i’m obsessed, this was so fucking cute!!! I love an enemies-to-lovers workplace romance 😍 and this was no exception

Honestly I was hesitant to read this one if only because the romances that I’ve read with somewhat similar premises (workplace rivals-to-lovers) did not end well for me…But thankfully that was not the case here! The Launch Date was a refreshing and bright workplace romance with off-the-charts chemistry and tension that’ll have you begging for more.

Grace Hastings finds herself in an impossible situation; she’s still not back in the dating scene after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, her boss expects her to drop everything at her command, and now she’s found out she’ll have to compete for the promotion of her dreams. The only issue? Eric Bancroft, her work rival who brutally turned her down a year ago, is the other person up for the position. They’re going to have to get over their differences as they work together to test-drive dates for the new app one of them will be in charge of…and maybe finally give into the tension that’s between them.

Again, I didn’t have super high expectations for this book because the other workplace romances that I’ve read tend to be super trope-y and are clearly geared toward a certain audience with the references. The Launch Date certainly made its way past my prejudices and thank god for that honestly. I had so much fun with this book and can’t wait to reread it! I’m very excited to read more from this author as well.

I loved the characters. Grace was a great character to follow, and her voice is very sincere. She enjoys her work at Fate, a dating app that’s geared toward people looking for long-term relationships, even if she’s not sure she’ll ever find love again. Meanwhile, Eric works in the same position but at different app aimed at people looking for a quick hook-up. They used to be work besties until Eric turned down her proposition last year; now, they can’t help but fight as their apps are constantly in competition with each other.

The promotion exacerbates this situation even more. Both Grace and Eric have their own reasons for wanting the position: she wants to step out of her boss’s demanding shadow and he wants to make a name for himself outside of his socialite family. They only begrudgingly agree to help each other with the pilot dates for their company’s new app because they do understand that they bring different strengths to the table.

Their chemistry was so, so good; you could cut the tension with a knife. I was genuinely screaming at some points because you get to the point where you need something to happen between them! I really loved their banter and how much they support each other. This book was also so funny. The test dates are fairly standard ones but something always happens that turns into a comedic series of events. I never knew what was going to happen in this book and I really loved that.

Overall, The Launch Date was such a fun and lovable rom-com that I absolutely could not put down. As I’m writing this review, it’s been only a couple days since I finished the book and yet I’m already thinking of rereading. It’s honestly been a while since I’ve found a new romance that I’ve had so much fun with, and I can’t recommend The Launch Date enough, especially if you’re a fan of rivals-to-lovers romances with tons of chemistry!

When two coworkers are forced to compete for the same new position at a dating app company, their complicated history gets in the way in this debut from Annabelle Slator. Eric and Grace have competing ideas about the best way to find love, as shown in the very differently-styled dating apps they currently promote at the Chase Company, an umbrella company for such apps. Eric's app is for casual hook-ups, while Grace's is for finding fairytale-style longterm romance. When their boss decides a new app needs the perfect format and launch, he sets them up to work together to develop the app, then compete to run it. However, past undisclosed-until-later conflicts and events keep rearing their ugly heads to make these two not only uncomfortable with, but downright mean-spirited to, one another. Add in Grace's recently broken off kinda-engagement to William and over-the-top nightmare of a boss Susie (a trope I've had a bit too much of lately), and Eric's batchelor-around-town reputation and dismissive rich parents, and you've got yourself one fine set up for a hodge podge of averted glances, wealth-difference jabs, misunderstandings, and smirks galore. Yet, try as they might, Eric and Grace can't fight the friendship they feel growing, much less the deeper feelings they realize as they FINALLY clear the air and move forward in their work. This slow-burn romance, though a bit frustrating at times with Grace's low self-esteem and the couple's refusal to just talk it out, still drew me in with its fun premise and ultimate hope for Grace and Eric's connection. I loved the ending and look forward to seeing Slator's next rom-com.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a preview of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator is a debut rom-com about two rival co-workers who find themselves forced to work together to test a new dating app. They are pitted against each other for a promotion and have to go on couples-dates to test the efficacy of the app. To be honest, it took me a few chapters to truly get into the story. I felt like there were a lot of characters introduced in the beginning without enough of an introduction to who they were or their role in the book. The FMC is very high-strung from page one and it took some getting used to, for me.

