Love Me Like It's Real

Love in Maplewood #2

by Rhys Everly

It was all pretend... until it wasn’t.

I don’t have time for dating. I'm too busy making Maplewood my home after everything I've been through. But when my daughters decide I need a boyfriend, I do only thing a desperate single dad can do… I lie.

Enter professional dating expert, Jack Hayworth.
He's a cynic. He's emotionally unavailable and he doesn't believe in love. He's even got a club whose entire purpose is to sabotage the Season of Love festival. But he agrees to play along.

Turns out pretending to love Hayworth is way too easy. The real problem? Sleeping with him feels even easier. And once I get a taste, I can’t stop.

I swore I wouldn't fall. I swore I would keep this casual.
Too bad my heart doesn't listen.

Love Me Like It's Real is a low-angst spicy MM romance with a love cynic who loves a good time, a single trans dad who no longer believes in love, fake dating and two little girls determined to give their dad a happily-ever after.

With the highest percentage of LGBTQIA+ residents in Vermont, Maplewood is a town where everyone belongs. And with festivals year round, there’s always something fun happening! This multi-author, low-angst queer series features ten standalone romances—each set against the backdrop of a different festival. Come for the celebrations, stay for the happily-ever-afters!

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Transgender

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2025

About the author

Rhys Everly-Lawless is a hopeless romantic who loves happily-ever-afters.
Which would explain why he loves writing them.

When he's not passionately typing out his next book, you can find him cuddling his dog, feeding his husband, or taking long walks letting those plot bunnies breed ferociously in his head.

He writes contemporary gay romances as Rhys Everly and LGBTQ+ urban fantasy and paranormal romances as Rhys Lawless.

You can find him and all his latest projects on rhyswritesromance.com

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING 3.5 STARS

Love Me Like It’s Real is the second book in the Love in Maplewood series which is a ten book, multi author series. This book is by Rhys Everly which is a new to me author. This is a fake dating romance between two men, one of which is trans. This is also my first trans romance. The town of Maplewood loves it’s festivals and this book focuses on the Season of Love festival. Only Maplewood would celebrate Valentine’s Day for a full month. Which is NOT a good thing if you are not a lover of love!



We met Felix Spring in the previous book. He just moved to Maplewood a couple of months ago. He is thirty one years old and is a single dad to two adorable little girls. He is a romance book cover designer for a living and he is also trans. Felix is divorced and was hurt deeply by his ex-husband. Now he just wants to start over and make a good life for his girls. But his girls are worried about their “Poppy.” They want him to be happy and are determined to find him a boyfriend. Even though that’s the very last thing on Felix’s mind right now.

Jack Hayworth is I think thirty two years old. For a living, he is a professional dating expert but not in the way you might expect. I’ll just leave that alone for now. Hayworth (as he prefers to be called) has also been hurt deeply by previous relationships. So he is now ANTI-love in every way. During the month of February he does whatever he can to spread the word that love is the enemy. That there is NO happy ever after. He sabotages Valentine’s Day events along with his Anti-Valentine’s Club members. Which is how he met Felix.



Hayworth has gotten quite the reputation in Maplewood for his antics. When Felix’s girls choose Hayworth as Felix’s next possible boyfriend, they decide to “fake date” to make the girls happy and to try to rehabilitate Hayworth’s reputation. But you know how these things go. Those pesky feelings get in the way and it isn’t long before fake starts to feel real.

So, this book just didn’t work out as well for me as I hoped. First, Hayworth was just so cynical and also quite immature in his behavior. And, as a mom, I just can’t imagine faking a relationship for your own kids. It seems like it would hurt them more than help but that’s not for me to decide. That’s just my opinion. I just never could connect with these two the way I wanted to. The next book in the series is called A Touch of Maple by Amy Aislin and I can’t wait to read it.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
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[NitaBee · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I think the book would be great, but I hated that the ex was turned into a villain because their wife decided they wanted to be a man . Live your life authentically but don’t be surprised if your husband doesn’t want to remain married and loses his mind in grief. It’s like a death.

Hayworth - what kinda name is that 🤣 - is all bah humbug about love and it’s hilarious.

‘All relationships are doomed. Because love is a scam.’

Hayworth is a dating specialist. Is that a job?

Felix is new to town, with two daughters who have the best names - Elsa and Arya.

Felix is trans, and I’m struggling with making the ex a villian because Felix decided to upend their marriage.

‘I thought he was the one. I thought he was my Prince Charming on a white horse. I thought he was my forever and he loved me unconditionally.

Instead he turned into the most hateful, toxic person I’d ever met as soon as I came out to him and told him I wanted to live my life as I’ve always felt inside. A man.

Of all the people I’d been afraid to tell about my wanting to transition, he was the last one I was worried about.’

