Life is Better with You
by Shannon Paige
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Pub Date Oct 17 2023 | Archive Date Nov 25 2023
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Description
A fake date for a family wedding at Christmas...that's all the favor was supposed to be. But their hearts didn't get the memo.
Aspen
Luke Simmons is my best friend at the office. A cinnamon roll in human form.
He's the ultimate good guy, always looking out for me (and everyone else around him). He's sexy, in a nerdy way.
Not my type at all.
My abandonment issues would never let me pick a guy like Luke. So, when he needs a fake girlfriend to bring home for a holiday wedding, I agree. It’s not like I’m going to fall in love with him..
Or so I keep telling myself…
Luke
I’ve been pining for Aspen Shaw for years. Her beauty, that adorable birthmark, her intelligence…she’s perfect.
Too bad the feeling is totally unrequited and she's got me chilling in the friend-zone.
Moving out of state for a job promotion is my remedy for getting over her and moving on.
Now we're back in my childhood home and stuck sharing one bed.
So, I’m not about to let a little forced proximity make me do something stupid –- like
act on my feelings.
.
Can I survive being so close to her without professing my undying love?
Especially since she has no idea I’m moving away after New Years…
Life is Better with You is book one in the YOU Series, and can be read as a standalone, contemporary romance with it's very own happily ever after.
==============
Content Warnings: While this is generally a fun, breezy read, there are some heavier themes presented. Mostly in the past, and only referred to, not on the page, but I'd like to add TW here for good measure. Open door explicit sex scenes, cheating (in the past, off page), domestic abuse (off page), SA (groping incident, past, off page) & alcoholism, toxic relationships, parental abandonment.
Available Editions
ISBN | 9798989092208 |
PRICE | $4.99 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and BooksGoSocial. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Definitely one of my favorites of the year! I love finding new authors and I'm so appreciative to have received this ARC. This was funny, witty, chemistry filled, a little spicy, and all the tropes you could want. Absolutely loved Aspen and Luke. All great characters, and it looks like it's going to be a series. Yay! The character of Granny Mae was such a hoot, and I so enjoyed her analogy about finding your "root person" and the story of the aspen tree - beautifully written and poignant. After the epilogue, you also get a chance to read a prequel showing how Aspen and Luke first met. It's called Along Came You, and if it's not included in the final publication, you can get it on the author's website. Well worth it, and I'm actually glad I read it after Life is Better with You. Can't recommend this highly enough. Would give more than 5 stars.
“Life is better with you” is such a romantic and heartwarming book with a Xmas holidays background!
So, Aspen and Luke are coworkers for a couple of years and have a very special friendship and way they communicate. Luke is into her since always but never had the courage to ask her out. That’s one of the reasons he accepts a big career opportunity that requires him to move to another city but has not yet announced it to Aspen. When he invites her to spend Xmas holidays with his family and attend his sister’s wedding as his fake girlfriend, a lie he told his family long time ago to get them off his back, things will begin to get complicated for both of them.
What to expect from the book:
* Friends to lovers
* Forced proximity
* He falls first
* Dual POV, 1st person
* A couple of steamy/spicy scenes
I really, really liked this book and the way it was written! Both the characters are lovable and have their special traits and I like how their feelings and thoughts are described as well as the struggles they go through. The chemistry between the MCs is fantastic. The supporting characters are cool overall and you are left with a cozy, warm feeling by the end of the book.
The book literally had me hooked until I reached 3/4, then the pace slowed down a bit and there was less tension and agony; I guess this is the only thing I’d change in the book. And maybe its length; I would so love a few more pages with our heroes.
Overall, I give this book 4,5/5 and I think it’s definitely worth reading for those who are romcom lovers.
Thank you Shannon Paige for providing this book for review via NetGalley.
This was such a sweet holiday romance! Paige mixed some classic tropes (fake dating! One bed) with unique characters with real interests, characteristics, and jobs. Loved the diversity as well, and the varying POVs were great.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for this ARC.
Spoiler:
LOL that the characters thought Salt Lake City and San Jose were sooo far apart.
What a sweet, beautiful story! I was drawn in from the very first page, invested in Luke and Aspen and seeing their relationship unfold. I really enjoyed the premise (got to love friends-to-lovers, fake relationship, and one bed tropes) and appreciated the characters' depth, growth and healing throughout the story. Thank goodness for Granny and her wisdom - especially the message of the Aspen tree! Looking forward to reading the author's next work!
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.
