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Life is Better with You
A fake date for a family wedding at Christmas...that's all the favor was supposed to be. But their hearts didn't get the memo.
Aspen
Luke Simmons is my best friend at the office. A cinnamon roll in human form. He's the ultimate good guy, always looking out for me (and everyone else around him). He's sexy, in a nerdy way.
Not my type at all .
My abandonment issues would never let me pick a guy like Luke. So, when he needs a fake girlfriend to bring home for a holiday wedding, I agree. It’s not like I’m going to fall in love with him.. Or so I keep telling myself…
Luke
I’ve been pining for Aspen Shaw for years . Her beauty, that adorable birthmark, her intelligence…she’s perfect. Too bad the feeling is totally unrequited and she's got me chilling in the friend-zone.
Moving out of state for a job promotion is my remedy for getting over her and moving on. Now we're back in my childhood home and stuck sharing one bed. So, I’m not about to let a little forced proximity make me do something stupid –- like act on my feelings...
Can I survive being so close to her without professing my undying love? Especially since she has no idea I’m moving away after New Years…
Life is Better with You is book one in the YOU Series, and can be read as a standalone, contemporary romance with it's very own happily ever after.
========
Content Warnings: While this is generally a fun, breezy read, there are some heavier themes presented. Mostly in the past, and only referred to, not on the page, but I'd like to add TW here for good measure. Open door explicit sex scenes, cheating (in the past, off page), domestic abuse (off page), SA (groping incident, past, off page) & alcoholism, toxic relationships, parental abandonment.
Aspen
Luke Simmons is my best friend at the office. A cinnamon roll in human form. He's the ultimate good guy, always looking out for me (and everyone else around him). He's sexy, in a nerdy way.
Not my type at all .
My abandonment issues would never let me pick a guy like Luke. So, when he needs a fake girlfriend to bring home for a holiday wedding, I agree. It’s not like I’m going to fall in love with him.. Or so I keep telling myself…
Luke
I’ve been pining for Aspen Shaw for years . Her beauty, that adorable birthmark, her intelligence…she’s perfect. Too bad the feeling is totally unrequited and she's got me chilling in the friend-zone.
Moving out of state for a job promotion is my remedy for getting over her and moving on. Now we're back in my childhood home and stuck sharing one bed. So, I’m not about to let a little forced proximity make me do something stupid –- like act on my feelings...
Can I survive being so close to her without professing my undying love? Especially since she has no idea I’m moving away after New Years…
Life is Better with You is book one in the YOU Series, and can be read as a standalone, contemporary romance with it's very own happily ever after.
========
Content Warnings: While this is generally a fun, breezy read, there are some heavier themes presented. Mostly in the past, and only referred to, not on the page, but I'd like to add TW here for good measure. Open door explicit sex scenes, cheating (in the past, off page), domestic abuse (off page), SA (groping incident, past, off page) & alcoholism, toxic relationships, parental abandonment.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
October 5, 2023
Have you ever fallen for your coworker and then somehow convinced them to come to your sister's wedding as your plus one?
Life is Better with You by Shannon Paige is the unconventional love story of Aspen and Luke. Aspen is a commitment phobia, after not having many people stick around. Yet the idea of being Luke's plus one isn't one she hates. Luke and her have been besties for the two years Aspen has been working at the same company. Luke has been in love with Aspen since the moment they met. Yet Luke hasn't told Aspen he's moving. So somehow he convinces her to come as his plus one to his family Christmas and sister's wedding. Luke is shocked that Aspen agrees and they convince everyone that they have been dating for months. Although everything works out, the only that causes issues is when they both realise they have fully fallen for each other. With Luke moving and Aspen needing to stay with her root people, they struggle. Will they survive this?
I loved this book. Both characters were written so well. Aspen is described so beautifully and the way Shannon writes about her birthmark made me want to cry. Luke is such a beautiful book boyfriend. I would sell my soul to have what they had. The other characters like; Granny Mae, his family and her friends were everything I wished for in my personal relationships. I trust Granny Mae with my life though, and may have ulgy cried when Granny Mae gave advice each time…. It was such a great book. My only complaint is that we have to wait for the next book.
Also, I need Charlie, Annabella, Lina and Kai's books RIGHT NOW. But mostly KIA's book… I love him.
Anyway, it's spicy, and has communication (while it's rocky, you'll understand why it is by the end) It's also a HEA !!!!
Thankyou to Shannon and Booksiren for this amazing and life-changing ARC read!!
Life is Better with You by Shannon Paige is the unconventional love story of Aspen and Luke. Aspen is a commitment phobia, after not having many people stick around. Yet the idea of being Luke's plus one isn't one she hates. Luke and her have been besties for the two years Aspen has been working at the same company. Luke has been in love with Aspen since the moment they met. Yet Luke hasn't told Aspen he's moving. So somehow he convinces her to come as his plus one to his family Christmas and sister's wedding. Luke is shocked that Aspen agrees and they convince everyone that they have been dating for months. Although everything works out, the only that causes issues is when they both realise they have fully fallen for each other. With Luke moving and Aspen needing to stay with her root people, they struggle. Will they survive this?
I loved this book. Both characters were written so well. Aspen is described so beautifully and the way Shannon writes about her birthmark made me want to cry. Luke is such a beautiful book boyfriend. I would sell my soul to have what they had. The other characters like; Granny Mae, his family and her friends were everything I wished for in my personal relationships. I trust Granny Mae with my life though, and may have ulgy cried when Granny Mae gave advice each time…. It was such a great book. My only complaint is that we have to wait for the next book.
Also, I need Charlie, Annabella, Lina and Kai's books RIGHT NOW. But mostly KIA's book… I love him.
Anyway, it's spicy, and has communication (while it's rocky, you'll understand why it is by the end) It's also a HEA !!!!
Thankyou to Shannon and Booksiren for this amazing and life-changing ARC read!!
