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Stranger Things Have Happened
Not yet published
Expected 14 Apr 26Can fake dating lead to real love? In Kasie West's next sexy adult romcom two people must decide where the lie ends and the chemistry begins.
Sutton knows she needs therapy. After all, she’s managing her newly opened restaurant remotely while taking care of her ungrateful sick mother. Plus, her boyfriend of two years just dumped her over the phone. But does therapy with a handsome stranger, who she has to pretend to be engaged to, in order to help her friend’s struggling relationship count? Probably not. Then why did she just agree to go? Because she’s had a few too many drinks? Because this stranger, Elijah, is smug and annoying and really, really handsome? Because she feels guilty that she abandoned her best friend, Tara, after high school and this might just make up for it? Whatever the reason, she has committed to this unhinged plan.
What the hell is Sutton doing?
Helping Tara prove a point: a good therapist can tell the difference between real love and fake love. That’s what she’s doing. But as they attend their sessions, Sutton and Elijah only seem to be proving one thing—the lines between pretend desire and real desire are very blurry. This true connection forming between them is threatening to unravel everything Sutton thought she knew about family, friendship, and her own heart.
Sutton knows she needs therapy. After all, she’s managing her newly opened restaurant remotely while taking care of her ungrateful sick mother. Plus, her boyfriend of two years just dumped her over the phone. But does therapy with a handsome stranger, who she has to pretend to be engaged to, in order to help her friend’s struggling relationship count? Probably not. Then why did she just agree to go? Because she’s had a few too many drinks? Because this stranger, Elijah, is smug and annoying and really, really handsome? Because she feels guilty that she abandoned her best friend, Tara, after high school and this might just make up for it? Whatever the reason, she has committed to this unhinged plan.
What the hell is Sutton doing?
Helping Tara prove a point: a good therapist can tell the difference between real love and fake love. That’s what she’s doing. But as they attend their sessions, Sutton and Elijah only seem to be proving one thing—the lines between pretend desire and real desire are very blurry. This true connection forming between them is threatening to unravel everything Sutton thought she knew about family, friendship, and her own heart.
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 14, 2026
19772 people want to read
About the author
Kasie West
32 books19.2k followersI write YA and adult romance novels. I eat chocolate cinnamon bears. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. A few of my works are: SUNKISSED, PS I LIKE YOU, MOMENT OF TRUTH, WE MET LIKE THIS, and more. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
October 7, 2025
I’ve read a handful of Kasie West’s YA romances over the years, and they’ve reliably been my comfort reads—soft, swoony, low-angst escapes that cure the worst kind of day. This new adult romance wears that same Kasie West warmth but adds a fun, slightly spicier twist: a fake-engagement setup that collides with couples therapy, opposites-attract sparks, and the kind of banter that makes you grin into your book.
The hook is instant. Sutton—reeling from a brutal run of bad luck—has come home to care for her extra-grumpy mother after a car accident, all while trying to manage a fledgling restaurant from miles away and dodge the fallout from a nightmare review that keeps her up at night. Then, as a final cherry on the chaos sundae, her boyfriend of two years dumps her over the phone on the very day they’re supposed to meet. (Sir, at least respect the four-hour drive.) Nursing her wounds at the local bar, Sutton overhears two brothers debating the point of premarital counseling. The pretty brother, Michael, is sulking about his fiancée’s insistence on therapy; his sharper, flintier brother, Elijah, is backing him up. Sutton—bless her big, tired heart—calls them on it. Cue the small-town twist: Michael’s fiancée is Tara, Sutton’s former best friend from high school. Shots are taken, receipts are shown, and a ridiculous bet is born: Sutton and Elijah will pose as an engaged couple for three therapy sessions. If the therapist doesn’t clock the ruse, Sutton loses—and yes, karaoke humiliation is involved.
What neither of them anticipates is that therapy (hi, Dr. Franklin) will get under their skin in the best possible way. The exercises—and, frankly, the honesty—force Sutton to confront her trust issues (absent father, prickly mother who weaponizes “concern”), her tendency to white-knuckle everything alone, and her fear of failing her restaurant before it’s had a chance to breathe. Elijah, for all his sardonic edges, is patient, observant, and allergic to performative nonsense. Watching them go from sparring partners to teammates—through homework assignments, uncomfortable truths was amazing. Their chemistry is undeniably steamy, but what made me root for them is how they make each other braver: Sutton loosens her grip; Elijah lets someone in.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t mutter a few choice words at Sutton’s parents—her mother’s icy, ungrateful routine and her father’s spectacular absence made my blood pressure spike. (If yelling “therapy is not a threat” at fictional adults were a sport, I’d medal.) On the friend-side: I didn’t love Tara or Michael the way I loved Sutton and Elijah but the central duo is strong enough to dominate every scene, and the found-family moments in the town fill in the gaps.
Tropes and treats you’ll find here: fake engagement, opposites attract, forced proximity via counseling homework, a delicious grump/sunshine tilt (with the “sunshine” running on caffeine and sheer will), restaurant-owner stress realism, and therapy depicted as something constructive rather than a punchline. The dialogue is Kasie West at her best—quick, witty, and emotionally honest—and the pacing zips. Do a few beats resolve a bit tidily? Sure. Did I care? Not really. I was too busy rooting for Sutton to choose herself and for Elijah to keep showing up like a man who understands that grand gestures are great, but consistency is sexier.
Overall: a charming, funny, heart-warming read with a clever premise and two leads you’ll want to hug and then shove into a happily-ever-after. Kasie West didn’t disappoint—again.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Saturday Books for sharing this heartfelt romance’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The hook is instant. Sutton—reeling from a brutal run of bad luck—has come home to care for her extra-grumpy mother after a car accident, all while trying to manage a fledgling restaurant from miles away and dodge the fallout from a nightmare review that keeps her up at night. Then, as a final cherry on the chaos sundae, her boyfriend of two years dumps her over the phone on the very day they’re supposed to meet. (Sir, at least respect the four-hour drive.) Nursing her wounds at the local bar, Sutton overhears two brothers debating the point of premarital counseling. The pretty brother, Michael, is sulking about his fiancée’s insistence on therapy; his sharper, flintier brother, Elijah, is backing him up. Sutton—bless her big, tired heart—calls them on it. Cue the small-town twist: Michael’s fiancée is Tara, Sutton’s former best friend from high school. Shots are taken, receipts are shown, and a ridiculous bet is born: Sutton and Elijah will pose as an engaged couple for three therapy sessions. If the therapist doesn’t clock the ruse, Sutton loses—and yes, karaoke humiliation is involved.
What neither of them anticipates is that therapy (hi, Dr. Franklin) will get under their skin in the best possible way. The exercises—and, frankly, the honesty—force Sutton to confront her trust issues (absent father, prickly mother who weaponizes “concern”), her tendency to white-knuckle everything alone, and her fear of failing her restaurant before it’s had a chance to breathe. Elijah, for all his sardonic edges, is patient, observant, and allergic to performative nonsense. Watching them go from sparring partners to teammates—through homework assignments, uncomfortable truths was amazing. Their chemistry is undeniably steamy, but what made me root for them is how they make each other braver: Sutton loosens her grip; Elijah lets someone in.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t mutter a few choice words at Sutton’s parents—her mother’s icy, ungrateful routine and her father’s spectacular absence made my blood pressure spike. (If yelling “therapy is not a threat” at fictional adults were a sport, I’d medal.) On the friend-side: I didn’t love Tara or Michael the way I loved Sutton and Elijah but the central duo is strong enough to dominate every scene, and the found-family moments in the town fill in the gaps.
Tropes and treats you’ll find here: fake engagement, opposites attract, forced proximity via counseling homework, a delicious grump/sunshine tilt (with the “sunshine” running on caffeine and sheer will), restaurant-owner stress realism, and therapy depicted as something constructive rather than a punchline. The dialogue is Kasie West at her best—quick, witty, and emotionally honest—and the pacing zips. Do a few beats resolve a bit tidily? Sure. Did I care? Not really. I was too busy rooting for Sutton to choose herself and for Elijah to keep showing up like a man who understands that grand gestures are great, but consistency is sexier.
