The idea behind this story is so lovely. Someone who wants to help men with love problems is not something I've seen before and I was really intrigued by the idea and am very thankful for Netgalley for allowing me to read it before release.

I absolutely loved it, the banter between the characters, Lucy trying to understand men better to help them through the ‘Ask Adam’ column. Lucy and Ross becoming friendlier and starting to catch feelings for each other. Lucy wanting to help her sister when needed.
I couldn’t stop reading when I started it, and ended it in one sitting. I was so hooked and wanted to know how it would end and the ending was all I could ask for. It was a slow burn romance, but a nice one and I am glad that Lucy and Ross got their happy ending.

The characters were likeable and it’s a story where they struggle between their job, love and personal lives. It was also really nice that there were multiple locations included. The Love Hack is for sure a book I would recommend if you like a quick read with a bit of comedy.

I gave it 4.5 stars because I couldn’t put the book down and was into it right away. I enjoyed the characters, the setting, the build-up between Lucy and Ross and most of all the happy ending. It’s not a 5 star, but that’s because there were a few bits that could be changed to be better. But overall I really enjoyed it and hope more people will take a chance on it when it’s released.

I somewhat struggled to finish. It just didn’t really pull me into the story. I enjoyed the writing style but overall the story just wasn’t for me

So this book… it was nice. I feel like there was a lot happening and oddly I liked the Ross having a potential gf storyline but I really thought it would be a grumpy/sunshine read. Instead it was a very insecure FMC and a Labrador male love interest. I loved Ross, I loved his backstory, I feel like it added depth. I wasn’t keen on how it felt like it was rushed. There was just something about the pacing that felt very off. There were pages and pages of what felt like useless description but a quick mention of a tube destination and her home, no clue even what her flat actually looked like but I know inch by inch what her sisters face looks like.
That being said, it was nice and sweet and there was mild banter throughout. The POV of the men in the emails and the office vs the POV of the ladies WhatsApp thread and nights out was fun to read. I feel I could’ve had more of that and honestly none of Keiran. Honestly that man is disgusting.

I was excited by the premise of this book. I have read some office romances that I really enjoyed but sadly this book did not really read like a romance. This felt much more like a women's fiction book. The MMC played with our FMC emotions a lot during the book. While our FMC did a lot of ranting. Unfortunately this book fell flat for me.

Not my favorite romance lately but still a good short book. Some of the parts seemed slower than others and I think that’s why it was just ok for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Actual Rating: 2.5 🌟

For full review, please check my goodreads review linked below. If there is a possibility to take in consideration some comments especially joking about a bomb as this is a seriously offensive matter to a lot of people I'm sure, then it would be great. Thank you for the e-arc. The author has a flowing writing style which made this a readable book despite its many flaws in the story and characters themselves.

I loved this book so much! The characters were so fun to get to know and I loved the banter. It was a very easy read and I would recommend it to so many of my friends that would love this book. It did not take long to get into and hooked. And once I was hooked, I could not put the book down. I read it so quickly, just in a few hours. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quirky cute and quick read. It has all the elements of a perfect romance book and a bit of comedy. it is the perfect book for a vacation read!

Title: The Love Hack by Sophie Ranald

Release Date: June, 7th, 2024

3.5 Stars


Lucy, a rookie advice columnist known as "Ask Adam," finds herself in a complicated situation when she develops feelings for her office crush, Ross. Despite her reluctance to get involved with a coworker after a previous heartbreak, Lucy can't deny the chemistry between her and Ross. However, things become even more complicated when she receives an email to her advice column that she suspects is from Ross, who is not single. As Lucy's column gains popularity and her inbox fills with relationship problems, she relies on her AI assistant to help navigate her own romantic troubles. Can "Ask Adam" guide Lucy through her feelings for Ross, or will her love life become even more complicated?



This story offers a delightful slow burn romance that can easily be devoured in one sitting. While it may not stand out as the best in its genre, it's a charming and fluffy read perfect for when you're in need of some light-hearted entertainment. Despite moments that may feel familiar to fans of office romance novels, the story is engaging and enjoyable, making it a fun choice for a cozy evening read.


