Love at First Spite

Have you ever wanted to get revenge on an ex that has wronged you? Well, Danielle Porter takes it to a whole other level. Dani is not someone to be stepped upon. That’s exactly why she is determined to get revenge on her cheating ex-fiancé. What better way make him pay than to build a spite house right next to the one they were supposed to live in together – it’ll not only mess with his view but also with his peace of mind. Unfortunately, the only architect available and willing to help her realize her plan is about the sternest and least cordial of Dani‘s collegues… Since I was house-bound due to yet another lockdown when I decided to pick this up, I was in the mood for something sweet and funny that would lift my spirits. And boy, did „Love at First Spite“ live up to my expectations. Dani is a great protagonist that I couldn‘t help but cheer on in her endeavors, even though, I was well aware of the fact that the decisions she makes aren’t always the most mature ones. The grump and sunshine trope also worked very well for me in this book and I really liked how Dani and Wyatt’s relationship evolves over the course of the story. What I probably loved most about this novel wasn’t the romance, though, but the dynamic between Dani, her cousin Mia and her elderly landlady Iris. Those two women are just so supportive of Dani, act as her cheerleaders throughout the story as well as step in to put things into perspective, when needed. Fun fact, for those who are as oblivious as I was: I found the idea of building a house out of spite somewhat juvenile and not all too realistic, but loved it nonetheless because it gives the story a unique spin. I didn’t realize until I read the author’s notes at the end that spite houses are, in fact, a real thing! There’s plenty of them around and I don’t know how I’ve never heard of them before now. If you are in the mood for a fun romantic comedy that’ll make you giggle and leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling, I definitely recommend this book to you. It is a heartfelt story with great characters, a good message lying underneath and just the right amount of absurdity to keep you thoroughly entertained.