Tell Me True

All's Fair #4

by Carina Taylor

He’s already my roommate. It’s not like it’s a big deal if I marry him while I’m at it.

When I moved in with Miles Granger, it was because I was tight on cash and I needed somewhere to live while I started my new veterinarian job.
Miles and I don’t even really know each other. I’m moving in because Margaret—Green Valley’s honorary grandmother—vouched for him and promised me that he wouldn’t murder me in my sleep. She said it would be fine.

Speaking of fine… Miles is something to behold, and it’s a little frustrating to find your roommate attractive.

When a family bet gets a little out of hand, Miles asks for my help. It’s a deal that works for both of us and changes nothing.
Marriage. Yup. We’re tying the knot—it’s all just pretend.
Only there’s a lot more pretending than we planned on. His family dropping by unannounced. Going camping on the annual family trip. Sharing a tent. A bed. A shower.
This marriage in name only is getting hard to maintain.
But I can’t risk falling for him when I know he doesn’t want the commitment. Because if I do? I’m afraid Miles will have the power to shatter my heart.

Genres: Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Forced Proximity, Adult Fiction, Humor

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2025

Reviews

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I need to go back and read the previous books in this series because this one was so much fun and super adorable! I laughed out loud a lot and I was swooning over Lucy and Miles! Some of my favorite tropes were in this one: Force Proximity, Marriage of Convenience, Sibling's Romantic Interest Best Friend (did you catch all of that -haha), Meddling Matchmaker/Grandma Figure and several more!

Lucy needs a place to live when moving to a different state and who better than a friend of her sister's? Someone she kind of knows and is a good guy and has a good recommendation from a trusted source. All will be fine. Except that she's extremely attracted to him. Their friendship builds quickly and I loved it all! Then his sister, who cracked me up lots, steps in and Lucy and Miles find themselves married to win a bet! Hahaha! You have to read the book to get the details because they make it so much fun! Get ready to fall in love with these two and all of the secondary characters. If you haven't read the previous books, trust me when I say that you're going to be feeling the same as me and wanting to go back and read them all! And if you've read them already, you're going to love this next installment!!!

So many funny scenes, and many scenes that have great conversations happening between the characters that aren't just surface level conversations. I loved those moments and the characters actually opened up and talked! I love that in books! Sometimes when characters don't talk and it causes the conflict to ramp up, it makes me frustrated. Hahaha! So I sure do love when I don't get frustrated over these characters being able to talk.

I love Miles grandma and grandpa so much!!! And Margaret is hysterical as well!! Seriously, you're going to love it all!!!

Content: Some mild swear words. There is a scene with non-descriptive, brief nakedness that was part of a scene with a married couple (just a funny moment and not an intimate moment). Overall I would consider it a clean read but for older readers. The marriage of convenience was written very clean with kisses only. There are a few very mild innuendos.

I received a copy from the publisher, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun marriage of convenience story! Miles and Lucy were so completely likeable. They were definitely both the epitome of a golden retriever character.

What begins as a roommate situation soon moves into friendship and even on to a deeper level where they begin to become each other’s confidants about things in their lives. But jumping into a marriage of convenience to win a family bet was not something either of them saw coming.

I loved the closeness these two developed and the way they really began to care for each other as friends and then as more. There were some fun and swoony situations when they were camping with Miles’s extended family. I loved seeing them behaving like a married couple around his family, all the while they were really falling in love!

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carina Taylor always does such a great job of creating stories that will keep you laughing out loud and swooning right to the very end, and this one was certainly no exception. Miles and Lucy were simply the best. Right from the start, these two had such a natural chemistry between them. I loved their banter and their easy friendship. As roommates, they just made so much sense... and when a family bet pushes them into a marriage of convenience that has them pretending to be in love... well, it doesn't feel fake for long! I found them impossible not to root for. Of course, meddling families are also always a favorite of mine, and Miles' family certainly fits that bill perfectly. They were such a quirky bunch, but they kept me smiling with each interaction. There was something really sweet about the way that they just welcomed Lucy into their family so quickly and easily... it made this whole story feel like home, in the best way possible. I loved it!

