The Devil Wears Black

Maddie Goldbloom accepts an unconventional proposition from her neighbor Chase Black - to be his fake fiancée for business purposes. Though she initially hesitates, the financial compensation could help save her struggling vintage clothing store. Chase Black built his fortune in venture capital through ruthless determination and calculated risks. His proposal to Maddie stems from pressure to appear more settled and marriage-minded to his business associates and family. Their arrangement grows complicated as they navigate social events, family dynamics, and maintaining the facade. The pair must confront their developing feelings while protecting their individual interests and ambitions. The story explores themes of authenticity versus appearance, the intersection of business and personal life, and the ways people adapt their true selves to meet others' expectations.

Readers describe this as a light, steamy enemies-to-lovers romance with witty banter between the leads. Many reviewers note it's a quick, entertaining read they finished in one sitting. Liked: - Sharp, funny dialogue - Chemistry between main characters - Fast pacing - Workplace setting - Side characters, especially Chase's grandmother Disliked: - Predictable plot points - Some found the relationship dynamic problematic - Marketing mislead readers expecting darker content based on title - Several reviewers felt character development was shallow - Repetitive internal monologues "The banter carried this book" appears in multiple reviews. Some readers noted it's lighter than Shen's other works. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (46,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (13,000+ ratings) BookBub: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) The book trends higher with romance genre fans versus general readers based on review distributions.

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🖤 "The Devil Wears Black" was released in 2021 and quickly became a BookTok sensation, with millions of views under its hashtag on TikTok 📚 Author L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post, and Amazon #1 best-selling author who wrote her first book while working as a corporate executive 💑 The book's fake engagement trope was inspired by classic romantic comedies like "The Proposal" and "Green Card" 🌟 The novel's protagonist, Maddie, shares her name with the author's daughter, though L.J. Shen has stated the character isn't based on her ✍️ L.J. Shen wrote this standalone contemporary romance as a departure from her usual "bad boy" storylines, focusing instead on a successful, polished businessman as the male lead