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Pine Falls #1
Operation Make Naomi a Boss
Naomi Tillman is a restless dreamer. She spends her free time musing about a
life filled with adventure and imagining what a love story of her own might look like
someday. She also happens to be a self-proclaimed people-pleaser, finding it nearly
impossible to say no to anyone. An unfortunate incident leaves her feeling discouraged
and determined to become comfortable standing up to her overbearing father and gain
the courage to start her own baking business.
Robbie Leery lives his life on a whim, a quintessential chaotic artist who flies
by the seat of his pants. He travels the country playing shows with his band, only
stopping in his hometown—also the city he despises most in the entire world—Pine
Falls, Minnesota, for a day or two at a time. However, when his best friend, Naomi,
needs his help, he doesn’t hesitate to jump right in—even when that includes offering to
be her fake boyfriend.
And so begins Operation Make Naomi a Boss. A series of lessons Robbie
curates to help Naomi get comfortable standing up for herself. What neither of them
anticipates, however, is how the project will end up being a catalyst to changing both of
their lives forever—in more ways than one.
Will Robbie’s unexpected feelings for Naomi help to soften his heart to Pine Falls
enough to want to stay? And will she gain what she needs from this project enough to
pull the trigger on making all her dreams come true?
life filled with adventure and imagining what a love story of her own might look like
someday. She also happens to be a self-proclaimed people-pleaser, finding it nearly
impossible to say no to anyone. An unfortunate incident leaves her feeling discouraged
and determined to become comfortable standing up to her overbearing father and gain
the courage to start her own baking business.
Robbie Leery lives his life on a whim, a quintessential chaotic artist who flies
by the seat of his pants. He travels the country playing shows with his band, only
stopping in his hometown—also the city he despises most in the entire world—Pine
Falls, Minnesota, for a day or two at a time. However, when his best friend, Naomi,
needs his help, he doesn’t hesitate to jump right in—even when that includes offering to
be her fake boyfriend.
And so begins Operation Make Naomi a Boss. A series of lessons Robbie
curates to help Naomi get comfortable standing up for herself. What neither of them
anticipates, however, is how the project will end up being a catalyst to changing both of
their lives forever—in more ways than one.
Will Robbie’s unexpected feelings for Naomi help to soften his heart to Pine Falls
enough to want to stay? And will she gain what she needs from this project enough to
pull the trigger on making all her dreams come true?
- GenresRomanceFake Dating
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2025
29 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Megan Reinking
7 books163 followersMegan Reinking is a wife and mother who lives in Minnesota, where she spends her days reading, writing, or chauffeuring her three children around town. She's a homebody who loves quiet, lazy days and connecting with family and friends.
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July 17, 2025
UPDATE: NOW AVAILABLE AND ON KU
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
Operation Make Naomi a boss by Megan Reinking
Publication date: July 17th 2025
Thoughts
This was such a wholesome Romcom🫠 loved everything about it from setting to characters, even the overbearing family dynamics that's where my love for the writing style comes in, Megan writes in such a way that it makes you resonate/understand the character even the insufferable ones, the characters are written in such a way that as a reader you feel like you've encountered people with such personalities in your own life; which leads me to another thing I loved about this book -- as a people pleaser myself I need to find myself a Robbie😂 this book had me laughing, feeling for both characters and of course rooting for the FMC -- Megan mentioned that she doesn’t know how to write characters without emotional depth to them and I'll be honest this had me even more intrigued to read this book because this storyline was so sweet and lighthearted but the way she incorporated the family drama and Robbie's past trauma was so beautifully done, I felt like I was living their story with them! I can't wait for the series to continue
TROPES
▪︎ Friends to lovers
▪︎ Small town
▪︎ Fake dating
▪︎ Forced proximity
▪︎ Dual POV
▪︎ Band member MMC
▪︎ FMC who has a passion for baking
▪︎ Overbearing families
▪︎ Romcom
▪︎ Building confidence
▪︎ Closed door / fade to black
Plot Summary
Naomi is a people pleaser who's had enough of putting herself and her feelings last, she resorts to practicing saying no with her best friend Robbie who takes the role very seriously that he starts "operation making Naomi a boss " and even goes a step further and offers to be her fake boyfriend, as each challenge is set sparks start to form between them when they least expect it
Many thanks to the author for the ARC
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
Operation Make Naomi a boss by Megan Reinking
Publication date: July 17th 2025
Thoughts
This was such a wholesome Romcom🫠 loved everything about it from setting to characters, even the overbearing family dynamics that's where my love for the writing style comes in, Megan writes in such a way that it makes you resonate/understand the character even the insufferable ones, the characters are written in such a way that as a reader you feel like you've encountered people with such personalities in your own life; which leads me to another thing I loved about this book -- as a people pleaser myself I need to find myself a Robbie😂 this book had me laughing, feeling for both characters and of course rooting for the FMC -- Megan mentioned that she doesn’t know how to write characters without emotional depth to them and I'll be honest this had me even more intrigued to read this book because this storyline was so sweet and lighthearted but the way she incorporated the family drama and Robbie's past trauma was so beautifully done, I felt like I was living their story with them! I can't wait for the series to continue
TROPES
▪︎ Friends to lovers
▪︎ Small town
▪︎ Fake dating
▪︎ Forced proximity
▪︎ Dual POV
▪︎ Band member MMC
▪︎ FMC who has a passion for baking
▪︎ Overbearing families
▪︎ Romcom
▪︎ Building confidence
▪︎ Closed door / fade to black
Plot Summary
Naomi is a people pleaser who's had enough of putting herself and her feelings last, she resorts to practicing saying no with her best friend Robbie who takes the role very seriously that he starts "operation making Naomi a boss " and even goes a step further and offers to be her fake boyfriend, as each challenge is set sparks start to form between them when they least expect it
Many thanks to the author for the ARC
June 17, 2025
“That it’s starting to feel like the only pretending I’m doing is being your friend” not me kicking my feet & grinning like a little girl🤭
This was my first Megan Reinking book & I definitely won’t be my last! This was such a feel good, easy read. Sometimes you just need a cute story like this. I loved it. Always love a fake dating, friends to lovers trope. I eat it up every single time! There was no spice & that’s ok. As a people pleaser my whole life, I can relate to this story very highly. Definitely took some notes to better myself!
