What do you think?
Rate this book
Romancing the Pages
Mari Quay is a bestselling author who has one
Romance.
Her literary agent challenges her to write for her fans and keep up with the wildly trending romance genre. But there's just one problem.
Mari has never been in love.
Mari's best friend owns a bakery by the shore in Avalon, NJ. She offers a change of scenery to the struggling writer in exchange for summer help.
That's where Mari meets the unusual town librarian, Ben McGregor.
On a drunken night out, Mari admits to Ben her predicament. He offers a unique Dating for scientific research. The two spend the summer figuring the ins and outs of romance and all the awkward opportunities that go with it so Mari can write her book.
By the time the summer is over, will Mari have her next bestseller?
Or will she perhaps find her forever muse?
Romance.
Her literary agent challenges her to write for her fans and keep up with the wildly trending romance genre. But there's just one problem.
Mari has never been in love.
Mari's best friend owns a bakery by the shore in Avalon, NJ. She offers a change of scenery to the struggling writer in exchange for summer help.
That's where Mari meets the unusual town librarian, Ben McGregor.
On a drunken night out, Mari admits to Ben her predicament. He offers a unique Dating for scientific research. The two spend the summer figuring the ins and outs of romance and all the awkward opportunities that go with it so Mari can write her book.
By the time the summer is over, will Mari have her next bestseller?
Or will she perhaps find her forever muse?
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2023
About the author
K. Iwancio
12 books235 followersI've been some semblance of a writer since 1st grade. That was when I first tasted the delight of getting a book published and reading it aloud to the class with rave reviews. What a power trip for a 7-year-old.
It wasn't until 7th grade that I was highly encouraged by my English teacher to continue writing poetry outside of class assignments. From there I moved on to Literary Club in 8th grade and added short stories to my repertoire.
When high school came around, that was when I discovered the wondrous world of FanFiction. It all went downhill from that point. Numerous teachers in high school loved my work and submitted some of my (safe) pieces for publication. My teachers were the reason that I told myself,
"I can do this. I can be a published author one day."
In college, the trend continued but I pursued a career path in the design sector and writing went on the back burner. That is until a month after THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE, in 2022, I decided to start writing once again. It started with FanFic after FanFic, fast and furious.
Writing is my passion, my escape. Always has been, always will be.
It wasn't until 7th grade that I was highly encouraged by my English teacher to continue writing poetry outside of class assignments. From there I moved on to Literary Club in 8th grade and added short stories to my repertoire.
When high school came around, that was when I discovered the wondrous world of FanFiction. It all went downhill from that point. Numerous teachers in high school loved my work and submitted some of my (safe) pieces for publication. My teachers were the reason that I told myself,
"I can do this. I can be a published author one day."
In college, the trend continued but I pursued a career path in the design sector and writing went on the back burner. That is until a month after THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE, in 2022, I decided to start writing once again. It started with FanFic after FanFic, fast and furious.
Writing is my passion, my escape. Always has been, always will be.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 30, 2023
This was such a sweet romance book, I loved the characters, the plot and the ending! This book follows Mari, an author who has serious writing block. She stays with her best friend Shannon and meets the shy and awkward librarian Ben. After a drunk agreement, Mari and Ben decide to fake date to help overcome this writers block that Mari is experiencing. I absolutely love the fake dating trope so I was really excited to read this! I love the balance between the two of them and it’s so heartwarming to see Ben come out of his shell. My only fault with this book was that it finished!!!! I really hope to read more surrounding these two, I’d love a life update with them many years down the line.
The book is beautifully written and I was hooked from beginning to end.
The book is beautifully written and I was hooked from beginning to end.
July 3, 2023
ARC Review
This book follows Mari and Ben. Mari is an author with writers block who needs inspiration to give her readers what they want... more romance. However, she is mostly inexperienced in that department and doesn't know how to write the stuff the readers want when she's never felt those things. She meets Ben, a quirky librarian, and after a drunk evening out, they decide to "date for science" in hopes to help her with her writers block, and help them both learn how to be better at dating as adults. Well, it absolutely did help her, in more ways than one. Not only did she complete her book sooner than expected, but her readers LOVED it, and she happened to fall in love with Ben in the process. I enjoyed both characters as they developed throughout the story, even though this isn't my normal type of read. I'm not used to books being told from the 3rd person POV, so I did personally find it harder to follow at times since I'm used to books that are told from a 1st person POV and switch off characters POV each chapter. That would be a complaint of this book just due to personal preference though. It was a bit more a slower burn. I felt like it took quite some time to get to the spice and even to where the characters interacted a bit more "normally". But I guess that was the intent of this story. Overall I'm giving it 4 stars because the plot was great, the characters were lovable and had great development throughout, the writing was great, but I would have perfered it to have been from a 1st person POV, maybe a bit more spice, and sometimes the awkwardness of the characters even made ME feel awkward. But I do hope to hear more about their future together in another book.
