Couldn't get through this book. Way too political and way too close one-sided. When I want to read a romance, this is NOT it.

I loved this book so much that in the middle of reading it on my kindle I ordered the paperback so I could hug it. I usually don’t gravitate towards political romances, but Ben and Kate have my heart. Ok, well mostly Ben, but that’s neither here nor there. I urge you go not read the other reviews, which might only taint how you go into this book and leave your expectations at the door. If you are like me and you love a good man, enemies to lovers, and workplace romance.. you need this book in your life. You need to spend the day wrapped up in this book like I did so that you can feel so warm and fuzzy you have happy tears coming down your face. I cannot recommend this book more. I’ll be screaming about it for quite some time and Ben has just been added to my top book boyfriends and NO YOU CAN’T HAVE HIM SO BACK OFF. Thank you to Berkley, Negalley and the author for an early copy!

Whoa! I have never seen such polarizing reviews for a fiction book before. Politics have always been the great divider and I was super curious to see how this romance between a female “feminist” Democrat and a male fiscal conservative Republican would play out.

I’ll start with the good.
I think the author Devon Daniels is a super talented writer. The pacing of this slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance was perfect. I loved the witty banter and the back-and-forth office antics between Kate and Ben. Yes, it was a bit high school-ish, but I didn’t come here for real-world office scenarios, I came for the silly, hilarious button-pushing drama that would otherwise never happen in real life because it would be far too cruel and serious. These antics were laugh-out-loud funny! The sexual tension and open-door sex scenes were STEAMY! From start to finish, this was a page turner and I look forward to reading another Daniels’ book in the future.

Around the 40% mark I started to notice the reinforcement of bad stereotypes that I wish, with the transformation of each character, those stereotypes could have been broken up a bit. Ben the Republican is depicted with all positive traits. He’s described as perfect, “a god among men” and is portrayed as levelheaded. Kate on the other hand, is a self-proclaimed feminist who never stands up for herself, and is depicted as judgmental, hysterical, and lacking personal safety awareness. Ben’s possessive obsession with Kate’s safety also rubbed me the wrong way, but I guess I’ll check that off as one of Ben’s badly needed character flaws.

I appreciated the epilogue. If Ben’s POV had been elaborated on with a split narration throughout the book, I do think that could have strengthened the overall goal of remaining politically neutral.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this rom com. It brought me back to some of my favorite antics-filled movie moments from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Hilarious and fun!

My Rating: 4 Stars

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with my gifted copy of Meet You in the Middle. All opinions in this review are my own.

I don’t totally understand the backlash against this book. It’s got like a 2.5 of 5 stars rating on Goodreads, which is pretty bad. Maybe the low rating has to do with the ARCs being released to reviewers during the Trump-Biden election insanity, and, let’s face it, we’re all a bit frosty… But I read this book in one sitting, well after Trump lost the election, and well after his supporters stormed the Capitol. I read it after said supporters began getting arrested for their idiocy, all while Trump began defending himself during his second impeachment trial. So yeah, context is probably everything.

Personally, I found the book entertaining and only marginally annoying at certain parts. Ben and Kate are both likable with solid, believable backstories. I appreciated the quickness of the plot, and I enjoyed seeing where the story ended up.

A couple gripes… Physically, Ben and Kate are both a little too perfect for my liking. Do all our main character need rock hard abs, dreamy eyes, and huge anatomy? I’ve grown so tired of reading about perfect boobs and penises, guys, I can’t even tell you.

I’m also so over—like beyond over—the whole “Girl gets drunk and needs to be rescued by Guy” trope. Is a drunken night fiasco the only way we can move the love relationship along these days? Good grief. I know we can get more creative than this. More importantly, WHO DOES THIS WORK FOR?! I can think of one guy in college who I kinda-liked-I-guess who responded positively to my drunken conduct. And yes, we ended up in bed together. But was that relationship-making material? Uh, no. I don’t know who gets a good result from sloppy drunkenness in reality…but I’d love to hear stories if you have them. 😉

Still, I liked Meet You in the Middle. It was a fun and sweet read, a good escape.

I was disappointed that so many reviewers let their 'politics' get in the way of enjoying a 'fiction' book. It is a sign of the times that so many are letting their politics take over their life and not realizing that the things in life that are really important are not our political views.
I also think that those who DNF should not be allowed to rate the book so low because of their personal views. It is not fair to the author. Truly if II do not finish a book, I always give 4 stars anyway. Just because I do not finish does not mean it is not a good book.
This book is very cleverly written and the author is a talented writer. I hope she will continue to write.
I would like to say that there was a surprise near the end that I really liked and made the book even better.
I don't usually read this genre of book but I would recommend it to those who do.

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED. For fans of The Hating Game. I reviewed on my Insta and FB (FB population 15k). Will leave review on Amazon.

