This has been a fun and entertaining story, at times crazy, at others sad. It took a while to connect with the plot, but the introduction also makes sense. Because the characters, both the protagonists and the multiple supporting characters, all play an important role in the story, so it pays to be patient.

The main character is Olivia Roberts, who owns a muffin business and counts Mary Buggs's Bookstore among her clients. Olivia is positive, she trusts others and that has caused her to be taken advantage of on multiple occasions, especially all of her exes. But she'll draw the line when her latest ex steals her most prized possession, her stuffed penguin, Trip, inherited from her nana Betty. That will trigger a desire for revenge on Olivia's part towards her exes. But she does not have a vengeful mentality so she must hire a henchperson to plan her actions.

It is then that Olivia begins to interact with the owner of Mary Bugg's Bookstore, Dr Margaret Blackwood, reclusive, mysterious, haughty and unapproachable Dr. Blackwood. Cynical and contemptuous too. But for some reason Margaret feels protective of Olivia and that will benefit both of them.

The book's dialogues are fun, complex and elaborate. Nothing is left unexplained. Even intimate conversations are genuine and honest, however harsh and cruel they may have been at times. But the personalities of the two protagonists, certainly antagonistic, have led to these extreme emotional situations.

A refreshing book that I definitely recommend.

You muffin miss this read!

Olivia makes muffins and runs a crime book club at a local bookstore, but when her ex steals Trip, the stuffed penguin her nana left her, she is on a mission to recruit a henchperson to help her get a little revenge on all her past lovers who have wronged her. It is Margaret Blackwood, elusive owner of the bookstore who comes to her rescue, and together they make quite the team!

Awesome! Loved every second of this. It was quirkier than I am used to with a Lee Winter story, but that only endeared me to the whole story even more. The title eludes to a dark story, yet with the humour it just made it really fun and playful while Olivia, Margaret, and all the brilliantly unique characters from the bookstore and book club got involved in Olivia’s planned revenge. Margaret had that cunning clever only someone with an ice queen persona can possess, but there was more to her than the average ice queen, which just made me love her.

Now, Olivia, the kindest and sweetest person who people who were supposed to love her had been absolutely awful to, so I totally got her reasons for wanting her revenge. Even though she’d been pushed too far though, she was still lovely and kind, and showed real growth in accepting that just because she was good didn’t mean she deserved or had to take any of what had been dealt to her. I admired her greatly, and even when she was exacting revenge, she was still so kind and caring, so she really, really, needed Margaret’s help in making sure these exes knew she was serious about making it clear she’d been hurt and would take no more.

This was just so good that you have to read it! I loved it, couldn’t put it down, and know I will read it again and again. It was filled with brilliant moments that’ll make you laugh and put a smile on your face, while you fall in love with Olivia and Margaret falling in love with one another in the most unlikely of situations.

Lee Winter does it again! How can you not fall in love with these characters and the hijinks they get into? The humour is spot on and the spice level is definitely a 3 out of 5. Also ... how can you go wrong with penguin napping?! Be prepared ... don't read on an empty stomach because so many baking puns are included!

Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley!

This was my first book by Winter, and I absolutely adored it! Olivia is such a cinnamon roll- sweet, caring and innocent- that it’s hard not to adore her. Her bad track record with relationships was enough to make anyone want to protect her- and it did. Margaret Blackwood- former academic, ice queen, and book club heckler- is unable to stand by when Olivia goes in search of a henchperson… and the best applicant is under thirteen. I loved their interactions. Also, we get a look into Margaret’s mind through her journal… the excerts are fabulous and I thought this was not only a good plot device, but a often a wonderful source of humor. 

  Honestly, all the characters were fabulous- even the overly flirtatious Sacha. I loved Emma and Toby especially. Who wouldn’t love those kids? Emma, especially, was charming with her quiet humor, attention to detail and skills in negotiation. Definitely henchperson material… when she grows up.

 The book was well written, charming, and often hilarious while hitting all the feels. There was a lot to love, honestly. 
1. Personal growth: I feel like our two leads grew a lot (and, maybe Sacha? Jury’s out).
2. Book club absurdity (honestly, it really was awful trying to keep them on topic, but I loved them).
3. Sass and sarcasm through journal and running commentary. Honestly, I am considering buying the audio just to listen to someone sucessfully read Margaret’s lines aloud without laughing.
4. ALL the baking puns
5. Grumpy/sunshine trope done right.
6. Penguin-napping
7. Intimate scenes without being too explicit (spice level four?) 
8. ^ The revenge plot and relationship growth took center stage. So often, when the main characterFor me, this was a fun, fast read that I could not put down. I will be looking into other books from this author as well as considering this one for gifts. I have several book-buds that I think would love this. Five stars all the way!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
 As far as adult content goes, there’s language, sexual innuendo as well as content- sexy but not so far over the top as to be overkill. While definitely geared toward adults, I would say 17 and up.

s discover sex, the plot is at least partially forgotten. Not here.

Lee Winter never ceases to amaze me with the caliber of stories she creates. She’s an incredibly versatile author whose books have all made an impact on my life. With Vengeance Planning for Amateurs, she’s written a deeply emotional story that is leveled out with humor. The characters are quirky and endearing and I loved being a part of their world even for a short amount of time.

I had a difficult time putting this book down. I found the plotline to be so completely bizarre and I was so there for it. It is lighter than we normally get from Winter but there are some difficult and emotional themes running through that left a real impact on me.

Olivia is an absolutely wonderful human who would give anyone the shirt off her back. Yet, she’s been taken advantage of by everyone she’s dated. I guess they see her as a target, one that can easily be manipulated. Her exes have done some really despicable things to her and I have a difficult time understanding how people can be so awful to another human. Olivia’s fed up with being a doormat and takes matters into her own hands. Naturally, things never go according to plan and despite this, she perseveres and learns to stand up for herself and not allow anyone to make her feel less than.

One of my favorite parts of this book are the dynamics between Olivia and Margaret. Their witty banter and terrible vengeance executions kept me tearing through the pages. The fact that they’re clueless idiots made me love them even more! The two of them together are the epitome of a dynamic duo! Witnessing Margaret thaw towards Olivia made me swoon. Her little (not so subtle looks), her anger towards Olivia’s exes, and her fear for Olivia’s safety show just how deeply Olivia wormed her way into Margaret’s heart. Olivia’s vulnerability and honesty with Margaret throughout the book show how truly brave Olivia is. Their romance is a glacial burn that works so well and when they finally, finally kiss, my heart almost burst!

I’m in awe of Lee Winter’s ability to pen original tales with captivating characters time after time. Vengeance Planning for Amateurs is a fun romantic comedy that captured my attention from the first page. The unique plot, witty dialogue, engaging characters, humor, and romance make this a real winner for me. Olivia and Margaret’s character arcs are perfectly described and I found myself falling more and more in love with them as the book progressed. The mishaps with vengeancing had me laughing out loud, shaking my head, and cheering for them at the same time. There’s humor, compassion, honesty, loyalty, vulnerability, and romance. Honestly, this book has it all and I highly recommend it!

As elevator pitches go, it’s original: Olivia, owner of a mobile bakery ‘Love Muffins’ has her stuffed penguin Trip stolen by her ex. She uses the local book group to get revenge on her and all the exe’s who have wronged her. It’s a unique, quirky and very Aussie read. Winter has a great line in deadpan dialogue and lovable characters. If it’s episodic in nature, that’s the nature of the novel. It’s the queer romcom heist movie we never knew we needed, and it’ll leave you with a grin on your face and an urge for a muffin. My thanks go to Ylva Publishing for a preview copy.

I really don’t think it is giving anything away that Winters main protagonist is an introverted ice queen who be charmed and conquered by a kind extrovert younger woman or that it will be a work place slow burn romance. Nor will it come as a surprise, that there will be plenty of snarky banter, quirky characters, a unique storyline, a cute animal of some sort or a wrong that needs to be made right.

Winter once again weaves a tale that with keep the reader intrigued from the very first page and make you feel so much for these two women and their friends. I enjoyed the many Aussie connections and I am sure overseas readers will enjoy their quirkiness too. They may even spot a brief glance at a crossover character or two from previous books.

This book was adorable and hilarious. The characters were absolutely ridiculous in the best way. They made you want to laugh, roll your eyes, and groan in frustration all at the same time. For two seemingly smart and capable women, Olivia and Margaret were shockingly bad at accomplishing their goals. This made their hijinks extremely entertaining. I never wanted to put the book down.

My favorite part about this book was the side characters. From the overprotective older sister, to the precocious preteen bookworm, to the ragtag group that comprised the bookclub, all of the characters were lovable and sweet in their own way.

