This was a tough one for me! I’m going to break the review down into what I liked and what didn’t work for me.

What I liked:
-Isla’s inner monologue (as unhinged as it may be)
-Conversation around student debt
-Conversation around the push for college
-Conversation around the Boomer generation failing to recognize the financial struggle many younger generations face
-The friendships

Things that didn’t work for me:
-The timeline (specifically the office vs house sitting timeline)
-Isla’s disregard for others finances
-Isla’s disregard for businesses
-So many of Isla’s choices took the sympathy that was laid in the groundwork and erased it.
-The confrontation

All in all this was a quick, spicy and fun read that had some elements that didn’t work for me.


Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Quick and cute, but maybe too quick, and too much cute. I really wish I'd see depth in some of these relationships, instead of 'ooh he's so hot and I grew up with him'. But, I enjoy discussion of debt and monetary issues. Okay all in all.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

THIS WAS ADORABLE!! I've already told two friends to look out for this one because I had a fantastic time reading it. The beginning was very similar to Mr Wrong Number, but it shifted nicely into its own story. I feel so bad for Isla, but also feel some kinship. While I've never had to struggle to that extent, I am someone who did the university degree, got the debt, and now works an entry level job. The promise that a piece of paper will change your entire life is... well unrealistic. And seeing a book explore that while also sprinkling in a hot brother's-best-friend romance is *chef's kiss*

This book not only features romance, and some reality, but also standing up to your family and finally calling them out for the barbs they say in jest. I love seeing people and characters grow and say no to toxicity!

I can't wait to see this one hit shelves and hopefully blow up on bookstagram!

I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. Thank you to Netgalley, Alcove Press and Sonia Hartl for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

In 'Rent to Be', Sonia Hartl sensitively explores the realities of being a finacially-struggling young person, toxic family, and the shame of it all.

Isla Jane is drowning in university debt working in a dead-end entry-level job which barely pays her enough to live on. After falling behind in her rent after her car needs reparing, her two friends and housemates unceremoniously dump her belongings outside the house and lock her out.

She cannot fall back on her parents as she's known as 'the screw up', unlike her successful older brother. Her working class parents believe that all it takes is hard work and 'pulling up your bootstraps' and you will be successful. Yet, as Isla ruminates, they don't understand that they are merely cogs in the wheel making other people rich.

Given her brother is working in London for a month, and she has a spare key, Isla decides to hide in his condo for the time while she can save money for a new place to live. Unfortunately for her, she discovered his best friend - and her childhood friend too - Cade is living there while his place is being renovated.

Too ashamed to admit to Cade the truth about her situation, she ends up sleeping overnight under her cubicle, until the next morning she overhers her boss's boss seeking a housesitter. Which gives her the idea to housesit for execuatives in her company as a side hustle while she can get ahead on her debts.

Cade of course works out quickly her secret and agrees to keep it from her parents - as a child he was neglected so he spent a lot of time with her family - if she agrees to be his plus one at his workplace events.

I was invested in Isla's journey and growth. I wished she would open up and communicate with Cade, but I could understand her pride. When your family shames you constantly, and compares you to your sucessful sibling, no wonder you have a lot of walls up. Watching Isla allow those walls to fall to let in Cade, stand up for her family was a highlight.

Hartl writes a gentle banter and ease between Cade and Isla. The affectionate 'Rainbow Bear' nickname he gave her, and the recollections peppered throughout the novel showing their shared history, and moments of kindness and solidarity between the two of them as they grew up make this book a delight.

Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the ARC. I have pre-ordered my own copy (which will be released 15 August 2023).

This was a cute book and I did like it, I just didn't fall in love with it. I would recommend it for anyone who wants a cute and cozy read.

This book centers around Isla Jane. She is at a low point in her life, being kicked out of her apartment, hating her job, drowning under student debt and feeling alone. She doesn’t feel like she can go to her parents for help, thinking they always think of her as a screw-up and failure. She heads to her brother’s condo thinking it would be empty while he was traveling., but Cade is there. Cade is his brother’s best friend and was really part of her family growing up. He knows her so well, they’ve always been good friends - could there now be something more?

