i love a good fluffy cute romance, that gets me in my feels, and this done that. The fmc and the mmc held my attention and i felt all the feels reading it

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for lending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I give it 2 stars, which is nice but I did apply for the ARC seeing the cover and hoped for the best.

It just... idk I was bored.

Fun read, enjoyed the overall plot of the book with forced proximity and brothers best friend. Wasn't entirely connected to the characters or emotionally attached to them but I didn't dislike the book.
Thankfully it did not have every other romances books typical 3rd act breakup which I was grateful for.
The bond between the MMC and the females leads brother was refreshing and wholesome. He was more concerned for his friends well being having come from an unstable home rather than being the overprotective brother.

Mortgage of Convenience has a really pretty cover. However, this took me so long to get into. I did not feel a connection with the characters. The chemistry felt lacking. This is a slow burn and brothers best friend. Those are tropes I usually like. This was alright but nothing exceptional. Thank you netgalley for an arc.

Mortgage of Convenience by Dani McLean is a forced proximity romance. Bee and Sebastion hadn't seen each other for five years, but then she came back home and saw that Sebastion couldn't pay for his house and just decided to be roommates. Like, wtf? That is so stupid. Yeah, go move in with someone you haven't talked to in five years—what a perfect idea!!! They shouldn't be together, in my opinion; there was practically no chemistry between the pair, and the smut was so awkward I had to skip through parts of it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 44%

The synopsis sounded great but the book wasn't working for me. It felt like the author was checking off topics for representation but never went in depth at all. Bee, the FMC, was incredibly over dramatic and it honestly drove me crazy. She was also very insecure in ways that I just couldn't see past. There also wasn't great chemistry between the leads. I'm sure this book has its audience but that isn't me.

Mortgage of Convenience by Dani MacLean immediately gave me Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey vibes—but unfortunately, it didn’t quite work for me. The plot felt flimsy at best and practically nonexistent at worst. There was little real conflict, just a lot of whiny faux-angst that didn’t add much depth to the story.
The writing leaned heavily into “millennial humor,” which pulled me out of the narrative more than once. Instead of feeling sharp or relatable, it often felt forced. I also struggled to connect with the characters—Bee and Sebastian had such similar inner dialogues that I kept forgetting whose point of view I was reading. Their chemistry, which should have been the heart of the story, was sadly lacking.
It also felt like the author poured too much of herself into both protagonists, making them read more like extensions of the same voice rather than two distinct people. As much as I wanted to root for their relationship, it never quite sparked.
While the concept had promise—Bee's struggle with insecurity and Sebastian’s desire for stability could have made for a compelling, emotional romance—the execution just didn’t hit the mark for me. Ultimately, I found myself more frustrated than invested.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

DNF @58%

I liked the idea of this but the reality it too choppy.
Scenes end and start. The dialogue feels immature. So do the characters. Very repetitive themes- Bee wants to be confident, and is given several opportunities, but it just doesn’t happen. Her friend is an alcoholic that they always brush over. Sebastian is a super hot ex stripper that now works the strip club bar. Whole plot was rushed into.

I don’t know how this feels like nothing is happening but also rushed?

Things go from being really hot with so much tension to nothing. Then all of a sudden they’re banging and there’s no description?! But it’s not closed door either. Lots of inference with actions going on.

This writing is just filled with counterintuitive aspects.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Set the Mood Publishing for this digital ARC.

*Mortgage of Convenience* by Dani McLean is a light, romantic story that combines elements of a marriage-of-convenience trope with a bit of family drama. The characters are likable, and McLean does a solid job of building a connection between them, which makes the eventual romance feel believable, though not groundbreaking.

The plot is engaging enough, with a few twists and turns that keep things interesting, but it often feels predictable and follows a somewhat familiar formula. While the dialogue is witty and the chemistry between the characters is charming, the emotional depth didn’t always come through, leaving the story feeling a bit surface-level at times.

