Member Reviews

In Ashley Winstead's "Fool Me Once," Lee Stone, a dynamic communications director at a women-run electric car company, navigates her professional life while grappling with the chaos of her personal relationships. Shaped by past heartbreaks and a rule never to trust love, Lee's world takes a turn when her grad-school ex-boyfriend Ben Laderman reappears as a policy expert. Despite her commitment to a clean-energy bill, working with Ben reignites old sparks and sets the stage for a romantic entanglement that kept me entertained throughout the story.
While the storyline involves political complexities and explores the theme of infidelity, Winstead skillfully portrays Lee's personal growth and determination to make a positive impact.
"Fool Me Once" showcases Winstead's storytelling prowess, with an engaging narrative and characters that evolve throughout the novel.

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Fool Me Once is a funny, enjoyable, romantic political read. I enjoyed the characters and reading about their journey together.

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This started off well and I was into it. I love Ben and his overall yummyness. However, as the story went on, Lee grated on my nerves more and more. Her woe-is-me, I'm a victim mentality was too drawn out. I don't feel like she went through the necessary character growth. I felt like Ben should have let her grovel a lot more. Dude, she rejected you multiple times!

Also, Lee's coping mechanisms (alcohol and substances) was brushed over and made light of which felt a bit off because it came across as a serious issue. Maybe I was reading too much into it.

Also, the politics was a lot. For a non-American, it was quite hard to keep up with all jargon and frameworks sometimes.

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

This book had me up all night to finish it. My heart was broken over and over again for Lee and this is one of the few books that have made me cry. HOWEVER, I do want to point out that this is not a sad book.

I received an arc for the sequel (?) a few months ago and loved it so I had really high hopes for this book and it didn’t disappoint. I found the first chapter a bit slow, but after Ben was introduced and we got to experience his and Lee’s amazing chemistry, I flew through this book.

Both main characters were wonderfully flawed and felt so real. I could connect with Lee so easily, despite being very different to her, mostly because of how well Ashley Winstead writes her characters.

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Lee’s working to better the world and climate thru her job as a communications director. But after work her inner party girl comes out, her alter ego Stoner. Her past relationships have been a mess because of it, she got cheated on and even cheated herself once. And as luck should have it Ben shows up 5 years later and the two are forced to work together. Emotions run high, sparks fly and things between the two quickly gets complicated.

After reading The boyfriend candidate I was so so excited to read this one, sadly it did not live up to my expectations. The politics were too much, making Texas go green seems unlikely and I’m not a big fan of cheating storylines to begin with. Everyone makes mistakes, I get it but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

However I do like a fmc who’s able to be herself and live it up. Lee has some issues, everyone does and I liked seeing her character grow throughout the book. I also enjoyed Lee and Ben gathering support for their cause.

If you can look past the politics and cheating I’d think you’d like this one. Winstead is an amazing author but personally I just didn’t connect with the theme or characters when it comes to this book.

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Thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary review. I had no idea this was a republish at first with a new cover… which totally fits the theme of the next book in the series and fits the book way more than the original cover.

Lee- what a woman. A mess, a mess we all relate too, just trying to find her way… whilst being submerged in the messy world of politics

I liked this second chance book and having read the boyfriend candidate I like how we are introduced to Lex, Will and get to see a bit of the douche Chris.
A really funny read. Enjoyed it a lot

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It seems to be a reoccurring theme for me reading a series out of order. I read an ARC of the The Boyfriend Candidate back in July before realising that it was the second book within a series. It was my first read by Ashley Winstead and I absolutely adored the writing and characters so I was eager to get my hands on Stoner’s story.

I have to say this book has the best start ever. Can you imagine doing the walk of shame through Magic Kingdom dressed as Disney characters after attending a Disney themed weeding? I knew I was going to love it after that. This second chance romance had raw tender moments with hilarious aspects and just like the Boyfriend Candidate, the character development was my favourite part, Ashley proved again that she crafts characters extremely well.

Honestly I have to admit that I wasn’t originally Lee’s biggest fan: she’s a flawed character and it took me a while to really root for her. Although, I think that’s one of the many points Ashley makes throughout. Aren’t we all a little flawed? Even the most flawed characters deserve their happy ever after. It was also a refreshing change to have the female as the flawed character.

