Ms Perfectly Fine

Dangerous Harmonies #1

by Kate Callaghan

Autumn wants the house, but Elijah wants her.

Autumn Adler, a famous concert pianist, is making her solo comeback to the stage after a tragic accident, and she can’t afford any distractions. Of all the things that could go wrong, she never expected her landlord to rent out the ground floor of her home to Elijah Wells – a game designer in the midst of building his own company. Autumn loves her townhouse, and she refuses to give it up. However, Elijah is equally stubborn. As the days pass, Autumn’s efforts to make him leave only further his desire to win her over. It seems as though neither can win this battle of wills.

Yet as Autumn’s showcase approaches, a seemingly innocent gift turns into something far more alarming. Can the two call a truce and figure out what’s going on?

One house, two strangers, and a dark secret. What could go wrong?

✨Tropes & Themes✨

🔥Grumpy (Her) x Sunshine (Him)
❤️He falls first and harder
🌹Hates everyone but you
😈Forced Proximity
🥀Suspense
💋Enemies To Lovers
🌞Healing
🥺Chronic Pain

This is a stand-alone novel with mentions of trauma, stalking and chronic pain which may be triggering. There will be a full list of content warnings onthe copyright page in the book.

Reader note: The ARC that was featured on Netgalley was not the fully proofed version of Ms Perfectly Fine. The version releasing on the 8th June is the final version.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Mental Health, Forced Proximity

352 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2023

About the author

Kate Callaghan is an Irish author who writes adult fantasy, romantic suspense, and feel-good Christmas romance. She’s the creator of the Hellish Fairytale series, blending dark magic and intrigue, as well as festive romcoms like The Naughty or Nice Clause. Whether she’s spinning tales of dangerous love or cozy holiday magic, you’ll find her in a Dublin café with an iced coffee, plotting her next twist.

Mailing List https://forms.gle/mBcib2vHhBaf5XRe9
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katecallagh...
Tiktok 🍄 tiktok.com/@katecallaghanwriter

Reviews

[astarion's bhaal babe (wingspan matters) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but I'll admit I didn't vibe with it much.
The writing wasn't bad, but there was something off about it and about the way the author preferred to explain things instead of showing them happening.

The main characters were alright, but they fell in love way too soon. I literally thought I was missing a chapter or two because the switch from strangers/reluctant roommates to lovers was rushed and felt a little forced.
There was also a mystery plotline that created unnecessary drama, because the entire novel was already packed with little subplot that could have worked fine on their own, without adding this to the party.
Overall, this was easy and quick to read, and both Autumn and Elijah's individual backstories were interesting. And sure, it lacked a bit of substance, but I've read worse.
Hence, I'll give this 2 and a half stars, rounded up to 3.


I was given this book by the Author in exchange for an honest review.


ACTUAL RATINGS 2,5/5

[Ceceliaₓₒₓₒ | hotforbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publication: 🗓️ 𝓙𝓾𝓷𝓮 ❼

《 2.5 ✰ 》

Turns out, Ms Perfectly Fine wasn’t perfectly fine.

One house, two strangers, and a dark secret. What could go wrong? Apparently, everything.

Autumn and Elijah are forced to live together. In a townhome that Autumn has happily lived alone in for some time. Needless to say, a surprise roommate was the last thing on her wishlist. Even more infuriating, that he is handsome and has made it his mission to make her like him. But, that’s not Autumn’s biggest problem. Someone has been leaving creepy gifts and messages that are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

While I enjoyed Elijah and his puppy tendencies, I didn’t care for Autumn’s stubbornness and dismissive reactions. The plot was interesting, but couldn’t get out of its own way. There was too much going on and it was distracting. I did enjoy the banter, that he fell first, and the forced proximity. Shoutout to Brinkley, the sweetest four-legged fur baby!

Tropes & Themes
⟢ Grumpy (Her) × Sunshine (Him)
⟢ He falls first and harder
⟢ Hates everyone but you
⟢ Forced Proximity
⟢ Suspense
⟢ Enemies To Lovers
⟢ Healing
⟢ Chronic Pain

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for the gifted ARC.

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆

Thank you so much to my RYDE or die soul sister Rebecca for reading this with me!! You truly made the experience! 😘

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5/5 -- The romance between Autumn and Elijah is a cute grumpy sunshine enemies to lovers romance - but the stalker element/thriller vibes were done REALLY well!

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THOUGHTS:
Ms. Perfectly fine was a 3.5 star read for me - which means it's a perfectly acceptable pool side, easy palette
cleanser with a cup of tea type of read!.
- I liked the way the story evolved and the writing was really good (which I totally didn't expect either.)
- The reveal of the dark secret... almost made this a bit of a thriller towards the end and I loved the mixing of the genres!!

NOTES:
- Mental health representation in this book is also really good. I think so often we just read about anxiety - but the circumstances surrounding Autumn were a great take on chronic physical pain too.
- 🌶️🌶️/5 - Not a ton of spice but the spice that's there is tasteful - and in combination with the thriller aspects made it not feel overwhelming. Lots of tension build up!

**Thank you to CallaghanWriter, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

[Lyra (Cardan's tail's version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

—2.5 stars—

“In rehab, she was know as Ms Perfectly Fine.”

————about the book————

Age: NA/A
Genres: contemporary, contemporary romance, romance suspense,
Writing: 5/10
Quotes: 4/10
World building: n/a
Characters: 5/10
Romance: 6/10
My rating: 5/10

thank you to Netgalley and Kate Callaghan for this digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

———my thoughts———

Autumn Adler, a famous concert pianist, is making her solo comeback to the stage after a tragic accident—so she can’t afford any distractions.
But out of all the things that could go wrong, she never expected her landlord to rent out the ground floor of her house to Elijah Wells, a game designer.
Both stubbornly refusing to give up the house, their arguments turn less angry...and more flirty?

Maybe it’s me, not the book.
When I requested this book, I saw the cute cover, and the blurb and thought “this looks pretty fun!”
It sadly didn’t live up to the cute cover.
The characters were likeable, but a little one dimensional, and we never really got enough depth from them.
Yes, it was cute—but the romance was far to rushed, and they flipped from enemies to lovers like that.
The banter was probably my favourite part in their relationship, but it didn’t exactly feel feasible at times.
Romcoms aren’t meant to be exactly realistic, but this was just a little too far.
The side plots were interesting, but I feel like the book needed to be longer, so not to rush them.
It was a little unnecessary, and I wonder if I would have enjoyed the book more if it was just a romance.
That being said—shoutout to my favourite character, Brinkley!

Thanks for reading! ❤️

———————————

My gorgeous Cara babe, thank you so so so much for reading this with me!
I honestly don’t know if I could have got though it without you...
The book might have only been a 2.5, but you’re a 5 star bby.💗💗💗

——————
Buddy read with my beautiful Cara babe! Here’s to hoping this book is as cute as the cover...

[Dab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if this book was perfectly fine but it was fine.

Autumn is a pianist working on her big comeback to the stage after a tragic accident ten years earlier. She is very private and she likes her routines but one day she wakes up to a noise as some dude is putting her stuff into a storage and moving in.

So uhm if someone moved in to my place without asking, started stealing my food from the fridge and then brought in a dog, there would be no chance in hell for us to become friends. I don’t care about your abs or your charming smile, it’s my space and my stuff, go away!

However as we know, romance novels are not about real life. They are fairy tales for big girls and we don’t care about plot holes, ridiculous details or unreasonable behavior because the hea will follow no matter what.

The mystery was a bit of an overkill but I prefer that over third act breakup, so it’s okay.

I didn’t have high hopes since everyone rated this book three stars, and I have to say I agree with the crowd this time; this book was cute but I will probably forget about it tomorrow.

Thank you Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca (life's chaotic catching up) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Eli and Autumn are forced to live under one roof and neither one of them are going to accept their new circumstances without a fight. While they go about plotting domestic sabotage for each other they are both dealing with personal and professional predicaments. There is a fine line between love and hate and Eli and Autumn are about to cross it.

This book had a good idea in there at some point, but I feel like it got buried under it trying to do too much. While I enjoyed the banter between Eli and Autumn and how he fell first, ultimately the unnecessary subplots hindered the pacing and development of the plot. The alternating between first and third person also made the flow of the writing a bit disruptive.

Thank you to my Ryde or die SS Cecelia for reading this book with me! Always a win when we read together!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Callaghanwriter for providing me with this ARC

[Ri ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In rehab, she was known as Ms Perfectly Fine,”
But Autumn Adler was everything except Ms Perfectly Fine.

This book is about two people Autumn and Elijah and their first encounter was not so amazing. They became Enemies the moment they met. But what would happen when two people who hated each other the moment they met are forced to live together?

This has enemies to lovers, reverse grumpy X sunshine and likable characters, forced proximity and has cozy vibes with suspence as sub plot. I liked the book and even enjoyed some parts. It was cute because of Autum and Elijah's bantering and their cute big furry dog Brinkley.

