
Member Reviews

This is the third book in a series and I haven’t read the first two. I’m not sure how much is known about Poppy and Alistair in the first two books but I found it difficult to come into their story at this point. So much of their backstory is alluded to and I found it hard to connect as much with the couple. There are two romance tropes utilized in the book. The first part of the book is the fake dating trope and the second part is a second chance trope. As I mentioned I’m not sure if their backstory was detailed in the first two books or if this book was meant to explain their relationship and history with each other but I really didn’t like that format if that was the case.

This book is going to be hit and miss for readers- on one hand, I see where we're going with a quirky and humorous witchy romance, on the other hand, it felt like the pacing was just way off. I think Katherine Garbera has a lot of promise in the witchy romance genre, this book just didn't stick the landing.

Katherine Garbera's Brewing Up a Bad Boy is a delightful blend of romance and humor, with a touch of witchy charm. The chemistry between Poppy and Alistair is palpable, making their journey toward reconciliation both engaging and heartwarming. Garbera skillfully weaves themes of personal growth and forgiveness into the narrative, creating a story that's as emotionally satisfying as it is entertaining. The small-town setting adds to the cozy atmosphere, making it a perfect read for fans of romantic comedies.

⭐
🌶️🌶️
i really wanted to like this book, but it didn't work for me. the story line felt rushed and about 55% of the way through i was confused how the book wasn't over yet. it also seemed like the main issue between the two characters kept bubbling up over & over & over again. if alistair had treated me the way he treated poppy, i would've socked him in the face, gone with him to get my tea recipe back, and then never spoken to him or his family again.
the smut was good. the chemistry was there, but i could not get over what he did to her. it was gross, abusive, and not worthy of her forgiveness.

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for keeping me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.
This was the best of the three I'm this series. Simple, easy to read, fast paced. It was a good second chance romance that they both learned from the past and changed for the better. If you're looking for something easy to read and entertaining then this serious is for you. I still didn't like the cliche argument/secret to happen in the last chapter. It makes the resolution too quick and not feel fully hashed out. Still overall cute.

This is a must-read book I don't want to give any spoilers, but you won't regret getting this book, you won't put it down till you're done reading the whole this.

I gave this a chance but, I really did not enjoy the MCs, plot of writing style. It didn't help that the plot was driven by my least favorite trope, miscommunication. This book could be very fun for some readers but, it just didn't work for me.

3.5 ⭐️
I liked this book! It was an easy cosy read, nothing too heavy. It was a good second chance romance book! The characters were likeable and I would check out the other books in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin - Romance, Afterglow Books by Harlequin and Katherine Garberafor giving me an ARC of this book!

A second chance romance, which I should have known probably wasn't for me, but in the back of my mind I just had a hard time forgiving Allistair so it never really came together for me.
I am adding a star to my initial review though bc its clearly advertised as a second chance romance and I just didn't look close enough when I started so the whole time I'm muttering to myself like "F this guy!"
The groveling was pretty good though I will say.

Book Review
I was immediately drawn to this book because of its stunning cover—it was so captivating that I eagerly applied for the ARC. However, after making it through about 10%, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. It seems like this book might be better appreciated after reading the first two in the series, which I haven’t done yet.
For now, I’ve decided to DNF, but I’m not ruling out giving it another shot in the future when I’m better prepared to dive into the story.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

I honestly only got a couple of chapters in before DNFing this one..... My understanding is that these are supposed to be a series of interconnected standalones but there really wasn't enough context in the first couple of chapters for me to understand enough about these two to want to continue reading.

I enjoyed this book. Great second chance romance. Perfect read for this month. Great ending. Will reread it with the rest of the series!

This just was not for me which I suppose I should have known from the title. I also didn't realize it was a third book in the wicked sisters series which may explain the disconnect/rushing into the plot that I felt when reading it. There wasn't much buildup/slow burn to the romance. The pet names... not for me. I liked the healthy female relationships and the eventual healthy communication. Thanks Harlequin Romance & NetGalley for the ARC!

A fun ending to the series! I liked that a lot of this took place outside of the shop but still incorporated past characters that I grew to love.

