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Hello rock? Meet hard place.
This time, I'm in deep. My only defense is that it all happened in a moment of weakness. I'd literally just wiped a Ben & Jerry's stain from my three day old t-shirt (that I'd slept in, of course), turned the corner, and almost face planted into my ex's chest. I had three days worth of dry shampoo in my hair since I'd been too depressed to wash it, a hole in my leggings, and a seriously crushed ego.
Here's where the story takes a turn, though.
As I looked him over, standing arm and arm with the woman he left me for (who looked perfect, by the way) I opened my mouth, and told the biggest lie in the history of lies.
Mouth, insert foot.
Why I chose to pretend that I have a new boyfriend is beyond me. Why I chose to say that my new boyfriend is Adrian Malone, all star quarterback of the Minnesota Saints, is something that I may never understand. The man is a legend, devilishly handsome and rumored to have a really big, ah...heart, so he's quite obviously out of my league.
But I'm a woman scorned, and desperate for revenge, so basically, one way or another, I'm going to make my lie come true.
After a brief stint in jail (not my most shining moment) I finally manage to meet the guy. And when he agrees to go along with my plan, I'm more than ready to bring my ex to his knees.
Adrian has a set of rules that I must follow, but I'm willing to do just about anything these days, if it means getting revenge.
What I didn't plan on though, was breaking every damn rule.
And opening up my heart to be broken all over again.

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2019

355 people are currently reading
475 people want to read

About the author

Elizabeth Perry

11 books228 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ever since she learned to spell her name, Elizabeth Perry has been writing stories.
As an adult, she fell back into writing as her four children began to grow up and spread their wings. She loves writing cozy mysteries and romantic comedies featuring funny & strong heroines who remind her of the influential women she's met along the way.
She resides in Michigan with her husband, children, and yellow lab named Lucy. If she's not reading, she's writing, or spending time with her beloved family and friends.


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5 stars
286 (35%)
4 stars
267 (33%)
3 stars
192 (23%)
2 stars
46 (5%)
1 star
17 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for Dora Koutsoukou .
2,278 reviews727 followers
July 13, 2020
2,5 🤔😔⭐️s

Funny and easy read.
I wasn’t thrilled with the main characters. The author tried to portray Mia as a strong woman, yet she was drinking like a fish in the first part of the story! Adrian frustrated me enough while after almost 10 years he couldn’t get over his girlfriend’s unexpected death.
Moreover, the writing didn’t help overcome the story’s predictability.
No more Saints of Love for me....
Profile Image for Penny.
475 reviews64 followers
August 25, 2021
After reading the second book in the I was pretty excited to read this one since I enjoyed No Touch Zone quite a lot but unfortunately that didn’t happen.

I had issues with both the plot and the characters. The first chapters of the book made me roll my eyes numerous times. I just didn’t buy the whole “coincidence” thing. The heroine lies to her ex-fiancé that she’s in a relationship with a well-known quarterback that, of course, she has never met and then her best friend says that she can get her a pass to one of his games so that he can meet him and ask him to be her fake boyfriend. How possible is that? And it’s not the only coincidence in this book but I don’t want to spend more time analyzing all the things in the plot that bothered me.

As for the characters I didn’t connect with them whatsoever. I didn’t feel their chemistry and I wasn’t particularly interested in what was going to happen between them. I don’t want to be mean, but they were two of the most boring characters I’ve ever read about. The only thing that I liked about Adrian was that he did charity work without posting it on social media to get famous and I liked that Mia made her dream come true and she did a job that she loved but that’s all of it.

To be fair I really liked the epilogue but that can’t change the fact that I didn’t enjoy this book and I wanted to dnf it sometime so 2 stars from me.

Profile Image for ✮ rach ✮.
688 reviews113 followers
July 8, 2020
A generous 2.75 stars (I’m in lockdown for the 2nd time and feel like bumping the stars up a little).

There were things I liked... but there were more things I didn’t. Still if you like NA, this could work for you.
Profile Image for ✨ Aaron Jeffery ✨.
761 reviews21 followers
July 31, 2021
This is the worst romance/smut book I’ve ever read.
The kissing the coronavirus was way better then this literal island of garbage.
I don’t even know where to start- I could copy and paste the whole novel in here for this negative review as I did not like a single thing about it :D
The characters were all stupid and literally was the definition of the word basic (and horny in terms of Adrian). Mia is depicted as a #girlboss character but all she did was get drunk and um…. Try to save drowning children and dogs from a river?
The writing in this book was not for me.
The plot was actually go- oh no it was bad.
The romance had no chemistry- there as more chemistry in kissing the coronavirus (mind you the mc in that book was a scientist). Also this book was ridden with slut shaming and sexism which obviously I did not vibe with. Consent was also a bit lacking in the story and all the male characters were TOXIC.
Anyways, I can’t be bothered wasting any more time thinking about this book so that’s my review.
Profile Image for Tracy.
447 reviews27 followers
June 5, 2020
Super fun read. The story is very well developed. It has a little of everything in it.....both of the lead characters are great. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series. ;)
Profile Image for Jackie.
1,633 reviews7 followers
July 5, 2021
Loved!!

