The Lie of Having It All: A Standalone Grumpy Sunshine Small Town Forbidden Romance

by Morgan Elizabeth

coming soon!

Genres: Romance, Forbidden Romance, Workplace Romance, Rom Com

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 19, 2026

About the author

Morgan is a born and raised Jersey girl, living there with her two boys, toddler daughter, and mechanic husband. She’s addicted to iced espresso, barbecue chips, and Starburst jellybeans. She usually has headphones on, listening to some spicy audiobook or Taylor Swift. There is rarely an in between.

​

Writing has been her calling for as long as she can remember. There’s a framed ‘page one’ of a book she wrote at seven hanging in her childhood home to prove the point. Her entire life she’s crafted stories in her mind, begging to be released but it wasn’t until recently she finally gave them the reigns.

I’m so grateful you’ve agreed to take this journey with me.

Reviews

[Senna ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི₊ ⊹ (Im back biatches)]

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ Pre-Read: THANK YOU MORGAN ELIZABETH AND HOUSE OF HEARTS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL ARC

[Amity Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Something about being back in Holly Ridge is just so good for the soul. I have absolutely loved this series, but Willa & Leo may be my favorite this far!! Their story was so heartfelt, full of banter, pining, and just overall feel good vibes.

Willa is struggling to find herself outside of her pop star lifestyle and Leo is the grumpy publicist who is fighting to ignore his feelings for her.

Both of these characters are going through some struggles and moments of self doubt, needing guidance and watching them help each other through it definitely pulled at my heartstrings. The way Leo cared for Willa when he finally let his guard down, was so swoony.

This book is so full of found family and being back with some of my fave characters was so fun! The importance they played in this story and to these characters is just heartwarming!!

Watching Willa find herself, her strength, and her voice, made me so dang proud of her! & having Leo by her side to give her a save place and someone she can fully trust made this story that much more amazing.

Morgan Elizabeth just has a way of writing characters and stories that will absolutely make you fall in love and feel all the things. This was no different! All the emotions and even the added spicy moments between these two were top tier!!

I highly recommend this entire series and everyone needs to get to know Leo & Willa!! ❤️

[Romance_book_obsessed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much House of Hearts Lit for this ARC 🫶🏻

I am always so happy to pick up a new Morgan book!
Willa Stone is a pop star that is constantly pushed to fake date other celebs. Before her next fake boyfriend she needs to lay low.

She escapes to Holly ridge. Leo, her publicist has also decided to slow things down and head to the small town to work on his new home. He’s upset to see Willa there because he’s always been attracted to her!

As they spend more time together, they admit their true feelings. With both of them being in contracts that control them, they have to find a way to be together!

I’m so happy Willa found her strength to have it all! With terrible PR and managers along with her mother, she had a lot to overcome!

[Katie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Oh I have been waiting for Willa and Leo’s story and Morgan certainly didn’t disappoint 🤭.

If you have been reading the series you will know that Willa is a famous pop star and Leo is her publicist. These two were definitely experiencing a burn out so to speak, Leo was tired of working for a company with corrupt morals and just wanted to retreat for a small while and he actually buys a house in Holly Ridge. Similar to Leo, Willa has never deviated from her routine and it is starting to cause some issues, mainly that she is encountering writers block. When suggested by her agent and Leo for her to lay low for a little while Willa takes the opportunity but she finds herself also wanting to get away from the big city and that is how she finds herself also in Holly Ridge.

Now Leo and Willa actually met before he became her publicist and to say these two were taken with one another would be an understatement but of course Leo couldn’t act on this due to the fraternisation clause in his contract, and oh boy did these two yearn for one another.

During her time in Holly Ridge, Willa leaves her guard down completely and she experiences all things that life has to offer. This is mainly the simplistic things like nights out with friends, town events etc, all things a pop star doesn’t get to experience and honestly I loved seeing Willa so carefree. Now everyone around Leo and Willa could see what was brewing between them before it even occurred and I found it hilarious.

Leo did keep an eye on Willa but without the constant supervision of the public eye both these characters let their guard down and those feelings they couldn’t act on before oh well that completely just went out the window🤭

Of course these two cannot hide in the town of Holly Ridge for forever and eventually must return to the real world but now that they got a taste of how good life can be without that pressure the pair decide they will never return to how they previously were. In no world would Willa and Leo give up each other and my heart was ever so full😭.

I absolutely loved this couple, Leo worshipped the ground Willa walked on and he was determined that Willa would experience everything she missed out on. I love how Willas confidence grew throughout the book and wasnt afraid to take what she wanted. She pushed Leo’s buttons early on in the book and this added to a lovely tension that brew between the pair🤭.

Morgan Elizabeth definitely lined up some future couples in this book and I cannot wait until we return to Holly Ridge for our next couple.

Thank you to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭

[Sabrina | thebookishspot · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ARC Review✨️

4.5⭐️ for The Lie of Having it All by Morgan Elizabeth

This book was exactly what I needed right now, a lighthearted romcom with banter, spice and a hint of yearning, it hit the spot just right.

Willa's journey from people pleaser to self-confident queen was so relatable, I loved seeing her growth; I'm not a popstar by any means but the journey still felt authentic and when she finally stood up to her manager, I was cheering for her.

Leo is such a sweetheart, the way he falls first and hard for Willa was just perfect! The way he wants to give her all the "firsts" she's never had made me melt into a swooning puddle.

I did find the yearning to be more talked about then actually showed, but the essence of it was still there and made me root for them to get together.

The spice was spicing in this one, even when the two MCs had to be in different cities, they found creative ways to ~be together~ and I ate it all up. Plus, there's no unecessary third act breakup in this story, which I appreciated so much.

Read if you enjoy small town, found family, forbidden romance vibes with a grumpy/sunshine twist.

Thank you to Morgan Elizabeth for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to House of Hearts and Morgan Elizabeth for selecting me as an ARC reader of another amazing book.

Willa Stone has been in the spotlight since a child. No decisions for her life she’s been in control of. After a rough interaction with the press and told to lay low she on a whim decides to go to Holly Ridge to work through a writers block. At the same time her publicist that she had an incredible meet cute with 8 years ago before he realized she was a pop star is renovating a new house in Holly Ridge. Quickly their friend group intertwined and she imbedded herself to help him renovate his house. He starts to take her on the mundane firsts everyone has experienced both revealing they’ve always had something for eachother. She learns that you don’t need everything to be happy, you just need your friends who show up without being asked.

[LeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for Leo Sinclaire and his honey, Willa Stone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved The Lie of Having it All!! Morgan is killing it with the Holly Ridge series. Literally my new comfort series. With each book this series just gets better and better!

I loved Willa and Leo, and getting to know them in this book was everything! They were adorable and sweet and downright sexy!! Willa was just straight up amazing. I loved her and her routines and how her mind worked. It‘s always amazing to see an FMC find herself. Feel comfortable and loved. I just wanted Willa to have everything she wanted.

And Leo? Omg the things this man does?! I did not expect them and god please we all need a Leo Sinclaire in our lives. It would make the world a better place. I loved that he was always there for Willa. He understood her, made her feel comfortable and he gave her many firsts! He was perfection.

The spice in this book was next level! I enjoyed every moment! And the girl gang and yes boy gang bonding!! It was so sweet to see Willa and Leo becoming friends with the Holly Ridge crew!! I love the found family trope of this whole series. It’s done so well!

I am so freaking excited for what’s to come from this series!! We still have Madden & Nat and Colt & his mysterious new tenant! I cannot wait to return to Holly Ridge!!

Thank you to Morgan Elizabeth and House of Hearts for the opportunity to read an ARC!

[whaterireads | Eri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leo Sinclair is officially my favorite mmc! Morgan just keeps creating this amazing men and I’m here for it!!!

Now the story is really good it kept me reading nonstop! It was cute and HOT! And it had this sweet amazing moments 😭💖 I love it!

I love the fuck it moment I swear Leo is just fucking perfect! And Willa my sweet pop queen she’s lovely and I love how she find the courage she needed and duck them all! She’s amazing! This is one of the things I like the most about Morgan’s FMCs!

