About the Book:
Title: Hottie on Her Shelf
Author: Christi Barth
Page Length: 150
Publication Date: July 11, 2022
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Synopsis: Hallie Scott expected the hangover from her thirtieth birthday. She did not expect to find her calm, orderly life as Swan Cove’s head librarian to completely change overnight when her best friend added Hallie to the mayoral ballot because of one little remark. One. Now she’s going head-to-head with the small coastal town’s prominent “prince,” Fitz Montgomery…whose charm is about to get seriously checked.
All Fitz wants is to prove himself, beyond being the latest in the unbroken line of Montgomery mayors. Nobody, least of all Fitz, expected the town’s cute-as-hell librarian to step up and run against him. Hallie’s definitely in over her head, which is a problem, since Fitz wants a fair fight. But is he helping Hallie level the playing field…or arming his opponent?
Hallie and Fitz are on completely different sides. Their backgrounds, their lives, their ongoing ebook vs paperback argument. But they’re both about to learn that the art of war is nowhere near as complicated as falling for the enemy…
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My Review:
A fun enemies-to-lovers romance, the story follows Hallie and Fitz both of whom are running for mayor. Hallie is the town librarian. A reserved woman who loves her job, Hallie never expected to run for mayor, but she knows the town needs change. I like her determination and her courage. Hallie knows she probably won’t win, it that doesn’t stop her from trying to invoke change in her community. Torn between family duty and his own wants, as well as the needs of the town, Fitz goes through a lot over the course of the story, especially as he learns more about his family’s past and influence. He is so much more than the charming ladies’ man Hallie initially pegs him to be, and he proves it throughout the story.
Both Hallie and Fitz are well-developed, layered characters, and their romance is great. They have the opposites attract, enemies to lovers vibes going on, and the sparks between them really fly. They have great banter, and I love how they challenge each other while still respecting each other’s opinions. Though they don’t start on the best of terms, their relationship slowly builds into something special.
I also like the messages about honor, friendship (Hallie’s friend group is the best!), following your heart, and more. However, the ending felt a bit rushed, and some of the actions of the secondary characters seemed, well, out of character. Overall, it is a quick and fun read, and I’m thankful to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance.
- Hallie’s friends.
Cute cover. I think those couple things you mentioned that bugged you would bother me, too, though. Great review!
Thanks, Ali!
Ooh, this looks and sounds cute! I always like having quick romances on hand for when I want a palate cleanser. Will keep this one in mind 😃 Great review!
Thanks, Dini! It’s a quick and cute one. 🙂
This sounds so cute, even though the out of character stuff would probably annoy me too. Great review!
Thank you! It was a cute read.