i adore every single thing ally carter puts out and this was an absolute romp. i adored the first book and this was somehow even better, you truly fly through it and i think i read it in a solid sitting!! from ya to adult, i’ve always been obsessed with her spy series ✨

If you enjoyed the first one, you'll very likely love this one too. The storytelling is a bit different as it employs a number of flashbacks, but the payoff is worth it for the character development. A fun and entertaining page-turner.

Ally Carter knows how to write a funny, entertaining, slow burn, romantic spy novel! The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold is a brilliant follow-up to 2023's The Blonde Identity and was totally worth the wait. It could reasonably be read as a standalone but I think it'd be super entertaining to read them together. Alex- confident, fearless, troublemaker Alex, pulls is remarkably badass...and human. The formatting (past/present; dual POV) is perfect for this story.

Readers are going to love this!

"The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold" by Ally Carter is a fresh and exhilarating romp that combines thrills, humor, and a dash of espionage in a way that only Carter can achieve. This cleverly crafted novel introduces readers to an intriguing world of spies and secrets, all while showcasing Carter's signature wit and charm.

The story follows a strong and captivating protagonist who finds herself entangled in a web of international intrigue. Carter’s writing shines as she balances fast-paced action with delightful moments of levity, creating an entertaining narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The plot is filled with clever twists and turns that kept me guessing, making it difficult to put the book down.

One of the standout aspects of this novel is the dynamic character development. The protagonist is relatable and complex, navigating her own challenges while facing external threats. Carter excels at crafting secondary characters that add depth and humor to the story, creating a vibrant cast that enhances the overall experience.

Overall, "The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold" is a captivating and engaging read that showcases Ally Carter's exceptional storytelling abilities. This book is perfect for fans of lighthearted espionage and those looking for a delightful escape filled with action and laughter. A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

Eeeeee!!!

I woke up today to the news that I got an arc. AMAZING!!!

My plans for the day disappeared. Poof! Because nothing was as important as reading this beauty IMMEDIATELY.

My daughter and I always buddy read Ally's books, sending snapshots of particularly good dialogue. It takes longer, but makes the experience even better.

This might be her best yet. The writing is tight, evocative, and INTENSE. With the trademark humour and sass we expect.

I devoured this book. I stopped reading once to get more tea. That's it!!

It's an amalgam of the spy stories I loved growing up with the romance tropes I love now.

Only one bed.

Enemies to lovers.

SCOTLAND!

I don't want to say too much because this is a journey you need to take for yourself. Read Blonde Identity first or not, because there's connections but you'll be fine either way. Or like me, you will need to read it again right after this so you can put the entire timeline together.

Book 3 Ally. Think about it, okay? 😉

CW: medical trauma


For me, five stars is a feeling more than an intellectual determination. I can love a book, and give it four stars. "The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold" (hereafter, Blonde 2) would be six stars if that were a thing.

"Blonde 2" is a companion to "Blonde Identity" but not quite a sequel. It starts many years before "Blonde Identity" begins with parts of the books overlapping timeline-wise. It was a complete and utter delight. Ally Carter stuffs her books with romance tropes but rather than feel trite or predictable, it is just utterly delightful. I finished "Cold," and then reread the epilogue probably about six times as it is both heartwarming (not in the sad way) and shamelessly funny.

*rest of the review to come when I'm.a bit less excited*

I think I loved the Blonde Identity more but this one yet again continues to prove the Ally Carter is perfect in this genre and in spy series. I loved King and Sterling and their banter throughout. While it did work the multiple time jumps did make me work a little harder to read but they did make the book work spectacularly.
I also love how Zoe and Sawyer weren’t totally forgotten and you got to see them again.

I love Ally Carter so much!! I absolutely needed to reread book 1 before this because I read it more than 2 years ago, but I enjoyed this despite my confused vibes lol. This is a tropey spy thriller with all the classic lines and scenes, and they HIT!

Ahhh love this one so much!! Ally Carter knocks it out of the park once again! Let's be really, when doesn't she? Also loved getting to see Zoe and Sawyer again!!

Alex and King joined the CIA at the same time 10 years ago. During that time, their feelings for each other have been very evident, but feelings are not something the agency trains you on. When they wake up in Vegas with no memory of the last two days, the must team up to find out who is after them and why. Their most important mission is to stay alive, if they don't kill each other before someone else does. Suspensful and funny, this is a great sequel to The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter.

A great sequel! If you enjoyed the first one, you'll very likely love this one too. The storytelling is a bit different as it employs a number of flashbacks, but the payoff is worth it for the character development. A fun and entertaining page-turner.

There’s no one out there writing like Ally Carter. I love her works full of suspense and deep emotional heart. This satisfied the cliffhanger in Blonde Identity. And I loved it even more than its predecessor. A second chance romance lovers dream.

I wasn’t sure how to root for Alex after the first book but it only takes 2 paragraphs to completely fall for her. Obviously King didn’t stand a chance. Not sure how he managed to hold himself back as long as he did even. They are so well matched and make a great team in every way. 5 stars

“The Girl Who Came in From the Cold” is an incredibly fun story and an absolute must read, especially for anyone that loves spies, romance, and spy romances as much as I do. Alex and King’s banter is one to beat, their chemistry is immaculate, and I will be getting my hands on the physical copy as soon as I can.

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.