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Overruled
Two divorce lawyers determined to share only beds but not hearts discover that love is something that can’t be overruled in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author of The Game Changer.
Danica Pierce has one great love in her life: work. As one of the top divorce lawyers in Austin, Danica lets her caseload keep her warm at night and has no problem being married to her job, not when love only ends in hurt. When the biggest case of her career gives her a shot at making partner, it seems like nothing could possibly stand in her way...except for her infuriating secret: she's sleeping with the enemy.
Ezra Hart is known for charming his way in and out of a courtroom. In the matter of winning Danica Pierce's heart, however, he's been far less successful. With her verdict to keep things purely physical with no chance of appeal, Ezra struggles to show Danica he's more than the insufferable playboy she's pegged him to be--especially since they find themselves on opposing sides of Danica's most important case to date.
While Dani and Ezra battle it out in the courtroom, the real trial is the one happening between them. When Dani realizes that everything she knows of Ezra might be hearsay--and that she's not the only one with emotional baggage--she must choose between her fear of trusting again and the feelings blossoming between her and the man she thought was her worst enemy.
Danica Pierce has one great love in her life: work. As one of the top divorce lawyers in Austin, Danica lets her caseload keep her warm at night and has no problem being married to her job, not when love only ends in hurt. When the biggest case of her career gives her a shot at making partner, it seems like nothing could possibly stand in her way...except for her infuriating secret: she's sleeping with the enemy.
Ezra Hart is known for charming his way in and out of a courtroom. In the matter of winning Danica Pierce's heart, however, he's been far less successful. With her verdict to keep things purely physical with no chance of appeal, Ezra struggles to show Danica he's more than the insufferable playboy she's pegged him to be--especially since they find themselves on opposing sides of Danica's most important case to date.
While Dani and Ezra battle it out in the courtroom, the real trial is the one happening between them. When Dani realizes that everything she knows of Ezra might be hearsay--and that she's not the only one with emotional baggage--she must choose between her fear of trusting again and the feelings blossoming between her and the man she thought was her worst enemy.
432 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,156 reviews
August 29, 2025
SITTING ON EZRA'S LAP WOULD DEFINITELY HEAL ME 🙂↕️🫸🏻
April 20, 2025
2.5 Stars. I'll round up because I feel a little bad. It's not that I think the book is terrible - it's just not really my taste.
We follow our FMC, Danica and our MMC, Ezra who are both attorneys at separate firms. The two end up as opposing counsel in a major divorce case between two very wealthy and powerful individuals.
I tried. And all of these stars are basically for Ezra, I thought he was a great MMC. Sure, he could have been a little more fleshed out. But all and all I loved him. He had swag, a great personality, a sense of humor. Definitely seemed like he could lay the pipe lol.
The characters are supposed to be in their thirty's I believe? It's a little hard to believe when these two have so many issues with their parents. To a degree I can understand Ezra's circumstances. He comes from a wealthy family. His father is a big powerhouse attorney name. It made a little more sense to me why he may have some daddy issues that are difficult to navigate.
But Danica? Girl bye. You're mad at the ripe age of thirty something that your parents are best friends after divorce? Oh how terrible. First world problems. I mean really cry me a river.
It's completely reasonable to have family issues no matter your age - it's just the way the character comes across sounding like a child. World hinging on what her parents do. Woe is me.
There's also a fair amount of miscommunication and complete lack of communication sprinkled with a steady seasoning of avoidance of communication. Again, understandable to a degree but got really old with repetition. I understand feelings are scary but at your mid thirties you should be able to talk.
Every single time these two seemed like they were about to talk about their feelings. Or LITERALLY just talk it was brushed off to bang. Which was pretty frustrating. Not sure what the author was trying to do there other than not develop her characters.
There is a side story going on regarding the case the two are 'opposing' counsel on that made for an interesting side story and of course Ezra was a gem the whole time, I wish there was a little more to his character.
Danica annoyed me the entire time. She doesn't even deserve him lol.
I do think this would make for a good beach read. Steamy minimal substance romance.
💜Enemies to Lovers
💜Workplace Rivals
💜Forbidden Romance
💜He Falls First
💜She's in Denial
💜Emotional Scars
💜Rival Lawyers
Expected Pub Date - 07/05/25
Thank you for the advanced digital copy, Berkley Pub (besties 🌷) - all thoughts are my own.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
We follow our FMC, Danica and our MMC, Ezra who are both attorneys at separate firms. The two end up as opposing counsel in a major divorce case between two very wealthy and powerful individuals.
I tried. And all of these stars are basically for Ezra, I thought he was a great MMC. Sure, he could have been a little more fleshed out. But all and all I loved him. He had swag, a great personality, a sense of humor. Definitely seemed like he could lay the pipe lol.
The characters are supposed to be in their thirty's I believe? It's a little hard to believe when these two have so many issues with their parents. To a degree I can understand Ezra's circumstances. He comes from a wealthy family. His father is a big powerhouse attorney name. It made a little more sense to me why he may have some daddy issues that are difficult to navigate.
But Danica? Girl bye. You're mad at the ripe age of thirty something that your parents are best friends after divorce? Oh how terrible. First world problems. I mean really cry me a river.
It's completely reasonable to have family issues no matter your age - it's just the way the character comes across sounding like a child. World hinging on what her parents do. Woe is me.
There's also a fair amount of miscommunication and complete lack of communication sprinkled with a steady seasoning of avoidance of communication. Again, understandable to a degree but got really old with repetition. I understand feelings are scary but at your mid thirties you should be able to talk.
Every single time these two seemed like they were about to talk about their feelings. Or LITERALLY just talk it was brushed off to bang. Which was pretty frustrating. Not sure what the author was trying to do there other than not develop her characters.
There is a side story going on regarding the case the two are 'opposing' counsel on that made for an interesting side story and of course Ezra was a gem the whole time, I wish there was a little more to his character.
Danica annoyed me the entire time. She doesn't even deserve him lol.
I do think this would make for a good beach read. Steamy minimal substance romance.
💜Enemies to Lovers
💜Workplace Rivals
💜Forbidden Romance
💜He Falls First
💜She's in Denial
💜Emotional Scars
💜Rival Lawyers
Expected Pub Date - 07/05/25
Thank you for the advanced digital copy, Berkley Pub (besties 🌷) - all thoughts are my own.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
April 21, 2025
thank you to netgalley for providing this arc!!
i am ever so slightly conflicted on this one, so i am going to try and list out the things i liked vs. disliked as i feel that'll be the easiest way to get my feelings across!!
things i liked:
- lana's writing, i always love her writing style and how easy it is to digest her books, and this one is no exception
- i find the spice in lana's books to always be written very well
- loved the chemistry between the characters, felt very believable and their 'banter' was fun
- the sub plot of the legal proceedings in this one was SUPER interesting to me
- the sprinkling of a lil romance between the side characters was so fun (although i will say i almost wanted to hear their story more than the main characters one haha)
things i didn't like as much:
- i feel like the romantic connection was slightly lacking - the chemistry was definitely there but i didn't feel that overwhelming romantic connection between them
- part of me feels like the MMC in this kinda deserved better....which isn't something i say often about men lol
- the FMC was kinda mean!!!!!!!!
overall, a very easily digestible and fun book, and the legal side of this was super interesting. the MMC was a cutie pie and i adored him, but again, the FMC felt a tad too mean and i felt like the 'i hate you' side of the hate-to-love aspect was a tad forced and quite repetitive. i would recommend if you want a quick and easy spicy romance with an interesting sub-plot, and a super cute and obsessed MMC!
i am ever so slightly conflicted on this one, so i am going to try and list out the things i liked vs. disliked as i feel that'll be the easiest way to get my feelings across!!
things i liked:
- lana's writing, i always love her writing style and how easy it is to digest her books, and this one is no exception
- i find the spice in lana's books to always be written very well
- loved the chemistry between the characters, felt very believable and their 'banter' was fun
- the sub plot of the legal proceedings in this one was SUPER interesting to me
- the sprinkling of a lil romance between the side characters was so fun (although i will say i almost wanted to hear their story more than the main characters one haha)
things i didn't like as much:
- i feel like the romantic connection was slightly lacking - the chemistry was definitely there but i didn't feel that overwhelming romantic connection between them
- part of me feels like the MMC in this kinda deserved better....which isn't something i say often about men lol
- the FMC was kinda mean!!!!!!!!
overall, a very easily digestible and fun book, and the legal side of this was super interesting. the MMC was a cutie pie and i adored him, but again, the FMC felt a tad too mean and i felt like the 'i hate you' side of the hate-to-love aspect was a tad forced and quite repetitive. i would recommend if you want a quick and easy spicy romance with an interesting sub-plot, and a super cute and obsessed MMC!
