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Pretend With Me
One phone call was all it took to upend my entire life in completely unexpected ways.
Whoever said that you can’t go home again was a lair. After the senior year from hell, I had spent a decade trying to avoid Beacon Hill and its residents. My luck came to a sudden end after daddy had an incident with a rotted floor. In and out , I promised myself. I was just there to help my parents for a week or two tops.
Things in Beacon Hill hadn’t changed much since I’d been home last. Mama still worked at the hub of gossip known as Trixie’s , Mrs. Thomas still made the best chicken salad in all of Georgia, and my sister was still the devil in a pushup bra. And of course, the St. James family was still local royalty. Our very own version of the Kennedys.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, not only is my sister back in town after a failed modeling career, she’s also engaged to Macon St. James. The golden boy of Beacon Hill, and the star of every single one of my teenage fantasies.
The biggest surprise of all was Holden St. James. I thought he would be one of the villains in this story, but I was learning that I had been wrong about a lot of things. And Holden just might be worth coming home for….
Whoever said that you can’t go home again was a lair. After the senior year from hell, I had spent a decade trying to avoid Beacon Hill and its residents. My luck came to a sudden end after daddy had an incident with a rotted floor. In and out , I promised myself. I was just there to help my parents for a week or two tops.
Things in Beacon Hill hadn’t changed much since I’d been home last. Mama still worked at the hub of gossip known as Trixie’s , Mrs. Thomas still made the best chicken salad in all of Georgia, and my sister was still the devil in a pushup bra. And of course, the St. James family was still local royalty. Our very own version of the Kennedys.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, not only is my sister back in town after a failed modeling career, she’s also engaged to Macon St. James. The golden boy of Beacon Hill, and the star of every single one of my teenage fantasies.
The biggest surprise of all was Holden St. James. I thought he would be one of the villains in this story, but I was learning that I had been wrong about a lot of things. And Holden just might be worth coming home for….
318 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2023
51 people are currently reading
1271 people want to read
About the author
Emily Mayer
5 books393 followersEmily Mayer is a best-selling author and a book lover with a capital L. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her in the kitchen burning dinner with a book in her hand or tucked away in one of her favorite reading spots promising "just five more minutes." In addition to books, Emily is addicted to coffee, dogs, and cat videos. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and dog, both of whom are very good boys.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 26, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
PRETEND WITH ME (Beacon Hill Book #1) by Emily Mayer is an enchanting contemporary romance with two people who should not have worked, but discovered they did. This is the first book I have read by this author, and it hooked me immediately and I fell right into the story.
Sutton grew up in the shadow of her older beauty pageant sister, Sissy. Sutton preferred jeans, tennis shoes, fanfics, and computers. As they grew older, they grew further apart with Sissy always having to be the center of attention and always get what she wanted. When Sutton found out her sister slept with her best friend’s boyfriend, Macon St. James and the boy Sutton secretly had a crush on, she confronted her and told her parents. Sissy got her revenge and Sutton ran from Beacon Hill after she graduated from high school.
Ten years later, Sutton is working as a coder for a gaming company in Savannah, when she gets called back home to help her father after a workplace injury. When she returns, she learns Sissy is back from L.A. and marrying Macon. She is expected to be in maid of honor and is paired with Holden St. James, Macon’s strait-laced older brother. What she discovers is that Macon and Holden are very different from her high school memories, and she begins to realize she may have dreamed about the wrong brother.
I absolutely love Sutton and Holden and loved to hate Sissy. This romance pulled me right into the story with its snarky and witty dialogue between all the characters. I laughed out loud so many times especially when Sutton and Max were together and when Sutton’s guinea pigs were discussed. (I had the same surprise guinea pig babies happen to me!) All the secondary characters are fully developed and realistic. The chemistry builds steadily through the romance plot and there is only one sex scene almost at the end of the book, which is explicit and smokin’ hot, but not gratuitous. Since this will be a series, I am very excited that I will be able to visit Beacon Hill and hopefully all these characters again in the future.
I highly recommend this delightful and entertaining contemporary romance!
PRETEND WITH ME (Beacon Hill Book #1) by Emily Mayer is an enchanting contemporary romance with two people who should not have worked, but discovered they did. This is the first book I have read by this author, and it hooked me immediately and I fell right into the story.
Sutton grew up in the shadow of her older beauty pageant sister, Sissy. Sutton preferred jeans, tennis shoes, fanfics, and computers. As they grew older, they grew further apart with Sissy always having to be the center of attention and always get what she wanted. When Sutton found out her sister slept with her best friend’s boyfriend, Macon St. James and the boy Sutton secretly had a crush on, she confronted her and told her parents. Sissy got her revenge and Sutton ran from Beacon Hill after she graduated from high school.
Ten years later, Sutton is working as a coder for a gaming company in Savannah, when she gets called back home to help her father after a workplace injury. When she returns, she learns Sissy is back from L.A. and marrying Macon. She is expected to be in maid of honor and is paired with Holden St. James, Macon’s strait-laced older brother. What she discovers is that Macon and Holden are very different from her high school memories, and she begins to realize she may have dreamed about the wrong brother.
I absolutely love Sutton and Holden and loved to hate Sissy. This romance pulled me right into the story with its snarky and witty dialogue between all the characters. I laughed out loud so many times especially when Sutton and Max were together and when Sutton’s guinea pigs were discussed. (I had the same surprise guinea pig babies happen to me!) All the secondary characters are fully developed and realistic. The chemistry builds steadily through the romance plot and there is only one sex scene almost at the end of the book, which is explicit and smokin’ hot, but not gratuitous. Since this will be a series, I am very excited that I will be able to visit Beacon Hill and hopefully all these characters again in the future.
I highly recommend this delightful and entertaining contemporary romance!
September 18, 2023
This title is pretty dumb. There's no pretending, let alone shared pretending, going on here.
