This was a very charming and amusing book. The hero and heroine have unique professions. April paints people for a living - not the flowers on little kids’ cheeks at the fair kind of human painting, but for music videos, a Sports Illustrated sort of swimsuit edition. Google it - it’s really a big deal for some people. She’s good and she makes a decent living. However, she hasn’t had luck in love and she’s dreading going home for her family reunion without a guy because she knows that everyone will try to match her up with guys in their quaint little Connecticut town. So she ends up hiring Theo who is a bartender who moonlights as a date for hire. He has a Craigslist ad for his talents that will just crack you up. He also is just scraping by in New York City as he’s trying to earn enough money to pay off his older brother’s debt to a former girlfriend.

Of course April and Theo start falling for each other right away. Their conversation is witty, interesting, and sexy. I always enjoy authors who can write dialogue that help you to understand why two people would fall in love with each other.

April’s family is a hoot and their reunion family competition sounds like a lot of fun. Theo has only his brother and a pretty hard scrabble past after his parents both died when he was a young teenager. He and his brother were able to get along with grifting though both have gone straight now.

This book was a lot of fun. The characters were interesting, different, and entertaining. It was definitely the real deal.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

The real Deal
This book is so cute. Theo and April are a true love story. What happens when you hire a boyfriend? It’s nothing but magic. You fall in love with both characters. I love that they both come from different lives.
Theo touched me more and tears for him.
This book got me.

4.5 Stars - I was worried that this one would be pretty cheesy, due to the cover. But I actually thought it was really really good. The characters are quirky and their relationship walks the line between romantic and banter-y. and in-the-gutter. I thought that their dialogue was really fun and amusing, and I liked how Theo did so many funny roles and accents. It made their relationship a lot of fun. The chemistry was also really really good. Very intense, lots of very steamy moments. It was pretty darn slow burn too, which I was a fan of. I loved the family reunion setting, and April's quirky family members. Overall the story just worked for me and I think it is tied for first in the contemporary romance category for this year!

I loved this book and these characters! April needs a date to her hometown family reunion. Her family won't stop trying to fix her up with hometown guys to get her to move home. She had a date set up with a friend but when that falls through she is referred to Theo. His services are numerous, platonic, and hilarious. He can be anything you want but doesn't get romantically involved with his clients. Of course, over time they can't resist each other. Delicious, funny, sexy, sweet.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.” 

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. (I knew Lauren Blakely wouldn't disappoint me).

This book is about one of my favorite subjects: fake relationships.

When April Hamilton's fake-boyfriend, Xavier, can't make it to her family's reunion, he gives her the contact info to one of his friends, Theo, who is actually a boyfriend-for-hire. As soon as she reads the ad on Craigslist (wich was hilarious btw) she decides Theo would be the perfect man for the job.

They start exchanging e-mails but as soon as they meet in person they feel the instant chemistry they have and they fall into an easy fake relationship, they invent this cute and weird stories and they just fit together so well. They love to talk to each other and they laugh together and invent stories about their fake sex life, and they're just so cute and fun to read.

They soon realize that they may not be acting after all and have real feelings for each other, but both have reasons not to act on their feelings.

One thing I've always loved about Lauren Blakely's books it's that they have just the right amount of drama, just enough to make it interesting without bordering on annoying and I'm happy to say this book was not the expection, it was perfect well balanced.

April's family was also one of the things I've loved, they all had their little stories and that's what makes a story interesting, that every character has something to say, in this case we got a chance to see a little something about the lifes of a few of her relatives.

I love unexpected situations and getting surprised about what a character is about to say or do, and this book has all of those things. (Don't want to spoil much, but this family doesn't have exactly "normal" reunions).

And it has one of those meaningful cute, completely fitting endings that make my heart flutter.

So in a few words, this book was amazing!

And I loved the Mister O reference in the epilogue.

This was my first Lauren Blakely romance and it will not be my last. I hate that I have a ton of her books on my Kindle, but haven't read any yet. That changes now! This story was fantastic! I really felt the instant chemistry between April and Theo. I loved the way they talked to each other. It was so sexy and made the build up so intense! Definitely recommend this quick, fun read!

I loved this book! It was a fun read and the storytelling between the two main characters really increased the fun factor in this book. I would highly recommend this book for someone looking for a fun summer read!! Can't wait to read more by Lauren Blakely!!

