Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Talk about serendipitous…Tansy Adams’ lie about having a fake girlfriend for the last 6 months could blow up in front of her face. Instead, the very woman she’s been pretending to date—Gemma West, a romance novel cover model—walks into the wedding reception & agrees with Tansy‘s story.

But Gemma also wants to take their unexpected ruse even farther. She wants a marriage of convenience with Tansy so that she can satisfy the terms of her grandmother’s will & take over his media company.

So now it’s a marriage of convenience between two women with some unexpectedly similar trauma from their childhoods, some similar ambitions when it comes to saving their family legacies, & some similar attraction for their “fake” partner turned real the more they spend time together.

Alexandria Bellefleur’s The Fiancée Farce is really cute & the things that work for me really work for me. Like the mental health rep—this might be the only book I’ve read where the book talks about mixing mental health meds & alcohol?

And though the relationship in this book moves really quickly at the beginning, by the middle & end I felt caught up & more settled in the feelings I could see were growing. Adorable text message exchanges & words + actions giving proof to how protective they are of each other really won me over.

What works less for me are how some things feels glossed over or jumped over a bit, including the aforementioned beginning & a family bit at the end, & a truly unsettling villain who as far as I’m concerned deserved a far worse fate than what he got.

I kind of wavered a bit on the ranking because the beginning is more like a 4 for me, & the middle toward end is more like 4.5. So how about 4.25? ;).

Either way, this one is really sweet, but not too sweet (let’s not forget the dirty talk), with a lovely story of people finding out a marriage of convenience that turns into more is possible in & out of romance novels.

4.25⭐️. Out 04/18.

CWs: Previous death of father. References to familial loneliness and scenes of familial antagonism. A lead is called a “whore.” In high school, Tansy was seduced and intimate photographs of her were shared with classmates, leading to harassment; the same person who did this is a secondary character who continues to appear in this book, often “leering” & making crude comments.

[ID: Jess, a white woman wearing a black & white striped shirt & coral skirt, holds the ebook & three pink tulips in front of a green tree.]

Alexandria Bellefleur is solidified as one of my favorite contemporary romance authors because The Fiancee Farce did not disappoint! This is the type of book you sit down to read in the afternoon and the next thing you know you finished the book and its dark outside. I was hooked from the beginning it was so addicting and easy to read!

In this story we meet Tansy Adams’ who works at her family’s bookstore, passed down from her late father. Tired of her stepfamily’s questions about her love life, Tansy invents Gemma, a fake girlfriend inspired by the stunning cover model on a bestselling book. They’ll never actually meet, so what’s the harm in a little fib? Yet when real-life Gemma crosses Tansy’s path, her white lie nearly implodes.

Gemma van Dalen is the outcast of her wealthy family, and now the latest heir to Van Dalen Publishing. But the title comes with one tiny condition: she must be married in order to inherit. When Gemma discovers a beautiful stranger has been pretending to date her for months, she decides to take the charade one step further—and announces their engagement. A marriage could be mutually beneficial, if they can fool everyone into thinking it’s a love match.

I loved Tansy and Gemma in this story! I thought their relationship was so sweet and fun. I loved how they could be completely themselves around each other even thought they aren't necessarily the same "type" of people. There were so many moments when I thought oh no a miscommunication but Gemma and Tansy would actually TALK IT OUT. We love a mature couple who can talk about their feelings! Between Tandy and Gemma I couldn't decide who I loved more. They had such swoon worthy moments and loved how they stood up for one another. One of my fav book couples. I WILL say this book lacked in spice which was totally fine but I was expecting a little more since Alexandria's last book was pretty spicy.

I really liked the marriage of convenience aspect of this book I thought the way it was brought on was really fun. With that being said I do wish their was more tension. It was a sweet and funny story but I would have liked to feel a little more conflict. Overall this was a REALLY fun book with amazing characters and I will read anything Alexandria Bellefleur ever writes!! Thanks so much to Avon and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and penguin for giving me the opportunity to read this book early! This was a charming, fun sapphic romance that I hope just heralds more wlw romances to come. The plot was fast-paced and heartwarming read with fully-realized characters that I couldn’t help rooting for. Perfect for fans of Boyfriend Material, this book is not one to miss.