Overall: a charming, funny, heart-warming read with a clever premise and two leads you’ll want to hug and then shove into a happily-ever-after. Kasie West didn’t disappoint—again.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Saturday Books for sharing this heartfelt romance’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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December 23, 2025
3.5 (bumped up to 4) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review to come. 🫶
September 29, 2025
Another really fun adult book from Kasie West! More of a slow burn than her first one but great character development!
Doesn’t come out until next year but I think you’ll enjoy it if you read her last one We Met Like This.
Doesn’t come out until next year but I think you’ll enjoy it if you read her last one We Met Like This.
October 8, 2025
Sutton is back in her hometown because her mother was in a car accident and dealing with concussion symptoms. After being there only 2 weeks, her boyfriend is supposed to come to visit. But 5 minutes before he is due to arrive, he calls her to end their 2 year relationship. He says he isn't a priority for her, but instead work and her apartment. Sutton owns a restaurant at only 28 years old. She reconnects with her childhood best friend, who argues with her fiance about if they should attend therapy before getting married. They make a bet- if Sutton and his brother Elijah can pose as a couple for 4 therapy sessions and the therapist cannot tell they are not actually engaged, then he will go.
It's a fake dating/engaged scenario that doesn't make a lot of sense, but you know what? Fake dating scenarios never do. It is a fun trope that never happens in real life.
This is a lighthearted and well paced rom com, I particularly enjoyed the romance, but also the side stories. Sutton is struggling with being away from the restaurant and in how to balance management with leadership. It is amazing that she is able to own a restaurant in Los Angeles at only 28, but she is insecure about her reviews. Also, the way she cared for her mother, despite her mother being angry and critical was incredibly touching. Her mom, at times, was a frustrating character but over the course of the book I grew a fondness for her, or at least pity.
Elijah is a good guy, I can see why Sutton fell for him, although falling so fast after ending a 2 year relationship seemed like a detriment of her own character. I enjoyed Kasie West's first adult debut and although I was given a free e-ARC from Saturday Books and NetGalley, I have already pre-ordered this as a trophy. I think this is a story I will want to return to.
Overall, it is a fun romcom, but a little bit deeper and stronger character building. High recommend.
Book to be published April 14, 2026. This is my 394th review to NetGalley.
It's a fake dating/engaged scenario that doesn't make a lot of sense, but you know what? Fake dating scenarios never do. It is a fun trope that never happens in real life.
This is a lighthearted and well paced rom com, I particularly enjoyed the romance, but also the side stories. Sutton is struggling with being away from the restaurant and in how to balance management with leadership. It is amazing that she is able to own a restaurant in Los Angeles at only 28, but she is insecure about her reviews. Also, the way she cared for her mother, despite her mother being angry and critical was incredibly touching. Her mom, at times, was a frustrating character but over the course of the book I grew a fondness for her, or at least pity.
Elijah is a good guy, I can see why Sutton fell for him, although falling so fast after ending a 2 year relationship seemed like a detriment of her own character. I enjoyed Kasie West's first adult debut and although I was given a free e-ARC from Saturday Books and NetGalley, I have already pre-ordered this as a trophy. I think this is a story I will want to return to.
Overall, it is a fun romcom, but a little bit deeper and stronger character building. High recommend.
Book to be published April 14, 2026. This is my 394th review to NetGalley.
October 27, 2025
Check out my full thoughts on this book and more here: booktube reviews :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Before I discuss why I gave this two stars, let's talk about the things I enjoyed. I enjoyed the MC, she was a fully flushed out character who had life obstacles and a lot to deal with on top of this new found romance. The premise was really unique, a good thought experiment and though you have to suspend a large amount of disbelief I honestly enjoyed that because I don't think books always have to be believable but can at times just be fun thought experiments. I was particularly interested in this as I am a therapist and also really enjoy doing couples therapy. I will take a far fetched though experiment over a dull but believable plotline. I also thought the nature of the premise made for really interesting and funny banter between the two MC's.
So why the two stars. The ending made me so frustrated for reasons I can't say. But it's been a long time since I felt this angry, if ever, at an ending. We really didn't have to explain things this way, it could have been literally anything else. I feel bad giving a book two stars but for me personally this just really didn't work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Before I discuss why I gave this two stars, let's talk about the things I enjoyed. I enjoyed the MC, she was a fully flushed out character who had life obstacles and a lot to deal with on top of this new found romance. The premise was really unique, a good thought experiment and though you have to suspend a large amount of disbelief I honestly enjoyed that because I don't think books always have to be believable but can at times just be fun thought experiments. I was particularly interested in this as I am a therapist and also really enjoy doing couples therapy. I will take a far fetched though experiment over a dull but believable plotline. I also thought the nature of the premise made for really interesting and funny banter between the two MC's.
So why the two stars. The ending made me so frustrated for reasons I can't say. But it's been a long time since I felt this angry, if ever, at an ending. We really didn't have to explain things this way, it could have been literally anything else. I feel bad giving a book two stars but for me personally this just really didn't work.
November 2, 2025
First I would like to extend a big thank you to St. Martins Press, NetGalley, and the author for the advanced copy of this book. My thoughts are my own.
I absolutely loved We Met Like This, so when I saw that she had another book coming out I was beyond excited. The author has a way of drawing you into the story and making you feel like you are right there alongside the characters. She writes in vivid detail and creates such likable characters that you can’t help but get swept away. And this book was absolutely no exception!
This book instantly drew me in- sure, it’s a rom-com but it had much more depth and emotion than I was expecting. Both main characters are layered and have their own unique background and obstacles to overcome. I will admit, I wasn’t a big fan of some of the side characters- or even the main characters emotionally abusive mother… but I won’t get into that now. The fake setup meets couples therapy trope was a new one for me and it was really interesting to see it play out. There’s also some “forced proximity”, “opposites attract” and “grumpy/sunshine” in there and who doesn’t love those tropes as well?
Overall, this was such a cute, fun and easy read that I definitely recommend!
I absolutely loved We Met Like This, so when I saw that she had another book coming out I was beyond excited. The author has a way of drawing you into the story and making you feel like you are right there alongside the characters. She writes in vivid detail and creates such likable characters that you can’t help but get swept away. And this book was absolutely no exception!
This book instantly drew me in- sure, it’s a rom-com but it had much more depth and emotion than I was expecting. Both main characters are layered and have their own unique background and obstacles to overcome. I will admit, I wasn’t a big fan of some of the side characters- or even the main characters emotionally abusive mother… but I won’t get into that now. The fake setup meets couples therapy trope was a new one for me and it was really interesting to see it play out. There’s also some “forced proximity”, “opposites attract” and “grumpy/sunshine” in there and who doesn’t love those tropes as well?
Overall, this was such a cute, fun and easy read that I definitely recommend!
Want to read
September 29, 2025Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Kasie West for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: April 14th, 2026
Publication date: April 14th, 2026
Currently reading
February 3, 2026Just gonna go ahead and load April arcs on deck 🤞🏻
Expected pub date 4/14/26
Expected pub date 4/14/26
September 20, 2025
Stranger Things Have Happened is a beautiful contemporary romance story that I believe will be relatable to a lot of readers.
In the book we follow Sutton as she navigates through her pretty bland and boring life. A life filled with work, and more work. She tends to neglect all things that could potentially make her truly happy. She also ignores things from her past that may have an impact on the way she is today.
When her mom gets into an accident, she returns home to Clovis to aide in her mother’s rehabilitation. This decision causes some abrupt changes in her life and the story begins with meeting Elijah.
In a strange, fated, twisted storyline both Sutton and Elijah are forced together to complete a task to help friends, all while slowly learning about each other and recognizing their own down falls that are preventing them from moving into a brighter future.
This story includes a slow burn romance, forced proximity, strangers to lovers, daddy issues and tons of comical moments.
The characters and their back stories are very relatable on many levels. The dialogue was easy to follow and the story itself transitioned nicely throughout the pages.
There are some heated, detailed scenes within the book but the majority of the book is plot.
If you like contemporary romance, with realistic scenarios, timelines and issues, then this may be the book for you.
Thank you to MacMillan Publishers for this ARC. Releases April 14 2026.
In the book we follow Sutton as she navigates through her pretty bland and boring life. A life filled with work, and more work. She tends to neglect all things that could potentially make her truly happy. She also ignores things from her past that may have an impact on the way she is today.