The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely is a quick, funny read. Theo is a bartender and a boyfriend for hire; he can be your best friend, boy next door or bad boy. April is dreading her upcoming family reunion as all the women are trying to fix her up with someone in her hometown in hopes she will leave New York and move back there. She decides to hire Theo after her friend Xavier is unable to attend and suggests that Theo could help her. Will her family figure out that they are not really together? Will more develop between Theo and April as they spend five days together? Will they be able to keep what’s real and what is acting separate?
I liked the idea of the story and the characters are realistic and likeable. Some parts are very funny as they compete in games and try to keep up the pretense of being in love at the reunion. Personally, I could have done without the explicit sexual talk and scenes but I know some enjoy that. I give this book 4 of 5 stars. I think it will mostly appeal to 20-30 something readers.

The cover and blurb made me want to read this book. Thank you NetGalley! Theo and April are interesting characters still trying to figure out who they are. There’s humor. There’s family. There’s ethics, morals, and heat. There’s a love story that happens really fast! If you like stories told in first person, where each chapter is told from the other’s perspective, this one’s for you! I give this one 3.5 stars – it’s better that ok, but they were too unsettled for me.

Lauren does it again with her amazing talent for keeping you interested and hot and bothered. April and Theo eere dynamic and sexy.

5 Stars.....

Oh how I loved this book! All of Lauren Blakely's books, in fact. The Real Dealis a "hired boyfriend/date trope. Although this trope is high in predictability, the entertainment factor is always a plus. Especially when the book is written with the romantic comedy genre. And being written by Lauren Blakely always adds more fun.

April and Theo were a perfect couple. I felt this strongly even before they met. Each perspective gave me the perfect amount of insight to come to this conclusion. When they actually met, they "clicked." It wasn't only physical attraction between them that was instant. They were both good people. Theo had a past he wasn't proud of however when you learn the details, you will love him even more. April comes from a wealthy family and grew up with a life full of love and happiness. But April had her own issues due to her family's high expectations of her relationship status, or lack of.

April lives in NYC, a couple of hours away from her family's Connecticut hometown. She has no desire to move back home even though her family persists that she should. They have in mind that if they match-make her with a man from their hometown, she'll want to stay. For the most part, April is able to avoid her overbearing family. However, that reprieve is short-lived because she must now prepare to travel back home for the family fun reunion. If April has to go back, she will not go alone. Since April has been burned in the romance department, she is decidedly single. Now April needs a fake boyfriend. And fast.

Theo is a lot of things these days. He is a full time bartender and part time date/boyfriend for hire. Theo has a financial debt he is desperately trying to satisfy. He is so close to being debt free. As I said earlier, Theo has a couple of secrets. They are revealed to the reader as the book goes on. However, Theo's secrets are kept tightly hidden, locked up away from April. I will say Theo is not completely dishonest with April. In fact, he surprisingly finds himself revealing bits and pieces of his past to April. And as their fake relationship turns to something more, Theo is desperate to find the right moment to confess it all before she finds out. You can probably infer what will happen and I'll leave it at that. I would hate to spoil this book for you.

The Real Deal is a fun and flirty read. In addition, there is some angst and sexy, intimate moments that are off the charts, scorching hot. I loved every minute of this fast paced read and as always look forward to more from this author.

The Real Deal is a standalone novel written in first-person perspective from both Theo and April's POV.

This is my honest and unbiased opinion. That you for taking the time to read it. :)

I loved this book! Such a fun and quick read if you enjoy romantic comedy. Writing was descriptive and witty. I would definitely recommend to my friends.

The book begins with April ordering herself a boyfriend for hire, Theo. Theo is a bartender by day and boyfriend for hire by a Craigslist ad he places in order to drum up money to pay off a debt that is not his own. April is an artist who paints the bodies of models for a living. She is definitely from a different world than Theo. Theo has had to scrape by his whole life, along with his older brother, Heath. Theo and April are connected by her friend, Xavier, who has to cancel at the last minute from attending her family reunion and playing the part of her boyfriend. April and Theo hit it off right away but both of them have reasons to keep things platonic. April has been burned by her previous boyfriend and Theo wants to be a professional and one of his rules is not getting involved with his clients. The book was interesting, had some LOL moments and did give a good glimpse into both April and Theo's lives. Theo was a good person deep down who overcame a lot in his life. April was kind of sheltered and was definitely coddled by her parents and extended family a lot. She couldn't conceive of someone winning $5,000.00 and not giving it to charity. It was definitely telling to Theo as to how different they were. I really do enjoy Lauren Blakely's books and this one was no different. It was kind of a fresh spin on the "boyfriend for hire" theme. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to someone looking for an "insta-love" book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review..

