please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
spice: several open-door spicy scenes
TWs: fake pregnancy, manipulative friends
standalone: book 1 in the Cane Brothers trilogy
final thoughts: this book was so funny and such a quick read. There was witty banter and hilarious positions that the MCs kept getting themselves put into. I loved them and their relationship and I loved that it was a first person dual POV book, so we got to see why the characters acted the way they did. I read the version with illustrations which added a wonderful element to help me envision the characters and some of the scenes. I wish the MMC had to grovel a bit more but overall I loved this book, the characters, the pacing, the side characters, all of it!

read this book if you love

😬 angst
🏝️ forced proximity (same living arrangements)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 great side characters
💓 slowburn
😡 grumpy/sunshine
💵 billionaire
🔢 age gap (28-35)
💏 fake dating
😂 romcom

Review of “A Not So Meet Cute” by Meghan Quinn 💘

4,5 ⭐️

Ahh, this was so cute! I flew through this and had the best time. I loved Huxley and Lottie and their energy was very cute. A great enemies-to-lovers story that had me enjoying myself. Also, the illustrations were amazing! I loved to see them throughout the entire book and it gave the story more meaning.

Prepare for a spicy, cute and entertaining read, with some very nice characters and side-characters. I’m soooo excited for book 2, I’ll get to that one very soon.

✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️ Billionaire

-summary-
Huxley tells a big lie in hopes of closing a business deal. He makes up a fake fiance and lucky for him, he runs into the perfect candidate in Lottie. She's lost her job and looking for someone to give her a financial boost for a little while. They strike a deal to pretend to be engaged. He wants to keep it strictly pretend, but things don't go to plan.

-my thoughts-
This was the quintessential screwball romcom. If you love physical comedy, outlandish situations, and two hot people snarking at each other while hiding their smooshy feelings deep down, this is the book for you.

This is my first Meghan Quinn book and I can see why folks love her. If you love Lucy Score and Pippa Grant and Mia Sosa, you'll enjoy this book.

For me, the spice and the illustrations were the best part!

Steam 🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕

Thank you for providing me with an ARC of this book! I loved reading this one and also loved the new cover! I enjoy the characters a lot and i will definitly read the next books.
However, I gave 4 stars because I wished the book was a little shorter,

Meghan Quinn has quickly become an "I need to read them ALL" author. I love her quick, fun writing style, and easily fly through her stories. Even though I tend to roll my eyes at the billionaire romance trope (honestly, where are all these handsome billionaires? No where, that's where), this story had a scrappy FMC to balance it out, and I love how the entire Cain brothers series is an homage to classic 90's rom-com films, this one being Pretty Woman.

Lottie is down on her luck, after being fired from her job by her toxic best friend/boss just shy of one year to avoid being given a raise. She has looming student loans payments and needs to move out of her mother's house. Half joking but also desperate, she tells her sister she is going to wander the streets of the adjacent upscale neighborhood of The Flats in Beverly Hills to find a rich husband. Much to her surprise, she meets Huxley Cain, billionaire real estate developer, who is out for a run to clear his head after royally stepping in it with a client. In order to seal a deal with a man who only does business with people he relates to, Huxley told him that he also has a pregnant fiancée. With Huxley needing a fake fiancée, quick, and Lottie needing someone to show up with to her high school reunion to stick it to her former best friend, they strike up a deal over Chipotle, which let's face it, is the foundation of most strong relationships. Lottie soon realized that she is in over her head, when Huxley quickly turns off the charm and becomes a cold, calculating businessman with her. There is a fine line between love and hate, and Lottie fights back against Huxley's demands with fire. She softens when she realizes he has a good heart underneath his callous shell, and Lottie gets under his skin like no other woman has before. Soon, their ruse threatens to crumble, but the feelings that developed along the way are very real. The spice in this book was 🔥, which you only get with that forced proximity, enemies to lovers fighting, and is perfect for fans of billionaire romance and fake relationships as well. I can't wait to read about the rest of the Cain brothers!

I really was enjoying the beginning and how both the hero and heroine needed someone to fake date and they literally ran into each other on the sidewalk. This led them to talking and making a deal to fake being together. This was so fun, but then the heroine quickly turned mean to him and would be so annoying and purposefully mean. For no reason other than he was infuriating? I don't love it when the hero/heroine are annoying for really no reason and that was definitely the heroine. So many situations were so over the top and the story just dragged on.

I’m not new to Quinn (love her books!) but somehow never read this series so I was excited to see the new covers by Sourcebooks on NetGalley. I LOVED this one! Hux and Lottie made the best grumpy/sunshine opposites attract chemistry and banter. I’m such a sucker for fake dating/fake engagement too, and adored watching these two come together with heat and eventual BIG time feelings. I laughed, I blushed, and was captivated from start to finish!

I've heard good things about this Author and I haven't had a chance to read any of her books until now. I really did enjoy this book and I can see why she's a popular author!

non spoiler.. Meghan Quinn has the best romance with just enough spice. This book was a quick read and it hit all the feels and marks that every romance reader needs. I give this a 4.5 rating.. perfection

while trying to secure a ten million dollar deal, Huxley tells a lie that might detonate in his face, that he is not only engaged but his fiancee is pregnant. Huxley is single. However, when Dave, the man he’s trying to make said deal with invites him and his fiancee over for dinner a few days later, Huxley is scrambling to find a woman who will go along with his story.

Lottie was just fired from her job by her “best friend.” In an almost spiral, she decides shes going to go to the rich area of town in an attempt to find a “rich husband” to alleviate her problems. What she finds is Huxley on the sidewalk.

The two come up with a mutually beneficial plan and Huxley writes up a contract. Huxley is all about business and Lottie wants to have fun. The partnership which seems doomed from the starts looking more and more like a real relationship but Huxley struggles to let all his walls down and when he accuses Lottie of doing something she’d never do he might lose her before he even really had her.

