not a waste of time
If you’re looking for a quick, trope-heavy rom-com with lots of banter, a dash of spice, and an office romance that kicks off about 30 seconds in, Accidentally Amy might be your next light listen. I picked it up after enjoying Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies and because, at around 7 hours, it fit my mood for something shorter and easy. The story centers on Izzy and Blake, who meet during a chaotic coffee run and immediately hit it off — without realizing they’ll be working in the same building. Cue instant attraction, workplace tension, and very few barriers to either of them acting on their feelings. Izzy is your classic rom-com heroine: a little chaotic, impulsive, and quirky in a way that’s meant to be endearing but sometimes feels a bit too over the top. She’s the “messy but effortlessly cute” type who blurts out whatever she thinks — and, somehow, it always works out. Blake, on the other hand, is basically every romantic hero from an Ali Hazelwood book crossed with Joshua Templeman from The Hating Game: tall, composed, emotionally stable, responsible (he has two cats — one blind and diabetic — which really leans hard into the “he’s a saint” angle). Both are likeable, though Blake more so than Izzy, but neither feels particularly believable. Their chemistry works well — it’s sweet, warm, and starts right from the meet-cute. The instant connection felt fitting for their personalities, even if it leaned heavily on insta-love. Still, some of the choices they make, especially in a professional setting, just didn’t land for me. Izzy risking her brand-new, high-stakes job on day one by flirting with the boss? Blake tossing HR protocol out the window? It felt too convenient, and not in a fun way. Humor-wise, it was hit or miss. The interactions between Izzy and Blake are cute, and they have that magnetic can’t-stay-away-from-each-other vibe that’s easy to root for. But the scenes with Izzy’s cousin and their overly quirky friend group felt forced. They’re portrayed as these effortlessly cool, fun, creative people who can just stop work for mid-day drinking games… and exist more as a comic device than actual characters. I didn’t laugh out loud or even crack a smile — but the romance itself had charm. There’s not much of a story arc. The pacing is fine, but there’s no real conflict until the final stretch, and even then it’s more of a brief hiccup than a true emotional obstacle. No major heartbreak, no character growth, no stakes. And as much as I loved the premise behind the title, the whole “Accidentally Amy” plot point gets resolved early and doesn’t really serve the story at all — it’s a clever setup that never becomes relevant. I listened to the audiobook, which is read by a single narrator voicing both Izzy and Blake. While that sometimes works, it felt a bit odd here — especially given the amount of direct interaction between the two. I would’ve preferred dual narration to help bring the chemistry to life. The writing itself is easy and pleasant enough, and the book isn’t long enough to feel like a waste of time. But overall, it felt like a watered-down remix of The Hating Game with a touch of Ali Hazelwood — nothing new, nothing groundbreaking, and no strong emotional depth. I think it could have been more — the premise had potential — but in the end, it was just okay. A soft 2.75 stars.