Another great Rom-com from Lauren Blakely! April Hamilton is dreading going to her family reunion as her family will be trying to set her up after her last boyfriend forgot to mention he was married. She decides to hire Theo Banks, bartender and part time rent-a-boyfriend. Theo’s part time gig is strictly platonic, but he and April are attracted to each other from the moment they meet. April and Theo have to get through his checkered past, her family’s distrust of him or any man from NYC, and the crazy reunion competition. The Real Deal brings both laughs and an HEA. I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley for my honesty review.

I can't even tell you how much I loved this book. I wasn't certain I would like the tough bad boy exterior of Theo but he turned out to be not only adorable but hardly a bad boy at all! I love the trope of pretend boyfriend/engagement, so that's a natural first step toward loving this book. I also loved the hints of jealousy and cute flirting. I think my favorite surprises were that I didn't mind them falling in love over 5 days — somehow it worked — and the fact that they didn't just get intimate the first night alone together. Overall, such a fresh surprise that had me grinning throughout the whole book!

I enjoyed this immensely! Neither Theo nor April were looking for any type romantic relationship. And then, BAM! It smacks them upside the head in the best way. I adored seeing them try to navigate real life between the rules f their deal. Lauren Blakely is such a queen of the rom com!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced read in exchange for this review.

April is single and wants to stay that way thanks to past heartbreak. She has a family reunion and hires someone to play her boyfriend. This is an entertaining and light read. April is pretty likeable, and her family is a hoot. Enjoyed it, even though it likely won't be memorable read.

Can I just say how much I'm loving the fake boyfriend/girlfriend romances right now. And The Real Deal is absolutely amazing. Lauren Blakely has this way of bringing out the sexy along with the laugh out loud moments. Oh and she gives good wooing too. April is a delight. You feel for her with how her family still sees her. Once you meet them just enjoy the family time. I love how she finally tells them how she feels about the set up's and moving home eventually. When you meet Theo hold onto your panties because yes they just may disappear. He is hot and a can be anything you need for any situation. Once he meets his next job April you can just feel the attraction rolling off them. Lines get blurred big time. I love when that happens. April and Theo are perfect for each other. Neither is looking for that relationship. Can I just say I love how Theo handle April's parents. Yep read this one and find out all the juicy details that I'm refusing to share with you. I'm so in love with this book. Go one click it when you can because you wont be disappointed in The Real Deal.

To get her match making family off her back for the family reunion, April hires Theo to be her pretend boyfriend.
But when they meet the attraction between them is real and as they started making up stories, and concocting tales the lines between pretend and real start getting blurred. But there is something that Theo is hiding from April, how will she react when she knows the truth ?
The real deal is a funny, sweet and swoon worthy read. I enjoyed the banter and make believe stories between April and Theo. I also enjoyed the family and their fun reunion. Overall an enjoyable summer read !

**I received a copy of The Real Deal from Net Galley and St. Martins Press in exchange for a honest and voluntary review**

The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely really makes you think...what would you do if everyone from your home town wants to set you up with their pick of a perfect husband for you? They also don't understand why she can't do her job, Body Painting, there vs. New York City. It's made April Hamilton not want to return home but this time for the annual family reunion games she's asked her BFF Xavier to come posing as her boyfriend. When he gets a job of a lifetime he recommends Theo Banks a boyfriend for hire on with the most awesome ad on how he could be just what you needed him to be on Craigslist.

Theo Banks has secrets though he's an ex-con, former con artist but now is walking the straight and narrow and this next job with April Hamilton will allow him to pay off his brother's debt to a former partner in crime. But can he convince not only April's mother and father but the whole town that he loves April without falling in love with her for real?

April Hamilton loves her body painting job and get through the next four days of her families reunion and games while convincing everyone that Theo is the love of her heart and soul. But when feelings become real and she catches Theo in a lie will she be able to forgive him?

This book is totally worth 4.5 stars and I highly recommend reading it.