Such a great story. It was funny, steamy, and all around attention grabbing from the start. I loved Adrian. He is the cocky footballer you hate to love but he also has a huge heart and helps others in need. Mia has been through some horrible times and falls into a situation thanks to alcohol, her crazy friend, a lie and being broken hearted after her fiancé cheated on her and left. They balance each other. She isn’t swayed but his fame and money and is a straight shooter. Which he loves and he is easy going and has a big heart. They are awesome together. She stepped out of the way when she thought she didn’t have a chance at his heart after braking the love rule and incidentally set more things in motion. Loved the ending! So adorable. Yay.
Profile Image for Natalie.
122 reviews11 followers
July 18, 2021
This was probably the worst book that I read this year. The Story does not have a good flow, the writing style is clunky and the Main Characters are just so incredibly dumb. And the H is so much worse than the h. I mean does he always treat woman like they are pieces of meat? If you ask him, he is so much better than the rest of his teammates, but the way he speaks to the h is disgusting and chauvinistic. The last 15% or so I skim read as the story when nowhere and got really ridiculous and not in a cute way.
4,856 reviews10 followers
July 6, 2021
Okay read

From the reviews I had high expectations for this book, sadly it didn’t meet them. Mia as a character was extremely irritating and immature. I found no humour in that at all. Reasonable storyline but didn’t deliver for me.
Profile Image for Mads.
67 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2021
couldn’t even finish it, bad porn with little plot. so many loose ends in the story. seemed like it would go one way, then drastically introduced another thing. characters were boring and extremely cliché. athletic playboy no more, “fiery” main character who won’t fall for him. blah blah blah.
50 reviews1 follower
July 18, 2021
I really enjoyed the story, Mia has had a pretty rough few months, and is trying to heal herself and find herself again. While Adrian is finding himself feeling lost and unsatisfied with his current state of life and living. I really enjoyed the banter and tension, as well as sparks and steaminess of the two main characters. The sub plot was also enjoyable, and I particularly loved the idea of Adrian helping out Amy and the center for orphans and kids. While I was super anxious for Mia and Adrian to actually be together, the ending didn't hit quite right for me, I ended up feeling slightly dissatisfied. It felt like the whole book was building up to it, with their sexual tension and sparks during their fake relationship, and then it all came to a head, and it made sense, but then the ending just felt rushed and I really would have liked to have seen more out of them actually being together finally in the end and all. But that's just a personal nitpicky thing, on the whole, the book was great and had the HEA I was anxious for. The only actual problem I had with the book was the way the author set Mia up as a fumbling drunk bordering on alcoholic, because it really didn't feel like it flowed with story or made sense, it felt forced and not true to the character. And in turn, it made me feel really frustrated and dissatisfied with how she was being treated by both Adrian and Soph, her best friend. So really, while I understand the getting drunk part was necessary for how her relationship got started, I felt like that could have happened organically without this vague storyline of her being a borderline alcoholic.
Profile Image for Gwen Shafer.
2,235 reviews43 followers
November 19, 2019
Elizabeth knows how to write a book that will draw you in, keep you hooked and hanging on the edge until the end. I absolutely loved this one. It has been a little while since I have read a book from Elizabeth glad to be able to read this one. Adrian is a star football player but he doesn't date, doesn't do relationships. Mia is having a rough go of it. She ran into her ex-fiance and his new girlfriend who is her enemy from high school. She decides to lie about who her boyfriend is. Problem is there is no way that the lie can become reality. But are things going to finally change for Mia?
She will do whatever it takes to find out if Adrian will date her but things just don't go her way. But things start to turn around when Adrian needs her to pretend to be his girlfriend to boost his sales. That is when things between these two really start to heat up. But will it work out for these two in the end? I absolutely love the chemistry between these two. Off the charts hot. The foreplay or banter between these two is funny at times and you can easily see that these two belong together. But will they be able to see it? Elizabeth wrote another amazing book that I couldn't put down. Absolutely loved the storyline and the characters. Highly recommend.
197 reviews2 followers
August 15, 2021
I liked the concept of the book but not not execution. I had a few problems:
-her drinking at the beginning and how she excused it;
-her humiliation at the beginning (because she was drunk), showing her breasts at the football stadium;
-how she wanted her ex back- the same ex that cheated on her for 6 months with her bully from hs;
-how H was constantly thinking about his dead girlfriend- she was dead for 11 years and he was still thinking about her all the time, didn't want a relationship because 'Kat was, and always will be, my one and only serious girlfriend', he put her on pedestal 'she's not even on the same level as Kat, no one ever could be'- that was after he started to get to know the h.