I’m sorry but if my husband turned around and was like , I’m actually a woman , I’m not going to be all like I’ll still romantically love you BECAUSE IM NOT SEXUALLY INTERESTED IN WOMEN.

So no, I can’t get my head wrapped around Felix’s naïveté that their husband would be ok with his wife wanting to be a man, after they have married and had children and built a life together.

“Fine. My husband, Mark, he was my high school sweetheart. We went through everything together. Failures, successes, miscarriages, funerals, the lot. He was my rock through everything and I for him. He was the best guy there was. He cared about others. He cared for equality. He was empathetic. He was the dream guy. And he was mine.”

Yet Felix thought sex with Mark was a chore and he wouldn’t even let her fuck him. Because Mark isn’t into that - and that’s ok.


When Felix ( as a woman) was pregnant with her second baby, in her third trimester she came out to Mark as wanting to transition into a man. Felix expected acceptance and love.

I’m shocked at how no thought whatsoever about how this would affect Mark. Felix is shocked he’s not jumping for joy - well duh- but he’s trying to say the right things but also ignoring it. Probably hoping it’s a phase.

Then he started listening to transphobic podcasts. Because he needs to transition into a villain.

‘I thought maybe he needed to get this shit out of his system to realize he still loves me, but it only got worse and I was done.’

Mark tries to get custody of their kids during the divorce , isn’t so great with them, tries to kidnap them. Gave Elsa nightmares. He served some time, lost his home and he’s back living with his parents. On house arrest.

‘I’m angry. I’m just…angry. I thought I’d found my forever man and not only was he not it, he turned into my worst nightmare instead. I get Mark not wanting to be with me after my transition. I get him not wanting to be in a gay relationship because he’s always seen himself as a straight man. But for my sweet, wonderful and considerate husband to turn into a hateful, toxic monster? That I can’t take. I can’t understand. It’s not fair. It’s just not fair.’

‘I gave him my everything and he still yanked my heart out like a murderer with a taste for flesh.’

You don’t think Mark feels the same way??

‘Keeping ourselves safe and rebuilding our lives after Mark destroyed our family.’

Absolutely no accountability from Felix and the part they had In destroying their family. Felix doesn’t understand why Mark turned so hard on him.

This is just a small part of the story, but making the ex a villian triggered me. I think most people in that situation would be shocked, and lash out in hurt , though not to that extreme.

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

This was so good. A cynical man who doesn't believe in love fake dates a single dad forced by his daughters to find love. This premise is just perfect.
Hayworth was hurt by love more than once and for him that was more than enough to hate love forever. But then enters Felix and no matter how much he denies it, he was falling for him and his girls.
Felix knew how Hayworth was but he wanted his children to be happy so they started a fake relationship. But the more time passes, the more he realizes he's in love with someone who hates love.
There was no 3rd act breakup, which I was grateful for and their journey was beautiful

[Elley Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited for Felix's story because I loved him in book 1 in this series, Winter Wishes and Coffee Kisses by Ana Ashley. I'm really bummed that Felix and Caspian's friendship, which was so evident in the first book, was just... gone in this one.

That being said, I did love seeing single dad Felix embrace his "slutty side" that he never got to really experience before. The entire premise of fake dating between Felix and Hayworth was a little whack, even given the usual suspension of disbelief required for rom-coms in general and fake dating in particular. I sort of wanted to slap Hayworth for being a whiny immature brat. And then Felix ... my dude, decide what you want. "Oh, I'm not going to pursue anything with Hayworth because I am so concerned about my reputation in this small town, but then suddenly and randomly I don't care at all and make a total disruption and scene, but then suddenly I care again - until I don't."

I don't know, I just don't feel like either Felix or Hayworth were fully developed characters, and when they'd do something that felt really out of character for the weirdly shifting personalities it just threw me entirely out of the story.

This is the second book in the Love in Maplewood series, and can be read as a standalone. Rhys Everly's books tend to be really hit-or-miss for me, and this one fell sort of in the middle.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hayworth is so funny, has a very vivid imagination, and his mam is funny too. Felix is also fun but has children, so he needs to (try) be a bit more careful. However, with Hayworth, his fun side starts to emerge, and they have fun falling in love.

Although the story was really funny, it was pretty repetitive at the beginning. Obviously, for suspense, Felix and Hayworth’s back story was kept from us for quite a while, and we just keep getting told that one hates love and the other can’t risk his girls to someone that immature. It’s done in a very funny, entertaining way, but nevertheless, nothing really happens for 40% of the book.

Then it begins to kick in, and it’s fun again. The plot is a new take on fake dating, and Hayworth takes Felix on a series of dates to help him keep love at bay. Which we all know won’t work, but it’s a fun way to get them to see that maybe love isn’t so bad after all.

Cheesy and funny. I enjoyed it.

