Persephone in Bloom

An Olympus Inc. Romance #1

by Kate Healey, Karen Healey

Hades, thanks for your email! Congrats to you and Persephone!! Will email Olympus HR policy for workplace dating soon. Points for now:

- She’s an intern, you’re CFO. We need to meet re: potential conflicts of interest
- Your brother is also your boss, so loop him in asap

hope things are going great in the basement!
Mark Hermes

ps. her mom has left me voicemail?
pps. more than one voicemail??


At magazine publisher Olympus Inc, new intern Persephone Erinyes is trying to be her own woman. Head of Finance Hades Kronion is trying to make changes. Love wasn't part of the plan.

A feel-good contemporary romance retelling of the Hades/Persephone story from award-winning author Kate Healey!

Genres: Romance, Mythology, Retellings, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2023

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an addictively written contemporary romance - I didn't even mean to read it this week, but I opened the ARC on my e-reader to check that it had come through, and then I got completely sucked in! So I ended up reading it in less than 24 hours and loving it.

It's set at Olympus Publishing, with all the characters named after those from Greek myths, but there are no gods and goddesses in this book. I absolutely loved how Healey reshaped the familiar stories with these characters, though - and Hera (so maligned in so many of the myths!) turned out to be one of my very favorite characters in the book, while Zeus was every bit the jerk that you'd expect.

The protagonists, though, are Persephone and Hades, and they're both just lovely. If you love romances where the hero is hopelessly smitten and helpless for the heroine from page 1...here you go! Enjoy! :) The issues they face are the power dynamics within the company where they both work (he is NOT her boss or supervisor, they work in different departments, and their dating is done with the full knowledge of HR, but since he's one of the co-owners of the company, it still makes life awkward for her with other interns) and her relationship with her emotionally abusive and controlling mother.

Honestly, this book is 5 stars all the way in terms of quality - but the bits I enjoyed least were those involved in that storyline, only because that abusive relationship is portrayed so vividly and effectively that I found those scenes excruciating to read, even more so as the book went on. It felt absolutely real and true, and I CHEERED for Persephone's journey of empowerment - but oof, those scenes WERE hard to read.

But! The ending was SO very satisfying in every direction. Kate Healey (a.k.a. Karen Healey) has already released a free novelette for her newsletter subscribers (Penelope Pops the Question, which rewrote the Trojan War in a VERY pleasing way), and I absolutely recommend signing up to read it! I loved it, and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

[Abigail Cossette Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was honestly charming. I enjoyed the whole thing, which I hadn't entirely been expecting. I loved the way the myths informed the characters, and many of the high plot points, but a liberal interpretation which allowed you to actually root for people. Hades works so hard to do right by Persephone, and likewise she is good to him. I appreciate the way the story handled her being a catalyst for him coming alive, but she wasn't the one driving the change, he was. And actually, the same for her. He was a catalyst, so was Hecate, and ultimately Persephone made changes herself.

Odysseus and Penny were also a real highlight.

There is representation, consent, careful attention to balance of power and a solid supporting cast.

This is more sweet than spicy, but the spicy bits are spicy, and there are multiple scenes though the second half.
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

[Jordan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve always maintained that the only thing worse than a bad book is a boring book. Persephone in Bloom proves my point.

If you’re interested in a insta-love couple who literally goes through no relationship turmoil, all while they deal with their family drama (a bunch of which is just…off page for some reason?) maybe this book is for you.

[Josie Jaffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this romance so much! The little echoes of Greek mythology in a non-fantasy setting were so satisfying, and the romance was wonderful. It was a perfect escapist workplace romance story with just a sprinkle of classical references to give it extra depth.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started off a little slow and bumpy. This author throws every Greek character into her book and it was a little overwhelming.

However, it ended up being really good at the end and I need to know what happens. I am actually very surprised that I enjoyed it this much.

[Jess Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often when I read romance, my review is “This is probably a good book for this genre but it’s just Not For Me”. I am SO GLAD to report that this was not the case with Persephone in Bloom. This book IS for me! I read it in a single afternoon/evening and enjoyed it immensely.

