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The Glengarry Curse #1
The Fate Date
For fans of The Kiss Curse (Erin Sterling) and This Spells Love (Kate Robb) comes an opposites attract, fake dating romcom set in modern day Canada–with a hint of magic.
GAVIN GLENGARRY has climbed the corporate ladder with ruthless efficiency to save his family home, a strategy that now threatens his chance at the promotion he desperately needs. Facing an upcoming retreat for job candidates –and their plus ones–Gavin is up against his toughest challenge playing nice. He surprises everyone by promising to bring his girlfriend along, landing him in deeper trouble—because she doesn’t exist. That is, until he meets the captivating tarot reader at his mother’s birthday party whose reading reveals an eerie connection to Gavin himself.
Charismatic SABRINA LABELLE has a gift for interpreting tarot–if only her intuition extended to saving her witchcraft shop. She’s tried everything from séances gone wrong to misbegotten cat adoptions in her effort to save the quirky store that’s been her second home and her late mother’s dream.
The two strike a he’ll provide one-on-one business coaching to help Sabrina’s store and she’ll pose as Gavin’s cheerful girlfriend at the company retreat. As they struggle to keep their charade secret throughout team building sessions, corporate dinners, and an accidental stay in a honeymoon suite, the feelings they’re faking start to feel very real. With Gavin’s help, Sabrina finds her own professional goals taking root beyond her mother’s ambitions. However, for Gavin, a life filled with Sabrina’s optimism will force him to reveal tightly bound secrets to escape his cursed fate.
What to expect?
🎭Fake Dating
🌞Grumpy x Sunshine Banter
🧙FMC Runs a Witchcraft Shop
👔MMC is a Tech Consultant
🌠Opposites Attract Generational Family Curse
🔮Tarot & Astrology Readings
🏡Realistic Sibling Relationships
🇨🇦Rustic Canadian Setting
🐟So Many Puns
🛏️Only One Bed at the Corporate Retreat
🌶️Open Door Spicy Scenes (18+ audience)
Content coarse language, mention of gambling/problem gambling, mention of the death of a parent, mention of IVF, ableist attitudes that are challenged, intimate scenes
Please Canadian spelling
GAVIN GLENGARRY has climbed the corporate ladder with ruthless efficiency to save his family home, a strategy that now threatens his chance at the promotion he desperately needs. Facing an upcoming retreat for job candidates –and their plus ones–Gavin is up against his toughest challenge playing nice. He surprises everyone by promising to bring his girlfriend along, landing him in deeper trouble—because she doesn’t exist. That is, until he meets the captivating tarot reader at his mother’s birthday party whose reading reveals an eerie connection to Gavin himself.
Charismatic SABRINA LABELLE has a gift for interpreting tarot–if only her intuition extended to saving her witchcraft shop. She’s tried everything from séances gone wrong to misbegotten cat adoptions in her effort to save the quirky store that’s been her second home and her late mother’s dream.
The two strike a he’ll provide one-on-one business coaching to help Sabrina’s store and she’ll pose as Gavin’s cheerful girlfriend at the company retreat. As they struggle to keep their charade secret throughout team building sessions, corporate dinners, and an accidental stay in a honeymoon suite, the feelings they’re faking start to feel very real. With Gavin’s help, Sabrina finds her own professional goals taking root beyond her mother’s ambitions. However, for Gavin, a life filled with Sabrina’s optimism will force him to reveal tightly bound secrets to escape his cursed fate.
What to expect?
🎭Fake Dating
🌞Grumpy x Sunshine Banter
🧙FMC Runs a Witchcraft Shop
👔MMC is a Tech Consultant
🌠Opposites Attract Generational Family Curse
🔮Tarot & Astrology Readings
🏡Realistic Sibling Relationships
🇨🇦Rustic Canadian Setting
🐟So Many Puns
🛏️Only One Bed at the Corporate Retreat
🌶️Open Door Spicy Scenes (18+ audience)
Content coarse language, mention of gambling/problem gambling, mention of the death of a parent, mention of IVF, ableist attitudes that are challenged, intimate scenes
Please Canadian spelling
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2024
16 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
November 1, 2024
This is pretty okay for a debut novel. The story isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it was still a decent fake dating read. It's one of those classic stories where the MCs end up in a win-win situation, and at some point, their fake relationship becomes the real deal.
Also, this has a grumpy x sunshine trope, which I'm honestly a sucker for. However, there's an adorable grump, and then there's just a jerk grump. And ngl, for the most part in the first half, Gavin is the latter. 😬
It took me awhile to warm up to his character, he's just hard to like for some reason. Then what he said at the 40% ish about Sabrina stuck with me throughout the book. And I just know that stupid comment of him is going to be the reason for the third act breakup. Here's what he said:
Tbf, he said that out of jealousy when Sabrina's ex-fiance showed up and she chose to talk with him. She's just super nice and didn't want to deal with any drama with her ex. And their brief convo really threw Gavin for a loop because he didn't know how to deal with all the mixed feelings he has for her. But of course, it's still not an excuse to say any of those things. 🤧
Anyway, it all blows up in the last 20%, and if readers are going to expect a grovel from him, then they're gonna be disappointed. Gavin let a month pass by before he found the courage to talk to Sabrina. He said that he needed to get his life in order and wasn't quite ready to open up to her about his insecurities, knowing she deserved better.
And Sabrina was just way too understanding and forgiving. I really loooove her character, but she totally deserves better than a cringey public apology and a gofunding initiative.
This girl put up with Gavin's surly ass for most of the book, and I seriously can't figure out why she's so incredibly patient with him. 🤦♀️ I really love her character and the fact that she's such a good person, but it annoys me that others are completely taking advantage of her kindness. 😩
Ugh, don't even get me started on Gavin's family curse. So, it looks like each member has their own case, but the firstborn needs to find their true love and build a life together with that person. If they don't, things could get pretty rough for their health, and that might end badly.
Ever since Sabrina broke off their relationship, Gavin began to experience some health issues and has even been hospitalized. I'm really frustrated that this dumb curse turned into a coercion tactic to pressure Sabrina into forgiving Gavin. If she hadn't done it, that jerk would be in for a rough time and might even end up suffering a lot.
Tbh, I think she really should've taken more time thinking if she wants to be with him again or if he even deserves another chance. What he did wasn't okay, and the lame apology isn't enough for her humiliation. But alas, she was kinda forced to forgive him because of the family curse, and unfortunately, she still has feelings for him. 🤧
Even though it might have looked like I wasn't having fun, I really did enjoy myself, and that's mainly because of Sabrina. She's the one who made this story a worthwhile read for me. Again, it's not too bad, but as usual, there's definitely room for improvement.
Book info:
- 3rd POV
- Small town romance
- Opposites attract
- Grumpy (debatable) x Sunshine
- Fake dating
- Loss of loved one
- Gambling addiction
- Witchy vibes (tarot and calendar reading)
- No cheating, OW
- OMD (Her ex showed up to ask her if they could get back together, but she said no)
- Separation (1 month)
- No V
- HFN (in a relationship 🥲🤧)
Also, this has a grumpy x sunshine trope, which I'm honestly a sucker for. However, there's an adorable grump, and then there's just a jerk grump. And ngl, for the most part in the first half, Gavin is the latter. 😬
It took me awhile to warm up to his character, he's just hard to like for some reason. Then what he said at the 40% ish about Sabrina stuck with me throughout the book. And I just know that stupid comment of him is going to be the reason for the third act breakup. Here's what he said:
“I can barely stand the woman. She’s constantly late, unable to make a decision to save her life, and dresses like a fairy grandmother. Not to mention there is not enough room in my apartment for all her cat artwork.”
“That’s taking it a bit far, Gav.”
“No, taking it too far would be to say that she’s a naive, delusional pushover, who I wouldn’t date if my life depended on it.”
Tbf, he said that out of jealousy when Sabrina's ex-fiance showed up and she chose to talk with him. She's just super nice and didn't want to deal with any drama with her ex. And their brief convo really threw Gavin for a loop because he didn't know how to deal with all the mixed feelings he has for her. But of course, it's still not an excuse to say any of those things. 🤧
Anyway, it all blows up in the last 20%, and if readers are going to expect a grovel from him, then they're gonna be disappointed. Gavin let a month pass by before he found the courage to talk to Sabrina. He said that he needed to get his life in order and wasn't quite ready to open up to her about his insecurities, knowing she deserved better.
And Sabrina was just way too understanding and forgiving. I really loooove her character, but she totally deserves better than a cringey public apology and a gofunding initiative.
This girl put up with Gavin's surly ass for most of the book, and I seriously can't figure out why she's so incredibly patient with him. 🤦♀️ I really love her character and the fact that she's such a good person, but it annoys me that others are completely taking advantage of her kindness. 😩
Ugh, don't even get me started on Gavin's family curse. So, it looks like each member has their own case, but the firstborn needs to find their true love and build a life together with that person. If they don't, things could get pretty rough for their health, and that might end badly.
Ever since Sabrina broke off their relationship, Gavin began to experience some health issues and has even been hospitalized. I'm really frustrated that this dumb curse turned into a coercion tactic to pressure Sabrina into forgiving Gavin. If she hadn't done it, that jerk would be in for a rough time and might even end up suffering a lot.
Tbh, I think she really should've taken more time thinking if she wants to be with him again or if he even deserves another chance. What he did wasn't okay, and the lame apology isn't enough for her humiliation. But alas, she was kinda forced to forgive him because of the family curse, and unfortunately, she still has feelings for him. 🤧
Even though it might have looked like I wasn't having fun, I really did enjoy myself, and that's mainly because of Sabrina. She's the one who made this story a worthwhile read for me. Again, it's not too bad, but as usual, there's definitely room for improvement.
Book info:
- 3rd POV
- Small town romance
- Opposites attract
- Grumpy (debatable) x Sunshine
- Fake dating
- Loss of loved one
- Gambling addiction
- Witchy vibes (tarot and calendar reading)
- No cheating, OW
- OMD (Her ex showed up to ask her if they could get back together, but she said no)
- Separation (1 month)
- No V
- HFN (in a relationship 🥲🤧)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2024
It’s always the surly ones that has surprises up their pocket.
-Deliciously Opposite attracts.
-Grumpy x sunshine.
-Fake dating.
-Hot and Steamy.
-Romcom with a touch of magic.
-Standalone, KU.
There was never a dull moment in the book and I can’t believe this is the author’s debut book. I loved the writing style and enjoyed the way the story unfolded.
Completely opposite to each other Gavin was the sturdy tree to Sabrina’s daily chaos. What I loved about their relationship was how accepting each were of each other’s quirks and personalities. They uplifted, helped and supported each other to become a better version of themselves.
Gavin was very honest and he always owned up to his mistakes. Meanwhile Sabrina is truly a sweet sunshine girl.
This book was quite funny and I loved how the Tarot cards were incorporated to the story. It was fascinating. The upcoming conflict gave me much anxiety but enjoyed that too.
Overall all a very enjoyable book that I highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
-Deliciously Opposite attracts.
-Grumpy x sunshine.
-Fake dating.
-Hot and Steamy.
-Romcom with a touch of magic.
-Standalone, KU.
There was never a dull moment in the book and I can’t believe this is the author’s debut book. I loved the writing style and enjoyed the way the story unfolded.
Completely opposite to each other Gavin was the sturdy tree to Sabrina’s daily chaos. What I loved about their relationship was how accepting each were of each other’s quirks and personalities. They uplifted, helped and supported each other to become a better version of themselves.
Gavin was very honest and he always owned up to his mistakes. Meanwhile Sabrina is truly a sweet sunshine girl.
This book was quite funny and I loved how the Tarot cards were incorporated to the story. It was fascinating. The upcoming conflict gave me much anxiety but enjoyed that too.
Overall all a very enjoyable book that I highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
September 30, 2024
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Clover Callahan’s The Fate Date is a charming romance novel that kept me hooked from the very first page. It’s a classic grumpy/sunshine, fake-dating novel that weaves in elements of magic and curses in a realistic way. AND IT'S CANADIAN!
I enjoyed following both Gavin and Sabrina on their journeys to overcome their past insecurities and ultimately fall in love. They were both relatable and believable even though both were quirky, odd balls. The book was also full of charming side characters, and I am definitely looking forward to reading the other Glengarry brothers’ stories.
Callahan was particularly good at building tension. I found myself unable to wait to get to the retreat! The first three quarters, in particular, shine with great pacing, witty dialogue, and a growing chemistry. There’s a perfect blend of romantic build up and emotional depth that kept me eager to turn the page.
However, the final quarter of the novel left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed. While the build-up and character development were strong, it felt like it all fell apart after It also seemed really tonally dissonant with the rest of the book.
The book started strong and was bantery and fun, but somehow by the end, all the characters were speaking in flowery monologues that didn’t feel natural. The ending, while satisfying in some ways, didn’t fully match the promise of the story’s earlier chapters.
Despite the slight disappointment in the conclusion, The Fate Date is an enjoyable read overall. Readers who like their romance novels served with a touch of magic will find much to love here, even if the final act doesn't quite live up to the rest.
Clover Callahan’s The Fate Date is a charming romance novel that kept me hooked from the very first page. It’s a classic grumpy/sunshine, fake-dating novel that weaves in elements of magic and curses in a realistic way. AND IT'S CANADIAN!
I enjoyed following both Gavin and Sabrina on their journeys to overcome their past insecurities and ultimately fall in love. They were both relatable and believable even though both were quirky, odd balls. The book was also full of charming side characters, and I am definitely looking forward to reading the other Glengarry brothers’ stories.
Callahan was particularly good at building tension. I found myself unable to wait to get to the retreat! The first three quarters, in particular, shine with great pacing, witty dialogue, and a growing chemistry. There’s a perfect blend of romantic build up and emotional depth that kept me eager to turn the page.
However, the final quarter of the novel left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed. While the build-up and character development were strong, it felt like it all fell apart after It also seemed really tonally dissonant with the rest of the book.
The book started strong and was bantery and fun, but somehow by the end, all the characters were speaking in flowery monologues that didn’t feel natural. The ending, while satisfying in some ways, didn’t fully match the promise of the story’s earlier chapters.
Despite the slight disappointment in the conclusion, The Fate Date is an enjoyable read overall. Readers who like their romance novels served with a touch of magic will find much to love here, even if the final act doesn't quite live up to the rest.
September 26, 2024
This book was such a sweet romcom💐 I appreciate being part of the ARC team🫶🏼
At first the names started getting confusing for the sexy Glengarry clan with so many “Gs” but throughout the book is was a lot easier to follow when they weren’t all together. That being said, I’m pretty sure they are cursed with their good looks😉
This book was a fate date through and through🪄🃏I loved the differences between Sabrina and Gavin. The conflictual internal debates both have when it comes to love and when to pursue based on their own life experiences kept me guessing. It’s spicy 🌶️ in the best way and the ending tells me there’s more to come from Clover! I CAN’T WAIT!
If you loved The Hex Ex from Erin Sterling, I think you’ll love The Fate Date🥹
At first the names started getting confusing for the sexy Glengarry clan with so many “Gs” but throughout the book is was a lot easier to follow when they weren’t all together. That being said, I’m pretty sure they are cursed with their good looks😉
This book was a fate date through and through🪄🃏I loved the differences between Sabrina and Gavin. The conflictual internal debates both have when it comes to love and when to pursue based on their own life experiences kept me guessing. It’s spicy 🌶️ in the best way and the ending tells me there’s more to come from Clover! I CAN’T WAIT!
If you loved The Hex Ex from Erin Sterling, I think you’ll love The Fate Date🥹
October 7, 2024
Big thank you to @happilybookedpr and @clover.callahan.writes for an arc copy!
A rom-com, with a fake dating trope, a grumpy mmc, astrology & tarot exploration, and set in a city 3 hours from me - sign me up!
I feel I need to start this review by giving you my signs:
☀️ Virgo 🌙 Virgo ⬆️ Virgo
My Mercury is also in Virgo, and my Venus is in Leo jus like our boy Gavin. We share so many signs, and I couldn't help but laugh because I felt like I always knew where this character was coming from.
I found the beginning to be a bit slow, with so many character introductions. I wasn't sure what I was signing up for, but by chapter 7, I was hooked. When im reading a romance, I'm all about the fun and banter, and this story delivered. What I appreciate is that these are fully developed characters, and even though there's an element of magic, their conversations and relationship feel plausible. What's keeping this from a higher rating is the pacing of the end and a few ~fluffy~ moments. Overall, I loved this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series!
Unfiltered thoughts:
• Vero was my favourite side character. As a French Canadian, I loved the way she spoke
• The brothers dynamic was good and I'm excited to see where their stories go
• I love how thoughtful Gavin is
• the spice was
More reviews at @shelfworthywords
A rom-com, with a fake dating trope, a grumpy mmc, astrology & tarot exploration, and set in a city 3 hours from me - sign me up!
I feel I need to start this review by giving you my signs:
☀️ Virgo 🌙 Virgo ⬆️ Virgo
My Mercury is also in Virgo, and my Venus is in Leo jus like our boy Gavin. We share so many signs, and I couldn't help but laugh because I felt like I always knew where this character was coming from.
I found the beginning to be a bit slow, with so many character introductions. I wasn't sure what I was signing up for, but by chapter 7, I was hooked. When im reading a romance, I'm all about the fun and banter, and this story delivered. What I appreciate is that these are fully developed characters, and even though there's an element of magic, their conversations and relationship feel plausible. What's keeping this from a higher rating is the pacing of the end and a few ~fluffy~ moments. Overall, I loved this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series!
Unfiltered thoughts:
• Vero was my favourite side character. As a French Canadian, I loved the way she spoke
• The brothers dynamic was good and I'm excited to see where their stories go
• I love how thoughtful Gavin is
• the spice was
More reviews at @shelfworthywords
October 7, 2024
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️
This is a cute opposites attract story!!!
Gavin is a strait laced with no fun professional. He asks Sabrina who runs an astrology and crystals store to be his fake date to a company retreat. He is trying to make his image more soft. But the fake does not stay fake long.
#thefatedate #clovercallahan
#tarotdating #booklover #bookworm #romcom #romancereader #booksta
#oppositesattract #steamyread #happilybookedpr
Spice 🌶️🌶️
This is a cute opposites attract story!!!
