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Stranger Things Have Happened: A Novel
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 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 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.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 14, 2026
16226 people want to read
About the author
Kasie West
34 books19.1k 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 184 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.
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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
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!
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!
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!
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
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
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!
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 🌶️
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.
November 4, 2025
Pretty cute book! The premise is that two strangers agree to go to couples’ therapy as part of a bet. Since I read an ARC, you know I’m going to break it down!
🍊Characters: Sutton is a type A restaurant owner and Eli is a sweet and supportive former boxer. She’s back in her hometown temporarily to help her mom, and agrees to the bet to help her high school friend. He’s the brother of the friend’s fiancée and he is the mold of the book boyfriend: tall, emotionally available and handsome.
🍊 Pros: I did think the concept of the bet was kind of fun and original. The characters felt 3 dimensional, even in ways that were flawed. The writing was good and once I got started I flew through it!
🍊 Cons: the buildup was great, but there was of course a third act conflict and I didn’t feel like the resolution was fleshed out enough. Without giving spoilers, it didn’t feel like there were any consequences for some legitimate issues.
🍊Characters: Sutton is a type A restaurant owner and Eli is a sweet and supportive former boxer. She’s back in her hometown temporarily to help her mom, and agrees to the bet to help her high school friend. He’s the brother of the friend’s fiancée and he is the mold of the book boyfriend: tall, emotionally available and handsome.
🍊 Pros: I did think the concept of the bet was kind of fun and original. The characters felt 3 dimensional, even in ways that were flawed. The writing was good and once I got started I flew through it!
🍊 Cons: the buildup was great, but there was of course a third act conflict and I didn’t feel like the resolution was fleshed out enough. Without giving spoilers, it didn’t feel like there were any consequences for some legitimate issues.
November 26, 2025
This is my first read from the author, Kasie West, but it won't be my last. The story takes place in the female leads hometown when she returns to care for her mom after a car accident. What follows is more than a physical healing for mom. It involves emotional healing and a new path to follow. Rather than the fake dating trope, this one is a fake engagement, and it definitely worked. I know it's not really believable, but are there any rom-com tropes that are actually believable?😂 Both the female and male lead characters change and grow. The story was insightful in addition to fun.
Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin's Press, for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin's Press, for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
December 5, 2025
If Kasie West writes it, I’m going to read it. This is the first adult book I’ve read by her, and it has all the cute, fun moments her YA books have but now with spice.
I absolutely adored the premise, which is that our main character, Sutton, is lured into a bet with a stranger, Elijah. Her best friend, Tara, wants them to go to therapy posed as a couple to convince her fiancé that a good therapist will be able to tell the difference between a real and fake couple.
Sutton and Elijah have great chemistry, and I ate up all their funny and sexy banter. This book solidifies that I will read anything with Kasie’s name on the cover. Her books are guaranteed to leave me swooning and kicking my feet.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
I absolutely adored the premise, which is that our main character, Sutton, is lured into a bet with a stranger, Elijah. Her best friend, Tara, wants them to go to therapy posed as a couple to convince her fiancé that a good therapist will be able to tell the difference between a real and fake couple.
Sutton and Elijah have great chemistry, and I ate up all their funny and sexy banter. This book solidifies that I will read anything with Kasie’s name on the cover. Her books are guaranteed to leave me swooning and kicking my feet.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
November 30, 2025
thank you netgalley + publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
this one really tossed me around, i went back and forth on whether or not i felt it was good or bad. i think partially because i really wanted to like it. unfortunately i came to the conclusion that it wasn’t for me.
i felt as though a lot of the writing was juvenile and lacked emotion. i had a hard time being invested in Eli + Sutton and really truly rooting for them. i felt extremely disconnected through this reading experience
this one really tossed me around, i went back and forth on whether or not i felt it was good or bad. i think partially because i really wanted to like it. unfortunately i came to the conclusion that it wasn’t for me.
i felt as though a lot of the writing was juvenile and lacked emotion. i had a hard time being invested in Eli + Sutton and really truly rooting for them. i felt extremely disconnected through this reading experience
December 18, 2025
This was cute!
Sutton returns home to take care of her mom after a car accident. While there, her boyfriend breaks up with her. She ends up in a bar with her high school best friend where she gets herself involved in a bet. She has to go to four couples therapy sessions with a stranger.
I liked the concept of going to couples therapy with a stranger, the fact that Sutton is an independent businesswoman and the golden retriever type of guy that Elijah is. The only reason why it’s not a 5 stars book is because I kind of felt like it was insta love for Elijah. I wish it would have been a slower kind of attraction.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Sutton returns home to take care of her mom after a car accident. While there, her boyfriend breaks up with her. She ends up in a bar with her high school best friend where she gets herself involved in a bet. She has to go to four couples therapy sessions with a stranger.
I liked the concept of going to couples therapy with a stranger, the fact that Sutton is an independent businesswoman and the golden retriever type of guy that Elijah is. The only reason why it’s not a 5 stars book is because I kind of felt like it was insta love for Elijah. I wish it would have been a slower kind of attraction.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
August 15, 2025
I cannot believe I can’t hand sell this book until April— absolutely foul. But holyyyyy. It was super sweet, if only there was no third act breakup… it would have gotten the full 5 stars. Ms Kasie West has never failed me for a 4 or 5 star read, and this is a solid 4.5!!!
November 30, 2025
I enjoyed this one. A few parts of the plot felt a little unfinished (won’t spoil it though) but overall, I liked the premise and thought it was a fun, easy read!
Kasie West has taken the plunge into adult fiction and I definitely think it’s a good fit for her.
Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
Kasie West has taken the plunge into adult fiction and I definitely think it’s a good fit for her.
Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
October 25, 2025
Solid 3.5 stars. First book by Kassie West. Received as a Goodreads giveaway winner. Very enjoyable book, will definitely read more from her!
Want to read
October 31, 2025actually in love with this cover!! thanks to netgalley & the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review <3
October 12, 2025
Firstly, that cover? Gorgeous!
This was a sweet, easy-read that puts a fun twist on the fake dating trope.
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Review to post week beginning 22nd March
This was a sweet, easy-read that puts a fun twist on the fake dating trope.
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Review to post week beginning 22nd March
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