November 14, 2023
✨BOOK REVIEW✨
📚Life is Better With You - Shannon Paige📚
I absolutely devoured this book and was left wanting more, more, more! I loved these characters so much! They were so adorable, yet flawed, and definitely so relatable. It was a slowwwww burn and oooft, it got me good! That hot tub scene though 🙈🥵 the friendships, the found family, the sexual chemistry and tension..I just loved it all! Did I mention one bed? 🔥
Shannon’s writing flows so beautifully and is so addictive - I finished in a day! So many tropes were included and sometimes that can be too much, but this definitely wasn’t. I ate them all up and wanted more! I loved the facial birthmark representation, something I haven’t read before. It was done so honestly and respectfully, and the way our MMC (and side characters) treat the FMC is just so wholesome 🥹
What you can expect:
🎄 Friends to lovers 🥰
❄️ Facial birthmark rep ❤️
🎄 Sassy grandma 👵
❄️ Trapped together in a snow storm 🙈
🎄 Hot tub 🥵
While this is generally a fun, breezy read, there are some heavier themes. They are mostly in the past, and only referred to, not on the page, but please look up trigger warnings if you need to 💗
Life is Better With You is book one in the YOU Series, and can be read as a standalone, steamy contemporary romance. I cannot WAIT for the next book in the series 😱😍 I have found a new fave author for sure!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to @inkandimaginationservices and @authorshannonpaige for sending me this to review 🙏🏻
QOTD: Random, but what is your go-to dinner? I need to expand my family’s menu lol 😂
#lizzieslittlelibrary #lifeisbetterwithyou #shannonpaige #bookworm #readmorebooks #aussiebookworm #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #aussiebookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofinsta #booksofig #bookaholic #igreads #book #books
📚Life is Better With You - Shannon Paige📚
I absolutely devoured this book and was left wanting more, more, more! I loved these characters so much! They were so adorable, yet flawed, and definitely so relatable. It was a slowwwww burn and oooft, it got me good! That hot tub scene though 🙈🥵 the friendships, the found family, the sexual chemistry and tension..I just loved it all! Did I mention one bed? 🔥
Shannon’s writing flows so beautifully and is so addictive - I finished in a day! So many tropes were included and sometimes that can be too much, but this definitely wasn’t. I ate them all up and wanted more! I loved the facial birthmark representation, something I haven’t read before. It was done so honestly and respectfully, and the way our MMC (and side characters) treat the FMC is just so wholesome 🥹
What you can expect:
🎄 Friends to lovers 🥰
❄️ Facial birthmark rep ❤️
🎄 Sassy grandma 👵
❄️ Trapped together in a snow storm 🙈
🎄 Hot tub 🥵
While this is generally a fun, breezy read, there are some heavier themes. They are mostly in the past, and only referred to, not on the page, but please look up trigger warnings if you need to 💗
Life is Better With You is book one in the YOU Series, and can be read as a standalone, steamy contemporary romance. I cannot WAIT for the next book in the series 😱😍 I have found a new fave author for sure!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to @inkandimaginationservices and @authorshannonpaige for sending me this to review 🙏🏻
QOTD: Random, but what is your go-to dinner? I need to expand my family’s menu lol 😂
#lizzieslittlelibrary #lifeisbetterwithyou #shannonpaige #bookworm #readmorebooks #aussiebookworm #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #aussiebookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofinsta #booksofig #bookaholic #igreads #book #books
October 21, 2023
Life is Better with You is a cozy story with depth and all of my favorite tropes. Listen guys, there is fake relationship, friends-to-lovers, one bed, ONE FREAKING CHAIR, found family, and LUMBERJACK GAMER TECH NERD (ok, I made that one up…)
The burn was deliciously slow and the sizzly moments made the wait worth it.
Absolutely 5 STARS and I can’t wait for more from Shannon Paige.
WHAT I LOVED MOST:
Let me repeat. LUMBERJACK GAMER TECH NERD. How hot is a guy who can chop wood and also games with his friends at night and has a flashy rainbow keyboard. New book boyfriend for sure.
The Simmons Family. Shannon Paige created such a diverse and loving group of people. The brotherly dynamic was adorable and playfulness between each coupling was sweet.
GRANNY mf’in MAE! We all know that grandma’s make the best characters! Granny Mae was sassy, quirky and she honed right in on Aspen. Honestly she reminded me of my grandmother-in-law and it squished my heart.
The Friend Group. I can’t wait to read about Charlie, Lina, and Annabelle.
Selfish Aspen, Horny Aspen, and Regular Aspen
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“All that’s left is this undeniable sense in my mind that there were lines. Once. There used to be very solid lines that every press of his hands, every movement of his lips, has swept aside.”
“It’s okay if your parents are leaves or branches. They don’t have to be roots. You will survive. Other roots will come along, intertwine with yours, and strengthen you.”
“But seriously, f^ck Brittany.”
There’s so much to love and hold onto from this book. I will definitely be reading the next one. I don’t want to leave this little world that Shannon Paige has created.
Thank you to Netgalley and Shannon Paige for the ARC. This is my honest review.
The burn was deliciously slow and the sizzly moments made the wait worth it.
Absolutely 5 STARS and I can’t wait for more from Shannon Paige.
WHAT I LOVED MOST:
Let me repeat. LUMBERJACK GAMER TECH NERD. How hot is a guy who can chop wood and also games with his friends at night and has a flashy rainbow keyboard. New book boyfriend for sure.
The Simmons Family. Shannon Paige created such a diverse and loving group of people. The brotherly dynamic was adorable and playfulness between each coupling was sweet.
GRANNY mf’in MAE! We all know that grandma’s make the best characters! Granny Mae was sassy, quirky and she honed right in on Aspen. Honestly she reminded me of my grandmother-in-law and it squished my heart.
The Friend Group. I can’t wait to read about Charlie, Lina, and Annabelle.
Selfish Aspen, Horny Aspen, and Regular Aspen
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“All that’s left is this undeniable sense in my mind that there were lines. Once. There used to be very solid lines that every press of his hands, every movement of his lips, has swept aside.”
“It’s okay if your parents are leaves or branches. They don’t have to be roots. You will survive. Other roots will come along, intertwine with yours, and strengthen you.”
“But seriously, f^ck Brittany.”
There’s so much to love and hold onto from this book. I will definitely be reading the next one. I don’t want to leave this little world that Shannon Paige has created.
Thank you to Netgalley and Shannon Paige for the ARC. This is my honest review.
November 12, 2023
I loved this.
I loved Luke.
I loved granny.
I love the soft amazing love.
I love love.
I loved Luke.
I loved granny.
