Spy romcoms are totally my new favorite! This was such a great follow-up to The Blonde Identity! I actually waited to read the first one, and it was wonderful listening to both audiobooks back-to-back. It was the perfect way to experience them!

The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold had me hooked from the start. Alex and King met the night before they started CIA training, and I could tell they were amazing together from that first meeting. It kept me entertained with the humor, the witty banter, and the awesome enemies-to-lovers romance. I loved how the dual timeline showed their history and tied into the current situation. No spicy scenes, but there's definitely chemistry, tension, and so much longing.

Emily Ellet and Andrew Eiden did an amazing job with the dual narration! They really brought the characters to life.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Avon for the ALC!

I'm a bit of rebel who likes to read books out of order. The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold is the second book in the Blonde Identity series. Did I read The Blonde Identity first? I think you know the answer... Here's the thing - sometimes my ADHD brain reads a description and is like "That sounds so good! I should request it!" and then I receive it and realize that it's part of a series. I bamboozled myself once again. BUT the good news is that after receiving it, I looked at other reviews to see if it was necessary to read the first one in order to understand the second and everyone agreed that it wasn't necessary. So, I put my headphones on and jumped in. Still having not read the first book, I do truly think that reading them out of order is absolutely ok. There is a slight spoiler for the first book, however, it's a pretty obvious spoiler so really didn't spoil anything.

The first book follows Zoe, an ordinary girl who is thrust into the spy world thanks to her twin sister being a secret spy. This book flips over to Zoe's twin sister, Alex, a spy who finds herself in some sticky situations with a frustratingly handsome and moody male spy named King. This was my first book by Ally Carter, so I didn't know what to expect. I know she has primarily written YA in the past and I know that sometimes switching over from YA to Adult Fiction can be tough, but Ally Carter nails it. Alex is such a fun, likable character who I found incredibly relatable (minus the whole badass spy thing... I'm very clumsy...). King is the perfect opposition to Alex. He is an uptight rule follower. Naturally the two clash, despite an incredible attraction to each other. And of course, they get paired up on assignments much to their dismay. But soon, they come to rely on each other and care deeply for one another.

This book had me literally laughing out loud. Alex was incredibly funny and the banter between her and King was perfection. The spy portion was really interesting and had a more serious note to it. I wish we had gotten more of the relationship between Zoe and Alex, but having not read the first book, it's probably something I missed out on. Regardless, I felt the love that Alex had for Zoe and how hard she has worked to set herself apart from Zoe and Zoe's prior illness. I loved the relationship between King and Alex. It was the perfect opposites attract trope. My only complaint is that the "relationship" between the two seemed to develop maybe too quickly. I think I could have used a little more build up and foundation creating between the two.

My only other complaint about the book is that the story is not told in a linear timeline. It goes back and forth between different time periods and assignments, and I found myself getting confused on when exactly things were happening. I had to re-read sections to try to follow it.

Overall, this book was a delight, and I had so much fun listening to it. I was lucky enough to receive a finished copy of the book, but I was also granted a digital copy of the audiobook, so I ended up listening to the audiobook. The narration by Emily Ellet and Andrew Eiden was really well done. They really brought the characters to life and made them their own.

This book was so fun that I immediately put the first one on hold at the library after I finished reading this one. Now I'm "patiently" waiting my turn on the hold list. I'm excited to go back and read the first one.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

This was fun and honestly different than what I'm used to reading. I really enjoyed the author's humour and the relationship between our two main characters.

I would recommend reading the first book in the series first though, as I did not and I found that there were some mentions of the previous novel that I would have liked to know more about before reading this one.

The audio narration was excellent - Andrew Eiden always kills it, and Emily Ellet did an excellent job bringing Alex to life.

The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold kept me guessing in the best way. I loved the dual narration both were perfect for imagining the characters, The shifting timeline and twists made it feel like I was part of the story—constantly questioning what I thought I knew. It’s fast, fun, and the kind of story that pulls you in until you realize you’ve stayed up way too late and ignored all other responsibilities!

This was a really fun Spy Romance. The back and forth time jumps were a little confusing to me- but I think it was because it was on Audio. It may have been easier to keep track via physical or eread. The end was an interesting twist that I kind of saw coming along the way-- but overall, I really did like it!

🌟Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!🌟

I gave The Blonde Identity a solid 3☆ and had a pretty good time with it.
I expected the same with the sequel.

I GOT SO MUCH MORE!!! I had such a fun time with this story. I loved the plot, pacing, and characters so much more than the 1st book!

I loved seeing how the author tied this story into what we read in the first book too. It really made it all feel cohesive and like a lovely story of sisters & spies.

Lots of fun!

The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold is a sort-of sequel to The Blonde Identity. It could be read as a standalone, but the story is much richer for having read the first one. It's a second-chance romance for Alexandra Sterling and Michael Kingsley, CIA operatives whose paths have crossed many times over the ten years since they first met. The novel is structured such that we jump back and forth in time, opening in the present when they wake up on the floor, in the dark, handcuffed to each other. We then go back to the past and watch as they meet and immediately rub each other the wrong way, then come back up to the present. Each trip to the past adds context to the current events as they try to figure out who is after them and why. I didn't love the reuse of amnesia here (following Blonde Identity), and Alex's self-loathing seemed a little extreme, but Kingsley's angsty yearning was perfect, and the slow burn was delicious! Like the previous book, the audio was dual-narrated by Emily Ellet and Andrew Eiden, which was a nice bit of continuity.

Thank you net galley and publisher for this audiobook arc! I am floored! This was a fantastic listen! Ally Carter continues to impress with this suspenseful romance novel.

I loved the dual narration, and thought the actors did a phenomenal job portraying these characters. The jumps through time kept me hooked on each word. A slow burn of tension building between the two protagonists set in a whirlwind mystery of a spy movie?! Sign me up!

It was a wild ride and perfect for anyone who loves spies, secrets, witty dialogue, and an intelligent (and muscled) tortured MMC.

I got to 40% and couldn't get further. Even though this wasn't a horrible book, I just could not get into it. It was very predictable and was not catching my attention. Unfortunately, I will not be finishing.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | Avon for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold by Ally Carter is the second in this fun thriller romcom series. I am a sucker for a spy story, because I know I’m getting adventure, and in this series I’m also getting humor and love. Such a great combination!

Ally Carter does a great job layering in so many details, revealing clues and secrets at all the right intervals to make this a propulsive read. The characters are absolutely delightful! This story is an enemies to lovers story with dual timeline and dual POV.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was performed very well by two narrators who brought the story to life. I listened at 1.5x speed (my normal is 1.5-1.75x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for this advanced listeners copy.

P.S. - Ally, when does the third in the series come out?!?! I binged the first prior to listening to this story, and I love these sisters! But, is there a third? Or on to the next series?

Ally Carter is an all-time favorite author. The Gallagher series helped raise me and fully contributed to my desire to be a spy (and I absolutely loved the way Carter calls back to this in her dedication for this book). So it was really disappointing that The Blonde Who Came In From the Cold didn’t work for me. I was enjoying it for maybe the first 40 percent or so, but at around the halfway mark, I had to concede that I fully lost the plot and just surrender to the many twists and turns the story was taking, but not in a way that felt satisfying. What didn’t work for me was the fact that this was a dual-POV, multi-timeline story that also included many different settings. I’m not usually one to gravitate towards maps or other front matter offerings, but if ever there was a time to have some kind of visual aid, this book could really have used one. I think that these narrative choices certainly made sense for this specific story—one in which you have secret agents jet-setting across the world and dissecting their own complicated pasts—but as a reader, it was really confusing to follow along. I also wished we’d had more from Alex and her past. It felt like every time we got a glimpse of her character, it was to hash out the same pain point, but without going deeper into it. I didn’t ever feel like I had a full sense of who Alex was, and I also wished, like I’ve seen other reviewers mention, that we had more interaction between the twins, especially since this is the second in a series where the first book followed the other sister. Finally, this critique is just for the audiobook, but I had a hard time with the narration choices made by the male narrator. Normally, I love an audiobook with two or more narrators, but I didn’t like the way the male narrator chose to characterize Alex. He made her dialogue sound really annoying, and I also found it confusing how both the male and female narrators chose completely different characterizations for this one side character. They each made her sound completely different, which I guess is kind of the nature of different people’s points of views, but it stuck out to me. I still consider Ally a favorite author and will continue to read anything she puts out. I’m just bummed this one didn’t work for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Excuse me, Ally Carter, how dare you end it that way?! haha! I liked this more than the first book, mainly because of the enemies-to-lovers trope. I can never resist that.

Something I struggled with was the time jumps. The story shifts between different timelines as Carter references past and present events in Alex and King's relationship. Sometimes, it was easy to lose track of which moment or period I was in, since these jumps cover various points throughout their history. Although this made things slightly confusing, it was still an interesting way to tell their story. I love how everything eventually accumulates and resolves in the present. The relationship between Alex and King was fantastic. They had banter for days, and it was so fun. I enjoyed that there were even some surprises. I had a lot of fun with this story, and I can't wait for the next one!

Moving on to the narration, it was fantastic! We have the same narrators from the first book, and I am already familiar with Andrew Eiden from several audiobooks. I love his voice and cadence, and I think he and Emily do a fantastic job together. Their performance kept me engaged and feeling the emotions they expressed. For these reasons, I highly recommend the audio!

Thank you, HarperAudio, Avon, and Netgalley, for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Rating: 4.5⭐️ | Spice: 1🌶️ | Audio: 5🎙️
What to Expect:
Rivals-to-Lovers
Second Chance Romance
Spy-mance
Dual Timeline
Forced Proximity
“Let’s kiss so they don’t catch us”
“You came?” “You called.”
“No one is ever going to hurt you again.”

Thank you so much @avonbooks and @harpercollins #harperaudio for the gifted paperback and ALC!

“We can go anywhere. We can be anyone. They trained us to be ghosts, but right now, all I want to be is happy. All I want . . . Is you.”

Review Title & Vibes:
AHHHH! If Ally writes it I’m gonna read it (or listen since I’m an audiophile). FIRST - I was hooked from the epigraph. (Veronica Mars lovers - prepare yourselves).

Alexandra “Alex” Sterling and Michael “King” Kingsley are rivals to lovers perfection. Both trained operatives for the CIA but with wildly different backgrounds and methods of spy craft. Their assignments often push them together - forcing them to face the attraction lying beneath their animosity. After a fateful job takes a bad turn, the hatred and bitterness return in full force… until their past comes calling once again.

Things I Loved:
-the backstories and flashbacks - these characters have depth and context.
-the twists and turns including Cold War mysteries.
-high angst and attraction - open door spice was not required at all!
-swoony HEAs.
-banter and undercover shenanigans had me rolling!
-some genuine Mr & Mrs Smith vibes.

Audio Notes:
{dual} I’m obsessed. Emily performed the majority of the audiobook as most of the book was from Alex’s POV. King’s POV was interspersed and provided insight. Alex to perfection - wickedly smart and a tad on the crazy side. Michael’s genius brain and “he-falls-first” declarations landed so wonderfully and had me swooning. I highly recommend this audiobook.

Recommended to...  
All the spy readers who wanna kick their feet at a swoony romance.

Narrated by @andreweiden @emilyellet
Produced by @harpercollins
Published by @avonbooks

This is everything you want in a spy rom-com—fast-paced, witty, audiobook, and packed with heart-pounding tension. Two rival spies with a messy history wake up bruised, handcuffed, and in danger, forced to rely on each other if they want to survive. Secrets, banter, and unresolved feelings collide in a story that’s equal parts action thriller and swoony rom-com. If you love Mr. & Mrs. Smith, second-chance romance, or high-stakes spy drama with a flirty twist. Both narrators were excellent and perfectly suited the characters. This is my first Ally Carter book, and I can assure you that I'll be reading her backlist!

I have the absolute pleasure of listening to an ELC and while I’m not usually into audiobooks, I loved this one. I was hooked from the beginning. The narrator’s were so good with these characters and the story was an absolute delight with exceptional banter and fun spy stuff. If you’ve ever dreamed about being a spy, Scottish castles, sabotage and a hot spy partner then definitely give this a try!

4.5 stars

After reading The Blonde Identity, I was desperate for the sequel! When I saw that I received copies of The Blonde Who Came In From the Cold, I knew I was in for another enjoyable journey!

I enjoyed the audio narration of this one as much as I thought I would. While the story does a great job of filling in the gaps if you haven’t read the first book in the series, I highly recommend doing so anyway. Although I have read it, I wish I had reread it to refresh my memory of some key points as I think I would have gotten even more out of this one.

I adore the dual POV and narration; it adds so much to the experience and excitement. I had a bit of trouble keeping up with the flashbacks, but I think that is a me problem more than a book problem.

Ally is among the best “witty banter” authors and her sophomore novel does not disappoint! I can’t wait to see what’s next.

I went back and forth on this book. I liked it, I didn't, I liked it, I didn't, and then I just got confused.
Overall, I felt this one was better than the first, and I am always willing to read an Ally Carter book (the Gallagher Girls really is top tier in her catalogue). I just hope she improves at writing for adult audiences.

Honestly, I really got lost with all of the jumps in time and location. 7 years ago in _____. Present day in Portugal. 5 years ago in ______. 2 days ago. Back and forth, back and forth.

I got so lost that I backed up 10 chapters to reread to make sure I didn't blackout and miss something - news flash, I didn't. The missing information just hadn't been revealed yet, but due to the chronology of the book, it wasn't set up for the grand reveal.

Thank you NetGalley, for the opportunity to experience this book.

This was a Did Not Finish for me. The beginning of the book was so stilted and underwhelming that I couldn't listen to the audiobook. I didn't even make it 10% in.

I have loved Ally Carter's since I was much younger and reading all of her YA series, so when I heard she was doing an adult spy series I was so ready for it! I loved the first one so much and was so excited to read the second one to get to know Alex.

This book did not disappoint. I loved the characters and the missions that they went on. The book flew by too quickly because I could have read much more. I love that the book is completely different from the first and yet you can see how the girls are twins.

I hope to read more in this series! I would definitely love another installment where the sisters are together like on vacation or even together for Alex's wedding and then something crazy happens so they end up on the run all together.

I will definitely read anything that Ally Carter reads because I just love her books, and so I can't wait to see what comes next. You should definitely check this one out if you love: spies, enemies to lovers, second chance romance and any of Ally Carter's YA books!

This series is SO FUN and this latest installment is no different. The characters are dimensional and alive, the plot is suspenseful, the romance sparks, and the action keeps you turning pages long past your bedtime. After the first book I was dying to know Alex's story and this book completely satisfied that need. I felt like we really got to know and understand her; the character development was excellent. It was so fun to get to know King and understand him so well too. We went through the motions with Alex--falling in love with King just like she did. The back and forth in time storytelling added so much to the story and kept the pacing and suspense strong; it felt like reading multiple connecting stories in the best way. I can't wait to read the rest of this series. Highly recommend! If you like action, adventure, spies, or romance, this series is a MUST. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.