**Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this eARC and i am leaving this review voluntarily.**

When I first started this book, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel, I instantly however adored the main character - Pat's Dad, Tank.
The story begins with Pat and his father talking about how his father has just bought a town.
Who knew that was a thing?
Anyway, his father wants all of his children on board to make it worthwhile, Pat isn't so sure, that is until he finds out where it is. Sheet Cake, Texas.
And why does he finally relent upon hearing it?
That's right, the one that got away. The woman he loved five years ago lives in that very town. and Pat has decided he is going to win her back.

This story is a lovable, fun rom-com. Set in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business and would do anything they can to lend a hand.
Pat's family dynamics with his siblings and father is admirable, and I couldn't help but fall for all of his brothers in one way or another.

Our other main character, Lindy - who lives in Sheet Cake, who up hauled her life to look after her niece is in need of a husband. and who happens to walk right into town and offer?
That's right, Patrick Graham, the one that got away and broke her heart.
Their chemistry is undeniable and so so sweet.
I enjoyed their journey and if you love a story with a cute journey, this one is for you!

I enjoyed this but was also frustrated. Pat is a guy who does everything large and it was endearing. Lindy was likable even if she was a bit perfect. Jo stole her scenes, as did Tank. My issues with the book are that there was too much internal monologue. There was a lot of telling and not enough feeling. Add in some misunderstandings and it was frustrating to me. I am glad I gave this author a try.

Charming and hilarious!

First of all thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for providing me with a digital copy.

Buy-In is the first installment to the Graham brothers series by Emma St Clair. It was an hilarious fake marriage between Patrick and Lindy in a small town named after a cake. Lindy was just a caring aunt who dreams of travelling the world but ended up taking care of her niece and fighting for her custody. Patrick on the other hand, is an ex foot player who happens to be Lindy's ex. Things went downhill when Patrick's father purchase Lindy's town and the two had the epic meeting of their life after their breakup.

I was completely sold with story when I read "marriage for convenience" and this was also second chance love story. The chemistry between the two was undeniably cheesy and downright funny. We have Patrick who is completely head over heels for Lindy. He was an absolute cinnamon roll. Lindy may look tough and all but those times she couldn't control herself when it comes to Patrick being an absolute husband material. The bond Patrick had with Jo, Lindy's niece, was so adorable.

The thing that catches my attention was the town being sold and what are the odds that you ran into your ex who happened to live in the town your father purchased. It was dramatic when you think about it.

The one thing that blew me off was the lack of climax. The whole point of the marriage was to win custody of Jo against her biological mother and Lindy's sister. It was a totally bum when the custody was just magically given to them. There are a lot of miscommunications as well between characters but I am ok with it.

Overall it was a perfect read for the month considering I read this during love month. Every girl would be swooning over Patrick Graham after reading this!

Such a fantastic read! I loved every minute of it. I live In a small town and can totally relate to the characters living ina small town. It was spot on!! I also love a good live story when one person really is pushing the relationship and one just fights it. Thanks so much for letting me join your world and leave mine of a bit. I loved it!

Highly recommend!! This book is a definite page-turner! You'll be left thinking about the story long after you put the book down. First book to read by this author but definitely not my last!

I loved this book! I was excited when I found out that it was about Pat, he was such an intriguing character from his sister Harper's book. I laughed so much while reading The Buy In. It was so filling. Loved the banter. Didn't love how many times Lindy shut him down. I am excited for The Bluff, can't wait to learn more about James.

First of all, I am officially 100% in love with Patrick Graham. Wow. This book had me cracking up and almost crying from the feels. I absolutely love this story and this family and town.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ebook copy of this one!

The Buy-In is a great fluffy, romance read. It has a lot of humor and wit that made me really hooked in it since the first few pages. I knew that despite the topics being addressed in it, it wasn't supposed to feel heavy or serious. Its flaws– from the plot and the characters themselves were evident, but they didn't bother me that much. I actually liked the vulnerability and predictability of it. I adored the tension between Lindy and Pat, and how they made their way to clear things up and have what they deserve. The writing style really got me, despite it having long chapters and a few unnecessary parts. I recommend this book to those who want a feel-good book to laugh and smile with.

