Hate and love are sometimes about this far apart…

Synopsis

Bestselling Camilla Isley returns with this gorgeously funny enemies-to-lovers rom com, perfect for fans of Sarah Adams, Lynn Painter and Jo Watson.

She’s a self-made fitness sensation. He’s a billionaire mogul. They’re sworn enemies and rivals… aren’t they?

Blake Avery knows all about hard work. She’s gone from making videos in her teenage bedroom to founding a booming fitness business and opening a state-of-the-art Manhattan gym. Now she’s on the cusp of realizing her wildest dreams, and she’s not going to let anyone stand in her way.

Certainly not man-of-the-hour Gabriel Mercer. He might be one of the biggest names in the fitness world and set women’s pulses soaring more than a grueling HIIT workout, but he grew up in a billionaire dynasty and had everything handed to him – or so Blake thinks.

But when Blake publicly criticizes Gabriel, she sparks a feud that neither entrepreneur is willing to back down from. And in an industry that seems determined to keep pushing them together, can Blake hold on to her grudge? Or will she finally warm up to Gabriel’s charm?

My review

Blake Avery has worked hard to get where she is now. It all started with making videos in her bedroom to now owning a Manhattan gym.
Yet the sky is the limit and Blake hopes to achieve even her wildest dreams and won’t let anyone stand in her way.
Especially not someone who has been handed everything in life, like Gabriel Mercer. At least, that is what Blake thinks of the man that has one of the biggest names in the fitness world and makes women swoon with just one look.
But Gabriel won’t let it pass that Blake publicly criticized Gabriel, when Blake couldn’t be further away from the truth.
Despite their feud, their business makes them push together and perhaps they realize that their first impressions of each other were wrong, and that their initial feelings have completely turned 180 degrees?

Do you know the feeling of fear when you start a new book of an author you just adore? You have fingers, toes and everything else crossed, hoping that this new book will be just as amazing as the previous ones, but you are a little bit afraid that your expectations are being way too high to be fulfilled?
That feeling, that hopeful yet fearful feeling was exactly what I had when I picked up this book.

But will I never learn my lesson? How dare I even have a small inch of doubt that Camilla Isley would disappoint me???
Because was there one thing I didn’t like from the book? Well, just one… that I reached the end way too quickly!

While the trope may seem a very cliché one, it isn’t. Yes, Gabriel is a billionaire, but so is Blake. Blake doesn’t need anyone’s help to expand her business, and Gabriel was adamant to also make it on his own.
And having two independent, strong people both chasing their dreams was refreshing, as there was no damsel or knight needed.

Blake has worked very hard to get where she is now, and she keeps on continuing to expand her empire. But even if she has made money, she isn’t the kind of person who forgets where she came from. And I loved it reading how in the past or even now when needed, she wasn’t afraid to get flour all over her.
She is also the kind of person who doesn’t stand injustice or prejudices. So when she meets Gabriel in real life, and he make the typical male assumption, well I had a huge laugh with seeing how Blake showed him right!

Now, don’t go thinking that Gabriel is the typical rich boy, assuming that men rule the world. And yes, he may come from wealth, but he does want to build everything on his own. He wants to show people that what he has achieved, all came from hard work.
He is also the kind of person that wants to help out if he has the ability to help out.

So in fact, there are two lovely people in this book, that you like immediately for who they are.
But I have to be honest… their clashing was just too funny! And while you are eager to see how their feelings would shift, somehow I also wanted to keep the clashing to continue! 🤣

Yet is was also amazing seeing how the clashing slowly shifted into teasing, bickering and bantering. I will never think about a rubber duck the same way! Thanks for that Camilla! 🤣

But we also see how sometimes things are done with the right intention, but being the complete wrong thing to do! And while I appreciated the made efforts, I could also comprehend why is was seen as an unnecessary interference or going over the top.

I absolutely loved reading each page of this wonderful book. It was filled with so many hilarious bits, sexy bits, swoon – worthy bits. But also heart – warming bits, bits showing us that there is always more to someone than we initially may think.
This book for sure deserve the highest rating I can give, as I have so much enjoyed reading this book. But it also made me sad realizing the more I was reading, the closer I got towards the end.
So now, I cannot wait to discover the next book this amazing author will write. And can I perhaps hope on a story about a certain brother who for sure deserves a story of his own? 😊