I am obsessed with Ally Carter's writing! I adored her Gallagher Girls series back in the day and while this story was lighter on the spy mechanics it still included enough to add some stakes to this swoony romance. I love a man who is down bad and King is so down bad it's glorious. Their banter was so fun to read about and the dual timeline aspect kept me intrigued trying to find out how they got to where they are today. I did find myself somewhat confused as the timeline and POV switches happen quickly but the vibes were immaculate so I had a fabulous time. I hope there are more books in this series because I had a blast with this one!

Both narrators were absolutely fantastic! I tried reading with my eyes for a chapter and immediately switched back to audio because the narrators delivery made me fall for the characters even more. Definitely pick this one up on audio!

Thank you to Harper Audio for the ALC of The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold by Ally Carter. All opinions are my own.

The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold is the sequel to The Blonde Identity. While they don’t have to be read in order, I think you will have a better experience reading them in order if you want to avoid any spoilers from book one.

This book is told using dual timelines and dual points of view. Because this is a second chance romance, I think this set-up really worked for this story. I enjoyed learning how the characters first met, their experiences together in the past, and their current predicament.

Much like The Blonde Identity, this book is full of danger, adventure, banter, and a swoony romance. I also liked learning the events that led up to what happened in The Blonde Identity.

The tension between the characters in this book was so good because they were constantly irritating each other because of their opinions regarding being spies. It was also nice to see both characters have moments of vulnerability with each other as they both worked on past trauma.

I listened to the audiobook of this story, and I really loved both of the narrators. They had great inflection, and I felt that they told the story well.

Overall, I thought this book was a lot of fun, and I think you’ll enjoy this book if you like spy romances with lots of tension, a little bit of spice, and lots of secrets.

I wasn’t sure if I would like a book about Alex after meeting her in The Blonde Identity and thinking she was a cold-hearted sister to Zoey. But this book shed the layers and masks she puts on to give us the true person beneath the spy exterior. It made me feel for her and want to learn more about why she is the way she is.

I normally don’t love when authors flash back and forward between timelines because it gets confusing if you are reading small parts at a time. But Ally Carter had a way of telling Alex and Michael’s story through the past and present. You saw how they came from enemies that bickered nonstop to forced proximity friends. It was easy to fall in love with them as they fell in love with each other.

As usual, the narrators only add to the story and brought it to life in a way that makes a book become a movie in your head.

This is such a fun series. I love a good romantic suspense that isn't too dark and doesn't take itself too seriously. I am not usually a fan of second-chance romance, but I enjoyed the flashbacks of their adventures, which added some high-stakes action in between. That being said, I did find it hard to follow/drawn out at times, but no less exciting. I had to know what happened in Scotland!

I absolutely loved the narrators for the audiobook; they did such a good job bringing the characters to life for me. I hope this series continues!

My name is Sara, and I am a former "future spy." I've been to the international spy museum multiple times, stalked the CIA career site when I was younger, and had a deep obsession with the Gallagher Girls novels.

I mention those things because The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold brought all of that right back to me. I loved the mystery of their situation and the flashbacks to spy school and former jobs that got them to where they are. Spying really lends itself to some forced proximity and only one bed situations, and I ate them up.
Alex is the perfect blend of funny and smart, and I loved everything about her character. King is a man who *yearns* and oh my god is it good. Plus getting to see Zoe and Sawyer again a bit from the first book was so fun! I want to read a million short stories of missions or home life or truly anything with these characters.

I mainly listened to the audiobook and it was excellent! Both narrators were phenomenal, and I was able to mostly keep up with the time jumps.

Ally is one of the few authors that could get me to love second chance romances. The dual timeline was my favorite in establishing their prior history with the situation they face currently. The opening scene was actually iconic for this book. And Kingsley can easily make a girl swoon with how he takes care of Alex!! I had a great time listening to this book.
My only issue was that since I recently listened to The Blonde Identity in preparation for this book, I had a hard time adjusting to the audio for The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold because the same narrators are used for both books. But Alex is definitely written with an entirely different personality than Zoe so that made the adjustment easier. Thank you to Harper Audio for the ALC!

I loved, loved, loved this audiobook! From the first few minutes, the narrators—Emily Ellet and Andrew Eiden—brought the witty, action-packed spy rom‑com to life in the best possible way. I listened while driving to our vacation destination and actually laughed out loud more than once—definitely the perfect road‑trip listen.

Ellet captures Zoe’s sass and savvy brilliantly, while Eiden matches Sawyer’s gruff charm with just the right tone—together they deliver chemistry that sizzles across every twist and cover identity.

Unput-downable, hilarious, and emotionally satisfying, this is one of the best audiobook experiences I've had in a long time. If you're gearing up for summer road trips or fun romance-thriller energy, this is it!