July 9, 2025
⭐️ 3.5 stars — for Ezra and the chaos only, your honor. ⭐️
So we’re just gonna pretend Danica’s biggest childhood trauma wasn’t her parents... being best friends after a divorce? 😃 Like. Be so serious rn. I don’t know whether to cry or roll off my bed laughing. First world problems jumped OUT.
💼 Rival divorce lawyers. Secret hookups. All the courtroom tension. The premise? Had me seated. I love mess like this. And I’m no stranger to Lana Ferguson’s writing—this woman can deliver spice and banter—but this one? Let’s just say I object to several things. 💅
Ezra Hart. Baby boy. You deserved a standing ovation and maybe a better love interest. He was genuinely funny, charming, and respectful, with just the right amount of swoon. Did he get enough depth? No. But did he carry the book? 100%. I'm in his corner forever.
Danica, on the other hand… I tried. I really did. But you’re 30+ and acting like your whole worldview shattered because your divorced parents still get along??? Girl. Grow up. Go to therapy. Buy a journal. SOMETHING. Her emotional immaturity was giving teenager trapped in a lawyer’s body. 😭
There was SO much potential here—like, the court scenes were genuinely fun and the legal side plot was juicy. And I’ll admit, the steam? Yeah, Lana never misses there. But every time there was a chance for emotional vulnerability, they just…banged instead. Again. And again. Like pls talk for ONCE.
Not to mention—we were stuck in a constant loop:
Chemistry? Yes. Romantic development? Not so much. If you’re looking for angst and depth, you’re not getting that verdict here.
💘 Would I still recommend this? For a beach day? Sure. It's bingeable, spicy, and easy to read. But if you're hoping for layered romance and emotional payoff...file this one under case dismissed.
Tropes you’ll find:
💼 Enemies to Lovers
💘 He Falls First
💼 Workplace Romance
💘 Forbidden Hookups
💼 Grumpy×Sunshine (but she’s the grump!)
💘 Divorce lawyers falling in love?? yeah.
━━━━━━━━━━━⊱♡⊰━━━━━━━━━━
💌 Overruled by Lana Ferguson
🎧 Narrated by Connor Crais & Samantha Summers
Okay… TWO rival divorce lawyers secretly hooking up while battling in court??? Yeah I need this.
I’ve read two books by Lana before and had mixed feelings, but this premise?? It’s giving.
💼 Enemies-to-Lovers.
💘 Enemies-with-Benefits.
💼 Divorce lawyers falling in love while destroying marriages.
💘 He falls so hard first.
💼 Grumpy×Sunshine—but SHE’S the grump???
Yeah this is sounding like my kind of mess.
I’m going in with cautious hopes but these tropes?? They’re already winning the case.
Here’s to hoping the angst hits, the spice delivers, and Ezra gets me wrecked emotionally 😌🫶
So we’re just gonna pretend Danica’s biggest childhood trauma wasn’t her parents... being best friends after a divorce? 😃 Like. Be so serious rn. I don’t know whether to cry or roll off my bed laughing. First world problems jumped OUT.
💼 Rival divorce lawyers. Secret hookups. All the courtroom tension. The premise? Had me seated. I love mess like this. And I’m no stranger to Lana Ferguson’s writing—this woman can deliver spice and banter—but this one? Let’s just say I object to several things. 💅
Ezra Hart. Baby boy. You deserved a standing ovation and maybe a better love interest. He was genuinely funny, charming, and respectful, with just the right amount of swoon. Did he get enough depth? No. But did he carry the book? 100%. I'm in his corner forever.
Danica, on the other hand… I tried. I really did. But you’re 30+ and acting like your whole worldview shattered because your divorced parents still get along??? Girl. Grow up. Go to therapy. Buy a journal. SOMETHING. Her emotional immaturity was giving teenager trapped in a lawyer’s body. 😭
There was SO much potential here—like, the court scenes were genuinely fun and the legal side plot was juicy. And I’ll admit, the steam? Yeah, Lana never misses there. But every time there was a chance for emotional vulnerability, they just…banged instead. Again. And again. Like pls talk for ONCE.
Not to mention—we were stuck in a constant loop:
“We shouldn’t do this.”
Does it anyway.
“We have to stop.”
Rinse and repeat.
Chemistry? Yes. Romantic development? Not so much. If you’re looking for angst and depth, you’re not getting that verdict here.
💘 Would I still recommend this? For a beach day? Sure. It's bingeable, spicy, and easy to read. But if you're hoping for layered romance and emotional payoff...file this one under case dismissed.
Tropes you’ll find:
💼 Enemies to Lovers
💘 He Falls First
💼 Workplace Romance
💘 Forbidden Hookups
💼 Grumpy×Sunshine (but she’s the grump!)
💘 Divorce lawyers falling in love?? yeah.
━━━━━━━━━━━⊱♡⊰━━━━━━━━━━
💌 Overruled by Lana Ferguson
🎧 Narrated by Connor Crais & Samantha Summers
Okay… TWO rival divorce lawyers secretly hooking up while battling in court??? Yeah I need this.
I’ve read two books by Lana before and had mixed feelings, but this premise?? It’s giving.
💼 Enemies-to-Lovers.
💘 Enemies-with-Benefits.
💼 Divorce lawyers falling in love while destroying marriages.
💘 He falls so hard first.
💼 Grumpy×Sunshine—but SHE’S the grump???
Yeah this is sounding like my kind of mess.
I’m going in with cautious hopes but these tropes?? They’re already winning the case.
Here’s to hoping the angst hits, the spice delivers, and Ezra gets me wrecked emotionally 😌🫶
August 6, 2025
Powerhouse of steamy romance is back with my favorite guilty pleasure—the ultimate trope romance authors love to gift us: enemies to lovers! This trope is my absolute kryptonite, impossible to resist, and this book delivers a couple so electric, you can’t help but be hooked.
Two fierce divorce lawyers who thrive on pushing each other's buttons—and occasionally ripping each other’s clothes off—make for the perfect fictional duo. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry is off the charts, and beneath all the tension, they both carry deep emotional wounds from their families, which may have shaped their career choices.
Danica is still navigating the chaos of her dysfunctional family, complete with her divorced parents' unconventional new relationships. She’s determined to land a coveted partnership at her firm, but to do so, she must win the biggest divorce case of her career—against none other than her ultimate nemesis, Ezra Hart, a man known for playing dirty to get what he wants.
Raising the stakes is one thing, but what Dani never expected was to find herself tangled up in a heated, no-strings-attached arrangement with the man she swore to despise. Ezra is infuriating, arrogant, and absolutely irresistible. But what if he’s not the heartless jerk she thought he was? What if she’s been blinded by her past heartbreak? As she gets to know the man beneath the ruthless lawyer, she begins to see him in a different light—one that might just threaten the walls she’s built.
How will she handle it when falling for her enemy becomes her biggest challenge yet—right in the middle of the case that could define her entire career?
I loved every second of this book! The banter, the tension, the sizzling romance—everything was chef’s kiss. Supporting characters Nate and Vera also stole the show with their witty and sexy exchanges (they totally deserve their own book!). But of course, Ezra and Dani’s dynamic was the heart of the story, delivering the perfect blend of steam, romance, and emotional depth.
Lana Ferguson never disappoints when it comes to balancing passion, sharp dialogue, and smartly written smut. A well-earned five stars from me!
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with yet another phenomenal romance in exchange for my honest review.
