I was lucky enough to win an e-ARC of THE SPY AND I by Tiana Smith through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and have a safe and healthy holiday season!

3.5-4 stars:
A fun, fast-paced, spy romcom!
Look, I’m a sucker for anything spy. Add in a little romance and I’m done for.
This is the kind of book you want to read when you just want a fun escape from reality: mistaken identity, sexy spies, double agents, international travel, and swoony kisses.
FMC is very much *not* a spy, and she delivers some excellent one-liners that are relatable AF.

Let me preface by saying, I think this book and style will appeal to a lot of people, it just wasn’t for me. So I still gave it 3 stars.

It’s too light and cheesy and throws a lot of common sense out the window. Plot holes, thought processes don’t really track, and it blows right past insta to something even quicker. I was snorting at the heroine pining for how long she’s wanted to kiss the guy… and they’d met each other two days ago. Agonizing that she didn’t know where they stood with each other, and it had been 3 days and one kiss.

The entire book is lust motivated, no good conversation, but we also don’t get the fruits of that. Just some kissing. If you’re gonna have the heroine thinking entirely with her vagina, at least give us all the on page kinky sex!

It’s mostly a cozy thriller (is that a thing)? Ridiculous but occasionally fun action and not complicated. I can definitely see other readers happy to go along for this silly ride… spies, romance, a bit of obvious mystery. It just didn’t work for me.

I have been so hoping for more action-packed, cross-genre romances and The Spy and I is a super fun read. With sharp voice, biting action, and a fast paced plot that pulls no punches, it's a great read for those looking for some adventure and kissing all wrapped up in one!

The Spy and I
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks so much to @berkleyromance for the free ebook! #BerkleyPartner

This was such a refreshing, fun read! It was action-packed, mysterious, and cute all at once.
It was super fast-paced and I really appreciated that. There were multiple different plot twists and surprises that I did not see coming so it really kept me entertained.
The romance between the two main characters was super sweet too and they had really good banter that was even funnier given the high-stakes circumstances they were facing.
This is just an overall great choice if you want a romcom with a side of mystery. I don’t know about you- but I don’t come across many spy romances, so this was so new and fun to me.
I don’t want to say too much because like I said there are a lot of plot twists along the way- and I don’t want to ruin anything!
This book will be available February 13th so add it to your TBRs now!

Read If You Like:
💰mistaken identity
💰forced proximity
💰romantic mystery books
💰close-knit sisters
💰cute banter

DNF at 25 percent. The writing has no charm or finesse. The romance is beyond cheesy and obvious. Honestly it’s really rough.

(I didn't include a star rate for this book on goodreads)

This fast paced spy rom com was SO FUN! I like how there was a good balance of action and romance and at the same time great character development. I had a very good time reading this!

"The Spy and I" by Tiana Smith is a delightful blend of espionage and romance, creating a charming and engaging young adult novel. The story follows the adventures of reluctant spy Bridget and her unexpected partner, Matt, as they navigate high school drama and international intrigue. Smith's writing is witty, and the plot is filled with clever twists, keeping readers entertained from start to finish. The characters are endearing, and their chemistry adds a layer of sweetness to the narrative. With humor, suspense, and a touch of romance, "The Spy and I" is a fun and satisfying read for fans of lighthearted YA fiction.

This was a pretty fast-paced spy rom-com that was fun to read. The main character works in cyber security and one day gets mistaken for her twin sister who is an undercover CIA agent. This leads to her getting into a spy mission with her sister's CIA partner and they travel around the world trying to escape the assassins after them and also find the CIA double agent.

There's a lot of adventure, action, spy talk, banter, and lightness even though assains are after the main characters lol. I liked how light and easy to read this was, the spy aspect was something different for a rom-com and it kept me interested in the plot. I like a little mystery in a rom com its always a good addition to the story. The romance was good both Dove and Mendez had great chemistry and banter i just wish there had been more to it. It felt like their relationship was surface-level sometimes and Mendez the love interest wasn't as developed as I would have liked. I would have loved a dual POV just to see what was going through his head and what he was feeling.
Overall I liked this and If you want a spy romance that has the same vibes as The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter then you should check this out. Thank you Berkley for this arc for an honest review. Out Feb 2024.

Rating: 3.75/5

This was So. Much. Fun. Romantic banter, spy hijinks, and lots of people being super competent at their jobs. I love a good romantic suspense every now and then, but sometimes you just need something a bit lighter, and this hit the spot. All the action and twists and turns, but wrapped in a rom-com package.

Dove finds herself embroiled in a secret government mission after some thugs mistake her for her sister, and now Dove must join forces with her sister's CIA co-worker and embark on an international adventure to try to save her sister.

The book was quite fun, there is a lot of action and there is always something happening. I don't think I've ever read anything that involves spies, so this reading was a breath of fresh air and it's always interesting to read romance in unusual situations. I feel like something didn't click for me, but it's definitely a read I would recommend.

Penetration tester. Don't laugh - it's Dove's career. She's a professional hacker who tests digital security for corporations. Growing up in foster care, it's just Dove and her sister, Madison - Steel and Flint - nothing could hurt them as long as they have each other. When Madison comes home for a visit, homebody Dove agrees to meet up for drinks and dinner, but everything goes sideways. Off she goes on a whirlwind international adventure to save her sister with Mendez, a super-hot CIA agent. Soo hot, and so off-limits. But the two are quite a team who could (possibly) save Dove's sister ... and the world. SO much fun! The perfect swoon-filled adventure read.

A fantastic premise, and I loved the elements of suspense and mystery! This was really fun, and I enjoyed it a lot! Will definitely add it to the recommend list.

If you liked Finlay Donovan or the new murder romcom by Ally Carter this is perfect for you! I love spy mystery novels and it was so fun! Definitely recommend.

This was a cute book! It was a fun cozy read to settle into. It was very similar to a book written by Ally Carter but overall still a good one and I will be recommending it!

Yes, yes, yes! This was such a flirty and fun action rom com for fans of rom com movie Knight & Day and comedy film Spies! Seriously 5 stars! What a great fun read.

Super witty and engaging, I had a blast reading this. Loved the action in this book and if it had its own playlist, it would be Taylor Swift's Reputation :)

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

It’s both a story packed with action and jaw-dropping twists on every page; and an all-consuming romance that oh-so perfectly captures the angst and drama of its unique setting, but every single part of it is utterly marvellous.

Great mistaken identity novel. The chemistry was off the charts and I love characters put in unlikely situations!

I loved Mr. and Mrs. Smith while growing up and this book delivered those same vibes.
I usually do not read "spy" books, I find them quite boring but this was so fun! I also loved the tech/hacking aspect. The banter between Dove and Mendez was great and this was just a super cute read.