I received an ARC from NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyage, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review; all opinions are my own.

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Thriller, Mystery, Spies & Lies
Spice Level: Medium (closed door)
Language Level: Medium (a handful of f-bombs plus other curses)
Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, One Bed

Are you really going to read a book with an amnesia trope? YES!

I got sucked into this book and had so much fun! There are so many lines that got me laughing. It's fast-paced, the characters are fun, and the whole thing is awesome!

The woman who wakes up in the streets of Paris concussed is running for her life, piecing together who she is, and who she can trust. Does that sound too serious? Really, this is more of a farce with all the giggling on my part.

It's just so stinkin' hilarious, I want to have everyone read it so we can repeat lines to each other like we do with favorite movies. So, please, run out and buy this one and tell me what tickles your funny bone.

I highly recommend this book!

Happy reading!

I loved the Gallagher Girls books, so was so excited to see this read by Ally Carter!!

This was a fun, fast-paced romance that captured the spirit of Gallagher Girls! The spy elements were fun and made this book all the more unique. The romance was very cute and I loved seeing it play out!

I really enjoyed this book and hope Ally Carter writes more adult novels!

Thanks, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book for a review.

A spy themed rom-com? Count me in. This read like a fun, lighthearted movie. I very much enjoyed it, and it ended up being a quick ready for me. I enjoyed that, while there were some cliche moments, the female lead(s) were smart and resourceful.

Overall, I’d recommend The Blonde Identity to those looking for a romance/comedy with mild spice and a unique storyline.

This was a quick and fun read. I feel like a broken record repeating what I have seen in other reviews, but this is similar to an adult Gallagher Girls book.

The story starts with the main character waking up with no memory of who she is, where she is, or what is going on. It only escalates when she finds herself the target of multiple enemies. Luckily for her, one mysterious hot guy comes to her rescue and helps her escape. He explains that all of her struggles are because of something her twin did. Everything could go back to normal if only anyone knew where to find this mysterious twin.

The rest of the story follows the main character Zoe and our hot guy as they try to stay alive and figure out how to find the problem twin.

There were some laugh-out-loud moments, especially during fake honeymoon scenes and when jumping scenes. I can't even explain the jumping scenes more without giving something away.

Zoe's internal monologue really makes the book. I think it would have just made it weird if everything that was going on in her head was spoken out loud, but the fact that the reader has the ability to just know what is going on in her mind, makes it funny without the cringe.

There is no way this will be a standalone, the book ends with a leadup to a new story. This book was one that was enjoyable to the point that I will be reading the sequel when it comes out.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: 08 Aug 2023

This was a very fun, funny, tongue-in-cheek adult romance debut from Ally Carter. When a woman wakes up in the middle of the street on Paris, she can't remember anything, not even her own name--but quickly discovers that she has been mistaken for her identical twin sister, Alex, who is a super-badass super-spy. Alas, our main character is the Much Less Coordinated Twin Sister who has not inherited any of the spy genes. The Grumpy But Hot Spy who helps her escape immediate danger reluctantly agrees to help her further, and they set off to find her sister and clear her name. Thus ensues a hilariously enjoyable romp across Europe.

I remember reading Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series a million years ago, but you don't need to have read those in order to enjoy this book. This is a book that is very self-aware of its status as a romance novel, with some tropes and cliches included that feel like a wink to the reader. Fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining, this is for anyone looking for a nostalgic return to the spy series of their youth or just for a light, entertaining rom-com. There is mild language but it is a closed-door romance.

How I have missed you, Ally Carter. I read the Gallagher Girls series in high school, as well as her heist series and absolutely loved them. I was seriously so excited when I saw this book and I was not let down at all! Action packed and sexy, it was just so perfect. Don't even get me started on Sawyer. Zoe was so funny. I hope that ending was a set up for another book because I need more!

One of my favorite YA series when I was younger was Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls – clever, tightly plotted books about an all-girls spy academy. So imagine my delight when I heard that Ally Carter was coming out with an adult romcom about spies.😎

The story follows a woman who wakes up in Paris with no memories, and quickly realizes she’s being pursued by a whole bunch of very dangerous men – including a super hot one who keeps insisting he’s her partner. She trusts her gut and decides to trust him, and from there we get a romp filled with quick-thinking, bluffing, and tons of tension.

All the things that I loved about the Gallagher Girls books are found in The Blonde Identity – banter and action, a bit of mystery and a big dose of romance. But on that note, it must be said that though things in this book do heat up (and up and up), it is actually a closed-door situation. But! This book is such a good time that you shouldn’t let that deter you too much.

A fun, tropey romance, The Blonde Identity is a very quick read that will have you laughing and swooning and cheering and gasping (it wouldn’t be a spy story without some surprises!) in all the best ways.

And if you’re a grown-up Gallagher Girl, this will definitely hit the spot.

