You know how you anticipate a book so much that when you open it, you just smile? That was 100% my experience with RUTHLESS RIVAL. I read the entire book within a few short hours and when I finished, my heart was full and I was a little twitterpated with Christian Miller.

L.J. Shen has created a new world for readers to jump headfirst into. Christian Miller isn't who he appears. He has a mysterious past that intertwines uncomfortably close with our heroine Arya, even though she doesn't realize it. The book is told in brief glimpses to the past as you unravel the mystery of who these two were in the past and who they have grown into. A slow burn but super hot once ignited, this book has the trademark spark that make Shen's books so fantastic.

A great book that I read in one sitting. Already jonesing for the next one in the series!

Ruthless Rival by L.J. Shen was absolute perfection!

This is an exceptionally brilliant story that had me under its spell right from the very start right until the glorious end.

Ruthless Rival is so very well written, so intriguing and so very gripping.
Everything was perfection and I honestly loved every aspect of the story. 
L.J. Shen wrote such a phenomenal book here and she did it with absolute perfection. 
The plot was perfectly paced and brilliantly executed and the writing was impeccable.
I was hooked by page one here and ultimately read this in one sitting.
Shen writes like a champ and the chemistry between her characters was out of this world
Both characters are so complex, so unique, so real that I want to have friends like them.
The characterization of both characters was so excellent. 
From the first chapter I fell in love with Arya's character. 
Christian is just gorgeous and I seriously couldn't get enough of his role in the story!

L.J. pens a thoughtful, fun, and touching novel with sassy banter, and delectable slow burn chemistry.

Overall, this author impressed me, exceeded my expectations, and now, she has a brand new fan! Going to my KU now and getting more of it!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Montlake,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

First Love. Friendship. Revenge. Rebirth. Redemption. Ruthless Rival by LJ Shen is everything above.

LJ Shen, like always delivers unique love story, filled with all consuming emotions and angst. Every time, when I'm starting her new book, I can literally hear words in my head - expect what's unexpected, and oh boy.... Ruthless Rival is exactly proving, that LJ knows, how to take me by suprise, every single time. RR's story line and characters are LJ Shen at the finest, I couldn't put this book down (pulling an all-nighter was an only option obviously haha).

I cannot tell You how many times, I wanted to jump into this book and steal Christian for myself... He is perfectly perfect with his grumpy attitude and angelic features, without any doubts! Christian owns my heart and Arya is one of the most amazing female characters, I've met in my bookish life. She's definition of modern, independent women these days, who can be the best inspiration for all of us.

I almost feel sad, that in a while I will need to share this bookish baby with more LJShen Junkies like me, BUT... I know, it has to be that way. Masterpieces like Ruthless Rival are a must read.

I really really enjoyed this book. I loved Christian and his and Arya’s story. It was a slow burn but worth it!! I love the childhood friends to lovers in this story because there’s a bit of a twist. I would absolutely recommend this book.

Arya has everything money can buy growing up. She has a doting father and a nonexistent mother. With her dad constantly working she needs someone to talk to during the long summer out of school. While she is at her twin brothers grave she meets a kid, Nicky, and they start to talk. Instantly she figures out that he is her housekeeper’s son. They have an instant bond that grows each day. They spend all summer together as friends and always look forward to the next summer so they can do it all over again. As they get older they start to develop feelings for each other and when they finally kiss for the first time they get caught by Arya’s dad and it all explodes. Now that Arya is in her thirties you would think she would be over her long lost love of her youth but she can’t help but think of him. Christian can’t believe his luck when a case is brought to him on a silver platter. He is going to destroy Arya’s dad and enjoy every bit of it or at least he thought so. He starts to develop feelings for Arya that are so much stronger than the past but is the past strong enough to tear them apart? He has so many things to tell her and knows that if he doesn’t come clean soon things might just go up in flames like they did once before. I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read a book when it seems like the main characters had so much working against them. The outside forces that impacted their relationship was something I've never read before.

I loved the story, the plot and the little bit of spice that was thrown in. With lawsuits, found family and healing relationships and this book is amazing.

𝐈 𝗪𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄!!! I 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 Christian and Arya so much! I just want to 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 them both.
⁣
LJ Shen is definitely the 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬!! Definitely devoured the book. Couldn't put it down! Only put it down to sleep because I didn't want the book to end yet. Lol LJ Shen have a way with words that 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯, and 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 want to leave. ⁣

Arya was rich, and Christian was the son of the help. The blurb gives you the exact gist of what's to happen so I won't go into details of what the book is about. Just know that the tension between them was FIRE!!! There was quite a few twists that I was not expecting.

I am soooo excited for this world and for the stories that's to come.

Another amazing book by LJ Shen that I highly recommend.

Ahhh!!! I am obsessed with every new book that L.J. Shen releases but Ruthless Rival honestly is one of the best books I've ever read!! Arya and Christian have completely taken over my heart. This story was filled to the brim with swoony tension, angst and slow burn goodness. I am completely obsessed with this story and can not love it any more!!! Arya and Christian are nothing short of FIVE STAR GOLD!!!

Overall, Shen completely outdid herself with this story! The secrets and palpable tension between Arya and Christian left me on the edge of my seat. I sat spellbound and was addicted to every word! Arya and Christian's fiery and spitfire banter were just the icing on this already delicious cake. Ruthless Rival was nothing short of brilliant and UNPUTDOWNABLE!!! 

Ruthless Rival is Shen once again officially putting the world on notice that she is capable of writing ANY genre and trope with her customary Midas touch!!! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula ❤️

Thank you Montlake Publishing for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

Thank you, Montlake, for the advance reading copy.

Now that's quite intense!

Whatever expectations I have had of the author, the writing, the characters and the themes tackled I would say it went far beyond my expectations! I am quite impressed and I am looking forward to read every book written by the author in the future.

It's the writing that got me. It kept me engrossed from the very first page. But I was expecting it to simmer down into something less intense as the pages went on. How wrong I was!

Almost a forbidden romance, I would recommend this book for those who love reading dark romance.

The romance is intense. You will be reading this book till the end hooked on their chemistry!

If you're already a huge fan of the author, I don't think you will be disappointed. And for the new ones, just start reading it when it comes out. I'm telling you the romance is intense and good.

This wasn't bad just not my favorite. I think the chemistry and the characters added to the story. It was a fun and quick read.

Hands down, this is one of my favorite books by L.J. Shen. This author consistently writes stories that grip my attention from the very first page and never let go, Ruthless Rival is no different. The characters are larger than life and the sizzling chemistry between the main characters will not be denied.

I'm salivating for more of this series! Highly recommended.