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Kwan Sisters #1
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend
I'm a pretty simple guy. When I'm not writing a science fiction novel, I'm watching a good movie or reading a book. Alone. I like my reclusive life. That is, until my only friend asks for a favor—pretend to be his baby sister's boyfriend on a couples' getaway. Her ex is going to be there and she needs me as a buffer.
I should have said no, but Naomi is bubbly, energetic, and beautiful. She also means everything to her brother. But now, our fake romance is starting to feel all too real, and I find myself stuck between the promise I made to my friend and risking my heart to the one woman who might actually get me…
I should have said no, but Naomi is bubbly, energetic, and beautiful. She also means everything to her brother. But now, our fake romance is starting to feel all too real, and I find myself stuck between the promise I made to my friend and risking my heart to the one woman who might actually get me…
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2018
602 people are currently reading
1979 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Lau
39 books867 followersJackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
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February 10, 2019A fun, quick contemporary fake relationship romance. Will is deeply introverted and finds people exhausting so that was a major plus point for the book right there. He's spent his life with people trying to get him out of his shell but "I fucking like my shell!" THANK YOU WILL.
One of his about three friends is Naomi's big brother, Naomi needs a fake boyfriend for a house party because her ex will be there, and the rest unfolds. I am 100% not here for the 'off limits because she's my friend's sister!' trope, but fortunately nor is this book, with Will's sticking point more being that he made a promise than the patriarchal bullshit concept, and Naomi treating the whole thing with the contempt it deserves.
Written in alternating first person present tense, but there is a point to that as both MCs have a breezy immediate telling-you-a-story quality to their narrative, so I didn't find it as obtrusive as it can often be.
It's an easy, low conflict read with two good-hearted characters who both need to tweak themselves a bit (Will to be less ready to assume the worst, Naomi less ready to change herself to please others). Good fun, and well edited, joy of joys.
One of his about three friends is Naomi's big brother, Naomi needs a fake boyfriend for a house party because her ex will be there, and the rest unfolds. I am 100% not here for the 'off limits because she's my friend's sister!' trope, but fortunately nor is this book, with Will's sticking point more being that he made a promise than the patriarchal bullshit concept, and Naomi treating the whole thing with the contempt it deserves.
Written in alternating first person present tense, but there is a point to that as both MCs have a breezy immediate telling-you-a-story quality to their narrative, so I didn't find it as obtrusive as it can often be.
It's an easy, low conflict read with two good-hearted characters who both need to tweak themselves a bit (Will to be less ready to assume the worst, Naomi less ready to change herself to please others). Good fun, and well edited, joy of joys.
May 27, 2018
3.5 Be Who You Are Stars
* * * Spoiler Free
This was a surprising treat and another reason why I love my goodreads buddies so much. Someone liked a review of this and there was this intriguing book looking back at me. The idea and twist of the normal pretend boyfriend who actually is not user friendly was the pull. It also brought other elements such as a diverse main character. With all of that extracted from the review and blurb, I was in.
The overall set up is something we all know...however there are a few differences to enjoy. Will is a science fiction writer. He is established and makes a decent living. He is thirty three, has a close-knit family he loves but at the same time cannot handle for extended periods.
Side Note: Thoughts and comments from Will when reading reviews from his books are laugh out loud funny and hit home. Major credit towards the point 5 for this review :D
You see Will never fell into the usual slot of what his parents thought a child of theirs would be like. Will was a child that enjoyed his time reading and being on his own. He never felt comfortable conforming to standard group social actions, causing his parents to unfortunately push him harder to be outgoing and into situations which made Will more uncomfortable. From the start, they just didn't get who Will was...and as he grew into this man, he had relationship with a woman who ended up trying to mold him into something else, too.
Will would be considered a loner of sorts and with the advent of the internet, he had his career, a handful of friends through internet connections and one real flesh and blood one, Jeremy.
When Will went to college he was supposed to have a single but instead they mixed up his lodging and put him in a double with Jeremy. Lucky for Will, Jeremy was a decent fella and actually became his friend. This friendship has lasted over the years and with Jeremy being his first reader of every book he as ever written, he is someone he appreciates and values.
So when Jeremy presents a request for Will to do him a favor, he knows he must say yes.
Even when the idea of being around people he doesn't know for 3 days in a beach house pretending to be a fake boyfriend for Jeremy's little sister is the seventh circle of hell to him.
Even with the sister turning into a beautiful woman....one he saw a few years ago at Jeremy's wedding. As Will is saying yes to his only friend, Jeremy also tells him he better not DO anything with his sister, she is off limits, period.
Jeremy's sister Naomi was crushed by her ex-boyfriend. They had been together for years. Naomi was told by this guy he loved her, talked of moving in together and even had a baby name picked out. She became part of his circle of friends... she really liked them. Then he dumps her and Naomi was hit hard. She didn't know where it came from... everything seemed fine. It took a real toll on her and made her doubt herself and think relationships are lost causes, too.
Six months have gone by and Naomi has gone about life recovering from this break up. She is an event planner, does it well and enjoys her work. She is outgoing and loves inter-mixing with people. She misses the friends she made through her ex and when the offer to go to a beautiful beach house with then like always for Canada Day is sent, she wants to go. Only problem is her ex will be there with his new girlfriend, ugh.
Naomi has known about Will for 17 years. When the family first visited Jeremy at college, she was 12. She was first having those ideas about boys and Will, this older guy sparked all kinds of thoughts. Later a little crush sort of developed. Now with this situation of wanting to enjoy the beach house and the friends she had made over the years with the ex...she needs a buffer...She needs Will to be that fake boyfriend... and she knew just how to make it happen...
Will schedules a meeting with Naomi at a coffee house he uses to write. Already he is annoyed as she is late. Then he sees her arrive and right off the bat he knows he is in further trouble then just having to spend time with people...Naomi is just beautiful and Will has promised to leave her alone. Now he is really in a fix.
As she sits down, Naomi is bubbly, full of energy and everything Will stays away from. From the start he has an inner dialogue of not understanding why he is sort of Flirting? with her...Where does that come from...Naomi knows all of Will's books, loves them and can even carry on legitimate conversations about them much to Will's surprise. They do have some quick banter, a back and forth which shows their wit and sarcasm.
The day arrives and already Will is hating it and yet is strangely looking forward to seeing Naomi. From the start there is this oil/water back and forth argue about all things driving and stop offs for the day trip to the location...a showing of how Naomi can hold her own up against "Grumpy/Non User Friendly Will. Will is Grumpy normally... in the way he just likes and feels more comfortable alone... not so much mean grumpy or cranky. As the drive continues... Will is having thoughts that totally break with the vow he made to his best friend... as his interest in Naomi is presenting a challenge.
This is the set up and even though it is based on the regular fake boyfriend/ then becomes real troupe... there is much to enjoy and has fresh moments. Both characters learn about themselves through the experience... and the learning is meaningful. Both surprise each other in how they handle this situation and how they interact...
