4.5 angsty, awkwardly funny stars

In the spirit of using pop culture references, occasionally this story can be as awkward as Elaine Benes dancing. And just as funny. If you’re gen z, look it up.

I need to structure my thoughts about this story because there’s several things that I absolutely adored and some things that I didn’t but the good far outweighs what I may not love so let’s suss this out.

The Sitch: Matthew and Athena meet and immediately click, like two awkward folks finding each other at the exactly wrong time since, you see, she’s already engaged. To his brother. And that is not the end of the awkward that happens throughout this story, but romance also happens.

The Good: Ms. Dade really handled the subject of depression and (off page) child neglect and death with a deft hand, a lot of sensitivity and painful authenticity. Taking a story premise of a FMC falling for her future brother in law would usually be a hard pass for me but it actually works here. Humor’s always subjective but there’s a lot of silly, lighthearted moments of chemistry between Matthew and Athena to balance out the serious moments that made me laugh….

The Bad(ish): And occasionally, cringe a wee bit too much. The setup for the third act breakup and the eventual grand gesture were the things that I struggled mightily with. I mean, I understood it to an extent even if it was a close thing…

The Bottom Line: but at the end of the day, this made me laugh and it made me cry, so I have to give this its proper flowers for the keeping me invested in their HEA. Instead of stars, Here’s two jerky thumbs up 👍🏼 👍🏼 and painful side kick 🦵


**ARC provided in exchange for honest review**

🫠😂😁

At First Spite is the first book in Olivia Dade’s Harlot’s Bay series. The title comes from the fact she bought a Spite house for her fiancé and then decides to live in it, out of spite, when he breaks up with her.

I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Olivia Dade, so I was excited she was coming out with a new series. I really enjoy the humor and writing style that comes with each of her books. As a plus-sized woman, I also love that all her FMC’s are plus sized women and this was no exception.

This book had me laughing out loud A LOT. Athena blames Matthew for the end of the relationship with his brother, so there’s a lot of banter and pay back in some creative ways, but then it becomes sweet because it’s hard to be mad at someone who actually treats you well. It was also emotional at times. Matthew is still dealing with things that have come from the death of his parents when he was a kid. He’s become used to taking care of everything and everyone, including his brother. There is also a focus on depression and the ebbs and flows that come with that, and I think it was handled with care. If you like the caretaker micro-trope, you’ll really love this one. It also has a unique and satisfying grovel at the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. I’ve been a fan of Olivia’s for a while and will continue to be.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series that will focus on Karl, our cranky, monster romance loving baker.

Thank you to Olivia. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
4.5 Stars

I really wanted to love this book but it was just too much for me in a time where I had similar drama going on in my life. Other than my own personal issues affecting this book, I wasn't a fan of the immediate hatred between the two that would be love interests.

While I greatly appreciated the chance to read it, I did DNF this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Olivia Dade (and team) for an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Let's start by the good-
- great mental health rep.
- amazing chemistry when either of them weren't at each other's throats.
- loved loved loved how Matthew started caring for Athena from the very beginning ans started to realize how wrong he was regarding few things.
- again with the caring- I adored how Matthew created a safe space for Athena physically, mentally, and economically.
- the murder dolls. Obviously.


The not so good things-
- I'm still very unclear of the reason why Matthew decided to break up Athena and Johnny. Doesn't make any sense at all.
- the love triangle thing was too messy and childish.
- a lot was going on in this book at the same time which made it chaotic at times.

Overall I'd say I enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up.

This was a steamy enemies to lovers, forbidden, dual POV romance that sees Athena, a plus size woman's wedding falling apart when her fiance Johnny's older brother Matthew implores him to dump her right before they are about to get married.

In a weird twist of fate the Athena moves in next door to judgy pediatrician, Matthew forcing the two to see each other daily. After her failed engagement and a series of missed job opportunities sinks Athena into a deep depression, it falls to Matthew to notice and help bring her out of it with therapy and medication.

