If I had known this was mainly a romance I wouldn't have read it, and I wouldn't know what I was missing out on. I absolutely loved this book, and it was funny, but it was also sweet and heartwarming. The plot is hilarious: Olivia needs help getting revenge on her exes, because she's finally had enough. She interviews some people who really don't seem like they could do it and ends up with a surprise helper, someone she thought wasn't very friendly.
I loved how Olvia had silly ideas that grew as she learned to stand up for herself, and I loved the motley crew she spent time with. The acts of vengeance never went as expected, and I was satisfied with every one of them. I will be thinking about Olivia and Margaret fondly, because I feel like they earned each other. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

Lee Winter has outdone herself with Vengeance Planning for Amateurs. She has created an epic romantic comedy for us all to enjoy.

Olivia’s life is fraught with the disappointment of being taken advantage of by her ex’s. Revenge becomes Olivia’s new mantra but she is just too nice to be diabolical. Olivia decides that she needs a henchperson for guidance.

Vengeance Planning for Amateurs is a fun romp with laugh out loud dialogue, a sexy Ice Queen with a razor sharp tongue and a bookstore full of offbeat characters. What could go wrong? Or right?

I received an advance review copy from Ylva Publishing through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 stars
Well, Lee Winter definitely step out of her comfort zone for this one. It was absurd in a fun way.
The book was written in Olivia point of view with some exerpt of Margaret’s journal that shows enough of her point if view to not let the reader frustrated. Margaret was definitely the most interesting and intriguing character. The main quality of this book is how “alive” it is. The book club member bring even more life, making the vengeance scheme become a joyful mess. Olivia wears her heart on her sleeves and even gives her shirt to others, making malicious people to take advantage of her. Margaret is aloof and an introvert that shut people out after grief striked her. Olivia takes her out of her shell in her ridiculous way and it was nice to read. Sadly, the chemistry between them was not Winter’s main focus and at some point was a bit too close to friendship for me. Some other topics didn’t really speak to me, like bushrangers but that’s totally on me, my mind being a million years from my own country’s history, let alone Autralian’s one. I also admit, Olivia niceness, tiptoeing with being a total doormat, and being such a big victim was a bit frustating to read, but again, not everyone has an iron heart like mine.
Despite some things that didn’t speak to me, it was a fun read that balanced perfectly with my previous one.

Oof. I'm sorry. I waited too long on this one and it's past it's release date! I'll be looking for this title at my local library or bookstore, then come back and add a review! I was looking forward to reading it, sounded right up my alley!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC. This was truly a fun read. Enjoyed reading my first ever lee winter book and I'm looking forward to reading more of her stuff.

Lee Winter is my go to author when I want to read a story with a well-developed ice queen. Winter is one of the best at creating these wonderful folks. Some of my favorite ice queens have been penned by this author including Catherine Ayers, Elena Bartell, and Elizabeth Thornton…just to name a few. With Ms. Winter’s newest novel, Vengeance Planning for Amateurs, she has given us another name to add to this list, Dr. Margaret Blackwood, crime bookstore owner and henchperson for muffin baker Olivia Roberts.

Olivia is as sunny and kind as Margaret is grumpy and introverted. Though the two have never officially met face to face, they know each other through the bookstore. Olivia makes the muffins that are sold daily in the store, and also runs the crime story book club that meets just outside Margaret’s office. In fact, Margaret often makes sarcastic comments from inside her office that usually only Olivia can hear.

Olivia’s exe’s have always taken advantage of her kind and forgiving nature, but when her latest ex steals something very precious to Olivia, she has had enough! She puts an ad on the bulletin board for a henchperson to help her seek vengeance on those who have hurt her. To the surprise of everyone, Dr. Blackwood applies for the job. Thus begins a series of adventures that will have you in tears for more than one reason.

This is Winter’s first romcom, and she really nailed it. The chaos, the plans that go incredibly wrong, and of course the muffin puns! All of this, and more, creates a story that will have you rolling your eyes, laughing and crying, sometimes all at once. And of course there is that attraction that keeps pulling Olivia and Margaret together in spite of themselves.

I adore this story. It has been added to my list of favorites and has my highest recommendation.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for allowing me to read and review this novel.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was a really fun and enjoyable read. Olivia managed to be well characterised as someone who has been walked over by horrific exes but without coming across as a doormat, just someone who was more trusting and good than the exes deserved. Margaret was an absolute delight, fierce, stern and secretly very sad; the narrative technique of keeping the narration in Olivia's POV but giving Margaret a short diary entry for her perspective worked really well.

This had a lovely mix of horrible people getting their comeuppance, humour, excellent slow burn tension, and realities of dealing with grief and allowing yourself to be vulnerable.

The book was so grounded 95% of the time, and realistic in it's slightly out-there set-up, that the one revenge plot that felt rather too unbelievable for me did stick out and I did wish it had played out a little differently.

But overall a really fun and heartwarming read.

CW for grief

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC*

DNF @ 50% but skimmed through to the end.

