Loved this one from start to finish!

When April needs a date to her family reunion (to keep her family from setting her up with very guy they find), a friend of hers sends her an Ad for a boyfriend for hire. He can be anything you want. After all, you're paying for it

Theo has strict rules when it comes to his clients. He does what they ask, and has been every character under the sun. He was not prepared for the role of a lifetime when he meets April and how much he wants to break his role.

A cute rom-com that will have you begging for more. You can't help but root for this couple - even with all their situation is throwing at them. Could not put it down!

I am going to say something bold- out of all the Lauren Blakely books I have read and loved, The Real Deal is my new favorite! April and Theo were adorable together and I loved that their fake relationship began to feel so real to both of them so quickly- it was hard and fast! April's family was a hoot and their reunion contests were so fun to read about! Full of chemistry and witty banter, The Real Deal was just plain fun to read. And I LOVED the Mister O Easter Egg at the end!

Such a cute book!! Absolutely loved it!! Each one of Lauren’s books are amazing and this one is the same. April is looking for someone to attend a family event with her because she knows if her family finds out she’s single they’ll start hooking her up with peoples left and right and that’s the last thing she wants. She had her good friend Xavier to fit the bill but something comes up and can’t help her out but doesn’t leave her in a bind he promises the new fill in will be great. April has no choice and needs someone and at this post my any guy will do..

Overall it was great it flowed the storyline worked there is amazing chemistry and plenty of passion throughout the book. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone!!

Fun story, well written, I liked that it was an entire book, not the first in a trilogy, etc. Cute characters, and I always love when a small town is one of the characters of a novel.

The Real Deal is a sweet romance, with all the feel good moments. It’s a really cute, quirky and fun read about virtual strangers who stage a fake relationship. April is an adorable character, she has a colorful personality and wears her heart on her sleeve. She has hired Theo to pose as her boyfriend during a family gathering, to keep her family meddling at bay. She hopes to ward off their efforts to find her a partner and to convince her to move back to her hometown. I absolutely loved Theo. Though at times, he broke my heart. He and his brother never had it easy. Their backstory was heartbreaking, and they made some questionable choices when they were strapped for cash.

Theo and April had undeniable chemistry. Their scenes were filled with sweetness, sexiness and emotion. I loved to see them getting to know each other better and revealing their inner selves. Their fake relationship felt more and more like a real one. The author portrayed the evolution of their relationship in a realistic way. Their blossoming romance was believable. I was able to see them change throughout, both as individuals and as a couple. They pretend with other people, but they are honest with each other. I think it really added to their growing bond.

Lauren Blakely is an amazing writer and I need to read more of her work, her books are a little slice of romance heaven. This one was the perfect summer read!

I absolutely loved everything about this story! It is a unique and funny, slow burn romance, between two fascinatingly flawed characters, who aren't looking for love. April hires Theo to be her fake boyfriend for a family reunion so she can avoid the dates her family will push on her. From their very first meeting, their clever banter weaves a fictitious, yet romantic tale of how they met and fell in love. It continues throughout the story until neither can tell what is the real deal or the fantasy. But before the weekend is over, the fake stories and all the secrets begin to weigh heavy on them both. I loved the chemistry between April and Theo, they connected instantly, really seeing and understanding each other. They had me totally swooning and rooting for their HEA! The quirky relatives and the wacky family contests, also added a lot of fun and entertaining moments. Ms Blakely is a master at witty banter, and clever storylines with heart and this is definitely the Real Deal!

The Real Deal is Lauren Blakely's newest rom-com. I'm a huge fan of Lauren's and her books, as you know! The Real Deal has the feel of Lauren's first books. Sassy, sweet, sexy and fun. I adore Theo and April and I love this story! April needs a pretend date. Theo needs money to pay off an old debt. The perfect solution to both their problems. He's a great actor. She's fun and flirty. They fool everyone. And then they start to fool themselves. Their pretend stories feel real. Their accidental touches become intentional. Their fake feelings become real. But Theo has a secret. A past that he's not ready to confess yet. But he's a good guy. He's not the boy he used to be. Will April trust in their feelings when she finds out the truth? Can a fake boyfriend really become the real deal? I loved this story! So much! Their banter was so fun and sexy I was fanning myself. I loved Theo and his accents and his deep, sexy voice. April is one of my favorite heroines of Laurens. She's smart, talented, beautiful and I love her family! Overall, I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered and I already want more Theo!