When her mom gets into an accident, she returns home to Clovis to aide in her mother’s rehabilitation. This decision causes some abrupt changes in her life and the story begins with meeting Elijah.
In a strange, fated, twisted storyline both Sutton and Elijah are forced together to complete a task to help friends, all while slowly learning about each other and recognizing their own down falls that are preventing them from moving into a brighter future.
This story includes a slow burn romance, forced proximity, strangers to lovers, daddy issues and tons of comical moments.
The characters and their back stories are very relatable on many levels. The dialogue was easy to follow and the story itself transitioned nicely throughout the pages.
There are some heated, detailed scenes within the book but the majority of the book is plot.
If you like contemporary romance, with realistic scenarios, timelines and issues, then this may be the book for you.
Thank you to MacMillan Publishers for this ARC. Releases April 14 2026.
December 1, 2025
This had a little bit of a rough start to me, but as I kept reading, I grew to enjoy the book more and more. Yes, it was a but predictable, but I love Kasie West’s writing. I still love her YA stuff a little more than the adult books, but this is showing a lot of improvement from the previous one. If you like books with strong character development, then this one is for you. This focused a lot of the characters and going to therapy to discover what their personal issues were, especially in a relationship, and opening up more. The plot was completely different than any other book I read with the main characters starting off as complete strangers and pretending to be engaged to go to couples therapy because of a bet. Overall, I enjoyed this one, but didn’t completely love it.
I received this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
I received this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
October 11, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with this ARC.
When Sutton agrees to pose as her best friend’s fake fiancée for a wild therapy experiment, she’s sure it’s just a favor and maybe a little payback for her disastrous week. Her restaurant’s in chaos, her mother’s impossible, and her ex just dumped her over the phone. Pretending to be in love with Elijah, a cocky (and unfairly attractive) stranger, can’t possibly make things worse… right? But as the fake couple dive deeper into “therapy” to prove that a real therapist can tell true love from an act, Sutton starts to question everything. Because the more time she spends with Elijah, the less pretend their chemistry feels and the more her carefully guarded heart begins to fall for the lie.
I loved this book! As a counselor, I thought it was an interesting plot point for a book. There were some questions I had as far as Sutton and Tara’s friendship. I know they had a talk but I wish there was more behind their conversation.
The development of her relationship with Elijah was really well done. Seeing her slowly start to trust and feel comfortable in her skin made me so happy. Eli was so supportive and seeing him able to take risks and reflect was well done.
Her momma aint s**t and I will not be elaborating on that💀 All in all, this is a really good book and I highly recommend it!
When Sutton agrees to pose as her best friend’s fake fiancée for a wild therapy experiment, she’s sure it’s just a favor and maybe a little payback for her disastrous week. Her restaurant’s in chaos, her mother’s impossible, and her ex just dumped her over the phone. Pretending to be in love with Elijah, a cocky (and unfairly attractive) stranger, can’t possibly make things worse… right? But as the fake couple dive deeper into “therapy” to prove that a real therapist can tell true love from an act, Sutton starts to question everything. Because the more time she spends with Elijah, the less pretend their chemistry feels and the more her carefully guarded heart begins to fall for the lie.
I loved this book! As a counselor, I thought it was an interesting plot point for a book. There were some questions I had as far as Sutton and Tara’s friendship. I know they had a talk but I wish there was more behind their conversation.
The development of her relationship with Elijah was really well done. Seeing her slowly start to trust and feel comfortable in her skin made me so happy. Eli was so supportive and seeing him able to take risks and reflect was well done.
Her momma aint s**t and I will not be elaborating on that💀 All in all, this is a really good book and I highly recommend it!
January 18, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book!! I’ve been reading and reviewing books on here for over 10 years so this feels surreal!
I took notes while reading this so please enjoy my hodgepodge of thoughts.
How rich is Michael that he’s paying for therapy for the sake of a bet and won’t go himself. He’s still giving the therapist money even though he thinks it’s a scam (this makes more sense at the end but I don’t know why Sutton didn’t think of this).
For the life of me I couldn’t figure out why Tara wants to marry Michael so badly.
I don’t really feel like Sutton and Tara are friends. It doesn’t come across that they knew each other well. It feels like we’re being reminded they do but it doesn’t come through in their actions. I wish there was a bit more depth to the friendships with her and Raya.
The little moments between Elijah and Sutton were great. Hands brushing, longing looks and things like that. It built great genuine tension and honestly was more fun to read than the spicy scenes. Their banter and tension was great, but the spicy scenes are lacklustre and feel like I’m reading about different characters.
The confrontation scene in chapter 41 just felt like a complete change in tone. The way Elijah reacted made my blood boil and just felt like I was seeing different characters. He felt dismissive and the way he was speaking to Sutton came across as rude/belittling and it bothered me so much because it completely blindsided me. Then she goes home to her mother who’s also acting immature and I just wanted to rip Sutton out of the story and put her somewhere else with some normal, mature people.
And why did she have to go back and reach out to him first after the fight as if he wasn’t acting bizarrely and out of pocket. The way he responded was so immature to me. I get he was hurt but they didn’t have to trade blows he could’ve just spoken normally.
This is supposed to be a romance but kind of came across as being a character study of morally gray people which wasn’t what I was expecting. Her YA books have a certain charm and warm feeling that this seemed to lack unfortunately. And that’s not to say there can’t be conflict or nuance in a romance book, it just felt like every single relationship Sutton had, platonic and romantic, was bleak.
Sutton writing herself off as the problem and not recognizing how dismissive Elijah was when they first fought just rubbed me the wrong way. It just seemed it was edging toward being similar to her relationship with her mother but we can forgive Elijah way more easily because he’s hot... He should’ve communicated with her instead of just icing her out after her accusing him of lying. I feel like I have to defend Sutton and it’s making me heated lol.
And Michael was an awful person like I just don’t get what’s going on with these guys they really do need therapy.
Overall this was a bit disappointing because I’m such a big fan of Kasie West’s YA books but it was still a decent read.
I took notes while reading this so please enjoy my hodgepodge of thoughts.
How rich is Michael that he’s paying for therapy for the sake of a bet and won’t go himself. He’s still giving the therapist money even though he thinks it’s a scam (this makes more sense at the end but I don’t know why Sutton didn’t think of this).
For the life of me I couldn’t figure out why Tara wants to marry Michael so badly.
I don’t really feel like Sutton and Tara are friends. It doesn’t come across that they knew each other well. It feels like we’re being reminded they do but it doesn’t come through in their actions. I wish there was a bit more depth to the friendships with her and Raya.
The little moments between Elijah and Sutton were great. Hands brushing, longing looks and things like that. It built great genuine tension and honestly was more fun to read than the spicy scenes. Their banter and tension was great, but the spicy scenes are lacklustre and feel like I’m reading about different characters.
The confrontation scene in chapter 41 just felt like a complete change in tone. The way Elijah reacted made my blood boil and just felt like I was seeing different characters. He felt dismissive and the way he was speaking to Sutton came across as rude/belittling and it bothered me so much because it completely blindsided me. Then she goes home to her mother who’s also acting immature and I just wanted to rip Sutton out of the story and put her somewhere else with some normal, mature people.
And why did she have to go back and reach out to him first after the fight as if he wasn’t acting bizarrely and out of pocket. The way he responded was so immature to me. I get he was hurt but they didn’t have to trade blows he could’ve just spoken normally.
This is supposed to be a romance but kind of came across as being a character study of morally gray people which wasn’t what I was expecting. Her YA books have a certain charm and warm feeling that this seemed to lack unfortunately. And that’s not to say there can’t be conflict or nuance in a romance book, it just felt like every single relationship Sutton had, platonic and romantic, was bleak.
Sutton writing herself off as the problem and not recognizing how dismissive Elijah was when they first fought just rubbed me the wrong way. It just seemed it was edging toward being similar to her relationship with her mother but we can forgive Elijah way more easily because he’s hot... He should’ve communicated with her instead of just icing her out after her accusing him of lying. I feel like I have to defend Sutton and it’s making me heated lol.
And Michael was an awful person like I just don’t get what’s going on with these guys they really do need therapy.
Overall this was a bit disappointing because I’m such a big fan of Kasie West’s YA books but it was still a decent read.
