This book was so funny! I loved all the banter between Max and Flynn. The humor kept a high-stakes book feeling light-hearted and fun. It was a delight to watch Max and Flynn still pining for each other after all these years but trying to be professional. I found the ending to be a bit rushed. I wanted a big showdown with whoever was after the prime minister but the assassination plot got wrapped up too quickly for me. Overall though I had a good time. If you're looking for a light book to make you laugh this would be a great pick.

Five stars!! I thoroughly enjoyed Code Word Romance and was entertained right from the beginning. I suspended my disbelief at times but even still loved this story. Margaux, known as Max, is in a terrible spot but taking a vacation as a body double for a Prime Minister may be just what she needs. So why not?! Her handler turns out to be a man from her past and I looooved the complications this brought to the story. I also loved learning their history as the story went on. Code Word Romance is laugh out loud funny, action packed, thrilling, and swoon worthy. I enjoyed every moment reading and need to read Carlie Walker’s previous book asap!

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for my e-arc!! Code Word Romance is out March 18th!!

This book is light and fun, but a bit chaotic. There’s no real chemistry between the hero and heroine, no real character development. The spy thriller subplot didn’t make a whole lot of sense, especially when she decided to wing it and give a speech as if she were the real prime minister. Risk of being exposed as a body double? High. Risk of getting killed by the assassin? Also high. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Code Word Romance was such a fun read. If you want a romance with action mixed in, this is the perfect book! I loved the tension between Max and Flynn and their second chance romance. It’s funny and it kept me guessing who was behind the threats to Sofia.

3.5 stars

This was a liked it but didn't love it for me. After hearing great things about it (albeit, mostly about the audio, which I can definitely see this story lending itself better to that format), I was a bit disappointed the story didn't reach out and grab me more. I love an Italian setting, so I had high hopes for an action packed spy thriller/second chance romance, but felt there was almost no connection between Max and her handler/teenage Summer fling, Flynn. The concept of Max being a doppelganger for a Nordic prime minister and acting as a decoy during a suspected assassination attempt was fun, but the story was much more focused on this plot with any romance being secondary. The best parts of this story were the side characters, who provided most of the comic relief, particularly effusive hotelier Giorgio and Max's stoner roommate Calvin, who was peak Portland, ME man if ever I saw one. While still a quick read, I didn't feel like I just had to know who the bad guy really was, and wasn't particularly invested in a HEA for Max and Flynn.

Thank you for the free book @penguinrandomhouse and @berkleyromance! #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram. Thank you for the free audiobook, @prhaudio!

I might be revealing my age here but do you guys remember Lizzie McGuire the movie?? But instead of having a celebrity look-alike, our female lead in this book looks like a prime minister!

Unfortunately, there’s rumors about possible assassination attempts towards this prime minister while she goes on her annual vacation, so our female lead enters the story to act as her double and goes on an undercover mission! So a little of a Miss Congeniality vibes in this book also!!!

(And if you’re too young to know these movie references, you have to watch these movies because theyre 👌)

You guys, I went into this book blind and I seriously didnt expect to love it so much!!

I love all the characters, there were so many funny moments, I love all the action scenes, love the second chance romance storyline with some bodyguard subtrope, and all of these happening with Italy as the main background setting!!! It was honestly sooo entertaining and I cant recommend it enough!!!

This book comes out March 18!!! Please pick it up!!! It was such a fun read!!!

💭 What kind of vacation do usually gravitate too? Tropical, European, or mountain/ hiking trips?
☕️ Beach person here so tropical always!! But I think I really need to see Italy soon (I haven’t been!)

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker was such a fun ride! I absolutely loved how it blended espionage, comedy, and romance in the best way possible. The story follows two former lovers who get thrown back together on a high-stakes mission through the stunning streets of Italy. Between the danger, twists, and unexpected laughs, their connection sparks all over again, and let’s just say it’s impossible not to root for them. This book had me hooked from start to finish!

This cute, suspenseful romance was highly entertaining! I enjoyed the decoy and bodyguard romance plot because it added a lot of tension that felt different than other regular romcoms. There's lots of humor mixed in with the tension too, making it easily bingeable. And the Italian setting brings an extra layer of interest.

However, the main character was a bit too silly for me sometimes, drawing me out of the story long enough for me to roll my eyes. There were also random subplot aspects and characters that didn’t make a ton of sense for the story. (Like, what is up with her weird roommate?)

Overall, I'd say don't expect a lot from this romance. But if you're looking for something fun, quick, and easy to read, this is a good pick!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 3
Overall: 4

Thank you, Berkley, for the arc!

Content: 2 vague open door scenes

The book starts with a prologue, but it is really a full chapter with end of story action. There is narrative about the FMC’s confusing thoughts regarding the man sitting behind her, even though they are being chased on a Vespa. The story built slowly for me from there, with the author using odd grammatical and sentence structure.
There were many times I thought about putting this book down, but I am glad that I persevered. A little over a third of the way through the book, the storyline picks up, and the action regarding Max and the Prime Minister finally picks up. The pacing of the book improves and the villain was predictable. However, the overall story was enjoyable and I would read another book by Carlie Walker.

*I will post a review on Amazon when I am able*

When the CIA asks you to be the body double for a prime minister in order to stop an assassination but your handler happens to be the guy who broke your heart when you were 18 and never looked back at you? This mission just got a whole lot messier. Max was a totally normal girl, she works odd jobs, has a ton of debt, and the only interesting thing about her is that she bears an uncanny resemblance to Europe's by youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen. So when someone tries to assassinate Sofia, the CIA reaches out to Max with a deal, if she becomes a body and pretends to be Sofia during an Italian Vacation they'll give her 5 million dollars, money that could pay off all her debts and more and she gets a free vacation? That's an easy yes... or it was until her handler is revealed and its none other than Flynn, her ex boyfriend who dumped her over email when she was 18 and never looked back, her very first love. Flynn is going to be the one in charge of her protection which also means he's going to be stay and sleeping in her hotel room with her until the vacation is over... but that means dealing with her awakening feelings for Flynn and blurring the lines between handler and asset, while trying not to get killed by various assassins. This had the potential to be a fun rom com, but I just never felt any chemistry at all. I didn't feel like the second chance romance actually deserved a second chance. I never really cared for Flynn and didn't really believe in the romance between them. Like seriously? You're going to take back the guy who dumped you in an email, never got in contact with you again, and honestly I just don't think he did anything that proved he deserved the second chance.. but that's just me. I can see this being a fun Netflix movie but it's a book which makes it so much harder to enjoy or have fun with because I can't see Flynn's POV, I can't see the chemistry or anything. This book just felt kind of boring to me and I just wanted it to end. The spice is at a 2 and the romance was at a 1 if I'm being honest. This wasn't for me, but if you like second chance spy romances maybe give it a go.

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you PRH Audio and Berkley romance for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own. I adored the Takedown and I was super excited to read Code Word Romance.

This was such a fun read! It grabbed my attention from the opening and I didn’t want to stop listening. I loved the narration by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker!

Max is in between jobs when she’s approached by the CIA to impersonate a foreign prime minister. When she finally accepts she’s shocked to learn her handler is her ex. From there, the action never stops. What is supposed to be simply impersonating the PM on vacation, turns out to be anything but. There are romantic moments, assassins, and wild chase scenes. I love adventure romances and Carlie Walker does them so well! This made me want to immediately reread the Takedown and I can’t wait for more from Walker.

Thank you for the free book, Berkley Romance!

When Max is offered a large amount of money to pose as a double for a foreign prime minister, she can hardly say no. However, the prime minister’s life is at risk due to assassins who are determined to find her, which means Max is also in danger. If that isn’t bad enough, her main form of protection is from the man who broke her heart years ago, Flynn, who is now a CIA agent. She hopes to get through the vacation in one piece but things get more complicated by the minute.

This is a fun and lighthearted adventure rom com that moves at a fast pace. I enjoyed the Italian setting and the second chance romance of Flynn and Max. It definitely requires suspension of disbelief, but makes for a fun, different type of romance read. I think those who enjoy an escapist adventure, a bit of intrigue and mystery, and a vacation romance will love this book.

Get this to Netflix stat! Code Word Romance has the perfect plot for a great action adventure romance movie. Once I started I couldn’t convince myself to put this book down. It was fast paced and I truly never knew what to expect next. The second chance romance was very sweet and I adored both leads. Overall, Code Word Romance was a really fun summer read!

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

Carlie Walker described this to me as The Lizzie McGuire Movie with spies, and WHAT A COMP! (Moreover, it's an accurate one too.)

A chef serving as a body double for the Prime Minister of an obscure European country for 5 million dollars, no way that could go wrong, right? It's packed with vespa chases, assassination attempts, and... y'know, that kind of action too. And it makes sense, seeing as her handler is her mega hunky ex-boyfriend! Carlie Walker is able to mix romance, comedy, and suspense with ease, all set against the Amalfi Coast.

The narration was top notch, intentionally poor Norwegian accents and all. I couldn't stop laughing, which was the perfect balm after a stressful month. Check this one out if you need an escape!

High expectations after The Takedown, unfortunately it was not as good.

Unbelievable romance.
More adventurous than romantic.
Easy read.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley

4.5 stars rounded up. I am so pleasantly surprised by Code Word Romance. I've never read Walker before, but you can bet that I will be looking forward to reading more from her in the future! This book is kind of like Lizzie McGuire meets the Princess Diaries, and it had me humming "What Dreams are Made Of" the entire time. Max is a down on her luck former chef whose restaurant shut down during Covid. When she's given the opportunity (aka, offered a cool $5 mil) to impersonate the prime minister of some foreign country in Europe, how could she say no? The catch--- the prime minister needs an impersonator because there may or may not be an assassin (or several) hired to kill her. And oh yeah, her CIA bodyguard/ handler just happens to be her ex boyfriend/ love of her life. Given the premise of this one, there were certainly a ton of silly moments. But there's a different between silly and stupid, and I often find that in rom coms, things may lean more towards stupid. But that wasn't the case with Code Word Romance. I found myself laughing and shaking my head, but in a very good way. The banter was great, the side characters were fantastic (I need a Calvin/ Kevin short story ASAP), and there was also a ton of action. The book was super fast paced and easy to read, and honestly, this was exactly what I want in my rom coms. Thank you so much to Walker, Berkley Romance, and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you so much for NetGalley and Berkley Romance for sending me an advanced copy to read!

3.5⭐ This would be the perfect Netflix action rom-com! A down-on-her-luck chef (whose restaurant just flopped) discovers she’s a dead ringer for a European Prime Minister and gets recruited by the CIA to be her body double—because, of course, there are rumors of an assassination attempt. The price? A cool $5M. The catch? Her handler is none other than the guy who broke her heart in an email when she was 18.

It’s hilarious, packed with action, and full of side characters that steal the show. While technically a romance, the love story definitely takes a backseat to the chaotic, over-the-top plot—which, honestly, just makes it more fun. A little ridiculous? Sure. But exactly the kind of story that would make a ridiculously entertaining straight-to-streaming Netflix movie!

ARC Review: Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker
Pub Date: March 18th, 2025

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the early #gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #berkleypartner

Max has been down on her luck since having to shutter her restaurant - she's working odd jobs until what she thinks is a chance meeting with someone in the CIA who offers her a job standing in for a foreign Prime Minister who is potentially under threat of assassination. The offer comes with a whole lot of money that would solve a lot of Max's issues - however a new one arises. Her CIA handler? None other than her ex, Flynn. The forced proximity is a little too much for both of them to handle professionally.

This was such a great escape of a book! It's engaging, fast paced, and makes you want to keep reading and has a romance to boot! I really liked both main characters - Max and Flynn. I've been a huge fan of second chance romances lately and this really ticked the boxes for me in terms of what I like about the trope! I thought Max and Flynn had great banter and chemistry. There were parts of the mystery that were perhaps a bit predictable but there were also parts that surprised me!

My only issue with this book is more of an issue with the genre - these mystery or adventure romances just try to do a little too much I think. I find them to often not have enough romance for me. Even if the mystery or adventure interests me, I still find that the balance between the two doesn't work and distracts me from the relationship. This book is one of my favorites of the genre despite my own issues with it, though! I actually do think that it would make a great movie.

Overall, if you like this genre, this is definitely one to check out!

(4.5 stars) Huge thanks to @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the #gifted digital and audiobook copies of this absolutely delicious romantic suspense novel! #berkleypartner #prhaudioinfluencer

Max is barely scraping by, juggling odd jobs while drowning in debt from a failed business venture. But when the CIA approaches her with a very unusual offer, she can’t afford to say no—literally. Max happens to be a dead ringer for Sofia Christensen, Europe’s youngest female prime minister, and the target of an assassination plot. The CIA wants Max to be Sofia, acting as bait to lure out the would-be assassin. In exchange, she’ll be set financially. Easy decision, right? Until she meets her CIA handler. Flynn. The man who shattered her heart over a decade ago. Now, Max is impersonating a prime minister across Italy, dodging danger at every turn, and trying—but mostly failing—not to fall back in love with Flynn.

This book was an absolute blast! I’m fully obsessed with romantic suspense right now, and Code Word Romance delivers everything I love: action, humor, mystery, and serious swoon-worthy moments. Beyond the romance, I loved how quirky and thoughtful this book was—Max’s roommate and parents add depth to her character, and Flynn’s complicated relationship with the CIA makes him so much more than just a swoony love interest. This story is full of adventure, heart, and all the European charm you could want. By the end, you’ll be craving gelato, pizza, and a Vespa ride through Italy.

🎧 About the Audiobook 🎧 @snemethparker nails the solo narration, perfectly balancing the tender, broken-hearted second chance romance, the intense, pulse-pounding suspense, and the over-the-top hilarity of impersonating a world leader. This audiobook is pure fun, and I highly recommend listening!

I knew from reading the description that I would love this and I was not wrong at all. This has all of the fast pace excitement and adventure of a spy novel plus the romance and spice of a romance novel mashed up in one fun read. The chemistry between Max and Luke is undeniable and fun to read. The pacing of their romance didn't feel rushed, which to me is a common issue in Second Chance Romances.