Thank you MacMillan Audio for the book!

Enemies-to-lovers? Forced proximity? Office chaos and pretend dating? Yesssss!

Charles has always played by the rules. His high pressure law job is his whole life… until Kriya shows up and messes it all up.

Kriya’s fresh start turns into a disaster when she keeps running into her ultimate work nemesis, and now he’s her office mate.

Now it’s hard to tell if they’re enemies, friends, or maybe… something way more. After a fake date for his cousin's wedding, bumping into her ex (and I need to kiss you right now so he knows I am sooo over him) I am HERE for this messy, flirty, swoony office romance.

I tried to get into this story a couple of different times and just couldn't connect with the pacing. It felt like a lot of tell with very little show and I didn't feel any chemistry with the characters.

Two lawyers. One office. Zero chill. When newly single Kriya Rajasekar ends up sharing a workspace with her rule-obsessed nemesis Charles Goh, the result is equal parts legal drama and romantic comedy. Zen Cho delivers sharp banter, fake dates to outsmart a sleazy boss, and thoughtful commentary on race, ambition, and power in the legal world.

Charles’s tidy memos contrast with Kriya’s warm, chaotic energy, and their slow-burn romance unfolds like a carefully negotiated contract—full of minor objections and a few accidental clauses about longing. It’s smart, funny, and subtly tender, even if the sparks never quite reach the level of “grand courtroom confession.”

I haven't loved an East Asian x South Asian romance like this since LAST TANG STANDING. More Interracial Romance with Non-White Love Interest, please.

I 100% requested this for the cover. My girl Kriya is hot af. And because I loved THE ORDER OF THE PURE MOON REFLECTED IN WATER, a completely different genre. And because I did not read my ARC of THE FRIEND ZONE EXPERIMENT on time. Surprised?

So, like LAST TANG STANDING, we've got lawyers that want to be enemies to lovers so bad. I think it's more misunderstanding than anything else, but it makes for a fun book. Obviously, Kriya and Charles end up sharing an office. More obviously, her divorced, middle-aged, white boss sexually harasses her, and is surprised when she doesn't reciprocate his "affections."

We're dealing with the law, so obviously there are some shady clients. But because they're both Asian, we've also got a family wedding they both end up attending. Let's not overlook one of my favorite tropes, fake dating.

There's also fraud, shady family members, and overall, some stupid decisions. God, I love when characters make stupid decisions. Makes me feel better about my own life. Don't ask me about my life.

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

The narration was okay. I’m not sure why it seemed a bit off to me. The chemistry I should have felt wasn’t really there for me. It is also enemies-to-lovers based on a misunderstanding, so the basis for the plot seems flawed. Overall, it was an okay quick listen.

3.75 Stars

It took me a minute to get into, but I ended up INTO it! Content warning for a come on from a boss. Kriya and Charles had kind of a spat in the past, and in Kriya's eyes they are enemies. Then things happen in her life that lead them to working at the same firm. After Kriya's boss won't leave her along until she says that she is dating someone, Charles ends up stepping in to be that fake boyfriend.

I ended up really enjoying this one. We have good family rep, diverse backgrounds (locations, race, etc.), I love the integration of the friend group and work place shared space. The scene where they find out she speaks Cantonese also had me cracking up.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Charles and Kriya have never gotten along. But now they are working in the same audience and end up fake dating.

This plot had a lot going on with workplace harassment, strange cases, family dynamics, and more. The transition from enemies to lovers felt especially fast, and I didn't really see it coming. I wanted a bit more depth from the characters and a bit more streamlined plot to better allow for clear storytelling. My favorite aspects were the representation. Daniel York Loh and Vera Chok did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

3.5 stars rounded up

I loved this book. Two lawyers forced to work very closely together 😎 and he just happens to be her rival in the office. The accent was a bit of a deterrent but that is just me. You will fall in love with the characters.
It has a ton of my favorite tropes. Work place romance, forced proximity, a bit of enemies to lovers. Again when it comes to the audiobook, they did a fantastic job but the accent: (which do make sense since it based in the UK) made it difficult to read and concentrate on the story.. if I would have read the ebook, I would’ve definitely loved it even more. 🎧🎧🎧🎧

Thank you Netgally and Macmillan audio for this ALC.

The story follows Kriya and Charles, two lawyers who have different approaches to life. Charles is mister follow the rule and struggles with social interactions. While Kriya is more lively but stuck in a toxic cycle with her boss. Kriya has always seen Charles as an enemy due to past interactions, however he has not seen her that way. So what happens when they are forced to share a work space?

Personally I enjoy the why this story unfolded. While there was some miscommunication which is one of the least favorite tropes, I was still won over by these characters. One of the major issues that moved the plot along had me talking out loud and fuming as it was a great depiction of how privileged individuals don’t think the rules apply to them or that they can intimidate you to get away with their wrong. I also enjoyed the narrators for this story. I will definitely be looking to read more by Zen Cho!

