I absolutely loved this book. The way the character development continued to evolve throughout the story was perfect! Once I started reading this book I literally could not put it down (I tried i really did). I can't wait till I can read more from this author

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Rating: 4.25/5
Steam: 3/5

Thank you Avon for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was an absolute delight—soft, heartfelt, and beautifully written. Olivia Dade really knows how to create a story that feels so real, full of depth and care. Matthew Vine the Third is one of those MMCs that we all need more of—he’s kind, gentle, and full of love, all while being charmingly starchy. His character brought such warmth to the story, and the way he and Athena truly understood and took care of one another made their relationship feel so authentic.

One of the highlights for me was the honest portrayal of depression. Dade weaved this theme in with such care, presenting it in a way that felt both raw and real, without overshadowing the love story at its core. It wasn’t just an add-on to Athena’s character, it was part of her, and I appreciated how it was handled with compassion and nuance.

I also loved that we had plus-size representation without it being the entire focus of the story. Athena’s strength and her character evolution were wonderful to watch unfold. She’s fierce yet vulnerable, and it’s clear that she and Matthew are absolutely gone for each other. Their chemistry leapt off the page, and the steam was perfectly balanced—not overdone, but enough to add that extra layer of connection between them.

Olivia Dade’s way with words and storytelling always impresses me. Her ability to craft such tender, emotionally honest stories is something I adore, and this book was no exception. I’m so glad I waited until I was in a better place with my own mental health to read it. It allowed me to truly appreciate the depth and beauty of the characters and their journey together.

If you’re looking for a romance that’s equal parts soft, steamy, and full of heart, this is one you won’t want to miss.

I was able to read an ebook arc of this thanks to NetGalley. A fun romance. Great read. Would read more by this author.

I'm a big fan of Olivia Dade. I've loved everything I've ever read from her. This book was very very slow to start for me but once it got going it was so good. I laughed so much at all of the pranks Athena played on Matthew, Especially playing smutty audio books at top volume. The mental health representation was very well done. I could most definitely sympathize with Athena and the way she felt and how depression can make you feel.
The romance in this was beautiful and you definitely feel that the characters are meant to be. These were two people that needed each other.

If you like any of the following this is definitely for you.
-Pining
-slow burn
-banter
-falling for your Ex's brother
- mental health rep
- plus size rep


Once the spice hit and the emotion wheew it was amazing. I can't wait to read more.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Unfortunately i made the decision to DNF this book after multiple failed attempts to consume. I hope to pick it up again at a later time.

Olivia crushed it with this one. I fell in love with her writing when I read spoiler alert and thought nothing could top that first high of her writing. I was wrong. This is everything. I love the way she took on mental health and showed how a relationship can be healthy and normalized it. 10/10. Absolutely in love with Olivia's writing once again

This one falls somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed the story once it got going, and i knew from their first meeting that there was a spark between Athena and Matthew. The little quirks and habits Athena had were so endearing and relatable that I enjoyed reading it so much.

I also loved how the topic of mental health was approached, and we saw what a great caretaker Matthew was to Athena during her time of need and how he was reciprocated. I got a bit of an icky feeling with her ex-fiance's brother being the love interest, but it was well-developed enough to work.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and only brought it down in rating due to the length and a bit of a pacing issue I had with it at the beginning.

Thank y0u to netgalley and Avon for an eARC of this book.

Thank you to Avon Books for the review copy!

I absolutely loved At First Spite, by Olivia Dade.

I found Athena to be an extremely relatable character with how quickly she became bored and needed a new challenge, combined with being very independent. Some readers may have difficulty with the premise - Athena starts out engaged to one brother, who dumps her, but not before she buys the house next door to him. Although they are no longer together, Athena craves a new adventure, and moves in anyway to spite her ex. What she didn’t realize is that her ex-fiance's brother, Matthew, who convinced him to break up with her, lives next door on the other side.

Matthew’s POV was really the star of the show for me. He was down BAD for Athena. I completely understood how guilty he felt about being so into his younger brother’s fiance, and all the little things he did to try and help Athena were so swoony.

I felt really bad that I was able to read my ARC by pub day, but some of the content was a bit darker than I could handle at the time. I swear, all of my favorite rom-com romance authors decided that this was THE YEAR to write about characters deeply and realistically affected by childhood trauma. On top of that, Athena struggled with depression in a deeply realistic way. Definitely consider the TWs and take care of your mental health while reading this one! Feel free to reach out if you need any details/spoilers.

