This novel surprised me. At first glance, Scarlett—the heroine—comes across as sharp-edged, cynical, and downright hostile toward love. She’s a bestselling author of books that argue women don’t need men, and her biting commentary made me think she was simply a man-hater. But as the story unfolded, I realized her bitterness was rooted in heartbreak and disappointment, not hatred.
Burned out and facing a looming deadline, Scarlett retreats to a cabin on Lake Michigan. Next door is Chase, a professional hockey player on offseason, juggling a PR crisis and the weight of deciding whether he’s ready to lead his team as captain. He’s cocky, smirky, and endlessly amused by Scarlett’s sarcasm. His dog, Rip, steals scenes with his charm and warmth, becoming a delightful secondary character.
When Scarlett and Chase are forced to co-host the Stampede Book Club, disaster strikes. Scarlett’s mic picks up her unfiltered rant about romance novels being “ludicrous” and “not buying what you’re selling.” Fans, however, see undeniable chemistry between her and Chase, and the internet explodes with hashtags. What could have been humiliating turns into the beginning of something unexpected.
The novel shines in the quieter moments. Chase reveals the pain of missing his brother’s accident while away at a tournament, while Scarlett shares the scars of watching her parents’ marriage disintegrate. Later, an Instagram post about her ex’s wedding explains her bitterness—she once loved deeply, but was left behind when she refused to compromise her ideals. Chase helps her see that she wasn’t “not enough”; her ex simply couldn’t rise to meet her.
Scarlett’s journey is the heart of the book. Slowly, she shifts from writing about independence without love to embracing the idea that a woman can be strong, brilliant, and still open her heart to someone worthy. Chase proves himself to be that man—cocky yet compassionate, teasing yet deeply understanding. Their banter evolves into friendship, then love, and finally a possibility.
At first, I found Scarlett toxic—her sarcasm felt like acid. But as the layers peeled back, I saw her pain, her defenses, and the way she used her writing to rationalize her worldview. Watching her soften without losing her spice was deeply satisfying. The humor kept the story light, balancing the heavier themes of heartbreak and healing.
Chase is the perfect book boyfriend: cocky, smirky, supportive, and most importantly, he sees Scarlett. Rip the dog was the cherry on top. Together, they created a chaotic, banter-filled love story that felt both entertaining and emotionally real.
Purchase links
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rguH4V
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4rbG2Db
Free in Kindle Unlimited
About the author
Kendall Ryan writes contemporary romance. Her books have been featured on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists a combined total of more than 100 times.
Connect with Kendall:
➜ WEBSITE www.kendallryanbooks.com
➜ NEWSLETTER www.kendallryanbooks.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/kendallryanbooks
➜ INSTAGRAM www.instagram.com/kendallryan1
➜ TWITTER www.twitter.com/kendallryan1
No comments:
Post a Comment