The Naysayers Review: A Sharp, Romantic Take on Negativity and Love

Read time: 4 minutes

📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 328 pages
⏱ Duration: ~4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Little A
📅 Publishing Date: January 13, 2026
📘 ARC provided by NetGalley

Book Blurb:

At Naysay Inc., negativity is a business and self-doubt is the product. Megan, a rising star whisperer, spends her days feeding insecurity into the minds of people in the Real World. When she’s assigned to sabotage a romance between influencer Lily and author Jasper, she’s paired with Ben, the smug but charming whisperer from the next cubicle. As Megan and Ben work to destroy a relationship, they begin questioning everything, including their own growing feelings. With corporate pressure mounting and empathy sneaking in, Megan must decide whether protecting the system is worth losing her chance at happiness.

Let’s talk… Relationship (no murder this time!)

I’ll admit it, I went in skeptical. A romance rooted in negativity and self doubt? That’s a bold choice. But the premise pulled me in, and Megan kept me there. She’s shaped by a mother who demands perfection and compliance, while her grandmother Genevieve is the only place she allows her softer edges to surface.

Watching Megan navigate rejection while literally embodying it as a naysayer made for a fascinating emotional contradiction. For someone who literally trades in self-doubt, Megan’s arc toward self-acceptance feels poetic. It’s a smart setup that makes her arc feel earned, especially as her “naysayer” role starts cracking under the weight of real connection.

The romance with Ben? Fresh twist on enemies-to-lovers in a satirical corporate hellscape. I loved how they bond over fixing the mess they created, watching their pessimism melt into genuine feels. The narration flows smoothly, blending humor, heart, and commentary on inner critics we all battle. Megan and Ben teaming up to fix a problem they helped create was a smart narrative move, especially as Naysayers Inc. keeps grinding forward without them. Their romance unfolds naturally, fueled by empathy rather than instant chemistry, which made it feel earned.

My only real hiccup was pacing. The middle leaned heavily into narration, while the climax felt rushed. The final conflict wrapped up quickly, and I couldn’t help wishing the tension with Naysayers INC had stretched across a few more chapters. That said, the ending itself offered satisfying closure and emotional payoff. For a love story, this was refreshingly original and thoughtfully executed.

Would I recommend it?

This inventive romantic satire surprised me with its heart amid the clever negativity concept. Solid characters, fun office romance vibes, and timely digs at corporate greed make it a standout read.

Maintain the reading zone

If the mix of romance, workplace satire, emotional vulnerability, and a slightly offbeat premise worked for you, these books hit similar notes. Think smart love stories, characters questioning the systems they’re stuck in, and romance that sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

• The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
  A workplace romance with sharp banter and ethical gray areas. Like The Naysayers, this one plays with professional boundaries, ambition, and the moment when doing your job starts clashing with doing the right thing. Plus, the chemistry is chef’s kiss.
• Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
  A hilarious fantasy workplace rom-com where the assistant falls for her villainous boss in a magical office full of chaos and banter. That smug-but-cute coworker energy? Total Ben vibes, plus satirical digs at evil corporate structures.
• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
  If you enjoyed watching Megan and Ben catch feelings while trying to stay professional, this is a must. It’s smart, character driven, and rooted in a work environment where emotions are very inconvenient. Light, funny, and unexpectedly tender.
• The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
  Sci-fi with parallel universes, corporate intrigue, and a subtle office romance amid multiverse travel. Echoes that Naysayland/Real World divide, with themes of identity, greed, and finding humanity in a cutthroat system.
• The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
  Iconic for a reason, this fashion-world workplace story skewers toxic bosses and power plays while still delivering big entertainment and a satisfying emotional arc.

Have Your Inner Critic Ever Gone Rogue?

That moment when professional naysayers catch real feelings. Has a book ever made you rethink your own self-doubt? Spill your thoughts on this fresh premise below!

Book Links:

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