5 Answers
I went into 'Unperfect' with a book-club eye, looking for conversation points, and it delivered more than I expected. The story is anchored by Mia and Max: Mia is almost literally starting from scratch and is quietly resilient, while Max is the public, grumpy architect who’s been turned into a minor celeb by TV; their relationship unfolds amid workplace power dynamics that fuel both tension and attraction. The book is categorized as a grumpy-boss, enemies-to-lovers romance and has reader advisories around domestic violence and explicit language, so those elements are central to any responsible discussion. What made it good book-club material for me was the messy moral territory: consent and power in boss-employee settings, how trauma shapes people, and whether a redemption arc cleans the slate. There are also follow-on entries in the series that focus on other characters, so if you like a world that expands beyond the central couple, that’s a bonus. Overall, I’d recommend it for thoughtful romance readers who don’t mind heavier themes alongside the steam.
I devoured 'Unperfect' in a weekend and had a mixed, but overall entertained, reaction. The book centers on Mia — she’s vulnerable, sharp around the edges, and surviving on sheer will — and Max, the rough-around-the-edges TV architect who’s famously grumpy. Their chemistry is the engine: he’s brusque and infuriating, she’s cautious and guarded, and watching the walls come down between them is what makes the novel stick. The tone rides between sweet and dark; reader notes flag occasional swearing and a domestic-abuse trigger, so it’s more serious than a light rom-com. If you love character-driven contemporary romance with workplace friction and a clear enemies-to-lovers arc, this is a fun pick. If you prefer purely light-hearted escapism, be ready for some heavier beats. For me, Mia’s resilience and Max’s slow softening made it worthwhile — it’s the kind of book that keeps you turning pages even when characters irritate you.
I’d recommend 'Unperfect' to readers who crave emotional rom-coms with a darker undertone. The principal characters are Mia, a quietly tough heroine scraping by, and Max, the grumpy, famous architect whose brusque public persona masks complexity. The plot uses the office and media spotlight as pressure-cooker settings for their slow-burn relationship, so the pacing favors character moments over constant plot twists. There are content warnings — some readers point out domestic-violence themes and rough language — so it’s not a carefree beach read for everyone. If you enjoy flawed people trying to be better for each other and don’t mind emotional friction, I found the book engaging and rooted in believable, if imperfect, romance, which made it stick with me after the last page.
I picked up 'Unperfect' because the premise — a tiny, terrified heroine walking into the mouth of a grumpy, famous architect — sounded like a cosy train-wreck I could not resist. The book is by Susie Tate and leans hard into the enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-boss office romance beat, so if you like slow-burn workplace tension mixed with messy pasts, it hits those beats reliably. The core pair are Mia, who shows up at an interview with almost nothing to her name, and Max, the brash northern architect famous for his blunt TV moments; their dynamic carries the story and most of the emotional weight. Stylistically it’s contemporary, with flashes of dark themes (there are trigger notes around domestic abuse issues in readers’ discussions), so it’s not fluff-only rom-com — there are gritty edges. If you want perfect, sparkle-filled rom-coms, this is not that; if you like redemption arcs and grumpy-but-redeemable heroes plus a heroine who slowly finds her footing, I think it’s worth a read. Personally, I found Mia and Max addictive to watch unravel and heal, even when the story gets a bit angsty and raw in parts.
Short take: yes, 'Unperfect' is worth reading if you enjoy modern romance with a grumpy-boss twist. The two main characters are Mia, a resourceful but wary woman who turns up to an interview with almost nothing, and Max, the famous, blunt architect who terrifies her and eventually becomes her complicated love interest. The novel sits firmly in the enemies-to-lovers office-romance category and carries some darker content warnings, so it’s not purely light-hearted. I liked the emotional payoff and the character growth, though it’s a bit rough around the edges in places — which felt fitting for the title.