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Fairy Godmother Agency #1
A Borrowed Boyfriend
an alternate cover edition can be found here
On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it that I want to see my fake boyfriend naked?
Marnie
What’s worse than being left at the altar? Becoming a meme because one of your nearest and dearest took a video of you running—and falling—down the aisle and made it internet famous.
Yup, I’m that Marnie Jones. My sister is for-real famous, which only makes people more interested in my predicament. Is it any wonder I’m feeling down?
My best friends will try anything to cheer me up…including setting me up with the Fairy Godmother Agency, a maybe-crazy husband and wife private investigator-slash-life coach team who promise to find the person who sold me out. Better yet, they lend me a fake boyfriend to make my ex jealous and appease my sister.
Griffin is gorgeous, attentive, and a very convincing actor. He’s perfect for the job.
Too perfect.
***
Griffin
After a lifetime of practice, I’m good at pretending. But the more time I spend with Marnie Jones, the less I have to feign my interest in her.
She may be down, but she’s not out. She’s beautiful, funny, and just the right amount of weird. All she needs is someone to remind her of that.
If I weren’t such a screw up, I’d have half a mind to do it myself.
On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it that I want to see my fake boyfriend naked?
Marnie
What’s worse than being left at the altar? Becoming a meme because one of your nearest and dearest took a video of you running—and falling—down the aisle and made it internet famous.
Yup, I’m that Marnie Jones. My sister is for-real famous, which only makes people more interested in my predicament. Is it any wonder I’m feeling down?
My best friends will try anything to cheer me up…including setting me up with the Fairy Godmother Agency, a maybe-crazy husband and wife private investigator-slash-life coach team who promise to find the person who sold me out. Better yet, they lend me a fake boyfriend to make my ex jealous and appease my sister.
Griffin is gorgeous, attentive, and a very convincing actor. He’s perfect for the job.
Too perfect.
***
Griffin
After a lifetime of practice, I’m good at pretending. But the more time I spend with Marnie Jones, the less I have to feign my interest in her.
She may be down, but she’s not out. She’s beautiful, funny, and just the right amount of weird. All she needs is someone to remind her of that.
If I weren’t such a screw up, I’d have half a mind to do it myself.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2022
1352 people are currently reading
2074 people want to read
About the author
Angela Casella
46 books771 followersANGELA CASELLA lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her husband, her daughter, and their ill-behaved corgi in an extremely small bungalow. She spends her days writing and pretending to market. She writes solo romcoms and also has three co-written series with Denise Grover Swank.
You can subscribe to her newsletter for exclusive free content and updates on her projects! http://subscribepage.io/AngelaCasella...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
July 10, 2024
Second read. 4 stars.
I reread this book as an audiobook this time. It is dual narration with dual point of view. While I still enjoyed myself, I started to see how the comedy goes a little bit slapstick and over the top at times. Now that I read or tried to read more of this author is writing, I am less impressed because she uses a lot of sex jokes and low brow humor that just doesn't get me anymore.
It was still pretty good and I enjoyed myself and I enjoyed the narration.
Safety deets
- Discussion of disease and birth control but no condoms used
- no other men or women. However the heroine's ex is in the story and we see an ex-lover of the hero.
- The couple is together at the end but you don't really see a total HEA because this is a series and you will see them again in following books
First read. 5 stars
This was incredible. So funny, sweet, and heartfelt. I laughed so much in the beginning. They both grow and open up to each other in a super satisfying way. My only complaint is that the time period isn’t long and we get an idea that they’ll have their HEA, but don’t actually get to see it. The author does have a bonus story on her website where we get to see that they get a happily ever after.
There were so many quotable quotes. Like:
“Wallowing is normal. Wallowing is healthy. I went to one appointment with a therapist, and she told me so, which I took as permission to never go back.”
Dual POV.
The dude has a slightly manwhore past and we meet at least one of his one night stands in a peripheral way, but it’s not essential to the story. The woman was left at the altar three months before they met and he ends up volunteering to be her fake boyfriend but they very quickly tell each other that they are interested in something more.
The friends and family around them are delightful with a few terrible broken relationships.
I will definitely be reading this author again. This was such a good book and both set up the next book and made me want to read the book before.
I reread this book as an audiobook this time. It is dual narration with dual point of view. While I still enjoyed myself, I started to see how the comedy goes a little bit slapstick and over the top at times. Now that I read or tried to read more of this author is writing, I am less impressed because she uses a lot of sex jokes and low brow humor that just doesn't get me anymore.
It was still pretty good and I enjoyed myself and I enjoyed the narration.
Safety deets
- Discussion of disease and birth control but no condoms used
- no other men or women. However the heroine's ex is in the story and we see an ex-lover of the hero.