“Brewing Up a Bad Boy” is the perfect blend of sweetness, charm, and just the right amount of spice! As the third book in Katherine Garbera's “Wicked Sisters” series, this second-chance romance serves up all the delicious tension and swoon-worthy moments you could ask for.
Poppy, a tea shop owner, and Alistair, a microbrewer, were once married—until heartbreak and betrayal tore them apart. Back then, Alistair was more focused on climbing the corporate ladder in his family’s business than nurturing their relationship, leaving Poppy feeling like she came second. Now, he’s back, determined to prove he's changed and ready to win her heart all over again.
If you love a steamy, angst-filled romance with fiery passion, heartfelt emotions, and a hero who fights for redemption, “Brewing Up a Bad Boy” is an absolute must-read. Poppy and Alistair’s journey will have you hooked from the first page, rooting for them to stir up some love again!
Thank you Katherine Garbera, Netgalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin Romance for the gifted ebook ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.

Tea shop owner Poppy Kitchener thought she’d left her mistakes, and her failed marriage, in the past. But when her ex-husband, Alistair Miller, turns up—as charming and irritatingly handsome as ever—those old feelings float to the surface...& Poppy realizes that she can open herself back up to him and reconnect, as they are now both in different stages of their lives.
This is an absolute adorable and cute second chance romance. I loved how we not only see growth in Poppy & Allister., but we also see growth with Poppy's sisters & their relationship with one another. There is so much angst and SO much steam in this book. SOOOO MUCH STEAM! I loved the steam too and the added extraness of it all.
Tropes included are:
2️⃣ Second Chance
✨️ Small-town Romance
❌ Fake Dating
✨️ Witchy Vibes
❤️🩹 Found Family
🌶️ Spicy
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for a copy of this digital ARC!

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brewing Up A Bad Boy
Author: Katherine Garbera
Wicked Sisters #3
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Romance for the ARC! This was a super cute read. I have not read the previous books in the series, and it’s fine to read them as standalones. You would know the supporting characters better if you read them in order but I had no issues reading it this way! This was a second chance romance, about a tea shop owner, and a microbrewer and it was so cute. He shows up at her shop asking her to pretend they are still married and attend a wedding with him, and initially she is like.. hell no! She ends up caving, and going with him. She’s not sure if she can trust him and his new ways since he is preaching that he is a changed man. It was definitely a bit insta love and fluff, but oh boy it was super spicy and I was not expecting that! It was a really cute small town romance read and I loved all the references to the tea making and brewing. I bet these would be adorable audiobooks! I like the authors writing style and it made me feel all giddy inside. I will definitely be checking out the other books in this series. 🫖

Poppy and Alistair got hitched when she was just 18, but surprise...he was only in it for her family's top-secret tea recipes. Turns out, buried in the fine print of their marriage was a shady deal with his dad, and the moment Poppy found out, she served him divorce papers faster than a fresh brew steeps. Alistair, trying way too hard to win his father’s approval, soon realizes he’ll never get it...and worse, he threw away the only person who ever genuinely cared about him. Cue a lot of therapy, soul-searching, and a dramatic redemption arc. Now, he’s back, ready to team up with Poppy to take down his dad in the ultimate tea war. Somewhere along the way, Poppy starts seeing that Alistair 2.0 might actually be worth a second sip.
I liked this book. It’s got all the drama, all the growth, and plenty of spice to keep things steaming!

The third book in this series, a second chance romance. Ali and Poppy married young and are now divorced. He is in her new home town so will she give him a chance? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

Brewing up a Bad Boy by Katherine Garbera is a cozy story about Poppy who owns a tea shop and is a witch. Her ex, Alistair, turns up back in her life as he asks her to go to a family wedding with him, as he has a complicated relationship with his family and hasn’t told them of their divorce. Poppy agrees to go I exchange for a lucrative deal with his family. However, as they spend more time together and learn how they’ve grown and changed since the divorce, will they get a second chance at love?
This was a cute, cozy read. At times, I felt the characters could have been more developed, but I was drawn into their story and invested in the outcome.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.