I loved the amazing mental health rep in this book, how Athena and Matthew moved slowly from enemies to friends to lovers and the fact that Athena finds her calling as a small town librarian. An added bonus was the quirky older bookstore owner with an emotional support chicken who helps Matthew with his epic grand gesture!

Great on audio, this is a new favorite from an auto-buy author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

I previously read Olivia’s Spoiler Alert series and really enjoyed it, so when I saw she had a new series releasing, I was excited to check it out! This book was definitely different than the previous series, but enjoyable still the same. The book was a bit slower than the other series I had read from her, but the second half definitely picks up and the spice was worth it in the end.

The plot of this one did take me a bit of time to get into. There isn’t really a plot or much that happens storywise, it has a lot more to do about character growth, so I think this was what made the book drag at first for me. It was entertaining with the character antics, but it was a little over the top and I wasn’t expecting that out of the gate, so it took me a bit to orient myself. After the 50 percent mark, things changed pace in the book, and while the zanniness died down, the heart of the characters amped up and I was able to really settle into the book and enjoy it more. The last third really had me enjoying it and brought up my rating a lot!

The characters themselves also took me a minute to get used to. Again, the FMCs life is so ridiculous that I just had to accept it and roll with it. The MMC was written as someone who was so focused on work and raising his brother that he had no life and got 0 social cues or popular references. This worked fine for me, but got to be a little old for some of it and I wish there weren’t quite as many moments written in for laughs about that. He was at his best when in his caretaker role, and the audio book at the end had me DYING. Overall, they had a lot of fun banter and quirks together, and once I got used to their characters I had a good time with them. It just took me a bit to get into them as they were both pretty extreme in their perspective quirks.

What I loved about this one, and like her previous series, Olivia writes plus size FMCs who are confident in their skin, and its a refreshing take to read about these women and have them to relate to. This book deals a lot more with mental health than previous books, with the FMC dealing with some pretty serious clinical depression. It was written in a very authentic way, and I loved how the MMC helped her through it (without making everything magically better). The moments in the book that dealt with them working through this, and the growth of the character, really helped me to connect with the FMC and embrace the character.

As I said, there were definitely some things about this that were cheesy and over-the-top, but I just learned to roll with the absurdity of the book and enjoyed the ride. If you’re looking for a romcom with heart, filled with ridiculous pranks and some tender moments, I suggest checking this one out!

Read if You Like
-Small Town Romance
-Ex Fiance’s Brother
-Forced Proximity
-Plus Size FMC
-Ridiculous Pranks and Witty Banter
-Mental Health Rep
-He Takes Care of Her

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful little gem this was. I was so infatuated with so many different aspects of this story. The idea of the stars hollow-esque little town. The spire house itself. The mental health struggles addresses. THE ROMANCE. Everything about this story did it for me….minus 1 star because I desperately wish it would have been more clear cut, alternating pov chapters in first person.

Heat Factor: A slow burn, and then lots of eating.

Character Chemistry: Instant connection, even before there should be one.

Plot: Athena—broke, jobless, and single—moves into the spite house next door to her ex-fiancé. Oh, and his brother who broke them up lives on the other side.

Overall: What I was expecting based on the first few chapters is not at all where this book went.

I gotta say it. I was tempted to DNF this book very early on. It felt very twee and was just chock full of internet memes (that I am ashamed to admit I mostly understood, which is a sign that I am Too Much Online). Now, all these memes do serve some function in the text, because Matthew doesn’t understand a single solitary reference (since he has been taking care of his baby brother since the age of eight, he never had time for pop culture of any kind). This felt a teensy bit overdone. I’ll use my husband as a point of comparison, because he, like Matthew, would have no idea what I was talking about if I said, “Sure, Jan” to him.