It's rare that I have thoughts of DNFing from the first page of a book, but this one is joining that exclusive club. Here I am again to rain on everyone's parade and have the unpopular negative opinion I guess.

Right off the bat, I didn't not like the writing style, the characters, or the fact that the "stuffed" penguin is TAXIDERMIED not just like a teddy???????? (I say this as someone who owns multiple skulls/bones/etc, loves gore, and loves penguins - this completely changes the vibe and I felt misled). Everyone was a caricature and everything was annoying. The "wet work" thing wasn't funny. Olivia seemed to be a child and an old lady simultaneously. None of it was funny or quickly or endearing to me. I wish someone quoted "is your muffin buttered?" to make all of the 'muffin' jokes worth it. I could see the romantic plot a mile off immediately and I wasn't excited or interested or invested or anything I should be. At this point, I don't see a couple I should root for.

This was a chore I was putting off and put me in a slump, and I should've DNFed immediately. I scanned through to see if anything seemed appealing or worth continuing, and unfortunately I came across the phrase "lesbian catnip panties" during a sex scene and I will now be vomiting for the foreseeable future. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Quirky and entertaining. Olivia Roberts makes award winning muffins. Her world is her muffin business, running a weekly book club at the bookstore where her sister is a barista and being kind to others. She has a stuffed penguin that is a legacy from her grandmother. When it is stolen by an ex she reflects on how awful her taste in romantic partners has been. Determined to seek revenge for those they walked all over her, she puts up an ad for a henchperson. Dr. Margaret Blackwood, is mysterious and owns the bookstore Olivia frequents. Almost against her will she applies to be the henchman to keep Olivia safe.

The story is told from Olivia’s POV but Margaret's views are from her daily written journal. In it she keeps track of her reading, drinks and the things she is observing around her. Margaret is so closed off that these writings are actually brilliantly humorous in giving insight to her thoughts. Of course vengeance doesn’t go smoothly but it gives Margaret and Olivia time to be with one another. It is more than Margaret has let anyone into her world in three years. I found the plot original, funny and entertaining. It is very Australian so some of the historical references were lost on me but I caught the gist.

This book was spectacular. Over all it was perfect 5 stars. Great pace, great story, great everything.

I was a big fan of the penguin sidekick. A good sidekick is hard to find and should be rescued at all costs. I genuinely thought this book was planning to focus on vengeance due to penguin theft…but it’s SO much more. Olivia has quite the shit list of exes
It’s set in Australia, but not the scary Jurassic Park parts.
SUPER bookish - MCs are the owner of a bookshop and a person who runs a book club in said shop.
The book was single POV with journal entries by Dr. Blackwood peppered in for flavour. I loved it. Her running commentary on Olivia is *chefs kiss*
Author clearly marks a change in vibes of the book when she stops double naming/titling Dr. Blackwood. It was subtle and incredible noticeable all at the same time.
The 3rd act break up (unfriending) is sooooo cutting. The book manages the complexities of grief and how surprising it can be when it stops being your primary focus really well.
Middle life romance

I wish I could sum this all up in a lovely post, in paragraph form, but it’s all mashed up in my brain and not willing to come out. I will rave about this book for the next 12 months. I LOVED it. Even though it’s early days of 2024, this has been my favourite book of the year…Possibly the last 18 months or so. I will be suggesting it to EVERYONE.

This book was funny! I loved it. Olivia bakes and sells muffins and Margaret is the owner of the bookstore/coffee shop where she sells the muffins. Olivia is sweet and kind and gets walked all over. She decides to get revenge on all of her exes who have treated her badly. Margaret decides to be Olivia's "henchman". since she obviously will need help. I don't want to go into too much detail but while they plan the revenge, Olivia and Margaret become friends.
This book was a pleasure to read. The story was great and the banter between the characters was spot on. The secondary characters were lots of fun too. I cannot recommend this book enough. this is going on my reread list of favorites.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

You know when I first read a book by Ms Lee I thought It was pretty good but with this book I can honestly say, ‘they just keep getting better. Great plot, great cast, main and supporting characters makes this one of my favorites.
The pages keep turning, mainly because I can’t stop until I reach the end. A fun, fast paced read that makes sure to put it on your reading list. Very entertaining read. Very, very nice read.
ARC via NetGalley/YLVA

Olivia Roberts is a nice, good-natured person: a muffin maker and a people pleaser. That's until the theft of her prized possession: a stuffed, pet penguin is stolen. Having been pushed just that little bit too far, Olivia embarks on a campaign of revenge. This enjoyable offering from Lee Winter should delight and entertain all fans of the romantic comedy genre.

Olivia Roberts is a people pleaser which has led to her being taken advantage of. When she hits her limit she decides to take vengeance and puts out an ad for a bench person to help her do it. She ends up hitting the person she least expected, Margaret Blackwood. Margaret owns a bookshop but is more ice queen than social butterfly.
I always enjoy books by Lee Winter and this one was no exception. Olivia is a bit goofy but in an endearing way and Margaret leaves her confounded. The vengeance planning is amusing and I liked that they spend a significant amount of the story together, each learning about the other's past. I liked the Gerrity family and Olivia's sister as well. It did take me some time to finish this one and it didn't really pull me in quite as much as some other Winter books have though part of that may just be that I've too much going on and am more easily distracted than normal. Overall it was a fun read with cutesy characters and a happy ending that included a great epilogue. Definitely would recommend for anyone looking for an easy weekend read.