————-
I received an ARC of this from GRR, and this is my honest review.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing! I wanted Felix to get a story. I knew there was more to him. His story broke my heart. And the pain that Hayworth went through is heartbreaking. These two were just what the other needed to help them heal and love again. But they have their hands full with those girls. I can’t imagine having two girls much less that close in age. I love Maplewood.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Going to have to DNF this one at 58%. It's boring as hell and the character of Hayworth is so fucking cringe. If he's in his 30s, he's one seriously immature dude.

I'm also not really into transmen being presented as men when they're not. And describing Felix's clitoris reconfiguration or whatever as a "cock" was just gross.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started reading MM, I loved the sex scenes but over time I have tended to prefer those books with a good story and little to no sex. When there is sex in a book I tend to skip over it.
I wish I had done that here.
Felix and Hayworth were nice MCs, Both suffering from failed relationships in the past which had turned them a little cynical.
To appease Felix' girls, the 2 decide to fake date. However they do eventually fall in love.
Felix is actually a trans man, who I think is quite an effeminate trans man. The book goes into detail of the 2 having sex which left me thoroughly confused and I remembered why I don't read trans books either.

[Fernanda Parente · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book but not the best I've read from this month. The kids made me want to scream because they are the most manipulative . Poor dad

[Julie Underhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Me Like It’s Real by Rhys Everly is the second book in the Love in Maplewood series by various authors. It is the story of two men who have been badly hurt in love before and eventually find what they need in each other. Jack Hayworth is a man who thinks love is a scam and isn’t real and all relationships are doomed. His job is a dating specialist who is hired to try to seduce one member of a couple to see if they can withstand his advances, and most don’t, which just reinforces his feelings about love. This came about when he was in college and the man he thought he loved cheated and his next relationship didn’t go well either. Now he just avoids any situation or man that interests him and degrades them into one night stands. He lives where he grew up in Maplewood, Vermont, which is known for its various festivals featuring love and happiness and does all he can to subvert them. Valentine’s Day is coming up and he is the head of the Anti-Valentines Club which does all it can to interrupt the festivities all in the name of “Love isn’t Real”. There are only a few members of the club, including his friend, Wells, but they have been doing their activities for several years and he is known as the ring leader. And everything he does is chronicled in the Maplewood Matters gossip blog so everyone in town knows what he is up to. Felix Spring has recently moved to Maplewood to get away from the man he thought was his forever until he turned vile and hurt his children when Felix announced that he was trans and started going through his transition. His girls, Elsa and Arya, mean everything to him so he is trying to give all of them a fresh start. He designs covers for books and also wants to be a romance novelist, but he just can’t seem to get any great ideas whenever he sits down to write which he relates to being stabbed in the back by love. He has become good friends with Caspian who owns Special Blends and he and the girls often go there for his drinks. It is now time for the Seasons of Love Festival and the girls talk Felix into going to the first speed dating event and Hayworth is there and tells him love is a scam in several funny ways. Felix just thinks he’s a weirdo but is attracted to him, and when Agnes who is running the speed dating catches Hayworth and kicks him out, he wishes Felix would follow him because he finds him sexy, intriguing, and hilarious. He then sees Felix and the girls at Special Blend and they try to coerce them into going on a date because they want Felix to be happy, too, and when Felix sees this, he calls Hayworth and makes the proposal to fake date with no fooling around, which Jack agrees to. They then go on a series of interesting dates including a couples cooking class which has a hilarious ending, then to Haworth’s Smash Bus where people smash items about the season which makes them feel better, then to a romance movie marathon with the girls, and then one of Haworth’s sponsored activities – The Love Sucks Movie Marathon which is also crazy but has a great ending when no one shows up and they are alone for some fun times. During all of this time they are giving away clues to their lives and learning about each other and why they are the way they are. But their attraction is strong, and even though Felix said no at first, it leads to some very hot love scenes and more reasons why they don’t want to be apart. Hayworth is starting to like the feelings that Felix gives him and Felix is learning he can be his true self with him, plus he is finally writing his romance novel. Things come to a head at Jack’s Smash Your Ex Pinata Party which causes a rift between them and almost a break up until they realize what they have and that they do love each other and want to be together. I enjoyed this book. Felix has been through a lot with his ex-husband and wants what is best for his girls, putting himself second until Hayworth shows him he can take time for himself. Hayworth just can’t move on from what happened to him in college and stubbornly holds on to his belief that love isn’t real. That is until he meets Felix and as time goes on he learns that it is real with him. The girls, their friends, and Hayworth’s mom also play a big part in the story and there are some pretty hilarious scenes with some snarkiness coming out for both of them. I recommend this book, especially if you like stories about men who have been hurt before and don’t really want to move on until they meet and find what they’ve needed all along in each other.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This is a cute romcom with Felix, divorced trans father of two young girls, new resident of Maplewood, a man sworn off love after his contentious divorce, and Hayworth, the town’s head of the Anti-Valentine Club, sworn off love and actively doing his job to prove to people that love never lasts. When Felix’s daughters Elsa and Arya ask Hayworth to go on a date with their dad, he feels roped into it by the two adorable little girls. The date goes well, the girls think that now Felix has a boyfriend, and Felix decides to get Hayworth to fake date him so the girls will be happy, thinking he is happy. That is all well and good, but Hayworth has a reputation to protect as being anti-love, but he is finding himself drawn to Felix and their fake dating with benefits, and the feeling is mutual. The more time the two spend together, the stronger the feelings become, but both insist they don’t want a real relationship, leading to misunderstandings and miscommunication. Lots of cute episodes with the girls manipulating the guys, some unusual dates, lots of Valentine-themed activities in town to attend, self denial about growing feelings, and a low-angst road to an eventual HEA.

