The Invitation

Brewer Family #3

by Adriana Locke

I hate Ripley Brewer.



So, why am I cuddling on his lap, peering into his ocean-blue eyes while cameras record our every move?



My best friend needs my help to save her career, and I would do anything for her. Besides, filming a reality show sounds fun … until Ripley shows up to play the role of my fake boyfriend.



As always, we nearly come to blows within minutes of seeing each other. The playboy billionaire accuses me of a setup, but I insist I’d rather live in a world without carbs than spend a minute with him.



At some point during the melee, we sign contracts. I can’t stand the look of his six feet two inches of chiseled abs and broad shoulders. And I loathe his arrogance. But now that he’s my pretend beau, I’m stuck acting like I’m falling in love with my biggest enemy.



It turns out that Ripley’s a good actor, too. Every soft touch on the small of my back makes my heart thump faster. His sultry smirk feels like it’s only for me. I should detest every word that passes his kissable lips.



Is this all a ruse, or does Ripley want to end this episode of The Invitation going from enemies to lovers? Because now? I’m not convinced I can despise him anymore.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 23, 2024

About the author

Adriana Locke is a USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author with a knack for writing swoony, unforgettable contemporary romances. At nineteen, she traded her small-town roots for big-city life, only to realize her heart beats for quiet mornings and cozy chaos. These days, she’s living her happily-ever-after in Ohio with Mr. Locke—her high school sweetheart—four lively sons, and two hilariously hyper Jack Russell terriers.

When she’s not penning love stories that will leave you laughing and sighing, Adriana is battling the epic quest of missing silverware, “gardening” (a.k.a. chatting with her plants), or leaving her grocery list on the counter as she heads to the store. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let her books whisk you away to a world of heartwarming romance and irresistible heroes.

Reviews

[Adriana Locke]

Available now!

Grab your copy today!
https://geni.us/5AM9s

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3YyU7yK

💜 Enemies-to-Lovers
💜 Fake Dating
💜 Forbidden Relationship
💜 One bed
💜 Found Family

[Medollga · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF: more shallow than a kiddie pool🤦‍♀️🤡

it's diabolical how bad it was😬

[Canan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ripley ve Georgia uzun zamandır birbirleri ile savaş halindedir. Toplum içinde mümkün mertebe medeni olmaya çalışsalar da, her fırsatta kılıçları çekmekten geri kalmazlar. Yani bu onların düşüncesi iken geri kalan herkes bir gün birlikte olmalarını bekliyor 😅😂

Sevdikleri için ortak bir projede yer almaları gerekince bazı yanlış anlaşılmalar, eski duygular gün yüzüne çıkıyor.

Hafif tadında bir romanstı. Çok fazla beklenti yüklemeden okunur.

[Katie Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, easy read! Of the books I have read by Adriana, these were the characters I have felt that I was most able to connect with. I have had challenges in reading some of hers in connecting maybe because of the length and pacing? I liked the pace in this one and the sheer HATE these two characters had for each other. I would probably lean towards calling this loathing to lovers vs enemies. But man these two spit fire at each other. I liked the banter between them. Georgia gives Ripley a lot of slack for his behavior, but he dishes it right back. I love reading this trope because there really is a fine line between love and hate- and the line finally flipped in this one. I also liked the Brewer family banter. The one challenge I had with this one was the third act breakup- I didn't like why it happened or the stance that Georgia took on it. But that may just be me.

Georgia is in a bind. She has been jobless for a few months with no leads. So when her BF asks her for a favor to be on a new dating show, she hesitates for a second and then says yes. At least she will be getting paid! What she doesn't agree to is her counterpart on said show being Ripley Brewer. The man that she has hated for the better part of 10 years. The man who makes her see fire while also being RIDICULOUSLY attractive. Now she has to pretend that she not only doesn't know him but that she is also falling in love with him. Yeah right- she has to brush up on her acting skills. But the more they are hanging out and the little gestures that he starts doing throw her off her game. Things come to a head when she explains why she feels the way she does but he cuts her at the knees by saying he has actually liked her for a long time. Now they are exploring this fire on the other side between them and it is scorching. It seems like they are moving fast but they have known each other for a long time. Now all Georgia has to do is get her mom to understand that even though Ripley's dad screwed her over, he isn't him. Will they be able to survive the fight her mom puts up?

