Author: Emily Harding
Year published: 2025
Category: Adult fiction (romance)
Pages: 352 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5
Location: (my 2025 Google Reading map): USA (NY)
Summary: Beatrice Nilsson is what some might call “feisty” (those who love her) and others “combative” (those who don’t). But no matter what you call her, she’s a good lawyer and an even better friend. So when the marriage of her two closest pals ends in divorce, Bea picks a side and storms the office of attorney Nathan Asher to tell him exactly what he can do with his alimony petition. Unfortunately, what should end with a few choice words soon spirals into uncharted territory when Nate shows up at her NYU Law office a few days later as a newly-minted adjunct professor—and her new colleague.
Bea still hates Nathan, of course. But between weekly meetings and networking events, walks around Washington Square Park and late-night pizza, that hate begins to feel a lot like something else. And as uncomfortable truths emerge about the divorce that started it all, she might have to choose between her friends’ happily ever after and her own for the very first time.
Review: In this debut, I think we have a good romance author to add to the ranks. The trope is enemies-to-lovers, but they are mostly enemies because the main character is such a b*tch. Really, she is. She is angry at everyone and everything all. the. time. It must be exhausting for her. The author shows how difficult it is for Beatrice to allow herself not to be angry, to accept that things aren't all horrible. And, to balance her anger, she is one of her friend group who takes care of everyone.
Anger is such an interesting emotion. It helps us keep distance from others, and ostensibly, stops us from getting hurt. But we know that isn't really accurate. Letting others in can lead to pain and heartache, and Beatrice fights it all the way through this book. Of course, there is a happy ending (thank goodness!) so we know she'll eventually get there, but trust me, it is hard fought.
I liked that there were issues to deal with (divorce, abandonment, drug addiction, friendship, and more), life as a graduate student, and being in one's late 20s during that time when you feel like you're an adult, but you don't really want to be yet. This novel is well done, and even though I was absolutely frustrated with Beatrice, I enjoyed the read.
Challenges for which this counts:
- Cover Love--something that's broken (umbrella)
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