Audio note: The audio was good! Since the story is told exclusively from Isla's POV, it's a single narrator, but she does a great job. I'm not familiar with Kirsten Leigh, but I liked her voice, and she made it easy to distinguish between the characters. Her voice was also right for the tone, and this makes a solid choice as a workday listen, because it's a slow burn romance and the runtime is short enough to get through in a single day. There is some spice, but it's certainly not the focus, and most of it comes late in the story. I definitely recommend the format for this one.

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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!

Super cute and quick read, and would make a great weekend book. I loved it and the scene of her walking in of her brother and her friend were too funny. The spice in the book was great and not too graphic for anyone worried . I love the main female character and quickly felt bad for her just due to how her family constantly putting her, but had friends that she didn’t know that she had on her side. Her family was business based and made decisions based on success and not by the heart, and when she ends up dating her brothers “lower class” friend they frown upon it and she chose him, and after some time they came to their senses. The main character ends up having a better life after she decides to start following her heart and not what she thinks her family will approve of.

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! Also, I loved Kirsten Leigh's narration of this audiobook. Her voices kept me engaged and compelled to keep listening.

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

I didn't even finish this book. The main character is so immature and immoral. Poor entertainment for people who don't know the difference between this and actual literature.

This started out really cute, but it was also like the author took every baby boomer parent cliché and millennial kid meme you've seen on the internet recently and tossed them in a book. Seriously, we covered everything from avocado toast to gaslighting, all in one fell swoop. The fake dating and the forced proximity were mild parts of the plot, honestly, they keep spending time together because they wanted to and then they kept ruining it because #stubborn. I was enjoying the romance up until the point where Cade called her a good girl in bed and I threw up a little. It had a happy ending and was basically everything I expect from a romcom, cringe aside. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Summary: Isla Jane is an elder zoomer (not a millennial, as the book blurbs will have to believe) who was, like many of us post-college twentysomethings, one unforeseen expense away from financial disaster. That expense, for her, came in the form of a broken transmission, which caused her to miss rent payments, which caused her to get kicked out by her roommates. Thus kicks off Isla’s month-long struggle to keep her head above water while she sleeps under her desk at work, housesits, and crashes on her brother’s couch, all while her brother’s handsome best friend stands by, sometimes teasing her but most of the time supporting her.

Thoughts: Hartl discusses the economic woes all new adults face with startling accuracy (although I’m not sure why Isla didn’t go to a food rescue if she was so food-insecure). However, Isla’s introduction in the story is frankly a lot, and for a few chapters, I was siding with her roommates. I’ve had roommates of my own neglect to pay their share of rent and neglect to discuss it with me, and believe me, I was not happy when the landlord showed up wondering where his $500-odd dollars were. Despite the initial bad taste in my mouth, I did grow to like Isla and sympathize with her interpersonal problems with her parents: Boundaries matter. And I think Cade acted as a great foil in that regard. Just because someone had it worse than Isla, that doesn’t mean Isla isn’t allowed to be hurt by her parent’s thoughtlessness. Overall, a good portrayal of young millennial/elder zoomer financial struggles with a cute romance.

Isla Jane is a bit down on her luck after being evicted from her apartment. She decides to stay at her brothers house for a bit while he is out of the country on work. She wasn't planning on Cade, her brothers best friend and long time family friend, also being there. As a last ditch effort for a place to stay, she sleeps under her desk at work causing her to land a house sitting job for one of the big wigs at her company.

House sitting may be the way to go if she can stay booked up, this will give her places to stay until she can land back on her feet. She thinks her luck has finally turned and that no one in her domineering family will ever have to know about her financial woes, until Cade finds out. They come up with a deal, Cade will keep her secret from her family, if she agrees to pose as his girlfriend for upcoming work functions. He thinks looking as if he has a settled life will look good to the bosses.

The fake dating makes Isla question everything she ever thought she felt for Cade and leads to quite the sizzle between these two.

A cute, funny and spicy read for sure.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of the E-book in exchange for a review.

I LOVED this book!!! Holy Hannah. Where do I begin.

The book is written from Isla’s perspective which I enjoyed. The author wove the story so that I barely even noticed that the male POV isn’t in there.