After asking a friend to pose as her boyfriend, he gets a dream job and can't do it. Knowing she needs someone for the family reunion and it's only five days he asks a friend. Theo really needs the money. Well, April is the one in for the big surprise. She falls for Theo, but he hasn't been totally honest with her about who he is. And after her last two boyfriends, she is not ready for more lies and more let down. Can April and Theo turn this into something special or will they go their separate ways when the job is done. I really like this story it was paced and humorous.

Lauren Blakely has done it again! What an incredibly sweet and charming love story about two people who find that pretending can sometimes be just as exciting as the real thing! Imagine a reversed Pretty Woman story...

In preparation of going home to see the family in Connecticut, April has decided that hiring a pretend boyfriend to keep the family off her back is the next best thing after her bestie stand-in has to bail for a job. Tired of being set-up with every guy her family comes across, all in hopes of leading her back to her hometown and everything she is not interested in... she heads to the family reunion with her Craigslist hired boyfriend on her arm and a great backstory.

Turns out, Theo is perfection from the moment they meet. Ready to create any story she requires, it's obvious the sparks fly immediately with these two. Creating fun backstories that feel all too real for a couple that met only a few days ago.

Can't forget the family aspect here... some people have family and never see how wonderful they are and never know how good they have it. Some have no family and only dream of being "harassed" by those who love you and it was beyond heartwarming to watch such a loving group of people together. April clearly has a wonderful family and they so lovingly welcome Theo and his family into theirs.

So heartwarming, this book brought a smile to my face over and over. Didn't want to put it down yet I didn't want it to end!? Such wonderful characters, I loved April's strength, and determination and listening to the two of them together was beyond adorable. Loved that she was so quick, funny and smart and he was just a sweetheart, afraid of his past, afraid of letting her down, afraid this would never be more than a fake weekend... boy was he wrong!? ;-) Highly recommended read and author!!

Family Reunion? Fake Boyfriend? Original plan totally fails? Check, check, and check! The Real Deal is the romantic comedy that you have been waiting for! An absolutely delightful read that warms your heart and makes you tingle all over. A charming story about two complete opposites with totally different goals, yet who fit so perfectly that you can help but root for the perfect HEA.

When April Hamilton’s BFF bails on her as her plus one/fake boyfriend to her family reunion, she thinks she is done for. She’ll have to endure the matchmaking and 100 questions from her well meaning family in Wistful, Connecticut. Lucky for her, said BFF has a back up plan… a boyfriend-for-hire named Theo. Feeling desperate, she calls him, meets him, and “books” him. All is good right? Well she didn’t exactly count on Theo being SEXY as SIN… lol!

Theo Banks hasn’t had the easiest life but makes the most of his skills and what he has learned along the way. His side gig as a boyfriend-for-hire has turned out to be pretty good and since he always keeps things platonic, this next job shouldn’t be a problem. Uh… yeah sure.

I absolutely LOVED their first meeting (see excerpt below) and I absolutely LOVED that the sparks started flying from the beginning. But I think, what I LOVED the most, were April and Theo. Period. They were amazing… likable, relate-able, and just great all around. Every interaction between them had me smiling and every made up story they whispered to each other had me swooning. It was the real deal all along! Bottom line… The Real Deal delivers a the story that is witty, sweet, full of humor, and all-around swoony. A must read for all fans of RomComs!

I loved the style and flow of this book. The characters felt real and their storyline felt realistic. I loved the dynamic between Theo and April. The boyfriend for hire was genius. I’d love to see their story continue or have it turn into a series.

It pains me to say this but I’m not sure what happened that I just couldn’t connect with the story. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I read a super emotional story before I started this and the humor was lost on me because of it. But despite that I did find things I liked about this book. I liked that she had an unconventional job. I like his ability to adopt to any situation he’s thrown in since early age. I even liked her family trying to set her up with men so she would return home. I think if I re-read it in a couple of weeks I will have a different opinion about this story for now it’s a 3,5* for me.

***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***

The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely is a fun and flirty story. April Hamilton needs a boyfriend to bring home to meet her parents so that they will get off her case. Luckily for her she finds Theo Banks' ad. Theo is an expert at exactly what April needs. Coming across as the real deal boyfriend, but just pretending, really well.