The Greek-mythology-in-modern-setting worked well - I loved all the characters, the little nods to their origins, and seeing how it drove the story.

I mostly liked that it didn’t fall into “Insta-love” tropes, which I find so cringey. There was a really good build-up from “I see someone I’m attracted to” to “admitting mutual attraction” to “dating and friendship” to “relationship”. The book also takes place over a longer time period so I wasn’t sitting there like “it’s been TWO WEEK why are you getting engaged” - just a really satisfying build-up and development.

I also liked that the setting lent itself well to competence porn - it’s people succeeding at things they’re good at, which is just nice to read. Given how other characters are introduced (who will no doubt be stars of future novels) I look forward to more of this.

I enjoyed the emotional arcs of the characters, and the explicit respect and support they have for each other - there is no “I’m doing X for your own good” which I haaaate (except from a character from whom it absolutely is a bad thing).

A couple of things didn’t quite land for me or end up as resolved as I’d have liked, but those were minor quibbles that didn’t occur to me til after I’d finished reading.

[Tansy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, smart, feminist. I tore through this book in 2 days, because I didn’t want to do anything but read it until it was finished.

This new contemporary romance series reimagines the gods and mortals of Greek myth as the moguls and interns of a high-end publishing company. Aphrodite is a supermodel with an awful boyfriend, Zeus is the fast-talking company head with a history of harassing younger women… and Hades runs the finance department in the basement.
When Persephone makes her way into the internship program at Olympus Inc, she and Hades have an instant connection. But can you ethically date one of the partners in the firm without the other interns hating you? Persephone already struggles with the perception of nepotism & privilege thanks to her wealthy, successful and smothering mother Demeter.
Every step of the way, this May/December romance has realistic challenges around how to build a successful love story in the face of a problematic power dynamic — told with good grace, humour, and sizzling chemistry.
I was not expecting to be particularly drawn into this romance, as I find it hard to imagine the Hades/Persephone story as anything other than SO NOT OK, but I fell hard and fast. Hades has social anxiety, vertigo and really doesn’t get out much… while Persephone is a talented artist and cheerful soul who is trying to prove she can survive without her mother’s money and influence.
Both of them see more of each other’s value than they do of their own.
Oh, and they report their relationship to HR after the first date, in case anyone was worried! As you might expect from the original myths, this romance has strong running themes of power dynamics, nepotism, family drama and gender politics, but I love the way that these are never quite presented in predictable ways. Both Hades and Persephone are surrounded by loving friends, colleagues and family who help and hinder them along their path to happiness.
In a world full of Greek myth retellings, Olympus Inc is fresh and fun, mashing up glamour soap tropes with an undercurrent of thoughtful awareness. I’m looking forward to the next book (Aphrodite!) very much, as I can’t wait to spend more time around all these characters.

If you’re feeling the impending loss of Ted Lasso, and craving more witty workplace comedy with a side helping of ethical social commentary, this romance series is a great place to start.

I also recommend hunting down “Penelope Pops the Question,” a prequel freebie from the author’s newsletter, which is a zingy, delightful introduction to this world via the courtship of the very likeable Penny and Odysseus (with some bonus Trojan ‘war’ hijinks too).

[note: I received a free ARC from the author but joke's on her, I'd already pre-ordered it.]

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely inhaled this. It was great. It's always lovely to read a romance that feels like it features *proper, grown-up people*. Add some hefty Greek mythology to that and what can I say.... whoops all round.

Things I loved about this book:
- I said it already, these are grown-up people. Our hero and heroine ask for consent, they treat each other with respect, they talk about their issues (with each other, and when they're not ready for that/it's not appropriate, then with other people they trust), they want more from their relationship than co-dependency, they carefully consider the power imbalance between them upfront, they clear their office romance with HR. Swoon, be still my beating heart. And it's still sexy. So Kate Healey has just singlehandedly proved there really is no excuse for all the problematic crap in this genre.
- The characters are described so well, both in their physical and mental characteristics, that they truly come alive. Persephone in particular felt like a real person, and I found myself comparing her to people I know.
- The fresh take on Hades. So many retellings of the Hades/Persephone myth make him either dark/icky or depressive. This Hades is neither. He embodies the mythology well, while also being a super solid guy dealing with his own issues in life.
- The clever incorporation of Greek mythology in general. At the start of Persephone in Bloom the transfer of myth into this world seems a little paint-by-numbers, or simplistic, but by the end I was kinda blown away by the layers Kate Healey had built up and also the twists built in that riff off our preconceptions from the known mythology (Demeter and Hera are both *chef's kiss*)

In conclusion.... will be showing up for Book 2.

