This book unfortunately was not for me. I felt like the MMC and the FMC had no chemistry. It also felt a little too insta-love for me. They went straight from hating each other to being together with no real interactions. I also didn’t find the main FMC very likable.

This was such a fun, fast-paced read. I loved it when characters have great banter & dialogue and this story was full of it! Loved it!

If you're a fan of steamy, character-driven romance with emotional depth, I Knew You Were Trouble will keep you hooked from start to finish.

I enjoyed this rom com especially the banter between the hero and heroine even though i think the title caused a Taylor Swift song to get stuck in my head.

Anyone who grew up with a favorite boy band, is going to love I Knew You Were Trouble by Emma Rae. Lexi and Aiden's story was so sweet, I read this book twice. Will highly recommend this title to adult romance readers. I will definitely be reading Rae's other book soon.

Thank you so much for the arc! I absolutely loved this one, it just felt so cozy and nostalgic to me and the characters were like people I already knew which I adored. I really didn’t want this story to end and I would love to close tha characters again, maybe a book about miller 🙈

Thank you NetGalley, Emma Rae and Hera for this e-ARC of I Knew You Were Trouble. This was my first book by Emma Rae and it was wonderful! In this enemies-to-lovers story, Lexi - an Oscar winning documentary director is given the job (against her wishes) of a behind the scenes look at the boy band Rebel Heart. Aiden, the unofficial band leader and major heartthrob, is against the documentary and does everything he can to have Lexi taken off the project. Of course, things change and sparks fly as they tour the world and fall in love. Not only was this a love story between Lexi and Aiden, but all of the members of the band are working through their own love story in unique and beautiful ways. Overall, this book was a delight to read!!

This one was such a delightful whirlwind! Imagine being an Oscar-winning documentary director and getting stuck filming a boy band reunion tour. Yeah, Lexi’s not thrilled either. Enter Aidan, the cocky, charming lead of Rebel Heart, who rubs Lexi the wrong way in all the right ways. She thinks he’s a diva, he thinks she’s uptight—classic enemies-to-lovers vibes!

Their banter is as sharp as their chemistry, and despite her best efforts, Lexi starts questioning everything she thought she knew about love, life, and boy bands. Funny, swoony, and full of heart—this one’s a backstage pass to romance!

I really like this book!! I really enjoyed Emma's other book love game so I was so happy when i got approved to read this book!! I loved Lexi and Aiden and even though we didn't see It at first they grew to have amazing chemistry🫶 the side characters where also really loveable! They were a few twists In the book that definitely kept me hooked! It was sweet to see Lexi make up with her dad too! I love a happy ending and Im very glad Lexi and Aiden found their way back to eachother!🩷 I will continue to read this author's work! Thank you to Netgalley and Emma Rae for this ARC!

📚 Book Review 📚
Rating: 4🌟

A big thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Lexi, a documentary director, who is tasked with taking over the filming of a boy band, Rebel Heart's reunion documentary after the previous director is fired. Lexi isn’t thrilled about the project, as it’s a far cry from her usual educational documentaries. However, as she spends more time with the band, she becomes particularly close to Aidan, though their growing connection is complicated by unresolved traumas from their past.

While this book wasn’t mind-blowing, it was still an enjoyable read. There were a few unexpected twists that kept me intrigued throughout. The writing of the steamy scenes is brief and to the point, though I found the language used a bit repetitive at times.

I already have Love Game on my physical TBR, and after reading this, it’s definitely moving up to the top of my list. Overall, it was a light, easy read, and I couldn’t wait to see how things would unfold for Lexi and Aidan.

This is a perfect fast-paced read. The life on tour was really fun to see and experience. This book may feel a bit unrealistic but it’s fun following the boy band and the film crew. The banter is witty and humorous. I could feel the chemistry between Lexi and Aidan through the pages. The band aspect was a really great found family background to the book. It’s a perfect book to escape reality with. Even though Aidan at first was a real ass I just couldn’t help but fall for him. He may have been stand-offish but underneath all that was a guy with heart of gold and a really loving boyfriend. From the beginning you know that the hidden cameras Lexi uses are going to come out and it’s going to blow up, but it just add to the tension. Every time I thought it was the last. Normally I’m not a fan of song lyrics in books but the ones here were quite good and I actually wouldn’t mind listening to them for real.

In I Knew You Were Trouble, Lexie, a grounded and mature professional, takes on a documentary project following Aidan’s boy band. Unlike the typical fan-turned-love-interest trope, Lexie is focused on doing her job well, bringing empathy and depth to her work while navigating the chaotic world of fame. Aidan, a dedicated and loyal bandmate, shares a natural and growing chemistry with Lexie, resulting in a romance that feels genuine and heartfelt.

Beyond the love story, the book offers a captivating glimpse into the high-paced, emotional life of a boy band, exploring the challenges, joys, and camaraderie that come with fame. The supporting characters, including the band members and close friends, add warmth and charm, creating a family-like dynamic that enhances the story.

Charming yet grounded, mature yet lighthearted, the novel balances romance, character growth, and deeper themes, making it a refreshing and engaging read—even for those who don’t typically enjoy celebrity romances.

Oscar winning documentarian Lexi is forced by her production company to take over a project following a world famous boy band on their latest world tour. The band is uncooperative, no one more so than unofficial band leader Aidan.

"I Knew You Were Trouble" delivered on its premise with an enjoyable Romance and some engaging side characters. I enjoyed seeing the members of the band get to have their own storylines developed. The relationship between Lexi and Aidan started with classic enemies to lovers vibes. By the end, the narrative wrapped up how I expected, but it was an enjoyable experience getting there.