I love the soft amazing love.
I love love.
November 9, 2023
LOVED this one! ! I loved the relationship between Luke and Aspen! The tropes for this book are fantastic: fake date for a Christmas wedding?!? Doesn’t get much better than that! This is a GREAT book and I’m so glad to have discovered Shannon Paige!
October 28, 2023
3.5ish?
Thank you to Netgalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This friends to lovers story follows Aspen and Luke who are colleagues at a Venmo-esque company. Luke has been half in love with Aspen for a few years now and is about to transfer out of state to hopefully help him move on. Aspen has some severe abandonment issues and has a pattern of dating guys she’s just not that into. When Aspen overhears Luke lie about her being his girlfriend, and her apartment is being fumigated for the holidays, Aspen agrees to be his fake wedding date.
This was fine, I struggled a lot with getting into the story line for several reasons though. I typically like fake-dating and friends to lovers but I don’t think this worked well for me.
There was a lot about Luke’s family that I didn’t love and I didn’t particularly like Aspen herself. Luke had been cheated on my his ex-fiancé 5ish years prior. That ex-fiancé is still great friends with his family - she’s the maid of honor to his sister’s wedding and his family members would push him to get back together with her! The only family member that hated her was Granny!
Aspen’s intrapersonal conflict is more understandable but her personality just kinda bugged me. I think my biggest frustration was actually her third-act bit of family drama. It felt like it came out of no where and that didn’t fit with the ideas we were forming throughout Aspen/Luke time.
Tiny weird things: the hot tub foreplay with his family there too??? weirdly the wedding timeline bugged me. Aspen gets invited as a bridesmaid after just meeting his family, there’s a bridal party and bachelorette on the same day?
Thank you to Netgalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This friends to lovers story follows Aspen and Luke who are colleagues at a Venmo-esque company. Luke has been half in love with Aspen for a few years now and is about to transfer out of state to hopefully help him move on. Aspen has some severe abandonment issues and has a pattern of dating guys she’s just not that into. When Aspen overhears Luke lie about her being his girlfriend, and her apartment is being fumigated for the holidays, Aspen agrees to be his fake wedding date.
This was fine, I struggled a lot with getting into the story line for several reasons though. I typically like fake-dating and friends to lovers but I don’t think this worked well for me.
There was a lot about Luke’s family that I didn’t love and I didn’t particularly like Aspen herself. Luke had been cheated on my his ex-fiancé 5ish years prior. That ex-fiancé is still great friends with his family - she’s the maid of honor to his sister’s wedding and his family members would push him to get back together with her! The only family member that hated her was Granny!
Aspen’s intrapersonal conflict is more understandable but her personality just kinda bugged me. I think my biggest frustration was actually her third-act bit of family drama. It felt like it came out of no where and that didn’t fit with the ideas we were forming throughout Aspen/Luke time.
Tiny weird things: the hot tub foreplay with his family there too??? weirdly the wedding timeline bugged me. Aspen gets invited as a bridesmaid after just meeting his family, there’s a bridal party and bachelorette on the same day?
March 27, 2024
Life is Better with You is the first book in the You series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Luke and Aspen are best friends (at work). He’s always had a crush on her, but she has abandonment issues and doesn’t want a commitment-type of guy. When he needs a fake date for a family wedding during Christmas, he asks Aspen, and she says yes.
I liked that Aspen was “different” as she had a birthmark on her face. She showed her strength in getting past all the bullying and teasing and not letting other peoples’ words get to her. Though she did still have her vulnerable moments because of it.
Luke was so sweet with Aspen. And he really could not hide his feelings, especially since they were sharing one bed.
I didn’t like Luke’s family. Yes, they were nice and welcoming to Aspen. But, they also really welcomed Luke’s ex (who had cheated on him). And when she kept coming around and trying to get Luke back, none of them pushed her away, even though they knew he loved Aspen.
Granny was probably the best part of the story. She didn’t take any of Luke’s ex’s bullsh*t, and she was great with Aspen.
Aspen did get some healing from her abandonment issues. But that whole thing with her family kind of came out of nowhere, and she forgave pretty easily, which didn’t make sense.
Anyway, this was a cute and fun read. It had some realness to it, and it was a little emotional. But overall, it wasn’t bad.
Luke and Aspen are best friends (at work). He’s always had a crush on her, but she has abandonment issues and doesn’t want a commitment-type of guy. When he needs a fake date for a family wedding during Christmas, he asks Aspen, and she says yes.
I liked that Aspen was “different” as she had a birthmark on her face. She showed her strength in getting past all the bullying and teasing and not letting other peoples’ words get to her. Though she did still have her vulnerable moments because of it.
Luke was so sweet with Aspen. And he really could not hide his feelings, especially since they were sharing one bed.
I didn’t like Luke’s family. Yes, they were nice and welcoming to Aspen. But, they also really welcomed Luke’s ex (who had cheated on him). And when she kept coming around and trying to get Luke back, none of them pushed her away, even though they knew he loved Aspen.
Granny was probably the best part of the story. She didn’t take any of Luke’s ex’s bullsh*t, and she was great with Aspen.
Aspen did get some healing from her abandonment issues. But that whole thing with her family kind of came out of nowhere, and she forgave pretty easily, which didn’t make sense.
Anyway, this was a cute and fun read. It had some realness to it, and it was a little emotional. But overall, it wasn’t bad.
October 16, 2023
I wanna thank netgalley for this ARC in exhange of an honest review. And I also wanna thank the author for this free copy of the book:
I loved this book. Luke was such a good man, he loved her so much and even though he first thought he would forget her, when it came down to it, he couldn't. He was there for her, once he was all in, he didn't give up, not even once. He knew her heart, he knew her soul, he loved her and that was that. Aspen had been abandoned more than once and didn't faith in anyone to have a long term relationship. Even though she tried to fight her feelings, there was no use, the heart wants what the heart wants. She had her guard up but Luke brought it down sucessfully. They wanted each other and they fought for it, fought to be together
I loved this book. Luke was such a good man, he loved her so much and even though he first thought he would forget her, when it came down to it, he couldn't. He was there for her, once he was all in, he didn't give up, not even once. He knew her heart, he knew her soul, he loved her and that was that. Aspen had been abandoned more than once and didn't faith in anyone to have a long term relationship. Even though she tried to fight her feelings, there was no use, the heart wants what the heart wants. She had her guard up but Luke brought it down sucessfully. They wanted each other and they fought for it, fought to be together
October 29, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book had me constantly smiling while reading! In this book we meet Aspen and Luke. Aspen is used to people leaving her. She has an absent dad, an unreliable mom and a list of exes that weren't with her for the right reasons. Luke is her co-worker and friend. He has had a crush on her since he met her.
