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Rent to Be
She's packed up her life. Can he unpack her heart? Isla Jane is having a very bad day. She's working a job she hates, her car has broken down and she's come home to find her flatmates have evicted her. Standing outside, her possessions in boxes, she wonders what happened to all those dreams she once had. Because right now, she's living a nightmare. Admitting to her parents how much has gone wrong, and moving back home, feels like the ultimate defeat. So Isla decides to secretly crash at her brother's empty flat while he's out of town. Only it isn't empty. Her brother's best friend, Cade Greenley , is staying there while his own place is under renovation. Isla begs Cade not to say anything, she'll fix everything before her brother comes home, and Cade grudgingly agrees. But only if Isla helps him out in return. Cade needs to get some meddling colleagues off his back and, in exchange for keeping her secret, he asks her to pose as his girlfriend at a work event. What starts as a simple pact between almost-friends soon gets more complicated, as Isla and Cade's pretend relationship has sparks flying between them. But could Cade ever feel the same way about her? And will Isla finally find the courage to stop faking it, put her heart on the line, and live her life for real? Fans of Tessa Bailey and Beth O'Leary will love this bright, laugh-out-loud rom-com, about finding that home is always where your heart is.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2023
125 people are currently reading
2768 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 622 reviews
August 14, 2023
Happy publication day!
Finally! I fell in love with a book! I couldn’t put it down 😍
To be fair it’s not a full five stars, maybe a 4,5, but I’m rounding it up because I haven’t enjoyed a book like that in weeks! It’s romantic, spicy, funny and everything I needed 🥹🥰🥳
After getting kicked out of her apartment for not paying rent Isla plans to crash at her brother’s temporarily vacated condo until she can figure things out. She is in for a surprise when it turns out her brother’s best friend is also temporarily crashing there while his own condo is under renovation. He promises to keep his mouth shut about her predicament if she can pretend to be his girlfriend at a few work events.
I could relate to Isla on so many levels! The career struggles, the rather normal but not exactly perfect parents, and the general other-side-of-graduation mess felt acutely real. I frowned a bit at the third act conflict and the push and pull, but since it felt more like a work in progress than a breakup I can overlook that.
The writing was entertaining and easy to follow and the side characters were great (I want Neeta and Seb’s book! ). But my favorite part of this book was the love story and the chemistry. The Chemistry with capital C. No, actually it was all caps CHEMISTRY. It was sizzling from page one and I loved it!
Read if you like:
- fake dating
- brother’s best friend
- friends to lovers (Monica and Chandler vibes 😍)
- he falls first
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Finally! I fell in love with a book! I couldn’t put it down 😍
To be fair it’s not a full five stars, maybe a 4,5, but I’m rounding it up because I haven’t enjoyed a book like that in weeks! It’s romantic, spicy, funny and everything I needed 🥹🥰🥳
After getting kicked out of her apartment for not paying rent Isla plans to crash at her brother’s temporarily vacated condo until she can figure things out. She is in for a surprise when it turns out her brother’s best friend is also temporarily crashing there while his own condo is under renovation. He promises to keep his mouth shut about her predicament if she can pretend to be his girlfriend at a few work events.
I could relate to Isla on so many levels! The career struggles, the rather normal but not exactly perfect parents, and the general other-side-of-graduation mess felt acutely real. I frowned a bit at the third act conflict and the push and pull, but since it felt more like a work in progress than a breakup I can overlook that.
The writing was entertaining and easy to follow and the side characters were great (I want Neeta and Seb’s book! ). But my favorite part of this book was the love story and the chemistry. The Chemistry with capital C. No, actually it was all caps CHEMISTRY. It was sizzling from page one and I loved it!
Read if you like:
- fake dating
- brother’s best friend
- friends to lovers (Monica and Chandler vibes 😍)
- he falls first
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2023
Well, I loved the author's previous work and was excited when I read about the storyline, which promised two of my favorite tropes: fake dating and enemies to lovers. I expected a great romance with high chemistry.
However, my expectations were not met. Although I appreciated the characterization of Cade Greenley, a sweet, intelligent, and charming man that I rooted for, I didn't like the main female character, Isla Jane. Her many wrong choices rubbed me the wrong way and I had to hold back from shouting at her to "pull herself together."
Despite this, the message of the book was inspiring. It advised young people to find their own path, embrace their mistakes, and keep the faith in order to achieve their dreams. However, the forced romance between the main characters, along with the extra irritating parents of Isla and the forced execution of the fake dating, made me disappointed.
Overall, I had higher expectations for this lighthearted romance. I'm giving it a solid, semi-satisfied three stars. I still plan to read more of the author's works, as I enjoyed her previous work, but I wish I would have loved this book as much.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
However, my expectations were not met. Although I appreciated the characterization of Cade Greenley, a sweet, intelligent, and charming man that I rooted for, I didn't like the main female character, Isla Jane. Her many wrong choices rubbed me the wrong way and I had to hold back from shouting at her to "pull herself together."
Despite this, the message of the book was inspiring. It advised young people to find their own path, embrace their mistakes, and keep the faith in order to achieve their dreams. However, the forced romance between the main characters, along with the extra irritating parents of Isla and the forced execution of the fake dating, made me disappointed.
Overall, I had higher expectations for this lighthearted romance. I'm giving it a solid, semi-satisfied three stars. I still plan to read more of the author's works, as I enjoyed her previous work, but I wish I would have loved this book as much.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
November 21, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -NetGalley ARC Audiobook
Description:
“In this bright, laugh-out-loud rom-com, the grind of the millennial struggle is a lot more fun when you add falling in love to the mix, perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Beth O’Leary.
Isla Jane is living the millennial nightmare. She’s got a shiny new MBA and no way to pay for it, thanks to her dead-end entry-level job, and nowhere to live, thanks to her miserable salary. Going home to her parents is not possible, but for once Isla’s brother may be her saving grace. He’s out of town on business for a month, meaning the guest room in his condo is blissfully empty.
