I’m not normal into lesbian romance, but this one was very good, the tension between the caracters, Spice and everything was perfect.

This was so fast-paced i’ve read it in a day!

Totally recommend to put on your TBR!

Cute! I really like Dana Hawkins writing and this book is no exception. The romance is very well written and the characters are adorable, as always. I love Sophie and Ella (especially Ella).

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

my second book by this author and it wont be the last.... there is just something about the way this author writes that pulls you in and her characters come to life as if they could be your friend or work colleague....

sophie had worked all her life right from the ground up and now she was where she wanted to be....project manager and how she wanted to run with this position but also she wanted a trainee

when she got her wish she was overjoyed until she realised that it was her boss daughter one who hadnt worked a day in her life and was handed everything to her since birth

ella had it all but most of all she wanted her freedom... she wanted to move out from her cloying parents home and yes she knew she had had a privileged background but it had come with a price....

she also wasnt to happy about being a trainee under sophie but she would deal with it after all it didnt have to be for very long because ella had a plan....

but as sophie and ella worked together over long days and into the night things began to change for them both....

what an interesting storyline.... assumptions on both sides and a twist to add to the spice of it all.... well written and thought out characters loved it

So Not my Type by Dana Hawkins

This book was a 4 star read.

I loved both of the main characters. They each have their own flare and are strong young women.

Sophie is a do-gooder, workaholic who insists she wants a real and lasting relationship but has no time for it. She feels like she has to give her job 150% because she has no degree and needs to prove she deserves to be in her position.
Ella feels trapped in her life. She lives at home with her parents who she feels hover over her due to her disability. She wants freedom and control over her own life.

The relationship between the two characters grows organically. The reader gets to know the inner thoughts of each character and see them work through their personal issues. You (the reader) really start feel connected to the characters and root for them and their dreams.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a cozy romance!

Dana Hawkins’ So Not My Type offers an engaging workplace romance that explores love, personal growth, and resilience in the face of life’s challenges. Set against the backdrop of a high-pressure marketing project, the story brings together two vastly different women: Sophie Black, a driven and gritty project manager, and Ella Northwood, the privileged but sheltered daughter of the company’s CEO. Their journey from rivals to lovers is both heartfelt and thought-provoking, though not without its flaws.

Sophie is a standout character with her punk-rock aesthetic and no-nonsense approach to life. She’s worked hard to rise in her career, only to find herself tasked with training Ella, a new hire who represents everything Sophie resents—privilege, inexperience, and the memory of a past slight. Meanwhile, Ella’s sheltered upbringing and struggle with epilepsy provide a refreshing and sensitively handled narrative thread. Hawkins does an excellent job of depicting Ella’s determination to assert her independence while managing her condition, adding depth to what might otherwise feel like a predictable enemies-to-lovers romance.

The initial animosity between Sophie and Ella is palpable, though at times Sophie’s behavior veers into outright hostility that makes her a challenging protagonist to root for. However, as the layers of misunderstanding are peeled back, their chemistry shines through, and their growing affection feels both natural and deeply satisfying. Hawkins balances their evolving relationship with moments of humor, tension, and vulnerability, ensuring readers stay invested in their journey.

Where the book stumbles is in its depiction of the workplace dynamics and project plotline. The marketing campaign that serves as the backdrop often feels underdeveloped and occasionally implausible, detracting from the story’s emotional core. Similarly, the transition from animosity to romance feels abrupt, and the resolution of certain conflicts—particularly a third-act twist—might leave readers wanting more clarity and depth.

Despite these issues, So Not My Type succeeds in delivering a romance that is both entertaining and meaningful. Hawkins’ thoughtful portrayal of Ella’s medical condition and the challenges of navigating privilege and prejudice elevates the narrative. The supporting cast, including Sophie’s manager Malcolm and Ella’s protective but well-meaning parents, adds richness to the story.

For fans of slow-burn, sapphic romances with a mix of personal and professional stakes, So Not My Type is a satisfying read. It’s not without its flaws, but its heart is in the right place, and the dynamic between Sophie and Ella will leave readers rooting for their happily-ever-after.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Sophie Black loves her work as a project manager at an advertising agency in Seattle. When given a new client with a tight deadline she is up for the challenge. What she isn’t expecting is to be training a new hire who happens to be the boss's daughter. Sophie has a big chip on her shoulder about Ella Northwood essentially being given a spot she worked years to attain. Ella has a higher education while Sophie has work experience. To be honest Sophie was pretty much of a jerk to Sophie at the beginning forgetting part of her job is to train. She also carries a grudge from when the pair met years ago which Ella doesn’t remember.

Ella has lived an over protected and privileged life. Kudos to the author for bringing attention to epilepsy and how it can affect every aspect of a person's life. This falls into a workplace romance with Sophie learning more about Ella and understanding her better. Ella always thinks Sophie is cool and hot. But she does need to let her in to understand her sheltered world.

This is the third in the author’s Single in Settle series and I’ve read the other two. The characters from the previous books make brief appearances as part of Sophie’s friend group. But there isn’t big catching up on their lives and this book can easily be read on its own. I enjoyed the story and it taking place in the same world as the author’s previous books. For me the ending was rushed and could have been explained a bit more. I wanted to understand better how they thought their relationship was going to progress. How was Sophie going to give priority to a relationship more than work and how was Ella going to care for her health while working to be independent. Small questions in an otherwise likable story. (3.5 Stars)

This book was so quick and easy to read, full of familiar tropes and rom-com pitfalls. I really enjoyed the slow burn nature of the romance. Was the rich/poor trope a little overplayed? Yes. Did it matter? Not in the slightest and by the end most of my anti-capitalist bones had been forgotten temporarily.

A great sapphic romance with disability representation (epilepsy).

Free proof copy provided by Netgalley.

4.5 stars ⭐️
First off, thank you to NetGalley, Storm Books, and Dana Hawkins for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC! This slow-burn, enemies to lovers WLW romance book is written from the POV of Ella and Sophie. Ella is the daughter of the CEO of the advertising company Sophie works at. Ella ends up getting paired with Sophie on an important work project. This book is filled with ups and downs as Ella and Sophia navigate their work and personal lives. It even includes some twists and turns that will have your mind spinning. I was unsure of what to expect from this book, but I ended up really liking it. There are so many likable characters, and I was rooting for everyone. I also appreciated the chronic illness representation since I live with multiple.
One note is that I wish there was more to the end of the book. There was such a slow build up that I was hoping for more of their story in the after. Overall, I definitely recommend this book as I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

DNF

I was looking forward to read this sapphic romance, but unfortunately I had to DNf it as all the characters felt two dimensional, which also meant I forgot who's pov it was.

I will admit having a hard time getting into this book at times. Overall I enjoyed it and liked the chemistry between the two main characters, Ella and Sophie. I am not usually a fan of enemies to lovers but this one had a twist that made it much better in my opinion. I usually have a hard time when they are downright awful to each other but the misunderstanding that led to the enemies was understandable and made it easier for me to believe they would be able to set it aside and become more to each other.

The part I found that made it hard to get into was the work side of things. It felt generic at times and just like rush rush rush but you weren't really sure what they were working on. It didn't really make sense either for her manager to put her on this rush project and training someone when he was concerned about her work life balance and that she was going to burn herself out. It's like he was forcing her to really do it but it also seemed like he genuinely cared for her so it stuck out as odd. I wish there had been more time spent on the background and relationship between Ella and Sophie and less details about work/the project.

Ella was an interesting character to me and I was interested about the experience she had with epilepsy. I've never known anyone closely that has it and it was interesting to get a perspective on what it might be like to live with it. As a parent, I understood her parents' protectiveness but also Ella's frustration and want to break free from them. Again I wish the author had spent more time on page with her experience of epilepsy but most occured in vague brushes of the past or off page.

Sophie was a bit harder to understand as a character. I didn't quite understand her motivation at times and the scenes where she visited home to talk to her mother didn't quite hit or help me understand. There wasn't enough depth there for me to really get what makes her tick but she did have some endearing qualities about her that made you feel for her and root for her too. I think the whole work situation with the extra stress just made me feel bad for her the whole book. I would have loved to see more of her outside of work and interacting with her friends and family to really get to know her better.

The twist near the end was for sure a shocker to me. Didn't see that coming nor do I get how they would get past something like that. In the end, I was rooting for these two crazy kids to figure it out and find a way because they both seemed so head over heels for each other and I do love a happily ever after.