Gavin is a strait laced with no fun professional. He asks Sabrina who runs an astrology and crystals store to be his fake date to a company retreat. He is trying to make his image more soft. But the fake does not stay fake long.
#thefatedate #clovercallahan
#tarotdating #booklover #bookworm #romcom #romancereader #booksta
#oppositesattract #steamyread #happilybookedpr
October 13, 2024
Buckle up for a sizzling rollercoaster of charm, chaos, and chemistry! In this wild ride of grumpy tech wizard meets sassy tarot queen, Gavin and Sabrina are about to set the pages on fire. Gavin, the corporate shark with zero patience for pleasantries, needs a girlfriend like yesterday for a work retreat. Enter Sabrina, a witchy tarot reader who’s got just enough spark to light up Gavin’s dull corporate world—and a few candles while she’s at it.
The deal? He’ll fix her quirky witchcraft shop, and she’ll be his “plus one” in the fakest of fake relationships. What could go wrong, right? How about a retreat that’s packed with so much tension you’ll need a cold shower after reading about their one-bed honeymoon suite fiasco? Oh, and did I mention the tarot readings revealing dark, delicious secrets about Gavin’s cursed family history? Yeah, it's that kind of ride.
Expect tons of grumpy x sunshine banter, witchy magic vibes, and enough puns to make your sides ache. But as their feelings blur the lines between faking it and making it, you'll be fanning yourself from the steamy spice and swooning over the softer moments. Sabrina’s optimism is Gavin’s ultimate kryptonite, but she’s not the only one unlocking parts of him he never knew he had. There’s heart, heat, and a healthy dose of "Oh my God, are they actually doing this?!" in the best possible way.
So grab this book if you’re into scorching chemistry, a sprinkle of magic, and love stories that leave you with a grin—and maybe a few new spells up your sleeve. Just make sure you’ve got your tarot deck ready, because you’re going to want to read this future over and over again
The deal? He’ll fix her quirky witchcraft shop, and she’ll be his “plus one” in the fakest of fake relationships. What could go wrong, right? How about a retreat that’s packed with so much tension you’ll need a cold shower after reading about their one-bed honeymoon suite fiasco? Oh, and did I mention the tarot readings revealing dark, delicious secrets about Gavin’s cursed family history? Yeah, it's that kind of ride.
Expect tons of grumpy x sunshine banter, witchy magic vibes, and enough puns to make your sides ache. But as their feelings blur the lines between faking it and making it, you'll be fanning yourself from the steamy spice and swooning over the softer moments. Sabrina’s optimism is Gavin’s ultimate kryptonite, but she’s not the only one unlocking parts of him he never knew he had. There’s heart, heat, and a healthy dose of "Oh my God, are they actually doing this?!" in the best possible way.
So grab this book if you’re into scorching chemistry, a sprinkle of magic, and love stories that leave you with a grin—and maybe a few new spells up your sleeve. Just make sure you’ve got your tarot deck ready, because you’re going to want to read this future over and over again
October 7, 2024
4 ⭐
1.5 🌶️
Tropes: fake dating, grumpy sunshine, one bed, opposites attract
Opposites attract when Sabrina meets Gavin at his mother’s house for her birthday dinner. Gavin is climbing the corporate ladder as quickly and efficiently as he can for a much needed promotion and raise. Despite being told he was a shoo-in for the CFO position, he discovers not only is he in competition with 2 other people, but he and his non-existent girlfriend will need to attend the corporate retreat, essentially as a weekend long interview. Enter Sabrina who is struggling with running her mother’s store in the wake of her death, and agrees to do tarot readings at Glady’s birthday party thinking it will be a good way for her to network. Gavin offers to help her create a business plan to save her company, if she will go with him to the retreat and pretend to be his girlfriend so that he can soften his image and get the CFO position.
Man, I love a good fake dating story and this did not disappoint. And one bed!!
So first off, I need Sabrina to do my chart. This was such a cute story, almost like a reverse fairytale where the prince needs the princesses kiss, and FINALLY SOMEONE WHO USES SUPINE INSTEAD OF PRONE. I also liked how Vero shows Sabrina how she’s essentially living a “real life” romance book.
The only complaint I have is it felt like there was a disconnect with the characters’ personalities and the prank scene. It didn’t really fit. It’s almost like they turned way more childish once they got to the retreat?
Either way, this book is very well done and I enjoyed reading it a lot.
1.5 🌶️
Tropes: fake dating, grumpy sunshine, one bed, opposites attract
Opposites attract when Sabrina meets Gavin at his mother’s house for her birthday dinner. Gavin is climbing the corporate ladder as quickly and efficiently as he can for a much needed promotion and raise. Despite being told he was a shoo-in for the CFO position, he discovers not only is he in competition with 2 other people, but he and his non-existent girlfriend will need to attend the corporate retreat, essentially as a weekend long interview. Enter Sabrina who is struggling with running her mother’s store in the wake of her death, and agrees to do tarot readings at Glady’s birthday party thinking it will be a good way for her to network. Gavin offers to help her create a business plan to save her company, if she will go with him to the retreat and pretend to be his girlfriend so that he can soften his image and get the CFO position.
Man, I love a good fake dating story and this did not disappoint. And one bed!!
So first off, I need Sabrina to do my chart. This was such a cute story, almost like a reverse fairytale where the prince needs the princesses kiss, and FINALLY SOMEONE WHO USES SUPINE INSTEAD OF PRONE. I also liked how Vero shows Sabrina how she’s essentially living a “real life” romance book.
The only complaint I have is it felt like there was a disconnect with the characters’ personalities and the prank scene. It didn’t really fit. It’s almost like they turned way more childish once they got to the retreat?
Either way, this book is very well done and I enjoyed reading it a lot.
October 5, 2024
i honestly haven't read too many books where tarot cards and readings were involved, so i wasn't sure what to expect. But now i want to learn more about that and have someone read me.
i have always loved and get drawn to a good fake dating trope as well as grumpy x sunshine and this one definitely hit the spot.
i love sabrina and gavin with all my heart! their relationship was just so cute. i loved how their differences bettered eachother. And the way that sabrina brought out the fun side of gavin had me melting.
i absolutely ate this book up and am already ready to reread the fate date. i could not recommend this book more. if only i could read it for the first time again😩🩵
the fate date will be published on October 10th so don't forget to check it out!
read if you enjoy:
🩵 opposites attract
🩵 fake dating
🩵 romcom
🩵 grumpy x sunshine
🩵 one bed
thank you so much happily booked pr and clover callahan for this arc!
i have always loved and get drawn to a good fake dating trope as well as grumpy x sunshine and this one definitely hit the spot.
i love sabrina and gavin with all my heart! their relationship was just so cute. i loved how their differences bettered eachother. And the way that sabrina brought out the fun side of gavin had me melting.
i absolutely ate this book up and am already ready to reread the fate date. i could not recommend this book more. if only i could read it for the first time again😩🩵
the fate date will be published on October 10th so don't forget to check it out!
read if you enjoy:
🩵 opposites attract
🩵 fake dating
🩵 romcom
🩵 grumpy x sunshine
🩵 one bed
thank you so much happily booked pr and clover callahan for this arc!
October 25, 2024
"She wasn’t surprised by the fact that Gavin Glengarry could kiss. No, the thought consuming her was that she liked it." 💕
This was an ARC read for me and was 5 stars all the way through, right up until the third act break up 🙄. Urgh I hate that so much, so it lost a star because of that. But that aside this was such a fun read.
Fake dating and one bed are two of my top favourite tropes so I was really excited for this book and it did not disappoint. I've never really had much interest in astrology ♈ or tarot cards 🎴 but this book made it sound like so much fun, I have literally just ordered a set of tarot cards on Amazon which should arrive tomorrow and I can't wait to try them 💕
Cute story, little bit of spice, grumpy x sunshine, opposites attract, astrology, tarot, curses, fake dating and one bed... Seriously, what is not to love? Such an enjoyable read and a brilliant debut novel from this author 💜
This was an ARC read for me and was 5 stars all the way through, right up until the third act break up 🙄. Urgh I hate that so much, so it lost a star because of that. But that aside this was such a fun read.
Fake dating and one bed are two of my top favourite tropes so I was really excited for this book and it did not disappoint. I've never really had much interest in astrology ♈ or tarot cards 🎴 but this book made it sound like so much fun, I have literally just ordered a set of tarot cards on Amazon which should arrive tomorrow and I can't wait to try them 💕
Cute story, little bit of spice, grumpy x sunshine, opposites attract, astrology, tarot, curses, fake dating and one bed... Seriously, what is not to love? Such an enjoyable read and a brilliant debut novel from this author 💜
September 5, 2024
Thank you for sharing this book with me !! Absolutely loved it, Gavin was everything I wanted him to be .. a MMC that I loathed but eventually fell in love with, and the FMC Sabrina who is a woman of integrity, sticks to her guns .. and charms others with her quirky side. The banter between the two main characters had me howling( maybe cackling .. because this book was giving witchy vibes) . I really liked the explanation of the tarot cards when Sabrina did a reading as I’m clueless when it comes to that stuff. You could really tell the author did some research ! ..And oh can’t forget the spice which was not overbearing to the plot but enough to satisfy a reader you know. Can’t wait to the next book in the series :)
October 17, 2024
I loved this book! LOVED it! Gavin Glengarry can get it! He is so grumpy and blunt to the point that he is hilarious. Clover's dry humour comes through in both Gavin and Sabrina's POVs. So many romance books are written in first person and it took my brain a bit to get into the third person POV but oh man, it was WELL WORTH it.
I loved the open communication in this book, it was so refreshing and I laughed out loud so many times. Gavin's character development was so great, the fact that he actually takes time to sort himself out was great to see. These two characters couldn't be more opposite, but they balance each other out. They learn from each other and it makes them better people.
I can't wait for the rest of this series. I had such a great time!
I loved the open communication in this book, it was so refreshing and I laughed out loud so many times. Gavin's character development was so great, the fact that he actually takes time to sort himself out was great to see. These two characters couldn't be more opposite, but they balance each other out. They learn from each other and it makes them better people.
I can't wait for the rest of this series. I had such a great time!
July 27, 2025
I absolutely loved The Fate Date. It was charming, cheeky, enchanting, and vulnerable. I was sucked in and enjoyed every single moment.
The banter, the tension, the opposites attract/grumpy x sunshine elements were incredible, and the spice was PERFECT and fit the story so well.
As someone who has always been an Ottawa girl, the nods to this city and surrounding areas made me happy, and brought up some nostalgia!
Simply put, this story was BEAUTIFUL. I cannot wait for more from Clover Callahan. I am officially a fan for life.
The banter, the tension, the opposites attract/grumpy x sunshine elements were incredible, and the spice was PERFECT and fit the story so well.
As someone who has always been an Ottawa girl, the nods to this city and surrounding areas made me happy, and brought up some nostalgia!
Simply put, this story was BEAUTIFUL. I cannot wait for more from Clover Callahan. I am officially a fan for life.
October 18, 2024
While Gavin thought he had his mind made up with the perfect plan for him to land the position, Sabrina the intuitive kind nature had a different take on his heart. A lovely story but also heartfelt as they both had pasts they were still grieving their loss and also a good reminder that words matter no matter what state you were in when you said them, you never know who is listening and how they would feel hearing them again. Thank you for the ARC read! Enjoyed getting to know their stories.
October 7, 2024
Enjoyable fake dating romance. It was nice and easy to read so perfect if are looking to get lost. Will definitely keep an eye out for the rest of this series.
October 10, 2024
This was such a cute fake dating, grumpy-sunshine rom-com that also involves tarot card reading. I don’t know anything about tarot cards, but I found this aspect of the book to be super interesting.
I struggled a little bit in the beginning because there were so many character introductions, but overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Sabrina and Gavin’s relationship and she really helped pull him out of his grumpy ways. It is true that opposites do attract, and they complimented each other well.
I cannot wait for the next book of this series to come out.
I struggled a little bit in the beginning because there were so many character introductions, but overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Sabrina and Gavin’s relationship and she really helped pull him out of his grumpy ways. It is true that opposites do attract, and they complimented each other well.
I cannot wait for the next book of this series to come out.
October 2, 2024
Arc Review
4 Stars! ⭐️
“Relationships were beautifully challenging. delightfully messy. Perfectly imperfect. “
I struggled in the beginning chapters of this book, there were a lot of introductions of people and I found it confusing. Once I got past that this story was great!
You got opposites attract. Who doesn’t love a grump?!
She reads tarot cards and owns her own shop. Which is also fitting since he has a generational love curse!
You’ve got only one bed, and fake dating.
Gavin is a protective family man, who sees her talents and embraces and supports them.
Sabrina is free loving optimistic who helps Gavin out of his grumpy shell.
This is the first book in the glengarry curse series, and after learning about the curse and having Sabrina read tarot cards for the brothers I’m excited to see where their stories lead!
Thank you to Clover Callahan and happily booked PR for providing me with this ARC in return for my honest review.
4 Stars! ⭐️
“Relationships were beautifully challenging. delightfully messy. Perfectly imperfect. “
I struggled in the beginning chapters of this book, there were a lot of introductions of people and I found it confusing. Once I got past that this story was great!
You got opposites attract. Who doesn’t love a grump?!
She reads tarot cards and owns her own shop. Which is also fitting since he has a generational love curse!
You’ve got only one bed, and fake dating.
Gavin is a protective family man, who sees her talents and embraces and supports them.
Sabrina is free loving optimistic who helps Gavin out of his grumpy shell.
This is the first book in the glengarry curse series, and after learning about the curse and having Sabrina read tarot cards for the brothers I’m excited to see where their stories lead!
Thank you to Clover Callahan and happily booked PR for providing me with this ARC in return for my honest review.
October 31, 2024
What an impressive debut rom-com!! 🤩
I was hooked from the start by the charming banter and opposites-attract style of Sabrina & Gavin’s interactions. Obviously, the character development really had me sold. Sabrina’s vibrant personality shone through right away. I really loved how much the theme of tarot and arcane arts/magic was represented with Sabrina’s business and just her internal monologue. The little tidbits that Callahan added to her thoughts about how Sabrina made sense of the world by attributing certain traits to someone’s astrology was so interesting and endearing. I think that really helped sell Sabrina as a character to me.
Conversely, Gavin’s focus on the practical side of life and specifically finance really ties in wonderfully to the main plot point of Gavin vying for a promotion to the company’s CFO. But you also understand his coarse, grumpy practicality and his almost obsessive, anxious attachment to those values when we’re introduced to his past problems with gambling and his father’s gambling addiction.
Now, since I obviously knew that there was a fake-dating trope, you could’ve given me these brief synopses of the main characters and told me “oh, yes, they will fake date” and I would have anticipated something far less inventive for how they met and came up with this scheme. (This is why I read books, not write them, but). Callahan absolutely crushed the meet-cute and threw in some really believable bridges that explain why this even worked: obviously Sabrina’s shop is struggling, Gavin has some wicked business sense, and he is willing to trade this knowledge for Sabrina’s presence at a business retreat that will help him land the job by convincing his colleagues that he’s actually personable.
I know some might think that the buildup to the actual crux of the plot (which is assumed to be the fake-dating-and-then-they-get-together-at-the-retreat thing) is rather long. However, I really appreciated that Callahan appears to have put some relationship building points into her plot so we don’t have an insta-love situation. (Don’t get me wrong, insta-love can be spicy and I have certainly enjoyed it in rom-coms in the past but this was much better)
A couple other things I really appreciated: the book is set in Ottawa (my hometown so I’m super biased on this one), first book that I’ve read that has been. So it was incredibly heartwarming to read about certain settings and niche Ottawa/Canada things and be able to perfectly picture what Callahan was trying to portray. Like I said, it’s not an experience I’ve had with a book before, but I really liked it. A couple nods to downtown Ottawa, delving into the countryside of the counties of SDG, and some funny character development for our Franco-Ontarien, Véro 😍 I’m obsessed and it feels like home.
Throw in the intergenerational curse of the Glengarry family and all of a sudden I’m 1) seeing how Gavin and Sabrina eventually bridge the gap between their differences (bc if Sabrina can be a business woman and Gavin believes enough in arcana to put some weight in a family curse, obvi they can make it work), and 2) I’m on board for sequels because there’s still three hot brothers unaccounted for!!! 💁🏼♀️
I was hooked from the start by the charming banter and opposites-attract style of Sabrina & Gavin’s interactions. Obviously, the character development really had me sold. Sabrina’s vibrant personality shone through right away. I really loved how much the theme of tarot and arcane arts/magic was represented with Sabrina’s business and just her internal monologue. The little tidbits that Callahan added to her thoughts about how Sabrina made sense of the world by attributing certain traits to someone’s astrology was so interesting and endearing. I think that really helped sell Sabrina as a character to me.
Conversely, Gavin’s focus on the practical side of life and specifically finance really ties in wonderfully to the main plot point of Gavin vying for a promotion to the company’s CFO. But you also understand his coarse, grumpy practicality and his almost obsessive, anxious attachment to those values when we’re introduced to his past problems with gambling and his father’s gambling addiction.
Now, since I obviously knew that there was a fake-dating trope, you could’ve given me these brief synopses of the main characters and told me “oh, yes, they will fake date” and I would have anticipated something far less inventive for how they met and came up with this scheme. (This is why I read books, not write them, but). Callahan absolutely crushed the meet-cute and threw in some really believable bridges that explain why this even worked: obviously Sabrina’s shop is struggling, Gavin has some wicked business sense, and he is willing to trade this knowledge for Sabrina’s presence at a business retreat that will help him land the job by convincing his colleagues that he’s actually personable.
I know some might think that the buildup to the actual crux of the plot (which is assumed to be the fake-dating-and-then-they-get-together-at-the-retreat thing) is rather long. However, I really appreciated that Callahan appears to have put some relationship building points into her plot so we don’t have an insta-love situation. (Don’t get me wrong, insta-love can be spicy and I have certainly enjoyed it in rom-coms in the past but this was much better)
A couple other things I really appreciated: the book is set in Ottawa (my hometown so I’m super biased on this one), first book that I’ve read that has been. So it was incredibly heartwarming to read about certain settings and niche Ottawa/Canada things and be able to perfectly picture what Callahan was trying to portray. Like I said, it’s not an experience I’ve had with a book before, but I really liked it. A couple nods to downtown Ottawa, delving into the countryside of the counties of SDG, and some funny character development for our Franco-Ontarien, Véro 😍 I’m obsessed and it feels like home.
Throw in the intergenerational curse of the Glengarry family and all of a sudden I’m 1) seeing how Gavin and Sabrina eventually bridge the gap between their differences (bc if Sabrina can be a business woman and Gavin believes enough in arcana to put some weight in a family curse, obvi they can make it work), and 2) I’m on board for sequels because there’s still three hot brothers unaccounted for!!! 💁🏼♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2024
The full book review is on the site, visit https://libraryrep.wixsite.com/home/p.... An excerpt is below:
…I received early access to this book via a free advanced reader copy (ARC) for an honest review.
… At first glance, this book isn’t in line with my usual books for representation; the lead characters are not racialized, neither are they really going against the grain socially or at risk of marginalization. However, after reading the novel, I have to say, I’m so glad I did.
…Oh my goodness! I didn't want this book to end! The story is so well written. 4 stars.
This is Clover Callahan’s first publication, “The Fate Date.” Where to begin? Forced proximity, opposites attract. He's like a robot with a heart. She's like a bubbly, effervescent unicorn that needs his grounding. The juxtaposition of the two, the passionate vs. the linear, the intuitive vs. the unfeeling logic, and the way their lives come together, is really wholesome and really well done.
As someone who has worked in STEM for the last 15 years, I can tell you that the author got the diction choices right. Mentions of “binary”, “spreadsheets”, and “software upgrades” were excellent descriptive choices that really helped to convey the male character’s personality and the world that has molded him.
The same thing goes for the female lead. As someone who reads oracle cards (not tarot, but I have some familiarity with it), the way she meets the readings and her life with intuition and tuning into the planetary energies feels very accurate and believable.
…Also, there is SPICE! More than in the “Veronica Speedwell” series by Deanna Raybourn, but less than Ana Huang’s “Kings of Sin” series. It doesn't have the explicit sexual aggression like in an Ana Huang story, but it’s also not so conservative that it glosses over the spicy bits, leaving you wanting details. It's all personal preference/what you're in the mood for, but I found it to be just right.
Really well done. I can’t wait to read more of Clover Callahan’s work.
Thank you to Clover Callahan and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to join the ARC team and read an advanced copy.
For the full book review, please visit
https://libraryrep.wixsite.com/home/p...
…I received early access to this book via a free advanced reader copy (ARC) for an honest review.
… At first glance, this book isn’t in line with my usual books for representation; the lead characters are not racialized, neither are they really going against the grain socially or at risk of marginalization. However, after reading the novel, I have to say, I’m so glad I did.
…Oh my goodness! I didn't want this book to end! The story is so well written. 4 stars.
This is Clover Callahan’s first publication, “The Fate Date.” Where to begin? Forced proximity, opposites attract. He's like a robot with a heart. She's like a bubbly, effervescent unicorn that needs his grounding. The juxtaposition of the two, the passionate vs. the linear, the intuitive vs. the unfeeling logic, and the way their lives come together, is really wholesome and really well done.
As someone who has worked in STEM for the last 15 years, I can tell you that the author got the diction choices right. Mentions of “binary”, “spreadsheets”, and “software upgrades” were excellent descriptive choices that really helped to convey the male character’s personality and the world that has molded him.
The same thing goes for the female lead. As someone who reads oracle cards (not tarot, but I have some familiarity with it), the way she meets the readings and her life with intuition and tuning into the planetary energies feels very accurate and believable.
…Also, there is SPICE! More than in the “Veronica Speedwell” series by Deanna Raybourn, but less than Ana Huang’s “Kings of Sin” series. It doesn't have the explicit sexual aggression like in an Ana Huang story, but it’s also not so conservative that it glosses over the spicy bits, leaving you wanting details. It's all personal preference/what you're in the mood for, but I found it to be just right.
Really well done. I can’t wait to read more of Clover Callahan’s work.
Thank you to Clover Callahan and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to join the ARC team and read an advanced copy.
For the full book review, please visit
https://libraryrep.wixsite.com/home/p...
October 16, 2024
This was such a magical and quirky book - I loved every chapter! This story revolves around our two protagonists: no-nonsense Gavin Glengarry and the charming Sabrina LaBelle. Here's a sneak-peek of what to expect...
🌠 New release 🌠
The Fate Date by @clover.callahan.writes is NOW available!
What to expect:
👜Opposites attract
🌠FMC is a sunshine shop owner
👜Late night golf cart pranks
🌠Generational love curse
👜Astrology spreadsheet
🌠MMC is a grumpy tech consultant
👜Only one bed at the corporate retreat
🌠She reads his tarot cards
👜Fake dating
Blurb:
GAVIN GLENGARRY has climbed the corporate ladder with ruthless efficiency to save his family home, a strategy that now threatens his chance at the promotion he desperately needs. Facing an upcoming retreat for job candidates –and their plus ones–Gavin is up against his toughest challenge playing nice. He surprises everyone by promising to bring his girlfriend along, landing him in deeper trouble—because she doesn’t exist. That is, until he meets the captivating tarot reader at his mother’s birthday party, whose reading reveals an eerie connection to Gavin himself.
Charismatic SABRINA LABELLE has a gift for interpreting tarot–if only her intuition extended to saving her witchcraft shop. She’s tried everything from séances gone wrong to misbegotten cat adoptions in her effort to save the quirky store that’s been her second home and her late mother’s dream.
The two strike a he’ll provide one-on-one business coaching to help Sabrina’s store, and she’ll pose as Gavin’s cheerful girlfriend at the company retreat. As they struggle to keep their charade secret throughout team building sessions, corporate dinners, and an accidental stay in a honeymoon suite, the feelings they’re faking start to feel very real. With Gavin’s help, Sabrina finds her own professional goals, taking root beyond her mother’s ambitions. However, for Gavin, a life filled with Sabrina’s optimism will force him to reveal tightly bound secrets to escape his cursed fate.
What a fantastic October read! It's giving mystery, magic, and rom-com! 5/5! I'm excited to see what upcoming books will bring!
Thanks to @clover.callahan.writes and @happilybookedpr for selecting me to read this book 🧡
🌠 New release 🌠
The Fate Date by @clover.callahan.writes is NOW available!
What to expect:
👜Opposites attract
🌠FMC is a sunshine shop owner
👜Late night golf cart pranks
🌠Generational love curse
👜Astrology spreadsheet
🌠MMC is a grumpy tech consultant
👜Only one bed at the corporate retreat
🌠She reads his tarot cards
👜Fake dating
Blurb:
GAVIN GLENGARRY has climbed the corporate ladder with ruthless efficiency to save his family home, a strategy that now threatens his chance at the promotion he desperately needs. Facing an upcoming retreat for job candidates –and their plus ones–Gavin is up against his toughest challenge playing nice. He surprises everyone by promising to bring his girlfriend along, landing him in deeper trouble—because she doesn’t exist. That is, until he meets the captivating tarot reader at his mother’s birthday party, whose reading reveals an eerie connection to Gavin himself.
Charismatic SABRINA LABELLE has a gift for interpreting tarot–if only her intuition extended to saving her witchcraft shop. She’s tried everything from séances gone wrong to misbegotten cat adoptions in her effort to save the quirky store that’s been her second home and her late mother’s dream.
The two strike a he’ll provide one-on-one business coaching to help Sabrina’s store, and she’ll pose as Gavin’s cheerful girlfriend at the company retreat. As they struggle to keep their charade secret throughout team building sessions, corporate dinners, and an accidental stay in a honeymoon suite, the feelings they’re faking start to feel very real. With Gavin’s help, Sabrina finds her own professional goals, taking root beyond her mother’s ambitions. However, for Gavin, a life filled with Sabrina’s optimism will force him to reveal tightly bound secrets to escape his cursed fate.
What a fantastic October read! It's giving mystery, magic, and rom-com! 5/5! I'm excited to see what upcoming books will bring!
Thanks to @clover.callahan.writes and @happilybookedpr for selecting me to read this book 🧡
October 2, 2024
Opposites Attract ✔️
Grumpy/Sunshine ✔️
Fake Dating ✔️
One Bed ✔️
Romance ✔️
Comedy ✔️
The Fake Date by Clover Callahan has all the tropes and all the cuteness, and I absolutely ate it up.