Or so Isla thinks, until she runs into Cade Greenley, her brother’s best friend—who’s crashing there while his own condo is undergoing renovations. When a desperate plan to sleep under her desk miraculously turns into a house-sitting job for one of the big bosses at her office, Isla is certain her luck has turned—with no one, Cade included, the wiser. It’s a perfect solution—until Cade catches her sunbathing at a mansion that is definitely not hers, and she admits she’s house-sitting because she can’t afford rent.
The pair strike a deal—Cade will keep Isla’s secret from her overbearing parents if she agrees to pose as his girlfriend at a few upcoming corporate events. The fun and friendly vibe of his office is a surprise compared to hers, but the biggest shock is that each “date” with Cade feels less and less fake. Suddenly she’s looking forward to every minute they spend together while the chemistry between them sizzles. As Isla’s house-sitting scheme begins to unravel, she'll have to face the fact that her biggest lie of all is the one she's telling herself: that she's not falling in love with Cade.”
This book started off very light and funny, but then took a very serious turn when the main character decides to house sit for money because she’s drowning in student debt. Being a mom of a daughter who is also drowning in student loans I felt for the main character and the very real problem that higher education costs our children; not only in money but in stress and life choices. I personally loved the book, but if you don’t like romances with a serious storyline you probably won’t enjoy this. Tropes: Friends to Lovers/Fake Dating.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the chance to read and review this book. All thoughts are my own. #NetGalley
Description:
“In this bright, laugh-out-loud rom-com, the grind of the millennial struggle is a lot more fun when you add falling in love to the mix, perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Beth O’Leary.
Isla Jane is living the millennial nightmare. She’s got a shiny new MBA and no way to pay for it, thanks to her dead-end entry-level job, and nowhere to live, thanks to her miserable salary. Going home to her parents is not possible, but for once Isla’s brother may be her saving grace. He’s out of town on business for a month, meaning the guest room in his condo is blissfully empty.
Or so Isla thinks, until she runs into Cade Greenley, her brother’s best friend—who’s crashing there while his own condo is undergoing renovations. When a desperate plan to sleep under her desk miraculously turns into a house-sitting job for one of the big bosses at her office, Isla is certain her luck has turned—with no one, Cade included, the wiser. It’s a perfect solution—until Cade catches her sunbathing at a mansion that is definitely not hers, and she admits she’s house-sitting because she can’t afford rent.
The pair strike a deal—Cade will keep Isla’s secret from her overbearing parents if she agrees to pose as his girlfriend at a few upcoming corporate events. The fun and friendly vibe of his office is a surprise compared to hers, but the biggest shock is that each “date” with Cade feels less and less fake. Suddenly she’s looking forward to every minute they spend together while the chemistry between them sizzles. As Isla’s house-sitting scheme begins to unravel, she'll have to face the fact that her biggest lie of all is the one she's telling herself: that she's not falling in love with Cade.”
This book started off very light and funny, but then took a very serious turn when the main character decides to house sit for money because she’s drowning in student debt. Being a mom of a daughter who is also drowning in student loans I felt for the main character and the very real problem that higher education costs our children; not only in money but in stress and life choices. I personally loved the book, but if you don’t like romances with a serious storyline you probably won’t enjoy this. Tropes: Friends to Lovers/Fake Dating.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the chance to read and review this book. All thoughts are my own. #NetGalley
February 18, 2023
“If only I thought about you half as often as you think about me.”“If only.”
Isla has been forced to moved out of the house that she shared with her roommates because of failure to pay rent on time. As it turns out, she has a stable job but they pay minimum wages so now she has no other option than to move in to her brothers house while he is out traveling. But problem is that, Ilsa has some mommy and daddy issues so she thinks she has to survive on her own and not ask for help so she somehow lands a job of house-sitting for her co-worker. When she's moving some of her stuff into her brother's condo, she bumps into his bestfriend who also happens to be living there because his house has an ongoing renovation. Isla & Cade share some past history being childhood friends and while Cade is loyal to her brother, he puts forth a deal so that he would hold on from letting her brother know of her situation if she becomes his fake girlfriend so that his bosses stop trying to set him up with someone. They start to fake date and while spending some time together, old feelings resurface. The plot is all about that. The blurb made it seem like Ilsa & Cade would be living together but that wasn't the case, instead there was a fake dating situation thrown in but I would hardly call it that because there were very few scenes where Cade & Ilsa had to appear to be in a relationship. While I liked the writing style and the characters, some of their actions were immature and self-sabotaging tbh. Overall, I enjoyed the book and read it in one sitting and while the ending was cute, I expected something more wholesome from the epilogue ngl.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
Isla has been forced to moved out of the house that she shared with her roommates because of failure to pay rent on time. As it turns out, she has a stable job but they pay minimum wages so now she has no other option than to move in to her brothers house while he is out traveling. But problem is that, Ilsa has some mommy and daddy issues so she thinks she has to survive on her own and not ask for help so she somehow lands a job of house-sitting for her co-worker. When she's moving some of her stuff into her brother's condo, she bumps into his bestfriend who also happens to be living there because his house has an ongoing renovation. Isla & Cade share some past history being childhood friends and while Cade is loyal to her brother, he puts forth a deal so that he would hold on from letting her brother know of her situation if she becomes his fake girlfriend so that his bosses stop trying to set him up with someone. They start to fake date and while spending some time together, old feelings resurface. The plot is all about that. The blurb made it seem like Ilsa & Cade would be living together but that wasn't the case, instead there was a fake dating situation thrown in but I would hardly call it that because there were very few scenes where Cade & Ilsa had to appear to be in a relationship. While I liked the writing style and the characters, some of their actions were immature and self-sabotaging tbh. Overall, I enjoyed the book and read it in one sitting and while the ending was cute, I expected something more wholesome from the epilogue ngl.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
February 18, 2023
This was a quick read with some of my favourite tropes but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I didn’t particularly like or connect with either of the main characters. This book had a lot of tell rather than show and that made the leads feel pretty one dimensional.