Now let’s talk about the spice here! 🙂‍↕️ the way this book delivers is no joke! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Leo is fucking and that filthy mouth omg! 10/10❤️‍🔥
With that said… please do yourself a v

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! Such a cute fun rom com. Small town vibes with a found family, just perfect!

Leo and Willa’s story was to adorable! Their meet cute was just that, cute! Seeing them concur so much was amazing.

[Trixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart is so full after a trip back in Holly Ridge again. I have always loved how Morgan was always able to write her characters to reflect things and attributes that were very very easy to relate to in real life. In a way, as I was reading this, it felt like it was showing me how my life would turn out if I did or did not make a certain choice, and obviously, after seeing how Willa and Leo's story turned out, I knew what I was going to choose. It was something that should have been so clear to me, but it is only because its Willa in the story that I was able to see it crystal clear now.

Willa Stone is America's very own pop star princess who's in her greatest writer's block era in her life. She was the one who instilled confidence back into Adam when he was in his own slump and introduced him to Leo, who ended up helping him kickstart his career again on a healthy mental note. It was extremely wholesome to see him doing the exact same to one of his friends in the music industry that he knows to be genuine, by inviting her to Holly Ridge, a place where he found purpose in his life again, out of all the glamour and superficiality of showbiz, and a place where relationships were genuine and the community was very close-knit. I have been saying this ever since the start and in all of my highlights about Jackie, it has always been somewhere along the lines of 'when is this sweet child going to fire her manipulative manager?'. Jackie is definitely an artist's worst nightmare, especially when she has been in charge of Willa since she was young and the things that she would say or infer has unfortunately shaped Willa into the person she is underneath Willa Stone TM. In fact, I think that deep down, she is unhappy that Willa is finding happiness somewhere other than in her career because this means that she has lesser leverage against her when she needs to manipulate her for her greed and to thinking that she has to give in a bit more 'for her brand'. Like Leo, I have always been damn confused because isn't who she is that is the brand? Rather than what is carefully curated by the people who only decided to do it that way to maximise their profits? From Willa Stone TM at the beginning of the book to just Willa Stone at the end, she has slowly found herself beneath the light blonde, blue eyed girl, neutral colours all of them wanted her to become. It's just so fascinating that one way Morgan chose to do this was by starting to let Willa control her narrative once again by making her own decisions about how she decided to appear before people. Dying her hair back to her darker blonde, not wearing coloured contacts, not putting her hair up on a ironclad ponytail, adding more colours to her wardrobe instead of her authorised neutrals. Because Willa Stone isn't someone who is bland, she was someone who used to be so vibrant, so genuine, so bright, until they decided that she needed to shrink herself to 'adhere to the brand', removing colours from her life, where she could get coffee, not allowing her to defend herself when she was constantly getting harassed by paparazzis, forcing her to drink that disgusting goo of green everyday and ohmygod, stopping her to enjoy all the experiences a normal child or person would have growing up. So glad that at the end of the day, her time at Holly Ridge with the girls, with Leo showed her what it was like to be truly cared for from people who always have your best interest in mind. Leo was right in the sense that she wouldn't be able to confirm that what Jackie was doing to her was wrong, because no one has ever treated her as she should have been, and now that the clique did, she immediately realised how she was manipulated her whole life now that she has a benchmark to compare it to!

Absolutely loved how girlhood was portrayed here!! It was amazing to see how Wren, Hallie and Nat just welcomed Willa with open arms and quite literally dropped everything they had on their hands the moment they heard Willa needed something. The ever kind and thoughtful Wren, the always unhinged Hallie and wow the lifesaver stylist Nat!! They ensured Willa would feel so safe when they were out in Colton's bar, they dolled her up for her first date with Leo, and when they heard she was missing, they immediately rounded up the gang to look for her. They say its never about the quantity, but the quality of friendships. I bet she would have known many people in the music industry, but who ever reached out to her and checked in on her? But these group of friends in Holly Ridge? They brought her on teenage activities she has never got the privilege to experience, bombed her phone to check if she got home alright, and of course, ever so thirsty for details of her and Leo HAHAHAH credits to Hallie for that!! The Holly Ridge community is so ever wholesome, in the sense that everyone is protective of whoever they consider to be part of their community. In the 3 months that Willa was 'hiding' there, no one sold her out even though that would definitely earn them so much money that they would never have to work in decades, ironically, it was her own manager of decades that sold her out for a petty scheme just to get her engaged to an asshole, just utterly disgusting. It was also so funny that all of them there were just placing bets on how long it would take for them to finally admit that they are head over heels over each other HAHAHAH right in front of the 2 people in question.

Leo. Sinclaire. Gosh I love that name so much and it absolutely does not help that this guy, is a true man in itself?? Someone who is so competent in his field, someone who isn't afraid to acknowledge his imperfections and instead decides to embrace it in order to become a better version of himself, his principle about putting his client's best interest first and THE PINING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 8 YEARS!!! It was revealed much later in his POV about this and I was just so stunned there like, imagine you are coming back late at night from a boy's night out that you half willingly went to, saw your house being toilet-papered by a group of hysterical girls and chases after them only to find your dream girl of 8 years being a completely different version of herself that you have never seen in the glamour before WHILST in the sweatshirt that you have given her 8 years ago the first time you saw her because you spilled her own coffee on her. I would have went crazy. because it meant that the feelings have been mutual, she clearly feels the same, and that suddenly the professional boundaries and his contract are the only ones holding him back from pursuing her. Leo has always made sure that decisions were made to Willa's best interest in every decision he had the opportunity to partake in. He has never been fond of Jackie (for very good reasons) and as fate would put it, his very own words sent her to Holly Ridge where the two real individuals beneath their shield would have a reason to be taken off!! He has always been so observant, as if he has spent the past 8 years cataloging all of her emotions and reactions to be able to tell which is genuine and which is trained just like how she was cataloging him. He was there for every single time she was told to hide a part of herself that would be deemed 'harmful' for the brand, and because my man has been taking down notes, he acts on everything she says she missed out on. Leo Sinclaire never just say 'I love you' but he shows it over time through his actions. His very first reactions to anything would be always pointing out how her interests were never put first AGAIN. and telling her that this isn't right and should not be tolerated. He gave her the confidence and showed her the standards of what a person who actually cares about you deeply would do, and that was how Willa was finally able to admit to herself that her mother and Jackie have always been manipulating her to further their own selfish conquests. Idk how Chris, Jackie and Jefferson expected Willa to buy the story that it was Leo who leaked the pictures out. Are you kidding me?? Are you talking about the guy who only has eyes on her girl whenever they are in the same room?? Idk whether to call these people stupid or just downright insane.

I think whatever that was between Willa and Leo would be what I would define as a healthy relationship. Because of the 8 years they spent pretending they didn't want each other and denying their attraction, they knew how strongly they felt about each other. They were also on the same page as each other at each phase of the relationship. When they got to Holly Ridge, they had the same purpose, to get a life and to find out who they really stand for beneath the professional exterior and shield they put up for show everyday, so obviously when they finally confessed about their feelings, they were ready to put in all the effort they could in order to preserve something as real and genuine as each other going because they are sick and tired of the loneliness they have gone through for their careers. Leo was going for marriage and starting a family with her from the getgo, and I loved how he just told Willa because he wanted to consolidate the fact that she is his endgame from the start. He doesn't propose on a whim but he tells her so that she knows that this is the direction this relationship is going for, and that they are both on the same page. He knows that a girl, especially for a hopeless romantic like Willa, a marriage proposal has to be well-planned so kudos to him for that one. He also planned out an unforgettable date belonging just to them when they first got together, because he wanted her to have memories of that, along with the countless 'firsts' that he was going to have with Willa. Just like how he was rebuilding the house he bought at the beginning of the book like he was rebuilding his life, with Willa actively helping out on it, they are indirectly building their home together! in Holly Ridge!! I kid you not, I was squealing out loud especially when Leo designed a whole music room for her to have her own, custom-made space to write music in ACCORDING TO THE VISUAL SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD FOR HER WORKSPACE. Never in my life would I have imagined someone to ask for help in order to stalk someone's pinterest just to find out what her ideal workspace would be. It was so cute seeing how the whole group took turns over the 4 weeks that she was away from Holly Ridge to sneak in questions to be so sure that the final product was what she would enjoy. It was as if this was Leo's coping mechanism other than working and fixing up the rest of the house when she was gone so that it would feel that this time was only another time he had to go through to 'have it all' with Willa, she was spending time away for her career and he was using that time to build their future together. Just like how Willa rotated between his 3 shirts during those weeks. I think to be able to appreciate what your other half does for a living is so insanely hot. How Willa is completely in awe of Leo when he is in his tailor made expensive suit that makes him look and I quote 'illegally hot' and when he is making ironclad statements that are not meant to be refuted. How Leo is completely gone when Willa plays her drafts and is lost in her own world scribbling down lyrics. And of course, him completely respecting her decision of wanting to continue her career saying that he would never be in the way of it. wow. Leo Sinclaire. you truly are something else.

