Publication date: 27 May 2025
Publisher: Aria & Aries
Pages: 368
Genre: Romance
Format read: ARC – e-book
From the USA Today bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script, a novel about a former adolescent TV punchline who has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash-course with her past, spending a week in Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.
Rules for a love story: There are none. It’s all a lie.
Jane Jackson knows that true love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth—you can’t fake a belly laugh. Jane should know, she spent her adolescence as “Poor Janey Jakes,” the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punchline on America’s fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios and she’s living by a new mantra: Fake it till you make it.
Except, she might have faked it too far. Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she opened her mouth and a big fat fib fell out. She claimed that Jack Quinlan, hottest popstar of the moment, has promised to write an original song for the soundtrack. Jack may have been her first kiss—and greatest source of shame—but she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years.
Now, Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown on Long Island, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan while facing down her past is Jane’s idea of hell, but Dan just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?
Rating: ★★★★
My thoughts:
More than just a ‘love story’; this is a story of self-discovery, self-compassion and healing.
FMC Jane has spent a lifetime feeling like the butt of the joke. Attempting to move on from her past, growing up as the punchline of an adolescent TV show, Jane is determined to prove that she can be a successful, career driven woman. A creative executive for Clearwater Studios, Jane has found what she thinks is the perfect script to launch her career and must team up with her one time crush turned rival, Dan, to make the film happen.
From their first meeting, the chemistry between Dan and Jane is apparent, however, Jane’s insecurities get in the way, causing a rift between the two. After being forced to work together, they embark on a journey from rivals to friends to soulmates. Getting to know each other on a deeper level, they share their vulnerabilities, their perceived flaws and past traumas, building a true connection. Through this connection, they each gain a better sense of who they are and what they want individually before coming together.
I loved Jane’s growth and the way Dan allowed her to work through all of her ‘stuff’, supporting her as she dropped her walls and allowed people to see who she really was. The banter between the two is perfect; the romance is sweet and slow; and the spice is mild.
Set against the cosy backdrop of a charming beachside community, Dan and Jane’s romance unfolds over a week spent at Dan’s family home, surrounded by his parents and siblings. During their stay, they inevitably have to share a bedroom; are mercilessly tormented by Dan’s siblings; counselled by Dan’s parents and thrust into the middle of the family’s beautifully chaotic lives. I thoroughly enjoyed the big family vibe, the private jokes, the comfort food and the warm, welcoming feel of coming together. I loved this family and the way they embraced Jane’s presence in their home, giving her the family feels she’d always craved and I desperately want to spend time in their kitchen where “love happens over breakfast”.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Bookish Me 
Sounds like an enjoyable way to spend a few hours with a book.
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