*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity.
Title: My Kind Of Trouble
Author: L.A. Schwartz
Genre: Romance
Rating: ★★★★★
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Open Door)
Conwoman Harmony Hale has sold lies up and down California for years, never looking back at her crafty scams or one-night stands. Now she’s come to Brookville, California, with her sights set on its wealthy mayor—the man who stole her father’s music-streaming algorithm and ruined his life. Harmony is finally ready to take him down, with her trusty con of selling a nonexistent music festival. All she needs is the cooperation of the man who owns the potential festival site.
Autistic librarian and piano teacher Preston Jones spends his days fighting
book challengers trying to shut down his library programs. He’s responsible for
raising his selectively nonspeaking little sister and needs to focus on keeping
his job. He doesn’t have time for a romance like the ones in his books—and
certainly none for the brassy festival promoter who wants to use his land for
her “Coachella North.” Preston sees things in black and white, and he sees
Harmony—amazing curves, flashy smile, and all—as nothing but trouble.
But when Harmony promises to help him win the public over and save his youth
programs, Preston finds himself wondering if this hustler with a heart of gold
might be the someone he’s been waiting for. Soon things are getting steamy in
the stacks, and with her con coming to a crescendo, Harmony needs to choose:
revenge and running again or the happy ending she never saw coming.
My Kind of
Trouble is the debut romance novel from author L.A. Schwartz. This is a steamy
bookish enemies to lovers rom com which is a gender-swapped homage to The Music
Man. Add in some truly brilliant autism rep, healthy relationships and a confident
plus-sized FMC and you have My Kind of Trouble, an absolute must-read addition
to the romance genre.
This is a truly
captivating story, with the perfect amount of humour, sweet moments and steam.
The novel is perfectly paced and I was so hooked that I read the entire thing
in nearly a single sitting.
Harmony and
Preston had brilliant chemistry and a really healthy relationship which we love
to see. I’m a sucker for the ‘he falls first and harder’ trope and this was so
well written. There is a third act breakup, which is to be expected given the
plot point of Harmony’s hidden identity as a conwoman but there is a quick
resolution. The spice was well written, well placed within the plot and felt
really realistic.
Harmony was a
cracker of a FMC. She was a confident and sure of herself force of nature who experiences
such character growth over the course of the story. The way she finds both a
family and a home in Brookville was beautiful. I loved that she was a confident,
plus-sized FMC and that she’s a bit of a brilliant Robin Hood type character in
the way she cons people who deserve it but makes sure to pay back anyone who is
innocently caught up in her schemes.
As an autistic person
who also finds solace in books, I absolutely adored Preston as a MMC and the
authentic autism rep we had through both his character and the character of his
younger sister Lacey was the highlight of the book for me.
Just how
authentic the autism rep would be became clear in only the second chapter.
Throughout the book we see stimming, hyper-focusing, sensory needs regarding
food, references to autistic burnout, references to meltdowns, noise
sensitivity, recovery from overstimulation and difficulties with change. It’s
honestly some of the best autistic rep I’ve ever seen in a book of any genre.
There are
references to ABA therapy, with it suggested to Preston for his younger autistic
sister Lacey but this is firmly rejected immediately. The topic is also featured
later in the book with Preston discussing his own experiences of it, but again
this is portrayed in a rightfully negative light.
I loved the way
Harmony researched autism to know how to best support her prospective partner.
This total acceptance was so heartwarming to see as an autistic adult.
Overall, I just absolutely
adored this book. It has been one of my standout reads of 2024 and is a truly
brilliant debut novel from L.A. Schwartz. I’d highly recommend it to all fans
of a good rom-com novel and anyone who likes to see really authentic autism rep
in their books.
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