I can’t even begin to express how much I loved this book. However; I don’t want to give too much away on this book or I’ll spoil it. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year once I got started I didn’t want to put it down. The male main character is your favorite type of hero he’s a bit grumpy/sunshine, so very protective, & a bit mysterious. The female main character is quirky and fun. I just loved how her brain worked. Some Tropes included grumpy sunshine, mistaken identity, amnesia, only one bed, and many more. It also includes one my favorite tropes touch hr and die. I’m definitely recommending this book to everyone. Will review on websites closer to release date.

Wow this was exactly what I was looking for - don't you love when you're in the perfect mood for the book you pick up? As a very die hard Gallagher Girl, I was SO excited to read Ally Carter's first dabble with adult fiction, and it did not disappoint. The dialogue had everything I loved about her YA books, just smarter and more mature, and I was happy to see her creative plots are still shining through!

I rated this book five stars not because it's a literary masterpiece or intense fiction that makes you think, but because it's fun, creative, doesn't take itself too seriously. It has so many tropes, so there's really something for everyone here.

Read if you like:
- Fake dating
- Insta love disguised as enemies to lovers
- Romantic mysteries
- "i'll kill anyone that hurts you" vibes
- There's only one bed
- Espionage stories

No one writes spies like Ally Carter.
I'm a huge fan of her Gallagher Girls series for younger readers, and I was eager to read a spy book for adults. I wasn't disappointed. All the things that made Carter's YA series wonderful are in The Blonde Identity: strong characters, a tightly written plot that moves quickly, humor, and a little romance.

Readers who grew up with Cammie and the other Gallagher Girls will love this new, adult series!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review, but my thoughts are my own. I liked the book so much, I pre-ordered a personal copy as well.

One of the most adorable books I've read in a really long time!! A little spycraft, some witty-laugh-out-loud funny banter, and also a little of that Mandy Moore Chasing Liberty vibe?! 😭🖤

THOUGHTS:
- I feel like if this book had come out when I was a preteen - I would have been obsessed. It could definitely be a movie, and I can mentally already pull my dream cast from the 2000s-era it girls and Matthew Goode as our sexy spy hero 😂😂
- I loved our main heroine's character and everything that she accomplished with her confidence and kind personality. It was the perfect cross between funny and a slow-burn romance!!
- The cliffhanger was great! I'm already excited for the next book, while also feeling satisfied with how this romance finished.

FAVORITE QUOTE:
- '"Did my sister just say yoo-hoo during a hostage exchange?" Alex sounded like she wanted to die of embarrassment...' - Everything about this book made me laugh. Especially while in the car and giggling out loud, and having my husband give me 'the look' while he's driving and I'm in passenger princess mode 😂😂

NOTES:
- Takes place in multiple places across Europe, which might be some of my favorite parts!! My husband and I loved Europe, and I had the best time picturing The Blonde Identity play out.
- CWs: None that I can think of. Truly just a little feel-good rom-com!

**Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I was very excited going into this book because I LOVED the Gallagher Girls series growing up. Luckily, this book is fast paced and keeps you on your toes. I just felt that it was just very surface level and Zoe was pretty annoying after a while. I was also expecting at least one of the original GG characters to show up, sadly they do not. I will probably read the next book (the epilogue definitely hints at a next one), but it’s not something I would pay for.

Would recommend if you were a big GG fan, if not then I probably wouldn’t.

The Blond Identity
Ally Carter
Pub Date: August 8, 2023
Avon
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I did not read the Gallagher Girls but still found this book to be a breath of fresh air and a delight to read. The book is pretty short but I liked the pacing of the novel. I recommend this book.
Triggers: violence, murder
4 stars

What could be more fun than The Blonde Identity? I loved it! It was Ally Carter's writing style and storytelling with a bunch of action thrown into it. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A woman wakes up in the snow in the middle of the night in the middle of Paris. Who is she? How did she get there? She doesn't know, and those who do are treating her like she is some kick-a-** spy. So maybe she is. She has no id and no money, just a keycard. As she tries to figure it out, she is hunted and harassed across Paris. She gets to put those skills to the test. She is lucky enough to run into someone who seems to be another agent on her side, and he is a big help in determining why all these people are trying to kill her.

One of the things I love about Ally Carter's writing is her sense of humor. As soon as I saw the title and the cover, I knew I would love this book. It is fast-paced. The action scenes just keep coming and coming. Now, do not get me wrong. I am not saying she is just this weapon cutting her way across Paris. I have to admit that I was thinking more in terms of amnesia and that she just doesn't remember who she is and what she can do. She did a pretty good job of just "throwing" herself out there and doing what she needed to do to survive. I like to think that I could do as well and maintain that level of humor and wit as it is done. Her thoughts, which sometimes made their way out of her mouth, were, at times, just hilarious. Interestingly enough, I did not think much about the book title. I recommended the book to a cousin, who saw it immediately as he read the synopsis. He is looking forward to reading it. I wished there was a way to stay in touch with these characters, as I love a good action book combined with witty characters. This review can also be read along with other reviews at Lady Techie's Book Musings http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspot.com.

I don’t think I’ve been this obsessed with a book in a while.

So, in middle and high school, I loved Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series. So, when I saw she was coming out with her first adult book, I expected I’d enjoy it.