What did work for me was the childhood friends to lovers element. I enjoyed the flashbacks from Isla and Cade’s childhood and the mutual pining from both characters. Add in the brothers best friend element and that added a few more points for me.
Thank you to Alcove Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars
What did work for me was the childhood friends to lovers element. I enjoyed the flashbacks from Isla and Cade’s childhood and the mutual pining from both characters. Add in the brothers best friend element and that added a few more points for me.
Thank you to Alcove Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars
January 18, 2023
This is my favorite book I’ve written so far, it’s lived in my head and heart since I wrote the first draft in January 2021 🥰
I’m told we’re getting close to ARCs going up on Netgalley, so that’s my cue to leave this page for good. But before I do, I wanted to list some content warnings for this book (CWs for all my books are also listed on my website). In this book there are a lot of conversations about money and generational debt, specifically related to student loans. Some CWs are:
Food insecurity
Debt and anxiety related to debt
Poverty
Classism
Parental neglect
Parent disguising put downs as jokes
Classist comments from parents
If there are more I missed, I will update them on my website if/when I’m informed of them. Please take care while reading.
I absolutely love this book. It was my passion project during the height of the pandemic and I’m so thrilled it’s going to be in the world. It’s steamy, funny, sweet, and all the things I love most about writing romance.
I’m told we’re getting close to ARCs going up on Netgalley, so that’s my cue to leave this page for good. But before I do, I wanted to list some content warnings for this book (CWs for all my books are also listed on my website). In this book there are a lot of conversations about money and generational debt, specifically related to student loans. Some CWs are:
Food insecurity
Debt and anxiety related to debt
Poverty
Classism
Parental neglect
Parent disguising put downs as jokes
Classist comments from parents
If there are more I missed, I will update them on my website if/when I’m informed of them. Please take care while reading.
I absolutely love this book. It was my passion project during the height of the pandemic and I’m so thrilled it’s going to be in the world. It’s steamy, funny, sweet, and all the things I love most about writing romance.
February 7, 2023
I don't know what to say about this book. It was not what I've expected and I was not happy with the way things wrapped up. It had the potential but I couldn't like the main characters. When I took a look at the cover and name, I've really expected simpler, funnier story.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Yine beklediğimi bulamadığım bir rom-com. Açıkçası hikayeye giremedim, bitişini hiç beğenmedim, karakterlere ısınamadım. Bazen kapaklara cidden fazla kanıyorum gibi geliyor, hiç adının ve kapağının vaat ettiğini vermeyen garip dramalarla dolu bir kitap okudum kısacası.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Yine beklediğimi bulamadığım bir rom-com. Açıkçası hikayeye giremedim, bitişini hiç beğenmedim, karakterlere ısınamadım. Bazen kapaklara cidden fazla kanıyorum gibi geliyor, hiç adının ve kapağının vaat ettiğini vermeyen garip dramalarla dolu bir kitap okudum kısacası.
March 10, 2025
3.5 rounded up
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September 8, 2023
3.25 ⭐️ We’re all aboard the struggle-bus express, apparently.
That was my update for this book at around the 50% mark, and it held up until the very end. Now, to say this book feels more rooted in reality than most of the stories that I tend to read would be both accurate and kind of a lie. I love reading all kinds of books, fantasy included, and all of those are very much not burdened by the laws of reality and gravity and, you know… all those pesky little details that makes our world go round. And yet, even those usually hold some type of message or situations that connect with our world and how we live in together in society. This book was not fantasy, but sometimes it felt like the FMC was living in a world of her own. She was prideful and immature for the most part, and it made reading this book a bit of a chore.
Poverty is no stranger to most – that’s the thing about the rich being the 1% - we all at some point, in one way or another, have had to swallow or pride (and sometimes wellbeing) and get help. Even when it feels like you’ve failed at the secret test of life (and capitalism) that no one warned you was going to happen every minute of every day the second you became an adult. Financial stability in your early twenties is no longer a reality, and as Cade, the MMC of this book, said: pride is a luxury. One that most people can’t afford, nor they should. Understanding, learning, and growing together is imperative to our survival -it’s always been- but now it feels like needing help means absolute failure.
There are some quotes in this book that I loved, and the FMC’s growth throughout the book was so incredibly necessary… mainly because at the beginning it felt like reading a teenager, but that’s beside the point. The ending was, like the entire book, both realistic and not. And like the majority of the book, I enjoyed it, but also not.
I would read this to comprehend the change of thought process and understanding that young adults have to make to survive and try to thrive in this day and age – old rules don’t apply to us, as much as we wish they did. The romance was cute but lacking, in my opinion. Overall, though, it was an enjoyable read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 / 5
🌶️🌶️ / 5
Thank you so much Net Galley for the ARC!
“The chemistry between the MCs is not my favourite so far, but the comment on how it feels to be a young person trying to strike out on your own in this current late-stage-capitalist-bullish*t of a society we live in is so, so accurate.”
That was my update for this book at around the 50% mark, and it held up until the very end. Now, to say this book feels more rooted in reality than most of the stories that I tend to read would be both accurate and kind of a lie. I love reading all kinds of books, fantasy included, and all of those are very much not burdened by the laws of reality and gravity and, you know… all those pesky little details that makes our world go round. And yet, even those usually hold some type of message or situations that connect with our world and how we live in together in society. This book was not fantasy, but sometimes it felt like the FMC was living in a world of her own. She was prideful and immature for the most part, and it made reading this book a bit of a chore.
Poverty is no stranger to most – that’s the thing about the rich being the 1% - we all at some point, in one way or another, have had to swallow or pride (and sometimes wellbeing) and get help. Even when it feels like you’ve failed at the secret test of life (and capitalism) that no one warned you was going to happen every minute of every day the second you became an adult. Financial stability in your early twenties is no longer a reality, and as Cade, the MMC of this book, said: pride is a luxury. One that most people can’t afford, nor they should. Understanding, learning, and growing together is imperative to our survival -it’s always been- but now it feels like needing help means absolute failure.
There are some quotes in this book that I loved, and the FMC’s growth throughout the book was so incredibly necessary… mainly because at the beginning it felt like reading a teenager, but that’s beside the point. The ending was, like the entire book, both realistic and not. And like the majority of the book, I enjoyed it, but also not.
I would read this to comprehend the change of thought process and understanding that young adults have to make to survive and try to thrive in this day and age – old rules don’t apply to us, as much as we wish they did. The romance was cute but lacking, in my opinion. Overall, though, it was an enjoyable read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 / 5
🌶️🌶️ / 5
Thank you so much Net Galley for the ARC!
March 8, 2023
5⭐️🥰
I absolutely adored this book. I would have finished this in one sitting and definitely stayed up way to late getting as far as I did lol.
It's follows Isla's perspective. I love her character she's flawed in regards to her financial/career life but her personality is so bubbly and kind. I fell in love with her character immediately. I of course love her dynamic and relationship with Cade but I love her and Nettie's friendship even more. I love that she lies in a library when she is working thru problems and how Nettie interacts with her.
Then there is Cade. His character is very charming, funny, and just over all such a nice guy. He is flawed from the trauma he went thru as a child and rightfully so. He was just so loveable.
Sonia Hartl for me did such an amazing job making believable flawed characters but their flaws didn't cause me as a reader to just absolutely dislike them. I appreciated that Isla, Cabe, and Seb all experienced growth.
Now Isla's parents this was really hard. Triggering to me some. The underhanded comments hidden in a joke. I felt pain and sadness for Isla and Cade. This is a realistic situation and it's hard to navigate. Especially when they make it sound like it's your problem you can't take a joke. I wish there was one or more chapters at the end regarding . It felt very rushed in that aspect.
My one complaint about this book was the epilogue. It just didn't feel like it fit the story. I probably would pass reading it on a reread.
I adored this book and it's one of my faves of this year so far. I will be keeping my eye out for more books from this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
I will be posting my review to my Instagram page the.Floofs.booknook and retail sites close or on publication.
I absolutely adored this book. I would have finished this in one sitting and definitely stayed up way to late getting as far as I did lol.
It's follows Isla's perspective. I love her character she's flawed in regards to her financial/career life but her personality is so bubbly and kind. I fell in love with her character immediately. I of course love her dynamic and relationship with Cade but I love her and Nettie's friendship even more. I love that she lies in a library when she is working thru problems and how Nettie interacts with her.
Then there is Cade. His character is very charming, funny, and just over all such a nice guy. He is flawed from the trauma he went thru as a child and rightfully so. He was just so loveable.
Sonia Hartl for me did such an amazing job making believable flawed characters but their flaws didn't cause me as a reader to just absolutely dislike them. I appreciated that Isla, Cabe, and Seb all experienced growth.
Now Isla's parents this was really hard. Triggering to me some. The underhanded comments hidden in a joke. I felt pain and sadness for Isla and Cade. This is a realistic situation and it's hard to navigate. Especially when they make it sound like it's your problem you can't take a joke. I wish there was one or more chapters at the end regarding . It felt very rushed in that aspect.
My one complaint about this book was the epilogue. It just didn't feel like it fit the story. I probably would pass reading it on a reread.
I adored this book and it's one of my faves of this year so far. I will be keeping my eye out for more books from this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
I will be posting my review to my Instagram page the.Floofs.booknook and retail sites close or on publication.
October 4, 2023
2 ⭐️
I mean… it wasn’t terrible. It also wasn’t good. It was basically porn with a little plot. It also kept trying to earn political points which really felt out of place.
**Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.**
I mean… it wasn’t terrible. It also wasn’t good. It was basically porn with a little plot. It also kept trying to earn political points which really felt out of place.
**Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.**
January 26, 2023
Possibly my favorite book from one of my most beloved authors.
August 9, 2023
This was a super fun, coming of age, fake-dating, brother's best friend roommance, spicy love story. I enjoyed how relatable recent college grad Isla is as she struggles to find an affordable place to live and a well-paying job she doesn't despise! The chemistry between Isla and her brother's best friend Cade is OFF THE CHARTS and it doesn't take long for them to give into their romantic feelings thanks to lots of forced proximity, fake dating foreplay. Good on audio narrated by Kirsten Leigh and definitely recommended for fans of authors like Falon Ballard. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!!
April 18, 2024
I have a lot of thoughts about this book and none of them are positive.
So first of all, like I think I’m getting sick of the “trope” of chaotic girl that just keep digging her own grave and not even maybe accepting that she is at fault to some of the bad things in her life.
Secondly, and this is the big one, I got annoyed with how she said that her and Cade didn’t have a relationship or weren’t friends. Yet every fucking chapter a new layer gets added to this “non-relationship”. It’s like he wasn’t JUST your brothers friend, he was your friend.
Third, they finally act on their lust then home girl start crying cause she doesn’t want to lost what they have. YET SHES BEEN SAYING FOR 60% OF THE BOOK THAT THEY DONT HAVE SOMETHING.
Fourth, and I forgot about this, FMC gets kicked out of her apartment by her roommates for not paying rent. She starts house sitting and I think in the first house she house sits, she like finishing out the owners wine, sleeps in their bed (I don’t have recollection if she said she sleeps in a guest room) and she even tried on the woman’s clothes. Now I will never let someone house sit my place.
this girl lives in Denial, and I just wasn’t having it.
UPDATE 72%
This is one of those books that the author wants to be deep about something possibly she has never experienced to be deep, but it’s just not hitting it. It’s cringe. It sucks, but I can see the train wreck and have to finish it.
So first of all, like I think I’m getting sick of the “trope” of chaotic girl that just keep digging her own grave and not even maybe accepting that she is at fault to some of the bad things in her life.
Secondly, and this is the big one, I got annoyed with how she said that her and Cade didn’t have a relationship or weren’t friends. Yet every fucking chapter a new layer gets added to this “non-relationship”. It’s like he wasn’t JUST your brothers friend, he was your friend.
