Up Against Her by Lisa Elliot is an enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, workplace romance that shows that judging a book by its cover isn’t always the best course of action.
Skye, Head of Qualitative Research, loves her job exploring people’s thoughts, emotions, and actions in order to generate insights for her clients. She’s put in the time and effort and has worked her way up the ladder at her top market research consultancy. She’s one step away from a big promotion but is forced to merge her department and compete for the job she feels is rightfully hers.
Brianna, Head of Quantitative Research, prefers numbers and statistics over people. She is good at her job and prefers to keep her professional and personal lives separate. She’s only been at the consultancy for six months when she’s offered the chance to go for the top job. All she has to do is work closely with her rival.
They have two months to work together, jointly leading a single research team. It’s their job to turn the consultancy around and one will most likely win the top job of Director of Research.
They don’t get along at first, but the more time they spend together, prior assumptions give way to delightful surprises. Will they let the chemistry between them derail their professional goals or will they find their way to one another against all odds?
Writing
The story is told from both main characters’ first-person points of view. Lisa Elliot did a wonderful job with each woman’s characterization, so it was always apparent whose chapter I was reading. The dialogue is realistic and flows so effortlessly that I felt right there with them the entire time. The details of their first non-platonic, platonic hug was delicious. And their first kiss…shew…exquisite!
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Skye and Brianna’s relationship started out very contentious. As rivals, they are given two months to work together as Interim Co-Directors of Your View, the Research Company they both work for. After that, they’ll both be able to interview for the top spot. Skye is warm, compassionate, and extroverted. Brianna is stoic, analytical, and introverted. Their animosity for the other quickly progresses into a mutual understanding and clarity of who the other woman really is beneath the surface. Their previous biases and assumptions are quickly done away with to make room for mutual respect and admiration. Their conversations are real and honest, never shying away from the hard stuff. I enjoyed the fact that this enemies-to-lovers romance didn’t dwell on the negative and create more drama and angst. Brianna and Skye are very likeable women and their chemistry is smoking!
Heads Up
This is a really delightful book and my recommendation is to simply enjoy their journey.
The Conclusion
Up Against Her by Lisa Elliot is a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance with two really likable main characters. Their mutual dislike quickly makes room for growth, understanding, and vulnerability. Separately, these two women are intelligent, motivated, and hard-working. Put them together, their combined skills, strengths, and challenges make them a really great duo in their professional as well as personal lives. I look forward to my next read of this really sweet, steamy, and delightful book!
Excerpt from Up Against Her by Lisa Elliot
When I turned around Skye was there. I flinched, then tensed up.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” said Skye. “I think that box is the last of the wine and I’ve had my eye on it. I just opened a bottle and managed not to leave any for myself.”
“You didn’t startle me.”
“Okay,” said Skye, stepping around me towards the box. “How’re you enjoying the party?”
“It’s not bad.” I hesitated, unsure if this was a conversation or just a passing few words.
“Nice views, right?” Skye held her glass below the wine tap and tilted the box, half-looking over her shoulder at me, half-watching it pour.
“Yeah, they’re good.”
“This is the fifth year in a row we’ve had our summer party up here. Every year I say I don’t know if the roof can take any more and all we seem to do is add more people the year after.”
“Well, clearly it can hold.”
She straightened the box and flicked off the lever, frowning slightly. “So, are you working on anything interesting at the moment?”
I gripped my glass harder. “Yeah, you?”
She faced me. Her cheeks were flushed. Her blue eyes were confident. I liked that about them. This felt like the first proper chat we’d ever had.
“Yes, actually. I just won a pitch. It’s a multi-year ethnographic study into the transition from school into further or higher education. The government’s big on employability right now. They’re going to have to learn about the mental health crisis of our teenagers if they seriously want to do anything about jobs, though, and I’m going to make sure their stories get told. I can’t wait to get it up and running.”
Skye’s eyes sparkled. It was good she was so passionate about her project. I also got the distinct impression she was trying to impress me. “
That sounds great.” I meant it.
“Thanks.”
“What’s the deal with David? Is he retiring yet?”
Skye shifted from one foot to the other. “Soon, probably.” She looked back towards Hayley, who glanced our way.
Our conversation ran out of steam. While I appreciated her making an effort, I could think of nothing else to say to her. We both stepped away from each other at about the same time. The conversation ended with a polite smile and a brief nod that belied our previous, and ongoing, ill-feeling.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 979-8462345722
Publisher: Indie Author
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