💻 Dealbreakers 💻

“I’ll remember that joy for the rest of my life. And it was, what? Nothing. A moment, a breath.”

What a beautiful story of appreciating the small joys and living in the moment!

Marina has a plan. She wants the promotion, the flat, the marriage, the kids, the white picket fence. She’s just trying to find her partner. As a coder, she even designed an app you can add on to your dating apps to see reviews of the guys you are swiping on. Is smoking a dealbreaker for you? Find out before you even meet the guy if he’s going to be a non-starter. In all her carefully laid plans, enter Lucas. He’s charming (with the dealbreaker reviews to prove it), he has tattoos (dealbreaker), he doesn’t stick around. But he charms his way into Marina’s heart anyways.

Check this one out if you’re looking for:
💻 Woman in STEM (coding) FMC
💻 Workplace romance
💻 Rivals to FWB to lovers
💻 A story about finding out who you truly want to be and enjoying the journey to get here

This book was a little slow in the beginning. I loved the concept of an app that prevents you from going on a date with a red flag. But I'm not sure how I truly felt about the 2 workers going on dates because of there job. I think overall all the relationships or dates she went on made her come off as a mess. I hate that she wouldn't just go for her co-worker immediately when she knew she liked him and kept just fighting that. The ending was great and very unexpected.

I liked it but I didn't feel overly invested in the story or super connected to the characters. Overall though it was cute & funny but the pacing was off.

This was a cute fun read. I struggled with Marina a bit at the beginning, but liked that there was character growth throughout the book. The ending wrapped up a little quickly for me and was a bit abrupt, but otherwise the story was enjoyable. It’s a good book to pick up as a palate cleanser from other reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of this book!

While this was a cute read with an ending I really enjoyed, I found the female main character to be a little frustrating throughout the story. Although I completely understand her listening to the perspectives of other women on the app, I just think she relied on it way too much without actually paying attention to what was going on in front of her. I also found her entire job/work situation to be a little confusing? All in all, this was a cute and quick romcom, but not a new favorite of mine by any means unfortunately.

DNF @ 34%

In the words of our beloved Taylor Swift, "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me". Objectively, there isn't anything wrong with DEALBREAKERS. I was excited to read it based upon the promise of a workplace rivalry-turned-romance, especially after I loved Falon Ballard's JUST MY TYPE so much earlier this year. I started out via my NetGalley copy, and after publication day, I switched to audio. I honestly can't quite put my finger on exactly what didn't work for me, but I didn't want to do the Forsythe the injustice of a lower rating on Goodreads by pushing through just because I felt like I had to (I don't rate books that I DNF on Goodreads). I am incredibly grateful for the early copy, and I wouldn't discourage anyone from picking this up!

This is a cute workplace rivals to lovers romance. I enjoyed the foundation of this book. It reminded me of The Hating Game. The "dates" were a fun way for the couple to have an opportunity to thaw the animosity toward each other. I was pleased by the interactions between the characters and the fun dating ideas. I do wish it had been a bit more fast-paced but I feel that readers will enjoy it.

This was a cute story. I loved the little dates they went on, but it felt like them becoming a couple, the third act breakup, and the resolution all happened so fast, and the pacing for how everything happened was off.

Thank you, Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, for this eARC.

This is a fun enemies to lovers, workplace romance. Marina is a coder who’s so frustrated with the dating scene that she writes an app called Dealbreakers, where women can dish about their recent dates to inform other women. She’s been waiting for an overdue promotion until
Daniel arrives to get in her way.

Daniel is a content writer with great ideas. Their manager puts them on a story together testing out dating ideas. The “winner” gets the promotion.

They throw axes, take bartending and swing dance lessons and more. They bicker over whether the activity is date or group suitable, but as they go on these “dates” they start losing their animosity towards each other.

This was such a fun read, I loved the characters and the dating ideas are entertaining. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

WOW WOW WOW! this book was so good and not expected. I loved everything about it and I read it within 24 hours! 5 starts all the way! Lucas is a perfect golden retriever cinnamon roll🥰

This was a cute and fun read (listen) and I was glad to have had the chance to receive an advanced copy from Netgalley, but time for away from me and I was then fortunate enough to get an audio copy after pub day and it was a really good time.

The narration was great and I loved the accents. Especially for Lucas. I love a good rivals to lovers story, and one that has a sort of fake dating twist is extra fun. They had great chemistry and cute banter. Their ‘dates’ were fun and silly and I loved them.

I’d definitely grab it if you want something funny and cute that will leave you smiling and feeling giddy.

Dealbreakers by Lauren Forsythe was a great romcom read! This was not only a great rom-com but a story of realizing sometimes what you plan is not always what’s best. Besides, what more could you want from a romance then a witty Irishman and fake dates! I definitely recommend this book.

At 30 and newly single, after her 15-year-long relationship ends, Marina knows her dealbreakers. No smokers, no tattoos, no swearing, someone who wants 2.5 kids, and a picket fence lifestyle. She's ready to settle down and is aggressively dating to find the one that meets every item on that list.

Lucas is everything that Marina doesn't want. Charming, slightly rakish, with tattoos, and a foul mouth. He never settles down in one place for long. Even worse, he's her professional nemesis (I, too, have a nemesis and I love that that language is used!).