Marcia from The Brady Bunch movie saying "Sure, Jan."
(My husband’s internet literacy ends in approximately 2003, so while he does know who Trogdor the Burninator is, he, also like Matthew, doesn’t know what rickrolling is. I confirmed this with him.)

Dragon with a muscled arm, named Trogdor the Burninator

From Homestar Runner, Strongbad Emails #58

https://homestarrunner.com/sbemails/58-dragon
However. Even if Matthew lived under a rock and had only one single solitary friend and was really afraid of horror movies, I find it hard to believe that a 38-year-old in the Year of Our Lord 2024 would think that Freddy Krueger was maybe a grocery store.

Freddy Kreuger costume
Kroger grocery store
These are not the same. My husband, who also lives under a rock and hates horror movies, knows this.
My husband—also a 38-year-old man in the Year of Our Lord 2024 who would never voluntarily watch a horror movie—tells me that he remembers Freddy Krueger being a topic of playground conversation when he was in elementary school, that Krueger was just part of the zeitgeist of the early 90s. (This sparked my own memories of Jason being talked about on the playground, but don’t worry, Matthew doesn’t know who Jason is either.)

If nothing else, Matthew raised a brother who, like, would go bar hopping, and presumably said brother talked to him about his interests, which, maybe, sometimes, included a movie?

Anyways. It was a lot. All the while, Athena and Matthew are sort of becoming friends (ish). They have some nice moments, and then Athena gets mad again, and starts stepping up the revenge (hence the rickrolling) (and also playing monster erotica audiobooks loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear). For his part, Matthew feels responsible for Athena being in the truly shit position she finds herself in, and is trying to help her without letting her know that he’s helping her. There’s a lot of push and pull here: desire and tamping it down. Recognizing kinship and not accepting it. Moments of connection followed by spectacular failures in communication.

However, the book undergoes a major shift in tone and content at around the midway point. Thankfully, this shift in the relationship between Matthew and Athena means that the name of the game is no longer so heavily focused on the running gag of “Matthew knows nothing about pop culture.”

Athena becomes clinically depressed—doesn’t leave her house for days levels of depression—and because he’s worried, Matthew breaks into her house and helps her. This includes a scene where he gives her a bath.

Special alternate cover for At First Spite, featuring naked Athena in a bathtub, being held by Matthew.

Tagline: "She swore revenge–then surrendered to tender passion in the arms of her worse enemy!"
Based on this gorgeous alternate cover for the book, you might think that this is going to be a sexy scene, and it’s really not, at least not in the way that people generally talk about “spicy books.” Rather, it’s a stunning moment of one person showing care for another person. And the rest of the book builds on that same dynamic of careful consideration growing into love (lust is definitely part of the equation, though I would call this a slow burn).

In fact, this reversal of reader expectations set up by the first bit of the book occurs in several areas of the book. For example, readers who are extremely frustrated about the dynamic between Matthew and (little bro the ex-fiancé whose name is not important enough to remember) will be happy to note that yes, the text does address this, and how messed up it is, and how awful everything was when they were kids, and these guys make some small changes to improve their interactions. (For serious, Matthew, WHY ARE YOU PAYING YOUR BROTHER’S STUDENT LOANS??? WHY ARE YOU PAYING FOR HIS HONEYMOON??? HE HAS A JOB!!! AND A HOUSE WITH NO MORTGAGE!!! This casual acceptance of Matthew’s outsize caretaking for his brother was one reason I was tempted to put the book down, and I’m still a bit salty about it.)

A bigger reversal is the portrayal of Matthew himself. When we initially meet him, he comes across as a standard alpha (but make him nice) hero. He’s taciturn (read: emotionally constipated). He’s good looking, but not pretty. He’s a doctor—actually, a pediatrician, which adds the extra swoon. While all these things remain true, we learn that he’s easily scared—by thunderstorms, by murder dolls, by heights. He’s so so lonely. And he’s a virgin, because he gave up literally his entire life for his brother.