I would love to see more of Willa and Leo, especially now that they were openly PDA-ing in front of the cameras, definitely would love to hear how Willa's new album would sound like. How would their lives play out now that Willa Stone finally figured out who she is? Personally, I think she would blow up even more now that her persona isn't the same as everyone else's. More people would love her because of the love she has for her work, the impact she wants to make on other people's lives and of course, because she is so kind and sweet to her fans, to the people who love and supports her and of course, her new found family. It all clicked when I started playing to Britney Spear's Lucky as I am typing this out. Willa in so many ways reassembled Britney and Taylor, of course, as a Swiftie, I ate up the tiny references Morgan left about Taylor along the way.
A huge thank you to Morgan Elizabeth and House of Hearts for the gifted copy, the above are all opinions are my own and I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for showing me that it was possible to have it all, by living a life true to yourself. Still completely in a daze as I wrap this up because wdym I received an ARC from one of my fav authors of all time and it turned out to be such an enchanting read. Can't wait for this to hit the shelves in 5 days!!

[Megan ~The Never Ending Book Basket · Rating 5 out of 5]

It started with a sweatshirt.

A sweatshirt. A secret crush. And years of pent up connection.

It started with two people who are completely off limits to each other, finding themselves in the same place at the exact right time, searching for the reset and the version of themselves they both so deserve.

It started with them…and a chance at something more.

A chance at having it all.

The Lie of Having It All is without a doubt, one of the best books I have read this year. It is also without a doubt, one of my favorite romance books I’ve ever read and definitely a new top favorite by Morgan Elizabeth. This book was everything. This book is everything. It is truly one of the most incredible and heartfelt and romantic love stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and honestly as I sit here writing this review, I’m fighting back tears because that is how much I LOVE these characters, the love they build and fight their asses off for in this book, and the connection you get to experience with them as they take a chance on each other and the chance at a future that they are both desperate for and so deserving of.

Simply put, this book is absolute perfection.

From the very first pages of this book, I was in it with Willa Stone and Leo Sinclaire. Those two completely stole my heart from page one but honestly, they stole it a long time ago. Because you see these two have been floating around in this author‘s books for quite some time. I have wanted both of their books for quite some time. And when I found out that these two were going to be paired together? I’m pretty sure I actually shrieked. Like full on happy shrieks happened. So to say, I had high hopes for this book is putting it lightly… And I have to say that this book and what I got with these two far surpassed anything I could’ve ever hoped for. (And I had the highest of hopes y’all.)

Because what you get with the two of them in this book is truly everything. It’s honestly more than everything. It’s them, it’s perfection, it’s full of swoon and heart and so much charm, and it’s honestly just meant to be. They’re meant to be. Leo and Willa are meant to be in every way, shape, and form, and getting to see them give in to the world of feeling they share, getting to see them take a chance on themselves and each other, and getting to see them fight like hell for the future they both so want and so deserve is truly nothing short of everything.

And then some.

This book had everything that I love in a romance novel, and everything I’ve come to love and expect from a book by Morgan Elizabeth. It had the most incredible yearning and it had so much unadulterated fire and connection and buildup. The tension was glorious and thick as the good Lord intended, and the charm and vibrancy and personality of these characters was memorable in every way. I loved these characters with my whole heart from page one of this book, and I loved watching them fight against all of the feeling and connection they had always shared. The way that that push and pull built through every second they were together and apart in this book will give you life. That coupled with the fact that their relationship is forbidden because she’s a well-known popstar and he’s her publicist, and you will be smitten with these two. Plus, she’s throwing the fact that they’ve clearly been dancing around some very vague feelings for one another for what has been years… And you will be beyond invested in these two and what they make each other feel.

Trust me on that.

But more than that, this book has love. It has all kinds of love in it. It has the love you build with friends and the love you build with the people who become family. A family that might not be built from blood, but that is definitely built from love. It has love that you fight like hell for, love that you’ve spent your whole life, wishing was real. It has love that is so layered and beautiful and deeply felt that it is consuming in a way that leaves the most beautiful kind of permanent marks on your heart and soul. It has love that is worth believing in and fighting for with all you have. But it also has a very special kind of love. The love you feel and build for yourself. The love of discovering the real you, the most vulnerable honest version of yourself, and the you you were always meant to be. It has the love of finally finding yourself and the person who loves every version of you that exists, every piece of you, and every complicated, beautiful, and incredible part that makes you you.

This book allows these characters to explore the love that they fight like hell for within themselves, and the love that they also fight like hell for for each other. Leo and Willa let each other see the real them in this book. They open themselves up, they allow themselves to be vulnerable, and they let the beauty and realness of who they are shine in this book. And when they do all of that, while falling so hopelessly in love with one another, they realize that they may have just found the best, most real and incredible version of themselves yet. And that version of themselves is perfect for the other in every way.

Getting to see these two not only discover so much about who they were, who they wanted to be, and what they wanted for themselves and each other, but also getting to be front row and center as they fell so damn hard for each other was nothing short of wonderful. These two could not have been more meant to be. The way they see each other, the way they show up for each other in every way that matters, and the way that they just get each other is the best. They notice, they see, they remember. They show up not only when it matters, but in every little and big way. They celebrate each other and every quirk that makes the them, but more than that they love those quirks and vulnerable pieces. They relish in them, and in each other. They love and feel loudly, with their whole hearts and souls, even when they’re forced to be quiet. They also feel with their whole hearts, and getting to see them peel back the layers of one another, getting to see them open up about the world of feeling that has always been there between them, and getting to see them put it all on the line again and again for the chance of being with one another, and the chance at having it all was incredible.

I truly could not have loved Willa or Leo more. I felt so connected to them. I loved their vibrancy. I loved their realness. I loved getting to understand them. I just loved them with my whole heart. I related so easily to Willa and her people pleasing ways. But I also just as easily related to Leo and his own anxieties. I loved how honest these two were with one another and how they just could not help but feel everything for each other. I loved that once the floodgates open for these two, there was no going back. There was never going to be anybody else. You feel that in your soul with these two and the way that they just feel everything when they’re together because they realize that the other sees them in the most beautiful way is something that I don’t even have the right amount of words to express.

I mean, getting to see these characters fall so hard for each other, getting to be in the thick of their tension and connection is truly the best, but honestly, the most beautiful thing about this couple and their individual and interwoven journeys in this story is getting to see them be their very real and true selves and watching them every step of the way. Because not only do they choose one another, but they fall in every way they didn’t even know it was possible for each other. They fall for each other, they fight with their whole heart for what they know is meant to be between them, and they do it while being their raw and vulnerable selves, letting the truth of it all and the truth of their feelings shine through. And the way they can be honest with each other, the way that they can be real about their own insecurities, what they perceive as their own flaws, and the way that they love each other through it all is perfection. It really is because it’s just so special. They are so special. What they give you is so special. It’s just them in the most unadulterated and beautiful way, and truly I don’t think there’s a way you can read this book and not love Leo and Willa and everything they share with your whole heart.

