The Villain Edit by Sarah Brenton is the third (and final) book in the Over the Top Love series but can be read as a standalone. If you love celebrities, enemies to lovers, road trips, and opposites attract romance, you’re going to love this one. It’s utterly addictive, fast-paced with twists and turns, and smoking-hot chemistry between the main characters.
~ Special thanks to NetGalley and Sarah Brenton for the opportunity to read and review The Villain Edit in exchange for an honest review. The Villain Edit releases January 16, 2024 ~
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The Villain Edit by Sarah Brenton
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(you can find my rating and spice system here)
POV & Tense: Dual POV, first person, present tense
Genre: MF Contemporary Romance
Tropes/Themes: Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating, Celebrities, Villain & Hero, Road Trip, Only One Bed, Opposites Attract, Bisexual FMC
Synopsis:
Reality TV bad girl Ashley Foley won’t stand by and watch her childhood crush get married. But when her plans to seduce the groom go awry, she finds herself in a fake relationship with do-gooder Hollywood golden boy Gabriel Sinclair. He’s too square. She’s out of control. But they need each other—to salvage her reputation and give him a much-needed edge. What’s supposed to be fake becomes more real and more complicated than either could imagine.
My Review:
Sarah Brenton’s The Villain Edit instantly caught my eye and drew me in. The cover art is gorgeous and captures the vibe perfectly, and the trope list was made for me. The opening scene is dynamite, and I knew right away this was going to be an excellent read—and it was. Brenton knows how to end a chapter. Every single chapter ended with a banger of a statement or a point that made me want to reflect further. I devoured this book quickly.
Excellent Layered Characters
My favorite thing about The Villain Edit has to be the main characters. I am a huge fan of the ‘unlikeable mc’ and Ashley has perfected her villain role by the start of the story. She’s shameless and deeply entertaining. Who doesn’t love a bad girl? Gabriel Sinclair is the stereotypical hero who rescues kittens and helps little old ladies cross the street. He’s so buttoned-up at the start that I couldn’t wait to see Ashley mess with him. But what I really loved about these two is their layers. No villain is truly evil, and in Ashley’s case, she’s masking a world of hurt. And Gabriel isn’t as squeaky clean as he seems. Underneath it all, there’s another Gabriel eager to let loose break free. I loved the examination of heroes and villains and the shades of grey in between.
Sizzling Chemistry
The chemistry between Ashley and Gabe is off the charts. What makes it even better is that this is a true enemies-to-lovers scenario. There is no secret pining at the start—these two hate each other. But there is an inconvenient physical attraction at complete odds with their emotional state and clashing personalities, and it’s delicious. Watching the cracks form in their facades as they get to know one another and their attraction deepens and then becomes something else, was deeply satisfying. And no matter how many times they’re together, it’s never enough.
Great Supporting Cast
I loved the supporting characters so much. Both Lea and David (Ashley and Gabe’s personal assistants) are fantastic, but Gabe’s Aunt Cora is my favorite. She’s a caring individual with the ability to see deep down into a person’s soul and understand what they truly need, despite what they are projecting. There is an assortment of other characters, from celebrity family members to agents to directors, who all bring the celebrity lifestyle to life, complete with upsides and pitfalls.
The Villain Edit by Sarah Brenton (Over the Top Love Book 3)
Final Thoughts:
I can’t get enough of this book. Gabe and Ashley’s relationship is beautiful and gloriously messy, and I loved every moment. I highly recommend this book. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. Upon finishing, I immediately bought books one (Timothy and Mina’s story) and two (Nic and Jessie’s story) and signed up for Sarah Brenton’s newsletter. I’m a fan and I can’t wait to read more.
Author Stalking (but not in a creepy way):
Sarah Brenton is a New Zealand author who specializes in steamy contemporary romance and romcoms.
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Banner Image Credit: Cactus Sunset
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