Late bloomer Lucy becomes an unlikely advice columnist for men after her IT editor job is merged with her work crush Rob and she pitches the 'Ask Adam' concept to save her job. Luckily she has her secret weapon - her much more experienced younger sister Amelie to help. Except Amelie is marrying and her new husband Zack wants her to focus on him after they move to New York for a secondment. Lucy is introverted, prefers the company of her cat Astro after a disastrous experience with an ex-colleague. In flashbacks we learn about how she naively fell into a toxic relationship at her previous workplace.

I nearly DNF early on when Lucy suddenly develops an almost obsessive crush on Rob. I'm glad I continued as this was an enjoyable read with some lovely banter with Lucy and Rob and interesting side characters. The reason why I give this 3.5 stars but rounded down is I felt each plot thread didn't resolve itself satisfactorily for what was set up. This meant when the main story was resolved it was anti-climatic for me with no real development. I think there were too side plots so focusing on Lucy in the workplace (without the sister's story) with Rob and their colleagues would've been stronger.

Ask Adam doesn't really go viral except for one post which is a real shame given her ineptitide with men could've had promose that her advice without Amelie's help was successful. With respect to Amelie’s storyline, the giant red flags about Zach were dropped to focus on an affair (and URGH predictably Amelie being sick was for *that* development and I don't understand why abortion was never considered). I also wish Lucy took the work opportunity at the end instead of chosing the remain stagnant. That just seemed to take a step back when she really needed to move forward in her life more.

Romance wise I didn't mind the various developments with Rob, but I feel like its resolution happened as a bit of an anti-climax as I didn't get to really feel that he was properly crushing on her as well. It really needed more of Lucy and Rob in the workplace and less of her sister's stuff. Yet I really enjoyed these characters, especially once Lucy started to grow out of her willful naivity a bit and start taking charge of her life.

Overall this book was such an easy read that hit the spot for escapist fiction.

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the absolute slowest of slow burns I may have ever read. I think I was 50 percent into the book and all that happened was some mutual blushing. It kept the pages turning and I suppose we all love to be teased a bit. I liked the slow burn element, but found it hard to connect with the main character. She seemed to have the whole "Marsha Marsha Marsha" Brady Bunch jealousy thing going on with her sister and the way she chose to address the concerns she had was totally unhinged. Nothing was more unhinged, however, than the coworker agreeing to watch her cat during the week he knew he would be gone. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but choices made by characters made me stop and question how realistic the plot was.

I was excited to read this book and the concept of this book was right up my alley.

I liked the way we can see Lucy’s self esteem grow as the book progresses in not just her job but in herself as well. At the start of the book she was so unsure of herself as was constantly needing validation from everyone around her for her work but seeing her more be more comfortable in herself was a definite highlight. This made her a relatable character, that mirror both myself and others.
Lucy, scarred from her last relationship has sworn off guys and refuses to have a repeat of the last relationship. So when she encounters Ross who makes her blush with a look over the computer screen, Lucy has to decide whether she wants to protect her self or go after what she wants.

The book covered a lot of topics that was brushed over quite quickly that I believe needed more attention, or at least a better transition.
In one scene we saw Ross talking to Lucy about his dad and 9/11, in the same conversation he’s then talking about how much he likes her. For a guy that’s distraught about his dad, it’s a shame this was glossed over quite quickly.
Lucy’s previous relationship was TOXIC and I think it should have not have been given the whole “men are dicks” message because it was a lot more than that and I the way Lucy just accepted what had happened made me upset.
I lied the sister bond in this book but and through it, we could see the close bond they had but I did find it a bit strange in the once scene where Lucy’s sister told her to go away was kinda strange. Lucy talks about her sister all the time ns how great of a relationship they are but one little thing and they’re suddenly not talking. Just weird.

Did really like the ‘Ask Adam’ sections and some of the replies were witty and great.
Most definitely was a SLOW burn, but all in all, it was a fun but predictable book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was really excited to read an office romance–it's one of my favorite tropes–but unfortunately, this one started out with a lot of potential but kind of devolved into a mess for me. Ultimately, I think there was TOO MUCH going on with this book, so we got very little time dedicated to each thread.

