3.5ish stars, rounded. I love Andie Christopher's writing, and this one was no exception in terms of style. I didn't love the storyline- it felt like there wasn't enough time devoted to the emotional connection between the main characters despite Jessica's profession and book. The book is open door, and the characters definitely have amazing chemistry. The LA setting is a lot of fun.

This book had potential, but fell a little flat for me. I didn't feel a connection to either one of the main characters and found them to be very immature for being in their 30's. Maybe that's what worked for them as a couple? Not a bad read, just not exceptionally entertaining either. I listened to the audiobook and January LaVoy did an excellent job with the narration.

Jessica’s dating handbook is ready to hit the shelves but just days before her long term boyfriend suddenly dumps her and moves out. She is seriously concerned about people wanting to buy a dating book from a therapist who can’t keep her relationship together.
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Meanwhile, Galvin has his own issues to deal with. He is used to his charisma and charm getting him whatever he needs or wants out of life but when he very publicly is broken up with by a social media influencer it turns his world upside down.
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Jessica and Galvin reconnect at a bar after her book release party. They haven’t seen each other since college but both of their reputations are on the line. Eventually Fake dating seems to be the solution but as we all know in books fake dating leads to love. While fake dating isn’t my favored trope I do love the two of these characters and overall this was a fun one!

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads @prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this romance. Unique twist on fake dating, both trying to improve their images. And the therapy:mental health rep was spot on but didn’t take over the plot. Jessica and Galvin were perfect for each other and it was fun to watch them catch feelings. I did wish for more intimacy, longing, and deep conversations, but I know that’s more difficult with third person. The ending was just ok - I always love a detailed epilogue. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I love a good fake relationship.

Gavin is a playboy whose reputation is in the dumpster. Jessica is a relationship therapist who wrote a book of dating advice for men, who was just dumped by her long time boyfriend. So - fake dating!

These two knew each other in college but never dated. The fake dating starts and they realize they enjoy being together. It was fun to see their relationship develop.

Many thanks to NeGalley, Berkley and Let's Talk Books Promo for the ARC and letting me be a part of this Berkley Buddy Read.

This one is so much fun!

Our tropes: he falls first, fake dating, smitten former playboy

Jessica is a therapist about to release a book on dating - but she’s just been dumped. (I’ve seen this Hallmark movie before— and enjoyed it!)

Galvin has also been dumped in a very public way, so fake dating is arranged between the two old college friends who find each other right at the perfect time.

I loved how these two thought they had it all together but realized they don’t— and figure it out as a team.

Even when they don’t realize they’re a couple yet.

(Another favorite of mine - when they’re the last to realize they’re really together)

This was a deep one, with lots of self reflection from our flawed (and very lovable) characters, and a fast enough pace to keep me turning the pages.

I really loved this, and recommend for a nice, comforting romance that will leave you with the warm fuzzies.

Unrealistic Expectations is middle of the road for me of the books I have read from this author. It was a solid read but also I think I will have forgotten most of it in a week. It was fine.

Thanks to the publisher (bookstagrammer buddy group) and netgalley for the eARC and the chance to give my candid review.

Unexpected Expectations
by Andie J. Christopher

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥☄️ 2.5 (0-5)

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Fake is one of my favorite tropes.
🤩 Captivating storyline right from the start. Great chapter length. Bingeable read.
🤩 I love their bar meet again. “I’d love the opportunity to prove my innocence to you.”
🤩 Breakfast pastries the next day.
🤩 Abby, Jessica’s publicist, was pretty funny.
🤩 Great therapy representation. I like how the low of being trashed on social media helped Galvin want to become a better version of himself and start going to therapy.
🤩 It was so heart-warming how Galvin and Jessica could be there for each other when dealing with their parents.
🤩 Jessica’s trust issues and the third act drama were understandable.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Galvin isn’t my favorite MMC name.
💫 Interesting plot, but the feels (love, longing, lust, and laughs) didn’t wow me.
💫 No steam after the drama. Not enough connection, intimacy, and steam, overall.

Out tomorrow (Sept. 26)! (Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC to review!)

When Jessica is unexpectedly dumped by her long-term boyfriend immediately before the release of her dating advice book, she starts a fake dating relationship with her college acquaintance Galvin to boost both of their PR statuses.

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this book! The MCs, especially the FMC, were super relatable to me and I appreciated how vulnerable and open they were. I also enjoyed the commentary about modern dating and feminism in general, and the several meta scenes acknowledging unrealistic aspects of the plot or common romance novel tropes.

All of that said, I was a bit frustrated by the last quarter of the book, and wanted more for the ending (I’m a big-sweeping-epilogue-tell-me-all-about-the-HEA kind of gal). Still, on balance I’d say if this one sounds interesting to you, you should definitely give it a try! I can’t wait to check out more by this author.

