Pretend I Do

by Misha Bell

What if the person destined to complete you… has the same name as you?

MIT graduate Sawyer Baker has built walls around her heart as complex as her code. When a mistaken kiss with her brilliant, misanthropic colleague Sawyer Worthington threatens their positions at Octothorpe, they engineer the perfect a marriage on paper only.

Their arrangement is calculated, logical, and absolutely temporary—until proximity reveals what algorithms can’t undeniable chemistry.

As corporate sabotage threatens their company and a bullet meant for her changes everything, Sawyer must decide if protecting her career is worth sacrificing the love she never saw coming… with the man who shares more than just her name.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Rom Com

243 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2025

About the author

I love writing humor (often the inappropriate kind), happy endings (both kinds), and characters quirky enough to be called oddballs (because... balls). If you love your romance heavy on the comedy and feel-good vibes, visit mishabell.com and sign up for my newsletter.

Reviews

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear I get a kick out of every new phobia this author thinks up for her characters. I never even knew there was such a thing as a fear of beards. lol. I find Misha Bell's books funny and entertaining. They have silly humor that brings two oddball characters and giving them the perfect romance. Sawyer and Sawyer, yes they have the same name, were cute together and I loved their meet cute!

I listened to the audiobook and would highly recommend it. Erin Mallon and Ryan West were the perfect couple to bring these two to life!

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, quirky, and steamy in all the best ways! This fast-paced romcom had me grinning with its nerdy charm, spontaneous kiss, and a marriage-of-convenience that turns deliciously real. Sawyer and Sawyer’s chemistry sparks from page one, and the blend of heart, heat, and corporate intrigue kept it fun and fresh. If you love smart heroines, delicious heroes, and laugh-out-loud moments, this one’s for you!

Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama; h not a virgin; H not a player
Triggers no apparent triggers Steam 5 /5; explicit; safe sex/birth control discussed

[Kathie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sawyer and Sawyer meet at a coffee shop when she picks up the wrong coffee because they share the same name. The sparks start flying especially when she finds out she is interviewing at the same company he works at. She gets the job but finds out there is a strict no dating policy at the company. What’s the hilarious thing to do? Get married of course! The romance, the laughs and the quirkiness of Pretend I Do keeps you turning the pages. Another fun romcom from Misha Bell!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretend I Do
A Fake Marriage Workplace Romance
By: Misha Bell
Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Ryan West

In the mood for a fantastic romcom? You can always count on Misha Bell to have the best characters and humor to make you smile. This billionaire romance features Sawyer. She just got the job of a lifetime and she is looking forward to it. Having a male colleague with the name Sawyer is just coincidental but their chemistry is real. When they share a forbidden kiss at a company party, they know they have to do something to protect their jobs. A quickie marriage of convenience should fix the problem. But when it doesn't, there is more than meets the eye to the reason. A quirky couple, growing feelings and a hint of danger all keep this story flowing. I was laughing, I was rooting and I was loving Sawyers. It is a quick and enjoyable listen, the kind I love and know Misha Bell will deliver.

Erin Mallon and Ryan West are the storytellers and what a blast I had listening to them. Mallon pulls off the young but old for her age Sawyer. All the eccentricities come through creating an endearing woman. West is perfect at the older, officially falling first man, with his own quirks and he makes him lovable. The comedic timing with these two is perfect and made for an incredible listen.

[MsMoxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misha Bell keeps getting better and better with the zingers in these romantic comedies! In Pretend I Do Sawyer s red to launch her career in the tech world applying to a new job with Octothorpe. In no way does she envision meeting the man that not only shares her name but also has the same unique passion for collecting rare postage stamps. Sawyer is crushing hard. But there is a catch when she is hired at her new company - there is no fraternizing with company employees. How will Sawyer reign in her attraction for Sawyer, her perfect match? And when things get a little heated at the Christmas party and both have one too many drinks, the concoct a plan that will secure their employee status. The convincing of nuptials and a life together where most couples take months or even years to plan happens on a four hour plane ride to Vegas. And so the hilarity continues as each falls harder for the other.

Pretend I Do had the most hilarious witty banter and I found myself highlighting facts I was never even aware of! Bell takes the funniest idiosyncrasies and quite literally makes it a learning moment!
This was a fun read that had the best laugh out loud lines!