It is the coming together of it all... with the development of chemistry, yummy sexy times and then realization of what all of this means to each, brings the story through. There were times when I felt some things repeated could be trimmed bit. Also Will wasn't so much grumpy as needing to have space away from others. It was the fact people usually would never give it to him which set up a loop of wanting to be alone thus grumpy. Over all it was a good read for me and I look forward to the follow up.
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
This Title is Everything...
I saw it come across my feed and had to check it out...
An almost recluse whose only real friend from college has asked him to help out his little sister.
Her boyfriend broke up with her and now she wants to go to a gathering at a friend's beach house for the weekend. The ex will be there with his new girlfriend...so solo will be awkward.
The ask is to be the fake boyfriend...
He is also told not to do anything with the friend's sister..hands off...
One little problem, neither of them want to keep their hands off each other...
This ought to be good!
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend (Kwan Sisters #1)-May 22nd 2018
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * Spoiler Free
This was a surprising treat and another reason why I love my goodreads buddies so much. Someone liked a review of this and there was this intriguing book looking back at me. The idea and twist of the normal pretend boyfriend who actually is not user friendly was the pull. It also brought other elements such as a diverse main character. With all of that extracted from the review and blurb, I was in.
The overall set up is something we all know...however there are a few differences to enjoy. Will is a science fiction writer. He is established and makes a decent living. He is thirty three, has a close-knit family he loves but at the same time cannot handle for extended periods.
Side Note: Thoughts and comments from Will when reading reviews from his books are laugh out loud funny and hit home. Major credit towards the point 5 for this review :D
You see Will never fell into the usual slot of what his parents thought a child of theirs would be like. Will was a child that enjoyed his time reading and being on his own. He never felt comfortable conforming to standard group social actions, causing his parents to unfortunately push him harder to be outgoing and into situations which made Will more uncomfortable. From the start, they just didn't get who Will was...and as he grew into this man, he had relationship with a woman who ended up trying to mold him into something else, too.
Will would be considered a loner of sorts and with the advent of the internet, he had his career, a handful of friends through internet connections and one real flesh and blood one, Jeremy.
When Will went to college he was supposed to have a single but instead they mixed up his lodging and put him in a double with Jeremy. Lucky for Will, Jeremy was a decent fella and actually became his friend. This friendship has lasted over the years and with Jeremy being his first reader of every book he as ever written, he is someone he appreciates and values.
So when Jeremy presents a request for Will to do him a favor, he knows he must say yes.
Even when the idea of being around people he doesn't know for 3 days in a beach house pretending to be a fake boyfriend for Jeremy's little sister is the seventh circle of hell to him.
Even with the sister turning into a beautiful woman....one he saw a few years ago at Jeremy's wedding. As Will is saying yes to his only friend, Jeremy also tells him he better not DO anything with his sister, she is off limits, period.
Jeremy's sister Naomi was crushed by her ex-boyfriend. They had been together for years. Naomi was told by this guy he loved her, talked of moving in together and even had a baby name picked out. She became part of his circle of friends... she really liked them. Then he dumps her and Naomi was hit hard. She didn't know where it came from... everything seemed fine. It took a real toll on her and made her doubt herself and think relationships are lost causes, too.
Six months have gone by and Naomi has gone about life recovering from this break up. She is an event planner, does it well and enjoys her work. She is outgoing and loves inter-mixing with people. She misses the friends she made through her ex and when the offer to go to a beautiful beach house with then like always for Canada Day is sent, she wants to go. Only problem is her ex will be there with his new girlfriend, ugh.
Naomi has known about Will for 17 years. When the family first visited Jeremy at college, she was 12. She was first having those ideas about boys and Will, this older guy sparked all kinds of thoughts. Later a little crush sort of developed. Now with this situation of wanting to enjoy the beach house and the friends she had made over the years with the ex...she needs a buffer...She needs Will to be that fake boyfriend... and she knew just how to make it happen...
Will schedules a meeting with Naomi at a coffee house he uses to write. Already he is annoyed as she is late. Then he sees her arrive and right off the bat he knows he is in further trouble then just having to spend time with people...Naomi is just beautiful and Will has promised to leave her alone. Now he is really in a fix.
As she sits down, Naomi is bubbly, full of energy and everything Will stays away from. From the start he has an inner dialogue of not understanding why he is sort of Flirting? with her...Where does that come from...Naomi knows all of Will's books, loves them and can even carry on legitimate conversations about them much to Will's surprise. They do have some quick banter, a back and forth which shows their wit and sarcasm.
The day arrives and already Will is hating it and yet is strangely looking forward to seeing Naomi. From the start there is this oil/water back and forth argue about all things driving and stop offs for the day trip to the location...a showing of how Naomi can hold her own up against "Grumpy/Non User Friendly Will. Will is Grumpy normally... in the way he just likes and feels more comfortable alone... not so much mean grumpy or cranky. As the drive continues... Will is having thoughts that totally break with the vow he made to his best friend... as his interest in Naomi is presenting a challenge.
This is the set up and even though it is based on the regular fake boyfriend/ then becomes real troupe... there is much to enjoy and has fresh moments. Both characters learn about themselves through the experience... and the learning is meaningful. Both surprise each other in how they handle this situation and how they interact...
It is the coming together of it all... with the development of chemistry, yummy sexy times and then realization of what all of this means to each, brings the story through. There were times when I felt some things repeated could be trimmed bit. Also Will wasn't so much grumpy as needing to have space away from others. It was the fact people usually would never give it to him which set up a loop of wanting to be alone thus grumpy. Over all it was a good read for me and I look forward to the follow up.
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
This Title is Everything...
I saw it come across my feed and had to check it out...
An almost recluse whose only real friend from college has asked him to help out his little sister.
Her boyfriend broke up with her and now she wants to go to a gathering at a friend's beach house for the weekend. The ex will be there with his new girlfriend...so solo will be awkward.
The ask is to be the fake boyfriend...
He is also told not to do anything with the friend's sister..hands off...
One little problem, neither of them want to keep their hands off each other...
This ought to be good!
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend (Kwan Sisters #1)-May 22nd 2018
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
June 14, 2018
ALSO FIND MY REVIEW FOR GRUMPY FAKE BOYFRIEND HERE
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend may be the shortest book I have read this year. I was really expecting this book to be something it wasn’t. I definitely enjoyed it but it really did fall short in certain things. This book was fluffy and it did lack an overall depth that I felt would have elevated this story. The biggest failure of this story was the immaturity of characters who are in their late 20’s and 30’s and the conclusion was incredibly weak. I feel that Grumpy Fake Boyfriend had some seriously good set up, just incredibly poor execution. Hell, I originally gave this book four stars but the more I think about it, it is definitely a three star read.
