In Maddie Dawson’s heartwarming and humorous novel, "Let's Pretend This Will Work," we follow the journey of Mimi Perkins, a single woman in her thirties who is yearning for love and a sense of belonging. After a string of unsuccessful dates, Mimi finds herself engaged to Ren Yardley, a charming drama teacher and single father. However, their relationship is put to the test when Ren's ex-wife is involved in a devastating car accident, prompting him to move back in with her to provide care for her and their daughters. With her unwavering loyalty, Mimi decides to leave her life in New York City and join Ren in New Haven, Connecticut. She finds a job at a local daycare, where she discovers an unexpected sense of community and friendship. As time goes on, Mimi begins to question whether Ren and his ex-wife are slowly rekindling their relationship. This realization forces her to confront her own desires and decide what she is willing to fight for and what she needs to let go of. Throughout the story, Mimi learns valuable lessons about love, resilience, and the importance of self-discovery. She navigates the complexities of relationships, family dynamics, and personal growth with honesty and humor. Dawson's writing style is engaging and relatable, drawing readers into Mimi's world and making them feel invested in her journey. "Let's Pretend This Will Work" is a delightful and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of modern love, the strength of friendship, and the unexpected paths that life can take. Mimi's journey is sure to resonate with readers of all ages, leaving them with a sense of hope and optimism for their own relationships and life choices.

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. I really enjoyed this story and was curious to see what was going to happen. I loved the positive community vibes as well.

What a sweet and quirky story! This romantic novel, set in the 1980's, follows Mimi as she navigates various paths available to her. Mimi is a likeable free-spirit who believes in the power of her magical blue skirt. It secured her a job, an older man who adores her, and a triumph for her students. When her boyfriends ex-wife has a stroke and he must go and care for her- what's Mimi to do? Follow him, of course and continue to make a life together. Only- it's not that easy. His grown daughters don't want her there and it seems neither does he. She could go back to New York City or she could work on building a new life in New Haven. Which will she do? And will it work?
I received an advance copy in exchange for my review.
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this book surprised me every step of the way.
first off, with mimi who wasn't interesting to me at first but grew on me as i read one until she ultimately buried herself in my heart, her roots twisting and turning around it.
secondly, with how unpredictable it was. every single time i thought i knew what was going to happen next, it just didn't. it kept me interested, never bored.
and thirdly, with how much i can hate a love interest. ren deserves nothing good to ever happen to him.
would've been 5 stars if i didn't hate ren so much and if there was a bit more of the family mimi found for herself near the end of the book.

I loved Maddie Dawson's book "Matchmaking for Beginners," so I jumped at the chance to read her new book. "Let's Pretend This Will Work" by Maddie Dawson is a heartwarming story about a woman's search for happiness and true love.

Mimi Perkins's life-changing journey isn’t all syrupy-sweet, but it sure is plateful and magical. The thirty-something Mimi Perkins from Manhattan is longing for love and a family to call her own. So, when her lover Ren Yardley, a divorced fellow teacher, proposes to her, she agrees despite some misgivings. Her psychic predicted a positive turn in her life after all. Oh yes, she goes to a psychic and believes that a magical skirt she bought in a thrift shop gives her luck.

When Ren gets the shocking news that his ex-wife has been in a debilitating car accident, he rushes to take care of her in their home in New Haven with the help of their two daughters. When Mimi is fired from her teaching position and loses her apartment on the same day, Ren suggests she move to New Haven so she can be near him. She does so, which was brave of her. However, Ren doesn't have much time for her, being too busy with his family's issues. Mimi finds a new lease on life as she makes friends with the parents who run the daycare facility beneath her apartment. Now, all she has to do is figure out her next move.

I enjoyed the book very much. It started slow but then picked up the pace. The book takes place in 1982, which was odd to me at first, but it gives the book a flavor of simpler (and better?) times. While the heroine was refreshing, I found her too naive and too eager to please others. She made some foolish choices in her life, and a few times I wanted to shake her and knock some sense into her. I was glad she finally stopped trying to be someone she was not and grew a backbone.

The writing in this book flows nicely. It's paced well, and the quirky characters were great. The author has a nice writing style and does a good job of fleshing out the characters. I liked the message of the story: that we should be ourselves, not change who we are, or live by the expectations of others. It was a sweet read from start to finish, so I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a lovely novel about bereavement, yearning for love, and finding your place in life. I would recommend this heartwarming novel to those who enjoy stories about healing, finding oneself, and love.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.