I would like to start off with I found Jennifer L Armentrout this year and have burned through a good chunk of her books this year. She is one of my top 5 authors at the moment.

This was originally released in 2015. I got this book as an ARC for rerelease in Dec 2024. This book was a troubled romance between 2 people who started off as frenemies and fell in love.
Andrea although has some secrets that she doesn't want Tanner to know about and it ends up causing problems in their very short relationship.
This book deals with addiction and mental health issues so please read with caution.
It was very well written but I feel that the addiction and treatment could have been touched upon a little more. I do like that it was written with this as part of the plot. It's nice to see something a bit different. I plan on reading the first book now.

Reread 2024 Note: I read this back in 2016. Then, in 2024, I saw she was republishing a slightly updated version of it, and I wanted to reread it. I got an arc copy. (Though I also bought the physical copy of the book, too. So kind of a strange case.

My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.25

Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to the author. (See note above as well.)

General Thoughts: Interestingly enough, I liked this book a lot more this go around than I did the first, maybe because of more life experience. My first read, I noted that this book dealt with some really hard topics, and it did. Alcoholism is not an easy topic to cover. Jennifer did such a good job with this one. You can see her psychology background on full display here. Because of the alcoholism, the FMC makes mistakes and isn't "always easy to like." But I thought that made her seem more real. I felt that the tension that came in this novel wasn't forced and flowed because from those weaknesses. I thought this was a very well-done read.

This book features heavier topics than many romantic reads. It's not a lighthearted romcom. And yet, I really enjoyed it. While not my favorite by the author (that still remains true), the hallmarks of why I love Jennifer L. Armentrout are all here. Fun, witty banter. Characters who are allowed to feel and process things.

I also appreciated that she took the time to edit and change some minor things in some places. I was looking at the original audio, at least, and the new deluxe version and noticed some differences. They were subtle but there. It helped freshen up the book. Glad I reread this and could give it a fuller rating.

Spice Meter: ❤️‍🔥 Spicy, not the most detailed or frequent, but definitely there.

Romantic Tropes (Other Notable Themes):
-dual POV
-dislike to like
-hate to love you
-mental health rep
-alcoholism
-close proximity

You can also find me on Insta @mylastromancenovel.

Enemies to lovers with quite the rocky road, and you will root for them the entire way. Strong sub plots on alcoholism, self destructive behaviors, insecurity, self doubt, and untreated depression and anxiety - and the power of communication and love, self acceptance - all handled with care and sending a positive message. Some humor thrown in with the romance moves things along. A great read, more than the usual romance.

3.75 stars! I really enjoyed this book, and I read it in just a matter of hours! I was immediately rooting for Andrea and Tanner, and I was especially rooting for Andrea. Obviously this book has the common tropes - forced proximity, enemies to lovers, but that’s what makes it such a fun, engaging read! I was glad to see that Andrea’s problem with alcohol wasn’t minimized and there was a clear rock bottom point, and I liked the way her path to recovery was portrayed as it seemed realistic and relatable.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book and I now need to read frigid!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Angsty, enemies to lovers goodness! This was such an emotionally charged story with the angst pulling you in. You really feel with these characters and JLA handled the heavier topics with such grace. Such a beautiful read!

This author is an amazing and everything she writes is thoroughly entertaining. I did find the subject matter heavier than her usual books and I thought it sucked some of the joy out of her usually fun books. It was still well-done, but readers should expect more difficult content. If that's your jam, you will enjoy this one.

This is one of my fav books by jla. I do like the way she writes banter and chemistry between the main characters. The romance was realistic and the pull between them was palpable through the pages.
Definetely a great read

Two college students—a girl with a drinking problem and a reformed player trying to prove he can be the one to help her—fall in love in this angsty enemies-to-lovers novel.

This was as angsty and emotional as one would expect from a Jennifer L. Armentrout book. The romance in this was really heartwarming once you get to the heart of it, but it definitely had a much darker premise than I had initially expected. It covers topics of alcohol abuse, anxiety, and depression. I appreciated the realistic portrayal of Andrea's anxiety. The dual perspectives effectively highlighted the helplessness of both the person going through something they couldn't control and the bystander who wants to help but doesn't know how to.

