I enjoyed this book a lot!

I read a lot of contemporary romance. And I know what tropes I like. This book had a bunch of my favorite tropes - enemies to lovers, friends with benefits, childhood nemesis, and lots of spice. Add in really good side characters, another thing that I always appreciate, and this was a pretty good read!

Olivia was an amazing main character, and although I was worried that I wouldn't like Ben, I really understood his appeal. His job didn't make him too much of a jerk, and the small-town background that they both had was charming rather than annoying, like it sometimes can be.

This was my first book by Melanie Munton, and I really enjoyed it! I could definitely see myself checking out another book in this world.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for sending me an advance copy of this book for review!

I struggled to connect with the characters and the slow burn simply was too slow. Regrettably, I was not able to make it through the entirety of the book and DNF’ed around the 50% mark.

I didn’t really like this book. I guess I just don’t care for the enemies to lovers. I honestly didnt even read the first book so that’s probably why. It just wasn’t for me

I don’t know what it is about enemies to lovers that I can’t seem to shake. There’s just something about falling in love with someone that you used to want to punch in the face. Loved it!

I didn't hate this one, but I also didn't really like it. Mostly because I'm getting really tired of some of the tropes used in this book. Olive and Ben were childhood "enemies", but then it turn out it was actually not a bad relationship, because them being able to work out their frustration on each other was helpful. I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. Mainly because Ben actually started it all out of maliciousness and reasons beyond Oliver's control. And for her to turn around almost 20 years later and be like: actually it was a great emotional outlet for me! Sure. I might buy it, if they mutually went after each other and had some kind of relationship, but in my opinion Olive is simple reacting to Ben's aggression.
The other thing is that I'm getting sick of dominant men and "naturally" sexually submissive women and that dynamic being played of as the unicorn form of relationships. In my opinion it plays into stereotypical gender roles and its just not for me.
Lastly, the opening scene is... Strange. Olive is a massage therapist and Ben is her client (she's not aware of his identity). She sexualizes him in such an overt way that it maybe me super uncomfortable. If I knew my massage therapist was thinking about me like that I would leave and never come back.
Overall the story line didn't grip me either and I wasn't invested in Ben and Olive's relationship.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis by Melanie Munton begins with this opening line: "You absolutely, positively can not bite a client's ass."

It foreshadows everything that is to come. A humorous tone which is classical must have for a good rom-com and an awkward first-scene to really get the reader into the level of second hand embarrassment we all love to hate in these quirky romance stories.

For Olivia she's got her long-time arch nemesis laying butt naked on her massage table ready to be oiled up and pampered - the issue? She take a while to realise it's him and during that time all she's managed to think about is breaking the damn ethical code her job role is bound by and having sex with her client. Unfortunately for Olivia, Ben Crawford has returned to his old stomping ground and just so happens to be the new sheriff in town - so he's here to stay and there's no avoiding the guy who tormented her throughout high school because of the affair that transpired between her Dad and his Mum.

Messy? Yes, but in the good 'we've got so much unresolved tension between us, we're surely going to fall in love' type of way.

This has:
- Small town romance
- Light hearted
- Witty banter
- Enemies with benefits
- Spice
- Shared trauma

However I struggled to finish this. At times the pace felt too slow, the action too little. Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis could have benefitted from a less smutty storyline and a greater focus on providing the characters with depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

Lost interest pretty quickly and was unable to finish. The characters did not catch me and I was unable to connect with the book. Maybe just not for me!

This book was cute. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this didn’t let me down! It has guy falls first, fun banter, small town romance and great chemistry between the two characters! This book was a cute easy read!

*thank you to Netgallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I struggled a lot to get into this book. It was really a slowburn for me and I didn't like any of the characters at all too. Unfortunately I didn't finish it all. I DNFed it at 45 %. I just couldn't get through this book... I think other people would like it more than I did.

Ben and Olivia are rival in school who crossed path years later. When Ben’s father and Liv’s father fell in love and escaped while married to someone else leaving behind the children and partner, it is difficult for both Ben and Liv to live and face each other then. Now Ben is back in town as the town new sheriff, Liv need to learn to face him.