The writing was simple and smooth and while this has both Autumn and Elijah's pov the whole story is written in third pov. The characters were written well but it felt like the story was rushed and so much happening so I didn't see Autumn's character development in this. Which was the most important part in this because she was dealing through grief and chronic pain because of the traumatic incident.

➙ Relationship: Elijah and Autumn

Their story started with them bickering over their living arrangement but ended up falling in love with each other. I enjoyed their funny and flirty banters. Elijah never treated her like she's some broken girl. He bursts the safety bubble that Autumn is so used to for the past years and forces her to come out of it.

While Autumn hated Elijah with passion she loved the comfort and safety he provided her. He helped Autumn heal a part of her while being there for her and helped her to deal with all her fears and grief. I liked how patience he was with her and also that he knew that he wanted Autumn and he would never let her go not until he tell her what she meant to him. I'm glad they both are happy and in love.

“There is no part of you I’d ever want to avoid,” he assured her. “You’ve no idea how much I’ve longed to touch and taste every inch of you. Scarred or not, it’s part of you and deserves to be cherished.”

Elijah fell first and he fell harder for Autumn!!!


✦ Autumn Adler
A famous painist who is ready for her comeback after the traumatic incident. She is stubborn, introvert and used to handling things herself. She went through so much in the last few years of her life and this was the journey of how she finally let go of all her fears and grief that was holding her from being who she always wanted to be.

✦ Elijah Wells
He's Charming, thoughtful and loving. He's trying to build his own tech company while also trying to severe ties from his controlling father. At first he seemed like cocky to me but after reading some chapters I saw how caring and kind he is and especially towards his mother and Autumn and also his dog Brinkley.


The ending was satisfying because Autumn and Elijah were happy and in love and also there was no third act breakup so no extra unnecessary drama in the end. But the suspense part felt rushed to me. But I also didn't see it coming and it was a bit shocking. And I definitely didn't suspected that person!!!


Thanks to Kate Callaghan and Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autumn sticks to her routine in order to live her life as best she can with chronic pain, however, after a mix-up, she is left with a new housemate, Elijah. Elijah is happy to share the house with Autumn, however, she is unwilling to go along with that plan and will do anything to get him out of her home. The two are at odds but eventually, along the way, find themselves drawn to each other. Autumn is hesitant to pursue anything, but once Elijah makes it clear he is sticking around the two are inseparable.

Ms Perfectly Fine is perfectly fine but needs some fine-tuning. The writing is decent but the plot points get lost in the domesticity aspects and the pacing is rushed in places. The suspense and mystery were added in the last quarter of the book and felt like an afterthought, I also would have loved to read more about the aftermath but the book wraps up very fast.

-I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review-

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I didn't mean to pressure you. Sometimes I forget how much you go through because you
hide it so well. If you're happy, then I'm happy." - we learn to hide behind a smile

I can't put into words how much I loved this book, this is mainly due to the representation of Chronic Pain, which isn't seen or spoke about as much as it should. Thank you Kate Callaghan for doing this. I have read other authors who have attempted do to a hidden illness or chronic pain related and I have DNF a number of times of just this aspect and how badly it was written and you can tell their was very little research, but yours definitely wasn't the case.

I am a fibromyalgia warrior and I have had it for over 5 years. I was thrilled with how it was depicted in the book - it showed how we are at a constant war with our own bodies, how Elijah accepted and took on that Autumn was in pain. Which isn't always the case, so often people say get over it or the pain is just in your head. The pain is really and if you are hit with a flare up it bloody well is painful. I loved the title of the book, the amount of times when my body is screaming in agony and if someone asks if you are ok I usually just go I'm fine as their is only so many times you can say why you hurting or what's the matter with you. Usually unless you have chronic pain yourself you can truly understand what we go through on a day to day bases.

"I dared to pull myself back from nothing and play through pain you can never even imagine?
No! Sure, everyone has their issues, but try adding a body that fights you every step of the way."

Autumn is lucky that she is able to carry on doing what she loves and has fought back after her accident and carries on playing the piano- not everyone is lucky enough to do this. Elijah is a game designer and after an unexpected house share , they have to learn to live together, even though Autumn is constantly trying to get him to leave, which makes Elijah want to stay more.

Autumn and Elijah is a slowish burn with him for falling first and fast. The romance was a bit quick, one minute they seem to be disliking each other to then falling for one another. But this was unstainable, living together in one space and then realising that one another is exactly what they each needed.

I enjoyed the mix of romance and suspense aspect to the story, what one point you thought you knew where the story was leading to and then at the end it was bam it was going in this direction.
I was also quite pleased that the person who was responsible for the roses was mentioned throughout and it wasn't just sprung upon you like some recent romance/suspense books I have read, where the culprit was mentioned once and you were expected to believe this was the person behind it all.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, as you can tell especially the chronic pain parts- giving a voice to those who don't always say anything and suffer in silence. I will definitely be reading more of Kate Callaghan work in the future.