This book follows Mari and Ben. Mari is an author with writers block who needs inspiration to give her readers what they want... more romance. However, she is mostly inexperienced in that department and doesn't know how to write the stuff the readers want when she's never felt those things. She meets Ben, a quirky librarian, and after a drunk evening out, they decide to "date for science" in hopes to help her with her writers block, and help them both learn how to be better at dating as adults. Well, it absolutely did help her, in more ways than one. Not only did she complete her book sooner than expected, but her readers LOVED it, and she happened to fall in love with Ben in the process. I enjoyed both characters as they developed throughout the story, even though this isn't my normal type of read. I'm not used to books being told from the 3rd person POV, so I did personally find it harder to follow at times since I'm used to books that are told from a 1st person POV and switch off characters POV each chapter. That would be a complaint of this book just due to personal preference though. It was a bit more a slower burn. I felt like it took quite some time to get to the spice and even to where the characters interacted a bit more "normally". But I guess that was the intent of this story. Overall I'm giving it 4 stars because the plot was great, the characters were lovable and had great development throughout, the writing was great, but I would have perfered it to have been from a 1st person POV, maybe a bit more spice, and sometimes the awkwardness of the characters even made ME feel awkward. But I do hope to hear more about their future together in another book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2023
Romancing the Pages is a short and sweet, (and a little spicy) read, perfect for a summer beach read!
I really liked the main characters, they are believable and awkward as hell, but in an endearing way. Something I found to be a little different, but great, was that Ben had some serious anxiety. Like plenty of mmc are described as being awkward and anxious, but they are more just broody when described. Ben is a mess of anxiety and that’s with everybody, not just the fmc. And it’s not like he magically cured of that anxiety the more time he spends with Mari. I thought that was very realistic and made him a great character.
It’s easy to see that the thing holding Mari back from success in love and in her writing is herself. She’s a great character that you just want to slap sometimes because she’s way into her own head.
Overall, this book sticks true to the trope of fake dating without being tired and cliche. It’s a fresh take on the trope, which I really liked.
It’s quick, it’s sweet, and I can’t wait to read more from K. Iwancio!
I really liked the main characters, they are believable and awkward as hell, but in an endearing way. Something I found to be a little different, but great, was that Ben had some serious anxiety. Like plenty of mmc are described as being awkward and anxious, but they are more just broody when described. Ben is a mess of anxiety and that’s with everybody, not just the fmc. And it’s not like he magically cured of that anxiety the more time he spends with Mari. I thought that was very realistic and made him a great character.
It’s easy to see that the thing holding Mari back from success in love and in her writing is herself. She’s a great character that you just want to slap sometimes because she’s way into her own head.
Overall, this book sticks true to the trope of fake dating without being tired and cliche. It’s a fresh take on the trope, which I really liked.
It’s quick, it’s sweet, and I can’t wait to read more from K. Iwancio!
June 25, 2023
This was a quick summer read! The relationship between Mari and Ben was so awkward but let’s be real new relationships are awkward. Each date they went on was funny and you could see their “fake” relationship flourishing. I loved the communication between Mari and her best friend Shannon. They both had the mouths of a sailor😂 but that’s how I talk to my best friends too, no filter! This book is perfect for people who love books about authors, fake dating, and fun summer reads. Thank you K. Iwancio for the book🙂
July 10, 2023
✨𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠✨
𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔: 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜
𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛: 𝙺. 𝙸𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚘
𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 𝟺⭐️
𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎: 𝟷🌶
𝙿𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍: 𝙹𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝟼, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹
This was a breezy, quick, romance summer read. This book is perfect to read out on the boat or on the beach, relaxing!
This book follows an author with writer’s block. That leaves her town to go visit the beach to see her best friend for the summer to hopefully get the writer’s block to go away and get the words for her next book rolling. While there, she meets her new muse.
