A fun, sexy read perfect for fans of HGTV and anyone who’s ever wondered about what happens after a meet-cute goes viral.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was such a wonderful book! Loved the cheese plate and the meet cute - so fun, fresh and Julie is such a great writer. I can't wait to read more of her work!

Man, oh, man! I absolutely adored this book!! This takes real, messy, awkward love to new heights and while I know that's not everybody's jam, it definitely ticks a lot of my boxes. Never before have I read a "we need to find parking quickly so we can have sex" scene. I'm always thrilled when I find something that surprises me in romance!

Full podcast review available on boobiesandnoobies.com or your favorite podcast app.

This book is such a joy to read - funny, charming, so romantic, and hot! I rooted for the characters all the way through, and the ending was perfect and satisfying.

This novel felt a little middle of the road. It's a steamy fake dating trope with two people using social media to highlight their relationship and forward their careers. While there is a definite spark between the two characters, the fake dating angle was pushed just a little too hard. The characters kept reminding themselves and the readers that this was all fake and it grew a bit tiresome, as did the social media angle. Audrey was so focused on forwarding her career and making sure they got on social media it made her come off a little cold. Even when their feelings were developing, it felt so a bit forced because social media kept being brought up. The whole concept of them going viral and being such a big deal was a touch far fetched - even if he is on a TV show (aside from the Property Brothers, are home renovators really that famous?) I liked Jack's character and thought he was well developed, but Audrey was too stiff. Ultimately this book was easy to put down and walk away from.
If fake dating trope is your thing, this would fit the bill, but there are a few elements in the storytelling that tried too hard.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked some parts of this book, but overall I didn't love it. I struggled to really connect to the story.

Audrey flies first class for the first time and just so happened to sit next to a handsome stranger, Luke. They flirt the entire flight, but before he can ask her out, she is gone. So he tweets about her. :) And just so happens that the tweet goes viral.

They manage to reconnect, but the TV network wants to use his romance to promote shows.

Audrey is shocked and the attention the tweet is getting but start to see how all of that attention could help her launch her new business, so they decide to fake it. :)

But sparks fly no matter the deal they have. :)

It's a lovely story, but I had the hardest time getting into it. The writing wasn't my favourite.

Event planner Audrey Whitaker is returning home to Chicago following a grueling conference meeting she organized. As she’s checking in for her flight, she splurges on a first class upgrade, which puts her next to a handsome guy she knows only as Luke. They hit it off splendidly during the flight and he tries to get her details as they’re waiting to disembark. But Audrey freezes and hightails it off the plane. When he can’t find her, Luke posts a desperate but clever Tweet in an attempt to get help finding her. See, Luke has a reality TV show and is a tiny bit infamous and this thing goes viral, getting the intended result. But, both of them have reason to not want to get into a serious relationship since he’s back in his hometown just for the summer. For some really good professional reasons, they both agree to embark on a fake relationship on social media, never expecting that they’d end up wanting a real one.

I’m not big on reality TV nor social media drama but something about this story tugged at me. Luke Murphy has a home restoration TV show (I’m wild about Love It or List It) and neither he or Audrey frequent social media platforms much at all, even less than me! The setup was a bit different, making for a fairly fresh set of circumstances to spark a romance. While Audrey is currently an event planner, her dream is to pursue a career in commercial photography, which I found much more interesting. I liked her, even her sometimes prickly side, and Luke was genuinely a great guy, despite his frequent blunders.

I really enjoyed this story as it delivered on the promise of the premise. Audrey and Luke’s relationship evolved slowly even while their physical attraction was immediate. Despite their “rules” of the game they were playing, both of them were in agreement each time one was shamelessly violated, and be ready for some steam! Another aspect I found enjoyable was the strong sense of place being in the city of Chicago. I felt like I was getting the view of hometown residents versus the tourist attractions, which was a big deal as I’ve read many stories set here. Both of them were also surrounded by strong family and friend networks that added wonderful flavor to the characters and romance. This was a lovely reading experience and I’m glad I trusted my instincts with this one.

