I love the cover! The story was amazing. I knew I was going to love it. The story was kind of heavy and times but also humorous. I’d definitely consider buy the book with it hits the shelves. Thanks so much!

enemies to lovers?? where?? when it was purely one-sided and it was just the fmc being annoyed by the mmc for..... no reason??

the podcast element was cute, though. all the power to our girl.

what i didn't like: the body shaming. especially coming from elle. my girl. you've been on the receiving end of it. don't be on the giving end of it, too. even if you're annoyed at a supermarket karen.

Fake it like you mean it!
This book is an emotional roller coaster compleate with one of my favourite tropes. “Fake dating”
I recommend this book for anyone who has a book hangover or just wants to have a good time reading.
4/5

Megan has a beautiful way with words. I love the banter and the emotion in this book! Also really loved Elle as a character and her confidence.

I’m always a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers story, so this one had me hooked from the start. The chemistry between Elle and Adam was strong right away—their banter was fun, and I really felt for Elle as she struggled with her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. The book did a great job balancing the emotional weight of that with a slow-burning romance, and a fake relationship that had plenty of tension.

The build-up to the steam was solid, but when things finally happened, it felt a little underwhelming. It also followed a pretty typical contemporary romance formula, which wasn’t necessarily bad, just predictable. I still enjoyed the story, though, especially the family dynamics and the overall connection between Elle and Adam.

My biggest gripe? I really wish this had been dual POV. Since we only get Elle’s perspective, you have to trust that Adam is all in without really getting into his head. Some readers might like that mystery, but I personally would’ve loved to see his side of things too.

I think this is a solid pick for romance readers who enjoy a slow burn with some good steam, mild spice and emotional depth. If you love fake relationships, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers with a dash of the one-bed trope—and don’t mind a single POV—you’ll probably have a great time with this one!

RATING: 3.5/5⭐️

Tropes <33
- Fake Dating
- Forced Proximity
- One bed

Elle’s grandmother Lovie has fast progressing Alzheimers and Elle has decided to leave Chicago and come to her childhood home to look after her, but when she walks through the door there is a hot live-in nurse in her bed.

Not going to lie the cover really drew me in and when I read the blurb I had really high hopes but it fell a little flat for me.
I struggled to feel chemistry between the characters and at some points it felt forced, which honestly through me off for the rest of the book.
I did like the representation of Alzheimers which had me really emotional as it hits pretty close to home for me and I really loved Lovie which I think saved the book a little.

I fear I cannot fake loving this like I mean it... 🥁

This book sounded up my alley--I tend to prefer romance novels that have emotional subplots to get attached to. In this story, we get to see our FMC Elle supporting her grandmother in her fight with Alzheimer's, and I will say that that part of the story warmed my heart. I also (like everyone else) love a forced proximity and/or one bed trope and this had both, so that was fun.

I also thought that the podcast element was entertaining, and the opening podcast scene was so adorable (why was the mini-romance we get in the opening scene cuter to me than the romance taking place through the entire book?) I'd be interested in seeing what is done with this audiobook, because I feel like due to the podcast bits, this could've been a really fun listen.

Unfortunately however, there were many things that didn't work in this for me.
-Add this to the list of hate-to-love stories that didn't need to have that trope. I couldn't tell you why Elle hates our MMC Adam so bad. She is so hostile, and for what?
-This book really hinges on comedy, but the comedy just didn't work for me and gave me the ick. There were so many points in this that I was cringing away from my Kindle in second-hand embarrassment.
-I never did really feel like I understood our main characters the way I would like to. I especially struggled with Elle. She felt quirky for the sake of being quirky, and I feel like the goal was to make her relatable and funny but it kind of just felt annoying and off a lot of the time.
-I didn't feel any chemistry between our two main characters. Perhaps that's because I just wasn't vibing with the individual characters enough to vibe with them together, but it felt very forced to me.

All of that said, the writing was fun and easy to follow while not feeling too simple, unnatural, or clunky, so I would definitely give this author another try at some point if any books pique my interest. Sadly for this one: 2.75 stars rounded up

Thanks so much to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to Alcove Press for the ARC of this book! I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this one based on the premise but it was incredibly well done. Elle is a podcaster living in Chicago. Her grandma who raiser her, Lovie, has been suffering with Alzheimer's and lately is in need of more care due to her deteriorating condition. This prompts Elle to temporarily move back home to care for Lovie. This thrusts Elle into a life where she is constantly around Adam, her grandma's nurse. Their close proximity helps to forge a really strong connection. I felt like the topic of Alzheimer's was handled very delicately and well. The topic was obviously a really devastating one, but even amidst that I felt like the author did a great job weaving a very sweet and real romance into it. This one was five stars for me and I will be looking for more books by Megan Murphy in the future!

