⭐⭐⭐💫

This book was fun and surprisingly steamy!! I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Kate and Drake, and the supporting characters really filled out the story nicely. The middle felt a bit long, but overall this was an enjoyable read.

Add this one to your TBR if you enjoy:
💕 opposites attract
💕 small town setting
💕 fall/Halloween
💕 writer main character

How sweet it is… to find a rom com that’s as FUNNY as it is swoony. I was laughing out loud very early on in this adorable story, and the laughs kept coming. Killer heel-wearing Katie is the “queen of Happily Ever Afters”, planning weddings that are the epitome of a dream come true.

Her publicist best friend persuades her to plan a book launch for one of her author clients. The author--Drake Matthews--is known as the “Knight of Nightmares” and is a bestselling horror author many times over. Katie’s tasked with planning the launch in a very short timeframe at Drake’s western New York--and possibly haunted--old Victorian house.

Both Katie and Drake have something to prove. Katie-that she’s more than the “party planner” flitzing around from place to place, and Drake-that he’s more than a “freak-show” recluse writer. Will their pairing help peel back those layers?

I loved the small-town vibes in the story and the entire Matthews family. The relationship between Drake and his brothers was very sweet and authentic. Katie’s relationship with her best friend was also extremely sweet. I think there is definitely a path forward for Imani and possibly another character in this book, and I’m here for it!

Overall, this was a book that was hard to put down. It had a charming story, interesting characters, a fabulous setting, parts that made me cackle with laughter (the heels, the bats!), a bit of open door steam, and a super sweet love story. In short, it’s the perfect combination! Thanks so much to Forever and NetGalley for a digital review copy!

<b> "Love is probably the only thing on this planet worth fighting for. Worth losing everything for. You're a fool if you let pride stand in your way." </b>

The Queen of Happily Ever Afters and The Knight of Nightmares. Kate Sweet is in charge of Drake Matthews' book launch. Instead of an "aw" factor, she's making it an "AH!" factor. Kate wants to win an event planning award and Drake needs help with...research for a secret project. It's a done deal! Will Kate be able to give Drake the best book launch of his nightmarish dreams? And maybe find love in her nonexistent love life? How Sweet It Is...is just THAT. A sweet rom-com with a side of creep! Dylan Newton's debut novel is perfect for fans of Beach Read by Emily Henry and The Wedding Planner starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughe. Readers are going to fall in love with the fun, honest, and good-hearted Drake Matthews! A chef's kiss epilogue!

READ IF YOU LIKE
-spooky scenes, horror fans!
-romcom & chick lit
-a little insta love
-an LOL meet-cute "I scaled him like a freaking koala on a eucalyptus tree!"
-small town vibes
-a not photoshopped, tall, dark, and twisted LI
-a last minute scandal
-#IsThisAKissingBook: theres an almost-kiss-tastrophe and a kiss on the tip of her nose and an encore!

Thank you Readforever pub for an advanced copy!

Song: Unforgettable by Nat King Cole

Kate Sweet is an event planner with a reputation for creating the "Aww!" moment. Drake Matthews is a horror novelist with the case of writer's block. Kate prides herself on attention to detail but from the moment she arrives to plan Drake's newest Halloween book launch, everything seems to go wrong.

This was a cute romance with some funny moments and steam. I liked both Kate and Drake and their opposites attract romance. I enjoyed the horror writer angle and seeing different parts of a writer's life from inspiration to book launch to fans. The story included some great supporting characters including Kate's best friend Imani and Drake's brothers. It ended with a sweet epilogue and I look forward to the author's next book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ecopy of this book.