I love the authenticity of the characters. They were honest and loved each other for who they were. This book also had all of my favorite troupes! It had friends to lovers, fake dating, he falls first and one bed to name a few.
I so connected with Aspen and not always feeling like enough for others. Luke loved her and was there for her. He showed her she was worth it. I loved the family dynamic and how Luke's family embraced Aspen.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Shannon Paige.
This book had me constantly smiling while reading! In this book we meet Aspen and Luke. Aspen is used to people leaving her. She has an absent dad, an unreliable mom and a list of exes that weren't with her for the right reasons. Luke is her co-worker and friend. He has had a crush on her since he met her.
I love the authenticity of the characters. They were honest and loved each other for who they were. This book also had all of my favorite troupes! It had friends to lovers, fake dating, he falls first and one bed to name a few.
I so connected with Aspen and not always feeling like enough for others. Luke loved her and was there for her. He showed her she was worth it. I loved the family dynamic and how Luke's family embraced Aspen.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Shannon Paige.
October 19, 2023
I want to thank NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review as well as the author for this free copy.
This book has left me utterly captivated! Right from the opening pages, I found myself enthralled. The characters quickly won my heart, and I relished exploring the story from each main character's perspective. It beautifully captures the enchanting transition from coworkers to lovers, evoking the warm, festive atmosphere of a Christmas hallmark movie. The pacing was spot on, allowing each moment with the characters to unfold naturally. I'm eagerly anticipating diving into more of this author's work.
This book has left me utterly captivated! Right from the opening pages, I found myself enthralled. The characters quickly won my heart, and I relished exploring the story from each main character's perspective. It beautifully captures the enchanting transition from coworkers to lovers, evoking the warm, festive atmosphere of a Christmas hallmark movie. The pacing was spot on, allowing each moment with the characters to unfold naturally. I'm eagerly anticipating diving into more of this author's work.
October 31, 2023
I received this ARC free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Right off the bat, I’m in. Maybe it’s because I’ve said very similar things to “Did you know gargoyle erotica is a thing?” to my own Warhammer/tech whiz husband on more than a few occasions.
I had a really great time in this book. They were so sweet together and really believable as a couple. I loved his family (except for the fact that everyone loves his cheating ex-fiancée so much?? Wtf is up with that??) and despite this book involving fake dating, Christmas, and a wedding, nothing felt too cheesy or Hallmark movie. 4.75 stars from me (again, because why is everyone ok with his ex??)!
Right off the bat, I’m in. Maybe it’s because I’ve said very similar things to “Did you know gargoyle erotica is a thing?” to my own Warhammer/tech whiz husband on more than a few occasions.
I had a really great time in this book. They were so sweet together and really believable as a couple. I loved his family (except for the fact that everyone loves his cheating ex-fiancée so much?? Wtf is up with that??) and despite this book involving fake dating, Christmas, and a wedding, nothing felt too cheesy or Hallmark movie. 4.75 stars from me (again, because why is everyone ok with his ex??)!
October 31, 2023
Thank you to the author for providing me an eARC of this book!
This friends to lovers romance was perfectly cozy and cute with just the right amount of drama and spice. Their friendship and professional respect for each other made this into an actual believable romance, and I appreciate that most of Aspen’s hang ups were acknowledged and that the main conflict of the story did not revolve wholly around her own self doubts. Overall this was a quick and easy read with plenty of humor and likable characters and I would be interested if there are any more stories in the works for Aspen’s friends!
This friends to lovers romance was perfectly cozy and cute with just the right amount of drama and spice. Their friendship and professional respect for each other made this into an actual believable romance, and I appreciate that most of Aspen’s hang ups were acknowledged and that the main conflict of the story did not revolve wholly around her own self doubts. Overall this was a quick and easy read with plenty of humor and likable characters and I would be interested if there are any more stories in the works for Aspen’s friends!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 4, 2024I don't really like the insta-love stories and had to skim the last 20% of the book, starting with the Wedding Reception. When a person says they do not have feelings about somebody else and shows that they don't, you should believe them, before jumping into conclusions.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
November 9, 2023
I received a digital copy from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever read a "bestseller" and wondered what the fuss was all about? Well, after reading this novel, I'm wondering why more people aren't reading it. The writing was as good or better than several current big-name authors that I could mention. The story was everything you could want in a fake-dating, co-workers/friends-to-lovers, Christmas with the family, only one bed, contemporary romance. Familiar tropes sometimes dipped into the cliche category. But overall, the fake-dating-to-real-dating relationship between Aspen and Luke was sweet. I loved that Luke was so respectful of Aspen and kept his unrequited feelings to himself until the time was right. And I loved that Aspen realized she had never been around a supportive family group and recognized that she kind of needed the love they were offering her.
I am happily recommending this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable romance to get lost in this holiday season. And I really hope more readers become aware of this novel.
(I refuse to summarize the plot in reviews. If you're reading this, you probably have access to the synopsis.)
Have you ever read a "bestseller" and wondered what the fuss was all about? Well, after reading this novel, I'm wondering why more people aren't reading it. The writing was as good or better than several current big-name authors that I could mention. The story was everything you could want in a fake-dating, co-workers/friends-to-lovers, Christmas with the family, only one bed, contemporary romance. Familiar tropes sometimes dipped into the cliche category. But overall, the fake-dating-to-real-dating relationship between Aspen and Luke was sweet. I loved that Luke was so respectful of Aspen and kept his unrequited feelings to himself until the time was right. And I loved that Aspen realized she had never been around a supportive family group and recognized that she kind of needed the love they were offering her.
I am happily recommending this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable romance to get lost in this holiday season. And I really hope more readers become aware of this novel.
(I refuse to summarize the plot in reviews. If you're reading this, you probably have access to the synopsis.)
October 20, 2023
Thank you so much to NetGalley for access to this book.
