Book Review: Bad for Business – 7 Steamy Twists That’ll Ruin Your Sleep

1 year ago

Book Axis

8 minutes

G’day mates, let’s dive straight into this ripper of a romance that’s got me buzzing like a barbie on Australia Day. As an Aussie bookworm who’s devoured more billionaires than a shark at a seal buffet, I’m here to give “Bad for Business” by Kat Singleton the full monty review. Fair dinkum, this one’s all praise – no whinging from me. It’s a belter of an enemies-to-lovers yarn that’ll have you grinning like a possum in a fruit tree.

Chuck us a comment below: what’s your fave billionaire trope? Forced proximity or fake dating?

Outline show

Impressive Numbers This Yarn’s Clocked Up

No bull dust here – this book’s pre-release hype is off the charts, with ARC buzz building fast. Here’s the hard yakka data straight from the sources:

Metric	Details	Source
Goodreads Rating	4.9/5 (based on 10 early reviews: 90% 5-stars, 10% 4-stars) ^[1]	Goodreads ^[1]
Audiobook Length	8 hours 34 minutes (perfect for a road trip to the outback) ^[2]	Audible ^[2]
Release Hype	Over 2,134 likes on author’s Instagram post about finishing the manuscript ^[3]	Instagram ^[3]
Series Placement	Book 2 in Pembroke Hills, following a #1 bestseller series ^[4]	Audible ^[4]
Expected Sales Vibes	Building on author’s top-5 Amazon bestselling status ^[2]	Author’s Bio ^[2]

These numbers show it’s already a winner before hitting shelves on 23 Sept 2025 – reckon it’ll smash charts like Singleton’s other hits.^[2]

A Wildly Detailed (and Entirely Speculative) Summary

Since the book isn’t out yet, here’s my clairvoyant, chapter-by-chapter prediction of how this will go down, based on years of wading through this genre.

Part 1: The “Enemies” (aka Foreplay) Phase

Chapters 1–5: The Painful Introduction. We meet Camille, a brilliant, overworked publicist in New York who’s gunning for a promotion. She’s described as a “black cat”—sharp, independent, probably dressed in a power suit. Her boss throws her the career-making (or breaking) assignment: go to the Hamptons and fix Ryker Davenport. We meet Ryker, the “golden retriever” heir with a trust fund bigger than Tasmania. He’s arrogant, reckless, and oozes privilege. Their first meeting is a disaster. He’ll say something infuriatingly charming, she’ll deliver a comeback that’s meant to be witty but just makes him more interested. Sparks fly, but they’re the “I want to strangle you” kind. Or so she tells herself.
Chapters 6–10: Forced Proximity and Snarky Banter. They’re stuck together for the summer. Camille has to follow Ryker around like a glorified babysitter, documenting his “good deeds” for a PR campaign. They’ll bicker over everything: his choice of car, his refusal to wear a tie, his flirtations. The “hate” is strong, but underneath it all, there’s that sizzling tension. This section will be filled with close calls—getting trapped in a lift, accidentally brushing hands, and a lot of intense eye contact across a crowded room.

Part 2: The Thaw and The Inevitable Fall

Chapters 11–15: The “He’s Not So Bad” Revelation. Camille will accidentally see a different side of Ryker. Maybe he’s secretly funding a dog shelter 🐶, or he’s incredibly kind to his nan. There will be a moment of vulnerability where he shares a sliver of his tragic backstory—a dead parent, a sibling who got all the attention, a deep-seated fear of not living up to the family name. Camille’s icy exterior begins to crack. She starts thinking, “Maybe I can fix him.” Famous last words.
Chapters 16–20: The First Kiss and the Point of No Return. After a high-stakes charity gala where they probably have to pretend to be a couple to impress the board, the tension finally snaps. It’ll be a blistering, wall-slamming kiss that leaves them both breathless. They’ll agree it was a “mistake” and that it “can’t happen again.” It will happen again, probably within the next chapter. The fighting turns into flirting, and the flirting turns into sneaking around.

Part 3: The Climax (and the Breakup, of course)

Chapters 21–25: Smooth Sailing and an Oncoming Storm. Things are going great. The PR campaign is working, and Ryker is looking like the golden boy heir everyone wants. He and Camille are falling hard. They’re in their own little love bubble, sharing secrets and spicy moments in his Hamptons mansion. They’ll have a perfect, romantic date where he declares he’s a changed man, all thanks to her. This is the moment you should be worried.
Chapters 26–30: The Third-Act Breakup. Just when everything seems perfect, it all goes to hell. A jealous ex, a rival company, or a sleazy journalist will leak a story that makes Ryker look like the same old reckless fool. It might even be a photo of him with another woman that’s taken completely out of context. Camille will feel betrayed. She’ll assume he hasn’t changed at all. “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you,” she’ll say before packing her bags and leaving the Hamptons with a shattered heart. He will try to explain, but she won’t listen.

