Loved this! This is a bit of insta love, but it is tempered by their previous relationship and the unusual circumstances of their reunion.

I am a sucker for celebrity stories when the love interest doesn’t know who they are. And this totally delivered on that surprise in spades!

I love how Alec and Georgia just seem to seamlessly fit together and are able give him some semblance of normalcy that he is surely missing. And this book starts spicy and just does not let up. These two have so much chemistry!

And the added mystery of Georgia’s investigative reporting just added another layer of interest to their story. And when things fall apart, man they really fall apart. It’s so emotional because you are so invested in these two! This one was such a tear jerker for me. And the resolution, was so terrific.

I requested an early reader copy of this book and these are my honest opinions.

I really enjoyed this story. I definitely am confident in who the author is, based on how much I loved the writing style and how it reminded me of some of this author's earlier work. I enjoyed the story and the nearly insta-love.

[Insert high pitched squealing here] I ADORED Scandalized by Ivy Owens. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. From the first chapter to the epilogue, I was HOOKED. The chemistry between Alec and Gigi is PERFECTION, and I honestly could read it again right now, even though I just finished it this morning. It’s THAT good.

Gigi is on her way back to LA from London, having just spent two weeks investigating an awful scandal surrounding a popular London club. She’s stuck in Seattle when her flight is grounded due to weather, and she bumps into Alec—her childhood best friend’s older brother. They haven’t seen each other in fourteen years, but he recognizes and remembers her, too. When she realizes there are no hotel rooms available anywhere near the airport, he offers to let her stay with him in his suite. The tension is immediate and they fall into bed. It’s the most mind-blowing experience either of them have ever had, but in the morning, they both know they’ll head their separate ways. She has a deadline to meet with her big story, and he has…meetings.

When they arrive in LA, she quickly realizes she’s missed something big. Why are there so many women holding signs with his name on them and pictures of his face? Turns out her old friend Alec is Alexander Kim, one of the hottest Korean/British actors alive. [Mind blown emoji]

Neither one can forget about the other, and they reconnect (a lot) while he’s still in town. Their relationship is HOT and ELECTRIC and AMAZING. And he has a connection to her story—the one about the club and the scandal. I don’t want to give more of the story away, but I can’t say enough good things about this sizzling romance. It’s super insta-lovey but I didn’t even care. Ivy Owen’s wrote a HOT romance even if it has a heavy, emotional sub-plot. If I I could give it a thousand stars, I would. GET THIS BOOK. READ IT IMMEDIATELY. That is all.

Oh, and a huge thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for my advance review copy. I can’t wait for my finished preorder to arrive once it’s published!

Thank you to Gallery Books and the author for my advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is an insta-lust/love, celebrity romance that I didn't know I needed in my life!

All I knew about this book before starting it was that early reviewers were loving it and that it was steamy. I am so glad I took a chance on this book. I was just as surprised and obsessed with Alec as Gigi was! It's fast-paced, as the whole story takes place in a two-week timeframe. I am not usually a fan of insta-love, but it worked for me in this story. Alec is so genuine in his showing his feelings towards Gigi. Kudos to the author!

Both main characters are so likable, and it was easy to want them to be together. Alec is charming, kind and sexy. Gigi is a hard worker and honest. She's oblivious to who Alec is now when she reconnects with him, but their chemistry together is off the charts. There is plenty of steam and sexy times in their story. It wasn't smutty. It felt beautiful and tender between them, especially their first time.

I couldn't decide between four or five stars, so I slept on it. I decided on five stars as I can't stop thinking about this couple. I know I definitely want a final physical copy for my home library.

I flew through this S-T-E-A-M-Y contemporary romance and was entertained the whole time! I'd hand this to fans of Colleen Hoover and Tessa Bailey.

I am usually not a fan of celebrity romances, but this one was perfect! The chemistry between Alec and Georgia was BEYOND.

I’ve been loving celebrity romance books lately, and this one added journalism to the mix, which made it even better!

The chemistry between these two characters took off immediately, and it never stopped. This book combines childhood crush, insta love, secret romance, and somehow it all works!!

The actual scandal part of the book added great tension to the story. This is such an effortless read that it felt like it could have played out predictably, but I was surprised and satisfied at how it all ended.

Overall, I really liked this and look forward to more from this author!! Thank you to NetGalley and Galley Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

It's absolutely fair to say I devoured it literally in one sitting which I did not expect from it at all. Alec and Gigi were beyond adorable characters and how their steamy one night stand turns into something more meaningful was a journey I throroughly enjoyed. As Alec is a celebrity, I thought it would be entirely centered around his work but it was refreshing to see Gigi's journalism and her current work added so much more to the plot. I am generally not a fan of instant-love or instant connection trope but this one somehow works. Grab this steamy and swoon-worthy romance!

CW: Sexual assault

WOW! Well, this was a complete surprise! I was not expecting to feel this way about this book! I absolutely loved it! These characters and this story were everything!

