This was a delightful book with an enthralling premise and delicious romance. I had a lot of fun with this one.

This book...oh, this book.

After her connecting flight is cancelled, investigative journalist, Georgia, bumps into her childhood friend's brother, Alec, after 14 years, and the connection is instant.

However, this is no one night stand trope. The beautiful, simple and honest relationship created between the two is gripping, relatable and, somehow, simultaneously heart-wrenching and smile-inducing. Everything is written with such true emotion and compassion, and yet, the fiery passion between the two is just as steamy as it should be.

“Do you want to?” I ask.
“I always do.” Alec’s voice is so low it shakes my blood. “But would you feel better or worse?”
I hadn’t considered that.

Alec's character is not without faults, but this moment clinched it for me.

A beautiful, emotional book, redefining so many of today's most popular tropes with both sensitivity and steam.

Started off well. Gigi is a hard working journalist who sees a stranger only to realise its her childhood best friends older brother who she always had a crush on. The pair get chatting and the story continues and this is where it lost me a bit as it all felt too insta lovey for my liking which is a trope I personally detest. I liked the side story with the story that Gigi and covering for her article and how Alex slotted into it all. An OK read which I'm sure others will love

I knew nothing about this book and now know it was wrote by Lauren and now I know why I loved it so fcking much. Thank you Lauren, give us more pls!


I've just finished reading this at 5am because I could not put it down, I'm not usually a fan of instalust/love but omg this was AMAZING. Literal chest ache. ❣️

Alec isn't usually the type of MMC I'd find myself obsessed with but, wow, I was enraptured. The man is a complete and utter golden retriever 😍

The banter between Gigi and Alec 🤌🏼

Another thing I'm not usually a fan of: single pov but it worked so well for this story, and Alec wore his emotions on his sleeve you weren't left guessing how he was feeling. It seems all my usual wants went out the window with this book, not a grumpy, morally grey man in sight, and I was not bothered in the slightest! 🙌

The spice scenes were so well written, I was literally SWEATING. 5/5🌶

I have no words to describe how much I enjoyed Ivy's writing style, it was impeccable for me personally. I completely clicked with it. 🥰

The storyline was so good. I was HOOKED. Loved the supporting characters and I hope to all that is holy that there are further books in this world because I don't want it to be over ❤️‍🔥🤯

Tropes: 🤗
Childhood Crush
Childhood Friends to Lovers
Friends Brother
Celebrity MC
Age Gap (6yrs)

Trigger warnings: ⚠️
As Gigi is a journalist she is working on a heavy, heartbreaking story of woman being drugged, raped and filmed so please be mindful of this. The fluffiness of the story definitely helps to take away from the dark topics.

Scandalized is about a one night stand between two childhood friends that turns into something more (naturally). Gigi is an investigative journalist on the brink of publishing a massive story. Alec is a world famous South Korean actor. They only have two weeks together in the same city, and they’re going to make it count.

So yeah, this book was kind of fun to read, in a way that you have to detach yourself from the gaping plot holes. Some things I didn’t enjoy was the fact that Gigi was just so impossibly stupid. She messed up her story and her relationship with Alec because she couldn’t be upfront about certain facts. She jeopardized EVERYTHING because of her "integrity" or whatever, like she really shouldn’t be working in journalism. The sex scenes were kind of boring (sorry if you’re bored of hearing about the steaminess of romance books but I love it!!) The connection between the two main characters felt disconnected and forced and their conversations were dull.

A wonderfully steamy novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Holy moly guacamole! I absolutely loved this book! It’s definitely steamy and the chemistry between the characters is amazing! I was absolutely hooked and read this book in one sitting I was that hooked!

Gigi and Alec are a romance readers dream 😍 After a few too many slow burns in a row it was so refreshing to dive straight in with this book and it did not hold back!!

Gigi and Alec have known each other since childhood but neither was expecting their lives to collide as they do. Alec is a huge actor known all around the world whilst Gigi is working on her first big break article for the LA Times. I adored how they navigated their careers and their relationship. The book was immersive and I felt transported to the world of red carpets and signings.

