Book Title: BEHIND FRENEMY LINES
Character Name: Charles Goh
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
It was all right. Grew up in Hong Kong. My mum was always there for me. It was hard leaving her to go to school in the UK.
My dad … well, at least he was never abusive. That’s what Ma says. And Ba was nice to us. Until he cut and run, leaving Ma to pay off all the debt it turned out he’d racked up.
Not everyone gets a great childhood. Best not to dwell on things.
What is your greatest talent?
I’m a decent litigator. And I can deadlift 200 kg.
Significant other?
None.
Biggest challenge in relationships?
I live with my cousin Loretta, and she would say it’s that I work all the time, have no social skills, and never talk about anything except law. Hard to argue with, really.
Where do you live?
London.
Do you have any enemies?
Kriya Rajasekar probably hates me. She’s a lawyer at a different firm, but we’ve run into each other a few times over the years, and something always happens. First time I met her, she tripped on some steps, and I didn’t offer to help her up. I was carrying court bundles, but I’ve always felt a bit weird about that encounter.
Then the second time I met her, it was at a big litigation strategy meeting, and I spilled coffee on her.
Now it turns out she’s moved to my firm and we’re going to be sharing an office. Can’t imagine she’s thrilled.
How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place?
I like London well enough. The food’s better in Hong Kong, and Ma’s there. But I’m established here now. It’d be such a faff to move. Should probably think about using some of my 10 weeks of accrued leave to go visit Ma, though.
Do you have children, pets, both, or neither?
No. I think I’d like kids someday. Hard to look after anything when you’re working 14-hour days on the regular, though.
What do you do for a living?
I’m a solicitor in the Commercial Litigation practice at Swithin Watkins; an international law firm headquartered in the City of London.
Greatest disappointment?
It was hard finding out about Ba, as a kid. I suppose, like any kid, I thought my dad hung the moon. Bit of a shock to discover he was an unreliable fraudster who’d run through Ma’s life savings.
Greatest source of joy?
First thought was of what Loretta would say. (Loretta, pretending to be a robot: “Beep boop, I’m Charles. I don’t feel joy.”) I like going to the gym, does that count?
Also feels amazing when I make Kriya laugh. But anyone would feel amazing about that. She’s got a great laugh.
What do you do to entertain yourself or have fun?
Shit, mentioned the gym already. Can that be my answer? Do I need to give a different one? Can’t think of anything else.
What is your greatest personal failing, in your view?
I find people hard to deal with, especially en masse. (Loretta would say it’s that I haven’t got a life outside of work. Kriya would probably say it’s that I’m too prone to pouring coffee over my professional peers at important meetings.)
What keeps you awake at night?
Ba’s unending financial crises.
What is the most pressing problem you have at the moment?
The fact Ba makes his unending financial crises my problem. Also, the fact I’m now having to share my office with a smart, confident, attractive woman who hates me.
Is there something that you need or want that you don’t have? For yourself or for someone important to you?
Loretta says I need work/life balance. Don’t see it myself. If I work less, what am I going to do with the free time? Haven’t got hobbies other than going to the gym. Haven’t got a partner. Haven’t got any family around, apart from Loretta, and she’s getting married and moving out, so she won’t need me.
I might as well work all the time. It’s different for people who’ve got other things in their lives.
And it’s not likely that’s going to change. If Kriya were interested, maybe … But I’m the last person she’d consider dating.
Aren’t I?
Award-winning author Zen Cho delivers a sparkling and witty rivals-to-lovers romance reminiscent of Sally Thorn's The Hating Game and Sajni Patel's The Trouble with Hating You.
Sparks fly when an ambitious rules-bound lawyer clashes with a maverick new hire who threatens his chances of partnership—and the walls he's built around his heart.
Charles Goh has always played by the rules. It’s how he survived his difficult childhood as the swotty foreigner at a posh English boarding school -- and now, his high-pressure job at one of the biggest corporate law firms in London. His job is his life and he's happy that way … until she shows up.
Kriya Rajasekar's lost her way. Her longtime boyfriend's broken up with her and she feels trapped in her legal career. She knows she needs a fresh start -- but it turns out her new job is at the same firm as her work nemesis. Charles Goh is like the bad luck charm she keeps running into, and their encounters lead to disaster every single time. And now he's her office mate.
But just as they’re figuring out how to navigate this frenemy relationship, Kriya needs Charles’ help: pretend they’re dating so her boss will stop hitting on her. Soon, it becomes less clear whether they're enemies, friends – or something else.
Romance Comedy [Bramble, On Sale: July 1, 2025, Trade Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9781250330475 / eISBN: 9781250330482]
Ilana Denton
Zen Cho was born and raised in Malaysia, and lives in the UK. She writes fantasy and romance. Her titles include the Sorcerer to the Crown historical fantasy novels and Malaysian contemporary fantasy Black Water Sister, as well as the Lambda Award-nominated novella The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, and a short story collection, Spirits Abroad. Her newest novel, The Friend Zone Experiment, is a contemporary romance set among London’s East and Southeast Asian community.
Zen is a winner of the Hugo, Crawford and British Fantasy Awards and the LA Times Ray Bradbury Prize, as well as a finalist for the World Fantasy, Ignyte, Locus, Astounding, Kitschies and Diverse Book Awards. Her short fiction has been translated into French, Spanish, Italian, Finnish, Chinese and Japanese. She has spoken at literary festivals and conventions, taught creative writing and appeared on radio, and was once a model in a campaign for a global luxury make-up brand, chosen specifically for her accomplishments rather than her looks.
When she isn’t writing, Zen works as a lawyer. She enjoys cooking and baking, reading, gossip and travel.
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