Steamy hatefuck scale: 4/5

• They do insult each other a lot, but it comes off as more playful flirting/playground banter than anything with real heat. When they actually do say something cruel, it's acknowledged in-universe as taking a step too far. For a lighthearted romance novel, I think it's standard.

Secret softness scale: 4/5

• The only thing stopping me from giving this a 3/5 is the sickness subplot. Basically, Andrew catches the flu and Georgie takes care of him. Then Georgie catches it too and he takes care of her. It was so cute, oh my god. Other than that... there isn't a lot of lovey dovey introspective "you're perfect for me" conversations between them. Well, in the end, Andrew sings his Big Confession... so bonus points.

Rating the experience: 5/5

• The audiobook was several hours long but I finished it in two days (albeit at 1.75x the speed). The writing is snappy, funny, and easy to digest. I couldn't get enough of it! My only real issue is that it started dragging by the end (after the smut scene), but at that point Layne was tying up loose ends for Andrew's character growth, so I can forgive it.

For Fans of Fierce Heroine X and Broody Hero Y:
Georgie is so bubbly, kind, and lovable. She reminds me of Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. She might seem like a fashion-obsessed socialite ditz, but she's actually quite intelligent. And she cares for other people deeply. She's unbelievably precious.

Andrew is honestly one of those stock jerk-who-learns-to-love characters lmao. He's stoic, cool, and unbelievably smart... which isolates him from others. Huh. That actually sounds like Prince Rhen from A Curse So Dark and Lonely. Agree?

On to the actual review...

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

Pampered heiress Georgianna Watkins has a party-girl image to maintain, but all the shopping and clubbing is starting to feel a little bit hollow—and a whole lot lonely. Though Georgie would never admit it, the highlights of her week are the mornings when she comes home at the same time as her uptight, workaholic neighbor is leaving to hit the gym and put in a long day at the office. Teasing him is the most fun Georgie’s had in years—and the fuel for all her naughtiest daydreams.

Celebrity divorce attorney Andrew Mulroney doesn’t have much time for women, especially spoiled tabloid princesses who spend more time on Page Six than at an actual job. Although Georgie’s drop-dead gorgeous, she’s also everything Andrew resents: the type of girl who inherited her penthouse instead of earning it. But after Andrew caps one of their predawn sparring sessions with a surprise kiss—a kiss that’s caught on camera—all of Manhattan is gossiping about whether they’re a real couple. And nobody’s more surprised than Andrew to find that the answer just might be yes.

It's very straightforward: Georgia is a happy, bubbly socialite. Andrew is the cold-hearted top divorce lawyer. They're neighbors and they cannot get along. They hate each other! Or do they...?

It's technically a slow-burn because of the hate-to-love trope, but I would still categorize this as an insta-love novel. There's no subtlety to it lol. Andrew and Georgie might think they hate each other, but they quickly realize that they are at least physically attracted to each other. Plus, they're complete opposites, so their friendship isn't a normal one. They acknowledge that they have absolutely nothing in common (except that both of them love the color red). But since opposites attract, they make it work.

Here are some of the tropes in WALK OF SHAME:

1. Hate to love and snarky banter

2. "Ugh s/he's not here I am so annoyed and it is NOT because I have feelings" (basically: denial)

3. A kiss in the rain

4. Taking care of their partner while sick

5. Big apology as love confession

6. Everyone Else Ships It

I honestly don't have much to say about this book. Georgie eventually realizes that she wants a life with more than just parties, but she stays the same throughout the novel. It's Andrew that goes through character development. He eventually learns how to listen to his heart. Does that sound cheesy? It is, but it was pretty cute!

By the way, the summary is misleading but this is not a fake-dating or a Gossip Girl type of novel. Sure, their kiss is caught on camera, but it doesn't add much drama to the story. In fact, it just makes Georgie's friends back off from pursuing Andrew so they can cheer her on instead.

TL;DR A quick, lighthearted, fun romance read. Rated 3/5 stars.