Before their wedding was called off, Athena used up her savings and bought her husband-to-be Johnny the 10-foot-wide "spite house" next to his home, with plans of combining the row houses into a larger place for the newlyweds. But then Johnny's older brother Matthew convinced him to call off the engagement just days after Athena closed on the house. With her old condo sold and no more job, Athena has no choice to live in the spite house, which shares a wall with her ex-fiancé and is a narrow alleyway across from the jerk who convinced him to jilt her. With windows facing Matthew's, Athena decides she may as well make the spite house live up to its name and torment the guy who made his brother dump her...even if said guy is nicer than she initially suspected.

This is the fourth romance I've read by Dade, and perhaps it's because this isn't part of the Spoiler Alert series (which is steamy AND full of geek culture), but this one wasn't quite as good as the others (though they did set a REALLY high bar). Athena is a great heroine and I appreciate her growth, and the secondary characters are fantastic (especially the fantasy/erotica book club, which is hilarious), but the brothers are a bit unbelievable to me. That said, it's still a fun read, and I'll definitely check out more of Dade's books in the world of Harlot's Bay (yes, that's the name of the town where all this takes place).

This book was delightful. The romance was too notch, the cast of characters in the small town was delightful, and the tension building was amazing. Honestly though the reason this book gets 5 stars for me was the very realistic and thoughtful way the author described depression. The depths of depression, the way it can sneak up in you, and how it is not an on and off switch. To weave in such a serious topic into a spicy, sometimes joyfully silly, takes great skill. Thank you Olivia Dade for the wonderful read!

I adored the enemies-to-lovers story in At First Spite. Athena and Matthew fall into the opposites attract category and they do it so well and with the best quips and pranks that led to a slowly growing attraction. Both characters are compelling, funny, and realistic. The plot worked out great as I was hesitant how the relationship would work out, but it was done well and part of that was due to the great setting of neighbors and the windows they communicate and interact through. Lots of humorous moments appeared throughout this story which melded well with a very strenuous situation for Athena, helping keep an atmosphere of lightheartedness, while also dealing with deeper struggles like depression.

When Dade announced her new series, and the premise of the first book At First Spite, I've been stalking Netgalley to get an ARC. When that lovely day arrived, I dumped all my current reads to read At First Spite. I finished it in 1.5 days.

Athena Greydon's fiance dumps her a month before the wedding and after she's bought the row house connected to his with the idea they would tear down the walls and make it into a bigger house. On the other side of Athena's house lives Matthew, the Johnny the fiance's older brother who spent months getting to break up with Athena for a whole host of reasons, the primary being Athena and Johnny are totally wrong for each other.

Athena is aware of Matthew's intent but she is incensed when she finds out he lives on the other side of her row house. She is rightfully pissed and spends a good portion of the book driving him crazy. In the end HEA happens (as we know it will and is not a spoiler). Everyone is happy.

I like Dade's structure of the story as well as creating characters that have depth and meaning. Everyone is a wholly realised person. I'm pretty sure if I met Athena at the library (I'm a librarian) or the coffee shop (I drink a lot of coffee), I would be hanging out with her and we'd be BFFs. 100% sure.
Dade's construction of Harlot's Bay is also realised and the secondary cast of characters each have a function in their own right and are not just there to prop the story up. Dade could have delved a bit more into Athena's parent's giving them more depth but we get they love their daughter and want to do right by her.

I have one niggling issue and it's Matthew's sexual background. You'll recognize it when it comes up. I didn't think it really added to the story and seemed like a cheap insert. Regardless, and just so we're clear, Dade can write one hellavua sex scene. *chef's kiss*

I'm pretty sure I've read most of Dade's work in order (except for the Spoiler Alert series I read backwards but that worked out fine as they do work as a stand alone) and Dade just gets better and better. My favorite was Ship Wrecked because Peter's thighs and Maria's red bikini (and the tension, OMG), but At First Spite beats it by a nose.

As much as I love At First Spite, I'm desperate for book #2! Write faster Olivia! Write faster!

