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How to Sell a Romance
Romance is the biggest scheme of them all in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from beloved author Alexa Martin.
Emerson Pierce loves everything about being a kindergarten teacher except the painfully low salary. It isn’t until she hears about Petunia Lemon—an opportunity to sell makeup products, make some extra money, and meet a group of skin-care aficionados—that she begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, it sounds a little too good to be true, but what’s the worst that could happen?
Investigative reporter Lucas Miller didn’t always have a chip on his shoulder...until his wife joined Petunia Lemon, drained their savings, and filed for divorce. Now he’s a little bitter, a lot single, and determined to expose the company. After infiltrating their largest convention yet, the last thing he expects is to lose sight of his mission for one night with the gorgeous woman at the bar.
When Emerson and Lucas learn that she’s his daughter’s teacher, they decide to ignore their scorching chemistry. Until things with Petunia Lemon turn downright diabolical and Emerson turns to Lucas for help. They work together to bring the company down but can the two come out on top in this pyramid scheme of love?
Emerson Pierce loves everything about being a kindergarten teacher except the painfully low salary. It isn’t until she hears about Petunia Lemon—an opportunity to sell makeup products, make some extra money, and meet a group of skin-care aficionados—that she begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, it sounds a little too good to be true, but what’s the worst that could happen?
Investigative reporter Lucas Miller didn’t always have a chip on his shoulder...until his wife joined Petunia Lemon, drained their savings, and filed for divorce. Now he’s a little bitter, a lot single, and determined to expose the company. After infiltrating their largest convention yet, the last thing he expects is to lose sight of his mission for one night with the gorgeous woman at the bar.
When Emerson and Lucas learn that she’s his daughter’s teacher, they decide to ignore their scorching chemistry. Until things with Petunia Lemon turn downright diabolical and Emerson turns to Lucas for help. They work together to bring the company down but can the two come out on top in this pyramid scheme of love?
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2025
82 people are currently reading
14593 people want to read
About the author
Alexa Martin
9 books2,244 followersAlexa Martin is a writer and stay at home mom. She lives in Colorado with her husband, a former NFL player who now coaches at the high school where they met, their four children, and a German Shepherd. When she's not telling her kids to put their shoes on...again, you can find her catching up with her latest book boyfriend or on Pinterest pinning meals she'll probably never make. Her first book, Intercepted, was inspired by the eight years she spent as an NFL wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
August 31, 2025
I can truly say that the premise of a multi level marketing/pyramid scheme romance is probably the most unique thing I'll read this year. I just wish I could also say that it made for an amazing romance.
The set up and meet cute for this was pretty fun. Our heroine is a school teacher looking to make some extra money on the side and gets roped into a conference for women who sell skincare products MLM style. Our hero? There at the conference to do investigative work for a take down style piece he's writing on the MLM company. Hero and heroine sleep together, hero tells heroine why he's at the conference. They part on bad terms.
Which is tough because our heroine? Teaches our hero's daughter at school.
And listen, I think MLMs are endlessly fascinating. I liked the meet-cute-turns-sour. But too much of this book was spent with our heroine getting sucked into this predatory MLM or helping our hero investigate it. So little time was spent actually developing the romance. It felt like one second these two hated each other, and the next our hero was cuddled up on the couch with her for movie night talking about how she doesn't spend enough time on herself. I was scratching my head at how fast things moved.
Overall this was a fun read, but not memorable as a romance. Which makes it a tough book to recommend.
The set up and meet cute for this was pretty fun. Our heroine is a school teacher looking to make some extra money on the side and gets roped into a conference for women who sell skincare products MLM style. Our hero? There at the conference to do investigative work for a take down style piece he's writing on the MLM company. Hero and heroine sleep together, hero tells heroine why he's at the conference. They part on bad terms.
Which is tough because our heroine? Teaches our hero's daughter at school.
And listen, I think MLMs are endlessly fascinating. I liked the meet-cute-turns-sour. But too much of this book was spent with our heroine getting sucked into this predatory MLM or helping our hero investigate it. So little time was spent actually developing the romance. It felt like one second these two hated each other, and the next our hero was cuddled up on the couch with her for movie night talking about how she doesn't spend enough time on herself. I was scratching my head at how fast things moved.
Overall this was a fun read, but not memorable as a romance. Which makes it a tough book to recommend.
did-not-finish
July 15, 2025Thanks so much to @berkleypub for the free book! #BerkleyPartner
I DNFd How to Sell a Romance at 41%.