- The couple is together at the end but you don't really see a total HEA because this is a series and you will see them again in following books
First read. 5 stars
This was incredible. So funny, sweet, and heartfelt. I laughed so much in the beginning. They both grow and open up to each other in a super satisfying way. My only complaint is that the time period isn’t long and we get an idea that they’ll have their HEA, but don’t actually get to see it. The author does have a bonus story on her website where we get to see that they get a happily ever after.
There were so many quotable quotes. Like:
“Wallowing is normal. Wallowing is healthy. I went to one appointment with a therapist, and she told me so, which I took as permission to never go back.”
Dual POV.
The dude has a slightly manwhore past and we meet at least one of his one night stands in a peripheral way, but it’s not essential to the story. The woman was left at the altar three months before they met and he ends up volunteering to be her fake boyfriend but they very quickly tell each other that they are interested in something more.
The friends and family around them are delightful with a few terrible broken relationships.
I will definitely be reading this author again. This was such a good book and both set up the next book and made me want to read the book before.
March 26, 2024
I 100% know that other readers will love this book, so do read it if you like fake dating and a tight-knit friend/family group. I can't quite pinpoint what didn't work for me. I just didn't love Marnie or Griffin or their story like I hope to when I read a book. The writing was clunky for me. I picked it up and put it down frequently which is a sign I'm not vibing with a book. Both characters grew and became better/stronger versions of themselves so that's a positive. Loved the concept, and loved that the "fake" part of the dating didn't last very long, but the timeline of the book felt rushed (approximately 1 month). This book lacked a feeling of spark & spice between the FMC & MMC.
June 1, 2022
Easy, sexy, and a little different than the norm, I got everything I wanted from this low angst romance. What starts as a fake relationship soon turns into something else entirely, and I loved that this didn't take the usual path. This hero is a sexy bartender who looks like trouble, so it was great to see that he has a vulnerable side and some insecurities... outside of the bedroom, of course. He's gruff and confident when he needs to be, loving and supportive the whole way through. There's plenty of chemistry and an easygoing vibe that makes this bingeable. It was a solid 4/low 5-star read for me the whole way through, and I had zero trouble jumping right into this series starter, even though it's clearly a spinoff from a series I haven't read. The cast of characters enriches the story, and I'm definitely looking forward to future interconnected standalones in this town.
The story follows Marnie, a woman who was left at the alter a few months ago. She's been a hot mess ever since, and her friends are starting to get worried. It's not so much that she's devastated by the end of the relationship (she's not), it's more that she's tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes - that's the problem with being the sister of a famous actress. Somehow, Marnie finds herself the newest beneficiary of two "fairy godmothers" (it's a long story), who have hooked her up with a guy to fill the role of her fake boyfriend when she needs one. Griffin was tending the bar when Marnie met her fairy godmothers, and he was all too happy to volunteer for the role. Since the attraction that sparks between them is mutual, it's not long before Marnie and Griffin are starting up something that feels very real, but Griffin's troubled past makes him wary of putting his heart on the line.
If you're new to Casella's work, this is a great place to jump in. She seems to have really figured out her style, and the story was exactly the lighthearted read I was looking for. There are a few characters from the spinoff series, but I had no trouble reading this as a standalone - and I kept seeing the potential in future couples, so I'm already hooked on the new series. Both characters are easy to like, and I loved that there were no major roadblocks to them getting together. It's low angst throughout, with just enough push and pull to keep things interesting. And while it's not super steamy, there's lots of sexual tension and heated moments. I loved Griffin, and it was so endearing to watch this charismatic bartender struggle to feel like he's worthy of love. There were a couple of little lulls in the storyline, but I enjoyed it from start to finish, and there was nothing that bugged me for long. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this fake relationship romance.
The story follows Marnie, a woman who was left at the alter a few months ago. She's been a hot mess ever since, and her friends are starting to get worried. It's not so much that she's devastated by the end of the relationship (she's not), it's more that she's tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes - that's the problem with being the sister of a famous actress. Somehow, Marnie finds herself the newest beneficiary of two "fairy godmothers" (it's a long story), who have hooked her up with a guy to fill the role of her fake boyfriend when she needs one. Griffin was tending the bar when Marnie met her fairy godmothers, and he was all too happy to volunteer for the role. Since the attraction that sparks between them is mutual, it's not long before Marnie and Griffin are starting up something that feels very real, but Griffin's troubled past makes him wary of putting his heart on the line.
If you're new to Casella's work, this is a great place to jump in. She seems to have really figured out her style, and the story was exactly the lighthearted read I was looking for. There are a few characters from the spinoff series, but I had no trouble reading this as a standalone - and I kept seeing the potential in future couples, so I'm already hooked on the new series. Both characters are easy to like, and I loved that there were no major roadblocks to them getting together. It's low angst throughout, with just enough push and pull to keep things interesting. And while it's not super steamy, there's lots of sexual tension and heated moments. I loved Griffin, and it was so endearing to watch this charismatic bartender struggle to feel like he's worthy of love. There were a couple of little lulls in the storyline, but I enjoyed it from start to finish, and there was nothing that bugged me for long. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this fake relationship romance.
October 31, 2023
4.75 stars
I’m always up for a fake dating romance, and this one really amped up the shenanigans! Because when you’ve become a meme after being jilted at the altar, it’s only natural to hire a kooky husband-and-wife PI/life coach team to uncover who sold you out. And obviously they have a lend-a-boyfriend service too. See? Shenanigans.
I love how Marnie and Griffin were so into (and protective of!) each other from the start, so it was never really fake. They had great banter and chemistry (read: yes, there are steamy scenes), and the story was fun with lots of laugh out loud moments. I cackled so many times while listening to the audiobook - basically anything involving Aunt Helen, or the bit with Griffin, Reggie and Drew. 🤣🤣🤣
The narrators did a great job - I highly recommend the audiobook for a good time!
EDIT: Also just read the Bonus Story on the author's website! Nawwww, I loved seeing more of their HEA.
I’m always up for a fake dating romance, and this one really amped up the shenanigans! Because when you’ve become a meme after being jilted at the altar, it’s only natural to hire a kooky husband-and-wife PI/life coach team to uncover who sold you out. And obviously they have a lend-a-boyfriend service too. See? Shenanigans.
I love how Marnie and Griffin were so into (and protective of!) each other from the start, so it was never really fake. They had great banter and chemistry (read: yes, there are steamy scenes), and the story was fun with lots of laugh out loud moments. I cackled so many times while listening to the audiobook - basically anything involving Aunt Helen, or the bit with Griffin, Reggie and Drew. 🤣🤣🤣
The narrators did a great job - I highly recommend the audiobook for a good time!
EDIT: Also just read the Bonus Story on the author's website! Nawwww, I loved seeing more of their HEA.
February 5, 2025
I gave this a try and it was sooooo slow. I honestly didn’t care to read a huge percentage of what the day to day was in each main characters lives and I found the first sex scene (in the bar) awkward and got secondhand embarrassment. That’s when I finally gave up and started skimming. That’s when it hit me what the real issue I have with the book is. It’s got way too much internal monologue and a lot of it is redundant. Basically each character thinking they’re not good enough for the other or they’re not ready etc. Which made the book very boring and hard to keep reading. I wanted to know who made the recording and got it out into the world, so I skipped to that and then I was done with the attempt.
I can’t say I recommend the book, because I feel like I’m now in a reading slump from it. Bleh.
I can’t say I recommend the book, because I feel like I’m now in a reading slump from it. Bleh.
May 14, 2024
This was one of the worst books I’ve ever read. Sophomoric writing. No substantive character development. Implausible plot. A ton of unnecessary characters that add nothing to the story. A predictable and unnecessary “mystery” woven throughout this plodding, unnecessarily long slog of a book. I don’t understand how this got 5 stars from some readers. That’s an insult to the beautifully written romance novels out there.
March 16, 2025
This book needs to decide what it Is. rom-com? Family drama? Critique about celebrity culture?
Personally - I was bored
Not to mention the cringy-steamy-way too fast in the plot-explicit smex scene...
Personally - I was bored
Not to mention the cringy-steamy-way too fast in the plot-explicit smex scene...
June 5, 2022
Amazon / Amazon Worldwide / Apple Books / Nook / Kobo / Google Play
Marnie's friends are worried about her. She's still down about being made into a viral meme after being left at the altar by her douchey ex. Their solution? Set her up with the Fairy Godmother Agency and a fake boyfriend. She's thanking those friends now because that fake boyfriend is turning out to be the perfect guy for her - sweet, sexy and there for her in a way no man has ever been there for her in the past. But is her fake boyfriend going to stand a chance at becoming real?
Griffin isn't without his own issues, but he can't help but want to help Marnie out and even more significantly, he can't help but fall in love with her. But will his past, the past that's responsible for his issues, be an obstacle to their fake turning real relationship?
Witty, funny, sweet and with more than a little sizzling chemistry, Marnie and Griffin's story is the kind of rom-com I love best. It's in the same universe as some of the author's other series, so it feels familiar but in the best kind of way. The secondary cast rounds out the story and gives a very good feeling for all the stories to come from the Fairy Godmother Agency.
ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR for an honest review.
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December 28, 2023
Fake Dating, does it actually get any better than that? It's likely if it has fake dating, I'm going to like it. It's just facts.
This was a sweet and fun read. I read it pretty quickly and really didn't want to stop. I wanted to know how it ended up. I really loved Griffin and Marnie, as individual characters, but also together.