[NikkiReads365]

🌸 Persephone in Bloom by Karen Healey 🌸

Memorable Moments/Ideas:
✨Cold Soup
🌸 HR approval
✨ Anxiety rep
🌸 Greek myth retellings
✨ Self discovery

My one kryptonite as a reader? ANYTHING related to Hades & Persephone and any sort of retelling of that storyline. My passion with these two started with Lore Olympus years ago, and now, if literally anything has the two of them, I’m in. 100%. All the time.

That said, this was such a lovely retelling. It’s one of the few where the age gap isn’t *that* big of an age gap and we see a tender, sweet Hades (I mean, sometimes he’s sweet but also an alphahole), and we don’t see that primitive, agressive side as much. I also love how Persephone holds her own and works to find her own idea of self and independence in the world. Low key my favorite characters? Don and Hecate. The vibe they bring as confidants is fabulous.

I also love in this story we have all of the Greek figures and myths reappearing and just how modern the entire retelling is — normalizing work flow, HR practices (oh, Hermes, the first time he’s depicted in a non-annoying manner 😂), to even the droll experience of internship work. It’s real and the issues tackled near the second half are effortlessly depicted and damn, it’s not a twist, but it’s a pivot of sorts for the entire storyline. The only issue I have? Lacking epilogue 🥺🥺 (but I get it — there’s an entire series haha)

Spice: 🌶️
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Hades & Persephone storyline lovers. Modern adaptations of classic storylines. Stories with diverse representation.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not usually reach for Hades Persephone romance but the mix of greek gods with a corporation sounded fun.

Twenty seven year old Persephone Erinyes has been accepted as an art and design intern at Olympus co and has to make a good impression to gain a spot after the programme. Forty two year old Hades Kronion is the CFO and is instantly drawn to the heroine but he is socially awkward.

I liked seeing various greek characters cameo and it surprised me at how close Hera and Hades are because she is usually depicted as jealous and vindictive in media. Hades has a phobia of heights.

These two were delightful together. I found it interesting that though Persephone is younger, she felt more matured and settled than Hades who except for being awesome at finance, fumbled around and was very awkward. He shows a soft side for his brother, Don and the interns which was nice. What worked was that there was a steamy aspect but the way the characters showed up for one another sold it for me. I liked how they were there for each other and had their own lives outside of the relationship.

The author portrays an emotionally abusive parent in a different way then I have read: whose intention is to care for their child but they end up smother and guilt tripping them.

There is plenty of representation here: plus size, LGBTQ+ as one of Persephone's fellow interns called Terry uses she/he/they pronouns and her best friend Hecate is transgender.

Tropes: Age gap (older hero-younger heroine fifteen year difference), workplace romance

[Mary Araujo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

After taking some time to reflect on this novel, I stand by my 3.5 rating. I'm not an age gap girly so when the ages of the characters were revealed I was like "oof." There is a 15-year gap between Hades and Persephone, so I didn't love that. Setting that aside, Hades had a lot of green flags, a couple beige flags, and 1 big red flag for me (besides the age gap)!
I won't give any spoilers, but the ending was just not satisfactory for me. All of the problems from the climax didn't feel completely resolved and I know that this is just the first book in the Olympus Inc series, but it still should've had a proper, definite, conclusion. We are left with a lot of open-ended situations yet to be resolved.
I had a love/ hate relationship with Persephone because she refused to see wrongdoing from her mother for a long time but when she finally opened her eyes and put her foot down, it was so satisfying! Hecate was definitely my favorite character because I connected to her as the friend who always needs to be the voice of reason and outside perspective on personal situations. Hades was up and down for me as well but ultimately, he is a good guy who despite being 42 still has some personal growth to work on. He was there for Persephone no matter what and we love a ride or die man!
Would I recommend this book? Maybe... If you like age gap romances and/or a Hades and Persephone reimagining, then YES!

