A review by magnafeana
A Deal with the Devil by Elizabeth O'Roark

3.0

This is a story about a snarky, broken-hearted FMC with family baggage and a playboy doctor of broken-hearted MMC with family baggage.

Well, now. They certainly have a lot to bond over, don’t they?

They meet because of the FMC’s best friend’s entire ploy to have her fall in love with the MMC. Of course, she’s the feisty “not like other girls” assistant to his “I sleep with anything that moves” British bossiness.

I think that’s what lost me.

I just…didn’t vibe well with this FMC because she thinks it’s professional to be crass and snarky to her newfound boss. I have read boss/subordinate romances before, and I very rarely find myself liking them because of this trope right here.

She thought she had the right to question the MMC on his personal life after judging him multiple times with the validation “I can’t trust men” and, of course, he is the one who has to say “Not every man is like that”.

The “family loyalty” trope comes in next. I’m always conflicted about this trope because I don’t have family. Why are you loyal to people who constantly put their wants above your needs? I’m happy the FMC put her family in their place, but she did so after she did everything wrong.

Which brings me to my pleasant surprise that she was the cause of the relationship downfall and not him—and she never apologized for it.

I can’t stand the snarky leads who have to make a freaking quip every single time the other lead says something serious. And she did that—repeatedly. And of course she pushes him away, but I should sympathize with her for her secretly wanting him to fight for her.

Honey, you are an adult. You quite explicit declared your distrust in men. If you want a relationship to work, you have to communicate and put in the work.

Overall, this was an NA book that felt religiously NA. FMC is this saint who did what she had to do and her confession of love is the same as a sincere apology for screwing up everything in the first place.

3.5⭐️ rounded down.