I clearly did not read the description of this book closely before requesting an ARC and I'm just appalled at myself because OH MY GOD IS THIS PERFECTLY UP MY ALLEY.

Home renovation HGTV-adjacent? Check.
Meet cute out the wazoo? Check.
Cathartic quitting your toxic job and following your dreams? Checkity check.
SLOW BURN FAKE RELATIONSHIP "WE HAVE RULES TO KEEP OUR HANDS OFF EACH OTHER BECAUSE THAT WILL CLEARLY WORK" OH MY GOD CHECKKKKKKKKK

CATNIP. THIS BOOK IS PURE CATNIP.

We all know how I love trying new authors. So when I got the opportunity to try a new author whose book is based in Chicago I had to try it. I'm so glad that I did.

I really loved Just for Show. The characters are so nice and likable. They make the story so much better to read. It's the type of book you don't want to put down because you are enjoying it so much.

Right from the start, you'll connect with both Audry and Luke. When Audry couldn't wait to get home and take off her bra I knew she was my kind of woman. We've all been there. It was so cute how these two first meet. I really liked their interaction. Right off the bat, I knew I was in for a fun read.

I also loved how the author gave the story right now feel to it. She used social media heavily in the story something that we all can relate to. I loved the HGTV feel of the show. I love me so home reno.

The storyline moves well allowing you to read it quickly. A plus in my book. I love stories that draw you in and keep you there. Not only will you enjoy Audry and Luke there are other characters in the book that you'll want to know more about. I love when you read a story and you already wonder about another character in the book's story. That makes for a good author.

As a whole, I think you'll really enjoy this story and want more from this author. I know I do. Make sure to add Just for Show to your "need to buy" list.

Audrey has not had the best event. As the planner, many things went wrong, but none were under her control. Unfortunately, her boss blames her. So she upgrades her seat back to Chicago to First Class as a treat.
Luke is headed home to Chicago to visit his family and start a renovation project as a TV show pilot. He enjoys flirting with the gorgeous woman sitting next to him the entire flight. Unfortunately, he misses out on asking for her number.

What would happen if he tried to track her down with a tweet? First, the social media frenzy, followed by a few blunders and ending with a deal they will both benefit from. But is the relationship real or just for show?
This is a fun read with great characters if you like the fake relationship trope. I am looking forward to what this author brings us next.

Thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Carina Press for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

This is a book you will not want to put down till you read the whole book. The two main characters are Audrey and Luke. They meet on a plane, they sit beside each other. They have a really good conversation and flirt with each other. Once they land, they lose each other. Luke sends a text on Twitter to his many fans, because he has a renovation tv show, asking for help in finding his seat mate. Audrey’s phone blows up with notifications about Luke trying to find his seat mate. He finally finds her and they decide to fake date. While they fake date they post pictures to Twitter to keep his fans interested and to help Audrey’s business. She is starting up a photography business. But while they are fake date it begins to be real dating and then falling in love.

This is a sweet romance about a photographer and a home renovation tv show star who meet on an airplane and decide to fake a relationship for the benefit of both their careers. The fake relationship trope is really thriving right now, as this is the third book with this hook that I've read recently. The originality here, I think, is the reality tv/twitter fame aspect of the inciting incident, but despite that, the story feels really grounded and homey. Unlike, say, Alexis Daria's YOU HAD ME AT HOLA or Olivia Dade's SPOILER ALERT, the fame doesn't lead to a big setting or heightened drama.

The characters, Luke and Audrey, are compelling enough to keep the familiar plot moving and I like that the author doesn't rely on miscommunication to disrupt their relationship—Luke and Audrey mess things up in other ways. The tension in their relationship comes from the fact that Luke isn't planning on staying in Chicago past the end of the summer, and Audrey doesn't do long-term relationships anyway. Additionally, the secondary characters are fun and could definitely take the lead in romances of their own.