The plot was interesting enough to have me invested and I loved it had some mystery to it! There were a few paths to who did it...but I wasn't shocked with the reveal.
I enjoyed MOST of the side characters, however, Marnie's family does NOT get a pass from me. Girl, set those boundaries and stand on them! Nicole and Damien, SUPER curious to read their story and think maybe should have started with that.
Cute, funny, and a dash of spice, what's not to like?
This was a sweet and fun read. I read it pretty quickly and really didn't want to stop. I wanted to know how it ended up. I really loved Griffin and Marnie, as individual characters, but also together.
The plot was interesting enough to have me invested and I loved it had some mystery to it! There were a few paths to who did it...but I wasn't shocked with the reveal.
I enjoyed MOST of the side characters, however, Marnie's family does NOT get a pass from me. Girl, set those boundaries and stand on them! Nicole and Damien, SUPER curious to read their story and think maybe should have started with that.
Cute, funny, and a dash of spice, what's not to like?
June 6, 2022
This book was not my favorite and all the different spin-offs are beginning to be hard to follow. I thought the storyline was fun, but somehow it just felt very long. I would say it's a good read for the summer by the pool or at the beach.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 14, 2022
way too long
This book could have been cut nearly in half. I skimmed so much. Nicole and the husband, I don’t remember his name, got on my nerves. They reminded me of the geeky couple from the tv show The Equalizer. It was just too much overall. I will skip the other books in the series.
This book could have been cut nearly in half. I skimmed so much. Nicole and the husband, I don’t remember his name, got on my nerves. They reminded me of the geeky couple from the tv show The Equalizer. It was just too much overall. I will skip the other books in the series.
December 11, 2023
A Borrowed Boyfriend by Angela Casella [Angela R. Casella]
Fairy Godmother Agency #1
3h 24m narrated by Gideon Frost and Taylor Harvey, 358 pages
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Featuring: I'm A Meme, Jilted Bride, January, Book Club, Friends, Life Coach, Fake Relationship Trope, Ashville, North Carolina; Family Drama, Media, Sex - Detailed
Rating as a movie: NC-17
My rating: ⭐️⭐️¾🍸👰♂🧚♀️🧚♂️
My thoughts: 📱27% 3:02:34 Ch. 10 Marnie The last book I read from had a character that used crystals in it, just like this one, and 9 books ago I read a book about a bride that runs away from a wedding Biltmore, and this book is about a woman who was left at the alter at Biltmore. It just feels like all of my books are connected somehow. So now, at least I feel like I'm reading the right book.
📱50% 5:41:13 Ch. 18 Griffin - This is pretty good but it's missing something. I'm disappointed that it's a republishing so I have to wait for the rest of the books to be released, even though book 4 was published in May, or buy ebooks.
My other book had an aspiring author friend too. This was my first Angela Casella book and I thought I may have found a new possible favorite. She also writes as A. R. Casella, and Angela Denise with Denise Grover Swank. I was planning on reading this entire series but they said 🐓 so much it was a major turn-off, you could probably eat a bag of Skittles for each time. I had an idea of what would happen in the second book but what they alluded to was such a letdown compared to the predictable road that I lost interest. The plot was good but the second half of the book was disappointing.
Recommend to others: Maybe. It will be a long while before I visit this series but I may think of it if someone is looking for a life coach-type series.
Fairy Godmother Agency
1. A Borrowed Boyfriend (2022)
2. A Stolen Suit (2022)
3. A Brooding Bodyguard (2023)
4. A Reluctant Roommate (2023)
Fairy Godmother Agency #1
3h 24m narrated by Gideon Frost and Taylor Harvey, 358 pages
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Featuring: I'm A Meme, Jilted Bride, January, Book Club, Friends, Life Coach, Fake Relationship Trope, Ashville, North Carolina; Family Drama, Media, Sex - Detailed
Rating as a movie: NC-17
My rating: ⭐️⭐️¾🍸👰♂🧚♀️🧚♂️
My thoughts: 📱27% 3:02:34 Ch. 10 Marnie The last book I read from had a character that used crystals in it, just like this one, and 9 books ago I read a book about a bride that runs away from a wedding Biltmore, and this book is about a woman who was left at the alter at Biltmore. It just feels like all of my books are connected somehow. So now, at least I feel like I'm reading the right book.
📱50% 5:41:13 Ch. 18 Griffin - This is pretty good but it's missing something. I'm disappointed that it's a republishing so I have to wait for the rest of the books to be released, even though book 4 was published in May, or buy ebooks.
My other book had an aspiring author friend too. This was my first Angela Casella book and I thought I may have found a new possible favorite. She also writes as A. R. Casella, and Angela Denise with Denise Grover Swank. I was planning on reading this entire series but they said 🐓 so much it was a major turn-off, you could probably eat a bag of Skittles for each time. I had an idea of what would happen in the second book but what they alluded to was such a letdown compared to the predictable road that I lost interest. The plot was good but the second half of the book was disappointing.
Recommend to others: Maybe. It will be a long while before I visit this series but I may think of it if someone is looking for a life coach-type series.
Fairy Godmother Agency
1. A Borrowed Boyfriend (2022)
2. A Stolen Suit (2022)
3. A Brooding Bodyguard (2023)
4. A Reluctant Roommate (2023)
June 20, 2022
Marnie Jones is down on her luck. Abandoned at the alter, only to trip, fall, and have the video become a meme. She needs to get back on her feet, and her best friends think the right way to do that is through the Fairy Godmother Agency, a husband and wife team of P.I.s who are determined to find the culprit.
Damien and Nicole are absolutely amazing, even lending her a fake boyfriend in order to really sell it. The only problem? Griffin is entirely too perfect, entirely too charming, and entirely too convincing. The more time Marnie spends with him, the more she believes that things between them aren’t so fake after all…
Oh. My. Gosh. This book was 100% the perfect romance novel! It had action, humor, drama, steam, and the perfect amount of angst. I adored Marnie and Griffin’s story, and the whole concept of the Fairy Godmother Agency was super original and extremely well written!!! I also loved all the side characters in this novel, and it was filled with many laugh out loud moments as well!
Marnie. She’s got a bit of a weird streak, but it’s part of her charm! I love that she’s a little awkward, but also sweet and kind. I was so proud of her for learning her self worth. And her chemistry with Griffin felt super natural, yet incredibly intense at the same time! As for Griffin, I can’t talk enough about how much I love him. He’s super swoonworthy, and that mouth of his!!! I also admire the fact that he’s a genuinely good man, even if he doesn’t always believe it. I completely recommend!
Damien and Nicole are absolutely amazing, even lending her a fake boyfriend in order to really sell it. The only problem? Griffin is entirely too perfect, entirely too charming, and entirely too convincing. The more time Marnie spends with him, the more she believes that things between them aren’t so fake after all…
Oh. My. Gosh. This book was 100% the perfect romance novel! It had action, humor, drama, steam, and the perfect amount of angst. I adored Marnie and Griffin’s story, and the whole concept of the Fairy Godmother Agency was super original and extremely well written!!! I also loved all the side characters in this novel, and it was filled with many laugh out loud moments as well!
Marnie. She’s got a bit of a weird streak, but it’s part of her charm! I love that she’s a little awkward, but also sweet and kind. I was so proud of her for learning her self worth. And her chemistry with Griffin felt super natural, yet incredibly intense at the same time! As for Griffin, I can’t talk enough about how much I love him. He’s super swoonworthy, and that mouth of his!!! I also admire the fact that he’s a genuinely good man, even if he doesn’t always believe it. I completely recommend!
September 13, 2023
This was my first Angela Casella book but definitely not my last! I looooooved this book! I was 100% invested in Marnie and Griffin. And I enjoyed those around them, too. What a cast of characters! I’m here for fake dating. Too bad this isn’t such a thing IRL! I enjoyed the banter and chemistry between Marnie and Griffin. And Nicole and Damien are a hoot! I liked their meddling and investigating. This book had heart and heat and was fun to get lost in. The narrators did a great job bringing them to life. I can’t wait to listen to more books in this series!
Want to read
May 28, 2022May 27, 2022
Okay, Okay, Okay...
To Quote Joe Pesci...
From His Lethal Weapon Character...
How Could I Not Want...
To Read This Book...
It Has A Borrowed Boyfriend-Check...
A Woman Who Has Experienced...
Something Embarrassing...
Reason For Said Borrowed Guy-Check...
And The Best...
An Agency Called The...
Fairy Godmother Agency, For Goodness Sake...
What Could Go Wrong...
A Borrowed Boyfriend (Fairy Godmother Agency, #1)-June 9, 2022
A Borrowed Boyfriend (Fairy Godmother Agency, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Okay, Okay, Okay...
To Quote Joe Pesci...
From His Lethal Weapon Character...
How Could I Not Want...
To Read This Book...
It Has A Borrowed Boyfriend-Check...
A Woman Who Has Experienced...
Something Embarrassing...
Reason For Said Borrowed Guy-Check...
And The Best...
An Agency Called The...
Fairy Godmother Agency, For Goodness Sake...
What Could Go Wrong...
A Borrowed Boyfriend (Fairy Godmother Agency, #1)-June 9, 2022
A Borrowed Boyfriend (Fairy Godmother Agency, #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
June 7, 2022
I read my first book by this author earlier this year, that she wrote with another author. And this book is set in the city that those series are in. So I’m already familiar a little with some of the characters in this. Especially the crazy Nicole, or the Fairy Godmother. But I do still need to go back and read her book!