This book does also cover some really important topics through Gigi’s work however I appreciate that the author has noted this at the beginning of the book and warns those who may be affected by a sexual assault story line.

I did not know how much I needed this steamy, swoony romance until I binged it in my pajamas on a snowy night. This story of Alec and Gigi was fast paced, steamy and full of so much feeling that I couldn't stop reading even if I wanted to. I read through dinner and pretended like I didn't even have kids. When childhood friends, Alec and Gigi meet in an airport through a delay, their one night stand turns into much more. Scandal, a breaking and very twisty story for reporter, Gigi, and his surprise fame add tension to an already steamy love story. I read this and immediately texted some of my book besties to get it on their radar.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Before Alec, this kind of connection would have sounded made up, preposterously fictional. Now I worry every morning that this will be the last great romance of my life.”

This was an adorable read. Nothing earth shatteringly amazing, but adorable nonetheless. I would recommend this to any romance reader out there if you are looking for a celebrity romance novel, it just wouldn’t be at the top of my list.

I found myself enjoying the friendship between Gigi and Eden a lot more than the relationship between Gigi and Alec, I would love a separate book on Eden because I LOVED her character.

Read if you like:
💙 Celebrity romance
💙 Second chance
💙 Childhood crush to lovers
💙 Strong friendships
💙 Christina Lauren books

Thank you to Netgalley and Piatkus for the EARC!)

A one-night stand between two old childhood friends turns into something more, but when a scandal threatens to tear them apart, they must decide how hard to fight for love….

Loved this! Such a spicy book. The pace was perfect and the plot was so interesting. Definitely recommend!!

Gigi Ross is an investigative journalist working on her first big case. Alex Kim is the brother of her childhood best friend whom she had a huge crush at the time. I connected really quickly with the story and I couldn’t put it down. I really liked the secret identity concept, Gigi is unaware Alex is now a successful actor which for various reasons he decides to keep quiet about. I kept wondering at what point it would be revealed and what the repercussions would be. I also enjoyed the forced proximity trope at the beginning, Gigi has no option but to share a hotel room with Alex when all all other hotels in the area are full.

The two main characters are so likeable, they had a fabulous connection and are extremely good together. The writing is very good, the depth of feeling and emotion really comes across between both protagonists. The author did a brilliant job creating some sizzling chemistry between them and writing such wonderfully heated and intensely felt scenes, as well as in contrast more intimate and tender moments. Although it was the not-so-popular insta-love, it was really well executed and, in spite of the fact their attraction was instant, the author took the time to develop their deeper feelings. The side characters are excellent too, I liked Alex’s sister, Sunny, and Gigi’s roommate, Eden.

Scandalized is a thoroughly entertaining read, it’s fast-paced, compelling, has a cast of great characters and not forgetting the fantastic spicy romance. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to the publisher for the Netgalley eARC.

Wow, what a story!!
So much spice! My kindle was burning from the electric heat!!!
I loved their relationship and how they reconnected! It was just so beautiful!

I would definitely read a follow up on Gigi and Alec! Whether it is just a little novella emailed out or a full length novel about their future which is just plain spice with all the feels.

To me this was the perfect lustful story done right. If you want a lot of spice this book definitely delivers (altho I personally skipped it as it became repetitive). I read this book really quickly as the story and writing is easy to digest. The characters were good and I enjoyed the subplot that ties the whole book together.

However as mentioned I wished the spicy scenes had been less repetitive and also I always find it weird when there is an issue cause which goes wide on social media it is blown over so quickly. For how big the issue was I would have liked to have seen more detail on how it was resolved. Furthermore I felt the lust chemistry but not the love chemistry which made it difficult to root for the couple to be together as a normal couple.

Overall it was a decent book and I enjoyed reading it.

