How Freaking Romantic is a sharp, funny, and emotionally layered debut that blends enemies-to-lovers tension with vulnerable, character-driven growth. If you love your romance with substance, sass, and soul, this novel is for you.
| Author Name | Emily Harding |
| Published Date | 1 July 2025 |
| Genre | Romance |
| Amazon | How Freaking Romantic by Emily Harding |
| Goodreads | How Freaking Romantic by Emily Harding |
| Format | Kindle/Audiobook/Paperback/Audio CD |
| Pages | 352 |
| Language | English |
The story follows Bea Nilsson, a burnt-out law student navigating the final stretch of her degree while fiercely protecting her best friend through a turbulent divorce. Enter Nathan Asher, the opposing divorce attorney and soon-to-be adjunct professor at Bea’s law school. Their meet-cute? Bea storms into his office to give him a piece of her mind… before realizing she’ll be seeing him in class. Forced into proximity and partnered by circumstance, Bea and Nate slowly evolve from reluctant allies into something deeper, even as Bea wrestles with the idea of romantic vulnerability.
Bea is not your typical romantic heroine. She’s prickly, sarcastic, and burdened by childhood wounds that taught her to view love as something fragile or unsafe. Her default defense is anger, especially when she feels too much. And she feels everything. But it’s exactly that emotional volatility that makes her journey so rich. Watching her break down the walls she’s built, through arguments, late-night conversations, and quiet acts of care, is equal parts frustrating and rewarding.
Nate is her foil in the best way. Gentle, grounded, and quietly persistent, he sees through Bea’s barbed humor and refuses to be scared off. Their chemistry crackles through banter, classroom debates, and awkward law mixers. But it’s the small, intimate gestures, his listening, his patience, his ability to see the person beneath the performance, that truly anchor their bond.
Emily Harding’s writing excels in capturing the messiness of adulthood, friendship, and the fear of opening up again. Her sharp humor is matched by moments of real emotional vulnerability. Harding doesn’t just write romance, she writes relationships. Romantic, platonic, familial, they’re all here, complicated and worth fighting for. And the pacing? A satisfying slow burn that makes every spark between Bea and Nate feel earned.
About the Author: Emily Harding
Emily Harding makes a memorable solo debut with How Freaking Romantic, delivering a fresh voice in contemporary romance. Known previously for her co-writing in other genre-bending fiction, Harding brings her signature wit and emotional clarity to the forefront here.
If you’re new to her work, readers should check out:
- The Fiancee – A twisty domestic thriller with family drama and untrustworthy characters.
- My Lovely Wife – Co-written with Samantha Downing, it’s a chilling, compulsively readable take on marriage with secrets.
- A Terrible Place to Die – A gripping mystery wrapped around a haunting small-town setting.
Harding’s range across genres only makes her romantic debut that much more impressive, whether it’s thrillers or romance, she understands the human heart.
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Let’s look into some of the Book Reviews!
Bea completely stole the show for me. She’s emotionally intense, rage-filled at times, and yet heartbreakingly tender underneath it all. I loved how her defensiveness was clearly a way to guard her softest parts, it made her so real. The slow burn between Bea and Nate kept me hooked, and I especially appreciated Allyson Ryan’s narration in the audiobook, it captured every nuance of their complicated chemistry. When Bea wasn’t lashing out, you could feel her trying to protect herself from being hurt again. It was raw and incredibly well-written.
Emily Harding’s debut really stands out because of her banter and how much emphasis she puts on friendship. What struck me most was how Bea’s past has shaped her armor, and how Nate patiently, kindly, begins to peel that back. Their story is chaotic and sometimes messy, but that’s exactly why it works. It’s a beautiful take on what it means to let someone in when you’ve been conditioned to push people away.
Even when Bea frustrated me, I admired her loyalty and the way she constantly showed up for the people she loved, even when she couldn’t quite do that for herself. The emotional arcs were compelling, the friendships were genuine, and though a few scenes felt slightly over the top, they only added to the charm. This wasn’t just a romance, it was a story about self-worth, healing, and choosing love, even when it terrifies you.
How Freaking Romantic is perfect for fans of:
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Women in law
- Found family and close female friendships
- Slow burn with emotional payoffs
With richly flawed characters and a romance that earns its happy ending, Emily Harding has delivered a debut that feels both fresh and heartfelt.
