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Harlot's Bay #1
At First Spite
Bestselling author Olivia Dade welcomes you to Harlot's Bay in this delightfully sexy rom-com about a woman who buys the town's famous Spite House, only to realize the infuriating man she can't stand lives right next door--and their unwilling proximity might spark something neither can ignore.
When Athena Greydon's fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. This is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex's home is attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third (aka the uptight, judgmental jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her) is living on the other side, only a four-foot alley away.
If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation--by, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with the windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?
Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he's kind of...hot? Dammit.
When Athena Greydon's fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. This is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex's home is attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third (aka the uptight, judgmental jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her) is living on the other side, only a four-foot alley away.
If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation--by, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with the windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?
Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he's kind of...hot? Dammit.
400 pages, ebook
First published February 13, 2024
440 people are currently reading
28.7k people want to read
About the author
Olivia Dade
25books5,237followersOlivia Dade grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorites, though, were always, always romances. As an adult, she earned an M.A. in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required the donning of actual pants: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Now, however, she has finally achieved her lifelong goal of wearing pajamas all day as a hermit-like writer and enthusiastic hag. She currently lives outside Stockholm with her delightful family and their ever-burgeoning collection of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,366 reviews
October 1, 2024
sweet niblets, this was good
September 10, 2024
this book was NOT good and i think at this point i need to stop pretending that olivia dade is for me
as much as i like reading books with representation of fat girls, this one came at the MAJOR expense of being unbearably unreadable. i hate to roast the main character because we did have a lot in common with our insecurities and depressive tendencies, but i really could not take her seriously because her dialogue was absolutely miserable. so overwritten, weighed down by memes and references that were sometimes decades old, and generally so unbelievable as a main character to the point where i was shocked that the main male lead didn't find her horrendous instead of attractive.
immediately when i read the one (and only...... and on page 300....) sex scene, all i could think about was how i was going to quote it WORD FOR WORD in this review because the main character's dialogue was absolutely diabolical. if i had to suffer, then so do you:
HUUUUUHHHH??? who talks like that 😭😭😭
but wait, there's more.
literally begging to be taken out back like ol yeller and be shot. but i'll leave it at that.
the main male lead was also so terrible. he became a pediatrician after witnessing the death of his brother as a child, so he was so concerned about her health to the point where if she even got a papercut he would stop the world just to put a bandaid on her. it got to the point where it felt insulting and infantilizing, and he became controlling about what she should or shouldn't do. and the biggest plot hole for me was he never mentioned her weight as something that could be detrimental to her health?! it was a weird angle for this dude to have and constantly intrude on her life with.
their relationship was.... fine. i didn't particularly care that it was a "my ex's brother" trope, but i did think that the pieces of it fell too seamlessly into place and all the hard feelings that resulted from it were just smoothed out overnight. there's really no plot to be had here other than relationship drama, which i appreciate in romance books. but it still felt like this dragged on for 50 pages too long and the third act breakup was SO unnecessary.
long story short i survived BUT AT WHAT COST??? this literally took me 2 weeks to read because i hated it
as much as i like reading books with representation of fat girls, this one came at the MAJOR expense of being unbearably unreadable. i hate to roast the main character because we did have a lot in common with our insecurities and depressive tendencies, but i really could not take her seriously because her dialogue was absolutely miserable. so overwritten, weighed down by memes and references that were sometimes decades old, and generally so unbelievable as a main character to the point where i was shocked that the main male lead didn't find her horrendous instead of attractive.
immediately when i read the one (and only...... and on page 300....) sex scene, all i could think about was how i was going to quote it WORD FOR WORD in this review because the main character's dialogue was absolutely diabolical. if i had to suffer, then so do you:
"You are the undisputed Champion of Head, long may he reign, and long may he lick. You can grab a condom and get inside the pussy you now own. Congratulations, by the way. The owner's manual will arrive in your inbox shortly."
HUUUUUHHHH??? who talks like that 😭😭😭
but wait, there's more.
"Don't you dare ask if that was good for me. Choirs are singing in the depths of my vagina. My clit already went online to nominate you for the Nobel Prize in Sexing, and my vulva have started a grassroots fundraising campaign to bronze your dick for posterity. You know the patron saint of really incredible head? Well, I saw his heavenly face tonight. He goes by the name Matthew, and eats pussy like it's his damn job."
literally begging to be taken out back like ol yeller and be shot. but i'll leave it at that.
the main male lead was also so terrible. he became a pediatrician after witnessing the death of his brother as a child, so he was so concerned about her health to the point where if she even got a papercut he would stop the world just to put a bandaid on her. it got to the point where it felt insulting and infantilizing, and he became controlling about what she should or shouldn't do. and the biggest plot hole for me was he never mentioned her weight as something that could be detrimental to her health?! it was a weird angle for this dude to have and constantly intrude on her life with.
their relationship was.... fine. i didn't particularly care that it was a "my ex's brother" trope, but i did think that the pieces of it fell too seamlessly into place and all the hard feelings that resulted from it were just smoothed out overnight. there's really no plot to be had here other than relationship drama, which i appreciate in romance books. but it still felt like this dragged on for 50 pages too long and the third act breakup was SO unnecessary.
long story short i survived BUT AT WHAT COST??? this literally took me 2 weeks to read because i hated it
March 12, 2024
I have to be so real I initially gave this 4.25 but I’m rounding up to 4.5 two hours later bc I’m just sitting here thinking about the sheer amount of times that man went down on her in a very short time period. 🐱
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I received a free copy in exchange for a feature on my social pages. I chose to review it of my own accord. All opinions are honest and my own!
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You are NOT prepared for this book. I love both main characters so deeply because they loved each other so deeply. Acts of service go OFF in this book, so if that’s your love language, you’re in for such a treat. That man literally climbed three stories to check on her all while TERRIFIED of heights.
Mr. Darcy walked so Dr. Matthew Vine could RUN. I eat up overhead insults!! I think the premise of her buying the spite house was also very clever—I also learned what a spite house is lol. The angst of him being her ex-fiancé’s brother was superb. It also has one of my favorite tropes, iylyk 👀
This was close to being a five-star read, but my dislike of completely self-sacrificing characters—a lot of times older siblings—was validated once again during the third-act breakup here. I truly thought he made enough progress throughout the book NOT to end up there, but alas he didn’t. I’m sorry, but that man was so fucking gone for her how could he just give her up! It resolved well enough and I wasn’t angry for too long…but man did it HURT!!
It was also maybe a biiiiiiit slow burn for the pretty slow plot. Don’t get me wrong, some of my favorite romances are the lowkey ones with the main character trait of PINING, but I was really impatient for them to get together! Once they did though, WHEW. I loved his torment though, so I can’t complain too much.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️/5
CWs: Depression (including on-page depressive episode), grief, and loss of a sibling (recounted)
�
I received a free copy in exchange for a feature on my social pages. I chose to review it of my own accord. All opinions are honest and my own!