I've only read one other book by Alexa Martin and I didn't care for it, but I've heard people enjoy her romcoms so I wanted to give her another try. Unfortunately the same issues I had with her other title I had with this one—and then some. To keep it brief, the way she writes Black women doesn't resonate with me. To keep my review specific to this title, Emerson is very immature and under developed, and honestly…kind of a cornball because she simply does not make good choices for no apparent reason. I do not know what she looks like aside from her appearing to be a light skinned Black or mixed-Black woman on the cover, but the only descriptors we get for her within the book is that she's short and has curly hair. However, we know Luke is tall, muscular but not too bulky, has dark hair, facial hair, green eyes, tan skin, nice lips, a big d—I'm sure you get it. He is also a divorced single father and a journalist working to expose the corruption of the very same MLM Emerson has become prey to. There is a scene where another character named Keisha who is coded Black in name and sassy-but-earthy-artsy mannerisms talks about gentrification, but there is no mention of gentrification occurring as a response to Black Americans. This is why gentrification happens. Black people are disproportionately priced out of property and living spaces due to systemic racism deeming us unfavorable to live around. I don't know why the plights of Black Americans keep getting squeezed out of Martin's books, but I just think she isn't the author for me—which is okay! I do think that her writing style is very quick and witty and conversational, so it was easy for me to keep on with reading it even though I wasn't having the best time. Emerson and Luke have a one night stand that I can't even say was based on vibes, it very much was them enjoying the way the other looked and deciding to have a nightcap (which is fine but it doesn't develop solid enough stakes to base a will-they-won't-they, we-can't-you're-my-daughter's-teacher-and-I-hate-MLMs-because-of-my-ex-wife romance off of).
I knew going into this that Emerson was going to join a MLM. What I did not expect was to be 41% into the book and she's still pssshhhhh naw-ing everyone who tells her to wisen up and fully convinced that she's making good investments that she will never get returns on. If this book was set up to be some kind of snarky commentary on the dark side of the white women girl boss types who often are the ones who bring in women from marginalized communities into the fold, the storyline could've been compelling. Instead, it seems a little too on the line of not revealing how dark, deceptive, predatory, and despicable MLMs are. And it's jarring that someone in charge of the future minds of tomorrow as a teacher was so easily duped in this day and age. If this was based in 2016 I would have understood and maybe even been more empathetic, but in 2025? Mama, let's do some research.
I DNFd How to Sell a Romance at 41%.
I've only read one other book by Alexa Martin and I didn't care for it, but I've heard people enjoy her romcoms so I wanted to give her another try. Unfortunately the same issues I had with her other title I had with this one—and then some. To keep it brief, the way she writes Black women doesn't resonate with me. To keep my review specific to this title, Emerson is very immature and under developed, and honestly…kind of a cornball because she simply does not make good choices for no apparent reason. I do not know what she looks like aside from her appearing to be a light skinned Black or mixed-Black woman on the cover, but the only descriptors we get for her within the book is that she's short and has curly hair. However, we know Luke is tall, muscular but not too bulky, has dark hair, facial hair, green eyes, tan skin, nice lips, a big d—I'm sure you get it. He is also a divorced single father and a journalist working to expose the corruption of the very same MLM Emerson has become prey to. There is a scene where another character named Keisha who is coded Black in name and sassy-but-earthy-artsy mannerisms talks about gentrification, but there is no mention of gentrification occurring as a response to Black Americans. This is why gentrification happens. Black people are disproportionately priced out of property and living spaces due to systemic racism deeming us unfavorable to live around. I don't know why the plights of Black Americans keep getting squeezed out of Martin's books, but I just think she isn't the author for me—which is okay! I do think that her writing style is very quick and witty and conversational, so it was easy for me to keep on with reading it even though I wasn't having the best time. Emerson and Luke have a one night stand that I can't even say was based on vibes, it very much was them enjoying the way the other looked and deciding to have a nightcap (which is fine but it doesn't develop solid enough stakes to base a will-they-won't-they, we-can't-you're-my-daughter's-teacher-and-I-hate-MLMs-because-of-my-ex-wife romance off of).
I knew going into this that Emerson was going to join a MLM. What I did not expect was to be 41% into the book and she's still pssshhhhh naw-ing everyone who tells her to wisen up and fully convinced that she's making good investments that she will never get returns on. If this book was set up to be some kind of snarky commentary on the dark side of the white women girl boss types who often are the ones who bring in women from marginalized communities into the fold, the storyline could've been compelling. Instead, it seems a little too on the line of not revealing how dark, deceptive, predatory, and despicable MLMs are. And it's jarring that someone in charge of the future minds of tomorrow as a teacher was so easily duped in this day and age. If this was based in 2016 I would have understood and maybe even been more empathetic, but in 2025? Mama, let's do some research.
April 27, 2025
I had to go back to the premise and re-check that the book is, in fact, a rom-com !!
I think the author wanted the MLM Representation so badly that she forgot to write the comedy in the romance! I contemplated dnfing multiple times.
i was just reading about their plan to expose Petunia Lemon all the time! I felt no chemistry nor excitement while reading. Mind you the single parent tropes is one of my favorites and now it's ruined 😭 😭
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 4, 23, 26
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
My golden fish memory makes me forget to mark my ARCs as "to read" once I receive them 😅. Anyway huge thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with the ARC 🩷 hope our relationship stays the best 🙏🏻🫶🏻
I think the author wanted the MLM Representation so badly that she forgot to write the comedy in the romance! I contemplated dnfing multiple times.
i was just reading about their plan to expose Petunia Lemon all the time! I felt no chemistry nor excitement while reading. Mind you the single parent tropes is one of my favorites and now it's ruined 😭 😭
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 4, 23, 26
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
My golden fish memory makes me forget to mark my ARCs as "to read" once I receive them 😅. Anyway huge thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with the ARC 🩷 hope our relationship stays the best 🙏🏻🫶🏻
July 6, 2025
This was such a fun, spicy, and surprisingly insightful listen! Narrator Khaya Fraites was new to me, but she brought so much personality to the story and really made it shine. Emerson, a kindergarten teacher with a big heart, made for an adorable and endearing heroine, and Lucas was the kind of swoony, grounded love interest who balanced her perfectly. The MLM takedown plot was both hilarious and alarmingly realistic—offering a smart look at how women can get swept up in those schemes. Equal parts steamy and sweet, this one was pure entertainment from start to finish!
May 4, 2025
This was a difficult one to get through. The female main character was irresponsible and immature. It was as if she had the maturity of a fourteen year-old. There wasn't anything I liked about her. I didn't understand why Luke was so into her. When they first met, they jumped into it so quickly that I didn't believe the chemistry.
Being an educator and someone who is a leader in our local chapter of the union, there were too many things that were inaccurate to me to ignore. This book reminded me that I need to steer clear of books set in education because I can't help but be critical of inaccuracies.
I have a friend who enjoyed this book, so I think this a case of it's not you, it's me. This one was not a good fit for me.
I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher.
Being an educator and someone who is a leader in our local chapter of the union, there were too many things that were inaccurate to me to ignore. This book reminded me that I need to steer clear of books set in education because I can't help but be critical of inaccuracies.
I have a friend who enjoyed this book, so I think this a case of it's not you, it's me. This one was not a good fit for me.
I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher.
October 8, 2025
Multi-level marketing AND romance?! Sign me up!
June 30, 2025
I was kind of bummed this opened with a one-night stand, only because these two barely had a full conversation before hopping into bed. Instead of relying on physical attraction, I would have preferred a solid emotional connection first to really sell the chemistry. But it does evolve into a fun little enemies-to-lovers situation from there!
Lucas finds out Emerson is involved with Petunia Lemon, the very skincare MLM he’s determined to expose after it destroyed his marriage. And let's just say he doesn't hold back his harsh opinion, offending Emerson in the process. To make things even more complicated, Emerson turns out to be his daughter’s kindergarten teacher!
The deep dive into multi-level marketing companies was so comically terrifying. The way Petunia Lemon preyed on women searching for purpose, community, and financial freedom genuinely felt like the setup for a thriller. It made me laugh and cringe in equal measure.
Seeing Emerson initially get sucked deeper into the MLM, even with multiple red flags and people telling her THIS IS A BAD IDEA, was so frustrating. Get it together, Emerson! But I also know this happens in real life all the time. People get pulled in for very real reasons, and this did a good job showing how that happens. And it was definitely satisfying to see Emerson and Lucas work together to take them down!
(heat level: 3 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lucas finds out Emerson is involved with Petunia Lemon, the very skincare MLM he’s determined to expose after it destroyed his marriage. And let's just say he doesn't hold back his harsh opinion, offending Emerson in the process. To make things even more complicated, Emerson turns out to be his daughter’s kindergarten teacher!
The deep dive into multi-level marketing companies was so comically terrifying. The way Petunia Lemon preyed on women searching for purpose, community, and financial freedom genuinely felt like the setup for a thriller. It made me laugh and cringe in equal measure.
Seeing Emerson initially get sucked deeper into the MLM, even with multiple red flags and people telling her THIS IS A BAD IDEA, was so frustrating. Get it together, Emerson! But I also know this happens in real life all the time. People get pulled in for very real reasons, and this did a good job showing how that happens. And it was definitely satisfying to see Emerson and Lucas work together to take them down!
(heat level: 3 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 5, 2025
When it comes to Romance, I often feel like Goldilocks. Despite the title having the word Romance in it, this wasn't very romantic. This book did nothing wrong, the male main character was annoying but not awful and I really liked Emerson, she's fun.
This book wasn't for me but it might be for you.
This book wasn't for me but it might be for you.
July 16, 2025
4.75 stars!!!!!!!
i can't even lie i really enjoyed this one!! an easy romcom to jump straight into and binge! it's lighthearted and funny but also soooooo hot & swoon-worthy. i am actually obsessed with lucas!!!!! single dad of my dreams !!! like dang! not only is he witty & funny but he cares so deeply about his daughter & is the biggest supporter to emerson as well??? like please i need him in my life!!!
i personally really liked emerson and loved seeing how she navigated her many struggles and ultimately gained the confidence to stand up for herself. plus her and lucas are PERFECTION!!!!!!!
i also really liked reading about the multi-level marketing aspect in this book. it was fascinating! my mom was involved in a couple mlm companies, so this book had me questioning how that experience was for her... gets you thinking for sure!!
highly recommend reading this one!!
thank you Berkley Romance & Berkley Pub for the arc and the finished copy! this is my honest review.
i can't even lie i really enjoyed this one!! an easy romcom to jump straight into and binge! it's lighthearted and funny but also soooooo hot & swoon-worthy. i am actually obsessed with lucas!!!!! single dad of my dreams !!! like dang! not only is he witty & funny but he cares so deeply about his daughter & is the biggest supporter to emerson as well??? like please i need him in my life!!!
i personally really liked emerson and loved seeing how she navigated her many struggles and ultimately gained the confidence to stand up for herself. plus her and lucas are PERFECTION!!!!!!!
i also really liked reading about the multi-level marketing aspect in this book. it was fascinating! my mom was involved in a couple mlm companies, so this book had me questioning how that experience was for her... gets you thinking for sure!!
highly recommend reading this one!!
thank you Berkley Romance & Berkley Pub for the arc and the finished copy! this is my honest review.
May 13, 2025
3.5 Stars
I’ve read a few of Martin’s books now and each one is just delightful. I love that they mix romance, comedy, strong female friendship, and a dose of real life problems to create a balance that has you craving more. I found How to Sell a Romance to have all those things and an interesting premise set around exposing an MLM skincare company which created some great scenes. A great novel to take on vacation or sit with on a Friday night.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I’ve read a few of Martin’s books now and each one is just delightful. I love that they mix romance, comedy, strong female friendship, and a dose of real life problems to create a balance that has you craving more. I found How to Sell a Romance to have all those things and an interesting premise set around exposing an MLM skincare company which created some great scenes. A great novel to take on vacation or sit with on a Friday night.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
September 30, 2025
I always find Alexa's books lighter on the romance, but I struggled with this. When the fmc stormed out on the mmc immediately, I was pretty annoyed. Sure, he could've been nicer, but was he wrong??
Reader, he was right.
I really thought when her bff (only interesting character) gave her a reality check early on, it was going to go differently. All of the mlm situations were so hard to read, and the fmc was in it for more than 60% of the book. This left very little time for the romance. 2.5☆
Reader, he was right.
I really thought when her bff (only interesting character) gave her a reality check early on, it was going to go differently. All of the mlm situations were so hard to read, and the fmc was in it for more than 60% of the book. This left very little time for the romance. 2.5☆
July 10, 2025
Easily my new favorite from Alexa Martin!!! I loved this one night stand, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance between a Kindergarten teacher and divorced single dad who team up to take down the cult-like MLM group she finds herself caught up in. This was SPICY in all the best ways, had great banter, a strong, spunky FMC and relatable insights into how MLM companies prey on lonely women looking to make a little extra money while enjoying female friendship only to realize very few members actually make money and its hard to get out once you're in. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
July 24, 2025
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reviewer’s copy. All opinions are my own.
On its face, the premise of this book is really interesting: our main character, Emerson, gets involved with a multi-level marketing company (Petunia Lemon), and partners with a handsome investigative journalism, Luke, whose marriage fell apart because of his ex-wife’s involvement with the same MLM. And I will say, I really like the depiction of MLMs in this book, and how predatory and destructive they are. I liked that the beginning of the book showed the kind of tactics they use to beguile vulnerable women. I also liked the way they highlighted the way it breaks down relationships. I think Alexa Martin did a fantastic job writing Emerson’s point of view - at times, it really felt like a real train of thought.
I struggled with a few different elements in this book. The pacing in particular was an issue for me. It took through the first half of the book for Emerson to admit she’d been duped, and even when she did come to the realization, it seemed to happen on a dime rather than in a way that made sense. I found it very frustrating to be in her perspective - she never seems to grow out of her naivety and irresponsibility, and it made it hard to root for her. I found it difficult to believe Luke would get involved with someone affiliated with Petunia Lemon after what happened with his ex-wife, and his character didn’t feel well-developed (many of the characters were fairly one dimensional, now that I think of it). As a result, his relationship with Emerson challenged my immersion in the story.
One of the things that bothered me most in this read was the way Alexa Martin seemed to write in anticipation of criticism rather than let a real personality develop for Emerson. There was a lot of explaining or adding in nuance to even slightly ungenerous or untoward thoughts that made this book drag on, and was just unnecessary.
Overall, I think the lesson being shared here is important, and I think Alexa Martin is very skilled. This may not have been the story to teach this lesson. I’d definitely read some of Alexa Martin’s other work in the future, but I’m not sure I’d recommend this particular book to a wide audience.
On its face, the premise of this book is really interesting: our main character, Emerson, gets involved with a multi-level marketing company (Petunia Lemon), and partners with a handsome investigative journalism, Luke, whose marriage fell apart because of his ex-wife’s involvement with the same MLM. And I will say, I really like the depiction of MLMs in this book, and how predatory and destructive they are. I liked that the beginning of the book showed the kind of tactics they use to beguile vulnerable women. I also liked the way they highlighted the way it breaks down relationships. I think Alexa Martin did a fantastic job writing Emerson’s point of view - at times, it really felt like a real train of thought.
I struggled with a few different elements in this book. The pacing in particular was an issue for me. It took through the first half of the book for Emerson to admit she’d been duped, and even when she did come to the realization, it seemed to happen on a dime rather than in a way that made sense. I found it very frustrating to be in her perspective - she never seems to grow out of her naivety and irresponsibility, and it made it hard to root for her. I found it difficult to believe Luke would get involved with someone affiliated with Petunia Lemon after what happened with his ex-wife, and his character didn’t feel well-developed (many of the characters were fairly one dimensional, now that I think of it). As a result, his relationship with Emerson challenged my immersion in the story.
One of the things that bothered me most in this read was the way Alexa Martin seemed to write in anticipation of criticism rather than let a real personality develop for Emerson. There was a lot of explaining or adding in nuance to even slightly ungenerous or untoward thoughts that made this book drag on, and was just unnecessary.
Overall, I think the lesson being shared here is important, and I think Alexa Martin is very skilled. This may not have been the story to teach this lesson. I’d definitely read some of Alexa Martin’s other work in the future, but I’m not sure I’d recommend this particular book to a wide audience.
August 18, 2025
Labeling this a rom-com is bold. The MLM content dominated so much of this book and I got burnt out real quick. The relationship didn’t feel natural and Emmy’s dad’s death and concerned mother made weird appearances that didn’t mesh with the story.
June 24, 2025
Thank you Berkley Romance for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
This book is FUN. It’s fun and spicy and tropey but also a really important exploration of how smart, accomplished women fall into MLMs and need to crawl their way out. If you were glued to the LulaRoe docu-series and love romance novels, this is the book for you.
Read for:
-single dad romance
-one night stand and then oops they run into each other again
-he takes care of her when she’s sick
Synopsis:
“Emerson Pierce loves everything about being a kindergarten teacher except the painfully low salary. It isn’t until she hears about Petunia Lemon—an opportunity to sell makeup products, make some extra money, and meet a group of skin-care aficionados—that she begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, it sounds a little too good to be true, but what’s the worst that could happen?Investigative reporter Lucas Miller didn’t always have a chip on his shoulder...until his wife joined Petunia Lemon, drained their savings, and filed for divorce. Now he’s a little bitter, a lot single, and determined to expose the company. After infiltrating their largest convention yet, the last thing he expects is to lose sight of his mission for one night with the gorgeous woman at the bar.When Emerson and Lucas learn that she’s his daughter’s teacher, they decide to ignore their scorching chemistry. Until things with Petunia Lemon turn downright diabolical and Emerson turns to Lucas for help. They work together to bring the company down but can the two come out on top in this pyramid scheme of love?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Concept—I was one of those people glued to the LulaRoe docu-series so I loved the idea of exploring someone getting into and out of a an MLM! They are so dangerous and prey on women. Plus they’re messy and sometimes you need a messy, dramatic book. I also think it was a great way to showcase that anyone can fall into them, even smart accomplished women, so we should help people get out.
The Vibes—It was SO fun. I love Alexa’s writing because it feels natural and fast paced and the opening and closing lines of chapters always make me laugh. —
The Pacing—It’s a quick, well paced read that I enjoyed every time I picked it up.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
A Little More Romance—I would say the MLM drama is the A plot and the Romance is the B plot. I really liked Lucas and his daughter, so I would have liked a little bit more exploration of their romance, especially some tension before they gave into their desires.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2.5/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
N/A
This book is FUN. It’s fun and spicy and tropey but also a really important exploration of how smart, accomplished women fall into MLMs and need to crawl their way out. If you were glued to the LulaRoe docu-series and love romance novels, this is the book for you.
Read for:
-single dad romance
-one night stand and then oops they run into each other again
-he takes care of her when she’s sick
Synopsis:
“Emerson Pierce loves everything about being a kindergarten teacher except the painfully low salary. It isn’t until she hears about Petunia Lemon—an opportunity to sell makeup products, make some extra money, and meet a group of skin-care aficionados—that she begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, it sounds a little too good to be true, but what’s the worst that could happen?Investigative reporter Lucas Miller didn’t always have a chip on his shoulder...until his wife joined Petunia Lemon, drained their savings, and filed for divorce. Now he’s a little bitter, a lot single, and determined to expose the company. After infiltrating their largest convention yet, the last thing he expects is to lose sight of his mission for one night with the gorgeous woman at the bar.When Emerson and Lucas learn that she’s his daughter’s teacher, they decide to ignore their scorching chemistry. Until things with Petunia Lemon turn downright diabolical and Emerson turns to Lucas for help. They work together to bring the company down but can the two come out on top in this pyramid scheme of love?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Concept—I was one of those people glued to the LulaRoe docu-series so I loved the idea of exploring someone getting into and out of a an MLM! They are so dangerous and prey on women. Plus they’re messy and sometimes you need a messy, dramatic book. I also think it was a great way to showcase that anyone can fall into them, even smart accomplished women, so we should help people get out.
The Vibes—It was SO fun. I love Alexa’s writing because it feels natural and fast paced and the opening and closing lines of chapters always make me laugh. —
The Pacing—It’s a quick, well paced read that I enjoyed every time I picked it up.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
A Little More Romance—I would say the MLM drama is the A plot and the Romance is the B plot. I really liked Lucas and his daughter, so I would have liked a little bit more exploration of their romance, especially some tension before they gave into their desires.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2.5/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
N/A
July 1, 2025
3.5 stars
I'm always in for an Alexa book, so I only skimmed the synopsis before jumping in.
I really liked Emerson. She's so good and so giving and I enjoyed reading her outlook on teaching. Luke is charming and gruff and while these two seem like complete opposites, they have chemistry for days. There are a good amount of characters here, but Keisha stole every scene she was in.
Plot wise, it was okay. I loved the romance side of it, but the MLM side of it was a bit repetitive. The conflict was a bit of a slow build up, the resolution over in a few pages, and the epilogue was way too short. I definitely wanted more of a future take, even though it's pretty clear where they're headed.
Overall, it was a quick read with characters who were easy to root for.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I'm always in for an Alexa book, so I only skimmed the synopsis before jumping in.
I really liked Emerson. She's so good and so giving and I enjoyed reading her outlook on teaching. Luke is charming and gruff and while these two seem like complete opposites, they have chemistry for days. There are a good amount of characters here, but Keisha stole every scene she was in.
Plot wise, it was okay. I loved the romance side of it, but the MLM side of it was a bit repetitive. The conflict was a bit of a slow build up, the resolution over in a few pages, and the epilogue was way too short. I definitely wanted more of a future take, even though it's pretty clear where they're headed.
Overall, it was a quick read with characters who were easy to root for.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
August 12, 2025
I freaking loved this. These pyramid schemes that people are calling MLMs are downright predatory and this was such a good way of portraying it. I’m sure there are a ton of women in the reading community that have all been hit with the “hey girl boss babe queen” Facebook message from someone that bullied them in high school, so this is an excellent way of making people aware just how awful of a scam these pyramid scheme are.
WOW enough of that soapbox, I love the writing style of this, I think it was fun and well paced and kept me interested to see what was going to happen next.
The audiobook narrator is Violet from the Fourth Wing graphic audio and she was perfect.
WOW enough of that soapbox, I love the writing style of this, I think it was fun and well paced and kept me interested to see what was going to happen next.
The audiobook narrator is Violet from the Fourth Wing graphic audio and she was perfect.
August 10, 2025
Fun and light - overall. Did look at the dark side of MLMs and thought that was an interesting side plot for a romance.
July 28, 2025
I enjoyed this romcom. Who doesn't love a little MLM drama and I absolutely love the single dad trope ❤️
The audio production is off the charts. Khaya Fraites did an excellent job bringing the characters to life!
The audio production is off the charts. Khaya Fraites did an excellent job bringing the characters to life!
July 31, 2025
DNF @ 44%
When I first started this book I was intrigued about how the story would flow and then before I knew it the one night stand was happening like by chapter 2 or 3 (I can't remember) and I didn't really believe their chemistry.
I was reading this because I got it as an ARC and I didn't want to DNF it, but as soon as I read the FMC say E Musky's name-- it had to go and that is why I'm DNF'ing.
“The worst part of all? The only person I have to blame is myself. Well, me and Elon Musk.” *side eye*
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thank you to to NetGalley and Berkley for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.
When I first started this book I was intrigued about how the story would flow and then before I knew it the one night stand was happening like by chapter 2 or 3 (I can't remember) and I didn't really believe their chemistry.
I was reading this because I got it as an ARC and I didn't want to DNF it, but as soon as I read the FMC say E Musky's name-- it had to go and that is why I'm DNF'ing.
“The worst part of all? The only person I have to blame is myself. Well, me and Elon Musk.” *side eye*
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thank you to to NetGalley and Berkley for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.
Read
October 6, 2025DNF for now because the introduction of the love interest feels too wattpad for me for the headspace that I’m in right now but it has potential for me to come back and finish it in the future
July 26, 2025
I loved the premise of this book! A romance with a fun investigative take-down added in was new for me. The MLM plot-line really held my attention and honestly was the star of the show. Petunia Lemon was equal parts horrifying and comical to read about. The culture surrounding Petunia Lemon almost set this up as a thriller and I wouldn't have been upset by that! It was how the company and the "top" women preyed on other women they knew were looking for community and having money troubles that made this portion of the story feel very real.
The story fell short for me in the romance aspect. I didn't really feel the connection between Emerson and Luke, save for the first night they met. Their story felt more like a sub-plot than the focus of a book marketed as a romance. Emerson was extremely naive and it took me out of the story a few times even though it works with her getting sucked into an MLM.
Overall, while I didn't vibe with the characters or the romance aspect, I'm happy I stuck around to see everything with Petunia Lemon. This is a fantastic book for someone interested in MLMs!
The story fell short for me in the romance aspect. I didn't really feel the connection between Emerson and Luke, save for the first night they met. Their story felt more like a sub-plot than the focus of a book marketed as a romance. Emerson was extremely naive and it took me out of the story a few times even though it works with her getting sucked into an MLM.
Overall, while I didn't vibe with the characters or the romance aspect, I'm happy I stuck around to see everything with Petunia Lemon. This is a fantastic book for someone interested in MLMs!
August 16, 2025
This not, in fact, laugh out loud funny. The FMC was so frustrating and unwilling to do the basic things she needed to do to be an adult.
September 24, 2025
I loved this book! I am a sucker for anything MLM, and I loved how our scrappy protagonist Emerson became the mole to infiltrate their cult. She has such a unique voice, from the one-night (she thinks) stand with the love interest right away to the development of their love. The ending was a little rushed, but it was such a great story that it didn't really matter. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.
August 17, 2025
I liked the romance parts, not the MLM parts. I will still read everything she writes.
August 6, 2025
This book completely blew me away! I devoured it, I could not put it down. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but I quickly fell in love with the writing, the plot, and the characters. The takedown of a MLM premise was so well thought out and executed. This story probably resonates with a lot of people.
The chemistry and tension between Emerson and Lucas was amazing, and the way their relationship went from one night stand to enemies to friends and lovers with definitely interesting, and kept me hooked! This was my first by Alexa, but definitely won’t be my last! I can’t wait to read more.
🎧 The audiobook is narrated by Khaya Fraites. I 10/10 recommend. I absolutely loved it, she was so easy and entertaining to listen to, she did an amazing job bringing the characters to life!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
🩷Single Dad x Teacher
🩷Rom-Com
🩷Rivals to Lovers
🩷Forbidden
🩷One Night Stand
🩷MLM Take Down
🩷Single POV
🩷Spice
Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the advanced copies!
The chemistry and tension between Emerson and Lucas was amazing, and the way their relationship went from one night stand to enemies to friends and lovers with definitely interesting, and kept me hooked! This was my first by Alexa, but definitely won’t be my last! I can’t wait to read more.
🎧 The audiobook is narrated by Khaya Fraites. I 10/10 recommend. I absolutely loved it, she was so easy and entertaining to listen to, she did an amazing job bringing the characters to life!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
🩷Single Dad x Teacher
🩷Rom-Com
🩷Rivals to Lovers
🩷Forbidden
🩷One Night Stand
🩷MLM Take Down
🩷Single POV
🩷Spice
Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the advanced copies!
February 9, 2025
I got to say I was a bit hesitant to read this book because reading the first chapter had me in a mix of feelings. Thankfully, I kept on reading because I knew this author always starts off better in the middle to the end. She likes to start off slow to build up the character and whoever is the love interest, which is a good thing, but it also sets me back.
And this book was such a fun, cutie romance read with a bit of, like, chaos energy. I truly enjoyed it throughout all the endless drama investigation. And don’t get me started on the spicy romance between the characters because that was unexpected yet delightful. Trust me, you are going to giggle and blush at the same time.
And this book was such a fun, cutie romance read with a bit of, like, chaos energy. I truly enjoyed it throughout all the endless drama investigation. And don’t get me started on the spicy romance between the characters because that was unexpected yet delightful. Trust me, you are going to giggle and blush at the same time.
July 15, 2025
Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance or @acebookspub for the free book!
I did not like this book - I tried really hard to see the positives but at the end of the day, it was not for me. The concept was interesting - a kindergarten teacher teams up with a journalist (who’s also her student’s dad) to expose an MLM while also falling in love. However, it turned out to be a really flat narrative with boring characters, a meh romance plot and a VERY millennial sense of humor. I feel like millennial rom-com readers are the target audience and if you fall out of that category, it’s not going to be that enjoyable.
I did not like this book - I tried really hard to see the positives but at the end of the day, it was not for me. The concept was interesting - a kindergarten teacher teams up with a journalist (who’s also her student’s dad) to expose an MLM while also falling in love. However, it turned out to be a really flat narrative with boring characters, a meh romance plot and a VERY millennial sense of humor. I feel like millennial rom-com readers are the target audience and if you fall out of that category, it’s not going to be that enjoyable.
November 29, 2025
4.5/5 🌟 rounded up
This was hilarious, I'm so sorry. I can see how some people might think it's a bit corny but FMC was really speaking my language with her random Elon Musk lashings, her one-woman grass roots operation to spread the word on Little Mix' discography and her overall ✨️delusion✨️ . Also, the description of MLM hun culture was so accurate I wouldn't be surprised if Ms. Martin fell victim to one of them herself.
This was hilarious, I'm so sorry. I can see how some people might think it's a bit corny but FMC was really speaking my language with her random Elon Musk lashings, her one-woman grass roots operation to spread the word on Little Mix' discography and her overall ✨️delusion✨️ . Also, the description of MLM hun culture was so accurate I wouldn't be surprised if Ms. Martin fell victim to one of them herself.
January 10, 2025
Alexa Martin’s books are like sitting with a friend at a bar, drink in hand, while you laugh uproariously all night. I love everything she writes and “How to Sell a Romance” is Martin at her peak—exuberant, vibrant and endlessly fun.
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