A light-hearted, quick read, ideal if you're looking for a bit of romantic escapism.
A typical enemies to lovers rom-com involving James and Felicity, work rivals who are abandoned together in the Scottish Highlands.
I am grateful to the publishers and Net Galley for an advanced listener copy of this well narrated audiobook.

Work Trip is a fun and relaxing rom com, in the vein of The Hating Game and The Proposal.

Following the tried and true roles of workplace enemies to lovers and forced proximity, Ford adds a dash of despair by dropping our mc’s in the wild Scottish highlands. I really enjoyed Fliss and James’ chemistry, and their witty banter. Their initial conflict felt justified as we learnt more about their motivations and personal history.

The remote setting added an extra level of interest and spice. I particularly enjoyed the way that pulling them out of the workplace made them examine their personal drivers and beliefs about professionals success, which were really relatable.

I was fortunate to read this both as an ebook and audiobook and really enjoyed both. The audio narration was well performed, capturing Fliss and James’ repartee and sparks in a natural and engaging way.

Thank you Head of Zeus Audiobooks for an early copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

ALC review
Publication date April 24th.
"Work Trip" by Chloe Ford is a work rivals to lovers romance.

I received an advance listener copy from Head of Zeus Audiobooks via Netgalley.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

Fliss and James work at the same company, she is the marketing team leader and he leads the sales team.
They do not get along and their boss decides to send them in a team building in the Scottish Highlands. But the team building turns out to be a survival test, as they are left in the middle of nowhere with only one tent and two backpacks.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Grace Calder in one day. She narrates Fliss perfectly, I loved her accent and she managed to recreate the banter from the book very well.
Fliss is a relatable character, she a woman working in a toxic environment, without a work/life balance and she is not getting a fair salary for her job. Also, she has many struggles and anxiety, which is realistic.
James was an annoying character in the beginning, especially since we see me from Fliss's POV and she cannot stand him. But after we get to know him better, I actually liked him.
I liked that they got to know each other better during the "work trip", but didn't expect the situations they went through. They actually were in danger and got hurt.

Besides the serios parts, this is also a fun book, with banter and slow burn romance, that has a good ending.
The story kept me entertained and interested.

Work Trip by Chloe Ford 📕

Felicity is forced to go on a work trip with her colleague James whom she despises, in order to team build. However once there, it turns out their boss has abandoned them with a bag each full of questionable items, one being they only have one tent. They soon learn they have to put their differences aside and work together in order to get through this but when the lines start blurring and their once hatred feelings start changing, can Fliss and James really stay just professional?

💫 ‘I lift my bag, unzipping it from the side and as I do six boxes of tampons fall into my lap. “What the hell?” “Geez, how many boxes do you need?”’

My review 📖:

Eeeek… I really enjoyed this audiobook! I giggled throughout and replayed so many parts!

The way Fliss and James’s characters are portrayed deliver a whirlwind of emotions. One minute i disliked James, the next I’m swooning over him! The angst between them is wonderful and believable. Just enough 🔥 and extremely well written.

The chapter where they open the backpacks they’ve been given was hilarious.

I also enjoyed how the book explored two sides to ‘overachieving’ employees and delved into the reasons behind it - Fliss and James’s upbringing and what they had to deal and how that has moulded them into the adults they are.

I enjoyed the narrator and I thought her voice suited the visual image I had of Fliss. She presented the characters well and was easy to listen to.

Would highly recommend listening to this audiobook and I will definitely be looking out for more work by Chloe.

Thank you Head of Zeus Audiobooks and NetGalley for access to this audiobook.

My rating 5 ⭐️

What a fabulous read! I listened to the audio and narrator Grace Calder did a fantastic job - she brought Fliss to life - just as I imagined her to sound, and created a credible James, along with some of the Scots accents. It's single point of view so we couldn't escape Fliss's inner dialogue - her insecurity was hard to hear but even so, Grace made her appealing to me.

First things first though, this an enemies to lovers workplace romcom between Fliss, who is Head of Marketing and James, Head of Sales at the same company. They've been working together and fighting for years. To make them learn to cooperate, their manipulative boss drops them in the Scottish highlands with a backpack each, one tent, some basic equipment, protein bars, 50 pounds and a note telling them to get back their hotel as soon as they can. They bicker and squabble as they learn to work together and find out more about each other. James has a tough backstory, more than Fliss, although she is suffering from the fallout from her parents' breakup. I suspect James has fancied Fliss for a while, but it's not stated and honestly, her insecurity gets tiresome, although that's the point - it can't be turned off when she gets sick of herself..