What is Jackie Lau’s diverse debut novel about? It follows both Will and Naomi as they pretend to be together over the course of a weekend. The reasoning behind this is simply because Naomi’s ex-boyfriend will be there with his new girlfriend and Naomi doesn’t want to feel pathetic. Will simply agrees because his best friend (who happens to be Naomi’s big brother) asks him too. The pair couldn’t be more different though. Will is a science fiction author who is incredibly introverted. He is also jaded from a past of girlfriends who want more out of his writing than him. Naomi is extroverted and I feel that is simply all we learn about her. There isn’t that extra layer of depth that Will gets and at times it really makes it feel as if the story is simply focused on Will. The pair fall into a pattern over the three day weekend and it is fast. Additionally, I feel that Grumpy Fake Boyfriend focuses on a lot that isn’t needed to be focused on, if that makes sense? There is this sub plot that Will’s family wants him to go on a family holiday that takes up a lot of his chapters, but it never really amounts to much? I guess that may be a focus in the sequel.
Okay, that’s enough of that. I want to rant about the things I liked and didn’t like about Jackie Lau’s Grumpy Fake Boyfriend.
L I K E S
✗ SHORT & SWEET
I read this book in two hours. It is essentially a novella. The pacing is fast and the characters move even faster through the story that sometimes the story struggles to keep up with them. It really made for a good afternoon read, with the humour and adorable characters.
✗ OPPOSITES ATTRACT & FORCED PROXIMITY
This story held two of my favourite tropes, opposites attract and forced proximity. I really feel as if Jackie Lau did a great job of executing these two tropes throughout the short story. She did incredibly well to create humour and ultimately, an amusing story.
D I S L I K E S
✗ CHARACTERS LACKED DEPTH
Due to Grumpy Fake Boyfriend being so short I believe that literally all the characters lacked depth, especially the two main characters. I mentioned earlier that I felt that Will’s backstory was focused on a lot more than Naomi’s and I still feel that way. Naomi’s big backstory point was that her ex boyfriend was a tosser and she realized it throughout this story. It was really frustrating. All the side characters were also one dimensional. Which is a bit frustrating considering this book is going to have a sequel that focuses on Naomi’s older sister, which I feel we should have got more of in this story to set up for that sequel.
I am definitely not a character driven reader, but it would have been nice if Jackie Lau had fleshed out the cast a bit more.
✗ WANTED MORE INTERACTION
I feel we got to know Naomi and Will as separate characters, two characters that I wouldn’t put together ever. I feel that this book could have used 100 more pages of interaction between Naomi and Will just to make their relationship to have the oomph it needed to really drive home. I feel as if the pair only had around four interactions that were non-sexual throughout the entire story and that is, personally, not enough for me to want to root for the pair of them.
✗ CHARACTERS DON’T ACT THEIR AGE
I was talking to a friend about this one because she actually pointed it out to me. By the end of this book I was picturing the characters in their early twenties (at best). The characters honestly read as if they’re teenagers. It is uncomfortable. The dialogue and overall behaviours of the characters definitely did not connect with their age. The arguments are never resolved and there seems to be some toxic themes throughout some of the wording that I am still unable to fully put my finger on and describe.
There’s also this part where Will reads a series of Goodreads reviews to basically pat himself on the back? It was seriously uncomfortable. Goodreads is for reviewers, not authors.
Overall, Grumpy Fake Boyfriend was a fun read. However, if you do choose to pick this one up I may recommend not thinking too hard about it, because that is when the problems in this book become glaringly obvious and can’t be ignored. I think I will pick up book two in this series, but I doubt I will be reviewing it.
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend may be the shortest book I have read this year. I was really expecting this book to be something it wasn’t. I definitely enjoyed it but it really did fall short in certain things. This book was fluffy and it did lack an overall depth that I felt would have elevated this story. The biggest failure of this story was the immaturity of characters who are in their late 20’s and 30’s and the conclusion was incredibly weak. I feel that Grumpy Fake Boyfriend had some seriously good set up, just incredibly poor execution. Hell, I originally gave this book four stars but the more I think about it, it is definitely a three star read.
What is Jackie Lau’s diverse debut novel about? It follows both Will and Naomi as they pretend to be together over the course of a weekend. The reasoning behind this is simply because Naomi’s ex-boyfriend will be there with his new girlfriend and Naomi doesn’t want to feel pathetic. Will simply agrees because his best friend (who happens to be Naomi’s big brother) asks him too. The pair couldn’t be more different though. Will is a science fiction author who is incredibly introverted. He is also jaded from a past of girlfriends who want more out of his writing than him. Naomi is extroverted and I feel that is simply all we learn about her. There isn’t that extra layer of depth that Will gets and at times it really makes it feel as if the story is simply focused on Will. The pair fall into a pattern over the three day weekend and it is fast. Additionally, I feel that Grumpy Fake Boyfriend focuses on a lot that isn’t needed to be focused on, if that makes sense? There is this sub plot that Will’s family wants him to go on a family holiday that takes up a lot of his chapters, but it never really amounts to much? I guess that may be a focus in the sequel.
Okay, that’s enough of that. I want to rant about the things I liked and didn’t like about Jackie Lau’s Grumpy Fake Boyfriend.
L I K E S
✗ SHORT & SWEET
I read this book in two hours. It is essentially a novella. The pacing is fast and the characters move even faster through the story that sometimes the story struggles to keep up with them. It really made for a good afternoon read, with the humour and adorable characters.
✗ OPPOSITES ATTRACT & FORCED PROXIMITY
This story held two of my favourite tropes, opposites attract and forced proximity. I really feel as if Jackie Lau did a great job of executing these two tropes throughout the short story. She did incredibly well to create humour and ultimately, an amusing story.
D I S L I K E S
✗ CHARACTERS LACKED DEPTH
Due to Grumpy Fake Boyfriend being so short I believe that literally all the characters lacked depth, especially the two main characters. I mentioned earlier that I felt that Will’s backstory was focused on a lot more than Naomi’s and I still feel that way. Naomi’s big backstory point was that her ex boyfriend was a tosser and she realized it throughout this story. It was really frustrating. All the side characters were also one dimensional. Which is a bit frustrating considering this book is going to have a sequel that focuses on Naomi’s older sister, which I feel we should have got more of in this story to set up for that sequel.
I am definitely not a character driven reader, but it would have been nice if Jackie Lau had fleshed out the cast a bit more.
✗ WANTED MORE INTERACTION
I feel we got to know Naomi and Will as separate characters, two characters that I wouldn’t put together ever. I feel that this book could have used 100 more pages of interaction between Naomi and Will just to make their relationship to have the oomph it needed to really drive home. I feel as if the pair only had around four interactions that were non-sexual throughout the entire story and that is, personally, not enough for me to want to root for the pair of them.