I loved this book so much! I was hooked from the very beginning with both Aspen and Luke’s personalities and it kept growing throughout the book. I never found myself with a full moment or even predicting the next move! It was such a sweet romance about coworkers, fake dating during the holidays, and true love. Can’t wait to read more from Shannon!
I loved this book so much! I was hooked from the very beginning with both Aspen and Luke’s personalities and it kept growing throughout the book. I never found myself with a full moment or even predicting the next move! It was such a sweet romance about coworkers, fake dating during the holidays, and true love. Can’t wait to read more from Shannon!
November 4, 2023
Who doesn’t like a nice slow burn? Shannon did such an amazing job, and I thank her so much for the ability to give this ARC a 5 star. Aspen and Luke are co workers who end up faking a relationship over Christmas that leads to such an amazing story. Join them through the dynamic pov of both of them. And Shannon sprinkles in the beautiful side of the country side, a wonderful tightly knit family, and some very interesting predicaments Aspen and Luke find themselves in. This isn’t my normal read, which is fantasy romance. But I really enjoyed this story.
November 5, 2023
i wanna start by says i love faking dating, it’s one of if not my favorite trope ever! Aspen & Luke we’re cute at some parts but i feel it was really hard to connect to their characters individually as well as together.
since i couldn’t connect to their characters or anything else happening in the story i found my self skimming a lot of times and struggling to finish the book.
overall i think this book has potential. it just didn’t execute it the way i wanted it to
thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc for my honest opinion
since i couldn’t connect to their characters or anything else happening in the story i found my self skimming a lot of times and struggling to finish the book.
overall i think this book has potential. it just didn’t execute it the way i wanted it to
thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc for my honest opinion
October 1, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and BooksGoSocial. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Definitely one of my favorites of the year! I love finding new authors and I'm so appreciative to have received this ARC. This was funny, witty, chemistry filled, a little spicy, and all the tropes you could want. Absolutely loved Aspen and Luke. All great characters, and it looks like it's going to be a series. Yay! The character of Granny Mae was such a hoot, and I so enjoyed her analogy about finding your "root person" and the story of the aspen tree - beautifully written and poignant. After the epilogue, you also get a chance to read a prequel showing how Aspen and Luke first met. It's called Along Came You, and if it's not included in the final publication, you can get it on the author's website. Well worth it, and I'm actually glad I read it after Life is Better with You. Can't recommend this highly enough. Would give more than 5 stars.
Definitely one of my favorites of the year! I love finding new authors and I'm so appreciative to have received this ARC. This was funny, witty, chemistry filled, a little spicy, and all the tropes you could want. Absolutely loved Aspen and Luke. All great characters, and it looks like it's going to be a series. Yay! The character of Granny Mae was such a hoot, and I so enjoyed her analogy about finding your "root person" and the story of the aspen tree - beautifully written and poignant. After the epilogue, you also get a chance to read a prequel showing how Aspen and Luke first met. It's called Along Came You, and if it's not included in the final publication, you can get it on the author's website. Well worth it, and I'm actually glad I read it after Life is Better with You. Can't recommend this highly enough. Would give more than 5 stars.
October 3, 2023
“Life is better with you” is such a romantic and heartwarming book with a Xmas holidays background!
So, Aspen and Luke are coworkers for a couple of years and have a very special friendship and way they communicate. Luke is into her since always but never had the courage to ask her out. That’s one of the reasons he accepts a big career opportunity that requires him to move to another city but has not yet announced it to Aspen. When he invites her to spend Xmas holidays with his family and attend his sister’s wedding as his fake girlfriend, a lie he told his family long time ago to get them off his back, things will begin to get complicated for both of them.
What to expect from the book:
* Friends to lovers
* Fake relationship
* Forced proximity
* He falls first
* Dual POV, 1st person
* A couple of steamy/spicy scenes
I really, really liked this book and the way it was written! Both the characters are lovable and have their special traits and I like how their feelings and thoughts are explained as well as the struggles they go through. The chemistry between the MCs is fantastic. The supporting characters are cool overall and you are left with a cozy, warm feeling by the end of the book.
The book literally had me hooked until I reached 3/4, then the pace slowed down a bit and there was less tension; I guess this is the only thing I’d change in the book. And maybe its length; I would so love a few more pages with our heroes.
Overall, I give this book 4,5/5 🌟 and I think it’s definitely worth reading for those who are romcom lovers.
Update: I upgraded my rating to 5 stars after reading the prequel novella “Along came you”. I love this couple!
Thank you Shannon Paige & BooksGoSocial for providing this book for review via NetGalley.
So, Aspen and Luke are coworkers for a couple of years and have a very special friendship and way they communicate. Luke is into her since always but never had the courage to ask her out. That’s one of the reasons he accepts a big career opportunity that requires him to move to another city but has not yet announced it to Aspen. When he invites her to spend Xmas holidays with his family and attend his sister’s wedding as his fake girlfriend, a lie he told his family long time ago to get them off his back, things will begin to get complicated for both of them.
What to expect from the book:
* Friends to lovers
* Fake relationship
* Forced proximity
* He falls first
* Dual POV, 1st person
* A couple of steamy/spicy scenes
I really, really liked this book and the way it was written! Both the characters are lovable and have their special traits and I like how their feelings and thoughts are explained as well as the struggles they go through. The chemistry between the MCs is fantastic. The supporting characters are cool overall and you are left with a cozy, warm feeling by the end of the book.
The book literally had me hooked until I reached 3/4, then the pace slowed down a bit and there was less tension; I guess this is the only thing I’d change in the book. And maybe its length; I would so love a few more pages with our heroes.
Overall, I give this book 4,5/5 🌟 and I think it’s definitely worth reading for those who are romcom lovers.
Update: I upgraded my rating to 5 stars after reading the prequel novella “Along came you”. I love this couple!
Thank you Shannon Paige & BooksGoSocial for providing this book for review via NetGalley.
December 6, 2023
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for this ARC.
This was a perfect read to start off the holiday month. This book was such a cute and easy read. I loved the relationship that developed between Luke & Aspen. This book had romance, spice, and a couple of lessons on self-love. I love that the author wrote both characters to be relatable. I think that the fake dating trope was written very well in this book.
