A cute workplace romance reminiscent of The Hating Game.
I loved the fast pace of the book and the chemistry between the characters. The dates and just the time the characters spent together were really cute and fun. I was bummed when I got to the end because I felt like I could have read more of Marina and Lucas growing together and going on fun dates. The secondary characters added a little something extra to the book making it feel more well-rounded.

This one was sadly just an okay read for me. The writing itself is fine and the premise and tropes are good, but I’m afraid this one just didn’t come together and click with me as a reader.

The pacing in the beginning was a bit slow, and I wasn’t hooked right off - which I think was part of it for me. I kept going, as I had read another book (The Fixer Upper) by the author last year and really enjoyed it. Other than that, I didn’t really connect with either of our leads, and was hoping for a stronger secondary cast as well.

It was definitely a decent read and a cute story and I think it will serve as a great poolside read for many. Definitely an author I would still try again.

Let me just come right out and say that the Epilogue saved this review. I was very confused with the ending and unsettled, but the epilogue did clear some of it up. I still am not a fan of the ending, but I can accept it. Cute, easy read. Nothing too heavy. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Dealbreakers
by Lauren Forsythe
Review Score: 3 1/2 Stars

Five Key Feels
-I love the overall concept of “Dealbreakers” and what it is used for.

-I also loved seeing women in STEM as a focal point.

-The battle between Marina and Lucas was fun to watch unfold.

-It was fun to see Marina and her friends figure our who they are and what they are looking for, and how that may differ than what you think.

-Overall, I felt unsure about Marina’s final decision in terms of Lucas. Luckily, the Epilogue cleared some of those feelings for me.

———

Dealbreakers was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 8/1/23

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I met my Husband through online dating, and went on dates with a few guys I was not compatible with before I got to him. So obviously, I loved the idea of getting extra notes on a guy.

I also loved that Marina works in technology, and is really pushing to prove that she is worth more within the company.

It was fun to read though the activities Marina and Lucas had to do, and see their opinions on if they are dates or friend activities.

Where I struggled, and, no spoilers here, is their overall compatibility. It made me feel like Marina had to choose compatibility OR passion. And it makes me feel like she gave up compatibility FOR passion in the end. I am a strong believer that you can have both, and I agree with her (for most of the book it seemed), that you should not settle.

Overall, I just really struggled with that ending decision long term. The epilogue clears up some things for me, but overall, I disliked that decision.

Have you read this book? You will have to tell me if you agree with my conflicting opinion!

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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.

* Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! *

Dealbreakers are a part of dating, no matter what you might feel. There are certain things people don’t like yet The Dealbreakers by Lauren Forsythe takes that concept and applies it to a romance novel.

The book begins with Marina who is vying for a promotion after being dumped by her long-time boyfriend. After being interrupted by her work nemesis Lucas, they end up being forced together for an idea pitched by one of Marina’s co-workers. Essentially, they’re trying to figure out if outings are better for a group as Marina pitched or dates as Lucas pitched to give a more streamlined experience for the app they both work for.

Of course, those types of encounters feel more like dating although it’s clear these two have wildly different ideas of what they want in relationships. Marina wants marriage, kids, and the picket fence while Lucas is figuring things out and having fun which makes for some delicious tension and an even more exciting connection.

However, things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows for these two. Marina is still learning how to say no and figure out her boundaries while Lucas is trying to be there for his family. Either way, they end up being such perfect complements to each other that I couldn’t put this book down once I started.

Things did feel a bit predictable at times, but that’s just the nature of reading sometimes. I do feel like The Dealbreakers did have a fun concept as Marina starts to realize her dealbreakers aren’t helping and the app she developed to judge men didn’t help anyone. While I did have to suspense my disbelief a bit, this one was fun.

While the ending was a bit cheesy, I do think The Dealbreakers is fun and will scratch the itch of those looking for a fun and light-hearted story.

Thank you NetGalley and author for this ARC!

I enjoyed it a lot! Such a cute book. This book is a fun and flirty romantic comedy. I highly recommend this and will most definitely will be reading again. Fun lighthearted read! I highly recommend

This book was a nice lighthearted read. I enjoyed the characters and writing and would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun and easy read.

