REVIEW: Not in a Billion Years by Camilla Isley

Not in a Billion Years by Camilla Isley finds popular online fitness host Blake Avery has opened up a physical gym and is trying to start an IPO for her company. When interviewed, she makes references to her competitor, Gabriel Mercer, and mentions that she’s self-made, while he’s had everything handed to him. Offended, Gabriel storms into her office, but mistakenly believes that she’s the owner’s daughter, which doesn’t gain him any points with her.

Despite being competitors, Gabriel wants to help Blake succeed. He offers his assistance, even getting her access to an elusive business conference with people who could possibly become investors in her company. The more Gabriel helps her, the more Blake realizes that her initial impressions of him may have been wrong. But when it becomes clear that someone is out to get her company, will Gabriel help or hurt her chances of stopping the culprit?

I really liked Thomas, Gabriel’s brother. He was a fun character and brought humor to the scenes he was in. He should have his own book! That being said, I was less impressed with Blake and Gabriel. While I liked that Blake made herself successful, she makes assumptions about Gabriel based on a rumor she heard. Instead of attempting to find out it’s true, she uses the information to insult him in an interview. I imagine if the tables were turned, she’d be just as angry as Gabriel had been. It also makes her seem like she looks down at other successful people if they had assistance from their families to get where they were. It wasn’t a good look for her. As for Gabriel, while I appreciated his efforts to make sure Blake succeeded with her IPO, there were a few times he was too pushy. He’s clearly a man that’s used to getting his own way and doesn’t necessarily take the feelings and opinions of others into consideration.

I found it odd that Gabriel’s secretary listened in on all his phone calls, even his personal ones with his family members. I would maybe understand business calls if he needed her to be on them, but to listen to his personal calls as well? I didn’t understand that one. Also, when the truth is revealed about something Gabriel had done, it’s basically glossed over. There are no details of what exactly he had done, or how other people had found out about it. It felt like that was just tossed into the story to have a reason for Blake to get mad at him once again.

While I didn’t love it because of how the main characters were portrayed, I still thought it was a good read overall. If you enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope that has a mixture of angst and humor, along with meddling friends and family, you may want to try this book.

Book Info:

Publication: September 6, 2023 | Boldwood Books |

She’s a self-made fitness sensation. He’s a billionaire mogul. They’re sworn enemies and rivals… aren’t they?

Blake Avery knows all about hard work. She’s gone from making videos in her teenage bedroom to founding a booming fitness business and opening a state-of-the-art Manhattan gym. Now she’s on the cusp of realizing her wildest dreams, and she’s not going to let anyone stand in her way. Certainly not man-of-the-hour Gabriel Mercer.

He might be one of the biggest names in the fitness world and set women’s pulses soaring more than a grueling HIIT workout, but he grew up in a billionaire dynasty and had everything handed to him – or so Blake thinks.

But when Blake publicly criticizes Gabriel, she sparks a feud that neither entrepreneur is willing to back down from. And in an industry that seems determined to keep pushing them together, can Blake hold on to her grudge? Or will she finally warm up to Gabriel’s charm?