I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Funny and relatable! I enjoyed reading this book. I'm a total sucker for forced proximity, fake dating, & best friend/ brothers best friend books, so this one was right on the money for me.

The MMC is extremely likable, but the FMC made this book hard to get through. I just wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her at times! Her choices are questionable at best.

I was excited for this trope but unfortunately this fell short.

Advertising this with that trope was misleading, and even if that didn't bother me, it just fell flat. Too much telling and not enough showing, and the MC's are so blah. I did not feel like I ever really got to know them.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I really enjoyed reading this one! I loved the 'brother's best friend' trope and thought the novel had the perfect mix of sexual tension, romance, comedy, and spice!

I definitely should have read this one a lot earlier than I did, because I couldn't put it down. I'll be sure to check out more books by Sonia. Thanks so much for the eArc!

Isla Jane isn't living her best life. She has a job she doesn't like, no place to live, student debts to pay, and no way in sight that it will improve.
With her belongings in boxes her ex-housemates left outside their home, the only solution is to store them in her brother's spare room. Mainly because he's working abroad for a month and won't notice. Too easy for her messed up life, right? Of course. Cade Greenley, her brother's best friend, is living there while renovating his house. And there it goes, her place to sleep.
After sleeping in the office one night, she gets a job house-sitting, and her new job begins.
But that's not all. Cade needs a fake girlfriend so his colleagues stop bothering him, asks Isla to pretend to be it, and accompany him to his work parties.

I enjoyed reading this story - funny, steamy, and light.
I kept wanting to read more, so I could get to know more about the main characters.
Also, the secondary characters - Neeta, Sebastian, and Cade's bosses - were a delight. I loved how the friendship between Isla and Neeta developed.
As for the steamy parts, this book starts strongly.
A good read if you want to have fun. Mostly when Isla describes to us the houses she's sleeping in..

3.50 stars
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TW: Gaslighting, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual content
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This was cute! In Rent to Be we follow Isla Jane as she lives her worst nightmare (or anyone's). She's got a fancy MBA, a pile of student loans, a dead-end job where she can't seem to climb the corporate ladder, and she's just been kicked out by her roommates for being unable to pay rent. Isla knows that going to ask her parents for help will bring on more problems. She remembers that her brother is out of town and figures she'll crash there without anyone knowing. That is until she arrives to find a fresh out of the shower Cade is also staying at her brother's until his house is done being renovated.

I loved the relationship between Isla and Cade, it helps that Cade has been around the family since he was a kid so they've formed a special bond over the years. From this point, I'd say the plot splits into two: Firstly, Isla begins her own homesitting business which gives her a place to stay, another income, and access to food while she sits. Secondly, Cade needs a date to bring to his work functions and asks Isla to fill in for him in favour of him keeping her secret from her family. I don't think we needed the point about Cade bringing her to his work functions as I think their connection just flows naturally, however, it was nice for Isla to be exposed to a company that treats their staff right and showed her what she deserves in life.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Sonia Hartl for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book was published on August 15th 2023

A cute brother's best friend and fake dating book, easily readable. I finished in a couple of sittings. I would say it's a bit forgettable though and probably won't stay with me for long.

This book wasn’t what I was expecting but I enjoyed reading it.

I would give it a 3.5 stars just because I think what isla goes through in the book when it comes to her life, it’s what happen to young adults nowadays.

I relate to her in that situation but I do feel her character was immature.

The wrap up wasn’t as I expected to go but as mist romantic books they give us a happy ending.

Read it if you like:
- Friends to lovers
- Drama
- Spiciness 😂

Funny, and loved the banter.
There is still something to be said about rom-coms and having relatable characters and this one had it.

A cute and fun enemies to lovers forced proximity romance that pulls at your heart strings. Another entry into the renovation sub genre.

I think I liked the book for the same reasons why other people didn't.
While Rom-Coms are known for their fun banter, quirky characters and silly decisions, this one had something other books didn't have; relatable reasons.
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Isla, the FMC, didn't one day make a decision to make as many dangerous and illogical choices as she could. She was kicked out of her apartment, dirt poor and stuck in a dead end job that didn't enable any use of her MBA that cost her piles of student loans. However, what made me relate to Isla and her choices so much was her relationship with her family. The constant pressure to be independent, the comparisons, and supporting the system that was the reason they were poor in the first place. Familial trauma misses a person so bad, and with constant feeling of being less than, it was no shock that Isla found it easier to camp in her office rather than ask for help.
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Moving on to Cade, our MMC, I liked him enough. I really have nothing against him, he had his own demons and he battled them for Isla, also, he was a huge support when Isla went through hard times. My only comment would be that he was a little bit unmemorable. Like, there wasn't a lot that could set him apart from every love interest in the genre, he was pretty unfortunate to be coupled up with Isla since she was really unique, so you kind of couldn't help but compare.
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The sequence of their love was well written, they had good chemistry in my opinion, and they weren't sickly sweet all the time, which actually made it easier for me to be invested in them.
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The ending was nice, we had a good closure. We learned the ultimate lesson of how it gets easier to go through hardships with people who support and love you. The End.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

