If you are looking for a scorching SCANDALIZED summer romance, add this to your TBR. PUB 08.23. Thanks @gallerybooks and @netgalley for the early copy. Much like my friend @addie.yoder "I read through dinner and pretended like I didn't even have kids."

WHAT TO KNOW: 
Scorching, quick burn and sexy AF. 
Childhood crush to adult connection
Well executed instant chemistry
Investigative journalism that adds to tension and creates suspense
Celebrity 
Fast paced
Swoon worthy dialogue - “You’re going to make me love you, aren’t you?” “I’m sure going to try.”
Are they hot for each other- yes. Do they care about each other beyond that- bigger YES!
CW- Sexual assault
Reminiscent of early Christina Lauren (ahem- wonder why?)

4.5 Stars!

This is exactly the right book I needed. Extremely spicy celebrity romance, with a twist of suspense, that will absolutely keep you glued to the pages.

Alec and Georgia have an instant connection that absolutely sizzles. This is definitely not a slow burn romance, these two can’t keep their hands of each other. Pacing on this book was top notch, I never felt like it was plodding along waiting for the other shoe to drop. Overall this was an insta love, but that connection between them was done so spectacularly, which I don’t normally see in contemporary romance.

I loved they were on the same page about their feelings, it really felt like Georgia was coming full circle about how destroyed she felt after her previous relationship.

This was just a great read, and I hope we see more from this author.

This book is the perfect mix between sweet and hot. As Ali Hazelwood said THIS BOOK IS SO HOT.
I never have a problem with Insta love as long as it is well executed. And what I love about this book is that the author really managed to sell me the love story of Gigi and Alec, despite being an insta love. The connection between these two characters is beautiful, even though their relationship takes place over the span of two weeks, by the middle of the book I was shipping them so hard.
I read Scandalized in three days, it was incredibly addictive and I highly recommend it

I loved this book! I had seen the cover all over and couldn't wait to read it--did not disappoint! The main characters have great chemistry and it has well-written plot lines. Definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Ivy Owens!

Overall a very strong romance novel. The characters were compelling, there was plenty of tension, conflict, and romance.

Personally, I felt the last 20% was the weakest, with particularly manufactured tension. I would have revised and extended it. I also would have enjoyed if there was more of them getting to know each other and falling in love again. I think the sex scenes could have been trimmed a bit and it still would have been plenty spicy, but with a bit more plot and other relationship development.

Scandalized by Ivy Owens is a brand new romcom about childhood friends who after running into each other by chance turn into lovers.

The chemistry between the 2 main characters is off the chart! I absolutely adore Alec and if I ever saw that man I’m real life I would gladly throw myself on him! He is super sweet and endearing and adores the main heroine, Gigi. He also is an expert in the sheets to and the love scenes were 🔥🔥

If you are a fan of Kdramas and are looking for an easy read, then look no further because this is the books for you!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Gallery for this arc!

This book will suck you in right from the beginning. The chemistry between Alec and Georgia is absolute fire. I love the background of them knowing each other from childhood, I think it helps the insta-love feel more believable and real. Not only was this book the right kind of steamy but it was paired with fantastic writing and I was really drawn into the characters, their lives, struggles and emotions. I loved that Gigi wasn't insecure in dating a celebrity, there was never jealousy or questioning his affection for him. I think this helped her be more likeable, that she was down to earth and not whiny. The stakes of why they are torn together at the end feel realistic and high enough to justify the conflict in the relationship. I felt stressed just reading it in anticipation of how things were going to get resolved. The epilogue felt a little rushed but I understood why it was written the way it was.

This was straight up incredible. I was quite literally swept off my feet and I will read WHATEVER Ivy Owens writes, it literally does not matter if it’s her grocery list.

This has heart and swoon and omg, ALEC and GEORGIA.

