The Plus One Contract

Skeptically In Love

by Laura Ashley Gallagher

Sienna Blake knew attending her brother’s wedding meant facing the past she left behind—the old friends who chose sides, the city that never really felt like home, and the ex who moved on without looking back… who is now the best man.

She can handle it.

What she can’t handle? The endless questions about why she’s still single.

Enter Nathan Calloway. A chance encounter at an airport bar turns into an impulsive deal. For one week, he’ll be her perfect fake boyfriend.

The rules are convince everyone, survive the wedding, and walk away unscathed.

But the longer they pretend, the more real it starts to feel. And as the lines blur between what’s fake and what’s undeniable, Sienna has to wonder—was this ever just a deal, or has she risked her heart on something real?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fake Dating, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Rom Com

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2025

About the author

Laura Ashley was born and raised in Ireland, where she spent a large part of her childhood and teenage years studying music. Drawn to people’s stories and a lifelong storyteller, she went on to study journalism. Laura Ashley specializes in crafting stories with heaps of romance and maybe even a few tears. When she is not writing, she is spending time and having fun with her husband and young son.

Reviews

[Rayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. One night stand, turned into fake dating because businessman MMC needs to look stable and FMC needs to prove she’s over her ex during her brother’s wedding. While the concept is nothing new, Gallagher’s executed it spectacularly. It was witty, I loved the couple, and it was a very fun read. I loved their banter, and their connection felt like it was jumping off the page (and rubbing in my face how single I am). I also loved how they were both career oriented throughout the entire book and they both knew there was nothing wrong with that. I read this whole thing in nearly one sitting. I was just having so much fun I didn’t want to put it down. This book definitely needs more hype.

[Julie WB · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ One of my least favorite tropes done very well. Couldn’t put this one down. Love a fast burn turns slow burn. Characters were well written and there was just enough drama not to be complete fluff, but it was still fun, easy reading. Will definitely continue the series.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive! This book was such a fun read and the writing is so well done I breezed through right through it (in one day). I love a grumpy/sunshine trope! It hits all the marks, driven characters with complicated pasts. Funny and lighthearted while touching on serious issues. Spice (🌶️🌶️🌶️) that compliments the story but isn’t overdone.

Sienna’s cheating ex is the best man in her brothers wedding. Her love life is nonexistent while she has remained career driven. That is until Sienna says she’s bringing a date to the wedding.

Nathan is wealthy beyond measure with his home grown business. He has been steadfast on running his finance company and has no time for relationships. Until the biggest deal to date requires him to bring a significant other to a gala.

A one night stand. A plane ride and a contract could be the things that change Sienna and Nathan’s lease on life. Or is it?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Katie Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, I am obsessed with Nathan and Sienna😫. This book was such a fun read, I honestly couldn’t put it down.

Now let’s talk our FMC, Sienna moved to New York a few years ago after her relationship with her long term boyfriend Daniel came to an end. Honestly, Sienna just wanted more with her life. She wanted to focus on her career and Daniel put pressure on her to accept a life that she wasn’t ready for yet but Daniel was impatient and he actually started seeing another woman while they were still together - yep scum if you ask me, and I’ve zero time for cheaters. While that was Siennas opportunity to move on and live her life, I didn’t like how her family and friends tended to take more his side rather than hers😭.

Now her brother is getting married and guess who the best man is?? Well this is a romance book so of course it’s her ex Daniel. Now well let’s just say she’s in quite the predicament, in which she told her family that she has a date to the wedding when she indeed does not. Now one evening while Sienna is moping about her bestie Harper (I adore you Harper) decides enough is enough and takes Sienna out, this is where she meets our MMC Nathan. To say sparks were flying between these two would be an understatement and things get hot and heavy quite fast which lead to them spending the night together.

Of course both of them didn’t expect to see one another ever again but they were both in for quite the surprise when they bump into each other in the airport the next morning and are actually next to each other on the flight. Now Nathan is a finance man who is closing a deal in California and he needs to bring a date to the gala as his potential business partner is a family man.

Now you see where I’m going here?? Both of them need dates for two separate events in the same place they are going to👀 wellllll it is on the flight that our darling Sienna comes up with a little contract in which they’ll both help one another by being each others dates - and this is where the fun begins 🤭.

I loved these two so much. Their chemistry was undeniable, the tension and spice was absolutely delicious and their banter was absolutely top tier.

Also can I just say Sienna standing up to her ex, an absolute slay Queen💅 Possessive Nathan??? Absolutely impeccable - I love a possessive man😮‍💨

Thank you so much to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭

[Ceacea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Romance
⭐️ 4.25/5
🌶 2/5
🧠 2/10
Cliffhanger: N/A
Noteworthy: Book 1 of a completed interconnected standalone series. No major triggers. Dual first-person POV. Available on KU.

