Marriage of convenience between near-strangers for the win, yet again! There's a reason why I love the trope so much, and this was another great example. These two almost had a one night stand before things went south, so they're not-so-friendly when they agree to a temporary marriage that benefits them both. They're also fully... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: One and Only by Karla Sorensen
Marriage of convenience with a slow, delicious burn? Yes, please! I always look forward to Sorensen's new releases, but the tropes in this one felt like they were made for me. Patient, steady hero - who is also a single dad - paired with a firecracker of a heroine who will surely liven up his... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams 🎧
So adorable, seriously! Bad boy/good girl is a classic combination for a reason, and I loved watching these two opposites fall hard for each other. It's a little bit fake relationship, a little bit love lessons, and a whole lot of swoony fun. Neither of these characters have been able to shed their reputation, and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 🎧
There's something about Jimenez's writing style that makes it easy for me to devour her words, and this was another great example of that. Also another great example of her very specific formula frustrating me, lol. We're five books in, and by now I am FULLY aware that her romances are rom coms in the... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: If Only You by Chloe Liese 🎧
Solid but not sensational, Liese has set the bar so high for herself that I can't help but feel like there were some missed opportunities in this fake friendship romance, even if a lot of it is very good. There have been a couple of STELLAR books in this series, so I eagerly await each... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Unexpectedly Mine by Erin Hawkins
With an adorably sexy hero and tropes that felt like they were tailor-made for me, it took no time at all for me to devour this Vegas wedding romance. I was immediately drawn in by the unique setup, and the chemistry kept me turning the pages. These two strangers have one intense moment together that... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Happy Place by Emily Henry 🎧
With angst so heavy that it's physically painful, this second chance romance is not an easy read - but it's certainly an impactful one. I loved it. It's very rare that I'm so engrossed in a book that I ache right along with the characters; that I cry when a broken hero utters a single... Continue Reading →
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt 🎧
One of my favorite books of 2022 is now available on audio, and the audio is great! Funny Feelings was my first experience with Tarah DeWitt's work, and I have since devoured two other 5-star reads from her. This one holds a special place in my heart though, and it's one of the best friends... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Plus One by Mazey Eddings 🎧
With a strong focus on mental health and a romance that feels rich in its history, this quiet, contemplative love story surprised me - and I'm okay with that. I enjoyed Eddings' debut, A Brush With Love, and remember thinking that there was a ton of potential in her writing. While I'm not the biggest... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Happy Place by Emily Henry 🎧
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ With angst so heavy that it's physically painful, this second chance romance is not an easy read - but it's certainly an impactful one. I loved it. It's very rare that I'm so engrossed in a book that I ache right along with the characters; that I cry when a broken hero utters a... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Duke: Faking the Play by Kayley Loring & Connor Crais
Easy, sexy, funny - this is the kind of rom com you can binge like popcorn. I feel like single dad romances are everywhere recently, and I'm not complaining. I loved Duke's sweetness with his daughter, and there were some fun family moments. I also liked the meet cute, with an unexpected fake relationship sparking... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Right Man, Right Time by Meghan Quinn 🎧
Little bit of a bumpy start, but this had no trouble winning me over by the end. This heroine has quite the personality, lol, and her over-the-top brashness and overt sexuality had me uncomfortable with the age gap (21/31) for awhile, and also feeling like these two were decidedly in the friend zone. Which, yeah,... Continue Reading →
MINI AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Fake Crowne by CD Reiss 🎧
It’s a mini review! I’m clearing out my review queue of all the books I can’t seem to convince myself to finish, for one reason or another. That doesn’t mean these are negative reviews, it simply means that something isn’t compelling me to keep reading at the moment. Maybe I’ll go back to them another... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: Marriage for One by Ella Maise
It's been almost four years(!!) since this book released, and I still get butterflies whenever I see the cover. It's the book that made me fall hard for marriage of convenience romances, and that's something that has not changed in the years since. It was also one of the beefiest books I had read at... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Spring Tide by Ki Stephens
I couldn't quite bring myself to rate this any higher, but there was a lot that I liked about it. This new adult debut has been pretty buzzy, and it's easy to see why - the opposites attract vibes and giant teddy bear/football player hero were both definite wins, and I liked that the storyline... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: First to Fall by Jenny B. Jones
