When I started reading this book, I did not realize that it was technically part of a series. However, it is completely fine as a stand alone! This book makes me want to read the other 3 books in the series! It was a classic enemies to lovers trope where the broken bad boy gets with the equally broken good girl. Their lives are completely different but they are still drawn to each other. This books contains a good amount of spice and romance and ends with a cute little bow. Overall, a feel good book of all girlies who love spice, romance, and duel narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and @TantorAudio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Worth the Trouble is the final book in the Enemy Muse series, and it was such a satisfying way to wrap things up. This one follows Lili Chen, a 22-year-old ballet dancer whose entire life has been built around discipline, schedules, and trying to meet her mom’s impossibly high expectations. She’s always known exactly what she should be doing—until Rome crashes into her world. Literally.

Rome Moreno is the lead guitarist of Enemy Muse, and he’s Lili’s complete opposite. He’s all about freedom, living in the moment, and not being tied down by anyone or anything. Where Lili’s structured and quiet, Rome’s more spontaneous and open, but somehow, they just work.

Their story is more than just romance it’s about growth and learning to let go. Rome helps Lili see there’s more to life than just checking boxes, and Lili grounds him in a way he didn’t realize he needed. I loved how their connection helped both of them grow into better versions of themselves.

Also, I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this! The dual narration was fantastic both narrators did such a great job bringing these characters to life. It made the emotional moments hit even harder and added so much depth to the story.

If you’ve been following the series, this is a heartfelt and emotional goodbye to Enemy Muse. Definitely worth the listen.!

4.25 Stars!
#NetGalley, #WorththeTrouble, #TantorAudio, #EvaSimmons

Eva Simmons' "Worth the Trouble" strikes a compelling chord, delivering a passionate and emotionally charged romance that earns a solid four stars. This novel takes the classic "opposites attract" trope and infuses it with genuine depth, exploring the hidden vulnerabilities of two seemingly disparate individuals.
The initial meeting between Rome Moreno, the "Riff King" rock god, and our unnamed world-class dance princess, is a hilarious and memorable clash. Her immediate disdain for his rockstar antics, particularly his assumption that she's a stripper, sets a wonderfully feisty tone. It's refreshing to see a heroine who is decidedly unimpressed by the rock god persona, challenging Rome in a way he clearly hasn't encountered before. This dynamic fuels their early interactions with sparks and witty banter.
What elevates "Worth the Trouble" beyond a simple rockstar romance is the exploration of the characters' deeper struggles. The heroine's life is a meticulously orchestrated regimen, a "carefully timed clock" dictated by the sacrifices she's made for her dance dreams. This rigid existence stands in stark contrast to Rome's free-spirited, albeit scarred, world. As their paths intertwine, Simmons masterfully peels back the layers, revealing that Rome's "scars go a lot deeper than his tattoo ink." This shared understanding of pain and sacrifice creates a powerful connection that transcends their initial antagonism.
Simmons’ writing is engaging, pulling you into the whirlwind of their forbidden romance. The tension builds beautifully, making their eventual connection feel earned and incredibly satisfying. While the heroine's "sold my soul to the devil" predicament could verge on melodramatic, Simmons grounds it in a believable portrayal of the demanding world of professional dance. The stakes feel real, adding a poignant edge to their burgeoning relationship.
"Worth the Trouble" is a testament to finding unexpected solace and healing in the most unlikely of places. It's a journey of two people who, despite their vastly different worlds and personal demons, find a rhythm that is undeniably worth the trouble. If you're looking for a passionate romance with heart, genuine character development, and a rockstar who's more than just a pretty face, this one hits all the right notes.

I had to drag myself through this, it just wasn't entertaining in any way and the characters exchanged 3 sentences and they were already madly in love.

Fully my fault that I went into this without reading the first three books in the series. I don’t think I missed out on too much and was still able to follow the story easily enough. Though after reading this I’m not too sure I’ll go back and read them.
This story did nothing for me. I kept waiting to be rooting for the couple and honestly didn’t care for either of them much. And it just kept going in circles and I got bored. I finished because this is a review copy otherwise I don’t know that I’d have kept reading that far in.
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor audio for this alc

"Worth the Trouble" is the fourth and final book in Eva Simmons' Enemy Muse series, the story follows the unlikely romance between Rome, a tattooed rock god, and Lili, a disciplined ballet dancer whose life runs on a strict schedule.

What makes this story so compelling is the contrast between the protagonists' worlds - the structured, regimented life of a professional dancer colliding with the free-spirited world of rock music. The book tackles themes of personal freedom, healing from past trauma, and finding love in unexpected places.