Third, they finally act on their lust then home girl start crying cause she doesn’t want to lost what they have. YET SHES BEEN SAYING FOR 60% OF THE BOOK THAT THEY DONT HAVE SOMETHING.
Fourth, and I forgot about this, FMC gets kicked out of her apartment by her roommates for not paying rent. She starts house sitting and I think in the first house she house sits, she like finishing out the owners wine, sleeps in their bed (I don’t have recollection if she said she sleeps in a guest room) and she even tried on the woman’s clothes. Now I will never let someone house sit my place.
this girl lives in Denial, and I just wasn’t having it.
UPDATE 72%
This is one of those books that the author wants to be deep about something possibly she has never experienced to be deep, but it’s just not hitting it. It’s cringe. It sucks, but I can see the train wreck and have to finish it.
August 13, 2023
I absolutely loved this book.
I found the female main character so relatable and her post college struggles to be very relatable. I also found her all over the place and at times very comical inner monolog moments to be cute and funny. I’m a sucker for a good romcom! Who doesn’t love the childhood friends, brothers best friend trope!! I also enjoyed the flash back moments to the characters childhoods and getting a glimpse into all the times their connections were growing as the characters were all growing up. I felt like this story had so many topics that aren’t normally touched on that some people in the working world face day in and day out!! The narrator of the audiobook did an amazing job at bringing this story to life!
Thank you netgally for the advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!!
I found the female main character so relatable and her post college struggles to be very relatable. I also found her all over the place and at times very comical inner monolog moments to be cute and funny. I’m a sucker for a good romcom! Who doesn’t love the childhood friends, brothers best friend trope!! I also enjoyed the flash back moments to the characters childhoods and getting a glimpse into all the times their connections were growing as the characters were all growing up. I felt like this story had so many topics that aren’t normally touched on that some people in the working world face day in and day out!! The narrator of the audiobook did an amazing job at bringing this story to life!
Thank you netgally for the advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!!
March 8, 2023
"According to some millionaire (because it was always some millionaire), I coud've had a house of my own by now if I had just quit eating avocado toast."
This quote explains perfectly why this book is not for everyone.
If you are looking for a nice, funny romance you are not going to find it here; the story between the main characters is enjoyable, but not the best I've read so far, their actions (or better, Isla's actions) are often annoying and childish.
So why give it 4 stars you'll wonder. That's because this book just hit me right in the feels, not for the romance, but for everything that goes on all around that.
Being a millennial in this world is not easy, we have to survive with minimum wage while the price for everything just increases, having to decide which is the right choice between keeping struggling or asking for our parent's help (if we can); that while everyone reminds you that "at your age I already had a house and 5 kids", feeling hopeless because you can't even afford to pay rent for a room, let alone an entire appartment.
If then like Isla you grew up with someone that with the "I'm just joking" kept reminding you every mistake you made, asking for help is pretty much impossible, until it's just unevitable.
So yeah, if you want a look on how the life of pretty much everyone in that age range is going this is the perfect book, you have the hard truth sugarcoated with a really cutesy romance.
With all that said, the writing style was very fluid, and reminded me a lot of Tessa Bailey's style; the romance could be improved, maybe adding some more "fake girlfriend" moments, but in the end I really liked it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This quote explains perfectly why this book is not for everyone.
If you are looking for a nice, funny romance you are not going to find it here; the story between the main characters is enjoyable, but not the best I've read so far, their actions (or better, Isla's actions) are often annoying and childish.
So why give it 4 stars you'll wonder. That's because this book just hit me right in the feels, not for the romance, but for everything that goes on all around that.
Being a millennial in this world is not easy, we have to survive with minimum wage while the price for everything just increases, having to decide which is the right choice between keeping struggling or asking for our parent's help (if we can); that while everyone reminds you that "at your age I already had a house and 5 kids", feeling hopeless because you can't even afford to pay rent for a room, let alone an entire appartment.
If then like Isla you grew up with someone that with the "I'm just joking" kept reminding you every mistake you made, asking for help is pretty much impossible, until it's just unevitable.
So yeah, if you want a look on how the life of pretty much everyone in that age range is going this is the perfect book, you have the hard truth sugarcoated with a really cutesy romance.
With all that said, the writing style was very fluid, and reminded me a lot of Tessa Bailey's style; the romance could be improved, maybe adding some more "fake girlfriend" moments, but in the end I really liked it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2024
✨3,25 de 5✨
Un fake dating muy cuqui y entretenido. Aunque la prota se me ha hecho algo intensa y dramática en ciertas partes, la entiendo perfectamente.
Y me ha gustado mucho que cada uno haya tenido que resolver sus problemas personales antes de lanzarse del todo a la piscina. Algo que no suele verse mucho en romances.
Ligerito y entretenido 💞
Un fake dating muy cuqui y entretenido. Aunque la prota se me ha hecho algo intensa y dramática en ciertas partes, la entiendo perfectamente.
Y me ha gustado mucho que cada uno haya tenido que resolver sus problemas personales antes de lanzarse del todo a la piscina. Algo que no suele verse mucho en romances.
Ligerito y entretenido 💞
August 15, 2023
When it feels like your life is falling apart, the last thing you want is your childhood frenemy/brother's best friend around to see your fall. That's the premise of this women's fiction/romance crossover, where the foundation of the relationship is the years these two characters have spent feuding. I loved the history between them and how it influenced their present day decisions, and I loved that they knew each other so well. Our heroine is a hot mess who took the expected path in life and is now feeling the weight of debt and poor decision-making. It's relatable and has an authentic feel, which makes it stand out from the pack. I liked how the hero supported and uplifted the heroine - he's known her so long that he gets her in a way that no one else would. Add in an accidental towel drop and some fake dating to change the dynamic between them, and it's no wonder they found themselves becoming closer than either would've anticipated.
The story follows Isla, a 20-something who is broke, drowning in student loan debt, working a job she hates, and now without a place to live. Isla's brother is out of the country for the next month, so she decides to crash at his place until she can get back on her feet again. The only problem? When she arrives, Isla gets an unexpected eyeful of her brother's best friend, Cade. The two have unwillingly been a part of each other's lives for as long as they can remember, and seeing each other naked was never part of the plan. But Cade knows something is up with Isla, and he's not going to let her fall to pieces. When Isla agrees to attend some work events as Cade's "girlfriend," it changes their relationship even more. Suddenly, the two are getting to know each other in a way they never have... and that's sure to cause some problems.
While the romance is central to the story, I'd consider this more of a women's fiction crossover, simply because Isla's finances are such a big part of the book. It's something you don't read about all that much in modern romance, but is a reality that many readers face. I liked its inclusion, but this romance reader wanted less focus on finances and more on the budding relationship. It felt like every time the romance would gain momentum, it would get stalled by a side plot revolving around Isla's bleak financial situation. That's what loses this a star for me - I liked a whole lot of it, but I could've done with significantly less focus on Isla's burdens. We only get Isla's perspective, so spending more time with Cade would've given more depth to the romance and his character. That said, there was a whole lot of good stuff going on, and I liked that this felt fresh and modern in so many ways.
Audio note: The audio was good! Since the story is told exclusively from Isla's POV, it's a single narrator, but she does a great job. I'm not familiar with Kirsten Leigh, but I liked her voice, and she made it easy to distinguish between the characters. Her voice was also right for the tone, and this makes a solid choice as a workday listen, because it's a slow burn romance and the runtime is short enough to get through in a single day. There is some spice, but it's certainly not the focus, and most of it comes late in the story. I definitely recommend the format for this one.
The story follows Isla, a 20-something who is broke, drowning in student loan debt, working a job she hates, and now without a place to live. Isla's brother is out of the country for the next month, so she decides to crash at his place until she can get back on her feet again. The only problem? When she arrives, Isla gets an unexpected eyeful of her brother's best friend, Cade. The two have unwillingly been a part of each other's lives for as long as they can remember, and seeing each other naked was never part of the plan. But Cade knows something is up with Isla, and he's not going to let her fall to pieces. When Isla agrees to attend some work events as Cade's "girlfriend," it changes their relationship even more. Suddenly, the two are getting to know each other in a way they never have... and that's sure to cause some problems.
While the romance is central to the story, I'd consider this more of a women's fiction crossover, simply because Isla's finances are such a big part of the book. It's something you don't read about all that much in modern romance, but is a reality that many readers face. I liked its inclusion, but this romance reader wanted less focus on finances and more on the budding relationship. It felt like every time the romance would gain momentum, it would get stalled by a side plot revolving around Isla's bleak financial situation. That's what loses this a star for me - I liked a whole lot of it, but I could've done with significantly less focus on Isla's burdens. We only get Isla's perspective, so spending more time with Cade would've given more depth to the romance and his character. That said, there was a whole lot of good stuff going on, and I liked that this felt fresh and modern in so many ways.
Audio note: The audio was good! Since the story is told exclusively from Isla's POV, it's a single narrator, but she does a great job. I'm not familiar with Kirsten Leigh, but I liked her voice, and she made it easy to distinguish between the characters. Her voice was also right for the tone, and this makes a solid choice as a workday listen, because it's a slow burn romance and the runtime is short enough to get through in a single day. There is some spice, but it's certainly not the focus, and most of it comes late in the story. I definitely recommend the format for this one.
August 19, 2023
4 stars!
Fake dating? Brother's best friend? Forced proximity? Toxic families? Commentary on the rising cost of college and the depreciation of getting a degree? Social commentary on income inequality and the crushing weight of student loan debt? Sign me up!
"Rent to Be" by Sonia Hartl has a bit of everything: some excellent banter, a slow-growing connection, some intriguing characters, a little immaturity and a little growth, and a hefty dose of spiciness. I found myself enjoying this book for the most part! It's a quick read that will leave you panting and pinings right alongside the characters. I will admit, some of main character Isla's decisions were head-scratch-worthy, but hey, we all make bad decisions in the name of trying to get a paycheck, right? As I said, there is some immaturity ("Rainbow Bear" kind of made me want to vomit from cuteness and ickiness?), but not so much that it ruined my enjoyment of this book as a whole. I appreciated the chemistry between Isla and Cade, Isla's brother's best friend and their next-door neighbor growing up. They are two people who have clearly been in love with each other for years (him more so than her), but they just haven't gotten their timing right. Hartl knows her way around a swoon-worthy love story.
This book is so much more than a fluffy romance. I envision many readers nagging about the "pOlItIcS!!!111~~" and social commentaries that are included in this book, to which I say a hearty GET OVER IT!!!!!!! So, so many millennials are facing income inequality, a lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, job losses despite years of college/having degrees, and homelessness that it is dividing a generation. It's swell if none of this impacts your life in the slightest, but millions of people are experiencing these issues on a daily basis. You can't turn a blind eye just because your precious little romance book talked about injustice and trauma. Ignore it all you want: IT'S. STILL. HAPPENING. The least you can do is not complain about it and not rate a book poorly just because you're out of touch and can't identify with anyone else's plight. To me, these topics aided in telling this story. Cade and Isla's generational trauma has shaped who they are as people, but all her boomer-a$$ relatives can do is complain about how "college brainwashed her" and made her unable to take a joke?!? Absolutely no self-reflection or looking inward at how they treated the poor people around them, including the man she loves, when he was just a child?! Coolcoolcool gotitgotitgotit. Preach, Sonia Hartl. I see what you're doing and I appreciate the heck out of it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sonia Hartl, and Alcove Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Fake dating? Brother's best friend? Forced proximity? Toxic families? Commentary on the rising cost of college and the depreciation of getting a degree? Social commentary on income inequality and the crushing weight of student loan debt? Sign me up!
"Rent to Be" by Sonia Hartl has a bit of everything: some excellent banter, a slow-growing connection, some intriguing characters, a little immaturity and a little growth, and a hefty dose of spiciness. I found myself enjoying this book for the most part! It's a quick read that will leave you panting and pinings right alongside the characters. I will admit, some of main character Isla's decisions were head-scratch-worthy, but hey, we all make bad decisions in the name of trying to get a paycheck, right? As I said, there is some immaturity ("Rainbow Bear" kind of made me want to vomit from cuteness and ickiness?), but not so much that it ruined my enjoyment of this book as a whole. I appreciated the chemistry between Isla and Cade, Isla's brother's best friend and their next-door neighbor growing up. They are two people who have clearly been in love with each other for years (him more so than her), but they just haven't gotten their timing right. Hartl knows her way around a swoon-worthy love story.
This book is so much more than a fluffy romance. I envision many readers nagging about the "pOlItIcS!!!111~~" and social commentaries that are included in this book, to which I say a hearty GET OVER IT!!!!!!! So, so many millennials are facing income inequality, a lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, job losses despite years of college/having degrees, and homelessness that it is dividing a generation. It's swell if none of this impacts your life in the slightest, but millions of people are experiencing these issues on a daily basis. You can't turn a blind eye just because your precious little romance book talked about injustice and trauma. Ignore it all you want: IT'S. STILL. HAPPENING. The least you can do is not complain about it and not rate a book poorly just because you're out of touch and can't identify with anyone else's plight. To me, these topics aided in telling this story. Cade and Isla's generational trauma has shaped who they are as people, but all her boomer-a$$ relatives can do is complain about how "college brainwashed her" and made her unable to take a joke?!? Absolutely no self-reflection or looking inward at how they treated the poor people around them, including the man she loves, when he was just a child?! Coolcoolcool gotitgotitgotit. Preach, Sonia Hartl. I see what you're doing and I appreciate the heck out of it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sonia Hartl, and Alcove Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
August 14, 2023
This is a new favorite.
I loved the writing so much. I was laughing out loud almost the entire way through, the spice was good it didn't make me cringe.
I loved almost every single character in this book. Isla was so relatable, and the relationship she had was cade was so cute.
Isla's relationship with her parents is the exact same as my relation with my own parents almost down to the same sentences.
Loved it so much and will 100% read more from Sonia Hartl!
Thank you to Netgalley, Sonia and the publishers for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! :)
I loved the writing so much. I was laughing out loud almost the entire way through, the spice was good it didn't make me cringe.
I loved almost every single character in this book. Isla was so relatable, and the relationship she had was cade was so cute.
Isla's relationship with her parents is the exact same as my relation with my own parents almost down to the same sentences.
Loved it so much and will 100% read more from Sonia Hartl!
Thank you to Netgalley, Sonia and the publishers for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! :)
September 20, 2023
This was such a funny, sweet & spicy read. It was so much fun and had me laughing out loud multiple times. It was a bit of a slow burn, which usually I don't like, but I found it worked well in this book.
The characters were relatable facing a lot of millennial issues, which were totally realistic. Their issues were all super believable and I found myself super invested in their outcome. I really enjoyed Cade and Isla together and apart, they were just a great set of characters. Isla was a bit more on the extreme side of things, she refused to ask for any help at all, which I would've taken all the help offered.
I really enjoyed the storyline and the way it unfolded. The spice was good and hot but not overbearing to stir you away from the plot which is what I love.
I really enjoyed the narrators on the audiobook, I could easily feel the emotions, they also made it super funny where I found myself chuckling a few times. I really enjoyed listening to them.
If you're looking for a brother's best friend romance with great characters and a relatable storyline pick this one up!
✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @alcovepress, RBmedia & @soniahartl for my free ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were relatable facing a lot of millennial issues, which were totally realistic. Their issues were all super believable and I found myself super invested in their outcome. I really enjoyed Cade and Isla together and apart, they were just a great set of characters. Isla was a bit more on the extreme side of things, she refused to ask for any help at all, which I would've taken all the help offered.
I really enjoyed the storyline and the way it unfolded. The spice was good and hot but not overbearing to stir you away from the plot which is what I love.
I really enjoyed the narrators on the audiobook, I could easily feel the emotions, they also made it super funny where I found myself chuckling a few times. I really enjoyed listening to them.
If you're looking for a brother's best friend romance with great characters and a relatable storyline pick this one up!
✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @alcovepress, RBmedia & @soniahartl for my free ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2023
Cute!
I loved this book! It is cute, witty, and covers topics that are under discussed. HOWEVER, I did knock it a star because (especially at the end) it gave me some major cancel culture vibes with a touch of agenda. While there is a place for that . . . I read fiction to get away from the BS of reality. So, it took away from the story for me.
What I loved was Isla and Cade!! She is a mess, but in a way that makes her completely relatable. Cade is the boy next door whose story broke my heart. What creeped me out was 100% the NDA house. You will know what I’m talking about when you read it.
100% recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC!
I loved this book! It is cute, witty, and covers topics that are under discussed. HOWEVER, I did knock it a star because (especially at the end) it gave me some major cancel culture vibes with a touch of agenda. While there is a place for that . . . I read fiction to get away from the BS of reality. So, it took away from the story for me.
What I loved was Isla and Cade!! She is a mess, but in a way that makes her completely relatable. Cade is the boy next door whose story broke my heart. What creeped me out was 100% the NDA house. You will know what I’m talking about when you read it.
100% recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC!
November 11, 2023
Cute story that covered a lot in 278 pages. Isla was very relatable!
January 27, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Although a quick, easy read, Rent to Be fell quite flat for me. The main character, Isla, was annoying and childish and changed her mind - and therefore the course of the book - constantly. I appreciated the tough situations presented throughout, and am happy to see financial struggle represented in this genre, but everything was so two-dimensional. The speech felt fake and it was all tell, no show. Some things either didn't make sense or were very quickly glossed over - like how she managed to run a full-time house sitting business whilst also going to the office 5 days a week? Going into the office was never mentioned again until about the fourth house sit. The spice was awkward - the kind of stuff that would never be said in real life, and if it was, you would be swiftly leaving. I don't know anything about the author, but overall, this felt very boomer trying to pass as the 'quirky millenial' and missing entirely.
Although a quick, easy read, Rent to Be fell quite flat for me. The main character, Isla, was annoying and childish and changed her mind - and therefore the course of the book - constantly. I appreciated the tough situations presented throughout, and am happy to see financial struggle represented in this genre, but everything was so two-dimensional. The speech felt fake and it was all tell, no show. Some things either didn't make sense or were very quickly glossed over - like how she managed to run a full-time house sitting business whilst also going to the office 5 days a week? Going into the office was never mentioned again until about the fourth house sit. The spice was awkward - the kind of stuff that would never be said in real life, and if it was, you would be swiftly leaving. I don't know anything about the author, but overall, this felt very boomer trying to pass as the 'quirky millenial' and missing entirely.
March 4, 2023
RTC. I did not like this unfortunately
February 10, 2023
Rent To Be stole a piece of my heart♡
And I officially think Cade can he added into book boyfriend status for me! He was the sweetest!
I rooted for these 2 from the beginning! Isla is relatable, funny, cute and I loved her! Cade was everything you'd want a guy to be...enough said! Lol
These two are so cute as they fake-date and have fun together, navigating a friends-to-lovers relationship!
I want to read this book all over again...loved, loved, loved it!
And I officially think Cade can he added into book boyfriend status for me! He was the sweetest!
I rooted for these 2 from the beginning! Isla is relatable, funny, cute and I loved her! Cade was everything you'd want a guy to be...enough said! Lol
These two are so cute as they fake-date and have fun together, navigating a friends-to-lovers relationship!
I want to read this book all over again...loved, loved, loved it!
June 6, 2024
I really liked this book!
Isla and Cade were very cute and believable together, I fully got their romance and I was sold on the older brother's friend meets childhood friends to lovers meets fake dating trope mix.
The combination of romance and social issues was an interesting one.
But I feel it worked really well in this book.
Rich versus poor, capitalism versus socialism, financial issues, family/generational trauma, internal dialogue from "values" you received while growing up, millennial adult kids standing up to their boomer parents... it flowed through the romance and to me made it a more interesting read than some other romance books.
They are still VERY YOUNG (recent grads) though so made mistakes and are very messy at times, but it was almost endearing to me. At least, I (at the ripe old age of 36 years old) could think back to when I was 23-26 years old and shake my head at all the things I did wrong.
Bit surprised how Isla could do her fulltime job while housesitting as a fulltime job?
Secondary characters were fun and engaging.
A+ for the cute cover and punny title.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
Isla and Cade were very cute and believable together, I fully got their romance and I was sold on the older brother's friend meets childhood friends to lovers meets fake dating trope mix.
The combination of romance and social issues was an interesting one.
But I feel it worked really well in this book.
Rich versus poor, capitalism versus socialism, financial issues, family/generational trauma, internal dialogue from "values" you received while growing up, millennial adult kids standing up to their boomer parents... it flowed through the romance and to me made it a more interesting read than some other romance books.
They are still VERY YOUNG (recent grads) though so made mistakes and are very messy at times, but it was almost endearing to me. At least, I (at the ripe old age of 36 years old) could think back to when I was 23-26 years old and shake my head at all the things I did wrong.
Bit surprised how Isla could do her fulltime job while housesitting as a fulltime job?
Secondary characters were fun and engaging.
A+ for the cute cover and punny title.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
August 4, 2023
Thank you to Author @hartlsonia @alcovepress & @netgalley for providing this ARC; all opinions shared are my own.
This was such a fun fake dating, brothers best friend romance and it was easy to get sucked into the quirky personality that is Isla. She and Caden had such a push-pull relationship and I enjoyed as we witnessed more of their defining childhood memories together to explain their actions in the present.
The way that the Author discussed debt and the financial situation of many newly graduated young adults was engaging and I can only imagine that many people live through what Isla does throughout the book. It was nice to have an FMC who had flaws but stood her ground and defended who she is.
Look out for publication on August 15th 🥳
This was such a fun fake dating, brothers best friend romance and it was easy to get sucked into the quirky personality that is Isla. She and Caden had such a push-pull relationship and I enjoyed as we witnessed more of their defining childhood memories together to explain their actions in the present.
The way that the Author discussed debt and the financial situation of many newly graduated young adults was engaging and I can only imagine that many people live through what Isla does throughout the book. It was nice to have an FMC who had flaws but stood her ground and defended who she is.
Look out for publication on August 15th 🥳
June 21, 2025
Who has become a fan of contemporary romance against their better judgement?! 🙋🏻♀️ Yeah, that would be me.
Big thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the advanced listening to this audiobook.
Y’all I listened to this in one day. Every time I should have turned it off to be responsible, well, I just couldn’t.
The chemistry between Isla and Cade is written so well. I found the two of them often had me chuckling (with my husband and kids eyeing me strangely from the next room).
“Cade was everything I could ever want, wrapped up in a package I could never have.”
With hints of forbidden love and friends to lovers tropes, this contemporary rom-com will steal your heart, all of it.
Big thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the advanced listening to this audiobook.
Y’all I listened to this in one day. Every time I should have turned it off to be responsible, well, I just couldn’t.
The chemistry between Isla and Cade is written so well. I found the two of them often had me chuckling (with my husband and kids eyeing me strangely from the next room).
“Cade was everything I could ever want, wrapped up in a package I could never have.”
With hints of forbidden love and friends to lovers tropes, this contemporary rom-com will steal your heart, all of it.
August 16, 2023
Oof… I really liked this author’s previous book but this was not it for me. The main character was highly unlikable and childish, her motives made no sense for someone who is what, 24? The plot of this easily could’ve been her and the love interest living together but it weirdly became a book about the dangers of house sitting? Overall I was unsure what this book wanted to be, the love story felt rushed, and the ending hardly made sense. Everyone is married by 25??
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