Ripley has never really felt needed in his family. Everybody has a place but him. So when his brother calls in saying that the family needs his help getting their image back up- he says yes of course. But now he is realizing he chewed off more than he could bargain for. He is supposed to act like he has never met Georgia who happens to be the bane of his existence while also making people believe he is falling in love with her. The thing is though he can't really remember why he hates her. It seems like he kind of followed her lead on how he has acted for the past 10 years. So when things start to shift between them and their chemistry seems to click for the first time he realizes that he actually has been hiding what he feels. He wants her like a lot. And now they are exploring this thing between them and man does it feel RIGHT. However Georgia tells Ripley about the history her mom has with her family and he is hoping beyond hope that it won't affect what they have because he has realized something- he need Georgia like he needs air.

This is the third book in this series but you can definitely read it as a standalone which I always enjoy. Like I said I have had a hard time in previous ones with the flow and characters clicking but this one shifted for me which I was happy about.

Thank you to Valentine PR and Adriana for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[❤️ Nanda ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now Ripley is my favorite Brewer brother, and I don't know if the remaining two will be able to beat him from the top, I mean... He's a proud daddy of an adorable puppy, that he named Waffles! How cute is that?
(sorry Renn, but maybe Tate in the future 🥹)

Ripley and Georgia are frenemies. I wouldn't say they're really enemies, cause they roll in the same circle, with the same tight group of friends since highschool, but ohhh boy, the way they bicker and annoy each other is on another level entirely!

When they happen to end up together filming a dating reality show, they start to unfold the truth about why and the how they started their hating game, and in the end... It was all about that thin line between love and hate.

I have to say that Georgia's mom annoyed me a lot! But I guess not every family is perfect and she redeemed herself in the end... Kinda of.

As usual, Adriana delivers great banter, hilarious moments, that entertaining family chat, a couple with high chemistry, and some small emotional damage, cause we live for the angst!

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gifted storyteller won me over to her work more than a dozen romances ago, and each new one seems to be better than the last. But this one? In all honesty, I’ve never seen the enemies-to-lovers trope done so perfectly. It's funny and sassy but deeply emotional with tons of authentic angst and heart. I couldn’t get enough of Ripley and Georgia!

When your BFF has a desperate need, you want to help a girl out, right? This is how Georgia Hayes finds herself as a star on a new reality TV show test project that matches two subjects based on unique criteria. Everything is great until Georgia discovers her costar is Ripley Brewer, her arch nemesis for the past decade or so. But they can both be professional to save the project, at least until fake starts to feel very real for them both.

Oh my heart y'all, I can’t begin to explain how much I loved this one! Our crafty wordsmith did an amazing job taking Georgia and Ripley from fake to real, with all the past hurt, anger, distrust, second guessing, and confusing feelings in between. Add in some bad blood between Georgia's histrionic mother and Ripley's no-good, despicable father and it's either a recipe for either disaster or an opportunity to once and for all heal the past.

With close family bonds and trademark humor, we get a fun, charming romance that takes us into the deep end of emotions. You'll laugh out loud, you’ll shed a tear, and you’ll feel the whole array on this exquisite emotional ride. Make space in your romantic heart now, because Ridley and Georgia will live there forever.

[Anca A · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Review: *The Invitation* - Adriana Locke - ARC [18+]
4.5/5✨
3/5🌶️

The blurb of this book made me curious about it, so I decided to apply for it. Thanks to Adriana and Valentine Pr, I received this copy of the book.

Because of a little life crisis from both Georgia and Ripley, they end up agreeing to participate in a love show, named 'The Invitation'. I can only say that their best friends, Sutton and Jeremiah, might have had something to do with this🤭.