“Whether you have emotional scars, physical ones, or both, you are worthy of being loved.”

*Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy for an honest review.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had a cute beginning concept, but they got fast way too fast, and the second part of the book was mess.

[Paige Turner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks, Netgalley. I received this book in exchange for a review.

And a review I shall give.

First, the plot had potential. You have a pianist who has a tragic accident and finally feels comfortable to go back on stage 6 years later. Her landlord rents out the front half of her home to this game developer. While she sorts out her feelings for him, she also has to figure out who keeps leaving her roses at her door. As her feelings for her new roommate grow, so does the frequency of the roses and the escalation of her stalker starts to turn dark. Is our heroin safe? Will she have the comeback so many are waiting for, or will she crumble from the stress of it all? Can she learn to let this new guy into her home? How about her heart?

The plot is all there. This sounds like it should be exciting. Unfortunately, it reads like a really bad wattpad. It is clear that this author did not use an editor, I almost wanted to contact the author and say I would edit this book for free to spare anyone else from having to deal with it. Besides the obvious (there were spelling errors and grammar errors), the dialogue read forced and confusing with a spalsh of immature. For people in their thirties, their vocabulary should include words other than "the dirty" to express intercourse unless it is being said as a joke. And when the main characters are in the middle of doing "the dirty" (I can't and I shan't let this go), it feels like two virgins who have watched many hours of porn and romance movies but didn't learn a thing from them.

The entire book focuses on their relationship, and then the last 6 chapters are spent rushing the subplot of the roses. In the end, it would appear that the author decided to slap together a stereotypical thriller ending that even Helen Keller saw coming. I would have liked more of the subplot throughout the book, I feel like there was so much that could have been done. Also, I think maybe the author forgot some of the random details sprinkled in at the beginning. For instance, Aiden was working on a case where a flower shop was broken into, and only a few flowers were taken. What happened to that? It's not the only plot hole, but it's one that is plaguing me.

Other plot holes include but are not limited to:

Elijah's mom and step dad, does Elijah ever get to know Frank more? Did he ever call his mom back after he promised he would?

Elijah's bio dad. Do they ever make true amends. Did Tim follow through on his end and come out to the public about his illegitimate son?

Autumn's mom and Mollie's mom. Do they reconnect? Do they become friends again?

Lena's dad. Bro, where is he???? Did he die??? Da heck???

Why did baby Todd go to the hospital? Is he okay??? HOW DOES HE HAVE AIDEN'S EYES AND FRACIS' HAIR???? THEY'RE TWO MEN??? THIS IS SCIENTIFICLY IMPOSSIBLE???????

There's more, but I'm not going to list every single one out.

The relationship between Autumn and Nina is awful. I would not consider Autumn a friend to anyone. She's completely self obsessed. Nina breaks up with her boyfriend, and instead of sitting on this and talking about it, Autumn instead decides to tell her how happy she is starting a relationship with Elijah and asks for advice. Nina is constantly fighting with her boyfriend, and Autumn never asks questions. I get respecting privacy, but maybe ask if your best friend is okay???

There's so much more I want to talk about this book, but I feel like the point has been given. Would I recommend this? Only if the author sends it to an editor and makes changes first. The idea is there. It just needs a LOT of editing.

[bee 🍉 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, any book that starts with a playlist is an immediate plus for me.

Ms Perfectly Fine has all the great makings of a Contemporary Romance and I loved it. This had close proximity, reverse grumpy sunshine, chronic pain representation, suspense, spicy scenes, an adorable dog, reluctant roommates to friends to lovers trope (This is a trope I need MORE of) and so much more.

The chemistry between Autumn and Elijah was probably the highlight for me. I loved their banter and how they formed a friendship before any romance even began. Elijah is a whole swoon fest and I couldn’t help but laugh at multiple of their interactions with one another.

I think this had the potential to have a higher rating for me but the suspense part of the book felt kind of rushed to me and I would’ve loved it to be dragged out a bit more.

Overall, I had great fun with this and I would love to check out more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[κris ☄ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I apologize for this will be a chaotic honest review.


Ms. Perfectly Fine turns out to be not fine (for my liking).