A liked this story more than a little, though I have some conflicts. I really liked Sutton, though not without some reservation. She reads younger than her late twenties. Like, she's not exactly at the start of her career here. Plus, she's single. Given a relatively high-paying job and with few expenses she shouldn't be acting like she's on the poor side of life. Or even average. Maybe if you're comparing yourself to a family dynasty like the St. James', maybe that makes sense. But not really. I mean seriously, she's at least five years past graduating at this point and even though game devs make less than average developers, it isn't that much less. So she should be dealing with lots of throw-around money and have an actual retirement savings if she's even a little bit awake.
Holden, on the other hand, is made of win. Maybe that's because we aren't in his PoV, but he not only had it together, but I loved how attentive he is to Sutton right from the start. He's kind, and capable, and that makes him all of my jam.
The biggest drawback to the story is Sutton's sister, Sissy. Sissy is, frankly, evil. Not unrealistically given someone so spoiled and indulged, so Mayer did a decent job depicting the sister. I've met people like her and felt she matched up with someone ultimately self-involved and willing to vent her spite at designated targets because she sees there are no consequences. What I have trouble with is their parents. Sissy is running down Sutton, in public, in front of them, and there is zero response. And I mean in the present, not just the past that left Sutton with scars. So every time Sutton is thinking "my parents love and support me", I have to object. Parents who love their children protect them from abuse and comfort them when they are wronged.
Anyway, slight concerns aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was completely there for Sutton and Holden. Plus, I completely love that there's no dark moment and that I loved that a lot! So this is a solid four stars edging up.
A note about Steamy: I wondered if we'd have any as long as they were taking to get together, but there is a very satisfying sex scene near the end. It did all it needed to do, so that's very fine. It's the low end of my steam tolerance and that's perfect for this story.
A liked this story more than a little, though I have some conflicts. I really liked Sutton, though not without some reservation. She reads younger than her late twenties. Like, she's not exactly at the start of her career here. Plus, she's single. Given a relatively high-paying job and with few expenses she shouldn't be acting like she's on the poor side of life. Or even average. Maybe if you're comparing yourself to a family dynasty like the St. James', maybe that makes sense. But not really. I mean seriously, she's at least five years past graduating at this point and even though game devs make less than average developers, it isn't that much less. So she should be dealing with lots of throw-around money and have an actual retirement savings if she's even a little bit awake.
Holden, on the other hand, is made of win. Maybe that's because we aren't in his PoV, but he not only had it together, but I loved how attentive he is to Sutton right from the start. He's kind, and capable, and that makes him all of my jam.
The biggest drawback to the story is Sutton's sister, Sissy. Sissy is, frankly, evil. Not unrealistically given someone so spoiled and indulged, so Mayer did a decent job depicting the sister. I've met people like her and felt she matched up with someone ultimately self-involved and willing to vent her spite at designated targets because she sees there are no consequences. What I have trouble with is their parents. Sissy is running down Sutton, in public, in front of them, and there is zero response. And I mean in the present, not just the past that left Sutton with scars. So every time Sutton is thinking "my parents love and support me", I have to object. Parents who love their children protect them from abuse and comfort them when they are wronged.
Anyway, slight concerns aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was completely there for Sutton and Holden. Plus, I completely love that there's no dark moment and that I loved that a lot! So this is a solid four stars edging up.
A note about Steamy: I wondered if we'd have any as long as they were taking to get together, but there is a very satisfying sex scene near the end. It did all it needed to do, so that's very fine. It's the low end of my steam tolerance and that's perfect for this story.
January 2, 2026
Well, this one was a bit of a miss for me.
Holden, the MMC, was great. The problem is that the FMC, Sutton, was the most pathetic, spineless, frustrating chick I've had the misfortune to read about in awhile.
Her sister is a complete monster. I mean, complete and utter hellbeast. And while I'd love to have spent the book getting to know Holden and Sutton, instead I spent the book watching the hellbeast treat Sutton like utter garbage while Sutton just folded to all of it like wet toilet paper. Even worse was her constantly expressing her love for her parents, and waxing on about how much they love her. Look, you stupid bitch, your parents not just watched, but ENABLED, your hellbeast sister to bully, belittle, and abuse you for your entire life. When you tried to get help, your mom would ALWAYS believe that bitch's lies, and talk about sibling rivalry as if you had done something to deserve this. All you did was be born, and your hellbeast of a sister decided that was too much, trying to rob her of attention. This bitch cuts Sutton down constantly. In public. In private. Everywhere. Constantly. But her parents tell Sutton that she needs to get over this sibling rivalry. I wanted to slap the shit out of Sutton while yelling in her face: THAT IS NOT LOVE! Your parents don't love you! They just feel entitled to your time and work!
These constant, cutting comments from the trashy beast from hell were just swallowed. Sutton never ever ever stood up for herself. I'm not saying she had to go full trailer trash and punch the bitch in the throat, but how about making comments right back? Like, when the hellbeast constantly made comments about Sutton's body or her enjoyment of food - she says something, in front of everyone, about Sutton "never misses a chance to eat" for example - you snap back "and Sissy (yes, that is really the bitch's name) never misses a chance to be a cunt". Or when Sissy says bullshit in front of a crowd about Sutton being brave enough to wear that dress, which shows EVERYTHING ... say "oh, but you're the brave one, Sissy - I'd never be courageous enough for all the plastic surgery you've gotten. Did it hurt when they inflated your lips and boobs like that?"
I mean COME ON.
It was a constant in this book, an absolute constant, and it shit on any ability for me to enjoy the slow burn between Sutton and Holden.
It was especially disappointing because the FMCs in the two other books I've read by this author - Everything Girl and Rocket Science (both amazing, favorites, will re-read endlessly) - were two of the best I've read in contemporary romance: smart, strong, flawed, brave, wonderful women. I can only assume that Emily Mayer got bored with writing amazing women and decided to write about a pathetic doormat.
*sigh*
3 stars is generous here, because I still feel like I have high blood pressure from the hellbeast and her bullshit. And so we're clear, friends, the hellbeast NEVER suffers any consequences in this book. Not at all.
Holden, the MMC, was great. The problem is that the FMC, Sutton, was the most pathetic, spineless, frustrating chick I've had the misfortune to read about in awhile.
Her sister is a complete monster. I mean, complete and utter hellbeast. And while I'd love to have spent the book getting to know Holden and Sutton, instead I spent the book watching the hellbeast treat Sutton like utter garbage while Sutton just folded to all of it like wet toilet paper. Even worse was her constantly expressing her love for her parents, and waxing on about how much they love her. Look, you stupid bitch, your parents not just watched, but ENABLED, your hellbeast sister to bully, belittle, and abuse you for your entire life. When you tried to get help, your mom would ALWAYS believe that bitch's lies, and talk about sibling rivalry as if you had done something to deserve this. All you did was be born, and your hellbeast of a sister decided that was too much, trying to rob her of attention. This bitch cuts Sutton down constantly. In public. In private. Everywhere. Constantly. But her parents tell Sutton that she needs to get over this sibling rivalry. I wanted to slap the shit out of Sutton while yelling in her face: THAT IS NOT LOVE! Your parents don't love you! They just feel entitled to your time and work!
These constant, cutting comments from the trashy beast from hell were just swallowed. Sutton never ever ever stood up for herself. I'm not saying she had to go full trailer trash and punch the bitch in the throat, but how about making comments right back? Like, when the hellbeast constantly made comments about Sutton's body or her enjoyment of food - she says something, in front of everyone, about Sutton "never misses a chance to eat" for example - you snap back "and Sissy (yes, that is really the bitch's name) never misses a chance to be a cunt". Or when Sissy says bullshit in front of a crowd about Sutton being brave enough to wear that dress, which shows EVERYTHING ... say "oh, but you're the brave one, Sissy - I'd never be courageous enough for all the plastic surgery you've gotten. Did it hurt when they inflated your lips and boobs like that?"
I mean COME ON.
It was a constant in this book, an absolute constant, and it shit on any ability for me to enjoy the slow burn between Sutton and Holden.
It was especially disappointing because the FMCs in the two other books I've read by this author - Everything Girl and Rocket Science (both amazing, favorites, will re-read endlessly) - were two of the best I've read in contemporary romance: smart, strong, flawed, brave, wonderful women. I can only assume that Emily Mayer got bored with writing amazing women and decided to write about a pathetic doormat.
*sigh*
3 stars is generous here, because I still feel like I have high blood pressure from the hellbeast and her bullshit. And so we're clear, friends, the hellbeast NEVER suffers any consequences in this book. Not at all.
November 7, 2023
I liked this story, didn’t love it, but liked it.
Sutton read and acted MUCH younger than what she is written. Her responses to most situations - especially with guys - was more like a 16 year old rather than someone who is in their late 20s. And, I would have liked to see some consequences for her sister’s absolutely horrendous behavior.. And, AND…. It keeps being stated that her parents are amazing, wonderful parents, but the way they ignore Sissy’s absolute despicable actions and allow Sutton’s terrible treatment scream otherwise. Holden is the shining star in the story, however. His quiet observance of situations and complete support and understanding with Sutton is what perfect book boyfriends are made of.
Overall there really isn’t anything super exciting, no extreme angst etc. Just an easy night’s read.
Sutton read and acted MUCH younger than what she is written. Her responses to most situations - especially with guys - was more like a 16 year old rather than someone who is in their late 20s. And, I would have liked to see some consequences for her sister’s absolutely horrendous behavior.. And, AND…. It keeps being stated that her parents are amazing, wonderful parents, but the way they ignore Sissy’s absolute despicable actions and allow Sutton’s terrible treatment scream otherwise. Holden is the shining star in the story, however. His quiet observance of situations and complete support and understanding with Sutton is what perfect book boyfriends are made of.
Overall there really isn’t anything super exciting, no extreme angst etc. Just an easy night’s read.
August 29, 2023
I'm rounding up a bit here because I loved Everything Girl and Rocket Science and know what magic Emily Mayer can create. However, while I enjoyed this book, it didn't quite meet the potential that I could feel in it. Ignoring the need of an editor, while the story was engaging, I never got any of those wow moments that make me cry or swoon, and the ending felt very similar to Rocket Science's last minute almost-conflict.
February 6, 2024
Once again, Mayer proves she is a master at the single, first person POV. However, this book is far from perfect even though I eventually loved it. Unfortunately, we’ve got to talk about the imperfections…
First, enemies to lovers is tricky, especially in the single 1P-POV. Motivation for the animosity must be rock solid, and the turnaround has to be perfectly paced. (Apologies if you recognize I’ve said this before.) The big problem was the motivation for Sutton’s dislike of Holden was flimsy at best. However, the author gets a pass because as Sutton gets to know Holden, she realizes her motivation for disliking him is paper thin. And then—self-awareness—'Oh, shit I can’t hide my growing feelings behind my paper-thin and wrong rationalizations for disliking Holden.’ Mayer eventually sold me here with her great writing, but it required some eye squinting.
Second imperfection, Sutton comes to realize that Holden is a genuinely good person. He takes care of her when she’s sick and stressed. He’s thoughtful and considerate. So, she starts to fall in love with him? Eh, in real life, you’re going to need a little more than that, even with amazing chemistry and such. So, more eye squinting required.
Final imperfection. So. Many. Typos. It must be hella bad for me to let typos knock me out of a story, and complain about it, but in this case, it did.
Ultimately, all the swoons, sexiness, and romance are present and accounted for. What eventually put this book begrudgingly in the win column for me was her turnaround on the almost 11th hour drama. I was seconds away from hurling my iPad across the room, but my hesitation at destroying my electronic device was rewarded in what turned out to be a truly fist-pump moment for our leading lady.
