2.5 ⭐️ idk something about this book gave me the ick …

I’m personally not a fan of insta-love in books. I also kept reading so many cheesy lines that were supposed to be jokes and just not finding them funny. It was a pretty quick read, maybe because I often found myself bored and would speed read or skim over some pages.

*my review is borderline spoiler-y with regards to the romance*

This was fun. The action and the mystery had me more interested than the romance. I thought that Dove was cool, loved that she is a coder. Mendez was just fine I guess. I liked him when he was first introduced but then was confused about his motivations the further into the story we got. You don’t get his POV in this, but I get why it wasn’t included cause it would take away most of the tension.

The book takes place over a week or so leading to it feeling like insta love, well I should say lust instead cause they never really were together in my opinion until the very end. (No spice in this one, just a few kisses.) So technically no third act breakup, but you can’t have a breakup if they aren’t actually together. Cause of this I kinda view this story to be a happy for now rather than a happily ever after.

The mystery element was fun and there were some twists and turns along the way. I did enjoy the writing style as well. It felt witty and just fun. I do plan to read whatever the author writes in the future.

😊 strangers to lovers
💕 insta love (but they never say I love you…)
👥 close proximity
💻 woman in stem
🔎 a bit of mystery and action

single POV
3.5/5 stars ⭐️
0/5 spice level 🌶️

Laugh-out-loud funny and full of intrigue, The Spy & I delivers one heck of a fun read.

I absolutely loved this book. It is just so enjoyable, cover to cover. It’s the kind of book you can pick up and get lost in for a few hours. Romance and mysteries are my favourite genres, so I’m always a happy bookworm when the two get combined with such a wonderful result. All the spy action will keep you turning the pages, wanting to know what will happen. I warn you, you won’t be able to put it down!

Dove is such a wonderful character. I loved everything about her. Super smart, she’s a “penetration specialist” and yes, you read that right. Basically it means she’s a hacker that uses her powers to help companies improve their security. One of the good guys. She has her own business and is doing well for herself from a professional standpoint. It’s just her personal life that could use a boost. Dove is more comfortable at home than she is putting herself out there so when she shows up to meet her sister for dinner and a man sits at her table, she thinks her sister has set her up on another blind date. Until the men with guns show up and hijinks ensue. Before long, Dove learns her sister is a super spy and now the bad guys think she is her sister.

There are lots of twists and turns to keep the story moving. One of the biggest things that will have you guessing is whether Mendez can be trusted or not. Is he friend as he claims to be, or foe? I loved this take on a romance story. Mendez is obviously the love interest here, and although there seems to be an attraction immediately between the two of them, neither of them can really trust each other. It was an absolute delight to watch them fight their feelings for each other while trying to guess what is real and what isn’t. Things do heat up between them, but this is mostly a closed door romance.

If you are looking for a light-hearted, entertaining read, The Spy & I is a perfect choice.

Right place. Wrong person. After a case of mistaken identity, one woman must work with her sister’s sexy spy partner to save the world in this heart-pounding romantic comedy.
This is a case of self confusion, why did I think I would like this book? I'm not super into spies, suspense romances give me a headache. But the cover was so cute! And the premise was so intriguing!
Great for someone else, not the right fit for me.

Thank you to the publisher for inviting me to read an advance copy of this title! Unfortunately, I'm dropping it about 20% of the way in--I'm just not vibing with it. The writing isn't bad or anything and it's fast moving, so if I pushed through I'm sure it'd be an easy read!

Hopefully this finds its true audience! When I have more time, I may give it another go, but for now it's a pass. My star rating is solely bc NetGalley requires it!!!!

I really enjoyed the sister dynamic. This book started off with a lot of promise with banter between characters and an interesting male lead. However, I think my time working for the government hindered how much I enjoyed the relationship between Dove and Mendez. This was a fun read, but I'm not sure I loved it enough to recommend other places.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Was definitely a little disappointed with this one. I really like the premise and it actually started out pretty good. I liked Dove's character, socially awkward homebody introvert but who was a badass with computers. And then we got into the meat of the story and she was incredibly naive and couldn't operate daily without swooning once every hour for a man she didn't even know she could trust.

I also thought Mendez came on really strong at the beginning, despite him saying he wasn't trying to seduce her for the operation and his past experience with a civilian. So why tf was he all over her as soon as they were alone? Weird.

Some of this was absolutely entertaining, but I think the execution was off.

This was a really fun read that I think a lot of readers will enjoy! Fans of the Finlay Donovan series will love this spunky and humorous story.

I’d describe this as a romantic comedy with a humorous but suspenseful storyline! It’s not a romantic suspense in the sense that it’s usually referred to, but more of a comedy and humor centered love story that still gets your heart racing.

Even though it required a bit more suspending disbelief than I usually prefer, I had so much fun it didn’t bother me too much - the fact that she’s thinking about kissing the MMC when they’re being chased by a murderous bad guy just had to be swept under the rug. 😂

I read this via audiobook and enjoyed the performance! I’d definitely recommend this format. Thank you @prhaudio for the advanced review copy. I definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR!