[Lauren Toman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star rating

A wholesome take on the beloved Greek couple. I was truly surprised by the Suits TV show vibe I got from it.

I enjoyed this take of Persephone and the little details of her actual history. The pomegranate seeds at dinner, for example.

The storyline was fast-paced and thankfully didn't waffle, which made it a quick and enjoyable read.

Some of the intimate scenes came a bit out of the blew but not enough to make me not like the book.

As with its history. Zeus is a dick and my perception of him didn't change throughout the book.

By far, I loved Hecates and Persephones relationship. Such a girlhood is so rare to find. Reminding me of a friendship I am lucky to have.

Was surprised by the ending as I was hoping Persephone would have gotten what she always wanted, but it seems the storyline is taking a Bridgertone approach. Letting you see the progress through another main couple. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But I would have preferred to see them more at ease in their ending. They both deserved it.

[Olga Godim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. This workplace contemporary romance was by turn funny, cute, and heart-wrenching. Its protagonists touched my emotions on the deepest level. The only complaint I have about this novel is what every other reviewer raves about: its association with Greek mythology. Not much to it either, because every other fiction story of our times usually have at least one element (or five) borrowed from Greek myths. Not for nothing Ancient Greece is considered a cradle of Western civilization. In the case of this book, the borrowed elements are names: Zeus, Hades, Persephone, etc. Maybe, vaguely, some plot twists. But if the author called her characters Zack, Harry, and Phebe, the story would remain exactly the same. It didn't win any points aping the Greek pantheon. Didn't lose any either.
Overall: a delightful contemporary romance. I enjoyed it and I will read more of this series.

[M.H. Thaung]

As I keep saying, I don’t read romance, but on the other hand I’m a sucker for Greek mythology. This book turned out to be a romance I actually enjoyed! A big factor in my enjoyment was the lead characters being… sensible? Perhaps that sounds dull, but for me it’s far preferable to them throwing their brains out the window as soon as they meet.

I liked how so many familiar names (with sometimes “updated” characters) appeared in the modern setting and behaved much as we might imagine (or extrapolate). Admittedly, I kept expecting them to manifest godly powers, which they didn’t. At most, they appeared larger than life, but that worked well in the environment of a big media corporation.

I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from this author :)

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very fun refreshing take on the Persephone and Hades Greek story, I absolutely adore hades & persephone charatizathions and all of the side characters are interesting and intriguing I want more then anything to know more about what happens to them especially the characters who have their own books in the series especially Hera & Don.

where this book falls flat for me was mainly in the final act of the book I personally thought some of the story choices and chapter placement were awkward and out of nowhere, especially the big scene with Zeus but overall I adore this book and definitely recommend that you read it especially if you are a fan of contemporary romances and retellings

[Mayke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
This might be one of my favourite mythology retellings! The way the author has mixed contemporary personas and events with their mythological counterparts is brilliant. The story is very aware of the issues in Greek mythology and is sort of rewriting history. The characters are intriguing, insecure, funny, and ambitious; they are very human and relatable. I very much appreciate the tact and care with which the author handles difficult topics, such as sexual harassment, parental abuse, phobias, and assault.

Hera, Hecate, Don, and Aphrodite are my favourites so far - besides my forever favourites, Hades and Persephone, of course! I'm very curious to see where else this story goes!

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute!

Easy read. No third act breakup, which is a plus! Love the friendship dynamic between Hecate and Persephone.

My only quip is that the author spends a lot of time making Persephone incredibly averse to any sort of nepotism, or the appearance of nepotism, and doesn’t do a great job of explaining why. Yes, her mother is overbearing and controlling, and she wants to be independent, but in this economy? She shouldn’t be as surprised as she is that, regardless of how people think she got her job, they might be wary of her.

