The Makeup Girl by Eddy Twice is a lighthearted, fast-paced romantic comedy that delivers plenty of laughs, sharp banter, and just enough emotional depth to keep you invested. It’s a great pick for readers looking for an easy, entertaining escape with a relatable heroine and fun workplace drama.

What Worked Well:

Ivy’s voice is a standout—funny, awkward, and authentic. Her journey from heartbreak to self-confidence is both hilarious and empowering.

The workplace setting is engaging, with a beauty start-up vibe that adds energy and uniqueness to the story.

The romantic tension between Ivy and Ethan (classic grumpy/sunshine dynamic) is full of sharp dialogue and slow-burn chemistry.

Makeup as metaphor: The novel uses beauty not just as a theme, but as a means for Ivy to reclaim confidence and agency.

What Didn’t Fully Land:

Some emotional arcs feel underdeveloped, particularly Ethan’s—his backstory and growth could have used more space.

Pacing and POV shifts sometimes interrupt momentum; not all perspective changes added new insight.

The romance escalates quickly in some moments, making the intimate scenes feel more rushed than earned.

Overall:
This is a witty, feel-good read with a strong narrative voice and a vibrant setting. While a few elements could’ve gone deeper, The Makeup Girl ultimately succeeds as an uplifting and engaging rom-com.

Recommended for readers who enjoy:

Contemporary romance with humor

Office/workplace dynamics

Grumpy/sunshine pairings

Stories about self-reinvention and confidence

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s just say, we redheads are having our day in print and media. But then at the end she dyes it black?! I’ve never in my life seen a redhead that could pull off black hair.

This book was honestly just smut, and while there were some phrases that caught my attention and made me smirk. Overall, it was predictable and fluffy with a lot of open door smut.

Some of the plot points or side information seemed to come out of nowhere.

I wanted a light-hearted banter-laden romance, and this was not it. It was interesting the change in dynamics between the stereotypical characters, and it definitely had an everyone gets exactly what they wanted happy ending.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me review an ARC

Sadly, there are no quotes on this one.

Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

To be honest I didn't love this. I didn't enjoy the narration or the characters. Similar to other reviewers, this fell flat for me.

Although I found the premise of this book intriguing, there were two things that I really did not like about it.

The first was the male narrator. For some reason, his voice grated on me and completely distracted from my enjoyment of the book.

The second was some of the language used, especially during romantic and spicy scenes. I found the language used for referencing parts of the body to be more juvenile and high school-like. In fairness, that may be a demographic issue, as I now suspect I’m not the intended demographic for this book, but I felt like the author could have used better terminology.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick and easy spicy novella. A perfect pallet cleanser inbetween heavier books. Ivy does have a bad “woe is me” attitude and Ethan gives mega push over vibes. I can’t say too much about this book without giving it away but Rob is an absolute douche bag and I wish Ivy let him know that.
Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review this book.

I just got the audiobook and I could not listen to it because the boys voice is so annoying. Luckily I hadn’t realised that I have already read the book!

The story was cute, but not something I would normally think to read. Ivy and Ethan seemed to be made for each other after both of them got away from long-term very toxic relationships, I am glad that because of that they met each other. I received the audiobook to listen to via Netgalley thank you. The narrators Bonnie Walsh and Daniel Rosenberg did an ok job, I wouldn't say they were my favorite but I did love their accent. But I kinda found the recording off, maybe their area of recording or microphones weren't the best 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️ But for some reason I heard them all little to far away.

TheMakeUpGirl by EddyTwice is a 3 ⭐️ read.

This book was such a sweet and emotional experience. Following the world from Ivy and Ethan’s POV gave me a full 360 view into this story. It was hard not to feel for the two main characters as they went through. It was an enjoyable experience and world to live in for a short time.

The story was easy to follow and a quick read, with Ivy coming into her own skin as she grew. And let’s not forget to mention Bonnie Walsh & Daniel Rosenberg’s narration, they brought the book come to life, making it a fast easy listen.

Favourite Quote: “I loved the sound of her giggles, it felt like I could sit and listen to her giggle all day.”

Spicy Level - 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Note: Please read and review all trigger warnings before reading any recommended book. We love to read for our pleasure, so keep your mind, and emotions safe!

Audio Book Available
Publisher: Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
Narrator: BonnieWalsh & DanielRosenberg

Ethan, a grumpy copywriter, can’t keep an assistant due to his toxic relationship and stress. Ivy, financially dependent on her ex, finds a job as a copywrite assistant to Ethan. Despite her lack of makeup experience and experience, she’s hired on the spot.

Ethan and Ivy, a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, find themselves drawn to each other despite their individual struggles. Ivy’s journey to financial independence and career growth is relatable, without excessive self-doubt. The story is straightforward.

The attraction between Ethan and Ivy is underdeveloped. Their transition from boss/assistant to intimate moment lacks complication, and the inappropriateness of their encounter and workplace power dynamics are not discussed. The three sex scenes, told from Ethan’s POV, are descriptive but not intimate.

Bonnie Walsh and Daniel Rosenberg narrate the story. Walsh’s recordings are at times echoed, and male and female characters are indistinguishable, but she has a relaxing voice. Rosenberg’s recordings are clearer and more professional, but his cadence and inflections are unnatural. His Lily voice suits the character perfectly.

Eddy Twice delivers a sharp, stylish, and emotionally resonant story in The Makeup Girl. With vibrant characters and a strong sense of voice, the book explores identity, ambition, and connection with grace and wit. A quick yet impactful read that lingers long after the last page.

I really liked the narrators as there was dual POV. This story was about a women who goes through a rough break up and is trying to find a job. Once hired she meets her new boss, who is dealing with his own relationship problems. As she gains more experience she learns that she is more than just someone’s girlfriend. That she can stand on her own two feet and improve her skills for her job. When romance comes in to play she figures out how she can have it all.

Lifetime Network Romance
Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing for the advance audiobook.

This was a cute easy listen.
Enemies to lovers
Workplace Romance
Conflicting goals
Grumpy MC
We follow Ivy whose boyfriend kicks her to curb and takes everything and forces her to find employment after he told her to stay during their relationship. She starts work at a makeup company which she knows nothing about and work for a devil wears Prada type boss. This book was pretty predictable and and I wouldn’t consider this Erotic just romance. It was a good palette cleaners.

⭐️⭐️ Missing Pages… or Just Missing Plot?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC.

WTF did I just listen to?

The Makeup Girl promises erotica but delivers… maybe two spicy scenes total, and even those felt like afterthoughts. The pacing is absolutely wild—blink and suddenly they’re engaged, blink again and BOOM: wedding bells. I had to rewind multiple times because I was convinced I’d skipped whole chapters. Spoiler: I hadn’t.

The plot was chaotic, the timeline made zero sense, and so many important emotional beats were either glossed over or skipped entirely. It felt like watching a highlight reel of a romance that never actually got developed.

Narration by Bonnie Walsh and Daniel Rosenberg didn’t help. The performances were flat, and the chemistry just wasn’t there. For a story banking on sexual tension and emotional stakes, it all fell painfully flat.

If you’re looking for steam, depth, or a well-paced romance… this isn’t it.

This one is not the best I have read but not the worst. It was a fun read, but it needs more to get that extra star. The tropes of enemies to lovers and a workplace romance are alive and well here, and well executed. However, the characters don't feel fleshed out enough, and I am not feeling chemistry between them. There also could have been more of the grumpy/sunshine element to the story.

The narrators were good in this one, not great but good. I look forward to listening to other things by them.

The Makeup Girl Honest ARC Review:

I enjoyed this as it was interesting. Characters were relatable and it was a fun escape overall.