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Two fierce divorce lawyers who thrive on pushing each other's buttons—and occasionally ripping each other’s clothes off—make for the perfect fictional duo. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry is off the charts, and beneath all the tension, they both carry deep emotional wounds from their families, which may have shaped their career choices.
Danica is still navigating the chaos of her dysfunctional family, complete with her divorced parents' unconventional new relationships. She’s determined to land a coveted partnership at her firm, but to do so, she must win the biggest divorce case of her career—against none other than her ultimate nemesis, Ezra Hart, a man known for playing dirty to get what he wants.
Raising the stakes is one thing, but what Dani never expected was to find herself tangled up in a heated, no-strings-attached arrangement with the man she swore to despise. Ezra is infuriating, arrogant, and absolutely irresistible. But what if he’s not the heartless jerk she thought he was? What if she’s been blinded by her past heartbreak? As she gets to know the man beneath the ruthless lawyer, she begins to see him in a different light—one that might just threaten the walls she’s built.
How will she handle it when falling for her enemy becomes her biggest challenge yet—right in the middle of the case that could define her entire career?
I loved every second of this book! The banter, the tension, the sizzling romance—everything was chef’s kiss. Supporting characters Nate and Vera also stole the show with their witty and sexy exchanges (they totally deserve their own book!). But of course, Ezra and Dani’s dynamic was the heart of the story, delivering the perfect blend of steam, romance, and emotional depth.
Lana Ferguson never disappoints when it comes to balancing passion, sharp dialogue, and smartly written smut. A well-earned five stars from me!
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with yet another phenomenal romance in exchange for my honest review.
blog
June 26, 2025
“𝑻𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆, 𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒊.” 𝑬𝒛𝒓𝒂’𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉. “𝑶𝒓 𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑻𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆, 𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
I am a HUGE fan of lawyer shows so the way I was eating up the jargon in this book was INSANE 😮💨💼 I loved this rivals-to-lovers trope and I just KNOW you would love it too. Oh and did I mention they basically already in a friends with benefits situation while also being rivals the whole time?! 🔥😏
Can we please take a moment and talk about how these two lawyers are on opposite counsel in a divorce case?! AND since they’ve already slept together multiple times before the case starts, the tension is literally THICKKK 😵💫 And the “your honor, objection” energy?? Idk why lawyers are so sexy to me (tbh I blame Suits) 🙂↕️
The banter between Danica Pierce and Ezra Hart, plus the ‘hate’ between them, had me laughing and hooked from the very first pages. The chemistry? Immaculate. The climb so worth it 👩❤️💋👨✨
What I love about Lana is that she can make me laugh out loud and then hit me with emotional depth right after 😭💔 She always brings humor, but she never forgets to give her stories heart. Both lawyers have complicated families and are still dealing with past trauma, which really adds meaning to how their relationship unfolds. The emotional layers snuck up on me in the BEST way 🥹💕
AGH I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. If you’re into sizzling tension, whip-smart banter, and characters who fight in court and fall in love out of it… this one is a MUST-READ! ⚖️💘
tropes
⚖️ rivals to lovers
⚖️ he falls first
⚖️ forced proximity
⚖️ friends to benefits situation
⚖️ work romance
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ Lana neeever disappoints me and two lawyers that hate each other I AM SOLD I AM SAT. Thank you Berkley for my eARC
I am a HUGE fan of lawyer shows so the way I was eating up the jargon in this book was INSANE 😮💨💼 I loved this rivals-to-lovers trope and I just KNOW you would love it too. Oh and did I mention they basically already in a friends with benefits situation while also being rivals the whole time?! 🔥😏
Can we please take a moment and talk about how these two lawyers are on opposite counsel in a divorce case?! AND since they’ve already slept together multiple times before the case starts, the tension is literally THICKKK 😵💫 And the “your honor, objection” energy?? Idk why lawyers are so sexy to me (tbh I blame Suits) 🙂↕️
The banter between Danica Pierce and Ezra Hart, plus the ‘hate’ between them, had me laughing and hooked from the very first pages. The chemistry? Immaculate. The climb so worth it 👩❤️💋👨✨
What I love about Lana is that she can make me laugh out loud and then hit me with emotional depth right after 😭💔 She always brings humor, but she never forgets to give her stories heart. Both lawyers have complicated families and are still dealing with past trauma, which really adds meaning to how their relationship unfolds. The emotional layers snuck up on me in the BEST way 🥹💕
AGH I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. If you’re into sizzling tension, whip-smart banter, and characters who fight in court and fall in love out of it… this one is a MUST-READ! ⚖️💘
tropes
⚖️ rivals to lovers
⚖️ he falls first
⚖️ forced proximity
⚖️ friends to benefits situation
⚖️ work romance
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ Lana neeever disappoints me and two lawyers that hate each other I AM SOLD I AM SAT. Thank you Berkley for my eARC
September 4, 2025
the highlight of this book was me finishing it and coming out alive. yes, it’s THAT bad.
it truly started off fun, i was enjoying the first 30% to 35% and then everything fell apart. we have these two rival lawyers who are also fuck buddies while repeatedly (mainly from the fmc’s side) they say they’ll stop but they keep coming back to each other. there was lots of banter and verbal sparring at the first quarter of the book and I really enjoyed that. I’m not gonna pretend it didn’t exist but then it started feeling bland.
i didn’t find anything interesting about both dani and ezra they were so shallow and boring. reading their chapters felt so painful. then i started skipping over the smut. not because it’s bad but because it was all repetitive and I got tired of that.
the plot didn’t grip me either because I was literally fighting for my life so i didn’t even get to enjoy that part 😭
their dialogues and interactions felt super childish given the fact these two are lawyers!! and that irritated me a lot.
this is my second lana book and unfortunately both books ended up being disappointments.
***ARC Provided by the Publisher Berkley Publishing Group***
it truly started off fun, i was enjoying the first 30% to 35% and then everything fell apart. we have these two rival lawyers who are also fuck buddies while repeatedly (mainly from the fmc’s side) they say they’ll stop but they keep coming back to each other. there was lots of banter and verbal sparring at the first quarter of the book and I really enjoyed that. I’m not gonna pretend it didn’t exist but then it started feeling bland.
i didn’t find anything interesting about both dani and ezra they were so shallow and boring. reading their chapters felt so painful. then i started skipping over the smut. not because it’s bad but because it was all repetitive and I got tired of that.
the plot didn’t grip me either because I was literally fighting for my life so i didn’t even get to enjoy that part 😭
their dialogues and interactions felt super childish given the fact these two are lawyers!! and that irritated me a lot.
this is my second lana book and unfortunately both books ended up being disappointments.
***ARC Provided by the Publisher Berkley Publishing Group***
July 8, 2025
they were fucking in the prologue itself.
August 5, 2025
✩ 4.5 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Rivals-to-Lovers
➼ Workplace Romance
➼ Enemies with Benefits
➼ He Falls First
➼ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
➼ Forbidden Romance
➼ “This is the Last Time”
➼ He calls her “Sour Patch”
➼ Duet Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV
Ezra… the man that you are. 😍 I genuinely loved this so much and Ezra is now easily in my top five contemporary romance MMC’s! He was so cheeky and loved to pester her, but he knew the FMC SO well. He paid such close attention to her that he could read all of her facial expressions and predict how she would respond in every situation. Is there anything more attractive than a man who cares enough to truly pay attention and be what you need? They started out casual, but he was down bad for her from his first glance. I don’t always love the inclusion of no strings attached intimacy in books, but in this case it felt like he wanted her so much that he would take any pieces of her that she was willing to give him.
From her perspective, she was clearly scared of commitment and the prospect of being hurt. I felt like she wanted to be with him equally as much, but was in complete denial about it. If you don’t like Danica, I’m gonna assume that you’re not an oldest or only child because I completely understood her. She was NOT upset that her parents got along after they divorced. She was upset because she is hard wired to never ask anyone for anything and she feels like her parents gave up half their life and the prospect of finding love and true happiness because of her. She feels like a burden and that is the last thing the oldest or only daughter ever wants to be. Her parent’s relationship also impacted her ability to trust in the validity of love. She spent her whole life believing that love was what she was seeing when she looked at her parents. Finding out that that was a lie would absolutely change your perspective on love.