�
You are NOT prepared for this book. I love both main characters so deeply because they loved each other so deeply. Acts of service go OFF in this book, so if that’s your love language, you’re in for such a treat. That man literally climbed three stories to check on her all while TERRIFIED of heights.
Mr. Darcy walked so Dr. Matthew Vine could RUN. I eat up overhead insults!! I think the premise of her buying the spite house was also very clever—I also learned what a spite house is lol. The angst of him being her ex-fiancé’s brother was superb. It also has one of my favorite tropes, iylyk 👀
This was close to being a five-star read, but my dislike of completely self-sacrificing characters—a lot of times older siblings—was validated once again during the third-act breakup here. I truly thought he made enough progress throughout the book NOT to end up there, but alas he didn’t. I’m sorry, but that man was so fucking gone for her how could he just give her up! It resolved well enough and I wasn’t angry for too long…but man did it HURT!!
It was also maybe a biiiiiiit slow burn for the pretty slow plot. Don’t get me wrong, some of my favorite romances are the lowkey ones with the main character trait of PINING, but I was really impatient for them to get together! Once they did though, WHEW. I loved his torment though, so I can’t complain too much.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️/5
CWs: Depression (including on-page depressive episode), grief, and loss of a sibling (recounted)
March 10, 2024
4.5 Charming and Emotional �'s
Just when Athena thinks life can't get any worse, while moving into the spite house she impulsively purchased for her ex-fiance, she finds out her new neighbor is none other than her ex's brother, Matthew, who took it upon himself to split them up. Instead of taking the high road, Athena decides to get back at Matthew by torturing him in any way she can, signing him up for mailers and marketing calls, listening to steamy monster romance audiobooks for him to hear through the walls, and generally being a pain in his a*s. However, the longer Athena enacts her revenge, she begins to see that Matthew may not be the terrible man she once thought; and as he helps her navigate her new life, the two find themselves orbiting their obvious chemistry.
At First Spite is a small town, forbidden, enemies to lovers romance full of banter, mental health rep, steam, and a raw romance between two struggling characters. This is my first foray into Olivia Dade and to say I am a fan would be an understatement! I loved everything about this romance, Matthew and Athena were so beautifully tender yet resilient, I loved how they both grew and slowly began to fight for themselves and each other. The mental health rep was so well done in my opinion, it was perfectly balanced to the story and gave the perfect dash of angst and hope. I did read some other reviews and while they are very mixed, I do agree that the writing style leans towards women's fiction, but, I think the romance very much overpowers that and I did not mind it one bit.
Just when Athena thinks life can't get any worse, while moving into the spite house she impulsively purchased for her ex-fiance, she finds out her new neighbor is none other than her ex's brother, Matthew, who took it upon himself to split them up. Instead of taking the high road, Athena decides to get back at Matthew by torturing him in any way she can, signing him up for mailers and marketing calls, listening to steamy monster romance audiobooks for him to hear through the walls, and generally being a pain in his a*s. However, the longer Athena enacts her revenge, she begins to see that Matthew may not be the terrible man she once thought; and as he helps her navigate her new life, the two find themselves orbiting their obvious chemistry.
At First Spite is a small town, forbidden, enemies to lovers romance full of banter, mental health rep, steam, and a raw romance between two struggling characters. This is my first foray into Olivia Dade and to say I am a fan would be an understatement! I loved everything about this romance, Matthew and Athena were so beautifully tender yet resilient, I loved how they both grew and slowly began to fight for themselves and each other. The mental health rep was so well done in my opinion, it was perfectly balanced to the story and gave the perfect dash of angst and hope. I did read some other reviews and while they are very mixed, I do agree that the writing style leans towards women's fiction, but, I think the romance very much overpowers that and I did not mind it one bit.
February 15, 2024
No, this book is amazing wow. Like if you have the chance to read it, get it. Do it. You won't be disappointed. This got to me, I cried buckets of tears while reading it, feeling everything Olivia Dade wrote in the pages of this book. The romance is beautiful and special and so soft and everything. Matthew and Athena are perfect for each other and I'm literally so glad they were able to find each other.
NOW GO AND READ IT TOO.
NOW GO AND READ IT TOO.
September 23, 2023
I really don’t love this trend we’ve been seeing where there’s way too many pop culture references that are very easily discernible, and often not funny, yet other characters seemingly don’t know what they are. personally, i feel these references have no real place in books because even at the height of their “meme cycle� they’re never funny and they age the book drastically. similarly, im noticing a trend where spectrum coded female characters feel very infantilized by the male love interest. i’ve really enjoyed dade’s books in the past, but this felt like it was written by an entirely different person. this book was at best boring, and at worst an awkward hard to get through story.
September 18, 2024
....wut
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2024
1.5/5 � 1/5 🌶�
wow this book was a let down. olivia dade, how did this get published? multiple times during the story i was visibly grimacing at the characters and plot. 😵💫😵�
Now for the real review: this book actually let me down so much. I got an absolutely beautiful edition from Afterlight and I was so excited to read another Olivia Dade novel.
The main character, Athena, is 37 and acts like she's 16. Matthew, the MMC, is 39 but acts like he's 60. The main trope of this book is ex fiancée's older brother, but as is mentioned multiple times in the story, Matthew (MMC) is more like Johnny's (ex fiancée) dad, which basically makes this a ex's dad romance, which I find grotesque. (Special mention: Matthew is an almost 40-year-old virgin, and that doesn't get discussed until in the middle of their first time together. So Athena has not only slept with Matthew's younger brother, now she's taking Matthew's virginity too. 😵�)
When Athena and Matthew's relationship blows up (because who wouldn't be mad about their brother dating their ex), Athena blames Matthew for not "fighting for her" against his only family member, who Matthew literally betrayed!
And then Matthew has to grovel for her...this is when the story became difficult to read. Matthew writes an AITA reddit thread about the situation. And then as if that's not cringey enough to have in a contemporary novel, Matthew also spoofs a monster-fucking romance book about his and Athena's relationship and plays it out loud for her. And apparently that's enough to win back the person you love.
Honestly, Matthew and Athena deserve each other because they are so insufferable separately. Matthew had all the great makings of a perfect romantic hero - pining, galore - except the rest of the story ruined it. Olivia Dade could have done so much more with the depression plot line instead of randomly dumping it on readers and then expecting us to sympathize with Athena.
wow this book was a let down. olivia dade, how did this get published? multiple times during the story i was visibly grimacing at the characters and plot. 😵💫😵�
Now for the real review: this book actually let me down so much. I got an absolutely beautiful edition from Afterlight and I was so excited to read another Olivia Dade novel.
