Sweeter Than Fiction

by Stephanie Renee

I am weird.

And I’m not talking she’s so weird but in a cute way.

No. I mean I am actually weird. At least that’s how most people would describe me. They don’t always understand my ADHD or neurodivergent tendencies.

And that’s okay. I’ve embraced my knitting and my cats. I’ve gotten used to all of my food allergies and stomach issues. I like the fact that I’d rather stay home and listen to a romance audiobook rather than go out for a night on the town. Heck, I’d rather not leave my house in general.

So, imagine my surprise when my smoke show of a neighbor shows up at my door to make me feel better after a particularly terrible evening. He even brings wine and offers to watch Gilmore Girls with me.

Then…he says he wants to be friends.

Before you know it, we are hanging out all the time.

I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop—like Ashton Kutcher will jump out and yell that I’ve been Punk’d or that I’ll find myself in the middle of an early 2000’s high school movie where the popular guy makes a bet that he can turn the nerdy girl from an ugly duckling into a swan.

But surprisingly, Don doesn’t try to change me. Instead, he embraces my quirks and has me suddenly wondering if maybe book boyfriends can actually exist…

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2024

Reviews

[Mary Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm adding Don to my list of book boyfriends immediately. He was perfect to help bring Abby out of her shell and see her quirks weren't a bad thing. He didn't try to change her or nag her; he allowed her the freedom to be who she was, and he fell in love with all of her. As a home body who also likes to stay in most of the time, I really clicked with Abby, and the way her character was so honest and upfront about her anxieties was refreshing. There is a lot of sweetness in their story but also an undertone of acceptance because loving yourself is hard for some people. Great representation for that here. This will be a comfort read for me in the future, for sure!

[Puyeipawa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, that is all I can say... I won't say it was good or bad, but I will say meh!

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written sweet, he falls first romance that will have your heart feeling all warm and fuzzy. Sweeter Than Fiction is a book that gives us two people who are complete opposites but have a connection that sees them going from neighbours, to friends to lovers.
Don is handsome, sexy and what seems like a playboy neighbour of Abby. They are complete opposites because Abby is an introvert and feels like she has so much baggage that no man could ever love her. A terrible date, a few tears and the next thing Abby's neighbour is spending time with her and is not running away. Don was not the person that she thought he was and he had her swooning over him right from the start, and she wasn't the only one. He helped Abby come out of her shell, try new things and take a few risks.
This storyline was a joy to read, easy to get lost in and one that was impossible to put down.

[redreads4861 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! I like how Don showed Abby that she was better than anyone he had been with and kept telling and showing her. Abby thought of herself as weird and she had accepted it and how she would rather stay home than go out. Don showed her that he enjoyed her company just the way she was. They went from neighbors to friends than after a swift kick in the pants by his sister Don asked her out. Even though she doubted that someone like Don could be interested in her she finally got through the walls she had put up and began accepting that what she always read about was becoming her reality. This was a really good book!!!

[Jacqueline Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I read by Stephanie and I enjoyed this one also. Don and Abby have different personalities and are perfect together. Abby has a different way of being and her difference are weird to other, however they seem to pull Don in. Abby enjoys time at home alone while Don is working to prove that he enjoys her as she is.
What an amazing neighbors to friends to lovers. I do love me an opposite attraction story. Don is great I loved how he made sure she knew how special she was to him.

[Jacsan Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweeter than Fiction was such an amazing read! We got to meet Abby who’s is the introverted FMC who is more than happy spending her days in her home knitting and staying with her cats. Cue in the hunky neighbor Don, a Nebraska native in the big city. Don is known to Abby as a serial dater, but when he saw Abby in distress he was right at her front door.

Don really is the best book boyfriend that someone would ask for! This book was so great to read, I love how Don gave Abby the confidence she needed. Can’t wait to see if we get more of Don and Abby in the future ❤️

[Jamie Stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wish the perfect guy would just appear on your doorstep with a bottle of wine? Yeah, but what are the odds? Neighbors to friends to lovers, Abby has a hard time believing that her totally hunky neighbor actually wants to be with her. She has seen the kind of "dates" he brings home. But when it seems he actually walked off the pages of one of her favorite romance novels, which he reads just to get to know her better, she can't help but fall.

[Thaimelly Rigobello · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet and cute story. I love books that portrays real life difficulties, anxiety, insecurities - especially the psychological ones. I’m a psychologist!! Abby is such an amazing person, with a family that does not understand her. Don is a small town boy in his heart and he has all the niceties and personality to show it. They find safety, care, love and understanding in each other. I really enjoyed reading it. Tks Stephanie. 😘

[T Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received ARC copy, honest review

HEA
Standalone


I loved this story. Obviously, like most ARC's, there are typos or points of confusion, but honestly, they didn't register for the most part.

I had a whole, long, well-written review, but it got misplaced. Doesn't matter. If you've read anything by this author and loved it, you will love this book. I really appreciated how the mfc was not neurotypical and had her own list of "quirks." I loved how much the mmc loved his family.

[Ashley Crimmins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lighter, happy read which was exactly what I was in the mood for. Abby has a lot of quirks which makes her really unique and awesome. It’s what made Don fall in love with her and become her person. His patience and willingness to go above and beyond for Abby was heartwarming. Definitely recommend this book.

[AddictedToReadingRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

Definitely sweeter than fiction. I love it. Love how they went from neighbors to friends to lovers. It was perfect. I love how they complement each other and how beautifully Don love Abs and how he does anything for her. He is indeed the perfect book boyfriend.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really really cute! I loved the characters and the plot, and it was just cute how they were together! I really wish I had an extended epilogue but that’s about it lol. So cute and soooooo glad I picked this one up!

[Pamela Winkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It was a sweet, yet spicy love story. A complete opposites attract storyline that pulled at your heartstrings.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and sweet book! I loved this so much, I wanted to keep reading more of Abby and Don!
I loved that this book had so many relatable things, anxiety, endometriosis, neurodivergence just to name a few. And the little Bluey reference made my Aussie heart so happy ❤️❤️❤️

[Allison Thommen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Don and Abby’s story so much. They’re a great read if you like neighbors to lovers, he takes care of her, she’s quirky and self proclaimed “weird” and spicy. Don and Abby meet as neighbors and form a friendship that is sweet to read. They both support the other in ways they have never had from a partner before.