Highcliffe House by Megan Walker is a sweet and swoon romance that will have you smiling the whole time.

This story follows two rivals that have never seen eye-to-eye. Anna is the daughter of Mr. Lane, who just wants to spend time with her father, and Graham is Mr. Lane's investment partner. They are unexpectedly thrown together on a trip to Brighton. While being forced to be in one another's company they start to learn more about each other, and they start to look at things differently.

I loved the setting of Brighton. It brought you to the sea with the salt air and quaint town. Along with the setting, the side characters were delightful with sweet family dynamics.

Anna starts off as somewhat unlikeable, however, she has great character growth throughout the book. You start to see that she is determined and outspoken, but also very thoughtful. Graham has your heart from the start and watching him show his home to Anna is endearing. The two have great chemistry and witty banter.

If you are in the mood for a delightful swoony romance that takes you to a quaint coastal town, this is the book for you! Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain. All opinions are honest and mine.

Highcliffe House is an enemies to lovers that slowly peels back the layers of why the hero and heroine feel animosity toward one another. The secondary characters add to the mayhem and make the read delightful. I was a huge fan of Graham and wanted the best for him. I loved the ending and how clever it played out.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

This ended up so cute and sweet!! It did take me 40% to get going and then it wasn't until about 60% that I was truly invested. Graham has my heart 💞💞

Another solid winner by Megan Walker! This enemies to lovers was so enjoyable. I loved the progression of the story.
Graham and Anna were so much fun! The banter and teasing was one of my favorite parts of the book.

🤍 Thank you @shadowmountainpub for the arc of this fantastic story 🤍

Megan Walker never fails to deliver a completely swoony romance, wrapped in an incredibly cozy package!

Highcliffe House is full of rivalry, tension, witty banter, and heart!

I loved how Anna and Graham each grew as individuals as the story explored the theme of not judging people before you know the whole story.

Read if you love:
• enemies to lovers
• seaside cottages
• character growth
• witty banter
• family love

★ ★★ ★ ★/5
Steam: kissing
TW: none

Highcliffe House is everything I could want in a regency and more! It's my idea of the perfect enemies to lovers tale, and there were multiple moments when I found myself giddy over these characters!
This author has established herself as an auto-buy for me. I can't wait to see what book she comes up with next!

In the beginning of the book, I felt right in the thick of the awkwardness and tension with Graham and Anna, it was one of those feelings that is so hard to trudge through let alone read, but Megan writes in such a way you can’t stop because you have to see it through!
Megan has such a talent of being able to write about the regency era, which can sometimes feel so distant, and yet be able to have the characters and their lives connect with the present reader so well.
I loved the back and forth reading from Anna and Graham’s perspectives throughout the book and I was constantly being impressed by the minor details Megan would add in to build up a character, place or just background information.
I knew I adored Megan Walker’s writing style after Lakeshire Park and Miss Newbury’s List and that adoration has now grown with the addition of Highcliffe House.

It seems Megan Walker just isn't for me. I see her name mentioned with all my favourite historical romance reads on Instagram but somehow none of her works have worked for me. Actually I know the reason. The premise always sounds exciting and just my type but the writing is a let down. It's lacking in depth and fails to grip the reader (or, well, me). I like simple writing but this is too simple.

London - 1813

Graham Everett is considering a large investment opportunity and is planning on getting with Mr. Lane with whom he has partnering on other occasions making both of them good money.

Arriving at the Lane home, Graham knows he will probably encounter Mr. Lane’s daughter, Anna. While a beautiful young lady, she is also known to be a shrew. Having been nearly duped by a suitor, she is anxious for her father to take her to the seaside town of Lyme for a fortnight to have him to herself. Her mother died when she was born so she has always been sheltered by her father. When she learns that Graham is talking business with her father, she is furious because she has planned a special dinner to hopefully get her father to agree to going away for a while. Mr. Lane had promised Anna that he would never remarry until she herself had married and was settled. However, there is a woman with whom he has become enamored and he wants to spend time with her. As the business proposition Graham has presented to Mr. Lane is in Brighton where Graham lives in Highcliffe House with his mother and sisters, it is agreed that Anna will travel to Brighton with Graham to his home and stay for a week checking out the town to see what she thinks of it. Privately, she is determined to give the place a no simply because she doesn’t care for Graham. After a week, Mr. Lane will join them and he has promised to take Anna to Lyme for a fortnight of quiet for the two of them.

Anna soon finds herself taken in by Graham’s loving family and enjoys spending time with them. In addition, Graham and his family show Anna around Brighton where she discovers so many interesting things to see and do. But, it’s not only the town that has captured her. Spending time together, she and Graham soon spark an attraction that cannot be denied.

A lovely book about strong people who find that they can do what they want in life to achieve the happiness that is out there. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely, clean novel and I know that readers will love it as well.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Loved! Goodness, me! I stepped into this book having zero idea what it was about except knowing that I loved Megan Walker’s other books.
There were way too many scenes that had my heart. I loved how Graham and Anna spending time together allowed them to open up and be their true personalities without any facade. And the chemistry between them!!!
Super cute and a fun regency read! Megan is talented and has a way at storytelling that makes you forget you’re reading a book. 💕

Absolutely loved this book!! Megan Walker writes some of the best regency romances I've ever read!! Anna and Graham were absolutely amazing!! I loved their enemies to lovers romance!!

“Graham Everett. He wasn’t supposed to feel this way . . . this exciting.”

If I could give this book 10 stars I would! I loved Highcliffe House! Enemies to lovers is my absolute favorite trope and this book delivers all the passion, underlying tension, and swoon worthy romance this trope engenders.

From the very first, Graham Everett & Anna Lane can’t stand each other. Anna’s the spoiled, demanding, entitled, only child of a successful businessman. Graham’s ambitious, hardworking, and needs Anna’s father to invest in his latest project in Brighton. But, Mr. Lane is going out of town and suggests that Anna accompany Graham to Brighton to determine whether he should invest. Though Anna doesn’t want to go, she needs to escape an entanglement with an unwanted suitor. Both she and Graham reluctantly agree and that’s when the sparks fly. In Brighton, Graham tries to show Anna all the best and most charming aspects. Though she makes things difficult at first, she soon falls under the spell of the gorgeous seaside town, Graham’s family, and Graham himself.

I adored both Graham & Anna! Anna comes off as a bit spoiled at first, but I loved how she quickly warmed to Graham’s family and came to appreciate how hard Graham works to support them. Graham is definitely attracted to Anna, but her utter dislike for him makes her his worthy enemy. As he does his best to be a charming host, he soon finds himself falling for her, especially when he sees how she’s befriended his youngest, mischievous sister Tabitha.

I loved all the places they visited and watching how their relationship changed as they really got to know each other. Graham’s determination to do things on his own and how hard he worked to support his mother and sisters is definitely praiseworthy, but I loved the twist at the end. I loved the dunking in the sea, fishing, chopping wood, the alphabet game, waltz, and the stair kiss. I honestly couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I also loved Graham’s family especially his little eight year old sister Tabitha. Her first meeting with Anna had me laughing out loud.

Highest of recommendations! This is a must read for all Regency romance fans. I’d love to see future books with Graham’s sisters. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

I absolutely loved this book! It's got everything I look for in a regency romance-- charm, swoony romance, and a setting that makes you feel like you're actually there.

The enemies-to-lovers vibes in this book were so good! The tension just about killed me at times and I was cheering JUST KISS ALREADY at my Kindle.

I loved that the two characters actually grow and change throughout the story. Their dislike of each other is based on misconceptions and I love that Graham and Anna were both willing to forgive and grow instead of dragging out their bitterness about past hurts. Both characters are amazing and I just adore them. I also adore the wonderful cast of side characters, especially Tabs. I can't help but hope that we get a Ginny book and a Tabs book in the future.

“She drove me absolutely mad. One minute, she was still and quiet and beautiful, then the next she was irking me to no end.”

🐚Dual points-of-view
🐚Regency romance
🐚Seaside location of Brighton
🐚Enemies-to-love
🐚Found family
🐚Swoon

There is so much to love within these pages. Headstrong and beautiful Anna is the jewel of her father’s eye and she’s not so keen on sharing his attentions with friend and business associate Graham. There is more than meets the eye with his handsome man, but the way these two irritate one another is almost a game and it’s easy to see underlying zings of attraction. A week in Brighton with Graham’s mother and two adorable sisters, Ginny and the precocious Tabs, combined with salty sea air brings about some enlightening surprises and I was there for every single interaction.

There’s something about witty and barbed banter that pierces my heart and I loved the way Megan Walker develops these characters throughout the book. As the sea air peels back the layers, a beautiful story unfolds and it’s pure magic. This is an enchanting tale for all who enjoy these tropes.

Content: mild moments of peril; talk of cheating/parental abandonment; mild romance

I adored this book so much! With amazing character growth, a great setting, a well-written story, and swoony romance, this book is a must-read, in my opinion.

Enemies to more is my favorite trope and it is fantastic in this book. I loved how Anna and Graham have understandable reasons for their perceptions of the other person, while the dual perspective of the story allows the reader to see who the character actually is. It was masterfully balanced! The plot kept me turning pages as quickly as I could to find out what would happen next!

The side characters are great, and I loved the various family relationships. I enjoyed every moment spent reading this book, and I will eagerly wait for whatever Megan Walker publishes next!

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

This book wasn't what I was hoping for. I found it rather bland and I expected better after reading such great reviews on Goodreads.

I usually love a good enemy-to-lovers story, but only when there's chemistry between both characters and you can understand where their anger comes from and see that they kinda have fun bantering. But here, Anna's hatred of Graham was childish — she didn't like that he had her father's attention — and she was plain mean and hurtful to him. Then she became friends with him for no reason; there wasn't really a turning point. After just a couple of days together, they were already in love — on Graham's part, I really don't understand why he liked Anna (except for her prettiness and because she was good friends with his sisters), indeed there was rarely a heroine I disliked more. I've know other despicable heroines, who behave nastily for a reason — but once it's explained, you start liking the heroine. Here, I just didn't like her or relate to her at all, and she didn't have any redeemable quality.

Sadly, I was disappointed by this book, but I loved other books from the same author so I remain open to trying other ones!
2.5 stars

*I received an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion*

I was intrigued from the very beginning. The animosity between Graham and Anna Is volatile and their passion makes you realize that if they could come to an agreement sparks would fly. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and the story did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the storyline. It held my attention throughout the book, and the characters are so engaging. It really is a delightful, clean and wholesome regency romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another lovely time to be had thanks to Megan Walker! Lovers of the author’s previous work, as well as the regency romance in general, should check out her latest novel.

Anna and Graham actively despise each other. They go out of their way to grate on each other’s nerves. Anna can’t stand Graham because he diverts her father’s attention away from her. Graham believes Anna disdains him because of his socioeconomic background. Thrown together for a week, they learn to see beyond their preconceived notions to discover that they don’t actually dislike each other after all.

I really loved the seaside setting of this book. Over the weekend that I read this, I begged my husband to take me to the English seaside several times so I could breathe the restorative air. ;) Generally, this genre can be very predictable, but I found this book had me really contemplating how the main characters would get past their obstacles.

Highlights:
-True rivals to lovers
-Picturesque English seaside
-Clean romance

🌟ARC REVIEW🌊
Highcliffe House
By, Megan Walker
Pub Date: 5/7/2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-Five Stars!

After reading Lakeshire Park and Miss Newbury’s List by Megan Walker last year and loving them both I was so excited to receive this ARC.

Graham and Anna have always seen each other as enemies but a little forced proximity causes them so see each other from a new perspective. This is a perfect summer read with the cozy small town seaside setting!

Graham is an underdog working hard to provide a better life for his family. He bears a heavy burden for his age but Anna brings out the best in him and becomes an ally over time. They are both stubborn and have a lot of pride but they learn to let their guard down for each other.

I appreciated their healthy communication. Once they let their walls down they are open and honest with each other and respect each other as equals. This book made me smile and feel so happy. Such a lovely swoony regency romance.

Things I loved:
-sassy banter
-playfulness/teasing
-exploring the cozy beach town
-library visit
-the most abordable game of “words”
-playing on the beach
-the most tension filled waltz
-us against the world
-“can I keep you forever?”🥹

ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you @netgalley and @shadowmountain

This was a sizzling fantastic enemies to lovers romance. The rotating first person POV worked well here, too. And while Graham and Anna shine, the supporting characters (such as Tabitha) add to it. Loved this delightful story.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain for the ARC.