This is my favorite book by Olivia Dade so far. The depictions of anxiety and depression were refreshing and made the characters seem so much more realistic and relatable, and the humor splashed in made this book an absolute delight.

What I liked:
- The perfect mix of rom and com. & Real life problems and baggage.
- It’s relaxing to be able to suspend disbelief and enter this world with wacky circumstances.
- I love reading about a plus size main character whose storyline is not at all about body image. She doesn’t think about it at all. No negative self talk. The only time her body is described is when she’s introduced so we can get a picture in our minds and when he’s talking about how sexy she is. It’s really refreshing and a pleasure to read as a plus size person.
- I love how we get to see both his and her perception of her depressive episode. Bc for her that’s exactly how it feels - you justify things and say it’s not that bad. For him the signs are so clear.
- The side characters are fun and interesting
- The first sex scene was good and fun
- I read this SO FAST it was definitely entertaining

What I didn’t care for:
- The amount of pop culture references is a bit much in this one if that’s something that bothers you
- I know it mentions that Athena uses them a lot as a character trait but the analogies and metaphors are so constant that it kind of gets confusing to the point that sometimes I can’t follow and don’t know what we’re talking about anymore.
- Throughout the book while she is having a depressive episode the book continues to tell us that she is safe with Matthew, that he’s not taking advantage of her, and that it’s not not selfish of him, and he definitely doesn’t expect more. I feel that the actual actions taken do not reflect this.
- It felt like I was being gaslit by the writing to think that it was totally okay and actually ~*romantic*~ that he kissed her in the middle of a mental breakdown while she’s naked in the shower with him there because she can’t wash herself. I do not think that’s appropriate and I do feel that it’s taking advantage. She’s literally breaking down crying. & Then we’re just told by the writing afterward that it was actually so sweet and definitely in good faith.
- After he took all of that time saying he didn’t see washing her as romantic and promised she was safe with him he still kissed her. To me, that’s a break of trust and just plain yucky. She was searching for comfort in any way and he took advantage of that.
- Confused about some of the movements like I couldn’t picture the next kiss scene interrupted by the phone. He pushed her back into the couch cushions, stood bed tween her legs, and also somehow bent her over? Over what if she’s facing him? Confused.
- I had traumatizing plus size deja vu. When she said, “you want to keep this a secret?” And he was like, “not secret, PRIVATE.” Like… So let me get this straight. He ruins her engagement, pushes his way into her life, makes himself her support system when she’s EXTREMELY depressed, vulnerable, and alone in a new town with no one else. Tells her he’s not taking advantage of her when he literally is. And then when they finally get together he wants to keep their relationship a secret. I would kick this man to the curb so fast.
- The line about her being “excited to plant her flag in him” bc he’s a virgin is icky.
- Near the end she talks about how they can’t be everything for each other and obviously you can’t base your happiness all on one other person. Like okay? That’s good I guess but idk how she got there mentally with the actions that they took conveying the exact opposite.
- The ending was fine. I wouldn’t have forgiven Matthew but that’s just me
- I don’t really understand Johnny’s magical glow up either. He spends a month in Hawaii and all of the sudden comes back a good person and condemns all of his past actions and behavior and immediately sees he was wrong for asking Matthew to do what he did? Love that for him but not sure how it happened.

While I was a little disappointed that this wasn't another entry in the Spoiler Alert universe, I ended up really enjoying Athena and Matthew's story. Olivia Dade obviously has a good grasp of romance and fanfiction tropes and so the structure of the book will be comfortably familiar. As with all of her romances there is also a deeper more mature side to the characters; they are both in their late 30s and dealing with significant psychological issues. Trigger warnings for descriptions of severe depression, anxiety, the accidental death of a child (in the past), and abandonment issues.

Athena Greydon was all set to marry pediatrician Johnny Vine...until his uptight older brother (pediatrician Matthew Vine the Third) convinces him to dump her shortly before their wedding. Angry and adrift, Athena moves into the very narrow "spite house" situated right between the two brothers. Of course in true romance novel fashion her anger towards Matthew quickly begins to turn into something else. The basic premise reminds me a little bit of Sabrina, with the flighty but attractive younger brother and the uptight responsible older brother. If you are looking for a good enemies to lovers (sort of) with adult characters whose most attractive qualities are their genuine care for each other then give this a try. I enjoyed visiting Harlot's Bay more then I expected to, and I'm looking forward to seeing which character is given the spotlight next time.