[A.J. Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm, clever romantic comedy full of family, found and otherwise. The world of Olympus Publishing is Greek gods meets office romance meets The Devil Wears Prada in a wonderfully inclusive version of fashion magazines where the cafeteria food is actually delicious (courtesy of Hestia) and the finance department lives in the basement (run by Hades).

This was so more-ish that I read the whole thing in one go. I am INVESTED in all these people and their lives. I can’t wait for the next one.

[Andi C Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling, fun to read contemporary romance set in a publishing company, and inspired by Greek mythology (though without fantastical elements). I enjoyed the smart character interactions, the intersecting plots that added depth while still remaining a fun and light read, and that people actually _talked to each other_ and (usually) did competent adult things like "we should follow the HR policy on this".

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

[Stacy! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good retelling, and this was definitely a GOOD retelling. It was really smart and well written, and I loved all the Greek mythology easter eggs! I really liked both MCs and hope we get to see more of them in the other books in the series! I did, however, find myself wanting MORE of Persephone and Hades as the story ended, as the ending felt abrupt to me, and I’m hoping that we hear more about how their lives are going as the series continues.

[Michon · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you liked Percy Jackson you’ll love this!

I know I’m referencing a YA series, but this has similar vibes but perfect for a contemporary romance. I loved this book and it had a great balance of core characters and side characters!
I loved Persephone and her confidence but also growth. Hades is just…adorable? Not a golden retriever but maybe a Doberman?

Also want to call out the amazing representation in so many different characters and moments. Can’t wait to read more 🖤

[Kris McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a clever Greek mythology retelling. I loved seeing the Gods and Goddesses as actual people with real lives. Other reviews said it already, but I loved Hera the absolute most. She deserves the world. Persephone was written in such a beautiful way, and to me (as a plus-sized woman) it makes complete sense that the Goddess of spring would be a full-figured curvy plus-sized woman.

I can't wait to see who else shows up in the rest of the series.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I don't really like office romance but heard good things about this and gave it a try. I loved it. It avoided all the typical tropes of an office romance while having an interesting modern take on the Greek Gods. I got to 30% and then didn't want to put it down. The only thing I didn't understand is why Persephone is so caught up in the nepotism aspect when she knows she is capable at work.

[Solomon Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful yarn that reshapes the characters of Greek mythology into a modern office romance. This is sort of a retelling of the Persephone / Hades romance, except that the relationship is 100% consensual. This correspondingly reshapes the responses of those around the classic story in interesting ways. The main characters are both charming, and it was great fun to root for them to have a happy ending.

[don’t bother me I’m reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally!! A hades and Persephone story that involves the mythology elements and isn’t bad! Pleasantly surprised that the contemporary elements worked. Loved the representation we see in the characters and I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in the series. Knock one star off cause I would have liked to have seen a conclusion with Demeter.

[Fiona Tewson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Romantic Interlude

This is the first book I've read by Kate Healey, but I'll certainly look out for more. At its heart it's an adult romance, but it has lots of other bits to unpack. I read it in one afternoon, it's an easy book to read. I'm looking forward to reading more about Olympus Inc!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spicy romance with a modern take on classical Greek stories. I enjoyed seeing how the author worked in the varied Greek stories into this happily ever after romance. Interesting characters working through modern challenges and I enjoyed the focus on the female characters.

I started with "Ask Cassandra" and then decided to read this series, and will definitely continue with the others.

[Em Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot as hell, deeply delightful, and with an edge of wit that really distinguishes this book from others similar. The drama! The scandal! It never lets up. All I wish is that I had a Hades in my life (or maybe Don) - omg, especially the bit about the taxes.

[Erin Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it. It was smart, funny and very easy to read. I absolutely can't wait to dive back into the world with Aphrodite Unbound.

[Mavel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5

DNF @ 59%: I think any Hades/Persephone retelling is always going to be dicey. This is unfortunately an example in my opinion—I cannot read a romance book that deals with power imbalance in a relationship this lightly. :(