Thoughts:

• Initially, I had high hopes for it because I believed this should be my first book to have read about chronic illness. Turns out, it did not deliver the things I wanted to see in this book.
• This book follows an "enemies to lovers" and "grumpy (her) and sunshine (him) between a famous pianist performer and a game designer. As implied by its title, it comes with a lot and complicated baggage due to Autumn's traumatic accident.
• The plot was poorly executed and their banters are childish. Also, the conflict/climax of the story was unsatisfying and not as thrilling as I had been led to believe.
• The tension between the two main characters escalated rather quickly and was weirdly confusing. It was stupid, vapid, and frustrating.
• Dreadful pacing, predictable, and repetitive.
• I did not enjoy it and it's excruciating to read.

This may be an unfair review for an ARC, I would still give this book a 2-star rating. I see a potential and this could be better on its finished copy.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and IBPA for this ARC for an honest review. This book follows Autumn, a piano prodigy who was left with chronic pain after a tragedy when she was young. After she returns to playing piano she is forced to share a home with a game designer Elijah. The story shows how she manages her chronic pain and healing, but also her evolving relationship with Elijah. There is a subplot mystery that could’ve been further developed, but overall a sweet story full of diverse characters.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Perfectly Fine is the story of child prodigy Autumn, a brilliant pianist, and Elijah, an equally brilliant video game designer. One morning, Autumn finds a stranger moving into her rented apartment and the adventure (or misadventure, if you will) begins. Autumn is a strong female character in several aspects and she doesn't budge. I know how uncomfortable and irritated I would have been if I was suddenly forced to live with a stranger. She was calmer than me, though 😅 Her sarcastic comments were what made me like her even more. I liked the chronic pain representation, too.

Elijah is vegan. I have not read many books with vegan characters so this was a welcome change. I wanted to love this book more than I did, really. I like the author's writing style and I loved The Naughty or Nice Clause but a lot of things in this one bothered me, especially Elijah. He is thinking about having sex with Autumn from the very beginning and that really bugged me. I might still pass the sexualization of women without mentioning it in my review (and forced proximity is a trope here although it has got nothing to do with these initial thoughts of Elijah) but over-sexualization is surely a no-go for me.

I like it when I can deduce a plot but I like it better when I am mistaken. I deciphered an important subplot very early on and fortunately, I was mistaken. Can you imagine my delight?

Just like The Naughty or Nice Clause, this book too had LGBTQIA+ side characters, including the best friends of both the main characters. The story is written in dual POVs and like always, it is fun to get inside the minds of the characters.


This was a quick read and a page turner for me. Not a single dull moment or unnecessary scenes and dialogues. I especially loved the scenes where Elijah, Autumn and Todd are together. That entire chapter is hilarious and so accurate. And Brinkley, she has my heart ❤️

All in all, I liked the book. Recommended for beginners.

[MyBookNest7 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pianist Autumn Adler is finally making her solo comeback after a dreadful tragedy and a painful recovery. But someone doesn’t want her to take the stage and is trying their best to discourage her.

Coming to terms with the danger she faces, Autumn has to find a way to bravely pull down the walls she built around herself and stop being “perfectly fine” all the time. While the suspense in this one was an undercurrent, it still had enough weight to ensure a good and satisfying end to all the curiosity.

Ms Perfectly Fine is the story of taking back what’s yours while finding strength in love and everlasting friendship. A love that walks into your life and home one day, never to leave again and a friend that suddenly left one day and completely changed everything. While Elijah Wells was indeed the strongest sunshine to Autumn’s closed off, grumpy demeanour, Mollie was the friend that never had to see Autumn slowly close herself away from the world.

Thank you for my advance copy @netgalley

[Emily Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Perfectly Fine
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Kate Callaghan

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Kate Callaghan and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: Autumn moved into this house as a way to become independent after a tragic accident left her with chronic pain. She is a famous concert pianist looking to make a big comeback. Unbeknownst to her, her landlord (and friend) rented out half of the house to Elijah Wells. Autumn refuses to move out and Elijah is just as stubborn. This novel has romance, romcom, and even a little suspense sprinkled in. It follows the tropes of forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and grumpy v sunshine. The author does a good job representing chronic pain, I suffer with chronic pain in both of my feet and have had a few surgeries with some relief but still suffer daily.

The story is narrated by both Autumn and Elijah and we get mini flashbacks for Autumn and her tragic accident. Autumn is strong, independent, introverted, and fierce. Elijah is pining head over heels for Autumn, extroverted, and is trying to make something of himself. The author does an amazing job at mental health representation and does it respectfully with grace. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, swoony, twisty, and creatively blended romance with suspense. I thought the pacing and flow was spot on and built the appropriate tension for the suspenseful part of the story.

This was a cute story that keep me glued towards the end with suspense. Overall, this was a great book that I enjoyed. I would highly recommend picking up.

[Nattyclibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

Received this as an ARC and so happy I did.

The story of Autumn an incredible pianist who suffered a tragic accident 10 years prior. The growth she has throughout this book is absolutely incredible. I fell in love with her instantly.

Elijah... this man. At the beginning he seems like a cocky man who doesn't care about anyone but himself but we soon learn that is not at all true. His character was so well written and he also had such incredible growth.

I came into the book blind so to start reading and realizing there was suspense in it as well made me that much more intrigued.

You read it thinking this is either going to be a crazy ex boyfriend or just a crazy fan. Then you meet Heather and every part that she's in makes you feel "off" I did guess who she was however I still thought she was the culprit and it was out of spite of Autumn surviving and Mollie dying. Then the twist comes and I was SHOOOOOOK.....

[Aušra · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to Kate Callaghan for the complimentary advanced copy!

4.75 ⭐️ this is the kind of contemporary romance that i love the most: a sprinkle of heat, a bigger sprinkle of suspense and a whole lot of dazzling love (a cute retriever is always a bonus). Autumn and Elijah were such real characters and I love how their reluctant living arrangement turned into an honest friendship before it turned into a relationship. It's also noteworthy that Autumn's dislike towards Elijah in the beginning was completely justifiable as I feel mostly with romances like this a lot of the times the animosity feels forced and not completely believable. All in all I just love to read about two incredibly successful people falling in love and supporting each other immensely.

The suspense plotline also added a welcoming mystery to the story. In the beginning I was a bit scared that it's going to be too predictable but I was not disappointed with how it turned out.

I did kind of hope for some form of closure with Autumn's parents though.

What I loved the most:
* dual POV written from 3rd person
* the dog 🥹
* he drove tired in the night because he thought she was in danger
* amazing chronic pain rep
* 2 separate moderately spicy scenes
* close proximity trope
* love a MMC with daddy issues that is finally shown love and care and comfort
* strangers to reluctant roomate to friends to lovers trope
* no 3rd act break up 🥳

[Alejandra Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I LOVED this book. This is the first book I read from this author and WOW was I impressed!
This book follows Elijah, who is a game designer, & Autumn famous pianist who are forced to live together. It is the perfect mix of romance and suspense, I read it in two nights (which is very fast considering I'm a busy mom) I could not put it down! Highly recommend,

Thank you netgalley for my advanced copy of this book. This is a voluntary review and is completely my opinion.

[Rida Quraishi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autumn Adler is set to make her come back as a pianist after 10 years of break and she needs all her focus in that. But her focus and peace gets disrupted when a random stranger barges into the townhouse she's renting and starts to move her furniture out so that he can move in. Autumn is later told that her townhouse owner has rented out the bottom floor to Elijah, who is a video game designer and is working on building his company from ground up. She wants him out of the house but Elijah is here to stay, and thus we follow a story filled with banter and tug of war.

The cover of this book gave me cute romcom vibes but I was a little thrown off with the meet cute and the whole stalker angle. If a guy comes inside my apartment uninvited, I am calling the police! I won't be standing there and let the workers take away my furniture or my TV. And then, for the guy to be so cocky about it? Nooo!

What I really enjoyed though was the author's writing style and the ease in which the story flowed. I also loved the chronic pain representation as I suffer from it too so it was nice to see some relatability.

So, even though this book was not for me, I probably will check out her other books.

Check this book out if you like:
✨ Grumpy (Her) × Sunshine (Him)
✨ He falls first and harder
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Suspense
✨ Enemies To Lovers

Thanks to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for giving me an e-ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking at the reviews for this book, I wasn't sure I would like it, but I did. This book follows Autumn, who is a piano player who was in a tragic incident and is working on getting back to her concerts. She comes home one day and finds a man named Elijah moving into her home and is annoyed when she has to live with him. They both hate each other at first and do everything possible to get the other to leave the house.

I liked the parts that showed how Autumn was managing her chronic pain after her incident and the healing that she needed to do. Their banter and the pranks they played on each other in the beginning were really good and fun. This is an enemies to lovers that also has forced proximity and a grumpy fmc and sunshine mmc that falls first. Along with the romance, there is also a mystery subplot as they try to find out who has been stalking Autumn. I liked the idea of the mystery, but I wish it had been a more prominent part of the book and not just 70 percent into the book. It felt rushed and not fully explored, especially when the mystery was solved. Overall this is a nice book to read if you want a little suspense in your romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and IBPA for this arc for an honest review.

[Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an engaging read. We follow Autumn, a professional pianist dealing with chronic pain, and Elijah, a game developer, who are forced to share a living space. In the beginning, I wasn’t totally sold on this. I found the reason for the forced proximity to be a bit ridiculous and the speed at which Elijah fell for Autumn to be way too fast. However, it completely won me over (not even that far in).

The biggest stand-out to me was the chronic pain rep. It felt realistic - not taken lightly but also not overdone. I thought this book really handled the emotional, mental and physical aspects associated with trauma and living with chronic pain exceptionally well. It was also heartwarming to read about a character (Elijah) who was so accepting and supportive.

I’ve seen this described as a romantic suspense, and whilst there is a strong suspense element here, it doesn’t really get going until quite far into the book. I would almost say it’s a suspenseful romance, if such a thing exists (in other words, the romance is the dominant element). The suspense element was quite well done in my opinion - it wasn’t immediately obvious who the culprit was. If I have any criticism of it, I would say that maybe the psychological impact of it could have been explored slightly more at a certain point in the book.

All in all, this was a really fun read, compulsively readable and I would highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Aylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There's nothing I can say to make this better, but I'm here, and you won't have to go through anything like this again alone."

If this alone doesn't make you swoon, I don't know what will.
Autumn is a professional pianist who is spending all her time and focus on getting ready to make her solo comeback. She can't handle any distractions, as her chronic pain is already making it challenging enough but of course right then, a total stranger moves into her home and disrupts her routine. AND he is attractive too, ugh!

Ms Perfectly Fine is a funny, charming and fast-paced romance that I couldn't put down, and not only because of the mystery subplot!
The book discusses the topic of chronic pain and beautifully depicts the vulnerability that comes with it. Autumn is an inspiring FMC and you can't help but root for her and her journey. Elijah, the MMC, is supporting and loving and I was so happy with the way the author has written him as this understanding character, who doesn't push Autumn to tell him or do anything but shows his continuous support and that he is there for her. Double POV for the win!

The mystery subplot was well done in my opinion, given that it is a romance novel, and it kept me engaged. I also thought it was very realistic and not farfetched or unrealistic.

I am sure that for some the romance could be considered as too fast-paced. The characters go from dislike to love pretty quickly, but I truly didn't mind that because of the subplot, the development of the relationship wasn't what made up the plot. What I would have liked to read towards the end is some kind of resolution to the situation with Autumn's family. So much is happening and yet there is no information about her family and how they react to the situation which I do perceive as a plot flaw.

All in all, a cute, fast-paced and - given the mystery - a slightly different romance novel that is perfect for everyone who wants a light read that will entertain.

Ms Perfectly Fine is out now, June 8th!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an eARC.

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a book I requested based solely on the cover. I’m slowly working through my backlog of ARCs (SORRY AUTHORS 💀) and this was one that has been a long time coming.

Ms Perfectly Fine - also known as Autumn Adler - is a concert pianist with a tragic backstory. After surviving a stage collapse in her youth, she’s coming back to the stage and wanting to prove to everyone that her past is behind her, and that she can still play at the level people expect. Riddled with chronic pain, Autumn gets a rude awakening when Elijah Wells moves into her house. Unexpectedly.

But it’s fineeeee. Right?

Elijah is a game developer and also her landlord’s son. The two of them share a space and learn to work with one another. OBVIOUSLY, feelings happen. You can’t have forced proximity without feelings in my world ;D But the way these two come together, and their banter, GUH. It’s fabulous and I loved it.

There’s also a romantic suspense element because someone is stalking Autumn. I wish that element had been played up a little bit more - it was pretty sporadic - but overall this was a good read for me and I’m happy I finally got around to reading it!

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried, I really really tried to get through this book.
The story idea is intriguing, but there are waaaay to many plot holes in this and even more cringe worthy characters flaws. After nearly a month of trying to push myself through, I give up.
Time of death? DNF'd at 42%
It's unfortunate because I LOVED The Naughty Or Nice Clause by Callaghan.
Ah well, win some and lose some.
Thank to NetGalley & CallaghanWriter for my ARC.

[Kseniya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Ms. Perfectly Fine by Kate Callaghan is a heartfelt novel that beautifully captures the journey of Autumn Adler, a talented concert pianist battling chronic pain. As she prepares for her comeback, she encounters unexpected distractions, including her landlord Elijah Wells, a game designer who becomes more than just a nuisance. The book seamlessly blends romance, mystery, and personal growth, keeping readers engaged throughout.

The combination of genres in Ms. Perfectly Fine is a pleasant surprise. While primarily a romance, the addition of mystery elements adds depth and excitement to the plot. Elijah's unwavering determination to win Autumn's heart is endearing, while Autumn's resilience and self-discovery make her a relatable and inspiring protagonist.

