This is a difficult one to review. It wasn’t a bad book, but I wouldn’t say it was great either. It felt very bland and exactly like others I’ve read before. Some moments of second hand embarrassment were so cringe worthy I had to skip it all together. I don’t know, I’d read other books by the author to see but I’m not sure I would recommend this one.

The main character Lucy was getting fired from a column at the women’s magazine she was writing, so with the advice and guidance of her sister (who after two weeks refused to help he) , she pitched to write an advice column for men and their relationship problems.
She writes advice to men with a man's name because men have fragile ego and cannot handle advice from women. Lucy doesn't understand men, she makes sure you know this by mentioning it every 2 minute.
This isn’t much of a love story between Lucy and Ross. It was mostly about Lucy, her issues, her insecurities, the relationship with her sister, her new job, her relationship with her ex, her cat and just a bit about Ross.

"The Love Hack" by Sophie Ranald is a delightful slow-burn office rom-com that’s just too adorable! Meet Lucy, who finds herself out of a job at a magazine and now has to write as the male “Ask Adam” columnist. Talk about a twist! She’s got a major crush on her new co-worker, Ross, but after a past heartbreak with a colleague, she’s totally sworn off office romance. Oh, and did I mention Ross is dating her sister’s friend? Yup, major awkward vibes!

Things get even messier when Lucy gets a shocking email from a reader thinking about cheating on his wife. And guess what? Lucy is pretty sure it’s her sister’s husband who just moved to New York with her sister, Amelie. So, what does Lucy do? She hops on a plane to New York with a plan to catch him in the act and spill the beans to her sister. Spoiler alert: things don’t go as smoothly as she hopes!

This book is packed with so much drama, and while Lucy and Ross’s romance is the main event, there are plenty of side stories that make it even more enjoyable. It’s layered with themes of standing up for yourself, accepting who you are, and dealing with the past. Plus, the sisterhood angle is super heartwarming! Trust me, you won’t want to miss this fun read!

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted ebook. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was expecting an office romance and didn't get that in the least.

I feel like this can't even go in the "romance" genre because we barely got to see Lucy and Ross falling in love, most of the time it was just them blushing and not saying anything to each other.

It also went a lot over Lucy's last situationship, to the point where we literally got the whole story and not just s glimpse which in my opinion is irrelevant to the current story.

Lucy complained a lot and was delusional most of the time, it was annoying to read her inner monologue and don't even get me started on the drama with her sister and husband.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I did not finish this book. I know I’m in the minority but I couldn’t connect with the characters and story line felt really slow moving. I do like this author though so I will definitely try another book from her in the future.

3.5/5 Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing, below is my honest review.

THE LOVE HACK follows Lucy, a quirky, tech-savvy woman who lands a job as an anonymous advice columnist and finds herself developing feelings for her coworker, Ross. As she gives romantic advice to others, Lucy grapples with her own budding romance and personal challenges. This modern office rom-com promises a fun, lighthearted story with relatable moments and humor, and I had a great time reading it.

Compared to recent releases like HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry, THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS and LOVE, THEORETICALLY both by Ali Hazelwood, The Love Hack offers a breezier, less emotionally intense read. Whilst The Love Hypothesis and Love, Theoretically feature more intellectual, STEM-centered heroines and slightly steamier romances, The Love Hack keeps its romantic elements subtle and mild, with fewer in-depth explorations of relationships. It’s lighter in tone, favoring humour over heavy emotions, which might not appeal as strongly to those who love the deeper romantic and emotional arcs of Henry’s work. Sometimes I found the plot a little bit slow, but the humour and charm made up for it.

For readers who enjoy the quirky yet heartfelt vibe of Emily Henry’s books (which I personally love!), The Love Hack is a charming addition to the genre. It’s a great pick for readers looking for a feel-good story with plenty of laughs, and the workplace setting adds a modern touch. Whilst the romance isn’t as developed as it could be, the book is an enjoyable, light read for those who prefer minimal steam in their stories, offering just the right amount of easygoing and lighthearted romance.

The premise of this book was super sweet: Lucie, 29, a solo monogamous since a failed workplace relationship years ago, lands a job giving relationship advice in a column under the ruse of a man. She struggles a bit and leans an AI program for help with the questions she receives. In the meantime, her new coworker Ross catches her eye. I really enjoyed the way the chapters started with letters from men asking questions to the column and how Lucie reacts to them, but the overall plot lagged a bit. I found myself liking the last quarter of the book much more than the first three-quarters. I missed a bit of the romance part of Lucie and Ross’s relationship.

This was a very well written book.
The main characters fell a little flat for me though. The MFC just felt a bit “stalkerish” in my opinion. I don’t know… felt like high school romance where you both like each other but are too scared to say anything and these are grown adults.
Throw in her sisters problems and it all just felt a little off for me personally.

I decided that I want to read this book in the end, and I'm sorry to say that I really liked the cat, and not so much more.

I wanted to bang my head against a wall every time Lucy said that "she doesn't understand men". Well I did not understand you, Lucy. Or this book.

The biggest problem of this book:
Why is it classified as a romance book when the romance was barely there? everything was about the relationship between her and her sister/cat. Ross was just there, in the background. Chemistry who?

Another thing I like to add and with this, I'm done, is that I understand that the FMC must be different or stand out among others but it feels like in this she only whines and like I said above "doesn't understand men".

I really hoped to like this, but in the end... NO.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. :)

"The Love Hack" by Sophie Ranald is a fun and contemporary romantic comedy that taps into the modern world of dating, technology, and the quest for love in the digital age. Ranald’s writing is fresh, witty, and full of heart, making this novel a delightful read for anyone who enjoys stories about love, self-discovery, and the occasional mishap in the world of online romance.

The story centers around a protagonist who, possibly frustrated with their love life, turns to technology—whether through dating apps, social media, or even a quirky matchmaking algorithm—to find the perfect match. However, as they navigate the often unpredictable world of digital dating, they quickly discover that love is far more complicated than any app can predict. Through a series of humorous, awkward, and heartfelt encounters, the protagonist learns that the true "hack" to love might be more about understanding oneself and others than relying on technology.

Ranald creates a cast of relatable and endearing characters, each with their own quirks and challenges in the dating world. The romantic plot is filled with charming moments, witty banter, and the kind of twists that keep readers hooked until the very end. The novel also touches on themes of friendship, self-worth, and the importance of authenticity in a world where it's easy to present a filtered version of oneself.

"The Love Hack" is perfect for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedies, especially those who appreciate a modern twist on the classic love story. Sophie Ranald has crafted a novel that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for anyone who’s ever navigated the highs and lows of finding love in the digital age. With its blend of humor, romance, and a touch of tech, this book is sure to leave readers smiling and perhaps rethinking their own approach to love.

Like many others and their reviews, I was also really hoping for more of the romance to come through and maybe ultimately what brings me to the rating I gave it. However, for others, they might find that a nonissue. Quick and easy read!

Due to health issues cannot write a proper review now, a proper review will follow
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A cute office love story! I absolutely enjoyed this book.

I loved the characters and storyline. A perfect easy read.

This was such a heartwarming read and i enjoyed every minute of it. An entertaining and lighthearted romance perfect for a summer read

I quite enjoyed this one. It's giving What Women Want mixed with How to Date a Guy in the best ways. Add a glittery perfect sister, the tension of enemies to friends to lovers and you have quite the interesting recipe that leads to delightful character development and lends some gravity to this story so it's not just a piece of fluff. A fast read? Yes. But it wasn't sickly sweet reading without anything to it and that was much appreciated!

Would recommend for sure!

For a romance book it lacked on the romance aspect, it was very hard to keep going, the main female character was insufferable that a lot of times i could not root for her. I did end up liking the story once i pushed through but overall it wasn’t a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sophie Ranald for allowing me to read this book early and share my thoughts with other readers!

This was advertised as a slow burn romance with EmHen banter between two office journalists and I only got a fraction of that. The banter was weak at best. There was a cute slow burn but it was much more a subplot than the main romance of the novel. It quite literally faded into the background until I had myself questioning who this book's romance was actually about? It could have just as easily between about Lucy and Kieran, or Amelie and Zack or Byrony and Ross... as each one of those interactions took more time and explanations that Lucy and Ross. There were cute moments between them but it felt more like strangers to acquaintances than it did anywhere close to lovers.

Speaking of the spice, there were spicy moments that could have happened and the first one was mild but in a "detailed step-by-step" kind of way and after that it was glossed over so fast I accidentally read over one of the times they did it! It's not the closed door that I'm disappointed in but the fact that the second time I missed it completely because it felt like less than a sentence describing the lead up and main event. At least make it fade to black if that's going to happen!

One entire star is dedicated to Astro, who has the most personality and conflict out of all the characters it felt like sometimes. We ship a man who takes good care of our precious fur baby! Which Ross did until he did not...but he did have a good reason and at least he was responsible but that was also not cool.

Overall, it was the sweet sisterly bond that kept me from DNF'ing this book. It was a cute read, it has cute elements and moments but for me it was more forgettable than anything.

I wanted to give this a 2.5 but alas we shall round up. I love a romcom, I really do. It is my go to after all. Give me some humor and swoon worthy material and I will eat it up. Unfortunately, this lacked. I didn't root for the FMC, I spent most of my time feeling frustrated with her, now logically we need that arc in a character but I felt this wasn't really pulling that off. I agonize over characters finding out the truth or just developing enough to find happiness. This is where the book failed. You became almost tired of it. The FMC is one dimensional and I couldn't picture her at all, she almost became this character who was faceless. She was lost and really it was a book about her struggle and not a romance. I did enjoy the idea of it, I did finish it but it was more of an effort than usual.

Super cute office love story! I absolutely enjoyed this book found it to be a nice and refreshing read! Initally I was lured in by the cover but quickly got wrapped up in Lucy's life! The Love Hack follows Lucy who has just been hired as an advice columnist known as "Ask Adam". Lucy must learn to think like Adam in order to help her readers navigate relationship and life issues. We get to meet Lucy's coworkers including Ross who Lucy sits across from and the chemistry between the two is there from day 1! I enjoyed this romantic comedy as it was a refreshing read. I cannot wait to read more from Sophie Ranald! Thank you Net Galley and Storm Publishing for allowing me the chance to enjoy this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

While I enjoyed the writing style of this book I felt it was lacklustre. I think I went into it expecting more based on the synapse and felt disappointed. It wasn’t much of a romcom and I felt I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I hoped I would. I know others will love this book but it just didn’t hit the spot for me.