Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a way to start the new year!

Natasha, a struggling aspiring furniture designer, juggles multiple jobs in New York City while pursuing her dream of starting her own furniture line. After losing one of her jobs due to a confrontation with a man she dubs "Coffeezilla," she faces a financial crisis. Just when things seem hopeless, she unexpectedly gets an opportunity to design furniture for a high-profile client, only to find out that her new client is none other than Trent Saunders, the CEO of a successful furniture company—and the man who got her fired. As they work together, an unexpected connection develops, complicated by personal challenges and misunderstandings that could jeopardize both their careers and their growing relationship.

I love a grumpy sunshine, a dual POV and with a sprinkle of spice! The banter was top notch and I will not be incorporating”mantrum” into my vocabulary. The pacing was great and there was enough character development to keep me invested.

I’m not usually a fan of third act break up, but I think it works given their past experiences. Natasha also was able to hold her own and stand up to Trent and his BS.

I was not familiar with the author’s previous works. This is book three of the series but I could read it easily without having read the previous two, though I’ll certainly be picking them up now! I look forward to learning more about the Lost Boys.

This was an easy and very enjoyable read (perfect to read by the pool!), and I can’t wait to recommend it to my friends!

A Romance to die for!

I was hooked from the start, didn’t think I could finish this novel in a day but yes I did.

The tension, plot and everything was perfection!

I liked the grumpy-sunshine, enemies to lovers story with added boss-employee and fake dating tropes, but didn't think Trent was a bosshole at all. I found Natasha's way of eavesdropping, jumping to conclusions and interfering uninvited in personal situations much more unpleasant and intrusive, even though she usually has positive intentions. Both protagonists react hypersensitively, but this is understandable given their previous painful experiences. The plot is well written and full of emotion, humorous banter and bickering, a few twists, a sizzling chemistry between the protagonists, steamy love scenes and a whole cast of very likable secondary characters. I really love the bonds and interactions between the „Lost Boys“ themselves and with Nana Dee. The way Natasha cared about Trent‘s younger brother was heartwarming too.
It’s not essential to have read the previous books in the series, although you meet their main characters again.

After many losses and disappointments in her past, Natasha Dryer’s biggest dream is to become successful with her furniture designs, but in the meantime she has to keep her head above water with part-time jobs, including as a barista in a café. When she is fired after a confrontation with an arrogant customer, she is fuming with rage.
Shortly afterwards, she is contacted by a prospective buyer of her furniture who wants to order some pieces from her for his grandmother and when she arrives at the agreed meeting point, she immediately recognises him as her nemesis from the café.
Trent Saunders has been successfully running the family furniture company for several years, which was founded by his grandparents and almost bankrupted by his constantly bickering parents before he took it over. After many disappointments and hurts in his past, his main carers are his best friends, the "Lost Boys", his younger brother and his ailing grandmother Nana Dee, who took them all under her wing a long time ago. To make his grandmother happy, Trent wants to give her some exclusive pieces of furniture, but he never expected that the fury from the café and the innovative furniture designer could be one and the same person. Worse still, Nana Dee thinks she is his girlfriend and sees Natasha as the solution for the company's new sustainability line. So he has to hire her and pretend to have a fake relationship with her for his grandmother‘s sake…

If you like fast-paced enemies to lovers stories with spice, plenty of tension, humorous interactions and great friendships, you are sure to enjoy this book!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

Leslie North has a winner in her latest book. Designed for Disaster was an entertaining read that I recommend.

Review of Designed for Disaster by Leslie North:

Designed for Disaster is a romance novel with a very typical formulaic plot. It centers on two characters—one being a determined professional and the other a charming but mysterious figure. The tension builds up predictably as their conflicting personalities lead to sparks flying between them. The concept of opposites attracting isn’t new, and this book doesn't add much new to that trope.

The writing is straightforward, sometimes a bit repetitive, with moments where it feels like the author is forcing emotions or plot twists for dramatic effect. The character development is a bit weak; they don't feel particularly complex or fleshed out. The chemistry between the leads is present, but it might come across as a little too rushed or shallow, making it hard for readers to fully invest in their relationship. The pacing can feel uneven, especially as it drags through certain parts, but it picks up when the romance takes center stage.

If you’re a fan of light, easy romance with minimal depth and predictable plotlines, Designed for Disaster might be enjoyable. However, if you prefer more nuanced characters and complex plots, it may leave you disappointed. Overall, it’s not a groundbreaking read but offers a simple, uncomplicated romance for those looking for a quick escape.

I absolutely adore reading this book. The chemistry between Natasha and Trent was over the roof, their banter was funny and sensual at the same time. The rest of the lost boys and families were charming and the grandmother was everything we can expect from a meddling and sweet and creative person.

Trent’s grandparents started a high end furniture company and made a successful empire until this parents took over and almost bankrupt the company. Trent was giving the task of save the company and his family at the same time, something he took quite seriously.

Natasha is this talented furniture designer hardly making ends meet after working three jobs. The last thing she needs is a grumpy and entitled customer getting her fired from her coffee shop job.

This book is an enemy to lovers story with an interesting twist. It was well written with balanced characters that will make you want to follow their own stories.
I’m grateful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to enjoy this ARC.

This is my voluntary and honest review.

A battle of wills that stirs up trouble and ignites the heart. Trent and Natasha set off sparks. From start to finish, North walks a fine line between fire and ice that screams sensory overload.

Loved reading the amazing and engaging romance story. While Natasha is working, she tries to tell a grumpy man to not sit at the table with the sign, but the handsome billionaire, Trent, ignores her concern, puts his coffee cup down on the table and the coffee literally falls on him, turns into a coffeeezilla, and gets her fired from her job. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and another must read riveting story by thee fabulous and fantastic author, Leslie North.

Synopsis
Natasha is barely making ends meet, juggling three jobs while still pursuing her dream of becoming a furniture designer. When she clashes with Trent, a man with his own share of drama, sparks fly, but not in the way either of them expects.
Trent’s grandmother, whom he adores, happens to own a one-of-a-kind furniture piece designed by Natasha. Eager to get more pieces for her, Trent commissions the designer without realizing she’s the same barista he got fired that very morning. When Natasha shows up on his doorstep as the artist he hired, their fiery dynamic gets even more complicated.
Review
With plenty of tension, unexpected laughs, and heartwarming moments, this story is a perfect blend of humor, passion, and personal growth.
Designed for Disaster is a fast-paced, fun romance that keeps you hooked from the start.
Tasha and Trent are unapologetically rude in the best way, and their banter is sharp and hilarious. Their chemistry is off the charts, and Trent’s dirty mouth adds an extra edge to their fiery dynamic. The dialogue is so natural and engaging that it feels like listening to real people. The characters are smart, and their conversations are clever and authentic, making every interaction feel real and meaningful.
As someone with a background in interior design, I loved how furniture design was woven into the story. It’s so different from what you usually see in romance books! The mention of sustainable design and its importance made the story feel modern and relevant without being overbearing.
The pacing is perfect—there’s no time to get bored. The conflict, which often feels forced in other books, is handled well here. It feels real and uncomfortable in a way that sticks with you. The story also has an emotional side, focusing on holding onto hope while learning to let go of toxic things in your life, which isn’t easy but is beautifully explored.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and am voluntarily giving my honest review.

this was such a fun sunshine/black cat trope and i fell in love with the characters as they fell in love! very well written and paced

I picked up Designed for Disaster for a cozy, contemporary, enemies to lovers and this book was exactly that. The story runs full speed ahead, going through story beats very quickly in succession, but does delivery on the slow burn of the romance. The spicy scenes are good, but I found issue with the male lead and his angry outburst. The level of anger and yelling unsettled me and I had a hard time accepting that this behavior could 'change' by simply deciding to and not without some outside help. I thought the talk through was good, but I was still unsettled by the end.

I learned the hard way: trust no one. That’s why I’m stuck serving lattes in the first place. Then Trent Saunders, aka Satan, waltzes in. Mr. Hot Shot is too busy barking into his phone to stop and read. Is it my fault he missed the big DO NOT USE sign on the table? Ok, maybe I shouldn’t have laughed when he spilled coffee all over himself. But he deserved it.