The story involves a lot of self reflection on Isla’s part - trying to understand her family, her poor decisions, her needs. She is trying to make better decisions and move forward. I thought the characters of Isla and Cade were well done, you really cared about them and could feel what they’ve been through. I would have liked to know more about the brother and Isla’s relationship with him. The story held my interest, it was an easy read romance that I would recommend . I would give it 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know what to say about this book. It was not what I've expected and I was not happy with the way things wrapped up. It had the potential but I couldn't like the main characters. When I took a look at the cover and name, I've really expected simpler, funnier story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this story! It was a quick, cute read and I liked it. I love a brothers best friend trope and this was executed well!

Thanks to Netgalley for sending me an early e-arc for review. Unfortunately, this book is a DNF for me. Often times I DNF romances because I didn't connect to the characters/ the story, which is the case for Rent to Be. I've read 22% but I didn't find myself enjoying the main character's narration or outlook on life (particularly in terms of how her university degree she should immediately land her a high paying job, and also her sort of antagonistic/ sort of flirty relationship with the guy she's meant to fall in love with), and I didn't find myself enjoying the house sitting plot lines/ lying about where she lives.
I do think that the main two characters could end up being a relationship to root for, but at the moment it's not what I'm looking to read.

Rating the book based on what I've read.

This is a fake dating your brother's best friend was definitely new to me and it did not disappoint. This book is full of spice and I was loving it! The tension between Cade and Isla was out of this world!! Had you wanting to read more and more to see what would happen between the two? Overall I highly recommend this book, I read this book in a few hours and I know I could see myself reading it again

The premise of this book was a fun rom-com, but I found this didn't quite hit the mark for me. Cade was a good character who felt the most fleshed out in the novel and a good love interest that you could actively root for. I actually liked Isla (even though I felt she went on a bit sometimes and disliked her need to wear the clothes of the people she was house sitting for). The pacing of the book felt good and it was an easy beach read that I could definitely see people bringing on holiday.

However there felt like there was a lot of things in the book that were not needed. The introduction of the librarian best friend felt flimsy and I was left confused as to what her purpose had been in the book. The house-sitting fad felt a bit strange and, again, felt strange. The sex scenes felt very literal and sometimes the detail got too much and that actually made it feel less...sexy.

Overall, this was a light read that would be best enjoyed by the pool - and take Isla with a pinch of salt!

This was definitely a 4.5 star read for me, I loved it and finished in a day. Fake dating with your brothers best friend? Count me in.

Isla is definitely on the millennial struggle bus, she took a job and a degree in a field she didn't love after being sort of forced into it by her parents (who are awful by the way) and she's found herself down on her luck. When she is forced out of her apartment and her brother is out of town, she figures using the key to his condo is the perfect solution for a while. What she doesn't account for is the fact that her older brothers best friend is staying there. After a towel dropping incident she determines pretty quickly that she will have to figure something else out, so she ends up staying at her office and overhearing her boss needing a house sitter and then her side hustle is born with the added bonus of a place to stay. During her first sitting job she runs into none other than her brothers best friend again and the two come up with a mutually beneficial plan to keep Cade's office from throwing women at him and Isla's brother from hearing about her being slightly homeless from Cade. During several fake dates sparks fly between these two causing them to evaluate all those pent up feelings they've always had for one another.

There was some decent spice throughout but there was also real emotion and real issues that Isla dealt with.

Okay before I start, I will say I read this book all in one night, honestly couldn’t put it down, its steamy AF and has one of my fav tropes! The writing is great, it made me laugh and had me hooked on the first chapter!

Isla is a down-on-her- luck recent MBA grad that can’t seem to get ahead at her job- she’s legit doing the same job as people without degrees, and making the same amount- and is failing miserably at keeping up with her bills.

Hence her getting kicked out of her apartment for not paying rent for three months. Isa not wanting to ask for help brings her stuff to her brothers to store while he’s out of town, not knowing that her brothers best friend is staying there because of construction happening at his home.

Not wanting to admit she got kicked out, she leaves and ends up sleeping in her office cubical- which causes problem later- after waking up to a loud phone call from one of the bosses freaking out because she can’t find a house sitter on such short notice, Isa offers to take the job.


Now I’m not going to list out of the whole book but know it’s definitely worth the read if you love romance,comedy and sexy as hell smut!


