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Oaks Sisters #2
No Place Like You
Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme in this sweet, spicy, and utterly irresistible romance from the author of Give Me Butterflies.
Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.
Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.
If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.
The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.
She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.
Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.
Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.
If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.
The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.
She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2026
552 people are currently reading
19180 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Meadows
3 books1,022 followersJillian Meadows writes cozy love stories that make you swoon, smile, and squeal. She lives thirty miles past The Middle of Nowhere with her husband, four wild daughters, two unruly dogs, and her sparkling water addiction. When she’s not writing, you can find her devouring a romance novel, playing board games, or enjoying the outdoors with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,233 reviews
February 26, 2026
જ⁀➴ 6 ✰
MARK MY WORDS, THIS THE BOOK OF SPRING!!!!!!🗣️
I am honestly so surprised by how much I loved this book. I requested it because childhood friends and fake dating are two of my favorite tropes, but I never expected this story to affect me the way it did. It completely caught me off guard, from the very first chapters it felt like a breath of fresh air. Reading it was like being wrapped in the coziest blanket, there was no unnecessary drama, no forced conflict, just genuine emotions and characters who felt real and lovable. I adored every single character too, you know how hard it’s to love everyone in a book?Reading this book was not enough, I need it tattooed on my veins!!!
This book is so much more than a simple romance. At its core, it is about caring for someone deeply and allowing yourself to be cared for in return. It explores grief, healing, self doubt, and the courage it takes to believe you deserve happiness. It was everything I needed at this moment in my life. If we are mutuals on Instagram, you already know I have not stopped talking about it and I’m not sorry it has fully taken over my personality😭
Jillian’s prose is absolutely beautiful. Her writing feels vivid and cinematic, like watching a movie unfold in your head. Every page is filled with witty banter, soft tenderness, emotional vulnerability, and so much love. I was so invested in the story, never felt bored for a second, I also really appreciated that the story is told in dual POV, being inside both Theo and Fable’s heads made everything feel deeper and more complete. I feel that sometimes with a single POV, the other character can feel slightly distant, but here both of them were fully formed and layered.
Theo and Fable mean so much to me. Sometimes I randomly think about them and start crying, not because the book is devastating (well it is kinda), but because of how happy I am that they found each other. I have not felt this strongly about a romance in a while. They live in my mind constantly 24/7 I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with my life now that I finish this.
➳ characters:
ೃ࿐ Fable
Fable felt so personal to me. Reading about her brought me so much comfort because I saw parts of myself in her. She constantly questions whether she is on the right path, compares herself to others, and feels like she is falling behind. As someone close to graduating college, I deeply understood that fear and confusion; wondering if you chose the right major, feeling pressure to be at the same level as everyone around you, questioning if you are enough. Even though our situations are not identical, her emotions felt familiar. She made me feel seen in a way that is hard to describe.
The way the book explores grief through Fable is also incredibly touching. She misses her grandfather deeply, and the story shows how grief is not linear that you can feel fine one day and then suddenly something small, like seeing an old book or tulips brings all the feelings rushing back. It captures how loss lingers in quiet, unexpected moments. Jillian handled this theme with so much care and gentleness.
ೃ࿐ Theo
Where do I even start with him? my fav golden retriever, my love!!!! He is now one of my top book boyfriend!! HE IS PERFECTTTT, I want him for myself.😩
Bitable arms? ✔️ ( I get you fable, I would also want to take a bite out of him lol)
Dimples? ✔️
Obsessed with his girl? ✔️
What else can a girl ask for??
He is so obsessed with Fable its insane, he YEARNS so much for her, I need someone to love me the way he loves her haha. Theo might be one of the best mmc I have read in my whole life; he is selfless, soft, loyal, and completely devoted. The way he loves Fable is so pure and unwavering.
Theo carries trauma from his childhood, especially because of his father, and it shaped the way he sees himself. He convinces himself that he does not know how to love or that he is not capable of being in a serious relationship, which is almost heartbreaking because he is the exact opposite. I genuinely just wanted to give him a big hug. Watching him slowly unlearn those fears and allow himself to be loved was so beautiful. There is a particularly emotional scene between him and Fable’s dad that felt so important for his growth and for the story as a whole.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚✿ °. Theo & Fable:
THEIR CHEMISTRY IS AMAZING, OUT OF THIS WORLD!!😝😝 Their banter was extraordinary, if I wasn’t crying with them then I was laughing so hard, they are so cute and perfect together. They complement the other in a way that only soulmates can do. I actually feel jealous of their relationship… like I want something like that.
⤷ ME WHEN??? When is it going be my turn??😫
Both of them struggle with feeling undeserving of happiness. They neglect their own needs and convince themselves that wanting more is selfish. But as they spend time together, they slowly start to see themselves through each other’s eyes, they realize they are worthy of love and joy. They bring out the best in one another and grow side by side. If I had to describe their relationship in 2 words it would be: safe and supportive. It made me hopeful that I might find a love like that, that it exist.
🌷 tropes:
ꨄ︎ childhood friends to rivals to lovers
ꨄ︎ fake dating
ꨄ︎ small town
ꨄ︎ forced proximity
ꨄ︎ YEARNINGGGG
ꨄ︎ found family
ꨄ︎ he falls first
PLEASEEE, go read this book when it comes out in march 10!!! I swear it’s not going to disappoint you😭😭😭
thank you so much Avon for the arc
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
┆ ⤿ 💐 ༝ pre-read:
going back to my roots reading a fake dating😝 I’m so excited for this book, I don’t have a way to explain it. Hopefully this turns out to be amazing cause I have very high hopes🤞🏻🤞🏻
⋆𐙚₊˚⊹“You don’t have to be healed to be loved”⋆𐙚₊˚⊹
MARK MY WORDS, THIS THE BOOK OF SPRING!!!!!!🗣️
I am honestly so surprised by how much I loved this book. I requested it because childhood friends and fake dating are two of my favorite tropes, but I never expected this story to affect me the way it did. It completely caught me off guard, from the very first chapters it felt like a breath of fresh air. Reading it was like being wrapped in the coziest blanket, there was no unnecessary drama, no forced conflict, just genuine emotions and characters who felt real and lovable. I adored every single character too, you know how hard it’s to love everyone in a book?Reading this book was not enough, I need it tattooed on my veins!!!
This book is so much more than a simple romance. At its core, it is about caring for someone deeply and allowing yourself to be cared for in return. It explores grief, healing, self doubt, and the courage it takes to believe you deserve happiness. It was everything I needed at this moment in my life. If we are mutuals on Instagram, you already know I have not stopped talking about it and I’m not sorry it has fully taken over my personality😭
Jillian’s prose is absolutely beautiful. Her writing feels vivid and cinematic, like watching a movie unfold in your head. Every page is filled with witty banter, soft tenderness, emotional vulnerability, and so much love. I was so invested in the story, never felt bored for a second, I also really appreciated that the story is told in dual POV, being inside both Theo and Fable’s heads made everything feel deeper and more complete. I feel that sometimes with a single POV, the other character can feel slightly distant, but here both of them were fully formed and layered.
Theo and Fable mean so much to me. Sometimes I randomly think about them and start crying, not because the book is devastating (well it is kinda), but because of how happy I am that they found each other. I have not felt this strongly about a romance in a while. They live in my mind constantly 24/7 I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with my life now that I finish this.
➳ characters:
ೃ࿐ Fable
ꫂ ၴႅၴ.ᐟ “For years, I haven’t been able to find the path I’m meant to be on, and that has led to many failed attempts along the way.”
Fable felt so personal to me. Reading about her brought me so much comfort because I saw parts of myself in her. She constantly questions whether she is on the right path, compares herself to others, and feels like she is falling behind. As someone close to graduating college, I deeply understood that fear and confusion; wondering if you chose the right major, feeling pressure to be at the same level as everyone around you, questioning if you are enough. Even though our situations are not identical, her emotions felt familiar. She made me feel seen in a way that is hard to describe.
The way the book explores grief through Fable is also incredibly touching. She misses her grandfather deeply, and the story shows how grief is not linear that you can feel fine one day and then suddenly something small, like seeing an old book or tulips brings all the feelings rushing back. It captures how loss lingers in quiet, unexpected moments. Jillian handled this theme with so much care and gentleness.
ೃ࿐ Theo
ꫂ ၴႅၴ.ᐟ “He’s a caregiver. A protector.”
Where do I even start with him? my fav golden retriever, my love!!!! He is now one of my top book boyfriend!! HE IS PERFECTTTT, I want him for myself.😩
Bitable arms? ✔️ ( I get you fable, I would also want to take a bite out of him lol)
Dimples? ✔️
Obsessed with his girl? ✔️
What else can a girl ask for??
He is so obsessed with Fable its insane, he YEARNS so much for her, I need someone to love me the way he loves her haha. Theo might be one of the best mmc I have read in my whole life; he is selfless, soft, loyal, and completely devoted. The way he loves Fable is so pure and unwavering.
⋆˚⊹“My attraction to Fable has always felt like a living, breathing thing inside me”⋆˚⊹
Theo carries trauma from his childhood, especially because of his father, and it shaped the way he sees himself. He convinces himself that he does not know how to love or that he is not capable of being in a serious relationship, which is almost heartbreaking because he is the exact opposite. I genuinely just wanted to give him a big hug. Watching him slowly unlearn those fears and allow himself to be loved was so beautiful. There is a particularly emotional scene between him and Fable’s dad that felt so important for his growth and for the story as a whole.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚✿ °. Theo & Fable:
THEIR CHEMISTRY IS AMAZING, OUT OF THIS WORLD!!😝😝 Their banter was extraordinary, if I wasn’t crying with them then I was laughing so hard, they are so cute and perfect together. They complement the other in a way that only soulmates can do. I actually feel jealous of their relationship… like I want something like that.
⋆˚⊹“I love her. In theory, it should be a foreign feeling I don’t recognize right away. I’ve never been here before. But it doesn’t strike me as unfamiliar at all. It’s Fable. It feels like the most natural thing my heart could experience. Like our souls are linked together somehow, and mine has just found the place it was meant to settle. Home.”⋆˚⊹
⤷ ME WHEN??? When is it going be my turn??😫
Both of them struggle with feeling undeserving of happiness. They neglect their own needs and convince themselves that wanting more is selfish. But as they spend time together, they slowly start to see themselves through each other’s eyes, they realize they are worthy of love and joy. They bring out the best in one another and grow side by side. If I had to describe their relationship in 2 words it would be: safe and supportive. It made me hopeful that I might find a love like that, that it exist.