I would give it 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 overall and would definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoys enemies to lovers with a slow burn sapphic romance.

I received an early digital copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review.

This fell flat for me I’m afraid, as someone who has a chronic illness I hoped for a better representation. I found it was pretty vague and felt like the author didn’t have a true understanding or didn’t want it to be a focus in the book which felt like a missed opportunity and I tapped out.
Thank you NetGalley, Dana Hawkins and Storm Publishing for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

Sophie Black finally has the job she wants - project manager at a top Seattle agency. She's content with hard work and late nights until the CEO's daughter, Ella, joins the team. They have to learn to work together, and along the way they may find respect for one another - or something more.

I love a workplace, enemies to lovers romance. Sophie has to mentor Ella, who has joined the agency in a similar position to Sophie notwithstanding her lack of experience, being fresh out of college. They have to put their prejudices aside to work together.

So Not My Type is a lighthearted, sapphic workplace romance which is overall pretty enjoyable. I struggled to connect to either MC at the beginning, but they did eventually grow on me after a while!

Thank you to Storm Publishing for an e-arc! All opinions are my own.

Firstly, I like that this book had epilepsy representation, as it is not often seen in books, so well done to the author.
The romance was quite sweet, but I could not see a connection between the main characters.

So Not My Type tells the story of two very different women who are brought together to work on a promotional project. Sophie has grown up having to fight for everything she had and has a goal of progressing to a managerial position within the next few years. She is single-minded and is working herself into the ground to prove that she deserves her recent promotion, when she is offered the chance to go on an all expenses paid cruise, provided she and her team are able to deliver an important marketing project in a significantly reduced timeframe. Then she is thrown a curveball in her plans when Ella is thrown into the mix. Ella is the daughter of Sophie’s CEO and has grown up in a life of wealth and privilege. She’s has recently completed her university degree but has never had a job, let alone been involved in managing a project such as the one they are working together on. However, life is not all golden sunshine and rainbows for Ella due to her medical condition and sense of suffocation form her parent’s controlling ways. Sophie is expected to train Ella but resents everything about her, thinking that she is just a rich girl who has been handed the position because her father is the CEO.

I’ll be honest and admit that I struggled with the first 30-40% of the story, particularly in relation to the character of Sophie. In fact, I must say that I hated her. She was so caught up in her old grudge against Ella that she treated Ella abysmally. Maybe it’s partly because I’m not the type of person to hold grudges but I really, really wanted to smack Sophie around the head and tell her to get over herself. It was obvious that Ella was putting in the effort and doing a good job despite her lack of experience, but nothing was good enough for Sophie who was, quite frankly, obnoxious and a bully.

Then, after a massive blow up between the two women, I was left with a case of whiplash when, suddenly, Sophie decided that she needed to give Ella a chance and became as sweet as pie. There seemed to be no further struggle as the two women became increasingly close and soon fell into a relationship. This transition seemed to be a bit smooth for my liking given the amount of angst that had existed between Sophie and Ella previously. However, it did leave things open for the big blow up to occur towards the end of the book and it was clear that there was still a lot of room for improved communication.

However, despite these issues, I overall enjoyed the story and loved the way that Dana Hawkins treated the issues associated with Ella’s medical condition and Sophie’s willingness to learn more about how she could support Ella. And, by the end of the story, I had even come around to liking Sophie and could see that she was beginning to shift her views about her upbringing as well as seeing that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

I am grateful to Dana Hawkins, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

ARC READER

Oh my freaking goodie goodness!!! I love Sophie and Ella!! I thought the scenes, industry, plot, everything was super fresh and original in this book. It was more like watching a contemporary romance / drama on Netflix than reading a book.

This book is TOTALLY MY TYPE!! I loved it so much as an ARC I bought myself a copy when it releases. And I highly recommend you buy a copy too.

Another winner for Dana Hawkins. I just love everything she writes. I can’t wait for the next one.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I I wanna start with saying that I liked the concept. I struggled with the maturity level of the two main characters. I didn’t understand the instant hatred toward each other in the beginning, and I didn’t understand why the grudges and the problems kept popping back up.

I feel like Ella’s character lacked real depth. Sophie’s character had a lot of potential but once again the author failed to provide this character the three dimensional character development they deserved..

Dana!!!! I absolutely love her writing. I found her from the first book in this series and this one did not disappoint either! I am so grateful to have received this e book early to review. I am so excited to continue to follow Dana as an author and see what other magic she puts out!

This was, in most ways, a refreshingly normal and wholesome romance novell. Normal, you might ask, in what world is that a compliment? And while in general you might be correct, you forgett that this isn´t your average romance novell. It´s lesbian, So yes, it was very refreshing to see that it IS possible to write lesbian romance novels, without the lesbianism being a major plott point (or any at all, if I´m being honest). They instead faced problems a normal couple would, jealousy, questioning, not being ready etc., but zero homophobia. Another positiv aspect of this book is the way it handeld Ella, the main character who (minor spoiler) has epilepsy. While I don´t have epilepsy myself, and don´t personally know anyone with it (and so my opinian shouldn´t realy matter on this), I feel like this was something that was handeld truly gracefully. If I remember correctly the author even mentioned engaging sensitivity (or beta) readers specifically for this. And while it did play a significant role in the storry, it was never in a degrading way.
Now that you got a glimpse of how amazing this book is in general, I feel like it is important to note the one negativ aspect (for me personally at least). And that´s the way the author handled Ellas wealth. While I do believe that the life of a wealthy person isn´t always sunshine and happines, the way it was portrayed in this book realy rubed me the wrong way. Ella constantly almost whining about her wealth felt a little ... odd to say the least. I also disliked the way she highlited the way Sophie (the "poor" goth girl) reacted to her wealth. Which was not at all. Maybe it´s only me who feels this way, but I believe that it would be quite normal to react with awe, curiosity and maybe even a bit of repulsion, when experiencing wealth like that of Ellas family for the first time.
Other than that it was a truly wholesome romance with some minor conflict. A well put together, cozy, lesbian romance (and for anyone out there who appreciates this kind of information: it was not fade to black!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing ARC of the book. Minor spoilers below.

So Not My Type is third novel I've read by Dana Hawkins. It's also the third part in the Seattle series. I think it's the best novel by the author so far.

I've struggled to like the main characters of the books and the stories have been lacking something to really appeal to me. Maybe the characters are too urban, young and cool for me to really relate.

The main characters of So Not My Type gave me really hard time, too. I found them childish, naive, bratty and insecure, especially in the beginning. They are both 24 so I tried to understand. As a 40yo mom of two, their world is very different from mine. But that's why books and stories are great. They tell stories of variety of people.

I found it difficult to get into the story of So Not My Type in the beginning (because of the main characters) but after about 20-25 percent I got sucked into it and ended up liking the romance novel. I also found it nice to have the outwardly edgier MC to be the more sensitive and softer of the two.

The main romance trope is enemies to lovers. They really dislike each other in the beginning and both are stubborn to really try to understand the other person's side. But once they start talking, they quickly find they fit together well.

There's a 3rd act breakup which I'm not a fan of but sometimes it complements the story and gives a bit more insight to the characters. It's the case in So Not My Type. It fits with what we know of the characters until that point.

The novel is quite light (although there are also heavier topics) and mostly also silly. The professional part of the plot took a lot of page space and I could have lived with less. It's also the reason I find the book a bit silly. I've worked in digital marketing for over a decade (as a customer and as a service provider) and the whole plot with the marketing campaign and agency life felt very over the top and unrealistic. I ended up just not giving that part of the story a lot of weight and let it be what it is.

Overall, So Not My Type is light and steamy enemies to lovers romance. It was fun to get to read it in advance.

(I don't know what the author has planned for the series but there's definitely a clear option for a main character for a future book in So Not My Type.)

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for the arc 🫶🏻🫶🏻

So Not My Type is pretty fast-paced and easy to read, which is always welcomed by me.
I like how Sophie and Ella are realistic, even on why they didn't like each other in the beginning of the novel. I resonated a lot to Ella and her feelings of wanting to explore the world she hasn't seen much of.

Personally, when they got together everything seemed to move really fast and they were calling each other girlfriend without addressing things I'd consider important. I think Hawkins could have written a little more, specially at the ending.

I haven't heard of "Single In Seattle" series before discovering So Not My Type on NetGalley, but I definitely want to pick up and read the other books.