A new book from @authorandiej ? Yes, please! Her characters are relatable, she writes with grace and ease, and ooooooh is it spicy! (Just the right amount). Not only that, but Miss Andie is a joy in real life. We met briefly at Apollycon and I was left with a great impression.

"When a relationship therapist gets dumped right before her new dating handbook hits shelves, she fake dates to save face in this spicy romantic comedy.

There are a lot of things that can go wrong on an author's publication day, but breaking up with her long-term boyfriend might just be at the top of Jessica Gallagher’s list. She also didn’t expect to run into her old crush, Galvin Baker, the very next day. When Jessica goes into crisis mode about the PR nightmare, she proposes the first solution that comes to fake dating. Luckily, Galvin seems game.

Galvin Baker is used to being a constant disappointment, which is why he can’t—and won’t—commit to a relationship. Unfortunately for him, his last girlfriend used her vast social media power to make sure everyone knows how much Galvin "underperforms.” Fake dating for Jessica’s book promotion seems like the perfect cover—and maybe she can teach him something along the way.

Hookups “for science” and some seriously sweet gestures later, Jessica and Galvin’s fake dates are feeling more authentic than any of their previous relationships did. Have they replaced unrealistic expectations with unexpected realness?"

QOTD: Do you enjoy the fake dating trope?

Also, thank you @netgalley and @berkleypub for allowing me to read this.

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #unrealisticexpectations #andiej #andiejchristopher #berkleypublishing #romance #fakedating

This was such a treat for me after reading a few thrillers in anticipation for Fall/Spooky Szn. It was my first time reading anything by this author, but I am so hooked on her writing now and can’t wait to go back and read all of her backlist.

🎧I loved the book and audiobook pairing and the narration was so good!

WHAT TO EXPECT
-open door romance
-slightly spicy
-opposites attract
-celebrity vibes
-fake dating

*many thanks to Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copy for review

I'm not entirely sure how I felt about this read. Overall, I'm certain I enjoyed it but it was a chore at times. Jessica's occupation was bothersome in that there were expectations placed on her that were very extreme.

Galvin's name was obnoxious to recall when reading so I just called him Gavin. Its a lovely name but it did not fit the character.

I like how the two ultimately came together and worked everything out. This was just meh to me.

The synopsis of this book sounded so good. But unfortunately, I will be DNFing as the beginning is a huge turn off for me. This is a therapist whose long-term partner didn’t tell her he’s moving out?! The miscommunication is atrocious, and I have no desire to keep reading. Maybe it’s just a “me” thing with the book, but that first scene was totally off-putting and I’m unable to continue. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

I love a fake-dating trope, I've never known one to work IRL, but give it to me in a book form between a relationship therapist who just got dumped and a playboy with a bad reputation and I am hooked. Unrealistic Expectations met all of mine.

Unrealistic Expectations is the perfectly snarky, fun read. I loved the premise and how smooth the writing was. Galvin’s growth throughout the story is what really stood out to me. His journey was relatable and I appreciated that he was changing because he wanted to, not for anyone else. I’m excited to see what else Christopher has written.

Relationship therapist Jessica Gallagher is on cloud nine on the day that her book about relationships is published. She quickly falls from that high when her boyfriend of ten years breaks up with her soon after. Wallowing in her breakup, Jessica runs into Galvin Baker, an acquaintance from college. She proposes that they fake date to help her maintain her image for her book publicity. Galvin is in need of some positive publicity himself and so he agrees. Sparks fly between Jessica and Galvin and this fake relationship turns into something very real for the both of them.

I saw myself in Jessica in many ways and that captured my attention. As a mental health professional, people assume that you have it altogether and you know what to do in every situation. When things go wrong in your life, sometimes you don't know what to do and sometimes you need to wallow in your sorrow, even if you know all of the coping strategies. Jessica needs control in all parts of her life, just like I do, and it's as exhausting as it seems for Jessica in this book. I loved that she found Galvin, who challenges her to let go and who she felt safe enough with.

Jessica and Galvin were both badly burned by their most recent relationships and they found each other at a time when they needed each other the most. They didn't know that it could be like this and it was beautiful that they became each other's person.

The character development in this book is outstanding. I felt like I got to know Jessica, Galvin, and the supporting characters really well. I liked that Andie J. Christopher took the time to allow readers to get into their heads so we could immerse ourselves in the experience.

If you have a chance to listen to this audiobook, I highly recommend it. The narrator brings an emotionally packed performance.

Pick this book up for a fake-dating romance that will having you thinking about what makes a successful relationship.

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: infidelity (not between the main characters), mention of a fatal car accident

This was a fast and cute read. Loved that we got both points of view. Fake dating is one of my faves and this was a new spin on an old fave.

I absolutely flew through Andie J. Christopher's latest romance centered around fake dating, but in this case, it is a second chance romance as well (sort of...). When high school friends Jessica and Galvin reunite and team up to fake date, it's clear there are feelings under the surface as well.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Berkley Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Unrealistic Expectations is the ultimate in fake dating. A relationship expert is suddenly dumped right before the release of her new advice book so she needs a boyfriend. Enter Galvin - a guy dumped by an influencer who slandered him all over social media. And you can figure out the rest. This book is steamy. Whoa. It was also entertaining and I loved Galvin. I wish there was more about their connections on a personal level because it was a bam in your face kind of thing but I loved seeing a strong protagonist stand up for herself.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Let's Talk Books for the advanced reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This book has such an awesome premise. Jessica is a relationship therapist who wrote a book for single men about dating. And then her boyfriend dumped her on its publication day, putting her expertise in question. So she agrees to start fake dating a guy she knew from college, Galvin. (Or is it fake dating?)

I appreciated how the book played with the idea of therapy and authenticity in ways I found quite interesting. I was a big fan of how how early chapters began with a quote from Jessica about couples therapy. I would have liked to see that continue through the book.

And I enjoyed how he fell first and the character growth he went through. His background and relationship history was fascinating.

However, I ended up with mixed feelings. I enjoyed the beginning of the book more than the ending. I disliked both how the third act tension initially arose and how it was resolved.

January LaVoy narrated the book beautifully. It was a fast 7.5 hours.

3.5 stars rounded up

Cute little rom-com!

Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

I thought this book was super cute and I enjoyed the characters. I was not blown away but I still thought it was a super fun/cute read. I thought it was interesting to see Jessica's and Galvin's relationship evolve. However, I did think it was a little rushed for my taste. I am a slow burn girly that loves some tension and I just did not think this book had that. I do think that it is all a personal preference and someone out there might enjoy it a lot more than I did. On that note, I still would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to net galley and Berkley romance for the gifted galley !

A steamy, flirty look at two characters who take a new approach to dating and relationships together after recent breakups leave them questioning what they really want out of love. He's a renowned architect who kept things surface-level. She's a therapist and author who stayed in her unfulfilling long-term relationship for the illusion of security it provided her. Now, they're both ready for something joyful and meaningful. While fake-dating plays a central role in the plot, the leads swiftly and honestly acknowledge their feelings for one another, and the ability to communicate clearly becomes a central thread throughout the work, tying into the heroine's work as a relationship counsellor. Christopher focuses in tightly on her 2 leads, with a dual POV and prose that's mostly internal monologue, making this is a good fit for readers who like a lot of access to characters' thoughts as they sort through their choices.

I think I’m in my fake dating era and I don’t see myself leaving this magical place anytime soon! Unrealistic Expectations was a fun read and if you’re in your fake dating era I would highly recommend this one.

What I loved:
🩵 dual pov
🩵 fake dating
🩵 good steam
🩵 opposites attract

This was a four star read for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Both of our main characters were unlikable and a bit snobby. Neither of them felt like they were mature enough to be in their 30s either. They also seemed to be at odds with one another too often.

Just wasn’t for me, but I can see other people enjoying it!

Loved fake dating especially when there's already chemistry. Jessica and Galvin knew each other from college. Loved their chemistry and how he fell first. Their parents were awful though. This is such a spicy, fun romance!
I loved meeting Andie and her mother at @apollycon they were so sweet!

Thank you berkleyromance

Unrealistic Ecpectations by Andie J. Christopher offers a unique take on a romance novel whilst still offering fan favorite tropes such as fake dating & mutually beneficial PR. The author has such an interesting voice.
The heroine of the story is a licensed therapist that just published a dating book for men the day after she was dumped by her college sweetheart of many years. She then crossed paths with an old acquaintance of her college days that also happened to be a known playboy. They are both struggling through rough times & offer the other a ray of light as their story unfolds.
There are breakups, heartaches, self-reflection, growth as well as the feel goods & spice of burgeoning feelings from their happenstance fake romance.

Unrealistic Expectations is great for fans of
🩷Fake Dating
🩷Mutually Beneficial PR Moment
🩷Reformed Playboy meets Unimpressed Academic
🩷Reunited College Acquaintances Later in Adulthood
🩷Therapist/Author & Architect

Because the lead is a therapist & both leads are going through quite drastic life shifts & dealing with some self work, it is more cerebral than other novels I’ve read. It is a lot of talk inside the head of the lead of whoever’s chapter it is. It provides different perspective & allows the reader to do some self-reflecting & learning of their own if they so wanted to along the way.

I found it interesting to read a romance set in the mind of a therapist finding love in her thirties. As a more analytical person, I could relate heavily to the thoughts of the lead. Neither lead is perfect obviously, but I appreciated their maturity, effort & evident chemistry with each other.

Massive thanks to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Because of my 3 star rating, I was not going to post to Amazon.

Unrealistic Expectations should be on everyones radar! Add this immediately to your TBR.

Jessica gets dumped by her boyfriend of 10 years, leaving her questioning her their whole relationship and her life. A chance encounter with a former classmate finds them teaming together to fake date to elevate their reputations.

Jessica is on the brink of launching her relationship book and Galvin went viral for not so flattering comments about his sexual performance by an influencer. He's was a known player in school.

Fake Dating
Opposites attract
Spicy

Never have I cheered more than for these two to have a happily after ever. The only down fall was that I want more of these this romance, and didn't want the book to end.

Thank you Berkley for the complimentary copy.

It is another great book, I am on a roll with reading great rom-coms (yippee go me)
We have Galvin (reformed playboy, old college acquaintance and his last ex was popular on social media and expressed him also he never liked Luke Jessica's ex) and Jessica (a therapist who has a book coming out and her long-term boyfriend just walked out on her and she needs to keep up her image of a good relationship bc of PR and the book), these two have sooo many past issues that it seems like they don't figure out until now bc of them 2 together even if it's just a fake relationship.

So I wouldn't really call this a 2nd chance trope more like knew each other kinda but wrong time in life. You will get more on that backstory later in the book. That is one thing I really enjoyed was the backstory of the characters and how it puts everything into a better perspective.

He falls first and Dual POV
So many fun and flirty outings and moments, these 2 have such great chemistry.
So much character growth and real-life situations that play out to be a great fun story.

I was so lucky to be able to get to read this book as an ARC thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. The above is my review and honest opinions, this is all voluntary.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.