🌷 tropes:
ꨄ︎ childhood friends to rivals to lovers
ꨄ︎ fake dating
ꨄ︎ small town
ꨄ︎ forced proximity
ꨄ︎ YEARNINGGGG
ꨄ︎ found family
ꨄ︎ he falls first
PLEASEEE, go read this book when it comes out in march 10!!! I swear it’s not going to disappoint you😭😭😭
thank you so much Avon for the arc
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
┆ ⤿ 💐 ༝ pre-read:
going back to my roots reading a fake dating😝 I’m so excited for this book, I don’t have a way to explain it. Hopefully this turns out to be amazing cause I have very high hopes🤞🏻🤞🏻
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
5 Stars!
This was my first book by Jillian Meadows, and I am now definitely interested in reading the first book in this interconnected series after how much I loved this one! Even though I haven’t read the first book yet, receiving this ARC made me over the moon. The cover is just the most adorable, especially the little doggy on it — I couldn’t stop smiling at it.
The friends-to-rivals-to-fake-dating trope? Agh, gets me every time. The chemistry, the banter, and the way the characters rediscover each other in this cozy small-town setting had me swooning, laughing, and fully invested. Even though it’s technically the second book, it works beautifully as a standalone, so I never felt lost or like I was missing anything.
Even though I gave it five stars, I feel like — since I’ve been in an on-and-off reading slump for years now — I might have enjoyed it even more if I weren’t in one. I also would have appreciated more flashbacks to their childhood and high school rivalry days, which I think would have added an extra layer of fun and nostalgia to their dynamic. That said, this book definitely pulled me in, and now I can’t wait to read the first book and everything else this author has written. It’s cozy, flirty, heartfelt, and just utterly charming.
_______________
Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme!
You had me at childhood friends turned rivals in high school.
Ugh, I already know the pining and the tension is going to ruin me!!! 😩
5 Stars!
This was my first book by Jillian Meadows, and I am now definitely interested in reading the first book in this interconnected series after how much I loved this one! Even though I haven’t read the first book yet, receiving this ARC made me over the moon. The cover is just the most adorable, especially the little doggy on it — I couldn’t stop smiling at it.
The friends-to-rivals-to-fake-dating trope? Agh, gets me every time. The chemistry, the banter, and the way the characters rediscover each other in this cozy small-town setting had me swooning, laughing, and fully invested. Even though it’s technically the second book, it works beautifully as a standalone, so I never felt lost or like I was missing anything.
Even though I gave it five stars, I feel like — since I’ve been in an on-and-off reading slump for years now — I might have enjoyed it even more if I weren’t in one. I also would have appreciated more flashbacks to their childhood and high school rivalry days, which I think would have added an extra layer of fun and nostalgia to their dynamic. That said, this book definitely pulled me in, and now I can’t wait to read the first book and everything else this author has written. It’s cozy, flirty, heartfelt, and just utterly charming.
_______________
Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme!
You had me at childhood friends turned rivals in high school.
Ugh, I already know the pining and the tension is going to ruin me!!! 😩
March 7, 2026
Fable + Theo are absolute perfection together!
Jillian Meadows delivers every time! Her books are filled with so much heart, emotional depth for days, and hot as fuck spice!
No Place Like You might be my favorite from her yet!
Whats to love…
- Fake-dating
- Single timeline second chance romance
- a sexy contract
- animal companions!
- small-town
- family forward, but also found family
- former high school rivals
- he is actually obsessed with her
- FMC who’s still figuring it out
- tortured MMC who doesn’t “do” relationships (haha, yeah righhhhttt)
- Emotional depth for days!
- exploration of grief
- bookish book (her name is Fable!)
- heavier topics handled with care (loss of a grandparent from Alzheimer’s, past abuse)
🌶️- Open door, explicit in detail, sexy as hell. Ch: 14 (kinda), 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, +
Audiobook: 4.5/5 | Narrator: Victoria Connolly & Tim Paige | Length: 10 hrs 28 mins
Did I binge this audiobook in a single sitting even though I already read this book with my eyeballs less than 3 months ago. Yes, yes I did. Both the narrators did a fantastic job. Pausing, pacing, and inflection are all fabulous. Very pleased with both narrators performance of the opposites dialogue! Female narrators usually do a great job with male voices, so its no surprise that Victoria Connolly manages this well, but it can be harder to get a believable female voice from a male narrator that isn’t comical. Tim Paige nails it! Definitely recommend the audiobook!
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Jillian Meadows delivers every time! Her books are filled with so much heart, emotional depth for days, and hot as fuck spice!
No Place Like You might be my favorite from her yet!
Whats to love…
- Fake-dating
- Single timeline second chance romance
- a sexy contract
- animal companions!
- small-town
- family forward, but also found family
- former high school rivals
- he is actually obsessed with her
- FMC who’s still figuring it out
- tortured MMC who doesn’t “do” relationships (haha, yeah righhhhttt)
- Emotional depth for days!
- exploration of grief
- bookish book (her name is Fable!)
- heavier topics handled with care (loss of a grandparent from Alzheimer’s, past abuse)
🌶️- Open door, explicit in detail, sexy as hell. Ch: 14 (kinda), 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, +
Audiobook: 4.5/5 | Narrator: Victoria Connolly & Tim Paige | Length: 10 hrs 28 mins
Did I binge this audiobook in a single sitting even though I already read this book with my eyeballs less than 3 months ago. Yes, yes I did. Both the narrators did a fantastic job. Pausing, pacing, and inflection are all fabulous. Very pleased with both narrators performance of the opposites dialogue! Female narrators usually do a great job with male voices, so its no surprise that Victoria Connolly manages this well, but it can be harder to get a believable female voice from a male narrator that isn’t comical. Tim Paige nails it! Definitely recommend the audiobook!
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
March 15, 2026
┆ ⤿ 💐 ⌗ started: march 13, finished march 14
4.5 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ review with some spoilers.
thank you to netgalley, avon and harper voyager, and jillian meadows for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review
⤿ published on march 10th
read this with my bff mads! 💌 i loved yapping so much over theo and fable!! i love you so much ⭐️
tropes: ⋆˚࿔
.ᐟ small town
.ᐟ found family
.ᐟ “stop being mean to me or I’m going to fall in love with you” vibes
.ᐟ childhood best friends to rivals to lovers
.ᐟ best friend's brother
summary/thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
after a series of setbacks, fable oaks finds herself back in her hometown of fern river, trying to rebuild her life while restoring her late grandfather’s beloved a-frame. the last thing she expects is to run into theo nikolaou again, her childhood best friend turned high school rival, who has also returned to town with plans of staying for good. when the two come up with a fake dating arrangement that could help them both, their plan seems simple enough. but as they spend more time together, old feelings begin to resurface, and it becomes harder to tell where the act ends and something real begins.
this is the book of the spring!! the vibes were absolutely perfect. fern river felt like the kind of small town you just want to live in, cozy, charming, and full of community. the small-town romance atmosphere made the story feel so warm and comforting. the slow burn and fake dating trope were done so well. watching fable and theo slowly find their way back to each other was so adorable, and their chemistry felt natural and effortless.
i also really appreciated how the story touched on mental health in such a thoughtful and honest way. those moments added so much depth to the book and made the characters feel even more real. and theo… i was crying so much when he opened up about his feelings. he deserved the biggest hugs. his vulnerability made the story incredibly emotional and heartfelt, and it made their romance even more meaningful.
── .✦ characters 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
fable oaks: ‧₊˚📜₊˚⊹🕯️𖥔 ݁ ˖
i really loved fable as a main character. she felt messy and a little lost at times, but in a way that was very real and relatable. seeing her return to fern river and try to rebuild both her life and her grandfather’s a-frame made her journey feel very emotional. i also loved her humor and sharp personality, she had such a fun dynamic with theo.
i will say there were moments where i found her a little frustrating (i definitely caught myself wishing she would get some sense sometimes lol), but honestly that made her feel even more human. watching her slowly find her footing again and realize what home really meant to her was such a satisfying part of the story.
theo nikolaou: ‧⋆⭒˚｡⋆
theo completely stole my heart. he was such a soft, caring character, and the way the book explored his struggles with mental health was handled so beautifully. when he finally opened up about his feelings, i was genuinely crying, he deserved the biggest hugs.
i especially loved how vulnerable he was around fable and how comfortable he felt opening up to her about things he had been carrying for so long. my heart honestly broke when fable got injured and he immediately started blaming himself because of his past. those moments showed just how deeply he cared and how much he was still healing. he was such a tender, emotional love interest and i absolutely adored him.
── .✦ quotes 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
Do want to be my best friend? Check yes or no. [ ] yes [ ] no He reaches up to caress my cheek. “Little did I know, that girl would be my soulmate, my best friend, the love of my life."
And I let her lead me through the crowd, because I’d follow her anywhere.
There’s a light, glowy feeling tucked in the middle of my chest, and her words make it flare brighter. It’s almost too easy to remember the other giddy moments I’ve had over the last few weeks. The day I made a show of getting the soccer ball past him and got tackled to the ground by the Unicorns. Last week, when we were laughing so hard at his attempt to make a cat and dog pancake that there were tears in my eyes. When we were lying in bed one morning, Theo’s arms wrapped securely around me like always, and I gave into the urge to finally take a bite of his forearm. He has brought out a side of me that’s been dormant for so long—that comfortable, childlike joy I’ve been missing.
“I need to hear you say it, sweetheart.” I tilt her chin up to meet my gaze. “Do you want to kiss me? Check yes or no.” Amusement flickers in her eyes. “Yes. I want to kiss you. If you want—” I don’t even let her finish that last sentence. Fuck yes, I want.
4.5 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ review with some spoilers.
thank you to netgalley, avon and harper voyager, and jillian meadows for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review
⤿ published on march 10th
read this with my bff mads! 💌 i loved yapping so much over theo and fable!! i love you so much ⭐️
"she looks likes springtime and home and forever. so beautiful my heart aches."
tropes: ⋆˚࿔
.ᐟ small town
.ᐟ found family
.ᐟ “stop being mean to me or I’m going to fall in love with you” vibes
.ᐟ childhood best friends to rivals to lovers
.ᐟ best friend's brother
summary/thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
after a series of setbacks, fable oaks finds herself back in her hometown of fern river, trying to rebuild her life while restoring her late grandfather’s beloved a-frame. the last thing she expects is to run into theo nikolaou again, her childhood best friend turned high school rival, who has also returned to town with plans of staying for good. when the two come up with a fake dating arrangement that could help them both, their plan seems simple enough. but as they spend more time together, old feelings begin to resurface, and it becomes harder to tell where the act ends and something real begins.
this is the book of the spring!! the vibes were absolutely perfect. fern river felt like the kind of small town you just want to live in, cozy, charming, and full of community. the small-town romance atmosphere made the story feel so warm and comforting. the slow burn and fake dating trope were done so well. watching fable and theo slowly find their way back to each other was so adorable, and their chemistry felt natural and effortless.
i also really appreciated how the story touched on mental health in such a thoughtful and honest way. those moments added so much depth to the book and made the characters feel even more real. and theo… i was crying so much when he opened up about his feelings. he deserved the biggest hugs. his vulnerability made the story incredibly emotional and heartfelt, and it made their romance even more meaningful.