How freaking adorable! If you’re looking for a feel good, steamy romance, Sacandalized will hit the spot. 🎆

What a pleasant surprise! I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect going into this one, but from the beginning, I was hooked on Gigi’s personality and the undeniable chemistry between she and Alec. I absolutely loved the childhood friends, turned one night stand, turned lovers arc of this book. It had me smiling like an idiot on too many occasions to count. Alec and Gigi’s teasing banter and power couple status were magnetic, not to mention the physical chemistry on page… talk about spicy. 😮‍💨

In addition to the romance, it was refreshing to see two extremely career driven individuals make it work and thoroughly enjoyed the bonds of family and female friendship that were woven into the story. Scandalized is a page turner, I couldn’t put it down, and am honestly sad that I’ve finished it. Gigi and Alec stole my heart and I’m going to miss them. I also can’t believe this is Ivy Owen’s debut novel, bravo! 🖤

Note: please heed the content warning as Georgia is a journalist investigating a story with mature and potentially triggering themes.

𝘏𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘐𝘷𝘺 𝘖𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘴, 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯 & 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘦-𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺.

This book had me hooked immediately! The tropes were on point to give the exact vibes the title was going for. While insta-love is not my favourite, the chemistry and steam made this book unputdownable. This is perfect for romance lovers who like a hint of true crime thrown in.

This was a celebrity romance done in such a perfect way. There was mistaken identity, second chances, major miscommunication, media frenzy, and mega steam. I LOVED the characters and how they came together in both a super fast and then a super sweet way. Their chemistry was a beautiful thing, their intimacy was sexy and lovely, and the conflict gave me chills.

This is the kind of book you want to see on screen. There was romance, heart break, and even some really interesting twists that gave it just enough suspense to keep you on your toes.

Honestly I wasn't quite sure where things were going to end up which made it all the more delicious to read. Both characters were extremely interesting and well written as was their romantic arc and the drama that followed.

This book was great!
I adored Alec and Gigi from the beginning and my love for them only grew as the story went on.

The mystery/story Gigi is working on that is interwoven throughout was done so well in my opinion and really added to the tension of the story overall.

I also really loved Yael and Eden and everyone needs friends like these in their lives ♥️

And the steam!!! My goodness!! 🥵 This book is hot! So if open door is not your jam then you should pass on this one because it is explicit. But if this is your jam then scoop this baby up!

I gobbled up Scandalized while I was on vacation, and it was so good that I’m jealous of last week’s Jess, who hadn’t had the absolute delicious pleasure of reading what will absolutely be one of my favorite reads of 2022.

This book is sexy and emotional, and Georgia and Alec have chemistry for daaaaaays. Ivy wrote a connection between these two that was palpable and real from the moment they locked eyes on one another. It’s a love story that grabs you by the wrist and refuses to let go, that lets you wallow in those early, heart-pounding moments of infatuation that deepens into a love that feels so real it’s almost painful. I started the first page and fell into the love story, and I couldn’t pull myself out until I knew Georgia and Alec had gotten their well-earned HEA.

It’s hard to explain, but Scandalized took me back to my early, breathless days of devouring romance books by the dozen, when I was discovering how much I absolutely LOVE reading about people falling in love. I truly wish I could Men in Black myself and erase my memory, so I could read this one again and again for the first time.

Keep in mind there are content warnings to consider, which are listed at the beginning of the book.

Scandalized releases on August 23. Truly cannot wait to see what we get next from Ivy. Another insta-buy author added to my list

This read was simply delightful. Easy to follow, kept me enthralled, and was filled with spice! I particularly loved that we got to see Gigi and Alec's relationship bloom really from the start. There was a lot of fun moments in this book, and if you love celebrity romances, this was really something gooood. Amazing book.

If anyone knows of any real-life Alecs please send them my way asap.

This book has no right to be so good. It's funny, sweet, very very sexy, will make you bawl your eyes out, and has an actual plot - everything I could ever want in a romance book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I'm so glad I took a chance on this book because it is one of the best books I've read this year. This was a sweet, funny, super steamy, and, at times, emotional mix of one night stand leads to more and childhood best friend's older brother/crush, with a hint of intrigue. They both knew each other when they were younger, but that's not the only thing that connects them. I did not want to put it down once I started.