The characters in this book were well written, Mari and Ben are just adorable. As well as, Shannon, she reminds me of my best friend with her personality and witty banter. I liked seeing a change in the normal MMC, Ben, was an awkward but sweet librarian with anxiety. It was a great change of pace from the usual MMC’s in most other books.
The plot was unique from most romance books out there. It was just as captivating and left me wanting to read more about Ben and Mari.
Be sure to pick this book up for your next summer read!
#bookstagram #booktok #bookreviews #bookreviewer #booksta
𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔: 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜
𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛: 𝙺. 𝙸𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚘
𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 𝟺⭐️
𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎: 𝟷🌶
𝙿𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍: 𝙹𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝟼, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹
This was a breezy, quick, romance summer read. This book is perfect to read out on the boat or on the beach, relaxing!
This book follows an author with writer’s block. That leaves her town to go visit the beach to see her best friend for the summer to hopefully get the writer’s block to go away and get the words for her next book rolling. While there, she meets her new muse.
The characters in this book were well written, Mari and Ben are just adorable. As well as, Shannon, she reminds me of my best friend with her personality and witty banter. I liked seeing a change in the normal MMC, Ben, was an awkward but sweet librarian with anxiety. It was a great change of pace from the usual MMC’s in most other books.
The plot was unique from most romance books out there. It was just as captivating and left me wanting to read more about Ben and Mari.
Be sure to pick this book up for your next summer read!
#bookstagram #booktok #bookreviews #bookreviewer #booksta
October 7, 2024
I loved the premise of the story, and overall I enjoyed it. It took me about 1/3 of the book to really get into it… I’ll be honest, I’m a huge stickler for editing related things like grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and flow, etc. and it just felt so choppy a lot of the time. It was a bit distracting. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the FMC. She came across as a bit judgmental to me. Gave me Katherine Heigl vibes. The MMC was different and I did like that, and I appreciated all the awkward endearing traits, but sometimes it felt a bit overboard to where I felt super uncomfortable reading it. About halfway through the book it did pick up, and I pretty much finished that in one sitting. Also, way spicer than I was expecting! So overall a cute read, and I’d probably give the author another read, as this was the first novel I’ve read of hers.
June 6, 2023
Happy release day!!
This was such a fun read!
We follow romance author who hooks a quirky librarian into “romance book research” with fake dating/friends to lovers all wrapped up in a spicy beach read? Sold! This was such a sweet (and steamy) read! Mari and Ben are such lovable goofballs who I laughed with, swooned with, cringed with and fell in love with!
I absolutely loved Romancing the Pages and cannot wait to see what K. Iwancio comes up with next!
Thank you so much to K. Iwancio for the advanced copy!
This was such a fun read!
We follow romance author who hooks a quirky librarian into “romance book research” with fake dating/friends to lovers all wrapped up in a spicy beach read? Sold! This was such a sweet (and steamy) read! Mari and Ben are such lovable goofballs who I laughed with, swooned with, cringed with and fell in love with!
I absolutely loved Romancing the Pages and cannot wait to see what K. Iwancio comes up with next!
Thank you so much to K. Iwancio for the advanced copy!
June 2, 2023
This was such a good book. First time Reading from this author and I enjoyed it so much.
February 20, 2024
i liked the premise of this book a lot, but there were some things that just made it kinda hard for me to really get into. it was 3rd person but kept slipping from one pov to the other with no real gel. also i liked the awkwardness sometimes, but at others it was TOO awkward. idk it just took me out of it. still a cute premise and i liked the side characters a lot! the last 10% was also very cute.
📚🌊☀️✍️💳
"Maybe one day you’ll read this and laugh or maybe one day this book will sit on our bookshelf."
🌶️
📚🌊☀️✍️💳
"Maybe one day you’ll read this and laugh or maybe one day this book will sit on our bookshelf."
🌶️
June 27, 2023
“They were two peas in an awkward pod. Two helpless individuals who have not had the best luck in the dating game.”
Thank you to K. Iwancio for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
overview-
Mari is a successful and famous author struggling with writer's block while her agent encourages her to hop on the current trending genre: romance. Needing to escape her rut, she stays at her friend's beach house for the summer. There she meets the quirky and mysterious town librarian, Ben, who happens to be a fan of hers. Finally, she has an inspiration that can work in both of their favors: go on a series of fake dates so they both can have experience for their own benefits.