All of these feelings plus a traumatic breakup would have anyone running scared. Ezra was willing to put in the time and energy and wait for her to be ready. He pushed her at the right moments and gave her space when she needed it. He really said just the sweetest most earnest things to her too! 🥹 Just an incredible character!
I’ve read all of Lana’s books and this one is definitely my favorite. 💖 I say ignore the negative reviews and read it!🙃
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Dang, you guys aren’t loving this one, but I’m still going for it! Hope it’s better than her Loch Ness Monster romance... 😆
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Rivals-to-Lovers
➼ Workplace Romance
➼ Enemies with Benefits
➼ He Falls First
➼ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
➼ Forbidden Romance
➼ “This is the Last Time”
➼ He calls her “Sour Patch”
➼ Duet Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV
Ezra… the man that you are. 😍 I genuinely loved this so much and Ezra is now easily in my top five contemporary romance MMC’s! He was so cheeky and loved to pester her, but he knew the FMC SO well. He paid such close attention to her that he could read all of her facial expressions and predict how she would respond in every situation. Is there anything more attractive than a man who cares enough to truly pay attention and be what you need? They started out casual, but he was down bad for her from his first glance. I don’t always love the inclusion of no strings attached intimacy in books, but in this case it felt like he wanted her so much that he would take any pieces of her that she was willing to give him.
From her perspective, she was clearly scared of commitment and the prospect of being hurt. I felt like she wanted to be with him equally as much, but was in complete denial about it. If you don’t like Danica, I’m gonna assume that you’re not an oldest or only child because I completely understood her. She was NOT upset that her parents got along after they divorced. She was upset because she is hard wired to never ask anyone for anything and she feels like her parents gave up half their life and the prospect of finding love and true happiness because of her. She feels like a burden and that is the last thing the oldest or only daughter ever wants to be. Her parent’s relationship also impacted her ability to trust in the validity of love. She spent her whole life believing that love was what she was seeing when she looked at her parents. Finding out that that was a lie would absolutely change your perspective on love.
All of these feelings plus a traumatic breakup would have anyone running scared. Ezra was willing to put in the time and energy and wait for her to be ready. He pushed her at the right moments and gave her space when she needed it. He really said just the sweetest most earnest things to her too! 🥹 Just an incredible character!
I’ve read all of Lana’s books and this one is definitely my favorite. 💖 I say ignore the negative reviews and read it!🙃
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Dang, you guys aren’t loving this one, but I’m still going for it! Hope it’s better than her Loch Ness Monster romance... 😆
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
July 1, 2025
“Even when you didn’t want it to be. I think every single part of you has always been for me.”
——— 🩵⚖️ happy release day! ⚖️🩵
i wasn’t sure if i would like this at first because im not a fan of already established dynamics— but Dani and Ezra already sleeping together didn’t bother me. i also thought the whole “rival divorce lawyer” plot line would bore me, but i actually enjoyed the courtroom scenes too. Dani was a bit frustrating in the beginning with all her back and forth over Ezra, she just had to learn for herself that there was more to him than she thought. i loved Ezra’s mom, she’s so sweet and Dani’s two friends were fun as well. i think both of the characters have convinced themselves that they have to have a hardened shell for the outside world, so seeing them be domestic and open up to each other was what they both needed. Ezra might be outwardly confident but he’s got so many things he feels he has no control over and Dani is the only person who can make him feel at ease. i’m glad he stood up for himself at the end and things resolved more quickly after.. that epilogue was so cute.
“I wonder how I ever thought I would be just casual with someone like Dani. She’s the kind of person who leaves a mark, an impression that never really fades, and she’s marked me up good.”
➛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
——— 🩵⚖️ happy release day! ⚖️🩵
i wasn’t sure if i would like this at first because im not a fan of already established dynamics— but Dani and Ezra already sleeping together didn’t bother me. i also thought the whole “rival divorce lawyer” plot line would bore me, but i actually enjoyed the courtroom scenes too. Dani was a bit frustrating in the beginning with all her back and forth over Ezra, she just had to learn for herself that there was more to him than she thought. i loved Ezra’s mom, she’s so sweet and Dani’s two friends were fun as well. i think both of the characters have convinced themselves that they have to have a hardened shell for the outside world, so seeing them be domestic and open up to each other was what they both needed. Ezra might be outwardly confident but he’s got so many things he feels he has no control over and Dani is the only person who can make him feel at ease. i’m glad he stood up for himself at the end and things resolved more quickly after.. that epilogue was so cute.
“I wonder how I ever thought I would be just casual with someone like Dani. She’s the kind of person who leaves a mark, an impression that never really fades, and she’s marked me up good.”
➛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Want to read
October 28, 2024Wait, I’m actually so excited for this after the trope reveal?! 🤭
Tropes
✨ Enemies with benefits
✨ Rival lawyers
✨ Grumpy/sunshine
✨ He falls first
✨ Bathroom sexcapades 👀
✨ “This is the last time”
Tropes
✨ Enemies with benefits
✨ Rival lawyers
✨ Grumpy/sunshine
✨ He falls first
✨ Bathroom sexcapades 👀
✨ “This is the last time”
June 26, 2025
3.5 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Lana Ferguson for the eARC! 💌
When I was approved for Overruled I was literally screaming — a rival lawyer romance from Lana Ferguson?! YES PLEASE. As a huge fangirl of Law & Order AND Lana Ferguson, this was an immediate TBR add. And with a July 1st release? 📅 Perfect timing to grab a copy for your next vacation read! ☀️🏖️
So, here’s the deal: I was entertained. Ezra? OBSESSED. 🥹💖 He was everything — charming, sweet, just the right amount of trouble. Danica? Ughhh, mixed feelings. 😅 She was fun at times, but her whole thing about being mad at her parents for having a mature, friendly divorce? GIRL. You’re in your 30s — isn’t that the dream outcome? That part was a little hard to get past.
Also… I love a good communication trope. 📢 But this book? Yeah, it chose no communication and stuck to it. 😂 It veered into unhealthy territory a few times and made me want to shake both of them.
BUT I still had a good time! The chemistry was 🔥, the banter was solid, and of course, Lana Ferguson always delivers on the spice.
👉 If you’re into:
💼 Rivals-to-lovers
💼 Divorce lawyer drama
💼 Steamy slow burn
💼 Beach or poolside reads
This one is a fun, quick pick! 🏝️
Big thanks again to NetGalley, Berkley, and Lana Ferguson for letting me read this early! 💌
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Lana Ferguson for the eARC! 💌
When I was approved for Overruled I was literally screaming — a rival lawyer romance from Lana Ferguson?! YES PLEASE. As a huge fangirl of Law & Order AND Lana Ferguson, this was an immediate TBR add. And with a July 1st release? 📅 Perfect timing to grab a copy for your next vacation read! ☀️🏖️
So, here’s the deal: I was entertained. Ezra? OBSESSED. 🥹💖 He was everything — charming, sweet, just the right amount of trouble. Danica? Ughhh, mixed feelings. 😅 She was fun at times, but her whole thing about being mad at her parents for having a mature, friendly divorce? GIRL. You’re in your 30s — isn’t that the dream outcome? That part was a little hard to get past.
Also… I love a good communication trope. 📢 But this book? Yeah, it chose no communication and stuck to it. 😂 It veered into unhealthy territory a few times and made me want to shake both of them.
BUT I still had a good time! The chemistry was 🔥, the banter was solid, and of course, Lana Ferguson always delivers on the spice.
👉 If you’re into:
💼 Rivals-to-lovers
💼 Divorce lawyer drama
💼 Steamy slow burn
💼 Beach or poolside reads
This one is a fun, quick pick! 🏝️
Big thanks again to NetGalley, Berkley, and Lana Ferguson for letting me read this early! 💌
July 6, 2025
Overruled is a rivals with benefits romance following Dani, a young divorce lawyer up for junior partner at her firm, and Ezra, the opposing counsel on the case that will make or break her promotion. This was such an exciting and messy romance! I loved how Ezra and Dani were so enamored with each other and how that came through with their banter and fighting. The constant will they or won't they was so fun and invigorating, the two just had so much apparent chemistry and connection. I also loved getting to explore the legal system a little and diving straight into the divorce case; it added the perfect touch of drama and mystery to the plot. Overall, this romance gave me everything I could want and more: relatable characters, swoony romance, family drama, and so much steam!
