A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY & WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER!From #1 New York Times Bestseller Vi Keeland, comes a new, sexy standalone novel.Bennett Fox walked into my life on one hell of a crappy Monday morning.I was late for the first day at my new job–a job I’d now have to compete for even though I’d already worked eight years to earn it, because of an unexpected merger.While I lugged my … years to earn it, because of an unexpected merger.
While I lugged my belongings up to my new office, a meter maid wrote me a parking summons.
She’d ticketed a long line of cars–except for the Audi parked in front of me, which happened to be the same make and model as mine.
Annoyed, I decided to regift my ticket to the car that had evaded a fine. Chances were, the owner would pay it and be none the wiser.
Except, I accidentally broke the windshield wiper while slipping the ticket onto the car’s window.
Seriously, my day couldn’t get any worse.
Things started to perk up when I ran into a gorgeous man in the elevator. We had one of those brief moments that only happened in movies.
You know the deal…your body lights up, fireworks go off, and the air around you crackles with electricity.
His heated stare left me flushed when I stepped off the elevator.
Maybe things here wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Or so I thought.
Until I walked into my new boss’s office and met my competition.
The gorgeous man from the elevator was now my nemesis. His heated stare wasn’t because of any mutual attraction. It was because he’d seen me vandalize his car. And now he couldn’t wait to annihilate his rival.
There’s a fine line between love and hate–and we shouldn’t cross it.
We shouldn’t–but straddling that line could be so much fun.
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Loved this book!
Beckett is one book boyfriend that will make your toes curl with that sexy dirty minded mouth of his. Also there are secrets about him that will make you love him even more once you read his story.
And I loved Annalise and her crazy, quirky fun self.
This book was very entertaining. I really enjoyed all the characters and the journey of Bennett and Annalise love and hate for one another.
This book is on “YOU SHOULD” read right now!
Fun way to start off 2019 with this book being on my Top Must Read 2019 list!
5 popped!
This story captured my heart! I adored Bennett and Annalise. The dynamic between them was intense, hot, and super sweet. I loved the way this story was written and how all the secondary characters played such a pivotal role in who Bennett and Annalise were. I fell in love with Bennett immediately. From his sexy, fun personality to his guarded, broken heart, he ruined me completely. Annalise was sugar and spice and absolutely perfect. She was smart, kind, and strong enough to break down Bennett’s walls and soothe his scars with her heart of gold.
Vi Keeland continues to write the most beautiful, soul touching stories about love and redemption. With wit and passion, they are everything romance readers have come to love. I loved Bennett and Annalise’s story. It may just be my favorite yet! We Shouldn’t is such a fantastic read! I highly recommend!
Review by Lys
They may have started as enemies – battling for the same job, but Bennett and Annalise have one huge problem…their attraction is almost immediate.
Vi Keeland doesn’t just give us 2 characters with depth and meaning. They weren’t only 2 good looking and successful people – they have their secrets, deep and dark that may make their coupling just not possible.
I loved Bennett he’s definitely arrogant but not to the point of annoyance – arrogance with a beautiful smile! He’s such a good guy who’s been walking around with hurt in his heart. The only one to touch the deep recesses of his heart is Annalise. She doesn’t want to “like” Bennett, but his charisma and caring are hard to deny.
Annalise is one strong woman herself, she’s strong-willed, smart and driven.
The back and forth between these two made me have a silly smile on my face while reading and one that only grew biggers as the chapters continued.
“By day we fight like enemies, by night we fuck like warriors…”
Another fantastic story from Vi Keeland!
4.5 Stars ~ Reviewed by Sharon
When I pick up a book by Keeland, I know I am going to be thoroughly entertained and I can honestly say the selfsame thing happened to me while reading We Shouldn’t. Categorized under the contemporary romance genre, to begin with, I got the impression it was a laugh-out-loud romantic novel; how wrong I was. Keeland is well-known for her banter, her protagonists’ wicked sense of humour is for me, one of the main highlights in her books. Yet behind the sassy comebacks, there’s always an absorbingly solid storyline and characters you can’t help but connect to.
