Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing and Rachael Brownell for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
First things first, I really loved this cover! I was instantly intrigued just by the cover art alone. Based on the blurb I expected a forbidden love story involving two patients at a rehab. That’s... close? But not quite right. In all actuality Alex has lied his way into getting his sister admitted to rehab against her and his parent’s will. Harley is an addictions counselor at the rehab who Alex is immediately attracted to upon first meeting.
I have to be honest, I was instantly put off of this one. Second page and Alex is already AGRESSIVELY sexualizing Harley while she’s just trying to do her job. Yuck. He did end up redeeming himself in my book by the end, thankfully. Harley was a solid female lead, but her son Phoenix was a great side character. He added a lot to Harley’s story and brought in some much needed lighter moments throughout the book that kept things from getting too heavy.
There are some heavier themes throughout this one but it doesn’t feel like a heavy book, if that makes sense? The author did a fantastic job keeping the angst and drama to a digestible level.
This was a solid romance and I will be keeping my eye out for future Rachael Brownell books!

The name of this book really nailed it.

Both Alex and Harley are surviving by telling half-truths. He is a rich guy trying to save his sister and running away from his parents at the same time. Harley is working with drug addicts because of his mother's burden and trying to stay afloat while taking care of his little brother. The last thing you both need is romance. This is a beautiful story about two people brought together by lies, so what happens when everything is exposed? Are they willing to take a chance, or will they walk away?

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it, the writing was captivating and had a good pace, I just wanted to see a deeper connection between the two main characters, because from the first moment everything was very instalust.

4 Stars for this slow burn romance!

The blurp is deceiving ... it gave me the impression that they were actually patients in the rehab centre, when in fact they are not. Harley is a counsellor and Alex's sister is a patient. Even though Alex and Harley are from very different worlds, they have a lot in common ... they just want the best for the people they love the most. I loved Harley's brother, but Alex's sister is a different story ... talk about a spoiled princess. A great summer read!

Alex is from a wealthy Chicago family and Harley is from the rough side of Las Vegas. They are both running from their lives and have secrets that could tear their worlds apart. Alex has taken his little sister, from his absent parents, to a rehab facility in California. Harley lives with her brother and she is a counsellor at the rehab facility. The sparks fly between Alex and Harley, but for many reasons they are off limits to each other.

I received an early copy courtesy of Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lies and Secrets are not a solid way to start a friendship let alone a relationship. But Alex and Harley feel they have no other choice as both want to help the ones they love. Both want to do what is best for their loved ones to get them out of bad situations. Alex and Harley are complex characters, but it is their strong siblings Daphne and Phoenix who help make the story. The theme of drug use and recovery is a theme for both, and the details were believable and necessary.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced copy for my honest review.

So, the most important thing I have gathered from reading this, is that the title is overwhelmingly accurate. This is a book about people who literally only tell others half truths. They lie about their lives and their pasts in order to create new and better lives for themselves and the people they hold close to them. They lie in order to protect the ones they love most.

Alex is running away from his Chicago home with his younger sister, Daphne, whom he found in her bedroom after suffering from a drug overdose.

Harley is a drug counselor who has run away with her younger brother from a drug addicted mother who neglected them both.

Their hearts are in the right place, but they lie to each other when they meet, and they don't stop lying until the lies catch up with them. Then where does that leave them?

Alex and Harley meet when he brings Daphne to the rehab center where Harley works. And the two can barely keep it in their pants long enough to get the girl situated. They are immediately attracted to one another. And it isn't ethical or responsible for them to enter into an emotional relationship, but they do it anyway.

This was an enjoyable read. I found myself caring what happened to each of the characters, even when I didn't agree with the actions they were taking. It all comes down to love, though. The lengths that Alex goes to protect his sister from their parents, who care more about appearance than Daphne's health, was a bit extreme, but I understand it was in the name of love. Harley was kind and caring even when Daphne was horrid to her. I liked the sweet but strong nature that she exuded (something that definitely benefited her as a drug counselor).

Alex is looking out for his little sister. Sure he has technically kidnapped her and admitted her to a rehab centre - which she only go into because he metaphorically killed off his parents (who are worse than useless, so wrapped up in their own lives). Whilst checking her into rehab he finds himself staring at some beautiful ebony hair followed by a perk ass. Problem being that ass belongs to his sister's new counsellor so off bounds.

Harley is that counsellor who notices Alex checking her out at the clinic. Sure, he's hot but he is the relative of a patient and she can't go there. Not that she would have option but still.

Finding themselves as neighbours allows the chemistry between them grow. However, they are both hiding truths about themselves which threaten to undo their lives. Only admitting half truths to each other. Is that a basis for a friendship? Or a relationship? Surely, each one of them needs to know the who truth.

A story about the complex relationships people have with their families, no matter what their background. Discussion on drug use and adultery.

This book made me cry countless times.

The story follows Alex and Harley. Harley is a therapist at a drug rehabilitation center. Alex has admitted his sister, Daphne, at this center when he finds that she had overdosed. When the only apartment that Alex finds is the one across from Harley, he decides that he wants to become her friend. Both have secrets that they keep hidden and away from the other. These secrets may even destroy their relationship.

I love the background that you made for Alex and Harley. I understood all their actions based on their past. I also loved Pheonix and Daphne. They both have strong personalities that can easily run the show. I loved the writing style. I wasn’t able to put this book down until I read the last page.

I wrote this voluntary review in exchange for an ARC copy.

This wasn't my favorite because it felt like the lust between Alex and Harley came out of no where and was very predatory on Alex's part. I was also just torn on how I felt about Daphne and Phoenix being drawn into the storyline. I find Alex's intentions very creepy and just not something I'm into. I was very disappointed because I though this book had so much potential.

I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
This book is a sweet romance with the added edge of the theme of drug addiction which gives the book more depth and complexity than is traditionally seen. I enjoyed reading about the other relationships featured in this book such as Alex and Daphne as well as Harley and Phoenix. They showed love in other, equally important forms and demonstrated the qualities of the MCs.
On the other hand, I found the internal monologues a bit unnecessary as they often repeated what was apparent from the rest of the prose prior to it. In addition to this, I disliked how Alex plans to get Harley's attention by essentially not leaving her alone, it kind of rang alarm bells for me.
On the whole, a good read.