Read if you like:
⚖Enemies with Benefits⚖
⚖He Falls First⚖
⚖Rivals to Lovers⚖
⚖Dual POV⚖
⚖Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine⚖
⚖Workplace Romance⚖
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Read if you like:
⚖Enemies with Benefits⚖
⚖He Falls First⚖
⚖Rivals to Lovers⚖
⚖Dual POV⚖
⚖Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine⚖
⚖Workplace Romance⚖
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
July 1, 2025
Happy Release Day!!
"Don't you know?" I lean in brushing my lips across hers, smiling. "I've loved you for ages, Dani. I've just been waiting for you to catch up."
3.5 stars
A wobbly beginning with a fantastic middle and an OK ending.
So yeah, the beginning was a little rough for me. It was solely about sex and neither one of them being able to have a regular conversation without making a ton of innuendos are being immediately affected by them. I am all about spice, but I don't like it when it becomes the focal point of a story and is there just to rank up in 🌶️
Also, Dani was like...such a B. To Ezra, to her poor parents? That whole thing was just weird and unfair imo, so it took some time to warm up to her.
But once we actually got into the storyline and they got a little more space I really started to enjoy this. There aren't a ton of lawyer romances out there, at least that I've read, so it seemed more fresh than some other romances. And the writing here is just so great. So entertaining, engaging, and it flows so well. Lana's books are so easy to read and I've loved discovering her as newer author.
But there was a third act breakup that I didn't really care for. The typical formula: FMC feels betrayed for some reason > FMC overreacts and doesn't give MMC chance to say or do anything > FMC feels like an asshole later. Please. PLEASE. Give us a little more emotionally stable FMCs that aren't stereotypical.
But would still recommend for any romance readers 🩷
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
"Don't you know?" I lean in brushing my lips across hers, smiling. "I've loved you for ages, Dani. I've just been waiting for you to catch up."
3.5 stars
A wobbly beginning with a fantastic middle and an OK ending.
So yeah, the beginning was a little rough for me. It was solely about sex and neither one of them being able to have a regular conversation without making a ton of innuendos are being immediately affected by them. I am all about spice, but I don't like it when it becomes the focal point of a story and is there just to rank up in 🌶️
Also, Dani was like...such a B. To Ezra, to her poor parents? That whole thing was just weird and unfair imo, so it took some time to warm up to her.
But once we actually got into the storyline and they got a little more space I really started to enjoy this. There aren't a ton of lawyer romances out there, at least that I've read, so it seemed more fresh than some other romances. And the writing here is just so great. So entertaining, engaging, and it flows so well. Lana's books are so easy to read and I've loved discovering her as newer author.
But there was a third act breakup that I didn't really care for. The typical formula: FMC feels betrayed for some reason > FMC overreacts and doesn't give MMC chance to say or do anything > FMC feels like an asshole later. Please. PLEASE. Give us a little more emotionally stable FMCs that aren't stereotypical.
But would still recommend for any romance readers 🩷
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
February 5, 2025
what is this blasphemy 😭 i didn’t, like, absolutely ADORE this but it wasn’t bad by any means. i feel like dani and ezra are her most fleshed out characters to date- yet i think it’s exactly that making the story feel a little unrealistic because…their backgrounds are sooo extremely outrageous and traumatic? aside from that, their work rivalry was actually very interesting and the legal aspect (while very well done) i did tune out of so sorry hahaha
it was quite bingeable and i finished it in one sitting! i love her books for this exact reason AND the smut was *insane* i must say 👀 miss girl outdoes herself every time and we really begin with a…wait for it: bang! ba dam tssss
thank you to netgalley and berkley for an arc!!
it was quite bingeable and i finished it in one sitting! i love her books for this exact reason AND the smut was *insane* i must say 👀 miss girl outdoes herself every time and we really begin with a…wait for it: bang! ba dam tssss
thank you to netgalley and berkley for an arc!!
June 29, 2025
Hating Games vibes, banter + rivalry - I was definitely entertained by Danica & Ezra’s story! ✨
Thank you Berkley & Penguin Random House Audio for the ARC & ALC. All opinions are my own.
✦ tropes & stuff:
⚖️ rival lawyers
✨ enemies with benefits
🐈⬛ black cat x golden retriever
🤭 “this is the last time” on repeat
💙 he falls first
🧳 family trauma/baggage
💞 dual 1st person pov
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 audio/ebook | ⭐️: 4.5 | 🌶️: 3 |
This was a fun read/listen. Danica & Ezra were quite the pair, and I loved the whole “this is the last time” - but we all KNOW she’s coming back for more - energy! 😍
💭 what I loved about this one:
- their banter & dynamic
- “I don’t WANT to want you”
- how Ezra was definitely secretly crushing on Danica hard, and she was resisting falling for him every step of the way
🙃 what didn’t quite work for me:
- it took me a bit to get into and I’m not sure why!
- there wasn’t really anything unique about this, it was kind of forgettable
- Danica’s views on her parents’ relationship felt immature, and it didn’t really make sense why it affected her SO deeply as an adult
🎙 narrated by: Samantha Summers & Connor Crais
🎧 audiobook thoughts:
DUET narration is always a hit for me! I love this duo, and they really fit the MCs super well 😍
📖 Overruled by Lana Ferguson
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ➳❥ pre-read
2 lawyers who have a physical relationship where he wants more?! I’m ready for banter & pining 🥹
AND it’s narrated in duet by CONNOR CRAIS 😮💨 & Samantha Summers?!
Thank you so much to Berkley for the eARC & PRH Audio for the ALC!
Thank you Berkley & Penguin Random House Audio for the ARC & ALC. All opinions are my own.
✦ tropes & stuff:
⚖️ rival lawyers
✨ enemies with benefits
🐈⬛ black cat x golden retriever
🤭 “this is the last time” on repeat
💙 he falls first
🧳 family trauma/baggage
💞 dual 1st person pov
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 audio/ebook | ⭐️: 4.5 | 🌶️: 3 |
This was a fun read/listen. Danica & Ezra were quite the pair, and I loved the whole “this is the last time” - but we all KNOW she’s coming back for more - energy! 😍
💭 what I loved about this one:
- their banter & dynamic
- “I don’t WANT to want you”
- how Ezra was definitely secretly crushing on Danica hard, and she was resisting falling for him every step of the way
🙃 what didn’t quite work for me:
- it took me a bit to get into and I’m not sure why!
- there wasn’t really anything unique about this, it was kind of forgettable
- Danica’s views on her parents’ relationship felt immature, and it didn’t really make sense why it affected her SO deeply as an adult
🎙 narrated by: Samantha Summers & Connor Crais
🎧 audiobook thoughts:
DUET narration is always a hit for me! I love this duo, and they really fit the MCs super well 😍
📖 Overruled by Lana Ferguson
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ➳❥ pre-read
2 lawyers who have a physical relationship where he wants more?! I’m ready for banter & pining 🥹
AND it’s narrated in duet by CONNOR CRAIS 😮💨 & Samantha Summers?!
Thank you so much to Berkley for the eARC & PRH Audio for the ALC!
June 26, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
i finished this in LESS THAN 24HRS, in a surprise to NO ONE, because lana ferguson’s writing is second to NONE!
all i can say is: ezra fucking hart embodies men who yearn. thank you, lana, for bringing back men who yearn.
ok, all silly goofiness aside, this truly is one of lana’s best books. the fake mate will always be #1 for me (not only because it was the first book i read by her but also…omegaverse😉), but under loch and key and overruled are tied for #2.
i really loved the courtroom scenes and wish there were more of them, because they were so electrifying and intense. i wish we saw ezra and dani go head to head a little more, because who doesn’t love that type of intellectual tension?
i also loved dani’s character development and growth, and while i felt frustrated with her behavior at times, i can also empathize that her previous platonic and romantic relationships have stunted her trust in others, making her wary to fully open herself to others.
and that the teaser for the mating game…? lana stays feeding her readers amen.
i finished this in LESS THAN 24HRS, in a surprise to NO ONE, because lana ferguson’s writing is second to NONE!
all i can say is: ezra fucking hart embodies men who yearn. thank you, lana, for bringing back men who yearn.
ok, all silly goofiness aside, this truly is one of lana’s best books. the fake mate will always be #1 for me (not only because it was the first book i read by her but also…omegaverse😉), but under loch and key and overruled are tied for #2.
i really loved the courtroom scenes and wish there were more of them, because they were so electrifying and intense. i wish we saw ezra and dani go head to head a little more, because who doesn’t love that type of intellectual tension?
i also loved dani’s character development and growth, and while i felt frustrated with her behavior at times, i can also empathize that her previous platonic and romantic relationships have stunted her trust in others, making her wary to fully open herself to others.
and that the teaser for the mating game…? lana stays feeding her readers amen.
Read
June 5, 2025✦ ✦ ✦ ✧ ✧
⌯⌲ arc review
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆: july 1, 2025
now playing: 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒌 𝒃𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒔
- 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 -
overruled follows two divorce lawyers from opposing firms fighting a forbidden attraction to each other. dani loves her work as a divorce lawyer, she enjoys helping people who are in bad situations be victorious. one of her goals is to become a partner at the firm, and only one victorious case stands in the way… and, well, ezra. ezra, also known as the heartbreak prince in the court room, is known for his charm, but unfortunately for him, dani is immune to his charm. when the two of them are put on opposing sides of the same case, the must decide whether fight the growing attraction between them, or to give in, and possibly risk her career.
- 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 -
ezra, the mmc, YEARNS for most of the book, which isn’t a bad thing, but i guess i like a bit of a challenge. it does seem very cringy and a bit forced at the beginning, but it does get better over time. this book is also marketed as enemies to lovers, but the first chapter, THE FIRST PAGE has smut on it. i’m being completely serious right now. i guess i can kind of understand it because it’s no strings attached sex, but it really didn’t feel like true enemies to lovers. the idea of two rival lawyers was probably one of my favorite parts of this book, because it’s just so good when they’re in the courtroom together. the only bad thing is that they’re divorce lawyers, so one of them is defending a cheater, which isn’t ideal either.
ezra is cocky, but he definitely has a sweeter side that shows as you get into the book. dani, on the other hand, totally has ice queen vibes, which i’m here for. together… wow, they were good together… when they weren’t having sex. i think a lot of the actual bonding between them centered around or happened because they’d hooked up, and that also annoyed me a bit. there’s also some insta love/lust involved, which in my opinion, isn’t bad, i actually enjoy it, but i know that some people dislike it.
- 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕 -
the plot itself was quite predictable, but almost in a good way. there were some twists relating to the main case itself, which i didn’t see coming, but overall it was pretty straightforward. content wise, this book is definitely spicy, sometimes in questionable places, so beware of that. actually, there is a scene where they may or may not do it in her parents bathroom which one, it’s her PARENTS bathroom, and two, who knows when the last time it was cleaned?? the only thing i could think of while reading that was the unsanitary-ness of that scene.
overall, i think this book will definitely find it’s ideal audience, but unfortunately, that’s not me.
𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 -
✦ first person
✧ dual POV
✦ oppposing lawyers
✧ daddy issues
✦ she’s grumpy, he’s sunshine
✧ forced proximity
✦ forbidden romance
✧ spicy
>> thank you to 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 and 𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒌𝒍𝒆𝒚 for an arc - 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 <3
- preread -
new lana ferguson? and the tropes? i’m sold. 💳💥
⌯⌲ arc review
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆: july 1, 2025
now playing: 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒌 𝒃𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒔
- 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 -
overruled follows two divorce lawyers from opposing firms fighting a forbidden attraction to each other. dani loves her work as a divorce lawyer, she enjoys helping people who are in bad situations be victorious. one of her goals is to become a partner at the firm, and only one victorious case stands in the way… and, well, ezra. ezra, also known as the heartbreak prince in the court room, is known for his charm, but unfortunately for him, dani is immune to his charm. when the two of them are put on opposing sides of the same case, the must decide whether fight the growing attraction between them, or to give in, and possibly risk her career.
- 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 -
ezra, the mmc, YEARNS for most of the book, which isn’t a bad thing, but i guess i like a bit of a challenge. it does seem very cringy and a bit forced at the beginning, but it does get better over time. this book is also marketed as enemies to lovers, but the first chapter, THE FIRST PAGE has smut on it. i’m being completely serious right now. i guess i can kind of understand it because it’s no strings attached sex, but it really didn’t feel like true enemies to lovers. the idea of two rival lawyers was probably one of my favorite parts of this book, because it’s just so good when they’re in the courtroom together. the only bad thing is that they’re divorce lawyers, so one of them is defending a cheater, which isn’t ideal either.
ezra is cocky, but he definitely has a sweeter side that shows as you get into the book. dani, on the other hand, totally has ice queen vibes, which i’m here for. together… wow, they were good together… when they weren’t having sex. i think a lot of the actual bonding between them centered around or happened because they’d hooked up, and that also annoyed me a bit. there’s also some insta love/lust involved, which in my opinion, isn’t bad, i actually enjoy it, but i know that some people dislike it.
- 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕 -
the plot itself was quite predictable, but almost in a good way. there were some twists relating to the main case itself, which i didn’t see coming, but overall it was pretty straightforward. content wise, this book is definitely spicy, sometimes in questionable places, so beware of that. actually, there is a scene where they may or may not do it in her parents bathroom which one, it’s her PARENTS bathroom, and two, who knows when the last time it was cleaned?? the only thing i could think of while reading that was the unsanitary-ness of that scene.
overall, i think this book will definitely find it’s ideal audience, but unfortunately, that’s not me.
𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 -
✦ first person
✧ dual POV
✦ oppposing lawyers
✧ daddy issues
✦ she’s grumpy, he’s sunshine
✧ forced proximity
✦ forbidden romance
✧ spicy
>> thank you to 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 and 𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒌𝒍𝒆𝒚 for an arc - 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 <3
- preread -
new lana ferguson? and the tropes? i’m sold. 💳💥
June 23, 2025
Huge thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the Advance Copy!
Overruled by Lana Ferguson just worked for me! I was in the mood for a flirty little romance and this was exactly that! It was fun and sexy and full of banter. The MMC, Ezra, was especially a treat to read about. He was flirty and charming, and absolutely lethal in court. Ezra’s family drama was heartbreaking, but I loved reading about his relationship with his mom. 🥺 The FMC, Dani, was a bit prickly but I thought she was a great character. She carried a lot of blame about her parents ‘failed’ marriage and I loved getting to see her work through it.
The legal plot was super interesting to read and added a bit of a mystery to the story. There was also an ADORABLE side romance that I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of! The highlight of the show was definitely the chemistry between Ezra and Daniel though. Holy smokes! 😮💨 They are opposing counsels who can’t seem to keep their hands off each other outside of court and it just really worked for me 😅😂
I love how smooth Lana’s writing is; her books always feel easy and fun to read! This one is no different, it’s a quick read but so satisfying. 🩷
Overruled by Lana Ferguson just worked for me! I was in the mood for a flirty little romance and this was exactly that! It was fun and sexy and full of banter. The MMC, Ezra, was especially a treat to read about. He was flirty and charming, and absolutely lethal in court. Ezra’s family drama was heartbreaking, but I loved reading about his relationship with his mom. 🥺 The FMC, Dani, was a bit prickly but I thought she was a great character. She carried a lot of blame about her parents ‘failed’ marriage and I loved getting to see her work through it.