January 25, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Saturday Books for the opportunity to read this book early as an eARC!
This book was absolutely perfect! 💖 Kasie West is a goddess of the written word. She has so many wonderful and amazing stories inside her and I am always so grateful to be reading them.
Here we have Sutton, a woman who internalizes her problems, who wants to take on everything and do it all. She is taking care of her mother in her hometown and every scene with her mother hit so hard for me. We see Sutton take breaths and keep words to herself so often with her mother, a person who she should be able to be honest and open with. It was painful and realistic. She is trying to love her mother in the way she knows how and I loved her growth through the book, how she was able to figure out a path forward that was right for her.
Then we have Elijah, the people pleaser who says sweet words. He was the perfect juxtaposition to Sutton and I completely believe them as a couple. He needs someone who will call him on the BS and she needs someone she can relax with. The two make a delightful pair and their chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS. 💖 I adored their banter!!
I did guess the twist 👀 And as always, I appreciated how thoughtful West was with the characters making choices and thinking things through and owning up to their mistakes as well. She shows that people are capable of change if they’re willing to take responsibility.
Highly recommend this book to all fans of romance books! 💖
(Also, yes, there is spice in this book. I’d give it a 2-3 on the spice scale.)
This book was absolutely perfect! 💖 Kasie West is a goddess of the written word. She has so many wonderful and amazing stories inside her and I am always so grateful to be reading them.
Here we have Sutton, a woman who internalizes her problems, who wants to take on everything and do it all. She is taking care of her mother in her hometown and every scene with her mother hit so hard for me. We see Sutton take breaths and keep words to herself so often with her mother, a person who she should be able to be honest and open with. It was painful and realistic. She is trying to love her mother in the way she knows how and I loved her growth through the book, how she was able to figure out a path forward that was right for her.
Then we have Elijah, the people pleaser who says sweet words. He was the perfect juxtaposition to Sutton and I completely believe them as a couple. He needs someone who will call him on the BS and she needs someone she can relax with. The two make a delightful pair and their chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS. 💖 I adored their banter!!
I did guess the twist 👀 And as always, I appreciated how thoughtful West was with the characters making choices and thinking things through and owning up to their mistakes as well. She shows that people are capable of change if they’re willing to take responsibility.
Highly recommend this book to all fans of romance books! 💖
(Also, yes, there is spice in this book. I’d give it a 2-3 on the spice scale.)
November 10, 2025
I've been a fan of Kasie West for years. I love her YA books, and when she publishes, I consume. This book is being published in April 2026, and I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy through NetGalley. I couldn't click accept fast enough! That being said, when all was said and done, this book was....ok? I loved parts of it, but as a whole, I can't truly decide. Let's jump in!
The premise started great. We have our FMC-Sutton (Love the name choice by the way,) who is your typical type A. Raised by an icy, hateful mom who blames her for her father's abandonment at 13, your girl has some family trauma. She's lucky enough to move back home (sarcasm included) to take care of said mother after she is injured in a car accident. I want to state for the record that there was not a point in this book where I felt her mother's behavior towards her was justifiable or deserved, but I digress.
Sutton takes a night off to meet her boyfriend, only to be dumped on the phone. That guy sucked... As she is drinking herself into a stupor, she runs into her high school friend Tara, Tara's idiot fiancé Michael, and Michael's hot, "villainous" (Kasie's words, not mine) looking brother Eli, who is our love interest. Tara can't seem to get Michael to agree to premarital couples therapy (again, we don't like Michael) before their big day, so they make a bet. If Sutton and Eli go to therapy pretending they are engaged, and the therapist recognises they are not actually an engaged couple, Michael will agree to go to therapy. Sutton feels guilty about making Tara's life hard because she was a flaky friend in high school, so she agrees to go in her drunken stupor and immediately regrets her life choices.
I'm ending the summarizing here because I don't want to spoil everything for those who plan to read this book. If you don't want spoilers, STOP READING HERE.
Spoilers now ensuing...
Now let's get into what worked and what didn't.
Positive:
-Nice slow burn, enemies to lovers. Would this be considered fake dating as well? Maybe. Overall, the romance was nice.
-Sutton is a boss. I love reading about business-minded women who are out there killing it. Seeing her desire for growth and doing what she needed to in order to succeed was fun to read about. I loved the growth of their restaurant.
-Eli - I loved the banter between Eli and Sutton. Sutton started out prickly and he brought out the spontaneous soft side. I also liked that he was in awe of her success and tried to help her succeed by sharing his talent in art and photography. He came into his own as an artist, and watching him walk away from his boxing business was inspiring.
-Individual healing and asking for help- Our girl Sutton has been emotionally decimated by her mom over the years. With her dad's abandonment and her mom's torment, she's a mess. I liked that this book showed what a toxic family dynamic can look like. Kasie did a great job showing that it's ok to set boundaries with people who are hurting us. I also liked how Sutton realized she needed to ask for help sometimes. When you grow up feeling like a burden, this does not come naturally. You learn to become hyperindependent. We all need help sometimes, and it's ok to ask for it.
-Sutton and Eli go to "therapy." (I say this in quotations for reasons that will be made known in the next paragraph.) I will always be a therapy advocate!
Negative:
-Sutton and Eli didn't actually go to a real therapist. I recognize that this was a major plot device and Kasie was trying to be pro-therapy... I also feel like the fact that they never went to a real therapist together or individually is a problem. Michael gets a friend to pretend to be their therapist so he could win the bet, and there were no consequences for said friend who impersonated her therapist sister at her sister's practice. WHAT A MESS. Is this a crime? I don't know, but for me, it left a bad taste in my mouth. We praise therapy throughout the entire book, and they don't see a real therapist. Yikes. Both Sutton and Eli are still somewhat of a mess at the end and they have unresolved family trauma to work through. I would have liked to see more of an emphasis on how real therapy can be life-changing. These two could have really benefited in their relationship.
-Sutton's mom is the worst and there was not enough communication between the two of them about the issues. I believe people can change, and sometimes they just choose not to, but Sutton's mom never really knew how Sutton truly felt. It was painful for me to read about at times. I feel like Sutton did not let her mom know how much she was hurting her. She just decided she wouldn't see her as often and never talked about the issues. Telling her to go to therapy was a great start, but it didn't really fix their issues. Sutton realized she needed to step away, but there were never any really hard conversations. Her conversation with her dad was also underwhelming. That guy also sucks. Both left me wanting more dialogue.
-The ending felt rushed and unresolved. Throughout the book, Sutton has commitment issues. She is constantly thinking Eli is going to walk away because that's what her dad did. I get it. That's a hard thing to get over. Having Eli show up and redecorate her restaurant without her knowing, while they are in the middle of a relationship-ending fight felt rushed to me. Is it a grand gesture? Yes. But the conversation between the two of them left me wanting more of a resolution. What I don't want is a love bomb, we get back together, situation. Some might disagree about this, but it felt rushed to me.
-Tara- I felt conflicted with Tara's character arc while reading this book. She was pro Sutton for the most part, and willing to help with mom's treatment, while on the flip side, making snide comments about Sutton and talking about her trauma to Michael like it wasn't a big deal. She never went to bat when Sutton's mom was being terrible, and she guilted Sutton into staying in the bet when she knew she didn't want to participate any longer. She seemed more understanding towards the end, but I questioned her friendship many times. Her snappy attitude towards Sutton while she sang karaoke was also strange.
If you've made it this far, I'll wrap it up by saying, despite my qualms, I did enjoy this book. Is it my favorite Kasie story? No. Did I still like it? Yes, absolutely
The premise started great. We have our FMC-Sutton (Love the name choice by the way,) who is your typical type A. Raised by an icy, hateful mom who blames her for her father's abandonment at 13, your girl has some family trauma. She's lucky enough to move back home (sarcasm included) to take care of said mother after she is injured in a car accident. I want to state for the record that there was not a point in this book where I felt her mother's behavior towards her was justifiable or deserved, but I digress.