[Noreen Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Misha Bell rom coms.Prerend i do was hilarious.Both the main characters names are Sawyer.
I loved their meet cute.
Sawyer is on the way to her interview ,which turns out to be with Sawyer's company when they meet.
The attraction between them is instant.Then Sawyer finds out inter office romances are forbidden,so tries to stay away from Sawyer.They are still drawn to each other and at the christmas party they share a drunken kiss.
They know they wil both losevtheir jobs,so they end up in a fake marriage.
Even though the narriage is on paper only,the feelings between them are real.
They eventually admot their feelings for each other and get to their satisfying happily ever after.
A laugh out loud romantic comedy with office drama,friendships,
steamy moments,amazing family support,romance and a happily ever after.
Loved both their families,Hermit the cat was cute and Sawyer and Sawyer were just amazing together.
I cannot wait for the next book by Misha Bell.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vania Nunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sawyer Baker and Sawyer Worthington met at a coffee shop and exchanged coffees. First, a sparkle in their eyes.
They discovered she was interviewing for a job at his company. She did very well in the interview and demonstrated a brilliant mind and far better social skills than him. Second, a sparkle in their eyes.
When the two fell into the web of attraction and kissed at the company's holiday party—a company that doesn't allow relationships between employees—he had an idea that could save them both from being fired: a hasty wedding in Vegas.
What was supposed to be a fake wedding ended up transforming their lives, and those of their families, who were overjoyed by the encounter.
But the marriage was only temporary.
Since neither could keep their hands off the other, was there any way this marriage could work, even if one of them was suspected of industrial espionage?
5 stars

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretend I Do is a cute story that brings together two colleagues Sawyer Baker, and Sawyer Worthington in a humorous contemporary romance.
Sawyer B. has just been hired at Octothrope a company on the cutting edge of technology. One of it’s current employees Sawyer W. she met at a Starbucks prior to being hired at Octothrope, and they hit it off.
Unfortunately workplace romances are a no no at the company and she can’t afford to lose her new dream job over the attraction to her namesake, until a lapse by them both causes a scramble to get around the workplace clause with a marriage of convenience.
I loved the story which had corporate intrigue, drama, personal vulnerability, family dynamics, passion, engaging writing, likable characters and was a very entertaining read. HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic, laugh out loud read from Misha Bell! Pretend I Do is exactly why I grab every single one of their books: it is smart, funny, and impossible to put down.

I adored the main characters: Sawyer and Sawyer and their off the charts chemistry. The banter is sharp, the situations are hilarious, and there is just the right amount of heart and heat to keep you hooked. I genuinely couldn’t stop smiling as I read.

This story has everything I want in a rom com: witty writing, endearing (and slightly chaotic) leads, and so many moments that made me giggle and swoon. Misha Bell duo knows exactly how to deliver a feel good, lighthearted romance that still has depth and charm.

If you love clever, funny, and warm romances that leave you grinning from ear to ear, Pretend I Do is a must read!

[Sharon Akshar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story 'Pretend I Do' by Misha Bell. I confess that I have every Misha Bell book because I love them and this one is no exception! The characters are wonderful with a lot of charm and wit and the storyline is great and held my attention till the very last page. In fact, I read the book in one sitting. Sawyer the lady meets Sawyer the man over a mistake in the coffee shop order because of their similar names and from that 'cute meet' it only gets better and better!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Zelda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I opened this book & saw which character was narrating each chapter, I thought it was a single POV story. It is not. The two main characters are both named Sawyer. I found the chapter headings humorous (Sawyer: aka) as well as informative. The Sawyers find themselves breaking corporate non-fraternisation policy, a fake marriage, and a bit of espionage. There’s lots of fun with quirky family members and a Sawyer who doesn’t do small talk, resulting in philosophical meanderings. It’s mostly lighthearted with a dollop of action.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly funny and I laughed out loud many times while reading it. The cleverness of the matching names and chapter breaks was striking; details I found both ingenious and exceptionally cool. The Sawyers had such great chemistry; it was sweet and hilarious! The cherry on top of the sundae is the family, particularly Layla the sister who cheats at cards. I have to say that this Misha Bell story is, without a doubt, my favorite one that I've read up to this point, seriously.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this and found myself chuckling out loud as the two Sawyers find love. Watching two logical people fall for each other amidst the chaos of their arrangement was so much fun. Filled with witty banter, sizzling chemistry, hilarious family, fake to real, sweetness, intrigue and danger that made this a delightful read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

FYI: do not read this in a crowd! From the beginning these two cracked me up. I got weird looks and curious stares. That said, it was a thoroughly enjoyable book. Great family dynamics and side characters.they ha
Sawyer and Sawyer have quirky personalities that are over the top. They had a great meet cute. Vegas anyone? Crazy cyber theft, guns, misunderstandings, and a little drama. I would recommend this book and it does have an HEA.

[Romane | Bookylicious · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting. I loved the pitch so I wanted to know more about it but I know as well that the author has a wacky writing that is not really for me.

I still think that the idea was nice and original, but I could not pass all the cringy innuendos and horniness, and it's coming from somebody whose whole life is smutty books.

The audio was not helping either and I was not a fan of the interpretation. Maybe next time I should try on paper 🤷‍♀️

[Jocelyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩°｡⋆⸜ ♥️🎧✮ Audiobook Review! ✩°｡⋆⸜ ♥️🎧✮
This is a fun and entertaining fake marriage workplace romance. I really enjoyed the humor, the banter, the intrigue, the touch of suspense, and of course, the romance. Erin Mallon and Ryan West delivered an excellent performance, bringing the story and characters to life. I had a great time listening to this one. Misha Bell never disappoints! If you enjoy romantic comedies, this book is for you.

[Laura Reads Too Much · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quirky read from Misha that will have you giggling, shaking your head and leave you with a smile on your face!!

Sawyer and Sawyer have an instant connection until they realise they're going to be working together and fraternising is cause for loosing your job!
How do you get around that? You say I do!!...
3.5stars

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a "meet-cute" becomes a real connection? And what happens when that real connection becomes a workplace conundrum? You both say "I Do!" Sawyer and Sawyer have chemistry, humour and an intense desire to succeed. But working for the same company is a serious no-no. What happens next is something not to be missed.

[Stephanie S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the story of Sawyer and Sawyer. It’s absolutely hilarious and will make you fall in love with the grump and the brainiac. They are each other’s perfect match and it’s absolutely adorable how they interact as a couple.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[D K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fun, Light and Sizzling Read 😍
When it comes to Misha Bell you can always count on a captivating, extremely funny and a very enjoyable romcom that includes unique situations, quirky characters and surprising outcomes! If you’re into unexpected circumstances, funny moments, great banter and a touch of steam then this is definitely the book for you!!! Highly Recommended ❤️

[Cassie Hilton-parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this grumpy boss! Sawyer has such good character development in this story. I love how they have a cute meet and greet. The way they are naturally drawn to each other and how their relationship develops is wonderful. When they finally meet families and they all have dinner is glorious.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely brightened my day, lightened my heart and just plain left me feeling good. I thought Sawyer and Sawyer were delightful characters. Their chemistry was great, and their story was cute and funny and is seasoned well with just enough drama, action and intrigue to make everything irresistible.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Misha Bell provides a love story which has fun,suspense.heat and laughter.
I just loved this couple and their wierd families.
This was a lighter read but still remained as a page turner. I couldnt put it down.
Brilliant.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

once the incredibly immature and pathetic inner monologue of an allegedly grown woman started going ona bout getting "lady wood" and is incapable of thinking straight because so horny because man in her space, I was out. so about 5 pages. read like a 12 year old trying to convince someone they had sex.

[Laura Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A meet cute of two people with opposite personalities but the same interests abilities and values. They end up working for a company that does not allow fraternization of their employees. There is also a 14 age difference. The dialogues are fascinating as they try to discuss heavy topics. It’s a very fast read with a villain who is surprising. The tension ramps up at the end and it ends cutely.

[Jill Kirtley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s many a laugh out loud moment in this entertaining romance thanks to the author’s familiar quirky characters, their endearing foibles, and Sawyer’s B and W’s tying of the “fake” knot. It’s a fun, spicy, must read and my new favourite book by Misha Bell!

[Maria Passia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When company rules threaten their careers, an innocent kiss turns into a marriage of convenience. But what happens when Sawyer and Sawyer discover that they have more in common than the same name? Will love prevail over logic? A hilarious story with entertaining and witty characters!

[Lori Sang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sawyer & Sawyer are hilarious and adorable together. Their story was funny from beginning to end. There was some light work drama but it was resolved quickly. No angst, just a short funny read. If you’re looking for a light-hearted rom-com with quirky characters, then look no further.

[Clara Mei 🍪🎧 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally i cannot rate this book with 4 🌟. However, the plot and characters are super funny and the story is super light and easy to read. I recommend this one if you need something fast between readings

[Elesha's book fun gossip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love Misha Bell, and this was another brilliant book that was filled quirky rom com energy. Sawyer & Sawyer where laugh out characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.