I love this novel and had read an arc already. The audio helped me hear all the little Ally Carter details ending with my eyes glossed over. I highly recommend this audio book.

After being out of the business for a year, ex-spy Alex wakes up chained to the last person she expects, fellow spy and former love of her life, Michael King.
Even better than book one! This book has a high stakes, action packed plot as well. I didn’t think I’d love the characters more than the first book, but they are amazing. The yearning and the banter are top notch. Just an all around super fun read! And again, Emily and Andrew crushed it on the narration!

Audiobook/Book Review 📖🫆🎧
thank you so much partner @avonbooks + Harper Audio for the gifted copy and audiobook!

The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold
by Ally Carter
Narrated by Andrew Eiden; Emily Ellet

About the book 👇🏽

Ten years ago, they joined the CIA.

Six years ago, he left the game.

Five years ago, they fell in love.

One year ago, she ran out into the cold with absolutely no intention of ever coming back.
And two minutes ago, they woke up, bloody and bruised and handcuffed together in the dark.

They don't know where they are. They don't know how they got there. And they have absolutely no idea who is after them or what this nameless, faceless villain wants.
The only thing that's clear is that, after ten years of covers and chemistry, secrets and lies, these two rival spies have been sucked into their greatest mission yet, and now they're going to have to team up to stay alive. (If they don't kill each other first.)

🫆 My thoughts:

I can’t believe how fast I devoured this book. I didn’t even wait to read it once I got it! I was fortunate enough to be able to hybrid read this, split equally between physical read and audiobook listen (my favorite way to experience a book). I absolutely loved the narrators together, it all felt RIGHT and had me hooked. I could have easily listened to the entire book in one sitting with that combo. And I would highly recommend both versions of the book. Trust me, either way you will love it. Second chance romance is one of my all time favorites and Ally Carter nailed it. With dual timelines, the banter, and the action… this simply cannot be rated any less than five stars! I did not read the first in the series and luckily I did not need to in order to follow this one but I definitely plan to go back and read the first. Something tells me it’s worth it. The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold is out now and it’s a must read!

Happy reading 📖 ✨🖤🫆

This spy romance so entertaining and so much fun!! It was filled with banter for days, wild spy situations and a swoony second chance romance!!! There is chemistry, and longing and just so much tension, so I didn’t even miss the spice. There is action and suspense and plenty of laughs! This one is different and fun—like a breath of fresh air! It absolutely read like a spy romcom movie! It for sure gave me Mr. and Mrs. Smith Vibes!

🎧The narration added to an already great story, with the narration from Teddy and Emily! I’ve never listened to Emily before and was pleasantly surprised. She is super talented and I can’t wait to look for more from her. And Teddy as a sexy, absolutely in love spy?? Perfection!!! I highly recommend on audio!

❔

this book was good but the first one was better. the slow burn aspect of this book was really good, it was a true Rivals to Lovers. I did find the time shifts to be confusing at times but I was able to follow it for the most part.

Sharp twists, soft hearts, and spy games galore ❄️🕶️

Alex is finally front and center and wow, she did not come to play. This book is a fast-paced, dual-timeline deep dive into her past and present, packed with secrets, tension, and the kind of slow-burn “I hate how much I feel things” energy that kept me glued to the page.

We’ve got fake hate, real feelings, and one broody boy named King who’s clearly been wrecked for her for years. The flashbacks hit hard, the emotional reveals are worth the wait, and the present-day plot keeps the stakes sky-high without ever losing that signature Ally Carter fun.

It’s clean, but the tension? So real. There's angst, longing, and more than one moment that had me screaming, “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER.” Add in a little sister nostalgia from book 1, a few excellent twists, and a heroine who finally gets to own her story, and you've got one satisfying, heart-squeezing ride.

But fair warning: there’s a cliffhanger that will have you yelling, throwing your book, and immediately demanding answers. Ally, how could you?!

absolutely sneaking into a spy era. king and alex are top tier, gold standard of THAT couple. the banter, tension, angst &yearing was absolutely riveting. now throw in a dual timeline, amnesia trope, volcanoes (????), and practically the entire world trying to unalive them. thats how you wrote a phenomenal spy book. if you know me you know i always read spice, but this one was so engaging ya girl didnt notice that it was closed door until the end- so i guess that means im not cut out for spy school, huh?

andrew eiden and emily ellet performed an absolutely addictive narration that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout this jaw dropping rollercoaster of a book. the best of brain tingles for sure

thank you to Ally Carter, Harper Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen and review the blonde who came in from the cold!

tropes: close door romance, spy x spy, romantic suspense, amnesia, mc on the run, dual timeline, enemies to lovers, mutual pining, second chance, cia operatives, world traveling

vibes: adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma

If you liked the first, you'll like the second! 3.5 stars rounded up.

I loved the story, and the twists were great! I am so excited to find out what happens in the next one, the story is building to such a an exciting crescendo. AND THE EPILOGUE! I can't wait for book three.

My main issue is a little spoilery, so they're hidden below, be warned!
~
~
~
~
~
The plot lines are so similar. They wake up with memory loss. They have to pretend to be a married couple. The love interest is the son/grandson of a famous spy. There's even a moment where someone jumps onto a moving boat (that one made me laugh, I thought that was a clever callback). On some level, the similarities are funny because as different as their lives are, the twins are so similar, so of course their dramatic love stories would have similar beats! But to me it kind of felt like the same novel twice. I will say the second novel is my favorite of the two even so. No mid trilogy (or longer series?) slump here!

Thanks to NetGalley for the free arc, all opinions are my own.

This audio book was action packed and everything I hoped for in a sequel to The Blonde Identity. I loved the narrators and how they took on the characters of Alex and Mike.
The chemistry between Alex and Mike was incredible. Their enemies to more vibe was perfectly written. I love the pacing and the way the dual POV made this story shine. The multiple timelines slowly revealed the way their relationship evolved over a decade alternating between the past and the present. These characters were endearing and the challenges they face as spies were intriguing. I was invested from the first page and I didn’t want to put this one down until the last word, and even then I wanted more from these characters.
I think you could listen to this as a stand-alone, but I know I enjoyed it even more because I listened to the first book.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to listen to an early copy via NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Omg I love a down bad spy who doles out delicate little forehead kisses when the woman he loves is shot.

Michael Kingsley has no business being so adorable when he is a deadly spy. And of course, Alex is perfect for him because she is just as good as he is and takes absolutely no shit from anyone (well…except her own damn self. Girl! Stop blaming yourself for everything!)

Having listened to this, the time hops and locations really threw me for a loop. They visited the same locations multiple times but at different points and once I get my own physical copy and reread it (which I’m sure I will), I’ll be able to follow and enjoy even more.

I am going to get hands on book one (the blonde identity) in my immediate future.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

CW/TW: murder, death, gun violence, kidnapping, medical trauma, death of a parent

This book is fast paced and entertaining, but I liked the first one so much more. The audiobook of this is really well done, the dual narration is so good.
The characters are mildly problematic and surface level, Alex is very similar to Zoe, but not exactly. Which makes sense, because they're twins. Kingsley is obsessive, which again, is no surprise considering his family history and how he was raised, but he could easily turn creepy.
The plot didn't really make a whole lot of sense to me, it took a lot of interesting twists and turns and kept me going, but the whole point of this long ass chase was kind of anticlimactic.

There's a lot of this book that's a vibe and just really works, but there's also a lot that doesn't. It's like a mashup of a 2 star read and a 4 star.


Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for providing this ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold is about Alex, whose goal has always been to become a spy and King, who comes from a legacy spy family. They bump heads and don't always get along, but we learn over time that that changes. They are brought back together after some time apart and have to discover who is trying to draw them out and why.

There are a lot of time and location jumps in this story. It works for explaining the main characters' relationship over time, but I'd recommend trying to take your pauses at the end of chapters or you may struggle to remember where/when you are.

I did not read the first book in this interconnected series, but I felt like that was not too much of a hindrance. The pertinent info is recapped when necessary. I think I could also go back and read the first one without issue (and may do that!).

Overall, it was a quick and easy read with an interesting premise.

I struggled with the narrators a little bit, but it was more of a personal preference thing. I was able to speed it up without issue (which is a requirement for me), though.

Thanks to Harper Audio Adult and NetGalley for an ALC of this audiobook for an honest review.

Happy release day to The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold!! - 4.5 stars

The vibes:
Spy rom com
Rivals to lovers
Fade to black spice
Sequel to The Blonde Identity
Short chapters
Dual timeline
Dual narration audiobook

Something about Ally Carter's writing makes me so happy. The way she structures sentences and the voice she creates works really well for me.

I really really enjoyed the female main character of this book. She was a hard as nails spy character who also was completely herself and didn't fit the typical spy mold.

Our male main character was so capable and good at being a spy and that was really attractive about him.

I loved seeing them in spy school when they met and wish that part lasted longer. Seeing them working together through the years until present day was a fun way to structure the book. However, the story structure with the flashbacks and present day storyline got a little confusing.

The audiobook narrators were wonderful, but I wish it was duet narration. I think it would have brought the dialogue to life even more. I also don't love when a man does a female voice and vice versa. As I listen to more audiobooks, the pickier I'm getting. And duet is my favorite!

I loved the short chapters and seeing the FMC and MMC from The Blonde Identity.

I would totally recommend it to all romance lovers.

Thank you @harpercollins for the advanced listening copy and @avonbooks for the ARC.