The main character, Athena, is 37 and acts like she's 16. Matthew, the MMC, is 39 but acts like he's 60. The main trope of this book is ex fiancée's older brother, but as is mentioned multiple times in the story, Matthew (MMC) is more like Johnny's (ex fiancée) dad, which basically makes this a ex's dad romance, which I find grotesque. (Special mention: Matthew is an almost 40-year-old virgin, and that doesn't get discussed until in the middle of their first time together. So Athena has not only slept with Matthew's younger brother, now she's taking Matthew's virginity too. 😵�)
When Athena and Matthew's relationship blows up (because who wouldn't be mad about their brother dating their ex), Athena blames Matthew for not "fighting for her" against his only family member, who Matthew literally betrayed!
And then Matthew has to grovel for her...this is when the story became difficult to read. Matthew writes an AITA reddit thread about the situation. And then as if that's not cringey enough to have in a contemporary novel, Matthew also spoofs a monster-fucking romance book about his and Athena's relationship and plays it out loud for her. And apparently that's enough to win back the person you love.
Honestly, Matthew and Athena deserve each other because they are so insufferable separately. Matthew had all the great makings of a perfect romantic hero - pining, galore - except the rest of the story ruined it. Olivia Dade could have done so much more with the depression plot line instead of randomly dumping it on readers and then expecting us to sympathize with Athena.
April 10, 2024
3.5 stars
There was a lot to love about At First Spite by Olivia Dade. The hero was fantastic, I loved the plus size representation and it had some truly fun moments. It also had great depression rep. I’m personally not a fan of the love interest being a sibling of her ex. That’s never been something I’ve liked in romance.
There was a lot to love about At First Spite by Olivia Dade. The hero was fantastic, I loved the plus size representation and it had some truly fun moments. It also had great depression rep. I’m personally not a fan of the love interest being a sibling of her ex. That’s never been something I’ve liked in romance.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Joy Nash
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 12h 42m
September 24, 2024
5 Stars
For a romance reader who doesn’t usually like when a character’s love interest is their ex’s sibling, this story won me over hard and fast, despite my hesitancies—due in large part to Dade’s effortlessly engaging and emotive writing style, first-rate MC chemistry and banter, and, most remarkably, the exceptional mental health rep that pulled on my heart-strings and made me cry a time or six.
Plus-sized heroine Athena Greydon may as well have been a character carved from my own mind, heart, and experiences. She was so ridiculously relatable to me, with many of her inner monologues across the story—as well as the eventually vulnerable discussions she shared with love interest Dr. Matthew Vine as they grew closer—striking me as so intensely relevant to my own life experiences, professional woes, and mental health struggles of my adulthood, that I felt a bit blindsided by the whole experience, to be honest. I had to take a few moments, at certain points in the story, to really let the words and feelings settle in my soul, so deeply did they hit the mark.
For me, this was quite a heavy read due of how acutely I associated with the more serious themes explored within (covering everything from generalised anxiety, to acute depression; to professional listlessness, and the struggle with personal self-worth some of us feel when we don’t “fit the mould� OR the societally accepted standards of our age brackets). I was certainly emotionally invested, and that's probably the best outcome I could hope for with any of my reading.
Although this touched differently, because of how deeply I could relate, it was also a beautifully written, well-paced, charming, cheeky, and wonderfully hopeful love story, which managed to warm my heart one moment while having me fan myself the next, showcasing sexual AND emotional chemistry between the characters that was just so exquisitely balanced in its depiction of passion and intimacy.
If acts of service are your love language (or just something you love reading in your romance books, like I do) then hero Matthew will undoubtedly hit all the right buttons for you. He’s such a Darcy-like, misunderstood-but-lovely MMC, with so many hidden depths to his (initially) stoic and closed-off facade. As his true nature begins to shine through the pages, Matthew becomes an increasingly more beautiful and precious character, as Athena (and the reader) learn of his true hidden sweetness and the depths of his longing, as well as the levels of past trauma that dictate his current thoughts, feelings, and actions in all things. I ultimately loved his character as much as (if not even more than) I loved Athena’s.
went beyond my usual M/F romance reading/rom-com book experiences, becoming much more of a weighted, thought-provoking, and well-earned LOVE STORY for me. I adored Athena and Matthew, and I can’t wait to read more in this series, as the other charming residents of Harlot’s Bay get their chance to steal the spotlight and find big love in their own unique ways.
For a romance reader who doesn’t usually like when a character’s love interest is their ex’s sibling, this story won me over hard and fast, despite my hesitancies—due in large part to Dade’s effortlessly engaging and emotive writing style, first-rate MC chemistry and banter, and, most remarkably, the exceptional mental health rep that pulled on my heart-strings and made me cry a time or six.
Plus-sized heroine Athena Greydon may as well have been a character carved from my own mind, heart, and experiences. She was so ridiculously relatable to me, with many of her inner monologues across the story—as well as the eventually vulnerable discussions she shared with love interest Dr. Matthew Vine as they grew closer—striking me as so intensely relevant to my own life experiences, professional woes, and mental health struggles of my adulthood, that I felt a bit blindsided by the whole experience, to be honest. I had to take a few moments, at certain points in the story, to really let the words and feelings settle in my soul, so deeply did they hit the mark.
For me, this was quite a heavy read due of how acutely I associated with the more serious themes explored within (covering everything from generalised anxiety, to acute depression; to professional listlessness, and the struggle with personal self-worth some of us feel when we don’t “fit the mould� OR the societally accepted standards of our age brackets). I was certainly emotionally invested, and that's probably the best outcome I could hope for with any of my reading.
Although this touched differently, because of how deeply I could relate, it was also a beautifully written, well-paced, charming, cheeky, and wonderfully hopeful love story, which managed to warm my heart one moment while having me fan myself the next, showcasing sexual AND emotional chemistry between the characters that was just so exquisitely balanced in its depiction of passion and intimacy.
If acts of service are your love language (or just something you love reading in your romance books, like I do) then hero Matthew will undoubtedly hit all the right buttons for you. He’s such a Darcy-like, misunderstood-but-lovely MMC, with so many hidden depths to his (initially) stoic and closed-off facade. As his true nature begins to shine through the pages, Matthew becomes an increasingly more beautiful and precious character, as Athena (and the reader) learn of his true hidden sweetness and the depths of his longing, as well as the levels of past trauma that dictate his current thoughts, feelings, and actions in all things. I ultimately loved his character as much as (if not even more than) I loved Athena’s.
went beyond my usual M/F romance reading/rom-com book experiences, becoming much more of a weighted, thought-provoking, and well-earned LOVE STORY for me. I adored Athena and Matthew, and I can’t wait to read more in this series, as the other charming residents of Harlot’s Bay get their chance to steal the spotlight and find big love in their own unique ways.
February 27, 2024
This was a fun enemies to lovers steamy romance. I love how Olivia Dade features plus size characters. It's so refreshing to read and I adore it.
I did enjoy Athena's and Matthew's romance but it did feel a little forced at times. I wasn't overally in love with it.
This book also had depression, anxiety, and loss of a loved one representation.
