It was really hard for me to get through this story, it took me really long. It fell short for me. I don’t feel as the book really matched what from what the actual book was supposed to be about.

Although the plot has some interesting elements, the reading turned out to be somewhat predictable.

Sophie Ranald’s writing is light and casual, with fast-paced dialogues that make the book an easy and uncomplicated read. The main character is well-developed and represents the uncertainties of those experiencing relationships in the digital context, but at times, the story feels like it follows a well-trodden path without offering many surprises.

While it’s an enjoyable read, The Love Hack didn’t stand out as a work that provided anything truly groundbreaking or deeply impactful. If you’re looking for a light read to pass the time, it might be a good option, but don’t expect an extraordinary experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Love Hack by Sophie Ranald in exchange for my honest review and feedback. Cute cover but didn't love the book. Found myself thinking this book was all over the place with no direction and hard to follow.

The Love Hack had a fun premise, but I found the main character pretty annoying, which made it hard to fully enjoy the story. There were some cute moments, but I just couldn’t connect with her. It had potential, but it wasn’t really for me. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

The Love Hack is a romance novel with an interesting premise which unfortunately does not deliver. Faced with losing her job as a tech writer, Lucy agrees to write an advice column for men under the pseudonym ‘Ask Adam’. The column takes off and, feeling overwhelmed, Lucy decides to enlist the help of an AI assistant to answer the letters. This seems a bit unethical to me, and doesn’t really add anything to the plot. She previously had a bad experience dating someone she worked with, so has sworn off relationships, but seems unable to let it go. It is obvious to the reader that her ex was just using her.
The main problem I had with The Love Hack is that I simply did not believe in the romantic relationship between Lucy and Ross. We spend a large portion of the story in Lucy’s head, and her repetitive thoughts of inadequacy start to become annoying. Both main characters seem very immature for their age. One of the best things about this story is the cat, especially the scene where Ross comes to the rescue. Despite my reservations, I will give this author another try. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

This was cute, quirky, and had so much potential - but it didn’t totally stick the landing for me. I loved the premise: undercover advice columnist, a suspiciously familiar email from her crush, and a rogue AI giving romantic advice?? Yes, please. Sign me up for the rom-com chaos.

Lucy is super relatable - anxious, awkward, and doing her best - and Ross has golden retriever energy with just enough charm to make me root for him. The setup had me giggling and fully invested in the “is this email about me?!” spiral.

But somewhere around the middle, the pacing slowed and the stakes fizzled a bit. Some plot threads didn’t hit as hard as I hoped, and the twist I kind of saw coming.

Still, it’s a warm, modern rom-com with some fresh ideas and a very lovable cat. It didn’t totally sweep me off my feet, but it was a cozy read for a chill weekend. 🐱💻💌

A light-hearted, charming romance novel that blends humor, modern dating, and the complexities of navigating love in the digital age. It’s a perfect read for anyone who enjoys sweet, feel-good romance with a contemporary twist.

The cover was cute and the idea behind it sounded good but this is one that just didn't grab me. it was a bit of fun, there is some humour but it was just that. A fun book but not a lot of depth. I did finish it but it was just an okay read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a DNF for me about 10% in. I felt like it was a very cliché romance and I could see where the love interest was going from the beginning. I didn't connect with Lucy's character. I'm rating this how I feel it would have been had I finished reading it. Just find but not a new favorite. No review left on Goodreads, Amazon, etc.

If you would have told me I was picking up a romance book about a girl using ai to write her romance column as a writer and there is no consequence to that, I would have said no thank you. What writer/journalist, in good conscience, uses ai to write for them?
Also having a random 9/11 twist was not the choice. Why? What did it bring to the story? Absolutely nothing.
Also I don't believe that a girl that can barely leave her house is able to navigate new york flawlessly when she has never been there before.

I couldn't finish this book, due to the irritating main character who emphasises how she is so not like other women -because she plans on wearing docs, jeans, and a Metallica t-shirt to her sister's hen party and claims not to look in the mirror when getting ready for work.

I decided not to finish because the protagonist was repeatedly relying on AI instead of actually doing her job and then asking it for advice on the possibility her sister's new spouse was having an affair. The love interest was fine, I liked the scene where he finds her wandering cat, but couldn't stomach the internalised sexism and use of a chatbot.

Sophie ranald has a way of writing absolutely brilliant books that hook you in. This book is no exception

Lucy's just started a new job as an online agony uncle dishing out relationship advice to men even though her own love life is non existent after her last relationship ended badly and she swore off men. Until she meets Ross he's kind and funny and Lucy could really see this going somewhere but when the email lands in her inbox she realises that Ross isn't single and he's looking for advice. As her work load gets heavier and she tries to deal with her feelings for Ross and also help her sister she turns to AI to help her. But can it really work to solve all her problems or can she figure it out on her own?

I feel like I'm in the minority here as I enjoyed this and flew through it. I thought the writing and story were good but I wouldn't class this as a romance as the focus is more on Lucy growing as a person and her helping her sister Amelie in her questionable relationship. There is romance in this but it was a really slow burn and not a lot happens between Ross and Lucy until near the end but I like a story where there's a lot of build up and you get to see them form a friendship first.

3.5/5 Smart and Enjoyable, with a Few Bumps Along the Way

The Love Hack is a fun and witty read with a lot of heart. Sophie Ranald knows how to write modern, relatable characters, and Lou—our ambitious, slightly awkward, and very lovable main character—was easy to root for. The premise of mixing tech startup culture with romance was fresh, and I appreciated how the story tackled issues like online privacy, toxic workplace dynamics, and impostor syndrome alongside the romantic plot.

The banter was great, the London setting was charming, and I liked that Lou’s journey was just as much about self-discovery and career growth as it was about love. The romance itself was sweet, and the chemistry between the characters felt natural.

That said, I’m landing at 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed the story, there were a few parts that dragged a bit, and some of the twists were predictable. A couple of character choices also felt slightly rushed or underdeveloped, especially near the end.

Still, this is a solid, entertaining romcom that balances humor and heart well. If you’re looking for an easy, feel-good read with smart writing and a heroine worth cheering for, The Love Hack is worth adding to your list.

This book was not for me this was a middle of the road women’s fiction that I think was marketed completely wrong as romance. This book follows Lucy a tech writer who when loses her job takes on an advice column for a men’s magazine posing as a man. Lucy starts falling for another writer at work but this storyline is completely overshadowed by all the family drama from Lucy’s sister. The romance in this book felt forced and almost like an afterthought with the two characters barely having interactions in this book.The women’s lit storylines following Lucy’s sister was way more interesting. I really disliked the way they used AI help the writer come up with ideas and how it was seen as a small indiscretion. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I'm not 100% sure why I requested this book because I'm not a fan of office romance. But, I think if I did like office romance, I would have enjoyed this. It's a palette cleanser book. A nice in-between read for me

Thanks to netgalley for the arc but I feel like this book was not for me.
From the title, the cover and the blurb I was really excited to read it but I felt like the plot was completely different and the story was a bit all over the place.
I am sure some people will enjoy it though.

Thanks to Storm Publishing for the widget. I dont think this book was for me. It was something totally different from the blurb that I read. I felt like the MFC Lucy was way too much into her head and the story was more about her sister which not gonna lie I was more interested in what was going on with her. I read till the end and to be honest I like the last 20 % of the story more than everything else.

I really had to push myself to finish this one. It was ok but very slow and somewhat repetitive at times

Where should I start??

The cover of this book is cute, which is what initially drew me in when looking for ARCs. The blurb had me expecting a forbidden, steamy office romance with some laughs thrown in.

However, it didn’t live up to expectations. The plot is all over the place. It spends too much time in the past, with Lucy (FMC) dwelling on her past relationship. It’s taken a lot away from the present-day story and could have been summarised quickly and effectively in a few pages.

So, Lucy and Ross's (MMC) slow burn was only a simmer. There were some small sparks in the book between them, but there was no tension or buildup that I crave in a romance.

The side characters and subplot added some much-needed depth, but even with them, the whole story still felt disjointed.

Listen, I liked it enough to finish it; there were parts I truly enjoyed. However, I was left wanting more and feeling unfulfilled.