DNF
I love Much Ado About Nothing. This book is a romcom retelling. But it just didn't deliver. It isn't sharp or cute. I wish it just focused on the two main POVs.

OOH well this is just lovely, isnt it? My love for Much Ado About Nothing came flooding back in an instant as did my love for Bridie and Ben's quick wit as they try and out-do each other.
This was cheeky, flirty, fun and loved this story in its modern day context. Not without its unexpected twist or two, but packed with excitement. The perfect amount of rage was created for these two strong characters but enough to believe that they were still meant to be together. The meddling friends plotting really added to the drama. Loved it..

Love At First Fight has an interesting premise plus it was mentioned as an enemies-to-lovers book, so I was very excited to read this. And that cover? Stunning. But unfortunately, I was completely disappointed by the story. I had to force myself to get through the book. It was slow to start and felt like such a drag. I do have to say, the beginning was nice but then it started dragging on and on. And as much as I wanted to like the main couple (Bridie and Ben), I just didn't enjoy reading them + I disliked how the story suddenly changed midway to be about Ben's brother's wedding to Bridie's best friend and certain other things. It completely took away attention from the main couple.

Review copy courtesy of Net Galley.

Halfway through this book, I thought the plot was so familiar and then had to look up “Much Ado About Nothing” to see that it was very clearly a retelling. But it was a pretty fun romance: Bridie and Ben (both white) dated once in high school, and now her best friend is marrying his brother, so they are forced to interact and their friends scheme to make them fall for each other.

This book was exactly what I needed. A fun, light read with some good laugh out loud moments.
Loved it

I loved my first read by this author and I was ready to dive into this one. I was not as enamored of this book. The beginning is very slow, the dialogue feels forced and doesn't fit the characters.
Once the story get going though I found myself engrossed in the story and unable to put it down. This author creates realistic down to earth characters you can't help but fall in love with.
Despite the slow beginning, this book is a definitely on the recommend list.
I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fabulous fun filled story that was amusing and interesting as we watched the Bridie and Ben clash with each other as they are roped in as chief bridesmaid and best man for their best friend and brothers wedding.
I loved the set ups and crossed wires moments.
Great situation and well written.
Just my cup of tea ☕️

This was a cute and light enough enemies to lovers read. I really enjoyed the banter going on but found the romance a bit underwhelming. It started strong but it lost a little of the charm as I read. Overall this is an okay romance to relax and spend a few hours under the sun with.

This was a quick, easy read that I enjoyed as there were a lot of elements that made this book fun:
- Enemies to lovers
- A wedding
- Misunderstandings
- Multiple perspectives from the two main couples of the novel
- Plotting friends and characters that are oblivious about their feelings
- The characters (Bridie, Ben, Hattie and Cal)

Bridie and Ben were good characters and I enjoyed seeing them winding each other up and then seeing them both change their views on relationships and dating over the course of the book. This book wasn’t necessarily what I was expecting it to be plot wise, and I didn’t go into it expecting Hattie and Cal’s storyline, however I did enjoy most of their story, aside from the ending as I wasn’t a fan of the ‘cheating’ storyline and I guessed what was going to happen as soon as Johanna came back into the picture.

I did enjoy this book, however it probably isn’t one I’d pick up again.

Ideal if you are looking for a quick and fun romance that is lighthearted with laugh out loud funny moments.

Love at First Fight is a fun, light-hearted romance that takes place in England. Bride has always nursed a grudge for her first love who stood her up for their school dance 12 years ago. Ben has never realized how upset Bride was all those years ago. They are still friends, but they bicker and put each other down all the time now, Ben is a player, Bride is a jerk magnet. Neither are very happy with where they are.

But Bride’s best friend, Hattie is getting married to Ben’s brother, Cal and the two of them are going to be thrown together quite a bit as the best man and maid of honor, not to mention that Cal and Hattie are going to be doing a little playing at Cupid.

Mary Jayne Baker has delivered another amusing tale of romance amidst all sorts of bizarre shenanigans. Her characters hit the mark with just the right amount of teasing and love that makes believable friendships. Looking forward to reading more from her.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love at First Fight by Mary Jayne Baker is a cute rom-com. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the enemy to lover trope.