I hit a bit of a slump yesterday. I tried reading three different books, and by the time 10 pm rolled around, I was about ready to give up. I wasn’t tired though, so I tried Newton’s book as my last attempt… and I couldn’t put it down! I finished at 2 am and it was such a cute and perfect read.
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Basically this is an “author and event planner romance” where the characters are real, the circumstances are hilarious/swoon worthy and the romance is slow burn. I laughed. My fingers tingled (this is my “tell” that a book is getting me in the feels) and at times I had to pause because I was getting such second hand embarrassment . Some of the situations the characters faced were so funny/awkward 😂
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RATING:
Overall: 4 ⭐️
Writing: 4.5 ⭐️ (easy and enjoyable)
Characters: 4 ⭐️
Romance/steam: 1.5 🔥
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If you’re looking for a quick and fun rom com, I do recommend this! Hits all the desired tropes (awkward meet cute, miscommunication, grand gesture) that I want in this genre.
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Kate Sweet is a successful wedding planner also known as the queen of Happily Ever Afters. Her best friend Imani ropes her in to plan a book launch event for a bestseller horror writer Drake Matthews also known as Knight of Nightmares. As soon as Kate and Drake meet the situation goes out of hand in a funny and nightmarish (is that even a word, it better be) kind of way. I like how things progress from there and both the main characters work for each other’s benefit. One is trying to plan the best book launch and win an EVPLEX and the other is overcoming his writer's block and gathering inspiration for the next project.

It is a sassy, sweet, laugh-out-loud, entertaining, and refreshing book. I could read it so fast and it was perfect to pull me out of a slump. This book is majorly set in New York upstate and Niagara Falls and I loved the author’s description. Some other parts that I loved a lot are the tomb scene and the fair with The Wizard of Oz theme.

I loved this debut so much and you will love it too if you like:

1. Small town settings,
2. Amazing main characters with incredible chemistry,
3. Meddling family members,
4. Quick, easy, and entertaining read,
5. A lot of laugh-out-loud moments.

Thanks to Forever Pub for my arc of this title.

One sentence review: What do you get when you mix an event planner with an author who writes horror novels - a fantastic romance that would be absolutely perfect for October reading!

Okay that is really two sentences but got to love creative dash-work! 😂

But seriously, I loved this book so much.

What did I like?

- Main characters that are rich in depth, so likable, and with really great jobs that you get in depth looks at. How can you not love a Stephen King-like hero?
- Side characters that you can't help but love. Seriously cannot wait to see the books that spin off from this one!
- Because of the hero's celebrity in this one, he's basically Stephen King, you get some really great scenes that I felt were really unique to this book. And Dylan Newton really has such an eye for detail and bringing these things to life.
- This book brings the steam but it is pretty concentrated to the end and would be easy to skip over for those that don't like the steamy parts.

So long story short, I highly recommend this one to all the romance lovers out there. If you are craving a little fall in this endless summer heat - this would be the perfect title for you.

Okay, I seriously cannot believe this book was the author’s debut rom com book. After finishing this amazing book, I was so ready to purchase every rom com this author had ever written because not only is her writing style AMAZING but the storyline? I swooned. Legit swooned and was biting my nails into the early hours of the morning because I could not get myself to stop reading it even though I’d be going into work two days in a row sleep deprived. But! I have no regrets.

How Sweet It Is tells the story of event planner extraordinaire Kate Sweet otherwise known as the Queen of Happily Ever Afters & Drake Matthews a horror book writer known to everyone as the Knight of Nightmares. Match made in heaven right? Well.. not so much (at first at least). But when Kate’s longtime best friend Imani reaches out to her pleading for Kate to take on the book launch planning event of one her writer clients who just so happens to be the Knight of Nightmares himself? Kate, whose never read a horror book or seen a horror movie before is understandably skeptical but of course ends up agreeing to take this event on.

What ensues has got to be the most original meet cute of any rom com ever. When I say I nearly died laughing to myself in the middle of the night.. I could not get enough of these two! The quick way these two connect (even though one of them quite literally passes out on the other), how they easily form a friendship that slowly but surely turns into more. The road to romance for these two is so not easy though, because with a past relationship & the insecurities that both these characters carry, it’s not an easy feat getting these two together.

In the end though, of course they make it, but the road leading up to their much deserved happily ever after is definitely one of the best I’ve read in a while.

I received an ARC via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kate Sweet has bucked the family tradition of being in the medical field and instead is working towards being a top event planner. Kate is busy creating her clients' dream weddings, but at her friends insistence she focuses on planning a bestselling author's book launch extravaganza. It's time to turn in all the fairy tales on their end and embrace all things horror.

Drake Matthews is known as the Knight of Nightmares, darling author of the horror genre. His upcoming book has been optioned by a huge movie studio for a movie, so Drake is dreading all the hoopla. He would prefer not being in the spotlight and would like to leave the Knight of Nightmare title behind. In fact, he's itching to explore different genres of writing.