Thank you so much Megan for this ARC🩷 now I desperately need a sweet treat!
This was my first Megan Reinking book & I definitely won’t be my last! This was such a feel good, easy read. Sometimes you just need a cute story like this. I loved it. Always love a fake dating, friends to lovers trope. I eat it up every single time! There was no spice & that’s ok. As a people pleaser my whole life, I can relate to this story very highly. Definitely took some notes to better myself!
Thank you so much Megan for this ARC🩷 now I desperately need a sweet treat!
June 17, 2025
I’m the author so obviously I’m biased, but I love this book with my whole heart ♥️ Naomi and Robbie’s story is a light and fun, smile-inducing romcom that I wrote at a time when I needed something easy in my life. Something that felt good and maybe even made me laugh! While there is a bit of emotional depth as well, my goal was to write something that would be able to spread some happiness. I hope you find that in this book. Thank you endlessly for reading!!
Read if you love:
🧁 Romcom
🧁 Friends to Lovers
🧁 Small Town
🧁 Fake Dating
🧁 Forced Proximity
🧁 Confidence building lessons
🧁 Dual POV
🧁 Fade to Black
Read if you love:
🧁 Romcom
🧁 Friends to Lovers
🧁 Small Town
🧁 Fake Dating
🧁 Forced Proximity
🧁 Confidence building lessons
🧁 Dual POV
🧁 Fade to Black
June 20, 2025
There’s just something about a small town Minnesota setting, fake dating, and friends-to-lovers that always hits the spot!
This story is wholesome in all the best ways - sweet, swoony, and packed with just the right amount of heart. If you’re looking for a quick, feel-good romance that delivers a satisfying happily ever after, this one checks every box.
It’s the perfect cozy read for when you want low angst, lovable characters, and a love story that’ll leave you smiling.
This story is wholesome in all the best ways - sweet, swoony, and packed with just the right amount of heart. If you’re looking for a quick, feel-good romance that delivers a satisfying happily ever after, this one checks every box.
It’s the perfect cozy read for when you want low angst, lovable characters, and a love story that’ll leave you smiling.
July 12, 2025
Operation Make Naomi a Boss is exactly the kind of book that leaves you smiling. Naomi is a people-pleaser who struggles to say no, and Robbie helps her learn how to create boundaries, chase her dreams, and recognize her own worth. That journey alone is inspiring—before you even get to the love story.
It’s not easy to make a friends-to-lovers romance feel believable when there hasn’t been any prior romantic tension, but the fake relationship trope is used effectively here. It gives both Naomi and Robbie the space to see each other differently, and their first kiss absolutely delivers on the chemistry.
I especially appreciated the nuance in how the story portrays emotional growth—some characters aren’t villains, but they do place unrealistic demands on others without realizing the cost. That message, along with the theme of showing up for the people you care about, really resonated. Both Naomi and Robbie also have complicated relationships with their parents, and those dynamics play an important part in their development.
Structurally, the plot centres more on Naomi’s dream of opening a bakery, so the romance feels more like a subplot than the main event—which sets this apart from more typical contemporary romances, but not in a bad way.
Readers should be aware that Naomi and Robbie sleep together outside marriage, and move in together without any discussion of marriage. This is a closed-door romance; there’s no on-page intimacy or even a fade-to-black scene, but some readers may not expect the sexual relationship in this genre, so this is just a heads-up.
If you’re looking for a warm, affirming read with realistic emotional stakes, strong character arcs, and a satisfying slow-burn romance, this one’s for you.
It’s not easy to make a friends-to-lovers romance feel believable when there hasn’t been any prior romantic tension, but the fake relationship trope is used effectively here. It gives both Naomi and Robbie the space to see each other differently, and their first kiss absolutely delivers on the chemistry.
I especially appreciated the nuance in how the story portrays emotional growth—some characters aren’t villains, but they do place unrealistic demands on others without realizing the cost. That message, along with the theme of showing up for the people you care about, really resonated. Both Naomi and Robbie also have complicated relationships with their parents, and those dynamics play an important part in their development.
Structurally, the plot centres more on Naomi’s dream of opening a bakery, so the romance feels more like a subplot than the main event—which sets this apart from more typical contemporary romances, but not in a bad way.
Readers should be aware that Naomi and Robbie sleep together outside marriage, and move in together without any discussion of marriage. This is a closed-door romance; there’s no on-page intimacy or even a fade-to-black scene, but some readers may not expect the sexual relationship in this genre, so this is just a heads-up.
If you’re looking for a warm, affirming read with realistic emotional stakes, strong character arcs, and a satisfying slow-burn romance, this one’s for you.
July 1, 2025
4.5 Stars.
🧁The vibes:
- people pleaser
- Dual pov
- Fake dating
- Family dynamics
- Finding confidence
- Closed door
🧁 My thoughts:
When Naomi really struggles standing up for herself, her friend Robbie volunteers to help her become a boss in all areas of her life. There’s fake dating, standing up to controlling family members, and a huge dilemma of “he hates this town” and “she will never leave this town” to really shake things up. This book is pure fun with two sunshine personalities and a friendship that blooms into something more.
🧁I loved how fun Robbie and Naomi were. They both had the coolest personalities that I don’t often see put together in books. Naomi with her baking dreams and Robbie with his music career had such fun jobs I loved to see. Their friendship truly felt like JUST friendship in the beginning with zero chemistry and I really liked seeing this in a friends to lovers story.
🧁I also liked seeing both characters handle respective family dysfunctions. The way they both encouraged each other in this area was a favorite element for me.
🧁The only thing that I wish I got to see was more of Robbie and Naomi in the future and how their occupation dynamic worked out long term.
🧁The vibes of this book were just so happy and light. It’s pure fun and the perfect, quick summer read to add to your list. I have loved Megan’s backlist but this just might be my new favorite.
Note- closed door
Release date: July 17, 2025.
Thank you so much to Megan Reinking for the gifted copy.