When Athena Graydon's life falls apart she's left with only the house she purchased for her ex-fiancé. The Spite House happens to be across the short alley from Dr. Matthew Vine III, the brother of her ex-fiancé and the person responsible for her life in ruins. With no fiancé, no job, no money, and no friends in this new town, Athena is at an all-time low.

As Athena regroups she finds she can't hate Matthew as much as she thinks he deserves. Her house, built out of spite by a slighted brother after the Civil War, is only an arms-length away from Matthew. At every opportunity Athena finds Matthew's kindness is behind every good thing that is happening to her and she can't ignore the feelings she is developing for him. But can this new relationship erase every bad thing that's recently happened to Athena? And can Athena trust the man who thinks she wasn't good enough for his brother? In spite of it all, love will win the day.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book, provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Big fan of Olivia Dade here, and I'm going to be upfront about something - this book took me a bit to get through. I don't know if I just wasn't in the right mood, needed a different head space or if it was because this book deals with a lot of heavy things, including depression. Reading about depression really takes a lot out of me, so there's that.

Athena is engaged to Johnny, who ends up dumping her on the advice of his brother, Matthew - and we find out he did that because he wants Athena. Here's my big issues: Johnny was too immature, Matthew was too uppity and Athena was too caught in the middle. I don't necessarily have an issue with someone dating an ex's sibling, but I guess my issue lies more with Matthew breaking them up.

I did appreciate, and seriously identified with Athena's depression. That part hit really close to home. I do admire Matthew's determination to help her with her. I loved the banter! Athena and Matthew played off each other well. I just couldn't shake the feeling that he was too straight-laced for her, I dunno. The monster porn sub plot was a little weird, too haha!

Overall, I liked the story, but it felt draggy in places. I give a solid 3.5. I hope Karl is next haha

Another amazing outing for Olivia Dade. I loved this book. The premise is painful, but Dade will make you a believer. This outing deals with some intense themes, such as major depression and parental abandonment, so you'll want to be cognizant of that when recommending this to readers. Despite these themes, Dade deals with the topics respectfully and the novel doesn't get bogged down in them at any point. This was a rare romance where I wasn't sure how they were going to get their HEA, and the resolution was that much sweeter for its challenges. Read this book for its plus-size heroine, its glorification of monster erotica, or its enemies to lovers storyline, but read it.

Oh, boy! Did I have the immense pleasure of receiving an early copy of AT FIRST SPITE by the wonderful Olivia Dade!

I've read and loved so many of her novels (Spoiler Alert, All the Feels, and more) that my expectations were high for this one, and Dade outdid herself! I barked out laughter, I cried, I saw myself, I blushed, and I just fell in love with the main characters right away. A sexy, sweet, hilarious rom-com that is a perfect complement to its February 13th (2024) release date!

Matthew, loudly and with insulting detail, talks his brother out of marrying Athena… and she overhears him. Who in the world would think she’d ever fall for that guy? We savvy, hopeful readers, that’s who.

Athena and Matthew are probably my favorite characters in a long time. They are real; their motives, action and decisions are plausible, convincing. And yet, we also fall in love with the characters motives, action, and characters. They are endearing.