When college rivals reconnect years later and find themselves accidentally married... well, it certainly keeps things interesting. I loved the premise of this sweet, slow burn romance, which played up a lot of my favorite tropes. Playful enemies to lovers, Vegas wedding turned marriage of convenience, fake relationship - all great things. I also really... Continue Reading →
MINI REVIEW: My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh
It’s a mini review! I’m clearing out my review queue of all the books I can’t seem to convince myself to finish, for one reason or another. That doesn’t mean these are negative reviews, it simply means that something isn’t compelling me to keep reading at the moment. Maybe I’ll go back to them another... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Our Ride to Forever by Julie Olivia
I've been loving this sweet and swoony series, but I'll admit that I was a little nervous about this particular installment - and I ended up enjoying it much more than expected! We've gotten to know this group of friends pretty well throughout this series of interconnected standalones, so I had already formed some opinions... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Black Ties & White Lies by Kat Singleton
Soapy and immensely bingeable, I can see why this surged in popularity so quickly. I loved the first interaction between the couple, and I was thinking, "this is ridiculous, I love it." That slowly transitioned into, "well, this is getting ridiculous," until I emotionally detached and was simply curious how it all played out. There's... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Right Move by Liz Tomforde
It's always an amazing feeling when one of my highly anticipated reads meets my very high expectations, but to have it far surpass them? SPECTACULAR. After reading and loving Mile High, I was really nervous going into this, sort of a strange mix of excitement and dread that it wouldn't be able to live up... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Jasper Vale by Devney Perry 🎧
When the hero's ex influences the plot from start to finish, it certainly puts a damper on things. Beyond the complete and utter lack of communication between this newly married couple, it felt like every time I started to get into the story, the hero's ex would be mentioned again in some way that would... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: Boss Man Bridegroom by Meghan Quinn
I've got Meghan Quinn on my mind, so I thought I'd re-share my review for one of her older rom coms - the grumpy/sunshine, boss/assistant, wedding-related romance, Boss Man Bridegroom. I haven't been able to convince myself to dive into Quinn's newest, A Long Time Coming, yet(!), because friends to lovers drives me crazy 75%... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Go Fake Yourself by Elle Maxwell
Putting a whole new spin on one of my favorite tropes, I loved that this fake relationship romance felt fresh and different. This couple moves in together and enters a fake relationship as complete strangers undergoing an experiment, which added a level of unpredictability and interest to the beloved trope. There's a great opposites attract... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Terms and Conditions is another book that lived up to the TikTok hype. It's a marriage of convenience/office romance that ended up being right up my alley, and I loved how the hero was in so over his... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It is one of those books that came out of nowhere for me. Typically, I'm either anticipating a release myself or I get a recommendation and put it on my TBR for "sometime." With... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend by Penny Reid
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that list wouldn't be complete without Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend. It's one of the more unique and memorable books I've read this year, with a hero that I absolutely adored. It's also beefy and a little... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the swoony Mixed Signals easily makes the list. I ended up bingeing the whole Lovelight series in less than a week, and that's because they are effortlessly charming. Better together, these books seem to improve with each installment,... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Brutal Vows by J.T. Geissinger
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that list wouldn't be complete without the finale to J.T. Geissinger's deliciously addictive mafia romance series. I have loved EVERY book in this series - and the spinoff series too - so it was no surprise that Brutal... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that list includes Funny Feelings, a humorous and heartfelt friends to lovers romance by new-to-me author Tarah DeWitt. I knew very little about the plot when I decided to sample Funny Feelings, but it took only a few... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: King of Wrath by Ana Huang
My first Ana Huang, and it was a good one! I can see why this author has become so popular - this was soapy and spicy, with a compelling marriage of convenience/forced engagement romance that develops between two strangers who are not very enthusiastic about the arrangement. Their relationship is a slow burn, especially emotionally,... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese 🎧
I had to contemplate my rating for a few days, which is not quite how I expected this to go. I'm a big, big fan of Liese's work and I was very excited for her first book with a major publisher. However, most of my issues lie with the narration - and that's not something... Continue Reading →
MINI AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Sextuplet and the City by Misha Bell
It's mini review week! I'm clearing out my review queue of all the books I can't seem to convince myself to finish, for one reason or another. That doesn't mean these are negative reviews, it simply means that something isn't compelling me to keep reading at the moment. Maybe I'll go back to them another... Continue Reading →