Well, we know how that usually goes.
review-
3.5 ⭐️
This was such a cute, summery rom-com (that actually fulfills the “com”)! The main characters were both delightfully quirky in their series of fake dates and the ending (while predictable like a comforting rom-com should be) was unique and heartwarming.
This book reminded me a lot of Beach Read since Mari is an author with writer's block. I appreciated how quick and easy it was to read compared to Beach Read, it was less drawn out but at the same time, there was less history to the characters.
A short and sweet fake-dating romance (with heavy spice) to check out if that’s something you love 🤗
read if you love-
📖 fake dating
☀️ summery settings
❤️🔥 spice
🤓 quirky, shy mmcs
Thank you to K. Iwancio for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
overview-
Mari is a successful and famous author struggling with writer's block while her agent encourages her to hop on the current trending genre: romance. Needing to escape her rut, she stays at her friend's beach house for the summer. There she meets the quirky and mysterious town librarian, Ben, who happens to be a fan of hers. Finally, she has an inspiration that can work in both of their favors: go on a series of fake dates so they both can have experience for their own benefits.
Well, we know how that usually goes.
review-
3.5 ⭐️
This was such a cute, summery rom-com (that actually fulfills the “com”)! The main characters were both delightfully quirky in their series of fake dates and the ending (while predictable like a comforting rom-com should be) was unique and heartwarming.
This book reminded me a lot of Beach Read since Mari is an author with writer's block. I appreciated how quick and easy it was to read compared to Beach Read, it was less drawn out but at the same time, there was less history to the characters.
A short and sweet fake-dating romance (with heavy spice) to check out if that’s something you love 🤗
read if you love-
📖 fake dating
☀️ summery settings
❤️🔥 spice
🤓 quirky, shy mmcs
October 8, 2023
"Romancing the Pages" is not the typical book I would pick up, but I am so glad I did. This delightful novel, recommended to me by a worker at my local bookstore, captured my heart from the very beginning. To top it off, I was lucky enough to find a signed copy, adding a special touch to my reading experience.
The story revolves around Mari, a writer who embarks on a quest to understand romance in order to pen her next book. After a night of indulgence, she finds herself in a fake relationship with the town's awkward and reserved librarian. What ensues is a series of awkward dates, which Mari attributes to "scientific research." It is through these endearingly uncomfortable moments that the true charm of the book shines.
One of the aspects I appreciated most about "Romancing the Pages" is that both characters are flawed and unsure of themselves. Mari's own awkwardness adds depth and relatability to her character, making her journey all the more compelling. The librarian, with his quiet demeanor, is a refreshing departure from the traditional romantic hero.
The author skillfully weaves together humor, heart, and self-discovery, creating a story that is both heartwarming and entertaining. "Romancing the Pages" breaks away from the stereotypical romance novel mold, offering a refreshing take on the genre. It reminds us that love is not always smooth sailing, and that sometimes the most beautiful relationships are built on vulnerability and shared imperfections.
Overall, "Romancing the Pages" exceeded my expectations and left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romance novel that breaks the mold and celebrates the beauty of flawed characters finding love in unexpected places.
The story revolves around Mari, a writer who embarks on a quest to understand romance in order to pen her next book. After a night of indulgence, she finds herself in a fake relationship with the town's awkward and reserved librarian. What ensues is a series of awkward dates, which Mari attributes to "scientific research." It is through these endearingly uncomfortable moments that the true charm of the book shines.
One of the aspects I appreciated most about "Romancing the Pages" is that both characters are flawed and unsure of themselves. Mari's own awkwardness adds depth and relatability to her character, making her journey all the more compelling. The librarian, with his quiet demeanor, is a refreshing departure from the traditional romantic hero.
The author skillfully weaves together humor, heart, and self-discovery, creating a story that is both heartwarming and entertaining. "Romancing the Pages" breaks away from the stereotypical romance novel mold, offering a refreshing take on the genre. It reminds us that love is not always smooth sailing, and that sometimes the most beautiful relationships are built on vulnerability and shared imperfections.
Overall, "Romancing the Pages" exceeded my expectations and left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romance novel that breaks the mold and celebrates the beauty of flawed characters finding love in unexpected places.
May 26, 2023
I love me a fake dating romance and this book was such a good read! From the start I loved the main characters, the chemistry between these two was written perfectly!