I did enjoy Athena's and Matthew's romance but it did feel a little forced at times. I wasn't overally in love with it.
This book also had depression, anxiety, and loss of a loved one representation.
February 25, 2024
One of those books where the blurb sounds better than the actual finished product. I cannot believe this actually got published, I found it so awful and ... cringey, from start to finish.
I contemplated DNF'ing around the 40% mark but then decided to hate-finish it, though I did skim heavily from that point on. I made dozens of highlights and notes, but I lack the energy to copy/paste them into this review. I shouldn't spend more energy on a book I hated.
I don't mean to yuck anyone's yum, and if this worked for you and you loved it, great! But yikes, this was not for me.
I contemplated DNF'ing around the 40% mark but then decided to hate-finish it, though I did skim heavily from that point on. I made dozens of highlights and notes, but I lack the energy to copy/paste them into this review. I shouldn't spend more energy on a book I hated.
I don't mean to yuck anyone's yum, and if this worked for you and you loved it, great! But yikes, this was not for me.
March 27, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
I wasn't sure how I would feel about a romance with an ex's sibling, but Olivia Dade did not disappoint! At First Spite balances humor and banter with a heavier exploration of depression and mental health challenges.
When Athena's fiancee breaks up with her two weeks before the wedding (partly at his brothers suggestion), she has no option but to move into the spite house she bought next door as a wedding present to him. Only to discover that his uptight brother, Dr. Matthew Vine, lives on the other side of the house. So while her ex is off on the honeymoon SHE planned, she decides to mess with the brother who ruined her life. But maybe he isn't as bad as she thinks, and maybe he has his own childhood trauma he's coping with.
There is a point in the book where Athena goes through a major depressive episode (and while this isn't said on page, I suspect she might also be neurodivergent in some way) and while it's graphic, it's handled with such care and compassion. And Matthew's care for her during it is also really great. It's a case of both of them re-evaluating their first impressions of each other and what it is they really want and need in life. Parts of it are a little heavier than what she typically reads, but it's also hilarious. Like when she blasts steamy monster romance audiobooks out her window while trying to mess with the hero. Definitely one to pick up! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
I wasn't sure how I would feel about a romance with an ex's sibling, but Olivia Dade did not disappoint! At First Spite balances humor and banter with a heavier exploration of depression and mental health challenges.
When Athena's fiancee breaks up with her two weeks before the wedding (partly at his brothers suggestion), she has no option but to move into the spite house she bought next door as a wedding present to him. Only to discover that his uptight brother, Dr. Matthew Vine, lives on the other side of the house. So while her ex is off on the honeymoon SHE planned, she decides to mess with the brother who ruined her life. But maybe he isn't as bad as she thinks, and maybe he has his own childhood trauma he's coping with.
There is a point in the book where Athena goes through a major depressive episode (and while this isn't said on page, I suspect she might also be neurodivergent in some way) and while it's graphic, it's handled with such care and compassion. And Matthew's care for her during it is also really great. It's a case of both of them re-evaluating their first impressions of each other and what it is they really want and need in life. Parts of it are a little heavier than what she typically reads, but it's also hilarious. Like when she blasts steamy monster romance audiobooks out her window while trying to mess with the hero. Definitely one to pick up! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
March 16, 2024
Starting with the good. Post (annoying) third act conflict was brilliant. Matthew and Athena's reconciliation was cute af, and was the best use of the Spite House in the book. Also Matthew's heart-to-heart with his brother was perfect and actually got me in my feels.
Unfortunately, the bad far outweighed the good for me. I went into At First Spite excited. The dynamic between the love interests and the Spite House gimmick sounded like it'd be a unique and fun time. Sadly the use of the Spite House frustrated me (with a few exceptions). The way Athena used it to spite Matthew just made me question the romance even more. And that's my main problem of this book. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief that they'd get together, or even want to, in the first place. I think this is just a me problem, so hopefully you enjoy it more than I did if you pick it up!
The next book follows Karl and I loved him here. His grumpiness made me laugh so much. I'm still conflicted on whether I'll pick it up since I didn't enjoy this one.
Unfortunately, the bad far outweighed the good for me. I went into At First Spite excited. The dynamic between the love interests and the Spite House gimmick sounded like it'd be a unique and fun time. Sadly the use of the Spite House frustrated me (with a few exceptions). The way Athena used it to spite Matthew just made me question the romance even more. And that's my main problem of this book. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief that they'd get together, or even want to, in the first place. I think this is just a me problem, so hopefully you enjoy it more than I did if you pick it up!
The next book follows Karl and I loved him here. His grumpiness made me laugh so much. I'm still conflicted on whether I'll pick it up since I didn't enjoy this one.
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December 17, 2022This book won't come out for a while, but I read an early draft, and I want everyone to know how wonderful it is. Be excited, be very excited!
December 16, 2023
I seem cursed to dislike all romance novels written by popular authors.
I’ll start with what I liked. The heroine is plus-size and the story is very body-positive. There’s some pretty good banter. The side characters are great, even if we don’t see enough of them. (This is the first of a series, though, so I bet some of them will reappear in later books.) The town’s name � Harlot’s Bay � and how it’s gone all in on embracing its roots (e.g., Strumpet Street Pediatrics). Kind of like a PG-13 Stars Hollow. There’s a whole monster romance subplot that will amuse anyone who’s read MGMF or the like.
Unfortunately, I really didn’t care for many of the more important aspects of the book. First off, the FMC is deeply depressed, to the point of suicidal ideation. The MMC is as lovely and supportive as anyone could wish, but Athena’s depression takes up a sizable portion of the story and was too dark for what is meant to be an escapist genre.
Secondly, it’s not a spoiler to say the story is about the FMC falling for the brother of her ex-fiancé. Athena acknowledges that she never really loved her fiancé � he just provided “the promise of a comfortable home and the time and space and financial cushion she needed to figure out her next step.� Yikes. And after they’ve been together a week, she thinks she and the MMC are destined to be together forever and gets mad at him for doesn’t seem all that unreasonable to me.
Thirdly, the story features one of my least favorite romance tropes: I’ve Made Unreasonable Assumptions I Haven’t Told You About, And Will Completely Give Up And Mope When Something Challenges Them.
Finally, this is petty but the FMC only ever refers to Google as “Professor Google� and that just irked me, especially as Professor Google is mentioned seemingly dozens of times.
***
“He was a marshmallow that had been thrust carelessly into a campfire, his charred, bitter shell covering a center of sweet goo.�
“What did librarians do for fun around here? Two hours later, she discovered the answer: Apparently, […] they read about monster-fucking.�
“all previous book club picks had featured humans. Clearly, it was time to spread their metaphorical wings and read about monsters spreading other things. Notably, legs. But also sometimes actual wings, depending on the creatures involved.�
“That man dove for her vagina like she had a stash of streusel-topped cheese Danishes hidden down there.�
I’ll start with what I liked. The heroine is plus-size and the story is very body-positive. There’s some pretty good banter. The side characters are great, even if we don’t see enough of them. (This is the first of a series, though, so I bet some of them will reappear in later books.) The town’s name � Harlot’s Bay � and how it’s gone all in on embracing its roots (e.g., Strumpet Street Pediatrics). Kind of like a PG-13 Stars Hollow. There’s a whole monster romance subplot that will amuse anyone who’s read MGMF or the like.