MINI REVIEW: Reluctantly Yours by Erin Hawkins
It's mini review week! I'm clearing out my review queue of all the books I can't seem to convince myself to finish, for one reason or another. That doesn't mean these are negative reviews, it simply means that something isn't compelling me to keep reading at the moment. Maybe I'll go back to them another... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: A Very Bossy Christmas by Kayley Loring
My favorite holiday romance is on sale for just 99 cents right now (as of this post!), so it seemed like the perfect time to share my review again. Kayley Loring has delivered SO MANY 5-star reads for me, but this one remains my absolute favorite. The sexual tension, playfulness, and holiday vibe just took... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill
There's just something so absolutely delicious about peeling back the layers of a prickly grump, figuring out what makes him tick and finding that gooey marshmallow center hiding beneath his beautiful but thorny exterior. And that is where this playful grumpy/sunshine romance shines! This one came on my radar out of nowhere, so I went... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Companion Project by Chelsea Curto
Unconventional meet cutes, falling before meeting face-to-face, and texting in romances are all like catnip to me, so this had me completely hooked in the first half. After reading and enjoying Curto's debut, An Unexpected Paradise, I had an idea of how this playboy-tamed romance would go. We knew that the hero is relationship-adverse but... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
“You’re absurd.” It comes out sounding like You’re adorable.“You’d love it.” He grins. “Don’t lie.” When you're fake dating the, ah, literal Holiday Spirit, things are bound to get complicated. This chaotic, charming, one-of-a-kind story is filled with holiday fun that put a smile on my face. I've been a huge fan of Hogle's work... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: An Unexpected Paradise by Chelsea Curto
This will be a weird review, because I enjoyed it so much that a 5-star rating was the obvious choice, but I can also identify several things that bugged me - and I understand why it's been such a polarizing read. The important thing: this was an EXCELLENT debut, and I'm excited to read more... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas 🎧
It's always a little terrifying to read the sophomore effort from an author whose debut you loved, hoping that it will live up to the weight of expectation. And, honestly, this didn't at first. The beginning is MUCH weaker than the second half, and it takes awhile to find its footing - but it definitely... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Fiction Between Us by Julie Olivia
Lighthearted fun, this was just as bingeable as the first book in the series, with plenty of sparring that felt like sparks of attraction. It's low angst and easygoing, featuring a theme park princess and her best friend's brother - the one who infuriates her by existing. These two had great chemistry, and it was... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Finding Gene Kelly by Torie Jean
This is the kind of debut that gets me excited about what's next from an author, because there was so much good stuff going on with the story. It's ideal for fans of Elena Armas and Chloe Liese, sort of the perfect combo of both of their vibes - featuring a deliciously smitten hero, bickering... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
This series just keeps getting better and better, swoonier and swoonier. Maybe steamier and steamier too. Zero complaints about any of that - I loved this! It’s easiest to appreciate this series to its fullest when you read it in order, so I was already so excited to dig into Caleb and Layla’s story before... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Would You Rather by Allison Ashley
This didn't quite live up to the hype for me, but I can see why fans of friends to lovers romances would eat it up. One of my favorite tropes is marriage of convenience, so I was cautiously optimistic that this would be the rare friends to lovers scenario that would resonate with me. And... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison 🎧
It's easy to see why this friends to lovers romance is so popular - it is completely swoony and CHARMING, with a great found family feel and an intriguing cast of characters. I also adored the hero, who is so obviously head over heels for his girl from the moment he meets her. There are... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center 🎧
Intelligent, lighthearted, and full of romance, this was exactly what I was hoping for... though I wouldn't have minded some steam, lol! It's my first from the author, so I wasn't sure if the vibe would be more women's fiction or romance, but it ended up being a great combination of the two. The romance... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Faking Ms. Right by Claire Kingsley 🎧
With fan-worthy steam, a playful feel, and tons of sexual tension, this grumpy/sunshine romance absolutely flies by. It's an office romance with a side of fake relationship, pairing up two total opposites who have never really gotten to know each other. Once this boss and his assistant interact outside of the office, their entire dynamic... Continue Reading →
15 Sexy Fake Relationship Romance Books
I never get tired of fake relationship romance novels, don't ask me why! There's something about this trope that works for me, and it's just so versatile. The forced proximity, the crossing of boundaries, the faked intimacy - that's all part of the fun. Faking a relationship is often the catalyst that sparks crazy chemistry,... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder 🎧