In the end, I was so glad that Athena and Matthew had come together and each had someone to care for them, above all else. Mutual care might not bring the same swoon as a good grovel, but my face was wet for the entire second half of this book.

Gif of Flight of the Conchords singing "I'm Not Crying."

#I've just been cutting onions#
PS: I did love the Southern Maryland setting, which I have decided, based solely on looking at Google maps, must be inspired by Cuckold Creek.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review (with images added) is available at The Smut Report.

✨ Review ✨ At First Spite by Olivia Dade
Series: Harlot's Bay #1

I've been an Olivia Dade fangirl for YEARS and this might be my new favorite! This book reminds me more of the Something about Marysburg series than the more recent Spoiler Alert series, but also somehow blends both together in what felt like an absolutely perfect book.

The setup of this is A++ where Athena's fiancee Johnny dumps her right before their wedding with encouragement from his brother Matthew, and she ends up moving into a 10-foot-wide house known locally as The Spite House, AND IT'S RIGHT BETWEEN JOHNNY AND MATTHEW'S HOUSES (also they're both pediatricians at a local and hilariously named practice)! Johnny and Athena were clearly not compatible, and we start out with an enemies-to-lovers sort of plot between Athena and Matthew, and it is a total delight (creepy murder dolls in the windows?! yes please!).

Quickly though we see that Matthew's personality and care run much deeper than she saw during her brief engagement with Johnny, and Matthew goes above and beyond to make sure Athena isn't left in the dust after Johnny flees to Hawaii for an extended six-week version of their honeymoon.

The book is light on a plot but digs deeply into mental health and wellbeing, caretaking for those you love, and celebrating your identity. At the same time, while the book was deep and thoughtful, it also heartily made me laugh (the obsession with monster smut audiobooks across the town was AMAZING).

Ultimately, I loved that Athena and Matthew found the best in each other throughout this book. (And that Matthew falls in step with Athena's love for potatoes). It also sets up a great set of supporting characters in local businesses and a book club that I'm excited to see where this series goes next.

Never stop writing, please, Olivia?!?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: contemporary romance
Setting: small imaginary town in Maryland
Reminds me of: Dade's Something about Marysburg series
Pub Date: Feb 13, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ baked goods and books and potatoes of all kinds
⭕️ jokes using historical words like harlot
⭕️ mental health representation
⭕️ bathtubs and monster smut audiobooks

Thanks to Avon and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This book may be right up someone else's alley, but for me it was just okay. There were definitely aspects I enjoyed, so it was a solid 3 star read for me.

What I liked:
- plus-sized heroine (without making a "thing" of her being plus-sized)
- Cinnamon roll hero
- really fun supporting characters that make up the community of Harlot's Bay
- Unique aspects - I learned a lot while reading this book --- including the history and existence of Spite Houses.

What wasn't my jam:
- The brothers being in love with the same girl and the girl ostensibly loving both brothers --- falling for the 2nd so soon after the first broke things off. I'm a fan of taboo romance, but something about this setup didn't hit right.
- The monster smut --- again, I am a fan of smutty romance but the abundance of monster smut didn't really work for me --- but it might really appeal to other readers.

Content warnings:
- When the author advises caution if you are triggered by severe depression and mental health struggles (on the page) and loss of sibling (prior to the events of the story but with lasting effects) she is serious! Even taking the warning seriously I was a little surprised by how big of a role depression played in the story.
Grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for this digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

A Delightful Romp through Love, Laughter, and Lust in "At First Spite" by Olivia Dade

Olivia Dade's "At First Spite" is a delightful rollercoaster of emotions, seamlessly blending absurd situations, humor, and serious issues such as depression and fatphobia. The author's unique ability to infuse a narrative with both depth and levity shines through, making this book an enjoyable and unexpected experience.

