HQ Digital The Pick Up.

by Hannah Doyle

A laugh-out-loud romcom in 2024 perfect for fans of Catherine Walsh and Elena Armas

Committing to a fake romance is easy. It’s keeping it fake that’s the problem …

Sophie Rogers finds it easy to focus on the important things in life. Like her daughter, her job and her family.

So when Joe, another single parent at school suggests they fake a romance to help them both out of a fix, she throws herself in.

But then Sophie starts to look forward to seeing Joe. In fact, she’s thinking about his floppy hair, Irish accent and the way his lips felt when they grazed hers (her commitment to this is exceptional) more than their synced calendars and staged socials. And there is a reason the yummy mummies called him Hot Single Dad.

Sophie Rogers isn't silly enough to fall in love with her fake boyfriend.

Is she?

Genres: Romance, Fake Dating, Audiobook, Rom Com, Contemporary, Adult, Contemporary Romance

304 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2024

About the author

Hannah is a bestselling author of feel good fiction. THE PICK UP is her fourth novel. She's also written The Year of Saying Yes, Just My Type and The A to Z of Us.

Reviews

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a laugh out loud, fake dating book about two single parents. Joe was the best (fake) book boyfriend and I loved Sophie. The other Class Moms brought a lot of humor. The tension, the banter, and the chemistry between the two main characters was amazing! I loved all the British and Irish subtleties. I loved Sophie’s relationship with her daughter. There is a miscommunication trope near the end but they at least get called out on it!

Overall, this book was super cute and had a lot of funny moments. I very much enjoyed the entire book! If you’re looking for a clean romcom that is sweet and heartfelt, this is for you!

Thank you HQ and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Koisty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Cup of Tea Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 0/5 (This is Closed Door, nothing explicit but firework kisses)

I cannot remember the last time I finished a book in ONE SITTING. This book hooked me, sucked me in and had a chokehold on my attention the entire time I was reading. This is surprising because this is not typically the type of book that I read, given it was a more traditional closed-door rom-com with the single-parent tropes I don't typically pick up.

This is a first-person narrative told by Sophie, a 33-year-old single mom of the adorable little Poppy. Sophie is desperate to get in with the moms at her daughter's school, as she feels that the other kids are slightly ostracizing her daughter by not being invited to any social events or parties because of her not being in the mom clique. Then there is Joe. Joe is a single dad who is completely hounded and swarmed by the car park mommies whenever he comes and picks up his son. It might be because he is gorgeous, HAS AN IRISH ACCENT and the car park mommies feel sorry for him. So Joe proposes an idea... to get the car park mommies off his back and to get Sophie in with them they should fake a relationship. It's a total win-win situation for the two of them. Because what could ever go wrong with faking a relationship?

One thing that I enjoyed about this was that the characters were older. Joe is 35 and Sophie is 33. It is super refreshing to read about characters MY AGE. While I know that Sophie and Joe have had issues and trauma in the past, I love it when the characters are not children navigating life. They have been through some of life, they have had to overcome struggles and they are people I CAN ACTUALLY RELATE TO!

Sophie has a rough past. She is raising Poppy on her own after divorcing her husband when she found out he was cheating and would rather she have an abortion than be a father - she is doing it all alone. But she is determined to succeed, and she is stubborn to do so. She has a very hard exterior, can be cold and she finds it very difficult for her to let people in because of how she's been hurt in the past. She has a small support system but doesn't open the door to new help very easily.

Which is why this was sweet. Because Joe is the person that makes her inadvertently do just that. Joe is absolute PERFECTION. He is such a good man. He is a great listener! He is a perfect amazing father and is just kind, generous, sweet, compassionate and RESCUES BABY DUCKS! I mean, come on, who wouldn't love a man who would rescue a baby duck?

It was heartwarmingly sweet to see how their arrangement formed into friendship and how he slowly fell in love with her. His adoration of Sophie bled off the pages through his interactions, conversations and general actions towards Sophie and Poppy. They had excellent banter and insane chemistry.

I also really adored the found family element that plays a big part and role in the story. She found a family with Joe and his family and the one she formed with the moms of the school. She forms real friends and finds connections she was missing in her life. This book also delves into the challenge of the idea that first impressions are not always what they seem. Making her see how she's been influenced into who she thinks Joe and the Moms are in the beginning to who they were by the end was completely different.