Kate Callaghan's writing style really brings the story to life. The townhouse setting is vividly described, and the tension between Autumn and Elijah is palpable. The pacing is well-balanced, maintaining a satisfying rhythm that keeps readers hooked until the end.

With a captivating blend of romance, mystery, and personal struggles, Ms. Perfectly Fine is a beautifully written novel. Kate Callaghan's storytelling will tug at your heartstrings as you follow Autumn and Elijah's journey through love, pain, and unexpected secrets. If you enjoy heartfelt stories with a touch of suspense, this book is a must-read. The twist elevated this book to 4.5 stars for me.

[Anja H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3 CLASSICAL STARS*

“She was worth waiting for.”

This was pretty cute.
I liked the classical musician x gamer aspect and the fact that Autumn had chronical pains (which isn't something you encounter very often in a romance novel), so kudos to the author for that! Forced proximity is also one of my favorite trope so I liked that about this.

Other than that, this is being marketed as a romantic suspense/thriller, but that missed the mark a bit for me. The focus was more on the romance and I just didn't feel very threatened by someone leaving roses? Also, the reveal of the culprit didn't make a lot of sense to me somehow. But overall, a pretty cute read.

[rosana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and CallaghanWriter for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say? I put this book down a few times because I had important things to do over the weekend, but if it wasn't for that, I would absolutely have read it in just one sitting.

4.75 STARS!! I'm rating it as a 5 star read because it may to that soon if I keep thinking about this book!

I have read another book by Kate Callaghan before and that was "The Naughty Or Nice Clause". It was a decent read for me at that time (I rated it 3.5 stars) but this book? OH MY!! This book is *chef's kiss*, I could see how much the writing has improved and the whole concept was fantastic.

The banter between the two main characters (Autumn and Elijah) was so good and there was no rush in the events, it gave the reader time to understand and fall in love with the characters in every single aspect.

Moving now into specific aspects.

I think the chronic pain was well executed throughout the book, not too much details that could trigger someone, but neither was ignored, it had the perfect amount of description.

I liked the fact that the main male character had daddy issues and how he and his father dealt with it. It was interesting to see that, overall, it did affect his life but how he was fighting for his hapiness.

The little cliffhanger about who was doing all of those things was also well done! I had my theory right from the beginning and it was right, but it didn't let me down.

And it didn't have a 3rd act breakup! That was the cherry on top of the cake. Lately, books that end up having 3rd act breakup are an immediate "no" for me because it bored me so much, so this one made me very happy and interested to see what would happen.

The only thing I missed was seeing how Autumn's relationship with her family would go on, but that was also to be expected (once you read it, you will understand).

I will absolutely recommend people to read this book. It's a more 'chill book', but you know what? It is the perfect book for a reading slump, it doesn't force the reader to give their full attention to understand every single thing. It's a relaxing read, without much drama and with a light suspense.

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tying everything together nicely, Ms Perfectly Fine by Kate Callaghan shows readers the strength needed to push through a life filled with grief and pain after a traumatic life-changing event.

Summary: Autumn Adler is a child prodigy who was met with an accident on stage 10 years ago, causing her to lose her best friend and to have scars and chronic pain for the years following that. Elijah Wells moves to her house (a little more like invading it), and they get off on the wrong footing (mainly on Autumn's side). But his personality shone, and they started getting along.

Tropes/Genres:
• strangers to enemies to lovers
• forced proximity
• housemates
• musical setting
• contemporary romance

Review: This is so good! Everything tied together nicely. The foreshadowing is great, and the red herring is even better. The characters are awesome. Autumn Adler and Elijah Wells had such great chemistry! I loved their banter. They're so wild. Elijah just has so many green flags. You can't help but love that guy for Autumn. He also always says the right things that just make you SWOON.

I really admire Autumn’s bravery and courage to keep going and strive to achieve what she wants – what’s meant for her. She worked hard to prove herself to be able to get on stage and perform for the people and fans who believed in her. For 10 years, she had to experience pain and constantly visit a therapist for her physical and mental well-being. It's tough losing her closest friend, but she pulled through. I admire her for that.

As I said earlier, the foreshadowing and red herring were done well. It got me suspecting one person, and then OH! There’s another suspect too! I really liked how it’s done. It was so well thought out. The little clues dropped in the book, making me raise eyebrows – those were good.

I recommend this book to readers who love a good enemies-to-lovers love story between housemates that were forced under one roof, starring a strong female lead who may be a bit stubborn but has every good reason for that. If you like a musical setting, here’s the book for you too!