Over all this was a great read, and I can’t wait to discover more of Shannon Paige books.
This was a perfect read to start off the holiday month. This book was such a cute and easy read. I loved the relationship that developed between Luke & Aspen. This book had romance, spice, and a couple of lessons on self-love. I love that the author wrote both characters to be relatable. I think that the fake dating trope was written very well in this book.
Over all this was a great read, and I can’t wait to discover more of Shannon Paige books.
October 4, 2023
This was such a sweet holiday romance! Paige mixed some classic tropes (fake dating! One bed) with unique characters with real interests, characteristics, and jobs. Loved the diversity as well, and the varying POVs were great.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for this ARC.
Spoiler:
LOL that the characters thought Salt Lake City and San Jose were sooo far apart.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for this ARC.
Spoiler:
LOL that the characters thought Salt Lake City and San Jose were sooo far apart.
October 17, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
🌶️ 1.5
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Good Guys Books LLC, and Shannon Paige for an ARC copy of Life Is Better With You in exchange for my honest review.
I am obsessed with this cozy holiday romance. It’s so warm and inviting, you just want to curl up by the fire with some apple cider or hot chocolate. Please be mindful that there are some serious topics discussed like substance abuse, domestic abuse, SA (off page groping), and resulting family impact. There’s a lot of vulnerability, self discovery, and healing as well.
We have Aspen and Luke who are coworkers turned friends that fall into a fake relationship (perfect timing for Aspen as she needs a place to stay while her place is not liveable) for a holiday wedding to save Luke from an ex-girlfriend and efforts to have them reconcile.
Shannon Paige does just a beautiful job weaving together Aspen and Luke’s interconnected dual POV. I fell for their love story faster than Luke falls for Aspen. Trope wise, we have a dash to found family, he falls first (*swoon*) fake dating, coworkers-to-friends-to-lovers, a lil forced proximity, one bed, and a slow-burn that’s well worth the wait. What else can you ask for?!
The chemistry and sexual tension between Aspen and Luke was incredible. I loved how Luke held space for Aspen to work through her commitment concerns, encouraged her to love herself in moments of self doubt, and was just overall so supportive. I loved the nod to non-traditional beauty standards and imperfect characters. Not only do you get to know Aspen (a spunky, alternative, soulful, woman in STEM) and Luke (a lumberjack-esque cinnamon roll, gamer with a heart of gold who *gasp* communicates), but their circle. I love Granny Mae so much, she is a spit fire who seems to see right into everyone’s soul (her advice is so heartfelt and I felt it in my soul). The reference to Aspen trees’ resilience, root people vs branch people - hit me right in the heart. I want to part of the Simmons family so badly! There’s so much depth built into these characters which means that they feel so relatable. I cannot wait to read more about these characters!!
Shannon’s way of writing that is descriptive in a way that I felt like was watching a movie as I was reading. I could totally visualize this little world and I got sucked in. I can’t wait to read more of Shannon’s work.
🌶️ 1.5
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Good Guys Books LLC, and Shannon Paige for an ARC copy of Life Is Better With You in exchange for my honest review.
I am obsessed with this cozy holiday romance. It’s so warm and inviting, you just want to curl up by the fire with some apple cider or hot chocolate. Please be mindful that there are some serious topics discussed like substance abuse, domestic abuse, SA (off page groping), and resulting family impact. There’s a lot of vulnerability, self discovery, and healing as well.
We have Aspen and Luke who are coworkers turned friends that fall into a fake relationship (perfect timing for Aspen as she needs a place to stay while her place is not liveable) for a holiday wedding to save Luke from an ex-girlfriend and efforts to have them reconcile.
Shannon Paige does just a beautiful job weaving together Aspen and Luke’s interconnected dual POV. I fell for their love story faster than Luke falls for Aspen. Trope wise, we have a dash to found family, he falls first (*swoon*) fake dating, coworkers-to-friends-to-lovers, a lil forced proximity, one bed, and a slow-burn that’s well worth the wait. What else can you ask for?!
The chemistry and sexual tension between Aspen and Luke was incredible. I loved how Luke held space for Aspen to work through her commitment concerns, encouraged her to love herself in moments of self doubt, and was just overall so supportive. I loved the nod to non-traditional beauty standards and imperfect characters. Not only do you get to know Aspen (a spunky, alternative, soulful, woman in STEM) and Luke (a lumberjack-esque cinnamon roll, gamer with a heart of gold who *gasp* communicates), but their circle. I love Granny Mae so much, she is a spit fire who seems to see right into everyone’s soul (her advice is so heartfelt and I felt it in my soul). The reference to Aspen trees’ resilience, root people vs branch people - hit me right in the heart. I want to part of the Simmons family so badly! There’s so much depth built into these characters which means that they feel so relatable. I cannot wait to read more about these characters!!
Shannon’s way of writing that is descriptive in a way that I felt like was watching a movie as I was reading. I could totally visualize this little world and I got sucked in. I can’t wait to read more of Shannon’s work.
October 20, 2023
This is the first book in the series and what a great start! I loved everything from start to finish!! The connection between Aspen and Luke is amazing when they are in "just friends" mode, but gets so much better when they start fake-dating. Aspen is a woman with abandonment issues, so never has anything in long standing in the romance department and Luke is her best guy work friend who's been pinning away for Aspen since the day they met. He knows she isn't up for a commitment, so tries to be ok with it the best way he can - by accepting a job in a different state so he can try to get over her. Problem is though, his family thinks he and Aspen are a couple and he hasn't told her he's leaving. When holiday plans go wrong for Aspen, she goes for the fake dating idea and heads off to spend the holidays with Luke and his family. They get even closer and feeling grow. They give into the attraction and things get a little messy when they have to confront their feelings and deal with past family and ex-girlfriend issues. Then the news that Luke is leaving my destroy everything. I was rooting for them to finally give into the feelings and deal with their baggage so they could find their way to each other. I loved the family and friends throughout giving some comic relief and perspective. There is no drastic third-act misunderstanding break-up and they way they deal with conflict and obstacles they could break them, is so refreshing and realistic. They do fin their way to a HEA and you really want to know more about what happens with the secondary characters. I loved every moment of this story and can't wait for the next book!