The slow burn was delicious throughout especially because of their history and the angst. All in all, another great read by Ashley Winstead!

Read if you enjoy:
- Second Chance Romance
- Political Romance
- Slow Burn

Thank you NetGalley, Aria or Aries and Ashley Winstead for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Boyfriend Candidate was one of my favourite books of the year and so I was really excited to read Fool Me Once - it did not disappoint. A rerelease, this book takes place before TBC which did confuse me a little in the beginning, but I loved this insight into Lee’s story. This is TBC’s snarky big sister in every way.

Big-hearted, funny, messy, Fool Me Once is a razor-sharp rom-com. Our main character is far from your typical protagonist, a real anti-hero (it’s her, hi, she’s the problem), she is still deeply loveable, and I felt like I understood completely why she made so many bad, bad choices. I loved the political angle, the Parks and rec of it all - Lee was absolutely a drunk Lesley Knope - and now I’m excited to go and reread The Boyfriend Candidate.

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Love the writing style on this one! I was instantly pulled in. I think it is just so well written and funny and I can’t wait to share more if my thoughts and share it with readers! I was giggling out loud from the first page!

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Lee Stone has been burnt by heartbreak and as a consequence refuses to believe in love, preferring meaningless hook-ups instead. By day she's the ultra-professional Comms Director for an electric car company working hard to persuade the new Texas Governor to replace all state vehicles with electric alternatives. However, by night she's a hard-drinking, drug-taking, one-night stand, party girl.

The Governor has finally appointed a policy expert, the one obstacle to him putting the clean energy bill to the house, unfortunately his policy expert Ben Laderman is Lee's ex. The fourth heartbreak, something that was entirely Lee's fault. Of course the Governor proposes that Lee and Ben work together to get the bill approved! Lee and Ben will do anything to get the three swing votes across the line, but with a strong competitive tension between them are they enemies or soon to be reunited?

I really enjoyed The Boyfriend Candidate and so when I saw this ARC available on NetGalley I jumped at the chance. Some of my disenchantment with this book is that I kept thinking the Governor in this book was Logan Arthur from that book (in my defence he was running for Texas Governor) and so it created a bit of confusion. However, I think most of my dissatisfaction is that I found Lee to be both unbelievable and unlikable. I now realise that this book pre-dates The Boyfriend Candidate, which may explain why it doesn't feel as polished or as plausible.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but not as much as The Boyfriend Candidate.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

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I’ve loved every book that this author has come out with, and this one was just as great. Can’t wait to read what comes next.

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An absolutely mad roller coaster of a book. The book never seems to stop and ploughs onwards mixing personal, romance, sex and politics all at once in a brilliant way. The environmental cause is never far away and the book takes us through American state politics, a smattering of corruption and the judgment that is put differently on men and women. Lee is a strong female lead, although has her mad and irritating moments, but is likeable and someone I was desperate would find her happy ending.

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In this emotionally charged narrative, the author skillfully navigates the delicate terrain of love and reconciliation. Lee and Ben's reunion after five years sets the stage for a poignant second chance romance, filled with laughter and tears. The novel beautifully captures the complexities of relationships, expertly portraying the ebb and flow of collaboration, conflict, and, ultimately, love.

The enemies-to-lovers trope is masterfully executed, creating a palpable tension that keeps readers eagerly turning pages. As the characters grapple with their shared history and conflicting memories, the story becomes a compelling exploration of forgiveness, growth, and the profound impact of second chances.

Throughout the journey, the novel poses the poignant question: Will Lee and Ben risk being fooled again, or will they seize this precious second chance at love? The narrative artfully maintains a delicate balance between hope and uncertainty, keeping readers engrossed until the satisfying resolution.

In conclusion, this unnamed gem of a novel is a testament to the enduring power of love, resilience, and the human capacity for growth. Whether it's the moments of heartwarming connection or the raw honesty of conflict, the story unfolds with authenticity and depth. A must-read for those who crave a romance that not only pulls at the heartstrings but also leaves a lasting impression.

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