I loved Ben as an mmc, he was so awkward and cute, he really balanced out Mari who was more of a stronger character. The mmc was a nerdy librarian which you don’t see much in romance books these days so I liked seeing that switch it really made this book stand out to me.
The plot was unique and it really captivated me from the get go, it was a book that had me laughing along with swooning at how perfect these two were for each other. This was such a fun easy read and if you’re looking for something light hearted that will have you entertained and immersed within the book this is for you.
I loved Ben as an mmc, he was so awkward and cute, he really balanced out Mari who was more of a stronger character. The mmc was a nerdy librarian which you don’t see much in romance books these days so I liked seeing that switch it really made this book stand out to me.
The plot was unique and it really captivated me from the get go, it was a book that had me laughing along with swooning at how perfect these two were for each other. This was such a fun easy read and if you’re looking for something light hearted that will have you entertained and immersed within the book this is for you.
July 5, 2023
This book was a fun little read! Mari and Ben were one of the cuter couples I've read about recently. Ben, by far, stole my heart from the get-go!
I really enjoyed this book overall!
The characters were written well, and the story flowed really well!
Thank you, k. iwancio , for the ARC copy!
I really enjoyed this book overall!
The characters were written well, and the story flowed really well!
Thank you, k. iwancio , for the ARC copy!
February 3, 2024
This was such a sweet story! An author and a librarian, both socially awkward, enter a dating-for-research situationship. Ben and Mari are so sweet together. I was impressed with the authors's use of omnipresent narration as it is not easy to do.
I loved how the characters gained confidence with each other and the refreshing premise of two people who are well into adulthood and have romantic experiences, but are still learning.
I loved how the characters gained confidence with each other and the refreshing premise of two people who are well into adulthood and have romantic experiences, but are still learning.
March 6, 2024
Everything about this book is a yes for me. I LOVED it. I love these characters, this setting, the miscommunication, the awkward love story that just FLOWS. Spectacular. ❤️
Big YES from me. Holy cow. Listen, the vibe of this book alone made it top tier for me, but when I met Mari I just knew I was going to feel a strong connection to her. And sweet sweet Ben... A little weird.. doesn't have much game but really steps up to make this woman his.
But ohhhhhh the process of how they figure it out... 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
It's such a slow sweet summer of a romance that leads to some spice and falling in love. ❤️
@k.iwancio_writes has such a perfect way of creating worlds you just feel like you're inside of, and characters that you can really see yourself in. AND THE WITTINESS of not only the writing itself but of the banter between characters... *Chefs Kiss*.
A million out of a million stars for this one. Loved it for me. ❤️
Big YES from me. Holy cow. Listen, the vibe of this book alone made it top tier for me, but when I met Mari I just knew I was going to feel a strong connection to her. And sweet sweet Ben... A little weird.. doesn't have much game but really steps up to make this woman his.
But ohhhhhh the process of how they figure it out... 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
It's such a slow sweet summer of a romance that leads to some spice and falling in love. ❤️
@k.iwancio_writes has such a perfect way of creating worlds you just feel like you're inside of, and characters that you can really see yourself in. AND THE WITTINESS of not only the writing itself but of the banter between characters... *Chefs Kiss*.
A million out of a million stars for this one. Loved it for me. ❤️
September 2, 2023
It was a fun little romance that had me both smiling and cringing with second-hand embarrassment in the best way possible. It was the perfect quick, summer pool day read.
February 6, 2024
This was my first time reading anything from this author, but I really enjoyed this book! I loved the cozy vibe and setting of the book. The fake dating trope is also one of my favourites, so this book was perfect for me.
October 17, 2024
I always love K. Iwancio's books. This one was a cute read.
July 9, 2023
Fake dating is one of my favorites! I had a difficult time with Ben, the awkward librarian, not being a dominate male character in the first half of the book; however, the author has outdone herself because I absolutely adored Ben by the end of the novel. This was very sweet and heart felt. A great beach read!!
July 9, 2023
Oh my goodness this book!!! Mari and Ben are so adorable! I loved watching them grow and fall in love
September 14, 2024
So, the general premise of this book is that Mari, a successful author, is having a really hard time getting her next book written. Her agent tell her that “sex sells”. But Mari has little experience to draw from when it comes to love and romance. This leads to her taking a trip to Avalon, NJ, in order to get the space - and possibly inspiration - she needs to write. During her her trip, she meets the town’s quiet and awkward librarian, Ben.