When the two are sent on a series of fake dates with a major promotion at stake, Marina starts to realize that maybe those dealbreakers aren't dealbreakers at all when the man in front of her gives her butterflies. Lucas realizes that maybe being in the same place wouldn't be so bad if he gets to spend it with a woman who gives as good as she gets.

This is a sweet, closed-door romance with plenty of great tropes: enemies to friends to lovers, workplace, forced proximity, and sort of fake dating. Marina has an excellent set of friends who can push her on her hang-ups and who have interesting stories of their own. The banter between the two love interests is also well-done. The primary downside here is that the enmity between Marina and Lucas isn't well-developed, we're launched fully into their story with only brief mentions of that background. As a result, it's not particularly surprising that Lucas is really smitten with Marina and goes all out to charm himself into her life.

All told, if you don't mind closed-door romances, this is a good choice with a fun premise and plenty of enjoyable tropes.

Dealbreakers
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Lauren Forsythe

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Penguin Group and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: A woman with high standards. A rival coworker. And the promotion that stands between them . . .

Coder Marina Spicer has no time to waste when it comes to love, hence her long list of dealbreakers. Frustrated by the online dating world, she created Dealbreakers, an anonymous app where women review how men stack up to their internet profiles. Her high standards have served her well at work, so why not in love?

Enter Lucas Kennedy. A charming Irish content writer, he’s the only one standing between Marina and her long-deserved promotion. Much to Marina’s chagrin, the two are paired on a project to test out date ideas, ultimately determining which of them will run the department. Taking a peek at Dealbreakers hoping to learn some dirt about her rival, she finds he’s the worst-rated man on the entire app.

As Lucas and Marina argue their way through mixing cocktails, salsa dancing, and throwing axes, Marina finds herself having more fun than she’s had in years. So when temptation becomes too strong to resist, Marina allows herself to break some of her own rules. After all, if the Dealbreakers say he’s Mr. Wrong, he can’t possibly be Mr. Right . . . can he?

My Thoughts: This novel focuses on our two MCs and having to come up with dating ideas competing for the promotion at work. On the side, Marina created this app called Dealbreakers where dates are rated against their dating app profile. I fell in love with Forsythe on her last novel but really struggled with this one. This is a closed romance story. The tropes followed are the classic enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and fake dates.

At the very beginning, Marina’s character was highly judgmental and picky, to the extreme. Her character somewhat evolved by the end. Marina is so focused on the ratings on Dealbreakers that she almost loses sight what is in front of her. Marina is serious, focused, and determined. Lucas is carefree, charming, sexy, and charismatic. Marina’s friends were awesome, a strong supporting friend group. The characters were developed well, had witty banter, and chemistry. The one character that I could not connect with and had issue with was Marina’s mother, now she was likely written that way, but there should have been some focus for Marina to confront her mother in the book. The author’s writing style was easy, witty, and humorous, while serious at times.

The pacing seemed off sometimes. However, overall a good read. This reminded me of The Hating Game. I think this story will be a hit for some and a miss for other readers. I would recommend picking up the physical or digital book on this one.

THE DEALBREAKERS

4 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the gifted copy!

I was worried about reading this one as I didn't love The Fixer-Upper, however I was a happily surprised with how much I enjoyed this one! I thought it was a cute take on close-proximity, workplace romance with a side of competition. I felt like the chemistry was there between Marina and Lucas. Some parts made me scratch my head with the miscommunication, but overall it was a sweet read!

LOVED that our MC was a boss lady in the STEM field and loved that she unapologetically owned it. Can totally relate with a type-A analytical Brian to thinking there is a formula or list to how to tackle love and felt the author did a great job developing the character and all her actions seemed to make sense for who she was. The plot was unique and fresh/fun. Overall, I really enjoyed!

"Dealbreakers" by Lauren Forsythe is a captivating adult novel. The book's engaging narrative and relatable characters delve into the complexities of modern relationships and personal growth. Lauren Forsythe's storytelling skillfully navigates the challenges and triumphs of love, making "Dealbreakers" a compelling read for those who enjoy stories that explore the intricacies of human connections. This novel offers a thoughtful exploration of what it takes to overcome obstacles and find true happiness, making it a must-read for fans of both romance and women's fiction genres.

4 stars <3 i love a cliche <3

Coder Marina Spicer has no time to waste when it comes to love, hence her long list of dealbreakers. Frustrated by the online dating world, she created Dealbreakers, an anonymous app where women review how men stack up to their internet profiles. Her high standards have served her well at work, so why not in love?

Enter Lucas Kennedy. A charming Irish content writer, he’s the only one standing between Marina and her long-deserved promotion. Much to Marina’s chagrin, the two are paired on a project to test out date ideas, ultimately determining which of them will run the department. Taking a peek at Dealbreakers hoping to learn some dirt about her rival, she finds he’s the worst-rated man on the entire app.

As Lucas and Marina argue their way through mixing cocktails, salsa dancing, and throwing axes, Marina finds herself having more fun than she’s had in years. So when temptation becomes too strong to resist, Marina allows herself to break some of her own rules. After all, if the Dealbreakers say he’s Mr. Wrong, he can’t possibly be Mr. Right . . . can he?

A fun read, the story of Lucas and Marina. Workplace enemies competing for a job, so do they have a chance at being together. Looking forward to more books from this author.