This book!! This book had my heart, it was sooo good the chemistry was off the charts. Both characters were hurt and didn't want to commit but this was such a great connection and slow burn but also burning hot with passion which i wasn't expecting as i have not read from this author in the past so i would like to read more from this author.

The story of Rome and Lili was such a good one. Although they're complete opposites in personality, career, and family life, the two find commonality nonetheless. I wish the book had gone on longer because the "tragic moment" felt rushed and unresolved. The last 25% did not match the effort of the first 75%.

Would I recommend it? I'm not sure.
Overall rating; 3.5 stars

Worth the trouble
Author: Eva Simmons
Narrators: Desiree Ketchum and Connor Brown
Publication Date: May 27 2025

Lili Chen and Rome Moreno

Desiree did a fantastic job voicing Lili. You knew everything from Lili's mom to her dancing was draining her. Desiree was able to capture that tone in her voice.

Tropes:
- Modern Dance Princess x Rock Star
- Reformed Playboy
- Clashing of Social Classes
- Spicy
- Pain, Restriction, and Healing

You have two individuals on paper should everything they ever wanted. In reality you have two broken souls for different reasons.

To the rest of the world, Rome Moreno is the Riff King. An icon, a Rock God. When I met him, he mistook me for a stripper and asked me to ride his lap. So, consider me unimpressed. I didn't mean for him to take that as a challenge.

There's no place for a tattooed hunk of trouble like Rome in the regimented life of a world-class dance princess. My days run on a carefully timed clock—where I go, when I practice, what I eat. I sold my soul to the devil to pay for my dreams, and I've accepted it.

Lili had never felt freedom until she was able to spend time with Rome. The only issue is both of them know there will be a time limit on their time together. Lili would be leaving town to go to the next city in just a few weeks.

Rome is used to only spending one night with a female and moving on to the next. He has loved that life until Lili walked into his life. He knew one night would not be enough with Lili. He did fight it for a little bit but just like he bandmates he feel fast.

There are darker themes in this book. Please check content warnings.

Thank you to Eva Simmons, NetGalley, and Tantor Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

#WorththeTrouble #NetGalley

This was my first book of this series and it can absolutely be read / listened to as a stand alone. First off...I loved this story. The story line was well timed and I appreciated the fact that things were up in the air the whole time. There aren't many books that keep me guessing and I didn't know how this was going to play out. Second...these characters were so full of depth and there was an easy emotional connection to both of them. Rome is the ULTIMATE rockstar playboy. I felt his struggle when it came to everything Lily-related. Lily had a slew of trauma, some obvious and some not so much. Great character and relationship progression. And last, but not least...bust out those pearls because you will need something to clutch when listening to these steamy scenes!!

The audio was also pretty good. Desiree Ketchum was amazing as always. She is so skilled in a solo of dual-style narration as every character she voices is so unique and beautiful to listen to. I did have to get used to the femme voice from Connor Brown and the speed didn't quite match up between the FMC POV chapters and the MMC POV chapters. I had to adjust the speed in the beginning for each change. I was able to really get into the audio about halfway through without these being an issue anymore and it was a good thing because I was sucked into the story by that point.

Overall it was a really good story and I do recommend it either reading with your eyes or your ears.

I was a bit sceptical at first because I honestly believe a narrator can make or break a book but I absolutely loved Rome and Lillys love story. Captured my heart ❤️ two tortured souls who know they shouldn’t be together, shouldn’t work together but gravitate towards eachother. The complete opposites attract, bad boy good girl love trope

This wasn’t it. It wasn’t the worse thing, but I just didn’t enjoy it. And the forced moans of the narrator made me uncomfortable. Which isn’t anything new, I already knew I wasn’t a fan of adult romance audios.

That being said, I might consider buying a copy.

This book is a raunchy good time. Rome is the quintessential rocker of every girl's dreams. Lili is portrayed in a way that makes her incredibly relatable when it comes to the pressures parents heap on their children. When they come together they are explosive. The voice actors who portray them in the audiobook make for an incredibly immersive experience. Connor Brown's voice is so deep and sends a million shivers down your spine while making you feel like the only girl in the world. As an added bonus it is set just up the road from where I live in Denver. Definitely a fun listening experience that I'd recommend time and time again.

This is my first Eva Simmons book and I can’t wait to go back and read her other books.

As an avid spicy book reader, if you’re listening to this in shared spaces, you’re going to want to wear headphones 😉.

I will admit the first few mins of dialogue of the MMC I was worried it was going to be all troupe no feelings, things came around pretty quick and I was cheering for him in no time.

I really appreciated a lot of the dialogue the author used when each character was noticing the other, it felt genuine. There were a few parts where I even paused the book to appreciate a well crafted line.