This is not just a simple enemies to lovers story. Both Ben and Olivia strive to prove themselves, he to right all the wrong and she to earn respects. Love their amazing batter and it lovely to see how their chemistry especially when they irritate each other and what trigger it. Overall it is an amazing read to me.

* review post scheduled to be posted on my blog on 8/1/23*

This was a really cute book it had a super cute story and it was just an enjoyable read for me was able to read in one sitting.

👮‍♂️Book Review❤️
Reasons Why Not To Date Your Nemesis
By: Melanie Munton
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4 stars

Olivia Knight is living her best life in her hometown, Shell Grove when she runs into the town's new sheriff, Ben Crawford. No big deal right? Ummm, this is not the case. Ben tormented Olivia back in school due to a scandalous affair between their parents that tore both of their lives apart.

After that first initial run-in and additional conversations, it seems to Olivia that Ben has not changed from that arrogant, mean boy she knew years ago. Ben is still carrying a chip on his shoulder but deep down inside it has absolutely nothing to do with Olivia herself. In fact, he hasn't been able to get this girl out of his mind since he left town after high school.

But in order to break those walls down, Ben needs to tell Olivia a secret that he's been keeping ever since the affair happened between his mother and her father. Will she be able to forgive him and truly give them a chance at a new start? 🤞🤞

Thank you to @netgalley
@xpressotours and @authormelaniemunton for this gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book I could see being a good, quick beach read. But, I'll be honest it kind of lacked for me. I thought it was slow in the beginning which is fine but it just didn't pick up for me. I almost didn't finished but kept going and I don't regret that, but it just wasn't my favorite of this year. I didn't enjoy the character relationships.

I adore snarky books and I adore the enemies to lovers trope. This book was EXACTLY what I love to read. I didn't read it before it was published and had to buy the book however. I really enjoyed this but I can see how some people might find the snark to be too much. Personally, I can never get enough. I highly recommend this if you enjoy that as much as i do.

This book was such a great read, I couldn't put it down. It has snarky back and forth, lots of spice, and interesting and relatable characters. The relationships in the story, from friends to family to the two main characters, felt honest and real.

I definitely want to read the first book in the series, and will be keeping my eye out for the third book, as well.

*I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC of this book to provide an honest review. Thank you NetGalley. This story was just okay. There were great moments in the book (the escape room scene was my fav) and I liked the different characters. However the book was pretty predictable & the spice was wayyyy to much in my opinion. Raunchy, corny and not the vibe.

I knew right from the start that this wasn't the book for me. The female main character, a massage therapist, has a new client on her table and spends the entire time fantasising about his body and objectifying him, to the point where it became really uncomfortable to keep reading. Of course it then turns out this client is actually a guy from her past she doesn't get along with. He was entirely too cocky and obnoxious from the start. And that's pretty much where I gave up. Not for me, sadly.

This wasnt as good as i thought it wouls be and was just an okay story with an okay plot i probably wont remember anything in the story

'Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis' by Melanie Munton follows Ben and Olivia after they both return to their hometown. During high school, his mother and her father left, revealing their affair. This fueled the hatred that Ben and Olivia had for each other, accompanied by the constant arguments and lack of communication. Olivia came back to help her Aunt Rite with the B&B, trying to move past the whispers she hears following her. Ben joined the. Marines once he left Shell Grove, only returning in the position of Sheriff. The two run in the same circles now that their friends are engaged. Will they be able to move past the hatred they had as children?

Every chapter of this book had an interaction between the main characters and there was a major lack of focus on the actual plot and problems they faced. Overall, it was porn without plot, which was also 'meh' in the end. Olivia spends over 12 years hating her father for abandoning her and refuses to talk to him, but then forgives him in one night.

Overall, I would give this story 2 our of 5 stars. It would have been better if there was more of a focus on character development and relationships with their friends and family instead of with each other. The formatting of the story was also very off putting and made it difficult to read. I would recommend this to some people who would be looking for an easy to read romance.

I enjoyed this enemies to lovers rom com. I've never been a fan of friends to lovers trope. But give me enemies to lovers and I'll read just about anything.