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley. As always, my opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Dealbreakers" by Lauren Forsythe is a heartwarming romantic comedy that explores the intersection of love, work, and the perils of online dating. The story follows Marina Spicer, a driven coder with a no-nonsense approach to love, armed with a meticulous list of dealbreakers. Tired of the disappointments of online dating, Marina creates Dealbreakers, an anonymous app where women can review and rate men based on their internet profiles.

However, Marina's world is turned upside down when she encounters Lucas Kennedy, a charismatic Irish content writer who becomes her biggest rival in the race for a long-awaited promotion. To Marina's dismay, they are paired up for a project that involves testing out various date ideas to determine who will take charge of the department. Curiosity leads Marina to investigate Lucas on the Dealbreakers app, only to discover that he holds the dubious distinction of being the worst-rated man on the entire platform.

As Marina and Lucas embark on their date experiments, which range from mixing cocktails to salsa dancing and even axe-throwing, they find themselves engaged in hilarious arguments and unexpected moments of fun. Marina begins to question her rigid dealbreakers as she realizes that Lucas is not the man she initially thought he was. The temptation to break her own rules becomes increasingly difficult to resist, challenging her belief in the infallibility of Dealbreakers. After all, if the app deems Lucas as Mr. Wrong, can he possibly be Mr. Right?

Lauren Forsythe weaves a delightful tale filled with witty banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and captivating romantic tension. The chemistry between Marina and Lucas sizzles, providing readers with a delightful slow-burn romance that keeps them rooting for the characters' happily-ever-after. Marina's transformation from a staunch rule-follower to someone willing to take risks in love is beautifully portrayed, showcasing the power of personal growth and the allure of stepping outside one's comfort zone.

Thanks to Putnam for the free book.
I am so picky when it comes to work place romances, but this one worked so well for me. I think Forsythe did such a great job balancing Marina and Lucas' competition for work with being out of the office. The competitions were so much fun to read about. I liked how the chemistry of these characters built during these outings. What I also love about this authors' work is how she focuses on women in tech and creating new things. She also writes strong, supportive female friendships. There's lots of growth here and honesty and not any malice. I binged her first book and now this one, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Fun, a bit sassy, and swoony! Felt like an updated take on The Hating Game. I loved the concept and thought it was executed well. These two together had me with a smile on my face. Prepare to stay up all night reading!

3,5/5

Was the cover with the dark haired dude with tattoos the reason I was drawn to this book in the first place ? Maybe. I am a simple woman after all.

The writing itself was easy, witty and funny at times. I loved the chemistry between Marina and Lucas. Lucas' charm definitely came through and I was *not* mad about it.

I also loved Marina's friends. A lot of great women. Definitely enjoyed the setting and would have loved to read more about women in tech/coding/development.

My biggest issue, however, was Marina's mom. Seeing that this book was under 350 pages, there was definitely enough room for a good and, in my opinion, long overdue confrontation with her mother about, well, everything really. Every time Marina's mother came into the picture via a phone call, conversation at dinner or some flashbacks, it made me irrationally mad. Telling your daughter that some people are not made to lead? Freezing eggs as a birthday present because Marina wasn't married and didn't have kids yet at age 30? What.

Would have also loved just to spend more time with the main characters with maybe text messages or emails. The pacing of the book was rather fast and it didn't really hit me until like the last third of the book that the whole plot took course over several weeks.

I also while writing this remembered Adam. His presence was pretty constant throughout the book but even with him we never got an actual closure. The hater in me thinks the way it was handled was very adulty. The emotionally invested person in me wants more drama.

Using phrases like "take me to bed" were also rather a choice and reminded me of some 1900s historical romance book.

Over all this was short and sweet! Really nice for a quick read.

Marina Spicer is a coder, and has no time to waste when it comes to love, hence her long list of dealbreakers she's accumulated. Frustrated by online dating, she created an app called Dealbreakers, where women can anonymously review the men they go on dates with from these dating sites. Her high standards have served her well at work, why not implement them in her dating life? Enter Lucas Kennedy, a charming Irish content writer for her company, and her competition for a long-deserved promotion. The two are paired on a project testing out if date ideas, ultimately determining which of them will run the department. Taking a peek at Dealbreakers, she learns he's the worst-rated man on the entire app. As they argue their way through mixing cocktails, salsa dancing, and throwing axes, Marina finds herself having more fun than she's had in years. When temptation becomes too strong to resist, Marina allows herself to break some of her rules. Mr. Wrong-for-her can't possibly be Mr. Right... right?