Overall, *Mortgage of Convenience* is an enjoyable read for fans of lighthearted romance, but it doesn’t quite offer anything new or particularly memorable in the genre. It’s a fun, easy read but may leave those looking for a deeper connection or more complex plotlines wanting a bit more.

DNF - unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me! I read about 30%. Did not post full review to goodreads etc due to dnf.

This was a quirky, light-hearted story with great character development. I really enjoyed it and totally recommend.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

It is always a delight to be blown away by a book from an author you’ve never read from before! I love little surprises like this, brings me so much joy as a reader!

Mortgage of Convenience by Dani McLean is a fun, light-hearted romance with a bit of a twist! The story follows Holly, who’s in a bit of a financial bind and ends up in a fake marriage arrangement with a guy named Ethan to save her home. It’s one of those "fake dating turns real" type of books, and honestly, it’s super cute and easy to get into.

What I really liked about this book is the chemistry between Holly and Ethan. They start off with this no-strings-attached arrangement, but of course, things get complicated (in the best way). They’re both kind of quirky and relatable, and watching their relationship slowly shift from awkward to something real is really sweet. The plot is light and fun, with just the right amount of tension to keep you turning the pages.

The pacing is pretty quick, so you can easily breeze through it in a day or two. It’s not a super deep book, but it’s perfect for when you just want a feel-good romance with some funny moments and a happy ending.

Happy ever after with some hints to neurodivergent characters and also queer characters. The LGBTQIA+ components were mentioned at random times and I wish there had been more to that plot line.

Mortgage of Convenience by Dani McLean is a captivating, heartwarming romance that hooks you from the first page. The story follows two characters who enter into a marriage of convenience, only to find that their fake relationship starts to feel more real than they ever expected. McLean delivers a perfect balance of humor, emotion, and sizzling chemistry, making the slow-burn romance a delight to read. The characters are well-developed, with relatable flaws and growth, and the plot is full of heart and surprises. This book is a fun, engaging read that will keep you hooked until the very end. Highly recommend!

Review of Mortgage of Convenience by Dani McLean – ★★★★★

Mortgage of Convenience is a delightful blend of humor, romance, and self-discovery that I wish I’d had in my 20s. Bee Montgomery’s journey from a shy ghostwriter to embracing her dreams and self-love is both inspiring and relatable.

Sebastian Wolfe, her brother’s best friend, is the perfect mix of charm and complexity, making their chemistry sizzle off the pages. Also he is just HOT! Their “mortgage of convenience” arrangement was fun and brought unexpected warmth and genuine connection and showed the care they have for each other at the start of the story.

Dani McLean’s witty dialogue and engaging storytelling create a sexy, smart, and lovely narrative about finding your voice and navigating life on your own. This book is a heartfelt reminder that sometimes, the path to acceptance and happiness is found through unexpected partnerships.

— TL;DR: A charming romantic comedy about self-love and unexpected connections, this sexy story is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and joy!

(3.5⭐️)

Let me just start with that I really connected with the FMC, which made the story feel surprisingly relatable. 😍 She’s finding herself as an adult, learning by trial and error, which felt very true to life. The romance was sweet, and the MMC was loving and supportive 🥰 There were some wonderful, thought-provoking moments, but a few parts felt unnecessary and slowed down the pacing.

My main frustration with this book was with the inconsistent “open door” policy. The book has a open door policy, BUT more often than not it would build up to spicy scenes, but then suddenly close the door, making the scenes feel incomplete 🥵 I don’t need everything on the page, but if there’s so much buildup, it’s disappointing when the moment abruptly cuts away.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it to be an easy read with some memorable parts, but these issues kept me from rating it higher 🤍

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

She’s a ghost writer with a secret personal project, he’s a former male stripper and also her older brother’s best friend. In an impulsive moment, Bee helps Sebastian buy a house, turning them into longing roommates.
This book is 5/5 spicy open door. Lots of great tropes we all like. Low conflict which leads to a light and fun read.
Thank you NetGalley and Dani McLean for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.