Isla is a down on her luck MBA graduate, who is seriously struggling to adult. She was so unbelievable relatable that I couldn’t stop listening to her story. There is very clear gaslighting in this book from her parents which was a little triggering but she handles it like a champ in how she confronts them about it in the end.

The theme in this book is totally aimed at the struggle of millennials of trying to make something of themselves in a world where the gap between social classes keeps growing and employer expectations are to demand blood, sweat and tears from employees for entry level wages no matter the stage of their career.

I highly recommend this book if those themes are something you struggle with in your own life. They didn’t make me spiral into my own issues but definitely felt validating.

This is my first book I've read, written by Sonia Hartl and I really loved it. Rent To Be had my favorite tropes of brother's best friend and fake dating. These were fun, while also dealing with serious issues of school debt, food insecurity and corporate greed.
Isla is an MBA grad, and was only able to find an entry level position which pays minimum wage. Her student loan debt and living expenses are overwhelming. She gets kicked out of her apartment for not being able to pay her part of the rent. So she hauls her stuff over to her brothers place who is out of town for a month. There she runs into her brother's best friend Cade who is staying there while his place is being renovated. Shenanigans ensue, as you watch Isla and Cade who clearly have feelings for each other interact.
Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for the advanced listener copy. The audiobook was a great listen.

Rent to Be by Sonia Hartl
4/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•••Spoiler free review below•••

There is nothing I like more than a funny and cute NA rom-com listen to get me through a Monday workday. And, guess what? This one is PERFECT for that. Isla - determined not be crowned the family screw up - decides that, rather than admitting to having been kicked out of her apartment, she will simply start a house watching business and live in someone else's home. Cade - her brother's best friend - needs a fake girlfriend to get his bosses off his back and help him be more social at work functions. When Cade finds out about Isla's living situation, he makes a deal with her: Be his fake girlfriend for the summer and he won't tell her family about her latest mess. I'm sure you can guess what happens next.

Read this book if you like:
- brothers best friend
- LOL situations
- fake dating
- a main character JUST TRYING HER BEST
- one siting reads/listens

Rent to Be will be released TOMORROW - August 15th - and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
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Special thanks to RB Media for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

Reminiscent of Hartl’s other books, Rent To Be is a steamy, fluffy, and fun romcom for anyone looking for a good beach read!

This is a new favorite!

I loved the writing so much. I was laughing out loud almost the entire way through, the spice was good it didn't make me cringe.

I loved almost every single character in this book. Isla was so relatable, and the relationship she had was cade was so cute.

Isla's relationship with her parents is the exact same as my relation with my own parents almost down to the same sentences.

Loved it so much and will 100% read more from the author!

A rom com with a bit of bite. Isla has been a dutiful daughter and got the degrees her parents wanted, but put herself into massive debt, taken a crap job that doesn't pay well and has now found herself scrambling for a place to live. Cade has pulled himself up by his bootstraps, gotten a good degree and has a great job that he works hard at. They have danced around each other for years, but things are coming to a head. Will they or won't they start dancing together and in sync or will they once again run in the other direction and let the relationship falter. So many tropes here: brothers' best friend, friends to lovers, fake dating, second or actually 3rd chances. The storyline was fun, the banter witty, I found myself snickering at some of the antics and banter while tearing up at other parts. The story was an interesting premise and takes a realistic look at the debt that many put themselves in while trying to achieve the "dream," but what exactly is the dream? The story did have some moments where it seemed to lag a bit and the characters were a bit juvenile in behavior at times, but I felt the author wrapped the behaviors back to their shared experiences as children rather well. Overall, the book was interesting, entertaining and I will definitely look for more books from this author!

Rent to Be by Sonia Hartl is a contemporary standalone romcom. This is my first time reading Hartl's work, and I almost binged it all in one day!

Highlights:
- The main character Isla was relatable, funny, and realistic. I appreciate that she wasn't your cookie-cutter, Mary Sue type of FMC.
- The family dynamics and struggles resonated with me, as someone who didn't grow up in a picture-perfect household.
- I really, really appreciated that each subplot was not tied up with a pretty bow at the end. Sometimes parents don't understand their child's struggles, and so I thought it was realistic that Isla's parents weren't completely understanding from the first hard conversation.
- The fake dating trope had a chokehold on my heart! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite tropes to read.