✗ CHARACTERS DON’T ACT THEIR AGE
I was talking to a friend about this one because she actually pointed it out to me. By the end of this book I was picturing the characters in their early twenties (at best). The characters honestly read as if they’re teenagers. It is uncomfortable. The dialogue and overall behaviours of the characters definitely did not connect with their age. The arguments are never resolved and there seems to be some toxic themes throughout some of the wording that I am still unable to fully put my finger on and describe.
There’s also this part where Will reads a series of Goodreads reviews to basically pat himself on the back? It was seriously uncomfortable. Goodreads is for reviewers, not authors.
Overall, Grumpy Fake Boyfriend was a fun read. However, if you do choose to pick this one up I may recommend not thinking too hard about it, because that is when the problems in this book become glaringly obvious and can’t be ignored. I think I will pick up book two in this series, but I doubt I will be reviewing it.
May 23, 2018
I pre ordered this book because it looked so good with its pretend relationship and opposites attract themes. And it was so good. I read it the day it came out.
Well written, charming, and compact character driven romance. We get and Asian Canadian heroine who is sexually confident and introvert hero who agrees to be her fake boyfriend.
Beyond the fun of the troupes, the careful thinking about how good relationships work and making room for differences is really wonderful.
So a lovely time spending time with this couple and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Yea! New Writer!
Well written, charming, and compact character driven romance. We get and Asian Canadian heroine who is sexually confident and introvert hero who agrees to be her fake boyfriend.
Beyond the fun of the troupes, the careful thinking about how good relationships work and making room for differences is really wonderful.
So a lovely time spending time with this couple and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Yea! New Writer!
May 31, 2018
A weekend—a long weekend—with several people I don’t know in a freaking beach house while pretending to be someone’s boyfriend is pretty much the worst thing I could imagine.
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend is exactly what I expected—a sweet, low-angst romance with cute banter, and fun, relatable characters.
Will Stafford is the aforementioned grumpy, fake boyfriend who was asked by a dear friend of his to pretend to be his sister’s fake boyfriend for the weekend. Will is many things but he is not a social person at all.
A weekend—a long weekend—with several people I don’t know in a freaking beach house while pretending to be someone’s boyfriend is pretty much the worst thing I could imagine.
But he owes Jeremy big time. So despite his reservations, he agreed to spend time with strangers and pretend to be someone’s boyfriend.
Enter Naomi Kwan. The bubbly, fun, beautiful sister in need of a fake boyfriend. She’s social, and she’s not afraid to put herself out there. A total opposite of Will. But the moment they met, the chemistry between them was undeniable.
“We need to figure out our story. How did we meet? How long have we been dating?”
“A month,” I say. “We met through your brother.”
“You’re a writer. I thought you had better imagination than that.”
This was a fun book to read. Mainly because Will’s and Naomi’s inner monologue were a riot. They’re both hilarious. Their banter was cute and despite some personal issues I have with the writing style—first person present tense is not my favorite AT ALL—I was engaged and smiling all the way through. The characters were just so dang fun to read.
Jackie Lau was able to highlight the differences in their personality without feeling like it’s too much of a difference for them to be realistically together. That’s also an issue for me with the opposite attracts trope. Sometimes the two main characters are too much of an opposite that the HEA doesn’t feel believable. That wasn’t a problem here. The author was able to craft Naomi and Will’s personalities and still was able to convince me that they can work together as a couple.
“What if you fall in love with me and I break your heart?”
“Why would that happen? Do you have a magic penis?”
Overall, this was a sweet and fun read. I finished this book with a smile on my face. So if you’re looking for some light, low-angst read, I would recommend this book.
August 27, 2018
This read a bit like erotic, but without being erotic. By that I meant to say that it's a fairly shallow, fluffy kind of book, where the hero is a bit of a standout because he's different in ways than every other hero. He's...dun dun dun...a smart, dorky introvert. And that's what caused the tension.
These characters didn't come across as late 20s, or 30s, or whatever they were (I think the latter). And the narrative style was a bit like this (after reading the parts listed below):
"So I told her the whole story. I told her about the kiss. And the newlywed game. Then I told her about sleeping with him and that he's the best I have ever had. Then I also told her how I pee in the middle of the night, and that I use elevators sometimes."
I'm paraphrasing. Some of that might be direct quotes on accident. Some are not. I'll let you decide. All fluff, no substance, a dash of insta-something or other, and I'm pretty unimpressed.
These characters didn't come across as late 20s, or 30s, or whatever they were (I think the latter). And the narrative style was a bit like this (after reading the parts listed below):
"So I told her the whole story. I told her about the kiss. And the newlywed game. Then I told her about sleeping with him and that he's the best I have ever had. Then I also told her how I pee in the middle of the night, and that I use elevators sometimes."
I'm paraphrasing. Some of that might be direct quotes on accident. Some are not. I'll let you decide. All fluff, no substance, a dash of insta-something or other, and I'm pretty unimpressed.
June 6, 2018
3.5/5
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend has been really hyped up on my twitter timeline for the past month or so before release. It quickly worked its way up into my anticipated releases, which is why I read it almost immediately after it came out. For the most part I enjoyed this story, but there were a few little things that irked me.
Firstly, these characters are in their late 20s-30s but they read like teenagers. I had to constantly remind myself that they were 10-20 years older than the way they read, because some of the dialogue and the internal thoughts just screamed teenage to me. Other than that, the characters had really great chemistry and I loved their banter. The plot was okay, and I love the fake dating trope. I thought the end was resolved a little quickly, but the book was pretty short overall anyway so I'm not too fussed.
The only other thing that put me off was that Will is a SFF author, and at one point he's scrolling through Goodreads reviews of his own book and being really snarky about some of them. Since Goodreads (and reviewing in general) is a platform for readers, and reviews are for readers more than authors, it made me uncomfortable as a reader to think about that.
For the most part this book was pretty good. It was short and quick, and the romance was cute and hot. I would definitely still recommend this one.
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend has been really hyped up on my twitter timeline for the past month or so before release. It quickly worked its way up into my anticipated releases, which is why I read it almost immediately after it came out. For the most part I enjoyed this story, but there were a few little things that irked me.
Firstly, these characters are in their late 20s-30s but they read like teenagers. I had to constantly remind myself that they were 10-20 years older than the way they read, because some of the dialogue and the internal thoughts just screamed teenage to me. Other than that, the characters had really great chemistry and I loved their banter. The plot was okay, and I love the fake dating trope. I thought the end was resolved a little quickly, but the book was pretty short overall anyway so I'm not too fussed.
The only other thing that put me off was that Will is a SFF author, and at one point he's scrolling through Goodreads reviews of his own book and being really snarky about some of them. Since Goodreads (and reviewing in general) is a platform for readers, and reviews are for readers more than authors, it made me uncomfortable as a reader to think about that.
For the most part this book was pretty good. It was short and quick, and the romance was cute and hot. I would definitely still recommend this one.
May 24, 2018
Ahhhhhh, this was such a delight. It was everything I wanted.
