June 17, 2024
A woman recruits a fake girlfriend to bring to her ex’s Christmas wedding in this paint-by-numbers romance from Greer (For Never & Always). When high-powered lawyer Tara Chadwick receives an invitation to her ex-fiancée’s wedding, she has no excuse not to attend. All of her closest friends will be there, and she doesn’t want them pitying her, so to save face she mentions she will be bringing her new girlfriend. The only issue is Tara doesn’t have a girlfriend. To sort out what to do, she heads to her favorite café, where she blurts the whole story to Holly, a waitress who has had her eye on Tara since her breakup. Holly is desperate to escape her mother’s matchmaking and avoid going home for the holidays, so attending a Christmas wedding with Tara is the perfect excuse. Their very real mutual attraction makes the ruse all the more believable. As feelings begin to develop, there’s one thing keeping the couple apart: Tara is looking to settle down and Holly doesn’t do commitment. While the main characters share plenty of chemistry, the love story feels entirely predictable and relatively mild. This is best suited for Greer’s diehard fans.
July 1, 2024
In her latest heartwarming romance novel, Greer (For Never & Always) continues to feature rich and complex LGBTQIA+ characters. The story follows Tara, a rigid lawyer with a troubled past, and Holly, a waitress with a cynical view of marriage due to past experiences. When Tara needs a date for her ex-fianc�e's wedding, Holly agrees to pose as her romantic partner. The book takes readers on a journey as Tara and Holly navigate their fake relationship at a fully packed wedding weekend, slowly unraveling each other's stories and growing closer despite their vastly different backgrounds. Greer balances the rom-com elements with substantial exploration of the characters' personal histories and familial struggles and centers the themes of love, identity, and personal growth throughout the novel. The narrative is further enhanced by a host of supportive side characters, who, knowingly or unknowingly, bolster Tara and Holly's relationship. VERDICT Fans of Greer's will enjoy this must-read novel, with its engaging plot, supportive side characters, and inclusive depiction of a lesbian relationship.--Michelle Mistalski
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