If you enjoy contemporary romance with complex characters, emotional depth, and a rock music backdrop, this book delivers a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Story: 4.25 🌟
Narrators: 4.25 🌟

Thank you to Tantor Audio and Netgalley for the ALC of this book.

This was a super easy listen with a binge worth storyline. Classic bad boy rocker with a good girl fmc.

Both Rome and Lily have past trauma that pushes them closer throughout the story. Rome deals with trauma by being a playboy and Lily is trying to please everyone but herself.

The dual narration for this was spot on and kept me wanting to know more. This was my first book by this author and I can't wait to read more!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4-Star Review for Worth the Trouble by Eva Simmons
🎧 Narrated by Desiree Ketchum & Connor Brown
📚 Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC!

Worth the Trouble is an opposites-attract romance that hits all the right notes—steamy, angsty, and emotionally resonant. Rome Moreno, the infamous “Riff King,” and our disciplined, world-class dancer heroine couldn’t be more different, yet their chemistry is undeniable. What starts with a hilariously awkward encounter quickly evolves into a layered and heartfelt connection that challenges both characters' sense of identity and control.

Desiree Ketchum delivers a compelling performance, capturing the protagonist’s internal conflict and vulnerability, while Connor Brown brings Rome’s charm, grit, and hidden pain to life with perfect rockstar edge. Together, their narration adds depth to an already captivating story.

This isn’t just about passion and spice (though there’s plenty of that)—it’s about the price of ambition, the scars we carry, and the people who help us heal. Fans of emotionally driven, character-rich romance will find Worth the Trouble a satisfying listen.

Definitely worth the download!

This story is absolutely delicious. Two broken souls that find each other - the dancer and the rockstar, and teach each other how to be whole again.

I loved this and now need to get my hands on the rest of the series!
The audio was done so well!

Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub date: 27 May 2025

Book Review: Worth the Trouble by Eva Simons
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)

Worth the Trouble was a good read — enjoyable, engaging, and surprisingly easy to dive into even without having read the previous books in the series. As someone jumping straight into the audiobook, I appreciated that it stood strong as a standalone. The focus remained on this particular couple’s journey, and everything you needed to know was right there.

The chemistry between the main characters was definitely palpable. From the get-go, you could tell they were drawn to each other. But while the attraction and physical tension were well written, what felt missing to me was emotional depth. Their connection seemed rooted more in lust than anything layered or lasting. It wasn’t that they were a bad couple — they worked, they were functional — but I just didn’t find myself rooting for them in the way I love to with romance reads.

Interestingly, I found myself more drawn to the characters as individuals. Their personal struggles, their development — that’s where I felt the writing shined. Together, they were fine, but not unforgettable. The steamy scenes were well done, but also not essential to the emotional core of the story.

All in all, it’s a solid 3.5 stars for me — a good romance that’s easy to enjoy but didn’t fully sweep me away. If you're looking for a light, standalone listen with chemistry and character, this one's worth a try.

*ALC REVIEW*

This was my first book of this series done an audio, as I’ve read the first two. (Still need to read the third one) and I really enjoyed it.

This whole series has dealt with some heavy and emotional topics and Eva is such a beautiful writer!

At first glance, Lili and Rome seem so different. She’s a beautiful professional dancer and he’s the tatted rockstar that likes women, drugs and alcohol from Enemy Muse, but deep down, they’re so much alike. Both broken. And in that brokenness they find love in one another.

I’ve listened to a few of Desiree Ketchum’s narrations and she always does a standout job. I haven’t heard much of Connor Brown but he as a great Rome. I forgot it wasn’t in duet narration while listening they both were just that good!

Thank you to Eva and the team at Tantor Media for the early ALC!

This is the first book I’ve listened to narrated by Connor Brown and I am hooked! His voice was perfect for the bad boy, rockstar Rome. Desiree Ketchum voiced Lili beautifully. Made her feel sophisticated, yet there was a raw need in her voice. A need for freedom and love.

Lili and Rome were opposites attract yet a match made in heaven. They were able to bring out completely different sides of each other that were hidden deep away. Rome was Lili’s escape from the dance world. Lili was the shakeup Rome didn’t know he needed. I enjoyed watching their relationship evolve from that initial terrible meeting.

Thank you Eva Simmons, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for this ALC. I now have a new author and narrators to add to my list!

