Title: My Kind of Trouble
Author: L.A. Schwartz
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★★★★★
Source: Netgalley
Blurb: Conwoman Harmony Hale has sold lies up and down California for years, never looking back at her crafty scams or one-night stands. Now she’s come to Brookville, California, with her sights set on its wealthy mayor—the man who stole her father’s music-streaming algorithm and ruined his life. Harmony is finally ready to take him down, with her trusty con of selling a nonexistent music festival. All she needs is the cooperation of the man who owns the potential festival site.
Autistic librarian and piano teacher Preston Jones spends his days fighting book challengers trying to shut down his library programs. He’s responsible for raising his selectively nonspeaking little sister and needs to focus on keeping his job. He doesn’t have time for a romance like the ones in his books—and certainly none for the brassy festival promoter who wants to use his land for her “Coachella North.” Preston sees things in black and white, and he sees Harmony—amazing curves, flashy smile, and all—as nothing but trouble.
But when Harmony promises to help him win the public over and save his youth programs, Preston finds himself wondering if this hustler with a heart of gold might be the someone he’s been waiting for. Soon things are getting steamy in the stacks, and with her con coming to a crescendo, Harmony needs to choose: revenge and running again or the happy ending she never saw coming.
Review: This book! If you haven’t read it, so reading this and go buy it! I absolutely loved it.
Let’s start with the characters. Schwartz has a talent for drawing them with words and making each one unique that I’m insanely jealous of. Preston is a sweetie and I was rooting for him from his introduction – hauled into the principle’s office after his sister was in a fight. The descriptions of his autism and masking are so genuine.
Harmony is just as lovely, though she hides her mushy centre beneath a hard exterior. The blurb negates to mention that her aim is revenge. Justice for her father. I know one can’t include everything on the back cover, but I do think this ought to have been mentioned. It’s her drive until she meets Preston, and the main reason she holds back. In short, it’s integral to the plot.
Ahh, the plot. Enemies-to-lovers is my catnip. I want to roll around in the furtive glances, the snarky exchanges, and the pining. It’s a delicious trope and Schwartz serves it up perfectly. The way she builds the romance is also perfect. Heck, everything about this book is perfect!
Especially the representation. From Harmony being unrepentantly fat (and utterly fabulous) to the difference between Preston’s autism and his sister’s, to the LGBTQ+ romance between two side characters, everything is just on point and beautifully told.
Schwartz’s prose is *chef’s kiss* This book is ever so readable. It pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It’s a lovely hug of a book, and I cannot recommend it enough.
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