The one thing that kept this from being five stars for me is that it did contain my favourite trope - miscommunication and the following assumptions that came from that misunderstanding. I felt that Sophie was very stubborn and very quick to form her ideas of the situations that happened, and whilst it was cleared up in the end, it added unnecessary conflict that could have been resolved by being brave and having an adult conversation.

Trope Summary:
▶ Single Mom (Divorced) and Single Dad (Widowed)
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Witty Banter
▶ Reverse GrumpyXSunshine
▶ Toxic Ex
▶ Adorable Toddlers
▶ One Bed
▶ Slow Burn

But all in all, if single mom, single dad romances are your thing...actually if you want a sweet little rom-com that is cute and fluffy, that gives you all the vibes and makes you smile, then pick up THE PICK UP!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the ARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC! This book was FUNNY I laughed out loud a number of times – always a good sign! Sophie’s internal monologue is hilarious… ‘I know it’s wrong to formulate strong opinions on four-year olds but Oscar, quite clearly is a douche.’… Amazing. A super fun easy read where I was immediately invested in the relationship - this was fake dating done right!!

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

i adored this heartwarming story of two single parents who fake date🤭 (i LOVE fake dating) joe and sophie’s chemistry and their banter was sooo good and kept me engaged. joe was attentive, supportive and a great listener which really made me fall in love with him and their story.
i wasn’t the biggest fan of there being a miscommunication trope near the end, but it was refreshing to see them actually tackle it head on. overall, this romcom was such a funny and cute read. this book would be good for anyone who is looking for a wholesome and charming read with no spice!

fake dating
single mom
single dad
romcom
one bed
grumpy x sunshine

thank you hannah and hq digital for the earc in exchange for my honest review!

[Manda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC. This is the first book I have read from this author, and I really enjoyed her writing style. The main characters were likable, and the side characters added to the fullness of the story. There were a couple of moments that made me laugh out loud. I found myself invested in their relationship and outcome. I do think the lead to the ending could have been shorter, it felt like it was longer just to create more drama. However, it felt like how someone would handle that. I really enjoyed the banter between the characters. For anyone looking for spice, this is very closed door. It is still a super cute romance read, and I highly recommend.

Tropes:
-fake relationship
-friends to lovers
-forced proximity
-one bed

[bookloversclub2023 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a book! I urge everyone to get this when it is released on the 9th May.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me an advanced copy.

I could not put this book down. It was one of the most easiest reads I have read in a long while and got me out of a reading slump.

Yes some of it is predictable but Romance usually is! I really enjoyed the characters interaction and how the book featured a lot of other characters that were part of the story. It wasn’t just focused on the lead couple Sophie and Joe. What Sophie does to get accepted into the mum clique and for her child to have play dates is heartwarming. You really feel how much she loves her daughter. There’s a curveball in the middle of the book and you question what will Sophie do?

This book was an easy read, I laughed, I felt sad, I just wanted to keep on reading. I will definitely be investing in more of Hannah’s books!

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good romance. Sophie is divorced, and her sister LOVES to try to set her up on dates. Sophie has a daughter in school, and she wants more than anything to fit in with the other moms so that her daughter will have a good school life. Joe is single dad, and the other mothers at the school think he is eye candy. But Sophie and Joe don’t really know each other. They go out for pizza with their kids, and decide to fake date. Sophie is determined to keep this professional – she is using him to get in with the moms and have her sister stop setting her up. He’s using her so that the other women leave him alone. It’s the perfect setup, right?

This book has some of my favorite tropes: single parents and fake dating. However, I struggled a bit to feel any chemistry between Sophie and Joe. I thought Joe could have been the most amazing cinnamon roll MMC. However, Sophie was so cold and closed off, that it made it difficult for his character to flourish. It was also a really slow burn romance. It felt like it dragged out way too long before Sophie had her “a-ha’ moment. Then when she did, the book was nearly over so as the reader, I never got to enjoy them together fully.

There were some very sweet moments during the book where Sophie did let her guard down, but she so quickly raised it up again the next day and talked herself out of anything. Honestly, it was rather annyoing.

The other school moms were hilarious! Some were annoying, Frankie was fantastic. They really did bring some laugh out loud comedic relief to the book!

Overall, this was decent. I would recommend this book to those that love the slow burn romance with the fake dating, and single parent tropes.

[Adesuwa Emma-Omogiate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book , it just gave me cozy, summer vibes .
I loved the concept of this book . It was interesting to read about and unique.
This book follows a single mom ,Sophie Rogers who teams up with a single dad “ joe “ to fake date him to avoid her sister from setting up on terrible blind dates .

I loved Sophie relationship with her daughter . Her banter and chemistry with Joe was everything.They were so cute together . He really went all out for her , he never questioned her when she needed his help . He is the definition of “cinnamon roll boyfriend “

I loved the side characters too , they were all fun to read about . What I didn’t like was how how Sofia forgave Celeste too quickly , the sudden time lapse in some chapters and I felt like the ending was rushed a bit but overall had a great time reading this

What to look for in the book ;
- [ ] Fake dating
- [ ] Single mom & single dad
- [ ] Cute kids
- [ ] PTA meeting with the moms at school
- [ ] Friends to lovers
- [ ] He feel first but she fell harder
Rating ;⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice ;🫑( just kissing )

Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins for this Arc. This Arc was provided in exchange for my honest review .

[☆ jess ☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. 🤍

unfortunately this just fell really flat for me. it had so much potential but just felt really bland and lacklustre. i’m really disappointed because i wanted to love it.

[Kerryrosalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this as an audio book. The perfect fake dating story ☺️ it was also very funny in places and had a lovely ending

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

More 4 1/2 🌟

[Kimberly Carrington-Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pues este es uno de esos libros de portadas colorinchis que me pido yo en Netgalley con la esperanza de descubrir una nueva autora que me encante… y que al final, no. La premisa es bastante tonta, una madre divorciada que, para entrar en el “club” de los padres del colegio (que madre mía quién iba a querer eso), acaba fingiendo mantener una relación con uno de los padres, un viudo que está buenorrísimo y que es maravilloso. Pero ojo que realmente no puede estar con él, eh. Por qué? Pues porque es tonta, básicamente.
El libro es una tontuna que, para colmo, solo tiene cuatro besos y ni un triste guarrerismo. Mñe.

[Matt Hortomaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cookie cutter fake romance elicits cookie cutter laughs and I’m ok with that

[red · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY FIRST ROM-COM OF THE YEAR AND IT WAS SUCH A HIT, MATE!
an Irish man with a kind and gentle nature and with a great and fun personality?? i'm sold.
but in all seriousness, they are so Jake and Amy coded from b99 which in turn makes them chandler and Monica coded and what else could I really ask for anymore? throw in a couple of sweet kids that's sure to give you baby fever! also I really need to know what did Sophie do in particular to get such an amazingly kind and awesome mother-in-law, I'd kill to have one! I can only hope I have as much grace and poise as Sophie has if and when I get hit by as many adversaries as she did. woman is a tad bit idiota but we love her she blew my mind away. Work-life balance is never easy and she does it so well that I can only admire from afar.
I have nothing but only good things to say about this book. the only reason I deducted one star is because i wish they had explored the characters romantic relationship some more. because the misunderstanding and in poppy's case the will they wont they went on for so long, I'd have liked to see the relationships more fleshed out than the rushed ending we got. like it felt too overwhelming and too underwhelming at the same so that was the only problem I had but other than it's such a sweet treat.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHERS FOR THE E-ARC.

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Single parent fauxmance? Yes please!

You can feel the pull between Sophie and Joe from the first meeting, and you know they are going to fall hard.

But I didn't really fee the com of the rom com. Sure, there are some funny moments, but to me it was more about the facade we show others, and how we perceive those around us.

I did adore their kids and those around them.

I got frustrated at Sophie, wanted to yell at both of them to communicate.

So, while it was a good read, it just fell a bit flat for me.

I would read more by the author in the future though.