Our two main characters are Gavin Glengarry and Sabrina Labella. Gavin is stern, curt, and laiden with secrets, heavy burdens, and a family curse. He has an opportunity to fix all his worries with the upcoming promotion he’s applied for, CFO, but there’s one small problem - his presentation for the position takes place during a company retreat, which he must bring a plus one to, and he has no romantic prospects. Given that he’s disliked by many of his peers and subordinates, he must make a good impression with both his presentation and personality. Enter Sabrina, an adorable witch focused on tarot and astrology, and member of Gavin’s mother’s coven. Where Gavin is hard and high strung, Sabrina is soft, kind, eclectic. She owns a slowly declining magic shop and is in desperate need of business coaching. Can the two of them strike a mutually beneficial deal without ripping each other’s heads - or clothes - off? 😏
As I mentioned, I really enjoyed this one! It was the perfect, cute read to start off the autumn season, with witchy goodness and mentions of Halloween, Samhain, and Fall. The chemistry between Gavin and Sabrina was off the charts! Once they both opened up, I fell in love with them so fast and couldn’t help but root for their success, both in their careers and as a couple. The spice, while only a small fraction of the story, was delicious and I devoured it! Sooo good!Callahan’s writing was also extremely pleasant and detailed, and I honestly cannot wait to read more of her work. Finally, while romcoms can be predictable (hello, most of them end in a HEA), this one left off with a really cool cliffhanger to set up the next book in the series.
TLDR: cute witchy romcom with lots of chemistry, pop culture, and delicious characters. Read it!
Grumpy/Sunshine ✔️
Fake Dating ✔️
One Bed ✔️
Romance ✔️
Comedy ✔️
The Fake Date by Clover Callahan has all the tropes and all the cuteness, and I absolutely ate it up.
Our two main characters are Gavin Glengarry and Sabrina Labella. Gavin is stern, curt, and laiden with secrets, heavy burdens, and a family curse. He has an opportunity to fix all his worries with the upcoming promotion he’s applied for, CFO, but there’s one small problem - his presentation for the position takes place during a company retreat, which he must bring a plus one to, and he has no romantic prospects. Given that he’s disliked by many of his peers and subordinates, he must make a good impression with both his presentation and personality. Enter Sabrina, an adorable witch focused on tarot and astrology, and member of Gavin’s mother’s coven. Where Gavin is hard and high strung, Sabrina is soft, kind, eclectic. She owns a slowly declining magic shop and is in desperate need of business coaching. Can the two of them strike a mutually beneficial deal without ripping each other’s heads - or clothes - off? 😏
As I mentioned, I really enjoyed this one! It was the perfect, cute read to start off the autumn season, with witchy goodness and mentions of Halloween, Samhain, and Fall. The chemistry between Gavin and Sabrina was off the charts! Once they both opened up, I fell in love with them so fast and couldn’t help but root for their success, both in their careers and as a couple. The spice, while only a small fraction of the story, was delicious and I devoured it! Sooo good!Callahan’s writing was also extremely pleasant and detailed, and I honestly cannot wait to read more of her work. Finally, while romcoms can be predictable (hello, most of them end in a HEA), this one left off with a really cool cliffhanger to set up the next book in the series.
TLDR: cute witchy romcom with lots of chemistry, pop culture, and delicious characters. Read it!
October 10, 2024
I loved this book. It was something unique for me. I didn’t accept the book to have a lot of talk around Sabrina’s career, astrology, tarot card reading, fate and etc. It definitely gives off witchy / spiritual vibes for sure and I actually enjoyed it. Grumpy x Sunshine/ One Bed.
I immediately got right into this book after chapter 3 after the introductions and beyond. I stayed up all hours of the night wanting to read more and more and fast. The anticipation.. the falling , the curse… and reading about both characters growth had me so invested.
I love Sabrina, she gives off such a positive and calm energy. I love her vibes and how she is all about reading people and wanting to know their outcome in life. She is strong minded and motivated. Gavin is a grumpy , 0 fucks when it comes to other people besides his loved ones. He has a hurtful past that keeps his guard down and his feelings hidden.. that is until he meets Sabrina. Both characters go through grief and loss and I sympathized with these characters during these scenes.
I was so invested in this relationship that I had emotions of excitement, anticipation and sadness. I literally almost cried near the ending because of how invested I was haha. And Girl… that spiceeeeee I would literally fall apart if Gavin was in my room.
The overall story is amazing, I truly really enjoyed this book. I am such an imaginative reader and great books play like movies in my head. I would definitely read this if you are a romance lover and looking for a different vibe.
The tarot card , birth charts and astrology stuff made intrigued me so much that now I want to look up my own personal stats.
I can’t wait to read Gabes story.
Thank you Emma and Happily Booked PR for the ARC
Tropics & Tropes:
Grumpy x sunshine
One bed
Loss and grief
Boss / Corporate
Retreat
Curse
Business
Positive energies
Tarot Reading
Astrology & Horoscopes
Sex & Spice
I immediately got right into this book after chapter 3 after the introductions and beyond. I stayed up all hours of the night wanting to read more and more and fast. The anticipation.. the falling , the curse… and reading about both characters growth had me so invested.
I love Sabrina, she gives off such a positive and calm energy. I love her vibes and how she is all about reading people and wanting to know their outcome in life. She is strong minded and motivated. Gavin is a grumpy , 0 fucks when it comes to other people besides his loved ones. He has a hurtful past that keeps his guard down and his feelings hidden.. that is until he meets Sabrina. Both characters go through grief and loss and I sympathized with these characters during these scenes.
I was so invested in this relationship that I had emotions of excitement, anticipation and sadness. I literally almost cried near the ending because of how invested I was haha. And Girl… that spiceeeeee I would literally fall apart if Gavin was in my room.
The overall story is amazing, I truly really enjoyed this book. I am such an imaginative reader and great books play like movies in my head. I would definitely read this if you are a romance lover and looking for a different vibe.
The tarot card , birth charts and astrology stuff made intrigued me so much that now I want to look up my own personal stats.
I can’t wait to read Gabes story.
Thank you Emma and Happily Booked PR for the ARC
Tropics & Tropes:
Grumpy x sunshine
One bed
Loss and grief
Boss / Corporate
Retreat
Curse
Business
Positive energies
Tarot Reading
Astrology & Horoscopes
Sex & Spice
October 17, 2024
ARC review/Book recommendation💼🌠:
The Fate Date by @clover.callahan
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 1 of the Glengarry curse series
Topics throughout the book are:
💼 Dual POV in third person
🌠 Generational love curse
💼 Rustic Canadian settings
🌠 opposites attract
💼 fake dating
🌠 grumpy x sunshine
Summary💼🌠:
Gavin Glengarry is a grumpy tech security expert who has risen through the corporate ranks with ruthless efficiency, all to help his mom renovate their home. However, his cold, business-only approach with his colleagues threatens his shot at the CFO promotion he desperately needs to ease his financial struggles. With a company retreat approaching for candidates vying for the position, Gavin shocks his coworkers by announcing he’s bringing a date—even though, due to a mysterious curse, he doesn’t have one. That is, until he meets Sabrina Labelle, a tarot card reader at his mother’s party. They strike a deal: Gavin will coach Sabrina on how to save her struggling witchcraft shop, and in return, she’ll play the role of his bubbly girlfriend at the retreat. But will their fake relationship spark real feelings? And will this arrangement help them both achieve their dreams? Read to find out!
If you loved The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling or This Spell Love by Kate Robb, then this opposites-attract story set in modern-day Canada is perfect for you! Clover Callahan, a Canadian romcom author, has completely wowed me with her debut novel. I’m usually not a fan of third-person POVs, but her writing style is truly impressive—it keeps you hooked and makes the story so enjoyable as it unfolds! As a Canadian, I love supporting fellow Canadian authors, and I can’t wait to see what Clover has in store for her future books!
Many thanks to Clover and Happily Booked PR for providing me the opportunity of this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#booksbooksbooks #books #romancebook #happilybookedpr
The Fate Date by @clover.callahan
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 1 of the Glengarry curse series
Topics throughout the book are:
💼 Dual POV in third person
🌠 Generational love curse
💼 Rustic Canadian settings
🌠 opposites attract
💼 fake dating
🌠 grumpy x sunshine
Summary💼🌠:
Gavin Glengarry is a grumpy tech security expert who has risen through the corporate ranks with ruthless efficiency, all to help his mom renovate their home. However, his cold, business-only approach with his colleagues threatens his shot at the CFO promotion he desperately needs to ease his financial struggles. With a company retreat approaching for candidates vying for the position, Gavin shocks his coworkers by announcing he’s bringing a date—even though, due to a mysterious curse, he doesn’t have one. That is, until he meets Sabrina Labelle, a tarot card reader at his mother’s party. They strike a deal: Gavin will coach Sabrina on how to save her struggling witchcraft shop, and in return, she’ll play the role of his bubbly girlfriend at the retreat. But will their fake relationship spark real feelings? And will this arrangement help them both achieve their dreams? Read to find out!
If you loved The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling or This Spell Love by Kate Robb, then this opposites-attract story set in modern-day Canada is perfect for you! Clover Callahan, a Canadian romcom author, has completely wowed me with her debut novel. I’m usually not a fan of third-person POVs, but her writing style is truly impressive—it keeps you hooked and makes the story so enjoyable as it unfolds! As a Canadian, I love supporting fellow Canadian authors, and I can’t wait to see what Clover has in store for her future books!
Many thanks to Clover and Happily Booked PR for providing me the opportunity of this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#booksbooksbooks #books #romancebook #happilybookedpr
November 5, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I am going to start this review off by asking if anyone else felt Dharma and Greg vibes from this book? The corporate lawyer falls for the flower child sitcom? Just me? Ok, moving on. Clover has written a book that is such a fun read. Fake dating and opposites attract at their finest. When these two meet, there is just enough spark for them to agree to help each other out, but when that spark truly ignites, watch out!!
