Review: The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold by Ally Carter

Ally Carter does it again with The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold, delivering another ridiculously fun spy rom-com that blends explosions, espionage, and emotional slow-burn into one bingeable adventure.

This time, the spotlight shifts to the sister of The Blonde Identity‘s heroine—except this sister is the actual spy. Alex and her former partner-slash-ex-lover King are handcuffed together in a dark room, waking up bloody, bruised, and with no clue how they got there. What follows is a wild ride through past missions and present danger, as secrets unravel and chemistry reignites.

The story is told in dual timelines—”then” and “now”—which adds depth to their history but also makes the pacing a bit tricky toward the end. While I loved the emotional build and callbacks, the time jumps started to feel chaotic, especially with such short chapters. Still, it’s easy to forgive when the writing is this much fun.

Carter leans hard into the romance tropes—forced proximity, fake marriage, enemies to lovers, one bed—and makes them work beautifully within the spy framework. Nothing feels shoehorned; it’s tropey in the best way, like a wink to rom-com lovers who also want some international intrigue.

Andrew Eiden and Emily Ellet absolutely nail the audiobook. Their performances brought the banter to life and helped keep me grounded in the shifting timelines. Honestly, the audio made the reading experience even better—it added spark, urgency, and charm.

If you’re here for a gritty, realistic spy thriller… this isn’t that. But if you’re in the mood for a cinematic, stylish, heart-tugging, and hilarious spy romance that knows exactly what it is? You’re in for a treat.

Rating: 4.5 stars — Rounded up because fun always wins.
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Fake Marriage, Enemies to Lovers, One Bed
Read If You Like: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, tropey romance with a spy twist, chaotic spy antics, sizzling banter