It’s impossible.
They are impossible not to love and believe in with your whole chest.
And honestly, that’s just part of what I absolutely loved about their story.

I also have to say that being back in the magical town of Holly Ridge is truly my new happy place. That place really is magical and while there might not be actual literal witches and things like that, there is magic in the air there. Because the way the characters of that town are just able to be, the way they show up for each other, the way they are family is truly something special. I loved getting to see Leo and Willa carve out a home and carve out their own very special place in Holly Ridge in this book. It was like that town was ready to welcome them both home and bring them together and that was truly everything to experience. Because getting to see these two find their way to one another at the exact right time in the exact right place in this very special town, with a group of very special people who soon become family and are ready and willing to do what they can for those two, is absolutely breathtaking.

There is really something special about this town and I am already chomping at the bit for the next time we get to come back to this world of characters because my heart is already ready for more. Plus the antics these characters get into will have you laughing and smiling until your cheeks hurt. I promise you that! I love all of their shenanigans, the way they all poke fun at one another and tell it like it is, but most of all I just love the way all of these characters are there for one another in every way that matters. Holly Ridge is truly the best place with the best people and you will just LOVE what you get to experience in this magical small town with all of these wonderful characters.

I also have to tell you that while every book I’ve had the pleasure of reading by this author has been a five star read and has delivered the most incredible romance and steam and story… Leo and Willa bring actual fire in this book. I mean, I was practically blushing throughout most of this book with the heat that emanates from the two of them and every moment they share together. From that glorious, slow burn buildup of tension that has been building for years between them, to the inevitable explosion that happens when they finally give into it all… You will be feeling the heat right along with them. Trust me on that and just prepare yourself for some serious fireworks that are dazzling, that are full of all of the fire and heat, but more than that that are just utterly beautiful with a level of connection these two share.

The Lie of Having It All explores the idea of if you can truly have it all. Both Leo and Willa have thought about that for their entire lives and struggle to find the balance and the truth of that question. The events of this book bring them together in a way that they weren’t expecting, but in a way they are here for in spades. Those two have shared years of connection, years of longing and yearning, and it just takes one chance for the two of them to finally give in to it all. And that all is truly amazing. That all is more. That all is full of charm and fire and so much connection and heart. That all brings them to the most special little small town full of a family of characters that are ready to welcome them with open arms and show them this is where they’re meant to be. That all is encompassing and consuming, and everything those two need and deserve after years of losing pieces of themselves to others. That all is real and beautiful and worth fighting for. Getting to be with Leo and Willa throughout every second of this book as they fight for that all, as they show up for that all and each other, and as they put their hearts on the line for that all is EVERYTHING.

Morgan Elizabeth has completely outdone herself with this book. I mean, I’m not surprised one little bit by that because truly every book by her has wowed me and been a 5 star read, but this one is truly something special. There’s just something about what Leo and Willa share, something about what they fight for within one another and for one another, and just something about the beautiful layers and pieces that they give one another in this book that truly makes this story something special. My heart could not have been more in it with both of these characters and getting to see them finally have the chance at something they had longed and yearned for for years was amazing.

The beauty and love and emotion they fight like hell for the chance to share in their story will completely sweep you off your feet and will have you knowing that those two have to find their way to forever. There simply isn’t another option for them. They’re simply isn’t a world in which they don’t find their way and their hearts to one another because those two are soulmates. They are endgame. They are the all they’ve both been searching for. And knowing and experiencing that with them is truly the best.

My heart is so beyond full after reading and breathing and living every second of this love story, and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. Leo and Willa firmly cemented their place in my heart for the rest of time with what they so unforgettably gave me in this book and in their story, and I’m here for it. I’m here for all of it because those two are the definition of meant to be and they wowed me with their story. They are the definition of fictional characters that feel so real, that feel so authentic, that feel like true friends you love with your whole heart, and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. Because feeling that level of connection and heart with a set of characters and believing in their love story with everything you have is the absolute best feeling on the planet.

End of.

The Lie of Having It All is Morgan Elizabeth at her best. Willa Stone and Leo Sinclaire and their epic, all-feeling, utterly consuming love story were more than worth the wait. They were worth everything. And I’m honestly just beyond grateful that I had the chance to experience what I did with these two as they fell so hard and deep and truly for one another.

Because it was perfect. It was wholeheartedly them. And it was fucking beautiful.

It started with a sweatshirt.

It ended with a love so epic, so meant to be, so inherently right.

It ended right where it began. With them, their undeniable connection, and their hope for more, their hope for forever.

It ended with Willa & Leo, together through it all, basking in the utterly spectacular all they worked their asses off for.

It started with a sweatshirt and it ended with them exactly where they were meant to be.

Together.
Forever.
Blissfully in their all that they deserved every breath of.

[Nadja · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25|2

I genuinely do not know how to feel about this book and at this point I’m starting to think the entire series has put me in some kind of emotional situationship where I keep showing up hoping for the magic Morgan usually delivers and instead I’m just sitting there like… hello??? where is the sparkle??? because something is missing and I cannot for the life of me explain exactly what it is. It’s like when you order your favorite meal and it looks correct, it smells correct, but then you take a bite and somehow the soul of the dish is gone. That is how this series has felt so far.

Now to be fair, this one was definitely better than the previous book. The bar was not underground anymore, so progress! I did enjoy it more than the last one, but that doesn’t mean I actually enjoyed it. It’s more like I tolerated it with occasional moments of “okay that was cute I guess.” Which is not the emotional experience I usually expect from a Morgan book.

The first and most immediate thing that slapped me in the face was the editing. I know this was an ARC so I’m trying very hard to be charitable here, truly I am, but oh my god there were SO MANY mistakes. Missing words. Mistyped words. Sentences that just… stop halfway through like they gave up on life. I’m sitting there like hello??? did the manuscript escape the editing dungeon early??? Again, I know ARCs aren’t the final product, but this was a LOT. It got to the point where I started wondering if my brain was glitching or if the sentence genuinely did not make sense.

And speaking of things not making sense, the continuity in this book felt like it was fighting for its life. Information would be presented one way early on and then later in the book it would change completely. Not in a fun twisty plot way, but in a “did we all forget what was written two chapters ago?” kind of way. It genuinely felt like some details were written, forgotten, and then rewritten differently without anyone checking the earlier sections. I kept having little moments where I was like wait… wasn’t that explained differently before? Did I hallucinate that? Am I losing it? Who knows.

Then we have the length of this book which… I need someone to explain to me why it is this long because respectfully it did not need to be. So many points get repeated over and over and over again. The same emotions. The same thoughts. The same internal monologues. I swear certain ideas were recycled so many times I started predicting when they were about to show up again. By the end I was like yes I understand, we have already established this thirty-seven times, we can move forward now. The pacing honestly felt like someone hit the copy-paste button a few too many times.

Now let’s talk about Leo and Willa. They are genuinely sweet together. I will absolutely give them that. They have cute moments, they have chemistry, and I didn’t dislike them as a couple. HOWEVER. They got together so fast that it gave me emotional whiplash. One minute we’re establishing vibes and the next minute it’s basically relationship mode activated. And after that… nothing really happens. We spend a huge portion of the book just watching them exist together. Not growing in any particularly exciting ways, not facing interesting relationship challenges, just kind of… being there. Which unfortunately made large sections of the story feel extremely boring.

And this might be a controversial opinion but I also feel like we didn’t see enough real friendship development. Willa is technically surrounded by the girl gang but we barely see her actually forming deep connections with them. It’s more like they are present in the background rather than actively building meaningful friendships on page. And Leo… I genuinely do not think that man formed a single friendship in this entire book. Not one. He exists in this weird social vacuum where he has Willa and that is apparently enough for the universe.

Now as a certified smut enthusiast I regret to inform everyone that the spice situation was… underwhelming. The first scene? Great. Loved it. Good energy. Good tension. I was like okay yes we are cooking. But then after that a lot of the scenes felt like they existed simply because a romance book is expected to have them. They weren’t bad exactly, they just didn’t add much. Some of them were so unnecessary that even I, a person who normally devours these scenes with enthusiasm, found myself skimming. If the smut lover is skipping scenes we have a problem.

And then we arrive at the final conflict which on the surface was actually pretty entertaining to read. The drama! The chaos! The emotions! But the more I thought about it the less sense it made. Jackie suddenly going completely off the rails felt wildly out of character. Up until that moment she had respected Willa’s explicitly stated wishes. She had been understanding and generally reasonable. So when she suddenly flipped into chaos mode I was sitting there like… girl what happened??? Did someone replace you with a plot device overnight???

It honestly felt like the conflict existed purely because the book realized it needed a big dramatic moment before the ending. Which normally I wouldn’t mind if it was built up properly, but here the setup was incredibly thin. We get some tiny hints about Jackie and Leo’s boss in the first maybe fifteen percent of the book and then they basically disappear from the narrative entirely. No reminders, no development, nothing. And then suddenly they reappear near the end causing massive drama like they were just waiting backstage for their cue. It felt less like an organic storyline and more like the author remembered a loose thread and went “oh wait we should probably do something with that.”

So yeah. That’s where I’m at. This book had sweet moments. Leo and Willa are cute. There are glimpses of what could have been a really good story. But overall I’m just not connecting with this new series the way I expected to. It feels like it’s missing that signature Morgan charm that usually makes her books so addictive. You know that feeling where you fall into the story and suddenly it’s 3 a.m. and you’re emotionally attached to fictional people? That feeling just wasn’t here for me.

Instead I finished the book sitting there like someone who just watched a very long movie that was perfectly fine but somehow also exhausting. I wanted to love it. I really did. But right now this series and I are in a complicated relationship and I’m not entirely sure if we’re meant to be.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book? You bet your booty I did. Where should I even begin?

Willa Stone...we have been seeing her pop up in so many books and across so many series, and it is finally her turn to have a moment. The same goes for Leo. I love how Morgan never gave us Leo's last name until now. I still didn't put it together until he said where he grew up. Wouldn't you know that it is the ONLY SERIES I still have on my TBR from Morgan. But hey, that just means it was bumped up and is in my pile of immediate next reads, since I have to figure out the final loop. I need to learn how Leo is tied to previous books and storylines.

Quick summary: Leo and Will have been working together for 8 years. They happened to meet right before they started working together, had a connection, and then had to immediately step away from each other because they are both professionals. Leo moves to Holly Ridge to escape the stress of his life. Willa is on hiatus from touring and is preparing her next album. She decides to go to Holly Ridge to visit her friend, Adam, for the summer. She ends up being "neighbors" with Leo and, boom, forced proximity.
Willa has toxicity in her professional life, and Leo just wants to protect her. Their attraction grows and, look, before you know it, they are dating. Huh, how did that happen?

Here are a few things that surprised me:
Willa has a dirty potty mouth, something I wasn't expecting from America's sweetheart.
She is also not very innocent. I don't know why I was expecting some virginal angel. Not the case. She hasn't had good partners in the past, but that doesn't mean she's lived a sheltered life.
Leo...I was definitely expecting someone who communicated more through grunts, huffs, and stare-downs, but no. He is a bit stand-offish but not at all a grump.

I freacking LOVED Natalie. We heard about her in The Bright Side of Christmasand got to interact with her more in The Promise of Forever, but Nat really came out of her shell in this book, and she is hilarious and amazing, and I cannot wait to spend more time with her.

Okay, here are my thoughts on the Holly Ridge series, particularly this book. I love that Willa and Leo found a home in Holly Ridge and that they were both accepted with open arms into the small, quirky town. However, this love story really could have been part of a number of Morgan's other series. Willa found an amazing support system and friendship group in Holly Ridge, but let's be honest. Morgan always writes incredible friendship groups and strong, fierce women in all her books, so this couple could have found love in any of her series. On bookstagram, I created a few posts in the past with predictions of future couples within this series, and I had paired Willa and Leo with other people, with Holly Ridge natives. While yes, I did like them as a couple and their backstory, I still have a small part of me wishing that they had actually paired up with someone from the small town, forever linking them to the community. I'm not saying that transplants can't be part of the community, but I almost feel as if they are outsiders joining in, rather than having that lifelong bond with the town.

Some of the book's topics, tropes, and events would have fit well with the series "Tis the Season for Revenge". It absolutely fits in well with the Atlas Oaks series. I could see it being a spin-off/standalone of the Evergreen Park series.

Thank you to Morgan and her assistant, Rae, for the ARC copy of this book.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’m whatever you want to call me, honey, so long as, at the end of the day, you call me yours.”

✔️pop star x her publicist
✔️escaping to a small town
✔️forbidden
✔️grumpy x sunshine
✔️anxiety rep
✔️found family
✔️no 3rd act breakup

I have enjoyed every book in the series so far, but this takes the cake as my favorite and will be hard to beat. Willa (FMC) is a pop star and former child actor who is trying to separate “Willa Stone TM” (the brand) from “Just Willa”, and that is difficult to accomplish when you have been told your brand is who you are since you were very young. Leo (MMC) is her grumpy, closed off (but very good at his job and protective of her in his own way) publicist, and when they find out that he bought a fixer upper in the same small town where she is taking a much needed break to find her muse again, they have to decide if they can really continue to ignore the pull between them anymore. However, if they give into the attraction they both feel, not only is it completely unprofessional and forbidden, she is set to enter another six month fake dating for publicity “relationship” at the end of her break, with contracts already signed that she can’t back out of.

We not only get to see their relationship grow and evolve from a strictly professional one into a friendship and romantic one, we also get to see Willa find her strength and Leo find his peace. They both work extremely hard and love their careers, but realize that with the right person they really can “have it all” without sacrificing anything. Leo is on her side from the very start, even though he is a little over the top in his interactions with her to hide his true feelings. He is the definition, the gold standard really, of a supportive partner and I love how he loves and reassures her that they are a team and will figure out anything that life throws their way together. I appreciate that those things aren’t just words that are said, it’s real and he means it, and there isn’t a third act breakup when things inevitably get difficult.

Watching Willa find her backbone and strength throughout the story is sweet to see, but the culmination of that in the third act made me so proud of a fictional character. The found family in this series is very strong, and I love that we get to see the previous two couples living their HEAs as this couple finds their way. The banter and teasing is perfect, and if I’m picking up on the hints correctly I think I know where we could be headed next (and I am here for it).


*Thank you so much to House of Hearts PR and the author (Morgan Elizabeth) for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lie of Having It All is one of the cutest romances I’ve ever read. I was so happy to be back in Holly Ridge, and Willa and Leo’s story is definitely one of my favorites.

Willa is a famous pop star, and Leo is her publicist. She seems to have everything, fame, success, a perfect life, but something is missing. When she hits a writing block, she decides to escape to Holly Ridge in search of something more… only to find an unexpected surprise: Leo is there too.

Leo has always loved his job, but lately he can’t stand working for his boss anymore. He dreams of starting his own company, but he’s stuck because of a contract he signed years ago, one that still ties him to Jefferson for another year.
Wanting a fresh start, he escapes the city and buys a house in Holly Ridge. But when Willa shows up in town looking for a “normal” life, his world is turned upside down.

I absolutely loved the small-town vibes, the found family, and how the girls: Wren, Hallie, and Nat. are always there for Willa, just like Adam and the Kings are for Leo.

The romance was so good, and I really loved Willa and Leo together, he’s so protective of her.

And the spice?! OMFG 🔥🔥🔥

I also loved Willa’s growth, how she finally stands up for herself, especially when it comes to her manager.

Thank you, Elizabeth Morgan, for the ARC copy 💕

🇮🇹:
The Lie of Having It All è uno dei romance più dolci che abbia mai letto. Sono stata felicissima di tornare a Holly Ridge, e la storia di Willa e Leo è sicuramente una delle mie preferite.

Willa è una famosa pop star e Leo è il suo PR. Sembra avere tutto, fama, successo, una vita perfetta, ma le manca qualcosa. Quando entra in un blocco creativo, decide di trasferirsi a Holly Ridge in cerca di qualcosa di più… ma lì trova una sorpresa: Leo.