I loved the way this book made me feel. I was even smiling and kicking my feet sometimes which takes a lot nowadays :) I thought the characters and the language were great quality, very natural and realistic. The spicy scenes were also incredibly intimate and the attention to detail completely blew me away so I won’t be forgetting that in a long time! I loved the pacing of the story and the balance of POVs was perfectly balanced. The author did a great job of writing this piece. I would definitely recommend and look forward to sharing my opinion online when the book is released :)
I really enjoyed this book, it was an easy read. Especially as I settled down for an evening read. I read it quickly as I couldn't put it down.
Friends to lovers is always one of my favorite tropes, so I started out already having high hopes for this book. I really loved how Luke didn't hold his unrequited feelings against Aspen, which sometimes happens in friends to lovers and gives me icky vibes. This book didn't do that, though, and Luke was always able to maintain a good and loyal friend to Aspen, which I loved. The spicy scenes in this book were some of the best I have read. I loved how the author focused on the emotions and intimacy in those moments, which made it feel like the spicy scenes were there to help move the plot and characters forward instead of just checking a box. It made me really see the depth of their relationship and feelings for each other. I would definitely recommend this book and read more reviews from this author!
Luke and Aspen have my entire heart! I love a good friends-to-lovers book without over-the-top drama. This is perfect weekend holiday read. Sweet and wholesome! The spicy scenes weren’t overdone and it had the right balance of plot to steam!
I loved this book! My heart was so full, I’m so glad she was able to spend time with his family to realize that she does deserve love and she can be happy with someone.
"Life is Better with You" - A Heartwarming Holiday Romance That's a Total Sleigh Ride! Sorry for the cheesy pun 😂 (Xmas/wedding themes)
This book is like the coziest of Christmas sweaters – warm, charming, and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Aspen and Luke's office shenanigans turn into a fake romance that had me laughing and swooning simultaneously.
Luke, our leading man, is a lovable cinnamon roll hero who's been pining for his wonderful co-worker Aspen for ages. She's an edgier version of the girl-next-door, with her own set of troubles and a heart that's been tightly guarded.
When Luke invites Aspen to his family's ranch in Utah for a fake wedding date, sparks fly, walls crumble, and the love scenes are hotter than a yule log. These two have the kind of chemistry that can warm up even the chilliest winter night.
This book also deals with some pretty deep & hard themes so definitely check your TW. I thought the author handled with care but some may have found more content warnings helpful.
Overall, "Life is Better with You" delivers a sleighful of festive cheer, swoon-worthy moments, and lessons about the true meaning of family and love. This book's a winter win, and I can't wait to see what this author serves up next. ❤️📚
I loved this book. Luke was such a good man, he loved her so much and even though he first thought he would forget her, when it came down to it, he couldn't. He was there for her, once he was all in, he didn't give up, not even once. He knew her heart, he knew her soul, he loved her and that was that. Aspen had been abandoned more than once and didn't faith in anyone to have a long term relationship. Even though she tried to fight her feelings, there was no use, the heart wants what the heart wants. She had her guard up but Luke brought it down sucessfully. They wanted each other and they fought for it, fought to be together
Life is Better with You is a cozy story with depth and all of my favorite tropes. Listen guys, there is fake relationship, friends-to-lovers, one bed, ONE FREAKING CHAIR, found family, and LUMBERJACK GAMER TECH NERD (ok, I made that one up…)
The burn was deliciously slow and the sizzly moments made the wait worth it.
Absolutely 5 STARS and I can’t wait for more from Shannon Paige.
WHAT I LOVED MOST:
Let me repeat. LUMBERJACK GAMER TECH NERD. How hot is a guy who can chop wood and also games with his friends at night and has a flashy rainbow keyboard. New book boyfriend for sure.
The Simmons Family. Shannon Paige created such a diverse and loving group of people. The brotherly dynamic was adorable and playfulness between each coupling was sweet.
GRANNY mf’in MAE! We all know that grandma’s make the best characters! Granny Mae was sassy, quirky and she honed right in on Aspen. Honestly she reminded me of my grandmother-in-law and it squished my heart.
The Friend Group. I can’t wait to read about Charlie, Lina, and Annabelle.
Selfish Aspen, Horny Aspen, and Regular Aspen
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“All that’s left is this undeniable sense in my mind that there were lines. Once. There used to be very solid lines that every press of his hands, every movement of his lips, has swept aside.”
“It’s okay if your parents are leaves or branches. They don’t have to be roots. You will survive. Other roots will come along, intertwine with yours, and strengthen you.”
“But seriously, f^ck Brittany.”
There’s so much to love and hold onto from this book. I will definitely be reading the next one. I don’t want to leave this little world that Shannon Paige has created.
Thank you to Netgalley and Shannon Paige for the ARC. This is my honest review.
It's the holidays, and Aspen has found herself without anywhere to go. So when her co-worker Luke asks if she'd be willing to be his fake date to his sister's wedding, Aspen agrees. What Aspen doesn't realize is that Luke has been pining for her for years. And she never expects her closely guarded heart could fall so hard for the man who has been right in front of her for so long.
I LOVED this book SO MUCH. Luke is the PERFECT cinnamon roll hero. I mean PERFECT. There are multiple references to Jim and Pam from "The Office," and that's so true! Except Aspen is an edgier version of Pam with a more troubled backstory. She's used to being left behind, and finds it difficult to make space in her heart for Luke. But the week they spend together at Luke's family's ranch in Utah, which is such a beautiful setting, by the way, erodes Aspen's walls. I adored this couple, and seeing them fall in love was SO BEAUTIFUL. The love scenes were EVERYTHING. Spicy and emotional and just plain GORGEOUS.
This book is deep, too. Themes are explored such as what it means to be a family, how to support and love someone, and how to allow oneself to be loved in return. Aspen has a birthmark on her face that Luke finds beautiful, and, more than that, Aspen learns to love herself, flaws and all. And that's another beautiful topic covered in detail: how humans are flawed but worthy of love. This story delivers on romance, tension, emotion, and gives the reader something to think about long after reading the final pages. I cannot wait to read more by this author!!
Trigger warnings: alcoholism, drug addition, abandonment by a parent, sexual assault (off page), cheating (off page)
I'd like to thank BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
🌶️ 1.5
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Good Guys Books LLC, and Shannon Paige for an ARC copy of Life Is Better With You in exchange for my honest review.
I am obsessed with this cozy holiday romance. It’s so warm and inviting, you just want to curl up by the fire with some apple cider or hot chocolate. Please be mindful that there are some serious topics discussed like substance abuse, domestic abuse, SA (off page groping), and resulting family impact. There’s a lot of vulnerability, self discovery, and healing as well.
We have Aspen and Luke who are coworkers turned friends that fall into a fake relationship (perfect timing for Aspen as she needs a place to stay while her place is not liveable) for a holiday wedding to save Luke from an ex-girlfriend and efforts to have them reconcile.
Shannon Paige does just a beautiful job weaving together Aspen and Luke’s interconnected dual POV. I fell for their love story faster than Luke falls for Aspen. Trope wise, we have a dash to found family, he falls first (*swoon*) fake dating, coworkers-to-friends-to-lovers, a lil forced proximity, one bed, and a slow-burn that’s well worth the wait. What else can you ask for?!
The chemistry and sexual tension between Aspen and Luke was incredible. I loved how Luke held space for Aspen to work through her commitment concerns, encouraged her to love herself in moments of self doubt, and was just overall so supportive. I loved the nod to non-traditional beauty standards and imperfect characters. Not only do you get to know Aspen (a spunky, alternative, soulful, woman in STEM) and Luke (a lumberjack-esque cinnamon roll, gamer with a heart of gold who *gasp* communicates), but their circle. I love Granny Mae so much, she is a spit fire who seems to see right into everyone’s soul (her advice is so heartfelt and I felt it in my soul). The reference to Aspen trees’ resilience, root people vs branch people - hit me right in the heart. I want to part of the Simmons family so badly! There’s so much depth built into these characters which means that they feel so relatable. I cannot wait to read more about these characters!!
Shannon’s way of writing that is descriptive in a way that I felt like was watching a movie as I was reading. I could totally visualize this little world and I got sucked in. I can’t wait to read more of Shannon’s work.
I knew I was going to like this book from the first page.
Found family is one of my favorite tropes. Add in fake dating, and we've got a real winner.
This book got me right in the feels. I could relate to Aspen on many levels, and it just hit home for me.
I thought this book was funny, sweet, romantic, and had just the right amount of spice.
Luke was so sweet, considerate, and caring. You could feel how much he loved Aspen from the beginning. I really liked Aspen too. Her back and forth with her feelings was understandable. She didn't grow up feeling valued, and it's hard to trust what's real when you've never known it.
As much as I loved Luke and Aspen, let's be honest, Granny was the best character in the book. Her words of wisdom were so good. And her no-nonsense attitude, loved it.