Thank you Netgalley for my review copy

[Dino Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
POV: single 1st person POV
spice: slight insinuations of a closed-door relationship
TWs: mentions of abortion, absent parent, cheating, death of a spouse (recounted), divorce
standalone: yes
final thoughts: this clean romance was so good. Lots of banter, cute kids, and eclectic side characters. These single parents are both in need of a cover that fake dating will help solve and as long as no feelings get involved, they’ll be all set! But when their strangers-to-friends-to-lovers story is so believable that they are invited on weekend getaways with the other parents, they are forced together and forced to look at their very real feelings.
Part of me wishes we got the POV of Joe so we could see him falling in love but I love the POV we got to fully understand Sophie's thoughts and feelings.

read this book if you love
😬 angst
💌 clean romance
💏 fake dating
🏝️ forced proximity
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 found family
👦 he falls first and hard
🤫 hidden secrets
🛏️ “it’s just a fling”
💞 mutual pining
🚙 road trip
👩‍👦 single parent
💓 slowburn

[M ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

single parents AND fake dating trope? count me in! this was a cute, fun and easy book to read. the beginning was a bit slow which made it a little hard for me to get into the story but then it picked up when the characters started their fauxmance.

i enjoyed the writing and i loved the characters, especially sophie and her inner monologue was a lot of fun to read throughout the book. it would’ve been interesting to read joe’s POV since we only get bits and pieces of him in the book. i didn’t really like the miscommunication in this but that’s only because i just dislike that trope in general.

i feel like the ending happened so fast and i wish we would’ve gotten an epilogue at the end that showed sophie and joe’s dynamic as a real couple. overall it was a very cute book and i’ll be sure to check out the author’s next work!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Shrez (Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single Parents + Fake dating should equal an adorable romcom right?

I unfortunately did not feel that while reading it. Now this is not a judgement against the authors writing as sometimes the writing can be very different depending on the book. However, this one just read a bit flat for me.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Sophie and Joe, it was cute, but not in a "they have insane chemistry" way. It was more like they'd be great friends...

Now, if there is one thing I despise, it's an unnecessary miscommunication trope. I understand that the way it was implemented was... different, but it was still a bit annoying to just have that thrown in there towards the end.

If you are looking for a stock standard, not wanting to think too hard about it romcom vibed book, this is the one for you.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh fake dating and single parents romcom? Sign me up!

This book was hilarious with heartwarming feels.

Sophie is a single working Mom to cute almost 5 year old, Lila. She is worried that Lila is not fitting in and she isn't with her the other Moms.

Joe is the single Dad who is swooned over by every Mom, much to his dislike.

The two come up with a plan to fake date so Sophie can get some play dates for Lila and Joe can stop getting casseroles from the Moms.

Joe and Sophie start hitting it off, with some fine lines between the fake and real. Can these two just finally admit there is more to their story? Or will their pasts ruin that chance?

This book had me laughing out loud and I absolutely adored the secondary characters. It is the perfect romcom for a quick summer read!

Thank you Netgalley, publishers and author for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book fed my soul. I’m a massive fan of this trope anyway and it had everything and did justice to all I loved in a book. Fake dating, enemies to lovers, parental trope. It had a great cover, great writing and a swoon worthy romance. I seriously loved it.

Sophie and Joe - what a duo. So adorably cute and the kids too added a great element. I always found myself excited to return to this book and I wanted to slow it down so I could enjoy it for longer!

I was so invested in the characters and the audiobook added to the enjoyment of the book. Really well narrated too. I always love the warm fuzzy feeling you get when you’ve finished a heart warmingly good book and I got this here! I loved the ending and it was just so sweet.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this audiobook on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Mariam Mulla · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This laugh-out-loud, fake-dating adventure featuring two single parents, Joe and Sophie, is a delightful romp through the world of humorous misadventures. Joe's portrayal as the ultimate (fake) book boyfriend is spot-on, and Sophie's character is endearing. The ensemble of Class Moms adds a generous dose of humor, enhancing the overall enjoyment.

The chemistry, tension, and banter between Joe and Sophie create a captivating dynamic that keeps readers hooked. The infusion of British and Irish subtleties adds a charming layer to the narrative. Sophie's relationship with her daughter is heartwarming and adds depth to the story.

While the miscommunication trope surfaces towards the end, the characters are rightfully called out on it, steering clear of cliché pitfalls. The book strikes a perfect balance between cute and funny, delivering numerous enjoyable moments. It's a clean romcom that resonates with sweetness and heartfelt emotions.

Kudos to HQ and NetGalley for providing the eARC. This book is a delightful escape, and I willingly share my positive thoughts in this voluntary review."

