Dream Guy

by Sarah Smith

He's my brother's best friend... and my ultimate fantasy

Eden
I’m a broke college student desperate for money. So I put my computer science skills to use and design a dating app called Dream Guy that matches women to their perfect man-for-hire for social events, work events, family functions, and even real dates.

And the man who would make the perfect Dream Guy? Danny Darden, my older brother’s best friend–and the guy I’ve had a crush on since I was a kid.

Danny is an instant hit on the app due to his dashing good looks, ripped body, and charm. Now that we’re coworkers, we’re spending tons of time together. And when he asks to practice his dating skills on me, things between us get very, very hot… It’s not long before we’re having a sizzling hot secret romance.

My brother can never find out about us… I never planned to fall this hard… but I guess I found my Dream Guy too.

Danny
When my best friend’s little sister hires me to be the lead Dream Guy on the new dating app she designed, I instantly say yes. As an underpaid and overworked college adjunct professor, I need the money. It ends up being the best job I’ve ever had–and I end up falling hard for Eden.

She’s brilliant, beautiful, and the woman of my dreams… but she’s also off limits.

I promised her brother that I’d never, ever date his little sister. And now I have to choose between my best friend and the woman I love.

Dream Guy is a steamy brother's best friend, secret romance with an HEA

398 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2024

About the author

Sarah Smith is a copywriter-turned-author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie's stash of romance novels. She's been hooked ever since. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her lumpia recipe. She is also one half of the romance writing duo Sarah Skye. Sarah also writes tearjerker fiction under the name Sarah Echavarre

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Brother's best friend meets workplace romance. Stand-alone, HEA, Found Family, Dual POV. These are all of my favorite things!

Eden is a broke college student who's trying to find her place in the world. She's the black sheep of her successful family and has always gone against the grain. Eden has tattoos and a nose piercing, no stable job, and her parents don't approve of her life decisions. With the help of her best friend, she starts up a dating app called Dream Guy.

Danny is a college art adjunct who just moved back into town after a breakup, lives with his parents, and delivers food when he isn't teaching at the college. Did I mention he happens to be Eden's brother's life-long best friend... and super dreamy? Danny agrees to be the first Dream Guy, and he's an instant hit.

Eden and Danny's story is full of angst, passion, secret romance, and lots of hilarious banter. I can't wait for you to read this book and fall in love with the characters just like I did. Sarah knows how to make you connect to her characters and leave you wanting more.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eden, a smart yet broke college student looking for extra money and joy in her life. Danny, a college art professor also looking for some extra income but happens to be her brother’s best friend. When Eden uses her computer skills to formulate a new dating app she knows that Danny would be the perfect guy for the job. He agrees along with a few other friends and the app takes off along with their relationship. Trying to hide their relationship from her brother is hard. I loved the build of this story and the strength of Eden to stick up for herself and follow her passion.
Tropes: Brother’s best friend, workplace romance, she’s his boss, dirty talk, forbidden romance

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eden is an awesome coder who’s only in college at the insistence of her parents. Then Danny reenters her life. Danny, an artist, an adjunct art professor and her brother’s lifelong best friend. Eden creates a different kind of dating app and thinks Danny would be the perfect fit to be the first one to work for the app. Eden had a crush on Danny as kids, but as they spend more time together with work, her feelings go deeper. Danny is feeling the same but feels a sense of loyalty to his best friend and the unspoken rule they hold about not dating siblings. Danny and Eden navigate the ups and downs of a new business and being in a relationship that not everyone approves of.

I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I want to thank the author for proving me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of Eden, struggling college student and coding genius, who as a way to make some money develops a dating app called "Dream Guy". This app can be used for people to find a real date or just a stand in date for a work event or family obligation to help avoid pesky questions. When Eden thinks up what kind of guys she can recruit her brother's best friend Danny, struggling college professor, comes to mind as he has always been Eden's dream guy. When Danny is asked to be one of the guys for the app he is happy to accept since he needs the money and wants to help Eden out however he can. As the business continues to flourish, Danny (one of the top Dream Guys) and Eden start spending more time together and feelings begin to develop which is a problem for Danny since he promised Eden's brother he would never date Eden. As the two become closer Danny has to decide if losing Eden is worth breaking a promise he made in high school.

What I Loved:
- Eden, she is such a crazy smart woman who develops an entire dating app idea and then creates the app all by herself....such a boss even with all of the self doubt most woman in their 20s are dealing with
- Dream Guy, as someone who has A LOT of work and family functions the idea of just going on an app and finding a stand in for those events so you don't have to be alone and/or you can avoid those awkward "why are you still single" conversations would be amazing I would use it for sure
- Danny, there is a good amount of ups and downs with him throughout the story but when he stands up for Eden in any capacity my heart just did a little flutter cause he was letter her fight her battles but made sure she knew he was support when she needed it
- The guys, all of the guys who Eden recruits to join the app seem to be such a good time and when some shit goes down they were the first ones to rally and try and find anyway to help Eden cause they love working with/for her so much
- Spicy, Danny is an art professor and an artist and I appreciated how him and Eden got "creative" in the house/bedroom/etc.

This was a book that was originally released on the Yonder app and since I read anything Sarah Smith writes I read it on the app originally. I was so happy to see that it was being published outside the app cause it is such a great story and gave me a chance to reread the book and fall in love with Eden and Danny all over again. If you are looking for a brother's best friend, forbidden romance with a strong female character and the guy who loves and supports her from the background PLEASE go get this book.

[Emily Schaeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah was sneaky with this book, I didn't even know that it was in the works and it came so fast after No Freaking Way that I was shocked to have another new release so soon but UGH I really liked it. The whole idea for the app was honestly pretty great because I know there have been things I want to do but don't want to go to it alone. An app and story like this was relatable and a good app idea as long as there was a way to keep real-life creepers off it if it became an app in reality. I think this could be a great start to a series if she wanted to make it one because I would LOVE to see Dream Guy dates from the other guys' perspectives. Obviously, they were all supportive of Eden and had her back when she needed it but I think it would be fun to hear about the dates they go on since we got that from Danny while he was a Dream Guy.

Thank you Sarah for the arc. I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Nicole (NicoleIsBooked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Smith's books are always filled with amazing characters, steamy spicy scenes, and lots of fun. 'Dream Guy' was all of those things and more. Eden has always had a crush on Danny, who is her brother's best friend. Danny has always thought of Eden as untouchable- his best friend told him not to look at his sister and he has held up on exploring anything with Eden.... until they start working together.

Eden develops an app called Dream Guy where people can set up a date with a guy- it can be to go with them to a work event or family party or even a real date. Danny is the first guy for the dream date, and he is lining up dates. He's the perfect dream guy, and he is spending more time with Eden as they work together.

When he starts to practice his dating skills with Eden, sparks fly and things get hot! I loved that this was a slow burn, and there was so much tension built between them. The sneaking around was so much fun too.

I would recommend this book if you love brother's best friend, steamy open door romance,and a slow burn.

Thanks to the author, Sarah Smith, for an ARC of this book.

[Adrienne Klassen · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 45%
There were so many plot holes in this book it was like Swiss cheese. I'm not usually upset about how "fictional" a book can be, but this was just ridiculous.
I love Sarah Smith as a writer, but this just wasn't doing it for me. I didn't feel any chemistry between the characters, the whole dating app felt REALLY weird.... like... paying guys to go out on dates with woman? And all of the HOT men being super excited to go out with all of the HOT women? Having one of the up and coming dating apps, but being able to hide it from your brother, even though it's all over your social media and tiktok? It just felt so unrealistic it took me out of the store.
I wanted so much more for this book, but it just didn't do it for me. I kept reading for the spice, hoping that would save it, but alas, it was just okay.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun brother's best friend romance. Eden creates a dating app and hires Danny as her first Dream Guy to fulfill the dating requests. Eden and Danny have great chemistry, but neither one of them wants to upset her brother by dating. The attraction proves to be too strong to deny and the result is heat, lots of heat. The app is a success, but there are complications that threaten this love story and whether or not there will be a happily ever after. I always enjoy Sarah's writing and the way her characters interact. The idea for the app is unique and I liked the option to set up a real date or to have the Dream Guy stand in as a date. This is another gem of a romance from one of my favorite authors.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one night. This a creative and fun take on a brother’s best friend and workplace romance. Danny and Eden have lots of ups and downs trying to make their relationship work. They are very attracted to each other from the start and have amazing chemistry. My favorite parts were when Danny supports Eden in sticking up for herself and their relationship to her family and Danny’s declaration of love towards the end. I think readers will also enjoy the “Dream Guys” and Eden’s friend Kayla.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! The only reason I didn't stay up all night reading it is because my tablet's battery said goodnight! Otherwise, hello sunrise, my old friend!

First of all Eden is such a wonderful badass! I love her gumption. She's so determined, headstrong, stubborn, but funny, brilliant and everything you really want from a FMC. Danny is also brilliant, talented, artistic and so supportive of Eden and her journey! I love them together!

