From the publisher:
A Shakespearean Fanfic Spicy Enemies to Lovers Rom Com
Enemies by day. Spicy fanfic author and devoted reader by night.
Things are about to get downright Shakespearean.
All’s fair in love. And war. And fandom.
Financial auditor Micah Mila is used to being the bearer of bad news, and her latest assignment in the local university’s English department has been especially taxing—no thanks to a literature professor who clashes with her at every turn. Thankfully, she has an after-hours escape: reading spicy Shakespearean fanfic.
Professor Aidan Scott is damn good at his job. But Micah has been a thorn in his side since the moment he laid eyes on her—eyes that really like what they see. Yet, with his job on the line, there’s no room for distractions. At least, not beyond the sexy fanfic he secretly writes.
When Micah discovers the man getting under her skin is the writer heating her up, their enemy vibe turns steamy. But with Micah’s audit due and Aidan’s career at risk, separating fantasy from reality becomes more than a little complicated…
Aidan Scott, an English professor with a secret passion for writing steamy Shakespeare fanfiction on a Wattpad-style platform, has an immediate problem when financial auditor Micah Mila arrives at his university. Hired to audit the English department and identify cost-cutting opportunities, Micah poses a direct threat to everything Aidan holds dear—his beloved teaching position and the students who adore his classes.
When Aidan and Micah first meet, sparks fly—but not in a good way. In the elevator, Aidan makes a snide remark about the incoming auditor, unaware that Micah is standing right beside him. The resulting animosity creates an immediate barrier between two people whose substantial egos prevent them from moving past their initial antagonism.
What neither realizes is that they’ve already formed a connection through the very fanfiction site where Aidan publishes his work. In the anonymous comment sections, they’ve found solace in venting about their real-world nemesis, completely unaware they’re confiding in each other. Their online dynamic is playful and open in stark contrast to their tense real-life interactions.
The novel attempts to navigate the enemies-to-lovers trope, working toward an inevitable romantic resolution despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. However, the execution falls short of its ambitious premise. The character development lacks depth, making it difficult to invest in their constant bickering and eventual romance. Both Aidan and Micah remain frustratingly surface-level throughout most of the story.
While the book includes steamy scenes, they feel more like obligatory additions than meaningful moments that advance the relationship or deepen our understanding of the characters. The romance ultimately ends with a resolution that strains credibility rather than satisfying the emotional journey.
Despite an intriguing setup that cleverly combines academic drama with digital-age romance, this novel disappoints by prioritizing conflict over character growth, leaving readers with a love story that never quite convinces, making for a disappointing read.
Note: I never heard of this imprint, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and now I will be leery of any other books they publish. Harlequin has several imprints, but this is the first time I’ve felt this way.
7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MUCH ADO ABOUT HATING YOU by Sarah Echavarre Smith. Afterglow Books by Harlequin (May 27, 2025). ISBN: 978-1335574992. 288p.
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