Tell Me True is a closed-door romance with kisses only on page. It does have a very subtle fade-to-black moment (between a married couple), but it was kept so vague, you can make your own assumption as to what did (or did not) happen off the pages. It did also have some minor language and innuendo throughout as well. This is the fourth book in the All's Fair series, and while you might see some familiar characters, this could absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Tricia Anson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miles and Lucy are the most lovable, fun, bantery characters and their story was just the sweetest! I loved seeing them come to be friends, the way they both fall (and try not to), and how they support each other in some great character growth—it just did my heart so good. Miles’ family is hilarious and awesome, Margaret keeps up her meddling, I related to Lucy so much, and I ended up laughing, crying, and finally—finishing with a happy sigh.

CW: Mild swearing (2 a**, 4 d***, 1 H***), One Scene with undergarments/very brief nakedness—not descriptive—a comedic moment (& couple is married), Mild alcohol consumption
TW: Parental abandonment (past)

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this book! So cute! Miles and Lucy are adorable. I love a good Marriage of Convenience shenanigans and this one does not disappoint!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it and I already want to reread it

So good! This may the be the best in series. I loved how comfortable they were together as friends. And then when they got married they worked so well as a team. It was funny and heart warming giving you all the warm cozy vibes. Another entertaining clean romance for this series. Definitely a reread kind of book.

[Tayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. So much so that I stayed up way too late to finish it.

Lucy is Wella's older sister from 'Play Me Once'. She makes the move to Green Valley after finishing and veterinary degree and moves in with Miles (Kingston's best friend, also from Play Me Once') to save some money so she can pay off some student loans. Miles, if you're wondering, accepts Lucy as a roommate after a healthy dose of pressure from the town's resident granny Margaret.

Full spoilers by the way.

My favourite type of Carina Taylor novel is when the characters and setting is dripping with charm and that was the case here. Bonus is a marriage of convenience angle, which I'll always have time for.

We know from the plot synopsis that the book is centered on marriage of convenience, but it takes until about halfway through the book to get to that, and it was time well spent. We spend a solid chunk of the book getting to know Lucy. Her concerns, her hopes, who she is as a character, as a person. And she was utterly charming and super easy to root for. We also get to know Miles in a similar fashion. And more importantly we see them interact as roommates and fast friends for a solid amount of time. And I think that really helped make this book successful. I think if we had dived straight into marriage of convenience within a handful of chapters it was have given strong insta-love vibes (which might have still been succesful) and undercut all the great character work that we got. Everything felt nicely grounded and Lucy and Kingston both felt like real people with a lot going on in their individual lives.

Because we got a proper introduction to Lucy and Mile, and saw them growing to know each other, they were so easy to root for as a couple. You could see clearly what would draw one to the other and how they fit as two people. Wonderful.

So what about the marriage of convenience of it all? Well that's why this gets my bonkers tag, although it's nowhere close to the most off-center plot I've read from Taylor. Miles' grandmother is determined to see her grandchildren marry, so much so that she put a bounty on it (literal words used in the book). The first grandchild to marry gets $50k, which is definitely not something to scoff at. Miles becomes motivated to win the bet when his insufferable cousin (who's dating his ex-girlfriend as added insult) throws his hat in the race, and Miles' sister's meddling sees Miles and Lucy contemplating marriage. Him for revenge, and her for the money (to help with the aforementioned student loans).

I think the pacing worked well in this book. It never felt like we stayed in one place for too long. Once they're married, I was worried the book would devolve into miscommunications or contrived problems. But the story kept moving and progressing the story and Lucy and Miles' relationship in really enjoyable ways. Like seeing Lucy get to know Miles family especially against the backdrop of her dysfunctional upbringing. Enjoyable and engaging.

Not to mention this was very funny.

So why not 5 stars. Well reluctantly this did have some editing issues that took my out of the flow of the story a handful of times. For example, we start the book understanding that Lucy has crippling student debt. We then find out the student loans were actually for her sister Willa, who didn't get a scholarship like Lucy had led her to believe. Willa and Lucy have a conversation about midway through the book where Lucy tells Willa that she's living with a roommate to get on top of her student loans. But then at the end of the book where all truth comes to light, Willa says that Lucy had a full ride scholarship so what loans does she have. It takes me out of the story.

Another example is also with the final confrontation at the end of the book, and Lucy says it's rare for Willa to lose her temper, but we have ample evidence through the rest of the book indicating that that isn't actually true, that Willa is a bit temperamental in nature. Some of the timeframes also got twisted up through the course of the story e.g. 2 days post wedding v 2 weeks post wedding.