Recommended if you like: fake dating; reformed player trope; “just one night”

CW: Infidelity; emotional abuse

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The book follows Relationship Therapist, Jessica Gallagher. We meet Jessica In the beginning of the book while her boyfriend Luke is ending their relationship. He was trying to sneak out before she got home. She was shocked being that they just went to a celebratory dinner the night before for the release of her book.

Jessica runs into Galvin who was a former classmate. They never dated before but after Galvin is exposed on social media they engage in a fake relationship to repair their images. Galvin is intrigued by Jessica’s view and Jessica can’t stop herself from falling for him. The only catch is the more Galvin is around Jessica he realizes he is falling for her and is ready to drop his player status. This was my first dread from the author and I was entertained

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica is a therapist with an upcoming dating advice book aimed at men when she and her boyfriend break up on pub day. Her publicist, concerned for Jessica's image and credibility, suggests Jessica fake date her old college crush, Galvin. Galvin has commitment issues, and his influencer ex-girlfriend makes derogatory statements about him on social media. But fake dating can bring real feelings, as Jessica and Galvin soon discover.

Opposites attract and fake dating are two of my favorite tropes. Christopher handles it refreshingly with two characters who understand their own needs, are upfront with each other, communicate well, and become increasingly vulnerable with one another. It's not smooth sailing because both characters have issues to work through, separately and together, but this is acknowledged. Jessica may be a therapist, but she has baggage and struggles with self-esteem, her relationship with her mother, and the end of her long-term relationship. Galvin must deal with his traumas, including the humiliation and effects of social media bullying, a topic I felt the author handled well. He grows into a reformed playboy and a man who falls first and very hard. Their banter is witty, and things get spicy. There are a few pacing issues, and the ending was a bit abrupt, but overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read. Christopher is a new to me author, but I look forward to reading more of her!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I liked this book a lot. Jessica is a therapist who’s written a self help dating book for men. On the day it’s published, her longtime live-in boyfriend leaves her. The next night she goes out to drown her sorrows and sees a guy she knew from college, Galvin. He had a reputation as a player, and she discovers that’s he’s been recently embarrassed by a famous ex girlfriend, who implied he was deficient in bed.

Jessica is worried about the p/r implications of being seen with Galvin when her truth telling agent tells her to double down and fake date him. As they spend time together, and hook up in the name of “science”, their feelings turn real.

I loved the characters and I especially loved their ability to communicate. They talk honestly about the difficulties in their lives. Lately I’ve read a few books where an honest conversation would have saved so much time and pain. I recommend this book, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I need everyone's full attention for this one...

Unrealistic Expectations

Just the title alone had me giddy with excitement!

Having read "Not The Girl You Marry" made me a fan of Christopher but reading Unrealistic Expectations has set the bar for books to come. This book packs a punch that will have you so full of emotion. My heart raced with the steam, I was bellied over laughing with the humor and my emotions were tugged on watching a relationship develop between Jessica and Galvin. What might have started out as fake dating turned into something a whole lot more genuine than most "real" relationships.

I LOVED this book and can not wait to see what the future holds for Christopher.

Check out this teaser :

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 mind: 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?

I'm a big fan of Andie J. Christopher, and have to say that Unrealistic Expectations is my new favorite of hers!
Jessica Gallagher didn't expect to be dumped by her long-time boyfriend at the same time as her dating self-help book hit the bookshelves. After she runs into an old friend from college, Galvin Baker, fake dating might just be the answer to her problem. Galvin's a serial dater, so he can't be looking for anything serious - plus, he was recently chastised on social media after a high-profile breakup with a popular influencer. And Jessica just needs to save face throughout book promotion. There can't be any feelings - after all, it's just for business and reputations.

This was a great romance that felt mature, yet fun and flirty at the same time. Christoper writes strong women leads so impeccably well. Galvin was no slouch either - and I love to read about a playboy being reformed. Jessica and Galvin stole my heart! I can't wait to read more of Andie J.'s backlist until her next book comes out!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the advanced reading copy and PRH Audio for the advanced listening copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

Author Interview to come on The Categorically Romance Podcast.
Andie J Christopher is a romance writer of OUR time. She captures the world we live in so keenly and masterfully and I couldn't get enough of this romance she's created between Jessica and Galvin. She is smart. She is funny. She is someone who wholeheartedly loves romance and it shows.
I will never tire of fake dating and it is romances like Unrealistic Expectations that reminds me why: fun, high stakes, something in it for both characters.
Adored it!