-Quick read. Like, really, very uncomplicated plot that goes with lovely and easy on the eyes writing.
-Fun stuff. Literally got me smiling and grinning cos wow these people were chilling and very much enjoying themselves.
-Sex scenes are frequent but they were very easy on my heart and this ace approves.
-The Donut Scenes will either make you CACKLE or go "aw!!!" There's NO inbetween.
-Will, the hero, is as grumpy as the title says. He's an introvert who's just... happy being on his own and lowkey is Tired of people trying to change him. Enjoyed his point of views a lot. He's actually quite amusing too and made me cackle.
-Naomi, the heroine, is fun-loving and so god damn charming. Is totally hot and is sunshine. She made me smile a lot too and her bickering with Will in the car was so GOOD. Her own arc dealt with her realizing how stifling her previous relationship was and she stood up to her EX. Has amazing friendships and I wiiiish we had a little more about her own family since Will revealed some really sad shit his parents did to him as a way to get him to get out of his comfort zone.
-A story about opposites attracting. Not changing yourself for another person. And being with someone who'll accept you as you are. Also, "when I'm with you I'm myself" trope.
-Sunshine person x Grumpy person trope
-Best friend's sister trope.
-I enjoyed that they're older. Will is thirty-six and Naomi is twenty-nine.
-She's an event planner, and he's a sci-fi writer.
-GET IT.
-Quick read. Like, really, very uncomplicated plot that goes with lovely and easy on the eyes writing.
-Fun stuff. Literally got me smiling and grinning cos wow these people were chilling and very much enjoying themselves.
-Sex scenes are frequent but they were very easy on my heart and this ace approves.
-The Donut Scenes will either make you CACKLE or go "aw!!!" There's NO inbetween.
-Will, the hero, is as grumpy as the title says. He's an introvert who's just... happy being on his own and lowkey is Tired of people trying to change him. Enjoyed his point of views a lot. He's actually quite amusing too and made me cackle.
-Naomi, the heroine, is fun-loving and so god damn charming. Is totally hot and is sunshine. She made me smile a lot too and her bickering with Will in the car was so GOOD. Her own arc dealt with her realizing how stifling her previous relationship was and she stood up to her EX. Has amazing friendships and I wiiiish we had a little more about her own family since Will revealed some really sad shit his parents did to him as a way to get him to get out of his comfort zone.
-A story about opposites attracting. Not changing yourself for another person. And being with someone who'll accept you as you are. Also, "when I'm with you I'm myself" trope.
-Sunshine person x Grumpy person trope
-Best friend's sister trope.
-I enjoyed that they're older. Will is thirty-six and Naomi is twenty-nine.
-She's an event planner, and he's a sci-fi writer.
-GET IT.
March 14, 2022
A chocolate chip cookie sort of read. Fun, tasty, but not exactly filling. Introverted "grumpy" hero falls for sunshiney heroine on the rebound after agreeing to be her "fake boyfriend" over a holiday weekend. It's a "couples" weekend and her ex (they had mutual friends) will be there with his new girlfriend.
I could have used a little more oomph to the romance. It's light and fun but I'm also not entirely sure when it turned into true love - but it's got a good ending. A quick brain-candy read.
I could have used a little more oomph to the romance. It's light and fun but I'm also not entirely sure when it turned into true love - but it's got a good ending. A quick brain-candy read.
June 4, 2018
Amazon Bargain Bin / BookBub Ebook Bargain
(Tropes: Fake Relationship, Enemies to Lovers (ish), Starched Hero gets Unstarched
Scenario: Bubbly Naomi is going to a weekend house party, where her ex-boyfriend (and new girlfriend) will be. She doesn’t want to go stag so she gets her brother’s lone-wolf friend, Will, to come along and pose as her new boyfriend. While seemingly opposite as two snowflakes, they might have more in common than they think.
This book is written from 1st POV, and switches between the two main characters, which I am really not a fan of.
*****
Ok, full disclosure? I talk to myself, Who doesn’t? But I don’t narrate what is happening. That’s just weird.
- She takes off her sunglasses and says something, but I’m not listening, because she looks beautiful now that I can see her eyes. She has one of those faces that lights up a room, you know?
Who Are You Talking To??
I feel like this guy (or girl when it’s her turn) is sitting behind me and looking over my shoulder and describing what is happening.
And the fake relationship thing is just written so cringeworthy.
- Well, I’m determined to prove that Will and I are just as in love as Jordan and Krista. That’s what is on my agenda for the day. I hope my “boyfriend” will cooperate.
- Krista goes over to sit on Jordan’s lap and whispers something in his ear. Perhaps she felt like Naomi and I were outdoing them in the cute-new-couple department, which pleases me. I’m doing a great job at this fake boyfriend thing!
There is a scene where they are all in the sun and both girls get their boyfriends to put sunscreen on them
- But I look over at Jordan and Krista, and her mouth is open as though she’s having an orgasm. Since I want everyone to believe we’re just as good of a couple as they are, I moan. “Ohhh,” I say. “Just like that. Yes.”
“Naomi,” Will says. “We’re in public.”
Yes Naomi, and you are not in high school.
- I look back at the beach. Krista and Jordan are no longer rubbing sunscreen on each other. Instead, they’re making out. I don’t want her to feel like she’s not as good looking as make-out girl over there, so I slide my hand up to cup her breast.
And then I reached this point.
- “This is not going to happen,” I say.
“I don’t know. You seem pretty interested.”
“I won’t deny that you’re a beautiful woman.”
“Are you going to deny that you’d like to fuck me?”
**********
DNF 35%
I give this book 1 star
(Tropes: Fake Relationship, Enemies to Lovers (ish), Starched Hero gets Unstarched
Scenario: Bubbly Naomi is going to a weekend house party, where her ex-boyfriend (and new girlfriend) will be. She doesn’t want to go stag so she gets her brother’s lone-wolf friend, Will, to come along and pose as her new boyfriend. While seemingly opposite as two snowflakes, they might have more in common than they think.
This book is written from 1st POV, and switches between the two main characters, which I am really not a fan of.
*****
Ok, full disclosure? I talk to myself, Who doesn’t? But I don’t narrate what is happening. That’s just weird.
- She takes off her sunglasses and says something, but I’m not listening, because she looks beautiful now that I can see her eyes. She has one of those faces that lights up a room, you know?
Who Are You Talking To??
I feel like this guy (or girl when it’s her turn) is sitting behind me and looking over my shoulder and describing what is happening.
And the fake relationship thing is just written so cringeworthy.
- Well, I’m determined to prove that Will and I are just as in love as Jordan and Krista. That’s what is on my agenda for the day. I hope my “boyfriend” will cooperate.
- Krista goes over to sit on Jordan’s lap and whispers something in his ear. Perhaps she felt like Naomi and I were outdoing them in the cute-new-couple department, which pleases me. I’m doing a great job at this fake boyfriend thing!
