3

setting: all over
Rep: two lesbian protagonists

I really enjoyed Mae Marvel's last book and I had high hopes for this one, especially at the start. It was intriguing at the beginning but eventually I found myself getting confused and the plot felt a bit muddled. I think it was a bit too long and some parts could have been cut/condensed for a tighter and more sensical story. also, very little romance in this - it's way more of an action book

I was fortunate to get an arc and an ALC.

This was my ALC review:
DNFing at 52%. I’m just bored. It could be because of the narration, but usually I’m a fan of Mia Hutchinson-Shaw’s narration. This time, though, I found it hard to separate characters. Honestly, once the two exes figured out they had been working with each other, the book was far less interesting, which was a bummer because it was a fantastic premise.

So, I thought I would give the arc a try:
Oh, no, that was a bad decision. The ALC was more enjoyable to listen to, but I didn't like it. The book just fell flat. This was not a book for me, sadly.

If I Told You, I'd Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel is a fast-paced, sapphic spy romance that’s equal parts adrenaline and angst, wrapped in a delightfully stylish package. Yardley “the Unicorn” Whitmer is a charming, practically untouchable secret agent; KC “Tabasco” Nolan is a brilliant hacker with a secret identity of her own. What they don’t know? They’ve been dating their professional nemeses for years. The reveal is explosive, the tension electric, and the emotional stakes are as high as the international ones.

Marvel delivers a globe-trotting romp full of witty banter, secret identities, and a healthy dose of romantic chaos. The chemistry between Yardley and KC is undeniable, and their journey from betrayal to reconnection is surprisingly heartfelt beneath all the spycraft and sharp dialogue. Some plot moments stretch believability, but that’s part of the fun—this is a story that leans into its drama with flair. It’s stylish, sexy, and deeply satisfying: a second-chance romance with gadgets, disguises, and real emotional payoff.

This book was okay, but the pacing felt off. I tried reading it on my e-reader, then switched to an ALC about 30% in. I think some people would really enjoy it, but it was just okay for me.

3.5 ⭐️

What a fun Ms. & Ms. Smith style spy romance! The spy aspect of things was so fun and light, while the relationship aspect was uber romantic and sweet. This book was about learning each other in a new light. When they thought it was broken and over, they learned they truth (that they'reboth spies working for the same agency!), something that had been missing. But now that they knew the truth, they could re-explore if their relationship could work. There was tension and a slooow burn. There was also some really great side characters.

That awkward situation where you realize you’re not into a genre (contemporary romance) but only -after- you already received arc in that genre, oops.

I think this was a fun take on a second chance romance, watching people who never would have broken up in the first place, if they hadn’t had to keep classified secrets about their jobs, fall back in love once they’re allowed to be honest with each other. Full of fancy gadgets and disguises, someone less uncomfortable by the copaganda of the spy genre would probably have a lot of fun with this.

Dnf at 53%

I was really excited for this book and tried hard to finish it, but unfortunately I couldn’t. I found the premise interesting and I love a second chance romance. But I felt a distance from the characters and story that I struggled to stay engaged.

I really wanted to find myself invested in this, but I couldn't. I don't know if it's because I was in a bit of a slump when I attempted to read it, or it just wasn't compelling enough in the beginning to hold my interest, but I found myself putting this novel down for weeks at a time and not thinking about it for a second. And then I would open my kindle app and remember, "I have to finish that!" I think the premise is interesting, and I'm sure in the future when I pick it up again I'll enjoy it more. It just wasn't one that could pull me out of my slump and suck me right in.

• yardley (a spy with the code name ‘the unicorn’ who is known for her craft) and kc (a skilled hacker known as ‘tabasco’) are both lying to each other about their jobs, and their relationship has crumbled as a result. but when an undercover mission goes awry & their identities are revealed, the pair decide to team up to right what went wrong. can the two fight thru all the lies & betrayal, and fall for the truer versions of each other?
• this book read really quickly as the intrigue built over the case the pair were assigned to.
• i think ultimately, this book struggled to decide if it wanted to primarily be a romcom or a fun spy novel, and somehow didn’t quite do either genre full justice. i went in hoping for a more interesting & nuanced romance plotline but was left wanting more.

Ohhh I wanted to like this one! Maybe the Mr and Mrs Smith comparison leading up to my requesting this book set it up for failure/it fell short.

A delightful sapphic rom-com with a side of suspense. The chemistry between the characters felt really true to life, from the angsty beginnings to the re-blooming of romance. There does have to be a bit of suspension of reality because I may not be a part of the intelligence community, but even I know some of what happened doesn't feel realistic at all, still fun though it you can suspend disbelief.

Overall a great fun read with the promised Mr & Mrs Smith vibes, just sapphic.

Such a fun read! I love sapphics and I love spies, and this was the perfect mix of both. Yardley (though this is the name of a town near me and it did lowkey negatively affect my experience lol) and KC were super cute together. I believed in their second chance romance. Minor complaints: towards the end, we got a few speeches (to the president, no less) that felt preachy and out of place. There were also a smidge too many side characters for my taste--which I only realized at the very end when a few characters popped up that we'd definitely met before and I had no idea who they were.

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC

Heat Factor: In the first half, nothing but a kiss and some pining
Character Chemistry: They’re both convinced that the other is their one true love, but also there’s absolutely no sign of chemistry or what brings them together
Plot: Girlfriends break up only to discover that actually they’re both spies (for the same agency, not competing agencies) and those big secrets they’ve been hiding from each other are not actually secret (and boy do their handlers stink)
Overall: How can a romance book about spies be too boring to read on the beach?

