Three years ago, Madeline Bennett was at the peak of her chicken showing career. Then, everything changed for the worse.

George Cooper, an arrogant English poultry judge, discounts Madeline’s prize rooster at The National, the biggest and most important bird show in the United States. That same night, an accident simultaneously cripples her leg and kills almost the entirety of her prized flock.

Now, Madeline is back on the show circuit, trying to start over. What she isn’t prepared for is seeing George again–the man whom she’s come to consider her most ‘fowl’ enemy.

Feathers fly, and, despite a frustrating attraction that develops against their mutual better judgment, Madeline decides she’s done with George for good–until an investigation into a corrupt poultry judge on the show circuit forces the pair back together.

I really enjoyed this entertaining, sweet romcom, involving lots of poultry. It was easy to read and get immersed in this story. It was also short and only took me two days to read it. I read the first half of the book in just my first sitting. I got completely engrossed in this enemies-to-lovers romance story. 

There is some language, a few kissing scenes, and one spicy scene that I would rate P-13, verging on R, but it’s not too graphic and doesn’t last long at all. 

I had such a fun time learning about chicken breeding/showing. You can tell that the author either did a lot of research or has experience in this feathered world. It really came through her descriptions, which helped to engross me more in this book. I thought the settings were unique and fun. I’ve never read a book about poultry shows and judging. It took me back to my childhood days when my family would go to the state fair, where we visited all the animal buildings/tents and watched some animal showings. Definitely read the author’s note at the end, where she gives more info about chickens and showings, which was really interesting. Also, who knew chicken politics was a thing?! 😆 I appreciated the drama and conflict we saw with some shenanigans happening. It made me laugh and was a nice touch to keep it entertaining. 

I thought the pacing was perfect. Nothing ever slowed down for me. I loved all the different locations and settings. We travel between the U.S. and England. I was never bored and kept wanting to know what would happen next. However, some scenes felt a bit rushed, while others didn’t feel like there was enough detail and description. I thought some could’ve been a bit longer to feel more satisfying. 

I enjoyed getting to know George and Madeline. They were easy characters to like and root for and were relatable. They also had great chemistry together, and the banter was engaging. Madeline deals with a disability after being in a severe car accident. I loved how it never stopped her from pursuing her dreams, and she continued to live her life to the fullest. She was a very determined, headstrong, independent, and admirable woman. However, she did have a bit of a temper and often overreacted. I thought her reasons for not liking George initially were a little extreme. So the whole enemies-to-lovers felt forced and weird. I’m also not the biggest fan of this romance trope, so it could’ve just been me and my preferences. I also would’ve liked to have seen her stand her ground a bit more toward Chad when she was assisting him in judging shows.

I liked watching the romance unfold, but at times, some scenes, specifically the intimate scenes, came out of nowhere and felt awkwardly placed in the story. I would’ve liked more buildup. It’s also a surface-level, shallow romance, so I would categorize this as more of a fluffy, sweet, and cute romcom instead of a dramatic, serious love story. I wish there were a little bit more depth to the romantic relationship and character development, but it’s not that kind of story. So it’s easy to let those elements slide. 

I also liked the side characters and their interactions with Madeline and George. With Patricia, Madeline’s friend, we get some friendship conflict. With William, George’s godfather, and Lily, George’s sister, we get some family conflict. So this story goes beyond romance with these other relationships, which I appreciated. It kept the story interesting and not tiresome with only one plotline. 

Overall, I was surprised by how much I liked this story. It was so delightful, funny, charming, and fun. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, sweet romcom and want to learn more about poultry showings, then I highly recommend this book!! I would love to read more from this author.