[✨️Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute! It follows Sophie, a divorced single mom that's desperate to be accepted by the PTA moms and to get her younger sister off her back about finding love. She sees an opportunity and comes to a mutually beneficial agreement with the new hot single dad, Joe.

Fake dating tropes are my jam, so I loved it. And it also features a little bit of forced proximity, one bed, and friends to lovers.

This was my first time reading a book by Hannah Doyle and I loved her writing style. I audibly laughed while reading, which doesn't happen often. The story had some witty humor which hooked me instantly.

There is literally nothing that I didn't like about this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, HQ and Hannah Doyle for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

[zilan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey you! Yes you! Are you interested in reading a book about two single parents? And would you be even more interested in reading about their fake dating? If so, well this is the story for you! This is the real,funny and cute story of Joe and Sophie our two main characters who make a simple agreement to make their lives simpler but moving forward feelings will come into play...so it was always all fake or the chemistry between Joe and Sophie was always been there?

If you ask me yes the chemistry was there and it was a mix of a lot of good ingredients!

I can't help but add a mention of the other characters who are perfect for the atmosphere of the story.

So if you're in the mood for reading a light and cute story well this one's for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

[jordan εїз · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars 🌟 I LOVED THIS !!!! joesophie were a perfect mix of hilarious and sweet 🤗 watching them go from friends to lovers was so cute 🫂 and i love the single parent trope, so seeing them both navigate the story with kids was heartwarming because their relationships with their kids was adorable 💝🧃😇 i loved the side plot of poppy and adam a lot too!! honestly this book was so refreshing and just super cute. i will say i wish we got more sidneyjoe content but other than that, i loved this couple 🔥

a special thank you to netgalley and hq for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This looked cute, the cover was appealing and it was a new to me author but unfortunately I got bored pretty quickly listening to this single parent British romcom. The main characters didn't seem to have much of a spark and there also wasn't a compelling conflict to carry along the plot. Okay on audio but this was a DNF for me around 40%. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for fans of authors like Porita MacIntosh.

[Abbey Tobias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never rated something 5 stars so fast in my life!

This book has EVERYTHING I love in a romcom.

-Fake Dating
-REVERSE grumpy x sunshine
-single parent trope
-one bed trope
-forced proximity
-‘I thought you knew’

May 9th can’t come soon enough, I WANT A PHYSICAL COPY OF THIS BOOK ON MY SHELF!

Hannah Doyle, you have just received another life long fan!

Read Time ⏱️ 3.5 hours

———

“Besides, Joe’s a white, heterosexual male. He’s not exactly had a tough time of it in the grand scheme of things, has he? I think we can objectify him just a tiny bit.”

“We need to stop agreeing on things Rogers or you might decide you actually like me.”

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic corny rom com
No complaints

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own and this is my honest review.

The Pick Up was a super cute, clean, laugh out loud, fake dating romcom about two single parents trying to survive and make an in with the other mums from their children’s school. I LOVED that the main characters were in their 30s and had children, I found this book highly relatable, in that sense.

There was so much banter in this book & it wasn’t just from the main characters, the other mums in the school pick up clique brought so much humour. Good looking Irish Joe was such a great (fake) boyfriend. He was kind, caring, thoughtful and so so sweet. I’m not going to lie, Sophie took some warming up, she wasn’t my favourite but by the end of it, I really liked her. Between the two of them they had banter & tension, which is a match made in heaven if you ask me!

[Taylor Jane Burger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun, cute read. Loved the chemistry. This booked provided so many giggles through out 🥰

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

The Pick Up by Hannah Doyle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Read if you like:
- Single Parent MCs
- Fake Dating
- Slow Burn
- Rom-coms


💭 I loved seeing Sophie’s POV on motherhood and all of the 4yr old anecdotes from little Lila. This book was really funny and I loved the banter between Sophie and Joe (also a single parent).

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyed this book so much! I didn’t knew this author before and I’m so happy I do now. Love her writing style.

Okay so... We have two parents, one divorced and one widowed. The friendship between them felt so effortless, they just fitted so well. They’re so funny I literally couldn’t stop laughing sometimes! The development of their relationship was so sweet and you can also see the personal development of each.

And don’t even get me started with the kids! Lila is such a sweet funny little girl. Sophie’s sister is one of the best!

The fake dating was so good!!! And it was excacly what i WANT!! It really is a rom-com on full mode 😂🫣