Room to improve:
- Cade's personality was flat to me personally, but it wasn't the worst thing ever.
- Isla's refusal to communicate with Sebastian and Cade was mildly infuriating to me as a reader, but this is understandable given her characterization.

Overall, I am rating Rent to Be 4 of 5 stars, which is "this was really good!" on my 1-5 star scale.

Thank you Sonia Hartl, RB Media, Recorded Books and NetGalley for this ARC audiobook in exchange for my fair and unbiased review!

I am a huge fan of romcoms and the brother’s best friend trope. This one did not disappoint. I was laughing from the beginning. Isla is just like so many college graduates with degrees and cannot find jobs that can support them even living with roommates. That wonderful degree costs you six figures on top of the cost of living. I just felt for her so much. I know what that is like. I loved this book. It was spicy and had sweet romance. Isla was a great character and Cade was the perfect cinnamon roll. The narration was fabulous for this story. I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to Netgalley and RMB for the e-audiobook!

Wow this was so stinking cute. I really loved the way the brother's best friend trope. Isla was fun! The ending felt a little rushed but I really, really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend this book.

The epic banter between Cade & Isla was my favorite part of this story. They had epic chemistry, and when they had their tender moments it was so sweet.
Isla is so chaotic, & Cade is so buttoned up.
This was a fun, chaotic, story.

A Rollercoaster of Millennial Realities and Romance

"Rent to Be" by Sonia Hartl is a captivating blend of millennial struggles, heartwarming romance, and relatable challenges. Isla Jane's journey is one that resonates with many young adults trying to navigate the complexities of life, career, family, and love.

The author skillfully weaves together a tapestry of popular romance tropes, including brother's best friend and fake dating. Isla's character is wonderfully relatable, encapsulating the anxieties and aspirations of recent college graduates as she grapples with finding an affordable place to live and a fulfilling job.

The major plot of the story rests upon Isla's predicament – a blend of desperation and determination born from her last-second eviction and her side hustle. The chemistry between Isla and Cade, her brother's best friend, is palpable and sizzles with tension. As their lives intertwine due to circumstance, the fake dating aspect adds an enjoyable layer of anticipation and closeness.

Though Isla's decisions may, at times, leave you screaming to just trust Cade already, as you may know, many of us have some trust issues. Isla's decisions mirror the genuine struggles many face in their twenties. The book delves into the pressures millennials encounter, from societal and familial expectations to financial hardships. This exploration of broader issues lends depth to the story, making it a resonant read for those who've faced similar challenges.

The writing flows effortlessly, making the story engaging and immersive. While the romance between Isla and Cade takes center stage, the narrative skillfully interweaves important themes like self-discovery, self-love, pursuing passion, and the value of communication.

While some parts felt rushed, Hartl's portrayal of the millennial experience, coupled with the heartwarming romance, creates a story that captivates, making it a recommended read for anyone seeking a poignant and spicy love story with a touch of reality. I read this book in one sitting unable to put it down after I picked it up.

This book comes out on August 15, 2023. Thank you to Netgalley, Sonia Hartl, and Recorded Books for an ARC of the Audiobook. Pick up this book at your favorite local bookseller or preorder on Amazon or Barnes and Noble’s websites.

RENT TO BE by Sonia Hartl is out on Tuesday, but I got a last minute request for the audiobook approved on #NetGalley. I thought the narrator was excellent, and I am real picky about audiobooks. This is a real Law and Order novel, because it is ripped from the headlines of modern society.

Isla has an MBA, a mountain of student loans, and a dead end office job that doesn't pay enough to live off. Too real, right? That may be off putting for those looking for pure escapism, but I found it a refreshing dash of the reality facing so many people in modern society. People who were told that to get a good job you have to go to college and to go to college you have to get loans, but it's okay because then you'll have a good job. But then the good jobs aren't as good as they used to be, but you've still got the loans!

RENT TO BE is a charming love story of childhood friends to lovers, but also a scathing critique of our current economic system, and I for one am here for it.