When Bianca Dimitriou's family and friends don't show up to celebrate her PhD, she finds herself reflecting on what they deem important. To get her revenge, fuelled in part by alcohol, she fakes an engagement to Xavier Byrne, a brooding archaeologist turned librarian. Yet as they spend time together, it becomes clear that their feelings for each other have grown. However, her post-doctoral research will keep her close to home whilst his work, will take him far away from her, threatening any chance of their relationship succeeding.
This book did a good job of reviewing how a relationship is challenged by ones career. The chemistry between Bianca and Xavier was clearly evident and how this progressed to a relationship of great depth, was well described. An interesting read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.25 stars

I love, love, love this book! Let me just start by saying what a touching dedication it has—really sets the vibe for the story. Now, imagine this: academia, strong women, LA vibes, a mmc named Xavier (like hello?!), and honestly good humor. That’s what this story’s all about.

Bianca’s such a badass, and Xavier literally worships the ground she walks on. Like, come on, he calls her boss! They’re just so good together. The story does develop kinda fast, and it feels a teeny-tiny bit insta-lovey, but you must remember they’ve known each other for five years when the story starts. The fengagement, as Bianca and Xavier call it, is a fun ruse they keep up for basically the entire book, though it obviously turns heated and a little… (too) real pretty quickly.

I really enjoyed all the academia content! It’s so refreshing to see power couples and women in academia getting the representation they deserve. Bianca’s story deals with the struggle of career accomplishments not being acknowledged or celebrated by friends and family, which is incredibly relatable to a lot of women out there.

The writing is flawless, to say the least. Bianca and Xavier’s characters are relatable, fleshed-out, and beautiful. The two of them are almost too perfect for each other already. But seriously, the book is super well-written and so worth reading!

My only issue is with the miscommunication and general lack of communication between Bianca and Xavier. It is one of my least favorite tropes, and basically the make-up of their story. It’s a little disappointing to see such mature characters deal with relationships like that since a whole lot of their mentak beat-ups could’ve been avoided and resolved if they’d just talked to each other. But it all gets resolved nicely, and there’s no unnecessary and cringe third-act break-up—which we love!

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Why does society place importance on engagements/marriages and baby announcements only than other life achievements?

To get back at her family and friends who didn't show up to her Phd graduation celebration, Bianca Dimitrou pretends she's engaged to her classmate Xavier Byrne. As predicted her family and friends immediately clamour to celebrate her upcoming nuptials, which further enrages her. Meanwhile she can't help but feel this fake engagement is going all too real, but come end of the summer Xavier is moving to Greece for a year, so there's no future for them, or is there?

This book had such a fantastic premise that I just had to read this. It really started strong, but then the plot steered in directions that let it down the hook of this story to focus on the romance only. While I understood Bianca's reasons for continuing the charade, I was getting tired of her being a doormat to her family and friends (especially her sister). Then, when she really should've started confronting them about their attitudes, and told them the truth, it was Xavier who ended up telling them. The romance was well developed but I'd have liked better character development for Bianca.

Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC.

Bianca is always there for her family and friends, willing to drop everything to be there for all of their big moments. So when not a single one of them shows up to celebrate her successfully defending her dissertation, she's hurt, and pissed. She knows that if this were an engagement party, they'd all be there... and when Xavier suggests that they fake an engagement to make them feel like they've missed out on a big moment (which, they absolutely have), she agrees. It's a drunken choice that's meant to only last a night... but the next day, they throw a surprise engagement party, and every single one of them makes it. Bianca and Xavier decide to extend the fake engagement, but both of them are fighting very real feelings.

I loved this premise, and really liked the characters. I LOVE a fake relationship trope, and especially loved that this one had a really solid reason for them getting together. I also liked that some level of feelings were acknowledged throughout, even as they kept pulling back from each other. While I don't mind miscommunication (it's so realistic) I did have a few moments were I wanted them to just have that conversation--mostly the moments where they almost did, but were interrupted, and then came close again but chose not to. I loved that Bianca continued to show up for her people, because that's just so integral to who she is, but I wish there had been a bit more of a conversation between her and them about how unbalanced the relationships all were.

