Ben and Olivia were rivals at school, and now he is back in town causing trouble for her again. Just when you think it will all work out she finds out the secret he has been keeping.
I liked how it was told from both points of view and look forward to the next book in this series.

This was not a book I could read completely, it felt more descriptions of erotic emotions than I am comfortable with. it was also the tone of the 'love' the characters felt for each other. It was a little too violent(not in the physical hurting sense but the dominating type) for my taste.
I think readers who are more accustomed to this kind of content will be able to better appreciate it.

I’m 90% sure I’ve read a book on Wattpad when I was 12 with the exact same plot. It was way better than the first book but it’s still pretty shallow and unoriginal. Even though I didn’t like it, I understand the people who did.

Thank you NetGalley and Melanie Munton for providing me with an eARC of Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis in return for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed Munton's take on the enemies to lovers trope. Ben and Olivia's history is complicated, Ben used to make fun of Olivia in high school and then a scandal between their parents leads to Oliva's Father and Ben's mother to run away from the gossip of Shell Grove. Twelve years later Olivia is running a B & B with her Aunt in Shell Grove when the new town sheriff decides to move in... Much to Olivia's disgust, the new town sheriff is Ben. This begins a whirlwind story of enemies, to friends with benefits to lovers romance. The chemistry between these two characters is fantastic the spice is next level... If you enjoy the enemies to lovers trope with a great plot and well developed character with a lot of great banter this book is for you!
I had not read the first standalone in this series, but after reading Ben and Olivia's story I'm keen to read the first book!

This book is part of a “standalone series” meaning that it’s different people but in the same world as the first book.

I don’t think you need to read the other book to understand this one.

This is a good enemies to lovers troupe. They’ve disliked each other for over 10 years going all the way back to grade school and now they are forced together.

Even though they’ve always hated each other there was no denying the chemistry they had. It was strong. The fun banter made this book fun to read.

I wish we got more when they got together but overall I enjoyed this story.

Ben Crawford and Olivia Knight have been enemies since high school when his mom and her dad ran off together leaving a trail of gossip for the citizens of Shell Grove. They both had taken their anger and frustration over the situation by lashing out at each other.
Olivia had hoped to never see Ben again because he had made her time in high school unbearable. Now he was staying at her family’s bed and breakfast, The Paradise Cove Bed & Breakfast, and she had to see him every day. She had never gotten over the hurt and embarrassment of her father leaving.
After graduating high school, Ben left town and has now returned to Shell Grove as the new sheriff. He liked the small-town life and felt he could make up for some of the wrongs he had done. He and Olivia had always traded insults and barbs, so he wasn’t familiar with the feelings he had for her suddenly. He always felt like she was his and he finally admitted he had returned to Shell Grove for her. But the secret he has been holding onto could ruin their happiness.
I loved Ben and Olivia’s cute “reunion” scene with all the chemistry between them. This was a book very memorable and certainly one I would read again. I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley & Xpresso Books for the e-arc. Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis is book 2 in the Shell Grove series but can be read as a stand-alone. It has two of my favourite tropes - enemies to lovers and forced proximity.
Olivia & Ben have been enemies since high school & after twelve years of not seeing each other, the hatred is still there. A little friends with benefits won’t change their minds or so they think. As their family history collides with their future, they have some issues to work through if they even want to think about being more than just “friends.”
I loved watching these main characters grow throughout the book. Also, the 🔥SPICE🔥! If you want spice & you want it quickly, this is the book for you. Melanie wasted no time getting into it. I now need a Ben in my life.
Overall, Melanie’s work hooked me & I just wanted to keep reading. Im looking forward to reading book one in the Shell Grove series, as well as keeping my eye out for book 3 in spring 2023😍

If you love enemies to lovers, you need to check out this book! I really enjoyed it! There was plenty of chemistry and spice! It’s a great rom-com with great banter. I’m not the biggest fan of the friends with benefits trope but I enjoyed this book. I was hooked right from the start and was rooting for the characters. It’s sweet and lighthearted. It’s got a small town, a cop, guy falls first romance, what more could you ask for in a book!