The idea of this story is reminiscent of the movie, The Wedding Date, but these characters are very different. While there was an immediate connection between them, dealing with April's crazy family gives them real experiences with each other and as the lines between pretend and real start to blur we get to see April and Theo really grow and blossom together.

Overall I had a lot of fun reading The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely and recommend it if you are looking for a fun, fake to real, romance story. The characters really connected and brought the whole thing together.

(I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

Theo. He's the not-so-bad guy you can't help falling for. And April is a woman who you want to be friends with. This story is funny, sweet, romantic, and yes...sexy. A story you'll be happy to get lost in!

When April Hamilton’s plan for her family’s reunion falls through, she ends up hiring an unknown guy to play the part of her boyfriend in front of her family.
Theo Banks has always struggled to make ends meet and the boyfriend-for-hire gig comes when he needs it most. What he couldn’t foresee was the attraction to the witty, beautiful girl who hired him for the long weekend.
In the spirit of “The Wedding Date”, Ms. Blakely delivers another smart and sexy story about an unseemly couple falling in love during a weekend visit to a small eastern coastal town with the backdrop of close knit family, amusement park rides and silly games.
True to Ms. Blakely’s style The Real Deal is a fun, fast read, filled with laughter and romance. Whether you are already a fan or new to her books, you are sure to enjoy April and Theo’s story.

4 stars

Whenever I get a chance to read my favorite author, Lauren Blakely, I'm always crazy excited. The Real Deal is a legit fantastic romantic comedy. Fake boyfriend tropes are a good time waiting to happen. Full of funny, fake stories, sexual tension and finally an HEA I've been dying for. In the case of April and Theo, I was entranced by their chemistry from the get-go.

April needs a fake boyfriend for a family reunion. While her family keeps trying to set her with town locals to encourage her to move back home, she's perfectly content living in the big city. Enter, Theo. A little bit of a bad boy with a past, he's the perfect boyfriend-for-hire with a full menu of characters to chose from. He's quite the catch.

As they attend the family reunion together, the family antics are hilarious. Never have I read such a FUN and competitive family reunion. What a BLAST!!

While The Real Deal is a ton of fun and torturous with a slow burn, it was a little darker in areas that I'm not used to seeing in LB's books. Fans of Lauren Blakely will surely like this addition to their summer reading lists.

4.5 stars!

The book is more than the blurb in this one. April and Theo have chemistry to spare. What starts out as a boyfriend-for-hire gig turns into so much more...the real deal!

This book has all the wittiness you expect from a Lauren Blakely novel.

It was cute, witty, hot, steamy and just all around enjoyable. Of course there's some bumps in the road and April gets a dose of reality at the part she's playing in deceiving her family, but all is right in the end.

Enjoyable read for sure.

I voluntarily requested and reviewed an uncorrected advance reader copy from the publisher via Net Galley.

4.5☆
The Real Deal is absolutely adorable! April and Theo are trying to fake their relationship, but they can't fake their fantastic chemistry. I love well they play off each other and their slow burn. I really like the build up with their story and enjoy the storyline a lot! Theo has a very interesting background and I really liked what that element added to the story. These two were so freaking cute together and I just adored their story!

April Hamilton is living in New York City much to the dismay of her parents. They want their little girl to find a great guy and settle back in their hometown of Wistful, CT. Too bad April enjoys her life in NY, especially her job of painting people. When April has to go back home for the annual family reunion, she decides to hire a pretend boyfriend for the weekend long celebration that her friend Xavier recommended.

Enter Theo Banks. He will play any part, bad boy, guy next store, etc based on each person situational needs, but never anything emotional or physical. So what happens when Theo first meets April.....BAM....instant attraction. This attraction will make the job easy to pretend, but also hard because he wants more from April than what they agreed to.

Over the course of the weekend, April and Theo are having a hard time keeping their hands off of each other. When they finally give in to their desires, the past will come back to haunt them.

This was such a great, fun, sexy story that I laughed out loud at many times. I just adored both Theo and April. They were both jaded from events in their pasts, but together they were able to move forward. Read this, you won't regret it!

Love the real deal. Lauren Blakely words and stories are amazing. Really enjoyed reading this book. Love everything. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.