ARC Review - Start Us Up by Lexi Blake

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I thought this one was really sweet, and more serious than I thought it would be. It did have the levity and playful banter of a rom-com (such as the classic save of the MMC coming to her rescue when she’s been put on the spot by her ex-boyfriend) but the central issues were rather serious, and I liked how it was dealt with. Ivy is a woman and tech, and a rather successful one. She’s recently been brought down to rock bottom after the collapse of her company, while her CFO/ex-boyfriend runs off to another C-suite gig without a scratch on him.

Ivy’s relationship with her mom also isn’t that good; and ever since her father died, it seems there is no way for her to get her mother to be proud of her. So it’s understandable why Ivy constantly feels like the world is against her, and is rather traumatized by it. And when a good thing happens, how long will it last? And does she deserve it? Those kinds of thoughts.

Our MMC Heath is also a techie, and he has developed an AI that is supposed to be an incredible matchmaker; just like his grandma, Lydia, which she is famously known for in Little Italy. Ivy joins forces with Heath on building up this technology and business, seeing it as her ticket back to the top. Heath wants the program to do well, but his focus is really Ivy. As she tries to push him away, he meets her at every turn, stays during every argument, and works through it with her. Ivy wants a fight, she’s used to a fight— but here is someone who will fight for her. Will she be able to get used to it? Or will she walk away from him?

I really enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good contemporary romance. I would have loved to see what became of Emma (the AI) and felt like it ended too soon, but that’s just because I wanted more! I loved this story. Also, I swear Harry Styles is mentioned in like every other book I read. It’s not a complaint— I love Harry. I just find it fascinating. He’s being immortalized in so many different ways now.

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