🎧Joy Nash is one of my favorite narrators. She did many of the Winston Brothers books, and always creates dynamic characters and a really engaging audiobook to listen to! At First Sight was easy to follow by audiobook.

At First Spite is the first book by Olivia Dade I have read. I really enjoyed it, I was laughing with the characters and crying with the characters. I will definitely want to read more books by this author specifically in this story line.

I adored At First Spite and its realistic representation of depression and how you can support a loved one who is depressed. At no point in this novel, does anyone fault Athena, one of the protagonists, for being depressed which is a super important aspect of representation. This was the first romance I have read from Dade and it will not be my last. I can’t wait to read the upcoming sequel to this title as I fell in love with both the characters and the town they live in!

If you haven’t been reading Olivia Dade, you are truly missing out! This book…I don’t even have words, just do yourself a favor and read it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Oh my gosh this book has like all my favorite tropes. Enemies to Lovers with some forbidden romance (ex fiance's brother), slow burn and the PINING. Good heavens the pining. This book also has an on page depressive episode and I just feel like it was written extremely well. This book also deals with grief and it was heart wrenching. I loved it.

This was a spicy and fun read. I had no idea romantasy existed and this was a great way to get a secondhand introduction to it, Olivia Dade always writes relatable characters you want to see win their true love in the end.

I really enjoy Olivia Dade's writing style. This was a great introduction to the Harlot's Bay series.

Read this book if you enjoy:
> Enemies to lovers
> Ex's brother
> Forced proximity
> He takes care of her
> Mental health/depression rep

I thought this book was a really great start to a series. From the very beginning, I was invested in the FMC's journey - her desire to be seen as 'having her life together' and the motivations that got her to the situation that she was in. The spite house angle was hilarious. I could not imagine ending up in that sort of living scenario. The MMC was very grumpy and it took me a little while to warm up to him. I appreciated that the book had both POVs which helped a bit to understand what was going on in the MMC's head.

The pranks that the FMC pulled were excellent and I loved the way that she used the spite house to her advantage. I also melted when he crawled across between the two houses to check on her and the way that he took care of her while she was in crisis. Just a well written and enjoyable book all around. Yes some of the topics are heavy (there are a few trigger warnings I recommend checking), but at the same time the levity and humor balances out the things that the MCs are dealing with.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. Of course I also have a copy on my shelf next to all of Olivia's other books!

The first book in the new Harlot’s Bay series, AT FIRST SPITE
captured me right away with the hilarious writing and banter that leapt off the page. I just loved the characters, the mental health rep, and all the spice,

WHAT TO EXPECT
-opposites attract
-ex’s brother
-monster smut-loving-Nasty Wenches Bookclub
-plus-sized rep
-mental health rep

*many thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

**Book Review: At First Spite by Olivia Dade**

At First Spite by Olivia Dade is a heartwarming read that tackles some big issues with grace and humor. As a big fan of Olivia Dade, especially her plus-size heroines, I was excited to dive into this one, and it did not disappoint!

The story centers around two characters who initially clash but slowly uncover deeper layers of each other, leading to a sweet and satisfying romance. Olivia Dade excels at creating relatable, flawed, yet lovable characters, and this book is no exception. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their journey from antagonists to lovers is beautifully written.

What I love most about Dade’s writing is how she handles serious topics. At First Spite addresses themes like body positivity, self-acceptance, and emotional healing in a way that feels genuine and impactful. The heroine’s journey to embracing her plus-size body is particularly inspiring. Dade’s portrayal is both empowering and realistic, making her characters resonate deeply with readers.

The humor in the book is another highlight. Dade’s wit shines through in the dialogue and interactions between characters, adding a lightness to the story even when it deals with heavier themes. The balance between humor and heart is perfect, making the book an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

At First Spite is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. It’s a touching story that will leave you smiling and feeling good. If you love strong, relatable heroines and a romance that tugs at your heartstrings, this book is definitely for you. Olivia Dade has done it again!

Olivia Dade has done it again. I was a bit hesitant to read this after Ship Wrecked. That was a major flop for me. I thoroughly enjoyed At First Spite however. I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers so the witty banter was already going to be swoon worthy. The plus size rep is wonderful, as a plus size person. I will definitely be reading more of work in the future.