🧁The vibes:
- people pleaser
- Dual pov
- Fake dating
- Family dynamics
- Finding confidence
- Closed door
🧁 My thoughts:
When Naomi really struggles standing up for herself, her friend Robbie volunteers to help her become a boss in all areas of her life. There’s fake dating, standing up to controlling family members, and a huge dilemma of “he hates this town” and “she will never leave this town” to really shake things up. This book is pure fun with two sunshine personalities and a friendship that blooms into something more.
🧁I loved how fun Robbie and Naomi were. They both had the coolest personalities that I don’t often see put together in books. Naomi with her baking dreams and Robbie with his music career had such fun jobs I loved to see. Their friendship truly felt like JUST friendship in the beginning with zero chemistry and I really liked seeing this in a friends to lovers story.
🧁I also liked seeing both characters handle respective family dysfunctions. The way they both encouraged each other in this area was a favorite element for me.
🧁The only thing that I wish I got to see was more of Robbie and Naomi in the future and how their occupation dynamic worked out long term.
🧁The vibes of this book were just so happy and light. It’s pure fun and the perfect, quick summer read to add to your list. I have loved Megan’s backlist but this just might be my new favorite.
Note- closed door
Release date: July 17, 2025.
Thank you so much to Megan Reinking for the gifted copy.
July 1, 2025
I was an ARC reader for this book. It was a cute clean romance and so much more. Both main characters had more going on than just falling in love. Fun and easy read!!
June 19, 2025
Give me all the baking/ friends to lovers tropes out there! I just loved this story! Naomi and Robbie are adorable and I loved their friendship and romance.
June 26, 2025
Cute story. Kind of a slow burn, but kept me interested. Overall a good, light hearted read!
June 29, 2025
I received this as an ARC & all opinions are my own. ✨
This was my first book by Megan and it will not be my last. I loved every single second of this! If you loved The Cheat Sheet, you’ll adore this.
From their adorable banter & friendship, so the natural progression of their love story — every single thing was written so well. It was believable, and it kept me wanting to read more. I was intrigued by the story of Naomi wanting to not be a people pleaser anymore & I loved how Robbie handled it. He pushed her but also was gentle with her. She was gentle with him too, as he navigated past trauma from his family. They both gave space to each-other & were ready to listen when the other needed it.
Their love was so pure and tender and perfect. The amount of times I was GIDDY & was just getting butterflies galore is unmatched.
Go read this when it comes out. PLEASE!
This was my first book by Megan and it will not be my last. I loved every single second of this! If you loved The Cheat Sheet, you’ll adore this.
From their adorable banter & friendship, so the natural progression of their love story — every single thing was written so well. It was believable, and it kept me wanting to read more. I was intrigued by the story of Naomi wanting to not be a people pleaser anymore & I loved how Robbie handled it. He pushed her but also was gentle with her. She was gentle with him too, as he navigated past trauma from his family. They both gave space to each-other & were ready to listen when the other needed it.
Their love was so pure and tender and perfect. The amount of times I was GIDDY & was just getting butterflies galore is unmatched.
Go read this when it comes out. PLEASE!
July 17, 2025
Such a charming little romance! Naomi & Robbie’s friendship/relationship is adorable and undeniably strong.
I love the baking theme in this story! I’m a baker myself and really enjoyed Naomi’s love for it & the unfinching support that Robbie displays throughout the 300 pages.
Not only is Robbie an on-the-road rock star, but he’s also the sweetest, most considerate MMC I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know through reading. His whole goal is to help Naomi become a confident woman & achieve her dream of owning a bakery.
They both grow so much in this story & I was happily here for every second of it!🤎🍪🧁🍩🍰
I love the baking theme in this story! I’m a baker myself and really enjoyed Naomi’s love for it & the unfinching support that Robbie displays throughout the 300 pages.
Not only is Robbie an on-the-road rock star, but he’s also the sweetest, most considerate MMC I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know through reading. His whole goal is to help Naomi become a confident woman & achieve her dream of owning a bakery.
They both grow so much in this story & I was happily here for every second of it!🤎🍪🧁🍩🍰
July 20, 2025
Such a good one, friends to lovers, and fake dating!! Loved Robbie and Naomi story, I didn't want to put it down. Learning to set boundaries can be hard and shows you might need a little help to get there! Thank you Megan for letting me be an ARC reader, can't wait to see what's next!!
July 18, 2025
ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴅᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴏɴᴇ’ꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ-ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇʀꜱ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇꜱ ᴡʜᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ꜱᴀʏɪɴɢ ɴᴏ. ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴀꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅʟᴇꜱꜱ ᴘʀᴇꜱꜱᴜʀᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴜɪʟᴛ ᴛʀɪᴘꜱ ᴏꜰ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ɪɴ ɴᴀᴏᴍɪ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏʙʙɪᴇ'ꜱ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ- ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʟᴀꜱᴛ ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ɪᴛ!
Oh how I loved this sweet story so much! This book pulled me in at the dedication and from the very beginning to the epilogue I felt like I was living in this love story. Megan wrote a book that so very accurately describes people-pleasers and the strength that can come from setting boundaries. This story truly resonated with me and I felt my heart heal in ways I didn’t know it still needed too. The conversations Naomi and Robbie have are so real and hilarious! I absolutely love how Megan writes her stories.
“𝐼 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝒶 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹-𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃...𝒪𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜’𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓅 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝑜𝓅 𝑜𝒻 𝒶 𝒽𝒶𝓉. 𝒪𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝓎 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝒶𝒻𝓇𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂 𝑜𝒻 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒷𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉’𝓈 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒩𝒶𝑜𝓂𝒾.”
Naomi is a daydreamer who feels she can’t say no to others. She wants to help, and not disappoint her friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. When Robbie comes back into town after one of his gigs, he sees how badly she is treated by her father. He proposes a fake dating relationship to help her gain confidence and overcome her inability to say no and set boundaries. He creates a crash course: Operation Make Naomi a Boss! Robbie’s crash course does more than just help her with her father, it opens her eyes to how many people have been taking advantage of her kindness, including himself.
I loved the way Robbie and Naomi came together and worked through their flaws, short comings, self-doubt, and family trauma. 🤍 The healing that takes place in this story is truly amazing!
“𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕥,” 𝕀 𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕖. “𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕪?”
“ℕ𝕠,” 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪.
“𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥’𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕥. 𝕆𝕜𝕒𝕪, 𝕀’𝕞 𝕘𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒 𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝕦𝕡,” 𝕀 𝕤𝕒𝕪, 𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕣.
Read for the:
The adorable daydreams
Healing ❤️🩹
The flirty banter
Fake dating
Small town vibes
Friends to lovers
The sweetest, nosiest neighbors 😆 (Opal and Iris, I’m talking about you)
I truly enjoyed every single part of Naomi and Robbie’s story and know you will too!
Thank you to the author for an early copy. All thoughts are my own.
Oh how I loved this sweet story so much! This book pulled me in at the dedication and from the very beginning to the epilogue I felt like I was living in this love story. Megan wrote a book that so very accurately describes people-pleasers and the strength that can come from setting boundaries. This story truly resonated with me and I felt my heart heal in ways I didn’t know it still needed too. The conversations Naomi and Robbie have are so real and hilarious! I absolutely love how Megan writes her stories.
“𝐼 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝒶 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹-𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃...𝒪𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜’𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓅 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝑜𝓅 𝑜𝒻 𝒶 𝒽𝒶𝓉. 𝒪𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝓎 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝒶𝒻𝓇𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂 𝑜𝒻 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒷𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉’𝓈 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒩𝒶𝑜𝓂𝒾.”
Naomi is a daydreamer who feels she can’t say no to others. She wants to help, and not disappoint her friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. When Robbie comes back into town after one of his gigs, he sees how badly she is treated by her father. He proposes a fake dating relationship to help her gain confidence and overcome her inability to say no and set boundaries. He creates a crash course: Operation Make Naomi a Boss! Robbie’s crash course does more than just help her with her father, it opens her eyes to how many people have been taking advantage of her kindness, including himself.
I loved the way Robbie and Naomi came together and worked through their flaws, short comings, self-doubt, and family trauma. 🤍 The healing that takes place in this story is truly amazing!
“𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕥,” 𝕀 𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕖. “𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕪?”
“ℕ𝕠,” 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪.
“𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥’𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕥. 𝕆𝕜𝕒𝕪, 𝕀’𝕞 𝕘𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒 𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝕦𝕡,” 𝕀 𝕤𝕒𝕪, 𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕣.
Read for the:
The adorable daydreams
Healing ❤️🩹
The flirty banter
Fake dating
Small town vibes
Friends to lovers
The sweetest, nosiest neighbors 😆 (Opal and Iris, I’m talking about you)
I truly enjoyed every single part of Naomi and Robbie’s story and know you will too!
Thank you to the author for an early copy. All thoughts are my own.
July 7, 2025
Operation Make Naomi a Boss is a sweet, small-town friends-to-lovers story with fake dating, baked goods, and a heroine learning to take up space...and I genuinely rooted for her the whole way through.
Naomi Tillman is stuck working IT at her dad’s car dealership, constantly downplaying her own dreams, and absorbing criticism from the people closest to her. Enter Robbie: her old high school friend turned professional bassist who breezes back into town just in time to pretend-date her when her dad starts in on his usual negativity. The fake relationship sets off a slow shift, and it’s heartwarming to watch Naomi begin to advocate for herself and take steps toward opening her dream bakery.
The dynamic between Naomi and Robbie is the heart of the book. Their friendship is the kind where someone just gets you, and the dual POV really works here. It’s lovely to see both of their perspectives and how deeply they care for each other (even before they realize it). That said, some of the character growth felt a little fast for me—I wasn’t always sure what exactly sparked Naomi’s decision to finally make changes in her life, and I found myself wanting more of that internal turning point.
Writing-wise, there’s a lot of potential here, but I did struggle with some of the execution. The prose leans heavy on telling over showing, and I often wished the story would let readers connect the dots instead of spelling things out. For example, we’re told multiple times early on how Naomi is aware of how people take advantage of her—I would’ve loved to see that unfold more subtly. There are also some dialogue and internal thought choices that pulled me out of the moment (a guy thinking about someone’s “strappy nude sandals” made me laugh a bit). But still, the heart of the story—the friendship, the romantic build, Naomi’s desire to change—shines through.
I also had mixed feelings about how neatly everything wrapped up. While I love a hopeful ending, it did feel like everyone had a major change of heart—Naomi’s dad, Robbie’s estranged family, even her friend Gabby. It’s sweet, but a bit too tidy to be entirely believable. Granted, one can argue that we don't need rom-coms to be entirely believable!
That said, this is a super cute story without being overly saccharine, and I genuinely enjoyed watching Naomi step into her power. If you love cozy, small-town romances with fake dating, personal growth, and a friendship that grows into something more, this one might be for you. Megan Reinking is one of the best indie romance/rom-com writers out there, and I will continue to read and recommend her work!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions and views are entirely my own.
Naomi Tillman is stuck working IT at her dad’s car dealership, constantly downplaying her own dreams, and absorbing criticism from the people closest to her. Enter Robbie: her old high school friend turned professional bassist who breezes back into town just in time to pretend-date her when her dad starts in on his usual negativity. The fake relationship sets off a slow shift, and it’s heartwarming to watch Naomi begin to advocate for herself and take steps toward opening her dream bakery.
The dynamic between Naomi and Robbie is the heart of the book. Their friendship is the kind where someone just gets you, and the dual POV really works here. It’s lovely to see both of their perspectives and how deeply they care for each other (even before they realize it). That said, some of the character growth felt a little fast for me—I wasn’t always sure what exactly sparked Naomi’s decision to finally make changes in her life, and I found myself wanting more of that internal turning point.
Writing-wise, there’s a lot of potential here, but I did struggle with some of the execution. The prose leans heavy on telling over showing, and I often wished the story would let readers connect the dots instead of spelling things out. For example, we’re told multiple times early on how Naomi is aware of how people take advantage of her—I would’ve loved to see that unfold more subtly. There are also some dialogue and internal thought choices that pulled me out of the moment (a guy thinking about someone’s “strappy nude sandals” made me laugh a bit). But still, the heart of the story—the friendship, the romantic build, Naomi’s desire to change—shines through.
I also had mixed feelings about how neatly everything wrapped up. While I love a hopeful ending, it did feel like everyone had a major change of heart—Naomi’s dad, Robbie’s estranged family, even her friend Gabby. It’s sweet, but a bit too tidy to be entirely believable. Granted, one can argue that we don't need rom-coms to be entirely believable!
That said, this is a super cute story without being overly saccharine, and I genuinely enjoyed watching Naomi step into her power. If you love cozy, small-town romances with fake dating, personal growth, and a friendship that grows into something more, this one might be for you. Megan Reinking is one of the best indie romance/rom-com writers out there, and I will continue to read and recommend her work!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions and views are entirely my own.
June 30, 2025
I’m excited to share my review of a new rom com by my favorite local author, @authormeganreinking! 🎉
Operation Make Naomi a Boss is a lighthearted, low-spice, romantic comedy by Megan Reinking. The story follows recovering people-pleaser Naomi as she works on achieving her dream of becoming a full-time baker while being under the thumb of her controlling father.
Her longtime friend Robbie is a musician who crashes on her couch in their small hometown of Pine Falls, MN in between gigs. He offers to help Naomi take control of her life and stand up for herself, leading to a connection neither of them considered before.
Tropes you’ll love:
🧁 Friends to Lovers
🧁 Dual POV
🧁 Fake Dating
🧁 Slow Burn
🧁 Small Town Setting
🧁 Closed Door
My review:
This was the perfect book to get me out of a reading slump. I always love how real Megan’s characters are, and Naomi and Robbie are no different. Their love story is sweet - no pun intended - and I liked how they each overcame some of their personal issues throughout the book.
I liked that there wasn’t a third act breakup and their slow burn felt appropriately paced. Another aspect I enjoyed (without giving spoilers) was that their fake dating never became a major point of conflict in their relationship. There was no internal tennis match on if they actually like each other. Naomi and Robbie communicate really well together, which made this a smooth and easy read for my conflict avoidant self 😂
Operation Make Naomi a Boss is available on July 17th 🍪 Add it to your TBR today!
#meganreinking #minnesotaauthor #romcom #bookreview #friendstolovers #bookish #bakery #booksta #bookstagram #arcreview #minnesota #lakelife
Operation Make Naomi a Boss is a lighthearted, low-spice, romantic comedy by Megan Reinking. The story follows recovering people-pleaser Naomi as she works on achieving her dream of becoming a full-time baker while being under the thumb of her controlling father.
Her longtime friend Robbie is a musician who crashes on her couch in their small hometown of Pine Falls, MN in between gigs. He offers to help Naomi take control of her life and stand up for herself, leading to a connection neither of them considered before.
Tropes you’ll love:
🧁 Friends to Lovers
🧁 Dual POV
🧁 Fake Dating
🧁 Slow Burn
🧁 Small Town Setting
🧁 Closed Door
My review:
This was the perfect book to get me out of a reading slump. I always love how real Megan’s characters are, and Naomi and Robbie are no different. Their love story is sweet - no pun intended - and I liked how they each overcame some of their personal issues throughout the book.
I liked that there wasn’t a third act breakup and their slow burn felt appropriately paced. Another aspect I enjoyed (without giving spoilers) was that their fake dating never became a major point of conflict in their relationship. There was no internal tennis match on if they actually like each other. Naomi and Robbie communicate really well together, which made this a smooth and easy read for my conflict avoidant self 😂
Operation Make Naomi a Boss is available on July 17th 🍪 Add it to your TBR today!
#meganreinking #minnesotaauthor #romcom #bookreview #friendstolovers #bookish #bakery #booksta #bookstagram #arcreview #minnesota #lakelife
June 24, 2025
5/5 stars!
This is a clean romance, with dual POV between Naomi and Robbie. Naomi is a girl who needs a backbone, and finally decides she wants to start standing up to people and doing things that bring her pleasure in life, when she recruits her long time best friend Robbie to help, she doesn’t expect him to jump into the roll of fake boyfriend! Reading about the strength grow inside Naomi and her evolving into her own person instead of a people pleaser was such a fun read, not to mention an easy one! Robbie takes on his role in making Naomi a boss very seriously, not only by being a fake boyfriend, but by creating exercise for her to do in order to prepare her to stand up for herself and learn to say no to the people in her life, and set boundaries for herself including toward him.
Her dreams of her own business and being her own boss can only become reality if she can stand up for herself, and once she does, nothing can stop her. This book is super relatable as it has real life scenarios such as over bearing families, friends that take advantage of the niceness. Robbie’s conflict throughout the book is very relatable too, with his own family issues and trauma, and his urge to stay away from his hometown but a pull to come home as well.
This book was absolutely amazing and I read it in 2 days. I recommend any romance readers pick it up! I am so thankful I was able to be an ARC, and I am so excited for this series to continue!
This is a clean romance, with dual POV between Naomi and Robbie. Naomi is a girl who needs a backbone, and finally decides she wants to start standing up to people and doing things that bring her pleasure in life, when she recruits her long time best friend Robbie to help, she doesn’t expect him to jump into the roll of fake boyfriend! Reading about the strength grow inside Naomi and her evolving into her own person instead of a people pleaser was such a fun read, not to mention an easy one! Robbie takes on his role in making Naomi a boss very seriously, not only by being a fake boyfriend, but by creating exercise for her to do in order to prepare her to stand up for herself and learn to say no to the people in her life, and set boundaries for herself including toward him.
Her dreams of her own business and being her own boss can only become reality if she can stand up for herself, and once she does, nothing can stop her. This book is super relatable as it has real life scenarios such as over bearing families, friends that take advantage of the niceness. Robbie’s conflict throughout the book is very relatable too, with his own family issues and trauma, and his urge to stay away from his hometown but a pull to come home as well.
This book was absolutely amazing and I read it in 2 days. I recommend any romance readers pick it up! I am so thankful I was able to be an ARC, and I am so excited for this series to continue!