Kate and Ben are on totally opposite ends of the political spectrum; Kate, a liberal democrat, and Ben, a fiscally conservative gun-toting Republican. While this might not be an issue for some people, both Kate and Ben work for senators in their respective parties. In Kate’s eyes, Ben literally works for the enemy. So when their first meeting implodes in a fit of anger and resentment, it looks like all-out war is impending. Kate and Ben start sending each other snarky interoffice mail designed to annoy, and their coworkers can’t help but get in on the action. But then Kate comes to a startling realization: She almost enjoys bantering with Ben. And when Ben starts showing his charm and his protectiveness, Kate starts to fall for the one type of person she thought she could never lose her heart to -- a Republican. Can these two look past their differences and focus on their compatibility, especially in a town where political battle lines are a way of life?

Thoughts: I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston -- political theme with the enemies-to-lovers trope, complete with sarcasm galore! The banter between Kate and Ben is so realistic that it was funny but also cringe-worthy. I also adored Ben as a character -- he is sweet, funny, protective, and caring -- but a bit unrealistic, though. He’s almost a little too perfect, politics notwithstanding. If I had to pick a flaw from this story, I’d say readers may want a bit more plot conflict, and -- my #1 issue with the enemies-to-lovers trope -- harsh words are said that can’t be taken back. These two really hit below the belt at times. But otherwise this was a funny-yet-realistic and very timely rom-com!

**Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.**

Wow, I just read a lot of the reviews for this book and it was very unexpected. I didn’t read this book as some kind of political commentary on the current (previous now) government of the US. For me it was two people who worked on opposites sides of the political spectrum and who clashed personally because of that. And they fell in love despite all of that.

I enjoyed the writing style of the book and the banter between the two characters. Kate was quite closed-minded about her opinion at the beginning. Isn’t this what happens in most of these romance novels? One or both of the main characters have a specific world view and then the other one comes along and gives them a different perspective. That is how we all grow and change. It is quite possible for two people to have different opinions about the same issue and still have a reasonable discussion about it. And it’s also quite possible for someone to adjust the way they look at the world as they go along in it and interact with other people. If we don’t do that, we stay stagnant, and the world as a whole will never change if we are not willing to change.
I enjoyed the story and I had fun with the interactions between Kate and Ben.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A whip smart and sexy enemies to lovers romance about liberal Kate Adams and conservative Ben Mackenzie trying to outwit each other with their passion for legislation. A sexy and relevant read where sparks fly!

Blurb: Devon will stop at nothing to fight for her senators legislation and even reaches out to her opponent to help sway votes. Devon doesn’t anticipate the growing attraction she has for Ben Mackenzie, but can she put aside their differences and make something work?

This book asks the old age question, can we really have a relationship with our opposite? Devon and Ben are as different as two people can get, but the chemistry is undeniable. The angst in this book is off the charts and if you love a good enemies to lovers romance than this one is so worth the read. Ben is dreamy and Devon is a fiery, strong female and all that angst leads to a steamy slow-burn I adored!

This is a no for me. I was initially interested, but after thinking about it (and living through the current political climate), I can't and don't want to read this book. Reviews for this book solidify my decision not to read the book. I want REAL conversation about differences in parties, not the small stuff that is easier to get over. Show me the discussion on race, abortion, SES.

DNF. This feels very out of touch and not appropriate for current issues. I don't think now was the right time for this book.

DNF.

I found this book to be very problematic.
The author couldn’t have chosen worse timing to write a book like this.
I enjoy romance that are centered around politics.
What I don’t enjoy is a romance book that’s basically based on our lives in 2021.

I thought a political contemporary romance book is right up my alley – and it was. You have liberal Senate staffer, Kate, and the gatekeeper for one of DC’s most powerful conservative senators, Ben. What could go wrong? The two are in competition with each other over a landmark tax reform legislation and vow to take each other down. In this enemies-to-lovers romance, our two characters realize that there’s more to someone than their political affiliation and start to realize they could be a good match for one another. I loved the enemies to lovers banter and the backstories that gave these characters life. Their chemistry was obvious from the beginning and it was only a matter of time before the two of them got together. I think my biggest question mark with the book was that the two of them never sat down to have a conversation about how they would make their relationship work despite their political differences, which just seemed a bit unrealistic to me. Instead, it was kind of shoved under the rug in a “we just won’t talk about it” scenario. At one point, Ben pulled articles for Kate to show her how famous politically-mixed couples made it work and I thought that perspective was fascinating. I’m very thankful that I don’t have to “meet in the middle” in my relationship when it comes to morals and beliefs!

Ben and Kate find themselves on opposite sides of the aisle and more than a few issues when they're working for Republican and Democratic Senators on the Hill. When Ben refuses to entertain Kate's Bill pitch and Kate says some choice things about Ben in response, the two start an inter-office rivalry that eventually becomes too fun to stop. The mail feud becomes running together on the Mall and bets that lead to homecooked meals, and eventually the two are questioning whether they're enemies, friends, or something more.

This book is a modern, bold take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, set in my hometown of Washington, DC. I think Ben and Kate's banter was off-the-charts, full of chemistry and humor, making me laugh out loud at times. This book is such a good slow burn, and the ending is stellar. I think it's an extremely brave, creative spin on a classic and fan favorite trope that the author executed extremely well. I really enjoyed this book, would reread it, and recommend it.