3.0125 Stars rounded up to a James-friendly 4-Stars.
First, enemies to lovers is tricky, especially in the single 1P-POV. Motivation for the animosity must be rock solid, and the turnaround has to be perfectly paced. (Apologies if you recognize I’ve said this before.) The big problem was the motivation for Sutton’s dislike of Holden was flimsy at best. However, the author gets a pass because as Sutton gets to know Holden, she realizes her motivation for disliking him is paper thin. And then—self-awareness—'Oh, shit I can’t hide my growing feelings behind my paper-thin and wrong rationalizations for disliking Holden.’ Mayer eventually sold me here with her great writing, but it required some eye squinting.
Second imperfection, Sutton comes to realize that Holden is a genuinely good person. He takes care of her when she’s sick and stressed. He’s thoughtful and considerate. So, she starts to fall in love with him? Eh, in real life, you’re going to need a little more than that, even with amazing chemistry and such. So, more eye squinting required.
Final imperfection. So. Many. Typos. It must be hella bad for me to let typos knock me out of a story, and complain about it, but in this case, it did.
Ultimately, all the swoons, sexiness, and romance are present and accounted for. What eventually put this book begrudgingly in the win column for me was her turnaround on the almost 11th hour drama. I was seconds away from hurling my iPad across the room, but my hesitation at destroying my electronic device was rewarded in what turned out to be a truly fist-pump moment for our leading lady.
3.0125 Stars rounded up to a James-friendly 4-Stars.
August 30, 2023
Not a fan of this cover (it’s so cliche and that guy looks nothing like the MMC) but I am definitely a fan of Emily Mayer.
Here is what clicked with me as I read this:
1) I love a slow burn. That’s definitely my thing. Characters getting to know each other and the slow progression to the inevitable is much hotter to me than immediate frenzied sexual attraction.
2) I have suspected for a while but am now convinced that I definitely prefer single POV stories. I just love the not knowing exactly what the other character is thinking or feeling. It adds to the tension and makes it feel more real to me. And I never thought about it but I realized this morning that pretty much all my fav romance books use single POV.
I enjoyed this a lot. The story itself was a bit tired and I do think that it was a bit over-the-top with the sister being fairly Disney villain level evil. I did roll my eyes a couple times with her scenes. But man, I am a sucker for Emily’s main characters every time and they didn’t disappoint this time. I love a quiet broody type guy that you can’t figure out (and the single POV helps sell that). I mean of course he’s really a sweetheart underneath but it’s so fun to have the FMC figure that out. 😄
This wasn’t super original and be prepared to have a good portion of the story not revolve around the romance at all, but it hit the spot for me. Actually, one fairly original thing was that there was no 3rd act break-up. There was definitely drama at the 97% mark that I thought for sure was going to lead to the most last minute break-up and get back together ever but it miraculously turned around (when the FMC literally turned around and marched back in and settled it right there. Phew!) Very clever trick, Emily.
*ETA - I just reread my review of Rocket Science and see she used a similar technique there of the last minute almost drama that resolves itself. I had forgotten about that. But still, I prefer a reuse of that over the actual 3rd act drama that most romance books suffer.
Looking forward to her next installment.
4 stars
Here is what clicked with me as I read this:
1) I love a slow burn. That’s definitely my thing. Characters getting to know each other and the slow progression to the inevitable is much hotter to me than immediate frenzied sexual attraction.
2) I have suspected for a while but am now convinced that I definitely prefer single POV stories. I just love the not knowing exactly what the other character is thinking or feeling. It adds to the tension and makes it feel more real to me. And I never thought about it but I realized this morning that pretty much all my fav romance books use single POV.
I enjoyed this a lot. The story itself was a bit tired and I do think that it was a bit over-the-top with the sister being fairly Disney villain level evil. I did roll my eyes a couple times with her scenes. But man, I am a sucker for Emily’s main characters every time and they didn’t disappoint this time. I love a quiet broody type guy that you can’t figure out (and the single POV helps sell that). I mean of course he’s really a sweetheart underneath but it’s so fun to have the FMC figure that out. 😄
This wasn’t super original and be prepared to have a good portion of the story not revolve around the romance at all, but it hit the spot for me. Actually, one fairly original thing was that there was no 3rd act break-up. There was definitely drama at the 97% mark that I thought for sure was going to lead to the most last minute break-up and get back together ever but it miraculously turned around (when the FMC literally turned around and marched back in and settled it right there. Phew!) Very clever trick, Emily.
*ETA - I just reread my review of Rocket Science and see she used a similar technique there of the last minute almost drama that resolves itself. I had forgotten about that. But still, I prefer a reuse of that over the actual 3rd act drama that most romance books suffer.
Looking forward to her next installment.
4 stars
August 24, 2023
I absolutely loved Everything Girl and Rocket Science...I just need to put that out there. They are quiet gems, and feature on my regular re-reads list. I liked PwM, and gave it 4 stars because it had so much potential that it seemed right to be generous. But it felt a little bit like, whatever the cause in the publishing gap between her last novella and this book, maybe a bit of EM's writing mojo has not quite recovered. This was a charming story, but the characters were not quite developed enough, the plot, while serviceable, had several disconcerting jumps, there were two or three mistakes that good proofreading should have caught, and overall the story just had an "almost, but not quite, there" feel to it. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the read, particularly after about the 40% mark when the plot finally started cooking. I look forward to her next book!
May 9, 2025
Writing - Oh my gosh. How did I start reading an Emily Mayer book again? Let’s just say the writing is… not my style. Not only is the writing kinda clunky, but the jokes are in poor taste, and they are pretty constant. All the humor is centered on overindulging on sugar and fat, talking about her extra weight, being lazy or sweaty, over drinking, helping her best friend land a sugar daddy, eating her weight in greasy food (yeah, eating deserves being mentioned twice since it’s mentioned in the book on every page), or basically anything that could be embarrassing or unattractive. The humor is seriously missing its mark with me.
(By the way, of course the love interest is hot, toned and muscled. So we’ve got a girl who doesn’t exercise any self control to have a fit body who lands the guy who clearly works hard to be physically fit. Female wish fulfillment perhaps?)
I am quitting at the 55% mark when she makes an utter fool of herself by getting drunk at a black tie affair. Seriously, how uncouth can you be?
Her personality is so unattractive.
Plot- Not much going here.
Characters- Not a fan of the FMC, as described above.
She is also nursing a major bias against a family who insulted her family 10 long years ago. Sheesh, talk about holding onto a grudge.
The love interest is cool.
For side characters we’ve got a caricature of a villainous mean girl, her clueless billionaire fiance, the quirky and irreverent BFF, and indulging parents.
Romance- If the FMC wasn’t so rough around the edges, I think there could have been good chemistry. As it is, she is too embarrassing to be attractive and I can’t believe that he’s into her.
Content-
Language- some swearing. Some f-words. Thankfully the language wasn’t overused to the point that it took away from the reading experience.
Spice- another reviewer said there’s one explicit sex scene at the end.
Substance abuse- lots of alcohol consumption; one drunk scene.
Violence- no.
Cover- meh
POV- single POV
Cliffhanger- no.
Format- KU
(By the way, of course the love interest is hot, toned and muscled. So we’ve got a girl who doesn’t exercise any self control to have a fit body who lands the guy who clearly works hard to be physically fit. Female wish fulfillment perhaps?)
I am quitting at the 55% mark when she makes an utter fool of herself by getting drunk at a black tie affair. Seriously, how uncouth can you be?
Her personality is so unattractive.
Plot- Not much going here.
Characters- Not a fan of the FMC, as described above.
She is also nursing a major bias against a family who insulted her family 10 long years ago. Sheesh, talk about holding onto a grudge.
The love interest is cool.
For side characters we’ve got a caricature of a villainous mean girl, her clueless billionaire fiance, the quirky and irreverent BFF, and indulging parents.
Romance- If the FMC wasn’t so rough around the edges, I think there could have been good chemistry. As it is, she is too embarrassing to be attractive and I can’t believe that he’s into her.
Content-
Language- some swearing. Some f-words. Thankfully the language wasn’t overused to the point that it took away from the reading experience.
Spice- another reviewer said there’s one explicit sex scene at the end.
Substance abuse- lots of alcohol consumption; one drunk scene.
Violence- no.
Cover- meh
POV- single POV
Cliffhanger- no.
Format- KU
October 26, 2023
Get ready for me to GUSH about this book. I have been in somewhat of a reading slump, not really enjoying the books I have been reading, but boy, did I enjoy this one!
I whole heartedly give this book 5 stars. I don’t give 5 stars often, but this one deserves it. Mayer writes a beautiful story, with moments that made me laugh and an incredible supporting friend in Maxine. Maxine is the girl that I want to be friends with, a true ride or die while also telling Sutton like it is. Sutton’s sister, Sissy, also had a friend, Skye, who reminded me of Alexis from Schitt’s Creek.
The romance in this story is delectable. Holden is subtle, and his interest in Sutton is subtle. There is no force, he isn’t overwhelming, he isn’t overbearing, it’s just the perfect amount of subtle. He made my heart swoon and melt multiple times. I seriously read this book with a smile plastered on my face. Holden’s use of terms of endearment sparely gave those terms so much power and feeling. There is a bit of a spicy scene towards the end, but it was so tasteful that it fit into the story perfectly.
Thanks Emily Mayor, you have provided me with a new book boyfriend. And I think he’s the most perfect book boyfriend that I have read. I didn’t want this book to end, I wanted to keep reading about these two. I cannot wait for the next book in this series because now I’m a forever reader of this author.
I whole heartedly give this book 5 stars. I don’t give 5 stars often, but this one deserves it. Mayer writes a beautiful story, with moments that made me laugh and an incredible supporting friend in Maxine. Maxine is the girl that I want to be friends with, a true ride or die while also telling Sutton like it is. Sutton’s sister, Sissy, also had a friend, Skye, who reminded me of Alexis from Schitt’s Creek.
The romance in this story is delectable. Holden is subtle, and his interest in Sutton is subtle. There is no force, he isn’t overwhelming, he isn’t overbearing, it’s just the perfect amount of subtle. He made my heart swoon and melt multiple times. I seriously read this book with a smile plastered on my face. Holden’s use of terms of endearment sparely gave those terms so much power and feeling. There is a bit of a spicy scene towards the end, but it was so tasteful that it fit into the story perfectly.
Thanks Emily Mayor, you have provided me with a new book boyfriend. And I think he’s the most perfect book boyfriend that I have read. I didn’t want this book to end, I wanted to keep reading about these two. I cannot wait for the next book in this series because now I’m a forever reader of this author.
September 10, 2023
Was promising…
It started out well, and I liked the characters, but boy… The plot fell apart about a third of the way through. No tension, no real conflict.
It started out well, and I liked the characters, but boy… The plot fell apart about a third of the way through. No tension, no real conflict.
October 10, 2023
This book was such a good story about finding love in the least likely of places especially when you've gone through such craziness with a sister like Sissy and an absolute embarrassment in school. I love the humor throughout and the drama of Sutton dealing with so much thrown in her lap. I loved her piggies and was hoping to learn they also were with her on her next step of the journey, but I'm sure she wouldn't leave her babies behind. The characters were great and it had those you love and those you loathe. I especially liked Max (Maxine aka maxi-pad :P), everyone needs a friend like her. The scenes were well written so you got a feel of the surroundings. By the end I was hoping for more to Holden and Sutton's story, I didn't want it to end. It goes to show you can't always judge a book by its cover and Sutton was definitely guilty of this. I'm glad she finally was able to find the answers after years of feeling bad about the events that had transpired in Beacon Hill and could move forward knowing she had the courage to stand up to the things threatening her happiness. I will definitely look forward to more from Emily Mayer.
January 1, 2024
Pretend With Me
Family drama between sisters, loving the same man. One of the sisters marrying him and finding out maybe that was the thing that could have happened.
Family drama between sisters, loving the same man. One of the sisters marrying him and finding out maybe that was the thing that could have happened.
August 22, 2023
I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist, and felt the character of the hero was told, not shown. One of the things I loved about this author's earlier work, "Rocket Science", was the main character was brutally honest to herself, was very self aware of her motivations and spoke her truth to her friends and family. The protagonist in this book was on the very 'young' spectrum of YA heroine because she frequently lied to herself and others, and had held on to some pretty toxic delusions about herself and her family. Perhaps it is the good ol' Southern tradition of keeping up appearances, but I found even her 'loving' relationship with her parents to feel damaging, as she didn't ever get to be honest with them about her relationship (or lack thereof) with her sister and how hurtful her sister was.
September 11, 2023
Mixed feelings. I really liked the H and h. But there just wasn't enough of them and enough romance. This was slow burn which I really liked and I thought done well. However, there was way too much of the h's sister. She was very mean, and a bully to the h. I felt half the book revolved around the h's sister and her fiance and their wedding. And I don't know why. It was just annoying to read. If there was at least some redemption and the sister was held accountable for her actions, I would have enjoyed this more. But the sister gets married at the end and the h predicts they will get divorced at some point. That's it. I also found the h's friend/work colleague to be annoying. I wish there was less of her also.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2023
A lovely romantic comedy
A classic rom-com tale of opposites attrack and find out they're not so different. The story is told in 1st person by the fmc, a computer engineer that finds out her sister is marrying her teenager crush. What she doesn't expect is getting closer to his brother, who she has always assumed was a jack*ss. But they get closer and she is surprised by how great he really is. It's a slow burn romance, but you see their relationship developing and there is no 3rd act break up, which I love. It's also a funny and refreshing story, which will appease fans of authors like Ali Hazelwood and Meghan Quinn.
A classic rom-com tale of opposites attrack and find out they're not so different. The story is told in 1st person by the fmc, a computer engineer that finds out her sister is marrying her teenager crush. What she doesn't expect is getting closer to his brother, who she has always assumed was a jack*ss. But they get closer and she is surprised by how great he really is. It's a slow burn romance, but you see their relationship developing and there is no 3rd act break up, which I love. It's also a funny and refreshing story, which will appease fans of authors like Ali Hazelwood and Meghan Quinn.
August 22, 2023
"You know what's interesting? I've always thought of Beacon Hill as a cage, and for you, Beacon Hill represents freedom."
This was a cute slow burn. Holden seemed like such a nice guy; there were parts where I wish we got his POV so we could know more about him and how he was falling in love with Sutton. My only real complaint is that there is no satisfying resolution with the evil sister, Sissy, or their parents that would turn a blind eye to how Sissy treated Sutton.
September 4, 2023
I WANT MORE!
I could not put this book down! I love a slow burn romance and Emily made this one burn sooo good. Sutton and Holden were absolute fire. They could not be more different from the outside, but watching them discover just how alike they were was such a treat. Emily made me feel everything from totally in love to pure hatred. Her characters were fully developed and had amazing arcs. I can’t wait for more Beacon Hills!
PS. I hope Sissy steps on Lego 😈
I could not put this book down! I love a slow burn romance and Emily made this one burn sooo good. Sutton and Holden were absolute fire. They could not be more different from the outside, but watching them discover just how alike they were was such a treat. Emily made me feel everything from totally in love to pure hatred. Her characters were fully developed and had amazing arcs. I can’t wait for more Beacon Hills!
PS. I hope Sissy steps on Lego 😈
October 24, 2023
Sutton Buchanan has her life in Savannah pretty much the way she likes it. She’s got her job, her friends, and her passel of guinea pigs. But when her mother calls to say her father has been injured on the job and will be laid up for a while, Sutton reluctantly heads back home to Beacon Hill. Back to help her parents and face her hateful sister, Sissy. Sissy has come back home after failing to make a splash in the modeling world, and she’s now engaged to marry Sutton’s teenage crush, Macon St. James.
Sutton would just as soon have a root canal with no anesthetic as spend time in the presence of either her sister or Holden St. James, Mason’s brother. As a teenager, she had the opportunity to hear what he and his family thought of her sister, her family, and it wasn’t flattering. When she’s thrown into regular contact with him for pre-wedding events, she finds herself fighting an unexpected attraction to him.
Having grown up in a small Southern town, I understand that there are some families that are like town royalty. They’re held in a certain awe. Even if Sutton’s family was comfortably middle-class or even upper middle-class, I can see how a family like the St. James family would be seen as a cut or two above, and interactions could be uneasy.
And I’ll tell you what, if I was Sutton Buchanan, I don’t know that I’d want to go back home, either. Sissy was a raging heifer who got her way about EVERYTHING. I grew up in a small Southern town. I’ve known people like that. They get what they want, when they want, and they don’t care who they trample in the process. And mom and dad apparently just let Sissy run roughshod over whoever she wants, including her own sister. I know that sometimes parents favor one child, but my heart really hurt for Sutton. Her parents loved her, sure, but a love that won’t protect you from a horrible sibling seems anemic at best.
And nobody seemed willing to rein Sissy in! Not her parents, not her fiance, nobody. The descriptions of wedding dress shopping had me alternately laughing and rolling my eyes. If I’d picked out some of those dresses like Sissy was eyeballing, my mama would have yanked a knot in my head and told me absolutely not.
Maxine was one of my most favorite characters in the book! She is the epitome of ride or die. She wanted to see Sutton happy, and she wasn’t above pulling some outrageous shenanigans to make Sutton’s wedding responsibilities a little less painful. Everybody needs a Maxine in their life.
Holden St. James was also a nice surprise. Sutton had what she thought was a legitimate reason to dislike him and his family (although Macon never seemed to be painted with that same brush, which was a little surprising). Even when Sutton seemed to be going out of her way to hold the past against him, Holden was a gentleman. As the story progressed, it became clear that he cared for her, and I was cheering for Sutton to get over herself and admit her feelings. Neither Holden nor Macon turned out to be what Sutton thought they were!
I’ll admit, as I read, I kept waiting for one of those rom-com twists where there’s a horrible misunderstanding, the newly fledged relationship is derailed, and boy has to fight to win girl back (or vice versa). And I thought I saw it coming. But Emily Mayer twisted the twist, and I was thrilled to see it. Sutton found her own inner Southern steel magnolia and put her foot down. Huzzah!
If you love a small-town Southern setting and a fun enemies-to-lovers romance with a side of dysfunctional family, you’ll enjoy Pretend with Me!
Thanks to AME for a review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
Sutton would just as soon have a root canal with no anesthetic as spend time in the presence of either her sister or Holden St. James, Mason’s brother. As a teenager, she had the opportunity to hear what he and his family thought of her sister, her family, and it wasn’t flattering. When she’s thrown into regular contact with him for pre-wedding events, she finds herself fighting an unexpected attraction to him.
Having grown up in a small Southern town, I understand that there are some families that are like town royalty. They’re held in a certain awe. Even if Sutton’s family was comfortably middle-class or even upper middle-class, I can see how a family like the St. James family would be seen as a cut or two above, and interactions could be uneasy.
And I’ll tell you what, if I was Sutton Buchanan, I don’t know that I’d want to go back home, either. Sissy was a raging heifer who got her way about EVERYTHING. I grew up in a small Southern town. I’ve known people like that. They get what they want, when they want, and they don’t care who they trample in the process. And mom and dad apparently just let Sissy run roughshod over whoever she wants, including her own sister. I know that sometimes parents favor one child, but my heart really hurt for Sutton. Her parents loved her, sure, but a love that won’t protect you from a horrible sibling seems anemic at best.
And nobody seemed willing to rein Sissy in! Not her parents, not her fiance, nobody. The descriptions of wedding dress shopping had me alternately laughing and rolling my eyes. If I’d picked out some of those dresses like Sissy was eyeballing, my mama would have yanked a knot in my head and told me absolutely not.
Maxine was one of my most favorite characters in the book! She is the epitome of ride or die. She wanted to see Sutton happy, and she wasn’t above pulling some outrageous shenanigans to make Sutton’s wedding responsibilities a little less painful. Everybody needs a Maxine in their life.
Holden St. James was also a nice surprise. Sutton had what she thought was a legitimate reason to dislike him and his family (although Macon never seemed to be painted with that same brush, which was a little surprising). Even when Sutton seemed to be going out of her way to hold the past against him, Holden was a gentleman. As the story progressed, it became clear that he cared for her, and I was cheering for Sutton to get over herself and admit her feelings. Neither Holden nor Macon turned out to be what Sutton thought they were!
I’ll admit, as I read, I kept waiting for one of those rom-com twists where there’s a horrible misunderstanding, the newly fledged relationship is derailed, and boy has to fight to win girl back (or vice versa). And I thought I saw it coming. But Emily Mayer twisted the twist, and I was thrilled to see it. Sutton found her own inner Southern steel magnolia and put her foot down. Huzzah!
If you love a small-town Southern setting and a fun enemies-to-lovers romance with a side of dysfunctional family, you’ll enjoy Pretend with Me!
Thanks to AME for a review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
February 5, 2024
Pretend with Me is the first book in the Beacon Hill series. It finds Sutton having to go back home for an extended visit after her father is injured at work. She also find out her sister Sissy is engaged to her high school crush, Macon. Holden is Macon's older brother and is someone Sutton didn't count on having to interact with. In fact, she doesn't like the St. James family at all.
I thought this was a wonderful slow burn romance. Holden has definitely made it onto my ever growing book boyfriend list. He was amazing. It was so much fun watching Sutton fall for him. The story is told all through her perspective. I would have loved to hear what was going through his head. I did love how Sutton learned that time can heal wounds and it also makes people forgive and forget. Toward the end, I was so cheering her on in the one scene with her sister. Sissy was insufferable and their parents really needed a reality check when it came to Sissy. The fact that they let her get away with her behavior for so long was astonishing. Because of all of that, the scene toward the end was so satisfying. I definitely recommend this one. You can find it on Kindle Unlimited now. I can't wait for the next book!
I thought this was a wonderful slow burn romance. Holden has definitely made it onto my ever growing book boyfriend list. He was amazing. It was so much fun watching Sutton fall for him. The story is told all through her perspective. I would have loved to hear what was going through his head. I did love how Sutton learned that time can heal wounds and it also makes people forgive and forget. Toward the end, I was so cheering her on in the one scene with her sister. Sissy was insufferable and their parents really needed a reality check when it came to Sissy. The fact that they let her get away with her behavior for so long was astonishing. Because of all of that, the scene toward the end was so satisfying. I definitely recommend this one. You can find it on Kindle Unlimited now. I can't wait for the next book!
October 19, 2023
I love a good slow burn, especially when it's done where the story of the couple engages you so much. I felt like Sutton and Holden really came into their own. From the bits and pieces of their pasts to their budding relationship. They felt like real people, like ones you'd be friends with in your everyday life. Which is something that doesn't always come through in this genre.
The supporting cast of characters was quite interesting. If not infuriating (her sister, ugh) at times. But such is life, right? If there weren't obstacles within the story it would be totally flat. However, the author did a fantastic job of making sure their story was beautiful, enriching, fantastic, and fun.
Well done!
The supporting cast of characters was quite interesting. If not infuriating (her sister, ugh) at times. But such is life, right? If there weren't obstacles within the story it would be totally flat. However, the author did a fantastic job of making sure their story was beautiful, enriching, fantastic, and fun.
Well done!
