Stuck With My Fake Date

by Nova Avery

I swear I don't usually hop in a car with a total stranger and then ask him to be my fake date!

I know love finds you when you least expect it….I just didn't expect it to find me on the way to my best friend's wedding.
And I know better than to go on an adventure with a quiet, mysterious extremely grumpy man that I barely know.
But when I miss my flight, I have no choice but to let him drive me across the country to get there.

I thought the trip would be terrible, but then sparks began to fly between us.
Being so close to him makes me realize there is so much more to him than just his gorgeous face.
Everything was going great until I found out my ex was going to be at the wedding.
Now I’m left to take this broody stranger as my date.

I can tell we both feel the connection, and I know we're both falling fast.
The question is he the one for me, or is he just another heartbreak like the last one?

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2023

Reviews

[Lori ◡̈]

No rating, DNF at chapter 3. It’s a clean romance with a heroine that immediately comes across as a cranky bitch.

And scatter-brained, how did she think leaving her workplace to go to the airport to catch her flight, with just 10 minutes before the plane takes off is a good idea? And then while getting off the workplace elevator, her purse breaks, her lap top goes skidding across the floor, a stranger (the hero) trips over her broken purse on the floor, spills his coffee on her lap top…. and our heroine gets pissed and blames the hero for her now ruined lap top and the fact that she will now miss her flight. 😒

The second chapter doesn’t get any better. They are driving on icy roads to get to the wedding in NY, the hero said he doesn’t want the radio on so he can concentrate. Because driving on ice is dangerous. So she immediately turns on rap music. Ok. Either she’s a royal bitch or extremely immature. Either way, I’m not interested to read about her HEA at this point.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I liked this story. I thought this author’s first book has potential but needed work, but I really quite liked her second book. This one falls somewhere between the two for me. A good story, but there were some aspects that didn’t quite work for me and the writing could be more polished. I liked Ro and Elijah as main characters, and they had some great interactions. The epilogue was cute. The author uses some unusual expressions in place of pretty commonly used ones, and I’m not sure that the author’s numbers with distances and travelling were accurate, but I didn’t make the effort to check it. The characters, for people who live in the Northeastern US, dress and prepare inappropriately for the weather, which was a little distracting. When all the drama came to a head, it did feel a little overly fraught, or like it was manufactured angst. Not enough that I got really frustrated, but enough to elicit some eye rolls. In the end the HEA was good and I was satisfied. There is some language sprinkled in the book, but I t is clean, although the kisses are probably a little more descriptive/spicy than clean romance readers are used to. A nice read that wasn’t overly taxing to enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Moni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. The book's blurb gives you an idea of what to expect. It's a good opposites attract dual pov romance.

After years of working in marketing, Ro is ready to leave her job behind to start a skincare business. Meanwhile, Elijah is a well off architect. While their first meeting came with an accident leaving Ro tense, they find themselves driving together to her friend's wedding. When he comes to her aid & agrees to pose as her date, it's easy for their feelings to become real. However, they both have things from their past that makes them each consider if a relationship could work between.

The romance is clean & fast paced but I didn't mind that. I do think that some things like Elijah's fears could've been developed a bit earlier in the story to give them more of an impact later on. The conflict was a good one but felt a bit abrupt when it happened because of what I just mentioned. Overall, the story kept me interested in & I think others will like this book too.

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuck With My Fake Date, is another fantastic story from Nova, I have only just started reading Nova's books and to date, I think this is the best.
It is brilliantly written and I was drawn in from the very beginning, I also felt that I was there too.
Strong characters in Elijah and Aurora(Ro) with a very strong storyline, I was hooked from the first page and could not put the book down. I loved the way Nova is writing this story as I felt that I was there too.

I highly recommend this book to all, and I look forward to reading more from Nova.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Elijah and Ro's (Aurora) story for the most parts. There were a few scenes where I questioned some things, but it didn't take away from the story too much. Their personalities work well together, and the plot flowed nicely. Each have their own reservations about relationships that needed to be overcame to be together. Elijah more so than Ro, but it worked out for them in the end. Good read.

[Shannon Godwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out with a laugh! Just what I needed….. what do you do when you are running behind, not packed yet and miss your flight? Well you get in the car with a stranger who is going to the same wedding as you are.
What turns out as just a ride across country might just turn into more. It definitely has potential once Ro gets to the wedding only to see her ex there, if she is able to talk Elijah into pretending to be her fake date.
A really cute book

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars isn't enough for this book. I absolutely loved the characters and the story that builds between them. Ro is so scared of rejection again and doesn't want to open her heart again. Elijah is still broken from the death of his mother and his fear of loss. Can these two survive a car journey to their friend wedding or will it all end in rejection. This is a beautiful story one I didnt want to finish. Hope you enjoy as much as I have

[Erin M. Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet and endearing book, that just puts you in the right frame of mind. Ro and Elijah complimented each other perfectly, to where they fell for each other fast and hard. I just love Nova Avery’s books. They are sweet, cutesie and clean. I do like smut romance, but I also like clean romance too with a hint of affectionate display

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I liked this story. I thought this author’s first book has potential but needed work, but I really quite liked her second book. This one falls somewhere between the two for me. A good story, but there were some aspects that didn’t quite work for me and the writing could be more polished. I liked Ro and Elijah as main characters, and they had some great interactions. The epilogue was cute. The author uses some unusual expressions in place of pretty commonly used ones, and I’m not sure that the author’s numbers with distances and travelling were accurate, but I didn’t make the effort to check it. The characters, for people who live in the Northeastern US, dress and prepare inappropriately for the weather, which was a little distracting. When all the drama came to a head, it did feel a little overly fraught, or like it was manufactured angst. Not enough that I got really frustrated, but enough to elicit some eye rolls. In the end the HEA was good and I was satisfied. There is some language sprinkled in the book, but I t is clean, although the kisses are probably a little more descriptive/spicy than clean romance readers are used to. A nice read that wasn’t overly taxing to enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MacKenzie Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic dual perspective closed door romance. There is some language in here if that bugs you but it’s not significant at all.

Absolutely loved this story. It’s a mix of forces proximity and fake relationship. I felt like this had a unique take with one of the events that happens to Ro (don’t want to give away spoilers) that really made you dive into what Elijah is truly struggling with. This really had me feeling for him and the situation.

I honestly couldn’t put this book down and wished I could follow the characters for longer.