So why the title? Whether forming a friendship with your co-worker is considered correct or not is for you to find out; however, one thing is for sure…you shouldn’t take Bennett Fox at face value. He is how us Brits would say, ‘a dick’, but in the best sense of the word. But what I loved was peeling back his layers; how he ticked and discovering the secrets he had hidden under his gorgeous facade. Extremely talented in his forte, funnily enough, he doesn’t go out of his way to show this side of him blatantly when his future plans are on the line. So, who put him in a position that couldn’t have been more professionally awkward in the first place? Upper management and the unexpected appearance of a drop-dead-sexy adversary, that’s who! She’ll give him a run for his money, frustrate the pants of him (no pun intended), and even make him question his feelings towards someone who deserves just as much as he does.
Buckle up guys and gals. Annalise O’Neil is about to rock Bennett’s world! She’s burnt out as far as relationships go. Trust issues with the opposite sex abound with reason and the last thing she wants is to complicate matters in the office. Annalise is incredibly lovable. What caught my attention was her honestly, her openness. She’s not ashamed to spill the beans when prompted; nonetheless, nothing in this story is what it seems. Why? Because both she and Bennett’s ideas criss-cross constantly, making this read an unputdownable one. What you think is going to happen, how you want their story to pan out, is overflowing with self-doubts.
Taking the author’s excellent storytelling into account, this office romance which was for me low on angst, contrasts with abounding heart-melting scenes. And the subtle twist literally sold me. Narrated by Annalise and Bennett in past tense, their fears come to light at a steady pace, making this stand-alone a swoon-worthy must-read. Love a good chuckle and want all the feels? Then, We Shouldn’t is a delightful distraction not to be missed. Bravo Keeland!
So good!!! Vi Keeland is one of the authors that is a sure thing. You know you’re gonna get a great book. And so one more book by her, one more book I loved. I want Bennett for myself!!!!
All is fair in love and war! And this is war… and maybe a lot of lusty chemistry.
Bennett has been working as Creative Director for a long time at this company. With this recent merger, his job is on the line. Not that he will be unemployed, but if his competition gets the job, he will have to be transferred to the Texas office to retain his title. This is a competition to survive and he is determined not to lose. Anything goes because he must win!
Annalise is part of the merger. She is the competition. As far as she is concerned, she will win but not through dirty deeds. Bennett is a jerk! And their professional relationship could not have started any worse. Yes, she broke his windshield wiper as it tangled in her hair. Yes, she was attempting to place a parking ticket on his car so he would pay it. Yes, the ticket was hers, but let’s face it, Bennett’s car was also parked illegally and he did not get a ticket. How did he do that?
This love/hate relationship is multi-faceted. Complex characters breed complex situations and our two characters are as complex as they come. Competition is thrown overboard as our two realize there is more to their chemistry than lust.
This book is a winner! If you love sparks and banter, our couple will not let you down!
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks to the author for sharing a copy with me.
I read this in one sitting from start to finish. That’s how addictive We Shouldn’t is. I was already entertained right from the start by these two awesome characters who couldn’t help but banter and get a rouse off one another since the moment they met.
Their first meeting was completely unforgettable, or even the scene before that. I was already laughing and wondering – what will happen to Bennett and Annalise when they finally get to meet? Yay. I was so right. It was instant explosion. Not just because they were vying for the same position, but because both of them are trying so hard to fight of the attraction.
Annalise is currently on a break with her long-term relationship and Bennett wasn’t really into relationships. While Annalise is the wine-and-dine, flowers-and-candlelight-dinner-on-a-Valentines-Day kind of girl, Bennet tries to break it off before the 14th of February arrives. But one thing is for certain, they are good with their jobs. But only one is going to remain, and one is going to get shipped in Dallas. So, let the games begin.
There was already instant chemistry between the two, and their funny banters was just a mere foreplay. I was just making bets with myself on who’s going to crumble first. Is it Annalise or Bennett?
I love the two of them. They have their imperfections – our girl is a bit naive at times, and she seems to see only the good in the world. But she’s fierce, organized, and good with her job. Bennett has worked hard for his job straight out of college, he has demons from his past – one that he was still paying penance for up to now. Behind his strong, brooding persona is a man who is capable to love and care for someone. He just needed to learn it the hard way. He has his moments – you’d love him most of the times, and you’d hate him some times. Quite impulsive – but he redeems himself in the most amazing way. He sure knows how to grovel hard.
We Shouldn’t is one of my favorite books to date.The pacing was perfect. All the feels were there – it would make you laugh, cry, fall in love and squirm. You’d fall in love with the characters. I love how Vi Keeland unravel the story, that there was more to this than just romance and steam. This was a story of love, forgiveness, redemption and moving on. It’s a story about finding love in the most unexpected places and being powerless enough to stop it when it sways your way. I can’t wait for the next book coming from this author!