With that being said, once I got into the book, I absolutely could not put it down and finished it in less than a day. I. LOVED. IT. Grace and Eric have history together that gets unpacked piece by piece throughout the story. Misunderstandings, heartache, longing, enemies-to-lovers.. the way their backstories are revealed is truly masterful and was an absolute delight to discover. Instead of everything being revealed in one heart to heart moment, there are twists and turns that truly made me empathize with both characters. I absolutely, whole-heartedly, recommend this book and can’t wait to add it to by bookshelf! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

this was fun!! one of the slowest slow burn romances I’ve ever read, yet i didn’t feel bored reading it. friends to rivals to lovers, the tropes were all very well done and everything was nuanced. i love how eric turned out to be such a softie and how he was so kind toward grace while still encouraging her to do more. grace’s self-esteem issues were handled really well; throughout the book she’s under a lot of pressure and constantly feels like she can’t do it, but with support and effort she perseveres.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing a copy of this book!

The Launch Date: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was a really cute book from start to finish. I was impressed with the writing (It can be a gamble reading a debut!) and by the end of it I loved the two characters together.

However, it took me a little while to really see the chemistry between the characters, it just wasn’t there for me in the beginning. I think explaining that past relationship throughout helped to build it there, so even though the flashbacks sometimes felt like they came out of no where; they did help establish that chemistry between them. There were a few times that Grace drove me a little crazy, but that could just be because I would’ve done the same thing she did at times.

I really can’t wait to read more by this author, and I will be absolutely keeping my eye out for more! Thank you so much to Annabelle Slator, Netgalley, and Harpercollins for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!!

I loved this book - forced proximity and enemies to lovers are becoming some of my favorite things. Add in dating apps which this single book worm hates and has her share of horror stories ans you’ve got me hooked as a reader. You will want to read through this in one sitting as you’ll be hooked.

Read an ARC through NetGalley for my honest review.

Long & Short of It: SLOW burn, but worth it!
Author: Great balance of dialogue and narrative
Romance: Frustrating/tense, then playful and satisfying
Spice Level: 4/5 stars (doesn't really "go there" until the last 1/4 of the book; descriptive, but not icky)

Fair warning... SLOW burn, like really slow. This is an "enemies to lovers" romance based around two characters who work for the same company but for different dating apps. One of the apps is more relationship based, where the other is more casual... sound familiar? *Note: the author of this book, Annabelle Slator, worked at Bumble for a time and used her experience as inspiration.

Grace and Eric's characters were believable, and I was rarely frustrated. I initially had a hard time getting into the story, but I would say about 1/4 of the way in, I was hooked.

The book took me a week to read, much to my chagrin, because once I was hooked it was ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT. Unfortunately my schedule was so busy I didn't have as much time to read as I usually do and it left me ACHING to get back to Grace and Eric and see what would happen next.

Their "prototype" dates for the potential new app concept were really fun to read about, and I enjoyed their banter throughout the book. Because I am someone who prefers communication and sharing over keeping things to myself, I actually struggled with all of the misconceptions they had about each other, specifically Grace's thoughts toward Eric. Like... JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT IT AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND. But I feel that way in every book that does that, so I guess I'll have to learn to cope.

Overall I enjoyed the story a lot, and would recommend it to friends. Once the (very) slow burn came to a head it *burned* (emphasis on burned). The book ended with me feeling warm and fuzzy, and I love that.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own*

It's not often I give a full 5 stars but this book hit all of my favorite tropes: coworkers, one bed, haters to lovers (friends to haters to friends to lovers) ha! The one-bed situation was one of the best I've read - all this coming from a debut author. This book gave me all the feels, lots of humor and heart. I will be following Annabelle's career and purchasing this book for the library.

4 Stars! This was such a cute book. I loved the main characters, Eric & Grace, and the enemies to lovers & workplace romance trope. Considering this is from a first time author, she did amazing. The only downside I had was it took me awhile to get into it and at times I felt a little unsure of how the main characters were feeling. Did they say something in anger or was it tongue in cheek? Snarky banter is my favorite kind & this has plenty. It has an HEA ending, a few ‘sexy times’, love/hate relationship, some misunderstandings and workplace drama. I really enjoyed this book & it’s worth checking out! I’d recommend!
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

A satisfying friends-turned-rivals-turned-truce-holding-colleagues love story with THE HATING GAME banter to make us laugh and see that there’s definitely something juicy between them that’s behind all those barbs.