And for that the Table Tyrant got me fired! At least I got the last word. Or so I thought… Because it turns out, this gorgeous grump is the answer to my professional prayers. He wants me to design high-end furniture for his grandmother. A sweet old woman who mistakes me for his girlfriend. And does this genius bosshole correct her? No! He asks me to play along! Which means I’m stuck fake dating a man I loathe. What’s even more annoying? He might not be a total villain. He’s actually kind of sweet. Sometimes. But I’m not about to fall for his whole “nice guy’ routine.

This book is the epitome of the grumpy/sunshine trope hitting perfectly. I loved getting to know Natasha, and Trent was so much fun. Great characters, fun plot, and lots of laughs. Can't beat that for a quick read! 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

This was a fun fake dating, enemies to lovers, grumpyxsunshine. I enjoyed Natasha and Trent’s witty banter but wish we would have gotten more of the enemies portion. I absolutely loved Natasha, she was fierce and not afraid to speak her mind. Not even when confronted with a dashing CEO. As much as I enjoyed it, there were a lot of the book that felt rushed to me. The transition from enemies to lovers seemed to happen overnight and there wasn’t enough of a buildup for me. I also felt like a lot of Trent and Natasha’s relationship was built off of appearance rather than substance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Natasha has always dreamed of selling her own furniture line. She works three crappy jobs in order to pay rent while also fulfilling furniture orders. When she gets fired from one of her jobs because of a cocky man she’s termed Coffeezilla, she’s at a loss. NYC is an expensive place, and she doesn’t quite make enough from her custom orders to pay for rent. Very quickly an opportunity presents itself to make various pieces for a client. But when she turns up at the client’s home she discovers that her new client is also the man who caused her to get fired.

Trent Saunders is the CEO of his grandparents’ furniture company. After taking the helm when his divorced parents nearly ran the company into the ground, he managed to take the company into a successful direction. Looking to create a line of sustainable furniture and quickly noticing Natasha’s talent, he offers a job on the design team at his company. Trent has a lot on his plate. His grandmother has a heart condition that requires her to have surgery, which she stubbornly refuses to do. When she mistakenly thinks Natasha is his girlfriend, he continues the facade in order to hopefully entice her to get the life saving surgery. As the two work closer together they begin to let the walls down. Trent has a lot of trust issues, and when an issue arises that makes him question Natasha’s loyalty will the two be able to get past it?

Boy was the heat coming off the pages. I loved the witty banter between Natasha and Trent and enjoyed the ride as they start to fall for each other. While this book is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone though I am curious to read the previous books to see Trent’s friends find their own happily ever afters.

I really loved both characters. Natasha doesn’t take any BS from anyone, and I liked that she stood her ground after the third act conflict. She really made Trent work for it, and I wholeheartedly approve. I liked the two of them together. They really complemented each other, and their relationship felt earnest. Each made themselves vulnerable and let the other see sides of them that they normally keep hidden. I loved their journey. I also loved their relationships with the side characters. There is a clear message of sometimes family is the one you choose. They each had strong support systems, and I felt that added layers to the characters. We got to see how they were when they felt safe and supported and how that translated into their own relationship.

I’m not typically a fan of third act conflicts, but this one worked given Trent’s past. I also appreciated that Natasha made him work for her forgiveness. He did say some very hurtful things, but he owned up to it, and it wasn’t easily brushed aside.

This was a very engaging read with the right mix of romance and spice. I really enjoyed it, and will definitely check out Ms. North’s other books.

Designed for Disaster, is unique to me. I've never read about a woodworking lady before. I enjoyed that part a lot. Boy Natasha, really has bad luck when it comes to guys and jobs though. Trent has a hard time enjoying a good thing when it happens to him. He seems to sabotage it almost from the beginning. Of course it's Grandma Dee that brings everyone together in the end. I love her. She is the rock that these guys were missing in their lives.