There was the MC's (Lucy) relationship with her sister, her sister's relationship with her husband (and also kind of men in general, and then later with herself), her relationship with work, her almost immediate crush on this guy Ross and then her previous, err "relationship" with a former coworker. It felt like her sister, Amelie, could have been her own book and we could have had less of their relationship and more of Lucy and Ross in this one. Also her sister and that whole situation was so problematic on so many levels, there isn't enough time or energy frankly to get into that.

I found some of the pop culture references... interesting. Like I don't know any 2o something year olds who watch Seinfeld, forget quoting it, nor wearing Nine Inch Nails t shirts. It's not that it's impossible, but it just stood out to me as being really odd because it was like, oh it's not weird that these kids are quoting this show and not something more recent. Or like maybe bonding over, oh I haven't met someone my age who also is obsessed with this older show.

*SPOILERS BELOW*

Also, the situation with her former coworker was... wow. It felt like we were just treating him like some dick who took advantage of a young girl, but this was like... more like he should be arrested. It felt more like he was a sexual predator who manipulated her and at times felt VERY RAPEY, IN THE OFFICE, but she gets fired (for reasons unclear to me) and then enters a deep depression, and the message is, some men are dicks, but some aren't and we should move on? I feel like he should be reported, fired and put on a LIST.

I think again, the themes and topics were interesting, but there were WAY too many of them, and it felt so melodramatic, especially at the end to resolve them. In one conversation, Ross reveals this whole very traumatic experience with 911 and his dad, but then almost in the same breath we are talking about how he's been crushing on Lucy (unclear as to why) then he was with Bryony, oh but they broke up, and maybe he comes home with her and they hook up?! I was like WHAT? I couldn't even care about their romance, because they had so little time to actually even have a conversation with each other. The only time aside from THE END they had 1:1 was in an escape room (which went on way too long, kind of like this review)

I did love all the British slang/syntax (and no, no American I know has EVER or would ever use the term 'limey' and I'd venture to say that anyone under 50 years old is unlikely to even have heard that term) and her cat Astro.

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Sophie Randal for giving me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for letting me read this book.


At the beginning it was really fun story and I couldn’t stop reading. Lucy’s story was relatable and engaging.

I liked the way her friendship with Ross and the other men in the office developed. But one thing I wasn’t sure about was the way she was around and with Kieran. Also, her feelings towards Ross came out of nowhere and then she was upset about him dating her sister’s friend.

The rest of the book was predictable, but good.

The Love Hack was a fun, relatable, romantic, slow-burn read that had me hooked from page one. Luce and Ross have such an incredibly cute dynamic. It's so refreshing to read about characters that aren't automatically swoon-worthy, and just normal!

Thank you Sophie, for allowing me to read this ahead of publication. It was one of my favourite reads of 2024!

I didn’t like this book. Most of the book was about Lucy complaining she didn’t understand men and her ex. I knew something was fishy with Zack since the beginning. We barely see Ross. The relationship between Lucy and Ross have absolutely no development. One day he’s dating one of Lucy’s sister friends and the next he’s with Lucy ??? That makes no sense. I felt like Lucy was too immature to start something real with someone. I actually for once don’t see the couple stay together after the end of a book and that’s says a lot. I wish I could bring something positive but unfortunately there’s none.

Thank you NetGalley, Strom Publishing and Sophie Randal for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid read! I agree that this is not a romance book and should not be categorized as one but that is still okay! It was a Women's Fiction book that took you through a rollercoaster journey.

The cover was definitely giving "The Hating Game" vibes, which while cute, was not accurate to the portrayal of what the central story was about. The FMC and MMC do a very long extended dance around each other while they figure out their feelings. If anything the FMC reflects on her past and current relationships while facing transitions in her personal life and career.

The author did a good job of presenting insecurities that I don't really see explicitly stated so outright in books. The FMC is insecure about being compared to her "pretty" sister and she's the "smart" one with almost no love experience. Her only romantic experience led her heartbroken and her ego badly damaged. So when she meets the MMC, they start a slow burn friendship that starts to give her the confidence that it could grow into something more. Only to have the MMC wildly disappoint her. Over and over. It was so frustrating to see the MMC (unintentionally?) play these games with the FMC. His explanation about his feelings toward the end of the book didn't fix anything for me. I really dislike that the FMC had to be miserable pining over the MMC until he got his head out of his butt. Why not have the FMC date around or make a connection with another guy in the meantime? For all the talk about not having guys be dicks, he was a dick for playing around like that.

Overall, was a solid read but I can't recommend it as a romance book, especially when the MMC is not a romance lead to root for.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First I would like to say I really enjoyed the writing and liked the development of the characters over the book. But I would not classify this as a romance novel. It's more just a story about a woman gaining confidence in her life and job. Her relationship with her sister and coworkers. Yes, she does end up with a boyfriend in the end but that's not the central part of this story.

when lucy gets fired from her old job at fab she decides to start up a agony aunt column for men, by pretending she’s a man herself

i did like the idea of a woman going into a all man environment, i found the premise really interesting.

however, at times lucy was quite dislike-able in the things she’d say to people. i couldn’t really get into the plot or characters and they fell really flat to me…so i had to DNF

hopefully this book will work for someone else because it just didn’t quite click for me!

A cute and sweet romcom! The Love Hack is definitely the perfect summer read. I loved the concept of ask Adam column and the fact that Lucy (FMC) uses a generative AI to help her understand men, it made it seem more realistic than her just knowing exactly what to say in her answers. The only thing i didn’t enjoy was Ross’s (MMC) kind of other woman business, I felt like it could have been avoided. However, overall this book is really great and I would highly recommend for a sunny day read!

Summary: Lucy, an online agony aunt, navigates love advice while avoiding office romance. But when Ross appears, sparks fly, complicating her resolve.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

It's a story about Lucy. Lucy is not like other girls - she doesn't like make-up, always wear Converse and Docs, lives alone with her cat and works in a VERY-MANLY environment (like for real, they are only men there) as online "Agony Uncle". Well, it DOES sound like a lot of rom-coms.
But i liked it. Actually it was a very nice book to read.

Luce felt like very delulu person at first and i was thinking to myself for like 60% of the book "please do not be a shy mouse in a romantic movie who won't even talk to a man she likes (and it didn't seem like he even liked-liked her, like she was THAT delulu).
But i think i grew up on her. She came out of her "all men are the same" shell and actually became a very likeable person!

That one working opportunity changed her whole point of view in life and i loved it.
Because not all men are d*cks (but Zack and her ex are). Like there are some guys out there who really WOULD be a good husband material. And men have FEELINGS. like a lot of them. and all the bits and pieces of people who wrote to Adam and asked him for help - i loved that.


I also liked that the love interest wasn't a broody, bossy guy who shows only his soft side to her (even tho i will eat up every book with that "trope") - instead we got a really shy guy who was "just" a nice person to everyone. AND HE WAS BLUSHING.
We need more men in books like this!




"Keep the faith. If it's meant to be, it will be. If it's not, it'll hurt and you'll get over it, same as Amelie will, same as every woman does who's found a good man and lost him. And at least now you know men can be good."

When I saw the cover, and then the title, it was a no-brainer for me. Instant gratification for my romance addiction. I devoured this story, enjoying every second of the experience, sighing with satisfaction as I turned the final page.

this is the perfect summertime pool/beach read. i absolutely fell in love with the main characters and smiled the entire story!!!!

Awww this book was so sweet!
No third act breakup, no communication issues- just a shy yet confident and sweet boy and a girl who actually accepted her feelings <3
i confess- before i started this, i thought this was also going to be like all the rom-coms i've read. (The cover did look a bit like "The Hating game" though.) I expected this to be the same workplace romance, where the guy and the girl hate each other but- wait for it- they don't actually hate each other! dummy! Now, don't get me wrong, i did like The hating game and god knows how many times i have read The Spanish love deception. But, really it gets boring to see the same thing repeated again and again. if they are not colleagues, they would still be rivals of some sort and etc etc etc.
So, i was pleasantly surprised when i read this book. The word 'bloke' did appear quite few times but i think we can let that slide. I am not much of a critic anyway (unless there is something that really annoys me). Lucy gradually catching feelings for Ross, the stages of having a crush, being bummed out when said crush has a girlfriend, and trying (read: failing miserably) to get over that crush. Ah. it seemed genuine.
AND LUCY WEARS GLASSES!!! idk dude, we need more FMC with glasses 😭😭
I loved the fact that they didn't straight become a couple- they were friends first. ngl nowadays, books skip the friendship stage like i skip my workouts 🤚🏻😭
And them blushing when they looked at each other was so cuteee!!!
I liked that Ross didn't have any emotional scar like Lucy imagined hahaha
“An intelligent, thoughtful, serious man, possibly with deep emotional scars that only I could heal.”
Ah Lucy, don't we all want that theoretically?
But really, emotional intelligence is so hot and so underrated!!!

Nowwww, idk if that was just me but initially, lucy sometimes sounded like "i-m-not-like-other-girls" but that got okay gradually. The sisters' bond was good but the reaction of her sister when she told her 'you-know-what' was kinda weird? like, she was just helping her right?
I enjoyed the 'Ask Adam' section even though it seemed obvious that Ross had sent that ask!! I tried to guess how this book would turn out but Miss Sophie Ronald, you can be proud because i didn't expect anything that happened in the book (except for one thing) so its a big achievement!

hence it was a good 3-3.5 stars read for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m going to do 3 ⭐️ my expectations was for a very romantic relationship with a coworker same age young adult an fluffy flirtatious. Not at all I enjoy love but as a natural anxious person, it gave me anxiety and not enjoyment.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review.

I had so much fun with this rom-com!
Lucy is our main character who has real depth and I found her to be very relatable. She is writing an advice columnist for men, even though she has limited knowledge in this department. Through the column she definitely grows more confident in this department, but more importantly she grows more confident in herself and her self-esteem definitely improves. I found the banter between the female lead and male lead to be so good and there were a lot of moments I found myself blushing.

Her sister on the other-hand, Amelie was not my vibe at all. Her husband cheats and she blames the other woman.. not the vibes I am here for. Your husband is the one who you should really take issue with. He's the one who owes you his loyalty. Place the blame where it belongs, and do not slut-shame others in the process.

There were so many different plot points and I thought they were all well executed.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"The Love Hack" is a charming romantic comedy that effortlessly weaving together humor, heart, and relatable dilemmas.

The dynamic between Lucy and Ross is endearing and entertaining as they navigate the complexities of office romance amidst Lucy's burgeoning popularity as an advice columnist.

The pacing is fast, keeping readers engaged from start to finish, while the witty dialogue and playful banter between characters add an extra layer of enjoyment.

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


The Love Hack is a cute little romcom that takes place in the UK. The FMC is a writer for a magazine that is going online, and she's about to lose her job if she cannot think of another position for herself at her magazine's online counterpart that the company will allow her to handle. She ends up pitching writing an "Ask Alice" column, but for men instead of women. She will pose as this "Adam" and dish out advice to the men who write into the magazine. She ends up having two issues: #1. She ends up with a major crush on the man seated at the desk across from her, but he's already dating one of her sister's friends. #2. She doesn't actually know how to answer most of these men, and decides to ask an online AI bot for help.


This book moves along as expected, and is pretty surface level as far as the characters go. Since it's a romcom, there aren't any earth shattering revelations for these characters, but it's well written from beginning to end and is entertaining enough to have held my attention throughout. If you enjoy romcoms with the teeniest, tiniest bit of open door scenery, then this will be worth picking up.

I recently finished reading "The Love Hack," and I must say, it's a rom-com with a refreshing twist. The main character, Lucy, is incredibly relatable, with her complexities mirroring those of real-life individuals. Her depth added a layer of authenticity to the story that I found captivating.

One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the Ask Adam column. Lucy's approach to understanding the male perspective through this column provided an interesting angle to the narrative. It offered insights into relationships that felt both genuine and enlightening.

However, there were elements of the book that left me feeling unsettled. The inclusion of the other woman drama, particularly the scene where the male main character (MMC) kisses another woman in front of the female main character (FMC), was distressing. It detracted from the otherwise enjoyable storyline and left me feeling disappointed.

Additionally, Lucy's sister, Amelie, was a character I struggled to connect with. Her tendency to slut-shame another woman instead of holding her cheating husband accountable and then lashing out at her sister for trying to help was unexpected behavior, especially from someone so close to the FMC. I believe her character could benefit from some development to make her more relatable and likable.

Despite these drawbacks, "The Love Hack" remains a complex and engaging read. The characters feel like real human beings rather than stereotypical side characters, which added depth to the story. While the other woman drama prevented me from giving it a full four-star rating, I still found it to be a worthwhile and thought-provoking read.