Such an adorable 5 star read. I loved their characters and the romance was so good. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

5⭐
-Dual Pov
-Single Parent / Guardian
-Sport Romance
-Second Chances
-Small Town
-Marriage of convenience
-Forced Proximity
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TW⚠️:
-Adicciones
-Abandono de un hijo
-Familiar con demencia
-Batalla por una custodia

Gracias Netgalley , por la copia a cambio de una opinión honesta.

Es la primera vez que leo algo de Emma ST. Clair y me ha encantado ( estoy de suerte este año está lleno de buenas lecturas ) . The Buy-in está lleno de momentos mega graciosos , lo que más me gustó fue que todos los personajes llegan a formar una familia / comunidad que se muestran apoyo mutuamente. ( Me dió Vibes a Gilmore Girls)

Lindy es mega determinada y solo quiere lo mejor para su sobrina Jo. Pat es increíble y la forma en la que quiere a Jo es muy tierno.

Second chances romance son algo complicados para mí porque depende de la razón de la ruptura en primer lugar. Buy-In se sintió esperanzador , ambos algunos errores y cada uno sintió como si fueran los que se escaparon. Pat y Lindy , sacaban lo mejor y se hacían más fuertes. Y Jo se robó cada escena en la que estaba. También me encantó el pueblo de Sheet Cake. Desde la aplicación Neighborly, hasta los tres Bobs, hasta Ladies Literary and Libations Society.
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Resulta que este libro ( y los que estén dentro de la saga) es un spin-off de "Love Cliches series " está más que claro que serán mis próximas lecturas.
Fue un buen inicio de saga y estoy emocionada por el siguiente.

"I have less than a fluid ounce of dignity in my entire body"

“I do respect you. But I will keep coming after you like the Terminator.”

“In a relationship, sometimes one person needs more help and support than the other. At another time, it may flip. And still other times, it might be totally equal give-and-take. For now, you need support and I’m freely giving it.”

“Dad, you can’t just Schitt’s Creek a town.”

This delightful, and sweet rom-com had me laughing and fall in love with the characters!

Every since his career ending injury, Pat has jumped from job to job and place to place. He hasn’t found something, or someone, to set down roots at. When his dad buys a town, his goal is now to convince his brothers to help transform the town and set roots there! What his brothers and dad don’t know if his other motive is to win back the only woman he’s loved who got away 5 years ago!
Lindy had dreams to be a travel writer until circumstances had her stay in her small town and take care of her mom and niece. Now as she’s facing losing custody of her niece, she’s prepared to do anything to keep Jo with her: even a marriage of convenience to a man who broke her heart 5 years ago!
Will Patrick be able to win over Lindy, and the town? Will Lindy be able to do the marriage of convenience without falling for him again? Can Lindy have the man of her dreams and keep her niece?

This book was so sweet and funny! It felt like Sweet Home Alabama, with a dash of Friday Night Lights thrown in! I loved the relationships and interactions between friends, Pat’s family, Lindy’s niece and of course the people of the town. At times I wanted to tell Lindy to stop fighting Pat, but I get her hesitation and her guardedness! Luckily Pat has a great family to talk him through the situation, while Lindy has some very dear and honest friends who can speak frankly to her.
I read this in one sitting and couldn’t stop reading it! It was brilliant, deep, funny, tender, redemptive, and real!
I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

