A Grumpy Billionaire’s Fake Engagement by Vivia Oliver

A Grumpy Billionaire's Fake Engagement by Vivian Oliver

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


The review is also available on my site:https://roxannacross.com/2025/01/31/b...

NetGalley provided this ARC for an honest review.

If you are looking to unplug for an hour or two and don’t mind the apparent potholes in the storyline that will have you wondering if you just picked up book six of a series instead of a standalone, then this billionaire, runaway bride, fake engagement, jilted groom, what that’s not enough, single dad, second chance, surprise heiress, found family and more tropes that could possibility fit into a story, this one might be for you.

Mia thought she had her life all figured out until Ethan Sinclair burst open the church doors before she could say “I do” and walked her out of her wedding, stopping her from making the worst mistake of her life. In the same breath, he makes her deal: to be his fake fiancé. And everything goes downhill from there.

Oliver’s execution is disjointed. There is no flow to the writing. The jarring time jumps leave readers struggling to piece the story together. The backstory, which seems to impact the present decisions, is sorely lacking. Why all the glitzy parties? Sure, it makes for glamorous settings, but without context or substance, what’s the point? Readers are not invested since we have no knowledge of why Ethan needs a fiancé for his business; besides him saying he does, no details are given. Oliver’s writing is tell, tell, and more tell; where is the show to draw us in? The entirety of the book felt underdeveloped and rushed, resulting in a chaotic ride.

This book’s most lovable and authentic character is Lily, Ethan’s daughter. The single dad dynamics is on point. He worries about how his fake relationship with Mia will impact her and its consequences when they have to end the charade, which is the only genuine emotion Oliver brings to light, salvaging some of this reading experience. All in all, this was a disappointing 1-star read.





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