What I did not expect was for it to be my favorite book of the year so far.

This book is the perfect mix of spy adventure, intrigue, and romantic comedy shenanigans. It really does feel like the Gallagher Girls for adults, and I’m all for it. If you’re a fan of grumpy/sunshine or adventure romance stories, this one’s for you.

And I sincerely hope after that ending that we’re getting a sequel.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced e-ARC!

I am so beyond hyped about this book, you don't know the half of it. Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series was my favorite franchise growing up (and my signed copy is still one of my prized possessions) and I couldn't believe that she was making her adult romance debut with another female-lead spy novel. I literally started tearing up when I downloaded my ARC and again when I read the GG-centered dedication.

The Blonde Identity, told in dual point-of-views, is such a compelling mystery that had drawn me into the story that was written with such intriguing language. It's really fun, like you are trying to piece together the main character's pre-amnesia memories along with her. It's so witty, clever and funny, like, I really love it. This novel is just so much fun to follow along her and Mr. Hot Spy (a grump, naturally) as they trek around Europe on a secret mission to find her twin sister and stay alive. As a romance, The Blonde Identity had EVERYTHING from banter (in spades!), enemies to lovers (well, more annoyance to lovers), forced proximity, only-one-bed trope and such an endearing love story.

All in all, this one is totally unputdownable and an absolute must-read for any fellow Gallagher Girls fangirls. Plus, there's a subtle joke about "spy school" which had me reminiscing about the Gallagher Academy and Blackthorne (IYKYK).

The Blonde Identity is so witty and funny yet authentic, making it a compelling read. Also, holy mother forking shirtballs, there are two major plot twists that even I (who has become a pro at predicting tropes) didn't see coming. That unpredictability makes this book an instant winner. And that HEA! Oh my, it is EVERYTHING, like I literally got butterflies which means it's a literal swoonworthy romance, and I sincerely hope a spinoff/sequel is in the work after that cliffhanger because I just need more to read.

4.25 stars

I loved being transported back into Ally Carter’s spy world again! It really brought me back to one of my favorite series, the Gallagher series, which I loved in middle school/high school, and this adult new series did not disappoint! Her writing is just as funny, engaging, and exciting as always. While this book is technically in the adult genre, it still read as YA to me but it didn’t take away any enjoyment factor (just don’t expect any spice or mature themes going in.)

This story was a thrilling adventure and I could not put it down—I definitely recommend it.

This book was not at all what I was expecting and I'm so happy it wasn't!
I can't say I've ever read a romance that involved so much action, twists, turns, and high stakes. What a fun way to add intrigue and put our main characters into interesting situations.
As I read more from genres outside of romance, I'm starting to find that a cut-and-dry romance can come of as boring or unoriginal, but this book flips everything on its head and delivers the excitement of a spy thriller while still embracing its romantic plot.
I did feel like the ending went on a bit too long and there was just a tad too much back-and-forth with the female and male leads, but overall, I do think Ally Carter used every bit of this book's 304 pages to tell an interesting and unique story.
If you're looking for a romantic story with a bit more excitement, I would highly recommend this read!

What a fun thrillerxromance! (Riller? Thrance? Nothing that rolls off the tongue like romantasy).

I have loved all of Carter’s previous books, so I knew I would enjoy this one. I really liked the progression of the plot, even if the romance was slightly insta-lovey. I did love Sawyer, our MMC, and all his nicknames for Zoe. Zoe had a lot of growth in the book, and I also really liked her character.

My two biggest issues with this book (which aren’t huge since I still gave it 4 stars) are the instalove and genre. I already mentioned the instalove. However, there isn’t really a reason this should be labeled as adult in my opinion. There’s a small number of curse words, no sex, and not a ton of violence. It’s been awhile since I read the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series, but I felt like the material was very similar in terms of audience other than these characters being older. I definitely think younger Carter fans could still read this one.

All in all, a fun read. Thank you to Carter, Netgalley, and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review,

In The Blonde Identity, we meet our unknown female heroine just as she gains consciousness and realizes she can't remember anything. But soon enough, she's getting shot at a swoony male spy is scooping her up to safety and calling her Alex. It becomes clear she must also be a spy, until it's clear she most definitely isn't... but her twin sister, Alex, is. Racing across Europe undercover as honeymooners, the two try to escape the Russian mob, find Alex, and stay safe. But each turn makes our unnamed heroine question what really is the truth, and who she can trust...

I was always a huge fan of Ally Carter's YA Gallagher Girl series as a kid, so when I saw she was coming out with an adult romance-spy action adventure novel, I was chomping at the bit. This book ended up being so much fun! It has so many great tropes--twins, amnesia, only one bed--which our heroine cheekily calls out as they happen. As a reader, I love these little moments that call out our culture. I also really felt the perspective of our heroine, wondering who she was and who to trust. We need more romance hybrids and genre-bending books out there! Mysteries, heists, spy action sequences--I want them all!

And, I could 100% see this being made into a movie one day. Please give it to me, film gods!

Thanks to Avon for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10