I will say that I was surprised at the sexual content in this one. Something about the shininess of the people on the cover had me thinking that this would be a closed-door romance, but boy was I wrong! Hamilton blows that door down, full speed ahead.

Luke and Audrey meet on an airplane and hit it off, Audrey not knowing that Luke is the hot carpenter on a home renovation tv show. When Luke uses social media to reconnect his tweet goes viral and this results not only in him finding Audrey but also the network insisting he uses the 'social media romance' to crank up ratings. He makes a deal with Audrey as she also wants to use the opportunity for her photography business. But what about their initial chemistry? Is everything just for show?

A charming story that highlights the pros and cons of the use of social media in these days.

3.5 stars for a good read..

Luke and Audrey were both likable characters and though Audrey did not come out as a strong one at the start it was good as the story went by.

The fake relationship trope is one of my favourites and overall it was a good read.

Looks like this is the first one by the author. Would like to read more from her.
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Geez Louise, did I struggle with this book. Fake relationships are my catnip, but this one just didn't work for me. The relationship itself was so fraught with awkwardness and coldness that it made it impossible to believe that there was any chance of real love at the end of the facade. Such a pity.

Audrey and Luke meet on a plane and hit it off. He tries to ask her out but she gets away from him too soon. He sends out a tweet trying to find her and it explodes on social media. Soon they are ‘fake’ dating but maybe it isn’t so fake after all.
This was an engaging and well written book. The meet-cute, on a plane over a cheese tray, was charming. Luke and Audrey are likable characters though more could have been made about Audrey’s obsession with lists and planning and so on. It was a bit of a stretch to balance the fact that Luke was somewhat shy and without a large ego against the fact that he was starring in his own show. But that leap was well worth it. This was a delightful, and sensuous, tale. I would recommend this book to my patrons. However, I would give this book a 3.5 and am on the fence about making the decision to buy it. Because of limited funds I can usually only afford books with 4.0 and 5.0 ratings. But, again, this book was essentially just charming.

Just for Show by Julie Hamilton is a contemporary romance novel set mostly in Chicago. It’s a lovely story of a chance meeting, and then a social media frenzy that kept the two main characters together.

Audrey Whitaker is flying home to Chicago from Boston after a fairly stressful work trip as a conference event planner. She impulsively decides to upgrade her seat to first-class and ends up sitting next to a very handsome carpenter. They fill the time during the flight with talk and they spend the time getting to know each other. But, when the flight is over, Audrey walks away before they get a chance to exchange phone numbers.

Luke Murphy is a carpenter for a television show on HomeTV and is flying to Chicago, his home, to visit family and to film a pilot for a show about renovating victorian homes in Chicago. When he spends his flight sitting next to a gorgeous woman, he’s disappointed after they land and she flees the aircraft before he is able to get her phone number.

Disappointed that he lost his chance with Audrey, Luke sends out a tweet to his fans that says “Here's how things are going so far for me in Chicago:
1) Messed up my attempt at asking out the gorgeous woman next to me on the plane.
2) Couldn't catch up to her at O'Hare.
3) I'm hoping she finds me on Twitter.
4) Maybe if she sees this, we can split another cheese plate sometime”

The tweet goes viral and causes problems for both Audrey and Luke. Audrey has always dreamed of starting a photography business and she realizes that Luke and his popularity on Twitter can help her find clients. And Luke’s producer has suggested that he use his social media presence to help promote his new show. So, Audrey and Luke decide to team up and fake date in order to help promote Audrey’s photography business and Luke’s new DIY show.
I thoroughly enjoyed Just for Show and loved the chemistry between Audrey and Luke. I liked that this book uses a lot of social media references and illustrates both the negatives and positives of social media use both for personal and professional uses. It neither glamorizes nor demonizes the use of social media, but instead gives a fairly realistic look at how it can help, and hinder relationships.

I recommend Just for Show to anyone who enjoys contemporary romances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.