If it was once, I might have still maybe gotten the 5 stars in, but these inconsistencies cut into the full picture of the world that we had been presented with so well through the book, so 4 stars it is.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Lucy & Miles’s points of view

*Lucy is Willa’s older sister & Miles works with Kingston (Willa & Kingston are the main characters in Play Me Once)

– there are about 2 uses of the ‘a’ word for donkey or butt

-there is an accidental sighting of one of the characters naked (no description beyond that & quickly remedied)

-it is mentioned that a character grew up quick & became like the parent for their sibling after their parents had a nasty divorce

Review:

This was exactly what I needed when I picked it up to read! I love Carina Taylor romcoms and that they always have the ability to make me laugh! 😂 I loved getting to know Lucy, Miles, and Miles’s family members! Lucy and Miles on their own were funny yet compatible roommates with their own ways for getting back at each other for any misunderstandings/arguments they had, though they were few and far between.

I loved that Miles’s family introduced a new element to their living situation with the random showing up as well as letting Lucy know about the bet the family was holding onto. I especially loved how Miles’s grandparents interacted with Miles and Lucy (especially since they were the ones who initiated the bet). They were so welcoming to her through it all.

And I can’t forget Margaret who got Lucy & Miles to be roommates in the first place! She dipped her hands into so many relationships throughout this series and is such a hoot!

Summary:

Lucy wanted to move closer to her sister and her new veterinary job, but knew that if she had to room with her sister it’d be a disaster to their relationship. Both because of how small her sister’s living space is and they just get on each other’s nerves like only sisters can. So when Green Valley’s resident grandmother Margaret arranges for Lucy to room with Miles, Lucy chooses to trust her judgement. Which turns out to be the best thing to ever happen to Lucy. Not only do she and Miles get along swimmingly, but the rent he set for her makes it possible to work on paying off student debts that piled up. But when Miles needs help to win a family bet and offers to split the winnings with Lucy, she finds herself entangled in more ways than one. In the end, will her heart be able to get out of it unscathed?

Miles was grumpy that Margaret managed to badger him into offering to rent his spare room to Lucy, but things turned out way better than he expected them to. Not only can his new roommate cook (unlike him) and is willing to share her food, but they like the same shows and past times. So when his sister threatens to upend their easy going friendship by mentioning the family bet, he thinks that Lucy might tuck tail and run. But unexpectedly, Lucy agrees to helping him. It’ll only be marriage in name only, so no harm to their friendship, right?

[Mary Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ ARC Review: Carina Taylor has been an author who I have loved from the beginning of my reading journey. In fact, she was one of the first closed door authors I came across, so she has a sweet place in my heart. Does that make me biased toward her books? Actually, I don’t thinks so. I expect great things from her, and she almost always delivers.

I loved this book. Yes it’s a marriage of convenience. Yes that’s my favorite trope. And yes I ate it up. I truly loved these characters. Lucy and Miles were perfect for each other. They were both so kind, considerate, and sweet. Especially to each other. But they also had teasing banter that I enjoyed. I loved their dynamic.

I love a good enemies to lovers in a marriage of convenience, but when they are friends, I feel like that connection is so much deeper and realistic. I enjoyed the pacing of their relationship and the supporting cast of characters. Especially Miles’ family.

The camping trip with them was so much fun and hilarious. I do wish that we spent more time with them on that camping trip though. The author kind of skips days and weeks at a time throughout the book. That was a part I didn’t particularly enjoy. So we miss some domestic moments between Miles and Lucy. Some people might like the weeks jumps because it progresses their relationship faster, but like I said, I like those small domestic moments. Pillow fights, breakfast together, watching their tv show together, all those cute things. (We do get those things though)

This isn’t a book you pick up for the plot. This a book you pick up to watch the characters fall in love. Even though they spend most of the time in their home together. But I love that, so it was fabulous. I can’t wait for the next Carina book.

*Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read if you enjoy:
- Marriage of convenience
- Dual POV
- Roommates
- Friends to lovers
- Closed-door romance
- Only one tent/camping trip
- Meddling family
- Golden Retriever x Golden Retriever

Content 💋:
- Kisses only
- Mild infrequent language (4 d**n, 2 A**, 1 H**l)
- Some innuendo

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell Me True is the fourth story in Carina Taylor’s All’s Fair series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. However, the characters in Tell Me True were introduced in the Play Me Once, so I recommend reading it beforehand. Tell Me True is a forced-proximity, marriage-of convenience closed-door romantic comedy set in Oregon.