I do feel that some aspects of the story could benefit from further clarification. For instance, the reason behind Andrea's hesitation to be with Tanner due to an incident involving him and her roommate two years prior remains unclear. Considering they hadn't known each other then, I could not fully understand the source of her resentment. Additionally, knowing that Andrea's anxiety is connected to the guilt and pressure imposed on her by her parents regarding her education, I felt like we never really got to see her work things out with them. It felt like we just skipped straight to the happy ending. I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first non fantasy I have read by Jennifer Armentrout, I do like her writing style and was interested to read a different genre by her. I did not read the first book in the series, but that is not essential to read this one. Andrea is kind of a meh character and Tanner was also a little boring. The description implied a more enemies to lovers and mmc is a player. Andrea does seem like a hot mess, but not one you root for. Overall, the book was very readable, just not my favorite.I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gorgeous cover! Great and powerful story. I enjoyed the writing and characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I think the author portrayed mental health authentically. Well done!

Anything Jennifer Armentrout I am here for. She is an amazing author and this book wasn't any different. Amazing job once again!

*Scorched* completely blew me away! Jennifer L. Armentrout masterfully balances heart-pounding romance with raw, emotional depth. Andrea and Tanner’s story is beautifully intense, and their chemistry is electric. I loved watching their relationship unfold with all the fiery banter and undeniable attraction that kept me turning the pages. The way Armentrout delves into serious themes like mental health with such care and authenticity made this book even more impactful. The emotional rollercoaster left me breathless in the best way. *Scorched* is the perfect blend of heat, heart, and healing, and I couldn't put it down. A must-read for any romance lover!

Scorched is a nice bookend for this duology. Andrea and Tanner have good chemistry and those types of angsty relationships are what Armentrout excels at.

Good story about a college student who is in denial about how much alcohol she drinks due to her anxiety. At the same time she’s having a love/hate relationship with a man named Tanner who happens to be her best friend’s boyfriend’s best friend.
(Did you get that?? Lol!!)
They rent a cabin for a week and that’s when it all begins for this story. Hate becomes like and then something more happens…
I thought this story was well written and an enjoyable read.
4 stars!!!

I want to thank Sourcebooks Bloom Books providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.

I have always been a huge JLA fan. Pretty much there is nothing she would write that I wouldn't read. Seriously, she could write about dirt and I'd be enthralled! So, of course, given the chance to have a copy of this book, I was all over it! And I loved the first book in this series, so I was itchy to get these words into my brain.

First we'll start with the cover. I mean, I loved the cover of Frigid, but his one? OUTDONE! It's fantastic. Really sums up the overall theme for sure.

Then there's Andrea. Not at all what you think she is. On the outside trying to be perfect while on the inside totally not. So something I can relate to. I don't want to give away her situation, but I grew up with her demons and I really was able to connect with her and see where she was coming from. She's sweet and damaged. But she has so much to give, if only she could get her act together.

Tanner and Andrea, well, it's like oil and water. Or maybe fire and ice? But you totally feel the chemistry. Tanner takes a turn into romance land and I love where he goes with it. And, while he and Andrea have this bickering play between them, you see there's so much more there. Put them together and they are totally combustable.

Unlike JLA's past books, this one is filled with issues that will hit home for so many. There's the main issue and then there are these underlying things that pop up. I don't think there's any college girl who will not related to the things Andrea goes through (in one way or another). I think this is what made me like the book so much more. I was kind of sick of all the perfect girls out there, and Andrea is NOT perfect in any sense of the word. It's so nice to see this!

Armetrout's writing does not disappoint. In true form she pulls you and makes you love her characters, her plot, her book. Really, I don't think I've read anything from her that I haven't enjoyed. If you've struggled or know someone who has struggled with the issues she presents, then you will totally connect to Andrea and her need to change.

If you want a story that is powerful, romantic and full of longing, then this is the book for you. Armentrout does not disappoint!