The legal plot was super interesting to read and added a bit of a mystery to the story. There was also an ADORABLE side romance that I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of! The highlight of the show was definitely the chemistry between Ezra and Daniel though. Holy smokes! 😮💨 They are opposing counsels who can’t seem to keep their hands off each other outside of court and it just really worked for me 😅😂
I love how smooth Lana’s writing is; her books always feel easy and fun to read! This one is no different, it’s a quick read but so satisfying. 🩷
June 19, 2025
this was actually a really good read, it’s layered properly. I thought that I would get the ick because it starts off with one of my least favorite tropes, but it turns out it wasn’t what I thought it was, and because of that I was pleasantly surprised. This is definitely a top three book from me from this author and I am thankful to PRH audio for rec receiving the book.
June 29, 2025
I'm conflicted about this one. Listen, I rarely ever side with a man but I think the MMC deserved better in this one. Dani was just mean, on many occasions 😭 The chemistry between them was fire but I wasn't really feeling the romantic aspect between them.
The rivalry between these two lawyers also felt a bit forced and repetitive. They are enemies with benefits but the FMC kept saying they needed to stop sleeping with each other but she would be back the next day. 🫠 We were just going around in circles.
I did really enjoy the legal plot of the story and the side characters (Dani's best friends). At one point, I was more interested in their storyline than the main characters 🥲
This was a bingeable book but sadly it wasn't really for me.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
The rivalry between these two lawyers also felt a bit forced and repetitive. They are enemies with benefits but the FMC kept saying they needed to stop sleeping with each other but she would be back the next day. 🫠 We were just going around in circles.
I did really enjoy the legal plot of the story and the side characters (Dani's best friends). At one point, I was more interested in their storyline than the main characters 🥲
This was a bingeable book but sadly it wasn't really for me.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
July 15, 2025
Overruled by Lana Ferguson
-ohhhh WE GET RIGHT INTO IT with spice, tension and action, gotta love an enemies to lovers, both of them being divorce lawyers makes it INTERESTING.
-I LOVE Lana’s writing so much she has me shubbed in the story I feel like i’m right there in the room or court room.
-the fighting, back and forth, the tension but also forced proximity with work
-their banter and sexual tension is everything chefs kiss
-the spice and dirty talk geez LANAAAA 👀
-I get how Dani feels especially when it comes to divorce and having divorced parents
-Ezra making her SQUIRM I loveeee it I’m giddy
-CHAPTER 11 😩😭🫶🏾📚
-the spice is DELISH and the tension is TENSIONNING
-I love Dani and Ezra so much
-EZRA my Sheila 😭 his family stuff is deep I’m happy he can open up to her
-this book was EVERYTHING 😩
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-ohhhh WE GET RIGHT INTO IT with spice, tension and action, gotta love an enemies to lovers, both of them being divorce lawyers makes it INTERESTING.
-I LOVE Lana’s writing so much she has me shubbed in the story I feel like i’m right there in the room or court room.
-the fighting, back and forth, the tension but also forced proximity with work
-their banter and sexual tension is everything chefs kiss
-the spice and dirty talk geez LANAAAA 👀
-I get how Dani feels especially when it comes to divorce and having divorced parents
-Ezra making her SQUIRM I loveeee it I’m giddy
-CHAPTER 11 😩😭🫶🏾📚
-the spice is DELISH and the tension is TENSIONNING
-I love Dani and Ezra so much
-EZRA my Sheila 😭 his family stuff is deep I’m happy he can open up to her
-this book was EVERYTHING 😩
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 3, 2025
can’t believe im supporting a blonde man but he was 10/10
April 9, 2025
And this my friends is the reason why I don't ever trust lawyers.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:prologue, 3, 11, 13, 21, 24, 31
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Forgot to add this so here we are. Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this early copy I love you so much 💋🫶🏻
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:prologue, 3, 11, 13, 21, 24, 31
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Forgot to add this so here we are. Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this early copy I love you so much 💋🫶🏻
August 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC copy of this book!
Y'all, I absolutely loved this. Opposing lawyers who are hooking up? Sign. Me. Up. The work rivals to lovers trope is sooo good in this one!
Both Dani and Ezra are lawyers at opposing firms. The book starts with them being friends with benefits while also being rivals. I mean, come on!!! They also both have somewhat complex backgrounds with their families and complex ideas about life. But they are both extremely intelligent (lawyers, duh) and know how to be there for each other emotionally and physically. I actually enjoyed the fact that both characters had issues going on and it wasn't one of them saving the other, etc. They worked together on their problems and understood how to stand strong for the other person.
This is definitely giving "he falls first and harder" but you can definitely tell that underneath her façade at the beginning, Dani truly cares for Ezra and totally loves him. I think this book also had some of the best rom com worthy banter ever. If you're thinking of reading this one, you need to! Easy 4/5 stars ⭐️
Y'all, I absolutely loved this. Opposing lawyers who are hooking up? Sign. Me. Up. The work rivals to lovers trope is sooo good in this one!
Both Dani and Ezra are lawyers at opposing firms. The book starts with them being friends with benefits while also being rivals. I mean, come on!!! They also both have somewhat complex backgrounds with their families and complex ideas about life. But they are both extremely intelligent (lawyers, duh) and know how to be there for each other emotionally and physically. I actually enjoyed the fact that both characters had issues going on and it wasn't one of them saving the other, etc. They worked together on their problems and understood how to stand strong for the other person.
This is definitely giving "he falls first and harder" but you can definitely tell that underneath her façade at the beginning, Dani truly cares for Ezra and totally loves him. I think this book also had some of the best rom com worthy banter ever. If you're thinking of reading this one, you need to! Easy 4/5 stars ⭐️
July 19, 2025
3.75 stars-this was a fun read! It had just the right amount of drama. The chemistry between the characters was chef’s kiss and their banter had me smiling the whole time. If you’re into workplace romance with spice and heart, this one’s totally worth the read!
July 10, 2025
Lana has become an author where I am preordering and looking forward to her books! She does a wonderful job with banter and build up, and her characters seem to come off one way when really they are another way in actuality. I really enjoyed Dani and Ezra! I liked that we are starting the story off where they are already in a situation ship of sorts, but Ezra wants more. Dani was so turned off by relationships. It was fun to watch Ezra change her mind about what they could look like. I once again LOVED the banter in this one, but there was an added element of banter in a professional setting because they were both lawyers. I liked that this banter and arguing was 1000% foreplay for them. I really liked Ezra! Dani had this perspective of him that was just wrong, and the more we learned about his life circumstances the more my heart broke for what he had been through and how he had learned to play a part. I always love when main characters are able to better each other- and that was the case in this one. Both of them had been set on courses in their lives and kind of taken a back seat to those circumstances. But after some time together and some prodding, they were able to push each other out of their comfort zones for the betterment of themselves. Also let me tell you Lana KNOWS how to do some SPICE. Ezra had the most wonderful mouth in the bedroom- he loved getting Dani all riled up, and I am here for it!
Dani knows she needs to stop this situation ship she has found herself in with her rival attorney, Ezra. But it’s like she looses all sense around him. He makes her body sing and her mind race in the best and worst way. They could never be more. It just wouldn’t work. And then Dani gets the case of her career. The one that is going to bring her all the way to the top. And who is the opposing counsel- Ezra. The same Ezra who she has pushed pause on and asked to keep things professional. But the more she is around Ezra the more she realizes she doesn’t want him to not be in her life outside of work. She doesn’t want to walk away from him. As scary as it is, she wants to explore this pull between them. And so they do. She is honest about her fears. She was led to believe something when she was younger and that has forever altered how she sees relationships. Ezra though is so much different than she thought. She thought he was a playboy and a user. When in reality, he is a sweetheart. He is dedicated. He has a lot going on in his family that is just tragic. But when something comes out in this case that no one else should know, Dani goes into protective mode. She pushes him away and then realizes she made a mistake. Now she has to figure out if what she feels for him is worth embracing or if she is going to continue to run scared for the rest of her life.
