Book Title: The Enemy
Author: Sarah Adams
Series: It Happened in Charleston, Book 2
Rating: 5⭐
Release Date: August 29th, 2020
Goodreads | Amazon.in (Available on KU)
Synopsis: June and Ryan go way back. Their story starts when they were in high school and after a situation goes slightly wrong, they part company and then are reunited for the wedding of their mutual friends. And the pranks begin and the feelings resurface and through it all, it’s just confusing June and Ryan about where they really stand in each other’s lives.
Review: First off, this book was hilarious. I was howling with laughter right from the start. June Broaden is the best character ever and she’s just so damn entertaining. But let’s not forget Ryan Henderson. He’s hot, sexy, charming and a chef and can totally keep up with June at every stage. Sarah Adams has crafted such an incredible pair of characters and a story that will make you stop everything else you’re doing just to read this at one stretch.
While I wasn’t a big fan of The Match, which was the first in the series, I have to say that this book totally blew me away. The writing seemed different, but more than that, the two characters really stole the show. June and Ryan have the most interesting relationship and friendship and the progression that they go through is just so brilliant. I swear, I had to stop at one point because I was giggling so much my mother thought I was losing my mind.
“Something is there. I feel it. I just need to play her game and peel back the layers of her hate to find it”
After an almost kiss 12 years ago, June has decided that she wants nothing to do with Ryan anymore. They’ve both gone on with their lives, gone on to do great things. June owns a donut shop that is famous and Ryan is a 3 star Michelin chef. But when they are reunited at the wedding of their two best friends, you know you’re in for a treat. Of course, June expects Ryan to be fat and ugly and Ryan expects June to be boring and probably married. But they’re both pleasantly surprised when that is not the case. Their first meeting goes as hilariously as you could imagine, but seeing both sides of it was so fantastic. Ryan is such an endearing hero that you want to kick June for being so difficult!
Obviously June hates that he’s so attractive, wishing it was easier to hate him. But ta da, the truth is, Ryan has never hated June. He’s always been harbouring these feelings that he didn’t know how to make her see. Gosh, these two.
“Thinking back, I wasn’t the nicest guy in the world to June. the difference is, my pestering was never an actual attack. It was the only way I could get her to pay attention to me and I wanted her attention on me.”
June’s family – who we meet in The Match – makes an appearance here and good god, the Broaden family is perfection. They are the bubbly and happy and supportive kind of family that everybody wants. I love how every single member of that family has something special to offer and I seriously hope we see more of them, because they are all so great.
One of my favourite things about this book was June’s obsession with Nick Lachey. It all started five years before the book is set – and I can’t give away why – but her mother has been sending her all of this Nick Lachey stuff and her house and cupboard is just filled with everything Nick Lachey and the first time Ryan sees it, you can’t help but cackle at how hilarious and perfect that whole thing is. June’s also been through so much in her life that she’s left with body image issues and she doesn’t trust that Ryan will feel about her the way she feels about him once he sees her naked.
“And she’s worlds better than the June of my fantasies. She’s beautiful and spunky, and yet soft as butter behind all those sharp thorns.”
But ugh, Ryan. He’s perfection. He’s a genuinely good guy who doesn’t even realise the way he’s made June feel all these years. And while he knows what he’s doing to her now, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s so unaware of the effect he has on her in general. He’s also worked really hard to get to where he is and won’t just sit back and let his career happen without him. Being good looking, wealthy and famous isn’t who Ryan is. He’s got all the makings of a alpha male billionaire, but he’s so damn down to earth and that grounded part of him is what makes Ryan such an interesting character. Also, please pay close attention to the first date he takes June on. It’s…beautiful.
“Ryan was always a wrecking ball in my life, and it appears that nothing has changed. My skin sizzles when he looks at me. My stomach turns a hundred flips when he touches me. And even though I’m trying desperately to push down the hope I feel growing, I can’t seem to smother it.”
Oh boy, the pranks these two play on each other. The teasing and the toying. It’s all so much fun to read and experience. It’s so playful and childish, but also so much a part of who they are as a couple. Then there’s the banter, it’s so hilarious and I swear, you need to be alone when you read this, because you’re going to end up gigglesnorting a couple of times through the course of the book.
Much like The Match, this was a closed door romance. And while I did miss the steam and wish I knew what went on behind closed doors, I gotta admit that the kissing and the touching and the foreplay was just perfect enough to not miss the steam. June and Ryan’s chemistry is so intense, you just wish you could be a part of their world.
Sarah Adams has won me over as a fan. I can’t wait to see if we get more of the Broaden family and I can’t wait to see more of June and Ryan. This book will make you happy and it will just make you wish you could soak up all that sugary goodness and make it yours forever.
Thanks to Sarah Adams for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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