Thank you to the publisher Storm Publishing ,The Author Sophie Ranald & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

2.5-2.75 ⭐
I went into this knowing it would be a light hearted Romcom , which I'm a fan of.
Unfortunately I don't think this was for me and at times felt almost too surface level for me with not alot of emotional pull.
I personally found the FMC a little too childish and at times quite misogynistic re: her observations of women and wasn't the biggest fan of the "I'm not like other girls" element.
The romance was sweet between too sweet characters but the fmcs personality didn't give me the usual buzz of HEA's.
I do think pushing this towards fans of Beth o Leary and Emily Henry might not be the best as those books are very far from one dimensional and are full of emotive characters and plot lines.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm publishing for a e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Below is my honest review that will also be shared on Goodreads.

Lucy works for a magazine company called, Fab. Within the last 3 years, Fab has gone downhill due to worldly things like, Covid.
Causing budget cuts, Lucy loses her column, and is on the verge of losing her job.
After pitching a new column idea, Lucy finds herself working under the company's men column, Max! Online. Her column is an online segment called, Ask Adam. With the help of her sister, she answers questions that men send in on various topics.
While juggling her new job and swearing off men in her own life, there's the cute coworker she sits directly across from named, Ross.
Right off the back, I like Ross.
He's funny, kind, and is just a likeable character. This is a cute, slow burn romcom about a girl crushing on her coworker, while also juggling her job, and her personal life.

Lucy, our fearless journalist, has some serious confidence issues. And maybe that's from being in the shadow of her sister ("the pretty one") Amelie. When she's about to lose her job as the tech editor of her magazine, she pitches a column to the "brother" men's publication. The column is advice around women to their male readership.

Lucy has been single for a long while, and doesn't have terribly much experience with men, so can she pull it off? Not to mention, most (if not all) of her coworkers are men, and that comes with its own set of cautions. And it comes with a crush on one of them! Quick & cozy read - 3.5/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Sophie Ranald for the eARC.

The star rating for this book is unnecessarily harsh. Do not judge this book by its star rating! While not what I would call a traditional romance, as much of the "romance" does not take place between the hero and heroine, but rather by a bad relationship in the heroine's past, this is a satisfying work of women's fiction...and the publisher should probably shelve it as such if they don't want to keep getting backlash to this title! It's got Sophie Kinsella vibes, which means it may have romance in it but it's 100% women's fiction.

this book is about Lucy who has been sacked from her old job on a magazine and gets a new one at that same paper as the editor of the "ask Adam" column, which is basically her posing as a man giving men advice.

Lucy has had experience with a workplace romance with an older man which went bad. and I'm being so honest, more than half of this (till the very end!!) we were still getting flashbacks about the old romance. quite frankly, I really didn't care about it and it was tiring, repetitive, and pulled the plot backwards.

so about the characters:
Lucy was nosy, quirky, annoying, made mad decisions and not really likable. her character was stuck up, nonchalant and was an overthinker. and not an ovethinker in a good way of things you have to actually be worried about, but she imagined situations that were just impossible.

Ross who is the love interest (oh poor Ross). I feel, like he was barely mentioned in the book because why did Lucy think more about the good times with her ex than him?? Ross is very cute, kind and soo soo sweet. I felt so bad for him because he didn't know he ended up with a psychopath in the end😔🥲

the plot/ romance:
there was barely any romance in this book in my opinion because when did she even start liking him, accepting her feelings, trying to show that she liked him that he even flew to New York to meet her and they did the doing thing??? i was so confused because there were so many gaps in the plot, and it was just very exhausting.

I don't know if it's just me, so I hope everyone reads this to validate my opinion that this book just isn't that good.


some of my notes while reading this
damn, even in fiction andrew tate is being mentioned😭😭

I have no idea when the transition from not wanting to be in a work place romance to liking Ross and even crying happened???

I imagined this book being set in 2010 or 2011 in London because of the imagery and especially the slang. who says "phwoar" still?

there's literally nothing goingnonnabd we're already past the half mark

half the book was spent talking about her ex

Lucy really needs to mind her own business. she doesn't have to go there to catch Zack. she should go to visit her sister because wtf

I spent more than half of this book waiting for the romance cus what even was this?

The Love Hack by Sophie Ranald

When Lucy is about to lose her job at the magazine Fab! as a technical writer due to the change to an online platform, she follows her sister's advice and pitches the idea of Ask Adam - an online agony uncle.

Though she feels like she cannot understand men, she manages to answer their problems with the help of her sister and an AI tool.

But when her own life starts to shake with problems related to men, she is not sure how to move ahead.