I don't read a ton of regular Contemporary Romances. But when I do this is exactly how I want them to be. This book is funny, heartwarming and even heartbreaking at times. Plus the romance was actually romancing! I can't even count how many times it had me chuckling out loud. If you're looking for an easy but really good read that's got just enough punch for higher stakes emotions without being tragic, look no further!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A decent fake dating romance.

Sienna is heading to California for her brother's wedding where the best man is her ex, now engaged to the woman with whom he cheated on her. When she is seated next to Nathan, a man from a one night stand she thought she'd never see again, a napkin contract is created. To help him secure a business deal and for her to make it through this wedding.

[Natasha Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ addicting, great banter, loved the whole thing

[Jennifer Charlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received — official release date is May 2nd!

Fake dating, flirty banter, and a slow burn that had me wondering if Nathan ever planned to make a move (again 😉) —The Plus One Contract is a romance novel win.

Nathan is all broody lawyer charm, while Sienna brings just the right amount of chaos into his ordered world. I laughed, I swooned, and I’ll definitely be waiting for book two in the Skeptically in Love series!

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ate this book up. Short chapters for the most part. Very cute. Would be better if the main guys name wasn’t Nathan (my brothers name). But overall very good, I love a fake dating trope.

Rate: 4.2/5
Smut: 2/5

[kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 2 hours, that’s how addictive it was. I picked this up after seeing a thread by the author and was like “damn, that sounds good”!!

OBSESSED with the banter and I loved both the FMC & MMC. I’m also a sucker for “fake dating” and the one bed trope, so that also was the cherry on top.

This book was hot, funny, REAL (trauma), and the perfect read after a long fantasy book. I’m so glad I picked it up and I’ll be recommending it to anyone I know who loves rom coms.

I’ll definitely be reading other books from this author now!

tropes:
🌊 fake dating
☀️ one bed
🐚 he washes her hair
🌊 millionaire/billionaire CEO
☀️ he takes her shopping
🐚 possessive MMC

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a fake arrangement. This one was particularly great with tension from their one night stand, igniting a spark that led to a crushing, intense longing for each other, all while trying to protect themselves from being hurt once their arrangement ended. Their chemistry nearly set my Kindle on fire.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I devoured this, this is just what I needed. And CLARA AT THE END! Omg omg 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[Brittany Busby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Plus One Contract

“She’s brilliant and maddening and everything in between”

Thank you so much to Laura Ashley for sending me this eARC. I had an absolute blast reading this book and it’s now one of my top books of the year. It had me laughing, kicking my feet and even a couple tears which don’t happen often while I read. Sienna and Nathan have the absolute best chemistry and flirty banter. I loved them so so much! Fake dating and one bed are a couple of my favourite tropes and Laura Ashley wrote it so well! I seriously cannot say enough good things about this book and will be recommending it any chance I get.

🤍fake dating
💕forced proximity
🤍only one bed
💕grumpy/sunshine
🤍contract relationship
💕one night stand

[Abigail Sloat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a romantic… but damn this book had me twirling my hair and kicking my feet like a teen again. SOOOO CUTE!! Definitely would recommend this book to someone who is needing a quick, easy, light hearted read.

[Marguerite · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 🌶️🌶️.5
I loved this story and the two main characters, Nathan and Sienna. It’s not perfect but the vibe, romance, angst were well done.

[Tegan K · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ This was fun, loved it!

[Imogen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily 6⭐️

Firstly, I should say that I was kindly sent this this book as an ARC from Laura.

I loved this book! I genuinely had no idea what to expect going into this one. I have never read any of Laura's other books. But I was so blown away with her writting, hooked from the very beginning. And everything else on my TBR was soon forgotten because I just couldn't put this down!

This book included some die hard, tried and tested fav tropes. Fake relationship, Contract of convenience, One bed, Forced proximity, One night stand. Everything that you could possibly need in an easygoing contemporary romance.

[Leah Fairhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

"ONE-NIGHT STANDS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THIS GOOD. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE QUICK, MEANINGLESS DISTRACTIONS.

NOT EARTH-SHATTERING, SOUL-LEAVING-BODY, MIGHT-NEED-MEDICAL-ATTENTION LEVELS OF MIND-BLOWING."

What was supposed to be a one night stand turned into a chance meeting then a whole lot more. I found myself completely engrossed in the story, devouring it in one sitting!