June 25, 2025
Don't let this cover full you... while the story is definitely as sweet as the treats Naomi bakes up and the tone is much lighter than that of the Ruby Lodge series, this story still brings the emotional depth that I've come to expect in Megan's books--- giving just the right blend of tenderness and humor... and I loved it! As a people please myself, boy, did I relate to Naomi's inability to say no! I loved how Robbie stepped up and helped her learn to stand her ground. Both of these characters had some family dynamics that they had to overcome, and I loved watching them figure it out and grow together throughout the story. The dynamic between them was absolutely fantastic. One of the things that I enjoy most about friends to lovers is that we have that foundation of trust and the history to build upon. This was a beautiful example of that... I loved how naturally their friendship grew into love (once a little fake dating was thrown into the mix, of course!) This one truly had me smiling from start to finish!
Operation Make Naomi a Boss is a closed-door/fade to black romance with implied intimacy off pages. There is a bit of minor language as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Operation Make Naomi a Boss is a closed-door/fade to black romance with implied intimacy off pages. There is a bit of minor language as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
July 17, 2025
4.5/5
Thank you Megan for gifting me a copy of your book!
I loved this! It was such a sweet, tender romance and for sure my favorite that I’ve read by Megan thus far. Per Megan’s author note, she wanted to write a lighthearted, rom-com and she did just that. While there are definitely some difficulties that Naomi and Robbie are facing, both individually and together, they were balanced by fun moments. They had great chemistry that was built on a foundation of friendship and I loved watching them see each other in a new light.
Naomi’s goal throughout the book is to stop being a people pleaser and assert herself and Robbie takes his job as her teacher seriously. The lessons he uses in the book were even helpful to me as a reader! I loved seeing Naomi build her confidence and follow her dreams of starting a bakery business. And even though the focus is on helping Naomi, it inspires Robbie to address some of his issues, namely with his family who he’s been avoiding for years. I was glad to see him work through that, both for the sake of his relationship with Naomi, but for himself.
If you’re looking for a closed door, friends to lovers, fake dating romance, then check this out! You can find it on Amazon or Megan’s website.
Thank you Megan for gifting me a copy of your book!
I loved this! It was such a sweet, tender romance and for sure my favorite that I’ve read by Megan thus far. Per Megan’s author note, she wanted to write a lighthearted, rom-com and she did just that. While there are definitely some difficulties that Naomi and Robbie are facing, both individually and together, they were balanced by fun moments. They had great chemistry that was built on a foundation of friendship and I loved watching them see each other in a new light.
Naomi’s goal throughout the book is to stop being a people pleaser and assert herself and Robbie takes his job as her teacher seriously. The lessons he uses in the book were even helpful to me as a reader! I loved seeing Naomi build her confidence and follow her dreams of starting a bakery business. And even though the focus is on helping Naomi, it inspires Robbie to address some of his issues, namely with his family who he’s been avoiding for years. I was glad to see him work through that, both for the sake of his relationship with Naomi, but for himself.
If you’re looking for a closed door, friends to lovers, fake dating romance, then check this out! You can find it on Amazon or Megan’s website.
July 3, 2025
Now THIS is a couple I can get behind. Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes because come on. But I’ll say - it didn’t start out on a high note for me. I was frustrated as ALL get out with both Robbie and Naomi and how they wouldn’t. just. talk. ADULT, YALL. But once they did, oh, it was heaven from there. They had their trials and tribulations, their aggravations and upset moments, but also their pure, enjoyable, loving moments, their “gosh I’m so jealous of their love” moments, and the way they supported each other through it all? Yes. Please. They both noticed things about the other that would make their lives easier and just DID THEM! What an idea! Hehe. Anyway, loved watching them grow together through both the painful parts and the good, the ugly and the sweet. Love love love the writing style of Megan and was SO excited to be approved for this one as an ARC reader. Thank you so, so much for the opportunity!
Contains:
-best friends to lovers
-witty banter
-closed door, no real mention of happenings really
-supportive partners
-family drama/trauma mentions & happenings
Contains:
-best friends to lovers
-witty banter
-closed door, no real mention of happenings really
-supportive partners
-family drama/trauma mentions & happenings
July 11, 2025
4.5*
Operation Make Naomi A Boss follows Naomi and Robbie as they build a bakery business, combat childhood trauma, and fall in love. Naomi has always been the girl to say yes to every ask, but her best friend since high school, Robbie, steps in just when she needs in and sets her on the path to freedom.
This novel is an absolute doll. It's a sweet, closed-door, fake boyfriend, friends-to-lovers romcom set in small town Minnesota full of funny one-liners (thank you Robbie), and inspiring words of wisdom. The budding relationship and chemistry between Naomi and Robbie flows from the pages from the first moment they're together and it builds the entire book. You can't help but root for them on every page. Robbie is the ultimate book boyfriend. He's so incredibly supportive of Naomi, backing her up with her overbearing father, providing her affirmations even when he's struggling, and helping with her business every second her can. Doing all of that for her, and he's dealing with the emotional neglect from his childhood. We all love the supportive MMC teddy bear. Megan Reinking hits all the emotions in Operation Make Naomi A Boss.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Operation Make Naomi A Boss follows Naomi and Robbie as they build a bakery business, combat childhood trauma, and fall in love. Naomi has always been the girl to say yes to every ask, but her best friend since high school, Robbie, steps in just when she needs in and sets her on the path to freedom.
This novel is an absolute doll. It's a sweet, closed-door, fake boyfriend, friends-to-lovers romcom set in small town Minnesota full of funny one-liners (thank you Robbie), and inspiring words of wisdom. The budding relationship and chemistry between Naomi and Robbie flows from the pages from the first moment they're together and it builds the entire book. You can't help but root for them on every page. Robbie is the ultimate book boyfriend. He's so incredibly supportive of Naomi, backing her up with her overbearing father, providing her affirmations even when he's struggling, and helping with her business every second her can. Doing all of that for her, and he's dealing with the emotional neglect from his childhood. We all love the supportive MMC teddy bear. Megan Reinking hits all the emotions in Operation Make Naomi A Boss.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2025
Firstly, thank you Megan for allowing me to read and review an ARC copy of this book!