Review of Behind Frenemy Lines by Zen Cho

Zen Cho’s Behind Frenemy Lines is a delightful rivals-to-lovers office romance that blends sharp wit, cultural insight, and emotional resonance. Set in a high-powered London law firm, the novel follows Charles Goh—the disciplined, rules-bound lawyer—and Kriya Rajasekar, a spirited newcomer rebuilding after heartbreak.

🤝 Final verdict
Behind Frenemy Lines is a smart, heartfelt romance that balances humor, cultural nuance, and emotional growth. It works beautifully for readers who enjoy thoughtful enemies-to-lovers storylines, workplace dynamics, and dual POV narratives. While the romantic chemistry leans gentle, it’s carefully developed and deeply satisfying.

I really enjoyed BEHIND FRENEMY LINES! I wasn’t totally sure what to expect but the story has everything: of course the enemies-to-lovers trope, but also a lot of more substantive topics like body image, sexism, workplace harassment, family trauma and caretaking, and so much more. There’s even some wonderful queer rep!

I also really liked the way the author created the protagonists’ relationship arc. It didn’t feel fake or saccharine, but there also wasn’t so much mutual loathing at the outset that it seemed literally impossible for the romance to build! The narrators did a great job bringing not only Kriya and Charles to life but also the other characters.

I would definitely read more from Zen Cho and other books narrated by these actors! I think Behind Frenemy Lines is a book that will be relatable and captivating for a lot of readers. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for sharing this e-arc with me!

This workplace co-worker fake dating to more dual POV romance just wasn't for me. I found it slow, lacked chemistry between the main characters and that there was more focus on the workplace harassment plot than the actual romance. Okay on audio but not one I'll remember or recommend even though it had a FAB cover! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Behind Frenemy Lines didn’t quite sweep me off my feet, but I did appreciate the layers Zen Cho brought to the table. The romance had its sweet moments, and the representation, especially of Southeast Asian identities was refreshing and important.

It’s giving enemies to reluctant allies to maybe-something-more, and while the pacing and plot didn’t fully hook me, I’m always here for stories that center love and cultural nuance in imaginative ways. Not a fave, but a solid read for those who enjoy subtle romance, and thoughtful representation.

I genereally liked this story but less for the romance and more for the friends and international characters and the workplace story, the romance portion was a little weak and resolution too fast.

I wanted to like this but it fell a little flat. I didn't really feel the romance between the MCs and also didn't really get the enemies either. The fake dating was a nice touch and the narration was good.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook

Behind Enemy Lines is the story of a woman who, several years into her career as a lawyer, ends up at the same firm as her work frenemy. And not just same firm, sharing an office due to a shortage in office space. This book was a mix of everything. Drama with work issues, enemies to lovers, fake dating, self growth and humor peppered throughout, particularly from clients and family members. All with vibes similar to The Hating Game. I really liked how the real life issues were grappled with against a backdrop of a romance, to sort of balance it out and not make the whole thing too serious or too intense. The audio was great with dual narrators.

This one was just okay for me. The premise had promise, fake dating with a frenemy twist, and the cultural touches were a nice layer, but overall, it didn’t leave a big impression. The characters had their moments, and the banter was cute, but the story didn’t fully pull me in. If you’re into light office rom-coms with a slow burn and a bit of heart, this might hit better for you. For me, it was a decent read but not super memorable.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with the audiobook of Behind Frenemy Lines.

Behind Frenemy Lines was a cute rivals-to-lovers story that follows the love/hate relationship between Charles and Kriya. These two lawyers met years ago, and sparks were there, but then they fizzled out. Years later, they are now co-workers who have to share an office. While fitting the inevitable feelings that they both seem to be hell-bent on hiding from one another, they face many obstacles together. With everyone around them seemingly working overtime to ensure that Charles and Kriya see what everyone else can see, Charles and Kriya are in for a long, winding road.

I enjoyed this story. I thought it could have been wrapped up slightly quicker than it was. The back-and-forth between Charles and Kriya when it came to the maybe we will, maybe we won't seemed to drag too long. They knew for more than half the book that they had feelings for each other and even had the out when they started a "fake" relationship. I think that was a missed opportunity to explore their relationship deeper without taking the plunge.

I did enjoy the side plot with the boss and how Kriya decided to handle her work life without the help of a man. That was a great addition to the story and allowed us to see that Kriya was strong and capable of handling herself without needing a man to step in and save her. I think that was where the story turned for me and showed that Kriya had control over her life and could make decisions based on what was best for her and her alone.

This was a nicely balanced workplace romance for me, though it at times felt a little disjointed. I really adored the narrators and think they brought a lot to the characters. I wasn't sure that the romantic conflict was so clear as in most romances but overall I enjoyed the book.

This book was cute. It was slower than I expected but the story built through the book was so good it kept my attention. It was a quick rom com work place story that also touched on workplace misconducts.