After reading this book for at least five days, including one day that included a plane ride (where, usually, I joyfully do nothing but read for several hours) and some time on the beach, and still only being a third into this book, I had to call it quits.

Because seriously: if we’re disparaging romance novels for being beach reads (ie, books that go down easy, are light and fluffy, etc etc), then a romance book that fails to keep my interest when I actually have distraction-free time to read it (rather than only late at night or when my children are watching television) is a serious failure.

The opening here is promising. We start with a chapter from Yardley’s point of view. Yardley is a field agent for the CIA and she is very good at her job (there are hints that her background as a history nerd slash southern belle gave her a leg up, but that’s unfortunately underdeveloped) (though that’s perhaps wise because I feel like history nerd southern belles might learn towards Confederate Apologist Nonsense, and I’ve read enough books like that this year, thanks). Yardley is also very sad, because she is in the process of breaking up with her girlfriend, KC. Obviously, the break-up is all Yardley’s fault, because she’s always lying about her “work trips” and her “book club meetings.”

Then we get a chapter from KC’s point of view, and I got a bit excited, because I do like a good relationship-in-trouble story. Except, huh, turns out KC also works at the CIA (as a tech, not as a field agent) and feels like the end of their relationship is all her fault because of all the lies that she’s been telling Yardley.

This is not a book about them continuing to not know about this secret; rather, they learn that they both work for the CIA in Chapter 2. Instead, they are assigned to work together for some reason (the reason is that their handlers are incompetent monsters) (but also because *romance*) to solve the case. And they’re bopping around to clubs with arms deals and international safe houses and all the normal spy shit, as well as thinking about their relationship and what went wrong, and I was so friggin’ bored.

I think that part of the issue is that a spy story implies lots of external conflict. You know, action scenes, fast-paced shenanigans, that kind of thing. And this story is very internally-focused. Even the two scenes I read where our protagonists are in the field are more attuned to the dynamics between Yardley and KC (and their feelings about those dynamics) than the spy stuff that they’re doing. Each of those scenes has one of the two interacting with an arms dealer, and the other one in her ear, and there’s a lot of huffs of laughter through the earpiece at the wit of the love interest and a lot of internal thinking about how great the love interest is at her job. Even when the arms dealer pulls a gun there’s not a lot of external tension—the moment remains about the connection between Yardley and KC. This leads to a very flat reading experience. Because, frankly, there should be some external tension if an arms dealer pulls a gun on you!


I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

This was a fun read. I love a second chance trope and the authors delivered a clever story on incorporating it. Both main characters were likable and while the story was predictable, it was still fun and interesting.

3.5 stars rounded down. Sapphic spies who do not know they are dating each other!? Such an excellent concept, and I was definitely here for the vibes. The execution, however, was a bit mid. The endless, repetitive agonizing from each of them about 'why this wouldn't work' and 'how did I mess this up so badly' got old real quick. For a non-spy book enthusiast the espionage part was cool, though a tad unrealistic. Ultimately, the chemistry was on point, the spying was fun, but the protracted relationship drama could have been cut by half.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the Sapphic Mr and Mrs smith vibes but it was a little drawn out. The middle of the book got repetitive. It’s hard for me to like second chance since they tend to be based on miscommunication but this one actually made sense and kept me hooked.

What a fun read! I haven't read something like this that blends romance with spy action before and really enjoyed it. It definitely plays into the clichés of the spy genre but it was so much fun and full of action that you don't even care. The romance between the two main characters, Yardley and KC was electric and the whole break up/make up aspect really kept you interested. I also really loved Kris and Declan in this madcap adventure. They brought some needed heart and levity in some scenes.

Definitely recommend if you are into sapphic romance, spy games, international intrigue, and romantic redemption stories.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book through NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute second chance romance about two female spies. There was a lot of angst and pining as these two worked to reconnect while working undercover. Give this one a try if you're looking for a quick, sapphic romance with a splash of adventure.
Thanks to the publisher for my ecopy of this book.

3.5 stars

Ms. and Ms. Smith? Sign me up! Between the synopsis and the cover -- and even the tongue-in-cheek title -- I had such high hopes for this.

Unfortunately, it didn't deliver.

First, the plot twists were obvious. While the stakes for this spy plot were very high (world-crippling), it felt easy and uncomplicated. There were parts of the plot that felt interesting and well done but on the whole, I've read better. I'm a big fan of genre mash-ups and I've read an excellent romance/action hybrid recently so my expectations were probably higher than most readers'.

Second, it felt too long. It's a very slow book and that's the kiss of death for a spy plot. There was too much downtime between the action-y bits which left me with the impression that I'm stuck in stop and go traffic. I don't think the two genres were blended smoothly.

Third, I struggled to connect with the characters. Are they awesome, badass women? Yes! Was I invested in their romantic drama? Not really. We meet them in the midst of a break-up so it's kind of a second chance romance. But there was too much introspection and inner monologuing for me. After a while, it just got repetitive and boring.

I know people who loved it and I know people who disliked it. I'd probably recommend this to very specific readers but it's not high on my list.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Griffin, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

DNF @ 30%, the concept sounded interesting but I couldn't get into the story or the characters. I might try it again as an audiobook