There is a scene where they are all in the sun and both girls get their boyfriends to put sunscreen on them
- But I look over at Jordan and Krista, and her mouth is open as though she’s having an orgasm. Since I want everyone to believe we’re just as good of a couple as they are, I moan. “Ohhh,” I say. “Just like that. Yes.”
“Naomi,” Will says. “We’re in public.”
Yes Naomi, and you are not in high school.
- I look back at the beach. Krista and Jordan are no longer rubbing sunscreen on each other. Instead, they’re making out. I don’t want her to feel like she’s not as good looking as make-out girl over there, so I slide my hand up to cup her breast.
And then I reached this point.
- “This is not going to happen,” I say.
“I don’t know. You seem pretty interested.”
“I won’t deny that you’re a beautiful woman.”
“Are you going to deny that you’d like to fuck me?”
**********
DNF 35%
I give this book 1 star
June 25, 2018
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend by Jackie Lau is a sexy and fun romantic comedy with a best friend’s sibling trope, a fake relationship, and a weekend away that turns into something more.
Will Stafford is an introvert. A science fiction writer who prefers a quiet night in to the party scene, he’s not keen on social gatherings, even finding his family, whom he gets along with well, agreeable in small doses. When his best friend Jeremy Kwan, the one guy he trusts to give him honest feedback on his manuscripts and his former university roommate, asks for a favor he can’t say no. The favor? Be Jeremy’s little sister Naomi’s fake boyfriend for Canada Day weekend at a swanky beach cottage. Oh boy.
When Naomi finds out that her ex-boyfriend Jordan is going to be at a mutual friend’s weekend gathering with his new girlfriend she’s desperate for someone to go with her. She’s had a crush on Will for years, and she knows that if she tells Jeremy of her plight, he’s likely to go to Will for help – and he does. While Naomi might be doing a happy dance inside, she can’t let on to her brother that she’s also hoping she can convince Will that they could test out the chemistry between them, if he’s willing.
Will and Naomi are opposites in temperament and ideas for fun, yet somehow they just click. While Will had every intention of keeping his hands off of Naomi other than playing an adoring fake boyfriend in public, in private things get a little more complicated. Suddenly a weekend of fun, sexy times with no strings attached (and a promise not to tell Jeremy!) sounds like an excellent plan. But Will is clear that it can’t go any further. He’s not interested in a relationship, no matter how well they are getting along and when the weekend is over, he plans to call it quits. But will letting Naomi go be so easy?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-gru...
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
Will Stafford is an introvert. A science fiction writer who prefers a quiet night in to the party scene, he’s not keen on social gatherings, even finding his family, whom he gets along with well, agreeable in small doses. When his best friend Jeremy Kwan, the one guy he trusts to give him honest feedback on his manuscripts and his former university roommate, asks for a favor he can’t say no. The favor? Be Jeremy’s little sister Naomi’s fake boyfriend for Canada Day weekend at a swanky beach cottage. Oh boy.
When Naomi finds out that her ex-boyfriend Jordan is going to be at a mutual friend’s weekend gathering with his new girlfriend she’s desperate for someone to go with her. She’s had a crush on Will for years, and she knows that if she tells Jeremy of her plight, he’s likely to go to Will for help – and he does. While Naomi might be doing a happy dance inside, she can’t let on to her brother that she’s also hoping she can convince Will that they could test out the chemistry between them, if he’s willing.
Will and Naomi are opposites in temperament and ideas for fun, yet somehow they just click. While Will had every intention of keeping his hands off of Naomi other than playing an adoring fake boyfriend in public, in private things get a little more complicated. Suddenly a weekend of fun, sexy times with no strings attached (and a promise not to tell Jeremy!) sounds like an excellent plan. But Will is clear that it can’t go any further. He’s not interested in a relationship, no matter how well they are getting along and when the weekend is over, he plans to call it quits. But will letting Naomi go be so easy?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-gru...
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
July 21, 2018
2.5/5
I have a hard time enjoying a book when the writing is more telling instead of showing, so I wasn't particularly invested in this book. I also felt like the pacing was a bit off with the romance. Also, the guy wasn't really all that grumpy? Not sure I'll continue the series atm.
I have a hard time enjoying a book when the writing is more telling instead of showing, so I wasn't particularly invested in this book. I also felt like the pacing was a bit off with the romance. Also, the guy wasn't really all that grumpy? Not sure I'll continue the series atm.
May 23, 2018
Read this in one night.
Three made me pre-order this on a whim (and it truly was a whim - I found it by accident while looking for a different book):
1) the cover, the model is my kind of eye candy
2) The summary - grumpy sci-fi writer, interracial romance, fake relationship, older brother's best friend...seriously that's all catnip to me
3) it sounded FUN and lighthearted and an entertaining contemporary read
On all three counts it did not fail - it was light and fluffy and fast-paced. While there was a bit of knowing each other before, it barely signifies to be honest. They were essentially strangers. So the onslaught of feelings felt quick. If they'd been forced together for a week? Maybe not, but for only three days it did feel quick.
Will was speaking some gospel truth about what it's like to be introverted though. Practically a third of his lines - spoken and thought - were things I wish people GOT. Grand A asshole near the end though. Well asshole with an oblivious streak a mile wide.
Naomi I warmed up to. She's that kind of bouncy happy that exhausts me IRL so it took longer to connect with her. What I did fully understand was her realization that she subsumed herself to be relationships.
The friends were somewhat interchangeable at times - Ian and Tom spoke very little (though I was amused by how badly Will wanted his bromance with Ian to work out) for much of the book and I felt like Ridhi spoke the msot between her and Julia.
I was so happy that Krista wasn't trying to sabotage Naomi's life or that Naomi found out her friends (all people - sans Krista - she met through her ex, Jordan) weren't as enthusiastic to keep in touch with her as she thought. For the most part the angst relied heavily on how both Will and Naomi had been burned by their serious relationships.
I do think, as a service to her readers, Lau should offer a free donut with every purchase. They talk about them enough. (and I still don't understand the fascination with Tim Horton's...is it like the East Coast love of Wawa?).
Three made me pre-order this on a whim (and it truly was a whim - I found it by accident while looking for a different book):
1) the cover, the model is my kind of eye candy
2) The summary - grumpy sci-fi writer, interracial romance, fake relationship, older brother's best friend...seriously that's all catnip to me
3) it sounded FUN and lighthearted and an entertaining contemporary read
On all three counts it did not fail - it was light and fluffy and fast-paced. While there was a bit of knowing each other before, it barely signifies to be honest. They were essentially strangers. So the onslaught of feelings felt quick. If they'd been forced together for a week? Maybe not, but for only three days it did feel quick.
Will was speaking some gospel truth about what it's like to be introverted though. Practically a third of his lines - spoken and thought - were things I wish people GOT. Grand A asshole near the end though. Well asshole with an oblivious streak a mile wide.