I look forward to reading Charlie's book when it comes out next year.
This was an incredibly sweet read. I appreciated how realistically the characters were written, and I'm such a sucker for the trope where one of them pines after the other in silence for years. I think that the fake dating trope was well done in this book! It's a light-hearted, quick read, and it's perfect for the holidays.
Luke, as described in the plot summary, really was a cinnamon roll in human form. He truly did anything to make sure that Aspen was happy, supported her goals, never pressured her into doing something she didn't want to. He was so sweet, and gave real Jim from The Office vibes, which was a huge bonus for me. Aspen dealt with so much in the past, and as a result she was pretty closed off from Luke emotionally, but I loved seeing her open up to him after some time. I loved the dynamic between these two.
This was such a beautiful and enjoyable read. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre!!! Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for access to this book.
I loved this book so much! I was hooked from the very beginning with both Aspen and Luke’s personalities and it kept growing throughout the book. I never found myself with a full moment or even predicting the next move! It was such a sweet romance about coworkers, fake dating during the holidays, and true love. Can’t wait to read more from Shannon!
This was such a cute book! Fast paced and easy to read. Loved the characters and their quirks, especially granny - she was a hoot! The story was perhaps a bit predictable, and it took a few chapters to feel the chemistry between the lead characters, but once it got going… yowza! That hot tub scene! 🔥 There were a few grammatical errors but not enough to detract from the story. I will read this author again!
This book was so much fun and I couldn’t stop reading it. Can’t wait for more books by this author- she knows what she’s doing. Aspen is amazing friend and daughter, so fun, strong, smart and (most of the time) confident. Luke is typical nerd, a bit shy at the beginning, but the more you read the more you learn that Luke is sexy, confident and that maybe the mug tells the truth after all. I really enjoyed the story, how everything developed and I absolutely loved Luke’s family - how they welcomed Aspen in their family with open arms and didn’t even know how much she needed that. After seeing the real Luke and what she could have with him, she needed to overcome her fear of a long term relationship because Luke doesn’t do casual. I truly loved every side character but Granny Mae is truly special. Her “tree advice” really touched me and I’m so happy that Aspen heard those words cause I think that was the moment she started seeing some things differently. This book was easy and fun to read and I was so happy that they figured everything out and that some things didn’t stop them to get their HEA.
This is Shannon Paige's first book and OMG I can't wait for more books!! She wrote such a beautiful book! This was so much fun and I didn't want it to end. You will fall in love with all the characters. This was a wonderful Friends to Lovers book. I HIGHLY recommend this book!
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.
This book was a delight. It was a quick read with so many of my favorite tropes. Fake dating, friends to lovers, found family, one bed.
Shannon Paige hit it out of the park with Life is Better With You. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, nor could I get enough of Luke and Aspen.
——-
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Life is Better with You.
I always love to read the fake dating trope. Like and Aspen were so sweet and watching their love story unfold was really fun. I enjoyed his family being around and really helping to influence everything as well.
I would recommend this book!
Where can one find herself a Luke>? That man was such a great man. He was thoughtful, funny, and sexy in a subtle way. He's had feelings for our girl Aspen for 2 years now and never told her. Since he thinks she'll never give him a chance, he takes a promotion that involves leaving. He knows if he's to get over her he really needs to leave. But life has other things planned for him and with a bit of luck, she agrees to spend Christmas with him and his family. He's finally given a chance to show her just how much she means to him as well as how good they can be together.
Aspen has not had a great role model whose relationships work. She picks men who are not right for her. She never saw Luke as anything more than a great friend. But spending time with him outside of work shows her another side of him that she never saw before. And suddenly there are feelings she never thought she'll have. But her past has a grip on her and if she wants HEA with Luke, she needs to learn to get over it before she can give herself away completely to Luke.
From start to finish you can't help but to root for Luke and his shot at love. At the beginning I wasn't so sure if Aspen is a good choice for him, but the more I read about them the more they made sense. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a funny, with a dash of drama kinda book.
The story of Aspen and Luke. A fake dating Christmas story. Luke is moving out of town, needing to leave work and his crush on Aspen behind. But will fake dating over Christmas lead to more for them? A great read.
Thank you NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book had me constantly smiling while reading! In this book we meet Aspen and Luke. Aspen is used to people leaving her. She has an absent dad, an unreliable mom and a list of exes that weren't with her for the right reasons. Luke is her co-worker and friend. He has had a crush on her since he met her.