Engaging characters, some very steamy scenes, an entertaining cooking class, a Smash Bus and some very creative and humorous Anti-Valentine events such as the Valentine Break-up Bonfire and the Smash Your Ex Piñata Party bring chuckles to the reader. This is my first read with the Love in Maplewood series from various authors, and it is an entertaining one, with lots of possibilities with quirky characters we’ve met in a town with a high LGBTQ+ population and festivals that go on all year long, providing ample fodder for the additional books in the series. I hope Felix and Hayworth show up in cameos in future books so we can revisit “old friends” is town, and I look forward to future books in the series to learn more about the town. its residents, and the festivals.

I received a copy of the ARC and this is my voluntary review.

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love hating man falls for trans daddy to 2 girls who want their daddy happy again

In this second installment of the Love in Maplewood series, Felix Spring relocates to Maplewood, seeking a fresh start for his two daughters in an accepting community. Maplewood is a very LGBTQ+-friendly town where everyone belongs, and the girls want their dad to find happiness again. He endured a custody battle over them when he transitioned to male, and his former husband even attempted to forcibly take the girls after moving to another town before settling in Maplewood.

Jack Hayworth is portrayed as a dating expert who leads a group that despises Valentine's Day, working to disrupt the "Season of Love" festival that accompanies the holiday. After being betrayed by his husband, he helps other couples end their relationships.

When Felix's daughters express their desire for their dad to find happiness in a relationship, the two men agree to a phony dating arrangement. Inevitably, they fall in love, but transforming Hayworth's outlook proves challenging. His daughters adore Hayworth, as does their grandmother, who teaches them art. Felix sees Hayworth as fiercely loyal to his disdain for the concept of love, making him seem unapproachable for a genuine relationship.

Rhys Everly addresses the issues surrounding gender transition and the experiences of those hurt by former lovers with sensitivity and care. The book presents a compelling narrative on these themes and the relationship that develops to please Felix's daughters.

It is worth noting that the Love in Maplewood series is a multi-author project, and this particular installment stands out clearly in its contribution to the series.

I was given an Advance Read Copy of this book with encouragement to write a review. This review is my work, written by me without any influence from the author, agents, or anyone else.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining read in the Maplewood series, this time focused on the Valentine's festival. Even better because one of the MC's is very much anti-valentines, even having his own club with its main aim to ruin the events around town that celebrate the festival.
Hayworth can't believe he gets caught up pretending to be in a relationship to appease two young girls, who happen to be totally adorable, so that they think their daddy is happy again. Felix can't believe he's going through with any of it to appease his two conniving yet angelic daughters who want him to be happy in their new hometown like they are. Never mind that they are ridiculously attracted to each other, Hayworth is only happy with hookups. no relationships or possible feelings for him! Felix just wants to concentrate on getting over everything that happened with his ex, for him and for his girls) and building a good life for them.
However, once that first kiss happens, a show to make it look real to the girls, that ignites the spark between them and all bets are off. They have fun, get to know each other and possibly blue the lines that they set for a fake relationship.
I felt for Hayworth as he clearly had a bad deal with his only two relationships but he does have an aggressive reaction to it. His mother is an amusing character as she tries to constantly talk him down or argue both sides. I also adore his reaction to Felix telling him he is trans. Perfect! Felix and the girls had quite a traumatic experience before moving to Maplewood and this town turns out to be exactly what they need, along with a seemingly not perfect, perfect person.
Highly recommended read from Rhys and this great series!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!

This is book two in the multi-author series, Love in Maplewood; a fictional town in Vermont with the highest percentage of LGBTQIA+ residents where everyone can find a place where they belong. It features Hayworth, a self proclaimed love hater and Felix, a trans man looking only for a safe, accepting place to raise his sweet girls after a messy divorce.