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the opportunity to read this ARC

Thank you NetGalley, Hera Books and Emma Rae for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️ I found this book really fun. I kept looking forward to when I could pick it up again.

Lexi is an Oscar winning documentary director who is forced to jump into a project covering the popular boy band, Rebel Heart. This is her nightmare- she knows next to nothing about the band and her documentaries focus on much darker topics.

Aiden is the unofficial leader of the band and super protective of the group. He leads the fight against the documentary and tries to sabotage Lexi’s efforts.

Lexi is shocked when she not only starts to enjoy the 5 members of the band but also finds a way to help several of them and make an impactful documentary. I liked the side storylines.

Third act breakups are not my favorite but this one was well done.

Open door.
Small reverse age gap.
Hidden/workplace romance.

This is a pretty predictable book about boy bands. Each band member has a personality type, and of course the leader of the band, the grumpy protector, turns out to be the one the female lead falls for. What’s difficult about this book is that the relationship never makes much sense. They are so mean to each other at first. Aiden is mean for no reason. And then they start kissing and he’s suddenly kind. I am all for enemies to lovers tropes, but there has to be character development as well. This book’s premise had promise, but it was really just a pretty flat portrayal of a boy band.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4/5🎤 this is my second ARC with emma and i can definitely say i have loved this book even more than the first i’ve read of hers. i want to thank emma, NetGalley and Hera books and for allowing me to read her ARC- i loved it!

short summary:
after finishing up an oscar-worthy documentary, lexi hart is now tasked with a job that she doesn’t think she wants: go on tour with the biggest boy band in the world, rebel heart and film their own documentary. she’s not exactly thrilled about her new endeavor, and neither are her new subjects, especially (unofficial) band leader, aiden mcarthur. while on tour, aiden and lexi find themselves being brought together, in more than one way. question is, can they put up with each other long enough for lexi to finish her job?

things i loved:
🎥the red shirt project actually sounds really cool and i hope she goes on to make that documentary 😌
🎥there were so many times i felt the nostalgia of loving a boy band -AIDEN IS A DREAM
🎥I loved how funny and also UNIQUE each band member was- the fact that they were all from different countries was so fun and along with their specific struggles, they were well rounded characters
🎥lexi being a little matchmaker for the boys was so cute, I loved all the mini HEAs for the side characters

the entire book felt like i was waiting for lexi and aiden to JUST. BE. TOGETHER. very on again off again which can be frustrating, but the author wrote it so well this time around. i felt like lexi really grew as a character through her time on tour—her life was being changed through the band and her relationship with each of them.

tropes:
enemies to lovers
filmmaker x pop star
slow burn
forced proximity

would i recommend? yes!

As my first Emma Rae book, I Knew You Were Trouble did not disappoint.

These characters are so complex and written so well. Aiden and Lexi are the mcs you hate and love all at the same time. Despite my love for the mcs I loved all the side characters possibly more. The addition of a boy band gave this enemies to lovers romance the found family vibes.

My biggest complaint is the single pov, I wanted to connect more with Aiden and it just didn't feel possible without his insight

Although I’m usually not one for celebrity romance, I found myself binge-reading this one in less than 24 hours.

The writing flows effortlessly, with a perfectly balanced pace that keeps you turning the pages without feeling rushed or dragged down.

The protagonist, Lexie, is a breath of fresh air. At thirty, she's grounded, mature, and genuinely passionate about her work. It's rare to see a character like her in this genre—not a fan caught up in the glitz, but a professional determined to do her job well. Despite her initial hesitation about the documentary project, her empathy and understanding of the challenges the band faces shine through, and she brings a depth and subtlety to her work that’s refreshing to see.

Aidan is equally compelling. His dedication to his bandmates and his mature outlook create an appealing dynamic, and his chemistry with Lexie builds in such a natural way. Together, they make a perfect match, with a romance that feels genuine.

Beyond the central love story, Rae gives us a captivating look into the band’s high-paced world, whisking readers to new places and into the chaos, joy and pain of boy-band life. The side characters, from the band members to Duncan and Meredith, add warmth and charm, creating a tight-knit family dynamic that is both endearing and believable.

This is a love story that’s charming without being overly sweet, mature while still lighthearted, and unafraid to touch on deeper themes. I Knew You Were Trouble stands out as a refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable read that I highly recommend—even if celebrity romance isn’t usually your thing.

Picture it: you're a "serious" Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker tasked to follow around a Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC-level boy band which is absolutely the LAST thing you want to be doing at this point in your career...you want to create hard-hitting work! Well, that's what happened to FMC, Lexi. Eventually, Lexi becomes invested in the lives of almost ALL of the Rebel Heart members, especially Aidan. One thing though - this romance has to stay spicy AND secret (what's hotter than that??). In the end, I ended up fully invested in all of the romantic subplots of this story and boy band, not just Lexi's and Aiden's, and didn't want this book to end.

I Knew You Were Trouble is the perfect spicy enemies-to-lovers rom com!

Thank you, NetGalley and Hera books, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I Knew You Were Trouble is a romance featuring Lexi, a documentary filmmaker who is forced by the money men to make her next picture about a very One Direction-y boy band. She sulks and goes to meet them overseas, and immediately is put on the defensive by Aiden, the nominal leader of the group. While it doesn't reinvent the obvious tropes in this set up, it moves the pieces along well, and kept me entertained. Recommended. But do yourself a favour, and skip her earlier book. I picked that up after reading this one and it was very offputting. This one, however, shows the author is improving.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.