i have to say i just didn't like this as much as the previous two books and i'm a bit disappointed by it. like i said in my last review, it feels like each story has the same plot with only a few little differences to fit the characters and such and i really felt it this time. it just gets to a point where it's not enjoyable to read about almost identical scenarios over and over again and i found myself dreading picking this up.

the characters in this story were also just really bland compared to the others in this trilogy. trent was a complete dick and his background and family life failed to make me feel sorry for him at all. the way he treated natasha was completely inexcusable and his apology to her was absurd. he literally just bought her over with money after she said she didn't want him to. natasha also just felt very bland, her backstory once again didn't make me feel a thing. it's meant to be sad but it just didn't bring those emotions out, i was completely stone-faced reading about her parents dying and all of her others traumas. overall they were probably my least favorite couple of the entire series.

i loved seeing the other characters make an appearance though. vincent and piper, aiden and cora, paul and chloe, they really all bring something to the story and it's so lovely seeing their family come together when one of them is really struggling. in addition to this, stacy and dominic's relationship was super sweet and i loved their moments together. dare i say i would have rather had a book about them rather than trent and natasha...

overall it was just a pretty bland conclusion and lacked anything and everything that could possibly make it unique. however, it did have it's sweet moments that make up for the other not-so-great parts.

Thank you Netgalley and Relay Publishing for letting me read Designed for Disaster! This was such a fun book, perfect vacation read, great banter between characters. Didn’t realize it was 3rd in a series, so I guess I’ll just have to go read Leslie North’s other fun books! Weekend plans decided.

This book was such a great read! The characters were well-written, and the story kept me hooked. There were a few slow parts, but overall, it was really enjoyable. The romance was sweet, and I loved the character growth.

Designed for Disaster by Leslie North is a cute and fast paced romance novel with a fake dating trope. I loved the banter between the main characters, and the snarky nicknames too. The tension and chemistry between the two felt real.

I also loved the strong element of found family in the story.

Overall, it’s an easy read. The characters grow throughout the story and I enjoyed the main characters’ journey together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
This is my first book from Leslie North. Designed For Disaster was a pleasant read that included meet-cute, ennemies-to-lovers, fake dating and witty banter tropes. To be honest, the first half part did not really impress me since the story line was kind of familiar. However, things became more interesting when misunderstanding happened. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t support books with all the drama and heavy miscommunication between the characters. But in this book, the author wrote this part nicely with enough tension that let my emotions build up along with the characters’ without overdoing it. I loved how Natasha stood her ground and respected herself. I also love the character development of Trent, how he worked towards Natasha’s forgiveness.
I highly recommend this book if you are searching for a delightful rom-com with a balance of humour, angst and spice.

This was a light and easy read! The writing was clear, fluid, and straightforward.

I love that Natasha is a strong and independent woman whose passion is woodworking and design! My favorite character was Dee though, she is the loving, all knowing, and strong grandmother everyone deserves.

Overall, I liked the book, however, the miscommunication trope is STRONG in this book, and unfortunately it is one of my least favorite tropes.
—
❤️Stand-alone novel in a series
🪑Found family
❤️Billionaire boss
🪑Furniture design
❤️Family member with chronic illness
🪑Fake dating
❤️Miscommunication
🪑Open door
❤️Dual POV
—
Thank you Relay Publishing & NetGalley for this complimentary ARC - all thoughts are my own! 📚
Publishers release date 1/2/2025

I read this one as a stand-alone since I got an ARC copy from NetGalley (thanks!) and I thought it was a solid standalone without reading the others in the series. I could tell which characters were in previous books but I didn’t feel like I was missing info on them like some standalones can feel like. I love a good enemies to lovers (not to mention billionaires, grumpy/sunshine, and fake dating!) so this checked all those boxes in that sense. I felt a connection to Natasha and liked her as the FMC, but I didn’t find myself swooning over Trent (MMC) like I would have hoped. I was kind of more annoyed with him than anything 😂 that redeemed itself slightly in the end but I still felt that empathy lacking for him somewhat. But definitely a solid fluffy romance which is exactly what I was looking for at this time
3.75/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️

OH MY GOSH!! This book has exceeded all of my expectations. This book is by far my favorite in the series. I cannot put into words how much I enjoyed reading this book. This book had me going through all the emotions. I teared up, I laughed, and I definitely blushed.