I raced through this story and really enjoyed the characters and the story arc..
Alec and Gigi certainly have chemistry the steamy scenes are HOT!
I wouldn’t expect anything else from one half of Christina Lauren, this book definitely has everything you want in a HEA romance. The subplot of how Gigi and Alec’s lives intersect with an international party scandal that certainly brings a level of darkness that can be hard to manage when romance is normally so light but Ivy Owens does this well.

I can’t begin to explain to you how much I loved Scandalized. I am giddy. I just put it down about 5 minutes ago, and I am giddy!

Georgia Ross, or Gigi, is a journalist amid a career-making story. She’s just spent two weeks in London hunting down sources and building the narrative of a horrific group of men who have been using their club to drug and rape women. She’s exhausted and wants to get home, but her plane has been grounded in Seattle for the night.

Unexpectedly, she recognised the guy across from her in the airport. His face scratches her brain, but she can’t place him. It turns out his name is Alec, and he’s the older brother of her childhood best friend, Sunny. The two get to talking which leads to a night of passion with her ever knowing, or him telling her, that he’s a famous actor, which is why his face was so familiar to her in the first place.

What follows is a whirlwind romance. Deep, intense, passionate, and extremely quick. I should not have enjoyed it purely because their relationship spans about 11 days, but it was glorious. The two fall deeply for each other. Being together was natural and easy, and there was no second guessing or miscommunication about how they felt. They are both open and honest, and loving.

‘”Give me one”, he says. “Before we get out”.
I’m about to ask him one what, but he leans over the console, cups my face, and sweetly settles his mouth over mine.’

In trying to protect both Alec and his sister, who was a woman assaulted in the club Gigi is investigating, she leaves out Sunny’s account and Alec’s involvement when the story goes live. Only for it to backfire. Alec was friends with one of the owners, whom Sunny used to date. Alec was caught on a security feed taking Sunny from the club after she'd been drugged and assaulted. In covering Sunny’s face, while taking her out of that horrible place, the internet makes it look like Alec is involved in this disgusting enterprise and shit hits the fan.

You’ll have to pick up the book if you want to know anymore, but equally, you should pick it up anyway because it is a fantastic story.

I love both Alec and Gigi. I leave you with this parting quote, to sum up just how sweet they are together.

‘He’s here just to be a guy with his head in a girl’s lap.’

I absolutely loved this book!

The couple were one of my favourites in contemporary romance, they feel like they fitted together, and felt very believable that it could work between them. I didn't think friends to lovers was a trope that I liked, but it's one that I'm a really big fan of after reading this.

I enjoyed the plot a lot, and following Georgia's job was probably the thing I enjoyed most. Who doesn't enjoy seeing a strong woman succeed at what she's good at? The spice was just enough for the book, and very well written.

This book would 100% convince me to read anything else by Ivy Owen, and one that I'd recommend for people looking for a cosy, fun contemporary romance.

Georgia and Alec meet in an airport following a cancelled flight. She recognises him as her childhood best friend's elder brother, not realising he is now a famous actor. He likes the fact she does not recognise him, and they embark on a fling. Can it lead to more, or will her journalism career ruin everything for them before it has really begun?
A great read.

I was so confused when some of my friends on bookstagram have posted about this book but of course; it had a different cover as the US one is from another publisher. I still had to read it because that description picked my interest in seconds and I’m so glad I did!

Can I just say how much I loved it?

Fake dating, great banter and sexy scenes that just got my kindle on fire! What more can I need ?

Georgia Ross is an investigative journalist that gets stranded at the airport when a storm hits the city.

Here comes her childhood brother's best friend, Alexander Alec Kim, to save the date.

Their one-night stand becomes a friend with benefits leading to their well deserved happily ever after.

I loved how the author has made this story so believable, even if he is a Hollywood star and long distance relationship in that world aren’t always so truthful and emotional. But these two wavered all the trials and fight for their happiness.

Did I say how much I loved the open door scenes?? Because those were pure fire 🔥

It is well written, great character development and a love story that will stay with me for a while.

Do yourself a favour and read this book soon!

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy