Mind Reader
Closed Door Romance (Sensibility Series Book 1)
by Mimika Cooney
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Pub Date 21 Oct 2025 | Archive Date 15 Jun 2026
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Description
A clean, closed-door workplace romance for readers who value intelligence, emotional depth, and professional realism over spice or slapstick.
Mind Reader is a sharp, cerebral enemies-to-lovers romance set in the fast-paced world of New York startups and executive coaching, where sharp banter, emotional intelligence, and high-stakes careers create irresistible tension. What begins as professional rivalry slowly softens into a heartfelt love story rich with longing, trust, and all the feels.
She reads minds for a living. He’s the one man she can’t decode.
Clio Ambrosia’s uncanny ability to read people has made her the secret weapon of New York’s power players. Known as the human lie detector, she’s built her career decoding powerful CEOs and coaching top performers. A former figure skating prodigy turned executive coach, Clio is sharp, strategic, and nearly impossible to rattle. But when a cutting-edge tech firm hires her to refine their emotional intelligence strategy, she meets Dillon Whelan, the one client her instincts can’t predict.
Dillon Whelan built his success on logic, precision, and control. Clio’s insights threaten to upend everything he believes about leadership and love. Their boardroom sparring crackles with wit and tension, each conversation a duel neither wants to lose. Her instincts are meant to help him strengthen his team before a major launch, but her quiet confidence and ability to see through his defenses force him to question every rule he’s built his life on.
As professional lines blur and trust deepens, both must decide if love is worth risking the armor they’ve spent years perfecting. Their razor-sharp war of words becomes a slow-burn romance that sweeps them from New York galleries and tense escape rooms to moonlit galas and the historic streets of York, England, blurring the line between ambition and heart.
Ideal for readers who enjoy:
Clean workplace romance
Closed-door contemporary romance
Enemies to lovers trope
Intelligent, dialogue-driven stories
Workplace and power-dynamic romances
Business, tech, and leadership settings
Emotionally restrained, slow-burn love stories
Character-driven growth arcs
Faith-touched themes without preachiness
Note to Reviewers:
Mind Reader is a cleverly written romance about ambition, vulnerability, and the courage to be known, featuring enemies-to-lovers sparks, layered character growth, and a deeply satisfying, faith-touched happily-ever-after. This is not a fluffy romcom or a spice-driven romance. The focus is on psychological tension, professional stakes, and emotional growth, with romance unfolding through conversation, conflict, and trust rather than physical escalation. The story includes very light, organic faith elements woven into character values and choices, with no sermons and no preaching.
Content Advisory:
PG-13 | Closed-Door Romance (Level 2)
This story is deeply emotional and tenderly passionate. It explores themes of grief, complicated family dynamics, and emotional recovery. While handled with care and without explicit scenes, readers sensitive to these topics may wish to know before beginning.
A Note From the Publisher
Slow burn
Workplace Romance
Friend Group
Faith Aspects
Hope and Healing
Entrepreneurs
Rivals
Enemies to Lovers
Banter
Recovery from Childhood Trauma
Forbidden Romance
Grumpy/Sunshine
Intimacy Level 2
Zero Swearing
Advance Praise
Author Mimika Cooney may write about fictional glasses that read faces, but it’s her writing that really steals the show, bringing voices, feelings, and the smooth confidence of her characters to life. Early in this read, as Clio first encounters Dillon, it’s his voice that draws her in. Cooney expertly portrays the low, confident vocal sound of Dillon through words and descriptors that instantly had the hairs on my arms standing at attention. This first encounter scene delivers a wow factor that locks readers in and propels the eventual romance and chemistry that follow.
Cooney’s writing goes beyond style and feeling though, as she uses “Mind Reader” to bring nuanced themes to light. Leaving readers reflecting on the moral and ethical implications of such technology, we’re left pondering the continued digital removal of human connection. Swirling amidst the bigger questions is an intellectually intriguing game of cat and mouse between Clio and Dillon as they dance around the feelings blossoming.
Penning a tender romance, layered beneath drive, determination, and an unflinching mask of strength and confidence, Cooney’s talents are on full display. Despite the chasm between our main characters, Cooney makes them both tender and relatable in their desires and vulnerabilities. Paired with the perfect villain and the best girly group chat, “Mind Reader” is an iconic series debut.
Marketing Plan
Mimika Cooney writes emotionally rich, closed-door contemporary romances Infused with witty banter, pop culture and travel. Her clean romances offer all the feels, and guaranteed happily ever afters, but won’t make Grandma blush!