I love the authenticity of the characters. They were honest and loved each other for who they were. This book also had all of my favorite troupes! It had friends to lovers, fake dating, he falls first and one bed to name a few.
I so connected with Aspen and not always feeling like enough for others. Luke loved her and was there for her. He showed her she was worth it. I loved the family dynamic and how Luke's family embraced Aspen.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Shannon Paige.
Y'all, the last third of this book is so, so good. It's honestly what makes the story. I recognize it's perhaps odd to start a review this, but I think that's important to know about the reading experience. Aspen and Luke are co-workers, and Luke is in love with Aspen. As he prepares to transfer to another location for their company, he also needs a date for a family wedding. So, he asks Aspen to pretend to be his girlfriend, and she agrees. And as you might infer, there are definitely real feelings in the mix that need to be worked there, and doing that at your childhood home with your family around and a big move on the way creates quite the plot. At times, this was a slow burn romance, but once it started going, it was just such a delight of a read that also packed quite a lot of feels. I will also say that Luke's grandma is just a wonderful character, and I especially loved what she added to the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this recent (October 2023) release!
Right off the bat, I’m in. Maybe it’s because I’ve said very similar things to “Did you know gargoyle erotica is a thing?” to my own Warhammer/tech whiz husband on more than a few occasions.
I had a really great time in this book. They were so sweet together and really believable as a couple. I loved his family (except for the fact that everyone loves his cheating ex-fiancée so much?? Wtf is up with that??) and despite this book involving fake dating, Christmas, and a wedding, nothing felt too cheesy or Hallmark movie. 4.75 stars from me (again, because why is everyone ok with his ex??)!
Book Review 📚
Life Is Better With You by Shannon Paige - 4.5/5 ⭐
It was incredibly hard not to love everything single aspect of this book, from tropes to plot and characters to development. A beautiful, well written Christmas story! Not to mention the fake dating trope which we all swoon for.
Aspen and Luke are awesome characters, I fell in love with Aspen so quickly and it was hard to have any sort of dislike towards either Aspen or Luke. As the character development continued, they both blossomed in their relationship.
The writing from Paige was fantastic after having some serious hate towards certain characters and their characteristics. I had so much love towards Aspen and really wasn't hard connecting with her and the fear of people leaving her.
The whole Christmas vibe really was the cherry on top! Paige is top tier that's for sure. Thank you to NetGalley and Books go social for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
I received a digital copy from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever read a "bestseller" and wondered what the fuss was all about? Well, after reading this novel, I'm wondering why more people aren't reading it. The writing was as good or better than several current big-name authors that I could mention. The story was everything you could want in a fake-dating, co-workers/friends-to-lovers, Christmas with the family, only one bed, contemporary romance. Familiar tropes sometimes dipped into the cliche category. But overall, the fake-dating-to-real-dating relationship between Aspen and Luke was sweet. I loved that Luke was so respectful of Aspen and kept his unrequited feelings to himself until the time was right. And I loved that Aspen realized she had never been around a supportive family group and recognized that she kind of needed the love they were offering her.
I am happily recommending this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable romance to get lost in this holiday season. And I really hope more readers become aware of this novel.
(I refuse to summarize the plot in reviews. If you're reading this, you probably have access to the synopsis.)
Luke makes me want to root for the cinnamon roll character.
One of the things the author did very well was there is a huge cast of characters here and no one felt like they got lost or left out. You met everyone and knew who they were and their value in the relationships of the MC's of this book.
I love how this had a perfect HEA.
The perfect blend of a situation where they could have turmoil in their relationship but still find that sweet spot of love was done very well.
The pace was also done well. The book read easy with moments where you laughed and held your breath.
A great romance.
Life is Better with You by Shannon Paige is a delightful, heartwarming, and slightly spicy contemporary romance that takes readers on a journey from a fake date to a family wedding at Christmas to an unexpected love story between two coworkers, Aspen and Luke.
The characters are the true stars of this book. Aspen, with her commitment issues stemming from past experiences, is a relatable and endearing protagonist. Luke, the cinnamon roll, is the ultimate good guy with unrequited feelings for Aspen. The dynamics between them, from friends to lovers, are beautifully explored, and the gradual realization of their true feelings adds depth to the narrative. The slow-burn romance is praised for its delicious pace, and the sizzling moments are highlighted as worth the wait.
The supporting characters, including Granny Mae, Luke's family, and Aspen's friends, contribute to the warmth and charm of the story. Granny Mae, in particular, stands out with her sassy and quirky personality, offering both comedic relief and heartfelt wisdom.