Leslie North’s Designed for Disaster is a delightful and spicy rom-com that delivers everything you could hope for in the genre—humor, heart, and just the right amount of heat. With its charming characters, engaging storyline, and vivid writing, this book feels like it could easily translate into a feel-good romantic movie.

North’s writing is spot-on, effortlessly blending humor and romance while keeping the emotional stakes grounded. The characters are relatable and endearing, pulling readers into their story and making you root for their happily ever after. The romance is filled with the playful banter and heartfelt moments that fans of rom-coms crave.

What sets Designed for Disaster apart is how it handles its spicy elements. Rather than glossing over the chemistry between the characters, North leans into it, crafting scenes that are as passionate as they are integral to the relationship’s development. The spice is a welcome surprise, adding depth and intensity to the romance.

This book is a perfect recommendation for readers who love romantic comedies with a bit of extra heat. Designed for Disaster is a fun, flirty, and satisfying read that will leave you smiling long after the final page. Leslie North has delivered a winner with this one!

Designed for Disaster by Leslie North is a quick, enjoyable read with an engaging grumpy-sunshine romance, with mid-level spice, lots of humor, and just the right amount of drama. The banter and chemistry between the main characters were the highlights for me. This book is ideal for readers seeking a light, entertaining read that doesn’t demand much mental effort, as the plot is very straightforward and predictable. Readers who prefer more complex character development or intricate storylines might find it a bit too simplistic.

I read On the Rocks and then immediately sought out Designed for Disaster. I love the way North writes her female main characters. They're bold and interesting and strong!

Natasha is driven and talented while also being warm-hearted. She has overcome adversity and may have some trust issues, but is very independent and self sufficient. Trent is an excellent counterpart to Natasha - he is also driven and successful with similar trust issues but excellent boundaries.

A fun story with an engaging plot, this was a fast read. The romance is always on point and North has built a world with so many wonderful characters. Highly recommend!

Fake-dating is forever and always a great time! While this wasn't your classic fake-dating storyline, it was nice to have a bit of a change even if it did sacrifice some of the usual tension. Natasha just wants to see the best in everyone, apart from Coffeezilla obviously, and Trent just wants to be loved. The banter is fantastic and the side characters are all well written (I need Dee and Stace in my life). This story is hot and fun and I LOVED it when they ditched the bar. Some character growth and heartfelt conversations and realisations made this book beautiful in parts. Overall this was enjoyable and I look forward to reading more of Leslie's work.

This was a fun and fast paced book with engaging interactions between the characters which I really enjoyed but my only issues was with how quickly the enemies to lovers arc had been resolved and how quickly the "fake dating" turned into real dating which made me miss the tension fake dating romances normally convey. Overall this was a pretty good book with fun characters though I would have hoped the "enemies" and fake dating part would have dragged on for a bit longer.

This was a cute and cozy romance! The main reason that I rated it 3 stars is that everything happened awfully fast between the characters, and I felt like the chemistry was lacking. And the proposal after the 3rd act breakup, as adorable as the moment was, just didn't feel right.

I did, however, enjoy the banter, I liked all of the side characters, and I appreciated that the FMC was a very independent person and didn't hesitate to stand up for herself. Overall, it was an enjoyable read!

I absolutely enjoyed this book! The banter was great, the push back from the fmc, the shift from grumpy to soft.... the read was fast, engaging and didn't make me feel like I had to force my way through. The naughty scenes were enough without over powering the story once we got there.

I'd definitely read another book by this author.

I've read all the boss hole books so far and I've enjoyed them all for different reasons, but the common thread that I really enjoy is the lead female character (Natasha in this book) knows their own worth. They don't accept the grand gesture apology without the other person (Trent) putting in the time to fix the real problem of the relationship. I am a big believer in teaching our young woman to know your own self worth and I love seeing it in books, instead of the typical dross that can be passed of as a sign he cares.
Natasha and Trent both have huge trust issues due to previous trauma and I found it very engaging to watch their relationship grow and for them to slowly allow each other into their lives and hearts. Their chemistry was very well written and I will look forward to the next lost boy becoming found

Yes!! The banter in Leslie North books never fails!
The sassy hardworking Natasha meets the grumpy bosshole Trent and the "Disaster" begins.

The Fake-dating and Workplace romance works well and it's an esay grumpy/sunshine troupe with tension, spice and laugh out loud-moments!

I read all for the Manhattan Bosshole series, and this migth be my favorite!

Post on IG (one_fairy_tale_at_the_time) on 9 of jan.2025

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a way to start the new year!

Natasha, a struggling aspiring furniture designer, juggles multiple jobs in New York City while pursuing her dream of starting her own furniture line. After losing one of her jobs due to a confrontation with a man she dubs "Coffeezilla," she faces a financial crisis. Just when things seem hopeless, she unexpectedly gets an opportunity to design furniture for a high-profile client, only to find out that her new client is none other than Trent Saunders, the CEO of a successful furniture company—and the man who got her fired. As they work together, an unexpected connection develops, complicated by personal challenges and misunderstandings that could jeopardize both their careers and their growing relationship.

I love a grumpy sunshine, a dual POV and with a sprinkle of spice! The banter was top notch and I will not be incorporating”mantrum” into my vocabulary. The pacing was great and there was enough character development to keep me invested.

I’m not usually a fan of third act break up, but I think it works given their past experiences. Natasha also was able to hold her own and stand up to Trent and his BS.

I was not familiar with the author’s previous works. This is book three of the series but I could read it easily without having read the previous two, though I’ll certainly be picking them up now! I look forward to learning more about the Lost Boys.

This was an easy and very enjoyable read (perfect to read by the pool!), and I can’t wait to recommend it to my friends!

A Romance to die for!

I was hooked from the start, didn’t think I could finish this novel in a day but yes I did.

The tension, plot and everything was perfection!

I liked the grumpy-sunshine, enemies to lovers story with added boss-employee and fake dating tropes, but didn't think Trent was a bosshole at all. I found Natasha's way of eavesdropping, jumping to conclusions and interfering uninvited in personal situations much more unpleasant and intrusive, even though she usually has positive intentions. Both protagonists react hypersensitively, but this is understandable given their previous painful experiences. The plot is well written and full of emotion, humorous banter and bickering, a few twists, a sizzling chemistry between the protagonists, steamy love scenes and a whole cast of very likable secondary characters. I really love the bonds and interactions between the „Lost Boys“ themselves and with Nana Dee. The way Natasha cared about Trent‘s younger brother was heartwarming too.
It’s not essential to have read the previous books in the series, although you meet their main characters again.

After many losses and disappointments in her past, Natasha Dryer’s biggest dream is to become successful with her furniture designs, but in the meantime she has to keep her head above water with part-time jobs, including as a barista in a café. When she is fired after a confrontation with an arrogant customer, she is fuming with rage.
Shortly afterwards, she is contacted by a prospective buyer of her furniture who wants to order some pieces from her for his grandmother and when she arrives at the agreed meeting point, she immediately recognises him as her nemesis from the café.
Trent Saunders has been successfully running the family furniture company for several years, which was founded by his grandparents and almost bankrupted by his constantly bickering parents before he took it over. After many disappointments and hurts in his past, his main carers are his best friends, the "Lost Boys", his younger brother and his ailing grandmother Nana Dee, who took them all under her wing a long time ago. To make his grandmother happy, Trent wants to give her some exclusive pieces of furniture, but he never expected that the fury from the café and the innovative furniture designer could be one and the same person. Worse still, Nana Dee thinks she is his girlfriend and sees Natasha as the solution for the company's new sustainability line. So he has to hire her and pretend to have a fake relationship with her for his grandmother‘s sake…

If you like fast-paced enemies to lovers stories with spice, plenty of tension, humorous interactions and great friendships, you are sure to enjoy this book!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.