I also loved the teasing banter between Olivia and Margaret. They both gave off a protective, no-one-can-mess-with-you-but-me vibe. They teased and taunted each other but they wouldn’t let anyone else say anything less than polite about the other. It was super cute. Margaret was a great ice queen. Cold and frosty right up to the point when she was melted, and then nothing could make her doubt her love for Olivia. Olivia, on the other hand, was the perfect melter: sweet, innocent, and a wholehearted believer in the power of love. They seemed to have really amazing chemistry as a couple.

I really loved this book. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a funny, light hearted, ice queen romance. And I will definitely be reading it again in the near future. Thanks to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can honestly say that the beginning of this book had me very confused and I almost gave it up. I pushed through until about 20% and found it to be quite humorous and the pacing was just right for me. I kind of want to get myself a stuffed penguin now.

I had a lot of fun reading this book! It’s a very lighthearted and fun book, just what you would expect from a book that’s self described as “an offbeat lesbian romantic comedy starring penguins” set primarily in a crime bookstore. Despite the light nature of the book, there are several introspective moments as well, where the FMC confronts and extracts vengeance on her four former ex partners.

Logistically, I found this book moved at a great pace, was invested in the story and their romance, and really enjoyed all of the side characters who frequently popped up (I would love a sequel for Samantha Garrity!). The book is told in a singular POV, but each chapter ended with journal entries from the secondary main character, which was a really clever and fun way to get their perspective, without any POV-switching which I find confusing in third-person books.

This is a bizarre, sometimes bubbly, sometimes weird love story between a former-librarian-turned-bookstore-owner and a muffin baker. Tasty baked goods and books--what could go wrong, right? Turns out, nothing. An utterly funny, never boring, fast paced novel. There are evil exes, henchmen (or better, henchpeople), puns so bad that they are hilarious, and taxidermied birds!

"The soul of a reader should never be starved." Thus, a book club "with the worst book opinions ever" provides brilliant entry points into Australian crime fiction and into the history of the Australian bushrangers. Get ready for Mary Ann Bugg!

If you like books about books: This is not one of the variety with invented books and book reviews or excerpts (which gets usually old very rapidly). All the books (and even the JALIA articles) are real and can be found on the internet. Just do not try to find "Why Bushranger Mary Ann Bugg Is Better Than Buckethead. Subtitle: Ned Kelly’s An Overrated Son of A Bitch". Google will not turn up anything for that one, parental filters or not.

Also, there are one or more Easter-eggs hidden.

In summary, I cannot say anything else than: Extremely funny (even the sex scenes!)--read!

Absolutely a delightful read!!

You know that when you love an author so much, you tend to have high expectations from them. However, Lee Winter never fails to deliver the best. HVengeance Planning for Amateurs is a romantic comedy that is a refreshing change from her usual works. I say this because I had just re-read Requiem for Immortals a few days ago. I love both MCs, especially Olivia, she's full of awkwardness and quirky vibe, and I adore her!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from beginning to end. I felt a little sad when I reached the end because I wanted to read more of it. Highly recommend!

4.5 stars

This is a really fun book where Lee Winter joyfully flexes her comedic muscles. The next closest in tone of hers would be Changing the Script - but you can’t really compare the two.

Olivia Roberts is a kind, loving, muffin-baking entrepreneur who has been taken advantage of for the last time by romantic partners and decides to recruit folks to help her get back at those who have grossly wronged her. She does so at a crime bookstore owned by icy, brilliant and well read Dr. Margaret Blackwood, whose acerbic tongue rivals the best of any of Winter’s previous ice queens. Those who follow Winter on social media will understand when I say that I wondered while reading this if the character is a homage to her fiancée Sam, because as sharp-tongued as she is, her behind the scenes commentary is also hilarious.

As we’ve come to expect from this author, the book is not just humorous, but wonderfully clever - from the chapter headings and slogans on buttons Olivia wears daily, to the books and Australian history referenced throughout. And if you pay attention to details, there are some not-so-hidden nuggets that make you smile all the more.

Go into this one expecting lighter fare and then hang on for the ride!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

breathtaking!! one of my fav sapphic contemporary romances now. i haven't read any lee winter books before and that is so woeful, i must remedy that asap.

Vengeance Planning for Amateurs by Lee Winter is a fun rom-com that will make you laugh, snort, and wonder how two very capable women can be so bad at vengeancing.