The narrators are great. With audiobooks a bad narrator can really detract from a book and make it unbearable to listen to. This pairing was great and I look forward to hearing more of their work.

I really enjoyed this one. I like the banter between them and of course the bad boy who is trouble! It was a good change of pace; I always love when the audio books go back and forth between Rome and Eva. It was a quick read that I really liked!

Worth the Trouble comes with all the good tropes, and although it left me slightly underwhelmed, I know this is going to be a favourite for many.

The sweet and dutiful dancer FMC and the messed up, emotionally stinted bad boy rock star MMC. She has no freedom, her career domineers her life and she wants to break out. He is called the Riff God, has stripper poles in his living room and scars not only on his body and is annoyed that all his band mates are suddenly in relationships. Worth the Trouble uses a formula that works often and well.

The characters are simple enough. They work, the dynamic works and they both have enough space for the character development they need. Which is also what drives the story: Their dynamic and how they're bumping into each other sets of events and changes that drive the story.

The writing is smooth and light and although I didn't read the previous books in the series, I didn't feel lost and liked the glimpse we get of the side characters/previous main characters. It's also a book that works great in audio format and the narration was really good.

All that being said... I sadly found myself underwhelmed. It might be because I do read a loooot but while the book was good, it was nothing special, didn't hold my attention, didn't make me jump to read the other books in the series. This, however, is very much a me thing!
The only tangible point of critique I want to make is the continuous use of the term 'pussy whipped' and how the MMC keeps using it and its neither called out nor reflected on when things between him and the FMC progress.

Overall, Worth the Trouble was a quick and easy read, especially as an audiobook. It was a bit of a let down for me personally and couldn't quite hold my attention, but the characters are intriguing and the story works. Which is why I do understand the popularity it has already gained and am sure, it will have a vast fan base and be loved by many.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio and Eva Simmons for an ALC of this book.

*♡Thank you to to Eva Simmons and Tantor Audio for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion♡*

Worth the Trouble is book 4 in the Enemy Muse series, but it can be read as a standalone. I haven't read any of the other books in the series and I followed the storyline with no problem, and I really enjoyed it.
Bad boy rockstar who will never settle down and has a different girl every night falls for the prim and proper dancer who is looking to find herself. Sounds like a trope that has been written a hundred times, but Eva Simmons does an amazing job at making you feel like it's the first time you have read it.
Desiree Ketchum and Connor Brown have done an amazing job at narrating the parts of Lily and Rome, they are one of the reasons I felt truely emersed in the story.
The spice hits just right too, sooo good!!

The narrators did so well portraying Lily and Rome. I read this book a year ago and listening to it brought out new elements. I really felt the emotions of the characters and they did an excellent job adjusting their voices for other side characters both male and female. I’m not sure if I have listened to books with these narrators before but I’m looking up other works by them now. Fantastic job. I love the pristine dancer image of Lily against the tattooed bad boy rockstar of Rome. Despite their different lifestyles they fit so perfect together. I loved watching Rome accept how head over heels he was for Lily. Their chemistry bleeds through the words and the narration just drove it home. This book gave me all the feels.

I really enjoyed Worth the Trouble—an emotional, steamy rockstar romance that pulls you in from the start. Rome and Liliana's chemistry is intense, and their journey through trauma, healing, and love is beautifully told. The audiobook narration was spot on; both voices suited the characters perfectly. I just wish it had been true dual narration to better distinguish their perspectives.

The story blends emotional depth with spicy scenes and strong character development, making it a great listen for fans of passionate, character-driven romances.

4.5 stars – heartfelt, steamy, and well-performed!

I was not even a little bit ready for this series to end. Rome was the best way to go out.

The narration brought so much extra to these characters I couldn’t stop listening.

He has always been obviously very tormented and broken man. I couldn’t wait to read about why he was hurt the way he was and the happily ever after he deserved.

While this is a standalone I recommend reading the series first. They are interconnected so beautifully you won’t want to miss a moment.

The character growth throughout was amazing and equally heartbreaking. I love the band and how supportive they are of each other.

Lili was the sunshine to Romes Darkness. While she carried her own darkness they were perfect for each other. I loved reading her journey to finding herself again and realizing her worth.

Their chemistry was amazing and the pace of their relationship felt realistic.

I miss them already.

Raw, unfiltered, real. Beautifully tragic.

Rome is the last of the band members to find himself single and he’s a-ok with that. He’s the life of the party with a constantly rotating bedroom door. The women, booze, and drugs, though? All a front for the abuse and detachment he’s had to experience. He’s become numb to everything and even his go-to coping mechanisms aren’t satisfying him anymore.