Leo ha sempre amato il suo lavoro, ma ultimamente non sopporta più il suo capo, un uomo senza scrupoli. Sogna di aprire una sua agenzia, ma è bloccato da un contratto firmato anni prima che lo lega ancora a Jefferson per un altro anno. Così decide di lasciare la città e comprare casa a Holly Ridge. Ma quando Willa si presenta nella piccola cittadina in cerca di una vita “normale”, il suo mondo viene completamente stravolto.

Ho adorato le vibes da small town, la found family e il modo in cui le ragazze: Wren, Hallie e Nat, sono sempre pronte ad aiutare Willa, così come Adam e i Kings con Leo.

La storia d’amore è bellissima e mi è piaciuto tantissimo il rapporto tra Willa e Leo: lui è super protettivo nei suoi confronti.

E lo spice?! OMFG 🔥🔥🔥

Ho amato la crescita di Willa, il modo in cui riesce finalmente a farsi valere, soprattutto con il suo manager.

Un grazie enorme a Elizabeth Morgan per la copia ARC 💕

[Jessica Marksbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always great to be back in Holly Ridge and see the characters we've come to love so far. And yes this story carried all of Morgan Elizabeth's writing styles that are why we love her work. Willa and Leo's story is so much more than a contemporary romance story. This series is absolutely fantastic but something about these two...It was heartfelt, full of banter, pining, feel good vibes for sure. But it also really brought to light the struggle of learning to find yourself, to stand up for yourself from years of emotional abuse that you didn't even let yourself realize was happening.

Willa has just finished a tour and is struggling to write her next album. On the brink of doing her next contracted fake relationship to rehabilitate the image of another celebrity bad boy and to go along with her next romance inspired album. She's struggling. To find herself in all the curated decisions about her life down to her clothes and make up, to her daily routine not helping her write at all. When Leo and her publicist agency suggest she take some time to hide out, she finds herself in Holly Ridge. What is inspiring her? every interaction she has with Leo while there.

Who doesn't love a story built on years of pining between a sweetheart of a pop star and her grumpy publicist?

Like I said before, this story is about finding yourself and learning to value yourself and your needs over your job and those who take advantage of a kind heart. Leo who went through a very severe panic attack over his job has moved to Holly Ridge to find peace and balance and start a new life away from his boss's agency. The way these two help each other with their struggles and moments of self doubt, guidance, was heartwarming.

The found family was strong in this book, the way the characters from previous books enveloped Willa and Leo into their group, whether they (Leo) wanted it or not was so sweet and endearing.

Willa finding herself, seeing her gain a sense of self, strength and a voice was absolutely my favorite part of this story, even if it was also heartbreaking at times. I was so proud of her for trusting herself when it came to Leo and letting herself open her own eyes to those that were using her.

Morgan Elizabeth is one of my favorite authors, she writes stories and characters that absolutely stick with you and make you fall in love. You feel like you KNOW these characters, you feel for them and along with them on their journey. This was absolutely no different and an instant five star read!

Thank you so much to Morgan Elizabeth for having me on her Revengers content team. All opinions are my own!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an arc review, I got the ebook through House of Hearts Lit so thank you Morgan Elizabeth and House of Hearts for the gifted copy in exchange of my honest opinion ✨

I’ve been a huge Morgan Elizabeth fan for years and if there is something that she excels at, it’s writing grumpy x sunshine characters and main male characters that are down bad for the main female characters. Usually, her MMCs are providers and just want to take care of their ladies. This is not an exception to her outstanding and successful formula and it deserves all the stars for it.

Having said that, if you’ve read other books of hers and think that this might be similar, it’s not. Every book tells its own story and its characters are vastly different, maintaining their own individual traits even if they are grumpy and sunshine so as someone who has read so many of her books, each one is a fresh new beginning told straight from the heart, with a flow to the plot line and The Lie of Having it All had me giggling, kicking my feet in the air and feeling so giddy with Leo and Willa’s chemistry.

Both characters are mentioned in the previous books in the series as well as others so getting their own HEA felt like a long time coming but they needed their own pace. Leo’s loyalty to his people, his clients and friends is ever present and even though he’s a bit serious, you know he’ll have your back. Willa is such a sweetheart who is always trying to meet the heavy expectations the world has given her while internalizing that weight. Having them be able to be themselves with each other is a joy to read and again, this book kept my heart full and happy from page 1.

I won’t spoil anything else, just know that Morgan wrote a five star read with TLOHIA and as a reader, it’s easy to sympathize with both characters if you’ve ever felt the need to prove your worth or trusting other to have your best interest at heart and it not actually being true. It’s for those who were told you had to sacrifice things along the way because you can’t have it all and mourning what could have been when in truth, you can’t have everything you want if you set your mind to it.

So thank you Morgan Elizabeth and House of Hearts for the arc, I love this book, I’d go to war for Leo and Willa and I’m so excited to see what is in store for the next book in this series!

[Kelsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️

I absolutely LOVE Holly Ridge and the entirety of the cast and crew that Morgan Elizabeth has created!! This series is just so special and The Lie of Having It All was an a magnificent read. I’ve loved Willa and Leo from the brief glimpses we’ve seen of them in previous Holly Ridge novels but seeing them come to life and getting to see all the different sides of them made for a read that I couldn’t put down! If you’re looking for a book that’s filled with grumpy/sunshine romance, spice, amazing friendships, plenty of banter, so many cute, romantic, swoon-worthy moments, a few twists and turns, betrayals, and a happily ever after than I highly recommend grabbing a copy of The Lie of Having It All today!


I truly can’t get over the Holly Ridge series! Every book is just so romantic, and swoon-worthy, I could read this series forever! And The Lie of Having It All was fabulous! Willa is one of the world’s top pop-stars a pop star who has a reputation for being sweet, kind, and wholesome. A reputation that does fit Willa as she is a sweet, loving ray of sunshine. But some days she just wants to be normal, to wear no makeup, dress down, and eat whatever she wants without a nutritionist hanging over her shoulder. And when Leo her PR manager suggests she lays low for a while… well Willa looks at it as her chance for the bit of freedom she’s always craved. Except when Leo suggested she lay low he never expected that she’d do it in his little town. Or that she’d find a way to infiltrate his little sanctuary. But as the two of them take a step back from the limelight together they start to see that they may just have a once in a lifetime connection. Celebrity is a mean monster sometimes though and while small-town life felt like home to Leo and Willa… Celebrity life however and the people connected it are willing to do everything to pull the two of them apart. Truly I just loved every second of this book! Willa and her finding her voice, Leo and his unwavering loyalty and understanding, the amazing friendship formed between the entire Holly Ridge Crew but especially the strong female friendship forged between Willa, Wren, Nat, and Hallie, not to mention the unending swoon-worthy romantic moments that are bookmarked in this book because they were just to sweet! Honestly this book was so amazing and I highly recommend it!

[Bari (justbookedup) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for Willa & Leo’s story for what feels like forever, & Morgan Elizabeth does not disappoint!

This is a forbidden publicist x pop star romance... & I could not get enough. Both Willa, the global pop star whose entire life has been scheduled, managed, & controlled, & Leo, her publicist who has spent years keeping the machine running, have this fleeting past meet-cute before they were forced to work together all those years ago. On paper, their relationship is strictly professional, but that tension from their first meeting has been simmering below the surface. When they both end up escaping to Holly Ridge at the same time, all those carefully built boundaries start to crack.

What I loved most is that this is really Willa’s story. Watching her go from someone who has spent her entire life doing what everyone else expects to someone who finally starts asking herself what she wants was so satisfying. Seeing her experience normal life for the first time, things like spontaneous nights out, town events, & friendships that aren’t transactional, felt like the heart of the book.

The Holly Ridge girl gang was one of my favorite parts. They immediately adopt Willa like she’s been there forever, & watching her slowly settle into that found family was so fun. The chaotic hangs, the town antics, the way they hype each other up. It’s the kind of small-town energy that makes Holly Ridge feel like its own character.