Perfect for you if you like:
Secret agent MMC + homebody FMC
Close sister relationship 💞
Foster care system representation
Heart-racing scenes
Laugh out loud humor

2.75 stars

this book was very meh. I love spy romance books but this one fell a bit flat and was a bit boring (and very predictable). the pacing and romance was off so I didn’t really feel the connection between the main characters.

*Goodreads review posted 2/1/24, see link below

3.75✨
0.25 🌶️ (no spice, but alluded to adult language and multiple kissing/make out scenes. I would’ve called this upper YA, and you can if you want, but the characters are all upper 20s/early 30s, so I’d call this NA even without open door or even any spice at all)

So, I know this book isn’t technically the author’s debut but rather their third book (at least according to Goodreads!), but…

🚨AUTHOR TO WATCH ALERT🚨

A few flaws and missteps notwithstanding, THIS is how you do a New Adult romance!

Smith came out swinging right out of the gate with a strong start that both introduced you to the main FMC Dove, our “penetration tester” hacker by immediately solidifying her personality in the reader’s head, as well as presenting the action and setting up the plot fairly early.

While the spy and government coverup overarching theme is a nice touch to spice up a contemporary NA romance, don’t go in expecting a 24 level of attention to detail. This plot is more so used as a vehicle to facilitate the meeting and carry the romance between Dove and our MMC, the CIA spy Nick Mendez.

Speaking of the romance, I enjoyed the chemistry between our leads. My only gripe is that they acknowledged and acted on their lust a little too fast; I wish the tension between their push and pull was teased out longer. There is the page count here to do it, to turn it a little slower burn, and maximize all you can from the reader in terms of the unresolved sexual tension. The dynamics are all there for a perfect and agonizing slow burn – spy and civilian trope, bodyguard-ish trope… it’s all there!

But overall, this was seriously fun. This is what new adult can be when it leans into its tropes and sometimes campiness, like the awkward middle child between YA and adult. When your NA is fun, I can almost guarantee you’ve already won half the battle, at least for me. There was a good balance of pop culture or modern references without going overboard. The use of song name dropping was particularly masterful, because it got them playing in my head during key scenes that almost made the experience feel like a movie playing out in my head.

If you feel like a NA romance that brings in a fun spy romp plotline, I would wholeheartedly recommend checking this out.

However, I will leave one last piece of reader-to-author advice: Did we really have to know that Holt, the bad guy, killed a dog, even in a throw-off piece of dialogue? Never kill the dog!

I enjoyed the plot and overall concept of this book. However I felt as though the relationship was juvenile and should have been developed more for how old they were. The insta love didn’t work for me and I wish there was more development and depth to it. I also wish there had been more of Dove’s sister and background explanation.

I was pitched this book in comparison to The Blonde Identity and that's pretty much all I needed to know. I was low key obsessed with TBI and was ready to jump back into a spy story.

I liked Dove and Mendez well enough. They both have some past hurts in the relationship area and have an instant interest in the other. For Dove, everything about Mendez and her attraction to him take over her thoughts. Yes, there is some concern about the spy stuff, but she always comes back to his shoulders, his hair, his kisses, etc. Everything felt superficial between them (perhaps it's just the slice of time); however, Mendez does seem to be as obsessed as she is, so I guess there's that.

Plot wise, it was okay. There's a good amount computer/hacking talk that felt way over my head and while that is the only time Dove's inner monologue is confident, it did make me skim sections. The story does seem to be fast paced (while also seeming to have nothing happen) and I was disappointed that it didn't have the tension or air of mystery that I was expecting. There are no real fight scenes, no spicy scenes, and even the explosion is off the page.

Overall, it was a quick read and I was interested in how it ended, but I probably could have set it down without finishing.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Dove Barkley is an amazing ethical hacker (yay for women who rock with computers!). But when she is confused for her sister, she gets pulled into a CIA case against a dangerous arms trafficker.

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2024. The beginning kept me on the edge of my seat, but middle portions felt slower and less action-packed than I had expected given the title and premise. The ending was again engrossing and my favorite part.

While I loved the character of Dove, I didn't feel much chemistry between her and Mendez. Indeed, it seemed we didn't get to know him at all. I think the book would have benefitted from a second point of view or at least greater insight into his character. Without that, the book feels much more a mystery/suspense than a strong romance with a believable happy ever after for the two of them.

I was impressed by the great audio performance from Jaime Lamchick and look forward to listening to more from her.

Okay this was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the spy aspect of the story and the romance was adorable.

Dove Barkley works in cybersecurity. When a group of bad guys mistake her for her twin sister who just so happens to be an undercover CIA agent (which is news to her by the way), she’s roped into a dangerous mission and has to team up with her sisters hot partner. What could go wrong?

I loved everything about this book! I haven’t read many romcoms with a spy aspect but I will be now. It made for such a fun reading experience and the characters were phenomenal and hilarious!

