⭐⭐⭐.5 (3.5)
This was an interesting read. I would definitely recommend it not so much because of the plot itself, but because of the overall setting.
Since the plot depended heavily on the setting, it ended up being unique and engaging. I actually never read a book with a producer and a costume maker as the leads, so that made it refreshing.
The first few interactions between the leads felt a little naive and forced and their argument felt like baseless squabbling. Honestly, Initially the FMC came off as incredibly rude, but as I read on, she kind of grew on me and became bearable, lovable even. So, Character growth?
This book has a third-act breakup and a fake-dating setup. The premise of the book was like hilariously silly, and that was what attracted me. It starts with him kneeling to pick up a cufflink that fell to the ground and handing it to her when paparazzi caught the moment, it looked like he was proposing. So they played along as engaged couple for the PR of the movie, since he was creating a movie very different from his usual forte, aiming for awards. That trope was adorable, and I really enjoyed it.

The story overall was cute--especially the way they patched things up and his confession during the awards- it all felt really lovely. The book was like a silly little read on a cozy afternoon--light, fun, and charming in its own way.


✨ Thank you NetGalley and Relay Publishing for providing me with ARC of this book.

What happens when your grumpy new boss also happens to be the jerk who kept you late the night before your big interview? Cue chaos, passion, and a whole lot of fake romance. 💼🔥

📖 The Boss I Can’t Stand by Leslie North
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75)
🌶🌶🌶
💰 Billionaire Romance

Sierra, a costume designer dreaming of her breakout project, never expected her path to cross with Finn—the CEO of a Hollywood production studio—under the worst circumstances possible. After he barges into her shop five minutes before closing, he shows up the very next day…as her interviewer. Despite their rocky start, Sierra lands the job, but working with her grumpy, arrogant boss proves to be a challenge. Things spiral when one misplaced cufflink sparks rumors, and suddenly the two of them are caught up in a fake engagement.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of Finn’s temper or Sierra’s tendency to go along with things, but as their layers peeled back, I found myself hooked. Their chemistry was undeniable, and Finn’s caretaker side shone through in surprising ways—he supported Sierra in ways she didn’t even know she needed. Their passion, both for their work and each other, really stood out, and by the time Finn confessed his feelings, I was squealing with joy.

A fun, fiery workplace romance with plenty of tension and a satisfying slow-burn payoff. I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the series!

Thank you NetGalley, Relay Publishing, and Leslie North for this ARC.

Tropes:
👔 CEO x Costume Designer
🏢 Boss x Employee
🌤 Grumpy x Sunshine
💍 Fake Relationship
❤️‍🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🚪 Forced Proximity
🎬 Workplace Romance

I was invested in Finn and Sierra from the their very first witty and sarcasm fueled disastrous meet cute! I’ve said it before: the reason you pick up a Leslie North book is for the guaranteed witty characters and constant banter… and this book might be my favorite of hers yet. This is was fun, and light-hearted, with lots of sarcasm and humor throughout sprinkled with lots of fun and colorful secondary characters.

I love series of stand-alone centered around close knit families, and am excited to see what’s in store for Conner next!
—
🎥 Stand-alone series of brothers
🪡 Grumpy x sunshine
🎥 Dual POV
🪡 Witty banter
🎥 Billionaire boss
🪡 Costume designer
🎥 1920s movie set
🪡 Open door
📍 LA, California
—
Thank you Relay Publishing & NetGalley for this complimentary ARC - all thoughts are my own! 📚
Publishers release date 8/14/2025

"The Boss I Can't Stand" was really fun! I loved the enemies to lover's tension. The banter had me chuckling a few times. I think the breakup was realistic however, I feel like Finn could have apologized way earlier. Still, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

‘The Boss I can’t Stand’ is an enjoyable read for me. The tension, spark and drama was written well and the pacing for enemies to lovers was done great! The beginning banter drew me in and the tension between them and wanting to know when they will give in made me stay. The story is about Sierra, a feisty costume designer and Finn, a producer who hides behind his ‘perfect’ mask. As they work together, they were embroiled in a scandal and have to pretend to be in love. The attraction between the two was evident on their first meeting. A line that resonated with me is “You had to brace for the bad things because they always came. Always.” I admire Sierra for her great mental fortitude. I find myself relating more with Finn for his vulnerabilities and flaws. There was a time that I didn't know if I should hate him or feel pity for what he has gone through. The scenes with side characters built enough interest in me that I wanted to check out the stories of the Finn’s brothers. What I found hard to picture though was the actual setting and the work Sierra is engaged in. Sierra's other costume work was also introduced but I found it odd the writer did not dip into it; it could have been an interesting scene. All in all, I would rate this novel a 4.0 on my scale.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Boss I Can’t Stand by Leslie North is a delightful, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that truly delivers on every page. From the very first chapter, I was hooked, and the momentum never let up — this was absolutely a “no dull moment” read.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Finn and Sierra was written with such wit and charm that I found myself constantly smiling (and laughing out loud). Their banter was not only fluid and natural, but it added so much life and spark to the story. What I especially enjoyed was how the supporting cast — Finn’s brothers, X and Ro — blended seamlessly into the narrative, giving the book depth and richness without ever distracting from the central romance.

