Title:

Two Wrongs Make a Right

Author:

Chloe Liese

Release Date:

November 22, 2022

Format:

E-Book

Genre:

Romance

Sub-Genre:

Contemporary, Retelling

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Read-A-Likes:

Summary:

 Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge.

Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash their hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all.

To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder, what if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?-From Goodreads

What I Liked:  Chloe Liese has quickly become one of my go-to romance authors for when I want a smart and heartfelt story.  This story had everything I look for in a romance: sizzling chemistry between the characters, witty but realistic banter, a swoon-worthy hero, and sizzling sex scenes. Add in the accurate representation and this was a fantastic love story.  The enemies-to-lovers start of the relationship between Bea and Jamie is believable and their plan to fake date (while a bit flimsy) works with the retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. Bea being on the spectrum and Jamie having anxiety made them feel real and the LGBTQ+ representation felt natural. Even when Liese tackles some serious topics like gaslighting, emotional abuse, and family issues, it fits into the story and didn’t take me out of the romance.  Bea is a genuinely amazing character, with her erotic art and homemade costumes, and Jamie is the perfect foil to her with his prim and proper appearance and his gruffness. The chemistry between them practically jumps off the page and their sex scenes are some of the hottest, most realistic scenes I’ve read in a romance. 

What I Didn’t Like:  Like most romances, there is a third-act conflict in this book and….it was not great.  It felt completely unrealistic and just thrown in there to create some sort of issue between Jamie and Bea.  But there was no need for that!  The issues between Jules and Jean-Claude provided enough emotional turmoil (especially in the way it reminded Bea of her previous relationship) that the added conflict really took me out of the story and made me angry.  I don’t know if this was Liese’s choice or the editor but that last-minute conflict (truly last minute-it came at the 90% mark of the book) was unnecessary. 

Who Should Read It:  Chloe Liese fans, anyone looking for realistic autism spectrum and anxiety representation.  

Review Wrap-Up: Despite a small third-act issue, I adored this book. I loved the characters, the dialogue, and the way Liese was able to adapt Much Ado About Nothing into a contemporary rom-com. I highly recommend this book to those looking for a smart and heartfelt romance.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review*