Sutton takes a night off to meet her boyfriend, only to be dumped on the phone. That guy sucked... As she is drinking herself into a stupor, she runs into her high school friend Tara, Tara's idiot fiancé Michael, and Michael's hot, "villainous" (Kasie's words, not mine) looking brother Eli, who is our love interest. Tara can't seem to get Michael to agree to premarital couples therapy (again, we don't like Michael) before their big day, so they make a bet. If Sutton and Eli go to therapy pretending they are engaged, and the therapist recognises they are not actually an engaged couple, Michael will agree to go to therapy. Sutton feels guilty about making Tara's life hard because she was a flaky friend in high school, so she agrees to go in her drunken stupor and immediately regrets her life choices.
I'm ending the summarizing here because I don't want to spoil everything for those who plan to read this book. If you don't want spoilers, STOP READING HERE.
Spoilers now ensuing...
Now let's get into what worked and what didn't.
Positive:
-Nice slow burn, enemies to lovers. Would this be considered fake dating as well? Maybe. Overall, the romance was nice.
-Sutton is a boss. I love reading about business-minded women who are out there killing it. Seeing her desire for growth and doing what she needed to in order to succeed was fun to read about. I loved the growth of their restaurant.
-Eli - I loved the banter between Eli and Sutton. Sutton started out prickly and he brought out the spontaneous soft side. I also liked that he was in awe of her success and tried to help her succeed by sharing his talent in art and photography. He came into his own as an artist, and watching him walk away from his boxing business was inspiring.
-Individual healing and asking for help- Our girl Sutton has been emotionally decimated by her mom over the years. With her dad's abandonment and her mom's torment, she's a mess. I liked that this book showed what a toxic family dynamic can look like. Kasie did a great job showing that it's ok to set boundaries with people who are hurting us. I also liked how Sutton realized she needed to ask for help sometimes. When you grow up feeling like a burden, this does not come naturally. You learn to become hyperindependent. We all need help sometimes, and it's ok to ask for it.
-Sutton and Eli go to "therapy." (I say this in quotations for reasons that will be made known in the next paragraph.) I will always be a therapy advocate!
Negative:
-Sutton and Eli didn't actually go to a real therapist. I recognize that this was a major plot device and Kasie was trying to be pro-therapy... I also feel like the fact that they never went to a real therapist together or individually is a problem. Michael gets a friend to pretend to be their therapist so he could win the bet, and there were no consequences for said friend who impersonated her therapist sister at her sister's practice. WHAT A MESS. Is this a crime? I don't know, but for me, it left a bad taste in my mouth. We praise therapy throughout the entire book, and they don't see a real therapist. Yikes. Both Sutton and Eli are still somewhat of a mess at the end and they have unresolved family trauma to work through. I would have liked to see more of an emphasis on how real therapy can be life-changing. These two could have really benefited in their relationship.
-Sutton's mom is the worst and there was not enough communication between the two of them about the issues. I believe people can change, and sometimes they just choose not to, but Sutton's mom never really knew how Sutton truly felt. It was painful for me to read about at times. I feel like Sutton did not let her mom know how much she was hurting her. She just decided she wouldn't see her as often and never talked about the issues. Telling her to go to therapy was a great start, but it didn't really fix their issues. Sutton realized she needed to step away, but there were never any really hard conversations. Her conversation with her dad was also underwhelming. That guy also sucks. Both left me wanting more dialogue.
-The ending felt rushed and unresolved. Throughout the book, Sutton has commitment issues. She is constantly thinking Eli is going to walk away because that's what her dad did. I get it. That's a hard thing to get over. Having Eli show up and redecorate her restaurant without her knowing, while they are in the middle of a relationship-ending fight felt rushed to me. Is it a grand gesture? Yes. But the conversation between the two of them left me wanting more of a resolution. What I don't want is a love bomb, we get back together, situation. Some might disagree about this, but it felt rushed to me.
-Tara- I felt conflicted with Tara's character arc while reading this book. She was pro Sutton for the most part, and willing to help with mom's treatment, while on the flip side, making snide comments about Sutton and talking about her trauma to Michael like it wasn't a big deal. She never went to bat when Sutton's mom was being terrible, and she guilted Sutton into staying in the bet when she knew she didn't want to participate any longer. She seemed more understanding towards the end, but I questioned her friendship many times. Her snappy attitude towards Sutton while she sang karaoke was also strange.
If you've made it this far, I'll wrap it up by saying, despite my qualms, I did enjoy this book. Is it my favorite Kasie story? No. Did I still like it? Yes, absolutely
January 12, 2026
Stranger Things Have Happened was a really cute, engaging read that pulled me in quickly, even if it also made me want to scream at one particular character. Sutton’s mother was honestly awful and incredibly infuriating at times, and I found myself constantly saddened by her choices and behavior. That dynamic was hard to read, but it also felt very real and added emotional weight to the story.
Despite that, the book has a lot of charm. Kasie does what she does best: delivering a heartfelt story with humor, relatable emotions, and a sweet romance that develops naturally. I loved the lighter moments and the sense of growth as the characters navigate complicated relationships, misunderstandings, and self-discovery.
While the mother’s role sometimes overshadowed parts of the story for me, the overall tone remained warm and hopeful. It’s the kind of book that balances emotional moments with enough sweetness to keep things from feeling too heavy.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and heartfelt read. Frustrating in places, yes…but still a genuinely cute story that fans of Kasie West will appreciate. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Despite that, the book has a lot of charm. Kasie does what she does best: delivering a heartfelt story with humor, relatable emotions, and a sweet romance that develops naturally. I loved the lighter moments and the sense of growth as the characters navigate complicated relationships, misunderstandings, and self-discovery.
While the mother’s role sometimes overshadowed parts of the story for me, the overall tone remained warm and hopeful. It’s the kind of book that balances emotional moments with enough sweetness to keep things from feeling too heavy.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and heartfelt read. Frustrating in places, yes…but still a genuinely cute story that fans of Kasie West will appreciate. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
February 8, 2026
Primarily known as a YA author, this is Kasie West’s second adult romance. It follows Sutton and Elijah, who end up faking an engagement and attending premarital counseling sessions through a series of events.
First off, I love Kasie West’s writing style. She’s one of my favorite authors and I always find her books to be quick reads with an easy to read writing style. She also brings depth and emotional complexity to her characters and her dialogue is always witty and fun.
This is told from Sutton’s viewpoint and I found her a sympathetic and interesting character. Her mother was horrible, but she always tried to stay positive with her. I liked seeing her character growth as well, which happened gradually throughout the story. She and Elijah had a fun relationship too. I liked seeing their relationship change as the story progressed, since they are literal strangers at the start. It didn’t feel rushed or instalovey which was a refreshing change.
I wanted a little more from the ending though. Maybe there will be another romance in this world? I’d certainly like to see these characters again. Overall this was a cute and fun romance with some deeper moments as well.
First off, I love Kasie West’s writing style. She’s one of my favorite authors and I always find her books to be quick reads with an easy to read writing style. She also brings depth and emotional complexity to her characters and her dialogue is always witty and fun.
This is told from Sutton’s viewpoint and I found her a sympathetic and interesting character. Her mother was horrible, but she always tried to stay positive with her. I liked seeing her character growth as well, which happened gradually throughout the story. She and Elijah had a fun relationship too. I liked seeing their relationship change as the story progressed, since they are literal strangers at the start. It didn’t feel rushed or instalovey which was a refreshing change.
I wanted a little more from the ending though. Maybe there will be another romance in this world? I’d certainly like to see these characters again. Overall this was a cute and fun romance with some deeper moments as well.
January 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early advanced reader copy! Stranger Things Have Happened by Kacie West is a feel-good contemporary romance with an effective and realistic take on character development. Sutton is juggling a new business, the realities of caring for a parent (both physically and mentally) and coming to terms with past haunts that have left her feeling guilty all these years. After an abrupt end to her relationship with her boyfriend, she finds herself in a bar and making a strange bet … couples therapy with a complete stranger. What I loved most about this story is Sutton’s progression of what it takes to be a better version of yourself - feeling so close to how it is in real life. It isn’t instant, and it takes courage to acknowledge the need to be kinder to one self. And in order to be a better version of yourself, it’s about surrounding yourself with those who help lift you.
November 17, 2025
I had a great time with this one. I thought the premise was fun and I love the author's writing style and humor. While I absolutely could NOT stand Sutton's mom and had a feeling that Michael was a d*ck (and was right, I love being right ;) ), Sutton and Elijah more than made up for that for me. Their little fake dating escapade was perfect and their chemistry was off the charts. I look forward to more adult romcoms from this author!