I also appreciated how the author wove in the behind-the-scenes details of filmmaking, which added a refreshing layer to the story. It was fun, engaging, and made the world of the book feel more vivid and real.

Leslie North truly “did a thing” with this one. The Boss I Can’t Stand is witty, hilarious, and heartwarming — a romantic comedy done right. Highly recommend to fans of smart banter, engaging characters, and laugh-filled love stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I absolutely adore the little quips at the end of chapters. Not over the top but just enough to make me smile and keep reading.

“Plain, unexceptionable, second- rate?”, I said, smirking at her annoyed face. “Not at all, fiancée.” 🥰🥰 Eeeek, loveeee it. Fake dating is such a fun trope! I don’t care what you say!

Teary eyed at the “And this is exactly why I told you to hire her.” 😭😭

Oh my gosh, the oscar announcement while Finn was dying to be near her was soo heartwarming and beautiful. Ugh and the oscar speech 😭😭😭 Loteral tears streaming down my face. Freaking. eautiful an touching and sooo amazing to see Finn finally drop his facade and just be himself.

“I wasn’t prepared for the rush I experienced walking through the front door. It felt like coming home.” 🥹

Loved the ending,
perfect!
Also, the PS was a nice touch 😅

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ⭐️

This book is basically enemies-to-lovers + fake dating + Hollywood drama all rolled into one and I ate it up. Costume designer girl accidentally engaged to her hot, terrible, broody boss because of ONE paparazzi photo?? Inject it directly into my veins.

I was cackling at the setup, the cat gave ✨main character energy✨, and honestly the banter was fun. BUT I wanted more of the actual falling-in-love part?? Like yes, kissy times, yes, fake fiancé antics, but where was my slow-burn heart-melt moment??? It felt a little rushed, like the story knew it was giving me dessert but forgot the main course.

Still, I had a good time. It’s quick, funny, tropey deliciousness and I would 100% read the rest of the series because clearly Leslie North knows my weaknesses. 👀💕

This is my second book by the author, first one was the first in this series. And as with the one before I notice very similar features. The story is great, we all love the grump boss X sunshine/sassy employee and their dynamic flows nicely. But I mentioned there are things that comes back from the first book like lack of side character development or their involvement in the story. If we remove characters like Sierras mother and sometimes even her BFF we wouldn't loose anything they mother is doing nothing to the book just is there, even if she's is sometime remembered with a phone call or the mentioned wedding dress. The cat was a weird insert too. Yes, that breed sometimes gets bad rep and weirds out people, but we did not see the how Sierra adapts to it or how is she developing a relationship with it, only that we are told from Finn that he suspects she is giving treats to the cat and then the cat is missing her when she's gone. It looks like we are missing things or that we are not told about everything that's going on in characters lifes.
Overall, I liked the book and had a fun time reading it. Looking forward for the other book in this series.

When Sierra gets hired as the costume designer on Finn's new blockbuster film, the last thing she expects is to agree to a fake engagement. Finn is a complete jerk, and the pair totally hit it off in the wrong way. When both Finn and Sierra bend down together to pick up a box of cufflinks, the paparazzi happen to be there and snap a photo of what they assume is Finn proposing. When the fake news goes viral, his PR team ask the pair to go along with it to help promote the new film as fans are going crazy for the new couple.

In this book, we get to find out more about the Lockhart brothers' Mum and how her health and mental health issues have affected her children throughout their lives. Finn has put walls around his heart because of this and struggles to let anyone in. He tried to protect himself, but we can see Sierra is breaking down those walls, and he is falling fast, whether he realises it or not and suddenly they aren't pretending anymore.

I really wish we could give half starts, as I would score this a 4.5. This is the second book in the Lockhart Brothers series. I loved the previous book in the series, but this one was just as good, if not better. The characters are so well written, their opposites-attract banter had me laughing out loud. And their chemistry after that initial kiss is off the charts.