Leo is completely gone for her in the best way. He supports her, respects her boundaries, & quietly wants her to experience all the little “firsts” she’s never had. The pop star x publicist dynamic brings great forbidden tension, & when the spice shows up, it definitely delivers.

I did wish we got a little more Leo & a bit more emotional push-and-pull between them, since the story leans heavily into Willa’s growth. But overall, this was such a fun return to Holly Ridge.

Holly Ridge is the perfect escape if you love small towns, chaotic girl gangs, & found family, & I can't wait to see which couple Morgan delivers to us next!

🎶 Popstar x Publicist
🏡 Small Town
❣️ Forbidden
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️‍🩹 Anxiety Rep
🫶 Found Family
✌🏻 Dual POV

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

📸 Forced Proximity
📸 Grumpy x sunshine
📸 Found Family

Willa is a famous singer songwriter who escapes to Holly Ridge to lay low for a while and unknowingly crashes Leo’s plan to escape his job (and her).

Willa and Leo might be my new favourite Holly Ridge couple (sorry Wren and Adam) and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Willa was such a very relatable character despite being a music icon she still had a lot of insecurities and had a lot of room for self discovery. Leo on the other hand is sure of who he is and what he wants and when they came together, they complimented each order beautifully and evolved into the best version of themselves.

Willa had a very toxic relationship with some of the people in her life that she really depended on to protect her but inadvertently left her more vulnerable to her own self doubt and made her question her identity. I found it very satisfying that Willa rediscovered who she was in Holly Ridge and this ultimately led her to take her life back from those that had been controlling it ✨Jackie deserved everything she got✨ Also huge props to Leo for ensuring Willa felt safe and supported, we love a supportive king (not the Wren and Jesse kind).

The pining was ✨perfect✨and was so close to a slow burn, I absolutely LOVED it. Leo calling Willa honey? 10/10 nickname absolutely no notes and I really loved how it was surprising but natural the first time he said it and then slowly became such a common thing for him to say I almost didn’t notice.

I was a huge fan of how much we saw of the past couples in the series, it really made the found family aspect so genuinely warm and cosy, and I can't wait for the next instalment.

I am a huge Morgan Elizabeth fan and i really feel like this whole series has a nostalgic aspect in the way all the characters are woven into each others lives and how beautifully they are written. Every book in this series has a nice cosy small-town romance feel to them and ‘the lie of having it all’ is no different, so if that’s your vibe (and even if it isn’t) you should 100% pick this book up.

A huge thank you to House of Hearts and Morgan Elizabeth for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own.

[EllieGraceReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Because with you, Willa, I already have it all. The rest is just a bonus”

The thing I love most about these two was the communication and how once they admitted their feelings they were all in!
They don’t sleep together and then tip toe around each other for a while, they’re honest with how they’ve been feeling and lay everything on the table.

Leo has always looked out for Willa professionally but I loved seeing that evolve when they got together.
The way he cares for her and gives her as many new experiences as possible that she hasn’t had because she grew up in the spotlight.
He is so head over heels in love with her and they’re so happy together.

I love Willa with my whole heart! She’s the sweetest, kindest and most genuine person! Growing up in the spotlight she’s always had to follow everyone else’s rules and has just accepted that, she feels like she’s lost herself along the way but I love how she can just be herself with Leo and has the space to figure out who she is and just live.
Also, it was so nice to see her finding people who genuinely cared about her as a person and not a popstar, they just liked her for her.

Wren, Nat and Hallie are amazing friends and the way they include Willa instantly without thinking and look out for her.
Also the fact that Leo has a friendship with Adam, Jesse and the guys and all the couples go out for drinks together!
I love the found family in this series and i adore all of these characters so much.
Intrigued to see if Madden crashes out because Nat is following Willa on tour😂

Hallie and Jesse’s wedding🥹

One of my fave things about Morgan Elizabeth’s writing is that her characters communicate instead of having an unnecessary break up and this book was no different!
Willa and Leo were always open and honest with each other and never doubted each others feelings for a second! They supported each other and what was needed to be done in their careers and made their relationship work.

Leo and Willa are definitely one of my top Morgan Elizabeth couples, i just love their love and how they’re both so happy in each others company but especially when they’re in Holly Ridge🥹

Shout out to Harper, Jaime and Atlas Oaks mentions!!!

Thank you Morgan & Rae for the ARC💕

[Rose Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! It was such an easy, cute, and fun read. While it can be read as a standalone, it is the third book in the Holly Ridge series, which I do recommend reading!

It’s dual POVs of the main characters, Willa and Leo. There are some great tropes including, escaping to a small town, a pop star/publicist relationship, grumpy/sunshine, found family, and a forbidden romance.

The premise was such a delight! There were so many sweet, amusing, and enjoyable moments. I loved Willa's backstory and her journey of finding her own identity and experiencing a normal life after years of putting up a mask and living for just the brand, was especially rewarding to read. Her stepping into her independence, finding genuine friendship, and going after things she truly wanted was beautifully written.

Leo was such a charming hero as well. I loved how completely gone he was for Willa. I do wish we’d have gotten just a little bit more depth into his personal journey though, but I really liked how steady and confident he was throughout the story.

I loved the banter and chemistry between Willa and Leo, their relationship development felt natural and full of heart. I would have liked just a little bit more buildup or yearning between them before they got together. But their relationship was still sweet, spicy, and swoon-worthy!

I appreciated that there was no third-act breakup. They were both mature, communicated well, and respected each other, especially when it came to their careers.

Regarding any OM scenes: Willas contractually obligated to be in a PR relationship with OM. She’s forced to play the part, which included a few forced kisses for the camera. Both Leo and Willa know its all for publicity and not real, so their relationship remained strong the entire time. The only drama that came from the PR relationship was OM being greedy.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun and lighthearted read!

**ARC received in exchange of an honest review**

[Brina.readz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Morgan Elizabeth and House of Hearts for I a digital ARC of "The Lie of Having It All" in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to be back in Holly Ridge and absolutely adored Willa and Leos story. I have read a few of Morgan's other books and loved knowing that Willa pops up in some I haven't read yet as well (I will definitely be reading those now).

The slow burn aspect of Leo and Willa dancing around each other for years and then reconnecting while they're back in Holly Ridge was perfection. Their hidden attraction and yearning practically jumped off the page. And once they gave in their chemistry was just insane! The men in Holly Ridge are something else! All of their little moments together were so thought out and beautiful.

Willa was such a beautifully strong and vulnerable (at times naive) character, going through such a great process and development throught the book that really tore at my heartstrings. The way she found her family among all our Holly Ridge girlies was beautiful and I will never get tired of Wren, Hallie or Nat (so ready for her HEA). You just know they have each other's backs 100%.

The Lie of Having It All Willa is constantly thinking about is the red string of this book and handled so beautifully (stating with that amazing note by the author).

"The world tells us the lie of having it all so that we keep going, of how to keep striving when life gets hard. But the people at the top, the ones who are the most successful, will all tell you the same thing— at some point, you have to choose. You have to choose what you want most of all and how to be okay with everything else falling behind."

"At the top of a Ferris wheel in a tiny town I’ve learned to call home, I finally have it all."

I cannot get enough of this little town, that friend group, those men throwing their women over their shoulder and all the adorable love stories!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that we're going back to Holly Ridge (don't fret if you haven't read the other books though as this is an interconnected standalone - I highly recommend you check them out though!)!! Willa and Leo have the forbidden romance vibes down and I loved that aspect of their story since it was handled in a different way given that Willa is a popstar and Leo is her publicist. It was a fun, cute, steamy read with so many funny moments while also being centered around Willa's growth and her becoming so much stronger as a person. I love seeing her stand up for herself and finding the balance she always craved but never thought she would have. She started off very sheltered because of her life and up brining, and as a readers we get to go along for the ride as she experiences things most of us tend to take advantage of.

The Holly Ridge found family is one of my favorites for sure and I loved the cameo's from some of my favorites!!! The group helps Willa grow so much and I love how much silly trouble they get into!