Love at First Fight is a cute rom-com that is unlike many books "inspired by" a certain work of Shakespeare's, as this one is very clearly Shakespearean in its characters, plot, and tropes. Lifted from Much Ado About Nothing are the following:
--Our lothario returning from abroad, to his small town (and the girl he left behind).
--A masquerade ball with disguises.
--A clever woman whose biting words hurt said lothario.
--Friends plotting to set up the resistant couple by convincing each of them that the other is in love with them.
--TWO couples (this isn't just Romeo & Juliet, ya'll, it's an ensemble)
--The appearance of cheating.
--A wedding.
--A trickster antagonist who nearly derails said wedding.
--Much fuss is made over mostly a string of misunderstandings.
While the Shakespearean ties were what intrigued me about this book, I think most of the things that annoyed me about it were actually pulled from Much Ado (the carefully planned, overheard discussions, mostly). I don't think his comedies work as well in modern adaptations (save Shrew) as his tragedies/romances/histories. A for effort, C for effect.

Love at First Fight by Mary Jayne Baker is about two friends/ enemies with a rocky past that meet up again after some time apart . I love an enemy to lovers read and the characters, Ben and Bridie are very cute together. I liked how much their friends were rooting for them and the devious plans to get them together. It was a great read and I fully recommend it.

Love at First Fight was an enjoyable, lighthearted read. This would be a great book to take with you on holiday. This is an uncomplicated love story that is full of little twists. Giving 4 stars due to a lot of repetitive narrative. But overall, I enjoyed it.

‘Love at first fight’ is a witty and delightful inspired by ‘Much ado about nothing’ set in a beachside Yorkshire town.

Bridie and Ben are the Beatrice and Benedict, trading barbs at each other. Only Bridie’s comes with extra sting after being stood up by Ben ten years previously at their leavers ball. The pair, plotted by their friends, are forced together to organise a ‘sten’ for his brother and her best friend who are marrying.

It’s a tough job to refresh and adapt what is considered part of literary canon, but Mary Jayne Baker does it well to refresh the setting to a modern era while still keeping the spirit of the play.

I laughed so many times. I also loved the extra layers of backstory she gave to Ben especially. I also loved the ensemble nature of the book, we have their scheming friends but also drama with their friends too just like the play. I have pre-ordered my own copy and I’m going to hope Aria have an audiobook commissioned because I will buy the audiobook.

4.5 stars

Bridie Morgan absolutely cannot stand Ben Kemp. He’s an insufferable womanizer, who has been mercifully out of town... until he’s back. Their friends are convinced that they are meant to be, so they hatch a plan to get them together after all these years.

The premise of this novel is right up my alley, and I love the Britishisms throughout, but it lost me in the mid way point. This could have been two entirely different books and it would have made more sense. I kept checking my progress and kept thinking that it should end soon, only to find that I was about halfway done. I thought the end half was a bit messy and not as thought through as the first half. I did enjoy myself, but I think I would have been happier only having Ben and Bridie’s story rather than the other plot points we get later on.

This was a decent read, fans of romantic-comedies will likely enjoy. I was looking for something a bit deeper and this fell short for me personally. It was also odd to switch viewpoints suddenly towards the end of the book.

I actually really loved this book. It may be because I absolutely LOVE Much Ado About Nothing (it's my favorite Shakespeare play) and am slightly biased by that alone. Honestly, I really loved the modern twist to the play. Even with the switching up of gender rolls and modern setting, it still basically stayed true to the play. While I knew what roughly was going to happen in terms of the plot, the thing I loved the most about this was the banter and the dialogue between the characters. I wanted to be there to hear the witty barbs between Bridie and Ben. I loved how sweet Hattie was, if a bit more insecure that I would imagine Hero to be in the original play.

All in all, if you love British wordplay and Much Ado About Nothing, you will love this book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to give an honest review of this book!

The blurb for this book promised so much more than the book delivered. With a plot twist halfway through the book, switching the story over to two other characters. It felt as though the author either didn't have enough to say about Ben and Bridie's relationship or was just trying to cram two books into one.