Naomi I warmed up to. She's that kind of bouncy happy that exhausts me IRL so it took longer to connect with her. What I did fully understand was her realization that she subsumed herself to be relationships.
The friends were somewhat interchangeable at times - Ian and Tom spoke very little (though I was amused by how badly Will wanted his bromance with Ian to work out) for much of the book and I felt like Ridhi spoke the msot between her and Julia.
I was so happy that Krista wasn't trying to sabotage Naomi's life or that Naomi found out her friends (all people - sans Krista - she met through her ex, Jordan) weren't as enthusiastic to keep in touch with her as she thought. For the most part the angst relied heavily on how both Will and Naomi had been burned by their serious relationships.
I do think, as a service to her readers, Lau should offer a free donut with every purchase. They talk about them enough. (and I still don't understand the fascination with Tim Horton's...is it like the East Coast love of Wawa?).
May 15, 2023
3.75 stars.
This was pretty good. Neither are virgins and the heroine has more experience than the hero. I liked it but there was some immaturity in her wanting to compete with her ex-boyfriend for cutest couple. Definitely had some embarrassing moments over that.
And the new guy was essential to her learning and getting over the old guy.
But, I did appreciate how the heroine grew and changed. The hero had a hangup he had to work through too which led to the sort of breakup towards the end.
This was pretty good. Neither are virgins and the heroine has more experience than the hero. I liked it but there was some immaturity in her wanting to compete with her ex-boyfriend for cutest couple. Definitely had some embarrassing moments over that.
And the new guy was essential to her learning and getting over the old guy.
But, I did appreciate how the heroine grew and changed. The hero had a hangup he had to work through too which led to the sort of breakup towards the end.
April 29, 2025
Exactly the easy and cute romance that I needed.
August 17, 2021
I found Jackie Lau totally by accident (she commented on a tweet by another author I follow) and when I looked up her work – I had to read this! Yup, my second grumpy/sunshine trope of the week PLUS it checked my love of brother’s-best-friend/best-friend’s-sister as well.
This was a delightfully funny, easy to read, and sexy romance. Will & Naomi have known each other for almost 20 years, however they haven’t really spent a lot of time together so this is best enjoyed when in the mood for an insta love story. Set over an extended Canada Day weekend, I liked that Lau gave these characters plenty of conversations to get to know each other. Their quibbles & quips had me laughing out loud.
I wish that we’d learned a little more about Naomi and that she’d spent less time focused on her ex & his new girlfriend. That said, I like the way that Will was there to redirect her energy and thoughts so that she could enjoy the weekend with her friends. The ending was sweet (literally!) and I’m looking forward to more of Lau’s books.
This was a delightfully funny, easy to read, and sexy romance. Will & Naomi have known each other for almost 20 years, however they haven’t really spent a lot of time together so this is best enjoyed when in the mood for an insta love story. Set over an extended Canada Day weekend, I liked that Lau gave these characters plenty of conversations to get to know each other. Their quibbles & quips had me laughing out loud.
I wish that we’d learned a little more about Naomi and that she’d spent less time focused on her ex & his new girlfriend. That said, I like the way that Will was there to redirect her energy and thoughts so that she could enjoy the weekend with her friends. The ending was sweet (literally!) and I’m looking forward to more of Lau’s books.
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August 7, 2023
3.75 ⭐️ Grumpy, introverted fake boyfriend with very real crush on his fake girlfriend.
It was so much better than I thought it would be! I don't know if it's the cover, or the blurb, but I had very low expectations for this novella.
I enjoyed the little Canada Day long weekend fake relationship so much more than I thought I would. The writing wasn't bad at all, and although the dialogue felt a little stilted, I've read far worse.
I also loved the Asian/POC rep in this book. I'm so tired of reading books with only white people in them. I don't get why is multiculturalism so difficult to understand, but this a nice change. Naomi and Will were so fun to read, and although the whole newlywed quiz section was a bit too long imo, getting some info about newlywed games from different cultures was really great.
It was so much better than I thought it would be! I don't know if it's the cover, or the blurb, but I had very low expectations for this novella.
I enjoyed the little Canada Day long weekend fake relationship so much more than I thought I would. The writing wasn't bad at all, and although the dialogue felt a little stilted, I've read far worse.
I also loved the Asian/POC rep in this book. I'm so tired of reading books with only white people in them. I don't get why is multiculturalism so difficult to understand, but this a nice change. Naomi and Will were so fun to read, and although the whole newlywed quiz section was a bit too long imo, getting some info about newlywed games from different cultures was really great.
January 27, 2020
KJ Charles called this "one of the great titles of our times" 😂 and I have decided to do her bidding a la this post: http://kjcharleswriter.com/2019/12/17... Contemporary het romance is not my thing, but I ended up rooting for these two. Bonus points for being charmingly canadian af.
May 31, 2018
This is very, very cute! The introvert stuff is VERY well done. I didn't QUITE buy the conflict at the end, but it was dealt with pretty quickly, so I appreciated that.
And it was one of those contemporaries where these felt like people who actually exist in real life.
And it was one of those contemporaries where these felt like people who actually exist in real life.
March 30, 2019
Lots of fun. I didn't think the guy was all THAT grumpy... but then again, half the time I don't wanna be around people either!!!
September 24, 2019
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend was a fantastic read featuring an amazing romance and an extremely relatable love interest.
Will lives a fairly simple life and he prefers it that way. When he’s not writing the next book in his sci-fi series, he’s enjoying time alone at home. But when his best friend asks for a favor, pretend to be his younger sister’s boyfriend on a couples’ weekend, he’s hard-pressed to refuse. With Naomi’s ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend on the trip, Naomi needs someone to show everyone that she’s over him. But the more time Will and Naomi spend together, the more real their fake romance begins to feel.
I don’t think I’ve ever related to a love interest as much as I have with Will. Will is very introverted and cannot handle large stretches of time around people without needing to decompress. Will’s thought process and his actions felt incredibly real to me as they were nearly identical to how I react in similar situations. Naomi on the other hand is a social butterfly who loves being out and about, around people. One thing I loved about Naomi and Will’s relationship was that Naomi understood Will’s need for time alone and never pushed him for more than he could give. Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes and I thought it was very well done in this book. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship and I found the ending of the book to be fantastic.
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend ended up being exactly what I was in the mood for and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick contemporary opposites attract romance.
Will lives a fairly simple life and he prefers it that way. When he’s not writing the next book in his sci-fi series, he’s enjoying time alone at home. But when his best friend asks for a favor, pretend to be his younger sister’s boyfriend on a couples’ weekend, he’s hard-pressed to refuse. With Naomi’s ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend on the trip, Naomi needs someone to show everyone that she’s over him. But the more time Will and Naomi spend together, the more real their fake romance begins to feel.