Now, they are supposed to stand each other and even more, they need to do that in front of the cameras. But faking it becomes easier with each moment they share together. Why? Well, because there's something else between them beneath that loathing they share. And everything started from a misunderstanding, which you'll learn about in the book.

The constant feud was so nice to follow🤣. They were always on each other's throats and had the perfect words for each other. The banter was sooo good! That's why I love some dose of enemies to lovers from time to time🤭. The show added other flavors to the story, forcing them to face their problems. I kind of liked how Ripley was underneath his bad boy facade. He was super sweet and he protected and fought for Georgia, even when she wasn't too sure about what she wanted. She really needed someone like him in her corner, especially with a mother like hers.

It was a super nice read, filled with teases, sweetness and spice. Recommended for moments you want to relax and have a good time reading a book.

✨Tropes
#FakeDating
#EnemiesToLovers
#Miscommunication
#ForcedProximity
#Billionaire
#OppositesAttract
#RivalFamilies
#Banter

[Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could hand my heart to Ripley on a platter I would in a heart beat! He is the best Brewer! Heart of gold and loyal!

Georgia hates Ripley Brewer with a passion! He may have a sexy smirk and be drop dead gorgeous but he made her senior year awful and she will spend the rest of her life making him pay! When they both need to step in and help on a dating show the fake relationship they started starts to feel all too real! Emotions are high, truths are revealed and now Georgia has to decide if being with Ripley is worth losing the only family she has left!

Georgia and Ripley are hilarious. Anytime they are together you can feel the tension and their banter is GOLD! I loved every word and couldn’t put this book down once I started. Another Brewer to love and in my opinion he’s definitely my favorite!

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

A smart, fun, and beautifully romantic enemies-to-lovers story, this book made me laugh and swoon. It’s the third book in the Brewer Family series, the story of one of the middle brothers, Ripley (though the rest of his siblings do appear in the book, you can easily read this one as a spoiler-free standalone). It’s such a great read, and I loved it.

Ripley and Georgia hate each other. They have since high school, and all through the years since, even though they share a friend group and now their respective best friends are getting married. Their dynamic is pure snark and open hostility, and watching them together is wildly entertaining.

Their relationship takes a turn when, to each help out a friend, they individually agree to sign on to film a pilot for a new dating show. They agree to fake date a stranger and make it look romantic, and it’s only when they show up to sign the contracts that they learn that they’ll be fake dating each other. Both of them are too stubborn to walk away from what is essentially a dare, and they don’t want to let their friends down, so they agree to a series of ‘dates’ where they will pretend they don’t know each other and that they’re falling for each other.

It's a fun set-up, and there’s an immediate shift in their dynamic when they are forced to be nice to each other. No more snark and bickering, they have to get to know each other as strangers would, while being their charming best, and they start to see things differently.

She hated me. Life was grand. But now we’ve spent alone time together while on our very best behavior, and I don’t think I quite hate her anymore.
In fact, I wonder if I ever really hated her at all.

It doesn’t take long for them to realise that there is a more to each other than they cared to acknowledge before. They can talk to each other, and though they still bicker, it’s more playful now. And when their forced proximity leads to them finally hashing out their grievances – revisiting the past and what went wrong between them all those years ago when they were on the cusp of becoming more - all of that tension and building chemistry explodes, and everything changes.

“What do you want, Peaches?” He kisses across my jaw and down the wide of my neck. “Tell me what you want.”
I tilt my head back and he places a kiss in the hollow of my throat.
“What do you think I want?” I ask, the sound raspy.
His chuckle vibrates against my cheek. “Knowing you? Probably carbs.”
“Asshole,” I laugh.

I loved watching these two come together! There’s all the build-up that you expect with a fake relationship, with the flirty talk and glances, the little touches and the meaningful looks, and in this case there’s the added complication of Ripley and Georgia’s past which makes it all the more intense. Every little moment brings a subtle shift, and the story is written in a way that makes it feel so real. And when these two go all in, they go ALL IN! The chemistry and sexual tension are there, the feels are there, and they do not hold back. They’re open and honest about everything, they’re keen to explore it all, and I loved watching their love story unfold. They already know each other so well, and the shift in their dynamic is effortless, and they are so gorgeous together.

“Do you know why this is so easy? … It’s easy because this is the way it’s supposed to be.”

They do have some external drama to work through which brings emotion to their situation, and I hurt for them both. But you never doubt how it’s all going to end up for them, and I was right there with them as they deal with it functionally and maturely and get their gorgeous happy ending.

This is such a fun read. Ripley and Georgia are so much fun, their changing relationship is gorgeous to watch, and the involvement of family and friends adds a lot to the story. It’s a sweet and easy read, and I loved it.

4 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.

[Cokiereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was the neatest fake dating trope! If you're a fan of enemies to lovers (or at least extreme, extreme dislike to lovers), then this is the book for you.

If there's one thing Ripley and Georgia can agree on, it's that they do not get along. Don't want to get along, and don't want to be near each other.

The banter in this one! Oh, it was so fun. The barbs were flying from both of them. They've known each other for years, and honestly, no one can get you like someone you've known for a long time. Especially one from high school.

They're in each other's orbit, even if they don't want to be. Their best friends are getting married and of course they're the best man and maid of honor.

Georgia is in a difficult space right now, aka not working. Ripley is seeing how happy his brother is with his family. So when Sutton needs someone to fill in on her new show, why not her best friend who's... not working!

You help out your friends whenever you can. You don't agree to having to be around enemy #1 for the unseeable future!

Banter keeps on bantering... lines get crossed, and truths are exposed. It's so enjoyable.

[Jasmine | Filthylittlereader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

Oh how I ate up Ripley and Georgia’s story!

Ripley was such a charmer but Georgia wasn’t falling for it at all. The banter between these two was perfection and so entertaining! I loved seeing another side of Ripley. He knew how to be a swooner when he wanted to be. Georgia with her sassy energy was just the woman to keep him on his toes.

Ripley and Georgia had undeniable chemistry that couldn’t help but keep me hooked on them from the first to the last page. The back story to their hate for each other was explained and it opened up an unexpected can of feels.

Adriana for the win with another story that hits with the three H’s; heat, humor and heart.

I can’t wait for the next Brewer story.

[Claire Ingledew · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED LOVED LOVED it Adriana has written a fabulous book with Ripley Brewer stealing my heart 💓

This is a enemies to lovers story, Ripley and Georgia characters I loved from the first page Ripley has two sides this tuff man but really he is a cuddly vulnerable bear but only a few people see this side.

Georgia she is one sassy lady she stand her ground with Ripley with some head to head arguments, the story flowed so well especially when these two help on a pilot reality show that helps out friends.

I could go on and on about these but i would spoil it for you so if you love an enemies to lovers read then this is right up your street.

We even get a to see Tate and Gannon hoping these two get there own books

For me it a 5 🌟

[Judy Portelles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ripley and Georgia had me laughing out loud, their banter was so good. This was such a good time. If you love enemies to lovers, fake dating and top tier banter you will love this.

The audio is a must. Jason Clarke and Lexi Maynard were amazing!

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧🎧

🎧 Okay, so here’s the thing, because I listened to this story, the audio production/narration is going to be a part of the calculation of the rating and also the review. The most diplomatic way to say what I need to say about narration is to just say that I did not not like it, but it was not a party in my ears. Fortunately, both Jason & Lexi required the same speed, so I didn’t have to continually go back and forth and change speeds. The main issue is that Lexi has a pause to her narration at just about every sentence, so it was hard to be in the moment with her. She came across as if she was reading and not performing and that isn’t my favorite experience when it comes to audiobooks. Honestly, if I wanted something merely read to me, I could just read the book out loud. Feel me? But let’s move …

