A Romping Good Time: A Review of A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

My Journey to Spindle Cove

A Week to Be Wicked wasn’t my first Tessa Dare novel. It wasn’t even my first foray into the Spindle Cove series. That honor belongs to the novella Lord Dashwood Missed Out.

Here’s the thing about Tessa Dare. I adore her, but her books have never quite made it into my FAVORITES because I really prefer a bit more angst and a little more darkness. But I think she writes beautifully and damn she can write steam.

But then I read A Week to Be Wicked. Oh. My. God.

The Most Fun I’ve Ever Had Reading a Romance Novel

This novel somehow has all of my favorite tropes without feeling cheesy or contrived. It’s an enemies-to-lovers because Minerva and Colin cannot stand each other. He’s a rake, and Minerva is worried he’s going to propose to her sweet sister who deserves better. He makes fun of Minerva, but so does everyone.

It’s fake relationship. FAVE. Minerva needs to get to Scotland for a geology society meeting, which is ridiculous and adorable. But it will get him money, which he desperately needs. It will “ruin” her so she won’t have to marry.

It’s a road trip trope and a comedy of errors. Literally everything that could go wrong does. And they don’t pretend that everything is fine. Neither of them pretends to always be in a good mood for the other. They bicker and blame each other.

THERE’S ONLY ONE BED. Enough said.

They get into so many ridiculous situations and shenanigans and it somehow all feels real. It’s not contrived. Honestly, I don’t know how she took all of these tropes and made this fun, romantic, sweet novel.

More than a Nerdy Heroine

Minerva is a geology nerd, but she’s not just your bookish bluestocking. There are hints at some neurodivergence in her personality. She gets frustrated when she doesn’t understand why “normal” social things are being done.

I love when she yelled at Colin that she didn’t understand why he kissed her using his tongue, trying to open her lips. She thought kissing was just a couple of pairs of lips smashed together.

She zones out. She doesn’t understand a lot of social interactions. She’s so much more than just quirky.

Minerva is a scientist. The steam starts solely with her curiosity. It drives Colin the rake wild. Their nerdy banter throughout the novel is so romantic and hilarious.

A Perfect Light-hearted Romp

I laughed, I cried, I fought the urge to reread it immediately after. Look, if I read this book once a month for the rest of my life, don’t judge me.

There are some TW despite its lighthearted nature including: PTSD, traumatic childhood event, emotionally abusive parent, graphic description of a carriage accident.

But even so, this is the book I’ll pick up when the world feels heavy, and I need laughter, light, absurdity, and romance.

And hot sex.