Overall, Degrees of Engagement was sweet and fun, and I would definitely read more from the author.

I’d never heard of this book before it popped up on Netgalley but as soon as I read the description, I had to request it and I’m really glad I did because I had a great time reading and a hard time putting it down.

Bianca and Xavier were so cute together! Their chemistry was great and I loved the way they couldn’t stay away from each other. After knowing each other for so long and having worked together so many times, they knew each other very well and the intimacy that came with that was beautiful! Their banter was really fun as well, and I loved the way they were each other’s biggest supporters and weren’t afraid to call each other on their bullshit (except when it comes to their feelings I guess lol).

I also really enjoyed the message about the importance of celebrating all big events in a person’s life. This whole fake engagement situation stemmed from the fact that none of Bianca’s friends and family showed up to celebrate her getting her PhD; an already upsetting situation was made worse by them all showing up the next day when they heard that she’d gotten engaged. This was obviously heartbreaking for Bianca, who’d spent years bending her back backwards to celebrate all of her friends; later on in the book, Bianca and Xavier have a really interesting conversation about this, about the difference between an accomplishment and a milestone and I think this could be the topic of such a great discussion.

Overall, this was a great book and a solid adult romance debut from Jennifer Hennessy. I’ll keep an eye out for her next book.

4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to Headline Eternal for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review💙

Fake engagement/Forced proximity- SIGN ME UP!

This was a fast-paced romantic comedy that had me laughing and giggling. Book started with Bianca who is celebrating her PhD when none of her family or friends show up except for Xavier (fellow classmate). They devise a plan to fake an engagement in order to teach her friends/family a lesson.

I loved Bianca's family they really welcomed Xavier. I also liked how both characters were motivated (within themselves and for reach other) and both were well accomplished.

I'm not huge fan of third person POV so it did take a bit to adjust and due to the format I was a little confused at times. Also I wanted more build up and tension between Bianca and Xavier.

swoony and gorgeous romance with some fun characters. felt like an Ali Hazelwood, but uniquely a fresh voice. thanks for the arc.

It was a cute story & premise overall but I also found it a bit boring. The lack of genuine chemistry between the two characters was hard to digest, even though they supported each other. They lived together & the story lacked so many awkward, lusty, angsty moments.

The family & friends ditching her accomplishment celebration, was shitty. I liked how that sparked the fake engagement trope. I just wish the plot advanced beyond " we shouldnt" - because they SHOULD. They do, but it's kind of said a lot. Too much. Too many pages of inner dialog, self doubt, etc. Miscommunication trope is the worst.
I wish the FMC sparked some turmoil early on by going off on her friends & family, or at least expressing her unhappiness.

Overall, a decent read. Im excited to see this author gain additional experience and grow.

This book was so much fun to read!! I fully engaged with the characters and their stories. Even the supporting characters were great and added their own spice to the story. I'm hoping there might be a follow-up book (or two).

Bianca and Xavier are exactly who you want to read about. Mature, successful adults. They may not be the best at communicating but they make up for it with love and sarcasm.

The endings of books often (more often than not) frustrate me because things get wrapped up so fast and it's all too pretty. This book wasn't like that and I'm so appreciative of the author writing something that actually felt realistic. To the characters and to life, in general.

Yes, I would recommend this book!!

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

A fake engagement romance. Bianca and Xavier have known each other since the start of their phd's. Now they are about to finish and take engaged, windShield shortly leaving for Greece. Do they have a future together?

I am currently knee-deep in academic trenches, working on my master's thesis which is currently killing me. And during this time, I stumbled upon Degrees of Engagement purely by chance when I was on Netgalley. From the blurb itself, this would be a book that would be the perfect, kind of escapist romance as I start to draft my thesis. For the most part, it was. I definitely related to Bianca and her reaction when no one in her circle showed up after she completed her PhD. Even more so, when you learn that she showed up for everyone. I thought that would make me love this book all the more.