What a cute and satisfying story this was! Okay, so first and foremost, I LOVE the way Megan wrote Naomi. I love when I can really relate to the characters. Naomi is a dreamer, but honestly, I feel like a lot of us readers can easily relate to that. She finds herself creating these elaborate stories for people in her head, even complete strangers, and I can relate because I find myself doing the same thing all the time. Also, Naomi is a people pleaser, and a version of myself years ago can totally relate to that. I really loved Naomi's emotional growth throughout this story, and it resonates with my personal growth as well. I enjoyed the romance between Naomi and Robbie and thought the friends-to-lovers trope was done really well here. Lastly, Naomi loves baking! I was a cake decorator for several years and her passion for it really brought forward some great memories while I was reading.
If you're looking for open-door spice, you won't find it here, but don't let that detract you from reading this book. It was a lot of fun and I will definitely be reading more by Megan.
What a cute and satisfying story this was! Okay, so first and foremost, I LOVE the way Megan wrote Naomi. I love when I can really relate to the characters. Naomi is a dreamer, but honestly, I feel like a lot of us readers can easily relate to that. She finds herself creating these elaborate stories for people in her head, even complete strangers, and I can relate because I find myself doing the same thing all the time. Also, Naomi is a people pleaser, and a version of myself years ago can totally relate to that. I really loved Naomi's emotional growth throughout this story, and it resonates with my personal growth as well. I enjoyed the romance between Naomi and Robbie and thought the friends-to-lovers trope was done really well here. Lastly, Naomi loves baking! I was a cake decorator for several years and her passion for it really brought forward some great memories while I was reading.
If you're looking for open-door spice, you won't find it here, but don't let that detract you from reading this book. It was a lot of fun and I will definitely be reading more by Megan.
July 17, 2025
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of your book—what a treat!
This story was the perfect little palate cleanser. It serves up the beloved fake dating trope but with a fun twist: her best friend steps in as her fake boyfriend to help her break free from her people-pleasing habits and finally stand up to her overbearing father.
Together, they navigate messy family trauma and slowly become each other’s greatest support system. The emotional growth, the soft moments, the healing—it all hit me right in the feels. And the banter? Absolutely adorable. I caught myself giggling way too often.
I especially appreciated how the book tackled mental health and the importance of setting boundaries. It felt authentic and empowering without being too heavy.
If I had one little wish… it’d be for more spice. That tension? Whew—it was thick. I kept craving a bit more heat earlier on, but hey, that’s just the smut-loving side of me talking.
Overall, this book is such a warm and feel-good read with heart, humor, and just enough angst to keep things interesting. Grab your copy—it hits shelves tomorruow!
This story was the perfect little palate cleanser. It serves up the beloved fake dating trope but with a fun twist: her best friend steps in as her fake boyfriend to help her break free from her people-pleasing habits and finally stand up to her overbearing father.
Together, they navigate messy family trauma and slowly become each other’s greatest support system. The emotional growth, the soft moments, the healing—it all hit me right in the feels. And the banter? Absolutely adorable. I caught myself giggling way too often.
I especially appreciated how the book tackled mental health and the importance of setting boundaries. It felt authentic and empowering without being too heavy.
If I had one little wish… it’d be for more spice. That tension? Whew—it was thick. I kept craving a bit more heat earlier on, but hey, that’s just the smut-loving side of me talking.
Overall, this book is such a warm and feel-good read with heart, humor, and just enough angst to keep things interesting. Grab your copy—it hits shelves tomorruow!
July 19, 2025
First, thank you to author Megan Reinking for allowing me to read this ARC! It’s now available in print and on KU!
This book was cute! It has a little of everything; small town, fake dating, family issues, gaining confidence, and dual POV.
In this book, we meet Naomi, the FMC who is a people pleaser, and can’t say no. She works in IT at a car dealership, and has a tough bos, aka her dad. Naomi’s passion is baking, and opening her own bakery, but she struggles to find a balance with baking, her overbearing dad and her job.
Enter Robbie, our MMC. Naomi and Robbie have been friends since highschool, and Robbie always finds himself crashing on Naomi’s couch when he’s back in Pine Falls. Robbie’s always on the go as he’s on tour with his band, but once once he sees how Naomi has a difficult time standing up to her dad, he has the idea of pretending to be her boyfriend.
This leading to operation make Naomi a boss. Robbie is dedicated to helping Naomi gain confidence and stand up for herself, and learn to say no. Robbie struggles being in Pine Falls, however, due to his own family issues. Read today to see how their story unfolds!
This book was cute! It has a little of everything; small town, fake dating, family issues, gaining confidence, and dual POV.
In this book, we meet Naomi, the FMC who is a people pleaser, and can’t say no. She works in IT at a car dealership, and has a tough bos, aka her dad. Naomi’s passion is baking, and opening her own bakery, but she struggles to find a balance with baking, her overbearing dad and her job.
Enter Robbie, our MMC. Naomi and Robbie have been friends since highschool, and Robbie always finds himself crashing on Naomi’s couch when he’s back in Pine Falls. Robbie’s always on the go as he’s on tour with his band, but once once he sees how Naomi has a difficult time standing up to her dad, he has the idea of pretending to be her boyfriend.
This leading to operation make Naomi a boss. Robbie is dedicated to helping Naomi gain confidence and stand up for herself, and learn to say no. Robbie struggles being in Pine Falls, however, due to his own family issues. Read today to see how their story unfolds!
June 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ARC REVIEW⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was such a fun surprise! Operation Make Naomi a Boss is everything I love in a rom-com: fake dating, friends to lovers, small-town charm, and a heroine on a journey to rediscover her confidence. Naomi is incredibly relatable—awkward, kind, and just trying to figure things out—and watching her step into her own power was so satisfying.
The romance builds slowly and sweetly, with just the right amount of tension and chemistry. I loved the dynamic between Naomi and her friend Robbie their connection felt genuine and heartwarming without being overly dramatic.
The tone is light and funny, but there are also great moments of emotional growth, both for Naomi and her relationships. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling and rooting for the main character like she’s your own best friend.