Alec and Gigi casually run into each other during the worst travel day. Gigi was best friends with Alec’s sister before they moved out of the country. She is a journalist working the story of her life. I do need to issue some trigger warnings though as sexual assault is the subject of the story. It’s not on the page but accounted for after the fact. They have an instant connection and when he is able to get a hotel room but she is not, he offers for her to stay with him until their next flight. What she doesn’t realize is that Alec is a celebrity now. (This part does seem really hard to believe as she’s a journalist, but it’s necessary for the story). He is only in town for 2 weeks and he wants her to stay with him for this entire time. So, they sneak around for awhile until they are caught and multiple scandals ensue.

I could not get enough of these characters. Alec was the most swoonworthy hero. I loved them so much! I rooted for them the entire time. Their chemistry was explosive. So much steam in here. I honestly don’t even know what else to say. You just have to read it!

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This is a book I could not read through fast enough, but I was heartbroken to have end.

Ivy Owens has managed to make me obsessed with her writing, and this one has left an impact on me. It's a top 2022 read for sure.

This book includes a lot of spice, but the story and the characters are so well developed that it was so balanced. I loved the heat and chemistry between the two main characters. Instant love/attraction can be a hard sell, but this book made it work.

Georgia Ross finds herself stranded for a place to stay after traveling for work. She's a journalist working on a huge story that could break her career. She never expected to run into her childhood best friend's brother Alec Kim. When he offers her a shower to use at his hotel room, how can she refuse?

One night between the two of them ignites an intense passionate relationship. The two are able to be honest with one another and really divulge the intensity of their feelings early on. They know it can't end here, but with Alec's care and fame, and Gigi's story there could be a lot of complications.

The scandal that results from the story takes the couple from complete bliss into each other's arms into a worldwide storm of disaster and scandal.

After living through her own scandal just six months ago with her former boyfriend, Gigi's heart is tender. The two can't keep themselves away from one another, and quickly realize this hookup is not ordinary. The connection they have is worth finding a way to be together.

There was a lot of steam in this book, but the intimacy between Gigi and Alec was really built. It was so tender to see how Alec would care for Gigi in moments where she was angry or freaking out. On the flip side, seeing how Gigi could continue to get past issues because of her love for Alec was lovely.

I can't wait for more books by Ivy Owens!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This book was right amount of cheesy and fun and loving. It was super good because it had absolutely entertaining and adorable characters that are quite mature at the same time too. However, it was the romance and the chemistry that really sold me out.

This book was a total #bookstagram made me do it request but OMG is it worth all the hype! I devoured it in one day and could not get enough of these characters!

Georgia (Gigi) Ross has been in London for two weeks working on an intense investigative story for her employer, the LA Times, which will hopefully expose some bad people and skyrocket her career. When her connecting flight out of Seattle is cancelled because of weather she recognizes another familiar face at the airport -- her childhood best friend's brother Alexander (Alec) Kim. Gigi and Alec connect for a steamy one night stand which turns into more when Alec reveals he will be in LA for a few weeks and wants to see her. Of course, she soon realizes there is more to Alec than she realized which throws a whole wrench in their time together. It turns out Alec has a link to the major story Gigi has been working on but there are so many complications in her telling his story and him exposing it. Can they navigate this complicated reality and their ever growing feelings for each other?

This. Book. Was. Everything. I LOVED Alec and Gigi so much. Their connection from the very beginning was palpable and leapt off the page. The steam in this book was legit which was made even steamier because of the incredible connection between these characters. I was telling someone the other day how much I love stories with strong female leads and Gigi was as badass as they get. I loved her fire and independence.

There are so many layers to this story and such a deeper element to both Alec and Gigi that makes this one so hard to put down. You want to know what happens with every page to their careers, their growing relationship, and this intense story that Gigi is trying to expose.

Gigi's roommate and best friend Eden was such a great addition to this book and, let's be real, we all need an Eden in our lives.

This book is an amazing story, its a fast read, the characters are incredible, and the steam will leave you fanning yourself. What other reasons do you need to pick this one up?

Thank you to Gallery and NetGalley for the EARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"Scandalized" is the first book I've read by author Ivy Owens, but it won't be the last! Full of humor, chemistry, and fun, this book is centered around childhood friends Georgia (Gigi) Ross and Alec Kim. These two haven't seen each other in years, but a delayed flight has them crossing paths. And what starts as a one night stand quickly becomes something much stronger. However, Gigi's journalism career and Alec's celebrity status threatens to tear them apart.

I really enjoyed the maturity these two showed as their relationship developed, and thought the chemistry was both hot and fun. My only complaint is that the ending is a little too rushed, but everything else was great! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

So, I’ve been eyeing this book for a long time and was so excited to read it. I even went so far to send a DM to the author for an arc 😂

Well, when I saw it on NetGalley, I had to have it and thankfully got a free e-arc! Yay! And I finished it in a day! I LOVEDDDD it so much!

The angst, the chemistry, the steam, and the interwoven drama in between. Alec and Gigi are a dream! I loved their relationship and how natural they were together. This was a brothers best friend, friends to lovers, insta- love read and somehow it all worked well together!

I highly recommend! ❤️

This steamy brother's best friend romance turns into so much more. While trying to investigate criminal activity in the upper echelons of society, Gigi Ross runs into her childhood best friend's brother, Alec Kim, at the airport. She has always had a crush, but now he was a total smoke show. One night turns into the start of something neither of them saw coming.

Written with emotion, steam, and effortless flow - this is one you do not want to miss. Perfect for contemporary romance and k drama lovers.

CW: Sex crimes

Wow this book is stunningly good. It was heartfelt without being cheesy, totally compelling from start to finish, and probably my favorite celebrity romance ever. When Georgia runs into her childhood best friends older brother Alec at the airport, sparks fly, and they end up having a very emotional and hot night together. Then, she finds out he is a famous actor. There is also an incredible storyline about Georgia’s investigations into a nightclub where the VIPs are drugging and assaulting women, which Alec has a connection to.

Highlights:
For being relatively vanilla, the sex scenes in this book are scorching, full of intimacy and truly critical to advancing the emotional connection between our characters. You could feel their bond getting stronger every time they were together, their relationship was as inexorable as it was impossible, and the tension of that was delicious.

Alec was total sunshine, and didn’t mind the celebrity that came along with his life. He handled all his responsibilities without complaint, being kind to fans and coworkers at every turn. Truly such a wholesome man, he is peak book boyfriend, and I am hungry for more heroes like him.

The third act conflict was a mutual act of destruction, with both parties messing up, and then figuring out how to overcome and move past it, including an actual discussion about how they each need to react differently next time to avoid it. I could practically smell the emotional maturity, and I have no doubts about this particular HEA.

Overall, I am a little stunned at how good this was, one of the best of the year for me, and I cannot wait to read more from Ivy Owens.

“There wasn’t one second where Alec Kim didn’t look straight into the center of me, taking me in all at once. And he kept looking like what he saw there lit him up inside.”

One of the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever encountered. I feel compelled to note that I’ve quite literally only ever given five rom-coms a 5 star review in my adult life (and 3 of them are Emily Henry books, okay?). That is, until this book. I am blown away.

This book was Tessa Bailey steam meets the sincerity and romance of an Emily Henry novel. I could not conjure up a better combination that that if I tried.

Alec and Georgia claimed my heart in the first 20% of this book. I can tell that Ivy Owens was incredibly thoughtful in the creation of these characters, and they were so realistic that it felt like they could walk off the page.

I have highlights all over this book. The chemistry between these two is so palpable, but beyond that, their love story is intense and heartfelt and somehow utterly believable despite the circumstances. And guys… this is a STEAMY book. We have very explicit spice in the first 25%, and it is IMMACULATE (and often revisited). Not a moment is cringey or stunted or off tone. Alec Kim is an utter thirst trap while still maintaining status as the most explicitly respectful MMC I’ve read in a romance. The steam and the romance are so perfectly intermingled here, in a way that’s different from anything I’ve read before (and I’m not saying that lightly). This is one of the most heartfelt and vivid love stories I have read.

Owens was also in afraid of tackling some very heavy topics in this book. Georgia is a journalist working on a massive sexual abuse and rape scandal, and her approach to this topic is tasteful, realistic, informed, and empowering. I was equally engrossed in this storyline as I was with the romance. AND! And! Any and all annoying conflict tropes were completely absent in this book. Beyond that, my heart was genuinely pounding at around the 80% mark when things start to go south. And as we all would hope, this is wrapped up perfectly, leaving us with not only a sincere and satisfying ending, but also a gooey, intoxicating, authentic epilogue and a story that I never wanted to see end.

I give this all the stars. I repeat, ALL THE STARS. Endless thank you’s to Gallery Books & Netgalley for the eArc of this title. I cannot wait to recommend this to everyone I know.

Thank you Gallery Books for my copy of Scandalized! All thoughts are my own.

There’s something about reading a five star book. I’ve had a couple hits this Summer and I’m pleased to add another one to the mix with Scandalized! I loved this book. I haven’t read a super spicy book in a while and this was the type of open door romance I love. Everything felt so real and authentic to the characters. It was fun, so deeply Romantic, and also had a high stakes plot that kept me invested and interested.

This is gonna be a hit. I can’t wait for more from Ivy Owens!

What I Liked:

The Characters—Add Alec Kim to my book boyfriend cause wowwwww I loved him. And I loved Gigi too! And the all the side characters. I really loved the stories they had to tell together.

The Writing + Feels—I thought everything was paced so well and it was the perfect balance of vibes and plot. I highlighted SO many quotes because they were just so romantic. I was swooning the whole time.

The Plot—I was so invested in the plot! It was high stakes and real, with enough of a “wow” factor to keep things interesting.

What Didn’t Work:

Nothing—This was a 5 star read for me so I was ALL IN. It’s the perfect balance of Insta-Love and Insta-Attraction since they had a history! I loved it.

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Steam Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 5/5

Content Warnings:

sexual violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking

The chemistry in this book was on fire from the first chapter! I loved the easy repertoire between Alec and Gigi. it just flowed and was incredibly swoonworthy. And now I need a sequel for Gigi’s scene-stealing best friend.

Here for the steam! I love meet cutes. This was a fun spin to a romance!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.