New veterinarian Lucy Bishop has just moved from Colorado to Green Valley, Oregon to live near her sister, Willa. Lucy has high dollar student loans to repay, so she needs a cheap place to live, but she’s not desperate enough to move in with Willa and Kingston in their cramped apartment. When Margaret, a sweet grandmotherly figure, recommends that Lucy rent a room from Miles Granger, it seems like the ideal solution.

Lucy and Miles quickly adjust to being housemates, and a friendship forms. Then Miles’ grandma offers a $50,000 reward to her first grandchild who gets married. Miles’ sister convinces him to marry Lucy to prevent their obnoxious cousin from getting the money. There’s a camping trip that involves forced proximity, one really awkward shower scene, and a whole lot of hijinks.

I enjoyed Tell Me True because of the chemistry between Lucy and Miles and how relatable they are. They’re both successful people who have some inner turmoil but are figuring things out in healthy ways. The realistic problems are handled with sensitivity, but they prevent this story from falling into Disney/Hallmark territory. It’s not angsty either. I love this author’s closed-door romcoms because they are the perfect balance of sizzle without spice.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in fictional Green Valley, Oregon, Lucy moves from Colorado to be near her sister. But with college loan payments increasing, she needs an inexpensive housing option. When Margaret, the community grandma, suggests she move into Miles' house, Lucy takes up the chance to save money. As they get to know each other and their friendship blooms, his sister keeps bugging Miles about getting married. Their grandma has a $50k reward to the first grandchild married. With an obnoxious cousin (and a cheating ex) involved, his sister wants Miles to get the prize. The solution? Marry his roommate.

What a fun read! This is the third book I've read by this author, and I look forward to more! The comedy scenes (including around camping) were fantastic. 

I also loved the discussion of finding your career passion as Miles figured out his next steps. And I related to Lucy navigating the large family Miles comes from, including trying to figure out how everyone is related, lol. 

This had a great sense of place! I loved the mentions of Oregon wine, tough permitting process, and crosswalks in Sisters. 

This romance features: 
🌲 Marriage of Convenience 
🌲 Roommates to Lovers
🌲 Golden Retriever x Golden Retriever 
🌲 Veterinarian FMC x Business Owner MMC  
🌲 Only One Bed/Tent/Shower
🌲 Competitive Couple (bowling!)
🌲 Adorable dog

Closed door / sweet (one very closed door scene at the very end)

4.5 / 5 stars 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!

[Micah (micahs.bookshelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I need a break from marriage of convenience and fake dating because I’ve read so many lately. And of all of them, the reasons for getting married and lying felt flimsy in this book. I couldn’t buy into it. And the build up to deciding to get married didn’t make sense to me. There were too many lies—and the plot points associated with those lies were not strong enough to justify them to me.

There was also a lot of messy writing. There were times that things were repetitive, the timeline was messed up, and actions were confusing. Sometimes the dialogue didn’t flow nicely for me and I kept getting pulled out of the story by inconsistencies in the writing.

Some of Carina Taylor’s books are my absolute favorite and I’ve reread them and loved them over and over. But lately her books have been hit and miss for me and I think it comes down to the plot not being very solid and all the mistakes in the writing (not just in the ARC—I read it in KU).

There was a shower scene that was awkward. He is actually naked and it’s meant to be funny and not sexy but it was too much for me.

The book talked about coffee way too much. It actually said the word coffee 108 times. 108!

The pacing bothered me a bit. The author skipped weeks at a time and it felt jarring because I felt like I didn’t know what their relationship was really like because we didn’t get to see it during all the time jumps.

Things came up at the end with family that felt so out of the blue because it hadn’t really been talked about and honestly I didn’t see the point of adding it at the end.

I will read more from the author, but this one just didn’t work for me, unfortunately.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

"Baked goods can make any problem seem smaller." pg 104

"I learned that perfection's an illusion that's different in each person's mind. And if we live our lives trying to meet other people's standards of perfection? We will never be happy." pg 134

While this book can be read as a Standalone, it is best if read as part of the All's Fair series.

In this book we get Lucy and Miles' story. Lucy has moved to OR to be close to her sister, but she isn't able to afford her own place so she accepts the offer to be Miles' roommate. Which works well as her rent is super cheap and she hopes to be able to pay off the student loan soon and get her own place.