Very fun read

After her ex steals her beloved stuffed penguin, Olivia decides she's had enough. It's time for her to take revenge on all those awful exes she's had to put through. She decides to put up an ad at her local crime bookstore to find a henchperson to help her in this endeavour. As it turns out, Margaret, the owner of the bookstore who's been nothing but cold and annoying to her, is the perfect person for the job. The two of them are determined to get revenge, but when feelings spark between them, things get a bit more complicated...

This book was definitely very fun to read. It's very unsual but in a good way. It's funny, quirky and unique, and I really enjoyed seeing how imaginative that vengeance planning could get. The two protagonists are very different from one another, but both women are also relatable and intriguing. The author really created amazing characters and seeing them evolve and get to know one another more thoroughly throughout the book was very entertaining. I liked how it was written: from Olivia's point of view but with pages from Margaret's journal so we got a bit insight from her as well. The creativity in this story led to hilarious, improbable situations that made me laugh out loud and ask for more. The tension between the two women was also exquisite to read. It just felt a little slow/long at times, but nothing that prevented me from thorougly enjoying this story.

I really recommend this funny, original romance.

"Screw being just friends. I want all of you."

This is like if Finlay Donovan actually grew a backbone and also was an Aussie lesbian. I liked watching Olivia learn her worth and standing up to the exes that took advantage of her, and I really liked that Winter gave us some of Margaret’s thoughts via journal entry. Unfortunately, I had some similar issues with this as I did with the aforementioned Finlay Donovan. Mainly that I found Olivia rather annoying. She is so bubbly and naive and while I appreciated her journey, I found being in her head for this many pages exhausting. I also never really understood what drew Margaret to her. Like I understand in theory that Margaret is grieving and has had her life on pause so Olivia and her chaos is the “breath of fresh air that brings her back to life”, etc. but the text itself didn’t sell that to me.

That being said, I did like the writing and I think Lee Winter does an excellent job creating a sense of place and developing a cast of characters. I have Requiem for Immortals on my TBR and do look forward to reading that as I think maybe I just need to give up on rom-coms.

Effervescent and joyous? What if we crank it up a notch and describe it as delightfully quirky and outrageously funny? In the realm of distinctive storytelling, it seems only Lee Winter possesses the alchemy to concoct such an extraordinary blend of oddities and humor.

This book is an absolute delight! It’s a bit unexpected too; Winter doesn’t usually write rom-coms, so this is a real treat. Sure, her narratives are always injected with her razor-sharp wit, but Vengeance Planning for Amateurs gets a little slap-stick and zany at points. This, coupled with Winter’s tone and tenor, tells me she had quite a bit of fun writing it.

The main characters are fantastically well developed. Readers delight in their personalities, especially the way they play off from each other. Though Olivia Roberts and Margaret Blackwood are opposites in nearly every way, they seem to have a chemistry that jumps off the page. Olivia is all sunshine and positive attitude, trying to send joy out in the world wherever she goes. Margaret is much like her last name suggests —black wood. She always appears dark and broody. At first, the two can barely tolerate one another, and it’s amusing to watch. However, as time passes, they discover there’s more to the other than meets the eye. When that happens, the walls begin to come down, and an unavoidable attraction begins to unfurl between them….

The secondary characters are real workhorses in this fun tale. They are the comedic spice that every good rom-com needs to be effective and entertaining. To say they pop on the page is an understatement. These colorful and dynamic individuals light up the story with their presence. Each time they enter a scene, readers know things are going to get a bit more interesting. Their uniqueness not only provides support for the plot, but it supplies a special brand of humor, pushing up the entertainment value several notches. The story would definitely feel less without them.

Final remarks…

Winter’s other books might have hinted that she’d be capable of a rollickingly good rom-com, but to actually see it is a thing of beauty. Olivia and Margaret are likable, dynamic characters, and readers cannot help but fall for them as they fall for each other. Their opposites attract/age-gap romance is a good time any way you slice it—or bake it, as the case may be. Anyone looking for a well-written, chuckle-filled read needs to pick Vengeance Planning for Amateurs up.

Strengths…

Well-written, engaging
Likable, charming characters
Humorous
Fun and entertaining

"Vengeance Planning for Amateurs" is a novel by Lee Winter that stands out from standard literary works with its off-beat elements, such as a cast of colorful characters, including a taxidermied penguin and peacock. Its charm is amplified by its setting in Australia. However, despite its witty dialogue and unique world-building, the book struggles to maintain a cohesive narrative. As the book unfolds, its seemingly humorous vengeance plots wear out their welcome, and the multitude of endings comes across as excessive. I love Lee Winter's ice queens but her attempt at romcom is just not my cup of tea.