This was quick read with a fun enemies to lovers and fake dating premise. It fell a bit short in the pacing. The plot moved so quickly that it took away from the building tension that makes an enemies to lovers trope exciting. It also made it harder to suspend disbelief in situations that are essential to the plot. One minute the FMC is a barista, the next she's heading the design department in the MMC's furniture company. One minute she's meeting grandma, the next she's roped into fake dating the grandson. Everything happens so fast there's no chance to build up chemistry, so we're just told about it.

"Designed for Disaster" is a fun grumpy/sunshine romance with a dash of fake dating. The book can be read as a stand-alone, but comes in as the third book in a series.

The story follows Hellcat - Natasha, a feisty furniture designer who works several different part time jobs to support her true passion; and Trent AKA Coffeezilla, a grumpy CEO of a furniture company who seems to have no time for anyone but himself. In a series of events that can only be described as a coffee shop employee’s worst nightmare, our MMC manages to get Natasha fired from her part time job, later he unwittingly commissions her to make some furniture pieces for his grandmother which causes their paths to cross again - and that’s where our story really begins.

This was a short and sweet romance - and ultimately a rather fast paced read that was easy to get into. Our main couple were fun and feisty, and I really like when the FMC isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I really enjoyed the supporting character roles and the sense of chosen/found family (the little gang of lost boys dynamic has my whole heart). I also loved Nana Dee because how could you not.

There were a few scenes that broke the immersion experience for me a bit as it felt a bit rushed, or changes in time that weren’t clearly documented so I was left puzzling over how much time had passed but overall it didn’t take much from the experience.

There was also one specific scene where I had to stop and take a break where the current on-page scene (spicy) was broken up with flashbacks to a separate conversation that had occurred off-page (not-spicy and mentioning familial relationships), honestly the chopping and changing between the current realtime on-page scene and the recollection of the one in the past made me feel a bit uncomfortable… but on reflection I feel like it may have been an intentional writing device to make the reader feel similar to the main characters own conflicting thoughts at the time.

Overall this was a quick and mildly spicy read, with some great jokes and an enjoyable push-pull dynamic between our two main characters! (3.75 rounded up to 4)

Designed for Disaster by Leslie North is a grumpy/sunshine romance where Natasha, a sassy barista, gets fired after spilling coffee on Trent - Turns out, she’s a furniture design pro, and Trent hires her to work for his store. The side characters are fun, the plot's a little flimsy, but it's a quick, spicy read with snarky banter and plenty of hot moments

Thank you to Netgalley and Relay Publishing for an early copy of this book. I really enjoyed it and read it in one day. I loved the characters and the family dynamics with Trent. I would definitely recommend this book.

Leslie North’s Designed for Disaster is a charming mix of witty banter, heartfelt moments, and sizzling chemistry. As the third book in the Manhattan Bossholes series, it can easily be read as a standalone, but fans of the series will enjoy revisiting familiar characters and dynamics.

Natasha and Trent’s story begins with a hilariously disastrous meet-cute that sets the tone for their fiery dynamic. Natasha, a talented furniture designer with a no-nonsense attitude, clashes with Trent, the grumpy yet secretly sweet furniture store owner. Their journey from adversaries to fake-dating partners and, ultimately, to a heartfelt romance is as entertaining as it is emotional.

The supporting characters, especially Nana Dee and Trent’s "Lost Boys," bring warmth and humor to the story. They add layers of depth, making Trent’s world feel like a community you’d want to be part of. Nana Dee’s wisdom and the playful camaraderie of Trent’s friends are highlights that balance out the romance and drama.

While the story leans on some familiar tropes, such as the grumpy-sunshine dynamic and fake dating, Leslie North’s engaging writing and sharp dialogue make it feel fresh and fun. The pacing is spot on, with just the right amount of tension, passion, and character growth to keep you invested.

If you enjoy a lighthearted romance with emotional depth, a touch of spice, and a cast of lovable characters, Designed for Disaster is a must-read. Whether this is your first venture into Leslie North’s world or you’re a devoted fan of the Manhattan Bossholes series, this book is a delightful addition to your TBR!