October 15, 2023
4.25-4.5🌟(I can’t make up my mind ok!) rounded up for Goodreads
"Life is Better with You" - A Heartwarming Holiday Romance That's a Total Sleigh Ride! Sorry for the cheesy pun 😂 (Xmas/wedding themes)
💕Read this if you enjoy:
• friends to lovers
• fake dating
• cinnamon roll book boyfriend
• he falls first
• Christmasy background themes
• dual pov
• steamy spice & tension 🤌
This book is like the coziest of Christmas sweaters – warm, charming, and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Aspen and Luke's office shenanigans turn into a fake romance that had me laughing and swooning simultaneously.
Luke, our leading man, is a lovable cinnamon roll hero who's been pining for his wonderful co-worker Aspen for ages. She's an edgier version of the girl-next-door, with her own set of troubles and a heart that's been tightly guarded.
When Luke invites Aspen to his family's ranch in Utah for a fake wedding date, sparks fly, walls crumble, and the love scenes are hotter than a yule log. These two have the kind of chemistry that can warm up even the chilliest winter night.
This book also deals with some pretty deep & hard themes so definitely check your TW. I thought the author handled with care but some may have found more content warnings helpful.
Overall, "Life is Better with You" delivers a sleighful of festive cheer, swoon-worthy moments, and lessons about the true meaning of family and love. This book's a winter win, and I can't wait to see what this author serves up next. ❤️📚
TW: alcoholism, addiction , parental abandonment, off page cheating & SA
"Life is Better with You" - A Heartwarming Holiday Romance That's a Total Sleigh Ride! Sorry for the cheesy pun 😂 (Xmas/wedding themes)
💕Read this if you enjoy:
• friends to lovers
• fake dating
• cinnamon roll book boyfriend
• he falls first
• Christmasy background themes
• dual pov
• steamy spice & tension 🤌
This book is like the coziest of Christmas sweaters – warm, charming, and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Aspen and Luke's office shenanigans turn into a fake romance that had me laughing and swooning simultaneously.
Luke, our leading man, is a lovable cinnamon roll hero who's been pining for his wonderful co-worker Aspen for ages. She's an edgier version of the girl-next-door, with her own set of troubles and a heart that's been tightly guarded.
When Luke invites Aspen to his family's ranch in Utah for a fake wedding date, sparks fly, walls crumble, and the love scenes are hotter than a yule log. These two have the kind of chemistry that can warm up even the chilliest winter night.
This book also deals with some pretty deep & hard themes so definitely check your TW. I thought the author handled with care but some may have found more content warnings helpful.
Overall, "Life is Better with You" delivers a sleighful of festive cheer, swoon-worthy moments, and lessons about the true meaning of family and love. This book's a winter win, and I can't wait to see what this author serves up next. ❤️📚
TW: alcoholism, addiction , parental abandonment, off page cheating & SA
October 17, 2023
Where can one find herself a Luke>? That man was such a great man. He was thoughtful, funny, and sexy in a subtle way. He's had feelings for our girl Aspen for 2 years now and never told her. Since he thinks she'll never give him a chance, he takes a promotion that involves leaving. He knows if he's to get over her he really needs to leave. But life has other things planned for him and with a bit of luck, she agrees to spend Christmas with him and his family. He's finally given a chance to show her just how much she means to him as well as how good they can be together.
Aspen has not had a great role model whose relationships work. She picks men who are not right for her. She never saw Luke as anything more than a great friend. But spending time with him outside of work shows her another side of him that she never saw before. And suddenly there are feelings she never thought she'll have. But her past has a grip on her and if she wants HEA with Luke, she needs to learn to get over it before she can give herself away completely to Luke.
From start to finish you can't help but to root for Luke and his shot at love. At the beginning I wasn't so sure if Aspen is a good choice for him, but the more I read about them the more they made sense. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a funny, with a dash of drama kinda book.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Aspen has not had a great role model whose relationships work. She picks men who are not right for her. She never saw Luke as anything more than a great friend. But spending time with him outside of work shows her another side of him that she never saw before. And suddenly there are feelings she never thought she'll have. But her past has a grip on her and if she wants HEA with Luke, she needs to learn to get over it before she can give herself away completely to Luke.
From start to finish you can't help but to root for Luke and his shot at love. At the beginning I wasn't so sure if Aspen is a good choice for him, but the more I read about them the more they made sense. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a funny, with a dash of drama kinda book.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
October 19, 2023
As soon as Luke met Aspen he fell in love with her. But he didn’t do anything about it cause it’s better to have an amazing friendship than try something more and fail right? After lying to his family that he and Aspen are together, she agrees to go with him and pretend to be his girlfriend in exchange for place to stay over Christmas and help with some research for work. And their love story begins…
This book was so much fun! Aspen is amazing friend and daughter, so fun, strong, smart and (most of the time) confident. Luke is typical nerd, a bit shy at the beginning, but the more you read the more you learn that Luke is sexy, confident and that maybe the mug tells the truth after all. I really enjoyed the story, how everything developed and I absolutely loved Luke’s family - how they welcomed Aspen in their family with open arms and didn’t even know how much she needed that. After seeing the real Luke and what she could have with him, she needed to overcome her fear of a long term relationship because Luke doesn’t do casual. I truly loved every side character but Granny Mae is truly special. Her “tree advice” really touched me and I’m so happy that Aspen heard those words cause I think that was the moment she started seeing some things differently. This book was easy and fun to read and I was so happy that they figured everything out and that some things didn’t stop them to get their HEA.
Arc review thanks to NetGalley
October 17, 2023
This is a convenient insta-love story about Friend-Zone Luke who has had a long term crush on Aspen, a spunky woman who only does short term relationships and never even considers Luke as boyfriend material. The reason's Aspen gives for inviting herself over to Luke's family for Christmas and into a complicated, uncomfortable situation, is stupid. She could have easily rented a hotel room....problem solved. Also weird is the forced proximity situation. Aspen doesn't want to be touchy feely with Luke at all, even laying down the rules about personal contact between them, but is instantly happy to share a bed with him? Not very realistic.