The heart of the story revolves around Athena, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she's dumped by her fiancé just days before their wedding. Dade skillfully navigates the aftermath of this heartbreak, revealing the complexities of relationships, familial ties, and personal growth. While the plot might not be overly intricate, the character development is masterfully executed, keeping readers invested in the journey of Athena and those around her.

Athena's move next door to her ex-fiancé and his brother sets the stage for a humorous and touching exploration of love and self-discovery. The dynamic between Athena and Matthew, her ex's brother, is the beating heart of the narrative. Dade crafts a slow-burning romance that blooms into a beautiful connection, showcasing the evolution of their relationship from initial attraction to unwavering support and genuine care.

The exploration of serious topics like depression is handled with sensitivity and authenticity, adding depth to the narrative without overshadowing the overall lighthearted tone of the book. Dade masterfully weaves these elements into the fabric of the story, creating a harmonious blend of humor and emotion.

The intimate scenes in the novel contribute to its allure, providing a sensual and tasteful exploration of desire and connection. The sex tropes, while specific, add a layer of relatability and authenticity to the characters, making their journey even more engaging for readers.

"At First Spite" is a testament to Olivia Dade's storytelling prowess, seamlessly combining elements of humor, emotion, and sensuality. The slow-growing affection between the characters, coupled with the well-executed exploration of serious themes, makes this novel a thoroughly enjoyable read. Dade's ability to balance the ridiculous with the heartfelt creates a narrative that is sweet, funny, poignant, and undeniably sexy. This review, based on a complimentary copy of the novel, offers a sincere and objective perspective on the book's merits.

This book was absolutely amazing! This was my first Olivia Dade book and I have been eyeing her for awhile. Her writing style is so unique. The way she writes had me feeling like I was transported into a period drama but in a modern setting... I love it.

This book follows Athena to Harlots Bay where she purchased the historical "Spite House" as a wedding present for her fiancee. Of course he ends their engagement due to his bother she loathes, and she winds up with the house stuck between both brothers houses..

I think it is funny the house is called Spite House, when her and Matthews foundation for their entire relationship was based on spite..

This book had it all. The characters were lovable, and so were all of the side characters. I absolutely loved all the references to monster smut. It was hilarious. I thought Olivia depicted depression extremely well, and that is said coming from a person who has suffered from depression before herself (me).

I don't know how else to sing this books praises from the rooftop but I am singing them, Or screaming them with a background of guppie smut and scary Halloween dolls.

I can't wait for more of Harlots Bay!

Oh, also this def had about a 3/5 on the spice scale which was an additional bonus. :D

At First Spite is the newest release from Olivia Dade. I’ve read a handful of books from this author now and I’ve definitely had some hits and misses. This is a contemporary romance where the heroine moves into a house between her ex-fiancé and his brother (who actively got their wedding and relationship canceled), and her romance with said ex’s brother!

Athena is engaged to Johnny and when the story starts, she is at their engagement party and bumps into a man there who she ends up connecting with pretty quickly. They both love information and looking things up on google and kind of banter and hit it off quickly. Shortly after her fiancé shows up and Athena is introduced to the mystery man who ends up being Matthew, her fiancé’s brother! Athena ends up overhearing the two brothers arguing shortly after with Matthew trying to talk his brother out of the relationship. We cut to months later and Matthew got his way, with Johnny dumping Athena just a week before their wedding.

Things get even more awkward when Athena, who was a highschool teacher but quit her job to move to her ex-fiancé’s small hometown, also has to move into the house she purchased as a wedding gift to her ex…which just so happens to be situated between his and his brother’s houses. His ex isn’t around as she’s moving in because he still left for what was supposed to be their honeymoon trip, but his brother Matthew is there and is super pulled to Athena. We find out he’s been into her for a long time and just didn’t think her with his brother was the right move for either of them. Matthew has always taken care of his brother, they are partners of their own pediatrics practice, and he honestly kind of took the father role to him.

Athena and Matthew start spending time together and both fall pretty easily, there is a scene where he helps bathe her (which ties into the special edition dust jacket cover I saw). I really don’t get why this is described as a romcom, it has a lot of heavy themes going in within the story and deals with depression for a main character for a good bit of the story. Athena struggles with what she wants to do with her life and the choices she’s made, she’s 36/37 and still unsure of a job she wants to have for any length of time (she likes to be able to quit and move around as she wants). Matthew as well has some repressed trauma from his past (from when he was a child), that he has kind of overlooked to take of his brother. I just felt like the vibe of the book was off at times because of these mixed feelings going on in the story.

I did like that we have characters in their upper 30s (close to 40) and seeing the realness of their feelings and emotions. Matthew was sweet and I liked the romance we do get from them (it does get pretty steamy and we have a virgin hero too), even if it felt way too soon after her being with her ex/his brother. I guess if you know what you’re getting into with this book, you could definitely still enjoy it. But for me, it was just okay.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, all thoughts in this review are my own.

CW: grief and clinical depression, mentions an accidental death of a young child (didn’t occur on page)

I am very mixed on my feelings with this book. I have loved Olivia Dade's previous books and a lot of what I've loved about them is present here. Athena is a fabulous protagonist in a lot of ways and Dade has such a way of writing plus size heroines where it's never a plot point that they are plus size. Also the humor is really on point and for the most part, very welcome. I will say there were maybe one too many pop culture references for my taste? It's one thing to name drop a movie but to talk about memes felt a little... almost dated?

It took me awhile to warm up to Athena. I wasn't really sure why she had made the decisions she did (buying an entire house with ostensibly no job or money? wanting to marry someone just to have a cushion?) and some of her behavior felt very juvenile to me. Ther is a reason why she acts the way she does and there is a very intense period of this book, in the middle, where the character has a major depressive episode. Although Dade warns you at the beginning, I'm not sure I was entirely prepared. It is also possible that a lot of Athena's more grating qualities are some of the things I sometimes see in myself which is why I didn't appreciate reading them.

Either way, once I got passed the first half I got really into the book, Athena's journey and relationship with Matthew. I adored Matthew. Every time he cried, I wanted to cry. At first I was worried that he just wanted to take care of someone but he has his own journey in this book.

Overall, this was a very hot and lovely romance. Just go in a little more prepared for the darker stuff than me.

Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for allowing me access to an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, i didn't hate it?

I don't quite know how else to put it. I respected what the story was doing. I even liked the characters a fair amount. I'm just not sure this one wasn't Women's Fiction instead of a Romance... I think the issues of depression and mental health are important. Of course I do, but this first 60% and more of this book felt SO heavy to me.

Athena is dealing with so much all at once. Like so often happens in our life, it can all come down when we least expect it. So I don't think anything in here is impossible or even improbable. In fact, some of her situations felt *too* real for me. I feel like the topics were handled well and if this had been marketed as Women's Fiction was a good romance favoring it, it would be very successful.

But as it is... I need a bit more of an escape in my romance and as stated.. this just felt to raw and real for me. Though it may hit just right for others.

My favorite bright spot in this tale is Matthew. Our MMC is so sweet, caring, deep, and thoughtful. We may have a poor thought of him at the start. He does put his foot in his mouth a few too many times. However, as we get to know him, I just think he feels so much.. and has to repress it to take care of others. The way he tries to right his wrongs with Athena is heartwarming. When she finally is able to come out of her haze of depression and bias against him... she can see it too.

So while this was a mixed bag for me.. Mostly because I just wanted more romance and happy parts of the book. I still think it's worth the read. Just be prepared to suffer a bit with our characters first.

I couldn’t put this one down; I couldn’t stop gushing about it to my friends.

The set-up is slightly complicated: Athena is engaged to Johnny. Athena meets Johnny’s older brother, Matthew, for the first time at their engagement party—which leads to a “moment.” Fast forward and Johnny dumps Athena a week before the wedding, at Matthew’s strong urging. But too late, Athena bought a house that is mere feet away from her ex-fiance…and the dreaded older brother, and she’s already quit her job and sold all her stuff so she’s stuck there.

What happens next is at times hilarious, heartwarming, sad, and depressing. At First Spite is so much more than a romcom; it goes into depth about depression, insecurity, the ramifications of parentification, and how grief can have a lifelong effect. It just made it feel all that more real.

Matthew is one of my favorite heroes ever, and even though he has a major misstep along the way, his grovel and legitimate apology secured my love. He was such a giver; he just adored Athena, his friends, and his brother. I just want to wrap him in a comfy blanket and make sure he’s okay. And Athena was the perfect, dorky foil to him. They just really fit together.

At First Spite was really just full of love…and potatoes.

Thank you to Avon Books for the review copy.

At First Spite is the brand new start to the amazing Harlot's Bay series by Olivia Dade.
Being in the charming small town of Harlot’s Bay was such a fun time.
The female MC, Athena, was just lovely, smart and beautiful. I adored her personality.
This couple was so much fun watching them together. Athena and Matthew are realistic, relatable and endearing individuals.
They were so loveable, their relationship and dynamic is entertaining and adorable.
I honestly didn't want to say goodbye to them at the end.
I smiled so much while reading this book. It was the kind of book that just makes you happy to read.
I have yet to devour a book written by Olivia that I just didn’t love!
And her newest title was no different.
A satisfying rom-com that was utterly delightful.

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

AT FIRST SPITE – Olivia Dade
Harlot’s Bay, Book 1
Avon
ISBN: 978-0063215917
February 13, 2024
Contemporary Romance

Harlot’s Bay, Maryland – Present Day

Athena Greydon is happily engaged to Dr. Johnny Vine and they’re currently at an engagement party she helped arrange in Harlot’s Bay where Johnny and his family and friends live. She has yet to meet Johnny’s brother, Dr. Matthew Vine, but it doesn’t take long to figure out who he is when she overhears Johnny talking to another man. Johnny is being told to not get married to Athena. Stunned, she didn’t know what to say, especially since she thought everything was perfect. But a month before the wedding, Johnny breaks it off. However, Athena now has a problem. As a surprise wedding gift, she’d poured all her money into a big wedding gift for him: she bought the house next door to him. With no fiancé and no money, plus no job after she quit to get married, she has no place to go. Athena ends up moving into the house. Johnny is currently in Hawaii using the vacation that was planned for their honeymoon. But Athena soon learns that Matthew is the one living in the house next door. How will she react when she realizes the man responsible for breaking up her engagement is living so close?

Athena bought a house called the Spite House. It was named because two rival brothers built houses next to each other on property so small that the houses are around ten feet or so in width, plus are close together. Athena can literally see into Matthew’s house. Things are uncomfortable at first, mainly because she hates the man and gives him death stares whenever she spots him. But he turns out to have a kind heart—though he might be heartless—after he helps her out a few times. As the deep freeze thaws between them, Matthew finds himself increasingly attracted to Athena. How can he explain to her that the reason he didn’t want Johnny to marry her is because he felt his brother wasn’t ready for marriage? As the weeks go on, Athena finds it hard to get a permanent job after taking a couple of temporary ones. She needs money for the mortgage, and she doesn’t want to tell her parents her predicament because she feels that makes her a failure in their eyes. In the end, it is Matthew who comes to her rescue in a big way that doesn’t necessarily mean money. Will this give them an opening to find love together?

AT FIRST SPITE has its funny moments but it also tackles some serious issues that I won’t spoil for readers. But it means that between the laughter you will also realize that life isn’t always easy. One can understand Athena’s initial dislike of Matthew, and soon you will see why he felt Johnny wasn’t ready for marriage. Matthew has always looked out for his younger brother and thought he was doing it again when he told him to not marry Athena. But the more Matthew gets to know her, he starts to like her and regrets the pain he caused her. There was no way he could have known she would quit her job and put all her savings into the Spite House. He tries to soothe the pain he has caused but she is still hurting from what she sees as his rejection of her sight unseen. Despite all this, a romance soon blooms between them.

A tale that is not only tender and funny but filled with sizzle, don’t miss the fun in AT FIRST SPITE.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Genre: contemporary romance
Maryland, present day

Athena Greydon leaves her job in Virginia and pours her savings into buying the “Spite House” for her now ex-fiance Dr Johnny Vine as a wedding gift. See, Johnny’s older brother Matthew has convinced Johnny that Athena isn’t right for him, but now Athena owns the narrow house that abuts Johnny’s in Harlot’s Bay, Maryland, away from her old life in Virginia. While Johnny takes their honeymoon without her, Athena tries to settle into a new life and find a new job. But finding a new job is harder than it should be for someone with two master’s degrees. In fact, everything feels hard, except tormenting Dr Matthew Vine the Third. What Athena has always attributed to personal laziness turns out to be a blend of insatiable curiosity for the world paired with a lack of motivation from depression, Matthew is the only one there to see her.

Olivia Dade writes special books. They aren’t usually as bananas as I like in contemporary romances, but they more than make up for it with the bawdy humor and explicit nature paired with really heartfelt and deeply caring expressions of love. Athena is smart and witty, but she can’t hold down a job for more than 3 years or so, which at 37 years old feels like failing. What I loved so deeply about this book is that while there are depressing (and sometimes depressingly relatable) moments, it is a beautiful story about learning to love yourself, and learning how to let someone else fully love you. Also with a healthy side of monster-fucking audiobooking and pranking. There’s a lot of silliness to bolster the darker sides of the story.

Matthew Vine is one of my favorite types of heroes: caring, competent, and head over heels without even realizing it. He raised his younger brother from the age of 8, with absent parents. He co-owns a pediatric medical practice, he helps out those in need (but in a gruff sort of way, since he’s never been allowed to be anything but gruff). And with any hero with this kind of makeup, it’s a delight to see him melt in the arms of someone he falls for. The cautious and caring, and yes, a little bit forbidden, romance is perhaps the most gentle enemies to lovers I’ve read recently. Yes, there are incendiary sparks, and some expert level orgasms, but it’s somehow still so soft underneath the barbs.

At First Spite never loses sight of its core message: you can be a lot of things at once, including depressed and loved, smart and lost, funny and sad. Check the content warnings on this one, because there are some sensitive topics!

Kind of mixed feelings on this one! Between a 3.5 and a 4 star. It started very slow (I took like a month off reading it which I'm sure did not help) and then I got really into it -- only to reach a part where the FMC had a major depressive episode that I forgot was mentioned as a TW. Then the ending was rushed. But despite all that I did enjoy the book.

Olivia Dade always treats her characters with so much care, even Athena's ex fiancé that a lesser writer could've just made a horrible guy. Athena is lost with her career and life in general and it was nice seeing a character in their late 30's who was just as lost as a character who is 23. I loved seeing Athena grow and figure herself out. I cried when she talked to her parents and they all got on the same page.

I did think Matthew was a bit too perfect and a lot of his development happened towards the end. I think if there had been a bit more build up the third act conflict would've worked a bit better for me. Instead I was left a bit confused by his actions, but Olivia Dade was able to explain them in a way that made sense -- I just wish it had been set up a bit more. But as an oldest child -- yeah I got him LOL

I love a small town and cannot wait to see these characters again in the next Harlot's Bay book. The monster romance book club?? That was so fun and I loved seeing it woven into the plot.

Overall I enjoyed this more more than I enjoyed her last book, but wish I had been more prepared for some of the more serious content bc it hit a bit too close to home at times which wasn't exactly what I wanted in a romance.