There are diverse tropes present in the book, such as fake relationship, friends-to-lovers, and one bed, creating an engaging and enjoyable reading experience. The facial birthmark representation is just chef kiss!
Thank you to Netgalley and Shannon Paige for the ARC!
I loved this book! form the cover to the characters- I mean come on. I am excited to read more from this author and this series. I had seen this book floating around and I had to grab it and read it for myself. this has such a solf and amazing love that will make you feel all of the things. I am so glad that I found this book and I cant wait for more people to read it!
This was kick my feet in the air, smile like a crazy person good. This is exactly my cup of tea, fake dating, he falls first, one bed. Check, check, and check. I loved that Aspen (fmc) wasn't annoying, like maybe a little oblivious but I can forgive that because she never treated Luke (mmc) bad. I loved Luke. I think he was written and not off-putting as a guy who has pined over a girl for 2 years could be.
Parts I wasn't sold on was Granny and Ruth's conversations with Aspen, felt a little forced. The ploy twist(s) I saw coming from a mile away but I don't consider that a bad thing. It was an easy and quick read. I would definitely recommend if you like the tropes I listed. It's also super cozy and has (for me) the perfect amount of spice. The spice was done well.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for this ARC.
This was a perfect read to start off the holiday month. This book was such a cute and easy read. I loved the relationship that developed between Luke & Aspen. This book had romance, spice, and a couple of lessons on self-love. I love that the author wrote both characters to be relatable. I think that the fake dating trope was written very well in this book.
Over all this was a great read, and I can’t wait to discover more of Shannon Paige books.
This book was so heartwarming and had me laughing from page 1. Aspen was hilarious and Luke was so sweet, the way he felt about Aspen from the beginning was adorable. And his friendship with Kai was absolute friendship goals. I cannot stop loving this book and I would devour anything else Shannon Paige writes. Her lyrical writing was so captivating, I couldn't stop reading, even when I probably should have.... but that just shows how much I loved it. And seeing representation with someone with a birthmark was amazing and inspirational.
Office besties Luke and Aspen - he fell first and fell HARD, straight into the friend zone. For the last couple years, he's been pining and she has no idea! He had told his parents he was seeing a girl from work (Aspen), mom invites her for christmas and his sisters wedding. Aspen just so happens to overhear part of this phone conversation and you just can't help but be embarrassed for Luke (he really is such a cinnamon roll!) Eventually Aspen is convinced (party by not having anywhere to go) to be Luke's fake GF, keep his meddling family from trying to set him up and keep his sister's MOH (and his ex) away from him. Of course once they get to his family's house, there's one bed. There's faking feelings (that whoa, might actually be real) and let me tell you watching their friendship grow into more over the course of them being there, watching Aspen open up about past hurt and why she wasn't spending the holiday with her mom, and watching Luke show her how much she means to him just made me melt into the feels. This was such a fun sweet story, a little bit of spice, and a great friend group and I cannot wait foe the rest if the series!!!
Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC in exchange for my review!
I loved this one. It is a heartwarming love story with beautiful characters full of family and love. I really enjoyed reading it
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly
Overall rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️out of 5
I ADORE this book. The perfect he falls first and she falls last! I love the dynamic of Aspen and Luke as friends but it’s ten times better when they fall further together. I could honestly not put this book down and I was sad that it ended!
Spicy rating
🌶️🌶️out of 5
Giving it 2 spice out of 5. There is definitely some spice in this book but it’s the type that gets you in all the feels. The emotions behind it made me swoon.
All opinions shared of are an expression of my own thoughts.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Oh man I had FUN reading this book. Friends (coworkers) to lovers, forced proximity, winter cabin/cozy vibes, cute and quirky characters… what more could I have wanted?! Go into this blind and you’ll have a great time.
Shannon Paige is a new author to me and she is definitely an auto-buy author from now on.
4.5/5 ⭐️
It was a nice holiday read. Aspen was quite quirky, but I liked it. Luke was so overlooked by her, meanwhile he was literally perfect. And when they were together the air was sizzling with chemistry. I liked the family gathering for the holidays at Luke’s parents. It was so cozy and inviting and fun. Aspen’s family situation was kind of sad, but I was glad things were looking up by the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.
I adored the way this book made me feel. If anyone needs a book where they want to be grinning and kicking their feet while getting hot and bothered in the spicy scenes then this book is definitely for you.