November 16, 2023
* I did win this book from a Goodreads giveaway*
This was cute! I liked how it was slow burn but he obviously cared about her and we were watching her fall in love with him. I will not be finishing the series, so maybe they get divorced later, but I thought that the wedding was going to be called off the whole time. Sissy is a POS like I just don’t understand how their parents let her belittle Sutton like that??? Or how Macon could not see through Sissy’s lies?? Also I think the title and cover should’ve been different. I know the title comes from the scene where they like actually get together but it’s one line in a 300 page book like
This was cute! I liked how it was slow burn but he obviously cared about her and we were watching her fall in love with him. I will not be finishing the series, so maybe they get divorced later, but I thought that the wedding was going to be called off the whole time. Sissy is a POS like I just don’t understand how their parents let her belittle Sutton like that??? Or how Macon could not see through Sissy’s lies?? Also I think the title and cover should’ve been different. I know the title comes from the scene where they like actually get together but it’s one line in a 300 page book like
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2023
2'5⭐
I really loved the two previous books from this author but unfortunately this one didn't hit the mark.
It started ok but then just became boring and I lost interest.
Some stuff was funny but Sutton felt more like a YA character and some interactions and monologues wore cringe.
I also couldn't feel the chemistry between Holden and Sutton
Sissy was just cardboard character and Macon didn't bring mutch to the story
Just like all the secondary characters. Only Max stand out a little bit, but even so.....
Just meh
I really loved the two previous books from this author but unfortunately this one didn't hit the mark.
It started ok but then just became boring and I lost interest.
Some stuff was funny but Sutton felt more like a YA character and some interactions and monologues wore cringe.
I also couldn't feel the chemistry between Holden and Sutton
Sissy was just cardboard character and Macon didn't bring mutch to the story
Just like all the secondary characters. Only Max stand out a little bit, but even so.....
Just meh
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December 13, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥.5
Emily Mayer is one of my all time favourite slow burn authors. I always love how the main characters fall in love, slowly but surely. It's always such a thrill to watch how their friendships slowly develop to something more and the subtle signs of affection they display.
Despite preferring dual POVs nowadays, I think one of the charms of Emily's writings is how she is able to portray through subtle actions and expressions the feelings of the hero. I really enjoy that smoothness and clear subtlety. It's giving Mr. Darcy's infamous hand flex lol
Steam Level: 🔥.5
Emily Mayer is one of my all time favourite slow burn authors. I always love how the main characters fall in love, slowly but surely. It's always such a thrill to watch how their friendships slowly develop to something more and the subtle signs of affection they display.
Despite preferring dual POVs nowadays, I think one of the charms of Emily's writings is how she is able to portray through subtle actions and expressions the feelings of the hero. I really enjoy that smoothness and clear subtlety. It's giving Mr. Darcy's infamous hand flex lol
March 14, 2024
WOW!!
I loved Sutton and Holden!! Sutton's family needs her to come home for a couple of weeks to help out. Her dad fell and broke his leg. She hasn't really spent any time in her home town for ten years except for the occasional holiday. When she arrives home she finds out her sister is marrying her childhood crush Macon. Her sister is a piece of work, rude and mean. Sutton starts spending a lot of time with Macon's brother Holden. He's so nice to her and they start developing feelings for each other.
I loved Sutton and Holden!! Sutton's family needs her to come home for a couple of weeks to help out. Her dad fell and broke his leg. She hasn't really spent any time in her home town for ten years except for the occasional holiday. When she arrives home she finds out her sister is marrying her childhood crush Macon. Her sister is a piece of work, rude and mean. Sutton starts spending a lot of time with Macon's brother Holden. He's so nice to her and they start developing feelings for each other.
March 31, 2024
4.25 🌟
Another great slow burn read from Emily Mayer!
After reading (and loving) Everything Girl, I knew I would be reading more from this author. I’ve enjoyed all her books so far and really enjoyed Holden and Sutton’s friends to lovers relationship
I did find Sissy to be cartoonish at times and would have preferred her and Sutton’s dynamic to have a little more nuance. Nonetheless, Sissy’s antics certainly made the story interesting and she was fun to hate.
I can’t wait to see what Emily Mayer comes out with next!
Another great slow burn read from Emily Mayer!
After reading (and loving) Everything Girl, I knew I would be reading more from this author. I’ve enjoyed all her books so far and really enjoyed Holden and Sutton’s friends to lovers relationship
I did find Sissy to be cartoonish at times and would have preferred her and Sutton’s dynamic to have a little more nuance. Nonetheless, Sissy’s antics certainly made the story interesting and she was fun to hate.
I can’t wait to see what Emily Mayer comes out with next!
September 30, 2023
Really enjoyed this book, but for life commitments, I could have finished it in a day. Really good enemies to lover, with the additional mean girl sister. I wanted to yell at the parents for not realizing the rift between their daughters. Well written characters and I loved that even the pets had personalities. I need to know the rest of their story!!! * Warning, you will want food truck tacos.
November 7, 2023
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I've gotta say I was really impressed and loved the slow build up of trust and friendship between Sutton and Holden. I did feel like the ending was a tad hurried and wished there was more of an ending between Sissy and the family. This book had a lot of funny times in it and I just wish it had never ended. I am happy for the lucky couple. This was my first book by this author.
July 16, 2024
Great couple in this fun story!
Sutton is a computer coder and Holden is an attorney in his family’s law firm. They have grown up in the same small town but under different circumstances. They are brought together when his brother and her sister plan a wedding. The back story of the engaged couple is maddening and i instantly disliked them.
Other fun side characters add humor to the story beyond what Sutton contributes. It’s a good story that I recommend.
Sutton is a computer coder and Holden is an attorney in his family’s law firm. They have grown up in the same small town but under different circumstances. They are brought together when his brother and her sister plan a wedding. The back story of the engaged couple is maddening and i instantly disliked them.
Other fun side characters add humor to the story beyond what Sutton contributes. It’s a good story that I recommend.
September 1, 2024
Sutton is a computer coder and Holden an attorney in his family’s law firm. Having grown up in the same small town but under very different circumstances, they are brought together when his brother and her sister are getting married. Sutton and her sister don't get along and it turns out she's marrying Suttons high school crush, but the more time Sutton Spends with his brother Holden, she slowly realizes she crushed on the wrong brother!
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