The whole idea of the book is bloody genius! I knew I was going to love this book from like, the second page and Sarah did not disappoint. She's created another incredible world. I know this is supposed to be a standalone, but.... any chance of an interconnected series a la Grant Siblings? Maybe?? Maaaaaaaybe???

You canNOT give me amazing side characters like Gavin, Ava, and Kayla and not expand the universe!

[Lizy Maldonado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and different read. I really enjoyed the making off of the app and how Eden’s friends all pitched in on the idea.

If you like to read something refreshing and fun, this is the book that you need as of right now.😂♥️

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh yes! This is a service we can all get behind. It's funny, an easy read, and puts a smile on your face. This is easily a 3.5 or 3.75-star-rated book. Why don't I rate it higher? Well, as you will see later, the idea isn't exactly original (but then again, most romance novels aren't, as they all seem to follow a template). I'm hoping that Dream Guy is the first book of a series because there are a few characters we met and potential love stories already forming that I would like to look into deeply.

This is a story about Eden, a travel-loving computer "nerd" in her 3rd year of college and studying computer science. She is the black sheep of her family, not living up to the potential her parents think she should have. She has a loving and supportive older brother, Cruz, who tries to act as referee in her relationship with her parents. One day, while watching a movie with her BFF, Kayla, Eden has the brilliant idea to create a dating app with customizable "dream dates." Now, they got this idea from a movie on Netflix, and it did sound familiar to me, so I looked it up. It is accurate; there is a movie called "Perfect Date," and many books follow the classic tropes we see in romance novels. Hey, if the wheel ain't broke, don't fix it!

Eden bumps into Danny, her brother's childhood best friend and someone she used to have a crush on. She "propositions" him to be one of her DreamGuys on the app to make extra cash. Danny is an adjunct art professor at the university where Eden is currently studying. He recently broke up with his fiancé and had to move back home. He is currently strapped for cash and starting his life over without a clear future path in front of him. He always hung out with Cruz and Eden as children and looked at Eden like a little sister because of their four-year age gap. He agrees and takes all his dates on their perfect dream date scenario (nothing sexual). With time, Eden and Danny start spending more time together and eventually develop feelings. Here, we have all your typical clichés. Brother's BFF so they need to keep the relationship a secret. She falls first, and he falls harder.
Eden's parents are very judgemental about the life choices that Eden has made but expect her to get a degree and a well-paying job. While they don't flat-out insult her, they make overbearing comments that let her know they don't fully accept her, although they love her. The $hit hits the fan pretty much all in a span of a few days, eventually. Eden's parents found out about the dating app that she created and did not approve of it, nor did they allow her to explain how successful it was. Cruz finds out about Eden's secret relationship with Danny and thinks they are simply hooking up. A smear campaign going on towards the app, and Eden directly, causes the app to lose subscribers and popularity. The university has learned of Danny's involvement in the app and has also fired him and expelled Eden as a student.

Eden now has the challenge of saving the app and small company she has built and saving the relationships around her.

The premise of the story is good. Again, I found it cute, light, and easy to read. My logical brain kept coming up with some questions throughout the story, and I was wondering if they would be addressed, but most were not. I wish they had been, or I could have turned off the adult thinking cap I had on and enjoyed the story fully for what it was, not what it was lacking. However, if there were ever an edited version to come out and some topics were to be addressed, I would like to know:
1. Danny kept saying that Cruz was his best friend, and he felt loyalty to him. However, they seemed to lose touch after high school and didn't meet back up until recently. They are both around 27, meaning that a good 8-9 years have passed without keeping in touch. Do "best friends" rules still apply if you don't keep in touch? Also, why wouldn't they keep in touch if they had known each other since they were practically in diapers? I mean, Danny did know Eden when she was in diapers.
2. Eden is a coding computer genius, but is she business-savvy? I kept thinking something bigger than a smear campaign would be the obstacle for DreamGuy. I don't understand how she created and expanded the app without initial capital, legal advice, or anything like that. I mean, she hired a bunch of guys to be the DreamGuys, so they had to be on some payroll. If she had a legal team or a small PR team, they could have helped the smear campaign attack. I was shocked that Eden didn't think of reaching out to her parents, who are lawyers, to help with actions against the smear campaign. I know they were in a fight, but she knows they love her.
3. We know that Danny had a fiancé and why they broke up. We know he is an art professor and wants to open an exhibit in a gallery. However, I feel that our information on Danny is very superficial. We don't have the opportunity to dive deep into his thoughts and feelings about what happened to him in the past, how he used to look at or feel about Eden (granted, it won't be the crush she had on him because he was the older one and saw her as a little sister). Still, I wish we could know his character better and connect with him better.