I loved Sienna and Nathan's characters. Their dynamic and chemistry is electric 🔥 They are both successful, so the premise of a mutually beneficial arrangement, due to societal pressures to be in a relationship, quickly evolved into something much deeper, and I was here for every moment of it.

As someone who has also been career-driven, I resonated with Sienna's frustration over the constant questioning about her relationship status. It’s refreshing to see a narrative that highlights the achievements of individuals beyond their romantic lives and shows the struggles career women face.

Sienna and Nathan weren't looking for one another but met and enhanced each other's lives.

I also appreciated how Sienna and Nathan saw the real versions of each other, seeing all their vulnerabilities, that they both tried so hard to hide. I loved watching them open up, share their traumas, and seeing them support each other in healing was incredibly moving.

Overall, The Plus One Contract is a great read that beautifully balances romance and personal growth. I highly recommend picking this if you love fake dating with a happy ending.

Tropes:
🩵 Fake dating
🤍 One bed
🩵 Grumpy x Sunshine
🤍 Forced proximity
🩵 One Night Stand
🤍 Relationship contract

Thank you to Laura Ashley Gallagher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok I love a fake dating trope and add that there is a napkin contract and I am all in!

Nathan and Sienna are perfect! I loved how they met and then how they meet again. These two just truly have genuine connection and you find yourself rooting for them from the beginning!

Nathan is a little broody but oh so protective over Sienna. I loved his playful banter with her and letting her take the lead in situations. Nathan watching Sienna shine amongst his colleagues was adorable and Nathan had me swooning over his internal thoughts for her during these scenes.

Sienna oh I loved her and quirkiness. While Sienna might be a little quirky our girl is so smart! I loved watching her in her element and when she was rambling with Nathan and he just let her and never interrupted her and supported her was everything! Sienna found her balance with Nathan and I truly adored these two together.

Now this book has the perfect balance of plot and spice! The spice was spicing and the banter and swoon worthy scenes were perfect!


I just loved the epilogue as well! It was so cute/sweet and had me smiling knowing where Nathan and Sienna were later in life.

Thank you to Laura Ashley Gallagher for the arc of this book in return for my honest opinion



Small Spoiler and this is just a me thing......

The only thing that caught me off guard was the third act conflict. I didn’t find Nathan to be at fault for that and found Sienna should have apologized/owned up to her part of it vs just wanting Nathan to (girl you used your safe word and to him that meant stop just like he explained to you).

[Virginie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Plus-One Contract by Laura Ashley Gallagher

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.75/5)

When I first read the blurb, I was expecting something a little cliché—fun, maybe spicy, but predictable.

But surprise! I was so wrong (in the best way).

The characters have real depth, juggling trauma, demanding careers, and delightfully dysfunctional families. Sienna is witty, sharp, and perfectly sarcastic. And Nathan? He’s everything you want in a successful businessman… but better. 🥵📈

Watching their love story unfold was genuinely a pleasure. Emotional, funny, and full of chemistry—this book totally caught me off guard, and I loved every second.

⸻

The Plus-One Contract de Laura Ashley Gallagher

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.75/5)

En lisant le résumé, je m’attendais à un livre un peu cliché. Agréable, peut-être un peu spicy, mais prévisible.

Finalement ? J’ai été agréablement surprise.

Les personnages sont profonds, jonglant entre leurs traumas, leurs carrières prenantes et leurs familles délicieusement dysfonctionnelles. Sienna est drôle, percutante, avec juste ce qu’il faut de sarcasme. Et Nathan ? C’est tout ce qu’on attend d’un homme d’affaires… en mieux. 🥵📈

Suivre leur histoire d’amour a été un vrai plaisir. Émotive, drôle, pleine de chimie : une lecture qui m’a totalement charmée.

[Jess (Turnthepagewithjess) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to author for the ALC in return for my honest thoughts. And those thoughts are in awe of the world you have created with the Skeptically in Love series. Hands down, one of my all-time favorite romance series.

This is the first book in the series of interconnected standalones. This series has my whole heart and I will recommend it forever and ever. It goes through the different love stories within a friend group and I’m so freaking obsessed with EACH story. Each book is so unique to the series, yet it brings the same heartwarming love that’s intertwined throughout this friend group.

This is the first in the series and the first audiobook for the series to be released!! I’m so excited that I get to hear these characters, that I’ve come to love so much, come to life. I can’t recommend this series enough! Each book really has a heart and soul. I’m sure that anyone who reads them will find something they connect with. 🫶🏼💕

Things you can expect:
One night stand
Fake dating
Where she says f*ck it
“Good girl”🙌🏼🙌🏼
Protective MMC
Forced proximity
One bed!!!! And it’s a honeymoon suite 🤣
Past trauma
Abusive parents/chilhood
Tensionnnn 🔥🔥
Rich entrepreneur MMC
Marketing boss babe FMC
We’ve got volleyball!
Love a good closet 🤪😉

[AnnaMeansFun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve decided to read this based on a snippet the author posted on Threads and I’m so glad she did, because this was a ridiculously fun ride!

Like—“high fever, first day of period and still couldn’t put it down” fun.

The banter, the tension and the emotional rollercoaster, all made me love a trope I usually roll my eyes at.

It was just such a romantic romance, the perfect example of a genre.

ONE THING THOUGH!

It pissed me off how easily Sienna brushed off her brother’s behavior. He was such a red flag! Not only did he remain best friends with her ex who cheated on her, but he also asked the guy to be his best man. What the actual F?! If a man is willing to let that slide, it means that cheating is not a deal breaker for him. Knowing that, his fiancée should have sent him packing.
It was super disappointing that Sienna never confronted her family and let herself be treated like that.

Ugh.

Oh and also—if she was born on March 17th, she was a Pisces, not an Aries.

Still, it was such an epitome of a classic modern romance with two characters I genuinely loved that I can’t believe this author is not more popular.

[Brooke (The_Brookeshelf_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
Sienna Blake is gearing up to attend her brother's wedding alone...and the best man is her now-engaged ex. But after an incredible one-night stand with Nathan Calloway, a scribbled airplane-napkin deal turns into the perfect arrangement for them both: a fake relationship with no feelings.
Easy, right? Exploring old wounds and new "couple" moments leaves their undeniable chemistry feeling anything but fake. How long can they keep pretending?

The Sparks:
—Relatable, lovable characters you instantly root for
—Top-tier humor and banter: witty, charming, genuinely laugh-out-loud
—Slow-burn tension, full of all the flirty, kick-your-feet vibes
—Dual POV allows the reader to watch both characters fall for each other
—A cute, fun plot balanced with deeper emotional moments

The Shadows:
—Loved the narrators overall, but the voice-shifting to imitate the other
character during POV flips was distracting
--Example: Hearing the female narrator deepen her voice during spicy lines sometimes pulled me out of the moment and even made me want to laugh

Special note:
—Thank you to Laura Ashley Gallagher for providing me with early access to this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

[Laurie Reads Reverse Harem · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
🌶️

Tropes:

💜 One Night Stand
💙 Fake Dating
🩷 Forced Proximity
🩵 Grumpy/Sunshine

I absolutely devoured this book. I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK!!

This was exceptional.
Romcom? YES!
Emotional? Most definitely.
Banter? Yes 🥹

I don't do MF romances - not often but when I do, this is the type of book I expect. This level of fluffy, banter filled, heartache. And even with the limited spice. That alone should make me stay clear of this book but I cannot rate this any less than a 4.5 - it was so wholesome.

This is one of the very few and limited books that I will re-read again some day!
That I will be excited to re-read this banter and gripping story.

I'm in awe of this author right now - going to add all of her books to my TBR now.

[Stephanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this book as an ARC from the author & I’m so glad, I really enjoyed this book!

A classic fake dating story, with so many tropes I love. I fear Nathan Calloway is right up there with my top book boyfriends!

Although this book is relatively short, I found both the FMC & MMC to be really well rounded & found myself routing for them all the way through.

Loved the epilogue — a great end to a great book.

This is the first book I’ve read from Laura, & it definitely won’t be the last.👏🏼

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 5 ⭐️ read for me, from start to finish. Once I began reading, it was hard for me to put down.

I loved the characters and overall storyline. Amazing spice. I really liked the back story for the MCs, scenes were well thought out and made sense.

I saw a post from the author on Threads about the dressing room scene which is what made me intrigued to read this book, I honestly wasn’t expecting so much emotion or that I’d end up crying.

Already reading the next book!

[k ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

YALL !!!!!?????? WHAT THE HELL THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD AH£hhhhh)))ggg)!!!!!!!

no im screaming wdmc ?? i literally started this on a whim after looking up booktok recs (ik i was desperate.) and it DELIVERED ?? woah.

no i was obsessed w this story. yes the characters are kinda surface level but i had FUN ok. when millennial cringe girly pop and cocky asshole final boss come to together to maximize their joint slay 🧘‍♀️

like the way i almost finished this in one night but realized maybe i should be able to get up for work the next morning.........but you can def finish it in one sitting

def dont go into it expecting alot ok you will be disappointed just go in with good vibes and an open heart. always 🫶

[Stacey McCarter · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new FAVORITE book!!!

[Carling · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Cute and fun romance!

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me consider re-downloading hinge kmn