There aren’t a whole lot of trans romance books out there so there’s a lot that I didn’t understand, particularly things I’d THOUGHT I understood but then something happened near the end that had me questioning my reading comprehension (it’ll make more sense when you read the book) but I still enjoyed the book, they were adorable together. Especially Felix’s daughters’ attempts to find him a boyfriend.

Hayworth, after being betrayed twice by love, with his ‘buck the system’ Anti-Valentine club in the weeks leading up to Valentines Day, was a riot, always trying to convince everyone that love was a lie—time would be better spent in more “physical pursuits”😂. And Felix, I loved! He never let Hayworth get away with anything, always quick with a comeback, often paraphrasing his own words back at him, slowly causing him to see that what he claimed to believe was just a defense mechanism against the possibility of being hurt again. Take my word for it, it’s much funnier in the author’s words.

My only complaint is how it ended with an HFN instead of an HEA. I know not every book HAS to end with an HEA but that’s my preference as I think everyone deserves to have one. That notwithstanding, this was an interesting book and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys variety in their reading of books in the rainbow alphabet. 4.25 stars!

I received a copy of this book for free but am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emmie Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5, rounded down.

I felt like Hayworth’s character was quite immature (especially at the start) with his ridiculous anti-Valentine’s antics, which I think were supposed to be fun and cute but missed the mark for me. Felix was fine as a character, although I wish we had gotten a bit more depth or stakes because I felt like his character fell a bit short on the character development side of things, especially compared to Hayworth.

There were a lot of little petty things that I disliked about this book - Hayworth is an awful name and outside of sports romances and military/first responder romances, I don’t really care for calling characters by their last name. Especially when the love interest does it. It would have been nice to see Felix calling him Jack by the end there. (Also, not explicitly stated but I also think Felix was a last name. I’m pretty sure the girls were referred to as Anya and Elsa Felix at some point, leading me to again get annoyed by the double use of the last name.) I also hate pink hair. Sorry Felix. There was entirely too much going on within this little community and it felt like too much, too many people and small businesses and events. Overkill. There were also some editing errors littered throughout that needed some cleaning up.

However, I did feel (from my admittedly cis perspective) that the character of Felix was handled really well. His gender was obviously included in the plot and as part of his backstory, but it felt honest and real. I thought the smut scenes were done well and in a way that didn’t fetishize trans people.

Elsa and Anya were scene stealers! I loved their attempts at “parent trapping” and how much they encouraged their poppy to try dating again. It was very wholesome and sweet.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two books in, and Maplewood is shaping up to be a fantastic collaborative series! 3.5 stars

Felix is new in town. A single dad to two girls, he's trying to put his previous marriage far in the rearview mirror. He's definitely not looking to date anyone, no matter how much his daughters try to set him up with seemingly every eligible man in town.

Hayworth is firmly anti-love, to the point of making a nuisance of himself around town every year for the Valentine's day celebrations. While he finds himself attracted to Felix, he's definitely not interested in dating. Not him, not anyone, not ever. But, he is willing to offer his services (professionally) to help Felix fool his kids into thinking he has a boyfriend. And if he gets some benefits, all the better!

I love when a character (or two) falls in love when they are hell-bent against it. As this book gives a double dose of it, and throws in fake dating for an absurd premise, I was very interested in this book. And most of the book I really enjoyed: Felix is fantastic, his daughters were great characters without being too much of the plot/written like adults, and I adore Maplewood. The only real problem I ended up having with this book was Hayworth's attitude. He had been burned in the past, but his anti-love crusade took things to an extreme that wasn't enjoyable or believable, and ultimately made him seem extremely childish. I know that was kind of the point, but it just didn't land for me personally, which is why I didn't round this up to 4 stars.

CW: sexual content, infidelity (not between MCs, past relationships), transphobia (discussed but not actively happening on page)

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hayworth doesn’t believe in love. Not anymore. And after what happened to him, you can’t really blame him for his cynicism. And he isn’t afraid to show others the pitfalls of love and give those with heartbreak opportunities to express it. He’s got an Anti-Valentine’s Day club and is ready to sabotage Maplewood’s Season of Love festival. And when he meets Felix, sure he is intrigued by him. Definitely attracted and wouldn’t mind hooking up. But fall in love? No way. Nope. So…why is it he gets all these feelings when he is around him? Felix isn’t ready for any type of love. Not after what he went through with his ex. He just wants a safe place to raise his daughters and for them to be happy. But his daughters see more to their dad than he wants and are determined to find him a boyfriend. Which leads to a crazy idea. Fake dating the local cynic and hater of all love. Neither want love, so pretending in front of his daughters to date should be enough to fool them into thinking he is happy and they don’t have to worry about him. Right? But despite the surliness that is Hayworth and love, he makes Felix laugh. Together, they just have a good time and they click. It’s surprise to both of them when they finally admit what it is between them. This was a fun story! Hayworth’s anti love shenanigans are hysterical and I love that Felix goes along with it. For two people who don’t want to fall in love, they do so easily with one another. It was pretty adorable. This series is starting off great and I can’t wait for more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bluemoonchild · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a heartwarming premise: single trans dad of two little girls is trying to rebuild his life in the queerest town in the country gets roped into a fake dating scheme. The fake-dating trope typically has a predictable trajectory, and this story is no different, but it's filled with a soft, slow-burn core, spiced up by some very real chemistry between its leads.

Felix is relatable and grounded after leaving what became a toxic and abusive marriage, and his relationship with his daughters is both touching and hilarious. The girls are clever and sweet without falling into the trap of being overly precocious.

Hayworth, however, is...a lot.

He's got the emotional walls to climb, the hot-and-cold behavior, the biting wit and the deep-rooted cynicism that often comes with the stereotypical "emotionally unavailable bad boy" character. But there are moments when he drifts from somewhat endearing to borderline insufferable. His anti-valentine's club is amusing at first but quickly becomes grating and - for me - it took just a little too long for the book to offer the kind of vulnerability that makes you want to root for him.

The spice level is high and handled with care—sensual without losing sight of the characters’ emotional growth. The representation is strong, with the main character’s trans identity woven seamlessly into the narrative, and the romance itself feels affirming and celebratory. If you can ride out the eye-rolling moments, there's a very sweet story about healing, family, and learning to trust again.

[Jack Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevlar muffin, Charlie Spring, warm beer & soggy chips, lucky scrunchie, bologna & despair scent, ROTFLMAO, strap-on pegging

This is another fun and fantastic book in the 'Love in Maplewood' series. It's a rom-com that takes place in Maplewood, VT during the town's Seasons of Love festival which starts in January. The festival celebrates Valentine's Day for two months with various events and activities.

Felix is a post-transitioned trans man who is new to Maplewood. He's relocated from California with his two young daughters, Elsa and Arya, in order to escape the girls' father, his homo-/transphobic ex-husband. His best friend is Caspian the new owner of Special Blend coffee shop and MC from Book 1. Caspian is also new to the quaint small town. It's how the two men bonded.

Hayworth is a Maplewood native and has sworn off of romance and love. The cynical MC is the founder of the Anti-Valentine Club. He's known around town as an unwanted romantic relationship "killer". Hayworth meets Felix at a Valentine's related speed dating event.

Felix's daughters take every opportunity to get their Poppy and Hayworth to date. They just want to see their Poppy happy. The two men agree to fake date to appease the girls.

The denizens of Maplewood are wonderful and extremely likeable in their own uniquely quirky ways. The story moves at a good and smooth pace. I was engaged for the entire book. I enormously enjoyed this satisfying read and absolutely recommend it!

[Kolombina · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF.

Rhys lost me very early, during introductions of both characters... So it's still possible it's not a bad story in itself, I just don't want to read about these two clowns. Hence 2 stars instead of 1.

Hayworth is your stereotypical "I was burned before and so many people cheat and break up so it's obvious love is crap" hero. I seriously think that adult and averagely intelligent person should know better than this, so I'm never thrilled by this angle.

And here we have Felix to make it even better!

Because that guy was also burned by his ex, whom he presents like toxic and hateful, because.. And here it gets really good!!!

Because Felix is in transition. They were woman marrying hetero guy, but they felt like man inside and decided to live their truth, so they came out and expected the husband to be completely cool about it, and guess what, he wasn't!!!! Horrible, horrible man, who married woman because he wants to have sex with a woman, and now refuses to accept he actually got a man who wants to get a dick. What a prick, right?

And this is me leaving, ladies and gentlemen and all the others.

Because I'm hopelessly hetero woman and although I whole-heartedly support all people's rights and want all the letters in LGBTQ+ to find their happiness, I also don't forget like some of queer authors sometimes do that being hetero is no more of a choice than being a gay or trans, and we have the same right to live true to ourselves like them.

So when a hero tells me he married man who wants vagina and now expects him to like dick, I absolutely can't respect or root for this hero because he doesn't show any respect or understanding for his partner either.

[Amanda Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Me Like It’s Real by Rhys Everly is a heartfelt, hilarious, and refreshingly original take on the fake dating trope—with a cynical anti-love dating coach and a sweet single dad just trying to make his daughters happy.

Jack Hayworth is Maplewood’s resident grump and anti-Valentine’s crusader. He thinks love is a scam and proudly runs the “Love Isn’t Real” club. Felix, a newly single trans dad recovering from heartbreak, agrees to fake date him just to please his adorable, meddling daughters. What follows is a slow but steady unraveling of both men’s walls, filled with hilarious dates, emotional honesty, and some seriously steamy chemistry.

Hayworth is a riot—dry, dramatic, and constantly at odds with the romance-soaked town he lives in. Felix is his perfect balance: warm, grounded, and more willing to risk his heart than he lets on. Their dynamic is as fun as it is tender, and the small-town setting (complete with nosy neighbors, a gossip blog, and themed festivals) makes it all the more charming.

Tropes & highlights:
- Fake dating
- Cynic x single dad
- Found family
- No third-act breakup 🙌
- Trans rep
- Laugh-out-loud banter
- Anti-Valentine’s shenanigans
- Kids who just want their dad to be happy 🥺

Funny, sweet, and surprisingly emotional, this one will make you laugh, swoon, and believe in love—even if Hayworth doesn’t (at first). Highly recommend for fans of grumpy/sunshine, quirky small towns, and healing through joy.

[Antonella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maplewood is a fictional LGBTQIA+ friendly town in Vermont where everyone is welcome, and where Felix, after a rough divorce, relocates to start his life anew with his two daughters.
It is also where Hayworth lives. He’s a cynical man, determined to convince more and more people that love is just a bluff, until he meets Felix. Right from the start, the chemistry between them is undeniable, but they are too scared to admit it.
Anyway, since Felix’s daughters want to see their father in love and happy, the two men decide to fake a relationship, and walking through that path, they both change perspectives on what they mean to each other.
I really enjoyed this reading. The first encounter between the main characters was hilarious, and I laughed a lot when I read about the Anti-Valentine’s club, and the way Hayworth was fond about it. There were not just funny moments though, because both Felix’s and Hayworth’s lives were not all roses and flowers, so I think there is a good balance of happy/sad moments inside the book.
I loved Felix’s little daughters, they were adorable, and they did everything in their power to see their father happy again.
There is not a HEA, but a HFN instead, but if you love the kind of tropes it talks about, I can only recommend it.

[Tanya Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun.
Hayworth is a self-described dating specialist who doesn't believe in love and is the founder of the Anti-Valentine Club. That's a problem when you live in Maplewood, VT, and it's just in time for the run up to the Season of Love festival.
Felix is a trans man with two girls, Elsa 9, and Arya 6. He is coming off a bad divorce and has sworn off men. His issue is two girls that want him happy and all loved up. He is also a closet romantic, after all he designs book covers for romance novels and dreams of writing his own.
Hayworth and Felix first meet at a speed dating event, and Felix realizes he has never laughed so much. With the two girls pushing Felix toward romance and they have decided their target is Hayworth maybe it's time to give them what they want. To get the girls off his back and to try to cleanup Hayworth's slightly dinged reputation Felix proposes fake dating. Like that never backfires. I will say some of Hayworth's activities sound interesting, such as the Smash Piñatas. Throw in a meddling mother and questionable friends and this is a good night's entertainment.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Me Like It's Real follows Hayworth, a staunch cynic who no longer believes in love, and Felix, a single father focused on creating a stable life for his daughters after a painful breakup. Hayworth, determined to expose the pitfalls of romance, starts an Anti-Valentine’s Day club and plans to sabotage Maplewood’s Season of Love festival. Meanwhile, Felix’s daughters, eager to see their dad happy, hatch a plan to find him a boyfriend. This leads to a fake dating scheme between Felix and Hayworth, both convinced they can keep things friends with benefits.
However, despite Hayworth’s anti-love antics and Felix’s cautious heart, the two unexpectedly form a real connection. Hayworth, who only meant to stir up chaos, finds himself genuinely enjoying Felix’s company, while Felix realizes that Hayworth makes him laugh and feel at ease. As their pretend romance turns real, they discover that love has a funny way of sneaking in, even when it’s least expected. This is a lighthearted, entertaining story filled with humor, charm, and a sweet journey of reluctant love. Their dynamic—grumpy cynic meets warm-hearted dad—is both fun and surprisingly heartfelt.

[Mrs.V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this was so fun! Rhys Everly is another author I’ve never gone wrong with.
Here we have Hayworth, a self-proclaimed love-hater and the founder of the anti-Valentine club; his mission in life is to enlighten every poor fool that still believes in love and happily ever after. Of course, there’s a reason why he is like that, and it just takes the right kind of man (and two adorable and meddling girls) to dismantle his walls and his resolve to keep hating.
Felix is the single dad of said adorable girls; his marriage ended horribly after his transition, and he just wants to focus on his daughters and his new life in Maplewood. He’s certainly not looking for love, he doesn’t have the time or the inclination for that!
Of course, that doesn’t mean they are not attracted to each other, and so what if they want to scratch an itch? They’re not going to catch feelings, after all, right? So, so wrong…
This book is fun to read and super steamy, and though both characters have heavy and even tragic backstories, it never gets too angsty or morose.
There’s always that heavy dose of small-town meddling, but in this case it’s usually Hayworth instigating mayhem!

[Lillian Francis]

This is not a review. It's my reading updates (since GR no longer lets me do reading updates)
I dnf'd at 49%
Reading Updates
17%
So, I've met both Felix and Hayworth in other books (Felix more than Hayworth tbh) and I liked them both. Unfortunately in their own book, I really don't like either of them.
Hayworth is just hard work, with unrealistic opinions about love, which would be fine if he wasn’t actively trying to force these opinions on the whole town. And yet his guilty pleasure is Heartstopper, which makes him a massive hypocrite in my opinion. And Felix, live your best life by all means, but don't villify your ex-husband because he couldn't cope when you chose to transition.
I'm very close to 'dnf'ing.
26% God, these kids are precocious. And asking questions far too old for their age.
49% So Felix told his husband he wanted to transition and the man had a total personality transplant? I find that unlikely. Sure he might not want to stay married or even friends because of the pain of losing the person he married. But a total U turn of everything he ever did or believed in. I don't buy it.
Dnf'ing.

[Tanya Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun.
Hayworth is a self-described dating specialist who doesn't believe in love and is the founder of the Anti-Valentine Club. That's a problem when you live in Maplewood, VT, and it's just in time for the run up to the Season of Love festival.
Felix is a trans man with two girls, Elsa 9, and Arya 6. He is coming off a bad divorce and has sworn off men. His issue is two girls that want him happy and all loved up. He is also a closet romantic, after all he designs book covers for romance novels and dreams of writing his own.
Hayworth and Felix first meet at a speed dating event, and Felix realizes he has never laughed so much. With the two girls pushing Felix toward romance and they have decided their target is Hayworth maybe it's time to give them what they want. To get the girls off his back and to try to cleanup Hayworth's slightly dinged reputation Felix proposes fake dating. Like that never backfires. I will say some of Hayworth's activities sound interesting, such as the Smash Piñatas. Throw in a meddling mother and questionable friends and this is a good night's entertainment.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book about two good, likeable men moving on from heartache, truly healing, and finding love.
Hayworth is quite the character, the mischievous ways he tried to derail the 'Season of Love' events often led to laughs. The reasons behind his anti-love attitude are painful for him, but he can only fight the chemistry he has with Felix for so long.
Felix has recently gone through some terrible times. His ex became unrecognizable as the man he once loved after Felix finally realized his own truth and transitioned, but the worst part was how his ex scared their daughters. Despite all that, he still believes in love. He isn't really ready to date, but his daughters have other ideas.
And so begins a fake dating arrangement between Hayworth and Felix. Some dates lead to much laughter after some shenanigans, but alongside that is a growing connection that both are initially wary about. Soon enough genuine love blossoms between them and leads to a sweet HEA.

I received an ARC from GRR, this is my honest review.

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felix & Hayworth

"Third time's a charm."
This book was a sweet and wonderful read. Felix & his daughters are quite the trio, and they have such a beautiful relationship with one another. Felix isn't out looking for love, but the easy connection he forms with Hayworth builds quickly and naturally. I loved the easy acceptance the Hayworth showed Felix when he revealed he was trans. It was a significant piece of the story, but also not; the recognition is there and deserved, but it doesn't change the story or relationship between Felix & Hayworth. They begin to love one another for their personalities and quirky qualities. Hayworth also makes an easy & silly connection with Felix's daughters, which is incredibly important in any single-dad story.

Hayworth's mother is awesome. She's not afraid to show her son that he's being ridiculous and acting unnecessarily childish. Their relationship is so strong and well-defined.

I know the intended MC for Felix is Hayworth, but Felix and Caspian's banter in the coffee house is hilarious to follow and so much fun to read.

Love Me Like It's Real is a perfect romance to add to the enchanting town of Maplewood and its new series. Rhys Everly writes his characters in such fun ways. The commentary he makes about Felix's identification is engaging and inspiring. I loved each moment of this story and all the pieces it contained.

I received an authorized copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the next contribution to the multi-author series set in Maplewood, and is the story of two men who are dealing with and reacting to heartbreak. Hayworth, by running an anti-love business and sabotaging Valentine's Day festivities, and Felix, who has moved to inclusive Maplewood with his two young daughters, seeking acceptance as the man he has become and a new start. There is an instant attraction between them, and it’s entertaining to watch them try to deny it. Their relationship evolves from friends with benefits to a deeper realisation of their strong feelings for each other. I particularly enjoyed the humorous banter they shared, and Hayworth’s mother, Olivia, along with Felix’s daughters, Aria and Elsa, added a lot of extra charm to the story.
I loved this book! It made me feel as if I were part of the town, and it provided great representation for transitions. Although it’s part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone, and I highly recommend it.