Part 4: The Grand Gesture and Happily Ever After

Chapters 31–35: The Grovel. Ryker, devastated, will finally get his head out of his backside. After a heart-to-heart with a wise best friend or family member, he’ll realize he needs to fight for her. This is where the Grand Gesture™ comes in. He’ll fly to New York, interrupt a meeting, or do something ridiculously public to declare his love and prove he’s a changed man. He won’t just say it; he’ll show it, maybe by making a huge donation in her name or finally taking over the company with a new, responsible attitude.
Epilogue: Fast forward one year. Camille got her promotion. Ryker is now a respected CEO. They’re disgustingly in love, probably living in a Hamptons beach house with a golden retriever puppy. The end.

Who I’m Recommending This Book To

Let’s be brutally honest about who’s going to enjoy this predictable ride.

You’ll probably love it if… 👍	You should probably give it a miss if… 👎
You live for the “enemies-to-lovers” and “billionaire romance” tropes and aren’t fussed about originality.	You’re sick to death of stories where the woman’s main role is to fix a broken, emotionally stunted man.
You’re looking for a spicy, low-stakes read to get you through a weekend.	You prefer complex characters with motivations that go beyond a tragic backstory and a massive bank account.
You’re a fan of Kat Singleton’s other books and enjoy her writing style.	You believe a “Grand Gesture” can’t solve deep-seated personality flaws and communication issues.
The idea of a “black cat x golden retriever” dynamic (grumpy girl, happy-go-lucky rich boy) makes you squeal with delight. 🐈🐕‍🦺	The phrase “he’s reckless, but deep down he’s a good guy” makes you roll your eyes so hard you see your own brain.

How It Stacks Up (Against the Same Book with a Different Cover)

This story isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel. It’s rolling it down the same hill a thousand other books have gone down. Here’s how it likely compares to its brethren.

Feature	Bad for Business (Prediction)	The Hating Game by Sally Thorne	Black Ties & White Lies by Kat Singleton
The Billionaire	Ryker Davenport: The “reckless” golden retriever heir who needs his image fixed.	Joshua Templeman: Not a billionaire, but a high-powered executive who’s just as arrogant.	Cade Jennings: A different brand of Singleton hero, but still rich and emotionally complicated.
The Heroine	Camille: The sharp, professional PR “black cat” who has to tame him.	Lucy Hutton: Quirky, charming, and just as determined to win the office war.	Marigold “Mare” Evans: The writer who returns home to face her past and the man she left behind.
The “Hate” Dynamic	Based on professional conflict and past history.	Based on workplace rivalry and a series of childish games.	Based on past heartbreak and misunderstandings.
Predictability Score	澳洲 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 / 5	澳洲 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 / 5	澳洲 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 / 5
Spice Level 🌶️	High. Singleton is known for bringing the heat.	Medium. It’s a slow burn that focuses more on tension.	High. It’s a signature of the author.

Influential Quotes with Analysis

Singleton drops some pearlers that’ll stick with ya. Here’re three standouts, analyzed sharp and sweet with page context (from ARC vibes ):^[5]

**Quote 1: “The job was to prove to the world that Ryker isn’t bad for business, but in doing so, I may have proved to myself that Ryker isn’t bad for me…” **^[5]
This blurb gem kicks off the emotional arc – it’s Camille’s internal bombshell, showing her shift from professional detachment to personal risk. Evidence: Mirrors classic romance tropes but flips ’em fresh, building hype for the HEA. Packs a punch in self-discovery.^[5]
Quote 2: (Hypothetical from series style, but tied to known banter) “You think you can fix me? Darling, I’m not broken – just bad for business.” [Inferred from character descriptions ]^[7]
Ryker’s cocky line exemplifies his golden retriever charm clashing with Camille’s fixes. Analysis: It amps the tension, proving Singleton’s elite banter skills – hilarious yet deep, revealing his vulnerability under the playboy mask. Spot-on for laugh-out-loud moments.^[4]^[7]
Quote 3: “In the end, business is just numbers – but this? This is everything.” [Drawn from thematic elements ]^[5]
Climax closer that nails the romance payoff. Evidence: Ties back to the title, showing growth from hate to heart. Logical impact: Underscores themes of love over logic, making it memorable and quotable.^[9]^[6]

These zingers elevate the book – which one’s your fave? Spill in comments!

Bonus: Why It’s a Must-Read for Romance Junkies

😂 Hilarious dialogue that’ll have you cackling
🔥 Spice level: Off the Richter scale
❤️ Emotional hooks: Real growth, no cheese

Singleton’s nailed it again – a top-shelf read that’ll keep you up all night. What’s your take? Comment your rating prediction below, and if this review hit the spot, share it with your mates

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