Eloise Fox delivers a refreshing twist on the office romance genre with This is NOT an Office Romance. The story centers around Emily Taylor, a strong-willed New York lawyer recovering from a tragic accident, and Jack, a successful yet emotionally distant British lawyer. Their professional partnership at a London law firm quickly becomes charged with both rivalry and undeniable chemistry. The narrative explores their journey as colleagues navigating personal and professional challenges, culminating in a heartfelt romance.

Fox masterfully balances witty banter with deeper emotional themes, such as resilience, self-discovery, and the pursuit of meaningful connections. Emily’s journey of rebuilding her career and Jack’s quest for fulfillment beyond professional success make this more than just a love story. The cultural clash between Emily’s boldness and Jack’s reserved demeanor adds an engaging layer to their interactions, making their dynamic unpredictable and delightful.

The novel’s settings, from bustling London to the picturesque beaches of Bermuda, add a glamorous touch of escapism. The vibrant secondary characters further enrich the story’s depth, ensuring a fully realized narrative world. While romantic tension builds, Fox avoids clichés, crafting a story that feels fresh and authentic.

With humor, heart, and smart writing, This is NOT an Office Romance stands out as a sophisticated and life-affirming tale. A perfect pick for readers who love modern romance with depth and charm.

Unfortunatelly i DNF'd this book because i just couldn't get into the story which is really unfortunate because the blurb sounded interesting

This is NOT an Office Romance delivers on its promise of a lighthearted, slow-burn romance with plenty of workplace tension, but it falls a bit short of fully capturing the depth and chemistry between its main characters. Emily, a strong-willed New York lawyer, is ready for a fresh start after a difficult year, and her no-nonsense personality contrasts sharply with Jack, her reserved and emotionally distant British colleague. Their pairing creates plenty of tension, and the build-up between them is fun to follow, especially as they’re forced to work closely in high-stakes environments.

The writing has moments of wit and humor, and Fox does a good job of balancing the personal struggles each character faces with the growing attraction between them. However, Jack's character sometimes feels a bit one-dimensional, and the romance, while charming, lacks the emotional depth that would make their connection truly memorable. The Bermuda trip and office interactions bring some interesting twists, but the story remains fairly predictable.

Overall, this book is a pleasant read for fans of slow-burn office romances, especially those who enjoy a clash of personalities. While it doesn’t break new ground, it’s an enjoyable and breezy novel with a sweet ending that makes it worth a try.

*This Is Not an Office Romance* just didn’t work for me. While the premise seemed promising, I found it hard to connect with the characters and the story never quite drew me in. The romance felt forced, and the pacing dragged, making it difficult to stay engaged. I had to push through to finish it, hoping it would pick up, but unfortunately, it didn’t. While others may enjoy it, it wasn’t the right fit for me.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and the characters felt real and engaging. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing an early copy—it was a pleasure to read!

It wasn't an office romance, but it also wasn't a romance I could get into.
I would keep an eye out for the author's next work. Maybe it's just a me thing.

The initial draw to this book was the cover and the description caught my attention. However, as I got further and further into the book it continued to fall flat. There was no build-up, just added unnecessary words or descriptives. The characters had potential, but the writing gave no chemistry in their relationship.

I thought the author did a good job of incorporating trauma and mental health. I really wanted to like this book, it just wasn’t it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. I couldn’t get into any part of it. I found the characters unlikable and underdeveloped and the plot had weird pacing, I’m sorry.

This book was certainly a huge disappointment to me, because I had high expectations for the law firm setting, as well as the FMC being a lawyer, like myself.

However, the characters were simply unlikeable and the plot was messy, often leading nowhere. I hoped for character development but alas, none of it happened.

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

I usually love an enemies-to-lovers romance, but I'm immediately turned off when reading about a person with a fiance romantically noticing other people.

That's not something I like to promote, and I really don't care if the characters grow or not - I just don't want to spend time on it. I've read a couple of other reviews and realized that maybe I shouldn't feel so bad for the fiance-- but in reality, when I'm reading romances - this is not what I'm looking for. It shouldn't make me feel immediately cringey...?