10/10 would read again and would recommend

As for Isla, yes she’s a little childish, indecisive and impulsive but to be honest I think that just makes it’s better, while reading this she actually reminded me of one of my friends, I swear they have the same personality 😂


I was given a ERC for an honest review. Thanks NetGalley and Alcove press Sonia Hartl just gained a new fan!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I loved this romance that dealt with all the real-world challenges Millenials and Gen Z are facing in their daily lives. I've faced some of the same decisions as Isla and I don't think I've ever read them in a book before! Seeing that representation in a novel is so affirming for everyone facing these struggles, in my opinion.

Sure, it's an idealized happy ending that most of us won't get, but isn't that the whole point of escaping into a book?

The premise of this book made it seem like a fun rom-com, but it wasn’t quite that for me. I had a hard time with the main character and the spicy scenes were way too much. It took away from the rest of the story. I felt like the other millennial troubles (debt, finding your career path, family dynamics, etc) could have been explored more. Not every book is for everybody, so I know some people will enjoy this more than I did.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a solid 3 stars rating. The author did a great job describing scenes which had me laughing hard throughout. It was nice to see the characters growth and relationship development. Family relationship are complicated and the author portrays it accurately by not making everything perfect by the end of the book.





***************************************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.************************************

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I love Sonia Hartl - thanks for the opportunity!

This is a tricky one to review! On the one hand, I could not stop reading (went from 9pm-1am no breaks to finish in a sitting!), was totally gripped. On the other, I think there are a few things that could make this book more well rounded.

Things I loved:
- addressing financial insecurity and generational financial issues
- the TENSION between Cade and Isla, oooooohhh mama. They burned up the pages with their want and their chemistry
- Isla was laugh out loud hilarious
- that one house… iykyk
- how bingeable it was

Things that might make it better:
- I think there was one complication too many, slight emotional whiplash there in the end
- There’s a scene missing at the end. I’d love to see Cade and Isla talk through their issues properly, rather than jumping to reconciliation
- A tad more depth to Isla - I found her hilarious, but perhaps more to show her intelligence? I know it was there, but I need to be shown, not just told!
- She doesn’t seem to be working while she’s housesitting? But she is? I think there could be a few clarifying sentences to clear up this confusion

In short: I really enjoyed this book as it was, but I think a few little things would boost it to 5 stars for me. Very funny, and touches on very real financial issues. And the chemistry = top tier!

Isla is a 25 year old woman who just been shoved out of the apartment she lived with her two friends because she hadn't paid rent . Because she doesn't want to go at her parents she will spent the next month at her brother's condo while he is in Londo for business . When she enters the condo she realises there is someone else there , Cade is her brother's best friend . Because she doesn't want him to know the truth about her problems she ends up sleeping under her desk at her job . The morning she overhear a coworker needing someone to house sit and she says she will do it . Doing this job will solve her problem with where she will live for a while and have some money to pay for the rent she owned and her student loans . The first day she is house sitting at the next house there is a party going and on of the guests is Cade and he saw her . Now that he knows the truth they make a deal he will her secret from her family but she will have to pretend to be his girlfriend at a few upcoming corporate events . Being his fake girlfriend is not something difficult for her because they know each other almost all their life but she is falling for him every time a little more . Will they both let their fears or love win ?
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .

A strong five-star read that was so close to being four but pulled itself out in the best way. I enjoyed this story, it had a good flow and story, but I did feel lacking a little, and I liked Isla Jane for most of the story, but she pushed my buttons at times as well. There were so many ways that this story went really well, like the history Isla Jane and Cade have, you can see why you wouldn’t want to risk that, as well as the relationship with Seb. The thing about this story is how the author brought together some really true issues, such as student debt, and how it effects your life day to day, eating the same meal for days on end, or not at all and the fear of being stuck in a job that you hate but can’t afford to leave. I think some of the things that annoyed me about Isla Jane, and I think they may be things that came a little too close to home for me, like the parental put downs, that make you doubt yourself, even though you know they care. There are some really funny moments in this story, and some moments that will sweep you up into the story, it was so nice watching Cade come out of himself. This is a must read for everyone, its got a romantic soul, with a great storyline.