Feeling dejected from an unfortunate ending to a relationship with her fiancé, Ivy interviewed for a position at a Makeup company. Ivy attempted a fresh start with the hope of reclaiming her independence that she gave up in order to care for her fiancé.

Things didn’t go as planned from the start and her new boss was gruff, frustrating Ivy further. When Ivy ran into her boss at the bar, they connected really well. The banter is entertaining and the chemistry is undeniable.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this as it is fun, entertaining and the characters are relatable. If you are looking for an entertaining read with a bit of humor, this is for you!

Thank you Net Galley and Victory Editing for sharing this ARC with me.

Ivy's absolute scum of a boyfriend dumps her, after years of gaslighting. Her hunt for a new job leads her to working for Ethan. Ethan is an anxious workaholic, mainly to fund the mad lifestyle of his girlfriend, Lily.
My main issue with this story is the Ethan of it all. His chapters made me physically cringe, particularly his interactions with his friends. Ivy's chapters did some heavy lifting but no character was likeable enough to redeem it for me.

Ivy is ready to start fresh after a tough breakup, and her new job seems like the perfect step forward—until she meets her irritatingly handsome and endlessly frustrating boss. Sparks fly in all the wrong (and right) ways, especially after an unexpected and steamy night out. As attraction grows, Ivy finds herself torn between keeping her job and following her heart. This rom-com is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, full of passion, emotional growth, and great banter. A delightful story about second chances and letting love in, even when it’s messy.

Ivy fresh from a breakup where she was a stay at home girlfriend for years, has to find a job and a new place to live. Enter her new job, with her grumpy boss and a new apartment that just so happens to be the same as her boss.

Ethan is grumpy, but it's mostly from being stuck in a relationship he doesn't want to be in.

The spice scenes were lacking... I can tell it was not from a women's point of view. There was zero details and what we did get was mostly just for the man. Which left it very lacking.

Grumpy x Sunshine
Boss x Personal Assistant
Workplace Romance

I received an advance review copy audio version. Thank you to NetGalley and Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for the opportunity to listen to this book. Bonnie Walsh and Daniel Rosenberg an amazing job narrating this audiobook

Dual narration - Bonnie Walsh & Daniel Rosenberg

Easy fast listen. The narration is well done. It is predictable but still a good listen. Lighthearted and sweet romantic comedy. Great pallet cleanser

This was the kind of book that felt easy to settle into. It didn’t surprise me much — I could see most things coming — but that wasn’t a problem. Sometimes I want something that doesn’t twist around too much. It was sweet, light in tone, and moved quickly without losing its focus.
The dual narration made it more engaging. Both voices worked well together, and I liked how clearly the two perspectives came through. It added a bit more texture to a story that otherwise stayed pretty simple.

It felt like the kind of listen that’s perfect for when I want something comforting. Not too heavy, not overly emotional — just a soft, steady pace with characters who are easy to spend time with. Even though it didn’t stay with me for long afterward, it kept me company in a good way while it lasted.

Whilst the story was very much predictable it was an enjoyable read on the whole, the FMC was relateable as a fellow woman who does not know much about makeup it was very believeable. The characters were dynamic if a little chaotic and the supporting characters helps elevate the story.

The chemistry between the FMC and MMC felt to me a little dull at times and their intimacy was a little awkward to listen to at times.

***SPOILERS***

This was a nice read but there were a few things that the audio that I struggled with:
1. the MMC's voice was a little too posh London biy for me and a few of the ways he said certain words grated on me
2. Their relationship should have been "taboo" as a boss/secretary senario yet no one mentioned anything eventhough they were blatant
3. The jealousy of both characters were a little severe but a quick confirmation was suitible to end it (there is even an instance immediatly post "fun times" where it was brought up
4. There were a few jumps in time that were a little confusing and caused the flow to be a but janky
5. Turns down a huge job offer for a woman he met a very short while ago without a blink