I loved this! So this is book 4 in the enemy muse series and I've read precisely none of the others. There were a few things mentioned that I felt it should have probably read the others to understand but it was in passing so overall I feel like this was a standalone. I love the tortured soul with the prim and proper. Gets me everytime. The story was beautiful and i didn't see that ending. I gasped 🫣 in hindsight, I wish I read the entire series. Its definitely something I'd love. I'll be downloading the series pronto 🔥

🤍

"Like life music is up for interpretation, from the lyrics to the drum beat. it paints it paints different colours for each listener. Mutually heard and uniquely experienced."

"Don't mistake me for a gentleman because i'd rather destroy you than save you."

"She's the calm in center of my storm and I'm her hurricane raging hard enough for her to finally feel something."

I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t realize it was part of a series, but now I’m definitely planning to read the first three. It had an insta love feel, but the emotional depth between Rome and Lili made it work. These two felt so real and raw. Both have heavy pasts, but together they found peace and acceptance. I loved that they never tried to change each other—they just saw the messy, beautiful parts and still chose one another. The opposites attract and forbidden love vibes were done so well, I’m always here for a reformed bad boy. Rome’s protective side melted me, and Lili was the calm to his chaos. Rockstar and ballerina may be one of my new favorite tropes.
The dual narration by Conner Brown and Desiree Ketchum made the audiobook even better. They captured the emotion and brought both characters to life. I had a hard time with Conner’s voice for Lili but, it was still an easy listen.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Eva Simmons where have you been all my life!

This book has started strong. Lili and Rome run into each other, literally, and Rome mistakes her for a dance of the pole variety. Not a great first impression mate!

She is beyond unimpressed with Romes cocky nature and wants to leave their encounter a distance memory.

This is a story about two people putting up walls and pushing people away, wearing masks and only letting people see what they want to see, letting it all fall away for each other, because there was no other way.

This was an incredibly well written and I would highly recommend.

Our FMC is a dancer with no freedom and a need to break away.
Our MMC is a bad boy rock star who is emotionally unstable.
Somehow, this dynamic works. The two together allow for the character development of the other.
Lili breaks down all of Rome's walls and smooths his rough edges.
The two have more in common than the reader would think, and they love/accept one another despite their faults.
Trauma bonding big time.
SPICE. Pole scene.. just whoa!
I didn't realize when reading that this was book 4 in a series. This reads very well as a standalone book. I didn't feel that I was missing anything pertinent or essential to the plot by not reading the previous 3 books.
The plot is structured well, and the pace works for the plot.
The characters are well-developed. Their development drives the entire plot.
Also - Rome mistaking Lili for a stripper... Yes.
Tropes: rock star, ballerina, opposites attract, trauma bonding, dark pasts, and found family.
I enjoyed this book. A little darker than I typically read, but I still thought it was good.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Happy Reading!

This was a random choice for me but wanted to give more romance books a go. I was very surprised how much I enjoyed this one, didn't love the narration but listened to this in one day ! I also didn't realise until after I finished it was book 4 of a series, oh well! I rated this 4.5 but rounded up to 5. Will definitely be checking out more by this author. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this audio arc.

Eva Simmons' Enemy Muse series concludes with Worth the Trouble. While each book stands alone, elements from previous instalments weave their way into the unfolding story.
Rome is questioning his once-thrilling life and why it no longer satisfies him. Meanwhile, Lili, a dance prodigy trapped under her mother's control and the demands of her company. Lili collides with Rome on the streets, setting the stage for their undeniable connection.
Despite their differences, Rome and Lili's forbidden romance masterfully explores the tension between opposites. As they navigate the weight of emptiness and self-doubt their connection becomes unparalleled as they expose one another’s deepest wounds and become each others catalyst for healing.
The captivating slow-burn romance is heightened by the stellar dual narration of Connor Brown and Desiree Ketchum, who bring Rome and Lili’s chemistry to life. Their voices perfectly embody the push and pull, passion, and vulnerability of a love that refuses to be denied.
With this final book, every Enemy Muse band member has found their happily ever after. Worth the Trouble is an absolute must-read for Rockstar Romance fans!

Going into this I didn’t realize this was book four in a series, but I was able to read ( or listen) and enjoy the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Their story was beautiful and heartbreaking. This was such a lovely story.

Listening to this book make me want to go back and listen or read the other books in the series to see how we got here!

I really wanted to love Worth the Trouble, but it completely missed the mark for me. The characters felt flat and frustrating — the bad boy rocker came off as trying too hard to be edgy. The romance leaned too heavily on lust without meaningful emotional development, and the constant back-and-forth over their “different worlds” got old fast. The pacing dragged, the transitions were awkward, and overall, the story just didn’t hold my attention. Sadly, this one wasn’t worth the trouble or time.