Unfortunately, I really didn’t care for many of the more important aspects of the book. First off, the FMC is deeply depressed, to the point of suicidal ideation. The MMC is as lovely and supportive as anyone could wish, but Athena’s depression takes up a sizable portion of the story and was too dark for what is meant to be an escapist genre.
Secondly, it’s not a spoiler to say the story is about the FMC falling for the brother of her ex-fiancé. Athena acknowledges that she never really loved her fiancé � he just provided “the promise of a comfortable home and the time and space and financial cushion she needed to figure out her next step.� Yikes. And after they’ve been together a week, she thinks she and the MMC are destined to be together forever and gets mad at him for doesn’t seem all that unreasonable to me.
Thirdly, the story features one of my least favorite romance tropes: I’ve Made Unreasonable Assumptions I Haven’t Told You About, And Will Completely Give Up And Mope When Something Challenges Them.
Finally, this is petty but the FMC only ever refers to Google as “Professor Google� and that just irked me, especially as Professor Google is mentioned seemingly dozens of times.
***
“He was a marshmallow that had been thrust carelessly into a campfire, his charred, bitter shell covering a center of sweet goo.�
“What did librarians do for fun around here? Two hours later, she discovered the answer: Apparently, […] they read about monster-fucking.�
“all previous book club picks had featured humans. Clearly, it was time to spread their metaphorical wings and read about monsters spreading other things. Notably, legs. But also sometimes actual wings, depending on the creatures involved.�
“That man dove for her vagina like she had a stash of streusel-topped cheese Danishes hidden down there.�
February 16, 2024
Emotional, the definition of "adorkable," and that classic Dade blend of gripping-yet-cozy concepts... At First Spite is a must-read!
When Athena Greydon's fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. This is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex's home is attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third (aka the uptight, judgmental jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her) is living on the other side, only a four-foot alley away.
Oh yeah, things are about to get AWKWARD. (And it's already an awkward setup.)
Athena is now penniless, jobless, and friendless in a town holding both her ex-fiancé and his grumpy older brother. And the older brother is constantly running into her in the wild—making an already bad situation that much worse.
Both Athena and Matthew (that older brother) are in for a wild time of coincidences, conversational traps, and hilarious meet-cutes from hell.
So in way, can you really blame them when things start to cross that line from hate to something else...
Man, I am such a fan of Olivia Dade. This latest novel was an absolute joy to read and if you haven't read anything from her before, At First Spite is a great place to start. Great setting and great grumpy/sunshine hook with some subversions to the tropes that I was NOT expecting.
Athena and Matthew's journey toward love and acceptance gripped me for the entire reading experience. In fact, I read this in literally one evening—I couldn't stop!
Come for the one-of-a-kind housing setup hook, stay for the seriously deep emotional journeys these characters go through in their path to love.
However, a word of caution: there are some topics in this novel that I would consider firm triggers for certain readers. Please check out the warnings list at the beginning of the novel before committing to the read.
Thank you so much to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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When Athena Greydon's fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. This is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex's home is attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third (aka the uptight, judgmental jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her) is living on the other side, only a four-foot alley away.
Oh yeah, things are about to get AWKWARD. (And it's already an awkward setup.)
Athena is now penniless, jobless, and friendless in a town holding both her ex-fiancé and his grumpy older brother. And the older brother is constantly running into her in the wild—making an already bad situation that much worse.
Both Athena and Matthew (that older brother) are in for a wild time of coincidences, conversational traps, and hilarious meet-cutes from hell.
So in way, can you really blame them when things start to cross that line from hate to something else...
Man, I am such a fan of Olivia Dade. This latest novel was an absolute joy to read and if you haven't read anything from her before, At First Spite is a great place to start. Great setting and great grumpy/sunshine hook with some subversions to the tropes that I was NOT expecting.
Athena and Matthew's journey toward love and acceptance gripped me for the entire reading experience. In fact, I read this in literally one evening—I couldn't stop!
Come for the one-of-a-kind housing setup hook, stay for the seriously deep emotional journeys these characters go through in their path to love.
However, a word of caution: there are some topics in this novel that I would consider firm triggers for certain readers. Please check out the warnings list at the beginning of the novel before committing to the read.
Thank you so much to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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January 20, 2024
I read an earlier version of this book at the end of 2022 and I can say it’s absolutely beautiful and painfully authentic in its depiction of depression and features a caretaking, nurturing hero and I love both of these characters so so much and really, this book is perfection. It made me laugh and it made me cry.
***
ARC Review:
Perhaps I'm biased because I got to read a very early version of this book at the author's request back in 2022 but this book is exceptional. Athena is beautifully captured in all her complexities, the scenes where she is struggling with her depression are heartbreakingly accurate, her pain is visceral and at times, you just want to jump into the page and give her the softest and gentlest of hugs and make her a sandwich.
Matthew, er, Dr. Matthew Vine the third, is the best of all men, just not great at explaining himself. He holds back, has a very painful backstory dealing with grief and loss, that has colored all of the choices he has made in his life, and is irrevocably in love with Athena. The scene where he....well, for the sake of spoilers, I'll zip it but just say, the scene in which he shows up for Athena in a big way, will live rent free in my head always.
But in the midst of the depression and grief, there is so much love and warmth and humor in this book. Matthew being a true luddite and not understanding memes or Reddit or being Rickrolled will forever make me laugh.
It is a true masterpiece, deftly balancing great humor with moments of severe depression and memories of grief and loss with love and tenderness and nurturing. I adore a nurturing hero and it is easy to label Matthew as one - he is truly one of the most nurturing heroes I've ever read in a romance. But let's not forget Athena, who is a caretaker in her own way and loves and protects Matthew like no one else has ever done. These two are perfect for each other and I'm so glad this book exists so that I could meet them.
Content notes: depression, grief, loss of young brother off page in the past
ARC courtesy of publisher, opinions are all mine
***
ARC Review:
Perhaps I'm biased because I got to read a very early version of this book at the author's request back in 2022 but this book is exceptional. Athena is beautifully captured in all her complexities, the scenes where she is struggling with her depression are heartbreakingly accurate, her pain is visceral and at times, you just want to jump into the page and give her the softest and gentlest of hugs and make her a sandwich.
Matthew, er, Dr. Matthew Vine the third, is the best of all men, just not great at explaining himself. He holds back, has a very painful backstory dealing with grief and loss, that has colored all of the choices he has made in his life, and is irrevocably in love with Athena. The scene where he....well, for the sake of spoilers, I'll zip it but just say, the scene in which he shows up for Athena in a big way, will live rent free in my head always.
