Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for an ALC in exchange for an honest review!

The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold by Ally Carter was everything I wanted and more! I absolutely loved the tension between Alex and King—two CIA agents at the top of their game, forced into close quarters, with memory gaps and secrets raising the stakes at every turn. The dynamic between them had me hooked from page one, and I devoured the whole book in just two sittings.

I listened to the audiobook and it was phenomenal—fast-paced, perfectly performed, and impossible to pause. If you love forced proximity, spy thrillers with sharp banter, and a romance threaded through the danger, this is a must-read. I can’t wait for more from this world!

It's a top-tier enemies-to-lovers tale packed with sharp spy craft. Alex is a total badass, dealing with survivors' guilt and fear, while King is her perfect, equally complicated match. They're a lethal duo but also each other's biggest weakness.

The story is a fast-paced mystery that jumps between their past and present and the narration is excellent, pulling you in and taking you for ride.

3.5 Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a light cozy spy story, a sequel to the Blonde Identity. Pretty mindless but enjoyable and I would read another installment in the series. My only gripe is that I sometimes had trouble keeping track of which timeline we were in at a given time since there were multiple.

I liked the narrators in the audio format, both familiar and good at smoothly switching perspectives throughout.

This was a fun spy thriller romance with much more vibes, chemistry, and banter than plot. I hadn’t read the prior book of the interconnected series, but this one worked just fine as a standalone. The audio was dual narration which worked fairly well; I actually enjoyed the audio version more than the ebook.

We know that Alex and King were rival spy trainees who eventually became partners and lovers, only things went awry and we’re in the dark as to what. When the story opens, they find themselves bruised and handcuffed to each other in the dark with no idea of where they are or how they got there. They only know that they will need to team up again in order to survive.

This was a fast-paced mystery thriller filled with chemistry and secrets. I enjoyed how competent and courageous each of the characters were, and the constant competitive nature of their relationship. I struggled with the lack of continuity in the timeline: each chapter seemed to be in a different location or year, with clues being dropped as to what happened in their relationship and the espionage drama around them. It left me a bit confused as to what was happening at any given time, so I mostly just enjoyed their sparring and the thrill of assignments they were pulling off.

Thank you so much to Avon for this gifted audiobook!

Rival spies. Second chances. One seriously messy past.
This action packed romcom had me flipping pages like I was chasing down a double agent. Told in a then/now timeline, it’s full of tension, banter, and chemistry.

If you love your romance with a side of espionage, emotional damage, and just enough chaos to keep things fun, this one’s for you.

I’m writing this review still trying to gather my thoughts. This book was so good! I loved it even more than the first, and I wasn’t sure that was going to be possible. I am all about a spy romcom and second chance romance!

Alex and King… WOW! Talk about a power couple. These two have some of the best chemistry I’ve read in a long time. And the way Carter jumps from the present to the past and brings the first book into this one is brilliant. I enjoyed it so much!

The audio narrators, Andrew Eiden and Elliot Ellet are excellent. I was thrilled to hear their voices again for this book. They nailed these characters, such like they did in the first book. The urgency of their tones is perfect for the intense situations and their perilous adventures.

The way this book is written, the action is non-stop. I love short chapters, it keeps the suspense level high. Alex and King are such amazing, intense characters. It was enjoyable to see the two books tied together. So fun!

I received NetGalley approval for the ebook and the ALC. Huge thank you the publisher.

This spy thriller romance was the kind of book you can not put down. This book is a fast-paced plot, which kept me hooked from the very first chapter. The story arc built tension, delivered twists, and wrapped up in such a satisfying way. One of my favorite aspects was the dual POVs and the shifts to previous years and missions. It gave the story depth, layering the intrigue and romance in a way that felt cinematic.

And let's talk about the FMC, Alex. She was everything I love in a heroine: tough, smart, brazen, and unapologetically herself. Watching her navigate danger with sharp instincts and fearless determination made me root for her at every turn. I love her confidence and unwillingness to give up. Alex and Michael's dynamic was electric, filled with banter, tension, and the push-and-pull of two equally strong personalities. I loved seeing how they played off each other sometimes as allies, sometimes as adversaries, but always with sparks flying.

I listened on audio and had mixed feelings. I loved Alex's narration; it brought the FMC's strength and sharp wit to life beautifully. But Michael's narration didn't work for me; his voice didn't feel like the right fit for him. It did not take away from the story in any way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult/ Avon for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

Two spies with opposite personalities collide in a twisty thriller with a bit of romance sprinkled in makes for a great book to read. Ally Carter keeps you on the edge of your seat with her story filled with spy gadgets and the hunt for a Russian spy. The relationship of Alex and King with their banter and inner dialogue throughout their years of working together in the spy service really makes this an enjoyable read. It is in a series but this book can be read as a standalone.

Characters: 4
Plot:3
Personal Enjoyment: 4
Emotional Impact: 2
Setting: 3
Themes: 3
Overall Rating: 3

3.75⭐, 1.4🌶️

Okay so after ADORING book one, I was so excited to read this book! But...I got lost in the sauce for this book. SOOO MUCH was going on with the back and forth timeframes and it had my head battling to maintain what was happeneing. Like...I had to backtrack hours in an audiobook because I was confused what was going on and had missed a semi-important part. The books pacing is fast which is great for reading flat out, but if you miss a bit youre left confused (i.e. Me).