📖 I really liked the story of Ripley and Georgia. I think it was a very creative way to mix enemies and close proximity together and have it come out realistic and organic. Obviously, with a close proximity situation, it forces all manor of circumstances to be front and center in life and when it comes to romance fiction, it allows the author to get to the “good stuff” earlier than if they weren’t forced together. No one wants to read 250+ pages of antagonism and just 25 of the good stuff and forced proximity allows you to even out the field in a story. Adriana did this well in this story. She took the time to develop their relationship properly from “enemies” to “friend(ish)” (lol) to “more”. I love when none of the steps are skipped, and circumstances are fully developed. It’s my #happyplace! With a perfect blend of tension and spark, laughter and heart, and a good dose of family goodness, The Invitation needs to be a must read for everyone!

⭐ About the rating … I hate rating books because it is completely subjective so therefor it’s a measurement of nothing! That being said, the total package for me is a solid 3.5 stars with narration being 3 stars and story being 4 stars, and since the story was such a delight, I am rounding +up+ because half stars are not a thing! :) These are my 2 cents, don’t spend them all at once!

[Julie Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story felt like something we would see as Locke tales! (IYKUK) The only thing Georgia and Ripley can agree on is they do not like each other! However, there is a fine line between dislike and love, because these two cannot avoid each other. The banter is perfection.

Ripley and Georgia have known each other since school. Their circle is small; everyone knows everything, or do they? The enemies to lovers, and fake dating, are written beautifully, the set up and execution to one of my favorite books this year. Expect the Locke humor as only she can write.

While this is the middle Brewer brother, you can read this book without the previous ones. But this reader recommends them in order.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[Kim Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin?? Ripley Brewer is my new dream man!! There has not been a book by Adriana Locke that I haven’t absolutely loved, but this one has skyrocketed to the top of my favorites list!!! Who doesn’t love a sexy dog dad???? The chemistry and connection between Ripley and Georgia was perfect! The enemies to lovers vibe was brilliant (we all know there’s a thin line between love and hate) I loved the basically “forced proximity” they had with the show. The way that Ripley always had Georgia’s back and knew all the details about her even when they “hated” each other! Georgia’s loyalty to Ripley when it all came down to it! This book was everything!!! I love the banter between all of the Brewer siblings and the peeks at their lives that we get to see! I can’t wait for the rest of the Brewer brothers!!!


Enemies to Lovers
Found Family
Trauma Healing
Fake Dating
Forbidden Love
A Cabin in a Storm
Sexy Dog Dad
It’s Always Been You
Hate to Love
Forced Proximity
The Best Banter

[Amberlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ALC review~

If you’re looking for a good long time friends, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake dating romance. Ripley, and Georgia’s story will be the perfect audiobook, or read. It was adorable, funny, and relatable.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. All the Brewer Brothers are swoon worthy!

[Kaitlin Dice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I read an Adriana Locke book I fall more in love with her writing. Each new book just gets better and better. The Invitation is the perfect enemies to lovers story that gave me all the feels. I loved the banter and all the funny feel good moments. I absolutely devoured the reality tv fake dating aspect of this story!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Georgia's best friend, Sutton needs help to save her career, she knows she would do anything for her. So she agrees to film a reality dating show. Unbeknownst to her, Ripley shows up to play the role of the fake boyfriend. As expected Georgia and Ripley are at a standstill. Ripley believes that Georgia set everything up. As they decide to go through with the show, the ruse becomes more than they bargained for in the end.

I loved Georgia so much. She was a firecracker. She made me laugh so much. She reminded me a lot of Willa from Heartless. Who is absolutely one of my favorites. Georgia was stubborn at times and got Ripley riled up so easily. They have known eachother for ten years and you can tell by how comfortable they were with one another. I loved the bickering back and forth between them. It was nonstop chaos and so many laugh out loud moments. Ripley was so amazing!! He was such a sweet guy and very patient. I loved the support they gave eachother through some difficult times in their lives. The Invitation has become my favorite book from this series so far. My heart melted too many times to count.

