What do you think?
Rate this book
Baker Girls #3
The Last Love Story
What do you do when the brilliant romance author you’re hung up on needs surgery but her insurance won’t cover it? Offer to marry her so she can use yours, of course.From the moment I first picked up one of Jade Jackson’s books, she’s had me in a chokehold. But when we start talking and flirting online, I end up with a very real crush on her. And when we finally meet in person, the sparks between us could start a forest fire.
When Jade reveals that she needs surgery that will impact her life as an author, and her insurance company refuses to pay, the solution is obvious—we should get married.
While Jade thinks I’m doing it all for her, she doesn’t realize she’s giving me everything I’ve ever wanted. Someone to care for and somewhere that feels like home. After too many lonely years of narrating other people’s love stories, maybe fate is finally letting me write my own.
The Last Love Story is a low angst, marriage of convenience rom-com featuring a plus size romance author, a romance cover model & narrator, swoony moments, flirty banter, and plenty of steam with a guaranteed happily ever after.
This is book 3 of the Baker Girls series. Though characters crossover and stories loosely interconnect, all books can be read as complete standalones.
When Jade reveals that she needs surgery that will impact her life as an author, and her insurance company refuses to pay, the solution is obvious—we should get married.
While Jade thinks I’m doing it all for her, she doesn’t realize she’s giving me everything I’ve ever wanted. Someone to care for and somewhere that feels like home. After too many lonely years of narrating other people’s love stories, maybe fate is finally letting me write my own.
The Last Love Story is a low angst, marriage of convenience rom-com featuring a plus size romance author, a romance cover model & narrator, swoony moments, flirty banter, and plenty of steam with a guaranteed happily ever after.
This is book 3 of the Baker Girls series. Though characters crossover and stories loosely interconnect, all books can be read as complete standalones.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2025
About the author
Bethany Monaco Smith
45 books210 followersBethany Monaco Smith is a writer-mom. When she’s not busy hanging with her boys, she’s writing cozy small town romances with lots of heart, a bit of steam, and all the feels. She loves happily-ever-afters and cries at every emotional moment, whether reading, writing, or watching. When she’s not mom-ing or writing, you can find her binge-reading on Kindle Unlimited, spending too much time on Instagram, and supporting fellow indie authors. Bethany survives on coffee, rewatching the same TV shows over and over, and her KU subscription. She lives in the Southern Tier of NY with her husband and two sons. You can find out more about Bethany and what she’s working on next on Instagram @bethanymonacosmith
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
October 28, 2025
This marriage of convenience where he falls first and hard is actually the best thing ever! Bethany M. Smith perfectly captures their characters and hurdles without going overboard. The romance, banter and spice is the best thing! Also the consent is actually refreshing! And thank you for the author for painting a realistic picture of a plus size FMC as a love interest!
Draeming to find my Justin! 😅
Draeming to find my Justin! 😅
October 23, 2025
To sum up - a good plot, tropes full of potential and even nice writing with likeable characters. Throw this all in a mix and it gives u an enjoyable read. Until you actually start reading and realise it has one of the most irritating trope present, an insta love. The entire mix goes from enjoyable to unbearable read because everything in this book happens at a speed of light. They texted, met and voila got married? Had instant feelings without knowing much about each other and the burn? Non freaking existent. The last 100 or so pages were sooooo difficult to go through cuz it had NOTHING.
July 12, 2025
DNF @ 60%. 2.5/5 - This book had a such great potential and I initially really loved the story. There was just too much fluff and some of the dialogue was incredibly cringy. MMC becomes a little insufferable with his behavior; it’s positive, but it’s the classic stereotype of what men think women want.
Very slow build up, nothing physical happens until 15 chapters in, I ended up skimming and skipping some chapters it was so boring.
Very slow build up, nothing physical happens until 15 chapters in, I ended up skimming and skipping some chapters it was so boring.
April 29, 2026
I’m just going to dive into this review. This was such a feel good, fun romance, while also hitting you right in the feels.
We have Jade Jackson, a curvy and well-known author in the romance community who typically writes emotional stories, but she’s struggling to write due to a crippling condition she needs to treat as soon as possible. Then we have Justin, a handsome cover model and narrator. Two people in the same industry who stared talking to one another and built a brilliant connection.
My heart melted at everything Justin did for Jade while taking care of her that grand gesture was so thoughtful and beautiful. He is such a standout MMC. Jade is confident in many ways but still has moments of doubt, and Justin constantly reassures her and makes her feel wanted. Their chemistry was fantastic.
I also wasn’t expecting the level of spice in this, especially given it’s on the shorter side, Chapter 27 is going to live rent free in my head for a very long time.
Lastly, I highly recommend picking up the audiobook. Finnley and Sydney did a brilliant job. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 6hrs 46mins
Narrators: Finnley Cole and Sydney Zaylin - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Spicy Chapters: 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 23 and 27
POV: First Person
Series or Standalone: Book Three In The Baker Girls Series
Tropes or Themes: Marriage Of Convenience, Opposites Attract, Plus Size FMC, Tension, Made Me Laugh, Taken Care Of, Grand Gesture, Medical Content, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Praise, Good Boy, Oral Play, Toys, Toys As Teammates, Squirting, Taken Bare and DP Scene (With Toy).
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
We have Jade Jackson, a curvy and well-known author in the romance community who typically writes emotional stories, but she’s struggling to write due to a crippling condition she needs to treat as soon as possible. Then we have Justin, a handsome cover model and narrator. Two people in the same industry who stared talking to one another and built a brilliant connection.
My heart melted at everything Justin did for Jade while taking care of her that grand gesture was so thoughtful and beautiful. He is such a standout MMC. Jade is confident in many ways but still has moments of doubt, and Justin constantly reassures her and makes her feel wanted. Their chemistry was fantastic.
I also wasn’t expecting the level of spice in this, especially given it’s on the shorter side, Chapter 27 is going to live rent free in my head for a very long time.
Lastly, I highly recommend picking up the audiobook. Finnley and Sydney did a brilliant job. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 6hrs 46mins
Narrators: Finnley Cole and Sydney Zaylin - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Spicy Chapters: 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 23 and 27
POV: First Person
Series or Standalone: Book Three In The Baker Girls Series
Tropes or Themes: Marriage Of Convenience, Opposites Attract, Plus Size FMC, Tension, Made Me Laugh, Taken Care Of, Grand Gesture, Medical Content, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Praise, Good Boy, Oral Play, Toys, Toys As Teammates, Squirting, Taken Bare and DP Scene (With Toy).
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
June 26, 2025
This was such a quick and cute romance read. A love story between a romance writer and a romance narrator/cover model. Jade Jackson always searched for her book boyfriend and she got exactly that with Justin Ayers. This is a low angst, marriage of convenience story. Justin has been looking for a place that felt like home, and he found exactly that within Jade Jackson.
This was my first book by Bethany Monaco Smith and it did not disappoint. And I am so glad I was able to ARC read it.
This was my first book by Bethany Monaco Smith and it did not disappoint. And I am so glad I was able to ARC read it.
July 3, 2025
This was such a cute and fun romance. The characters were written so well and I devoured the romance author/narrator trope on top of marriage of convenience.
So lucky to have this as my first ARC and first Bethany Monaco Smith book and I know this will not be the last. 🫶✨
So lucky to have this as my first ARC and first Bethany Monaco Smith book and I know this will not be the last. 🫶✨
February 16, 2026
This was sweet and sappy and perfect. Happily ever after and everything I needed.
Read
February 16, 2026DNF 37%
Good idea. Poorly executed.
Good idea. Poorly executed.
September 27, 2025
0.25/5
March 31, 2026
DNF 23% I was beyond bored
October 7, 2025
At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to be interested in this book. Usually, I love reading BBW books. However, the storyline of author needs a hand surgery to continue writing. Didn't seem likely that one word would become friends with a fan who wants to marry her and care for her. But then I figured out it goes with another series I read, and I loved those characters and they all cross over. This was then a no-brainer, give it a chance. So glad I did.
Justin Ayers is an avid romance book reader. They’re an essential part of his life as both a voice actor and a model—known for romance novel covers and narration. He loves a good love story, he always has. The romance books which he has loved since he was a kid and had to hide from his dad— the fun of misogyny—but now he flaunts it. The current author he was reading was Jade Jackson. She writes long-running series that people get invested in. She talked about real-life she can knit things together doesn’t shy away from topics that some people are more afraid of in the romance genre, like cheating, and how a relationship can either be broken or healed afterward.
I don’t know which way it’ll go for this couple, but I’m desperate to find out. When he decided to go to her website to check out the audiobooks she had zero. He went to “about you” and caught sight of her picture, and he thought she was beautiful. She was smiling as she sat on the floor, surrounded by piles of her books. Justin zooms in, getting a better look at her. She’s absolutely gorgeous. Curves everywhere and a smile that’s so captivating he doesn’t want to look away. He doesn’t exactly have a type. Not in terms of looks.
He admits, he’s a man slut sometimes. I’m not going to apologize for it, though. I love women—everything about them. Every size, every shape. Justin doesn't indiscriminately sleep around, he also hooks up a decent amount. He’s not afraid of falling in love or catching feelings or anything else. He wishes he would. But most of the time, it’s a night with someone to pass the time, but I don’t have a connection with anyone besides the physical. Like finding a town that feels like home, one day he wants to find the right person to settle down and share his life with.
He’s open to it right this second if they randomly walk through the door, but he knows that’s unlikely. Justin always loved reading and watching love stories. Someday, he hoped he would get to live his own. So when he decides to fanboy and like Jade’s writer’s page and then messages her a few times regarding the current series he’s reading, and then she answers back eventually letting him know she has done some fangirling of her own with his sexier than sin audiobooks he’s done. Then don’t even get her started on his book covers.
Now he’s the one shying away not knowing how to respond. He asked her when her next book would be out and if she was starting the one after that, and she said she was waiting to hear from her insurance to see if it's approved because she has carpal tunnel and if not fixed she’s not sure how this would affect the big picture of her career. It scares her to death. The surgery is set for July if the insurance doesn't pay she may have to put off the series he loves and wants on audio way on the back burner. Because all the money she’s been saving for it would have to go to the surgery.
They moved on to personal messaging and agreed to meet up and have dinner at the book event. He also wanted to help her set up and tear down her table. They have such a good talk and meeting each other touches something deeply in each of them. It's like they’ve known each other since forever. The first night they kissed goodnight. By the second night, Justin had formulated a plan. It was time to tell her and ask. What do you think about marrying me, so you can have my insurance, and they can get to know one another he thought? But the second part he didn't tell her he didn't want to scare her it all had to be her idea. He knew she was attracted to him and wanted him but not if she really wanted him like that. Welcome to their meet-cute.
Justin Ayers is an avid romance book reader. They’re an essential part of his life as both a voice actor and a model—known for romance novel covers and narration. He loves a good love story, he always has. The romance books which he has loved since he was a kid and had to hide from his dad— the fun of misogyny—but now he flaunts it. The current author he was reading was Jade Jackson. She writes long-running series that people get invested in. She talked about real-life she can knit things together doesn’t shy away from topics that some people are more afraid of in the romance genre, like cheating, and how a relationship can either be broken or healed afterward.
I don’t know which way it’ll go for this couple, but I’m desperate to find out. When he decided to go to her website to check out the audiobooks she had zero. He went to “about you” and caught sight of her picture, and he thought she was beautiful. She was smiling as she sat on the floor, surrounded by piles of her books. Justin zooms in, getting a better look at her. She’s absolutely gorgeous. Curves everywhere and a smile that’s so captivating he doesn’t want to look away. He doesn’t exactly have a type. Not in terms of looks.
