The Romance Rivalry

by Susan Lee

Read Dates: 6/14/25 to 6/14/25

Review

Okay, the way I devoured this book was honestly a little wild. From page one, I was hooked by this young reviewer who’s doing everything she can to figure out who she is, especially in the shadow of her incredibly successful siblings. I loved watching her try to stand tall on her own, balancing her passion for books with the pressure of her family’s expectations. And then there's the love interest—he’s dealing with a totally different kind of struggle, lacking that same level of support, but still chasing the same goal: making a name for himself in the literary world. He leans more toward being a writer, but he clearly appreciates the importance of reviewers, which made their dynamic even richer. It was fascinating to see how similar they were, despite their different circumstances.

Their relationship has such a fun enemies-to-lovers energy, especially as she realizes this so-called rival of hers is someone she’s going to be seeing a lot more of—cue the sparks. She sets off on a mission to find true love in college to better connect with the books she’s reviewing, but of course, fate (and this infuriatingly charming guy) has other plans. Their chemistry is undeniable, even if they’re both slow to admit it. I also really enjoyed the subplot with their best friends—these two had an instant connection and were just as invested in the slow burn romance unfolding between the leads. Honestly, I finished this in under 24 hours. It’s sweet, clever, and such a refreshing read—perfect when you need a break between heavier stories.