The Pick Up by Hannah Doyle is a delightful romcom that tickles the funny bone and warms the heart. Sophie and Joe's fake romance scheme takes unexpected turns as they navigate parenthood and budding feelings.
Doyle skillfully weaves humor, chemistry, and relatable moments, making the characters and their predicaments endearing. The banter between Sophie and Joe is electric, and the supporting cast adds depth and laughter.
Despite a predictable miscommunication trope, the story remains engaging. With its British and Irish charm, alongside heartwarming family dynamics, The Pick Up is a clean romcom treat that leaves readers smiling.

Single Parents + Fake dating should equal an adorable romcom right?
I unfortunately did not feel that while reading it. Now this is not a judgement against the authors writing as sometimes the writing can be very different depending on the book. However, this one just read a bit flat for me.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Sophie and Joe, it was cute, but not in a "they have insane chemistry" way. It was more like they'd be great friends...

Now, if there is one thing I despise, it's an unnecessary miscommunication trope. I understand that the way it was implemented was... different, but it was still a bit annoying to just have that thrown in there towards the end.

If you are looking for a stock standard, not wanting to think too hard about it romcom vibed book, this is the one for you.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I could not get into this one. The fake dating trope just didn’t work for me.

This was a cute, clean slow burn, but it wasn’t for me. I didn’t think there was too much chemistry between the two, and it fell more flat for me than I expected it to.

A cute rom-com. If you are looking for a light read with romance, this is it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

I LOVED Sophie and Joe! I loved their banter, but what I most loved is how real they felt to me. Not wanting to have uncomfortable conversations, but doing it anyway. Being tired and scared and worried about being the best for their kids and doing it anyway. I think they feel like some of the most realistic characters I've read in a while.
Their kids were adorable, and even though I'm not British I definitely feel like I know some of those PTA moms. Hannah Doyle does an amazing job or writing great characters and giving them such a fun story. We've seen the fake dating to real lovers pipeline, and she does it so well that it felt new and fun!

Sophie Rogers finds it easy to focus on the important things in life. Like her daughter, her job and her family.
So when Joe, another single parent at school suggests they fake a romance to help them both out of a fix, she throws herself in.
But then Sophie starts to look forward to seeing Joe. In fact, she’s thinking about his floppy hair, Irish accent and the way his lips felt when they grazed hers (her commitment to this is exceptional) more than their synced calendars and staged socials. And there is a reason the yummy mummies called him Hot Single Dad.
Sophie Rogers isn't silly enough to fall in love with her fake boyfriend.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

Wow what a book! I urge everyone to get this when it is released on the 9th May.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy.

I could not put this book down. It was one of the most easiest reads I have read in a long while and got me out of a reading slump.

Yes some of it is predictable but Romance usually is! I really enjoyed the characters interaction and how the book featured a lot of other characters that were part of the story. It wasn’t just focused on the lead couple Sophie and Joe. What Sophie does to get accepted into the mum clique and for her child to have play dates is heartwarming. You really feel how much she loves her daughter. There’s a curveball in the middle of the book and you question what will Sophie do?

This book was an easy read, I laughed, I felt sad, I just wanted to keep on reading. I will definitely be investing in more of Hannah’s books!

This book was very cute. It wasn't groundbreaking in any way BUT I definitely enjoyed it a lot while reading.

The fake-dating trope is nothing new. I really enjoyed the kids, Lila & Sid, and how they impacted everything.

I'd recommend this book for a light, cute read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a cute book , it just gave me cozy, summer vibes .
I loved the concept of this book . It was interesting to read about and unique.
This book follows a single mom ,Sophie Rogers who teams up with a single dad “ joe “ to fake date him to avoid her sister from setting up on terrible blind dates .

I loved Sophie relationship with her daughter . Her banter and chemistry with Joe was everything.They were so cute together . He really went all out for her , he never questioned her when she needed his help . He is the definition of “cinnamon roll boyfriend “

I loved the side characters too , they were all fun to read about . What I didn’t like was how how Sofia forgave Celeste too quickly , the sudden time lapse in some chapters and I felt like the ending was rushed a bit but overall had a great time reading this

What to look for in the book ;
- [ ] Fake dating
- [ ] Single mom & single dad
- [ ] Cute kids
- [ ] PTA meeting with the moms at school
- [ ] Friends to lovers
- [ ] He feel first but she fell harder
Rating ;⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice ;🫑( just kissing )

Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins for this Arc. This Arc was provided in exchange for my honest review .

Rating: 3/5 stars

This book could be a really great option for anyone who enjoys contemporary romance novels that are funny and sweet. The single parents angle is a relatively fresh one, in my opinion; it isn't one that's overly done. So, if you like that trope or are looking for something new, definitely give this book a try!

Similarly, if you enjoy the fake dating trope (I usually really do!) then this, again, is a book you should consider reading.

I liked Sophie and Joe, and there were many aspects of this book that I did really enjoy. Notably, I could really relate to the way Sophie enjoys how he interacts with the kids. The beginning of chapter 5, as in, the first paragraph, had me a little swoony for Joe. This is probably the aspect of the story that most made me keep reading. This side of Joe was so endearing.