For a debut? Pretty great. The cover caught my eye, but it was the significant buzz surrounding this Hollywood romance that had me excited to read it. Luckily, I had already heard that this has a heavier, messier storyline than the cover and blurb imply, so I was not caught off-guard by just how dark... Continue Reading →
BEST OF 2022 SO FAR: Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend by Penny Reid
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. That list wouldn't be complete without Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend, one of the more unique and memorable books I've read this year. It's beefy and a little brilliant, with a... Continue Reading →
BEST OF 2022 SO FAR: Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. Terms and Conditions is another book that lived up to the TikTok hype, and I'm eager to check out more from Lauren Asher. It's a marriage of convenience/office romance that ended up... Continue Reading →
BEST OF 2022 SO FAR: Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. That list includes Funny Feelings, a humorous and heartfelt friends to lovers romance by new-to-me author Tarah DeWitt. I knew very little about the plot when I decided to sample Funny Feelings,... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley
Light and easy, this fake relationship romance is low angst fun. It plays up the tropes for a lighthearted, laidback read, and I loved the hero. He's a cinnamon roll sweetheart who knows his pro football career will end at some point, so he's opened a bakery with his two best friends. This certainly felt... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: A Borrowed Boyfriend by Angela Casella
Easy, sexy, and a little different than the norm, I got everything I wanted from this low angst romance. What starts as a fake relationship soon turns into something else entirely, and I loved that this didn't take the usual path. This hero is a sexy bartender who looks like trouble, so it was great... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata 🎧
I finally took the plunge, and this absolutely lives up to the hype - I ADORED it! This one's for those readers who have the patience to follow little breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story, tiny moments of romance that slowly (SLOWLY) build into something truly beautiful. I loved that build in intimacy, the steps that... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
I love it when I try a new-to-me author and I know immediately that I'm in for an excellent read. My love for this heartfelt, swoony read began right away, and it just got stronger and stronger as the book progressed. I loved the pining, the completely unique feel, and I loved the cinnamon roll... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Lucky Star by Susannah Nix
Super cute! After reading a particularly angsty book, I was in the mood for something lighter, easier, and refreshing - and this was just what the doctor ordered. It's a low angst, sexy rom com that takes the fake relationship trope and spins it into something else. I loved how perfectly this couple complements each... Continue Reading →
COVER REVEAL: A Borrowed Boyfriend by Angela Casella
There's a new fake relationship romance on the way from Angela Casella, and it sounds pretty great! I'm currently reading the newest from Angela Denise, the pen name for Casella and Denise Grover-Swank, and so far it's hitting all the right notes for me, so I'm excited to check out Casella's solo work for the... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh
The third person perspective doesn't do the story any favors here, because I actually really loved the foundation of the book, but I always felt like I was watching it happen from a distance. There are some GREAT elements to the story, including tons of history between these childhood rivals turned present day frenemies, a... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Renegade Roomie by Lila Monroe
Too much playboy talk and not enough actual communication drag this otherwise light and easy fake relationship romance down. Also… I have no idea what the title has to do with the story, lol. I was expecting a roommate element at some point. I’m typically a big fan of Monroe’s low angst, trope-tastic rom coms,... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: America’s Geekheart by Pippa Grant 🎧
Why did I wait so long to read this? It was SO good, and such a feel good read! I've been a big fan of Pippa Grant's work for years, but I've also been reading every series completely out of order, so this just got lost on my TBR for a long time. It's the... Continue Reading →
COVER REVEAL: Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese
In case you missed it! There's been some... ah, lively discussion... of this cover (and others) on social media, but I'm focused on how excited I am to read the book! This is Liese's first with a major publisher, and I can't wait to see what the vibe is like. I've been a big fan... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Flirt by Adriana Locke
You know what? I almost forgot that this was a fake relationship romance, because this couple is basically already in love when the book begins. It's a light and sexy small town romance with chemistry that's apparent from the first scene, great family dynamics, and plenty of banter to keep things interesting. I loved the... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Even Better Than the Real Thing by Melanie Summers
Light and playful, this started strong before fizzling along the way. There just wasn't enough time spent with our couple together, with too much telling and not enough showing. I loved the easy, lighthearted vibe and I'm always up for a marriage of convenience where opposites attract, but there also needs to be time spent... Continue Reading →