Her strong characters with sass have just enough spark, ambition mixed with vulnerability, and faith that meets real-life love, to keep you flipping pages. These aren't fluffy romcoms: they're heartfelt, layered journeys with real stakes, personal growth, earned reveals, and soul-deep kisses.
Mimika wrote her first book idea on a typewriter at the age of ten. It took her 40 years and 4 career changes to finally come back to her first love of writing. She believes love and faith go hand in hand, and every good romance deserves a little heartbreak, a lot of healing, and one unforgettable happily ever after.
Mimika is an award-winning writer of 14 books with a global perspective. Born in South Africa and now based in the US, Mimika blends her background in neuroscience, entrepreneurship, photography, design, public speaking, performance coaching, and personal growth into stories that make you feel seen and heard.
She can speak 3 languages: English (well duh), Afrikaans and Greek. Her stories often infuse diverse cultural references, luxury travel destinations and vivid experiences.
A hopeless romantic, Mimika has been married to her childhood sweetheart for 30 years. Together they share 3 children; 2 independent young adults and a witty teenager.
When she is not writing, or planning her next writing research travel trip; she will be found on the ice practicing her spins as an adult figure skater. She also enjoys stabbing people for fun (without getting arrested) as an amateur fencer.
Get on the VIP list for the inside scoop, bonus content and special freebies at mimikacooney.com
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798987831557 |
| PRICE | $5.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 312 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 9 members
Featured Reviews
I really enjoyed this workplace, enemies to lovers romance and getting a clear picture of how and why they both avoided love. From a fascinating business perspective to personal growth and self actualization the author provides an entertaining and beautiful look at life in all it's messy glory.
It's a closed door romance and I love that the focus is on the emotional aspects of the story, not the physical. The chemistry is there and the sparks fly, but I could really experience their love story without any distractions.
The best part is that this is the first book in the series and I can't wait for what's to come. This is an author to add to your list and make her books a priority on your tbr.
Debbie B, Reviewer
Loved reading the inspirational and awesome story. After Clio, a mind reader of emotions, loses to Dillon, Dillon asks Clio to help consult with his project. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting romance story.
Mind Reader by Mimika Cooney was a smart, engaging read that stood out for its intelligence and emotional depth. I gave this book 4 stars and really appreciated how grounded and character-driven the story felt.
What I loved most was the dynamic between Clio and Dillon. Their enemies-to-lovers tension is built almost entirely through dialogue, restraint, and emotional awareness rather than over-the-top drama. The banter is sharp and thoughtful, and every interaction felt intentional. Watching two highly competent, guarded people slowly lower their defenses made the slow burn incredibly satisfying.
The professional setting added a refreshing layer to the romance. The world of startups, executive coaching, and leadership felt well researched and naturally woven into the story, raising the stakes without overwhelming the relationship. I also enjoyed how the romance unfolded across different locations, giving the story a sense of movement and growth that mirrored the characters’ emotional journeys.
Overall, Mind Reader is a great choice for readers who enjoy clean, closed-door romance, intelligent banter, and emotionally restrained slow burns. A thoughtful, well-written story that focuses on connection, trust, and personal growth.
If you’re a fan of clean romance, look no further. This is the perfect book for readers of Courtney Walsh!
Mind Reader follows Dillion, an executive trying to create a product that helps take the guesswork out of reading peoples emotions and Clio, a well known expert in reading micro expressions to understand others feelings. When these two meet, it isn’t instant connection, and delivers solid enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes, alongside a dual POV, while maintaining a clean, closed-door romance.
I received an ARC and eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Reviewer 1956954
Mind Reader is a workplace romance with depth. ✨ It’s not all rainbows and butterflies for Clio and Dillon, they’ve experienced things that have shaped them.
Their story is more than a romance, it’s trust, it’s grace, it’s honesty and meeting each other where they are. 🫶🏼
It’s about being there for each other, helping each other overcome past hurts and hang ups. Choosing each other through it all. 🥹
If you like:
👩🏻💻 Workplace Romance
👓 Artificial intelligence
📊 Guy Boss x Girl Boss
💕 Rivals to Lovers
❤️🩹 Healing from emotional wounds
🎧 Dual POV with Dual Narrations
This audiobook is for you! 🎧🌟
This book gets 3 stars from me because of the narrators. The Dillon narrator drove me a bit crazy with his cadence and delivery. The Clio narrator’s accent made it difficult at times, but I was able to adjust. I also got a bit bored in places with the story where I think some more emotions or humor could’ve helped.
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