── .✦ characters 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
fable oaks: ‧₊˚📜₊˚⊹🕯️𖥔 ݁ ˖
i really loved fable as a main character. she felt messy and a little lost at times, but in a way that was very real and relatable. seeing her return to fern river and try to rebuild both her life and her grandfather’s a-frame made her journey feel very emotional. i also loved her humor and sharp personality, she had such a fun dynamic with theo.
i will say there were moments where i found her a little frustrating (i definitely caught myself wishing she would get some sense sometimes lol), but honestly that made her feel even more human. watching her slowly find her footing again and realize what home really meant to her was such a satisfying part of the story.
theo nikolaou: ‧⋆⭒˚｡⋆
theo completely stole my heart. he was such a soft, caring character, and the way the book explored his struggles with mental health was handled so beautifully. when he finally opened up about his feelings, i was genuinely crying, he deserved the biggest hugs.
i especially loved how vulnerable he was around fable and how comfortable he felt opening up to her about things he had been carrying for so long. my heart honestly broke when fable got injured and he immediately started blaming himself because of his past. those moments showed just how deeply he cared and how much he was still healing. he was such a tender, emotional love interest and i absolutely adored him.
── .✦ quotes 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
Do want to be my best friend? Check yes or no. [ ] yes [ ] no He reaches up to caress my cheek. “Little did I know, that girl would be my soulmate, my best friend, the love of my life."
And I let her lead me through the crowd, because I’d follow her anywhere.
There’s a light, glowy feeling tucked in the middle of my chest, and her words make it flare brighter. It’s almost too easy to remember the other giddy moments I’ve had over the last few weeks. The day I made a show of getting the soccer ball past him and got tackled to the ground by the Unicorns. Last week, when we were laughing so hard at his attempt to make a cat and dog pancake that there were tears in my eyes. When we were lying in bed one morning, Theo’s arms wrapped securely around me like always, and I gave into the urge to finally take a bite of his forearm. He has brought out a side of me that’s been dormant for so long—that comfortable, childlike joy I’ve been missing.
“I need to hear you say it, sweetheart.” I tilt her chin up to meet my gaze. “Do you want to kiss me? Check yes or no.” Amusement flickers in her eyes. “Yes. I want to kiss you. If you want—” I don’t even let her finish that last sentence. Fuck yes, I want.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay so… I went in expecting intense childhood-friends-to-rivals-to-lovers energy and instead got something softer and sweeter—not what I pictured, but still cute. The tension between Fable and Theo was more of a slow simmer than explosive.
First off, Fable… her anger toward Theo confused me a bit because the reason felt so small compared to how salty she stayed (especially since she admits she understood why he did it??????). It felt less like hatred and more like unresolved hurt she didn’t know what to do with. I will say her grief over her grandfather was the emotional core of the story, and watching her realize she couldn’t stay frozen in that loss forever hit pretty hard.
This sat with me for a while actually and honestly summed up so much of her arc—learning that walking away isn’t always failure, and it’s okay to want something different as you grow older.
Theo was such a sweetheart. Patient, kind, and quietly devoted in a way that made it obvious he never truly stopped caring about her. He takes her sharp comments in stride like he knows she doesn’t actually mean them, which made their dynamic feel less hostile and more like two people who never figured out how to communicate after getting hurt.
Their attraction to each other was also unintentionally hilarious at times—both of them internally spiraling while trying to act normal 😭😭😭💀
The way they’d be mid-conversation and suddenly one of them is panicking about how attractive the other is was genuinely funny. And then the jealousy??? Like even with his best friend who’s MARRIED 💀
sir… be serious LOL😭
The fake dating setup forced them into all these close, charged situations where neither of them could hide how much they still affected each other. Every accidental touch or lingering look felt loaded, like the story was just waiting for one of them to finally admit what was right in front of them.
That confession energy definitely delivered, even if I sometimes wished the emotional buildup had been a little stronger to match it. I will say when it shifted into softer vulnerability instead of just heat, it worked better for me.
The parts that stuck with me most weren’t the big romantic moments—it was the quiet realization that their connection never actually disappeared, it just got buried under years of hurt and pride.
This captures the whole vibe of their relationship: inevitable, comforting, but also a little frustrating because you just want them to get out of their own way already. 🤦🏼♀️
I will say the third-act breakup worked for me (actually shocking) because Fable needed that moment to realize quitting wasn’t the solution this time, even if it felt a little predictable. The epilogue, though, was where it lost me a bit. 😔 It was cute, but choppy. I wanted one last fully fleshed-out scene instead of quick snapshots. 🥲
Overall this was a solid 3-star read: sweet, comforting, a little messy, and emotionally sincere even if it didn’t fully hit as hard as it could have. Not life-changing, not disappointing… just a cozy small-town romance with some healing woven through it.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🐾 Childhood friends → lovers
🐾 Fake dating
🐾 Forced proximity
🐾 Grumpy girl × sunshine boy
🐾 Mutual pining
🐾 Dual POV
Thank you Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Jillian Meadows for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme??
hehehe I need all the childhood friends to lovers i can get tbh. it’s my obsession rn
First off, Fable… her anger toward Theo confused me a bit because the reason felt so small compared to how salty she stayed (especially since she admits she understood why he did it??????). It felt less like hatred and more like unresolved hurt she didn’t know what to do with. I will say her grief over her grandfather was the emotional core of the story, and watching her realize she couldn’t stay frozen in that loss forever hit pretty hard.
“Realizing you deserve better doesn’t make you a quitter. If you open a door, and it doesn’t feel right, don’t stay in that room. Turn around and look for the next one. The one that’ll make you happy”
This sat with me for a while actually and honestly summed up so much of her arc—learning that walking away isn’t always failure, and it’s okay to want something different as you grow older.
Theo was such a sweetheart. Patient, kind, and quietly devoted in a way that made it obvious he never truly stopped caring about her. He takes her sharp comments in stride like he knows she doesn’t actually mean them, which made their dynamic feel less hostile and more like two people who never figured out how to communicate after getting hurt.
Their attraction to each other was also unintentionally hilarious at times—both of them internally spiraling while trying to act normal 😭😭😭💀
“He’s wearing navy blue scrubs that look perfectly tailored to his muscular frame. If there was a trophy for Sexiest Scrubs, those would win, hands-down.”
The way they’d be mid-conversation and suddenly one of them is panicking about how attractive the other is was genuinely funny. And then the jealousy??? Like even with his best friend who’s MARRIED 💀
“I’d take a bullet for him, his wife, or his sons. But watching Fable smile his way? Makes me want to kick him in the shins.”
sir… be serious LOL😭
The fake dating setup forced them into all these close, charged situations where neither of them could hide how much they still affected each other. Every accidental touch or lingering look felt loaded, like the story was just waiting for one of them to finally admit what was right in front of them.
“I want you so much it hurts. It consumes me, takes up all the space in my brain. I can’t get away from it.”
That confession energy definitely delivered, even if I sometimes wished the emotional buildup had been a little stronger to match it. I will say when it shifted into softer vulnerability instead of just heat, it worked better for me.
The parts that stuck with me most weren’t the big romantic moments—it was the quiet realization that their connection never actually disappeared, it just got buried under years of hurt and pride.
“I’m drawn to him in a way that seems threaded into the fabric of who I am.”
This captures the whole vibe of their relationship: inevitable, comforting, but also a little frustrating because you just want them to get out of their own way already. 🤦🏼♀️
I will say the third-act breakup worked for me (actually shocking) because Fable needed that moment to realize quitting wasn’t the solution this time, even if it felt a little predictable. The epilogue, though, was where it lost me a bit. 😔 It was cute, but choppy. I wanted one last fully fleshed-out scene instead of quick snapshots. 🥲
Overall this was a solid 3-star read: sweet, comforting, a little messy, and emotionally sincere even if it didn’t fully hit as hard as it could have. Not life-changing, not disappointing… just a cozy small-town romance with some healing woven through it.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🐾 Childhood friends → lovers
🐾 Fake dating
🐾 Forced proximity
🐾 Grumpy girl × sunshine boy
🐾 Mutual pining
🐾 Dual POV
Thank you Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Jillian Meadows for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme??
hehehe I need all the childhood friends to lovers i can get tbh. it’s my obsession rn
March 15, 2026
⋆˙⟡ 4.5 stars
𐙚 spoiler-free review ♡
⤷⊹ started: march 13th, finished: march 14th
thank you so much har!! for reading this with me!! reading this with you genuinely made the book even better 🤭 ilysm!! 🥹💗
♡ ⋆｡˚ thoughts
this book was such a comfort read for me 🥹 the small town vibes, the found family, and the history between the characters… everything about it felt warm and cozy. i loved the tension between fable and theo so much. the childhood best friends to rivals to lovers dynamic was done so well because you could really feel the history between them. every conversation between them had this mix of banter, frustration, and unresolved feelings that made the slow burn so much better 🤭 the fake dating made things even better!! watching them pretend to be together while clearly struggling with the fact that their feelings were very real was sooo fun to read. these two will forever hold a special place in my heart 😩
♡ ⋆｡˚ characters
♡ ⋆｡˚ fable
i LOVED fable so much. she felt messy, a little stubborn, and sometimes unsure of herself, but that made her feel very real. seeing her return to fern river and rebuild her life while restoring her grandfather’s a-frame was such an emotional journey. i can’t tell you how many times i teared up 😭 omg and her personality was everything too!! she was sarcastic, determined, and not afraid to push back when people challenged her. watching her slowly realize what home actually meant to her was one of my favorite parts of the story 🥹💗 i’m gonna miss her.
♡ ⋆｡˚ theo
oh this man has my heart 😭 he’s such a sweet character, and the way he looked out for the people he loves made me emotional so many times. my favorite part about him was seeing his vulnerable side. every time he opened up, it honestly broke me and i could feel the tears coming. there were so many moments where i just wanted to give him a hug because he truly deserves it ☹️
♡ ⋆｡˚ fable + theo
these two were so adorable together 🤭 their chemistry was EVERYTHING and the tension between them had me giggling so much. i loved the mix of teasing, old memories, and those quiet moments where they started letting their guards down. the way they slowly found their way back to each other felt very natural and emotional. their story really showed how complicated feelings can be when you already share so much history with someone.
♡ ⋆｡˚ final thoughts
honestly i can’t stop thinking about these two, so please take that as your sign to pick it up 🥹 i already miss them 💔
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
i’ve been seeing and hearing sooo many good things about this book, so ofc i had to request it immediately 🤭 i’m so excited to start this, and i get to read it with my bestie har!! i love you sooo much!! i can’t wait to giggle about these characters together 🙈💗
thank you so much Netgalley, Avon, and Jillian Meadows for the arc!!
𐙚 spoiler-free review ♡
⤷⊹ started: march 13th, finished: march 14th
thank you so much Netgalley, Avon, and Jillian Meadows for the arc!!
thank you so much har!! for reading this with me!! reading this with you genuinely made the book even better 🤭 ilysm!! 🥹💗
♡ ⋆｡˚ thoughts
this book was such a comfort read for me 🥹 the small town vibes, the found family, and the history between the characters… everything about it felt warm and cozy. i loved the tension between fable and theo so much. the childhood best friends to rivals to lovers dynamic was done so well because you could really feel the history between them. every conversation between them had this mix of banter, frustration, and unresolved feelings that made the slow burn so much better 🤭 the fake dating made things even better!! watching them pretend to be together while clearly struggling with the fact that their feelings were very real was sooo fun to read. these two will forever hold a special place in my heart 😩
♡ ⋆｡˚ characters
♡ ⋆｡˚ fable
i LOVED fable so much. she felt messy, a little stubborn, and sometimes unsure of herself, but that made her feel very real. seeing her return to fern river and rebuild her life while restoring her grandfather’s a-frame was such an emotional journey. i can’t tell you how many times i teared up 😭 omg and her personality was everything too!! she was sarcastic, determined, and not afraid to push back when people challenged her. watching her slowly realize what home actually meant to her was one of my favorite parts of the story 🥹💗 i’m gonna miss her.
♡ ⋆｡˚ theo
oh this man has my heart 😭 he’s such a sweet character, and the way he looked out for the people he loves made me emotional so many times. my favorite part about him was seeing his vulnerable side. every time he opened up, it honestly broke me and i could feel the tears coming. there were so many moments where i just wanted to give him a hug because he truly deserves it ☹️
♡ ⋆｡˚ fable + theo
these two were so adorable together 🤭 their chemistry was EVERYTHING and the tension between them had me giggling so much. i loved the mix of teasing, old memories, and those quiet moments where they started letting their guards down. the way they slowly found their way back to each other felt very natural and emotional. their story really showed how complicated feelings can be when you already share so much history with someone.
♡ ⋆｡˚ final thoughts
honestly i can’t stop thinking about these two, so please take that as your sign to pick it up 🥹 i already miss them 💔
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
i’ve been seeing and hearing sooo many good things about this book, so ofc i had to request it immediately 🤭 i’m so excited to start this, and i get to read it with my bestie har!! i love you sooo much!! i can’t wait to giggle about these characters together 🙈💗
thank you so much Netgalley, Avon, and Jillian Meadows for the arc!!
Currently reading
March 23, 2026I’ve heard great things about this one, but I’m in my idgaff mindset at the moment, so I’m either gonna adore it or really hate it. 😭 I didn’t read book 1, so I hope I won’t be struggling to know who’s who and what’s what. Oh yeah. This is going to be fun. 😏
March 13, 2026
Now this is the perfect spring romance! The story is warm, slow, and exploring, with the most charming small town and the swooniest MMC. Fable and Theo were so good together. I loved how completely obsessed they were with each other and how their fake dating slowly unraveled into something real, especially with all the history between them. Their chemistry and banter were sprinkled throughout every page and kept me hooked from beginning to end. I also adored all the found family and the tenderness that surrounded it; the care that went into exploring Fable's grief and Theo's trauma was so achingly raw and much needed. Altogether, this romance beautifully balanced all the cozy sweetness with the perfect amount of emotion and tension, creating a dreamy and soft love story that reads like a breath of fresh spring air.
Read if you like:
🌷Slow Burn🌷
🌷Caretaking🌷
🌷Grief and Trauma Rep🌷
🌷Fake Dating🌷
🌷Rivals to Friends to Lovers🌷
🌷Small Towns🌷
~Many thanks to Avon for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Read if you like:
🌷Slow Burn🌷
🌷Caretaking🌷
🌷Grief and Trauma Rep🌷
🌷Fake Dating🌷
🌷Rivals to Friends to Lovers🌷
🌷Small Towns🌷
~Many thanks to Avon for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Read
March 24, 2026This was not it. And no one is sadder than I.
----
Didn't get the arc, but that's ok. I have it and am buddy reading it :)
----
I'm going to need an arc of this, Miss J. (I'm manifesting).
----
Didn't get the arc, but that's ok. I have it and am buddy reading it :)
----
I'm going to need an arc of this, Miss J. (I'm manifesting).
February 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, and the author for this advance copy. All opinions are my own.
This is going to be a long one, sorry! My first NetGalley ARC was a success!
I love the coziness paired with emotional depth that Jillian Meadows brings to her stories. I’ve read all 3 of them now and they make me smile, but also have moments where I’d be rubbing my chest to try and ease the ache that she created. I teared up multiple times through the reading of No Place Like You and the author does include a note at the start of the book, including some content notes, so please mind your own emotional health. For me, the topic of grief and how it was still being processed by Fable (h), hit very close to home.
Fable and Theo (H) have known each other since childhood, starting as friends and turning into high school rivals who pushed each other, as everyone around them witnessed. As adults, they’re aware of the other, but haven’t spent much time together in years, until Theo moves back to their small town and they find themselves in situations that are going painfully wrong. The solution is an arrangement of fake dating (for Theo) in exchange for renovation assistance (for Fable). However, these two have personal challenges they’re facing, as well as a wealth of history between them. Plus some major attraction and chemistry. All of which makes this scenario complex in a way that drives character growth and relationship development.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama (the H does get caveman over h when another man flirts with her and the h does have a couple of run-ins with her most recent situationship that are just vaguely uncomfortable since he’s so self-absorbed). Both are experienced, H hasn’t been with anyone in months and only had hook-ups. The h appeared to have a few relationships. There’s no long-term pining that happened, but plenty of current day yearning.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Childhood friends to rivals to antagonism to fake dating to lovers
☆ He’s a veterinarian, she’s still figuring things out
☆ Grief and trauma from the past that affect the present
☆ FMC is fixing up her grandfather’s A frame
☆ MMC is hoping to buy into the vet clinic he works at
☆ They forget how to function around each other
☆ They’re also safe with each other
☆ Caretaking MMC
☆ Fears and tears
☆ Flight or fight
☆ They encourage each other
☆ Slow burn with PAYOFF
☆ They both whimper
☆ Praise, good boy, dirty talk, spit on it, and more
☆ Co-coaching a youth sports team while decorated in unicorn
☆ Therapy rep
☆ Animal companions
☆ Positive and supportive friendships and family
☆ Small town
☆ Group chats, including a secret one
The author made a wonderful choice to stay in the present timeline. Since there’s an ocean’s worth of moments between the mains from childhood to now, recollections and reflections are tucked throughout the story. We get the memories and the emotional impact without dragging the reader back and forth through time jumps. The pace is slow, but steady, and character-focused. I think some readers may feel bogged down, but I found it easy to love the main characters so was engaged enough to not lose that thread in the slower sections.
Theo often comes across as dazzled by Fable. She’s equally distracted, but seemed to play it cooler at first. Possibly helped along by all the practice she had with the facade of holding other aspects of her life together. Fable is in a place of her life that I think many young adults struggle with. A feeling of failure’s bitten down in places and she’s had to lean on her support system when she’d rather feel more capable on her own. She’s messy and unsure what direction to go in, feeling as though she should already have this all figured out. This does cause her to frustratingly pull back from that very support system. I wanted to shake her several times, while also wanting to bring her in for a hug. This character element was very relatable. There’s one scene early on where the mess and the mess-ups crash down on her and it was just heart achingly real. I’ve actually had a crushing moment similar to Fable’s and for anyone else who’s been there, I think how the author wrote it will resonate deeply.
Theo’s personal struggles center more on trauma from his youth and how it’s still bleeding into the present. He doesn’t trust himself, when he’s truly become a great man, protective and kind. His pain over the past, his fears, and how to move forward leap off the page. Both main characters had times in their lives when they defaulted to either fight or flight and moments definitely felt visceral in places.
Some interactions between Theo and Fable are obvious or predictable. There’s also some repetition in their thought processes because of the history they have, as they move back into friendship under the fake dating guise. Thank goodness they don’t lie to their families about dating, it adds even more authenticity that they’re only trying to present a front to peripheral people. The “fake” relationship is simple but tension-filled. They’ve known each other so long and they’re both down bad for the other way earlier than they’re willing to admit. Theo’s dimples, Fable’s freckle, the banter between them - it was easy to smile like an idiot at the two (sometimes) idiots and want to go ahead and mash their faces together. But you’re going to have to wait this slow burn out, physical intimacy doesn’t kick in til after the halfway mark.
But once it hits, whew buddy. Jillian Meadows knows how to write some steaminess that also drags in the feels to keep it intimate across the board. There’s some reluctance at first to cross lines and some confusion over whether they’re both on board for a moment. But communication and magnetism win out (thank goodness). A couple of make-out sessions before they fully go all in, there are plenty of spicy scenes.
In addition to the relationship arc and the characters developing, there’s a lovely cast of small town residents and the family and friends who are 100% shipping these two. No family drama in that sense and Theo’s sister is actually Fable’s bestie, who loves them together. Plus, multiple animal companions who add joy to their scenes. Fable’s family are wonderful (one of her sisters had her story told in Give Me Butterflies and the cameos of that lil family made my heart happy). Theo’s sister, her fiancee, and his mom were also special. There is an adorable side romance that’s referenced between Fable’s boss and a coffee shop owner that I wish we saw more of on page.
Now, this story is cozy, but also poignant. The third act does feature some conflict that’s emotionally driven and reactionary. I don’t know that I would classify it as a third act break-up exactly, because they hadn’t defined themselves completely outside of the fake dating (which is very real fyi). Even though it does give both characters a push they badly needed, it broke my heart a little for the pain that was experienced. The resolution is sweet, a little easily obtained though. Then the author wraps up this romance with multiple tiny jump aheads into their future to show their HEA growing, which I adored. I’m so glad I continued the Oaks sister series and I’m very curious what comes next for this author.
This is going to be a long one, sorry! My first NetGalley ARC was a success!
I love the coziness paired with emotional depth that Jillian Meadows brings to her stories. I’ve read all 3 of them now and they make me smile, but also have moments where I’d be rubbing my chest to try and ease the ache that she created. I teared up multiple times through the reading of No Place Like You and the author does include a note at the start of the book, including some content notes, so please mind your own emotional health. For me, the topic of grief and how it was still being processed by Fable (h), hit very close to home.
Fable and Theo (H) have known each other since childhood, starting as friends and turning into high school rivals who pushed each other, as everyone around them witnessed. As adults, they’re aware of the other, but haven’t spent much time together in years, until Theo moves back to their small town and they find themselves in situations that are going painfully wrong. The solution is an arrangement of fake dating (for Theo) in exchange for renovation assistance (for Fable). However, these two have personal challenges they’re facing, as well as a wealth of history between them. Plus some major attraction and chemistry. All of which makes this scenario complex in a way that drives character growth and relationship development.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama (the H does get caveman over h when another man flirts with her and the h does have a couple of run-ins with her most recent situationship that are just vaguely uncomfortable since he’s so self-absorbed). Both are experienced, H hasn’t been with anyone in months and only had hook-ups. The h appeared to have a few relationships. There’s no long-term pining that happened, but plenty of current day yearning.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Childhood friends to rivals to antagonism to fake dating to lovers
☆ He’s a veterinarian, she’s still figuring things out
☆ Grief and trauma from the past that affect the present
☆ FMC is fixing up her grandfather’s A frame
☆ MMC is hoping to buy into the vet clinic he works at
☆ They forget how to function around each other
☆ They’re also safe with each other
☆ Caretaking MMC
☆ Fears and tears
☆ Flight or fight
☆ They encourage each other
☆ Slow burn with PAYOFF
☆ They both whimper
☆ Praise, good boy, dirty talk, spit on it, and more
☆ Co-coaching a youth sports team while decorated in unicorn
☆ Therapy rep
☆ Animal companions
☆ Positive and supportive friendships and family
☆ Small town
☆ Group chats, including a secret one
The author made a wonderful choice to stay in the present timeline. Since there’s an ocean’s worth of moments between the mains from childhood to now, recollections and reflections are tucked throughout the story. We get the memories and the emotional impact without dragging the reader back and forth through time jumps. The pace is slow, but steady, and character-focused. I think some readers may feel bogged down, but I found it easy to love the main characters so was engaged enough to not lose that thread in the slower sections.
Theo often comes across as dazzled by Fable. She’s equally distracted, but seemed to play it cooler at first. Possibly helped along by all the practice she had with the facade of holding other aspects of her life together. Fable is in a place of her life that I think many young adults struggle with. A feeling of failure’s bitten down in places and she’s had to lean on her support system when she’d rather feel more capable on her own. She’s messy and unsure what direction to go in, feeling as though she should already have this all figured out. This does cause her to frustratingly pull back from that very support system. I wanted to shake her several times, while also wanting to bring her in for a hug. This character element was very relatable. There’s one scene early on where the mess and the mess-ups crash down on her and it was just heart achingly real. I’ve actually had a crushing moment similar to Fable’s and for anyone else who’s been there, I think how the author wrote it will resonate deeply.
Theo’s personal struggles center more on trauma from his youth and how it’s still bleeding into the present. He doesn’t trust himself, when he’s truly become a great man, protective and kind. His pain over the past, his fears, and how to move forward leap off the page. Both main characters had times in their lives when they defaulted to either fight or flight and moments definitely felt visceral in places.
Some interactions between Theo and Fable are obvious or predictable. There’s also some repetition in their thought processes because of the history they have, as they move back into friendship under the fake dating guise. Thank goodness they don’t lie to their families about dating, it adds even more authenticity that they’re only trying to present a front to peripheral people. The “fake” relationship is simple but tension-filled. They’ve known each other so long and they’re both down bad for the other way earlier than they’re willing to admit. Theo’s dimples, Fable’s freckle, the banter between them - it was easy to smile like an idiot at the two (sometimes) idiots and want to go ahead and mash their faces together. But you’re going to have to wait this slow burn out, physical intimacy doesn’t kick in til after the halfway mark.
But once it hits, whew buddy. Jillian Meadows knows how to write some steaminess that also drags in the feels to keep it intimate across the board. There’s some reluctance at first to cross lines and some confusion over whether they’re both on board for a moment. But communication and magnetism win out (thank goodness). A couple of make-out sessions before they fully go all in, there are plenty of spicy scenes.
In addition to the relationship arc and the characters developing, there’s a lovely cast of small town residents and the family and friends who are 100% shipping these two. No family drama in that sense and Theo’s sister is actually Fable’s bestie, who loves them together. Plus, multiple animal companions who add joy to their scenes. Fable’s family are wonderful (one of her sisters had her story told in Give Me Butterflies and the cameos of that lil family made my heart happy). Theo’s sister, her fiancee, and his mom were also special. There is an adorable side romance that’s referenced between Fable’s boss and a coffee shop owner that I wish we saw more of on page.
Now, this story is cozy, but also poignant. The third act does feature some conflict that’s emotionally driven and reactionary. I don’t know that I would classify it as a third act break-up exactly, because they hadn’t defined themselves completely outside of the fake dating (which is very real fyi). Even though it does give both characters a push they badly needed, it broke my heart a little for the pain that was experienced. The resolution is sweet, a little easily obtained though. Then the author wraps up this romance with multiple tiny jump aheads into their future to show their HEA growing, which I adored. I’m so glad I continued the Oaks sister series and I’m very curious what comes next for this author.
Currently reading
March 20, 2026Still can’t resist a gorgeous cover 🌸🤭
March 10, 2026
4.5/5 stars
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for providing me with an ALC of this book in return for a honest and voluntary review!
I LOVED this book - I picked it up and read it all in one sitting purely because I was enjoying it too much to put down! The only reason really is that this wasn't a 5 star is cause there was almost too much smut for me to deem as necessary and it started taking away from the overall plot in my personal opinion! I did really love the way the smut was written though
Lowkey did end up having tears in my eyes a couple of times towards the end of the book.. like it really was THAT serious. Seeing Fable and Theo fall for each other was so heart-warming and so believable (which is something I struggle with in quite a few romance books). I found myself wanting the best for them and really rooted for their relationship throughout the entire story!
This book deals with grief, abuse and trauma in a very sensitive yet beautiful way and I really really appreciate that. So often, people who grew up in abusive households can become scared to love anyone in the fear that they may end up the same as their abuser and its so important to me that people know that they are not the same as that person by default.
This might sound kind of ridiculous but the way the narrators had so much chemistry with.... themselves (??) when voicing the other MC in their chapter POVs was so insane to me and I loved it so much. Both narrators were a pleasure to listen to and I'd definitely check out any of their other works!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for providing me with an ALC of this book in return for a honest and voluntary review!
I LOVED this book - I picked it up and read it all in one sitting purely because I was enjoying it too much to put down! The only reason really is that this wasn't a 5 star is cause there was almost too much smut for me to deem as necessary and it started taking away from the overall plot in my personal opinion! I did really love the way the smut was written though
Lowkey did end up having tears in my eyes a couple of times towards the end of the book.. like it really was THAT serious. Seeing Fable and Theo fall for each other was so heart-warming and so believable (which is something I struggle with in quite a few romance books). I found myself wanting the best for them and really rooted for their relationship throughout the entire story!
This book deals with grief, abuse and trauma in a very sensitive yet beautiful way and I really really appreciate that. So often, people who grew up in abusive households can become scared to love anyone in the fear that they may end up the same as their abuser and its so important to me that people know that they are not the same as that person by default.
This might sound kind of ridiculous but the way the narrators had so much chemistry with.... themselves (??) when voicing the other MC in their chapter POVs was so insane to me and I loved it so much. Both narrators were a pleasure to listen to and I'd definitely check out any of their other works!
Currently reading
March 15, 2026This has already been released, but I was just approved for the ALC, so yayyyyy no Libby wait time for me!
🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️ So excited for this one!!! 🤗
🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️ So excited for this one!!! 🤗
March 10, 2026
Happy release day to one of my faves of the year so far 💚 my arc review:
4.5 ★ Oh I loved this BAD. This is one of those romance books that you’re barely one chapter into and you know it’ll be a new favorite. I loved Fable and Theo and their romance so much, but this book was such a personal read and that’s what made it so special to me. Fable is literally me in a character. I related to her so much, with her struggles of not knowing what she wants to do in life and feeling lost. Feeling like we don’t know what our purpose is. I also loved how she was a little prickly, because same girl. I think her personality and Theo’s cinnamon roll energy made for the best banter, tension, and chemistry, aka some of my most favorite parts of a romance. This book had me giggling and kicking my feet one second and wiping my tears the next. As someone that is very close to their grandfather, Fable’s love and grief for hers made me hurt. I loved how he played such an important role in her story. Theo was such a sweet, cinnamon roll, down bad MMC that I absolutely adored and will be adding to my favorites list!! I loved how he was so supportive of Fable (and low key so obsessed) but also respectful of her boundaries and what was best for her. His background added so much depth to his character and made me feel so strongly for him. Also he’s a vet??? Loves animals?? Say less. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and I really loved how it was done in this book. I thought it made the tension even higher between these two and had me rooting for them to give in already!! I also love how they already had some history, I felt like that added a lot to the romance for me. Watching Fable slowly admit to her feelings was so cute. The bookstore plot was also so sweet and made my heart ACHE in the best way. I was tearing up by the end. This was truly so good and a romance I’ll be recommending over and over. Thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for my review!!
4.5 ★ Oh I loved this BAD. This is one of those romance books that you’re barely one chapter into and you know it’ll be a new favorite. I loved Fable and Theo and their romance so much, but this book was such a personal read and that’s what made it so special to me. Fable is literally me in a character. I related to her so much, with her struggles of not knowing what she wants to do in life and feeling lost. Feeling like we don’t know what our purpose is. I also loved how she was a little prickly, because same girl. I think her personality and Theo’s cinnamon roll energy made for the best banter, tension, and chemistry, aka some of my most favorite parts of a romance. This book had me giggling and kicking my feet one second and wiping my tears the next. As someone that is very close to their grandfather, Fable’s love and grief for hers made me hurt. I loved how he played such an important role in her story. Theo was such a sweet, cinnamon roll, down bad MMC that I absolutely adored and will be adding to my favorites list!! I loved how he was so supportive of Fable (and low key so obsessed) but also respectful of her boundaries and what was best for her. His background added so much depth to his character and made me feel so strongly for him. Also he’s a vet??? Loves animals?? Say less. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and I really loved how it was done in this book. I thought it made the tension even higher between these two and had me rooting for them to give in already!! I also love how they already had some history, I felt like that added a lot to the romance for me. Watching Fable slowly admit to her feelings was so cute. The bookstore plot was also so sweet and made my heart ACHE in the best way. I was tearing up by the end. This was truly so good and a romance I’ll be recommending over and over. Thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for my review!!
February 27, 2026
Give Me Butterflies was my first five-star read of 2025. I loved Fable and Theo’s characters in the first book, and I was excited to see that they would get their own story. Jillian Meadows did not disappoint with No Place Like You and it quickly made my first five-star read of 2026. I loved this book more than the first, if that is even possible. Fable and Theo are the perfect couple, and they were hilarious as they figured out how to transition from rivals/friends to fake dating. I loved how Theo was always there to support Fable’s dream of owning a bookstore. This book had the perfect balance of romance and spice, and I cannot wait to see what Jillian Meadows comes up with next.
I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of:
*Fake Dating
*Friends to Lovers
*Small Town Romance
*Adorable Animals
No Place Like You releases on March 10th.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to review No Place Like You. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of:
*Fake Dating
*Friends to Lovers
*Small Town Romance
*Adorable Animals
No Place Like You releases on March 10th.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to review No Place Like You. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Happy Release Day!!
3.5 stars
A really cute story with an underwhelming FMC.
This was a fast, easy read, and I really enjoyed Theo as the MMC. He had a complicated past and he was slowly working on dealing with all of that. Plus, he's a vet. Plus plus, he's a volunteer firefighter.
But I struggled a lot with Fable as the FMC. She has her moments and her Theo do jive pretty well, but Fable just seemed very young to me, very immature at times. She was also going through her own stuff, but she was almost 30 and was dealing with situations like she was 16.
And the ending...it was essentially a 3rd ac breakup. Followed up with what was basically a sorry, my bad...and then we're back together. Just...what? What's the point of a break up to come back together that easily? NOTHING. To me, that means it was put in there just to add in some tension and not to really do anything for the story.
Soooo cute story with some character issues 💚
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars
A really cute story with an underwhelming FMC.
This was a fast, easy read, and I really enjoyed Theo as the MMC. He had a complicated past and he was slowly working on dealing with all of that. Plus, he's a vet. Plus plus, he's a volunteer firefighter.
But I struggled a lot with Fable as the FMC. She has her moments and her Theo do jive pretty well, but Fable just seemed very young to me, very immature at times. She was also going through her own stuff, but she was almost 30 and was dealing with situations like she was 16.
And the ending...it was essentially a 3rd ac breakup. Followed up with what was basically a sorry, my bad...and then we're back together. Just...what? What's the point of a break up to come back together that easily? NOTHING. To me, that means it was put in there just to add in some tension and not to really do anything for the story.
Soooo cute story with some character issues 💚
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
November 29, 2025
▹TL;DR Review: I really liked this one (even more than Give Me Butterflies). Theo’s depth as a character and the small-town charm of this book are what really did it for me. This is book 2 in the series, but could be read as a standalone.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.75 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
A gracious thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced e-copy of this book. These opinions are my own. Check this out when it hits shelves on March 10, 2026!
──────────��──────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: Fable returns to her small hometown of Fern River after a series of failures, back to her parents’ home and to her late grandfather’s crumbling A-frame. Her life feels stalled—until her childhood friend-turned-high-school-rival, Theo Nikolaou, reappears. When Theo proposes a mutually beneficial fake-dating scheme (he needs to prove his stability to keep a vet job, she needs help fixing up the house), Fable agrees—but as they pretend to be in love, real feelings begin to take over. What starts as a plan to save their futures slowly becomes something real.
– FMC: Fabel Oaks (aka “sweetheart”). 28-years-old. A little lost in life. Grieving her grandpa and the dream they had of opening a book store. Struggles with self-worth. Holding a grudge against Theo, despite her once having a crush on him when they were kids.
– MMC: Theo Nikolaou. 29-years-old. Veterinarian that is trying to prove his commitment and stability by planting roots in his home town. Does not want to be in a relationship (due to past trauma). In need of healing from past hurts. Hard on himself. Has had a crush on Fable since they were kids.
– Location: Washington state (fictional small town)
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 5-6 open-door explicit spicy scenes
– Tropes: fake dating, childhood friends to rivals to lovers, small town, he’s a veterinarian AND volunteer fire fighter, healing arc, emotional growth, she’s a little mean to him and he loves it
– Content warning: grief (loss of grandparent to Alzheimer’s), abusive parent (off page), characters who feel like a “failure”
– Representation: tatted FMC, LGBTQ+ side characters
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Save Me by Aimee Mann
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ MMCs who grapple with the wake of an abusive father and try desperately to break that mold
➼ Books like Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams (but wish it were spicier), Secret Nights and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver, and More Than Words by Mia Sheridan
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———————✧————Slow Burn
Sweet——————✧——————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————✧———————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
Give me a character that is overcoming any abusive situation and I will fall in love with them. To me, it’s the perfect love story when both characters are hurting from something and they support each other through the healing (not trying to fix them, but just give them the room to heal). This book has a bit of that. And then add in the tension of childhood friends turned rivals? Chef’s kiss!
This also felt so different from book 1 (Give Me Butterflies), which actually worked really well for this series. That book was about two scientists, grumpyXsunshine, single parent. We get to see Millie and Finn (and the girls) briefly in this book, but it was just an echo, which allows this book and plot to sing beautifully on its own. You could easily read both books as a standalone (and honestly you could read them out of order if you wanted).
What worked for me:
Fable as a character was fun to read. A girl who is struggling with self-worth, who is currently down in the mud but trying to pick herself up (and who uses lingerie as a form of self-care) is a girl after my own heart. I also loved the banter and chemistry between Theo and Fable. And despite him “not wanting a real relationship”…he was down bad for her and I ate that up.
What didn’t quite work for me:
I fully respect and admire the author’s decision to leave the abusive parent nameless and voiceless. What I wish we had a little more of was even more depth to Theo’s inciting incident from the past that became the catalyst of him pulling away from Fable. I wished I was in that mind frame with him a little more to really feel his healing. I get why he pulled away, but I think there was a way to not go into detail about the abuse while also diving deeper into what caused him to spiral.
Would I Recommend?: Yes! I think I liked this even more than book 1, but it could be the tropes were more to my liking. The writing was fun, but knew how to transition between serious and flirty. It maybe isn’t the most unique fake-dating or friends to rivals to lovers out there, but it’s got a lot of heart and I’m sure will be relatable to many readers.
And I'm very excited for Tessa's book!
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.75 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
A gracious thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced e-copy of this book. These opinions are my own. Check this out when it hits shelves on March 10, 2026!
──────────��──────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: Fable returns to her small hometown of Fern River after a series of failures, back to her parents’ home and to her late grandfather’s crumbling A-frame. Her life feels stalled—until her childhood friend-turned-high-school-rival, Theo Nikolaou, reappears. When Theo proposes a mutually beneficial fake-dating scheme (he needs to prove his stability to keep a vet job, she needs help fixing up the house), Fable agrees—but as they pretend to be in love, real feelings begin to take over. What starts as a plan to save their futures slowly becomes something real.
– FMC: Fabel Oaks (aka “sweetheart”). 28-years-old. A little lost in life. Grieving her grandpa and the dream they had of opening a book store. Struggles with self-worth. Holding a grudge against Theo, despite her once having a crush on him when they were kids.
– MMC: Theo Nikolaou. 29-years-old. Veterinarian that is trying to prove his commitment and stability by planting roots in his home town. Does not want to be in a relationship (due to past trauma). In need of healing from past hurts. Hard on himself. Has had a crush on Fable since they were kids.
– Location: Washington state (fictional small town)
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 5-6 open-door explicit spicy scenes
– Tropes: fake dating, childhood friends to rivals to lovers, small town, he’s a veterinarian AND volunteer fire fighter, healing arc, emotional growth, she’s a little mean to him and he loves it
– Content warning: grief (loss of grandparent to Alzheimer’s), abusive parent (off page), characters who feel like a “failure”
– Representation: tatted FMC, LGBTQ+ side characters
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Save Me by Aimee Mann
╰┈➤ ❝But can you save me? Come on and save me…from the ranks of the freaks who suspect they could never love anyone…❞
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ MMCs who grapple with the wake of an abusive father and try desperately to break that mold
➼ Books like Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams (but wish it were spicier), Secret Nights and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver, and More Than Words by Mia Sheridan
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———————✧————Slow Burn
Sweet——————✧——————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————✧———————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
Give me a character that is overcoming any abusive situation and I will fall in love with them. To me, it’s the perfect love story when both characters are hurting from something and they support each other through the healing (not trying to fix them, but just give them the room to heal). This book has a bit of that. And then add in the tension of childhood friends turned rivals? Chef’s kiss!
This also felt so different from book 1 (Give Me Butterflies), which actually worked really well for this series. That book was about two scientists, grumpyXsunshine, single parent. We get to see Millie and Finn (and the girls) briefly in this book, but it was just an echo, which allows this book and plot to sing beautifully on its own. You could easily read both books as a standalone (and honestly you could read them out of order if you wanted).
What worked for me:
Fable as a character was fun to read. A girl who is struggling with self-worth, who is currently down in the mud but trying to pick herself up (and who uses lingerie as a form of self-care) is a girl after my own heart. I also loved the banter and chemistry between Theo and Fable. And despite him “not wanting a real relationship”…he was down bad for her and I ate that up.
What didn’t quite work for me:
I fully respect and admire the author’s decision to leave the abusive parent nameless and voiceless. What I wish we had a little more of was even more depth to Theo’s inciting incident from the past that became the catalyst of him pulling away from Fable. I wished I was in that mind frame with him a little more to really feel his healing. I get why he pulled away, but I think there was a way to not go into detail about the abuse while also diving deeper into what caused him to spiral.
Would I Recommend?: Yes! I think I liked this even more than book 1, but it could be the tropes were more to my liking. The writing was fun, but knew how to transition between serious and flirty. It maybe isn’t the most unique fake-dating or friends to rivals to lovers out there, but it’s got a lot of heart and I’m sure will be relatable to many readers.
And I'm very excited for Tessa's book!
January 25, 2026
any book with an a-frame is a winner to me!!
jillian meadows is such an underrated romance author right now and i won’t be having this. ever since i read give me butterflies, i knew that miss meadows was a small town romance author for me. her characters are so well written and i just love the softness of their love. it feels so wholesome, like a warm hug. she’s also writing just amazing men, like hello theo please come fix up my house and bring me to bookstores and buy me tacos and get me a dog… please!
fable is going through a lot in this book. she needs a life revamp because she’s just feeling lost and very sad because of the loss of her grandfather. her and theo strike up a fake dating deal, yay, that helps both of them career wise and home wise. the two also have a bit of a rocky past so there’s that to deal with. i loved the past element becuase i’m a second chance girlie for ever and ever but the slow burn of the fake dating plot had me swooning!!
while there were some things i wanted to be fleshed out a bit more, i. e. theo’s past and the reconciliation of the third act, i enjoyed this book overall. it does get annoying to constantly read romances that just send the characters to therapy in the end and call it a day so i appreciated how theo made plans with maddox to keep him on track. it made his going to therapy feel more real and less like a plot device. not sure how that fits into this section but apparently i wanted to mention it. we will obviously be getting a tessa story, i’m assuming but i have to be right, so i can’t wait to see what come of that!! honestly the perfect spring romance so be sure to pick this up in march!
*thank you avon and netgalley for the copy!*
jillian meadows is such an underrated romance author right now and i won’t be having this. ever since i read give me butterflies, i knew that miss meadows was a small town romance author for me. her characters are so well written and i just love the softness of their love. it feels so wholesome, like a warm hug. she’s also writing just amazing men, like hello theo please come fix up my house and bring me to bookstores and buy me tacos and get me a dog… please!
fable is going through a lot in this book. she needs a life revamp because she’s just feeling lost and very sad because of the loss of her grandfather. her and theo strike up a fake dating deal, yay, that helps both of them career wise and home wise. the two also have a bit of a rocky past so there’s that to deal with. i loved the past element becuase i’m a second chance girlie for ever and ever but the slow burn of the fake dating plot had me swooning!!
while there were some things i wanted to be fleshed out a bit more, i. e. theo’s past and the reconciliation of the third act, i enjoyed this book overall. it does get annoying to constantly read romances that just send the characters to therapy in the end and call it a day so i appreciated how theo made plans with maddox to keep him on track. it made his going to therapy feel more real and less like a plot device. not sure how that fits into this section but apparently i wanted to mention it. we will obviously be getting a tessa story, i’m assuming but i have to be right, so i can’t wait to see what come of that!! honestly the perfect spring romance so be sure to pick this up in march!
*thank you avon and netgalley for the copy!*
March 8, 2026
Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars. Fable's family support is what I strive to be able to provide for my kiddos. Their absolute support and belief in their daughter/sister melted my heart. The relationship between Fable and Theo was really fun and sweet. Fake dating is not my favorite trope, but I did enjoy their dynamic, mostly because they were friends first. I really liked the gradual build of spice throughout the book; they took their time progressing toward a physical relationship, and it felt so real.
Really enjoyed the book, would recommend to anyone who enjoys the tropes below!
*Friends/Frienemies to lovers
*Small town
*Childhood trauma
*Grief
*Fake dating
*Dual POV
Format: audiobook
Thank you NetGalley, Jillian Meadows, and HarperAudio for the ALC!
Really enjoyed the book, would recommend to anyone who enjoys the tropes below!
*Friends/Frienemies to lovers
*Small town
*Childhood trauma
*Grief
*Fake dating
*Dual POV
Format: audiobook
Thank you NetGalley, Jillian Meadows, and HarperAudio for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Avon for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I JUST finished this book and I already want to read it all over again (and I DEFINITELY will once I get my hands on the audiobook 😍).
I loved absolutely EVERYTHING about this, it was perfect ♾️ all the stars
no notes 11/10 def recommend
No Place Like You had me swooning,
laughing out loud, sobbing - all of the feels 🥹
I absolutely adored both Fable & Theo SO MUCH 🥰
Fable is a little lost, grieving her Gramps & trying to figure out her path.
Theo knows what he wants in his career & life, but doesn’t think he a real relationship, thanks to trauma from his past & abusive father.
The time they spend together leads them both to see how much more they deserve in life, & how they can be there for each other in it all.
I love how often they’re in their own little bubble, and the rest of the world ceases to exist 🥹
and THEIR BANTER my goodness, I was definitely laughing out loud often, between my tears.
“I dream about that freckle.” 🫠🫠
moments from my notes:
• PROTECT THIS MAN AT ALL COSTS
• the lobster 🦞 beanie baby I’m ☠️
• I WANNA HUG THEO
• that drive in movie scene 😮💨
• I love how much he loves when she’s mean to him 😅
• Theo & Fable’s dad 😭😭
Give Me Butterflies (book 1) is a fav read of mine, and I had HIGH expectations going into this - they were all met AND exceeded 💫
✦ tropes & stuff:
💫 childhood friends to rivals to lovers
🥸 fake dating
💙 best friend’s brother
🩺 veterinarian mmc (& volunteer firefighter 🔥)
📚 booklover fmc figuring out her path
💔 grief rep
🛠 home renovations
❤️🩹 caretaking
🫶🏼 family + found family
🌳 small town
💞 dual 1st person pov
ebook | ⭐️: ♾ | 🌶️: open door, a few scenes |
📖 No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows
📚 book 2 • Oak Sisters series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
I JUST finished this book and I already want to read it all over again (and I DEFINITELY will once I get my hands on the audiobook 😍).
I loved absolutely EVERYTHING about this, it was perfect ♾️ all the stars
no notes 11/10 def recommend
No Place Like You had me swooning,
laughing out loud, sobbing - all of the feels 🥹
I absolutely adored both Fable & Theo SO MUCH 🥰
Fable is a little lost, grieving her Gramps & trying to figure out her path.
Theo knows what he wants in his career & life, but doesn’t think he a real relationship, thanks to trauma from his past & abusive father.
The time they spend together leads them both to see how much more they deserve in life, & how they can be there for each other in it all.
I love how often they’re in their own little bubble, and the rest of the world ceases to exist 🥹
and THEIR BANTER my goodness, I was definitely laughing out loud often, between my tears.
“I dream about that freckle.” 🫠🫠
moments from my notes:
• PROTECT THIS MAN AT ALL COSTS
• the lobster 🦞 beanie baby I’m ☠️
• I WANNA HUG THEO
• that drive in movie scene 😮💨
• I love how much he loves when she’s mean to him 😅
• Theo & Fable’s dad 😭😭
Give Me Butterflies (book 1) is a fav read of mine, and I had HIGH expectations going into this - they were all met AND exceeded 💫
✦ tropes & stuff:
💫 childhood friends to rivals to lovers
🥸 fake dating
💙 best friend’s brother
🩺 veterinarian mmc (& volunteer firefighter 🔥)
📚 booklover fmc figuring out her path
💔 grief rep
🛠 home renovations
❤️🩹 caretaking
🫶🏼 family + found family
🌳 small town
💞 dual 1st person pov
ebook | ⭐️: ♾ | 🌶️: open door, a few scenes |
📖 No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows
📚 book 2 • Oak Sisters series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
December 1, 2025
i’m in SHAMBLES OVER MY LOVE FOR THEM
March 22, 2026
3 / 5 ⭐
3 / 5 🌶️
Dual POV 👀
Spicy chapters: 14, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, Epilogue 🔥
Theo (MMC) and Fable (FMC)
After reading all 368 pages of this book, I still cannot understand why the MC's stopped speaking to each other FOR YEARS after an incident in high-school graduation. Like: Ok, something embarrassing happened but, so what? Why did Fable hold a grudge against Theo for something that was so clearly an accident? Especially because Fable KNOWS that Theo was going through a lot of traumatic things in his life at that time, since she's best friends with his sister. It just makes 0 sense 🤯😩🤬🤷🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️.
Also, why Fable went from being at the top of her game in high-school as an overachiever to an indecisive mess in college? To me, that seems far fetched. And why did her "perfect parents" enable her, instead of holding her accountable for her decisions? i.e. dropping out from college, etc.🤷🏼♀️😒🙄
I personally didn't connect with the MC's, especially Fable. She's just so moody, childish and impulsive... 😮💨
At the start of the book Fable is basically a mess who behaves like a toddler, yet Theo (a successful vet & volunteer firefighter) is completely crazy/smitten with her... why exactly? Because personally, I do not find the FMC charming, especially the awful way she treats and speaks to him 🙃.
The FMC keeps threatening violence against the MMC and frankly, it gets old fast 😩🙄😑😖😒.
This book was ok. Not great, not terrible. Just meh.
Happy reading 📚
3 / 5 🌶️
Dual POV 👀
Spicy chapters: 14, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, Epilogue 🔥
Theo (MMC) and Fable (FMC)
After reading all 368 pages of this book, I still cannot understand why the MC's stopped speaking to each other FOR YEARS after an incident in high-school graduation. Like: Ok, something embarrassing happened but, so what? Why did Fable hold a grudge against Theo for something that was so clearly an accident? Especially because Fable KNOWS that Theo was going through a lot of traumatic things in his life at that time, since she's best friends with his sister. It just makes 0 sense 🤯😩🤬🤷🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️.
Also, why Fable went from being at the top of her game in high-school as an overachiever to an indecisive mess in college? To me, that seems far fetched. And why did her "perfect parents" enable her, instead of holding her accountable for her decisions? i.e. dropping out from college, etc.🤷🏼♀️😒🙄
I personally didn't connect with the MC's, especially Fable. She's just so moody, childish and impulsive... 😮💨
At the start of the book Fable is basically a mess who behaves like a toddler, yet Theo (a successful vet & volunteer firefighter) is completely crazy/smitten with her... why exactly? Because personally, I do not find the FMC charming, especially the awful way she treats and speaks to him 🙃.
The FMC keeps threatening violence against the MMC and frankly, it gets old fast 😩🙄😑😖😒.
This book was ok. Not great, not terrible. Just meh.
Happy reading 📚
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was so cute! There is just something about the way that Jillian Meadows writes a small town romance that has me falling in love with the characters she creates and so invested in their story to find love. In this one, Fable is struggling with what to do with her life as she's on yet another job, which Theo works at the vet office in town and really wants to buy the practice and finally set down roots in the small town. No one believes he's staying for good, though, so a misunderstanding leads to Fable and Theo agreeing to fake date, even though they haven't gotten along since high school. There were so much emotional depth with these two characters and what they were going through, and I loved how they were able to open up to one another as they were fake dating, which caused them to reopen old wounds with one another and realize how much they missed each other and need each other. Their journey was so sweet and I definitely recommend grabbing this one when it releases!!
March 11, 2026
3.75/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️
No Place Like You is the second installment in the Oaks Sisters series, and it delivers a sweet, small-town romance with one of my favorite tropes: fake dating.
Fable Oaks returns to Fern River after a series of life setbacks, only to find herself living in her parents’ backyard while trying to restore her late grandfather’s beloved A-frame. What she doesn’t expect is running back into Theo Nikolaou—her former best friend turned complicated history. Theo has returned to town with plans of his own, and when the two realize a fake relationship could help them both get what they want, they decide to play along for the town. Of course, the longer they pretend, the harder it becomes to ignore the very real chemistry between them.
One thing I expected a little more of—based on the blurb—was an enemies-to-lovers vibe. In reality, their dynamic felt more like reluctant friends to lovers with some lingering history and tension rather than true adversaries. That didn’t take away from the story, but if you’re going in expecting a stronger enemies-to-lovers dynamic, it’s worth adjusting that expectation.
The audiobook is narrated by Victoria Connolly and Tim Paige, and they both did a great job bringing the characters to life. My one small gripe is with the narration style itself. In the age of technology, I really wish more audiobooks would move toward duet narration instead of dual narration. Hearing the female narrator voice the male characters—and vice versa—can pull me out of the story a bit.
That said, the performances were strong and engaging, and overall I really enjoyed this audiobook. If you like small-town romances, fake dating, and second-chance friendships turning into love, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Thanks to the author, their publisher and NetGalley for an ALC of this novel.
1.5/5 🌶️
No Place Like You is the second installment in the Oaks Sisters series, and it delivers a sweet, small-town romance with one of my favorite tropes: fake dating.
Fable Oaks returns to Fern River after a series of life setbacks, only to find herself living in her parents’ backyard while trying to restore her late grandfather’s beloved A-frame. What she doesn’t expect is running back into Theo Nikolaou—her former best friend turned complicated history. Theo has returned to town with plans of his own, and when the two realize a fake relationship could help them both get what they want, they decide to play along for the town. Of course, the longer they pretend, the harder it becomes to ignore the very real chemistry between them.
One thing I expected a little more of—based on the blurb—was an enemies-to-lovers vibe. In reality, their dynamic felt more like reluctant friends to lovers with some lingering history and tension rather than true adversaries. That didn’t take away from the story, but if you’re going in expecting a stronger enemies-to-lovers dynamic, it’s worth adjusting that expectation.
The audiobook is narrated by Victoria Connolly and Tim Paige, and they both did a great job bringing the characters to life. My one small gripe is with the narration style itself. In the age of technology, I really wish more audiobooks would move toward duet narration instead of dual narration. Hearing the female narrator voice the male characters—and vice versa—can pull me out of the story a bit.