I did not expect this story to be so good. I had low expectations due to the previous novel I read and because I was not familiar with the author's writing. But I am pleasantly surprised! I enjoyed the book throughout and loved the story.

Lucy is logical, sensitive, and a brilliant cat mom, who is very compassionate and considerate of the feelings of people around her. I loved her personality and how emotionally mature she seemed even when dealing with her insecurities.

The story is told in first person from Lucy's perspective. Usually, I prefer dual points of view in romcoms, but this is an amazing exception. I was very engaged throughout, reading how she navigated through the curveballs thrown at her.

I loved her relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. The way she was so sensible and understanding was very admirable. The undeniable chemistry between Lucy and Ross was very cute!

I loved the writing throughout. The Ask Adam thing was especially creative.

I hope there will be a sequel, but focused on Amelie's story. I would love to read that one!

Give this book a try if you enjoy a slow burn, friends to lovers romcom!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The characters were super relatable and I enjoyed the FMC. A fast paced rom com with just a little too much drama than I expected. I like happier romantic books to cleanse my palate after an intense thriller.

A good rom com where the main character has depth and is relatable. I liked most of the book but felt there was a lot of unnecessary drama mixed in.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. Thank you to the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review.

"The Love Hack" is like a breath of fresh air in the rom-com scene. Lucy Hack, the main character, feels just like someone you might know in real life, making the story super relatable. Her gig writing for the Ask Adam column adds a cool twist, giving us a peek into how guys think about relationships. But, there were a couple of things that didn't sit right with some readers, like the whole drama with another woman and Lucy's sister Amelie, who could've used some more likability. Still, despite these bumps, the book keeps you hooked with its realistic characters and Lucy's journey of self-discovery. It's a cozy romance that you could easily devour in one sitting, perfect for a lazy day at the beach.

I had a tough time with this book. I really wanted to love it, but I just didn't. Maybe it was the british slang used that made things difficult to understand (I'm American), maybe it was that I was expecting more romance based on the title, or maybe because the challenges the characters faced hit too close to home (let's be real, I read romance to escape from reality not have it hit me head on). The book was not terrible by any means and there were some very funny parts but it was not my favorite. The grand gesture where the MMC travels across the ocean to declare his love was sweet and expected out of romance. The conversations between the FMC/MMC where they opened up about their past heartbreaks (toxic relationship and death of a parent) were great additions and really helped develop the characters further.

However, I expected more romance. The relationship between the FMC and MMC, I felt, should have had a lot more tension building up to the point where they confess their feelings to one another. I didn't feel much tension there. I also found it odd that the MMC was described as "average" in the beginning which made me think he wasn't a main character. I suppose the author wanted to capitalize on the idea that love blooms over time and isn't always based on physical attraction which is wonderful, but that initial attraction to another person is usually based in physical response so it felt odd. I also hated that the MMC was in a relationship that he clearly wasn't interested in throughout majority of the book while holding a torch for another woman. It seemed a bit sleazy, he should have broken it off much sooner. I also hated the cheating amongst the supporting characters but that's personal preference.. I can't stand reading about cheating in books but it did add to the story and helped develop the FMC further so it served a purpose. I just wish it hadn't gone so far.

All and all, I think the title of the book was misleading which may have led to this feeling I have that the book fell flat. I expected more. But if the description and title was toned down a bit and didn't make it seem heavy on the romance and more of a general/women's fiction book my response would probably be very different.

I enjoyed this book, but the miscommunication and lack of self-esteem tropes are my least favorite, and those came up very frequently in this book. I enjoyed following the main characters along and the characters were all likable (except the one you're NOT supposed to like!). I also really enjoyed the setting being in London (and a brief stint in NYC, which was also cool).

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Love Hack is a cute workplace romcom about Lucy, who gets a new job as an agony "uncle"- Ask Adam. There she meets Ross, who at first glance seems entirely average, but once she looks closer looks like her dream man. The romantic aspect of the book starts of pretty slow and ends up feeling a bit rushed towards the end. Overall very enjoyable though.
The thing that held my attention the longest though was the relationship between Lucy and Amelie, as someone who grew up with only brothers, I've always yearned for this type of sisterly love. Lucy feels most like a fully fleshed out character when she's with her sister. Amelie brings out the complexity in Lucy and vice versa.
The book is not groundbreaking by any means, but I genuinely enjoyed it and looked forward to reading it.