Loving Builder Simon: A small town, fake dating, best friends to lovers, instalove short story romance (Albury Creek

by Violet Evers

When a small-town nurse asks her childhood best friend to teach her about love, sparks fly and lines blur faster than she can handle.
Sarah has never been in a relationship, and Simon just got dumped for not being “ambitious enough” as a builder.

When Sarah asks Simon to teach her about love, she tells herself it’s just practice. But late-night texts turn into kisses, and pretending starts to feel dangerously real. Soon, ignoring what they feel seems like the most impossible thing.

A story about friendship, confidence, and the magic of love hiding in plain sight. It can be read as a standalone or as part of the Albury Creek series.

A perfect 1-2 hour escape! Ideal for lovers

Small townsFake dating storiesCurvy heroines finding their confidenceChildhood best friends realizing they're soulmatesBlue-collar heroes who are perfect just as they areFriends-to-lovers storiesSweet and spicy readsBite-sized instalove romancesPalate cleansers between long reads

49 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2025

Reviews

[Reading In the Red Room · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends forever…turn into sooo much more. Simon is a builder that what he does that’s what he loves. Sarah is a nurse and Simon’s best friend. When his break up turns into an opportunity for the both of them…everything changes. This is a cute quick read that I enjoyed.

[Zondra.Hallyahoo.Com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Jessica Tittermary Culp · Rating 4 out of 5]

short but sweet

I’m a sucker for a friends to lovers, childhood soulmates story. This was a short, quick story that packed all the feels, spice, in a nice package.

[Princesspint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noting me, the author was a good book. I will continue to read some of her books,To if they get better.

[Kelly Winfree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Incredibly well done. I need a longer version, not because it was missing anything, but because it was so well written and beautiful. Im sad its done.

[Sarah English · Rating 2 out of 5]

"We were the same. Both scared. Both convinced the person right in front of us was way out of reach. Running, always running. Because pretending was easier than admitting the truth. Admitting that we wanted each other. That we always had."

Loving Builder Simon is a very short story based around two childhood friends realising that they've loved each other all along. When I first read the synopsis I thought it sounded cute but it didn't end up being quite what I was expecting which was slightly disappointing.

Sarah wanted Simon to teach her how to 'be more dateable', she wanted advice on how to get a guy and I thought that would mean some practice dates and a bit of hot tension but no. Instead he just straight up asked her to send him some full body photos, asked to kiss her and then they just went the whole hog.

I know it was only a short story but there wasn't any build up to them getting together after being friends for so many years. Granted it was sweet them confessing feelings for each other but it just wasn't the story I was imagining when I added it to my kindle. It was alright though for a quick read in between books.