When a relationship therapist gets dumped right before her new dating handbook is released, she decides to fake date the one guy that has a reputation that needs fixing itself. Jessica Gallagher is a relationship therapist who has just written a book, yet the day before it releases she comes home to see her boyfriend of over 10 years moving out and then breaking up with her out of nowhere. Jessica goes to a bar with her friends to celebrate and ends up running into Galvin Baker, a guy she knew in college because he hooked up with two of her roommates and was in the same fraternity as her ex. Galvin's life is a bit of a wreck right now, he's spent most of his life just sleeping with women and never committing, only doing one night stands and nothing serious, yet when his latest relationship ends with a mega influencer, it doesn't end well. Galvin's ex makes a video to her millions of followers about how bad in bed Galvin is and now no woman will even go near him. Jessica and Galvin run into each other and end up chatting, they do have chemistry and decide to fake date in order to help Jessica maintain her image for her new book release and in return she'll help him work out his relationship issues. Jessica and Galvin spend time together but Galvin begins to realize that maybe he's finally met the one, that Jessica is really it for him, now all he has to do is convince her that this fake relationship is very real and that he's changed and is all in for her. Jessica thinks that this is just lust and that they can be friends with benefits until her book tour ends and that what Galvin really wants is just physical. Yet the more time they spend together and the more he tries to show her he wants to commit, the more she finds herself falling for the one guy she never expected to fall for. This one was not for me, for a couple that was in their 30s, they really read as if they were still in college. Jessica was so immature and for someone who is a relationship therapist, really didn't feel like one. Galvin kind of just gave me the ick if I'm being honest. Yeah he had issues that lead to him just wanting to have one night stands but seriously, I just did not vibe with. him at all. I didn't get the romance or chemistry between these two and couldn't care less if they actually got together. If you enjoy opposites attract then maybe this one is for you, unfortunately it was not for me.

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Read if you like:
🖤 Diverse Characters
😘 Fake Dating
💔 Love after Heartbreak
🌶️ Spicy Reads
🧠 Therapist FMC
🏫 College Classmates

This was an enjoyable and spicy romance! Fake dating is one of my favortate tropes and so this one was set to be a winner for me with that alone!

This was spicy with hooking up while fake dating for these two as they had their different reasons for fake dating.

I loved the idea of going from a relationship that felt stable without any romance to one full of romance that feels scary for the FMC for her to see that love doesn’t have to be boring to be right.

Overall, this was such a great romance and I absolutely recommend it for romance lovers!

Thank you Berkley for my ARC of this one in exchange for my review!

Jessica is a successful relationship therapist, but even she doesn’t know what to do when her boyfriend of 10 years breaks up with her right as her new dating handbook hits the shelves. This is a PR nightmare on so many levels, and the only solution she can think of is to be in a fake relationship as she gets ready to do press tours. Luckily, she runs into Galvin, a former crush, and he is willing to be her fake boyfriend. It also helps him, because his last girlfriend, a social media influencer, put him on blast when he broke up with her and now no one wants to date him. But after some time, their fake dates start to feel too real.

I loved this book, from the real and imperfect characters who were so relatable and owned their flaws, to the sweet and intimate relationship that progressed between the two of them, this book and the relationship felt so real. Galvin in particular won me over with his reform playboy ways and I was so here for his growth and was cheering him on the whole time. Jessica was such a boss bitch and I loved her strength and energy - and was so glad she found someone who valued her more than Luke did. This book was a quick read that had me invested from start to finish!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Unrealistic Expectations quickly put author Andie J. Christopher on my radar.

Jessica Gallagher is warned many things won't happen on her publication day but what she wasn't warned of was her long time boyfriend breaking up with her. She also wasn't told she may run into an old crush, Galvin Baker. Her publiciist happens to see Jessica out with Galvin and proposes what needs to happen: fake dating.

Galvin Baker needs a positive thing to happen after having his "dull" sex experiences go viral. Fake dating with Jessica feels like the right move to take- no matter if he may start to get feelings for her.

Both begin going on fake dates and posting pictures on respective instagram accounts. Both feel that everything is going to plan and no feelings will be attached. Both don't realize these are some unrealistic expectations.

I found myself reading Unrealistic Expectations in a few settings, enjoying the fast paced chapters and dual narration. While I didn't fully "buy in" to the relationship, I found the author's writing to allow me to picture each character in my mind while reading. Those looking for a fun, quick paced fake dating read my enjoy Andie J. Christopher's latest, Unrealistic Expectations.

Unless you enjoy particularly Head Empty, contemporary, L.A.-set het romances, I can't recommend it much.

I think I had unrealistic expectations about this book, frankly. I saw "fake dating" and said sign me up without reading the fine print.

Both main characters were very unlikeable people, with snobby and arrogant personalities, money, and pretentious careers in L.A., so I couldn't connect or sympathize with their plights. These characters were opposites, and it wasn't conveyed in a grumpy sunshine way, convincing me they were in lust, not love. (Jessica purposely kicks her shoes askew from where Galvin has straightened them in the entryway, which made me grind my teeth, lol). Neither character felt legitimately later-30s maturity-wise and they were annoying.

The few steamy scenes were decent but the feelings, I never felt. The pacing was breakneck like it was being crammed into a movie slot. This checked zero boxes for me as a romance.