'The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold' by Ally Carter

This has become one of my favorites. The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold is another solid spy romance from Ally Carter, and I really enjoyed it. I didn’t read her older books, but I did read The Blonde Identity, and liked it a lot. This second title didn’t disappoint either.

Ally Carter’s writing is sharp, funny, and very readable. She’s great at building characters with charm and personality. The story follows Alex, a smart and very capable spy who might come off a little like a “Legally Blonde” type but make no mistake, she’s tough and clever.

Then there’s King (Michael Kingsley), the male lead. I wasn’t completely sold on him, but he’s a good mix of broody, protective and well... occasionally funny.

The book is told in dual POV and switches between past and present timelines. We get to see how Alex and King met, worked as fake couples on missions, and slowly built a connection. In the present timeline, they find themselves kidnapped and handcuffed together, even though they’re not on good terms anymore. It’s part action, part romance and part comedy, with some great banter and a self-aware tone that works well.

If this is Ally Carter’s usual style, I’m definitely interested in reading more of her work. This book was fast-paced, fun, and definitely well-written. I’d give it 4.5 stars and plan to get the paperback when it's out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

ISBN: 9780063386976

Release Date: August 5, 2025