"Rent to Be" by Sonia Hartl is a bright and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that adds a delightful twist to the millennial struggle, making it a perfect read for fans of Tessa Bailey and Beth O’Leary.
Isla Jane is navigating the challenges of post-MBA life, dealing with a dead-end job, a meager salary, and the looming burden of student debt. Desperate for a solution, she stumbles upon her brother’s empty condo, only to find out it's not as vacant as she thought. Cade Greenley, her brother’s best friend, is temporarily residing there during renovations. Isla's attempt to keep her living situation a secret takes an unexpected turn when she ends up house-sitting for a senior executive at her office.
The plot thickens when Cade discovers her ruse, leading to a deal that involves Isla posing as his girlfriend at corporate events. The story unfolds with humor, charm, and unexpected chemistry as the two navigate the complexities of their fake relationship. The contrast between Isla’s challenging workplace and the vibrant atmosphere of Cade’s office adds depth to the narrative.
Sonia Hartl weaves a tale that goes beyond the typical romantic comedy, exploring themes of self-discovery, honesty, and the unpredictability of love. The characters are relatable, and their banter creates a captivating dynamic that keeps readers engaged.
As Isla's house-sitting scheme begins to unravel, the narrative explores the lies we tell ourselves and the genuine connections that can emerge when least expected. "Rent to Be" is a delightful journey that balances humor, romance, and personal growth, making it a standout addition to the romantic comedy genre.
*I express my sincere appreciation to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing an advanced copy of this entertaining e-book.*

I read this because it was compared to Tessa Bailey and Beth O'Leary - two authors I cannot merge in my mind. Tessa is more romance, less plot, and Beth the opposite. Color me intrigued. Plus I read a previous book from Sonia, so I already know that her writing style.
Cade and Isla have been in each other's orbit for so long that they simply take each other for granted. They're more ornamental. Isla's brother is out of town and for reasons, both find themselves in his apartment somewhat cohabiting. In the meantime, Isla has discovered house sitting as a way to get back on her feet financially and eat not-top-ramen.
Isla is so relatable. I, too, went through the Millennial motions of what you're "supposed to do" and with not exactly the personal achievements to show for it. I felt her stress and financial woes, just so many "I've been there moments". Otherwise, I didn't fall for my brother's best friend - which is maybe why I adore the trope so much.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Why it wasn't a five star: I didn't get the chemistry between Isla and Cade. There was plenty of sizzle but I wanted more depth to their relationship.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Rent to Be by Sonia Hartl.

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

Rent to be by Olivia Dade is an endearing romantic comedy that will leave you with a smile on your face. The story follows Isla Jane, a young woman who is struggling to make ends meet despite having a shiny new MBA. When she is offered a house-sitting job for one of the big bosses at her office, Isla thinks her luck has finally turned. However, things take an unexpected turn when she runs into Cade Greenley, her brother's best friend, who is also staying in the condo.

What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming tale of mistaken identity, fake relationships, and unexpected romance. The chemistry between Isla and Cade is electric, and their banter is witty and charming. As they pretend to be a couple at corporate events, they start to develop real feelings for each other, leading to some delightful moments of romantic tension.

Dade's writing is engaging, and her characters are relatable and likable. Isla is a strong, independent woman who is struggling to find her place in the world, while Cade is a charming and caring man who is trying to help her in any way he can. The supporting cast is also well-developed and adds depth to the story.

Overall, Rent to be is a delightful and entertaining read that is perfect for fans of romantic comedies. It's a feel-good story that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and uplifting read.

This was such a fun, easy read. I’m a sucker for a brothers best friend trope, especially when it’s some kind of fake dating and forced proximity/roommates scenario! While it was mostly fun, I did love that the characters dealt with real life, relatable problems!

loved sonia's the lost girls back in 2021 when i first read and you'd be proud that i loved this even more. its such a cute little romance book like it has the infamous fake dating and enemies to lovers trope. Thank you for providing me the arc netgalley