The Facts: Fake dating, brother's best friend, romcom, relatable fmc, friends to lovers

Isla's screwed. Her roommates kick her out, she barely has $5 to her name, and her brother's apartment is taken over by his best friend, Cade. Cade, who needs a fake girlfriend, and Isla, who needs someone to keep her secrets from her family, strike a deal to help each other.

Oh my, GOD! I loved this one so much. Immediately, it sucks you in with the witty dialogue, storyline, and internal thoughts. This had romance, spice, and comedy, so honestly I was obsessed. Isla was crazy relatable as well with her family issues, finance issues, and job issues. The chemistry between Cade and Isla was on fire, and it truly made the book. As soon as I read about Cade, I was hooked, tbh.

I can't wait to read more of Sonia's work!

This has some of my favorite tropes in it, but I did not like the execution of them overall. This was a quick read that I enjoyed in the moment but would not pick up again.

I really liked the flashbacks from Isla and Cade's childhood and that we got to see the mutual pining.

I found some of the characters to be annoying and dull.

Isla’s life is not what she expected - after earning her MBA she still can’t get a decent job and can barely stay afloat in paying her bills. To make matters worse, her roommates kicked her out since she can’t afford rent. The only thing that might save her is the fact that her brother is out of town for a month, and his condo is vacant. But when she arrives, she discovers her brother’s best friend, Cade, is borrowing the condo while his own condo gets renovated. Cade and Isla strike a deal - she pretends to be his girlfriend at a series of work functions and he won’t tell her family she is homeless.

This book was so fun! I was laughing at all of the chaotic situations Isla got herself into and her antics throughout the story. She was incredibly relatable, as were her struggles with adulthood and asking for help. I also loved Cade and Isla together - their chemistry as well as their shared history made them a perfect match. He was patient with her and supported her as she was trying to find her way, but more importantly, their connection was incredible.

I switched between the audiobook and ebook here, and both were incredible. For the audiobook, Kirsten Leigh was a wonderful narrator and was a joy to listen to.

Thanks to Alcove Press and RB Media for the advance copies.

When I started reading this book I was in desperate need of a funny and lovely story to read. And that was exactly what I found. Rent to be have everything I expect from a romantic comedy: characters that are easy to like, conflicts that we can relate to, a romance that is sweet and natural, and many fun moments. And, though sometimes Isla anoyed me a little, it didn't affect how much I enjoyed reading this book.

Trying to get her life together, Isla encounters a minor road bump: sneaking into love at her brother’s condo after being kicked out of her own apartment by her friends, she finds her brother’s best friend Cade occupying the guest room. With no place to go, avoiding her parents and brother from knowing the truth about her current shitty life situation, she strikes a deal with Cade. He keeps her secret while she fake dates him for work functions… until things get a little less fake, and their connection runs a little deeper than expected.

I enjoyed this one! Having enjoyed HEARTBREAK FOR HIRE, I was excited to pick this one up by Hartl. Cade and Isla’s banter was hilarious, definitely cracked me up a bunch of times. Loved the added fishing details and of course the chemistry. And I’m always down for a brother’s best friend romance. This one totally gave me MR. WRONG NUMBER vibes.

Brother's best friend and fake dating - can a romcom get any better than that? I have been loving all the fake dating books of late and throw in a brother's bestie who is constantly on the lookout for our girl and I'm in. This book was a lot of fun and the proof of how much I enjoyed it was the fact that I whizzed through it in a few hours.
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Sonia Hartl can go ahead and take all my money at this point. I love her books, and this one was a huge win for me as well. We meet Isla, who has just been kicked out of her apartment (and her friendships) for failing to pay rent for a few months. She's down about that of course, and she has nowhere to go, because her parents aren't exactly the most supportive folks out there. They're those "bootstraps" type, which infuriates me, but that's a conversation for a different day. The point is, Isla's in need of some housing, and luckily, her brother just left for a month in London, so she lets herself into his apartment.

Only whoopsie, his best friend Cade happens to be using the apartment while his own place is being renovated! Isla is trying to avoid anyone finding out about her dire straights, so she pretends she is just storing some stuff there and... sleeps under her desk at work. This is sad, but also leads to her ending up with a housesitting gig that is frankly more lucrative than her job at this point, and it allows her not only a place to stay, but the ability to pay her bills for once.

But she and Cade keep crossing paths, and this eventually leads to Isla helping him out by becoming his fake date to work parties. Look, it's clear from their first encounter on page that these two have off the charts chemistry. But it's also clear that Isla is in a bad way and is pretty down on herself, and Cade is just playing the part of "responsible adult" because he thinks that is what he is supposed to do. So they both have a lot to figure out before they can ever be on the same page with their very clear feelings.