He admits, he’s a man slut sometimes. I’m not going to apologize for it, though. I love women—everything about them. Every size, every shape. Justin doesn't indiscriminately sleep around, he also hooks up a decent amount. He’s not afraid of falling in love or catching feelings or anything else. He wishes he would. But most of the time, it’s a night with someone to pass the time, but I don’t have a connection with anyone besides the physical. Like finding a town that feels like home, one day he wants to find the right person to settle down and share his life with.
He’s open to it right this second if they randomly walk through the door, but he knows that’s unlikely. Justin always loved reading and watching love stories. Someday, he hoped he would get to live his own. So when he decides to fanboy and like Jade’s writer’s page and then messages her a few times regarding the current series he’s reading, and then she answers back eventually letting him know she has done some fangirling of her own with his sexier than sin audiobooks he’s done. Then don’t even get her started on his book covers.
Now he’s the one shying away not knowing how to respond. He asked her when her next book would be out and if she was starting the one after that, and she said she was waiting to hear from her insurance to see if it's approved because she has carpal tunnel and if not fixed she’s not sure how this would affect the big picture of her career. It scares her to death. The surgery is set for July if the insurance doesn't pay she may have to put off the series he loves and wants on audio way on the back burner. Because all the money she’s been saving for it would have to go to the surgery.
They moved on to personal messaging and agreed to meet up and have dinner at the book event. He also wanted to help her set up and tear down her table. They have such a good talk and meeting each other touches something deeply in each of them. It's like they’ve known each other since forever. The first night they kissed goodnight. By the second night, Justin had formulated a plan. It was time to tell her and ask. What do you think about marrying me, so you can have my insurance, and they can get to know one another he thought? But the second part he didn't tell her he didn't want to scare her it all had to be her idea. He knew she was attracted to him and wanted him but not if she really wanted him like that. Welcome to their meet-cute.
August 31, 2025
The Last Love Story by Bethany Monaco Smith ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was such a sweet, low-angst, high-swoon romance that completely delivered on its promise. Even though it’s the third book in the Baker Girls series, this was my first by Bethany Monaco Smith, and I had no problem following along. Each book works as a standalone, but the interconnected characters add that extra cozy layer of “found family” warmth.
The premise alone hooked me: a marriage of convenience between a successful, plus-size romance author and her longtime admirer—the audiobook narrator and cover model who’s been secretly obsessed with both her books and her for years. And trust me, the execution is just as delicious as the setup.
✨ Jade Jackson is a body-positive, daydreaming author who’s spent years writing happily-ever-afters, even though her own childhood lacked them thanks to a complicated relationship with her mother. Enter Justin Ayers—the protective, attentive narrator/model who fangirls over her work, slides into her DMs, and oh-so-conveniently offers her a marriage when she needs health insurance. The catch? He’s been in love with her from the start, and he’s ready to prove that the book boyfriend she’s always dreamed of has been real all along.
From the very first page, the chemistry between Jade and Justin leaps off the page. Their relationship is equal parts playful banter, tender caretaking, and genuine emotional connection. I loved that it unfolded from strangers, to friends, to full-blown soulmates—without the cliché third-act breakup. Instead, their love story feels refreshingly secure and joyful.
What really stood out to me was Justin himself. He’s the ultimate book husband blueprint—protective, obsessed in the softest way, attentive to every little need, and absolutely smitten with Jade. Meanwhile, Jade’s strength, humor, and heart make her such an empowering FMC to root for. Together, they balance each other perfectly: she grounds him, and he reminds her she deserves every ounce of love she’s written about.
And yes—there’s steam, but it’s the kind that builds slowly and feels completely earned. Between Justin holding her coffee, fixing her mic, and looking at her like she hung the moon, this romance gave me all the fluttery feels.
📚 What to Expect:
• Marriage of Convenience
• Romance Author x Audiobook Narrator/Cover Model
• Plus-Size FMC + Body Positivity
• Small Town Vibes
• Slow Burn → Steamy Caretaking Moments
• Found Family
• No Third-Act Breakup (!!)
If you’re looking for a feel-good, bingeable romance with low drama, high chemistry, and a book boyfriend who redefines the standard, The Last Love Story is absolutely worth your time. I finished it with a big goofy smile on my face and the urge to immediately dive into the rest of the Baker Girls series.
This was such a sweet, low-angst, high-swoon romance that completely delivered on its promise. Even though it’s the third book in the Baker Girls series, this was my first by Bethany Monaco Smith, and I had no problem following along. Each book works as a standalone, but the interconnected characters add that extra cozy layer of “found family” warmth.
The premise alone hooked me: a marriage of convenience between a successful, plus-size romance author and her longtime admirer—the audiobook narrator and cover model who’s been secretly obsessed with both her books and her for years. And trust me, the execution is just as delicious as the setup.
✨ Jade Jackson is a body-positive, daydreaming author who’s spent years writing happily-ever-afters, even though her own childhood lacked them thanks to a complicated relationship with her mother. Enter Justin Ayers—the protective, attentive narrator/model who fangirls over her work, slides into her DMs, and oh-so-conveniently offers her a marriage when she needs health insurance. The catch? He’s been in love with her from the start, and he’s ready to prove that the book boyfriend she’s always dreamed of has been real all along.
From the very first page, the chemistry between Jade and Justin leaps off the page. Their relationship is equal parts playful banter, tender caretaking, and genuine emotional connection. I loved that it unfolded from strangers, to friends, to full-blown soulmates—without the cliché third-act breakup. Instead, their love story feels refreshingly secure and joyful.
What really stood out to me was Justin himself. He’s the ultimate book husband blueprint—protective, obsessed in the softest way, attentive to every little need, and absolutely smitten with Jade. Meanwhile, Jade’s strength, humor, and heart make her such an empowering FMC to root for. Together, they balance each other perfectly: she grounds him, and he reminds her she deserves every ounce of love she’s written about.