All in all, this was a fun read. Very Mark-Zuckerberg with Facebook-esk story with some spicey moments in between. Oh, yes, the spice. It was good, yup. A nice 3-4 on the spice scale.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I would like to thank Sarah and publishers for an ARC copy of this story.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this book is about the heroine getting the hero on board for her dating app, which pairs up women and the man-for-hire for dates, family functions, social events, and work events. Both the heroine and the hero are strapped for money, so this new business endeavor will help them with their finances. As co-workers, the heroine and the hero grew closer with each other, even as there are obstacles in their way.

This is a solid Sarah Smith book. I enjoyed the main characters as they traverse the journey towards their happy ending. There were some likable secondary characters that were supportive to the main couple, and then there were ones that required a bit more forgiveness for their actions. It would have been nice to add more details in certain areas of the story, which would bring more closure to some information for my personal preference. I also did enjoy the sexy times in the book, too. Otherwise, another enjoyable Sarah Smith novel.

** Thanks to the author and Booksprout for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eden and Danny's story takes you on an emotional roller coaster of love, family, support and drama.

Danny is Eden's brother, Cruz, best friend. Promises long ago were made that he would never date Eden. After breaking up with his fiancée, Danny has moved back home and has a job at the university

Eden is tired of being torn down by her parents and is wanting to make it on her own. When she creates a dating app, she is surprised how it takes off. Now it has her questioning if she wants to stay in school.

Great read that pulls you in from the start. Danny and Eden have a sweet and caring connection the heats up and ignites hot. The creating of the App gives Eden the direction she wants, and the support of her friends allows her to handle anything that comes her way.

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

[Naila C Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌼 Brother's Best Friends
🌼 Childhood Crush
🌼 Friends to Lovers
🌼 Boss/ Employee relationship

I enjoy reading about Eden and Danny's love story. Eden created a dating app called Dream Guy. Eden asked Danny to join her new business idea. This app has different options of real dates or fake dates depending on the Dream Guys and the clients. Danny felt inspired to create art, and those art scenes inspire me to recreate them. Danny has understandable reasons from starting a relationship with Eden. However, he could communicate with her, too. It sucks that Eden's parents don't acknowledge her accomplishments. Also, they discourage the way she looks. At least she follows what she believes in and doesn't let her parents change her in any way. I respect that!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eden is a broke college student, enrolled in a coding program. She's only in college to please her parents, but she's not loving the way her life is currently heading. Down to her last few dollars and not sure what to do, together with her roommate, they develop an app to help single women book a 'dream guy' to accompany them for dates and attend events. These dream guys are the perfect partners, good looking, smart, athletic and whatever the woman is looking for at the moment. Danny is an adjunct Arts professor in the same college, who is also looking for a way to make extra money as being an adjunct professor is not covering the bills. He's restarting his life after a big breakup and life change. Danny is Eden's brothers best friend. He's also a stone cold dream guy who Eden has had a crush on since childhood. After a chance reconnection, Eden asks Danny to become a dream guy for her app. Their friendship builds, but Eden and Danny try to hide the app and their friendship from Eden's brother and parents as they knew he'd be upset.

This is a lovely brother's best friend, forbidden relationship, slight age gap, workplace, slow burn, secret romance. There is some angst in here, but all in all it was a nice and comforting read. Danny truly is a dream guy and Eden is a strong FMC who knows what she wants and she fights to remain true to herself. Definitely worth a read!

I received an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.

[Rebecca Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

And she smashes it out of the park again. Another funny, sweet and spicy read from Sarah Smith. I’m in awe of how she gets these books out so quickly, but I’m not complaining – it just means we readers are super lucky.

This book has one of my favourite tropes—brother’s best friend—and Sarah executed it brilliantly. It was also a new and unique romance about a dating app developed by the awesome Eden. And let’s not forget the intriguing side characters.

I bow to the greatness of Sarah Smith. She excels when it comes to romance.

[Kate Beattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual POV - a forever crush come to fruition!
I loved Eden's girl boss vibe.
The storyline was fresh and engaging.
Personal growth was great.
Lots of spice, plenty of sweet.

Read if you're looking for a low stakes, open door contemporary romance with a side of tech.

[Mona Makhlouf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love it unfortunately as there wasn't anything too hot in it but I still found it to be a nice easy read

[Cindy Guinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Sarah Smith book I devoured. Brother's best friends is one of my favoritest tropes, so i was excited for this book. The chemistry between Eden and Danny was off the charts hott and the spice was spicing. I loved the strong, smart FMC and the MMC who can support her not by monetary means but with emotional support. I wonder if we will get any other stories with the other "dream guys".