I loved how freaking hilarious this book was throughout. I found myself laughing and smiling a lot, even when the subject matter was a little heavier. It's also incredibly relatable, if you have ever taken out a bunch of ill-advised student loans, which I have a feeling a fair amount of us have. I love that the author opens the door for a lot of discussion about A) how predatory it all was, and B) how literally everyone in our lives who were supposed to be guiding us swore that college was the best and/or only path forward. And for some people, like Cade, it worked out. But for some, like Isla (and yours truly, if we're being honest) it did nothing for their futures and just threw them into lifelong debt.

I also loved how, while this is obviously a romance, it focused a lot on family relationships. Isla's relationship with her family was... complicated. Like obviously they loved her and cared for her, but they also had a lot of very bad takes when it came to finances and what qualified as success, and it could be pretty gross. Isla had to come to terms with all of that, all while navigating her relationship with Cade, and her brother, and finding housing, and housesitting at some of the most ridiculous places ever (major points for how wonderfully bizarre some of these houses were). Cade, too, had a lot of stuff to figure out. He was trying to find his place in his company, which was awesome, but not what Cade expected to find in the corporate world. He also had a pretty rocky relationship with his mom, and also, he was worried about what Isla's brother would think if he acted on his feelings. So there is a lot happening, but it felt incredibly true to real life, which is what made it so awesome.

Bottom Line: Rent To Be is hilarious and charming and full of heart, and basically just a huge win.

*4.5

This was so cute. I loved the banter that they had from the very beginning. It was so obvious that he was in love with her and it was funny that she was so oblivious. I also enjoyed seeing her friendship with Neeta grow.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

If you’ve ever had a tight money situation, this is going to be all too relatable. (As someone who was in school for 10 years, I feel Isla’s pain!)

Isla is unceremoniously kicked out of her apartment right after learning she didn’t get the promotion she was hoping for.

So, she decides to move into her brother’s apartment while he’s out of town.

Except it’s already occupied by said brother’s best friend, Cade. And I do love a good brother’s-best-friend trope!

Our author does not disappoint us here, fellow readers.

Because these two have known each other forever— tormenting one another more often than not— and it sets up for a hilarious, sweet rom-com.

But the tropes aren’t over! How will Isla convince Cade not to tell her family that she’s in a bad living situation?

She’ll be his date for his work get-togethers. That’s right, add Fake Dating to the bingo card!

This combination, with the immediate chemistry between these two and their rich history together, makes for a romance that is simply magnetic.

And for sure he-falls-first, because it’s obvious he has a soft spot for Isla from the start.

I also enjoyed how Isla is trying to piece her life together here, wishing she can incorporate her love for books to a career in some way. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a librarian (I totally have), you’re going to appreciate this.

It’s all the stars for me! Perfect execution of tropes, and bonus for a Michigan setting! I like reading books set in my home state. 😍

If you’re in the market for a fresh new rom-com filled with your favorite tropes and some very spicy heat 🥵 I highly recommend this!

3.5, rounded up. This was a sweet and steamy frenemies to lovers story. Isla is dealing with a frustratingly common issue of underemployment and student loan debt that leads to her grasping at straws to make ends meet, and Cade is dealing with his own baggage after experiencing poverty in childhood. I really liked what the author did with Isla having to also deal with her parents and their bootstrap mentality. This does read on the younger side, but readers in their early 20s like these characters might find a lot to relate to.

Thank you to the author, Alcove Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick, fun read with some of the most typical tropes of the romcom genre, i.e. fake dating, childhood friends, brother’s best friend, and found family - but it delivered in a low-key slowly developing way. I did like the overall vibe of the book, that you need to find your own path, embrace your mistakes, and persevere to find happiness. But oh, the mopiness of millenials - I think I'm getting too old to put up with it. Sorry, this sounds curmudgeonly and does not reflect on the author, except that a bit more oomph and spark to the interactions of the main characters would have been great.

When it feels like your life is falling apart, the last thing you want is your childhood frenemy/brother's best friend around to see your fall. That's the premise of this women's fiction/romance crossover, where the foundation of the relationship is the years these two characters have spent feuding. I loved the history between them and how it influenced their present day decisions, and I loved that they knew each other so well. Our heroine is a hot mess who took the expected path in life and is now feeling the weight of debt and poor decision-making. It's relatable and has an authentic feel, which makes it stand out from the pack. I liked how the hero supported and uplifted the heroine - he's known her so long that he gets her in a way that no one else would. Add in an accidental towel drop and some fake dating to change the dynamic between them, and it's no wonder they found themselves becoming closer than either would've anticipated.