And yes—there’s steam, but it’s the kind that builds slowly and feels completely earned. Between Justin holding her coffee, fixing her mic, and looking at her like she hung the moon, this romance gave me all the fluttery feels.
📚 What to Expect:
• Marriage of Convenience
• Romance Author x Audiobook Narrator/Cover Model
• Plus-Size FMC + Body Positivity
• Small Town Vibes
• Slow Burn → Steamy Caretaking Moments
• Found Family
• No Third-Act Breakup (!!)
If you’re looking for a feel-good, bingeable romance with low drama, high chemistry, and a book boyfriend who redefines the standard, The Last Love Story is absolutely worth your time. I finished it with a big goofy smile on my face and the urge to immediately dive into the rest of the Baker Girls series.
June 30, 2025
The Last Love Story (Book 3 in the Baker Girls series) is the romance equivalent of a warm hug and a wink across the room. While characters do cross over from previous books, each story—including this one—can be enjoyed as a standalone.
This low-angst, high-swoon rom-com delivers exactly what it promises: a marriage of convenience between a plus-size romance author and the dreamy cover model/narrator who’s been secretly obsessed with her work (and her) for ages. Yes, it’s as delicious as it sounds.
Jade Jackson is a successful, body-positive author with a heart full of fairy tale dreams and a mother who made sure her childhood was anything but magical. Justin Ayers? He’s the sexy, swoony narrator-slash-cover model who slides into her DMs fangirling over her books and low-key plotting to wife her up. When Jade needs a quick solution for health insurance, Justin is ready with a ring and a plan—and maybe a few not-so-innocent intentions.
From flirty banter to heart-melting caretaking, their relationship evolves from strangers to friends to soulmates. He falls first (and hard), and she slowly realizes that maybe the book boyfriend she’s always written about actually exists—and he's been right in front of her, holding her coffee and fixing her mic.
This isn’t your average marriage of convenience—it’s packed with chemistry, genuine emotional connection, found family, and a refreshing dose of joy. There’s no third-act breakup drama here—just two people learning how to love and be loved, exactly as they are. And yes, there’s steam. Jade is a romance author, after all.
Justin is the blueprint for book husbands—protective, soft, obsessed, and oh-so-attentive. And Jade? She’s a badass, daydreaming, plus-size queen living her best author life. Together, they bring out the best in each other while proving that sometimes, the best love stories begin with a fangirl DM and a very convenient marriage license.
What to Expect:
💍 Marriage of Convenience
📚 Romance Author x Romance Narrator
💍 Plus-Size FMC with Body Positivity
📚 Small Town Vibes
💍 Slow Burn to Steamy
📚 Caretaking Moments
💍 Found Family
📚 No Third-Act Breakup
The Last Love Story is sweet, spicy, and sparkly with just the right amount of swoon. Bethany Monaco Smith delivers another feel-good romance that will leave your cheeks sore from smiling and your heart full.
Thank you to Bethany Monaco Smith, the author, for the ARC opportunity!
This low-angst, high-swoon rom-com delivers exactly what it promises: a marriage of convenience between a plus-size romance author and the dreamy cover model/narrator who’s been secretly obsessed with her work (and her) for ages. Yes, it’s as delicious as it sounds.
Jade Jackson is a successful, body-positive author with a heart full of fairy tale dreams and a mother who made sure her childhood was anything but magical. Justin Ayers? He’s the sexy, swoony narrator-slash-cover model who slides into her DMs fangirling over her books and low-key plotting to wife her up. When Jade needs a quick solution for health insurance, Justin is ready with a ring and a plan—and maybe a few not-so-innocent intentions.
From flirty banter to heart-melting caretaking, their relationship evolves from strangers to friends to soulmates. He falls first (and hard), and she slowly realizes that maybe the book boyfriend she’s always written about actually exists—and he's been right in front of her, holding her coffee and fixing her mic.
This isn’t your average marriage of convenience—it’s packed with chemistry, genuine emotional connection, found family, and a refreshing dose of joy. There’s no third-act breakup drama here—just two people learning how to love and be loved, exactly as they are. And yes, there’s steam. Jade is a romance author, after all.
Justin is the blueprint for book husbands—protective, soft, obsessed, and oh-so-attentive. And Jade? She’s a badass, daydreaming, plus-size queen living her best author life. Together, they bring out the best in each other while proving that sometimes, the best love stories begin with a fangirl DM and a very convenient marriage license.
What to Expect:
💍 Marriage of Convenience
📚 Romance Author x Romance Narrator
💍 Plus-Size FMC with Body Positivity
📚 Small Town Vibes
💍 Slow Burn to Steamy
📚 Caretaking Moments
💍 Found Family
📚 No Third-Act Breakup
The Last Love Story is sweet, spicy, and sparkly with just the right amount of swoon. Bethany Monaco Smith delivers another feel-good romance that will leave your cheeks sore from smiling and your heart full.
Thank you to Bethany Monaco Smith, the author, for the ARC opportunity!
June 26, 2025
I signed up to be an ARC reader for this book through my local online book club, thinking I'd be helping a local author and excited to get the opportunity to be an ARC reader/reviewer for once. After reading, and attempting to link it to my Goodreads profile to start the review I realized I've read multiple others that were some of my favorites on last years book challenge ❤️
In my initial thought when receiving my ARC copy prior to starting the book, I learned it was book #3 in a series, initially I groveled over the idea of having to add the prior two books before starting this one. I decided to trek forward to make sure I was able to review this story before the public release day. The book was so well written that you didn't feel lost or confused from the interconnections of the supporting characters stories intertwined in this book from the first two in this series.