But in the midst of the depression and grief, there is so much love and warmth and humor in this book. Matthew being a true luddite and not understanding memes or Reddit or being Rickrolled will forever make me laugh.
It is a true masterpiece, deftly balancing great humor with moments of severe depression and memories of grief and loss with love and tenderness and nurturing. I adore a nurturing hero and it is easy to label Matthew as one - he is truly one of the most nurturing heroes I've ever read in a romance. But let's not forget Athena, who is a caretaker in her own way and loves and protects Matthew like no one else has ever done. These two are perfect for each other and I'm so glad this book exists so that I could meet them.
Content notes: depression, grief, loss of young brother off page in the past
ARC courtesy of publisher, opinions are all mine
April 28, 2024
Ooooookay well...this was my first Olivia Dade book and I was left disappointed. I'd still give her other books a try because it seems like this isn't her best one, but for the majority of the book, I was debating on rating it two stars. And by the end it gained about half a star so I decided to be nice and round it up to a three.
I think it was mainly the writing and the immaturity of the characters who were near 40, acting like teenagers. I swear I've read more mature YA romances (and I don't mean the newer ones that are more geared towards adults than teens).
I didn't like / didn't care for either of them or the romance, but mainly Matthew's part of it, because he seemed to instantly fall in love with her and was constantly thinking about Athena in a sexual way. There was no chemistry that I could feel and the overall set up to their romance felt a bit wrong to me.
For probably the entire first half, I was debating on dnfing. In the first or second chapter I was like "wait, if it's this dull now it'll probably only get worse from here" and it did. Then went up a lil bit later.
The depression portrayal surprised me, but it was good compared to everything else. Except I do feel like she got better in no time, but I also understand that there's only so much you can put in a book and not have it be too long.
The steam was okay, the audiobook too (it likely helped to push me to the end). I liked the plus size rep, monster romance references, and the book club, also Karl, didn't mind the pop culture references (minus "PROFESSOR GOOGLE" because who says that?).
Karl gets his own book, and while I feel like it might be really fun and more up my alley than this one, I'm still undecided about reading it. I think it might be better to give the author's other series a try before going back to this one. Plus, Karl isn't out yet so...
ALSO, extremely extremely EXTREMELY stupid third act breakup. Matthew gave up too easily, I was listening to that part and he was just like "ok fine"??? Sir??? I could not believe my ears, legit had to pause. I wasn't rooting for him before, but you can bet there was no way in hell I'd root for him after that.
2.5
I think it was mainly the writing and the immaturity of the characters who were near 40, acting like teenagers. I swear I've read more mature YA romances (and I don't mean the newer ones that are more geared towards adults than teens).
I didn't like / didn't care for either of them or the romance, but mainly Matthew's part of it, because he seemed to instantly fall in love with her and was constantly thinking about Athena in a sexual way. There was no chemistry that I could feel and the overall set up to their romance felt a bit wrong to me.
For probably the entire first half, I was debating on dnfing. In the first or second chapter I was like "wait, if it's this dull now it'll probably only get worse from here" and it did. Then went up a lil bit later.
The depression portrayal surprised me, but it was good compared to everything else. Except I do feel like she got better in no time, but I also understand that there's only so much you can put in a book and not have it be too long.
The steam was okay, the audiobook too (it likely helped to push me to the end). I liked the plus size rep, monster romance references, and the book club, also Karl, didn't mind the pop culture references (minus "PROFESSOR GOOGLE" because who says that?).
Karl gets his own book, and while I feel like it might be really fun and more up my alley than this one, I'm still undecided about reading it. I think it might be better to give the author's other series a try before going back to this one. Plus, Karl isn't out yet so...
ALSO, extremely extremely EXTREMELY stupid third act breakup. Matthew gave up too easily, I was listening to that part and he was just like "ok fine"??? Sir??? I could not believe my ears, legit had to pause. I wasn't rooting for him before, but you can bet there was no way in hell I'd root for him after that.
2.5
May 22, 2024
Fantastic depression representation. Very funny ending. Otherwise…it was okay. Probably 3.5 stars overall
May 18, 2024
I'm sorry but I have to DNF this after four chapters because I just can not get passed the constant referring to the male lead as "Dr. Matthew Vine The Third' and also the 'Professor Google'.
I really wanted to enjoy this book as I loved the cover and the synopsis but I felt like I was reading a fanfic from 2013. Considering four chapters for eighty pages long it felt as though nothing really exciting was happening for me to carry on reading and this book is 400 pages long (Ebook/Netgalley) so how slowly does this book move? My attention span isn't being captivated enough for me to last that long unfortunately.
Such a shame, maybe it gets better as you read on but for this moment in time I won't be continuing it.
I really wanted to enjoy this book as I loved the cover and the synopsis but I felt like I was reading a fanfic from 2013. Considering four chapters for eighty pages long it felt as though nothing really exciting was happening for me to carry on reading and this book is 400 pages long (Ebook/Netgalley) so how slowly does this book move? My attention span isn't being captivated enough for me to last that long unfortunately.
Such a shame, maybe it gets better as you read on but for this moment in time I won't be continuing it.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
May 9, 2024DNF at 3%. I can't hang with a heroine who gets engaged after only a couple months to a man she doesn't seem to even like. And then is attracted to his brother at her engagement party.
Gross.
Gross.
April 4, 2024
this was so cute! loved both main characters, the humor and sass, the dirty audiobooks in the story, the small town� JUST SUCH A WARM BOOK!!!
Would recommend! 🩷
Would recommend! 🩷
November 18, 2024
I'm absolutely gutted I didn't enjoy this book as it was my first book I received since I joined the (Illumicrate) Afterlight romance subscription and the special edition is just stunning.
Unfortunately I don't have much of anything positive to say about this book so I'll keep the review short (but let it be known I have so many issues with this book).
Obviously being a romance, it is so important to like the characters and their relationship and I just hated the ex's brother trope which surprised me. I don't think it was done successfully at all, I just felt like Matthew completely manipulated the situation with Athena and Johnny and Johnny completely deserved better in this book. How Athena could flirt with another man at her own engagement party is beyond me. Matthew gave me the creeps throughout the book, I found a lot of his behaviours massive red flags and I just wasn't rooting for them. Of course they have a third act break up which takes place within 30 pages to the end. Even when I thought the book couldn't get any worse, I then read the epilogue.
I didn't like Olivia Dade's writing style, it was unnecessarily 'wordy' and every sentence felt difficult to get through. So I won't be reading from this author again and I'm not continuing with the Harlot's Bay series. Very disappointed I didn't enjoy this one more so I'll give my special edition to someone who will really appreciate it.
1 star
Unfortunately I don't have much of anything positive to say about this book so I'll keep the review short (but let it be known I have so many issues with this book).