The story follows Isla, a 20-something who is broke, drowning in student loan debt, working a job she hates, and now without a place to live. Isla's brother is out of the country for the next month, so she decides to crash at his place until she can get back on her feet again. The only problem? When she arrives, Isla gets an unexpected eyeful of her brother's best friend, Cade. The two have unwillingly been a part of each other's lives for as long as they can remember, and seeing each other naked was never part of the plan. But Cade knows something is up with Isla, and he's not going to let her fall to pieces. When Isla agrees to attend some work events as Cade's "girlfriend," it changes their relationship even more. Suddenly, the two are getting to know each other in a way they never have... and that's sure to cause some problems.

While the romance is central to the story, I'd consider this more of a women's fiction crossover, simply because Isla's finances are such a big part of the book. It's something you don't read about all that much in modern romance, but is a reality that many readers face. I liked its inclusion, but this romance reader wanted less focus on finances and more on the budding relationship. It felt like every time the romance would gain momentum, it would get stalled by a side plot revolving around Isla's bleak financial situation. That's what loses this a star for me - I liked a whole lot of it, but I could've done with significantly less focus on Isla's burdens. We only get Isla's perspective, so spending more time with Cade would've given more depth to the romance and his character. That said, there was a whole lot of good stuff going on, and I liked that this felt fresh and modern in so many ways.

Isla is hanging on by a thread - passed up for another promotion, student loan and credit card debt looming, and the cherry on top? Her roommates unceremoniously kicked her out of the apartment (sure, she owes them 3 months rent, but putting all her stuff on the curb is cold). And just when she thought she could crash at her brother’s condo to lay low and figure out a plan, she finds her brother’s best friend, Cade, is already there while his place is renovated. No one can know how far she’s fallen, even Cade, who might be the only one who could understand.

This book is chaotic, hilarious and pretty swoony! Brother’s best friend has always been on my list of fave tropes, and we get some pining and fake dating too? Sign me up.

I am so lucky that I don’t have student debt hanging over me(especially to the extent that US institutions cost) but the cost of living is skyrocketing while many people, like Isla, are being left behind. This might hit way too close to home for a lot of people, especially when she sees her reality in contrast with the homes of the rich executives she ends up house sitting for.

I loved the scenes at the library, where she’s always found among the stacks by a librarian she wants to befriend.

The reflection on family, values and beliefs was really interesting, especially because Isla, her brother Seb, and Cade all grew up hearing her parents’ beliefs on working hard and not leeching off society (which, WOW, pretty toxic, especially from Cade’s point of view)

I love Cade, and his company social events throughout this book. The morale and company culture is completely different than Isla’s job, and makes for some bright spots for both of them throughout.

AND THE CHEMISTRY. I swear, these two could start a wildfire with the sparks and sexual tension between them. That, and their shared history, made them so much fun to read about.

I think this could have ended pre-epilogue, but was a fun and hilarious love story all the same. Looking forward to more Sonia Hartl!

4⭐️ | 2 .5🌶️

This is a quick read with some of my favourite tropes is fun, witty and quite adorable!

The MCs give off major Monica and Chandler vibes. The FMC is very relatable and the MMC is just the sweetest. The chemistry between the two is spectacular from the very start and I devoured this book in a day because it’s so so cute.

While it’s a fun read, it also deals with some real life difficulties like low-paying jobs, struggles to pay bills, etc. which made the book more realistic.

Overall it’s an interesting and entertaining book and I look forward to read more of Sonia’s work.

4 stars!

Fake dating? Brother's best friend? Forced proximity? Toxic families? Commentary on the rising cost of college and the depreciation of getting a degree? Social commentary on income inequality and the crushing weight of student loan debt? Sign me up!

"Rent to Be" by Sonia Hartl has a bit of everything: some excellent banter, a slow-growing connection, some intriguing characters, a little immaturity and a little growth, and a hefty dose of spiciness. I found myself enjoying this book for the most part! It's a quick read that will leave you panting and pinings right alongside the characters. I will admit, some of main character Isla's decisions were head-scratch-worthy, but hey, we all make bad decisions in the name of trying to get a paycheck, right? As I said, there is some immaturity ("Rainbow Bear" kind of made me want to vomit from cuteness and ickiness?), but not so much that it ruined my enjoyment of this book as a whole. I appreciated the chemistry between Isla and Cade, Isla's brother's best friend and their next-door neighbor growing up. They are two people who have clearly been in love with each other for years (him more so than her), but they just haven't gotten their timing right. Hartl knows her way around a swoon-worthy love story.

