Showing posts with label Fake Dating trope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fake Dating trope. Show all posts

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Review: The Bodyguard Affair

 

In her spare time, Andi writes romance novels. Three years ago, she and her boyfriend broke up. Her best friend starts dating him. Andi meets a guy at a bar and they have the best night together. He encourages her with her writing.

Now she's working as an assistant to the wife of the Prime Minister of Canada. She barely has time to write anymore. The Prime Minister and his wife Gretchen are having a rocky time. After a dinner that doesn't happen, pictures come out of Andi and her boss's husband. Rumors swirl that they're having an affair. Even though she writes under a pen name, it isn't long before people connect Andi to her pen name. She insists she didn't write the books.

The only person who knows the truth about Andi and the books just happens to be the Prime Minster's new bodyguard. Andi makes him swear up and down that he won't tell anyone. She's worried that Gretchen will fire her. But after Gretchen catches her talking to Nolan, Gretchen gets the wrong idea. An idea that Andi runs with leading her to fake date Nolan for the summer.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this romance. I enjoy the fake dating trope. I love how Andi started the novel not wanting anyone to know she wrote romance novels because everyone around her thought they were trashy. I love how she became proud of her writing and the romance genre. I felt terrible for Nolan and his family life, but I love how he struck around during the summer to help, to learn, and to grow. I loved his moments with Cody. This is my first Amy Lea book, but it won't be my last. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A fun romance for your public library collection

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Review: All Paths Lead to Paris

 


Aurie is a fashion designer trying to graduate college and figure out her life. She's fake dating her best friend, a musician on the rise. While fleeing the paparazzi, she meets a boy. They have a photo of them snapped together and it's blowing up their social media. Her manager decides to do damage control. It turns out Kylian is good at math.

Math is something that Aurie struggles with, but she'll have to pass a math test in order to graduate high school. Kylian agrees to tutor Aurie in math and Remy in English. With all the rumors about the trio swirling, Aurie and Remy can't afford to make any more mistakes. 
My Thoughts: I really liked this book - but I had a hard time getting over the fact that paparazzi cared about a fashion influencer. I loved the tropes: fake dating, best friend, and love triangle. I really loved the behind-the-scenes moments of being an influencer and what that meant for Aurie and her future. I loved the moments in the bakery and the moments with Aurie's siblings. I'm so looking forward to the author's next book - what city are we going to explore next?

Why I Read This Book: I loved the author's previous book plus Paris!
Tropes: Fake Dating
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library's collection. 
Hand this to readers: fake dating trope, Paris, and influencers 

* Come back tomorrow for the mood board!

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Review: Bingsu for Two

 


River had himself a heck of a 24-hour period. 
1. He dumped his girlfriend
2. He walked out of the SATs
3. He dumped coffee beans over a customer
4. He quit his job
5. And he begs for a job at a rival coffee shop

* He learns that the girl (Sarang) he dumped coffee beans over works at that rival coffee shop
** A video he makes the first day of work goes viral and forces himself into a fake relationship with Sarang
*** His ex-girlfriend blackmails him
My Thoughts:
I really loved this book (minus the blackmail part). I loved the viral videos. I loved the fake dating. I loved River and his brother. I loved the mom-and-pop coffee shop and how River found himself there. I love how everyone who worked there was a family. His ex-girlfriend was the worst. The coffee shop would be a place I would visit (even though I don't drink coffee.)

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school and public library collection