If you’re looking for a super cute and fun romcom then I highly recommend picking this beauty up on February 13th! Perfect time for Valentine’s Day 🥰

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the e-arc!

Due to a case of mistaken identity, Dove is swept up in a CIA operation with detective Mendez. She wants to keep her and her (super-secret-spy) twin sister safe.

The premise of this book is great. I love spy stories and romance. The characters had no personality except for their careers. Dove and Mendez are immediately in love with each other after literally 5 minutes. I just didn't want to read Dove worried about a relationship with someone she just met and felt like she couldn't trust. There's more to a relationship than just being hot and characters should have actual personalities.

3.5 stars
Dove is a penetration tester (insert joke here) which means she’s an honest hacker testing out business’ cyber security. She loves the work and the solitude that comes with it. Dove has a great opportunity to have a spotlight shown on her profession when a journalist interviews her. Later she is to meet her sister for dinner and arrives at the restaurant early to load up on the bread, it’s free and so yummy. While waiting for her sister, a mysterious man sits at her table and gives her a case then starts telling things she doesn’t understand. Then suddenly someone comes into the restaurant and starts shooting, killing the unknown man with her and then someone else starts shooting at the ones shooting at her. Dove escapes and in the ally is the journalist with a motorcycle, but she finds out his name is really Mendez and not Olsen. But that’s not all, Mendez is undercover CIA and needs her help with an op since her sister, who is also CIA has gone into hiding. Dove has to figure out who to trust, use all her hacking knowledge to help Mendez, and avoid getting shot, all the while trying to figure out if her sister is a traitor.

I believe this book is supposed to be a romcom but as I was reading it, it felt more like a cozy spy thriller with very little romance. The story moved pretty quickly and kept me engaged. There were times when the story it felt awkward between Dove and Mendez. Chan was a character that didn’t seem to add very much to the story. I hope that his character will grow in the next book. I really liked the idea of a female hacker that uses her skills in a positive way and that the character the stereotypical cocky egotistical hacker nor was it one that resembled a zombie sustaining on Mountain Dew and beef jerky. I view this as a cozy spy thriller since there wasn’t nail biting tension. The story was pretty level with few spikes in drama or suspense. Overall the book was good

When the CIA comes knocking, you can't say no. Especially when your sister's life and reputation hang in the balance.

I have seen other readers use the term "cozy" when describing this book, and I know you're thinking this is a spy thriller with lots of shooting, chasing, and near death scrapes, but cozy is a good way to describe it. The Spy and I was a fast-paced and engaging story that was fun and breezy. Told with lots of humor and a light hand, I had a great time trying to get to the bottom of things with Dove and Mendez.

My one disappointment was that the story was a little light on the romance. There was some early flirting and Dove's pining, but not much else to make me buy into the rom-com label associated with this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this fun and action packed tale which featured a lovely sibling relationship.

The Spy and I by Tiana Smith seems to be marketed as a romantic comedy. I feel it is more of a romantic suspense and action novel with it being heavier on the suspense and action. There is attraction and an eventual romance mixed with a little humor. While the story starts and ends in and around Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia, most of the book takes place in Prague, Czech Republic.

Dove Barkley is a cyber security analyst who is mistaken for her sister Madison, who happens to be an undercover CIA operative. Dove gets pulled into a government mission by Mendez who claims to be Madison’s partner.
Dove is confident and feels powerful when coding, but not when she’s back in reality. She’s socially awkward, competent, lonely, talented, and generally optimistic. Mendez is smart, capable, charming, and can easily switch his outward personality traits.

The narrative flows well with a twisty and absorbing plot and a story that captivated me from the first chapter to its conclusion. My main quibble is that I wish the world-building for Prague was more in-depth. It seemed like the book could have taken place in any city. Themes include secrets, mistaken identity, trust, subterfuge, relationships, power, murder, rejection, fear, and much more.

Overall, this entertaining and fast-paced novel has great characterization with likeable characters as well as solid action and thrills. Readers who appreciate romantic spy novels will likely enjoy this novel.

Berkley Publishing Group and Tiana Smith provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 13, 2024.

this book is everything i could've wanted, and im so thankful for the opportunity to have read it in advance. the plot was fast-paced from the beginning, and had comedy, suspense, and the swooniest & dreamiest characters. the plot twists were predictable, yet still shocked me when they happened, and i adored the way smith took the plot and ran with it. it is so good, so unique, and truly such a fun read. LOVED THIS BOOK!!! SO!!! MUCH!!! and im so excited for its official release to get my hands on a physical copy!

3.5 stars.
This was a fun read, I enjoyed the pop culture references.

In the first few chapters, I was worried I would feel like “been there, done that”, as in read it or seen this before. But, a good plot twist saved the day!

I found an inconsistency. Or perhaps my brain is too logical. When Dove asked to see his official badge, why wasn’t Mendez’ first name appear on it?

I enjoyed how it ended. All the story lines are resolved. Again, fun read. I wonder if we will meet these characters again.