I found the book boring because you are constantly waiting for either Aspen or Luke to make a decision about their fake/obviously not fake relationship, this takes forever and is heavily dragged out throughout the entire book. Also annoying is that the author paints Aspen as a strong, confident character, but when a so-called friend betrays her and blatantly tries to take her man right in front of her face, she just runs away crying without saying a word, despite stating earlier that she would fight for him. The constant referencing to karaoke throughout the book is just corny. Spice is at most a 1 and forgettable. According to the book description this story ends on a HEA, but I definitely do not agree because things just kept getting worse and worse for Aspen in the end, to the point where it would have been better if they just went their separate ways.
The author also uses a word in the book to describe a black person, which is extremely offensive to black people.
Content warnings: Drug abuse, addiction, alcoholism, toxic relationships, abusive relationships, narcissistic manipulation, parent abandonment, s3x abuse.
I do not recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I found the book boring because you are constantly waiting for either Aspen or Luke to make a decision about their fake/obviously not fake relationship, this takes forever and is heavily dragged out throughout the entire book. Also annoying is that the author paints Aspen as a strong, confident character, but when a so-called friend betrays her and blatantly tries to take her man right in front of her face, she just runs away crying without saying a word, despite stating earlier that she would fight for him. The constant referencing to karaoke throughout the book is just corny. Spice is at most a 1 and forgettable. According to the book description this story ends on a HEA, but I definitely do not agree because things just kept getting worse and worse for Aspen in the end, to the point where it would have been better if they just went their separate ways.
The author also uses a word in the book to describe a black person, which is extremely offensive to black people.
Content warnings: Drug abuse, addiction, alcoholism, toxic relationships, abusive relationships, narcissistic manipulation, parent abandonment, s3x abuse.
I do not recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 15, 2023
Life is Better with You by Shannon Paige is a delightful, heartwarming, and slightly spicy contemporary romance that takes readers on a journey from a fake date to a family wedding at Christmas to an unexpected love story between two coworkers, Aspen and Luke.
The characters are the true stars of this book. Aspen, with her commitment issues stemming from past experiences, is a relatable and endearing protagonist. Luke, the cinnamon roll, is the ultimate good guy with unrequited feelings for Aspen. The dynamics between them, from friends to lovers, are beautifully explored, and the gradual realization of their true feelings adds depth to the narrative. The slow-burn romance is praised for its delicious pace, and the sizzling moments are highlighted as worth the wait.
The supporting characters, including Granny Mae, Luke's family, and Aspen's friends, contribute to the warmth and charm of the story. Granny Mae, in particular, stands out with her sassy and quirky personality, offering both comedic relief and heartfelt wisdom.
There are diverse tropes present in the book, such as fake relationship, friends-to-lovers, and one bed, creating an engaging and enjoyable reading experience. The facial birthmark representation is just chef kiss!
Thank you to Netgalley and Shannon Paige for the ARC!
The characters are the true stars of this book. Aspen, with her commitment issues stemming from past experiences, is a relatable and endearing protagonist. Luke, the cinnamon roll, is the ultimate good guy with unrequited feelings for Aspen. The dynamics between them, from friends to lovers, are beautifully explored, and the gradual realization of their true feelings adds depth to the narrative. The slow-burn romance is praised for its delicious pace, and the sizzling moments are highlighted as worth the wait.
The supporting characters, including Granny Mae, Luke's family, and Aspen's friends, contribute to the warmth and charm of the story. Granny Mae, in particular, stands out with her sassy and quirky personality, offering both comedic relief and heartfelt wisdom.
There are diverse tropes present in the book, such as fake relationship, friends-to-lovers, and one bed, creating an engaging and enjoyable reading experience. The facial birthmark representation is just chef kiss!
Thank you to Netgalley and Shannon Paige for the ARC!
October 19, 2023
Excelente debut de Shannon Paige! Me gustó mucho la historia y que se desarrolle en época de navidad. Buen desarrollo de los personajes, gran pareja Aspen & Luke que inicia como un fake relationship, pero luego se enamoran de verdad y de una forma muy real. Excelente también tocar la relación de los personajes con su familia y Granny Mae es un gran personaje. Me gustaron también las referencias en el libro a The Office, Star Wars y Warhammer. Si quieren darle oportunidad a libros y autores nuevos, agreguen esta historia a su lista.
Gracias a la autora por enviarme un ARC, mi opinión es 100% honesta y voluntaria sobre el libro.
Excellent debut by Shannon Paige! I really liked the story, it takes place during Christmas time. Good character development, great couple Aspen & Luke that starts out as a fake relationship, but then they truly fall in love and in a very real way. Excellent also touching on the characters' relationship with their family and Granny Mae is a great character. I also liked the references in the book to The Office, Star Wars and Warhammer. If you want to give new books and authors a chance, add this story to your list.
Thanks to the author for sending me an ARC, my opinion is 100% honest and voluntary about the book.
Gracias a la autora por enviarme un ARC, mi opinión es 100% honesta y voluntaria sobre el libro.
Excellent debut by Shannon Paige! I really liked the story, it takes place during Christmas time. Good character development, great couple Aspen & Luke that starts out as a fake relationship, but then they truly fall in love and in a very real way. Excellent also touching on the characters' relationship with their family and Granny Mae is a great character. I also liked the references in the book to The Office, Star Wars and Warhammer. If you want to give new books and authors a chance, add this story to your list.
Thanks to the author for sending me an ARC, my opinion is 100% honest and voluntary about the book.
December 8, 2023
Office besties Luke and Aspen - he fell first and fell HARD, straight into the friend zone. For the last couple years, he's been pining and she has no idea! He had told his parents he was seeing a girl from work (Aspen), mom invites her for christmas and his sisters wedding. Aspen just so happens to overhear part of this phone conversation and you just can't help but be embarrassed for Luke (he really is such a cinnamon roll!) Eventually Aspen is convinced (party by not having anywhere to go) to be Luke's fake GF, keep his meddling family from trying to set him up and keep his sister's MOH (and his ex) away from him. Of course once they get to his family's house, there's one bed. There's faking feelings (that whoa, might actually be real) and let me tell you watching their friendship grow into more over the course of them being there, watching Aspen open up about past hurt and why she wasn't spending the holiday with her mom, and watching Luke show her how much she means to him just made me melt into the feels. This was such a fun sweet story, a little bit of spice, and a great friend group and I cannot wait foe the rest if the series!!!
Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC in exchange for my review!
Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC in exchange for my review!
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