There’s plenty of spite for a while if you like enemies to lovers stories. But the quirky unconventional antics are laugh out loud funny and don’t make you wait too long to come together.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

With two degrees and several starts at careers under her belt, passionate Athena just can’t land a job or make a relationship stick. A teaching gig nearly breaks her when she gives it her all, and her sweet fiancé, (pediatrician Johnny) promises her a future, and a break. His big brother and partner in practice Matthew has his doubts about the relationship — more about Johnny’s ability to provide–and convinces Johnny to end it–but not before Athena sells all her furniture and sinks her savings into the 10-foot side spite house next door that Johnny always wanted to purchase to expand his family’s home. Determined to pay her new mortgage and get her feet back under her without asking for assistance from her, she takes a job at a coffee shop where the owner blares monster erotica audiobooks while baking, and the monster porn becomes a lovingly hilarious subplot. When that job runs out, she temps at the local library. Through all of this, Johnny is away in Hawaii on their honeymoon, while Matthew looks out for Athena, and they come to revise their initial opinions of one another…

This is an amazing, compassionate story of healing through depression in the context of a love story. Matthew has always looked out for his little brother, and in fact became a children’s doctor due to a family tragedy. When Athena spirals into an I-can’t-get-out-of-bed depression, Matthew is first to support her, and the portrayal of her depths of despair is visceral and accurate. Athena and Matthew’s relationship has a cautious, respectful, trajectory, fueled by the first time they met in person at Johnny and Athena’s engagement party–before they each knew who they other was. The story is an homage to data nerds and fact geeks, librarians, and literature lovers, and comes with Dade’s characteristic witty banter, sly humor, and perfect pacing. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

DNF at 61%. I lost the thread on this one at about 30% but kept going just to find that it didn't improve. It began with a touch of enemies to lovers tension, but I must've missed something because all of a sudden, Athena and Matthew (or at least the latter) were having these intense feelings for one another. Other than the prologue, I really didn't register any chemistry between them and even the prologue was only a very average interaction that definitely did not warrant the level of attraction they both instantly felt toward one another. In short, I just got bored.

I love Olivia Dade’s nerd romances, and really enjoyed this enemies to lovers story! Great if you love forbidden romance, complicated family dynamics, mental health rep (some of the most accurate I’ve seen in a romance), and an obsessed MMC. Looking forward to the rest of this series!

Deftly written and at turns hilarious, emotional, and heartbreaking, every word is like the kindest, gentlest hug to anyone struggling with grief or depression. I loved it!

I liked this one, as I've liked Dade's previous books, though some of the mental health issues were, perhaps, skated over in a way that helped move along the plot but probably not necessarily in a helpful, accessible way to readers who have or are experiencing depression. The whole brothers thing was a bit difficult to swallow, too.

I adore Olivia Dade, why? Because finally someone writes romance for the "fluffy" Ladies of the world.

This took a little getting used to. I fell in love with the Spoiler Alert Series. I went into this book with high hopes. Did I love this story? It was cute, I'd have to give this a 3 out of 5 stars. Will I continue to read anything Olivia writes? Yes... I'm hoping I'm more of a fan of the next couple in this new series.

There were a few scenes that just didn't feel like they worked, Particularly the bathtub scene.

So... do you love the way Olivia writes? Pick this up, give it a try. Romance is always good for the soul.

This was a more emotional story than I expected and I wish the cover art more accurately represented this story. So much of it is about depression and some form of grief which at times was very moving but ultimately I didn’t really connect with the story or their romance even though I felt like they had a deep connection. I did like how the author wrote about depression and thought it was lovely how Matthew supported her (and everyone in his life) but there was so little about Matthew as a person that i could describe as more than lovely and nice. I’m still very interested in this new series even though this one wasn’t really for me.

“𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲—𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫.”

The slow burn romance At First Spite by Olivia Dade centers on Matthew Vine III, a business partner, and Athena Greyson, a high school teacher.

Not going to lie when I started reading this book, I thought it would be about two rivals fighting it out over a Sprite company, but it turns out that I had just misread the title.

Anyways, Matthew was the epitome of a man being bipolar because one minute he was so sweet to Athena, helping her get a job and making sure she was okay, and the next he was such a dick, treating her badly.

But despite their differences, Matthew and Athena made such a charming couple.

Although I was taken aback by the fact that Athena was Matthew's first everything, I actually liked that fact.

Overall, this was alright for me, however I would have preferred a little more angst and groveling from Matthew given that he didn't fight for Athena in the first place.

*Thank you to Netgalley, Avon & Harper Voyager and to the author, Olivia Dade, for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*