So I didn't feel their big love. I like stories where I have no doubt that MC are completly in love and it's stronger then what they felt ever before. I also didn't like how a lot of things was left out, like author added them for extra drama but than just left it at nothing when it wasn't needed later on- for example the h wanted to get back on her ex and the woman he cheated with, that was the whole reason why they started their fake relationship, but then nothing happened, there was only one meeting with ex which didn't add anything beside even bigger whole.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for *Ebony I*.
1,419 reviews155 followers
September 24, 2021
Breaking all the rules

4.5 Stars
Mia had been dumped for months, but the broken heart still felt fresh. In a moment of weakness she made outlandish claims to her ex, that at the time she had no idea they may be possible to fulfill.

Adrian is a star football player that is dead set on living a bachelor life. After a young heartbreak he feels like he can never experience that type of pain again.

He crosses paths twice with Mia before realizing they may have some chemistry. They strike up a deal to mutually benefit each other as long as they stay within a couple of rules. The passion they feel for each other quickly overrides those rules. They find themselves navigating feelings that neither of them thought would be a factor.

I wanted a little more of Mia and her family in this story, just to build on her as a character. Also closure on the football season, how did it end? Hey, I'm a sports girl. I also felt I wanted more detail in the end. There were a few typos that would also tighten up the flow if corrected.

Overall a great read and I am completely bias to Sports Romances.
Profile Image for Tabitha.
382 reviews
March 17, 2022
Genre: Sports Fake Romance to real
Series: Book 1 in standalone series
POV: FMC and MMC
Steam: 2/4

Mia has just run into her ex and enemy from HS a women he had been cheating on her with who was now his girlfriend. Mia wanting to seem as if she has moved on creates a lie that she is dating Football star Adrian Malone. Adrian meet Mia when she is drunk and begging for a date on his field during a children’s event. Both needing the other for different reason begin a fake romance that quickly heats up. With sex and feelings now in the mix things start to get a little rocky.


My rating system

5 stars- I MUST have everyone read this!
4 stars- Hell Yeah what a ride!
3 stars- Still in my head
2 stars- I needed more
1 star- Interesting enough to finish
No Stars- DNF maybe another time

My review below (spoilers)

Mia’s beat friend was not helping during her break up and then questioned her about her behavior when she encouraged all of it. Mia was foolish one to many times but she at least had a good heart. I would have walked away to after hearing about Adrian’s pass. Adrian could be a real Jack ass when he is hurt but he was a decent guy. Sex scenes were great detailed and engaging
Profile Image for Ellie.
518 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2021
This was darn near perfection! This is also the first book I've read by Elizabeth Perry, but it will not be the last (thankfully this book is the first book in a series. Yay!)

Adrian and Mia were perfect as individual characters and as a couple in this story of fake dating and I guess you could call it abit if a twist with enemies to lovers. I absolutely love the chemistry and the banter between the two of them, just how I love that they're both suffering from the ultimate heartbreak and betrayal, and then finding peace and love in each other.

I especially love how Adrian is a very traditional man who wants to treat Mia as she deserves to be - eventhough she is a strong and independent woman, but sometimes it's just nice for someone to hold the door. Again I truly love the two of them together.

I did however find the ending a bit rushed and wasn't that thrilled about the ending of the book, but it was overall a great read.
Profile Image for Pauline.
985 reviews
November 14, 2019
When Mia runs into her ex-fiance and his new skank girlfriend (as Mia thinks of her) and they mention their upcoming high school reunion, Mia sees no way out but to make up a fake boyfriend. But being Mia, the fake boyfriend has a real very famous name and is smoking hot. Now all she has to do, is meet this star quarterback and get him to agree to be her fake boyfriend and go to the reunion with her. Easy? When her attempt to meet him leads her to being blind drunk, flashing her boobs and running onto the football field with a bunch of kids and eventually to jail, Mia is mortified. But not as mortified as when she realizes that her court ordered community service is at a housing project which Adrian Dalton, star quarterback, is spearheading. Fun quick read, just right for that feel good feeling.
Profile Image for Emily.
165 reviews6 followers
July 3, 2022
Cute & Sweet

HEA

This is a classic romance trope. We have a hot, but anti-commitment, first-string quarterback in the NFL. We also have a women who has been scorned by her fiance who wants to do something drastic to make him regret ever chasing on her. An agreement unfolds to help boost Mr. QBs public image and make the cheater second guess his meandering hands.

As always in these stories there are a roles the two agree upon and subsequently bend, if not break, before fighting their feelings for one another.

It is a cute book, that us a fast read (2-ish hour. It has several fun and snarky characters that i lied to read and loved the dialog between them. Does have sexual content but it is not very explicit so it neither adds nor retracts from the storyline.