I'm not generally a fan of insta-love romances. I prefer a little bit of build up, but it's hard not to love the chemistry between these two, both physical and emotional. They're both also incredibly sweet with each other. It's hard not to fall in love with Alec. He's a good guy who's charming and he cares so much about Gigi. I love that Gigi is driven, isn't afraid to go after what she wants, and how protective she is of Alec. They both have to learn to trust each other, for different reasons, and they definitely put their hearts on the line.

Gigi's bestie/roommate Eden is a kick! I hope we see her in her own book and I can't wait to read more from Ivy Owens.

There were times I'd think a plot line was heading in a predictable direction and then it didn't go that way, so I was pleasantly surprised. This book exceeded my expectations.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book.

5 Stars

This book was a shocker! I was sooo not expecting this! I sat down for a lovely read and ended up speechless, emotional, and a touch overwhelmed.

I love her writing! A depth of feeling grabs you deep in your soul. If only we could all experience this intense connection to our soulmate.

The sex is amazing with the awareness and feelings laid out for all to witness. Damn, I feel that passion and longing deep inside. Even when the scenes were a touch frantic, the intensity and awareness of their connection were intense.

One reviewer said that this book is pure magic, and she is not wrong. Owens kills us with her raw, intense writing that doesn’t let you go. I simply could not stop reading!

And they classify this as a rom-com… That category does not give this book justice. Owens poured her heart out for us. Plus, she gave us an epilogue too. Thank goodness!

If I could give it 10 stars I would! Grab this awesome book! I know you will love it too.

Scandalized, a debut novel by Ivy Owens, is a delightful contemporary romance debut.

To give you a hint of the plot: Georgia is a journalist, chasing a story of sex abuse and corruption in London, when her flight back to LA is delayed, and she runs into Alec, her childhood best friend's brother. She used to have a crush on him, and they have instant, explosive, chemistry, but little does she know that his face looks familiar because he's a huge celebrity, flying from London to LA to promote his show. What happens when the story she's investigating collides with his personal tragedy, putting their blossoming relationship and their respective careers at stake?

I really enjoyed Scandalized, which is at turns fun, steamy, swoony, and sometimes deadly serious. Ivy Owens does a great job showing us how compatible Georgia and Alec are, and the steamy scenes are extremely hot. One of the key ingredients for an exceptional romance is a couple you are rooting for, and I deeply wanted these two to work it out.

The one thing that keeps Scandalized from being a five-star romance is that the stakes don't feel as high as they should. We know that Georgia and Alec's careers are important, but they're often brushed aside in the middle of the novel, which drags in places, losing some narrative momentum. These two say they can't be together long term, but we never feel like that's a real possibility, eliminating much of the conflict. Even when the third act blowup happens, it's resolved very quickly, and feels almost routine, a requirement of the genre more than a real obstacle for the characters to overcome.

That said, this is the perfect read for when you want a lighter romance -- though keep in mind that Georgia is investigating an organization perpetrating sexual assault, in case that's a trigger.

I will be looking forward to reading whatever Ivy Owens writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an advance review copy of Scandalized in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What an adorable and fun childhood friends-to-lovers romance. I had heard so many great things about this book all over social media and decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did!

Our leading lady Gigi is struggling with her journalism and our hero Alec is also fighting his own personal battles that come along with fame, and the way they learn to cope and grow together and resolve their issues was so incredibly touching and precious.

Don't let those descriptions fool you though, this is heavyyyyy on the steam and it was handled in such a way that also built on their intimacy that it didn't feel too overdone (although I do prefer a pretty dang hefty amount of steam in my books).

Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fast paced, steamy romance that also delivers on the emotional pack.

This brought both heat and emotion, with lovable characters and a long-shot connection to root for. Can't wait to read whatever Ivy Owens has in store next!