I was missing more of Leo in this one though. I do think the book centered mostly around Willa, her story, and her growth. I think I just needed a bit more Leo to really bring the balance in to their romance story, he felt like bit of an after thought at times, and if he had 'morphed' into a best friend of Willa's I don't think the story would have changed all that much (minus the spice obviously) since it was really her story through and through. I think I maybe also needed a bit more tension/grumpy x sunshine vibes to really set the tone and give that bit of angst and will they/won't they that I was looking for.

Overall, it's a fun read and I love Holly Ridge and this series. If you love contemporary romances in a small town, with a fun girl gang, definitely check this one out!!

I received an eARC of this book, but any reviews are entirely my own.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anything Morgan Elizabeth writes, and I’ve been waiting for Willa and Leo’s story for a while. Thankfully, it was totally worth the wait! I loved so much about this book and she never fails to amaze me.

Willa is a huge pop star whose life has always been controlled by contracts, PR relationships, and the expectations of everyone around her. When she’s told to lay low for a while, she ends up in Holly Ridge… the same place her publicist Leo has escaped to while trying to slow down and figure out his own life. Of course, the problem is that Leo has been attracted to Willa for years, and once they’re actually spending time together outside of work, those feelings become impossible to ignore.

I really loved seeing Willa get to experience normal life for once, like small town events, nights out with friends, and just being herself without the pressure of being Willa Stone: The Brand™️. Watching her grow more confident and start standing up for what she wants was one of my favorite parts of the book. I loved her journey and her growth and eventual happy ending after all she had dealt with.

Leo was such a sweetheart. He was down so bad for Willa and just wanted her to have all the little experiences she missed out on. The tension between them was fun, and once they finally gave in to their feelings, it was so satisfying. The spice was also Morgan’s signature level of HOT and I felt like it was done so well, especially after years of pining and yearning (especially on Leo’s part).

This was so fun and a rom com with banter, spice, and lots of yearning that I really needed during times like this. I also loved being back in Holly Ridge and seeing the found family dynamic again. I could tell that Morgan was hinting at other couples who will be in the series later on, and I already can’t wait to return to this town. I am so excited for what is to come next.

Thank you to House of Hearts Lit and Morgan Elizabeth for the eARC of this book.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Morgan Elizabeth for an ARC of this book!

4.5/5 ⭐️

If you’ve read Morgan Elizabeth’s books, you know these two have been floating around the Morganverse forever, pop superstar Willa and her publicist Leo, so when I found out they were finally getting their own story I was so excited!

Leo has been Willa’s publicist for years, and neither of them realizes they’ve both been quietly harboring feelings for the other the entire time. When they both end up escaping to Holly Ridge, everything starts to shift.

Of course, the Holly Ridge crew wastes no time pulling them in. Wren, Hallie, Nat, Jesse, Madden, and Adam make it basically impossible for Willa and Leo not to get adopted into the chaos, and I loved every second of it.

Leo was perfect for Willa.

Without giving too much away, Willa is starting to realize how tightly controlled her life has been, how scheduled every moment is and how little say she’s had in the decisions shaping her career and future. Watching her begin to question what she actually wants for herself was such a powerful part of the story.

And Leo? Leo has always had Willa’s best interests at heart. But seeing him truly understand what she’s going through, support her, and give her the space she needs to figure things out on her own was everything.

Their relationship felt so genuine. They see each other clearly, love each other for exactly who they are, and would do anything for one another.

This book was heartfelt, romantic, and such a fun return to Holly Ridge. Morgan Elizabeth continues to build a world that feels like coming home, and getting Willa and Leo’s story was worth the wait.

[HEATHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan Elizabeth has stolen my heart with this series! I have LOVED every book and I think they get better every time. Leo & Willa made my heart melt! Leo is a broody man but has a heart of gold. These two had amazing chemistry and banter! This book had me laughing, smiling like crazy, swooning hard, and then left me with a wonderful ending!

Willa is a pop star that has had an amazing career but now she needs some much needed down time before she has to start fake dating again. She finds herself in Holly Ridge since Adam said it helped him with his writers block and figured it would help her with her writing and maybe be able to experience other things in life as well.

Leo needed to get away from the stresses in life after a bad panic attack so he bought a fixer upper in Holly Ridge. He's excited to put the skills his father taught him to work on this home but then he discovers his biggest client and biggest headache is here in town. Now he's trying to keep her under control but that's not exactly working out for him. LOL

Leo & Willa will have you laughing so hard sometimes. I just loved how these two banter. Willa will start to realize she missed out on a lot of things in life and Leo will be there for her new journey. I loved the relationship the girls have with Willa. They all take her under there wings and help her see there is more to life then just music.

If you love grumpy/sunshine, home repair and friendship bonds then this book is for you. I HIGHLY recommend this book and this series!

Thank you Morgan Elizabeth for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

[Dcharmreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from house of hearts for my honest opinion!

This story had my total attention that I couldn't stop reading it, entering into the story and coming out wondering what day it was. It was like the perfect mix of reality TV and home reno mixed together that doesn't sound like it would work. But it definitely does. Following Willa Stone who is Americans sweetheart, do no wrong, but as she's gotten older panic attacks are her new "normal" with the ever present thought of being perfect never veering off the path. So she goes to a small town Holly Ridge where she finally can let loose. And who does she she there. Leo her pr manager who is broody and scowly. With banter that makes Willa come alive and Leo fall further. The two enter a relationship.. a relationship that must stay under wraps because Willa must enter a fake dating romance with someone else and Leo is still her pr manager who is contracted to not be in a relationship with his clients. Which makes the perfect fake dating forbidden romance trope as well as this slow burn and small town that sucks you in and makes you fall in love and never want to leave.
He falls first and she falls just as hard, no third act breakup but does have a twist that has Willa finally finding herself in the best way possible, with Leo behind her always going that's my girl with twinkles in his eyes.
I love all the Easter eggs of past books and characters. I couldn't put this book down! And the spice. Don't get me started it was amazing!!

[Samantha Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely obsessed with this book! From start to finish it had me hook, line and sinker! Honestly this book could’ve went on for another 300 pages and I wouldn’t have complained at all!

We have had snippets of both Willa and Leo in numerous other books of Morgan Elizabeth’s and honestly this might be my favourite book of hers. And I am absolutely obsessed with them being together and getting their happily ever after.

Willa is the sweetest person. I love that she is sweet but has a backbone and is sassy towards Leo. My heart breaks for her in wanting a normal life because honestly I wouldn’t blame her. I loved being there and watch her grow into someone she loves and truely is. I loved seeing that she was able to find a group of girls and bloom with being a part of the friend group.

I loved seeing Leo finally give him and soften towards Willa. I loved seeing him in relax mode and not just the sharp shoot PR guy. I also loved that he lets Willa just be herself and doesn’t try to dim her. I also absolutely loved that the guys pulled him in and wouldn’t let him back out of hang outs.

Holly Ridge is just magical and I keep getting more and more sucked in. I cannot wait for Nat’s book and I think I know who her MMC is or more hoping it is. But I am so excited to see where Morgan takes us next. This was an amazing book and I have nothing less than love it to bits!

[• Dan reads books • · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my dear Holly Ridge, always a delight to visit you again! ❤️

I’m a little cheesy about this small town but since I read the first book on this series I felt completely in love with it and that just a little part of why I love this books…

But also the way Morgan writes her characters is amazingly beautiful, incredibly relatable (so much that I found myself thinking retrospectively all the time) and presented in a way in which this characters found a little spot in your heart and never leave!

Reading how the sweet and caring Willa and the stoic and close off Leo flourish in this town and how much their characters grow and develop is something so special! The selfless and sweet Willa learns how to stand up for herself and the grumpy Leo learns that he can be happy… don’t get me wrong, he was almost impossible at the beginning but all of that melt down when he let himself to feel, and all of that transformed in pure devotion for Willa!

Another thing I loved? Seeing Willa to have all of this “firsts” with Leo, little thing like get ready with girlfriends or picking peaches… my heart felt so hard for her!

I can’t recommend you enough this series, every book is just a step closer to felt in love with this town and the incredibly people in it!

Thanks to Morgan Elizabeth and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.