Author: Samanta Young
Genre: Adult; Romance
Publication Date: August 29, 2023
Publisher: Berkley PublishingThere's a magnetic attraction when a happy-go-lucky gig worker agrees to a fake relationship with a rich, uptight New Yorker in this steamy romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.
Star Shine Meadows is all about freedom, thanks to the hippie parents who raised her. Juggling her jobs as a professional costume character actor and a line sitter, she believes in no expectations, no stressful ambitions, and no-strings-attached relationships. So when she meets a birthday girl's grumpy uncle while working a princess party, she can't help but needle him. She'll never see him again, and honestly, he's pretty hot.
Rafe Whitman may be a veterinarian with a great bedside manner, but that doesn't mean his patience extends to anyone with opposable thumbs. His family will not stop nagging him about finding "the one," so when he runs into obnoxiously cheery Star again, he makes her an offer: He'll pay her more than she would make doing her odd jobs if she'll pretend to be his girlfriend at family gatherings. She can stop sitting in line waiting for someone else's new phone, and he'll get his family off his back.
When the tension between them heats to a breaking point, Star's desire for "no strings" is tested against Rafe's staunch stability. They say opposites attract, after all...
Rating
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Hello Fellow Readers,
I absolutely loved this book and pretty much devoured it in a couple of days. If I didn't have real-life commitments like a child I need to care for I would have read this in one sitting. This book has two of my favorite tropes fake dating and grumpy/sunshine and of course, the grumpy male romantic interest ends up turning into a gooey cinnamon roll.
I love Star, like 100% would maim for her. She's so strong and real but also has this vulnerability that shines through that you can help but want to wrap her up when something bad happens. I do love the growth that we see Star go through, how she ends up dealing with the trauma of her childhood, and how she handles her parents. Rafe, is also in my top 5 list of book boyfriends, oh man if I wasn't married and he wasn't a fictional character I would drool over him from far away because I would be too intimidated to approach him. I also love how young makes Rafe evolves. He goes from judgemental a-hole to a sexy accepting boyfriend. I don't blame Star at all for falling for him. Also, the spicy scenes were *chef's kiss* and I do kind of wish there were more of them but I won't complain about the ones that we did get.
Besides the two tropes mentioned above, there is also a little bit of forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and a rich guy/poor girl. I got to admit I don't like the latter at all but it worked in "The Love Plot'. There was some miscommunication which was frustrating but forgivable considering how much I love the book. I also wish that we had more of Jude, Kendall, and Roger as I loved their friendship with Star.
Overall, A great romance that may make my top 5 list for this year.
Your blog is so stunning!!!!
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