This was my first Meghan Quinn book and it will not be my last! This book was so funny, had me fully belly laughing multiple times. I love me a grumpy MMC and Hux did not disappoint. Super excited for the next one!

Meghan Quinn is one of my go to romance writers. I don't think that there is a book by Quinn that I did not enjoyed reading.
If I want a guick, swony and funny pick me up, I choose Quinns books.
Sooo, this one was just that. Loved it.

This book is hilarious! Lottie and Huxley were so different; she was bubbly and fun, he was grumpy and controlling, but there was undeniable attraction between them.

I loved seeing her slowly get to him while they were fake dating. These two had so much chemistry, and I was happy to see Lottie happy after what happened to her with her “friend” in the beginning of the book.

This was my first ever book by Meghan Quinn, so I loved reading the new version with illustrations! Some of those were very NSFW, but so hot!

I absolutely LOVED both A NOT SO MEET CUTE and SO NOT MEANT TO BE! I read them both and then all three of the DATING BY NUMBERS SERIES. What great books! Thank you--exactly the treat I needed for Chanukah.
I cannot wait to read more from her.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

You can tell just by the title of the book that this was going to be one of those stories where you have perpetual smile on your face, and I was not wrong. The story brought about so many laughs with so many cute moments along the way. Rom-com at its finest! Huxley Cane needs to close an important deal with a client. And what he needs in order to accomplish that is a fake fiance who is pregnant. Lottie is jobless and drowning in student loans and is in need of a rich guy to solve all her problems. When Huxley and Lottie literally bump into each other, they both get what they want, and that's when the fun starts. The fun and cheeky banter just had me in giggles and the chemistry between Huxley and Lotties was undeniable. Really enjoyed it!
If you're looking for a light-hearted, funny, story that will keep you engaged and entertained, then you definitely want to try this one out. I had a great time reading this and am looking forward to continuing the series.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn is a charming and delightful romantic comedy that turns the conventional "meet-cute" trope on its head. Instead of a serendipitous encounter filled with love at first sight, Lottie Gardner finds herself embarking on a completely different journey. Determined to make her arch nemesis jealous after being fired, Lottie sets out to find a wealthy suitor in Beverly Hills. Little does she know that fate has other plans in store for her. Enter billionaire Huxley Cane, a brooding and mysterious figure whose presence is captivating yet unsettling. When their paths collide, there are no fireworks or sparks. In fact, there is barely any initial attraction between them. However, circumstances quickly take an unexpected turn as Huxley confesses his predicament to Lottie. In order to save his reputation and business, he needs a fake fiancée to convince a crucial client. What starts as a ridiculous proposition soon becomes a mutually beneficial agreement born out of desperation. As Lottie reluctantly agrees to play the role of Huxley's fake fiancée, she finds herself getting entangled in a web of lies and fabricated emotions. Living together in his opulent mansion, going on intimate double-dates, and pretending to be madly in love, Lottie discovers that pretending can be all too real. Despite her best efforts to guard her heart, she begins to develop feelings for the enigmatic and, at times, insufferable Huxley Cane. Meghan Quinn skillfully weaves a tale of unexpected romance, humor, and personal growth in A Not So Meet Cute. The author masterfully portrays the evolving dynamics between Lottie and Huxley, capturing the nuances of their complex relationship. Lottie's internal struggle between staying true to herself and succumbing to the allure of love provides a relatable and engaging narrative. Quinn's writing effortlessly balances witty banter, tender moments, and unexpected twists, keeping readers captivated from start to finish. A Not So Meet Cute is a delightful departure from traditional romantic comedies, offering a fresh and entertaining take on love and relationships. Meghan Quinn's engaging storytelling and well-crafted characters make this novel a must-read for fans of the genre. Prepare to be charmed by Lottie and Huxley as they navigate the intricacies of their fake engagement, ultimately discovering that sometimes the most unexpected love stories can be the most beautiful.

Thank you to Meghan Quinn, Bloom Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Allow me to regale you with the delightful chaos that is "A Not So Meet Cute" by Meghan Quinn. Picture this: Lottie, a woman on the prowl for a wealthy hubby post-getting axed by her supposed bestie, crosses paths with Huxley, a billionaire facing a major crisis. Here's the kicker – they decide to fake an engagement. I know, right? The banter between Lottie and Huxley is nothing short of extraordinary. I found myself snorting and bursting into laughter during their moments of public embarrassment; they seem to be in a competition to outdo each other in the absurdity department.

The narrative takes unexpected and wild turns in this unrealistic but utterly captivating tale spun by Meghan Quinn. Lottie and Huxley, both a tad unlikable yet strangely perfect for each other, deliver a riotous performance. The chemistry between them is electric, and you can't help but cheer them on, even when their antics border on the juvenile. It's got that modern twist on the Pretty Woman vibe, and if you're a fan of banter, billionaires, and a generous sprinkle of spice, this book is a surefire winner.

Now, it's important to note that this isn't the book you turn to for a reality check. It's unabashed escapism, a romantic comedy that is wonderfully over-the-top yet absolutely enjoyable. If you're in the mood for a clever, hilarious rom-com that strikes the perfect balance between outrageous and enticing, "A Not So Meet Cute" is precisely what you need. And keep an eye out for those illustrations – they add a fantastic touch to the whole experience!

Wasn't convinced on this book in the beginning but I became hooked really quickly. Loved the characters and this is the first book that actually made me laugh as I was reading. Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the eARC

I would like to thank netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable.

Anything Meghan Quinn writes, I want to read. I am OBSESSED. Everything about this was my favorite. This had so many of my favorite tropes.