Gavin is all business, take the corporate world by storm MMC. He is all about moving his career along and quickly. When he is in need of a date for a work retreat, he finds himself in a jam. When he meets the tarot card reader at his mother’s birthday party, his business deal wielding mind comes up with a plan. What he doesn’t expect is for this woman to break through all his walls, discover secrets about his family he thought had long been laid to rest, and finds himself falling head over heels for her.
Sabrina just lost her mother and is struggling to keep her late mother’s store up and running. She takes a side job of tarot card reading at a birthday, hoping to drum up some new business and network. She did not expect to be propositioned to be a fake date of Gavin, but how can she say no?
He will help her with a business plan to save her mom’s shop. She can do a little fake dating right?
I loved these two MCs and can’t wait for more of this series. The side characters were lovable and helped shape this story and set up future stories. The witchy vibes are great for a cozy fall read. The story is well balanced with romance and plot, with a great pace that doesn’t drag at any point. The banter was witty and made me giggle throughout the book. I truly enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait for more in this series
As always, review any author notes before reading.
Tropes:
🌟Small Town Romance
🌟Opposites Attract
🌟Grumpy x Sunshine
🌟Fake Dating
🌟Forced Proximity
I am going to start this review off by asking if anyone else felt Dharma and Greg vibes from this book? The corporate lawyer falls for the flower child sitcom? Just me? Ok, moving on. Clover has written a book that is such a fun read. Fake dating and opposites attract at their finest. When these two meet, there is just enough spark for them to agree to help each other out, but when that spark truly ignites, watch out!!
Gavin is all business, take the corporate world by storm MMC. He is all about moving his career along and quickly. When he is in need of a date for a work retreat, he finds himself in a jam. When he meets the tarot card reader at his mother’s birthday party, his business deal wielding mind comes up with a plan. What he doesn’t expect is for this woman to break through all his walls, discover secrets about his family he thought had long been laid to rest, and finds himself falling head over heels for her.
Sabrina just lost her mother and is struggling to keep her late mother’s store up and running. She takes a side job of tarot card reading at a birthday, hoping to drum up some new business and network. She did not expect to be propositioned to be a fake date of Gavin, but how can she say no?
He will help her with a business plan to save her mom’s shop. She can do a little fake dating right?
I loved these two MCs and can’t wait for more of this series. The side characters were lovable and helped shape this story and set up future stories. The witchy vibes are great for a cozy fall read. The story is well balanced with romance and plot, with a great pace that doesn’t drag at any point. The banter was witty and made me giggle throughout the book. I truly enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait for more in this series
As always, review any author notes before reading.
Tropes:
🌟Small Town Romance
🌟Opposites Attract
🌟Grumpy x Sunshine
🌟Fake Dating
🌟Forced Proximity
November 4, 2024
This story was one of a kind. It's wild on how much. Fortune tellers, corporate grumps and an endless supply of glitter pens and stickers. I love that the family has a curse (that sounds awful but just come with me). Opposites attract in the best ways possible. I'll always stand behind the fact that opposites help one another get out of their comfort zone. You see that the entire book. Especially with Gavin. He grows so so much with Sabrina. It's so beautiful.
Both Sabrina and Gavin lose a parent. Sabrina recently lost her mother, gaining their shop; the business that was making Sabrina loose her mind. Gavin lost his father, gaining all the burdens of the entire family and all the debt. Neither of them were happy. Neither of them could figure out what they wanted. Until mama Glengarry invited her fortune teller.
Sabrina was drowning in her life. Chaos in the most magical ways possible. She was trying to keep her mothers memory alive, while pushing to achieve some of the goals she wished too. It wasn't until Gavin came along that she started to see her potential. Sometimes we just need a little bit of help. A nudge in the right direction. And lots of spreadsheets.
Gavin was holding the weight of his entire family on his shoulders. Fearful of a curse that haunted their family for generations. It's understandable given their families history. He also held onto a secret that made him believe all his suffering was worth it. Sabrina helped him relax. To remember how to smile again. She was the light at the end of a dark tunnel. Bringing happiness back into his life.
I loved these two. So unconventional. I adore it. And I'm a sucker for glitter pens too. I can't wait to see what the other Glengarry boys are going to be up to in the future. See how they break their curses.
Both Sabrina and Gavin lose a parent. Sabrina recently lost her mother, gaining their shop; the business that was making Sabrina loose her mind. Gavin lost his father, gaining all the burdens of the entire family and all the debt. Neither of them were happy. Neither of them could figure out what they wanted. Until mama Glengarry invited her fortune teller.
Sabrina was drowning in her life. Chaos in the most magical ways possible. She was trying to keep her mothers memory alive, while pushing to achieve some of the goals she wished too. It wasn't until Gavin came along that she started to see her potential. Sometimes we just need a little bit of help. A nudge in the right direction. And lots of spreadsheets.
Gavin was holding the weight of his entire family on his shoulders. Fearful of a curse that haunted their family for generations. It's understandable given their families history. He also held onto a secret that made him believe all his suffering was worth it. Sabrina helped him relax. To remember how to smile again. She was the light at the end of a dark tunnel. Bringing happiness back into his life.
I loved these two. So unconventional. I adore it. And I'm a sucker for glitter pens too. I can't wait to see what the other Glengarry boys are going to be up to in the future. See how they break their curses.
October 3, 2024
The Fate Date by Clover Callahan had me enamored from the start. A dour tech consultant, a whimsical astrologer and tarot reader, Generational curses, and secrets aplenty.
Gavin Glengarry is up for a promotion at work, but the promotion is at risk when he finds out he'll be going against two others for the position... and it'll be at a corporate retreat where significant others are invited. In the heat of being teased about his separation of work and family, Gavin lies. He tells them he has a girlfriend... for a year now. Dig the hole a little deeper Gav.
Sabrina Labelle has inherited her mother's witchcraft shop and is struggling to make ends meet. The community isn't there like it was when her mom was alive and it feels like everything is going wrong. She decides to attend Gladys Glengarry's birthday party to read tarot and hopefully make some much needed business connections. Unfortunately for her, this party wasn't a party so much as a family gathering plus her.
After the party Sabrina gets a ride home from Gavin and they strike a deal. Sabrina goes with Gavin to the corporate retreat and in return Gavin helps Sabrina turn the business around and get it profitable.
Sabrina and Gavin are true opposites in every way, but when you put them together, it makes them all the stronger. A perfect balance of light and dark, they bring out the best aspects of one another. Throughout the book Sabrina helps Gavin find joy again, and Gavin centers her. Brings her back to reality.
If you love whimsy, tarot, Grumpy men being wrapped around the finger of cinnamon roll women, and #FatedDestinies I highly recommend checking out #TheFateDate by @clover.callahan.writes which releases on October 10, 2024.
Gavin Glengarry is up for a promotion at work, but the promotion is at risk when he finds out he'll be going against two others for the position... and it'll be at a corporate retreat where significant others are invited. In the heat of being teased about his separation of work and family, Gavin lies. He tells them he has a girlfriend... for a year now. Dig the hole a little deeper Gav.
Sabrina Labelle has inherited her mother's witchcraft shop and is struggling to make ends meet. The community isn't there like it was when her mom was alive and it feels like everything is going wrong. She decides to attend Gladys Glengarry's birthday party to read tarot and hopefully make some much needed business connections. Unfortunately for her, this party wasn't a party so much as a family gathering plus her.
After the party Sabrina gets a ride home from Gavin and they strike a deal. Sabrina goes with Gavin to the corporate retreat and in return Gavin helps Sabrina turn the business around and get it profitable.
Sabrina and Gavin are true opposites in every way, but when you put them together, it makes them all the stronger. A perfect balance of light and dark, they bring out the best aspects of one another. Throughout the book Sabrina helps Gavin find joy again, and Gavin centers her. Brings her back to reality.
If you love whimsy, tarot, Grumpy men being wrapped around the finger of cinnamon roll women, and #FatedDestinies I highly recommend checking out #TheFateDate by @clover.callahan.writes which releases on October 10, 2024.
October 10, 2024
I received early access to this book, as an ARC reader, in exchange for an honest review.
Main tropes :
Grumpy x sunshine
Fake dating
Forced proximity
Opposites attract
Generational love curse
This book is written in a dual point of view (POV) and is based in Canada!!!! In the city of Ottawa, Ontario ! I was SO excited to read a book written in not only Canada, but Ontario!
The research and time that went into this book is phenomenal, in regards to both main characters professions, the location, etc!
The amount of tarot & astrology information that Sabrina shares in the book, well done by the author!
A few times I feel it may have been a bit heavy, as I had a hard time following along when it got more in depth on birth charts, etc. but these few times do not detract from the storyline at all - they most likely enhance it for those who know anything about the subject!
Gavin & Sabrina were forced into a fake dating relationship to help save both their careers, they end up falling for each other- I mean, it’s a rom-com book after all! With many hiccups and challenges for both main characters to overcome, they eventually make their way to a real relationship by the end of the book.