The plot for this book wasn't as gripping as book one, but I did love how we get crossover with events for book one that helps understand Alex's character more. The romance in this book was more than book one, but I just was not as invested as the prior. OVerall, I'm glad I read this and am hoping Ally writes more romantic suspsense/ mysteries like this in the future.

If you liked this book, PLEASEEEEE got read Finley Donovan series. It gives the same chaotic vibes but even better.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This was a very fun book that I binged over two days! I quite enjoyed Carter's 'The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year' mystery and was not disappointed with this book.

I love spy novels and movies and the cross over to a romcom was very entertaining and right up my alley. I had not read book one and did not find that I had any gaps in the story starting with book 2. (I did download book one before even getting half way through book 2 as it was so enjoyable!) The characters are likeable. The romance is believable. The spy 'stuff' is just plain fun. The ending makes me hope for a book 3.

I read the audio version and loved the spy music that opened and closed the book. The dual narrators of Andrew Eiden and Emily Ellet were excellent. I liked the then/now timeline unfolding the story and the alternating chapters from the two main characters. Eiden does a great classic spy-man voice and Ellet has all the sass and snark in her voice that matched the character.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Not knowing who you are sucks…but sometimes…sometimes you have to forget who you are to figure out who you want to be.”

This spy story is absolutely bingeworthy. Book 2 of the Blonde Identity series is stuffed full of so many fun tropes and chapters that jump all over between past and present. As I listened to an audio copy, there were a few times when I was stuck in the past (or present) and it took me a second to catch up to where the story was taking me, but overall, it was so much fun!

The banter and swoon between Alex and King is filled with yearning, as this story gradually builds that relationship over a vast amount of time. A second chance between spies? Yes! Their strong personalities complement each other so well and there were a few shocking twists.

One note–I would have loved seeing more engagement between the twins, but I was satisfied with what was given.

Content: moments of danger/peril; mild+ romance with some innuendo; mild+ language

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*

4.25/5 stars, rounded down

Thank you HarperAudio Adult for the advanced listening copy!

I will always read Ally Carter and I will always have a good time!!! This was the second book in the series, after THE BLONDE IDENTITY, and I actually liked this one more!! I remember feeling super hooked by the first 75% of book 1, and then mostly confused. This book answered allll of the questions I had from book 1 and tied everything together for me! I still feel like reading them in order makes the most sense (?) but I would suggest reading both!

Alex and King's chemistry was sooo fun from the very beginning, and the balance between fun spy action and romance was really well done. Alex could be frustrating but was sooo loveable and King 😍🥰... no complaints from me lol I loved the time jumps throughout this one and the insight that gave us into their relationship/histories. I wish I had the physical copy of this one because I wanted to keep flipping back and forth to double check my timelines, which was hard on audio/kindle. But overall, super fun and entertaining!

I hope there’s more to come!

This was my first Ally Carter that I listened to via audiobook and my first book in the Blonde Identity series and I found myself really enjoying it.

I thought this book was funny and charming and I loved Alex and King and getting to see their relationship throughout the book. I enjoyed the different timelines. Even though it was a bit predictable, I still enjoyed the ride.

Emily Ellet and Andrew Eiden both gave excellent performances. They really brought the story to life. My only criticism, and this is very much just a personal preference, is that I prefer duet narration instead of dual narration and think this would have been better as duet.

Thank you very much to HarperAudio and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A great addition to the Blonde Identity series, this is a witty spy rom com that kept me engaged throughout whole way. Dual perspectives and narrators add to the complexity of the story and I love how it ties in to “The Blonde Identity” but you can read soy as a stand alone also. I’ve been loving Ally Carter’s witty writing in her adult novels!

This sequel was so good! This was one of my most anticipated reads of the read. I loved this book! At times the story got a bit chaotic and felt all over the place but it was tied up at the end perfectly! I need more of Alex and King!

This was such a fun ride! Love the dynamic between Alex and Michael. I also really enjoyed the flashbacks and the way their lives overlapped through the years. Audio narration was fantastic!

Rivals to lovers spy book? Yes please. I was nervous. I was laughing. I was heart sick. I felt all the feelings with this book!

I am not always a huge fan of jumping back-and-forth in time but Ally Carter wrote it in the perfect way. I absolutely loved it.

It felt like I was watching a 2000s romcom in the best way possible.

4.5*
I absolutely loved this! It grabbed me from the start! I realized about halfway through that I remembered almost nothing about the first book in the series, even though I do remember liking it. But this one was even better! It really blew me away.
The banter and chemistry was off the charts! The bickering with a side of flirting was KILLER!
The action was so fun and easy to follow, I never got lost in everything that was going on, even with the dual, interconnecting timeline.
My 1 complaint is that I saw him falling for her, but she didn’t reciprocate quite on the same level. He was all in and it seemed like she liked him.
Other than that, absolutely fantastic! I really recommend this book!

From start to end, this was so entertaining! I think the audio definitely helped me keep track of the multiple timelines - but so good all the way through! I loved the twists and how every time I thought I figured it out I didn’t! I also loved the way everything came together in the end! I could definitely see this as a movie! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me! Can’t forget to give kudos to the narrators! They just added to the experience and made the story that much better!

I enjoyed this second book even more than the first. I have a particular weakness for fun, snarky spy novels and this one delivered in spades. While Zoey is all zaniness, Alex is coldly competent and I thoroughly enjoyed her story and King's. At times I wanted to strangle them both, but the multiple time lines wove together to make a memorable story. Thank you to the publisher for providing an arc for me to review. All opinions are my own.