This was such a fun rom-com - I was smiling and giggling to myself reading this! Forsythe wrote these characters so quick witted and sharp, and it was interesting to peel back the layers of what shaped them into the way they were. This book absolutely flew by for me, I was completely enthralled and couldn't wait to see what came next. I never really enjoy men in books who use pet names with people they're not in a relationship, so that was my only thing I didn't LOVE about this book. I was actually taking notes for myself on all these activities they were sent on for my own dates, they sounded like so much fun! I will certainly be going back for more from this author!

Marina Spicer has plans. And goals. And checklists. But when her boyfriend of 15 years dumps her on her birthday because he realizes he doesn’t want the same things as Marina, she comes stuck. Stuck in a revolving door or mediocre dates, being a houseguest to her best friend AND her new husband, and her job. Enter Lucan Kennedy…her work rival.

I was pleasantly surprised how invested I became in this book. In the beginning I was put off by Marina’s attitude. I really was thinking “Oh no. Not ANOTHER rom-com where the FMC has an attitude and is abrasive and the MMC is lovable and goofy”. Because that is exactly what happens in this book.

BUT…in this book it works. We’re supposed to see Marina in that way. We’re supposed to see why she puts up walls and barriers. We’re supposed to understand that there are reasons she has a tough time letting people in. And, just as similarly, we are supposed to be happy and proud of her when she starts to take the layers down and have fun, be spontaneous, and let people in. We’re supposed to see ourself in Marina.

The best part? Not only did Marina have to grow, Lucas had to grow, too. They were both able to pull each other out of who they were to create something new together.

The banter between Lucas and Marina are on point. Workplace enemies to lovers is one of my most favorite tropes and this book 100% delivered on that front. It’s cute, quirky, and a great quick summer read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for the chance to read it!

I love a good rom-com! Usually there's laughter and tears and every emotion possible along the way. And that is exactly what Lauren Forsythe has managed to pull off; a rom-com on the written page, and it's called, "Dealbreakers".

Let me just say, I would not want to be a person that has to be dating today. I much prefer the old days when
you.met someone in school or at work. You fell in love and then married. And bliss ensued. If you were lucky. Nowadays, the websites abound and you don't even know what to believe. And if you have in mind a list of no-nos (dealbreakers), then you limit yourself even more. Enter Marina, a site developer whose heart has been broken and who is looking for a forever guy who is perfect and meets all her criteria. As she says, she's looking for a unicorn. Enter Lucas, a gorgeous, charming guy who makes her stomach do flip flops, but fits none of her plans. What is a girl to do?

I loved this well written book. It was fun and just what I needed at a difficult time. I can see the film through my mind's eye.

This was cute little romance read. I appreciated the plot of getting these work enemies to lovers together. I do wish that there had been more emphasis on the growing connection. The story felt lacking at time, although again, it's the same feeling I get when I read books by British authors. I just feel like the story could've been powered up a bit more and it would've been even better.

Dealbreakers is such a fun read! The banter between the main characters is golden. So many funny scenes with them going on fake dates for the company they work for and a great friend group for Marina that have her back. Definitely a unique premise and worth the read!

This one just didn't work for me; the characters are not well-constructed and the "enemies to lovers" thing really grated on my nerves here -- male main character's vibe is far too misogynistic to have the female main character falling for him so quickly, in my opinion. I appear to be in the minority here, so I'm glad this book is finding its audience!

Marina Spicer just got dumped on her birthday and now her work rival, Lucas, is here in person instead of annoying her from afar. Add in Marina's side hustle app, Dealbreakers, where women submit feedback about their dates to save other women from wasting their time. Lucas has the most number of dealbreakers of anyone on the app, yet Marina starts to enjoy spending time with him. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Marina and Lucas were easy to cheer for and the Dealbreakers app was a cool twist.

Oh my goodness this was fantastic! A perfect summer beach read that pulled at the heartstrings and had you rooting for the characters to finally make it work! Light, funny, joyful- a truly great read!