Name: At First Spite
Rating: 3.961538461538462 (13 reviews)
ISBN: 9780063215917

Olivia Dade

A Harlot's Bay Novel

At First Spite

Andrea Mack

“We both know you can't always trust your thoughts when you're depressed." His voice was quiet and calm, each word selected with care. "I understand that everything you just said to me feels like the truth right now, but it's not, sweetheart. It's not. It’s the unkindest possible interpretation of your life, and it only makes sense if you ignore all context." 

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. Which 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 literally attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third—AKA the uptight, judgy jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her—is living on her 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 those 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. Matthew may not regret ending his brother's engagement, but he does regret what the breakup has done to Athena. He'll help her however he can. If that means finding her work, fine. If that means enduring nightly steamy story hours, so be it. And if that means watching Athena through their windows a bit too often and caring about her a bit too much…well, nothing can come of it. She’ll never forgive him. Even if she did, how could he ever tell his beloved younger brother the truth—that Matthew wants the very same woman he encouraged Johnny to leave?

a beautiful depiction of healing from grief and depression interspersed with a monster erotica book club. what more could you want?

ash (smokedshelves)

a fun read with a stunning look at communication and depression. although there was definitely some cringey jokes and dialogue, had a good time either way 

Cici Pearson

OML - I wanna be Athena when I grow up (might be a bit late wishing for this - I'm 48!).  Athena has superpowers - buying a house to spite her horrible ex, tangling with unemployment, money worries. And then there is Matthew.  Older brother of said duplicitous ex and her neighbour on the other side.  She is now sandwiched between the brothers Vine!

Athena and Matthew are blooming brilliant together.  They have sparks from the get-go, all whilst trying to avoid that same attraction.  Matthew puts up this façade of uptight, serious Doctor but that man is a worshipper (IYKYK) - he gets on his knees many times for Athena! He also scales a building like Spiderman, even though he's scared of heights, just to check on Athena.

Athena is an icon for bigger girls everywhere. 

Nicola Sarah Brooks

OML - I wanna be Athena when I grow up (might be a bit late wishing for this - I'm 48!).  Athena has superpowers - buying a house to spite her horrible ex, tangling with unemployment, money worries. And then there is Matthew.  Older brother of said duplicitous ex and her neighbour on the other side.  She is now sandwiched between the brothers Vine!

Athena and Matthew are blooming brilliant together.  They have sparks from the get-go, all whilst trying to avoid that same attraction.  Matthew puts up this façade of uptight, serious Doctor but that man is a worshipper (IYKYK) - he gets on his knees many times for Athena! He also scales a building like Spiderman, even though he's scared of heights, just to check on Athena.

Athena is an icon for bigger girls everywhere. 

One of my top favorites of the year so far. I love these characters and I love the mental health representation. 

Murphy-Ann Craig

This is a contemporary romance where the heroine moves into a house between her ex-fiancé and his brother (who actively got their wedding and relationship cancelled), and her romance with said ex’s brother! I also want to say that from the outset there is some content warnings in this one including grief and clinical depression – So worth bearing in mind if you are interested in picking this one up.

Athena is engaged to Johnny and when the story starts, she is at their engagement party and bumps into a man there who she ends up connecting with quickly. They both love information and looking things up on google and kind of banter and hit it off quickly. Shortly after her fiancé shows up and Athena is introduced to the mystery man who ends up being Matthew, her fiancé’s brother! Athena ends up overhearing the two brothers arguing shortly after with Matthew trying to talk his brother out of the relationship.

This Book is full of a lot of heart, steam and humour but I struggled to jell with this one, I can’t pinpoint if this was the writing style or just the relationship with her ex’s brother and then the seeing and watching her from the house next door, it was a little much for me, I think. Having said that I did enjoy the author’s realistic portrayal of depression and how she was able to weave in this sensitive topic while keeping the story light-hearted. I also enjoyed reading about a plus size main character where the focus was not on her body image but just described in a way so readers can paint an image as they read.

Ian Brakspear

This is a contemporary romance where the heroine moves into a house between her ex-fiancé and his brother (who actively got their wedding and relationship cancelled), and her romance with said ex’s brother! I also want to say that from the outset there is some content warnings in this one including grief and clinical depression – So worth bearing in mind if you are interested in picking this one up.

 

Athena is engaged to Johnny and when the story starts, she is at their engagement party and bumps into a man there who she ends up connecting with quickly. They both love information and looking things up on google and kind of banter and hit it off quickly. Shortly after her fiancé shows up and Athena is introduced to the mystery man who ends up being Matthew, her fiancé’s brother! Athena ends up overhearing the two brothers arguing shortly after with Matthew trying to talk his brother out of the relationship.

 

This Book is full of a lot of heart, steam and humour but I struggled to jell with this one, I can’t pinpoint if this was the writing style or just the relationship with her ex’s brother and then the seeing and watching her from the house next door, it was a little much for me, I think. Having said that I did enjoy the author’s realistic portrayal of depression and how she was able to weave in this sensitive topic while keeping the story light-hearted. I also enjoyed reading about a plus size main character where the focus was not on her body image but just described in a way so readers can paint an image as they read.

At First Spite A Harlot's Bay Novel

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