Their first meeting is a hilarious debacle ending with a trip to an urgent care. But as Kate and Drake work together they find their connection is inspiring them to make alterations to their lives and careers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton follows Kate Sweet, an event planner known for creating a "happily-ever-after" moment for her clients. When a gap in her schedule appears, her best friend asks Kate to take over a book launch for the "Knight of Nightmares," Drake Matthews. Drake is tired of his pigeon-holed image of the Knight of Nightmares and is suffering from writer's block... until he meets Kate and his world is turned upside down. This rom-com had humor as well as serious topics. The relationship between Kate and Drake is a slow burn... you know what will happen at the end but not how they will get there.

I look forward to the next book by Dylan Newton based on one of Drake's brothers!

Thank you so much to Forever and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of How Sweet It Is! And happy release day to it (which means that y'all can 100% go out and grab it after reading my review)!
How Sweet It Is 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
What happens when the queen of romance falls for the king of horror--you get "a hilarious rom-com comp," perfect for fans of Beach Read. (Kirkus, starred review)
Event planner Kate Sweet is famous for creating the perfect happily-ever-after moment for her clients’ dream weddings. So how is it that her best friend has roped her into planning a bestselling horror writer’s book launch extravaganza? But the second Kate meets—or rather, accidentally maims—the drop-dead-hot Drake Matthews, her well-ordered life quickly transforms into an absolute nightmare.
Drake Matthews is tired of the spotlight and tired of his reputation as the Knight of Nightmares. He's really a nice guy! But he’s not prepared for Kate, a fearless agent of chaos in steel-tipped stilettos, or for that sweet sting of attraction he feels for her. She’s inspiring him to take his writing in a whole new direction—one that no one expects. Because now Kate and Drake are changing up the rules, and this plot twist might just surprise everyone . . . including themselves.
"Fans of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, and Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur will adore How Sweet It Is!" --The Nerd Daily

This book was so freaking cute! I loved that Kate was an event planner because I feel like a lot of times, people don't give event planners the respect they deserve and as someone who's helped plan my team's part of giant corporate events in the past, events are no joke! The way that this book starts out with Kate at one of her weddings and sets the scene throughout showing the level of detail and precision that goes into her events and the way that she's able to pivot at roll with the punches was amazing. I really enjoyed that. I also really loved Drake- I feel like he was the perfect love interest and I loved how much attention to detail he paid when crafting his stories- definitely something that him and Kate had in common. I also really enjoyed getting to know the Matthews family (are we getting spin off books for the other two Matthew brothers? I'd definitely grab those in a heartbeat!) and Imani and even the Sweets (even though Kate doesn't always seem to have the best relationship with them). The general plot of the book was super cute and even though parts of it were pretty predictable (the conflict for one), it didn't change my enjoyment of the book at all. The pacing was also really great- there were never points where I felt bored or uninterested- which is why I was able to finish this book in a matter of hours! All in all, I highly recommend How Sweet It Is for any of your fun, contemporary romance needs!

A sugary sweet office romance between a hot, nerdy horror writer and his event planner turned muse. A completely adorable and idealistic small town romcom with a perfect meet cute and a plot packed with mishaps that that make me wish for a movie adaption!

Kate Sweet wants nothing more than to win the coveted event planning award, so when her best friend drops a job to plan an epic book launch for a famous horror writer, Kate jumps at the chance. What starts out as a crazy, whirlwind adventure ends up leading Kate and Drake to a friendship that goes deeper than surface level.

The best part of this book is the wacky events that swirl around Kate and Jake. At every turn there always seems to be crazy fans, someone tripping, or a klutzy incident that drives these two together. This is an entertaining and adorable read with lots of minor characters always helping in the background. I really loved the flirty situations that always surrounded these two and how pets and family were involved. Now can I just get a love story for both of Drake’s brothers?

If you are looking for a fun beach read, look no further! This book will have you laughing out loud from start to finish. It is filled with a lot of heart and memorable characters set in a small town. I recommend checking out this bingeable rom-com, especially if you are a fan of enemies-to-lovers type plots!

