Which just led me to having an overall blasé feeling about both characters. I didn't care about their personal issues or the romantic lives in any kind of way. So when they got together, I didn't feel anything about that either.

I wish there had been more representation involved surrounding the Filipino main female character. It would've been nice to have some inclusion of culture and history tied to the character rather than just being told once that she's Filipino.

This book was very short. Only 288 pages and I really feel like it could've benefited from being drawn out another hundred pages or so. Adding some more interactions with side characters, developing those sub plot issues in their personal lives and giving them more time to get to know each other and build up that tension would've really benefited this book. I feel like it was a very interesting premise that just really lacked on the execution.

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 7 hours and 38 minutes
📖: Harlequin Audio
🎤: Cindy Kay and J.F. Harding
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Workplace romance
Enemies to lovers
Spicy

Dual narration - J.F. Harding & Cindy Kay
Great narration. Loved the voices.
Wish it was duet but these two did a great job.

Aiden is a former hockey player turned English teacher who writes spicy romance stories and posts them online. Talk about a sexy MMC!

Micah is an auditor who has been hired by the university to evaluate the English department for potential changes to save costs. She also dreams of being a writer but after a past boyfriend trashed her writing she refuses to write anymore.

These two hate each other in the beginning but through forced proximity end up admitting they are attracted to to the other. Things gets steamy and interesting.

Such a fun listen. I really enjoyed this one. Steamy, funny, and emotional. The author has done a great job with this story.

Much Ado About Hating You
by Sarah Echavarre Smith

Much Ado About Hating You is a spicy romantic comedy that leans hard into the "hate-to-love" trope, with a little "hate-to-lust-to-love" thrown in for good measure. Micah, a no-nonsense financial auditor, is tasked with evaluating a university’s budget, while Aidan, a passionate English professor, finds himself in her crosshairs. Their first meeting is rocky, Aidan puts his foot firmly in his mouth with a tone-deaf comment about job cuts, and the tension only builds from there.

What adds a delightful twist is their shared love of Shakespearean fanfiction,Micah loves reading it, and Aidan secretly writes it. Their connection deepens through this unexpected overlap, adding a layer of charm to their fiery banter and growing attraction. The story plays with several beloved tropes like forced proximity and workplace romance, making it a fun and steamy read.

I gave Much Ado About Hating You 3 out of 5 stars. While the premise was clever and the chemistry sizzled, the pacing felt a bit uneven, and Micah’s character arc, especially her recovery from a recent breakup, seemed rushed. A few more chapters could’ve helped flesh out her emotional journey and made the resolution more satisfying.

The Narrators, Cindy Kay and J. F. Harding, did an amazing job, I give the narration 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this entertaining and trope-filled rom-com.

we love a workplace enemies to lovers!!!

the audio was really fun, I really liked the MMC narrator!!

also this is obvi a retelling of much ado about nothing and i literally am a hoe for a shakespeare retelling ever since 10 things I hate about you LOL

This book was incredibly fast paced and fun! I definitely think it could have used one more edit to make trim down some of the explanation and add to the characters actions. But over all it was a really cute and fun read. The spice is full of dirty talk which is very fun if you like that 😉

Aiden is an ass, he’s grumpy and just so ready to hate Micah from the jump. (Can’t blame him) Micah is detached from her emotions to do with her job and can’t understand why people don’t want to be her friend. Their banter is fun but definitely an HR violation from the jump. 😆

The duel writing was my favorite part of the book. Their adorable banter of complaining about each other to each other unknowingly was really funny. And then teaming up together after to write for their fans was perfect. The ending is absolutely precious, I truly enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

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.