This was a fun and engaging story. I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers story and the twist was interesting. It made me go back to read the first book in the series.

Enemies to lovers with actual banter??? Who knew those things existed anymore. Coming from a rather brutal past and then having to live in the same small town again, whew what a read. Their journey was absolutely insane and I loved it all. Especially, with how much there was pinning with Ben and his jealousy.

Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis by Melanie Munton was the first book I’ve read from this author. She did not disappoint. Lately, I’ve had the habit of reading the second book in a series before reading the first and I did just that with this series. You don’t really need to read the first one to be able to enjoy this book. But, I’m sure you get a little more back story on the other characters with the other love story in the first one.

This was FANTASTIC. You get Enemies to Lovers and Small Town Romance wrapped into one. Two of my favorite tropes. The history between Ben Crawford and Olivia Knight is… intense to say the least. A huge event happened back in the day that destroyed both families and Olivia hasn’t been able to get past it. She’s been holding on to the past.

With Ben back in town as the new Sheriff, the banter and snarky comments are phenomenal. I love the relationship growth between the two and can’t wait to read the first book to learn more about the other characters.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. Would I read it again? Absolutely.

Thanks to Netgalley and Melanie for the early arc!

I loved the enemies to lovers and the banter in this romance. I cannot wait to read other stories by Melanie Munton because I adored this one! The characters felt so raw and real, and I felt like I was in the story with them. I highly recommend if you are looking for a enemies to lovers, small town, guy falls first, feel good story, this is your book! Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis, by Melanie Munton, is apparently not the first of a series, but it can definitely be enjoyed as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed the first part, with the easy banter between the loveable characters. It did turn a bit darker in the second half, but such is with many real relationships. I enjoyed the book and found it an easy book to devour in a day. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this book. My first book from this author. Made me a total fan with this book. would read this again and again.

Although this book is a part of a series, I did not know that until I started writing my review. This book can be read as a standalone.

Ben’s mom and Olivia’s dad created a scandal in their small town when they cheated on their significant others and ran away together. Since then, Ben and Olivia have had a contemptuous relationship and became each other’s nemesis.

Olivia runs into Ben years later without knowing and they have instant chemistry. The re-meet-cute is AMAZING. Their banter and quips always kept me laughing and eager for more. They know what buttons to push to get reactions and they take full advantage of it. No one could deny their chemistry.

The pace of the book and writing was a little off. Some parts flowed smoothly while other felt too quick. However, the writing overall suited the relationship and story.

Read if you like:
- Lighthearted romance
- All the quips
- Spice
- Enemies to lover
- Small town
- Forced proximity

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out amazing. The banter between Olivia and Ben was hilarious and captivating from the very first chapter. The pace was perfect. I fell in love with all the characters right away and adored the setting. But then everything changed...

The second part of this book is something completely different. No more banter, just spice. Like a lot of spice. Ben's character went from witty and charming to possessive and jealous (WHY?? 😫😫). I'm so conflicted, because I LOVED the story before it turned into a small town version of 50 shades.

I'd still definitely recommend this read is you want a small town, forced proximity, enemies to lovers romance with a lot of spice!

3.5/5

Wow so the angyst in this story was off the charts. Ben and Liv have lots of hate for each other and this was a wonderful enemies to lovers romance. They are sort of nemeisis's but with good reasons as Ben's mom and Liv's dad ran off many years before and destroyed their families lives. This caused a lot of resentment and these two have hated each other ever since.

Now 12 years later they have grown up but they still hate each other and is there small town big enough for the both of them? Well you will have to read this story and let me warn you it is HOT.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC !!

This book was cute and I loved the banter!! The FMC was a fun character and I really enjoyed her POVs.

Overall I enjoyed it but it did move a bit into bullying which threw me off with the enemies to lovers. Their banter was fun and the romance was good once it got started! The MCs on their own were both pretty likeable on their own.

I read the first book, so of course, I wanted to pick up this one as well. The language was a bit much for me, but I loved how the characters flowed from the first book. The storyline was so cute and it kept me reading to see what happened next.