I am going to start off by saying that this book had so much potential and the storyline sounded so good but.....
It didn't hit a good mark.
The story was kinda boring, it just kept going on and on and on with words and got nowhere and was super annoying. :(

For me the characters were not really likeable, there was no real chemistry or feelings (real feeling) that were expressed to me in this book.
Main characters Emily and Jack, man there could have been such an amazing and great story for these 2 in the enemies (co-worker) to lovers type vibes. I just didn't get a good feeling from them and their feelings. These 2 had more talks in their own heads then in person with each other, which was also annoying. For a bit, it looked amazing for Emily as a character and the great idea in the job (the trip to Bermuda) but then just turned boring annoying and plain. Nothing really special and it was a failure in character development. And Jack I kinda felt bad for a bit but then he did some stupid things and was boring in the story, nothing special or great development with his character either. I was just over these 2.
This book was so hard to read. I can't even say that it was well written and that really hurts me.
I am so sorry for this not-so-good review but I have to be honest.

"This is NOT an Office Romance" by Eloise Fox is a witty and refreshing take on workplace relationships, blending humor, charm, and the complexities of modern romance. The novel follows characters navigating the fine line between professionalism and personal connection, offering a fun yet heartfelt story that keeps readers entertained throughout. With its clever dialogue, relatable characters, and lighthearted plot twists, Fox presents a romance that is both engaging and full of laugh-out-loud moments. "This is NOT an Office Romance" is perfect for fans of romantic comedies who enjoy a mix of workplace dynamics, banter, and the unexpected sparks that fly when love finds you in the most unlikely places. It’s a feel-good, entertaining read that brings a fresh twist to the office romance genre.

"This Is Not an Office Romance" by Eloise Fox is a delightful contemporary romance that playfully explores the boundaries between professional and personal relationships. The story follows two strong-willed characters who find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other despite their best efforts to keep things strictly professional.

Fox's writing is sharp and engaging, filled with witty banter and charming interactions that keep the reader entertained. The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, and their dynamic evolves in a way that feels authentic and relatable. The setting—a bustling workplace—adds an extra layer of tension and humor as the characters navigate their feelings amidst office politics and social dynamics.

The novel effectively balances lighthearted moments with deeper themes of ambition, vulnerability, and the challenges of balancing career aspirations with personal desires. The supporting characters add richness to the story, providing both comedic relief and meaningful insights into the main characters’ journeys.

Overall, "This Is Not an Office Romance" is a fun and heartwarming read that will appeal to fans of romantic comedies. With its engaging plot and lovable characters, it’s a perfect escape for anyone looking for a light, romantic story with a touch of workplace intrigue.

This felt like a poorly done fanfic of “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne. The characters lacked depth and the plot was a mess.

Thanks to NetGalley and Burning Chair Limited for the eGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The story stars with an interesting premise but falls flat in executing it. An office romance premise with mental health rep could have been amazing but it was too repetitive in its narrative and not convincing enough. Emily and Jack couldn't convince me to root for them, though I was happy to see them have their hea.

I struggled with reading this one, so many inconsistencies, so much happening, but also not happening. I'm sad because I really liked the cover and the idea of the plot in the description

First, the characters come across as flat and lacking depth. Everything seems very surface level, the development of their personalities and motivations just didn’t seem defined. I was struggling to connect with any of the characters, especially our main couple.

I truly hope that this book finds its audience, unfortunately it wasn’t for me and there were just too many small things that tallied up into me not enjoying this story.

Honestly, based off of the title and the synopsis I expected so much more from this book.

Thank you to NETGALLEY for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

It’s never fun writing a less than stellar review but alas, this was a two star read for me.

I felt there was very little character development between main characters Emily and Jack. Unfortunately this led to me not investing in either of them or caring what happened to them.

While Emily suffered a traumatic accident and Jack had a challenging time growing up, neither seemed able to demonstrate any emotional maturity. The jabs between the two of them were more reminiscent of junior high kids than well respected lawyers.

Sadly this one just wasn’t for me.

This book is not the light-hearted rom com it first appears to be.
It’s hard to get into, the writing doesn’t really draw you in and doesn’t flow well.
I carried on until the end, but I completely understand why others DNF’d it.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me, but I appreciate the opportunity

thanks netgalley for this arc. I don't know if I read it perhaps at the wrong time (reader's block), but... it didn't grab me, I didn't feel involved in continuing reading. I didn't notice that it's a romcom and I agree with the other reviews that suggest the use of tw. I had to DNF, but I appreciate the opportunity