There is character growth for them both as they navigate the weather, terrain, hunger, injuries, and having no phone coverage. Over all, I wished for more comeuppance for their rotten boss, and I loved their happy for now - no instalove, but optimism that they would become a good team.

Thank you Chloe Ford, Head of Zeus Audiobooks and NetGalley for the ALC. Opinions are my own.

This audiobook is an absolute gem from start to finish. What begins as a charming romance quickly evolves into an unforgettable adventure, whisking the characters—along with the listener—off to the stunning landscapes of Scotland. The transition to camping in such a beautiful, rugged setting was unexpected and refreshing, adding layers of excitement and depth to the story.

The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, their connection felt real and genuine, with moments of humor, tenderness, and emotional depth. The narrator’s performance was spot-on, giving life to each character in a way that made them unforgettable.

This debut audiobook is a perfect blend of romance and adventure, with a fresh and engaging storyline that leaves a lasting impression. It’s a standout in the world of audiobooks and a must-listen for anyone looking for a heartfelt, captivating story.

A hot new bombshell (workplace rivals romance) has entered the villa (hitting bookshelves very soon). Work Trip is a forced proximity, slow burn, romantic comedy that follows colleagues Fliss and James. The two work for Starr Agency but don’t always get along, it's a tale as old as time. Their boss has the wise idea of dumping the two in the Scottish Highlands as part of a team bonding exercise, with only £50 cash they are tasked with getting back to London over the weekend in time for work the following Monday.

Fliss and James' unexpected work trip across Scotland was enjoyable to read about, although the events take place in under 72 hours, the two manage to learn more about each other in the short space of time than all the years working together combined. James' character had so much depth to him, all the tid bits of info that I learnt made me wish I could have read from his perspective and get into his head. Chloe I need to know what your thought process was when writing this man, you did not let him catch a break!!

One of the main tropes that drew me to this book was the 'one tent trope' which i think we definitely need more of in romance books, I wish more time could have been spent there lol but the two characters needed to get a move on!

I think many readers will be able to relate to Fliss, especially if they work in male dominated fields/have myshognitic, douchebag bosses. This book is more than just a rom-com, a meaningful message that people can take away from it is to know your self worth and walk away from those who won't build you up or value your time (a feeling i know all too well)

This is a quick and easy read if you're looking for something that is light and humorous, although the book doesn't deal with super heavy topics I always advise checking any content or TWs beforehand.

The audiobook was very enjoyable, Grace Calder did a great job of bringing the characters to life.

An unexpected turn of events on a work team-building trip forces mortal enemies to have to work together.

Work Trip by Chloe Ford is an enemies-to-lovers romance. Fliss, head of marketing at the Star Agency, is fiercely ambitious. She works long hours in the hope that she'll be the next in line for a much-coveted promotion. Unfortunately, there's competition for the promotion in the form of James Boatmen, head of sales. The animosity between the pair is never far from the surface, particularly when they are in meetings.

When the boss of the company decides to hold a team-building week in Scotland, Fliss hopes that she'll be able to impress him enough to give her the edge over Gloatman (the name she uses to refer to her nemesis) in the race for the promotion.

From the outset, things seem strange. No one else from the company turns up for the flight to Scotland. It's easy to feel Fliss's apprehension, wondering if she's missed an important message or got dates wrong. Events turn even more peculiar when she arrives at the designated hotel to find Gloatman had traveled with their boss on the company jet.

The team building exercise reaches peak preposterousness when the pair are dumped in the middle of the Scottish Highlands with a tent and minimal supplies, along with the instructions that they need to overcome their competitiveness and co-operate in order to proceed to the next step in their career.

Neither of the pair is prepared, or experienced, for what is to follow. After constant sniping at each other, they relent and realise that they will have to trust each other and work together if they are to get home. As you would anticipate, the pair slowly begin to get to know each other, realising that they have preconceived ideas. In particular, Fliss realises that Gloatman isn't as self-absorbed as she initially thought as he shows her a lot of support as they deal with disaster after disaster.