If there were things I could change, I'd probably suggest a gender swap or dual POV to maybe make the book more palatable for people who can't seem to get past the politics, though I understand why the author made the choices she did. It's written from the viewpoint of a liberal female in a Trump America, and I can imagine it might be hard for the author to switch that around. Also the epilogue is a waste of space. This book definitely doesn't deserve all the hate and one-star reviews it's getting (most of those reviews are from people who haven't even read the book, or who prejudged before trying it), and I'm tempted to spend my space here doing a point-by-point rebuttal. But I'd like to focus on the positives of this book, which are that it's hilarious, highly original, full of chemistry, and ultimately has a great message about getting to know people before judging them.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Gah! I don’t even know how to put in to words how much I loved this book. First off, I couldn’t put it down until I was finished, completely addicted.
The characters were so relatable and their chemistry was Off the charts. The witty banter had me laughing and swooning.
This book was a sweet and frustrating slow burn that had me turning the pages wanting more and more.
Seriously I will read whatever this author writes!

I don't know if I'm just burnt out on everything politics after the last four years or what, but sadly, I just could not get into this book at all.

I seriously LOVED this book. It was a heartfelt romance with the perfect blend of sexy and funny. I really loved how the author took on a subject that brings out a lot of strong emotions and turned it into a fun story with a positive message. I enjoyed every minute of this and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I LOVED this book! It did not disappoint at all and it earned all 5 of these review stars.

On the surface it is an opposites attract, “our jobs make us sworn enemies,” workplace romance but it is SO much more.

This rom com is like a crock pot meal. It has all the elements you love in one place (strong characters, realistic and relatable story lines, flirting, quick witted banter, awkward moments, family dynamics, funny coworkers, grand gestures, red hot chemistry) BUT you have to be patient and let it simmer before you can enjoy the hot and spicy romance! And let me tell you, with all the chemistry between these characters, the ending was definitely worth the wait!

The way that the author was able to bring us on the relationship journey of these two was remarkable. I truly could not put the book down. It was engrossing. It was funny. It had me mad at times (don’t you hate it when characters don’t listen to you?!). It had my heart gushing. Ben is my newest book boyfriend!

More importantly, this book has a great message about bipartisanship and not letting labels or stereotypes cloud your judgement.

I would urge everyone to not let the political world this is set in to deter you. It’s no different than stories where the leads are from competing businesses/sports teams/families (Ex. Tweet Cute, You’ve Got Mail) just this time they are of different political parties. Stereotypes and proposed legislation are part of the story to help frame the story and to show the work these characters do. I appreciated the authors note where she mentions research she conducted and how it correlated to the legislation mentioned. You can tell the author was not writing this book to be ~political~ although the book is set in the world of politics. I find it brave and beautiful that she wrote this book.

Would you ever date someone outside of your chosen political party? That is the question at the center of Meet You in the Middle. Liberal Kate thinks the answer is no. She views her cohorts across the aisle as incompatible opponents. That is until she meets Ben, a fiscally conservative Republican. The two have instant chemistry. But can two political opposites ever be compatible?

I've seen several terrible reviews for this novel because of the political nature. First of all, this is first and foremost a romance and an excellently written one at that. Second, you do not need to enjoy politics to enjoy this book. Meet You in the Middle is about just that, finding the things that we all have in common that unite us, even across seemingly uncrossable lines. It's about the values that we all share, a commonality for all of us. In the author’s note at the back, Devon Daniels discusses the derision after the 2016 election and the desire to only date within one's political party. She wanted to explore that and see how it would play out between two rivals. The result: a thoroughly well-written romance riddled with sexual tension and tender moments.

Simply put: I loved this book. I loved the chemistry between Kate and Ben. The story is filled with sexual tension and steam. It’s told entirely in the first person from Kate’s perspective as she struggles to rationalize her feelings for Ben with her morals and professional reputation. Ben is the perfect male lead. He’s charming, attractive, intelligent, respectful, and funny. You can tell how deeply he respects Kate. He brings out the best in her and challenges her in all the right ways.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

this romance comes out in february and I figured it would be a fun light-hearted read set in the political realm after all of the craziness of this month.

meet you in the middle (romance): ★★★★

now, apparently some people have some very strong opinions about this book. I personally think it’s one of the best romance books i’ve read in a while- I finished it in less than 24 hours.

kate and ben both work on senators staffs- except kate is a full-fledged democrat, and ben is a republican. kate swears that she would never, ever date a republican... but then she gets to know ben.

regardless of how you feel about politics, this book shows the importance of getting to know the depths of people and why they have the beliefs about some of the policies that they do. at least in the case of kate and ben, they want the same things (more or less), they just have a different idea of how to get there. same problems, different solutions. they even end up working together to cross party lines to make good things happen for the nation. and kate starts to rethink her promise to never date a republican...

overall, it’s just a super cute, well-written romance novel. it’s fiction, and it’s a good read (plus, ben is one of those super perfect book boys you can resist- AND kate is from tennessee and ben is from texas - my two states!!!)