I adored this so much. Ben was so sweet and awkward. Mari was wonderful. It was such a hoot to watch their unconventional ‘relationship’ blossom as they figured out how dating and sex worked. I’m so glad there was the HEA in the end. I now want to go to a seaside town for the summer and find my own odd, awkward librarian…
I adored this so much. Ben was so sweet and awkward. Mari was wonderful. It was such a hoot to watch their unconventional ‘relationship’ blossom as they figured out how dating and sex worked. I’m so glad there was the HEA in the end. I now want to go to a seaside town for the summer and find my own odd, awkward librarian…
August 1, 2023
📚📚 Review 📚📚
Book : Romancing The Pages
Author : K. Iwancio
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Fake dating, friends to lovers, awkward-meets-cute.
Trigger Warning: None.
Setting: A small beach town at the Jersey shore, Avalon
Ratings : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a fun-filled love story. Mari, the best-selling author, was a confident and independent woman, and Ben, the librarian by profession, was a handsome but reserved kind of person.
They both had never experienced the feeling of true love, and when Mari, the best-selling author, was asked to write something really hot and romantic, she was in a dilemma. Her one blunt confrontation in front of Ben was all that was needed to start their relationship, but it was only for research purposes. It was really interesting to read their story, which the author explained with vivid descriptions.
Ben's awkwardness and his attraction towards Mari felt realistic; Mari's other side of being an author who was working hard to deliver the best story, her struggle during the writer's block period, and the pressure from publishers were described very well.
Would the relationship that started only for research purposes end, or would they realise their true feelings and experience true love, which they never did?
It's a must-read for those who like to read light romantic stories with a realistic approach.
Book : Romancing The Pages
Author : K. Iwancio
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Fake dating, friends to lovers, awkward-meets-cute.
Trigger Warning: None.
Setting: A small beach town at the Jersey shore, Avalon
Ratings : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a fun-filled love story. Mari, the best-selling author, was a confident and independent woman, and Ben, the librarian by profession, was a handsome but reserved kind of person.
They both had never experienced the feeling of true love, and when Mari, the best-selling author, was asked to write something really hot and romantic, she was in a dilemma. Her one blunt confrontation in front of Ben was all that was needed to start their relationship, but it was only for research purposes. It was really interesting to read their story, which the author explained with vivid descriptions.
Ben's awkwardness and his attraction towards Mari felt realistic; Mari's other side of being an author who was working hard to deliver the best story, her struggle during the writer's block period, and the pressure from publishers were described very well.
Would the relationship that started only for research purposes end, or would they realise their true feelings and experience true love, which they never did?
It's a must-read for those who like to read light romantic stories with a realistic approach.
May 26, 2023
Writing: 4/5
Character Development: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Warnings: Language, Sexual Content
Themes: Romance, Fake Dating
Romancing the Pages is about a writer who is told she needs to add more romance and spice to her best selling novels. But the problem is she has never been in love. In walks an awkward librarian who offers to take her on dates to help her find inspiration for her book. I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were hilarious and so relatable and the story was so much fun to read. I loved the fake dating and the growth of both MCs. I can't wait to read other books by this author.
This book is great for anyone who loves a story about a writer who swears like a trucker and is trying to find her inspiration.
I received an arc and am leaving an honest review.
Character Development: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Warnings: Language, Sexual Content
Themes: Romance, Fake Dating
Romancing the Pages is about a writer who is told she needs to add more romance and spice to her best selling novels. But the problem is she has never been in love. In walks an awkward librarian who offers to take her on dates to help her find inspiration for her book. I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were hilarious and so relatable and the story was so much fun to read. I loved the fake dating and the growth of both MCs. I can't wait to read other books by this author.
This book is great for anyone who loves a story about a writer who swears like a trucker and is trying to find her inspiration.
I received an arc and am leaving an honest review.
February 20, 2026
ben and mari, the main characters of this novel, are two adults who are inexperienced in the world of love and romance. in order to help mari better illustrate the ins and outs of romance in her novels, ben agrees to fake a relationship with mari “for research.” this also allows ben to become a better romantic partner in the future by walking through all the typical experiences of a relationship.
while some people might find both characters’ inexperience in relationships charming, i honestly found it awkward to read. i didn’t really feel a connection to these characters. they were pretty bland to me.
also ben mcgregor. the name is so obviously a reference to ewan mcgregor aka obi-wan kenobi lmaooo
while some people might find both characters’ inexperience in relationships charming, i honestly found it awkward to read. i didn’t really feel a connection to these characters. they were pretty bland to me.
also ben mcgregor. the name is so obviously a reference to ewan mcgregor aka obi-wan kenobi lmaooo
May 23, 2023
First book into the fake dating trope & I love the build up of Mari & Ben. He caught my eye the minute he walked in to grab his coffee order. :D No spoilers!!***
I felt like I was watching a movie unfold where you get to explore all the emotions and tribulations of what it's like to develop feelings for someone you were only in a deal with for work purposes. Things always happen for a reason and I'm glad Mari sorted through what love truly means for her to get her happily ever after AND her next manuscript completed! Also team Ben who made sure he wouldn't let her slip away with the help of her support friend, Shannon.
A must read!
I felt like I was watching a movie unfold where you get to explore all the emotions and tribulations of what it's like to develop feelings for someone you were only in a deal with for work purposes. Things always happen for a reason and I'm glad Mari sorted through what love truly means for her to get her happily ever after AND her next manuscript completed! Also team Ben who made sure he wouldn't let her slip away with the help of her support friend, Shannon.
A must read!
March 6, 2025
The fake relationship is not a trope I typically pick up to read but I really wanted to dive into my first read of K. Iwancio's.
It was a cute story filled with awkward encounters. Sometimes, I actually felt bad for Ben and wanted to hug him. It was evident from their first encounter that he was going to fall crazy in love. I didn't expect Mari to be the first to vocalize it and then run. Mari, Mari, Mari!
Thank you for the fun read!
Why not a 5 star? The stuttering got a little annoying to me. Some paragraphs I had to reread because the stuttering text slowed me down.
It was a cute story filled with awkward encounters. Sometimes, I actually felt bad for Ben and wanted to hug him. It was evident from their first encounter that he was going to fall crazy in love. I didn't expect Mari to be the first to vocalize it and then run. Mari, Mari, Mari!
Thank you for the fun read!
Why not a 5 star? The stuttering got a little annoying to me. Some paragraphs I had to reread because the stuttering text slowed me down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2026
I am not a romance reader and I thought it was ambitious to start the New Year off with a romance.
I love this book! I’m obsessed with the cute storyline!!
Mari is a writer in need of inspiration for her romance book; she hasn’t had the best of luck in the dating scene. She meets a librarian named Ben who’s shy and quiet, also hasn’t had luck in the dating scene.
Together they formulate a plan to fake date, give each other pointers so they have better luck, while helping Mari find inspiration for her book.
I held on to each page and fell in love myself.
I love this book! I’m obsessed with the cute storyline!!
Mari is a writer in need of inspiration for her romance book; she hasn’t had the best of luck in the dating scene. She meets a librarian named Ben who’s shy and quiet, also hasn’t had luck in the dating scene.
Together they formulate a plan to fake date, give each other pointers so they have better luck, while helping Mari find inspiration for her book.
I held on to each page and fell in love myself.
September 19, 2023
Iwancio produces a cute little number about a best selling author and a librarian that learn there’s more to life than what’s on the pages. This is a fun read with several known tropes such as fake dating. None of the characters take them self too seriously so it’s a bit of lighthearted fun with a bit of spice to heat things up. Definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a short fun romp in the hay romance.
October 16, 2023
An Adorable Ode to Falling in Love
I saw a post the author made on how one of the main characters was loosely based on Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi so I had to check it out. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed! This is a wonderful ode to what it feels like dating as an introvert. The main characters are wonderfully relatable and the story had some great laugh out loud moments with the right pinch of spice!
I saw a post the author made on how one of the main characters was loosely based on Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi so I had to check it out. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed! This is a wonderful ode to what it feels like dating as an introvert. The main characters are wonderfully relatable and the story had some great laugh out loud moments with the right pinch of spice!
July 2, 2024
Disappointing
This is the second book I've read from this author and it was a disappointing difference in standard. Littered with incorrect words, it is clunky and disjointed. It was difficult to build a relationship with the main characters. The epilogue was the best part. Needs a really good edit as a minimum.
This is the second book I've read from this author and it was a disappointing difference in standard. Littered with incorrect words, it is clunky and disjointed. It was difficult to build a relationship with the main characters. The epilogue was the best part. Needs a really good edit as a minimum.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews