A fun and engaging romance with a great mix of humor and heart. Natasha, a determined furniture designer, and Trent, a grumpy CEO, start off clashing but soon find themselves in a fake dating arrangement that leads to unexpected feelings.

Their chemistry is strong, with witty banter and emotional depth making their relationship believable. Trent’s grandmother, Nana Dee, adds warmth and charm to the story. While some plot points are predictable, the characters and fast-paced storytelling keep it enjoyable.

Overall, this is a light, entertaining read—perfect for fans of fake dating and grumpy-sunshine romances!

A fun and light read that made me smile. The writing style is quite good with some amazing banter and descriptions. I was outright laughing at times.

Love the characters and the supporting characters. The premise of fake dating and enemies to lovers is cutely done. It is an adorable read that I absolutely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, Relay Publishing, and Leslie North for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

Fun
Natasha is a furniture designer who is working in a coffee shop to supplement her income as she grows her business and Trent is the coffeezilla who gets her fired but then ends up hiring her to design a sustainable line for his furniture company and to also play his fake girlfriend in front of his grandmother
I liked Natasha from the very start of this book, she is fun and feisty but she also had some habits that I really wasn’t that keen on and which quickly became to irritate me as the story went on whereas Trent was a more difficult character to bond with but who was driven and determined and although he also had character flaws I didn’t like, he was someone who I went through times of really liking
I think what made this book more interesting and captivating for me were the supporting characters, especially Trent's Nana Dee who whilst being ill was larger than life and without who the story wouldn’t have happened. The other supporting character I loved was Natasha’s best friend Stacy who was an aspiring costume designer and who reminded the reader that you should always chase your dreams, even if you have to do weird off broadway shows on the way to making it. These two characters were the main reason I liked this book and why I started to like Natasha and Trent more, seeing them through another persons eyes made them seem more genuine and likeable
Although this book did have some sections I wasn’t keen on, overall I did enjoy it and with a teaser for Stacy as a main character, I defiantly look forward to reading more books in the series
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a romance with characters you will like and a supporting cast who are amazing and bring the story together and reminds you to follow your heart and your dreams

First of all I absolutely love this cover! This is the third book in the series and I definitely recommend reading the first two because they are just as good as this one!

The first two books are a must read! Love the intermingled stories throughout them all leading to Designed for Disaster. I definitely think this was the best one of them all, and loved the ending. I enjoyed how the characters were explored and how much you learnt about them. Great read, will definitely be exploring more of Leslie North's books.

a simple story with great tropes, not my favourite but still fun to read and you definitely root for the characters!

Thank you to NetGalley, Relay Publishing, and Leslie North for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book is an enemies to lovers romance. I liked this book, but didn’t love it. The story starts with the two characters meeting in a coffee shop with their first interaction leading to the two not liking each other. The two eventually meet each other again and get into a fake relationship, The story was cute, didn’t drag, and wasn’t overly spicy. However, I was hoping to get to know the characters more.

I wanted to like this book so bad but she was infuriating and he was an ahole not in a funny or banter way he’s literally just a mean piece of sh*t.

Designed for Disaster is the next installment of the millionaire series and another strong entry. It’s always great to catch up with the other Lost Boys. This story was fun but full of a giant miscommunication and complication so just know that going in. I enjoyed it, the two characters had a lot of chemistry and an incredibly touching epilogue.

2.5 Stained Glass Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️.5/5

Calling your book Designed for Disaster might be setting yourself up for disaster... AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT...

Yeah, this one was not for me! And coming off of really enjoying Aidan’s story, this just lacked everything I was hoping for.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This follows Trent and Natalie. Natalie works several odd jobs to fund her furniture-making business and one day has a bad run-in with Coffeezilla AKA Trent at the coffee shop where she’s employed. Their encounter gets her fired, but by some twisted fate, Trent unknowingly hires her to design furniture for his grandmother (OUR NANA DEE). When Natalie, the “hellcat” from the coffee shop, shows up at Dee’s house, Trent realizes it’s her. Seeing how happy Dee seems at the sight of his supposed “girlfriend,” he persuades Natalie to keep up the act. In exchange, she gets a job at his prestigious furniture company and the chance to design a sustainable furniture line. The two must navigate their differences, explosive banter, and mutual stubbornness to figure out if there’s something more between them than just a fake arrangement.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I really liked Natalie. She’s self-sufficient, determined, and doesn’t let anyone push her around. Right from the start, you can tell she’s guarded, careful with her heart, and burned from a bad past relationship. She’s clear about her goals and doesn’t waver in what she wants, which makes her a compelling and grounded character.

Trent, on the other hand, was the main reason this book fell flat for me. I wanted to like him, I really did! I might have developed high expectations based on the build-up of who he was based on his glimpses in the previous books... But I struggled to get past his personality. Yes, he’s the typical brooding businessman with bottled-up emotions, but his protective nature over his family and company came off more as arrogance than charm. His strained relationship with his parents (who sound like they came straight from a soap opera) creates tension in his relationship with Natalie. And while I can understand that trauma shapes people, it didn’t make me empathize with him in the way I wanted to.

The biggest problem was the lack of chemistry between Natalie and Trent. They were always at odds, they have different ideals, different outlooks on life, and different perspectives on relationships. Even in opposites-attract romances, there’s usually some aspect where the couple clicks or at least connects through their banter. With these two, it felt like they were constantly clashing, misunderstanding each other, and talking past each other. There was no sense of connection, just a series of miscommunications and unresolved tension.

Now both characters are guarded due to being hurt in the past, but instead of creating depth, it only adds to the miscommunication that drives the story. The third-act breakup felt forced, hinging on yet another misunderstanding and unfounded assumptions. While there was grovelling and begging for forgiveness after the fallout from Trent (because obviously he is the one that messes up), it didn’t feel genuine. Their relationship lacked the foundation to make me believe they could stand the test of time.

Leslie North often relies on the idea that just because two characters spend time together, the romance will naturally fall into place. And while that can work in fluffy, lighthearted romances, it just didn’t land here. I wanted to see actual development in their relationship, not just time spent together implying love.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Workplace Romance (Boss X Employee)
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Poor Girl X Rich Boy
▶ Band of Brothers

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Grovelling
▷ "Good Girl"
▷ Suit Daddy
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Nicknames
▷ Don't Stop
▷ Banter

In the end...it had some cute moments (I mean he bought her a CHURCH) and I got to see more of Nana Dee. But that doesn't fully counterbalance that for me it lacked depth and emotional resonance. So as a result, the romance didn’t feel profound or satisfying.

Thank you to Netgalley, Relay Publishing and Leslie North for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2,75/5

I wanted to love this book as much as I loved the synopsis, but here we are... First, let me thank NetGalley for sending me an ARC.

The book isn’t bad or horrendous—it just doesn’t pair the right tropes with the pacing the author chose. We start with a meet-cute that evolves into a moment where the two main characters get off on the wrong foot. I liked that part; the back-and-forth between them was engaging. Then, due to the FMC being rude to a customer, the FMC gets fired. At this point, everything made sense, and I was intrigued to see where the story would go.

But the fake dating trope, combined with miscommunication and the overly stubborn FMC—who literally didn’t listen to her boyfriend when he told her multiple times that the situation with his parents wouldn’t change—made it hard for me to root for the characters. Not to mention that Trent’s borderline obsessive focus on Natasha’s body (specifically her ass) came off as creepy. Yes, we get it—you like the view. You don’t need to mention it more than twice.

Because of this, the book lacked depth in character development, which made it difficult for me to connect with or root for the main characters. Honestly, I felt more connected to Dee than to either of the MCs.

I knew going into this that it wasn't going to be a serious read and I was buckled in for a good time. However, my main problem with this book is how physical and immediate the relationship came together. No joke in the first chapter he's checking out her butt, and the nicknames really didn't do it for me. However, I think for some people, who are into this more raunchy, lusty romance, would like it. For me who likes a little more character-centered story, I wasn't very swayed. I found Natasha and Trent to be boring, and they only existed for the sake of the romance with each other. Also, I had major problems with Trent, who not only refuses to hear Natasha out during an argument but is screaming at her in the workplace. His character was irredeemable to me. But the most ridiculous thing was the ending, I was again strongly reminded that these are not real people. Even though I do have a lot of criticism for this book, this was fun at times, and I could be whisked away for this office romance.

Natasha, an ambitious furniture designer, is working multiple jobs to open her own custom furniture store after her ex stole her designs. She first meets Trent, the grumpy CEO of a family furniture company, when he gets her fired from her café job after ignoring her warnings about a broken table. Their rocky encounter turns into an unexpected opportunity when Natasha is commissioned to design pieces for Trent’s grandmother, Dee Saunders—Natasha’s idol in the furniture world. Mistakenly believing Natasha is Trent’s girlfriend, Dee encourages her to design a sustainable furniture line for the company.

As Natasha and Trent work together, their fake relationship slowly turns real. Trent grows to admire Natasha’s creativity and drive, while Natasha sees past Trent’s gruff exterior to the vulnerable man beneath. Despite their growing connection, unresolved family tensions and past heartbreaks threaten their relationship. Natasha encourages Trent to mend his relationship with his parents, but his boundaries remain firm, creating conflict.

With humor, heartfelt moments, and a refreshingly honest take on family dynamics, this “grumpy-meets-sunshine” romance celebrates ambition, love, and the power of setting boundaries in a beautifully crafted story.

From cocktails to furniture : that’s a big change in the Manhattan Bossholes series. However, Leslie sticks to the Zillas: from grumpzilla in On the Rocks to Coffeezilla in Designed for Disaster.

And Trent definitely starts out as a Boss hole first class, getting Natasha fired from her job as a barista. But” of course, there is more than meets the eye and we learn about why Nana Dee’s grants on Trent has a difficult relationship with his parents.

Per Leslie’s trademark, sparks are flying and of course it’s a matter of time, before Natasha and Trent combust.

Traditionally Leslie’s stories come per three, but we still have some unfinished business with Nana Dee’s Lost Boys, so I do hope they get their own story. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Designed for Disaster is a fun and charming workplace romance that follows Trent and Natasha, who first meet after a coffee shop mishap. Their witty banter and undeniable chemistry make for a fast-paced, lighthearted read, while family drama and some emotional depth add richness to the story. With plenty of humor, heat, and heart, it’s the perfect pick for anyone looking for a sweet escape. 3.5/4 ⭐️

Leslie North does it again!
Trent and Natasha at eachothers throat not expecting what would happen next. Love Trents tender side which is very unexpected. Nana Dee's character is great at how it intertwines everything. If you like a slow burn this is it!
Great job Leslie North

This book grabbed me right from the beginning. Lots of banter and chemistry between the characters and a good story. Spice was minimal, 2/5. Would recommend.

Leslie North's bosshole series have the camp of an Annika Martin billionaire book, but without the laugh out loud zaniness that make those pretty darn enjoyable reads. The bosshole series is entertaining enough to fill my time during my public transit commute. Are these keepers and re-reads? Nope.

great book and I loved the action and the romance . I loved seeing the friends and family. I loved that they were able to figure things out. Overall a great book .

I genuinely enjoyed this read! What surprised me most is that unlike many books I’ve read lately that fall under a similar category (where, let’s be honest, the plot comes secondary to the spice) the plot of Designed for Disaster was what kept me reading. If anything the spicy scenes felt like an afterthought!
My only true complaint of the book is a minor one, that I wish it had a few sentences thrown in here or there giving general timeframes within the story. Because it read as if the relationship occurred over the span of a couple weeks, when by the end I think it was actually over the course of several months. I know it’s something small and may seem silly, but having a few timestamps would have made the timing of the story feel more realistic, likely because I would have been more likely to assume additional relationship building was happening behind the scenes. Regardless, overall I enjoyed the read and am glad to have picked this one up.