Gloves Off
In public, we act as besotted newlyweds, but in private, we’re at each other’s throats. He’s competitive, arrogant, and surly. The guy’s never cracked a smile in his life. He’s jealous of my ex, he glares at my high heels, and insists he’s not attracted to me. He’s only marrying me for citizenship.
- Pages
- 464
- First published
- June 17, 2025
- Language
- English
- Edition
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Shelved by 5 Litcadians
Reviews
Finished May 4, 2025
I’m sad to say that I won’t be reading any of Stephanie Archer’s new releases for a while after this. I requested the ARC of Gloves Off because I was desperately hoping it would make up for how much I disliked The Wingman, but sadly, that just didn’t happen. The first 60% or so of the book was enjoyable. I really liked the subplots and conflicts that were being explored, as well as Alexei and Georgia's dynamic. I liked their antagonistic banter and the more realistic "enemies-to-lovers" setup. The romantic tension was engaging, especially as they got to know each other better and started second-guessing their perceptions of each other. I loved seeing them live their lives outside of their relationship and deal with the conflicts that initiated their marriage of convenience. But after the 60% point, everything I liked went out the window. The story devolved into focusing solely on the romance, with the characters continually expressing the same thoughts and feelings chapter after chapter. The repetition made it difficult to stay engrossed in the story, and I found myself often skimming portions (especially the spicy scenes). When the subplots that I'd enjoyed finally came back around, there was minimal resolution to them, which left them feeling shallow and incomplete. I also didn't love the ending, which felt a a bit rushed, a bit out of left field, and too neatly tied up. I genuinely hope this book finds its audience because I think it’s clear that it just wasn’t me. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this book!