By the conclusion and the safe return to work, the big question is will the pair be able to remain professional, or has the work dynamic changed forever? The promotion of one of the pair is also a catalyst for a significant and unexpected development.

THE ERA OF BRITISH ROMANCES HAS REVIVED MEEEE!!!
We swear in a way that Americans don’t and I’ve been craving that in my books.
This is the sweetest book, Fliss is a hard working, people pleasing, high functioning anxiety SWEETIE PIE. She works in marketing and James in sales is her arc nemesis.
The audiobook was fantastic!
So when they find themselves stranded in Scotland, they have to camp and learn how to survive.
I love a work place romance and for all the reasons why I love work trip! Wittty back and forth, tension, confusion and final acceptance.
I can’t wait to read what Chloe writes next x

I really enjoyed this! The story was great and had me invested and the narrators really brought the charaters to life

This is my first book from this author, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would definitely look for more of her books.
When James and Fliss are abandoned in the Scottish countryside during a 'team building' exercise, Fliss is furious. She hates James, who she argued with constantly at work. With just a tent and a few provisions, they have no choice but to work as a team to try and make their way back to civilization.
A fun read, with lots of ups and downs along the way.

I really enjoyed this book and kept wanted to keep on listening to the story. I laughed out loud in a good few parts and the narration was done really well. Looking forward to more from this author. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this audio book

Thank you to netgalley galley for allowing me to review this book.

I listened to this addictive book in one day, I have not enjoyed a romance in a long time! This book was brilliant.

Based on two co workers who didn't get on to then fall in love after a planned work trip from their boss.

This book was cute, and the camping trip was funny. I was smiling at their dysfunctional relationship. I desperately wanted more though and didn't want the book to end.

Will definitely be looking out for more titles from this author.

A classic workplace rom-com. Perfect for fans of forced proximity and enemies to lovers tropes.

Fliss, Head of Marketing and James, Head of Sales, are rival colleagues and both vying for promotion. Sent on a team building trip to the Scottish Highlands, they find themselves abandoned alone together with one tent, no phone signal, a map and £50.

With sizzling chemistry and plenty of banter, Work Trip is the perfect romantic comedy.

Being a bit predictable I didn't give it the full 5*, but still worthy of a strong 4*.

Grace Calder did a fantastic narration enhancing the characters distinctive personalities and wit.

Thank you to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for providing the advanced audio ARC.

Absolutely in love with this fun rom com debut from Chloe Ford. I snorted, I laughed and I cheered for both Fliss and James to first get back to the civilisation in the Highlands, then to realise they do like each other. The witty banter and unexpected love made a delicious backdrop for this twist on a forced proximity trope. One tent and 'the last person in the world' were both high stakes that just stoked the fire under Fliss and James further. I adored the very firm hate between the two at the start of the book, which had then showed both of them quite soon how prejudiced they had been against each other.

Writing, pacing, humour and crackling chemistry were all *chef's kisses*. Outstanding!

The narrator was amazing, feel like she had really brought out Fliss' personality.

Such a joy. Can't wait for Chloe Ford's next book!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the audiobook.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Head of Zeus for allowing me early access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really fun and enjoyable romance book, I had a great time listening. The author did an incredible job of creating multi-faceted characters. There were moments where I felt really empathetic towards the MCs plight and other times where I just felt frustrated with her for her snap misjudgements of others!
The narrator, Grace Calder, did such an incredible job of voicing both these characters. It's amazing to think one person narrated all characters within this audio book. Grace was amazing at creating different tones for individual characters and voicing different personalities for each of them.
This is the first contemporary romance I have listened to (or read) in a very long time and it made me fall in love with the genre again.
I have a wonderful time listening and I can't wait to dive headfirst back into romance.

This was such a fun and entertaining romcom! I listened to this one in under a day as I found it quite addictive and loved our two main characters, even if Fliss could be annoying at times! The chemistry and banter was great, and I also loved the Scottish setting. But mostly, I’m obsessed with the ‘I’m sorry if the middle of my sentence interrupted the beginning of yours’ line and will be using it abundantly from now on!

Overall a great debut, and I enjoyed the audio narration too.

"Work Trip" by Chloe Ford is a delightful and engaging read! Ford masterfully blends humor and relatable workplace dynamics, making for a truly enjoyable experience. The characters are well-developed and the plot keeps you turning the pages. It's a perfect escape that manages to be both lighthearted and surprisingly insightful about office culture. Highly recommended!