That said, this book was just not a great fit for me. I did finish it, but it wasn't one I would read again. Really want to stress that I don't think this is because of anything about the book. I can't pick out any one thing that made me not love it, or anything that was missing to really draw me in. I just didn't "vibe" with this particular book. But I really do think plenty of people who enjoy contemporary romance and the aforementioned tropes will love this book.

I recommend giving this book a read if its description is at all intriguing to you.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

I liked the writing of the book and the humour. The trope the book uses isn't exactly new but it's been written in a refreshing way. Parenthood has been pretty well shown here.

Not wanting to give any spoilers ….

I found this a bit slow to start with but glad I carried on …as the further I went, the quicker I found myself wanting to know what was next.

An enjoyable yet relatable story of a hard working, now divorced mum battling some of the insecurities she feels about whether or not she is doing enough for her little one, battling to befriend the mums at the school gates and avoid her sisters relentless mission to help her find love again by taking a relationship with a single school gate dad …

I laughed out loud a few times and will seek out more by the same author in the future 🥰

Thank you #netgalley and #harpercollins for an early copy to read!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for approving the request for ARC of The Pick Up.
3.5 stars because Netaglley doesn't have that option...yet
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Sophie, being a single mother, doesn't want to feel outcasted by other mothers at her 5-year-old daughter's pick-up. Joe, the single father, doesn't want to be the center of attention by the mothers at his 5-year-old son's pick-up. Is there any better option than fake dating? A light and fast read for readers of every age.
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For readers like me who prefer no spice in their books, this one was perfect. Unlike other romance ARCs I read, which contain unnecessary sexual desires and flirty lines. This showed pure and true communication between the two adults. It was really cute at first when they fake-dating in real and Joe remembered every detail about Sophie, how great listeners both of them were. I also love how Sophie was independent and never felt the need for any man in her life or career.
For me, books are instantly plus 1 star when it has dual POVs so I think this book lacked that because I really wanted to know about Joe's feelings and impressions Sophie had on his life or maybe a little of his side of the story.
About other characters, Poppy and Adam were really cute, There wasn't much about them tho but I kinda liked how Adam kept taking care of Poppy silently and she didn't have a clue. Also, Joe's mom, Denise, was the most precious human. Every time she bakes cookies it makes me drool cause they sound so delicious.
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What to look for in this book:
-Single father
-Fake-dating
-Only one bed
-No spice
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Overall a perfect book to read in spring-summer. It would not only leave you grinning but also help you lift your mood.

Right off the bat I just want to mention how great the writing was, i flew thru this book even though it took me a while to start it because I haven’t been feeling to good lately. But i definitely enjoyed this book. One thing or should I say character I disliked was Mark, he truly didn’t even try. Why even get in contact with someone just to bail on them again. It’s almost like giving someone false hope. You’re basically pulling the rug out from under them. But anyways the buildup of starting to fall in love with someone, learning to trust in another individual and growing together is amazing, no matter what stage you are in life. Such a good read, the dialogue flowed nicely throughout the book, character development, it was exactly as expected. 10/10 recommend.

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me but that doesn’t mean it won’t be for someone else. It had a lot of potential and I hope someone finds it as their new fave!

3.5 Stars
0 Spice Stars

*Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This was a very sweet, easy read.

The Pick Up is about Sophie - a single mum in Bristol doing the most and trying to find an in with the mums at her daughter’s school. One day she meets Joe, a popular single dad that all the mums are fawning over, and strikes a bargain with him - they fake a relationship! It would get her sister off her case about dating, the mums of Joe’s back, and they’d both reap the benefits of being in the in-crowd.

Joe and Sophie’s new found friendship seems innocent enough but before long the happy family act starts to feel all too real to both of them. They’re going to have to find a way to communicate that they may kinda want to date for real before it’s too late!

This was a fine rom-com that had the HEA I expected even if both Sophie and Joe were a bit painfully non-communicative. Kids aren’t my thing personally but this was a fun, light-hearted read.

The Pick-Up is a sweet single parent romance set in Bristol, UK.

#NetGalleyARC I really enjoyed this book. I love a good fauxmance turned HEA. It did take me a little bit of time to get hooked in the beginning, but after a few chapters I was hooked and looking forward to the story to come. I like that the two MCs are super relatable, even if you aren’t a parent. A great read!

Two single parents. Fake dating. Good banter and chemistry.

A cute, funny, sweet romcom. This story took me a while to get into it, but overall I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

While this book was lighthearted and easy to read, I didn’t feel like I was actually the targeted reader. Sophie is a powerhouse and it also made me super aware of the pressure us women put on ourselves (or have put on us) to “have it all”. There was a heavy focus on having a child and them being your large purpose of life. While I can understand this despite not being in the position myself, I felt the amount it was addressed was redundant and slightly tiring.

This opinion was my own and was no way influenced by receiving a free copy.

I could read about Sophie and Joe forever. I love fake dating but it’s more than that it’s also friends to lovers. I loved their banter so quick witted and Sophie’s inner dialogue had me smiling and giggling. This was super cute and Hannah Doyle writes the sweetest most adorable men- even for Sophie’s sister Poppy and her love interest Adam he was just a breath of fresh air. My one thing was that I wish we got a few chapters of them when they’re actually together. I just felt like the whole time you’re waiting for Joe and Sophie to be together and then when it finally happens it’s over.