Recently I listened to the audiobook and it's fantastic! Performed in dual narration by Jason Clarke and Lexi Maynard. These two were perfect as Ripley and Georgia. Lexi is a new to me narrator. I loved her voice! She was exactly how I imagined Georgia to sound like. Lexi captured Georgia's bubbly personality. Her tone was light and cheerful. In the more emotional scenes Lexi does a phenomenal job of expressing the hurt that Georgia felt towards her mom. Jason as always was outstanding! I loved his range in tones. Loved his comedic timing in this one especially when he was doing his character transitions between Ripley and Georgia. I was laughing along with the characters. Jason and Lexi's incredible performances really shine in this audiobook! Highly recommend!

Audiobook coming soon!

Thank you to the author for my ALC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[girlwithhearteyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

And the award for a seriously convoluted version of the fake dating trope goes to…! 🤪

Premise: Ripley and Georgia have hated each other since high school but are part of the same friend group. For romance reasons, they need to pretend to be strangers who are matched up on a reality TV show .

I wasn’t sold on the concept, but ended up really enjoying the story! I found the Georgia and Ripley’s bickering fun without being annoying, and it also paved the way for pretty decent communication when their relationship started to turn. To be honest, a lot of the book was just them talking (with a few emotional punches peppered throughout) but I had a great time with this one.

[ifyouwereannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

This was great read, loved the banter between main characters and I was in need of good enemies-to-lovers book. It delivered.

[Shauna Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably my favorite enemies to lovers! It wasn’t too complicated and flowed so well. Ripley is EVERYTHING!!!! And once again I have a fave!!! Adriana makes it so hard to pick just one favorite book boyfriend bc they’re all so perfect!!

[BookishRaquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Heat Rating: 3/5 🌶️
Audiobook: 4.5/5 🎧

What to Expect:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Fake Dating
- Forced Proximity
- Forbidden Romance
- Billionaire MMC
- One Bed
- Dog Dad
- Reality TV Setting
- Found Family
- All the Banter
- It’s Always Been You

The Invitation is the third book in the Brewer Family series. This story features Ripley and Georgia, who have been at odds since their senior year of high school. Their frequent clashes stem from a long-standing mutual animosity, which intensifies when they end up on a reality dating show together due to last-minute casting changes. Both are too stubborn to back out despite discovering they will be each other’s dates because they each have personal reasons for wanting the show to succeed.

As Ripley and Georgia navigate their staged romance and spend actual time communicating, they begin to peel back the layers of misunderstanding and question why they fought so much in the first place. Ripley and Georgia's undeniable chemistry makes their journey from enemies to lovers believable and deeply satisfying. Ripley is so dang swoony! I love him so much! He is so patient, charming, and supportive of Georgia. The Brewer siblings are the best! They always have fun banter and bring the laughs. This was a really fun read, and I can't wait for the rest of the series.

Narration:
Lexi Maynard and Jason Clarke perform this audiobook in dual-style narration. Both delivered great performances and brought the characters to life. As always, I enjoyed Jason's performance. He fully embodied all things Ripley. Lexi did well portraying Georgia's strength and vulnerability. Lexi and Jason are great storytellers, and I enjoyed listening to Georgia and Ripley's fun and steamy enemies-to-lovers romance.

Thanks to Adriana Locke, Valentine PR, and Home Cooked Books for the gifted eARC and ALC. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Molly Scicluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in one sitting! I haven't done that in forever and it's just a testament to how Adriana can pull you in and immerse you in the characters lives.

I'm a BIG FAN of the Brewer fam and I've loved every sibling...and Ripley is no exception. At first I was hesitant and so unsure as to why there was such a hatred toward Georgia. And then it all clicked together...the sparring and the refusal to back down all of a sudden made so much more sense! There is a fine line between love and hate...

And that line can move pretty easily when you are forced together in the most unconventional way.