A fun, witty narrative told from the alternating perspectives of Bennett and Annalise, who are in competition for the same job. Vi Keeland does a remarkable job with the plot by keeping the reader invested in these enigmatic characters that share chemistry you can feel coming off the pages. Great read. 5 stars.
My first book by Vi Keeland, I’ll definitely be checking out her other books.
At first glance I thought this was a bantering office romance, which BTW, I’m loving at the moment. This was, but so much more than meets the eye. I loved the fiery connection between Bennett and Annalise. But I absolutely adored the path that brought them together. Funny at times. Heartfelt and swoony at others. Bennett’s POV was hilarious, I loved being inside his head, especially when it felt as real as it could. I read this one in one sitting, rooting for this unlikely couple, hoping for a HEA, yet nervously waiting for the other shoe to drop. Romance with bite, I couldn’t get enough.
WE SHOULDN’T is Vi Keeland working her magic on the page.
I found a wealth of heart, hope, smiles, laughs, and love in this book. Bennett and Annalise are an example of the beauty everyone hopes to find in their lives at some point. A lover, a partner that finds a reason to value each and every facet of your being despite the imperfections. Someone who’s soul we want to crawl inside of, to seek comfort, warmth, and love without judgement. Bennett is a man who feels beyond forgiveness and redemption, yet it’s clear from the beginning that while his heart may be broken, may be ribboned with lacerations so deep, that he is deserving of it. I love how raw his pain was in this book because it made the healing strikingly real. I love how he feels incapable of honor, and yet manages to be a vigilant guard of Annalise’s heart without thought often as he loses himself in the unexpected feelings he achingly develops for her. I love how he fights, and fights, striking to protect himself while giving everything. I love how fiercely he comes to Annalise’s rescue, even though she is a force of her own. Mostly, I truly find Vi’s ability to write a couple that you want to experience in every way remarkable. I loved every moment of Bennett and Annalise’s journey together as they found a home in each other. Annalise is quite possibly one of my most favorite heroines of Vi’s, as she has quirks and little habits that make her fun, laughable, and unique but she is also unwavering in her honesty, kindness, morality, and strength. Seeing her bend and break for Bennett as he fell deeper in love with her stole my breath away. Enemies to lovers indeed, but with such passion that it’s delivery was flawless and everything I want in this trope. I swear, Vi Keeland cannot pen a novel that I simply will not love!
We Shouldn’t by Vi Keeland is a fantastic read from the very first page to the last. It is told in dual POV’s and gives enough backstory to keep the reader wondering.
The characters in this book are absolutely wonderful, Bennett is handsome, sexy, and arrogant while Annalise is a beautiful woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. The ad companies that they work for have merged and this is how the two meet, well there is a little bit more to their first meeting than that. Anyway sparks fly, tempers flare and the two dislike each other immediately and both vow to be the winner of the job.
This book had me laughing out loud, crying, and fanning myself at times, the chemistry between the two is off the charts. It doesn’t take the reader long to realize that there is a lot of layers to Bennett that has to be peeled off to find the true man beneath.
Five “Texas sized ” stars for this one. Definitely a must read!!
Feels 4
Steam 4
Storyline 5
Overall Rating 5
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Lindsey
This book! Omgee! Starting 2019 off with a bang and Bennett Fox is definitely banging. Loved this book hard! Annalise and Bennett are super intense and so damn sweeet it’s not even funny. I loved their chemistry and connection. It was perfect!! Lots of little twists and turns to keep me reeling throughout the entire book. Can’t wait for the next Vi Release!
Feels 4
Steam 5
Storyline 5
Overall Rating 5
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Robin
Late for her first day on the job, Annalise regifted her parking ticket to another Audi on her way in. Little did she know that would be the start to her new rival for the same job. Bennett Fox looked like perfection and in any other situation there would be no problem acting on the chemistry sparking between them. But would either of them be able to remain professional as the competition draws them closer and closer together?
“I was so sure you were just an asshole on the outside and a good person on the inside. I thought if I dug a little deeper, I’d dig past the dirt and find the hidden gold. But I was wrong. I dug through the dirt and you know what I found? More dirt.”
So incredibly good! And the sexual tension just exploded off the page! I was on the edge of my seat during the back and forth between these two. Literally the pages were catching on fire as I flipped them to get to what happened next. I practically was yelling JUST GIVE IN! Such a fun story and I enjoyed it very much. Fantastic enemies to lovers with so much contradiction…one fighting fair, the other willing to get down and dirty…definitely a great 2019 read.