Miles was worried to let someone into his space. However, Lucy and him soon fall into a comfortable routine. Miles' grandma has reward for the first grandchild that gets married. Both Miles and his sister Ainsely dislike their cousin Preston and really don't want him to win the prize. When Ainsely proposes that Miles and Lucy get married, it seems like a silly idea at first, but then it's decided that it would be a great way to help Lucy pay off the loan and have Miles beat out Preston. However, feelings start to happen and what happens when you start to fall for your spouse and wonder if they are feeling the same way.

This is a closed door romcom that will have you laughing one moment and swooning the next. I do need to find if there is a spin off book that explains more of the situation that happened between Ainsley and Preston and why she dislikes him with a passion. This was touched on in the book, but never explained.

Content: mild swearing

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAPPY RELEASE DAY to Tell Me True by Carina Taylor!! She is one of the authors I will drop everything to read and I spent such a wonderful rainy day with Tell Me True. When Lucy (book 2 Willow’s younger sister) needs a roommate and place to live, Green Valley’s favorite busybody connects her to Miles Granger, Kingston’s (also book 2) business partner. Taylor billed this book as her 2 most golden of golden retrievers and that was not only true, it made this read so much fun! When Miles finds himself facing a family dispute that naturally only a marriage of convenience can fix, new roomie and bff Lucy is right there to help out and get married. I always think Carina Taylor’s books are SO FUNNY. Miles and Lucy have to go on a camping trip with his extended family and end up in a tiny tent-everything about the camping trip is some Taylor’s best work. You don’t have to read the other books in the series to follow this one, but you should because All’s Fair is her best series! We got lots of fun cameos in this book including my favorites Meyer and Archie. What are you waiting for?? Grab Tell Me True today!

*I received an advance copy of this book and a review was not required. All opinions expressed above are my own.

[Berly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If spoilers bother you, do NOT read the blurb to this book. I have to say this before getting into my actual review. There are major plot developments that take place over halfway through that are mentioned in this blurb and minor events that don't take place until 80 percent in! I don't usually read blurbs until I have finished a book but did look at this one when I was at 70 percent. I couldn't believe what was there, including things that hadn't even happened yet! I am taking off half a star for that just because it really does influence how I feel about a book. (I would have given 4.5 rounded up to 5)

This is the 4th book in the All's Fair series of closed door romcoms by Carina Taylor. It could be read as a standalone story, but I think it would be more enjoyable to have read at least book 2 and maybe even book 1 before this last one.

I did enjoy the storyline and the characters. It was nice to see some familiar faces return and continue their meddling ways. There are some very funny scenes and also some deeper moments with growth for all characters.

I was given the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read! There are a lot of numerous moments as well as some moments that will have you tearing up. I loved both Miles and Lucy but the overall book just wasn’t quite a hit with me!
There were a few moments I didn’t love, the top being the shower scene, it wasn’t as funny as I think it was supposed to be and I personally think it was just a bit too much for a sweet romance book. There is more swearing than I prefer my books to have as well, you can check below for swearing levels.

Internal thoughts while reading
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
The witty banter is phenomenal🙌🏼
Ok but I totally understand the whole having a perfect mug that’s is the perfect fit for you, because I can get a bit annoyed if my favorite mug is dirty because someone used it😂😂😂 a little excessive maybe but that’s just the way it is lol
Chapter five had me laughing so 😂😂
I love Ainsley😅
The more I read the more I fall in love with both Lucy and Miles♥️
I love a pruppet🥰

☕️Roommates to Lovers
💖Pillow Fight
☕️Only One Sleeping Bag
💖Marriage of Convenience
☕️Meddling Family
💖Golden Retriever MMC

🌶️: Closed Door (nothing on page, but insinuated, scene w/ undergarments, brief nudity—non-descriptive, some sexual innuendo)
🤬: 2 a**, 2 h*ll, 1 d*mm*t, 3 d*mm

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. The characters feel like your friends. Carina Taylor’s books are the perfect low stress books with lots of feels. Tell Me True is the fourth book in Carina Taylor’s All’s Fair series. It was a perfect marriage of convenience.
The characters definitely felt like your friends. I was cheering for Miles and Lucy as they tried to figure things out. I loved reading about them together. They connected with each other so easily and they were so fun to read about. They were both a little scared of a romance but they found comfort in each other. I loved their little quirks like how Lucy kept on stealing Miles’ cup but he ended up being okay because she made great food.
The story was interesting and I wanted to see how Miles and Lucy would end up together. I loved the scenes with their families. They were so wild and reminded me of being with my family. This was just the perfect pick me up story. I would totally recommend Tell Me True. I loved it! Tell Me True is a closed door romantic comedy.

☕️Book Highlights☕️
☕️Lucy and Miles together
☕️Banter
☕️Siblings
☕️Pets
☕️Baking
☕️Falling in love

I received a complimentary copy

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah where to start with this one? Main characters Lucy and Miles find themselves as roommates due to Miles' busy life and plenty of space in his home and Lucy's lack of cash flow and relocation. They came together with the help of a nosey (but insanely lovable) family friend who is known for her meddling tactics.

It's a classic friends/roommates to lovers story that is the type of book you curl up with on a rainy day. Miles' family is absolutely irresistible and the kind of family anyone would want to be apart of. Both Lucy and Miles fight their feelings until they can't anymore but it's clear from the start there is more to them than just roommates.

It was a quick read, and learning that there are more books in the series was a happy surprise because I will definitely be wanting more from this author. Romance is a bit of a stretch for this book if you're looking for something heavier or more intense. There are no explicit intimate scenes (one mild shower scene) and no explicit descriptions either.

All in all this was a good book and I can't wait to dig into some of her other works!

[Kate (bookishkenyannerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy moved in with Miles Granger because she was tight on cash and needed somewhere to live while starting her new veterinarian job. When a family bet gets a little out of hand, Miles asks for her help. It’s a deal that works for both of them and changes nothing. Only there’s a lot more pretending than they planned on. This marriage in name only is getting hard to maintain.

I went through this book with fuzzy feelings inside. It was so cozy and sweet. The MCs were sweet to each other with an added playfulness and banter. Miles was amazing in the way he cared for Lucy who needed someone to support her.

I loved the side characters as well. The family dynamics had us seeing Miles' quirky family and Lucy's estranged one which definitely influenced their personalities.

This was like a warm hug on a cold day. Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4⭐
Steam level: 1.5🌶️ Closed door

[funkelbunt.liest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is just so cute! It has all the banter and shenanigans you can expect from a Carina Taylor book and two absolutely adorable main characters.
There are a lot of romcoms out there where I seriously wonder where the “com” part came from, but Carina Taylor never fails to make me laugh.

I loved how Miles and Lucy started as roommates, quickly became friends and then more. And I loved Miles’ family, especially his grandparents and the camping trip was so much fun!

This is a marriage of convenience romance where you can just feel the characters falling in love.
100% recommend if you are looking for a clean romcom with relatable characters and a lot of funny and swoony moments.

Pretty much smiled the whole time reading this!

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read a book by Carina I just feel giddy and have a smile on my face. I love the way she mixes humor in, but there are also some poignant moments. This book is one of my favorites by her. (I don’t know if I can say my only favorite because I love so many of her books!)

Lucy and Miles are just the best together. I love how Lucy is trying to take care of everyone but Miles is over here making sure someone is taking care of her. This is just another example of I’m nervous someone isn’t going to do a marriage of convenience in a way I’m going to enjoy and then I’m proven wrong.

Okay, Margaret, I mean if you’ve read from this series I know you love her. Goldie is just like her name, pure gold. But the absolute best is Felix. I mean the way he was with Lucy? So stinking sweet!

Anyway, if you wanted a feel good romcom, you’ve found it. The only negative thing about this is that it’s the last one in the series. I loved it!

Random notes:

-oh my goodness I grew up with English mastiff dogs so this mention was so sweet.

CW: mild cursing, closed door (make-outs only), **spoiler below for CW**

(***There is a shower scene, but it’s not inappropriate in that way, more of an embarrassment***)

[Taylor Wyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell Me True was an absolute delight from start to finish. Carina Taylor has this effortless way of blending humor, heart, and swoony romance, and this book is no exception. The banter is sharp and playful, the chemistry is undeniable, and the characters feel so real you can’t help rooting for them.

I loved the dynamic between the leads imperfect, stubborn, honest, and so full of tension that every scene sparkles. There’s just the right amount of drama to keep things interesting, but the story stays warm, uplifting, and wonderfully satisfying.

The pacing is quick, the writing is witty, and the emotional moments sneak up in the best way. I flew through this book with a big smile on my face.

