Ruthless Rival

L.J. Shen — 2022

From Wall Street Journal bestselling author L.J. Shen comes an enemies-to-lovers romance about the fine line between seeking revenge and finding love. When she was young, Arya Roth became best friends with her housekeeper’s son. Soon, friendship turned to young love, and when Arya dared him to kiss her, a chain reaction of disastrous events led to the boy being sent away and out of Arya’s life. Now, two decades later, Arya is an on-the-rise publicist with her beloved father as one of her biggest clients. So when her father is sued by a former employee, Arya sets out to prove that her father is not the monster he is accused of being. The only problem is the attorney who is determined to destroy her father’s good name. Christian Miller is charming, ambitious, and devilishly good looking, and Arya has no idea he is that same boy who kissed her all those years ago. Past and present collide as Arya falls hard for Christian. But when she finds out who he really is and about his obsession with getting revenge on her father, can she choose love over family?

Reviews

Sky@skylardowdle

Oct 11, 2023

I loved Christian’s character from the start. I’m also a sucker for a second chance romance so it was a good read.

Priscilla Stanfield@priscillas01

Sep 24, 2023

I won’t lie. I was scared when I started this and wasn’t hooked right away. But I knew it was building, laying the groundwork. Man am I happy I kept going because I ended up really liking it. I do have author that I enjoy reading their work with asshole MMCs and I think L.J. Shen can be added to that list. The banter was fun and I really liked the characters. I’m also a sucker for a second chance romance, it’s honestly my favorite trope and this being in it was an added bonus. Might have to get my hands on the second book and the third one when it comes out. Especially if it’s based on the characters I think it is.

Ashley@ashleey

Jan 18, 2023

literally amazing bro. I need a christian miller in my life too, PLEASE.

Navya @nico1195

Aug 12, 2022

I liked the hero but hated the heroine.

a. @thetinybibliophilee

May 11, 2022

I'm typically a fan of LJ Shen but the last few books of hers have missed the mark for me. I liked this book up until they actually got together...like the chemistry between them just disappeared. They had more chemistry when they were younger than they did when they were older. I ended up skimming the last part of the book because honestly, it just got boring. The part of her not recognizing was slightly unbelievable too. Also I didn't understand the complete turnaround with the mother. How do you ignore your kid all her life and then come up with the world's dumbest excuse as to why you did what you did? This is a book named Ruthless Rival but Arya and Christian were hardly rivals.