Very very cute, loved the main character and her backstory, the male protagonist is the cutest!!!!!
I want to read more about these two!!
And the grandma was hilarious!!!

So sad I couldn’t give feedback before it was published! I've been following Megan on social media as she teased this book and it didn't disappoint! It was emotional, romantic, swoonworthy. I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another one of her books when I see it.

This debut was so touching and well thought out. I loved the themes of loss, family, and life lessons woven into the story. Adam and Elle were perfect for each other and I loved the growth we saw on Elle’s behalf. I really appreciated the Alzheimer’s rep and how it focused on how difficult it is for care givers. All the little details Murphy puts into her writing really make the story shine. Overall, this book was heartfelt, hot, and well worth the read. I’ll be looking at my dryer differently from now on 🫢

The story follows Elle, who moves to her grandma's house because her Alzheimer's is progressing and she wants to be there, only to find Adam, her grandma's new live-in nurse already living there. If you like forced proximity and can connect with the emotional experience of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's or any other illness, I think you'll enjoy this.

From here on out are my thoughts and they contain some spoilers, so beware:

This sounded really good, but I couldn't get through it because I didn't vibe at all with the execution; got to 35%. I could see the author's hand the entire time and it took me out of the story from the get-go. This is one of the most forced "enemies to lovers" I've encountered, and it didn't have to be that way. There's no reason for Elle to be instantly rude to Adam, but she is, and she also immediately objectifies him upon meeting him. I didn't buy the conflict at all because it had no legs to stand on.

The dynamics were off because this had to be "enemies to lovers" but it just wasn't working. Why would you dislike someone who's there to care for your grandmother? Because you found him sleeping in your bed cause he had no idea you were coming to stay? Because he didn't offer to give up the bed? He's a NURSE. He was half asleep and probably more tired than you, I wouldn't have given up the bed that night either. Neither would you. It can be sorted out the next day, it's really not that big of a deal. Also, her vibrator falling from her bag as she was meeting him for the first time was so cringe. I could tell it was meant to be funny, but it didn't come across that way. Anyway, this could've simply been dislike to like, and the conflict could've been around caring for the grandmother or something, ANYTHING, that's easier to buy into.

The way the fake dating is set up also made my eyes roll. They have to pretend that they're in love because her grandma thinks they're the younger version of her and her husband and, given her Alzheimer's, correcting her would cause more harm than good. Mind you, I buy that correcting her grandma would cause unnecessary stress, but using that to get these two to fake date and continue acting like they have a problem with each other for no reason was grating to me personally.

There was also no reason for them to immediately talk to each other like they knew each other. That also felt forced and just unrealistic. Again, it took me out of the story. The fact that she makes a joke along the lines of "you can stare at my ass all you want, it's a nice one" the morning after they only introduced themselves to each other was so uncomfortable. In my opinion, that's just not how a woman would talk to a man she barely knows and who happens to live under the same roof as her. And I don't think a normal man, one who isn't always thinking about ass and tits, wouldn't be made uncomfortable by that comment from a woman he doesn't know. I just didn't like this romance setup or these characters, I'm sorry.

What I did like about this was the grandmother. Lovie, and I sympathize with that part of the story. It's very difficult to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's and navigate how to talk to them and keep them safe, while also seeing them lose their grip on reality and not recognize you. But it's also beautiful to still make memories with them even if they're one-sided.

I'm giving it 3 stars cause I'm guessing I wouldn't have given it a higher rating had I finished it, but what I read was 2 stars.

Loved this fake dating, forced proximity RomCom! I laughed - cried - had all the feels!

Thank you Alcove Press for granting me an ARC!

Elle comes home to help care for her grandma Lovie, whose Alzheimer’s is getting worse, and begins to fall for the at-home healthcare worker, Adam. I liked how the book explored how difficult it is for caregivers to feel like they’ve lost their loved ones to Alzheimer’s, and how sometimes it’s not just that they’ve lost their memories but that their personality can change as well. Elle has amazing memories of Lovie, but that version of her grandma isn’t there anymore. I do wish we’d gotten to see more of a buildup of Elle and Adam’s relationship. I needed more of the progression from bickering to gone on each other to really feel connected.

I really enjoyed this unique debut from Megan Murphy with all the feels!