This book is so much more than a fluffy romance. I envision many readers nagging about the "pOlItIcS!!!111~~" and social commentaries that are included in this book, to which I say a hearty GET OVER IT!!!!!!! So, so many millennials are facing income inequality, a lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, job losses despite years of college/having degrees, and homelessness that it is dividing a generation. It's swell if none of this impacts your life in the slightest, but millions of people are experiencing these issues on a daily basis. You can't turn a blind eye just because your precious little romance book talked about injustice and trauma. Ignore it all you want: IT'S. STILL. HAPPENING. The least you can do is not complain about it and not rate a book poorly just because you're out of touch and can't identify with anyone else's plight. To me, these topics aided in telling this story. Cade and Isla's generational trauma has shaped who they are as people, but all her boomer-a$$ relatives can do is complain about how "college brainwashed her" and made her unable to take a joke?!? Absolutely no self-reflection or looking inward at how they treated the poor people around them, including the man she loves, when he was just a child?! Coolcoolcool gotitgotitgotit. Preach, Sonia Hartl. I see what you're doing and I appreciate the heck out of it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sonia Hartl, and Alcove Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Rent To Be Sonia Hartl

Isla is living her worst nightmare. Kicked out of her apartment for not paying rent with nowhere to go. She has a low paying job and student loans out of the wazoo from her MBA so she is barely scraping by. Thankfully, her brother is out of town for work for two months. When she gets there, her brother's best friend, Cade, is there so she cannot admit to her problems and crash there. By some miracle, she starts to house sit for people so she can make extra money and have somewhere to crash. Cade finds out her issues and they come to an agreement. Cade won't tell her brother if she agrees to pretend to be his girlfriend for company events. The dating begins to feel less and less fake as they go on.

I did enjoy this book. I like that Isla is dealing with something a lot of millennials struggle with. Low pay with high student debt. Isla and Cade were a cute couple. I didn't get why Isla feels like she knows Cade well and can't just crash at her brother's place. It seemed like he would not have an issue with it at all. I could not stand her parents or the fact that they don't really seem to support their child unless she is doing really well.
I loved the different places she house sat for and was glad she seemed to come up with a smart idea on her feet. It falls apart at the end but it was really just a smart idea.

This was a cute read. Plenty of build up to a lot of steam closer to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Sonia Hartl for the e-ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.

3.5 stars

Ilsa was forced to move out of the house she shared with her roommates because she was not able to pay the rent on time.

She is moving in her brother's house while he is traveling.

But she is used to relaying on herself, to not ask for any hand outs.

But Ilsa is not the only one staying there, her brother's best friend who lives there as well is currently there.

His place is getting renovated.

They agree to a deal, one where she is his fake girlfriend so that Cades bosses will leave him alone.

Can I say how I loved that he didn't solve her problems? It is something that needs to be seen in more contemporary romances and since in the end it was perfectly balanced it gave the perfect color to this romcom/contemporary romance
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Touching deep and real issues such as student loans, family expectations, economic appearances and real relationships but putting loose and fun characters with great chemistry between them like Isla and Cade in a great brother best friend, enemies to lovers
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Isla comes home from work only to find her things in boxes on the street. Her two best friends decided it was for the best after falling behind on her rent. She never imagined that after getting her degree and getting a job in a corporation she would barely be able to pay her bills or fix her car.
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Desperate to find a place to stay, she decides to stay at her brother's house who is away for a month but upon arrival she discovers that the house is not empty. Cade, her brother's best friend is staying in the guest room.
and after trying to deceive him, she decides to tell him the truth but in exchange for keeping the secret he needs to ask another favor
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Isla agrees to pretend to be his girlfriend for work functions as she tries to balance her life but the more time they spend together pretending, the more real it feels and Isla begins to see all aspects of her life and her family with new eyes
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Steamy, funny and with a lot to say, I enjoyed reading this book and the journey of these characters, is my first book by this author but definitely no the last one
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Thanks to Sonia Hartl and Alcove Press for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my voluntary and honest opinion

This is your tried and true romance. It’s friends to lovers with a third act breakup. But there really is so much more to this book that I had to give it 5 stars. I’ll start with the romance aspect of the book. It’s written perfectly. You feel the history between Isla and Cade. You feel the connect and the pull between the two. They definitely have some chemistry. And for me, I think I felt it so much because there was one or two scenes that were so funny and cute towards the beginning of book. I also related to Isla. I spent all this time and money getting a degree that I barely use. My student loans are outrageous and I thought I was setting myself up for financial comfort. In reality, that didn’t happen. The thing that really sold this book for me was Hartl addressing family dynamics and toxicity. It was a theme throughout the book and really addressed towards the end. OH! And there’s definitely some level 2-3 spice in here. Overall, I think this book was perfect.