If you like workplace romances or enemies-to-lovers, then this is the book for you.
I loved Lord Meowington III; this cat is sassy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the banter between Sierra & Finn. The chemistry was also fiery and I liked how the whole fake engagement/dating situation was orchestrated. But Finn was really superficial and I did not like his attitude. Sierra forgave him way too fast and I especially did not like the comment he made about the ring being for his ex in the last half. He should've grovelled but things settled between them after a half- a**ed grand public confession from him, which I think was ridiculous. The ending also felt kind of rushed. So overall, while I enjoyed some parts of the story, this was a 2.5 star read at its best for me, to be honest.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

This was such a fun and addictive boss x employee romance! The dynamic between the characters really carried the story—starting off with sharp banter, clashing egos, and plenty of tension in the workplace. I loved the hate-to-love energy; their arguments were equal parts frustrating and entertaining, and you could feel the chemistry bubbling underneath from the very beginning. The Hollywood setting was also extremely well written and I really enjoyed it!
If you enjoy grumpy x sunshine dynamics, witty dialogue, and that delicious mix of rivalry and romance, this one definitely delivers!

I thought the first book was good, but this one is great. Its got the best tropes and had me in stitches. this one was a cute fun palette cleanser that was easy to get through. I can't wait until the next book from north.

Can two people who strongly dislike each other fake an engagement for the sake of their careers? Finn and Sierra are about to find out. A quick read that does a great job with the progression of their relationship. I really loved reading about them together. I didn’t much care for Finn, though, when he wasn’t alone with Sierra and watching the way he treats people did not make me want to root for him.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My main comment for this book is that there is too much telling and not enough showing. There is an overabundance of dialogue and quotes, and the whole thing moved way too fast. There was no chemistry buildup, and all conflict was too quickly remedied. It is just not believable, and everything worked out too well and too fast. It was also very predictable. The main lead man is not likable, and both mom characters are also really annoying and flat. A lot of the main issues were glossed over.

ARC review

Slowish burn
HEA
Fake engagement
2.75 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Grumpy x sunshine
Forced proximity

I guilty pleasure loved this! For being right on the brink of just another smutty romance, I was so pleased with the writing, pace and depth of the characters. If I had physically had the time to read this in a day, I would have. I really connected with Finn and his mom troubles, so I found it relatable. I was delighted to find out this is one of three books about the Lockhart brothers so I am pumped to get into the other stories!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.25/5)
This was such a fun romance! The “fake engagement” trope is one of my favorites ;P, and I loved how it was used here with the Hollywood setting!!! The banter between the main characters was sharp and entertaining, and the slow shift from enemies to something more felt very satisfying. The story is easy to get lost in, perfect for readers who enjoy The Hating Game–style dynamics. Thanks netgalley and Leslie North for the ARC in exchange of my review!!!

This is an enemies to lovers, workplace romance between Finn Lockheart, CEO/Producer of Hart of Gold Productions and Sierra, a costume designer.

Finn has hired Sierra as the lead costume designer for his new period piece movie. He doesn't want her anywhere near his set but the director, X, insists on having her, so he's left with little choice.

There is only a short amount of angst and hating one another before they get pushed into a fake relationship after a misconstrued photo goes viral and it doesn't take them long to move from hate to love. I personally would have preferred the angst went on for a little longer, even if they continued with the fake dating while it happened.

Unfortunately there is a 3rd act breakup which I really don't like, and after some of the things Finn said to Sierra, I don't think she should have taken him back quite so quickly.

I think the amount of spice was just right, but I also think those scenes could have been more. I feel like Finn would have a really filthy mouth, especially with how concerned he is with everything being perfect in his day to day life, I think in bed he would let go a bit more and be more unleashed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy of The Boss I Can’t Stand!

After loving The CEO I Hate, I was really excited to read book 2. It was great to continue with a main character we were already a bit familiar with and get to know a brand new incredible main character as well!

I loved Sierra and how she can stand up for herself, but also be vulnerable, kind and loyal. Her friendship with Ro was so cute and I would LOVE to read a book about her!

As for Finn, it felt like he changed a bit too quickly which made it not so believable, but the story overall was still good. His relationship with Lord Meowington was fun to read!

I would give it 4 stars and recommend it!

I enjoyed the book a lot. The plot covered many relationships very gracefully. The office romance really brewed some spicyness. Finn and Sierra had the steaming chemistry I craved for. The initial rivalry between them made me hooked to the book. Also I loved the portrayal of film industry. The only thing I felt a bit disappointed was the way the MMC behaved with the FMC way further in the book, he rudely vented out on her when she was doing her job as his employee. It was very unnecessary. I personally hate this behaviour in books. But apart from this, I enjoyed the book and the characters. The family dynamics was also a great factor for the plot. The tenderness and bitter relationship between mothers and their children was a real thing to discuss.