Sabrina brings out the positives in Gavin & Gavin helps to ground Sabrina. They really are opposites!
Overall, I enjoyed this book! It was well written, plot was well developed & researched, character development was there and it was an enjoyable read!
I also enjoyed how the author left us on a cliffhanger for her next book in the series, I’m looking forward to reading it when it comes out!!
I rate this book a 4/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice level is minimal, a few spicy scenes, 1.5/5 🌶️
Main tropes :
Grumpy x sunshine
Fake dating
Forced proximity
Opposites attract
Generational love curse
This book is written in a dual point of view (POV) and is based in Canada!!!! In the city of Ottawa, Ontario ! I was SO excited to read a book written in not only Canada, but Ontario!
The research and time that went into this book is phenomenal, in regards to both main characters professions, the location, etc!
The amount of tarot & astrology information that Sabrina shares in the book, well done by the author!
A few times I feel it may have been a bit heavy, as I had a hard time following along when it got more in depth on birth charts, etc. but these few times do not detract from the storyline at all - they most likely enhance it for those who know anything about the subject!
Gavin & Sabrina were forced into a fake dating relationship to help save both their careers, they end up falling for each other- I mean, it’s a rom-com book after all! With many hiccups and challenges for both main characters to overcome, they eventually make their way to a real relationship by the end of the book.
Sabrina brings out the positives in Gavin & Gavin helps to ground Sabrina. They really are opposites!
Overall, I enjoyed this book! It was well written, plot was well developed & researched, character development was there and it was an enjoyable read!
I also enjoyed how the author left us on a cliffhanger for her next book in the series, I’m looking forward to reading it when it comes out!!
I rate this book a 4/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice level is minimal, a few spicy scenes, 1.5/5 🌶️
October 18, 2024
Oh this book! It was absolutely adorable and I laughed out loud once, or twice, or perhaps a few times ;) and I kicked my feet a bit, and cried a bit as well! Such a wonderful and fun story - the fake dating trope is still one of my favorites, and for once I truly found myself giddy for the opposites attract trope! More importantly (for me) was the grumpy sunshine trope as that was delicious and made for some wonderful angst and steam. The pacing of this book was wonderful, the character development was done in such a way that showed so much growth while it still made sense and felt genuine. The dialogue was witty and fun, and the steam was hot. The characters, every single one of them, were fun and easily showed their importance in the story.
Gavin, for all his grumpiness charmed me from the beginning - his type A gruff exterior sure was silenced by his inner thoughts and I utterly enjoyed that. Sabrina was a chaotic MESS and oh how I loved her for that. The mix of tech and tarot was a blast and I really loved learning so much about astrology - I'm actually looking to buy a pack of tarot cards so that I can start learning more! The family history and drama, the brothers and their parts to play in everything, the post-it wall, the business ideas, it all just made for such a complete story.
The one thing that I was utterly shocked by was the fact that this is Clover Callahan's first book! She did amazing for it being her debut novel, and I am so eager to see what comes next - perhaps a story about Gabe ;) I would highly encourage anyone to give this one a chance - it's especially perfect for this time of year!
Thank you so much to Happily Booked PR, and Clover Callahan for the Arc!
Gavin, for all his grumpiness charmed me from the beginning - his type A gruff exterior sure was silenced by his inner thoughts and I utterly enjoyed that. Sabrina was a chaotic MESS and oh how I loved her for that. The mix of tech and tarot was a blast and I really loved learning so much about astrology - I'm actually looking to buy a pack of tarot cards so that I can start learning more! The family history and drama, the brothers and their parts to play in everything, the post-it wall, the business ideas, it all just made for such a complete story.
The one thing that I was utterly shocked by was the fact that this is Clover Callahan's first book! She did amazing for it being her debut novel, and I am so eager to see what comes next - perhaps a story about Gabe ;) I would highly encourage anyone to give this one a chance - it's especially perfect for this time of year!
Thank you so much to Happily Booked PR, and Clover Callahan for the Arc!
October 11, 2024
4.25⭐️
Gavin, a surly and closed off MMC, works in a tech company and is fighting for the chance to take over as CFO. However, his competition is much more personable and approachable so, he may or may not invent a fake girlfriend. Enter Sabrina, a bright and bubbly woman who owns a witchy ship in town and spends her free time doing tarot readings and analyzing star/birth charts. As Sabrina endeavors to enhance Gavin’s image, Gavin attempts to improve Sabrina’s business-savvy. As they work together closely, they’re forced to see more in each other than the surface level. Things start to come to a head just as they go on a corporate retreat…What could possibly go wrong?
This was such a cute take on fake dating! I loved Sabrina so much and Gavin definitely grew on me. I was wary of him in the beginning because of his surliness but as his reasoning and background were revealed, he earned himself a little soft spot in my heart.
I loved this opposites-attract romance because it was fun to see Sabrina try to force Gavin to open up and be more personable, especially when it was so clear he had zero desire to be that person. Also, watching Gavin try to wrangle Sabrina into exhibiting some modicum of organizational skill was quite entertaining.
As I got to enjoy Gavin and Sabrina’s story, I was pleasantry surprised to find myself actually laughing out loud at the jokes on the page. There was a comparison of a sibling to Jar Jar Binks and quite a few bookstagram references. (Disclaimer: the bookstagram references kinda felt like breaking the fourth wall but I was here for it).
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and had fun popping into my readers groups to say how funny or cute a line was while encouraging them to read it on release day! You should too!
Gavin, a surly and closed off MMC, works in a tech company and is fighting for the chance to take over as CFO. However, his competition is much more personable and approachable so, he may or may not invent a fake girlfriend. Enter Sabrina, a bright and bubbly woman who owns a witchy ship in town and spends her free time doing tarot readings and analyzing star/birth charts. As Sabrina endeavors to enhance Gavin’s image, Gavin attempts to improve Sabrina’s business-savvy. As they work together closely, they’re forced to see more in each other than the surface level. Things start to come to a head just as they go on a corporate retreat…What could possibly go wrong?
This was such a cute take on fake dating! I loved Sabrina so much and Gavin definitely grew on me. I was wary of him in the beginning because of his surliness but as his reasoning and background were revealed, he earned himself a little soft spot in my heart.
I loved this opposites-attract romance because it was fun to see Sabrina try to force Gavin to open up and be more personable, especially when it was so clear he had zero desire to be that person. Also, watching Gavin try to wrangle Sabrina into exhibiting some modicum of organizational skill was quite entertaining.
As I got to enjoy Gavin and Sabrina’s story, I was pleasantry surprised to find myself actually laughing out loud at the jokes on the page. There was a comparison of a sibling to Jar Jar Binks and quite a few bookstagram references. (Disclaimer: the bookstagram references kinda felt like breaking the fourth wall but I was here for it).
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and had fun popping into my readers groups to say how funny or cute a line was while encouraging them to read it on release day! You should too!
October 16, 2024
This is literally a book you can get lost in! It was another one I couldn't put down and I'm not mad at it one bit! I loved watching Gavin unfold and reveal his true self and Sabrina is a whiz with astro charting along with tarot. The accuracy of the tarot readings in this book were spot on too!
Gavin is up for a promotion and he really, really needs the job because of family financial matters. Since his father's passing, he has been trying to keep his family home going and it seems like every week something new is breaking. His mom has a surgery coming up and he has to get renovations done so she can stay in her home.
Sabrina has a witchy crystal and tarot shop that her mother owned. She took over when her mother passed a year ago. Sabrina has a gift when it comes to tarot and she has to find a way to get the shop back on track. She decides to attend a birthday party to do readings for one of her regular customers. That's when she meets Gavin and his 3 brothers.
Gavin needs a date for a team building weekend where he will be presenting against others for his promotion. He talks Sabrina into being his fake girlfriend and in exchange he will be her business coach to get her company out of the red and back into the green. With his sour attitude, Sabrina is unsure of the deal but knows it's her last chance.
Gavin and Sabrina start to trust each other and feelings begin to grow. In spite of that, Gavin still won't let his guard down and Sabrina doesn't want to be hurt. Gavin is holding on to so many secrets about his past and unless he can be vulnerable, things will never work out. Sometimes you have to release the past and make your own path through life.
Gavin is up for a promotion and he really, really needs the job because of family financial matters. Since his father's passing, he has been trying to keep his family home going and it seems like every week something new is breaking. His mom has a surgery coming up and he has to get renovations done so she can stay in her home.
Sabrina has a witchy crystal and tarot shop that her mother owned. She took over when her mother passed a year ago. Sabrina has a gift when it comes to tarot and she has to find a way to get the shop back on track. She decides to attend a birthday party to do readings for one of her regular customers. That's when she meets Gavin and his 3 brothers.
Gavin needs a date for a team building weekend where he will be presenting against others for his promotion. He talks Sabrina into being his fake girlfriend and in exchange he will be her business coach to get her company out of the red and back into the green. With his sour attitude, Sabrina is unsure of the deal but knows it's her last chance.
Gavin and Sabrina start to trust each other and feelings begin to grow. In spite of that, Gavin still won't let his guard down and Sabrina doesn't want to be hurt. Gavin is holding on to so many secrets about his past and unless he can be vulnerable, things will never work out. Sometimes you have to release the past and make your own path through life.
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