This #ARC was a delight! Bellefleur delivers a sweet queer romance with a lot of heart and a little space. Pacing felt a bit uneven in places but the setting and hilarious side characters make it all work. Add cats named Mills and Boon? I’m sold. Releasing on April 18, I recommend this one!

This was my first Alexandria Bellefleur, and it was absolutely delightful!! It will definitely not be my last.

I love a marriage of convenience trope but I'm not very into historical romance, so having one realistically set in the modern day was so fun for me to read!

I really liked Tansy and Gemma, Gemma especially was very larger than life but I felt their relationship was believable.

What happens when a quiet bookstore owner is offered a marriage of convenience by none other than the newspaper heiress who moonlights as Tansy’s favourite romance cover model? The Fiancée Farce starts off with just that premise. Meet Tansy, whose only love of her life so far is her family’s bookstore which will be sold if she can’t come up with the funds to save it. Enter Gemma, the gorgeous woman who just inherited her grandfather’s gigantic newspaper company—the only problem with that? To take full ownership, Gemma has to be married. What neither of them expects is that the mutually beneficial agreement may just turn into a once in a lifetime opportunity for epic love.

I don’t know how she does it, but Bellefleur’s romances always feel effortlessly charming—you feel invested in the characters and get sucked into the story from the get-go, so much so that you sometimes completely forget you’re reading a book at all.

We have book-loving Tansy who might come across as timid but is actually one of the fiercest women to grace literature. Then we have Gemma, the gorgeous heiress who has a sharp tongue and even sharper claws when you hurt the ones she loves. Together, these two made for the perfectly imperfect match. All their interactions were infused with sexual tension and incredible chemistry. Add to that the slow exploration of their backstories that made them who they are today and you have characters you can’t help but root for. I mean, truly, this book is a feast for fans of slow burn. While I admit that certain elements of their backstories were perhaps reiterated a tad too often, especially in the middle, I do feel like it drove the point home how much both Tansy and Gemma were looking for something real.

There’s of course also the greater scheme at hand with Gemma and Tansy trying to keep their marriage of convenience—or, well, engagement of convenience—from being exposed all while they’re developing real feelings for another. There are quite a few roadblocks ahead and opportunistic weasels who exploit them but, as you can guess, true love perseveres in the end, just what we need. Give me more sapphic romance where the happy moments outweigh the sad ones, please. My soul needs it.

If you’re looking for a delightful sapphic romcom with an enchanting cast of characters, gorgeous Taylor Swift references and a marriage of convenience we know all too well always goes awry, then The Fiancée Farce is the perfect read for you!

The Fiancee Far by Alexandria Bellefleur was an entertaining, fun read. The chemistry between the love interests is great, the side characters feel flushed out and the overall story was entertaining. I will definitely be recommending this to any romance book lover.

i will always be a fan of alexandria bellefleur. her way of writing queer romcoms is one of my favourite. each time i start a book of hers i know i'm up for a good time where i'll feel like i am watching an old 00's romcom. and this was perfect, it was scandalous, angsty, queer af and full of love. as her previous work i fell in love with the story, the characters, the humour, the sensibility and the author!

5/5

This was such a fun read. I’ve only picked up a handful of books as of late that I’ve finished in almost a day and this was one of them.

I was hooked from the beginning and loved Tansy and Gemma’s characters. I also can’t leave out Teddy and Brooks, both of whom I enjoyed. While it was a little ‘insta-love’ I was definitely on board!

Fake dating/marriage is always a trope I enjoy so I’m not surprised I liked this. This is my first book by Alexandria Bellefleur but it definitely won’t be my last.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for this advanced copy.

To avoid family events with her stepsister's bullying fiancé, bookstore manager Tansy makes up a girlfriend. Not just any girlfriend—beautiful book cover model Gemma. When Tansy and Gemma come face-to-face at the wedding, Tansy is sure she'll be exposed. Fortunately, as it turns out, Gemma needs to marry in order to inherit her grandfather's company. Instead of revealing the truth, she proposes. Will a marriage of convenience solve both their problems?