If you love lighthearted romance with depth, charm, and characters you instantly fall for, Tell Me True is a must-read.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tell Me True by Carina Taylor is everything I love about her books, sharp wit, cozy charm, and truly great banter that had me smiling from page one. Miles and his “definitely-not-a-big-deal” marriage arrangement made for the perfect slow-burn, roommates-to-lovers delight. The chemistry is adorable, the awkward-yet-swoonworthy moments are perfection, and the family chaos brings so much heart (and hilarious disaster).

Carina’s writing always feels warm and effortless, and this one is no exception,.I flew through it. If you love fake marriage, forced proximity, and characters who try very hard not to fall in love… this is an absolute must read. I adore Carina’s books, and Tell Me True might just be one of my new favorites.

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were lots of places to highlight that were funny and witty. The two were equally matched in wit, strength and personality so I loved reading that. I enjoyed seeing past characters but this could be read as stand alone and still be a very pleasant read. I liked how while there were more serious moments for them to face these were balanced with lighthearted moments. I will say fake marriage is not my favorite trope at all. However, Carina Taylor does it in a way that had me going Okay! I'll roll with it! No Problem!! Also, they drank copious amounts of coffee and there was some casual, socail drinking both of which I don't relate to but I still liked the characters and overall the story. It's a bummer when a fun series wraps up!

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been so fun and this was an amazing way to close it out! I absolutely love Miles and Lucy! They both have such fun, easy going personalities and just roll with what comes at them. Their dynamics were spot on and the sweet romance was oh so good. Marriage of convenience is probably my leave favorite trope (that of course I still enjoy) but this is one of the best I’ve ever read! I loved every minute of it and couldn’t wait to see what mischief these two got up to. I also really loved how everything wrapped up at the end. Super sweet and satisfying. Definitely my favorite book in the series!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lyn Aquino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

Forget the blurb, read the book.

Two competitive spirits meet at a rousing game of football. Only by cheating do the winners take the trophy. Paired on opposite teams, Miles and Lucy fall hard. At cheating.

But when Lucy needs a place to stay, Miles reluctantly invites Lucy to move in with him. As their friendship develops so does their very hidden attraction. And life intervenes with student loan depths and cheating exes. And a bet that could solve both their problems.

So what’s a roommate to do when he needs a wife and she needs relief? Why, get married, of course. Easy-peasy, problem solved. Or maybe life just got awkward.

Buy the book, buy a pizza. Don’t bother with dinner, you’ll burn it.

[Megan | Reads Alotl Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miles and Lucy finally get their story and it was worth the wait. It was full of so much joy and fun! Fighting over coffee mugs, pillow fights, the lip plumper, tv show bonding and more! It’s a great roommate to fake dating/marriage of convenience with two lovable golden retriever characters.

Miles' family is utterly delightful and full of spunk! Lucy is so fun and really gets Miles out of his head. Of course, you can’t be in Green Valley without Margaret. Her game nights are legendary and so fun! I highly suggest reading the first three in the series if you haven’t.

I truly adored the characters humor and honesty. They both like to be around people and are kind, but also need downtime as introverted extroverts. Such a wonderful end to the series!

[Sukriti · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Book Review: *All’s Fair* Series by Carina Taylor**

The *All’s Fair* series is a fun and lighthearted romance filled with witty banter and lovable characters. Each book follows a different couple, bringing humor, misunderstandings, and sweet moments. The enemies-to-lovers and workplace romance tropes make the stories engaging and entertaining. Carina Taylor’s writing is easy to read, with plenty of laugh-out-loud scenes and heartwarming chemistry between the characters. If you enjoy rom-coms with playful rivalry and swoon-worthy moments, this series is a great pick. It’s a perfect read for when you need something light, funny, and full of charm!

[RCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

Miles and Lucy were awesome people and I loved spending time with them. I loved that this book had enough substance to not be entirely fluffy, but wasn't weighed down by toxic situations (I mean, there was a painful family history for one, but it wasn't a major part of the story). Miles' family was happy, loving and functional.

And what I really loved was how much fun Lucy and Miles had together. There were some really hilarious situations that almost made me laugh out loud (first kiss and sharing-a-bed, I'm looking at you).

Note to self: worth re-reading in the future.

[Blessing Okwuofu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell Me True by Carina Taylor is the fourth book in the All's Fair series but can be read a standalone - I have not read the first 3 books and I didn't feel like I missed a thing though this book makes me want to read the others. A lighthearted and fun closed door romance with forced proximity and fake marriage tropes. I liked the characters and the romance build up. Lovely read.
ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. This is my honest feedback.