The FMC is a Bad Ass Woman. She is a successful Author, who happens to be plus-sized (I LOVE that she lives by Body Positivity). She day dreams of having her fairy tale romance and finding her booktok boyfriend one day. The MMC is a gorgeous cover Model and a well known voice over to many books in the author community. He has an amazing friend group that has grown up together and have been supportive to his success. Both characters come from broken families, FMC had a mother was self centered, had no 2nd thoughts of body shaming opportunities and was more worried about her own selfish desires than raising a child. MMC's family were small minded, homophobic small town "there's only one right way to be" kind.
This love story was one that started as a friendship, let to a marriage of convenience, and successfully intertwined plenty of heart swooning, feet kicking & plenty of spicy scenes, ending with the fairytale love of their dreams.
In my initial thought when receiving my ARC copy prior to starting the book, I learned it was book #3 in a series, initially I groveled over the idea of having to add the prior two books before starting this one. I decided to trek forward to make sure I was able to review this story before the public release day. The book was so well written that you didn't feel lost or confused from the interconnections of the supporting characters stories intertwined in this book from the first two in this series.
The FMC is a Bad Ass Woman. She is a successful Author, who happens to be plus-sized (I LOVE that she lives by Body Positivity). She day dreams of having her fairy tale romance and finding her booktok boyfriend one day. The MMC is a gorgeous cover Model and a well known voice over to many books in the author community. He has an amazing friend group that has grown up together and have been supportive to his success. Both characters come from broken families, FMC had a mother was self centered, had no 2nd thoughts of body shaming opportunities and was more worried about her own selfish desires than raising a child. MMC's family were small minded, homophobic small town "there's only one right way to be" kind.
This love story was one that started as a friendship, let to a marriage of convenience, and successfully intertwined plenty of heart swooning, feet kicking & plenty of spicy scenes, ending with the fairytale love of their dreams.
July 8, 2025
The Last Love Story by Bethany Monaco Smith
One of my favorite things about Bethany's books is that they all intertwine in some way. Whether its big or small you get a glimpse in another series. Justin and Jade are no different! Especially if youve read her Lacy Creek Trilogy.
I was so excited when I learned that she was writing their story! And this book did not disappoint. (Let's face it she never does!) Because i loved watching them meet, bond over romance books, fall in love and grt their happily ever after!
I loved these two so much! Romance author Jade and Audiobook narrator/Book cover model Justin bring all the feels! The way he slides into her dms to gush over her books. The instant chemistry. The ease of their banter and just how perfect they fit into eachothers worlds. Because they come from the same world. The marriage of convenience aspect. This man so quickly would do anything for her! I am a sucker for her falls first. And boy does he ever!
The way he cares for her. From broken ac to French braiding her hair to just holding her and being there! Bethany knows how to write the swooniest of men that you cant help but fall in love with Justin Ayers is just the icing on a very large book stack!
And Jade i love her from the moment I met her. Her strength and independence! And her resilience. She's amazing!
This book fed my happy little heart. A true love story written in the stars! I absolutely adored this book and these characters! And all the fun side characters from the previous books (& future books!) And the nods to some of our favorites from other series! You can not go wrong with any Bethany book, so pick one up... I bet you'll end up reading them all!
One of my favorite things about Bethany's books is that they all intertwine in some way. Whether its big or small you get a glimpse in another series. Justin and Jade are no different! Especially if youve read her Lacy Creek Trilogy.
I was so excited when I learned that she was writing their story! And this book did not disappoint. (Let's face it she never does!) Because i loved watching them meet, bond over romance books, fall in love and grt their happily ever after!
I loved these two so much! Romance author Jade and Audiobook narrator/Book cover model Justin bring all the feels! The way he slides into her dms to gush over her books. The instant chemistry. The ease of their banter and just how perfect they fit into eachothers worlds. Because they come from the same world. The marriage of convenience aspect. This man so quickly would do anything for her! I am a sucker for her falls first. And boy does he ever!
The way he cares for her. From broken ac to French braiding her hair to just holding her and being there! Bethany knows how to write the swooniest of men that you cant help but fall in love with Justin Ayers is just the icing on a very large book stack!
And Jade i love her from the moment I met her. Her strength and independence! And her resilience. She's amazing!
This book fed my happy little heart. A true love story written in the stars! I absolutely adored this book and these characters! And all the fun side characters from the previous books (& future books!) And the nods to some of our favorites from other series! You can not go wrong with any Bethany book, so pick one up... I bet you'll end up reading them all!
May 3, 2026
This was such a fun, heartwarming romance.
From chapter one, Justin completely won me over. A hopeless romantic who loves romance books and works as a narrator and cover model? I was in immediately. The way their relationship starts, through social media DMs with fangirling, awkwardness, and cute banter, felt modern and really charming.
Their connection builds in a way that feels natural and grounded. I loved that Justin took things slow at first because he genuinely liked her, and the focus stayed on getting to know each other. Once they’re together, the dynamic turns both sweet and domestic, with plenty of chemistry mixed in.
What really stood out was how supportive Justin is, whether it’s taking care of her after surgery, encouraging her writing, or simply showing up when it matters. The communication between them, especially during conflict, was refreshing and made the relationship feel strong and healthy.
There are heavier elements woven in, like family struggles and real-world issues, which added depth without taking away from the romance.
Overall, a sweet, modern love story with great side characters, strong emotional moments, and a genuinely lovable male lead.
From chapter one, Justin completely won me over. A hopeless romantic who loves romance books and works as a narrator and cover model? I was in immediately. The way their relationship starts, through social media DMs with fangirling, awkwardness, and cute banter, felt modern and really charming.
Their connection builds in a way that feels natural and grounded. I loved that Justin took things slow at first because he genuinely liked her, and the focus stayed on getting to know each other. Once they’re together, the dynamic turns both sweet and domestic, with plenty of chemistry mixed in.
What really stood out was how supportive Justin is, whether it’s taking care of her after surgery, encouraging her writing, or simply showing up when it matters. The communication between them, especially during conflict, was refreshing and made the relationship feel strong and healthy.
There are heavier elements woven in, like family struggles and real-world issues, which added depth without taking away from the romance.
Overall, a sweet, modern love story with great side characters, strong emotional moments, and a genuinely lovable male lead.
June 27, 2025
Bethany Monaco Smith's The Last Love Story is Book 3 in the Baker Girls series, and even though I didn’t read the first two, I never felt lost. If anything, I’m even more excited to go back and read them now!
After falling head over heels for the Friends Like This series, it’s no surprise that A Baker Girls Romance has me completely hooked. Seriously… ahhh.
In this one, we meet Jade, a romance author, and Justin, a narrator and cover model. He slides into her DMs fangirling over her books and demanding to know what happens next. When they finally meet at a conference, Justin offers Jade an irresistible solution: a marriage of convenience for health insurance—and she won't have to touch her savings for her audiobooks.
Justin is utterly swoon-worthy. He shows up for Jade in all the right ways… even the ones she didn’t know she needed. Their playfulness, banter, and the way their relationship evolves is just so good. Overall, this is a quick read, a cute story, and another gem from Bethany!
Thank you, Bethany for the ARC!
After falling head over heels for the Friends Like This series, it’s no surprise that A Baker Girls Romance has me completely hooked. Seriously… ahhh.
In this one, we meet Jade, a romance author, and Justin, a narrator and cover model. He slides into her DMs fangirling over her books and demanding to know what happens next. When they finally meet at a conference, Justin offers Jade an irresistible solution: a marriage of convenience for health insurance—and she won't have to touch her savings for her audiobooks.
Justin is utterly swoon-worthy. He shows up for Jade in all the right ways… even the ones she didn’t know she needed. Their playfulness, banter, and the way their relationship evolves is just so good. Overall, this is a quick read, a cute story, and another gem from Bethany!
Thank you, Bethany for the ARC!
July 3, 2025
Romance author meets romance narrator and it is as cute of a whirlwind romance as you can imagine. He falls first and hard. A marriage of convenience- that for him was the real deal from the beginning; he wants her forever and will do whatever he can to show her and prove to her that she is what he wants. ❤️ And in doing so he is swoon-worthy, book boyfriend gold!
I love Jade and her personality- she is sweet, spicy, spunky- a great fmc!
Justin is a swoon-worthy mmc with a southern drawl, who I wish narrated books in real life! Together, they are an adorable couple who brings the sweet, the spicy, the swoons, a whimsy romance story and I could not get enough of it!
I knew I was going to enjoy this read based on the fmc being a romance author and the mmc being a romance narrator! Bethany has quickly became an auto-read for me. This is my third book I have read by her and each one has been so good! There is something about the way she rights. Her romances have hard, heavy, sad, spicy, happy, beautiful moments and you feel all of the emotions she writes like you are right there with them.
I love Jade and her personality- she is sweet, spicy, spunky- a great fmc!
Justin is a swoon-worthy mmc with a southern drawl, who I wish narrated books in real life! Together, they are an adorable couple who brings the sweet, the spicy, the swoons, a whimsy romance story and I could not get enough of it!
I knew I was going to enjoy this read based on the fmc being a romance author and the mmc being a romance narrator! Bethany has quickly became an auto-read for me. This is my third book I have read by her and each one has been so good! There is something about the way she rights. Her romances have hard, heavy, sad, spicy, happy, beautiful moments and you feel all of the emotions she writes like you are right there with them.
June 19, 2025
I was lucky to be chosen to read an ARC of “The Last Love Story” and I absolutely LOVED it!
While the book is part of the Baker Girls world it can still easily be read without reading the first 2 books. (I haven’t read them yet, but definitely will be soon!) The author does a great job of giving just enough details about the earlier stories that you feel in the loop, but doesn’t rehash them to where you don’t want to read them.
Jade is a romance author, beautiful inside and out, comfortable with her sexual desires, and she just so happens to be a plus-sized girlie. Justin is a model turned romance book narrator (and cover model), and also happens to be an avid romance book reader that loves love.
It’s hard to talk about the story without giving away spoilers… So… I’ll just say that the author writes a swoony tale about Jade and Justin that makes you believe book boyfriends could actually walk among us in the real world. There is great banter, great friendships, body positivity, and some spicy scenes (Jade is a romance author after all)!
While the book is part of the Baker Girls world it can still easily be read without reading the first 2 books. (I haven’t read them yet, but definitely will be soon!) The author does a great job of giving just enough details about the earlier stories that you feel in the loop, but doesn’t rehash them to where you don’t want to read them.
Jade is a romance author, beautiful inside and out, comfortable with her sexual desires, and she just so happens to be a plus-sized girlie. Justin is a model turned romance book narrator (and cover model), and also happens to be an avid romance book reader that loves love.
It’s hard to talk about the story without giving away spoilers… So… I’ll just say that the author writes a swoony tale about Jade and Justin that makes you believe book boyfriends could actually walk among us in the real world. There is great banter, great friendships, body positivity, and some spicy scenes (Jade is a romance author after all)!
April 17, 2026
So hot!
I absolutely adored this story.
Justin was so loveable and everything a woman would want in a man, adoring everything about Jade from the moment he saw a photo of her.
Not to mention kind, attentive and wanting to protect her as well.
This book started out as a fake relationship but turned real and steamy rather quickly.
Loving the fact that Jade was a plus sized woman, who knew her mind but felt vulnerable about her weight at times.
Justin did everything he could to show her that she was gorgeous just the way she is and to not listen to anyone else’s opinions.
I loved the storyline as well, Jade being a very popular romance author and Justin being the gorgeous model and audiobook narrator.
Also the side characters from previous books in the series appeared, adding to the story.
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Sydney Zaylin and Finley Cole.
The did an amazing job of making this story come to life in my mind.
It was perfect!
I absolutely adored this story.
Justin was so loveable and everything a woman would want in a man, adoring everything about Jade from the moment he saw a photo of her.
Not to mention kind, attentive and wanting to protect her as well.
This book started out as a fake relationship but turned real and steamy rather quickly.
Loving the fact that Jade was a plus sized woman, who knew her mind but felt vulnerable about her weight at times.
Justin did everything he could to show her that she was gorgeous just the way she is and to not listen to anyone else’s opinions.
I loved the storyline as well, Jade being a very popular romance author and Justin being the gorgeous model and audiobook narrator.
Also the side characters from previous books in the series appeared, adding to the story.
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Sydney Zaylin and Finley Cole.
The did an amazing job of making this story come to life in my mind.
It was perfect!
June 28, 2025
Justin is a romance narrator and model and is stuck on Jade Jackson’s books so he slips into her DMs and they hit it off. When Jade has a problem with her health insurance of course Justin would offer to marry her to help..and maybe get some insights on her next book.
Bethany has a true talent of creating the most perfect book boyfriends ever. This was another hit out of the park. I can’t even imagine how awesome it would be to have an author and narrator together in real life, these two were the cutest couple. I was worried it would be a lot more angst but it was the bare minimum necessary for the story which was great. Five pepper spice right here, variety and high heat was such a treat. All around winner with this one, and as always great to see all the other beloved Baker Girls characters.
Bethany has a true talent of creating the most perfect book boyfriends ever. This was another hit out of the park. I can’t even imagine how awesome it would be to have an author and narrator together in real life, these two were the cutest couple. I was worried it would be a lot more angst but it was the bare minimum necessary for the story which was great. Five pepper spice right here, variety and high heat was such a treat. All around winner with this one, and as always great to see all the other beloved Baker Girls characters.
July 6, 2025
Jade and Justin have one of the most swoon worthy (in my humble opinion) stories that Bethany has ever written - and I feel like that’s saying a lot. There’s just something about this one that’ll grip you from the beginning and leave you continually wanting even more.
Jade is a writer, and Justin is a narrator…but what happens when the two finally meet in person at a book convention? Shall we say sparks fly? At least in the case of one they do immediately, while the other is a little more cautious.
I enjoyed that we get a full golden retriever vibe from Justin but he’s definitely not the annoying type. He’s so genuinely caring and ready to do anything for Jade. Jade is a bit of a black cat through this, and it makes you want to cheer for her true happiness.
Give me all of these golden retriever and black cat books because I am hooked!
Jade is a writer, and Justin is a narrator…but what happens when the two finally meet in person at a book convention? Shall we say sparks fly? At least in the case of one they do immediately, while the other is a little more cautious.
I enjoyed that we get a full golden retriever vibe from Justin but he’s definitely not the annoying type. He’s so genuinely caring and ready to do anything for Jade. Jade is a bit of a black cat through this, and it makes you want to cheer for her true happiness.
Give me all of these golden retriever and black cat books because I am hooked!
July 11, 2025
If my life hadn't been hectic lately, this would have been binged in ONE sitting. That's how much I enjoyed this book. Although this was a marriage of convenience kinda romance, it had so many relatable moments. A curvy plus size FMC, mention of StarWars, Once Upon a Time, Disney princesses... it was like reading about my own life. Minus the marriage of convenience and the FMC being an indie author herself. The feelings the characters had to work through in a short time with trust, communication, and instant love. All of it combined made up for a very enjoyable, cute, and relatable read. highly recommend!
(and yes there is SPICE) don't be like my boss and judge it by it's cover thinking it's innocent... I couldn't prove him wrong because that's how spicey it can get. yes, I laughed about that.
(and yes there is SPICE) don't be like my boss and judge it by it's cover thinking it's innocent... I couldn't prove him wrong because that's how spicey it can get. yes, I laughed about that.
August 7, 2025
“Love is born in seconds, but grows over a lifetime.”
This has been my FAVORITE of the Baker Girls Romances. Justin is so swoon worthy, and I loved that Jade was a romance writer. While their marriage was one of convenience, it became very clear, very quickly, that it wasn’t like that for long.
Justin is such a care giver. Taking care of her AC, her wrist after surgery, and her heart. Jade had some “social demons” to overcome. The hate people spew can be the worst, and reminding herself that hate isn’t the truth takes time.
“Plus size men can marry skinny women and it’s all good. There are tons of shows with that dynamic out there. But if a plus size woman is with a hot guy or one who is thinner than her, he must be cheating or lying or desperate.”
I always love stories with plus sized FMC, especially when authors nail the inner psyche.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖: KU
This has been my FAVORITE of the Baker Girls Romances. Justin is so swoon worthy, and I loved that Jade was a romance writer. While their marriage was one of convenience, it became very clear, very quickly, that it wasn’t like that for long.
Justin is such a care giver. Taking care of her AC, her wrist after surgery, and her heart. Jade had some “social demons” to overcome. The hate people spew can be the worst, and reminding herself that hate isn’t the truth takes time.
“Plus size men can marry skinny women and it’s all good. There are tons of shows with that dynamic out there. But if a plus size woman is with a hot guy or one who is thinner than her, he must be cheating or lying or desperate.”
I always love stories with plus sized FMC, especially when authors nail the inner psyche.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖: KU
December 16, 2025
This one hit me in the feels. It’s short and sweet but swoon worthy. It feels like someone studied my relationship and wrote a cutesy version of it. A month after my guy and I started “going steady” he was hospitalized for 2 weeks over Christmas. I spent the entirety of it with him and that’s the moment he quotes as knowing he was going to marry me. 5 months later he proposed and lost his job shortly afterwards. We had set the wedding for a year and a half out…But I begged him to get married in secret before the ceremony, so that he could get on my health insurance sooner. He didn’t want to disappoint his grandpa so we didn’t break the rules, but we still talk about how we should’ve done it. The best part is I’m the romance reader and he does voice acting and has done audiobooks… like I said, this book is the much cuter version, I just love it. 💕
January 10, 2026
Omg what A CAYUUUUTE Story. If you are
Looking for a book that has low angst and insta love, this one is for you!