But the mystery of who leaked the video really kind of seemed like it pointed till one certain person, until it didn’t. And I like the way the author kept us kind of guessing, and wondering till the characters had pretty much figured it out for themselves. I mean, it wasn’t a huge mystery, it was easy to figure out as the story went along, but I liked that it was done the way it was.
While both characters had their own backgrounds and reasons for thinking it should only be fake dating, and that the other one wouldn’t want to be with them, for the most part they figured out soon enough that it would be okay to let it be more.
And hey, let’s talk about Mitchell Mountainbottom, I mean Griffin, lol. He could totally be my new book boyfriend. I mean his comment about how guys should read their significant other’s favorite romance novel to learn exactly what she wants was perfect! And then, he didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk by reading Marnie’s favorite, and then bringing those fantasies/scenes to life for her. It was just a little bit too perfect that her favorite romance featured a bartender, lol.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
But the mystery of who leaked the video really kind of seemed like it pointed till one certain person, until it didn’t. And I like the way the author kept us kind of guessing, and wondering till the characters had pretty much figured it out for themselves. I mean, it wasn’t a huge mystery, it was easy to figure out as the story went along, but I liked that it was done the way it was.
While both characters had their own backgrounds and reasons for thinking it should only be fake dating, and that the other one wouldn’t want to be with them, for the most part they figured out soon enough that it would be okay to let it be more.
And hey, let’s talk about Mitchell Mountainbottom, I mean Griffin, lol. He could totally be my new book boyfriend. I mean his comment about how guys should read their significant other’s favorite romance novel to learn exactly what she wants was perfect! And then, he didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk by reading Marnie’s favorite, and then bringing those fantasies/scenes to life for her. It was just a little bit too perfect that her favorite romance featured a bartender, lol.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
January 20, 2024
Just offering these thoughts for possibly likeminded readers. This book was too long, as some have mentioned, and also a combination of things that didn’t gel for me and felt schizophrenic: Wannebe zany (read: ridiculous) and needlessly angsty (for reasons that seemed unmerited); purportedly funny (I say because the author tells us so, not because the book ever actually made me laugh) yet also sweet yet also filthy.
In trying to deliver so many different things, including a mystery that is so overly drawn out as to make the conceit of the so-called godmothers being detectives beyond belief, the book’s multiple personalities failed to deliver on any of them — for me.
However, while I did fully loathe some of the characters (Nicole and Damien, the titular “godmothers”) and didn’t care about others at all (including either MC), I liked all three of the side characters who star in the other books of the series enough to try again even if I suspect that this author may not be for me.
In trying to deliver so many different things, including a mystery that is so overly drawn out as to make the conceit of the so-called godmothers being detectives beyond belief, the book’s multiple personalities failed to deliver on any of them — for me.
However, while I did fully loathe some of the characters (Nicole and Damien, the titular “godmothers”) and didn’t care about others at all (including either MC), I liked all three of the side characters who star in the other books of the series enough to try again even if I suspect that this author may not be for me.
March 31, 2024
DNF @51% (but already skip-reading for good long chunks before giving up)
I don't know about you, but when I pick up a romcom I expect to smile/ laugh (hopefully a lot of both), maybe giggle or even occasionally swoon a bit I do not however expect much less want to be wearing a frown on my face from the word GO
The only thing I liked about this book was the premise... everything else from the characters, the storytelling, the writing/ writing style itself.. just didn't work for me. A lot of it was convoluted and messy, didn't make a lot of sense. Plus the infamous fairy godmother is really just another manipulative bully. ugh.
I started skip reading large chunks of it around the 20/25% mark, kept hanging on mostly to see if my suspicions turned out to be correct but after while I just couldn't take it any more
I don't know about you, but when I pick up a romcom I expect to smile/ laugh (hopefully a lot of both), maybe giggle or even occasionally swoon a bit I do not however expect much less want to be wearing a frown on my face from the word GO
The only thing I liked about this book was the premise... everything else from the characters, the storytelling, the writing/ writing style itself.. just didn't work for me. A lot of it was convoluted and messy, didn't make a lot of sense. Plus the infamous fairy godmother is really just another manipulative bully. ugh.
I started skip reading large chunks of it around the 20/25% mark, kept hanging on mostly to see if my suspicions turned out to be correct but after while I just couldn't take it any more
June 6, 2022
This is just so sweet and fun to read. I loved it. It's a great start to the series and now I'm so excited to see where this series is going to go.
I loved Marnie and Griffin's story. I loved how it started but I loved it even more once they started dating for real. I loved Griffin, he's so sweet and sexy. He and Marnie? They're sweet and hot together. They have great chemistry and banter. There's an obvious and instant attraction between them. And that's what makes them so great together. Tbh, the mystery of who did Marnie dirty didn't really attract me, but what really kept my attention was their relationship. I loved it! And I devoured their story.
I loved Marnie and Griffin's story. I loved how it started but I loved it even more once they started dating for real. I loved Griffin, he's so sweet and sexy. He and Marnie? They're sweet and hot together. They have great chemistry and banter. There's an obvious and instant attraction between them. And that's what makes them so great together. Tbh, the mystery of who did Marnie dirty didn't really attract me, but what really kept my attention was their relationship. I loved it! And I devoured their story.
March 21, 2024
Wow, I don’t understand the rave reviews. While I did finish it, I shouldn’t have spent my time on this. I was looking for a nice distraction akin to Katherine Center or even Penny Reid. This was not that. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say I think the word “cock” appeared in this book about 2,000 times. Super annoying and not what I was looking for. While not the dumbest book I’ve ever read, it did make me feel dumb. Also, I felt like it immaturely glorified men who “can’t control” their anger. Not for me.
June 17, 2022
4/5⭐️ 2/5🌶
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I had a lot of fun reading this book and trying to solve the big question by the end! If you know me you know I love a good fake dating situation and Griffin was an absolute YES! It was one where yes they may have started out fake but all of their interactions always seemed 100% authentic. Every character in this book was so fun to read and I thought the overall plot was extremely creative and refreshing! Don’t we all wish we could have some fairy godparents to solve our problems??
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I had a lot of fun reading this book and trying to solve the big question by the end! If you know me you know I love a good fake dating situation and Griffin was an absolute YES! It was one where yes they may have started out fake but all of their interactions always seemed 100% authentic. Every character in this book was so fun to read and I thought the overall plot was extremely creative and refreshing! Don’t we all wish we could have some fairy godparents to solve our problems??
June 28, 2022
This one was just ok for me. Part of it is the over the top with Nicole and Damien, it's sort of getting old for me. I did like Marnie and felt bad for how her life was going. I was glad to see more of Griffin with this one and glad that he resolved things from his past. He and Marnie were cute together, so glad that things worked out for them.
April 9, 2024
It’s not captivating in any way. I do like the main characters but the story just doesn’t give you anything to really latch onto.
I also really dislike scenes where they confront the antagonist as a group and the bad guy just storm away and the overall vibe is “good riddance” it feels fake and kind of lazy.
I also really dislike scenes where they confront the antagonist as a group and the bad guy just storm away and the overall vibe is “good riddance” it feels fake and kind of lazy.
October 7, 2023
DNF'd at 38%. I liked the premise, but the author's writing style isn't for me.
February 9, 2025
2.5-3 stars. Mediocre at best.
June 7, 2022
This book was textbook fake dating in the BEST way! It had everything you would hope for complete with outside pressures, sudden and unexpected attraction, and all the will-they-or-won’t-they (even though we know they will, because that’s why we read romance)!
I loved Griffin’s ease in how he approached Marnie, even though he had a lot going on. I loved how much he wanted to protect her while also wanting to prop her up to make her believe in herself. It’s always nice to see a supportive leading man, especially one who knows how to read a romance book and use his knowledge to perfection.
Marnie was so hilarious! Being left at the altar is a pretty sucky situation. Ending up with a video of yourself tripping down the aisle as a meme is downright catastrophic. And she’s really feeling the effects of that embarrassment as the book opens. I loved how hard she worked to overcome the insecurities that were holding her back and, in the end, finds a way to move forward from the whole thing. It was really wonderful to see such raw and authentic healing occurring in such a beautifully comedic book.
I also loved the “fairy godmothers” and all the relationships between the side characters. This laugh-out-loud funny novel was next level entertaining and I’d definitely recommend it. Especially if you like fake dating.
I received an early copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are mine.
I loved Griffin’s ease in how he approached Marnie, even though he had a lot going on. I loved how much he wanted to protect her while also wanting to prop her up to make her believe in herself. It’s always nice to see a supportive leading man, especially one who knows how to read a romance book and use his knowledge to perfection.
Marnie was so hilarious! Being left at the altar is a pretty sucky situation. Ending up with a video of yourself tripping down the aisle as a meme is downright catastrophic. And she’s really feeling the effects of that embarrassment as the book opens. I loved how hard she worked to overcome the insecurities that were holding her back and, in the end, finds a way to move forward from the whole thing. It was really wonderful to see such raw and authentic healing occurring in such a beautifully comedic book.
I also loved the “fairy godmothers” and all the relationships between the side characters. This laugh-out-loud funny novel was next level entertaining and I’d definitely recommend it. Especially if you like fake dating.
I received an early copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are mine.
November 13, 2022
I enjoyed this one, although I do like the previous series better. But I'm hopeful for the next book.
Marnie and Griffin were both great characters, I had no complaints about them. I wasn't a fan of Marnie's family and still wasn't totally on board with her sister in the end (I read the bonus story too). Marnie got left at the altar and then managed to trip on the way out, which went viral after someone posted it. Now she's getting the 'poor girl' looks and she's a bit tired of it and the sulking she's been doing. That said, she's still a strong female character who had a backbone, although it took Griffin helping her to use that backbone when it came to her family.
Griffin has an interesting backstory and I'm glad we got to hear it in this one. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it made me respect and like him even more. He's tough on the outside, but he's a big ol' softie, at least when it comes to his friends, family and of course, Marnie. He was a protector without being overbearing and was sure to let Marnie make her own decisions without pressuring her.
I loved all the Star Wars references, from one Star Wars nerd to another, thank you.
Marnie and Griffin were both great characters, I had no complaints about them. I wasn't a fan of Marnie's family and still wasn't totally on board with her sister in the end (I read the bonus story too). Marnie got left at the altar and then managed to trip on the way out, which went viral after someone posted it. Now she's getting the 'poor girl' looks and she's a bit tired of it and the sulking she's been doing. That said, she's still a strong female character who had a backbone, although it took Griffin helping her to use that backbone when it came to her family.
Griffin has an interesting backstory and I'm glad we got to hear it in this one. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it made me respect and like him even more. He's tough on the outside, but he's a big ol' softie, at least when it comes to his friends, family and of course, Marnie. He was a protector without being overbearing and was sure to let Marnie make her own decisions without pressuring her.
I loved all the Star Wars references, from one Star Wars nerd to another, thank you.
June 17, 2025
This is book 1 in Casella's new series Fairy Godmother Agency and I am in love with this read and already can't wait for more! I love the concept of Fairy Godmothers setting out to make wrongs right. Our main characters are Marnie and Griffin. Marnie was left at the alter in a spectacular way and became a meme...idk how she survived it in all honesty, but our Faily Godmothers come to the rescue to find out who the betrayer is/was to not only take but share such a cruel moment. Marnie also made up a boyfriend to her famous sister to save face and now somehow has to produce him - enter Griffin who knows the Godmothers and volunteers. I love that he volunteers out of real attraction which only deepens as these two not only get to know one another but crumble the walls they've both built to protect themselves and the ones they care about. The dual narration is perfect and brings our characters to life, the storyline flows smoothly and is the best balance of sweet and steamy romance, drama and humor. I absolutely loved it and can't wait for more!
I received this audiobook at no-cost from AdoptAnAudiobook.com. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I received this audiobook at no-cost from AdoptAnAudiobook.com. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
March 15, 2023
Marnie has problems. For years, she’s lived in the shadow of her TV star sister, Sinclair. It wasn’t so bad when her dad was alive, but when he passed away she was in a funk. Her sister seemed to push her to accepting an on air proposal from a jerk named Brock. But things get infinitely worse when he dumps her at the altar and she trips trying to leave, and someone posts a video on social media and it becomes a meme.
Things get so bad that her friends refer her to a husband and wife P.I. team called The Fairy Godmother Agency. They also are part owners of a bar, along with the bartender, Griffin. When he meets her, he is amused and attracted to her, and when she finds herself in need of a boyfriend, he does something he never did before. He volunteers to help his partners out by being her fake boyfriend. But Griffin has secrets in his past that may make the whole operation fall apart.
I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to everyone. I not only want to read the whole series, I also want to go back and read Nicole and Damien’s story too.
Things get so bad that her friends refer her to a husband and wife P.I. team called The Fairy Godmother Agency. They also are part owners of a bar, along with the bartender, Griffin. When he meets her, he is amused and attracted to her, and when she finds herself in need of a boyfriend, he does something he never did before. He volunteers to help his partners out by being her fake boyfriend. But Griffin has secrets in his past that may make the whole operation fall apart.
I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to everyone. I not only want to read the whole series, I also want to go back and read Nicole and Damien’s story too.
May 9, 2023
Loved the characters - Griff was the sunshine of the book to be fair, but Marnie really got to grow throughout and I loved to see it!
The author knows how to write some relationships, you know who rides with who and the friend groups well within the individual characters as well.
Smut was good! Mostly fluffy read with some lol moments and cuteness.
My real only complaint was there enough 'fake dating' for my as there was like one scene where they had to fake it. Then their relationship just grew.
The author knows how to write some relationships, you know who rides with who and the friend groups well within the individual characters as well.
Smut was good! Mostly fluffy read with some lol moments and cuteness.
My real only complaint was there enough 'fake dating' for my as there was like one scene where they had to fake it. Then their relationship just grew.
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