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BOOKWORM REVIEW: A Wonderful Lie by Carrie Aarons


RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥.5

I love, love, love this book.

Lark and Collin have been rivals since they worked together on their college radio station. Now they are two of the hottest podcast hosts in their publishing company, and when the top personality retires, leaving a coveted timeslot, it ramps up their rivalry even more.

Problem is that the animosity between them has waned a little since their one-night-stand has turned into two, three.. The more they spend time together, the more they realize that there might be more to their connection than just physical.

I live for workplace rivals-to-lovers, and this book meets the high bar I've set for that trope. The flirtatious banter between Lark and Collin is top-tier. Their chemistry was on point since page 1, and it just kept sizzling until the end with nice explosions in-between during the spicy moments. 

My other favorite part is the main characters' self-awareness. Do their personality flaws bring the angst? Absolutely, but we get a refreshing approach where the characters recognize where they may have gone wrong and work to fix it. Other books usually rely on a third party to provide this enlightenment, and that is totally okay, but I love the maturity that Lark and Collin bring to the table in their rivals-to-FWB-to-lovers arc.

I also enjoy that Lark is the Scrooge in this relationship. Collin works really hard to get her on board the holiday train, and the dynamic from that subplot just made this whole read really enjoyable.

This standalone holiday read also contains some spectacular spicy scenes. I love the dirty talk between these two, and Collin's attentiveness is just *chef's kiss*.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Carrie Aarons for providing an ARC. **

ABOUT THE BOOK

Everyone lies around the holidays. We lie about the money we’re spending. We lie that we’re following our diets.

What am I lying about this year? The fact that my workplace nemesis has become my friend-with-benefits.

Collin Machlan and I have been each other’s competition since we joined our college’s radio station freshman year. Six years later, we’re both hosting shows for the country’s most popular podcast network.

Just as everything starts turning red and green, our boss announces a promotion, and whoever gets the most listens during this merry season will be crowned the winner.

There is just one catch; the only way to draw an audience in December is to theme every episode around Christmas. For a woman who typically celebrates alone with takeout and slasher flicks, I’m at a big disadvantage.

Going toe-to-toe with the guy I’ve never been able to intimidate is only made harder by the fact that Collin doesn’t seem to want to play our usual games. Add in some mistletoe and a Secret Santa swap, and I finally give in to his shameless flirting.

Maybe it’s the delusion of cuffing season, but suddenly I’m spending every night with him. No one at work knows. Neither does his family, or my friends. I lie that it’s just physical. That me, a self-proclaimed bachelorette, couldn’t possibly be on the brink of a relationship. I lie that we’re still competing for a job he doesn’t even want.

Until one too many lies threatens to topple my life like a crooked tree with poorly-distributed ornaments. And I’m left to decide between my lonely and blue traditions, or a love that lasts all year round.

Get Your Copy (Free with Kindle Unlimited) ➡️ https://amzn.to/3ul7r9K

MEET CARRIE AARONS

Author of romance novels such as Fool Me Twice and Love at First Fight, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. A former journalist, she prefers the love stories of her imagination, and the athleisure dress code, much better.

When she isn't writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in the suburbs of New Jersey with her husband, two children and ninety-pound rescue pup.

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