This is my favorite of this author's books so far. I loved Tansy and Gemma—the chemistry between them is strong. The family conflicts lead to a twisty and engaging plot.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

4/5. Releases 4/18/2023.

For when you're vibing with... Modern marriage of convenience shenanigans, shy girl/bombshell, rich family drama, bi lady/bi lady rep, and bookstore romcom loveliness a la "You've Got Mail" but not... troubling.

Introverted bookshop owner Tansy made up a girlfriend to get her friends off her back--and took inspiration from Gemma West, the cover model for her favorite romance novels. But what happens when Gemma West turns out to be Gemma Van Dalen, the wealthy heiress to a publishing empire--who needs to marry in order to meet the terms of her grandfather's will. Tansy needs cash to save her store--and for confident, forward Gemma, money is no object. But Gemma's family isn't going to let her take her rightful place as head of the company without a fight, and they're not afraid to take Tansy down with her.

The author said she took some inspo from The Last Great American Dynasty with this one, and you totally get that sense as you read. Lighthearted romance meets family politicking for a sapphic romance that's both sweet and compelling.

Quick Takes:
--Tansy and Gemma are very much opposites attract, but never enemies to lovers, if you're looking for some "differences without anger" clashes. Tansy is shy and a bit traumatized by several different life events (understandably), while Gemma is bold and brash and reckless. What this gives way to is a really flirty, fun dynamic; I loved how Gemma came on to Tansy so confidently without ever pushing her limits. So often, you get this adoring "how could she be into me" vibe from this type of dynamic, but here I completely believed that Gemma was as into Tansy as Tansy was into Gemma.

--There is some "sorta ex" drama, which makes sense because Gemma is a bit of a messy in terms of her relationships. It didn't feel like there was meddling for the sake of plot contrivances, though; it felt like something that a person like Gemma would get into, to be honest. And I kind of enjoyed that. I liked that Gemma in particular wasn't just this mess-less wondergirl. It made her feel more real.

--The Van Dalen family, speaking of a mess, has a LOT going on. And personally, I enjoyed it. They were giving early 2000s romcom rich people drama, and I for one support that completely. If anything, I kind of feel like we could've used more drama? There was some last minute intensity, but the one critique I'd have of the book is that Bellefleur could've ratcheted up the tension between Gemma and Tansy a bit more. Have them be messier! Have them make bigger mistakes with each other! I loved the loveliness of their romance, I just could've used more angst.

--One thing I do appreciate about the book is that you do have a supporting cast that gets involved in a fleshed-out way. The good people take action, the bad people get called on their shit. They're not just there to be there.

The Sex Stuff:
There are two sex scenes, both of which are fairly explicit, one of which is DELIGHTFUL but interrupted before orgasm. The second one is really good. I wish that there'd been at least one more. Gemma talks a lot about wanting to get on her knees for Tansy, but we don't see quite enough of it. They have great chemistry and Bellefleur writes awesome sex scenes, I just want mooooore.

If you're in the mood for a light-but-not-quite-fluffy sapphic opposites-attract romance, look no further! I was super charmed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Fiancee Farce is a Cinderella retelling meets a fake marriage of convenience. Tansy manages the Seattle bookstore that has been in her family for generations. She follows and appreciates Gemma, a model on the cover of some of her favorite romance novels. And when the two of them have a surprise meeting, things take off quickly.

I liked their great chemistry, and I especially loved their commitment to communication and honesty with each other. And of course, I loved the bookstore and the whole idea of living in an apartment on top of a bookstore.

Alexandria Bellefleur is an amazing author, and her story kept me engaged and fascinated throughout. However, I didn't always fully buy the romance. Gemma suddenly seemed to love Tansy, and the switch was too fast for me to find it believable. That is in line with Gemma's impetuous personality, but still felt rushed.

But Gemma's friends are amazing. I want them to adopt me into their circle next. They help to make up for her awful family. And I hope that we will get more of their stories next.

The plot for this was amazing, and I especially enjoyed the ending. It was even better than I expected.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Bellefleur does it again! I'm so excited for more people to read this. This just confirms that "fake dating" is one of the best tropes out there, especially when it's sapphic.

4⭐️

I adored this latest book from Bellefleur! It was a well written story that was funny, sexy, and remained light and enjoyable while tackling some heavier topics.

Tansy and Gemma were both messy but lovable characters. I loved their banter their chemistry, and how supportive they were of each other. Their honesty and open communication was so refreshing and it eliminated the dreaded miscommunication trope. Thank you for that! The side characters, though there were a lot to keep track of, were interesting and added so much to the story. Overall I really enjoyed reading. It gave me sapphic Cinderella story vibes, and I was absolutely here for all of the Taylor Swift references! 😍

What I enjoyed;
💍 Steamy Sapphic Rom-Com
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💍 LOL Banter
💍 Open Door Steam

The Fiancée Farce publishes 4/18 and I would definitely recommend for anyone in the mood for a feel-good romance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon Books for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you're looking for a sapphic rom com I'd say you'll love this one. There are so many absurd antics and yet they're sprinkled in along with really great discussions that will ground you in the story. Another great thing about this book is our characters actually talk to each other. There were so many instances for the miscommunication trope to swoop in and ruin the book for me but it just didn't happen. If you've liked this author's past books, I think you'll like this one. I knocked it down a star because there were times I was confused which POV I was reading from and that would occasionally pull me out of the story. I'll always have a soft spot for author's books since Written in the Stars was one of the first traditionally published sapphic romances I ever read so I might be biased but this was a lot of fun.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book by Alexandria Bellefleur. Gemma and Tansy were both likable characters right from the start. I enjoyed their chemistry, their banter, and most of all, their communication with each other. The constant misunderstandings that you would usually see in a fake relationship novel were entirely missing here. It was so refreshing to see how much the two characters supported each other and how they made sure to tell the other how they were feeling. It was also refreshing to read a bi/bi romance, without even a whiff of bi-phobia, even from Gemma's truly awful family. The fact that Tansy ran a bookstore was just the cherry on top for this sweet and steamy romance novel.

Tansy and Gemma are both delightfully flawed, perfectly human, and so funny. Their love built from the first moment they saw each other until the very last page and was just so beautiful. The friends and allies were loveable and quippy without being over the top and the villains were perfect to root against. This is definitely on my list of Sapphic rom coms to suggest to anyone looking to get into the subgenre and I can't wait to read the rest of Bellefleur's books!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

Unfortunately, this was just okay. I love sapphic romance, and I love Alexandria Bellefleur, but this one fell a little flat for me. The beginning was so fast and confusing, that it didn’t pull me in like it usually would have, and I found myself putting off reading it. I loved the fake dating/marriage part, and I loved Tansy and the plot line of the bookstore. The cast of characters were also a bit confusing, as most of them seemed to be awful people. I think this was like a Cinderella/Princess Charming trope, and I enjoyed that aspect, I just think the chemistry should have been developed slower and not so instantly. Overall, I did enjoy it, and I would recommend to anyone who likes Sapphic romance, but I think the first five chapters could use another round of editing so that it’s easier to get into.

This is Bellefleur's best novel by far. It's funny and sexy and everything I'm looking for in a romance!

Tansy's first love is the bookstore that's been in her family for decades. It's struggling and it may be sold to a huge book selling chain. She's desperate to save it but also eager to get her family off her back when it comes to her lack of a love life. So she makes up a girlfriend. That lasts for a while until Gemma and Tansy meet at a family wedding and it turns out Gemma is even more desperate to inherit her family business.

This book made laugh out loud and swoon in my chair. It manages to be light while tacking serious subjects like grief and sexism. I enjoyed it from start to finish and highly recommend it for romance readers.

It did exactly what it set out to do. There was nothing that made this book stand out to me compared to her others, but I’ve really enjoyed all the ones I read!