Event planner Kate Sweet gets roped into planning the ultimate book launch party for the infamous horror author, Drake Matthews. Kate does her research on the Knight of Nightmares and determines that he is a grouchy and unapproachable author with a huge fan base (and terrifying dog) before ever meeting him. Their meet-cute is beyond hilarious and downright disastrous as the two polar opposite personalities collide and form a professional working relationship. Kate has her eye on a coveted event planning prize; Drake wants to prove he's more than just a horror author. I found myself rooting for happy endings for both characters!

The plot is perfectly paced and the storyline was adorable (and yes, somewhat reminiscent of Beach Read but unique enough to keep me interested and guessing as to how it would turn out in the end.) I loved Kate's and Drake's interactions as they got to know each other and the chemistry that is there from their first encounter. I enjoyed how the book had a healthy mix of comedy with some deeper topics spread throughout, too.

“Instead of an ‘Aww’ factor, just make it an ‘AAAAAHH’ factor!”

Forever puts on these wonderful Crowdcasts and IG lives, and I love listening in on what the happenings are around Forever and GCP. Estelle briefly touched on How Sweet It Is once, and I was in stitches thinking of the story. I knew the moment it came ready for review, I needed it.

This is a sweet story featuring our girl Kate Sweet, the best wedding even planner, and Drake Matthews, The Knight of Nightmares, best selling horror author. Kate is contracted by her best, Imani (also Drake’s publicist) on giving him the best book launch ever. While they didn’t start off on the right foot, they strike up a deal to help each other.

This book is just the sweet, wonderful, kind romance I need! It was fun having a horror writer as the male lead. My thriller heart was so happy. He makes them go to a mausoleum and has Kate sit in a coffin. Their chemistry was so sweet and I just gushed while reading. I loved that we got to meet the entire Matthews fam, and get to know Drake and his secret. Kate is an amazing MC and I loved her so muc. She was fearless, creative, sassy, and a chaos coordinator. I cheered for her so hard.

Lastly, I saw that last page that said I get Zander and Imani’s story next Summer. I’m so excited for their story and to hopefully get to see my favorite Matthews brother, Ryker. I absolutely love authors notes and acknowledgments and I thought it was so fun that Dylan Newton edited this book in the actual Wellsville, her hometown, and the setting of the book. It’s little details like this that sucker me into a good romance story for the end.

Overall, gushing! How Sweet It Is is just that, sweet. There is some cussing and a bit of steam at the end, so if you’re looking for a squeaky clean romance, you may want to try somewhere else. For fans of strong MCs, great friendships, and those that love a little horror with our romance, this is the one for you. Thank you so much @foreverpub for the gifted copy. I adored How Sweet It Is so much and it’s out today!

What a fun storyline! I was immediately interested when the matchup in this story is "the Queen of Happily Ever Afters" and "the Knight of Nightmares" ...what's not to like about that? I really ended up enjoying this book a great deal. It was a fresh spin on opposites attract that really worked for me.

Right off the bat, you feel like Kate and Drake are very different people. Of course, their initial meeting doesn't help when everything goes wrong that possibly can. It leaves them both a little unsure about how this book release can work out when they are both literally "on separate pages." With Kate being a successful event planner who is known for her 'happy ever afters' and Drake being a renowned horror author, it appears that they couldn't be a more unlikely pair. Kate was the only member of an "all medical" family that opted out of med school. It didn't seem to matter that she was an extremely successful event planner. For that reason, she always seemed to be trying to prove herself. Drake was the oldest brother of three. He felt responsible for his siblings and mom. Once the horror novels took off, he felt the need to keep writing them in order to provide for his family. In addition, he believed the public only liked him for that persona. It also didn't help that he'd been badly betrayed by his previous girlfriend, leaving him with extreme trust issues.

The chemistry between these two simmered through the pages until it finally couldn't be suppressed anymore. Of course, Drake's trust issues cause problems and Kate just naturally finds chaos that has to be managed - - all of which makes it challenging for this couple. Can they find their way through the fog of misunderstanding and hurt? Will the Knight of Nightmares be able to find his own HEA and in turn give one to Kate as well? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

DNF. Unfortunately, this book is not for me. While I think the story has promise, it quickly became clear that it was just too cheesy for me and not something I wanted to read.

4 out of 5 stars!

As a highly successful event planner, the heroine decided to help her best friend with a book launch event. The author is the hero, and the first meeting was definitely a titillating experience for both of them. As the two worked together, their attraction to each other deepens as they faced career choices, familial pressures, and personal struggles during the story progression.