That said, the performances were strong and engaging, and overall I really enjoyed this audiobook. If you like small-town romances, fake dating, and second-chance friendships turning into love, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Thanks to the author, their publisher and NetGalley for an ALC of this novel.
March 19, 2026
I NEED a soft temple kiss from Theo.
November 27, 2025
This book is quite literally “Mary’s Song” by Taylor Swift.
Theo was such a complex character that I found myself falling head over heels for him. His trauma was heartbreaking and added an emotional feel to this read without feeling too heavy.
I loved seeing Fable find her footing in life and stand her ground. Her struggles were so raw and relatable I found myself admiring how strong of a woman she was to keep trying again after so many failures. It gave me hope for myself. The words of wisdom in here really kept me going. I think I needed to hear those words more than anything, and now I’ll be living by them indefinitely.
I enjoyed Fable and Theo together SO MUCH. Not only are they freaking hilarious with their banter, but the way Theo loved Fable wholly and loudly is the cutest thing! I ate it UP. There’s just something about a hero that loves to annoy their girl and a spitfire heroine with insanely funny comebacks. I may have a few complaints about them here and there, but I enjoyed the couple as a whole, so don’t let my picky self deter you. Them coaching girls soccer together was downright the cutest thing! There’s nothing better than a man that’s good with kids after all.
The main thing that sucked about this read is that when Fable and Theo started to be more open with their feelings, it became so cringe. I definitely liked the two together more at the beginning—they were just super cringe worthy in the end. Still a cute and humorous pair that I’ll definitely be editing in the future though! Also, to Theo… you have my heart. I miss you already.
I love that animals are such a huge part of this book. They truly are the best companions, and I loved to see that shown in this story. Might’ve been my favorite part!
Sadly, as much as I USUALLY love the nosey townsfolk/people trying to push the MCs together trope, this one didn’t deliver the usual humor that would accompany it. It was just overall way too corny for my taste. A little annoying too.
Something I just absolutely HATE is when characters make a big deal of absolutely NOTHING. What Theo did at the parade was an accident, and for that to cause a feud was ridiculous. Totally unnecessary. As much as I enjoyed the banter that rivals to lovers come with, I can’t lie and say it was understandable. It wasn’t. Wayyyy too exaggerated.
Now I’m not saying I didn’t like this read—I know I had a lot of complaints, but I still enjoyed it. It had redeemable qualities. I wasn’t obsessed with this, but I would still recommend it to anyone looking for a cheesy little romcom that gets you believing in love again.
𓃦 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Childhood friends to rivals to lovers
Second chance (in a way?)
Nosey townsfolk
HE fell first
Small town
BANTER
Grief rep
Found family
Fake dating
3.1 ★
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
Theo was such a complex character that I found myself falling head over heels for him. His trauma was heartbreaking and added an emotional feel to this read without feeling too heavy.
I loved seeing Fable find her footing in life and stand her ground. Her struggles were so raw and relatable I found myself admiring how strong of a woman she was to keep trying again after so many failures. It gave me hope for myself. The words of wisdom in here really kept me going. I think I needed to hear those words more than anything, and now I’ll be living by them indefinitely.
I enjoyed Fable and Theo together SO MUCH. Not only are they freaking hilarious with their banter, but the way Theo loved Fable wholly and loudly is the cutest thing! I ate it UP. There’s just something about a hero that loves to annoy their girl and a spitfire heroine with insanely funny comebacks. I may have a few complaints about them here and there, but I enjoyed the couple as a whole, so don’t let my picky self deter you. Them coaching girls soccer together was downright the cutest thing! There’s nothing better than a man that’s good with kids after all.
The main thing that sucked about this read is that when Fable and Theo started to be more open with their feelings, it became so cringe. I definitely liked the two together more at the beginning—they were just super cringe worthy in the end. Still a cute and humorous pair that I’ll definitely be editing in the future though! Also, to Theo… you have my heart. I miss you already.
I love that animals are such a huge part of this book. They truly are the best companions, and I loved to see that shown in this story. Might’ve been my favorite part!
Sadly, as much as I USUALLY love the nosey townsfolk/people trying to push the MCs together trope, this one didn’t deliver the usual humor that would accompany it. It was just overall way too corny for my taste. A little annoying too.
Something I just absolutely HATE is when characters make a big deal of absolutely NOTHING. What Theo did at the parade was an accident, and for that to cause a feud was ridiculous. Totally unnecessary. As much as I enjoyed the banter that rivals to lovers come with, I can’t lie and say it was understandable. It wasn’t. Wayyyy too exaggerated.
Now I’m not saying I didn’t like this read—I know I had a lot of complaints, but I still enjoyed it. It had redeemable qualities. I wasn’t obsessed with this, but I would still recommend it to anyone looking for a cheesy little romcom that gets you believing in love again.
𓃦 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Childhood friends to rivals to lovers
Second chance (in a way?)
Nosey townsfolk
HE fell first
Small town
BANTER
Grief rep
Found family
Fake dating
3.1 ★
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
January 21, 2026
okkkk i LOVEDDD IT!!! yall know i LOVE childhood friends to lovers but this one put a little spin on it, childhood friends to RIVALS to eventual lovers 😭 (and he’s had a crush on her forever??? hello even better???) THE TENSION was something else in this book & i ate it upppppp. it has my more of my favorite tropes: fake dating (hehe) & THE NICKNAME SWEETHEART!!!!
the mmc in this is such a breath of fresh air: basically a golden retriever in man form (and he’s even a vet hehe) and i would love to take a bite outta him (iykyk)
i also LOVED the fmc in this book, i relate a lot to her, feeling like im just floating through life & don’t really know who i am (ok depressing) anyway the banter in this book really did it for me, i love when they argue but without any heat heheheh. yall please read this when it releases, you won’t regret it ☺️
thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3
the mmc in this is such a breath of fresh air: basically a golden retriever in man form (and he’s even a vet hehe) and i would love to take a bite outta him (iykyk)
i also LOVED the fmc in this book, i relate a lot to her, feeling like im just floating through life & don’t really know who i am (ok depressing) anyway the banter in this book really did it for me, i love when they argue but without any heat heheheh. yall please read this when it releases, you won’t regret it ☺️
thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3
March 10, 2026
No Place Like You is a fake dating, childhood friends turned high school rivals to lovers romance, with forced proximity, caretaking, home renovations (in exchange for fake dates), and small town vibes! Also this cover is soo pretty and the colors of it really work for me, I’ve thought about it nonstop for months before it even came out.
Theo and Fable’s story! Theo is a veterinarian and when he hears his current boss is retiring, he hopes he’d be offered the chance to take over and become the new owner. But his boss tells him he’d rather go with Theo’s coworker who he knows is settled and has roots in their small town, whereas with Theo he isn’t sure about his future. Around the same time, Theo’s mom (and others in the town) mistakenly think that Theo is dating Fable, his childhood friend turned somewhat rival in high school. Theo’s boss overhears and is impressed with thinking Theo will be settling in town after all with an Oaks sister to boot (Fable’s family is beloved in town).
So now Theo has to convince Fable to go along with the fake dating! In exchange for fake dates with her to keep the lie going, Theo says he’ll help Fable with her home reno projects she’s currently drowning in. This was super sweet and cute to see Theo & Fable’s relationship play out. I also loved Fable’s relationship with her late grandfather and how he always wanted them to open a bookstore together. Those memories were so bittersweet and tender. I’ve been reading this author since they were an indie author and it’s so fun to see their success and growth now as a trad published author. I feel like their books keep getting better! Overall this was so cute!
I received an ARC/ALC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.
CW: grief and loss of a grandparent, mentions of Alzheimer’s, mentions of domestic and child abuse (off page, in the past), alcohol abuse
Theo and Fable’s story! Theo is a veterinarian and when he hears his current boss is retiring, he hopes he’d be offered the chance to take over and become the new owner. But his boss tells him he’d rather go with Theo’s coworker who he knows is settled and has roots in their small town, whereas with Theo he isn’t sure about his future. Around the same time, Theo’s mom (and others in the town) mistakenly think that Theo is dating Fable, his childhood friend turned somewhat rival in high school. Theo’s boss overhears and is impressed with thinking Theo will be settling in town after all with an Oaks sister to boot (Fable’s family is beloved in town).
So now Theo has to convince Fable to go along with the fake dating! In exchange for fake dates with her to keep the lie going, Theo says he’ll help Fable with her home reno projects she’s currently drowning in. This was super sweet and cute to see Theo & Fable’s relationship play out. I also loved Fable’s relationship with her late grandfather and how he always wanted them to open a bookstore together. Those memories were so bittersweet and tender. I’ve been reading this author since they were an indie author and it’s so fun to see their success and growth now as a trad published author. I feel like their books keep getting better! Overall this was so cute!
I received an ARC/ALC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.
CW: grief and loss of a grandparent, mentions of Alzheimer’s, mentions of domestic and child abuse (off page, in the past), alcohol abuse
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the ARC. This in no way affects my opinion*
What do you do with your ex best friend turned rival? Why start a secretly not so secret fake relationship of course! Honestly, I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started this. I just knew it was by Jillian so I was going to enjoy it but I was blown away instead.
Theo and Fable compliment each other so well. I love how they were there each other even when they were rivals. I really don't have much to say other than it was utterly precious. Theo is everyhing. And the mouth on that man? Yes, please 🥵
The conflict was honestly so relatable and I've never experienced that with a book before. I also related a lot to Fable and her feeling like everyone else around her has their life together when it feels like shes just floating in limbo.
I really loved all of Jillians work but I think this one is her best one yet. You can really tell she wrote from personal experience and from the heart.
I am BEGGING you to read this book when it comes out March 10th, 2026. In the meantime, read Give Me Butterflies and experience Fables sister Millie and her beau Finns love story.
Please note: this book does have some heavy grief in it so please take care if that may be triggering for you as well as mention of off page parental abuse ❤️
What do you do with your ex best friend turned rival? Why start a secretly not so secret fake relationship of course! Honestly, I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started this. I just knew it was by Jillian so I was going to enjoy it but I was blown away instead.
Theo and Fable compliment each other so well. I love how they were there each other even when they were rivals. I really don't have much to say other than it was utterly precious. Theo is everyhing. And the mouth on that man? Yes, please 🥵
The conflict was honestly so relatable and I've never experienced that with a book before. I also related a lot to Fable and her feeling like everyone else around her has their life together when it feels like shes just floating in limbo.
I really loved all of Jillians work but I think this one is her best one yet. You can really tell she wrote from personal experience and from the heart.
I am BEGGING you to read this book when it comes out March 10th, 2026. In the meantime, read Give Me Butterflies and experience Fables sister Millie and her beau Finns love story.
Please note: this book does have some heavy grief in it so please take care if that may be triggering for you as well as mention of off page parental abuse ❤️
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