I don’t think I’ve ever related to a love interest as much as I have with Will. Will is very introverted and cannot handle large stretches of time around people without needing to decompress. Will’s thought process and his actions felt incredibly real to me as they were nearly identical to how I react in similar situations. Naomi on the other hand is a social butterfly who loves being out and about, around people. One thing I loved about Naomi and Will’s relationship was that Naomi understood Will’s need for time alone and never pushed him for more than he could give. Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes and I thought it was very well done in this book. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship and I found the ending of the book to be fantastic.
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend ended up being exactly what I was in the mood for and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick contemporary opposites attract romance.
June 2, 2018
I quite liked the setup for this, and the pretty good depiction of introversion. The romance itself was fine, it never fully clicked with me, possibly because it edged slightly into public embarrassment for me at times, but on the whole it was charming. Definitely going to check out the next book. I really appreciated how regular people this book felt. Don't always get that in romance!
April 8, 2019
This a combination of two awesome tropes: fake boyfriend and brother's best friend. These happen to be two of my favorites so it worked out well for me. It's a quick, easy read. Low angst, no cheating or other woman/man drama, and some laugh out loud moments. And of course a happily every after. Just more pluses for me!
Will is a sci-fi author who is reclusive (see anti-social). He has a couple of "real life" friends, one of which is his beta reader and best friend from college. He has decided that relationships are just to much work because the other half always want to change him. But his friend asks him to do a favor. Pose as his sister's boyfriend at a weekend getaway, but don't touch her. Will reluctantly agrees.
Naomi's boyfriend of his several years broke up with her a couple of months ago. But they have an annual weekend getaway scheduled and she doesn't want to miss it just because her ex is going to be there with his new girlfriend. Naomi doesn't want to be the fifth wheel on a couple weekend so she asks her brother to rope his friend, Will, into posing as her boyfriend for the weekend. Of course what Naomi doesn't tell her brother is that she's always had a crush on Will.
Will and Naomi initially clash, but a couple of incidents of PDA stoke the fires of attraction. And soon those fires are burning out of control. There are some very steamy, sexy scenes, as well as a good plot. Well worth the read.
Will is a sci-fi author who is reclusive (see anti-social). He has a couple of "real life" friends, one of which is his beta reader and best friend from college. He has decided that relationships are just to much work because the other half always want to change him. But his friend asks him to do a favor. Pose as his sister's boyfriend at a weekend getaway, but don't touch her. Will reluctantly agrees.
Naomi's boyfriend of his several years broke up with her a couple of months ago. But they have an annual weekend getaway scheduled and she doesn't want to miss it just because her ex is going to be there with his new girlfriend. Naomi doesn't want to be the fifth wheel on a couple weekend so she asks her brother to rope his friend, Will, into posing as her boyfriend for the weekend. Of course what Naomi doesn't tell her brother is that she's always had a crush on Will.
Will and Naomi initially clash, but a couple of incidents of PDA stoke the fires of attraction. And soon those fires are burning out of control. There are some very steamy, sexy scenes, as well as a good plot. Well worth the read.
May 31, 2018
What an absolutely delightful book! Grumpy Fake Boyfriend was such a fun read!
Fake dating is a trope i really love especially when it combines fake dating your best friend's sister/brother's best friend! Will was truly a grumpy introvert and the opposite of Naomi and they really did complement each other. Lines like this made me cackle and smile so much: "God, what’s happening to me? I’m having fun with people I hardly know,"
I especially loved how Naomi doesn't try to make Will more outgoing. Which is something he worries about, having dealt with that from his last ex and his family. She respects when he needs his alone time and doesn't make him feel bad for it.
Another great scene that stuck out to me was their discussion about sex partners. Naomi's had 13 more than Will and he never shames her for that. he even high fives her! So many awesome and funny scenes in this book.
I was just having a really great time reading. Will and Naomi were great characters. And I'm looking forward to reading book 2 which will be about Naomi's sister who we meet briefly in this one.
highly rec this fun quick read!
Fake dating is a trope i really love especially when it combines fake dating your best friend's sister/brother's best friend! Will was truly a grumpy introvert and the opposite of Naomi and they really did complement each other. Lines like this made me cackle and smile so much: "God, what’s happening to me? I’m having fun with people I hardly know,"
I especially loved how Naomi doesn't try to make Will more outgoing. Which is something he worries about, having dealt with that from his last ex and his family. She respects when he needs his alone time and doesn't make him feel bad for it.
Another great scene that stuck out to me was their discussion about sex partners. Naomi's had 13 more than Will and he never shames her for that. he even high fives her! So many awesome and funny scenes in this book.
I was just having a really great time reading. Will and Naomi were great characters. And I'm looking forward to reading book 2 which will be about Naomi's sister who we meet briefly in this one.
highly rec this fun quick read!
May 25, 2018
Cute, trope-y book. Short and fluffy. Just what I needed right now.
February 10, 2024
As a grumpy introvert on a long weekend trip with a bunch of my (real) significant other's friends, I was highly amused by the premise of the story 😂
September 13, 2018
This was cute! I never really got invested in the romance or the characters - I think it was a little fast and the writing wasn’t quite there for me - but it was fun enough and an easy read. I agree with Jess that there was some secondhand embarrassment that probably distracted a bit from my enjoyment of the romance as well.
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July 12, 2018This was a low-angst fun read. It did take me a little bit to get into, mainly because I don't read a lot of books in first person present tense that often, but once I got into the swing of it, I fell for the characters.
Will is grumpy, but actually quite nice, too. He's an introvert writer who has to deal with his family and his former girlfriends all wanting to change him into an outgoing party person. I'd be grumpy too.
Naomi is sweet and bubbly, and is getting over her ex--which she does quite well. I enjoyed her character arc and her figuring out why her ex is am awful person quite a lot. Been there, done that, so I got what she went through.
If you're looking for a quick, low-angst romance, this is a good bet.
Will is grumpy, but actually quite nice, too. He's an introvert writer who has to deal with his family and his former girlfriends all wanting to change him into an outgoing party person. I'd be grumpy too.
Naomi is sweet and bubbly, and is getting over her ex--which she does quite well. I enjoyed her character arc and her figuring out why her ex is am awful person quite a lot. Been there, done that, so I got what she went through.
If you're looking for a quick, low-angst romance, this is a good bet.
May 22, 2018
3 Stars doesn’t really grasp how much I genuinely enjoyed this book. I am from Toronto so I loved the setting and the characters felt real — it was like coming home.
I will say that this book stumbles on the dismount. It’s maybe too short, so the ending doesn’t really feel earned. It felt like there was more story to tell, I wanted more with both characters. Still, VERY excited for the next book about the Kwan Sisters!
I will say that this book stumbles on the dismount. It’s maybe too short, so the ending doesn’t really feel earned. It felt like there was more story to tell, I wanted more with both characters. Still, VERY excited for the next book about the Kwan Sisters!
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