December 26, 2025
4.25 stars
kind of a wacky set up but I was glued to the page tbh the chemistry was just too good
kind of a wacky set up but I was glued to the page tbh the chemistry was just too good
November 18, 2025
Thanks Netgalley, Kasie West and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC.
This is going to be a bit of an essay. This book has made me reflect a lot after finishing it.
I really liked this book. I did. I would recommend it and read it again. But it was complex and unique and tackles some important and complex things (ethics and mental health and emotional abuse) making it more than a lighthearted romance novel in my mind. And as a result I feel like there's more things to unpack and more critical commentary than I'd usually have for this genre. I also feel like the more I actually like an "imperfect" book, the more obvious the imperfections are in contrast to the things I liked so much.
The author is really skilled at creating characters with depth across the board - the hero's and the antihero's, everyone is flawed but also there are extenuating circumstances or redeeming qualities for most. There are also lots of little actions or descriptions that the author drops in from Sutton's (the FMC) POV that you wonder how are going to pan out... some are legitimate hints and some are red herrings, simply a demonstration of the FMC's mistrust and skepticism, that has the reader taking on that same lens of skepticism. It was storytelling craftsmanship and a great vehicle to get me to understand Sutton better, especially because it definitely took me awhile to warm up to the FMC.
I didn't initially relate to her demeanour and expression of her feelings. But I grew to really like her and resonate with some of her feelings and the root cause of her behaviour. Which was honestly part of the point of how she was written, she even views herself as cold - and so that's how she is presented at the outset of the novel.
I really liked the MMC Elijah (Eli) but, as it often happens with single POV from the FMC, his history and reasons for his own flaws, strengths and demeanour seemed a bit underdeveloped. Especially in contrast to the in depth look we get into Sutton's day to day life, thoughts and complex history.
I loved Suton and Eli's relationship arc. Not quite enemies to lovers, but definite animosity, to curiosity and friendship, to romantic & supportive. (However, their relationship arc does have a "3rd act breakup", which I forever sit on the fence about my feelings about this trope/arc in a romance novel).
I really loved the chemistry and the spice level in "Stranger Things Have Happened". It was actually relatively low spice compared to lots of books I read, but the sexual tension and romantic intimacy felt very perfect for the storyline and characters. Big bonus was the flirting did not feel cringey. There was a really impeccable balance of physical desire expressed in words and actions between the couple, while there still being an immense amount of friendship and support that was demonstrated (not just told factually from the FMC's POV - my biggest pet peeve being told a romantic interest is so supportive and kind without ever reading any detailed examples).
The shower scene will be burned in my brain forever as the perfect intimate scene, flirtation, sexual tension (watching), need (pulling her out of the shower) but then romance and care (the toweling off). Chefs kiss.
Here's where my nitpicking analysis begins.
I love a pro-therapy book. But I'm not 100% this narrative delivers the maximum positive impact it could?
The author's acknowledgements at the end of the book makes a point of recognizing and commending those working in the mental health field and calls herself pro-therapy but I feel like some of the plot developments or details took away from the overall positive impact of therapy.
There is a bit of twist (don't keep reading if you don't want spoilers) that I feel takes away from how positive the messaging COULD be in this story. But on the other hand, this twist also lends itself to the more unrealistic and unconventional plot points of two strangers going to therapy as an engaged couple and the therapist never catching on which ultimately makes this storyline more believable from a certain angle.
"Dr. Sara" .... man do I have a bone to pick. What kind of person wants to become a therapist but also willingly becomes part of a dubious plot to get someone else OUT of therapy ? "Dr. Sara" needs to do some intensive individual therapy of her own.
Sutton letting go of the duplicitousness of an imposter therapist also rubs me the wrong way. Her justification for not dwelling on it or reporting it is that Elijah and her were lying too. But that really doesn't hold up for me.
First, the "therapist" KNEW they were lying, even if they weren't aware she knew, she did, so they were not ultimately deceiving her. Second, their relationship did become REAL (which the therapist must have known through her personal connections), at which point it is debatable whether they are truly attending this couples therapy as a sham. Thirdly, and most importantly, patients aren't professionals or claiming to be professionals. They do not have the same duty of care to the therapist, that a therapist has to their patient. They aren't ethically bound to specific standards of conduct like therapists are supposed to be.
Someone like "Dr. Sara" should NEVER be allowed to become a therapist after this display of immorality. Someone with that poor judgement and wielding the imbalance of power in such a deceitful manner is unbelievably dangerous as a mental health practitioner.
On a separate note, I am aware therapy is expensive and finding the right practitioner and modality can be frustrating, costly and time consuming which often makes it inaccessible or a challenge to access for people who want it or need it. However, I did find it a bit interesting that Sutton was so pro-therapy despite never having been herself. Especially considering it's somewhat counter intuitive to her personality as someone who is admittedly private and likes shoving her feelings down rather than addressing them. Although I suppose some of this was her supporting Tara, and also two opposite things can be true - you can not be inclined to do something (due to being structured, wanting control and being private) but a part of you can still want to grow (be more fun, recognize you could benefit from being less burdened by your past and the stress that comes from your coping mechanisms).
My last two bones to pick:
I appreciate - for the most part- where things are left with Suttons mom at the end of the book. She re-establishes some healthy boundaries. It's not tied up with a pretty bow or redemption arc after how her mother has treated her. I am happy her father's role in her mother's personal deterioration isn't used to excuse or as a means of accepting Andrea's longstanding behaviour towards her daughter. In some ways I actually thought we were going to find out Andrea's behaviour was even more manipulative and harmful than we thought (some of those red herrings I was talking about, that or my own pessimism and skepticism). That being said, I do feel like Suttons mother displayed several instances of emotional abuse, and never explicitly calling it that in the book felt to me like it minimized the severity of her actions and words.
Finally, I do NOT appreciate where things are left with Michael .... how do we not address where Elijah stands with Michael at the end of the book? How his actions and his likely ongoing presence in their lives (given he's Eli's brother) impacts Sutton and her relationship with both Eli and Tara? No apology from Michael? Blasphemous.
While I clearly have strong feelings about some of the side characters, and some of the plot details I absolutely loved Sutton and Elijah and their growth individually and as a couple, and would still highly recommend it to my friends.
I look forward to reading more by Kasie West in the future.
This is going to be a bit of an essay. This book has made me reflect a lot after finishing it.
I really liked this book. I did. I would recommend it and read it again. But it was complex and unique and tackles some important and complex things (ethics and mental health and emotional abuse) making it more than a lighthearted romance novel in my mind. And as a result I feel like there's more things to unpack and more critical commentary than I'd usually have for this genre. I also feel like the more I actually like an "imperfect" book, the more obvious the imperfections are in contrast to the things I liked so much.
The author is really skilled at creating characters with depth across the board - the hero's and the antihero's, everyone is flawed but also there are extenuating circumstances or redeeming qualities for most. There are also lots of little actions or descriptions that the author drops in from Sutton's (the FMC) POV that you wonder how are going to pan out... some are legitimate hints and some are red herrings, simply a demonstration of the FMC's mistrust and skepticism, that has the reader taking on that same lens of skepticism. It was storytelling craftsmanship and a great vehicle to get me to understand Sutton better, especially because it definitely took me awhile to warm up to the FMC.
I didn't initially relate to her demeanour and expression of her feelings. But I grew to really like her and resonate with some of her feelings and the root cause of her behaviour. Which was honestly part of the point of how she was written, she even views herself as cold - and so that's how she is presented at the outset of the novel.
I really liked the MMC Elijah (Eli) but, as it often happens with single POV from the FMC, his history and reasons for his own flaws, strengths and demeanour seemed a bit underdeveloped. Especially in contrast to the in depth look we get into Sutton's day to day life, thoughts and complex history.
I loved Suton and Eli's relationship arc. Not quite enemies to lovers, but definite animosity, to curiosity and friendship, to romantic & supportive. (However, their relationship arc does have a "3rd act breakup", which I forever sit on the fence about my feelings about this trope/arc in a romance novel).
I really loved the chemistry and the spice level in "Stranger Things Have Happened". It was actually relatively low spice compared to lots of books I read, but the sexual tension and romantic intimacy felt very perfect for the storyline and characters. Big bonus was the flirting did not feel cringey. There was a really impeccable balance of physical desire expressed in words and actions between the couple, while there still being an immense amount of friendship and support that was demonstrated (not just told factually from the FMC's POV - my biggest pet peeve being told a romantic interest is so supportive and kind without ever reading any detailed examples).
The shower scene will be burned in my brain forever as the perfect intimate scene, flirtation, sexual tension (watching), need (pulling her out of the shower) but then romance and care (the toweling off). Chefs kiss.
Here's where my nitpicking analysis begins.
I love a pro-therapy book. But I'm not 100% this narrative delivers the maximum positive impact it could?
The author's acknowledgements at the end of the book makes a point of recognizing and commending those working in the mental health field and calls herself pro-therapy but I feel like some of the plot developments or details took away from the overall positive impact of therapy.
There is a bit of twist (don't keep reading if you don't want spoilers) that I feel takes away from how positive the messaging COULD be in this story. But on the other hand, this twist also lends itself to the more unrealistic and unconventional plot points of two strangers going to therapy as an engaged couple and the therapist never catching on which ultimately makes this storyline more believable from a certain angle.
"Dr. Sara" .... man do I have a bone to pick. What kind of person wants to become a therapist but also willingly becomes part of a dubious plot to get someone else OUT of therapy ? "Dr. Sara" needs to do some intensive individual therapy of her own.
Sutton letting go of the duplicitousness of an imposter therapist also rubs me the wrong way. Her justification for not dwelling on it or reporting it is that Elijah and her were lying too. But that really doesn't hold up for me.
First, the "therapist" KNEW they were lying, even if they weren't aware she knew, she did, so they were not ultimately deceiving her. Second, their relationship did become REAL (which the therapist must have known through her personal connections), at which point it is debatable whether they are truly attending this couples therapy as a sham. Thirdly, and most importantly, patients aren't professionals or claiming to be professionals. They do not have the same duty of care to the therapist, that a therapist has to their patient. They aren't ethically bound to specific standards of conduct like therapists are supposed to be.
Someone like "Dr. Sara" should NEVER be allowed to become a therapist after this display of immorality. Someone with that poor judgement and wielding the imbalance of power in such a deceitful manner is unbelievably dangerous as a mental health practitioner.
On a separate note, I am aware therapy is expensive and finding the right practitioner and modality can be frustrating, costly and time consuming which often makes it inaccessible or a challenge to access for people who want it or need it. However, I did find it a bit interesting that Sutton was so pro-therapy despite never having been herself. Especially considering it's somewhat counter intuitive to her personality as someone who is admittedly private and likes shoving her feelings down rather than addressing them. Although I suppose some of this was her supporting Tara, and also two opposite things can be true - you can not be inclined to do something (due to being structured, wanting control and being private) but a part of you can still want to grow (be more fun, recognize you could benefit from being less burdened by your past and the stress that comes from your coping mechanisms).
My last two bones to pick:
I appreciate - for the most part- where things are left with Suttons mom at the end of the book. She re-establishes some healthy boundaries. It's not tied up with a pretty bow or redemption arc after how her mother has treated her. I am happy her father's role in her mother's personal deterioration isn't used to excuse or as a means of accepting Andrea's longstanding behaviour towards her daughter. In some ways I actually thought we were going to find out Andrea's behaviour was even more manipulative and harmful than we thought (some of those red herrings I was talking about, that or my own pessimism and skepticism). That being said, I do feel like Suttons mother displayed several instances of emotional abuse, and never explicitly calling it that in the book felt to me like it minimized the severity of her actions and words.
Finally, I do NOT appreciate where things are left with Michael .... how do we not address where Elijah stands with Michael at the end of the book? How his actions and his likely ongoing presence in their lives (given he's Eli's brother) impacts Sutton and her relationship with both Eli and Tara? No apology from Michael? Blasphemous.
While I clearly have strong feelings about some of the side characters, and some of the plot details I absolutely loved Sutton and Elijah and their growth individually and as a couple, and would still highly recommend it to my friends.
I look forward to reading more by Kasie West in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy of this book; all thoughts are my own!
📖 Book Review 📖 A rough breakup can cause us to make some pretty rash decisions - from bangs to revenge hookups- but Kasie West brings a whole new level of comedic brilliance in Stranger Things Have Happened.
Sutton is already feeling overwhelmed back in her hometown to take care of her mother after an accident. But life has this way of knowing how to kick us when we are down so obviously her boyfriend of two years breaks up with her over the phone. A valid reason to pop into the closest bar and grab a drink (or perhaps a few too many). And for anyone who lives in a small town, we know how it goes, every stop is a reunion with an old friend and Sutton gets sucked into a bet with her friend’s fiancé and his evil brother: can they fake an engagement in therapy?
It’s been a hot minute since I was a licensed therapist but I dusted off my cap while reading this and had a blast imagining what I would do if Elijah and Sutton walked into my office! Kasie West takes on the fake relationship in a bold and hilarious manner and listen, I met my husband while we were both working on an inpatient psychiatric locked unit together. The title of this book is absolutely perfect and fitting: Stranger Things Have Happened…and they do! Maybe the universe is full of happy little coincidences or perhaps there is a larger force of kismet making connections happen. Kasie West takes on the twists turmoil of life and love in Stranger Things Have Happened and a friendly reminder that therapy is good for the soul!
📖 Book Review 📖 A rough breakup can cause us to make some pretty rash decisions - from bangs to revenge hookups- but Kasie West brings a whole new level of comedic brilliance in Stranger Things Have Happened.
Sutton is already feeling overwhelmed back in her hometown to take care of her mother after an accident. But life has this way of knowing how to kick us when we are down so obviously her boyfriend of two years breaks up with her over the phone. A valid reason to pop into the closest bar and grab a drink (or perhaps a few too many). And for anyone who lives in a small town, we know how it goes, every stop is a reunion with an old friend and Sutton gets sucked into a bet with her friend’s fiancé and his evil brother: can they fake an engagement in therapy?
It’s been a hot minute since I was a licensed therapist but I dusted off my cap while reading this and had a blast imagining what I would do if Elijah and Sutton walked into my office! Kasie West takes on the fake relationship in a bold and hilarious manner and listen, I met my husband while we were both working on an inpatient psychiatric locked unit together. The title of this book is absolutely perfect and fitting: Stranger Things Have Happened…and they do! Maybe the universe is full of happy little coincidences or perhaps there is a larger force of kismet making connections happen. Kasie West takes on the twists turmoil of life and love in Stranger Things Have Happened and a friendly reminder that therapy is good for the soul!
December 12, 2025
I absolutely loved Kasie West’s prior novel ‘We Met Like This,’ so when I saw she had written another adult romance I knew I’d want to read it, and so to get to read an ARC of it was so exciting for me. This story centers around Sutton, a thirtyish woman who has returned to her hometown (Clovis, in California’s Central Valley) despite being a co-owner of a new restaurant in LA.
She’s returned because her mom’s had a bad car accident and needs care while she recovers. She runs into an old classmate in the process and after one too many drinks, finds herself in an unexpected short term fake engaged situation in order to win a bet with her friend.
The story felt realistic to me, which is really hard to do sometimes with the fake dating trope, or with conflicts, so props to the author for nailing them. There is just the right mix of romance, good banter, and real-people issues to make this story come together.
If you enjoy authors like Abby Jimenez, Annabel Monaghan, Katherine Center, or Cara Bastone, I think you’d like this one.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book and provide an honest review.
She’s returned because her mom’s had a bad car accident and needs care while she recovers. She runs into an old classmate in the process and after one too many drinks, finds herself in an unexpected short term fake engaged situation in order to win a bet with her friend.
The story felt realistic to me, which is really hard to do sometimes with the fake dating trope, or with conflicts, so props to the author for nailing them. There is just the right mix of romance, good banter, and real-people issues to make this story come together.
If you enjoy authors like Abby Jimenez, Annabel Monaghan, Katherine Center, or Cara Bastone, I think you’d like this one.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book and provide an honest review.
November 30, 2025
I absolutely loved Stranger Things Have Happened!
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was phenomenal, she brought so much warmth, humor, and nuance to Sutton that I couldn’t imagine experiencing the story any other way.
