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katiya014's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
vanessa_issa's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Boldwood Books for the ARC!
I've read a few books with fake-dating plots, so I thought I knew what to expect from this one. But I was wrong. This is my second book by Portia MacIntosh, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
Cara doesn't have much luck with dating apps. After lots of bad dates, she's truly about to give up. Someone named Chad matches with her and sends a few nice messages. Maybe this time things could be better? That's what she hopes for, since Chad seems to be the last decent man available. But, well, he's not. He stoods her up. Millsy (Joe Mills) notices right away what's happening at the bar and, feeling sorry for her, decides to introduce himself and make her company.
At first, she's not so sure what's happening. Is he hitting on her? Is he gay? Why is he inviting her to another club? And who was the girl he was talking to at the door? But he seems pretty nice, so she thinks, 'why not?'.
They soon become friends. Since he makes it clear that he doesn't a want a girlfriend and is just being friendly, she sees no problem in talking about guys and going out with him. She even kisses another man and tells Millsy, but it's all fine, because they're really just friends.
Their personalities couldn't be more different, but one thing they have in common: many events to attend this summer. Weddings, a gender-reveal party, birthdays, school reunion, family gatherings... And, for several reasons, they don't want to go alone. That's when the pact is made.
"'We’re not pretending we’re in love. We’re just plus ones.’
‘Just don’t go falling in love with me for real,’ Millsy playfully warns.
‘Wouldn’t dream of it,’ I reply."
Of course not. lol
It's hilarious how they have such bad luck and always ruin something at the events. My favorite accident was the one with the balloon (which, by the way, is something that I can actually see happening in real life).
So, they spend a lot of time together, they meet each others families and obviously, we know how this will end. But there's something special about these characters. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I need to say that Millsy does something really stupid in the beginning, and I love when she confronts him about that in the last chapter.
If you're expecting to find a couple desperate to have sex in every chapter, this will probably be a let down for you. In this book, the feelings actually come first. They need to go though a lot of stuff first before they realize that they're not just spending time together. They're not just friends. They're not just pretending.
I had a lot of fun! Nice read!
I've read a few books with fake-dating plots, so I thought I knew what to expect from this one. But I was wrong. This is my second book by Portia MacIntosh, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
Cara doesn't have much luck with dating apps. After lots of bad dates, she's truly about to give up. Someone named Chad matches with her and sends a few nice messages. Maybe this time things could be better? That's what she hopes for, since Chad seems to be the last decent man available. But, well, he's not. He stoods her up. Millsy (Joe Mills) notices right away what's happening at the bar and, feeling sorry for her, decides to introduce himself and make her company.
At first, she's not so sure what's happening. Is he hitting on her? Is he gay? Why is he inviting her to another club? And who was the girl he was talking to at the door? But he seems pretty nice, so she thinks, 'why not?'.
They soon become friends. Since he makes it clear that he doesn't a want a girlfriend and is just being friendly, she sees no problem in talking about guys and going out with him. She even kisses another man and tells Millsy, but it's all fine, because they're really just friends.
Their personalities couldn't be more different, but one thing they have in common: many events to attend this summer. Weddings, a gender-reveal party, birthdays, school reunion, family gatherings... And, for several reasons, they don't want to go alone. That's when the pact is made.
"'We’re not pretending we’re in love. We’re just plus ones.’
‘Just don’t go falling in love with me for real,’ Millsy playfully warns.
‘Wouldn’t dream of it,’ I reply."
Of course not. lol
It's hilarious how they have such bad luck and always ruin something at the events. My favorite accident was the one with the balloon (which, by the way, is something that I can actually see happening in real life).
So, they spend a lot of time together, they meet each others families and obviously, we know how this will end. But there's something special about these characters. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I need to say that Millsy does something really stupid in the beginning, and I love when she confronts him about that in the last chapter.
If you're expecting to find a couple desperate to have sex in every chapter, this will probably be a let down for you. In this book, the feelings actually come first. They need to go though a lot of stuff first before they realize that they're not just spending time together. They're not just friends. They're not just pretending.
I had a lot of fun! Nice read!
bte6d5's review against another edition
3.0
It was really cute. Not Earth shattering but cute and very cozy
blissbubbley's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read.
Loved this book. Great for a good summer/beach read. It was also great to have a book about dating that wasn't about where women and men always seem to go wrong with dating... communication. Instead the book flowed through and the cover is lovely too.
Really lovely book.
Loved this book. Great for a good summer/beach read. It was also great to have a book about dating that wasn't about where women and men always seem to go wrong with dating... communication. Instead the book flowed through and the cover is lovely too.
Really lovely book.
flistroll's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
kaceeem5's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book was pretty cute. One of the things I really didn't like about it was how the author mentioned the FMC size all the time. She mentioned that she wears a size 8 shoe and then the FMC tells the MMC "good luck" when he was going to go buy her shoes because her feet are too big and she has trouble finding shoes in stores? Maybe that's how it is in the UK, but I'm in the US and never have problem finding shoes that size. She also talked about how she was "overweight" but was a size 12? I'm pretty sure that would be considered normal sized today.
Other than those issues, I thought the book was funny. Both the FMC and MMC weren't annoying, even though everyone in the story talked about how the MMC was a "play boy" but I saw NOTHING of that throughout the entire novel.
If you need something to pass the time I would recommend this book, but if you're looking for your next obsession, I would continue searching.
Other than those issues, I thought the book was funny. Both the FMC and MMC weren't annoying, even though everyone in the story talked about how the MMC was a "play boy" but I saw NOTHING of that throughout the entire novel.
If you need something to pass the time I would recommend this book, but if you're looking for your next obsession, I would continue searching.
julzangold's review against another edition
3.0
Such a cute lil brownie bite of a story.
Cara is an escape room designer, used to being the butt of the joke. [Joe] Millsy is used to the cinematic world seeing his butt. That’s right, you heard me. Ensue a lowkey Boy Meets Girl makeover and a twist on the fake dating trope, and voila! The Plus One Pact is formed.
It was a fun, low stress read with a Me Before You FMC and sweet friends to lovers romance. I found the FMC so cute and charming. Cara and Millsy just had this genuine brightness to their relationship.
I wish the final kindling of their relationship took up a bit more of the story, as there was little romance with the main LI. However, it was such a cute tale of how much someone’s confidence in you can make you shine.
For my smut lovers, this book is very much fade-to-black. If you’re looking for a quick break from smut and are craving something sweet, definitely give this a try.
Cara is an escape room designer, used to being the butt of the joke. [Joe] Millsy is used to the cinematic world seeing his butt. That’s right, you heard me. Ensue a lowkey Boy Meets Girl makeover and a twist on the fake dating trope, and voila! The Plus One Pact is formed.
It was a fun, low stress read with a Me Before You FMC and sweet friends to lovers romance. I found the FMC so cute and charming. Cara and Millsy just had this genuine brightness to their relationship.
I wish the final kindling of their relationship took up a bit more of the story, as there was little romance with the main LI. However, it was such a cute tale of how much someone’s confidence in you can make you shine.
For my smut lovers, this book is very much fade-to-black. If you’re looking for a quick break from smut and are craving something sweet, definitely give this a try.
jessicalouise25's review against another edition
3.0
Took a while to get going but this turned out to be really funny and sweet. Definitely glad I stuck with it!