I love this book, so much. I’ve already read it twice and could happily read it again and again. It is different from what we usually get from Winter, but no less brilliant or enjoyable.
Usually, in a Winter, ice queen novel I’m all about the ice queen, but this time it was an equal 50/50 split. I adore both characters so much.
Dr Margaret Blackwood is an icy recluse. She has her reasons for shutting herself away. She left the world of academia behind a few years ago and now owns a crime bookstore. Hidden away in her office she is rarely seen or heard from. Except for once a week when she opens her door to ‘join’ the WOMEN IN CRIME book club meetings. For two years she listens in silence until one day it seems she can hold her tongue no more and her acerbic comments float out the door.
Olivia Roberts is kind, sweet, and good-intentioned. This means that unfortunately she is easily taken advantage of. She has had a lot of bad luck when it comes to her love interests. Not one of them seemed to want her, they were just out for what they could get. After her latest horrid ex steals her beloved stuff penguin Trip, she’s finally had enough of doing nothing. She advertises for a henchperson to help get revenge on her unsuspecting exes. Imagine her surprise when the illusive bookstore owner, (who also happens to be very attractive if it wasn’t for her caustic comments) applies and is the only applicant who is qualified for the job. Well, she does own a crime bookstore, that has to count for something.
Olivia and Margaret team up to reap vengeance for all the wrong doings that have been bestowed on Olivia. Yet they soon realise that for capable, intelligent, women, they are very bad at vengeancing. Some of the schemes they come up with are borderline ridiculous (okay some even cross the line, there is a scene with a foldable ladder, that will have you laughing while praying everyone survives).
During all this vengeance planning the pair get closer, discovering things about each other that turn an unlikely partnership into romance. But obviously slow-burn, this is an ice queen book after all. I adored watching these clueless idiots fall in love. Margaret always wants to protect Olivia, that’s why she applied for all this henchpersoning. But she also has a vulnerability, that is unique for an ice queen, and dare I say it, she is actually quirky and very cute. Olivia finds it hard to stand up for herself, she has been trodden on one too many times. Yet when Margaret needs her, she is there to protect her in a dazzling display of bravery and loyalty. It's beautiful.
There are fabulous side characters in this story. The book club members are a funny mismatched bunch, who rarely stay on topic ,and enjoy gossiping more than book discussions. Emma a clever, observant ten-year-old who seems to be the only one who has a clue as to what is happening. Then Winter has given us Olivia's vile exes to boo and hiss at.
The writing as always in a Winter book is exceptional. There is wit, humour, emotions, and swoony declarations. There is also all that plotty goodness that this author excels at and clever subtleties throughout the book left for the reader to find. My absolute favourite is Margaret’s journal/Diary entries. Winter has used these to let the reader see what Dr B is thinking. There are clues and subtle changes as the story unfolds that show where Margaret’s head is and when she changes. It’s brilliant and I’ve re-read them several times already.
Don’t worry, although this is a rom-com Winter still manages to get in a few gut-wrenching moments to still your breath and give you misty eyes.
So, as you can tell I highly recommend this book. It’s 5 stars plus from me and one that I’ll read again and again.

3.5/4. Olivia, a skilled muffin maker known for her kindness, finds herself fed up of being taken advantage of by her past partners. Margaret is the reclusive bookstore owner. They team up to deal out revenge to all of Olivia’s past partners. It took me longer to get into the story because I simply did not like Olivia’s naive nature. The humor drew me into the story, along with the slow burn. Not my favorite Winter book but, I enjoyed it! I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a truely enjoyable and giddy read. Lee Winter is a favorite author of mine and I had high expectations for this book and Winter soared right over those expectations. This story follow Olivia, a muffin baker with a terrible history of ex romantic partners. When her last ex crossed a line and finally pushed Olivia too far, she has enough and decides to take out a vengeance plan against all of her exs. She decides that, naturally, you should put up an ad at your local bookstore, seeking a henchperson to assist with exacting said vengeance plan. To Olivia's surprise, the aloof book owner, Margaret Blackwood, turns out to be the best qualified for the job.