POV first person, bounces between main characters
Spice: 2/5

TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Cheating
Loss
Regret
2,021 reviews15 followers
November 12, 2019
I devoured this book. It was such an easy book to read - no useless overusing of fifteen letter words just to make the author look like a literary genius. Nope not at all. Adrian and Mia's story is quote simply put and excellently written novel with characters that are believable. So much so that I wish I had a Mia in my circle of friends. She was hilarious, gritty and overall just a magnificent character to read. I adored Adrian as well. Such a humble man with the world at his feet. These two relationship started off a little bit different to the normal, but hey different is good right? In this case, different is exceptional.
Reminds me yet again why Elizabeth Perry is one of my go-to authors.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book
Profile Image for Erin.
24 reviews12 followers
July 25, 2021
Real, relatable, funny characters. Some people do dumb things when they are heartbroken. Some people let guilt eat them alive. Until you meet someone that heals the heartache and eases the guilt. Or even better, let’s you realize the heartache maybe wasn’t as real as you thought and that the guilt that held you prisoner was just out of fear. Mia did some eccentric things and acted a little nuts post heartbreak and Adrian kept his walls high after his tragic past. But when these characters get together, one I laughed a lot and two, they start to heal each other with a realistic dose of fear still mixed in. I loved it and will easily add to my re-read list in the future.
67 reviews
September 23, 2024
This book is what it is. MFC owns a hair salon. Found out her high school sweetheart fiancé cheated on her with her high school nemesis. They break up and then she sees them and tells them that she is bringing her bf, prof QB, to their high school reunion. She sneaks her way into FB game, and gets drunk and flashes him. She gets arrested and has to do her community service at the orphanage that prof QB is helping rehab. Prof QB ends up needing boost in his jersey sales etc so agent tells him to get GF and post of social. Fake dating ensues and then they fall in love. There is a 3rd quarter break up but get back together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Vicky Brown.
246 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2020
Fake it till you don't .

When faced with her ex fiance and new girlfriend Mia finds herself lying about her new boyfriend and a huge whopping lie not a little one she can get out of.
Now She has to not only meet the newest biggest football star but convince him to be her fake boyfriend . This has me laughing out loud like a lunatic . Mia is sweet , a little clueless and sometimes a little pyscho. Adrian is hot with a good heart and sometimes a little lost . Sworn off love both think they can fake it to get what they want . Funny how that works.
9 reviews
July 14, 2020
Not going to lie.... I had decided to abandon this book after four chapters. The main characters just made me feel meh about them, and the story really didn't hook me. Not sure why, but I kept reading. Somewhere along the way, this book grew on me. I still feel like I shouldn't like it, yet I can't say that I hated it either. In the end, I'm glad that I read it and would be down for giving the next book in this series a try.
Profile Image for Morgan Ford.
98 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2020
Left me smiling, Recommend

Totally enjoyed this heartwarming story. Loved how well thought out the characters and plot is. The story flowed so smoothly through and made the whole reading of it totally enjoyable. Lots of smiles and eye roles at the characters interplay. Totally loved the ending that left me smiling for the rest of the day.
Definitely recommend.
8 reviews
March 20, 2020
True

Maybe is not so close to something that happens everyday but nevertheless this story is believable. Mia is an average girl and Andrian a famous athlete. They meet our of a lie but they find their true love. I read it in a day just couldn't let it down. Give it a try and you will fall in love.
Profile Image for Calais.
50 reviews3 followers
June 9, 2020
Ok.
Some typos and the author named both Adrians mum and the case worker at the end Rita. No idea how that slipped past editing.
I mainly struggled with the name Adrian. The only Adrian I know is fat, balding and a douche so I struggled to picture the name on someone sexy.
And if people were calling him AJ maybe explain why? Since his name is Adrian Malone. No explanation for the J.
82 reviews1 follower
July 6, 2021
OK read

I think I liked the characters. The story was quite nice and funny. Not very probable, but then it's not meant to be a Wikipedia entry. I have real doubts about last quarter of the book though. It feels rushed and not written the way the beginning was. Mixed feelings. I do not think I will read more by this author.
39 reviews39 followers
July 13, 2021
This book was hilarious, complicated and heartwarming. It even made me 😿 up a little bit at the epilogue. Absolutely worth reading. It got enough sass and sarcasm to get me hooked and even with my crazy day, yesterday I managed to read it in less than 24h. That's gotta mean something. Right?! It's absolutely awesome ❤️
49 reviews
July 14, 2021
Best laid plans and all that!

You will see Mia as a mess but surprise surprise Adrian is a mess too. You will fall in love with the main characters they are nicely fleshed out. The book is an easy read. A very sweet story. The typos are killing the rhythm but hang in there its worth it.😎
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews

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