By Kaylie Seed
Looking for a contemporary romance that has the perfect amount of comedy? Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead may be right for you! Fans of Winstead will know that she typically writes dark thrillers that focus on a number of triggering topics, so when Winstead came out with a contemporary rom-com, it was nice to see a lighter side to this talented author. The romantic tropes that readers will find in Fool Me Once include enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romance.
Fool Me Once follows Lee Stone, a woman in her prime who is no longer interested in trusting love. Lee is focusing on her political career while still managing to find time to have fun inside her bedroom, but the idea of a long-lasting love is not at the top of her list. Years after her breakup with Ben Laderman, Lee finds herself having to work alongside him— building tension that is definitely going to lead to old sparks reigniting.
While there is a focus on politics throughout Fool Me Once, Winstead has managed to make this neutral territory so that readers are not bombarded with political views; it is simply part of the story.
While Fool Me Once was filled with humour and laughter, Winstead still managed to create characters that were expressive in all their feelings and showed growth throughout the story. Lee is an ambitious woman who can be crass and messy but also shows off her vulnerability even if she tries to hide it behind a tough exterior. It was great to see this mixture of her personality. Ben is just as ambitious as Lee, which helps to create some great tension between himself and Lee.
Readers who enjoy contemporary romances, rom-coms, political drama, or books that follow an enemies-to-lovers trope will find Fool Me Once a joy to read!
Thank you, HarperCollins Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.