Georgia is such a complicated and layered character, she's never truly been loved, not in the way she deserves. And she hasn't had anyone in her corner to lift her up and stand by her side. All of a sudden that person is Ripley.

The chemistry and heat these two have....holy moly. And I'm a sucker for forced proximity and their circumstance gets taken to an entirely different level.

Read this book...and go get the new covers for the Brewer series 😍

[Hayley Gallant · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Another amazing book in this series by Adriana!

This book was the true definition of enemies to lovers & the tension between the two main characters is smoldering. 🔥

I loved the reality TV dating show aspect and my fav part of both main characters wad their loyalty and devotion to the people in their lives.

I was hooked from the start until the finish!

You get:
• Enemies To Lovers
• Fake Dating
• Reality TV Show
• Secret Crush
• Forced Proximity
• He Falls First
• Past Trauma

I highly recommend this one! Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.

[Camii · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sentí una conexión contigo en cuanto te vi caminando por el pasillo... como si fuera tu protector. Como si fueras mía para proteger"


Es el primer libro con un reality show que leo y la verdad es que fue súper divertido leer como dos personas que se odian tenían que fingir "enamorarse" y sin darse cuenta ambos terminaron teniendo sentimientos de verdad.

La enemistad de Georgia y Ripley viene de toda la vida, ellos tienen amigos en común y por esa razón siempre estan molestandose mutuamente y literalmente no se soportan pero todo cambia cuando su amiga esta por perder el trabajo de su vida porque los actores que contrato para su "Reality show" se bajaron del proyecto y ellos se ofrecen como reemplazo y a pesar de que al principio se negaron a estar juntos decidieron hacerlo por su mejor amiga.

Su relación me gusto mucho, Ripley es un hombre muy detallista y se notaba que a pesar de no soportar a Georgia el tenía sentimientos por ella y quedaba claro en cada momento que compartían juntos y era lindo ver como quería hacerla feliz con pequeñas cosas que para ella significaban un montón. Georgia era tal vez la que mas negada estaba a tener sentimientos por el y una de esas cosas era su mamá que había tenido una historia con el papá de el, razón por la que odiaba su apellido pero lo que mas le dolía a ella era una supuesta apuesta que hubo en su adolescencia cosa que Ripley aclaro de una manera tan lindaaa ♥️🥺, ese hombre es tan tierno y amoroso con sus palabras... era triste leer como se sentía insuficiente para todos por los malos comentarios que le hizo su padre a lo largo de su vida. Algo que me gusto es que ambos sabían defenderse mutuamente y que no dejaron que un drama de terceros arruinara su relación ✨

[Erica Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:
enemies to lovers
forbidden relationship
fake dating
forced proximity

Ripley Brewer and Georgia Hayes have hated each other and exchanged jabs for over a decade, ever since their senior year of high school. But having mutual friends means they consistently have to be around one another. When some friends need their help, they both agree to step in but refuse to back down when they find out the other one is involved too. Sharing some forced time together becomes exactly what they need to see past their own defenses and the stories they have told themselves about the other. They get a chance to finally see each other, and that changes everything.

I loved this welcome back to the Brewer family! Ripley and Georgia were amazing! Ripley comes off as confident, cocky, and charming but underneath he is holding on to harsh words and hurts his dad inflicted over the years. Georgia tries to hold on to her stubbornness and bravado around Ripley because of an incident in high school, but she too is holding on to some deep seeded parent wounds. They were each holding up a mask to the world and hoping no one saw through it. I felt like these two were so relatable in that aspect. Sometimes we all disguise our hurt as anger and shields. But when those aspects were removed for the sake of playing nice, we got to see their real selves come through and that made me love them even more! It was almost their second chance to meet each other and start again but compounded by the little memories that hold new meaning when the rest of the story is told and not just the part each of them had held onto.

I was hooked on Georgia and Ripley from the start and desperate to see just how it had all gone wrong when the chemistry between them was clearly there. The banter had me laughing and their pain brought on tears. I was so incredibly happy for each of them in the end. And Adriana's found family endings are always my favorites!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adriana is an auto read author for me, I just love her writing and this book was such a joy to read! It had everything I love in a book.. perfect enemies to lovers vibes, laugh out loud humour + banter, great family dynamics and seriously good tension + chemistry. I could have read another 200 whole pages on these two I just loved them so much.

Ripley + Georgia have known each other since high school, they run in the same friendship circle but cannot stand one another. The animosity between these two is so good, it’s a true enemies to lovers situation and I loved every moment of that journey.

Something Adriana does well is banter which was perfection here. No notes. Because the verbal sparring between these two was a highlight. Like kick my feet giddy, running to text my bestie what just happened in my book, cackling at my kindle (and I mean loudly, fully gathering attention and looks from those around me) funny.

When they’re forced together for a reality tv show and have to pretend to date and fall in love, they start to see each other differently, beyond the animosity that’s always been there and I loved the vulnerability they showed, the way their relationship progressed and the support they gave one another. And while their relationship changed, they still had their incredible verbal sparring and teasing which was perfect. They were meant to be and while everyone else knew they were inevitable, it took them time and getting out of their own way to work it out.

And a moment for the nickname because every time he called her 🍑peaches🍑 I melted to a puddle.

I really love this family, their dynamic and banter, the support they give to one another and while we were focused on Ripley here, I’m looking forward to seeing who’s next and hoping for Gannon 👀

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: enemies to lovers, billionaire, one bed, fake relationship, forced proximity, found family.

[Jodi - JodiReadsnListens · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Audio Review **
Ripley Brewer = swoon! The Invitation by Adriana Locke was a hilarious, heated, enemies-to-lovers romance that I devoured in one sitting. The tension and longing between Georgia and Ripley were off the charts, HOT, and I couldn’t get enough of their fake dating romance. This couple is a new favorite from Adriana!

Lexi Maynard and Jason Clarke perform this audiobook in dual narration, and this was the first time I’d heard these two paired together. Lexi’s narration captures Georgia’s sassy and passionate personality as she lets down her walls and gives into Ripley’s charm. Jason’s deep, growly tone encompasses Ripley’s arrogant, charismatic, dreamy demeanor that makes him so hard to resist. Also, Jason never ceases to impress me with his ability to transition seamlessly with hilarious and heartfelt dialogue between the characters. Both narrators delivered the slow-burn simmering chemistry between Georgia and Ripley.

Overall, I loved this book. If you are a fan of an enemies-to-lovers romance with a hot confident exercise physiologist, a feisty auburn-haired heroine, same friend circle, heated tension, playful banter, reality TV, fake dating, a loyal adorable dog, cookie emojis, billionaire, forbidden romance, mommy issues, ice skating dates, hiking mishaps, slow burn steamy times, its always been you vibes, and a HEA that will warm up your heart, then you will love Georgia and Ripley’s story. I always look forward to more from Adriana Locke.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I was not sure what to expect going into the book having not read the blurb fully as with Adriana's books I love going in blind and seeing what new stories she has crafted up and this one was brilliant. It follows to enemies for better words, the two constantly rile each other up to get a rise from the other and who could have expected that the way that they always acted towards each other would take them down another route to love.

I, for one, absolutely loved Georgia's character. She was very funny at times, and seeing how she does things day to day is quite amusing, I must say. Now Ripley, he surprised me at first he gave off quite rude vibes but he is quite a deep character on e you peel away the protective layer and the way he loves his dog Waffles just sold me completely. The characters really suited one another.

I loved the plot that we were given for these characters, how Sutton who is Georgia's best friend roped her into being a part of a reality show she was producing, and who happens to be her counter partner? None other than Ripley himself, and does that shock the both of them. But having to spend vast amounts together changed how they think and brought them together after some home truths are exposed. I mean, what lacks in spice is fully made up by the tension that we experience in this book, and I loved every second.