Oh how deliciously wonderful and heartfelt this book was. In true Winter fashion, Margaret is a spectacular addition to the ice queen cabal that Winter has been cultivating. Margaret is biting, witty, extremely sarcastic, and completely annoyed with herself for not being able to keep Olivia's infectious positivity out. I love the banter between Olivia and Margaret, and the complete willingness to commit to being the best henchperson, that Margaret has. It was just as entertaining watching every single one of the vengeance plans fail and yet somehow succeed. I laughed out loud several times at their shenanigans.

Another hit out of the park for Winter. A fun, sarcastic, and baking pun full read that should not be missed by anyone who is a fan of Winter and or melting ice queens. Highliy recommend this read and I will surely be adding this to my reread lists when I need a pick me up.

Thank you to NetGalley and YLVA/author for the ARC.

4/5 stars

Winter never fails to provide an amazing sapphic romance. In this book, Winter committed to providing a wildly entertaining, incredibly charming and laugh-out-loud funny romantic comedy. There was lots of outlandish scenes and comic scenarios, balanced by the well-rounded and genuine characters at its heart. This was certainly a fun ride and the perfect pick-me-up romance.

This book centres on Olivia, an artisan muffin maker and committed book club leader of her eclectic crime and mystery book club. After a string of awful exes taking advantage of her kindness, Olivia decided she’s had enough and puts up a job advert for a henchman to help with her schemes of vengeance. Margaret, the mysterious and elusive owner of the local bookstore that Olivia hosts her book club in, decides that this job listing is just too much fun to pass up. Much to everyone’s surprise, Margaret teams up with Olivia to wreak havoc on Olivia’s terrible exes.

I really couldn’t summarise the plot of this book well, so please just trust me this book is so much better than I just described. It’s full of hijinks, witty and scathing banter, and a gorgeous opposites attract romance at its centre. Olivia was such a bubbly and earnest main character in contrast to Margaret’s (or Dr Blackwood as she insists on everyone addressing her) icy and reserved exterior. Is it too late to mention that this book also has a gorgeous and unique take on the ice-queen trope which made me fall in love with Margaret so quickly.

This is the kind of book that full engrosses you in every way. The plot is fast and fun, so it fully sweeps you up right from the beginning. In addition to the funny and charming plot is such a surprisingly heartfelt and thoughtful romance that will equally engross you. I loved every aspect of this story.

This is another win for Winter. (God I hope that’s one of those things that is said so much it has gotten old.) Winter is a phenomenal storyteller with a talent for carrying the reader through the emotional depths of her characters. You really experience the shallows of their grief and highs of each and every win. It was as romcomy as I would expected; cute and definitely a little absurd at times. Overall, an enjoyable, quick read I didn’t want to put down. And here comes the but, BUT, it didn’t hit the same mark for me the way Winter’s other books hit. To be honest, she has a really high bar, so keep that in mind. I think the story was just a little far fetched for my tastes, and the characters just a little too much for me. One was a little too austere and hermited, and the other a little too bubbly and sweet. And a henchperson? It’s funny i guess, but just a bit on the bizarre side.

That being said, I really did enjoy everything about this book. It was refreshing to read an uplifting book for a change of pace. Of course there was an emotional blip at the 70% mark, but not the typical earth shattering drop I was prepared for. Yes it was tough for a min, but it was a quick minute. Minimal angst is my jam. I don’t enjoy feeling like garbage so I really appreciated this more uplifting tale.

This is a story about Olivia Roberts who drives an old van and makes muffins in her home kitchen for sale to various coffee shops and a bookstore. Olivia also leads a book club discussion group at this same bookstore that specializes in mystery books. And especially Australian brushrangers and the cops who hunted them down.

The bookstore owner, Margaret Blackwood, is brilliant, aloof and a very private person. Margaret’s mother is the vice chancellor at the same university where Margaret used to be a professor. And her mother is extremely controlling and demanding. Margaret, who has suffered a personal tragedy, decides to help Olivia get revenge on her exes, who have all done something terrible to her.

This book has a bunch of dry humor and was a change of pace from Winter’s normal style. But, Margaret was every bit the ice queen character as Winter is the expert at developing. And Olivia is the bumbling, shy, younger character we have seen before.

At the 75% mark there is an awesome Easter Egg that made me so happy to see a glimpse of my most favorite Winter character from a previous book. Yeah for adding that. And this part of the book was very well written when we have the showdown between Olivia and Margaret’s mother. Sooooo good.

Also I was happy to learn about Ned Kelly and the history of Australian Brushrangers.

Thanks to Ylva Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC. .