I am over the moon smitten with this book. It doesn’t come out until April 2023 but I already ordered a physical copy after reading my ARC. Alexandria Bellefleur wrote my favorite book of 2020, the award winning, Written in the Stars. I’m so happy that this book takes place in the same universe. Although none of that series characters makes an appearance here.

Tansy Adams runs her family book store. She makes up a fake relationship to avoid attending extended family dinners. It all comes to a head when the real Gemma (West) van Dalen, who Tansy claims is her girlfriend, appears at a wedding. Gemma has her own reasons, a will, stock shares, grandfathers company, so she doesn’t blow the cover story. Instead she doubles down and claims they are engaged.

Tansy and Gemma are delightful together. They take time to get to know each other. A little 20 questions, a date, and a promise to always tell each other the truth. I love that Tansy is a little curvy, anxious and loves books. And Gemma is lovely as the smitten girl who wants to build Tansy up and never let anyone hurt her. Especially her manipulative family.

I’m giving a big recommendation if you enjoy queer romances. This has heat but is not nearly as spicy as the author's Count Your Lucky Stars (Feb 2022). Alexandria Bellefleur has officially become an auto purchase for me. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author for giving me a sneak peak with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alexandria Bellefleur’s sapphic and queer books are my sustenance. This book is beyond incredible and had me on a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. Tansy and Gemma have an electric connection from the get go that simply strengthens with every page. Gemma’s friend circle is endearing and hilarious. The ending had me in a twist yet resolved beautifully. Love!! I hope there are more in this series.

I’ve been excited to read The Fiancée Farce since it’s announcement, and oh my word it was even better than I was expecting! Gemma, Tansy, and co have stolen my heart! What an incredible cast of characters and magnificent use of romance tropes while being a celebration of queer love and the romance genre!

I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!

This book is just so... everything. It is sweet and funny and sexy and I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time. I'm all about marriage of convenience and this one is just so good. I love Tansy and Gemma and I hate Tucker in equal measure.

The Taylor Swift references are *chef's kiss* perfect and the hints that put this book in the same universe as Bellefleur's WITS series made me smile.

Definitely one of my favorite books of the year.

I appreciated how authentic the characters felt. I was rooting for them every step of the way. Fast paced. Easy read.

There were multiple sections that felt like info dumps and had me tuned out, but overall they didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

“Marry me and no one has to know none of this was real. No one has to know about your lie… Marry me and I can promise pathetic will be the last thing anyone calls you.”

Okay no one hate me for posting this review this early, but I have to. Like, I don’t think I can wait to post about this book. I need as much time as possible to be as insufferable as possible about The Fiancée Farce…

I knew that going into this book, it was going to be good. I just don’t think I could have prepared myself for just how wonderful it was, and how quickly I could fall in love with two characters. I love Alexandria’s books, this is not news to anyone, but Gemma and Tansy? They’re it for me. These two women who have been so hurt by their families and just need someone to be 100% in their corner and they accidentally found each other? 😭 They thought they just needed each other to save their family businesses but really they just needed each other, period. Also the way that Gemma is so self-aware and communicates with Tansy >>> 😍

There were so many sweet moment between Gemma and Tansy that I love so dearly but one of the things that I love the most about this book was the absence of queer trauma. These were just two women who loved each other and everyone was okay with it. It was sapphic joy, truly.

💍 an indie bookstore owner trying to save her family legacy x a newspaper heiress who needs to get married to take over the company
💍 bi/bi f/f leads
💍 fake engagement to marriage of convenience
💍 second base against the family’s private library shelves
💍 Taylor Swift references all the time (including during spicy times 👀)

I want to read this book again and again and again. THE FIANCÉE FARCE was truly wonderful and I cannot wait for everyone to love this book as much as I do 😭

Pub day: April 18, 2023

CWs: sexual harassment (in past, high school aged, relived on page), death of parents, toxic families, explicit sex