Highly recommend if you enjoy glow-up stories, fake dating with real feelings, and soft, supportive love interests. I'll definitely be checking out more from Megan Reinking!
This book was such a fun surprise! Operation Make Naomi a Boss is everything I love in a rom-com: fake dating, friends to lovers, small-town charm, and a heroine on a journey to rediscover her confidence. Naomi is incredibly relatable—awkward, kind, and just trying to figure things out—and watching her step into her own power was so satisfying.
The romance builds slowly and sweetly, with just the right amount of tension and chemistry. I loved the dynamic between Naomi and her friend Robbie their connection felt genuine and heartwarming without being overly dramatic.
The tone is light and funny, but there are also great moments of emotional growth, both for Naomi and her relationships. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling and rooting for the main character like she’s your own best friend.
Highly recommend if you enjoy glow-up stories, fake dating with real feelings, and soft, supportive love interests. I'll definitely be checking out more from Megan Reinking!
June 30, 2025
💕my FIRST💕ARC REVIEW
Operation Make Naomi a boss by Megan Reinking
Publication date: July 17th 2025
General thoughts
A cute and sweet book, reminiscent of 2000s romcoms.
Had me smiling and wanting to kick my feet like a school girl. I lover that it was a quick and easy read but didn’t skip on the effects that make you feel all the feelings about each character. The author Megan’s writing style resonates with the reader so that you almost feel like you’re living in the life of the narrators but also can form your own feelings about them (if that makes sense). The story was beautifully written and I just loved it from start to finish
If you love DUAL POV (my personal fav), Friends to lovers, Small town, Fake dating, Forced proximity with Closed door / fade to black romance, this book is for you!
Operation Make Naomi a boss by Megan Reinking
Publication date: July 17th 2025
General thoughts
A cute and sweet book, reminiscent of 2000s romcoms.
Had me smiling and wanting to kick my feet like a school girl. I lover that it was a quick and easy read but didn’t skip on the effects that make you feel all the feelings about each character. The author Megan’s writing style resonates with the reader so that you almost feel like you’re living in the life of the narrators but also can form your own feelings about them (if that makes sense). The story was beautifully written and I just loved it from start to finish
If you love DUAL POV (my personal fav), Friends to lovers, Small town, Fake dating, Forced proximity with Closed door / fade to black romance, this book is for you!
June 20, 2025
Avery sweet story. Naomi was a people pleaser. She never knew how to say no, which often times caused personal issues. Her friend Robbie a musician has Been her friend since high school. He often times in between gigs calls asked to occupy Naomi's couch. Being who she is, she never refuses him. This friendship takes a turn when Naomi wants to become less accommodating to everyone and especially her Father. Robbie agrees to help her, even to become her fake boyfriend. This is a clean and sweet love story. Relatable characters and dreams to fulfill just by being more assertive for one's self. Enjoyed this ARC from Author on TikTok. Thank you Ms. Reinking for allowing me this delightful read.
July 12, 2025
Operation Make Naomi A Boss
(Pine Falls, #1)
Megan Reinking
Pub: 7/7/25
4.5⭐️
This was exactly what I needed! Grab a glass of ____, a cozy spot (preferably outdoors) and just get lost in this sweet romcom. Megan brings humor, so much growth, and ALL the MN vibes in Naomi and Robbie’s story and I was so here for it! So much so I devoured it in less than 24 hours. Sorry not sorry. 😆
What I adored;
🧁 Friends To Lovers
🧁 Small Town/MN Vibes
🧁 Dual POV
🧁 Character Growth
🧁 Fake Dating
🧁 Fade To Black
Operation Make Naomi A Boss comes out next week and it is the perfect summer read to put a smile on your face! 🥰 Fair warning… you’ll without a doubt be craving a sweet treat!
Thank you so much Megan for the opportunity to be an early reader!
(Pine Falls, #1)
Megan Reinking
Pub: 7/7/25
4.5⭐️
This was exactly what I needed! Grab a glass of ____, a cozy spot (preferably outdoors) and just get lost in this sweet romcom. Megan brings humor, so much growth, and ALL the MN vibes in Naomi and Robbie’s story and I was so here for it! So much so I devoured it in less than 24 hours. Sorry not sorry. 😆
What I adored;
🧁 Friends To Lovers
🧁 Small Town/MN Vibes
🧁 Dual POV
🧁 Character Growth
🧁 Fake Dating
🧁 Fade To Black
Operation Make Naomi A Boss comes out next week and it is the perfect summer read to put a smile on your face! 🥰 Fair warning… you’ll without a doubt be craving a sweet treat!
Thank you so much Megan for the opportunity to be an early reader!
July 17, 2025
I’m so happy to have received this book as an ARC! That being said, this book was adorable! Naomi and Robbie truly took on the words “friends to lovers,” seeing as how there was truly no sort of romantic feelings between the two in the beginning of their story. Robbie and Naomi both grew as characters immensely throughout the course of the book, and it was really obvious to see the difference between the way they started the book out compared to how they were at the end of the book. These two really were each other’s better half, and I really enjoyed the book because of that. Overall, I totally recommend reading this book!!
January 18, 2026
Operation Make Naomi A Boss is a romantic, comical, swoon-worthy, endearing, and sweet romance! I love this opposites attract, fake dating, and overcoming (for Naomi people-pleasing & for Robbie past family trauma) themes. This closed-door book does have some in bed but non-explicit scenes. I truly love these characters! The way they show up and support one another is truly beautiful. I love that Robbie is willing to do anything for his best friend, encourages her, and stays respectful even when he is crazy about her until he ensures the feeling is mutual. He is wonderful.....and Naomi she's simply the be best. Bright though ill-confident, caring, and fun. I loved this book!
July 18, 2025
First of all thank you so much to Megan Reinking for the ARC of Operation Make Naomi a Boss! I needed a fun, light hearted, small town, friends to lovers book in my life and she knew just what to do! Although this book broaches a couple tougher topics I still felt as though it was a great choice for a fun and light summer read! If you’re a people pleaser (like I am!) then Naomi is your girl! When saying no becomes impossible for her she enlists her friend Robbie to practice honing the skill! I’ll let you read the book to figure out where their story goes from there!
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