Lili is a picture-perfect ballerina living an empty life controlled by her mother. Nothing she does is for herself, not even her past relationships. She’s made herself small and can’t see a way out. With few friends and a distant mother left as her only family, her days are lonely.

But when the two meet, they see each other. The masks they wear are so obvious to the other, despite being so completely different. Rome’s chaotic behavior and Lili’s perfect facade make for the best of opposites attract.

The fire that immediately ignites between the two only grows hotter throughout the book and that translates to the spice 🥵🔥😮‍💨

If this doesn’t sum them up:

“Don’t mistake me for a gentleman because I’d rather destroy you than save you.” I move my hand once more to her throat and she tips her head back against my chest breathing hard. “Or is that what you want?” […] “I don’t know, Rome,” she says, it’s almost a whisper, “Maybe I just want to feel something again.”

I never love a playboy, despite that seeming to be all I’ve read lately. It’s especially not my cup of tea when it’s basically their whole personality. We eventually see Rome open up and his character grow, but it took me a minute to warm up to him, I won’t lie.

I did absolutely adore that they never once tried to change each other. They embraced each other’s flaws and because of that, they only made each other better. They wanted to be better for each other, which is really what romance is all about, right?

The author’s writing really allowed me to jump right into the series, despite reading the last book first and knowing nothing that happened previously. I was sucked right into the world of Enemy Muse, which only made me add the others to my tbr.

The Basics:
Rock Star 🎸//Ballerina 🩰
1st Person Dual POV
4th book in the Enemy Muse series - standalone but better if read in order
CW: eating disorder
HEA
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review 🤍🎧

3.75⭐️
2🌶️

Thank to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC of this book.

This duel narration audiobook was such an easy listen and was executed very well by both narrators, in my opinion
I felt the female narrator(Desiree Ketchum) truly encapsulated both characters with her performance making this a very enjoyable listen for me.

In this book, famous Rockstar, Rome Morreno parties his way through life and vows to never settle down. Until of course, he runs in to Lili Chen (professional dancer) and would love to rumple her prim and polished persona.

This book had some traumatic aspects in it which gave the characters a depth that I really enjoyed. Lili is a professional dancer and has every inch of her life controlled by someone else. From her clothing, work, meals, and time, nothing in her life is her own.

Rome had a very traumatic childhood that also controlled his every movement, so in his adult life, he goes with the flow and lives in the moment. This mentality had led him to be the last member of his band to settle down and love with not on his radar at all.

'But she tastes like mine.'

I absolutely love to see a man realise he is in love, albeit begrudgingly😂. Giving up his womanising ways, Rome gave his tainted heart to Lili to keep safe and even though shes terrified, she allows him to crack through her walls and accept her entirely, flaws and all.

This is the 4th book in this series, I was worried going in that I wouldn't be confused by the side characters but it just made me want to go read the first 3! I had such a fun time with this listen and I look forwards to hearing the rest of the series.

3⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!

Worth the Trouble was a sweet and steamy read, and I can see why readers who love rockstar romances will eat it up. Rome Moreno has all the makings of a tortured, irresistible lead — and the dynamic with the disciplined ballerina brought some fun contrast and tension.

That said, while I enjoyed the overall vibe, it didn’t quite stand out for me. The plot followed a very familiar arc, and I felt like I’d read versions of this story before. I kept hoping for a twist or a moment that would shake things up or dig a little deeper emotionally, but it stayed in safe territory.

Still, it was entertaining enough to finish in a couple of sittings, and there’s definitely an audience for this type of romance. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, low-angst love story with a broody musician and a determined heroine, this might hit the spot — it just didn’t bring anything especially new to the table for me.

I wish I would have read this on my kindle. I had a hard time connecting with the audiobook, and I can’t put my finger on exactly why.

I loved the opposites attract dynamic. An edgy rockstar paired with a dedicated ballet dancer. It was refreshing to see the characters being open and honest with each other, despite their individual struggles. I wish there wouldve been more character growth, especially for Rome. I wanted more of a connection and to see them truly healing together.

I enjoyed it for the most part and will definitely check out the previous books. I love a good rockstar romance and Eva’s writing really works for me.

ALC review

This book was absolute magic!! I have never liked books like this with danger but this was absolute perfection!! Now I have another books series I have to read!! Eva Simmons is officially added to my list!!

I enjoyed this more than I was expecting, and it was nice to be able to pick this up without reading the previous books, though I am absolutely on my way to devour books 1 - 3! The levels of spice and angst were just right to keep me engaged throughout, and though I don't normally pick up rockstar romances, I'm obsessed with Rome! Desiree Ketchum and Connor Brown were absolutely fantastic at bringing these characters to life