This was a really fun read! Pat is not the kind of MC that you meet often - bright, optimistic, into his feelings, self-aware.
Lindy has the weight of the world on her shoulders and has lost a little bit of the sparkles she had. Faced with the possibility of losing her niece's guardianship, she enters a mariage of convenience with Pat, except that Pat is in it for real.
The first few chapters were a little slow for me, but I'm glad I stuck to it because it picked up after. I loved the dynamics of the relationships in this book: Lindy and her niece; Pat and his father, brothers, sister; the bromances.
Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This ARC was provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.
5 Stars!!! I loved everything about The Buy-In! It hooked me from the beginning and I could not put it down! Emma St Clair pulled out all the feels! I felt every emotion and didn't want it to end. I loved Lindy and Pat (Patty is one of my favorite book boyfriends) Amazing character building; loved the side characters as much as the MCs. I can't wait to read Winnie and James story in The Bluff. If you are in the mood for a rom com that will make you laugh and cry, love second chance, marriage of convivence/fake marriage, or OTL tropes you have to read this!

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read and review this.

This is a cute but standard small-town story, mainly following Lindy and Pat's romance. While this was a cute read, I had some issues with the development of the characters and the overall storyline. The beginning heavily talks about Lindy fighting for custody for her niece (which her sister Rachel had abandoned shortly after birth), which later is side-lined for the romance development between Lindy and Pat.

For me, it felt like the relationship between Lindy and Pat had a drastic jump, just within a few pages, with Lindy setting up rules for their relationship, but then within seconds suddenly she has an internal struggle of wanting to act out against the very rules she set.

The ending also felt very rushed, with the Rachel plotline feeling unresolved.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy for review.

The Buy-in is the first book in a spin-off series from the author’s book Falling For Your Best Friend.

This book is a sweet, small town romance. Like any good, small town everyone knows everyone’s business and the whole town knows about the man who broke Lindy’s heart.
Little do they know that Pat has also been pining for his lost love Lindy. The 2 are reunited when Pat’s father surprises his children with the announcement that he has purchased the town of Sheet Cake, Texas, which just so happens to be where Lindy lives.

I really enjoyed the author’s other book Falling For Your Best Friend and this continuation did not disappoint. While it is a spin-off, it can be read as a stand alone. I love a second-chance romance especially when it’s set in a small town. I look forward to the next book in the series that is set to follow one of Pat’s brothers.

The only thing I did not care for was the excessive amount of pop culture references. I feel like that may date the book poorly in the future.

‘The Buy In’ is a delightful book. LOVED LOVED LOVED. I had never read Emma St. Clair before, but I am going to go grab more of her books. This book had me smiling the entire time. So humorous and joyful. The characters are those you root for and fall in love with! Must read in my opinion!

This was a sugary sweet romance novel. Within the first page, it is referencing Schitt's Creek. Add in all of the pop culture references throughout, and I was hooked!

The Buy-In is a second chance, fake dating (fake marriage!) romance with some wonderful side characters. I went into this blind and didn't realize this was not Emma St. Clair's first time with some of these characters. Now I need to check out her other novels.

Jojo stole my heart. And I was happy to see there would be a story centering around James.

I highly recommend this if you like second chance romance with a sprinkle of pop culture references.

My first by this author and loved it!!!

Pat, Lindy & Jo - perfect family... I cried, laughed, giggled, sighed.... Lindy's background was heartbreaking but she's strong.. and the way she's brought up Jo - awesome....

The storyline was very good - a well written one too.. I couldn't stop reading it! Definitely looking forward to the next ones in this series (incl. Tank's)..

Loved all the secondary characters (the MCs in the forthcoming series🤞🤞).

Oh how I love Emma's books. I found this book so adorable. I have read her other book Royally Re-arranged and was so happy to see this one on Netgalley. This book had to me laughing out loud and staying up late to finish it. I am dying to move to Sheetcake texas now!

This is the kind of humor I love in romantic comedies: puns, movie quotes/references, witty banter. This book had them all! This was my first book by Emma St. Clair and I will be sure to read more. The second chance trope isn’t one of my personal favorites but I enjoyed this book. I liked that Lindy was her niece’s caretaker and I also liked that it addressed ADHD in adults and how it affects emotions/behaviors. This was a classic rom-com and I think anyone who likes the genre should read this book.