However, it was the writing style that put me off. Like there was nothing wrong with it and it was really beautiful at some points too, but it felt strangely stilted and it lacked a certain degree of emotions you have in romance books. Not that it didn't make me feel things, it just felt short of my expectations. Plus things seemed to progress far more quickly than it can be believable, which is why it was quite hard to believe in the chemistry between Xavier and Bianca. All though, I will say that towards the end, the chemistry started to shine. But by then, I had already, kind of, lost interest and was basically just skimming through the book.

All in all, Degrees of Engagement is not a bad book, it's just not a book for me.

Bianca and Xavier get fake engaged after no one turns but to celebrate her phd. He is leaving anyway so what harm can it do? A great read, looking forward to more from this author.

I couldn’t do it. I was so… bored. There wasn’t any tension, Xavier was just eh. The miscommunication was so bleh. Plus the first scene with them getting spicy was just so out of left field. This wasn’t for me.

It was definitely not a romance for me. It was way too quick and too insta-lovey and insta-lustey. The characters were not memorable, which is fine in itself, but they pissed me off a little. I did not like their cowardice and the way they hid behind the fake engagement to avoid dealing with their feelings. There was also too much sex scenes for my liking. I did appreciate the main message about the milestones and the way some characters were called out for not considering work achievements as actual worthy achievements (like a wedding would be to these characters) but it was not enough to save this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I loved the concept of this one but it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

I loved the mutual pining, academia setting and fake engagement but found the writing style wasn't to my style.

It had a great slow burn with a bit of spice and characters who are well-developed so check it out if this one is for you

I loved this book! Ali Hazelwood gives us the world of STEM and Jennifer Hennessy gives us the world of literature/research and archeology!

Bianca has just achieved the biggest accomplishment of her life, getting her PHD, and the only person to show up to her celebration is Xavier. Feeling hurt and angry, they decide to fake an engagement.

This was such a cozy, good feeling story!

"Degrees of Engagement" is a delightful blend of academia, fake engagements, and long-standing mutual pining that creates a charming and spicy romantic tale. The story follows PhD students Xavier and Bianca, who, in a fit of drunken mischief, decide to fake an engagement as a form of petty revenge.

Jennifer Hennessy's writing captures the essence of academia, making it relatable for those who have experienced the trials of higher education. The characters, are well-developed, and their chemistry is palpable from the first interaction. The slow burn with a dash of spice quickly grabbed my attention.

While the writing style may take a moment to adjust to, with its third-person perspective, I found the book enjoyable.

This is a spicy, romance book which is definitely not suited for younger readers, absolutely loved this book from start to finish, the main characters have it all going on, which made it a fast paced read

This is such a feel good romance that will have you smiling and laughing and kicking your feet! This is the book for you if you need a palate cleanser because it's just so wonderful and good. I love anything that has the fake dating/fake engagement trope, and this book does it so well. The characters are well developed, the plot is great and moves at a fast pace, and ithe chemistry between Bianca and Xavier is just so palpable. It was both sweet and spicy, and it's so interesting how they navigated a fake engagement since both of them had been pining after each for years. This book is perfect for those who are fans of Ali Hazelwood and Morgan Elizabeth. I did take a way a star for this being in third person POV present, because I desperately wish it was in dual POV first person, but this is overall such a great book and I recommend it highly to others!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Hennessy, and Headline for the eARC of this book!

I greatly enjoyed this story! I’m so glad that I stumbled on it - I actually follow the artist that did the character art for the cover! (We were in the same fandom for a while.) When they posted about this book, I was instantly intrigued, and was so happy to find it on NetGalley!! The characters were very fun, and had such great chemistry. This is going in my romance recs, for sure!