This is a sometimes serious but humorous at heart romp of a story. Spies King and Alex have always rubbed each other the wrong way… or have they? The real beginning is when, after years working together, King leaves the business and years later Alex decides to leave as well. And then, pop, they wake up to find themselves prisoners handcuffed together with no clue why or who their captors are. The adventure begins.

Told in dual perspectives the tension builds, switching in flashbacks from past jobs to the present. I sometimes got a little lost in the flashbacks versus present day but only momentarily. It is both a light and a suspenseful spy story, but always romantic. It is easy to read- no graphic torture scenes are present and there is no graphic sex either. And the banter is so well written and humorous in this enemies to lovers tale.

Although it is the second in a series although there is a previous book set in the same world, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was so much fun! I really like how it tied into Carter's previous novel and brought the twins together at the end. We ship an enemies to lovers and the tension was so great. The book kept me guessing about the bad guy for a very long time and I loved the banter between our MMC and FMC.

Well, as it turns out I kind of love Ally Carter. The Blonde Identity was cute, but The Blonde Who Came In From the Cold is perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Such a fantastic follow-up to The Blonde Identity. With her usual laugh out loud charm, romance, and suspenseful moments, Ally Carter killed it! Highly recommend!

Alex became a spy to leave the past behind, to eliminate the need to be responsible for anyone but herself. 10 years later she walks away from it all, vowing never to return. But life has a way of intruding and waking up handcuffed to her nemesis certainly does that. Wonderful fun.

I read Ally Carter's The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year a few months ago, and was captivated by her voice. I hopped into The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold without knowing that it was a sequel/continuation, and honestly, I wasn't really bothered by that (though, now I need to go back and read The Blonde Identity!). Carter is great at creating a fun, zippy world, where the stakes seem real, but nothing seems too serious, if that makes any sense. Her characters are delightfully flawed and vulnerable, and I loved the story of 2 spies who fall in love. Definitely one that I'll be recommending to readers looking for fun, light, humorous mysteries, that will still keep you guessing as to the who and what.

A spy romance that is character and relationship focused. It will appeal to readers of contemporary romance who wish their genre had more literal explosions.

I recently “discovered” Ally and her writing this past year after reading The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year for a book club and honestly, I’m mad at myself that I never read any of her YAs when I was younger. Her books are so fun! They’re witty and mysterious and romantic. They’re literally so good!! After reading The Blonde Identity a few months ago, I was so happy to get a copy of The Blonde who Came in from the Cold and it didn’t disappoint. King and Alex were so cute together, I couldn’t handle it!! They had such good banter back and forth and King was such a simp for her, I was kicking my feet every time he said literally ANYTHING to her. I loved how the ending scene of The Blonde Identity tied into this one and I loved loved loved seeing Alex and King in “spy school.” These books are refreshing and FUN! And I want more of them!!!!

Trying to keep the different missions straight in my head when it went back and forth between different places like it did with the flashbacks was a little difficult at times but overall I really enjoyed this!!! And I CANNOT wait to see what Ally comes out with next.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Ally Carter for the e-ARC!!!

“To all the little girls who wanted to be spies when they grew up. There’s still time.” 😭🖤

Ally Carter, seriously, WTF? As a fan since the OG GG days, it angers me to say that this might just be your best work!

What I Loved: The writing in this is spectacular. Not only are the interactions between Alex and King THE best, but the narrative is absolutely beautiful, and the flashbacks are well-placed and inspired. The yearning is jaw-dropping, the “Who did this to you?” is perfection, and the action is top-tier.

What Could Be Better: Another 200 pages, please.

Final Thoughts: You need to read this. And then re-read The Blonde Identity. And then read this again.

Rating: 5/5 ✨

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I love a good spy novel and The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold definitely gave me that! As an added bonus of being a follow up to The Blonde Identity (but absolutely able to be read as a standalone), Ally Carter has written another grown up version of her YA novels that captures the fun and intrigue of the world of spies.

Opening with fast paced action, Alex has been out of the spy game for a year when she wakes up with no memory of the past few days and tied to a chair.. and to Michael, her old spy school nemesis. Through flashbacks over the past ten years we get to see Alex and Michael on missions together (and tid bits on their lives apart) while present days see the two escape their current predicament and try to figure out exactly who is after them. The alternating timelines were fantastic, filling the reader in on why these two hate each other and how they came to eventually love each other, along with spy shenanigans. This was a ton of fun, with the perfect amount of suspense and mystery, second only to the romance and adventure.

If you have read a book by Ally Carter before you’ll know it’s always a great escape, and the more books I read the more eager I am for the next!

Where has Ally Carter been my whole life? She’s become a new favorite. Every time I see a book of hers, I will be immediately adding to TBR. She has unique books with style I haven’t seen anyone else doing. A breath of fresh air!

Another wild ride. Love this series!

I loved the first book and enjoyed this one as well.

Great banter with lots of action and adventure.

Agents Sterling and Kingsley’s story alternates between their first meeting, their first missions, and present day. This format creates suspense and builds their relationship and builds a mystery about family secrets that made this book hard to put down.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ally Carter is always a must read, but the nostalgic factor of these books for us Gallagher Girls cannot be matched! I loved it.

4.5 STARS

What more can you for in an enemies to lovers spy romance? It had everything It hooked me and didn’t let me go. I adored this story. I cannot wait to see what Ally Carter does next.


I voluntarily read an early copy.

I’ve been waiting for this since I read Blonde Identity in 2023. I absolutely LOVE Ally Carter, ever since the Gallagher Girls series. I’m honored to have an adult series to read that makes me reminisce. I love that I loved her “spy” stuff then and now.

I CANT WAIT FOR MORE.

The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold by Ally Carter is an adrenaline fueled adventure through espionage and romance. The author throws us into a world where rival spies are forced back together and hunted by a mysterious enemy. The chemistry between these two crackles off the page! The plot twists keep you guessing, and the dialogue is sassy and fun. Watching these two navigate betrayal, danger, and unresolved feelings is seriously addictive. If you’re into action packed rom coms with a touch of danger and banter, this book delivers. It’s basically the spy movie you’ve always wanted but in book form!

this book was hysterical. GIVE ME ALLY CARTERS FULL BACKLIST! A hilarious take on a woman going into what she calls... "spy school". We are swept off our feet immediately by MMC as well. Just all in all a total knockout! 4.25/5.00

I have loved Ally Carter since my teens with the Gallagher Girls series. I was so happy when she started publishing adult fiction with The Blonde Identity which was a blast. The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold is equally fun. It was great to see Alex's story. This one hooked me from the epigraph-truly a story for the LoVe fans! I stayed up to finish this book until the wee hours because I could not put the banter and action-filled book down.

I appreciate the continued chance to squeal over Ally Carter books early! I've been dying for this one since the end of Blonde Identity. Alex's story is pure perfection. The twists and turns and epic ways it ties into Blonde Identity are so so good and that end had me laughing but also wanting to shake Ally Carter. (don't worry, it's definitely a HEA! But Ally Carter style!). I love King and Alex and the way they orbit around each other for so long. It was great seeing a bit of Sawyer and Zoe again too. I also loved the addition of Merritt to the overall cast!