The fake dating couples therapy setup was such a fun twist on fake dating!
Sutton felt so authentic to me with her control, routines, the stress she has on herself all were things I can relate to. Her caregiving responsibilities to her mother were especially powerful, showing both the emotional toll it takes and the painful truth that even when you’re doing everything you can for someone, it doesn’t always mean you’re helping them in the way they need.
I also loved the chemistry with Elijah and found the build from fake to real emotion to be the perfect pace!
I finished the audiobook grinning, and I’m already excited for whatever Kasie West writes next.
Thank you for the ALC, all opinions are my own!
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was phenomenal, she brought so much warmth, humor, and nuance to Sutton that I couldn’t imagine experiencing the story any other way.
The fake dating couples therapy setup was such a fun twist on fake dating!
Sutton felt so authentic to me with her control, routines, the stress she has on herself all were things I can relate to. Her caregiving responsibilities to her mother were especially powerful, showing both the emotional toll it takes and the painful truth that even when you’re doing everything you can for someone, it doesn’t always mean you’re helping them in the way they need.
I also loved the chemistry with Elijah and found the build from fake to real emotion to be the perfect pace!
I finished the audiobook grinning, and I’m already excited for whatever Kasie West writes next.
Thank you for the ALC, all opinions are my own!
January 11, 2026
What started as an unhinged fake-dating setup turned into a romance I completely devoured. This story was witty, warm, and emotionally grounded in a way that made it impossible not to root for Sutton from the very first page. She’s overwhelmed, messy, and deeply relatable. And Elijah is the kind of MMC who is confident, smug, and ridiculously charming in all the best ways. I was smitten.
Yes, I could see some of the plot beats coming, but that never took away from the experience. In fact, it made the story feel comforting rather than predictable, letting me settle into the characters and enjoy the journey of watching fake feelings blur into something real. The author balances humor and heart beautifully here, exploring therapy, friendship, and self-discovery alongside a slow-building, satisfying romance. A delightful contemporary romcom that I absolutely ate up.
Yes, I could see some of the plot beats coming, but that never took away from the experience. In fact, it made the story feel comforting rather than predictable, letting me settle into the characters and enjoy the journey of watching fake feelings blur into something real. The author balances humor and heart beautifully here, exploring therapy, friendship, and self-discovery alongside a slow-building, satisfying romance. A delightful contemporary romcom that I absolutely ate up.
November 13, 2025
ARC review. 4.5 stars! This is the first Kaisie West book that I have read and I can’t wait to read her adult debut. I enjoyed Stranger Things Have Happened so much!
Kaisie West was able to tell such a human story. Even though this is primarily a romance book, it incorporated so many other powerful topics including: parent/adult child relationships, childhood trauma and it’s impact on future behavior, the importance of therapy, boundaries, pursuing your dreams, etc.
I specifically related a lot to Sutton. She is guarded due to her past and because of that she has a hard time letting people into her private life. Thankfully, she meets Elijah in a really fun way and he is able to help break down some of her walls.
If you like real life mixed in with your romances, this might be the perfect book to pick up. Highly recommend!
Special thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me an advanced copy for an honest review.
Kaisie West was able to tell such a human story. Even though this is primarily a romance book, it incorporated so many other powerful topics including: parent/adult child relationships, childhood trauma and it’s impact on future behavior, the importance of therapy, boundaries, pursuing your dreams, etc.
I specifically related a lot to Sutton. She is guarded due to her past and because of that she has a hard time letting people into her private life. Thankfully, she meets Elijah in a really fun way and he is able to help break down some of her walls.
If you like real life mixed in with your romances, this might be the perfect book to pick up. Highly recommend!
Special thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me an advanced copy for an honest review.
December 20, 2025
This is my first read by Kasie West and I can promise it won’t be my last! I had such a good time reading this.
Sutton temporarily moves home to take care of her mom after she was in a car accident. While there, she meets up with an old best friend from childhood and finds out she’s getting married.
Cue Elijah and his silly dare that a therapist wouldn’t be able to tell if someone was a real couple or not. Him and Sutton bet against each other and enter into a fake relationship.
By the end of the book, Sutton learns a lot about herself, her relationship with her mom, and how to not be so controlling all the time. Elijah ends up being the best thing for Sutton.
Plot 4/5 ⭐️
Spice 4/5 🌶️
Sutton temporarily moves home to take care of her mom after she was in a car accident. While there, she meets up with an old best friend from childhood and finds out she’s getting married.
Cue Elijah and his silly dare that a therapist wouldn’t be able to tell if someone was a real couple or not. Him and Sutton bet against each other and enter into a fake relationship.
By the end of the book, Sutton learns a lot about herself, her relationship with her mom, and how to not be so controlling all the time. Elijah ends up being the best thing for Sutton.
Plot 4/5 ⭐️
Spice 4/5 🌶️
February 1, 2026
Love love love love love. 😍😍😍😍😍 I love Elijah and Sutton so much. They’re polar opposites but it works so freaking well. I giggled and felt giddy and just overall loved the story. I was super surprised at how awful her mom treated her and that it never changed or seemed to get better. I don’t feel like Sutton should’ve taken all the responsibility in the 3rd act breakup because Elijah wasn’t great about it either but dang, the therapist thing really got to me. That’s so illegal in so many ways and I’m kind of disappointed that something so serious in real life wasn’t taken very seriously in the book. I would not have just gotten over something like that. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 8, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and st. Martins Press for the eARC of this book.
This was a super cute romance. I enjoyed the meet cute and the process of them falling in love. It was very therapeutic in the sense that they went through so much therapy together.
I loved the homework assignments they were given. It seemed she grew a lot more from the experience than he did but it had a satisfying ending.
Spoiler alerts.
I really disliked her mother and wished she would’ve stood up to her. All of the inside the thoughts and she never actually said them out loud. I didn’t fee like there was enough of a conclusion to the drama with the dad.
Overall it was cute, I liked the grand gesture at the end. It seemed like a YA but with a little bit of spice.
This was a super cute romance. I enjoyed the meet cute and the process of them falling in love. It was very therapeutic in the sense that they went through so much therapy together.
I loved the homework assignments they were given. It seemed she grew a lot more from the experience than he did but it had a satisfying ending.
Spoiler alerts.
I really disliked her mother and wished she would’ve stood up to her. All of the inside the thoughts and she never actually said them out loud. I didn’t fee like there was enough of a conclusion to the drama with the dad.
Overall it was cute, I liked the grand gesture at the end. It seemed like a YA but with a little bit of spice.
September 30, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Kasie West for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest opinions and thoughts.
Ms. Kasie has transformed me into a fake-dating trope fan. Eli and Sutton's chemistry is couples goals for me: The world building along with the character development is delicious. I couldn't put this book down from start to finish. The flow of the whole yummy book was perfect, never felt rushed or confusing. Ms. Kasie made everything feel so real. This book is hilarious, delicious, sexy and cozy.
I will highly recommend this book to all of y'all.
Ms. Kasie has transformed me into a fake-dating trope fan. Eli and Sutton's chemistry is couples goals for me: The world building along with the character development is delicious. I couldn't put this book down from start to finish. The flow of the whole yummy book was perfect, never felt rushed or confusing. Ms. Kasie made everything feel so real. This book is hilarious, delicious, sexy and cozy.
I will highly recommend this book to all of y'all.
October 4, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Saturday Books for the digital ARC.
After reading We Met Like This I leveled my expectations of another Kasie West adult contemporary romance. However, safe to say I enjoyed this much better!! I think the plot, the characters, and the overall flow of the story felt much more enjoyable to read.
The thing that I wasn't the biggest fan of was the third act breakup. I think it felt so out of character after everything that had happened previously to get their relationship to where it was at. Otherwise, I liked the growth Sutton showed both emotionally and with her relationship with other characters.
After reading We Met Like This I leveled my expectations of another Kasie West adult contemporary romance. However, safe to say I enjoyed this much better!! I think the plot, the characters, and the overall flow of the story felt much more enjoyable to read.
The thing that I wasn't the biggest fan of was the third act breakup. I think it felt so out of character after everything that had happened previously to get their relationship to where it was at. Otherwise, I liked the growth Sutton showed both emotionally and with her relationship with other characters.
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