When the constant bickering between the head of marketing and the head of sales drives everyone else in the office mad, Felicity and James are abandoned in the Scottish highlands on a so-called 'team building exercise’. Despise the countless breaches of HR laws, James and Fliss embrace their challenge equipped with 180 tampons, a box of condoms and only one tent.

This light-hearted read provided humour and romantic tension without straying into the territory of cringiness. This was rather predictable but that made it a great palette cleanser read. Perhaps the best thing this book brought to the table was it’s British feel. References from the Scottish midges to the extortionate pricing of Pret A Manger made for an authentic and relatable read. I loved the narrator’s performance and would seek her out in future.

This was a very promising debut and I will certainly be picking up Chloe Ford’s next release.

There are so many things that worked in the book's favour. James and Fliss made entertaining, funny, and multi-dimensional protagonists. The backdrop of London to the Scottish Highlands was soothing. The backstories of their respective families were deeply realistic. Their workplace feuds and skirmishes were believable. The professional ambitions and motivations were perfectly aligned with the overall character sketches.

I know the trope is called forced proximity, but just how <b>forced</b> is acceptable? The main trigger event was my only qualm. Their boss getting fed up with their rivalry and forcing them to spend time together — these are two ADULTS!
You know what? They should sue their boss. How did he expect abandoning his star colleagues in the middle of the Scottish Highlands, with a badly curated backpack, to be a good team-building exercise? The whole thing bordered on unprofessional and a workplace hazard. Endangerment of life. Flouting of several workplace laws.

Thankfully for their harebrained boss, hanging out with Fliss and James was great as they navigated a whirlpool of events and emotions.
This book is a masterclass in well-rounded characters, and in how the execution of a simple premise can elevate it to a gem.

The inner monologues, conversations, banter, repartee, quips and wisecracks between the characters, their epiphanies, and their reflections on their actions were very realistic but thoroughly enjoyable.

When the MMC says, "Promise me you'll never settle for less," you have got to melt.
Overall, a fun and breezy read. Audiobook format does wonders for the characters. Perfect for when you want an escape.

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for the Advanced Listeners Copy.

thank you netgalley and head of zeus for the audiobook, i loved it! the narrator did such a great job and i could even listen to it 2.5x and it was perfect. the narrator really brought the story to life!

work trip is a standalone romance following Fliss, who works in marketing and is gunning for the director promotion. she’s always worked hard and done what was expected of her and more. so when even though an upcoming team building work trip fills her with dread, she goes anyway. the reason she’s dreading the trip is because of her work rival, James, who works in sales. he’s always pushing back her ideas and trying to one up her, and she can’t stand him.
when they arrive in the Scottish Highlands, they find out that the work trip is only for them two and their boss has abandoned them in the middle of nowhere with one tent, two sleeping bags, and a few protein bar.
their task is to put their differences aside and find a way home.

i loved this so much. the writing was so fun and witty and i loved that it was not just focused on the romance but had an underlying message of knowing your worth in a work setting and not staying in a job you’re not valued as you are

i loved Fliss and James so much, they’re both such a relatable character. the way they taught each other that there’s more to life than just work because Fliss was basically in it for the recognition and James was in it for the money and they both helped each other grow🥹🤏🏻
also i loved her finally standing up for herself and James being so proud😭

the romance was so cute and watching them both slowly lower their guards and let each other in was just so sweet. i loved how they started understanding each other as the book progressed🥹

the ending just felt a bit rushed but other than that i loved everything else!!

I really loved this! Already loved the whole concept, super forced proximity, only one tent, workplace rivals - sign me up!
I enjoyed the way everything unfolded, how there was so much more drama than I was expecting, and I really liked the eventual tension between the two and the spice and romance!
The only thing that stopped it being a 5 star for me was that I found Fliss just a bit insufferable?! I genuinely try and not take into how I personally feel about main characters into account, because even in real life, you’re just not going to click with and like everybody! But, especially in the first couple of chapters, it just made me cringe the way she presented and talked about herself, and then how did she not know James was so obviously getting that promotion?? I kinda hate myself for criticising a female character but it’s very rare for me and I really liked this book otherwise!
And the narration was really good!