Review by Ronny
The Deskmate Dilemma is a fabulous workplace romance.
Book Synopsis:
Love was never on their to-do list, but it’s the one deadline they can’t ignore. Katie and Ryan have always been the dream team. Sharing everything from office desks to inside jokes, they survive the monotony of corporate life with witty banter, office DM’s, and their weekly post-work pub nights. They’ve mastered the art of making the 9-to-5 grind bearable, until Katie’s world is flipped upside down.
With her life suddenly in chaos, Katie finds herself questioning everything, including her perfectly platonic friendship with Ryan. As unexpected feelings begin to surface, the lines between colleagues, friends, and something more start to blur. Is she imagining the lingering looks and charged moments, or has Ryan been hiding feelings of his own?
As they confront their deepest fears and desires, they’ll have to decide if love is worth risking everything, even the job and friendship that have kept them steady for so long.
Review:
I’m not always a fan of workplace romances, but I found myself enjoying this one. Overall, this is a nice and easy read. It’s bursting with sweet and light moments. The story was entertaining and had some unexpected twists, especially the one at the end. It’s not too often that an HEA ends in a manner I wasn’t expecting. Even though I would consider this book on the lighter side, there are a couple of serious issues woven throughout the plot. Issues related to a toxic work environment and inappropriate behaviour directed towards Katie. The author did a great job of addressing these topics thoughtfully and weaving them into the story well.
One of the things that I found made this book so wonderful was the interactions between Katie and Ryan at work. There are some Office (the TV show) vibes going on. It sort of reminded me of the budding romance between Jim and Pam. I love a story that has some fun antics going on, and this story had it. Watching Katie and Ryan interact with one another, you can just see the chemistry growing between them. If you enjoy a slow burn with some major pining, then you will like the romance between Katie and Ryan. It’s clear that both characters are harbouring some major romantic feelings for the other, but the fear of crossing that friendship line is the major hurdle these two have to overcome. Sometimes the pining and indecisiveness, especially on Ryan’s part, was a bit much for me. But that could have more to do with the fact that I hate a male character who pines too much for his love interest and gets lost in his own head. But it was great watching that attraction grow between these two, with every interaction they have.
If you are looking for a feel-good workplace romance, then you should definitely give The Deskmate Dilemma a go.
