Review by Booklist Review
Sasha, a divorced mom of two in New York, is struggling to keep up with the demands of her childrens' school. Another parent, the annoyingly good-looking Ethan, says obnoxious things to her and always seems to be there when there's an issue. There he is, taking the hoodie Sasha wanted for her daughter, and there he is getting his daughter into the drama class Sasha's daughter was dropped from. Another parent, Kaitlyn, knew Sasha in middle school and dislikes her now. When Ethan helps Sasha at a terrible cotton-candy booth at a school fair, they start to realize that they're actually attracted to each other. When they end up on a private island in the Caribbean for a video shoot, they start a relationship, but back in town, things are complicated. Kaitlyn's menacing point of view, in particular, adds drama to the love story. Debut romance author Dahlia makes good use of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and Sasha and Ethan are realistic parents and thoroughly enjoyable characters. Readers will be rooting for them and hoping for more from this new author.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Dahlia debuts with a pitch-perfect rom-com that finds divorced Brooklynite Sasha Rubinstein struggling to balance her career as a freelance video producer with caring for her two children. This is made harder by frequent altercations at school pickup with the man she's nicknamed Demon Dad after he snapped up Sasha's daughter's after-school drama slot for his own child. Ethan Jones, a divorced father and editor-in-chief of Escapade magazine, really isn't trying to make Sasha's life more complicated; in fact, he's wildly attracted to her. When Sasha is contacted by Escapade to produce video content on the exclusive Caribbean island of Citrine Cay, she's ecstatic--until she realizes Ethan will be coming along. Working together, their walls soon come down, and their blistering chemistry draws them together. But their steamy vacation fling may not hold up in the real world--especially as after-school politics heat up and a fellow mom works to sabotage their relationship. Dahlia leads readers on a delightful journey, replete with snappy prose, appealing characters, and wit. Fans of enemies-to-lovers rom-coms won't be able to resist. (Dec.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Sasha Rubinstein is struggling to balance her professional and personal lives. On one hand, she has her career as a freelance video producer, and on the other hand, she's a single parent who can't seem to remember that it is silly-sock day at her kids' school. It doesn't help that another parent, Ethan, who she refers to as Demon Dad, seems to get everything she wants, including a coveted spot in an after-school theater program. When Sasha is offered a freelance job on an exclusive private island that would take her career to the next level, she is shocked to discover not only that the Demon Dad himself is her new boss but also that the chemistry between the two of them is undeniable. Sasha knows she and Ethan should remain professional so she can get her dream job, but the temptation brews as they're forced to spend time together on an idyllic Caribbean island. Snappy dialogue and a unique narrator structure bring Dahlia's (Competitive Grieving, writing as Nora Zelevansky) introspective novel to life. VERDICT Readers will love this unique blend of romance and relationship fiction, perfect for fans of Kate Clayborn and Emily Giffin.--Whitney Kramer
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