𝑭𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑰𝒕 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑴𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑰𝒕 hit the ground running with main character Elle playing matchmaker during her podcast on the L train in my own city of Chicago and I was hooked from the start!

Elle grew up in small town Indiana and was raised by her grandmother Lovie. But the tables are now turned as Elle has to return home to take care of her grandmother whose health is declining due to Alzheimer’s disease.

When she arrives back at her childhood home, she is subjected to a hilarious meet-cute with Lovie’s home health nurse in her own bed of all places 😂. And then the chaos ensues but in the best way 🩵.

This is a story unlike any other as it raises Alzheimer’s awareness with the perfect combination of wit, laughter, love and tears 💛.

Be sure to add to your TBR ~ out March 18, 2025!

𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔:

🩵 Enemies to lovers
💛 Forced proximity
🩵 Fake dating
💛 Only one bed
🩵 Alzheimer’s disease rep
💛 Podcaster and nurse

Special thanks to @alcovepress for the eARC!

Elle has always been able to count on her grandmother, Lovie, to take care of her. But when Lovie’s Alzheimer’s begins to progress rapidly, Elle makes the easy decision to leave her life in Chicago and return home to look after her until she can figure out medical insurance. What she doesn’t expect is Adam, the live-in nurse already caring for Lovie—or the fact that Lovie is completely convinced that she and Adam are completely in love! To prevent upsetting Lovie, Adam and Elle are left with no choice but to fake it like they mean it.

Oh. My. Goodness. I genuinely loved this. The concept for the story felt fresh and original, and the writing style made the book impossible to put down. I really felt connected to the characters – I rooted for Adam and Elle's relationship, I wished for nothing but the best for Lovie and want to find myself some friends like Elle's!!! This is how romance books are supposed to make you feel! An easy five stars from me.

A forced proximity romance between an overwhelmed podcaster, Elle, and an introverted selfless nurse, Adam, set in a little home two hours out of Chicago. This story started out rough for me as Elle was acting like a brat without much talk on her background. I was on the brink of DNFing because of her attitude. However, Adam kept me in as his character is always patient and kind.

The story becomes more and more captivating after the 30% mark. Elle comes home to be with her grandma who is suffering from Alzheimers and finds Adam, her grandma’s stay-in nurse in the house, in her space. The forced proximity makes the characters intertwine so much it becomes difficult to untangle. This book will make you worry, smile, laugh and absolutely cry.

Elle y Adam comienzan con una relación basada en la antipatía y el sarcasmo, pero a medida que fingen ser pareja para complacer a Lovie, la abuela de Elle, su vínculo se vuelve más profundo y real. La historia de amor entre ellos se desarrolla de manera natural, con momentos de vulnerabilidad, humor y cuidado mutuo.
Más allá del romance, la novela aborda con sensibilidad el Alzheimer, mostrando el impacto emocional en quienes cuidan a un ser querido que poco a poco los olvida. Elle enfrenta la dificultad de ver desaparecer a su abuela mientras también busca su propia identidad en medio del duelo y las responsabilidades familiares.
Aunque el tropo de "enemies to lovers" y la falta de comunicación generan algunas frustraciones en la trama, la profundidad de los personajes y la emotiva narrativa hacen que la historia sea conmovedora y auténtica.

This was the cutest, sweetest read. Being a caregiver is the hardest job I have ever done. This story spoke of Alzheimer's in a true, deep, & meaningful way. This story is sad, sweet, hot, spicy, all the things! Loved it!!!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review!

#NetGalley #AlcovePress #MeganMurphy

This is a promising debut romance with grownups Elle and Adam finding each other in the shadow of a more serious issue – living with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also more small-town than billionaire – so refreshing. Our heroine Elle is charming to begin with as a podcast host of 'Elle on the L' in Chicago. In her job Elle is warm and empathetic, but once she’s home with Lovie, her grandmother, it feels like she's had a personality transplant and comes across as self-absorbed, petulant and demanding. I struggled to reconcile the two sides of her.

Adam is a nurse and professional carer and obviously a caregiver in his personality (love a Beta hero!) He agrees to live in to help with Lovie. Unfortunately for him, Elle is clueless and demanding. His personal circumstances are slowly revealed and I felt so much sympathy for him. The connection between Elle and Adam has equal weight to Lovie's decline, and perhaps Elle's growth. There's a touch of spice 🌶 and they get along well 😉

How Lovie's Alzheimer’s disease is worsening is thoughtfully portrayed, even if the realities of in-home care are romanticised and glossed over.

Thank you Megan Murphy, Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.