And get this the Romance Author and the AudioBook Narrator/Book model!! Eeek so good, A trope I didnt even know I needed!
Justin (our H) is instantly obsessed with Jade’s (our h) books. He shoots his shot by DM’ing her about it. They form a quick friendship that turns into a marriage of convenience.
He is obsessed and sweet and perfect 😍
This book checked ALL my boxes! no OW drama, even though Justin at the beginning kinda mentions he was very vicarious with women. Not too much drama that affects our couple.
It was perrfffff, chefs kiss! Now im going down a Bethany rabbit hole, I must read them all!!
💍marriage of convenience
💜plus size romance author
💍swoony romance narrator
💜cute small town
💍caretaking
💜found family
💍no third act breakup
Looking for a book that has low angst and insta love, this one is for you!
And get this the Romance Author and the AudioBook Narrator/Book model!! Eeek so good, A trope I didnt even know I needed!
Justin (our H) is instantly obsessed with Jade’s (our h) books. He shoots his shot by DM’ing her about it. They form a quick friendship that turns into a marriage of convenience.
He is obsessed and sweet and perfect 😍
This book checked ALL my boxes! no OW drama, even though Justin at the beginning kinda mentions he was very vicarious with women. Not too much drama that affects our couple.
It was perrfffff, chefs kiss! Now im going down a Bethany rabbit hole, I must read them all!!
💍marriage of convenience
💜plus size romance author
💍swoony romance narrator
💜cute small town
💍caretaking
💜found family
💍no third act breakup
April 23, 2026
The Last love Story By Bethany Monaco Smith
⭐️ 4.5 /5
🌶 3/5
I haven't read a marriage of convenience in so long and this book hit all the right spots. This was my first book by Bethany Monaco Smith and I loved it. I have never read a book when the MMC is romance narrator and the FMC is an romance author. This was third book in the series I will be reading the rest of the series. Justin is MMC and he fell first and hard for the FMC Jade. I adored these two together. I also adored the found family aspect in this book.
Tropes
- Marriage of convenience
- Narrator MMC X Author FMC
- Caretaking
- My Wife
- Dual POV
“I love when you say my name like that.” “Like I’m going to cause you bodily harm?” He shrugs. “I know you won’t. And that tone is a turn- on.”
I want more of it. The emotional connection. The snuggles. Yeah, I’m a cuddlewhore, and I make no apologies for it.
⭐️ 4.5 /5
🌶 3/5
I haven't read a marriage of convenience in so long and this book hit all the right spots. This was my first book by Bethany Monaco Smith and I loved it. I have never read a book when the MMC is romance narrator and the FMC is an romance author. This was third book in the series I will be reading the rest of the series. Justin is MMC and he fell first and hard for the FMC Jade. I adored these two together. I also adored the found family aspect in this book.
Tropes
- Marriage of convenience
- Narrator MMC X Author FMC
- Caretaking
- My Wife
- Dual POV
“I love when you say my name like that.” “Like I’m going to cause you bodily harm?” He shrugs. “I know you won’t. And that tone is a turn- on.”
I want more of it. The emotional connection. The snuggles. Yeah, I’m a cuddlewhore, and I make no apologies for it.
June 29, 2025
The Last Love Story is a sweet and romantic love story that was a joy to read. Ms. Monaco Smith has given us a unique storyline where a romance author and a narrator/model enter into a marriage of convenience. The only thing is that he has admired and lusted after her from afar. Throughout this book, I smiled at the way he fell first and hard, and the way she secretly fell for him.
When Justin slides into Jade's DMs, something sparks between them, even before they meet. Jade needs help with a situation and Justin jumps at the chance to get her to marry him. Talk about having your cake and eating it too. This led to a relationship that started as a friendship, then turned into each other's forever.
When Justin slides into Jade's DMs, something sparks between them, even before they meet. Jade needs help with a situation and Justin jumps at the chance to get her to marry him. Talk about having your cake and eating it too. This led to a relationship that started as a friendship, then turned into each other's forever.
July 4, 2025
When Justin slips into his favorite romance author’s DMs, he just thought he was fanboying. Little did he know, Jade was a fan of his too, and she had a crush on him from afar. After texting back and forth for a month, the feelings just grew. Jade, the overthinker, thought there’s no way he’ll like me when we meet. Little did she know, he was already smitten. When a problem presented itself, Justin, our solutions guy, does the only thing he knows will solve the problem, and the only thing he wants to do, propose marriage. This is marriage of convenience done right! The banter in this book is spectacular, the spice is chef’s kiss, and you truly feel our characters emotional growth. I read this book in one day. I couldn’t put it down! Easy five stars.
April 18, 2026
Thank you Bethany Monaco Smith and Weaver Way Author Services for this ALC.
An engaging audiobook with two outstanding narrators who brought the story to life with real emotion.
I hadn’t read the book beforehand which I usally do when it comes to audiobooks.
It tells a beautiful love story between an author and a model/audiobook narrator.
She needs surgery to continue pursuing her passion for writing, while he—secretly in love with her—has health insurance. They end up getting married in Las Vegas, and from there their relationship deepens into something truly profound. No third act breakup and a happily ever after.
A very good book that I really recommed. I hope book 4 gets a audiobook too!
An engaging audiobook with two outstanding narrators who brought the story to life with real emotion.
I hadn’t read the book beforehand which I usally do when it comes to audiobooks.
It tells a beautiful love story between an author and a model/audiobook narrator.
She needs surgery to continue pursuing her passion for writing, while he—secretly in love with her—has health insurance. They end up getting married in Las Vegas, and from there their relationship deepens into something truly profound. No third act breakup and a happily ever after.
A very good book that I really recommed. I hope book 4 gets a audiobook too!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews