I felt this book was a little rushed and I was a little lost at times. I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it. I am not jumping up and down but also did finish the book! I would have liked to see it flow a tad bit better.

I picked this book at a time when I was looking for a light romantic read, and this seemed to fit the bill. The story begins with the female protagonist in a waxing parlour, and I was a little concerned about the tone of things to come. I am not a fan of raunchy stories with emotions being held back and erratic behaviour being used to fill that space. The rest of the book did not stay in that lane but mixed it up a little.
The writing by itself was quite good. I could imagine the situations our leading pair found themselves in. Their support cast was well introduced, and I am glad I finished the book solely for them!
My problem with this book was the core 'romance' at the centre of the book. We have a couple who have supposedly been mooning over each other secretly while continuing to have a 'meaningless fling' every year during derby time. This would have been okay if not for the depth of emotion they individually feel. The author did a good job conveying that part, which is why, try as I might, I could not stomach their interactions or the way they fell out in the first place.
The backstory indicates a purely physical response, while the internal turmoil shows there to be something more.
It was not a story for me, but I still did not find it hard to read, making me curious about the author's other works. I would definitely pick up another if I get the chance.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I'm not sure what to say about this book. Aside from the unlikeable main character, I found the writing confusing and felt like the book needed another round of editing.

i started it, and i honestly wasn't feeling it
I'm going to try this again because I honestly wasn't in the mood when I was reading it
so I'll give this two stars and come back to re-review

A quick and easy read for me which was what I needed. I enjoyed how it revolved around the Derby and the mention of the funky hats (the best part about going to the Derby!)

Lucy and Nate were close as kids but once that "cool phase" came in, Nate treated Lucy like garbage. I totally understand why she felt the way she did about him for all of those years but would you not try to speak to each other and solve the constant turmoil?

I really did want to hate Nate and wanted Lucy to ditch him but he did have his appealing bits and I'm glad things ended the way they did.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc for the eARC

Check out my review on Goodreads!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4859963203

I was drawn to this book from reading the description! Although I felt it swapped from third to second person which left me confused at times. Overall this was a good friends to enemies to friends with a little bit of spice!

Having not grown up watching the Kentucky Derby, the southern theme and setting of Win Place Show drew me in. The "we love each other but actually, disguise this love as hate and ultimately turn into actual lovers" trope is so good and I can't help but root for their story and love. This book is a mix of charming and suspenseful and everything you want in a romcom.

Thank you to Liz Crowe, The Wild Rose Press, Inc and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Win Place Show was a nice, humorous read.
I had a blast reading this story, even if it was completely different from Liz Crowe's other work I've read, I was fascinated and intrigued by all The Kentucky Derby things.

I loved Nate, Lucy not so much, I hated their lack of communication, but when they were together they made me smile and sigh.

As my first Liz Crowe book, I'm happy to say I've really enjoyed reading this novel!!
The sassiness of the characters and the awkwardness of some situations gave it a touch of humour. Also I loved how messy and "real" Nate and Lucy seemed to be, it was so easy for me to feel represented by them.
The only thing that made me give this book 4 stars was the ending. I think it wrapped up really quickly, I would've enjoyed 2 or 3 additional chapters. I found myself even wishing there was a part 2 to this story.

I love how the book started, very easy breezy with chick flick vibe but I am sorry I did not manage to finish this on time before the license expired, Hence, DNF. Thank you author/ publisher for the opportunity!

This was a really cute and quick read. I loved the Derby weekend setting and how it really showcased how amazing Louisville is during derby season - but was left wanting more of a character history and story wrap up.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had a lot of fun reading the first 3/4 of this book. It was spicy and entertaining, but the last chunk of the book just really wrapped up too quickly. The issues felt unresolved and then all of a sudden, I was supposed to accept that everything was peachy keen. It felt like the characters didn't grow TOGETHER and I would have much preferred to watch their growth as a couple. Instead, the epilogue showed up and we missed all of that.

Thank to Negalley and Backlit PR for the online ARC.
I am really torn between this book while I did like the story I did not like the characters if thats possible. Luce really annoyed me holding on to what Nate did to her and not wanting to move forward and or hear him out it just seemed childish to me. I saw no growth in them as characters not even at the end.

Win Place Show by Liz Crowe is a friends to lovers romance with a hint of misunderstood animosity between them. Nate and Lucy's story is fun, whimsy and chaotic at times but I really liked the chemistry they had together. This summery romance is a fast read, with nail-biting moments that'll keep you on your toes.

You won't be disappointed if you pick it up. Thanks NetGalley for this book!

Liz Crowe's Win Place Show was an enjoyable read.

In Win Place Show we meet Lucy, an Ann Arbor transplant that grew up in a wealthy family from Kentucky. In Ann Arbor, Lucy finds that she is able to be just Lucy and she avoids going home where everyone knows and has expectations of her. Nate, her childhood BFF runs his families Bourbon business with his brother Harrison. Lucy and Nate have a complicated past from friends, to enemies, to enemies with benefits that rekindle every year at the derby.

The story was good, the characters were good, I just felt like I lacked a connection to them, their relationship seemed hot and cold, but I didn't feel any investment as sometimes it felt like what would have drawn me in more to them happened of page, even the characters didn't always know when it changed for them.

Despite not feeling 100% invested in the characters, this book still did everything I expect in a book, it kept me turning the pages and provided an escape into a weekend at the derby gull of bourbon, fancy dresses, cute hats, and uncomfortable heels!

I felt that the character development and prior history of the characters was lazily put together. But the setting was adorable and the plot spicy. Definitely recommending this one to my friends.

Thank you Backlit PR and netgalley for my e-ARC of Win Place Show in exchange for an honest review!

Well to start out: im a huge fan of bourbon, the Kentucky Derby, and enemies to lovers so this book was off to a good start from the first. Lucy and Nate have great chemistry with this whole friends to enemies, enemies to lovers thing they’ve got going on. I loved the banter and tension these two put off. And oh the steam, we need a mint Julip to cool down in here! I thought the story had a great pace and the side character influence from their families really added to the overall plot. My biggest comment was this book being written in 3rd person with two POV. I really got lost in the dialogue sometimes not realizing who was talking, especially if multiple female characters were included (lots of just she said, she said — without pointing out the speaker). Other than that, this was a great summer Rom com read!!

*4.5 ✨ && 4 🌶 for smut*

From the description alone I was all in to read this and although there were some things I didn’t like, it didn’t disappoint.

A spring weekend filled with beautiful dresses, high heels, fancy hats, horse races, and booze count me in?! Lucy goes home for derby weekend not looking forward to the pressure her family puts on her and her childhood friend Nate to be “The Golden Couple.” But mixing unresolved feelings from childhood, plenty of bourbon, and “secret” hookups you get a complicated romance full of dressing up, mint juleps, an axe bar, and big bets at the big race!

I truly enjoyed what Ms. Crowe did with this book. It’s funny because the Kentucky Derby just passed not too long ago! I could picture all the big hats and fancy clothes that she describes in this book and the different events she describes as well. I loved the setting of there being so many different events and getting a glimpse of how derby weekend is.

One major thing I didn’t like about the book and the main reason I only gave it 4.5 ✨ is because I had to sometimes reread a section to understand because she writes in a mix of second and third person. I also found this book in the erotic section and thought there would be more smut than there was but it definitely had some good scenes in it!

I loved that this book made me laugh, sad, happy, and hot 😏! I could truly relate to Lucy and her conflicting feelings at times because I know most of us have been there before. I know there’s a long history with Lucy and Nate but I do wish we got more in depth with their childhood history a little bit in the beginning before she goes home. Ms. Crowe does a great jobs on her descriptive narration and the details in this story! I also loved how this wasn’t your usual backdrop for a romance book. I love how close both families are and the they didn’t seem like the “usual” my way of the highway type of southern mamas! Harrison was definitely my favorite though and Dante, lol. This book and recently watching the Kentucky Derby had made me want to go there and experience it for myself one year as my godmom use to go every year. ❤️

I definitely recommend this book if you haven’t already read it or if it’s on your TBR list!


*Thank you to NetGalley, Wild Rose Press Inc, and the author Liz Crowe for this ARC to read and review*

With Win Place Show, Author Liz Crowe has created two flawed characters who, instead of putting on their big boy—and girl—pants to act like adults, take the easy way out, letting copious amounts of alcohol and sex do their talking.

Despite these aberrant behaviors, I couldn’t help rooting for Lucy and Nate. Deep down they deserve each other and their own happy ever after. Luckily, Crowe also created a delightfully brash southern belle mother and a whip smart wise-cracking brother who rise to the occasion and to straighten these two out. Everyone is better for it.

Sinopsis:
Start with a perfect spring weekend full of pretty dresses, high heels, fancy hats, horse races, and bourbon. Combine with a friend-from-childhood lover, Nate Hawthorne, whose ongoing misunderstandings have led Lucy Granger to swear she'll never move back home. Mix in a splash of combined family pressure for Lucy and Nate to be The Golden Couple. Pour over crushed ice and garnish with plenty of hot, secret hookups.

What do you get? A funny sort of romance, chock full of dressing up, mint juleps, an axe-throwing bar, and a huge winning bet at the big race.

Review:
This is the story of Lucille Granger and Nathaniel Hawthorne. They're childhood friends, but something happens that makes Lucy not want to be back home. Reading Win Place Show was really fun, and I loved that Lucy was a strong heroine, having issues with her conflicted heart about what to do, and Nate was a super cute guy. If you're a romance reader, you definitely need to read this one!!!

Rating:
4 stars
Genres:
Contemporary romance, Friends to lovers, strong heroine, millionaire.