Obviously being a romance, it is so important to like the characters and their relationship and I just hated the ex's brother trope which surprised me. I don't think it was done successfully at all, I just felt like Matthew completely manipulated the situation with Athena and Johnny and Johnny completely deserved better in this book. How Athena could flirt with another man at her own engagement party is beyond me. Matthew gave me the creeps throughout the book, I found a lot of his behaviours massive red flags and I just wasn't rooting for them. Of course they have a third act break up which takes place within 30 pages to the end. Even when I thought the book couldn't get any worse, I then read the epilogue.
I didn't like Olivia Dade's writing style, it was unnecessarily 'wordy' and every sentence felt difficult to get through. So I won't be reading from this author again and I'm not continuing with the Harlot's Bay series. Very disappointed I didn't enjoy this one more so I'll give my special edition to someone who will really appreciate it.
1 star
April 13, 2024
matthew vine being fictional is the worst thing that happened to humankind
April 5, 2024
4.75 ⭐️
I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did. It was witty, heartfelt, cheesy, and raw.
This opposites attract, ex-fiance’s brother romance highlights that everyone is deserving of love, regardless of who they are and despite their struggles with mental health. It feature a curvy FMC whose size is not a subplot which I appreciated; she is portrayed as a sexual being who receives romantic attention without mention of bodies or size.
This book also features a MC with depression and the caretaking and treatment paths towards a healthier life while dealing with mental health struggles.
There were so many sweet and romantic moments in this book that genuinely had my heart swelling and tears in my eyes (the bathtub scene iykyk).
There’s also a lot of character development for both the FMC and MMC, even secondary characters and Dade does a really great job of developing a believable romantic connection between the MCs.
The only note that I have is that I wish the chapters were a little shorter to make the story more digestible.
I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did. It was witty, heartfelt, cheesy, and raw.
This opposites attract, ex-fiance’s brother romance highlights that everyone is deserving of love, regardless of who they are and despite their struggles with mental health. It feature a curvy FMC whose size is not a subplot which I appreciated; she is portrayed as a sexual being who receives romantic attention without mention of bodies or size.
This book also features a MC with depression and the caretaking and treatment paths towards a healthier life while dealing with mental health struggles.
There were so many sweet and romantic moments in this book that genuinely had my heart swelling and tears in my eyes (the bathtub scene iykyk).
There’s also a lot of character development for both the FMC and MMC, even secondary characters and Dade does a really great job of developing a believable romantic connection between the MCs.
The only note that I have is that I wish the chapters were a little shorter to make the story more digestible.
February 22, 2024
4.5
"At First Spite" was absolutely LOVELY. Sweet, romantic and funny, but also a punch to the gut in book form, a rollercoaster ride of emotions and complicated, contradictory feelings: I literally spent a few chapters near the middle just weeping out of sheer relatableness.
I immediately preordered this book the second I saw the gorgeous cover, and the absolutely fascinating blurb, despite not reading MF much these days. I admit, I might have been expecting something different based on those alone: more spite, more pettiness, more enemies-to-lovers and in general, for the book to have more of a I-hate-you-but-I'm-crazy-about-you vibe.
BUT, after starting this, I realized I didn't need any of that, and that Olivia Dade had written something more complicated, and more human, than a straightforward hate-to-love dynamic: misunderstandings, assumptions, fear, anxiety, misguided love and protection, every single contradictory emotion you can think of, colour Athena and Matthew's dynamic from the very start, and the reader feels the whole range of it from start to finish, screaming, weeping, sighing and swooning alongside them. They've never really hated each other, but both of them feel that very human desire to defend their squishy core, and their beloved lot, from each other, even at the cost of being mean and petty and rude.
The initial dislike evolves though, because both Athena and Matthew are marvellous, selfless, interesting human beings, and FANTASTIC protagonists, and they inevitably become friends, and then, despite it all, something more.
And let me tell you! What an explosive, interesting, chemistry-fueled, teeth-rottingly sweet, panty-melting,
swoon-inducing romantic dynamic they had. They made the best couple ever.
< “Athena, sweetheart . . .� Boosting herself to her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on his chin. “Yes?� How would a man of vast experience say this? “Lift your skirt,� he said, low and quiet. “Please.� >
I loved them both individually too, so damned much. I've had the best of luck recently with relatable protagonists, and Athena with her mental health struggles, the lack of self-worth and her job-related issues, and Matthew with his anxieties, his loneliness and the terror of losing the people he loves, were both profoundly relatable protagonists: I literally spent entire chapters weeping because I felt SEEN. So I must applaud Olivia Dade for the way she managed to handle such complex, REAL protagonists, and the complex, REAL dynamic they had.
Some of the writing at times was a smidge too flowery for my tastes, and third-act breakups are my Villain Origin Story�, but groveling always makes me a happy gal, so all in all, they didn't spoil my enjoyment. I adored this novel so much; I want to find a Matthew (where do I find a Matthew? *stomps feet*); I adored all side characters to BITS (small town romances and the close-knit community vibes give me SO much joy). I can't wait to discover the next protagonists of this series, but in the meantime I might have to read more of Olivia Dade's backlist.
CWs/TWs: depression, grief/death of a family member.
"At First Spite" was absolutely LOVELY. Sweet, romantic and funny, but also a punch to the gut in book form, a rollercoaster ride of emotions and complicated, contradictory feelings: I literally spent a few chapters near the middle just weeping out of sheer relatableness.
I immediately preordered this book the second I saw the gorgeous cover, and the absolutely fascinating blurb, despite not reading MF much these days. I admit, I might have been expecting something different based on those alone: more spite, more pettiness, more enemies-to-lovers and in general, for the book to have more of a I-hate-you-but-I'm-crazy-about-you vibe.
BUT, after starting this, I realized I didn't need any of that, and that Olivia Dade had written something more complicated, and more human, than a straightforward hate-to-love dynamic: misunderstandings, assumptions, fear, anxiety, misguided love and protection, every single contradictory emotion you can think of, colour Athena and Matthew's dynamic from the very start, and the reader feels the whole range of it from start to finish, screaming, weeping, sighing and swooning alongside them. They've never really hated each other, but both of them feel that very human desire to defend their squishy core, and their beloved lot, from each other, even at the cost of being mean and petty and rude.
The initial dislike evolves though, because both Athena and Matthew are marvellous, selfless, interesting human beings, and FANTASTIC protagonists, and they inevitably become friends, and then, despite it all, something more.
And let me tell you! What an explosive, interesting, chemistry-fueled, teeth-rottingly sweet, panty-melting,
swoon-inducing romantic dynamic they had. They made the best couple ever.
< “Athena, sweetheart . . .� Boosting herself to her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on his chin. “Yes?� How would a man of vast experience say this? “Lift your skirt,� he said, low and quiet. “Please.� >
I loved them both individually too, so damned much. I've had the best of luck recently with relatable protagonists, and Athena with her mental health struggles, the lack of self-worth and her job-related issues, and Matthew with his anxieties, his loneliness and the terror of losing the people he loves, were both profoundly relatable protagonists: I literally spent entire chapters weeping because I felt SEEN. So I must applaud Olivia Dade for the way she managed to handle such complex, REAL protagonists, and the complex, REAL dynamic they had.
Some of the writing at times was a smidge too flowery for my tastes, and third-act breakups are my Villain Origin Story�, but groveling always makes me a happy gal, so all in all, they didn't spoil my enjoyment. I adored this novel so much; I want to find a Matthew (where do I find a Matthew? *stomps feet*); I adored all side characters to BITS (small town romances and the close-knit community vibes give me SO much joy). I can't wait to discover the next protagonists of this series, but in the meantime I might have to read more of Olivia Dade's backlist.
CWs/TWs: depression, grief/death of a family member.
March 6, 2024
At First Spite follows enemies turned lovers Athena and Matthew. Athena and Matthew originally meet at Athena's engagement party to Johnny, Matthew's brother. Johnny has always dreamed of purchasing the "spite house" next door, and Athena decides to buy it as an early wedding present for him. However, things turn awry when Johnny breaks off his engagement to Athena based on his brother Matthew's advice. Athena now has a house she must move into to support herself financially, and it is right across the street from both her former ex-fiancee and her nemesis, his brother.
Unfortunately, At First Spite was a huge disappointment for me. I was a huge fan of Spoiler Alert and really enjoyed the second book in the series, All the Feels. However, the last two books that I have read by Dade have been huge disappointments, and I'm not sure if I will be picking up more of her work in the future.
At First Spite has quite a few downfalls: it is far too long, attempts to tackle too many topics, and is all over the place tonally. The first fourth of the book had me hooked, and I was prepared to love this book. I really enjoyed Matthew's character and his caring nature, and I also appreciated the depiction of depression in Athena's character. However, the book just felt like it dragged on far too long. There were so many shifts in tone that was extremely jarring to the reader. I also felt uncomfortable with the idea with Athena shifting to date her ex-fiancee's brother. This is advertised in the book so I tried to withhold any opinions until seeing the execution of it, however I felt that the situation was resolved far too easily and unrealistically.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc, all opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, At First Spite was a huge disappointment for me. I was a huge fan of Spoiler Alert and really enjoyed the second book in the series, All the Feels. However, the last two books that I have read by Dade have been huge disappointments, and I'm not sure if I will be picking up more of her work in the future.
At First Spite has quite a few downfalls: it is far too long, attempts to tackle too many topics, and is all over the place tonally. The first fourth of the book had me hooked, and I was prepared to love this book. I really enjoyed Matthew's character and his caring nature, and I also appreciated the depiction of depression in Athena's character. However, the book just felt like it dragged on far too long. There were so many shifts in tone that was extremely jarring to the reader. I also felt uncomfortable with the idea with Athena shifting to date her ex-fiancee's brother. This is advertised in the book so I tried to withhold any opinions until seeing the execution of it, however I felt that the situation was resolved far too easily and unrealistically.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc, all opinions are my own.
January 31, 2024
This was such a real romance. I appreciated deeply the way the author depicted the symptoms of depression. The beginning was a bit slow, BUT the second half really saved it for me. I loved the spice, small town vibes, mental health discussions, + body confident plus size MC! I'm excited to read more by Olivia Dade!
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! This one comes out 2/13!
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! This one comes out 2/13!
February 6, 2024
I have found a new favorite Olivia Dade book, and it's this one. Why? Olivia Dade has a knack for marrying absurd situations, an enjoyment of the ridiculous that comes across in her sense of humor, wonderful depth of emotion, and serious issues like depression, fatphobia, etc. It doesn't seem like a book that includes an in-depth exploration of clinical depression, including a lengthy depressive episode, could also be gloriously sexy and hilarious - but it is.
Honestly not a ton happens plot-wise in the book. The setup for this one is that Athena is dumped by her fiance a week before their wedding, partially at the behest of his older brother, who's argued against their relationship from the beginning. Athena has already left her job, sold her condo, and bought the house next door to her fiance as her wedding gift to him, and she doesn't want to move back in with her parents, so she moves into her new house. Which again, is next to her fiance's house. Oh, and also? It's next to her fiance's BROTHER'S house. (She's the meat in a Vine brother sandwich, as another character puts it, only not very sexy.) She's trying to make the best of things in her new life, but honestly it's rough going. Turns out her fiance's brother, Matthew, MOSLY broke up the engagement because he didn't feel like Athena and the fiance were right for each other, but ALSO because he is ridiculously attracted to Athena. When she moves to town, he's able to get to know her, and realizes that not only is she wrong for his bro - she's perfect for him. And that's kind of it, as far as plot goes.
I just absolutely loved the slow-growing respect, affection, and love between Matthew and Athena. His unwavering support for her is so satisfying to read - especially since he is the reason why she broke up with her fiance in the first place. The caretaking is top tier, as Matthew tries to alleviate the difficulties her breakup put on her, first anonymously, then in person. His sense of responsibility and caring for her are delightful.
I'm talking about the sex now. There are a ludicrous amount of sex tropes that speak to me very specifically. I am going to list some of them, so if you feel like these are spoilers, maybe skip reading this next part:
So anyhow, I loved this book, it was sweet, funny, poignant, hilarious, and so, so sexy!!!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Honestly not a ton happens plot-wise in the book. The setup for this one is that Athena is dumped by her fiance a week before their wedding, partially at the behest of his older brother, who's argued against their relationship from the beginning. Athena has already left her job, sold her condo, and bought the house next door to her fiance as her wedding gift to him, and she doesn't want to move back in with her parents, so she moves into her new house. Which again, is next to her fiance's house. Oh, and also? It's next to her fiance's BROTHER'S house. (She's the meat in a Vine brother sandwich, as another character puts it, only not very sexy.) She's trying to make the best of things in her new life, but honestly it's rough going. Turns out her fiance's brother, Matthew, MOSLY broke up the engagement because he didn't feel like Athena and the fiance were right for each other, but ALSO because he is ridiculously attracted to Athena. When she moves to town, he's able to get to know her, and realizes that not only is she wrong for his bro - she's perfect for him. And that's kind of it, as far as plot goes.
I just absolutely loved the slow-growing respect, affection, and love between Matthew and Athena. His unwavering support for her is so satisfying to read - especially since he is the reason why she broke up with her fiance in the first place. The caretaking is top tier, as Matthew tries to alleviate the difficulties her breakup put on her, first anonymously, then in person. His sense of responsibility and caring for her are delightful.
I'm talking about the sex now. There are a ludicrous amount of sex tropes that speak to me very specifically. I am going to list some of them, so if you feel like these are spoilers, maybe skip reading this next part:
So anyhow, I loved this book, it was sweet, funny, poignant, hilarious, and so, so sexy!!!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
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