I enjoyed this rom-com debut of two people falling in love in a book publication and small-town world. I enjoyed the strong secondary characters, especially the hero's family and the heroine's best friend. The main couple was enjoyable to read, though there was an action by the heroine that irritated me. I didn't even mind the annoying secondary characters because they didn't hinder the overall story. In conclusion, it's an entertaining read and I look forward to reading more Dylan Newton books in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

Wow, the premise of How Sweet It Is is so cool! Immediately a romance between an event planner and a horror writer, an uncommon combination for sure, pulled me in. Then the cheesiness and book details kept me hooked!

First off, the details regarding Kate's event planning, particularly in relation to the book launch, and Drake's writing process, were so interesting. While non-readers will certainly still be able to understand and love the story, will likely have a special meaning for book lovers, especially those knowledgeable about the publication process. This part of the story felt very authentic, and I think showing the impact that authors, even of horror books, can have on their readers is a good reminder to writers that their work matters! Also, there are some great mentions about respecting privacy that are great to remember.

Their adventures were certainly funny, but I also appreciated the logistical discussions that the two had and how Drake didn't need to be some hyper-masculine, fearless, and unshakable guy for Kate to fall in love with him. Kate's reluctance to get into a relationship was truly explored and her dreams weren't entirely thrown away for love. However, at some times it felt like there was a bit of a power imbalance between them since Drake was kind of Kate's boss. I didn't enjoy Drake's POV, which tended to lean into creepy and objectifying, but at least he was mostly considerate and seemed to really care about her. Despite this, I still enjoyed the majority of this book and would certainly recommend it to others. That being said, the reason for the third act break up really bothered me. Though it highlighted some major problems in their relationship, they didn't truly seem to be fixed by the end of the story.

How Sweet It Is is a sweet romance that you won't want to miss, especially if you love supportive families and writing!

Content Warnings: blood, fainting, sexual assault (no on-page descriptions but is discussed multiple times), amputation from military injury (past, off-page)

Halloween and spooky season is my favorite and this one has me wanting to rip down my 4th of July decorations and get my porch full of pumpkins, mums and skulls.
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Kate Sweet is an event planner AKA The Queen of Happily Ever Afters. Her next big event is a book launch event for Drake Matthews AKA the Knight of Nightmares.
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Kate doesn’t feel equipped to be dealing with the dark persona the internet has projected Drake to be. There are so many lol moments, including her best friend, and his publicist doling out this advice. “Instead of an aww factor just make it an AAAAHH factor!”
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Kate’s obsessive planning and spreadsheets speaks directly to my OCD heart and let me tell you I simply adore Drake. I love how he may be the king of horror novels but I desperately want to read his romance novel. I wish that was a real book! I also love the relationship between Kate and Drake. This book was so much fun as they inspire each other to be their best selves! This also had some real heartwarming moments, especially when Drake visited with some fans and his humble attitude when he says, “It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.” Solid advice for every single day.
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Thank you @readforeverpub and @netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review. This one is out today!
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Dylan Newton has made a MAJOR fan out of me!! This debut novel lives up to the title and is just the SWEETest read! Truly a remarkable laugh out loud opposites attract rom com that I finished in one sitting and will most certainly have me revisiting … MULTIPLE TIMES!

An event planner who's career is defined by "Happily Ever Afters" and "Awww" factors is tasked with planning an event for the horror author dubbed the "Knight of Nightmares" what could possibly go wrong?? This novel takes us on a journey full of laughs and tender moments with the incredible characters Kate Sweet and Drake Matthews. When these two collide (quite literally) they both learn theres more than what initially meets the eye!
The dynamic and chemistry between Kate and Drake had me completely hooked from their first encounter. I am no stranger to chaos and awkward moments and just totally ATE THIS UP! The way Newton develops the romance between Kate and Drake is remarkably done with such an ease and flow that makes the reader truly fall in love with the couple. They not only evolve as a couple but also individuals and that is one of my favorite aspects in any romance novel!

I said it once and I’ll say it again BIG Dylan Newton fan here and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!(IF it was the stories of the other Matthews brothers I certainly would not be opposed to that AT ALL!!!)
Rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 stars because it was just truly a story I didn't even know that I needed that was so heartwarming and just a fun read!!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest review.