Ezra has one thing in his life that he looks forward to- his time with Dani. His rival counsel on most of his cases. The woman who is so prickly on the outside but who he can make sing with how he touches her. The woman who makes him want more. But he recognizes he can’t push her. He has to go at her pace. But when she acknowledges that there is in fact something between them and wants to pursue it, he almost has to pinch himself to make sure he isn’t dreaming. Is this real life? The woman of his dreams wants to try things out with him. So slowly but surely she lowers her walls around him. She lets him in. And Ezra understands how big of a gift that is. So he does the same. He lets her see behind the mask that is his family. And she doesn’t run away. In fact she digs her heels in an wants to help. All seems to be so well until something happens in their case. Something that freaks Dani out and makes her misjudge. And now Ezra is questioning a lot and realizing he is done with the way things were. He knows she is his endgame but also knows he has to wait for her to get there. He just hopes that she does.
I really enjoyed this one! The characters were loveable an relatable. Dani was so terrified of letting someone in. Giving someone the power to hurt her- and who hasn’t felt that way before. Meanwhile Ezra was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He needed a push and Dani gave it to him. I loved how their relationship blossomed. And though the angst was different - I enjoyed that as well. It was more of a who will acknowledge that this thing is real versus just a hook up. I would not be opposed to a book about Dani’s coworkers- just saying Lana. I definitely recommend this one for a fun, laugh out loud, sexy rom com with some large feelings!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Dani knows she needs to stop this situation ship she has found herself in with her rival attorney, Ezra. But it’s like she looses all sense around him. He makes her body sing and her mind race in the best and worst way. They could never be more. It just wouldn’t work. And then Dani gets the case of her career. The one that is going to bring her all the way to the top. And who is the opposing counsel- Ezra. The same Ezra who she has pushed pause on and asked to keep things professional. But the more she is around Ezra the more she realizes she doesn’t want him to not be in her life outside of work. She doesn’t want to walk away from him. As scary as it is, she wants to explore this pull between them. And so they do. She is honest about her fears. She was led to believe something when she was younger and that has forever altered how she sees relationships. Ezra though is so much different than she thought. She thought he was a playboy and a user. When in reality, he is a sweetheart. He is dedicated. He has a lot going on in his family that is just tragic. But when something comes out in this case that no one else should know, Dani goes into protective mode. She pushes him away and then realizes she made a mistake. Now she has to figure out if what she feels for him is worth embracing or if she is going to continue to run scared for the rest of her life.
Ezra has one thing in his life that he looks forward to- his time with Dani. His rival counsel on most of his cases. The woman who is so prickly on the outside but who he can make sing with how he touches her. The woman who makes him want more. But he recognizes he can’t push her. He has to go at her pace. But when she acknowledges that there is in fact something between them and wants to pursue it, he almost has to pinch himself to make sure he isn’t dreaming. Is this real life? The woman of his dreams wants to try things out with him. So slowly but surely she lowers her walls around him. She lets him in. And Ezra understands how big of a gift that is. So he does the same. He lets her see behind the mask that is his family. And she doesn’t run away. In fact she digs her heels in an wants to help. All seems to be so well until something happens in their case. Something that freaks Dani out and makes her misjudge. And now Ezra is questioning a lot and realizing he is done with the way things were. He knows she is his endgame but also knows he has to wait for her to get there. He just hopes that she does.
I really enjoyed this one! The characters were loveable an relatable. Dani was so terrified of letting someone in. Giving someone the power to hurt her- and who hasn’t felt that way before. Meanwhile Ezra was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He needed a push and Dani gave it to him. I loved how their relationship blossomed. And though the angst was different - I enjoyed that as well. It was more of a who will acknowledge that this thing is real versus just a hook up. I would not be opposed to a book about Dani’s coworkers- just saying Lana. I definitely recommend this one for a fun, laugh out loud, sexy rom com with some large feelings!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
July 29, 2025
* 4⭐️4🌶️
* A contemporary romance about two rival divorce lawyers, Danica Pierce and Ezra Hart, who find themselves in a secret, passionate affair. Danica, a top lawyer focused on her career, views love as a weakness and tries to keep their relationship strictly physical. However, their arrangement gets complicated when they end up facing each other in a high-stakes divorce case, where the winner could become partner. The story explores themes of professional ambition, personal baggage, and the challenges of separating professional and personal lives, all while navigating their complicated feelings for each other.
* Dani’s character was just way too big of biatch. Honestly the girl could do with having even an iota of fun. Her woe is me story that she says turned her this way with her parents is just laughable. I mean cmon. Ezra should have just let her be her miserable self. It was hard to root for her in this book tbh. But then it all changed.
* Eli, Ezra’s brother was another PITA. These characters almost made me stop reading. The book isn’t short it’s over 400 pages and I was only at 174 when I just got so annoyed. What kept me going is Dani was starting to somehow be less annoying and I also wanted to figure out what the deal with Ezra’s mom was and see how the trial was going to pan out. And I have always enjoyed Lana’s books so regardless I was going to keep going. And of course I am reminded why I keep going.
* Read this if you like: lawyer x lawyer, rivals to lovers, enemies with benefits, workplace romance, grumpy x sunshine, he falls first, lovable MMC, forced proximity, family drama
* A contemporary romance about two rival divorce lawyers, Danica Pierce and Ezra Hart, who find themselves in a secret, passionate affair. Danica, a top lawyer focused on her career, views love as a weakness and tries to keep their relationship strictly physical. However, their arrangement gets complicated when they end up facing each other in a high-stakes divorce case, where the winner could become partner. The story explores themes of professional ambition, personal baggage, and the challenges of separating professional and personal lives, all while navigating their complicated feelings for each other.
* Dani’s character was just way too big of biatch. Honestly the girl could do with having even an iota of fun. Her woe is me story that she says turned her this way with her parents is just laughable. I mean cmon. Ezra should have just let her be her miserable self. It was hard to root for her in this book tbh. But then it all changed.
* Eli, Ezra’s brother was another PITA. These characters almost made me stop reading. The book isn’t short it’s over 400 pages and I was only at 174 when I just got so annoyed. What kept me going is Dani was starting to somehow be less annoying and I also wanted to figure out what the deal with Ezra’s mom was and see how the trial was going to pan out. And I have always enjoyed Lana’s books so regardless I was going to keep going. And of course I am reminded why I keep going.
* Read this if you like: lawyer x lawyer, rivals to lovers, enemies with benefits, workplace romance, grumpy x sunshine, he falls first, lovable MMC, forced proximity, family drama
July 28, 2025
No, no, no, NO JUEGUEN CON ESTE LIBRO 🙂↔️
Antes que nada, muchas gracias a BookUpMéxico por el ARC anticipado a cambio de mi opinión honesta.
Amistad, este libro es TODO lo que tiene que tener un "enemigos con beneficios". ¿Hay algo más hot que dos abogados en bandos opuestos luchando en el mismo caso mientras tienen una aventura? Me encantó que no solo se desarrolla el la historia de amor sino que también vamos acompañando a nuestros protagonistas en su propio viaje en contra de sus conflictos (que son suuuper interesantes).
En una parte Danica casi me hace llorar (yo también tengo miedo de que me vuelvan a lastimar).
En conclusión, esperen con MUCHA GANAS este librazo que sé que les va a gustar.
¡Gracias por leer!
Antes que nada, muchas gracias a BookUpMéxico por el ARC anticipado a cambio de mi opinión honesta.
Amistad, este libro es TODO lo que tiene que tener un "enemigos con beneficios". ¿Hay algo más hot que dos abogados en bandos opuestos luchando en el mismo caso mientras tienen una aventura? Me encantó que no solo se desarrolla el la historia de amor sino que también vamos acompañando a nuestros protagonistas en su propio viaje en contra de sus conflictos (que son suuuper interesantes).
En una parte Danica casi me hace llorar (yo también tengo miedo de que me vuelvan a lastimar).
En conclusión, esperen con MUCHA GANAS este librazo que sé que les va a gustar.
¡Gracias por leer!
February 19, 2025
ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER FIVE STAR LANA READ AHHHH
IVE SAID IT LIKE 3 OR 4 TIMES NOW BUT THIS IS SIMPLY HER BEST YET RTC TMRW BC OM GOING TO BED BYE
IVE SAID IT LIKE 3 OR 4 TIMES NOW BUT THIS IS SIMPLY HER BEST YET RTC TMRW BC OM GOING TO BED BYE
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