Don’t miss the rest of Vi’s books if you haven’t checked them out. Always a pleasure to devour and they never let you down.
Meet Annalise and Bennett. This is funny, witty and chemistry off the wall from the get go. An entertaining enemies-to-lovers office romance to captivate even those of us a little tired of the office theme. Vi Keeland’s first novel of 2019 is one of her very best.
GREAT book!
This is my favorite of the books Vi has published lately, either by herself or as a collaboration.
As usual, her characters are very realistic, and that’s what I have always loved the most about her books. Anna was flawed, as we all are, and she certainly got herself into some embarrassing situations…in front of others…like we’ve all done 🙂
Bennett had a bit of a martyr complex where he didn’t feel he deserved happiness, but once Anna caught wind of that, the two of them worked hard to be together in spite of it all. But seriously, Bennett is hot. Lol!
The ending had a bit of a “An Affair to Remember” vibe to it, and I LOVED it. While I was sort of turned off of Vi’s books because of the various medical conditions she depressingly gave to different characters in her books, this scenario was really well done and I liked it very much.
Bottom line: This book was fantastic, a true page-turner, and I’ll ALWAYS be a big Vi fan!!!
(I was given this book in consideration of my honest thoughts)
Another amazing story by this talented author. She bring once again a lighthearted and yet an heartfelt all at once.
Bennett and Annalise now work for the same company. They are both competing for the same job but only one will get it.
This is an office romance and an enemy to lovers. They are constantly in competition, bickering and bantering. It had quite a few laughable moments. I enjoy it when they are strong characters that go at each other. I never knew what was going to come out of their mouths.
What I look for in a story are the characters. I need to feel attach to them and which I did. Beautifully written story with a storyline that flowed well. Bottomline is this is a must read.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I highly recommend this story.
Have you ever read a story that whilst reading made you giggle alot and feel like you are on the ride with the characters that you just couldn’t put it down until you finished?? No?? Just me then?? Well, We Shouldn’t made me laugh alot! It made me love the way the characters ribbed each other, being snarky but the banter was incredibly well done!
Bennett’s firm is merging with another and when he meets Annalise well all these thoughts come into his head! Theres alot of emotions in this book, sizzling chemistry and the characters seem to bring out anger and something else out of each other throughout the whole story! But when you think something and try to act on it, it doesn’t always happen the way you expect!
Truths are revealed, feelings and when something happens that sheds light on thongs needless to say both Bennett and Annalise do their best!
Does he finally see? I loved this story so much especially how it ended! Yes there are definite bumps they have to overcome as in any life but do they have a happy ending?! You will just have to read it for yourself to find out!
Such an entertaining book filled with great one liners, rivalry, witty banter, great family and friends and love! The author had done a fantastic job writing this incredible story!
Enemies-to-lovers deliciousness courtesy of Vi Keeland! Add in sexy Bennett and sassy Annalise to get some top-notch banter.
I love, love, LOVE the whole “enemies to Lovers” trope – all that passion, fire and heat at “hating” someone definitely explodes in to scorching passion we all want in our romance books…and let me just say, Bennett and Annalise are warriors when it comes to the the whole bursting into flames routine.
They chemistry is off the charts, even from the beginning. Bennett is a self proclaimed @**hole, and Annalise gore head to head with him – tit for tat. She’s his equal, calling him out on his BS and never letting him get by with it. They are definitely matched equally for each other. I love their witty banter, the snide remarks and mostly, their all consuming passion that burns the pages.
**I’d let myself start to think that beneath the arrogant Beast was some sort of misunderstood Prince Charming.
Sometimes a beast is just a beast, no matter how many layers you peel back.
Well, sometimes it just takes the right person to tame that “beast” and to find the the prince underneath.
This is yet another great stand alone from Vi Keeland. She is one of my must read authors that I can’t go wrong with. I have loved every one of her books that I have read. And this one is no different. Once I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this.
It will have you laughing out loud. You’ll love both Annalise and Bennett.
They sure do keep each other on their toes.
I actually loved the back and forth at the beginning. It really built the sexual tension to ungodly levels.
Annalise came out of her shell.
Bennett learned he did deserve happiness.
Lucas is such a great kid. He’s been through a lot.
I wanted to beat Fanny and Andrew though.
This is a fantastic read that you will absolutely love!