Characters to care about, slow-build steam that’s worth the wait, and perfectly-paced peeling back of layers make this one hard to put down. So just go ahead and binge it— a good night’s sleep is for quitters, anyway.

For fans of:
Alisha Rai’s THE RIGHT SWIPE
Lynn Painter’s THE LOVE WAGER
Suzanne Park’s LOATHE AT FIRST SIGHT
Falon Ballard’s JUST MY TYPE

The Launch Date is the debut novel by Annabelle Slator. It centers on Grace, a diligent yet heartbroken woman who must collaborate with her former friend-turned-rival, Eric, on a work project.

As they develop a new dating app, they’re thrust into "on-the-job" training that leads to a series of unexpected trial dates. Throughout the process, Grace and Eric must navigate their unresolved tensions to deliver their presentation.

Will they set aside their grudges and work together, or will their animosity get in the way?

This story offers a charming twist on the office romance trope. The writing is engaging, and the timeline shifts are well-executed. While some sections felt a bit slower, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. In the end, the compelling characters and their journey make for a delightful read that is perfect for any romance reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers Avon and Harper Voyager for the digital advanced reader copy of this novel.

Rating: 3.75/5 (rounded to 4/5 for Goodreads)

Tropes: Enemies to lovers; forced proximity; slow-burn; office romance; slow-burn

If you like work nemesis books, you’ll enjoy this one! It had some good banter and plot lines. It’s a good book for a rainy day at home.

The Launch Date is a friends to rivals to friends to lovers rom com. Yes it goes back and forth so many times it makes your head spin. The main character Grace, while I did want to root for her, I also wanted to just shake her at times. I honestly felt like throwing my kindle across the room. Talk about angst! Grace and Eric are rivals at a dating app company. They have to come together to work on a new dating app to be eligible for a promotion. It gives off major “The Hating Game” vibes and I loved “The Hating Game”.The pacing of this book was a bit tough for me. There is an incident that we don’t find out what it was until halfway through the book and could have been cleared up with an earlier conversation. I definitely understand the author’s choices to make it more angsty/mysterious but was at times annoying. Also for that reason the book has a lot of flashbacks to explain the characters previous friendship and falling out as well as Grace’s previous relationship with an exboyfriend. It was disjointed for me and a little hard to follow. Overall I liked the book and the ending is great (once you get past the throwing kindle stage around 70%). It’s a good spicy rom com.

In this book:
Workplace romance
Friends to rivals to lovers
He falls first
Forced proximity
London

Thank you NetGalley, Annabelle Slator, and Avon for an advanced digital copy of this book.

If you are a fan of the Hating Game, you will absolutely love The Launch Date. I enjoyed how natural Grace and Eric's relationship progressed. I also was so happy about their communication between each other. The job competition, her demanding boss, and the practice dates all kept me wanting to read more. The ending was so sweet, and I am so glad that Grace and Eric get to have their happily ever after. The Launch Date was a wonderfully written slow burn enemies to lovers! I can't wait to read other books from the author :)

I really liked this book, I thought the storyline was interesting and unique with really fun characters. I loved the banter between the characters and I would love to read more from this author.

The Launch Date is captivating, witty, heart felt and swoon worthy. It's hard to believe that this is Slator's debut novel, when her precision in acing the rom-com formula suggests she's been writing them for years. The slow reveal of Eric and Grace's shared history is SO smart and kept me on my toes. The tension and chemistry between these two is so thick that I could feel it in the air as I read. The sub-plots were beautifully executed and interesting, and city/workplace setting was like a train that kept everything chugging along. It was incredibly hard to set this one down, and when I inevitably had to- I gushed about it to whoever was around. The Launch Date is a rom-com that feels like a real rom-com!

This was super cute and I really loved. I loved both the lead characters. The Hating Game is a good comp to this title

Adorable! A charming rom-com that had me smiling and eagerly awaiting Grace’s and Eric’s transition from former friends and current enemies/workplace foes to lovers. There is fun banter throughout and the concept of Grace and Eric beta testing the perfect dates for the launch of a new app was done well though I wish there had been even more dates portrayed. Overall, a delightful romance! 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

This was such a treat! I absolutely loved the banter between Eric and Grace. Anyone who loved the Hating Game is going to adore The Launch Date. This is an incredible debut novel by Annabelle Slator and I can't wait to see what she does next!!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.